by Glenn Hitchcock

In The Whisper Test, Mary Ann Bird writes: I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech.

When schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip?” I’d tell them I’d fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.

There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom we all adored—Mrs. Leonard. She was short, round, happy—a sparkling lady.

Annually we had a hearing test. . . . Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back—things like “The sky is blue” or “Do you have new shoes?” I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, “I wish you were my little girl.”

God says to every person deformed by sin, “I wish you were my son” or “I wish you were my daughter.” He is still the God of the second and many more chances and boy I am glad.

~Adapted From Edward K. Rowell~

1 John 3:1-5 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

by Victor M. Eskew

October is past, but we will have another October next year. This is true, but we will NEVER have another October, 2019. October, 2019 is gone forever.

I recently had a birthday and turned 60. Just think, sixty years of my life is gone, and it is gone forever. This is true of every individual. The time that is behind you is gone forever. It cannot be purchased. It cannot be miraculously produced. No government action will bring it back. Wishing and longing for it will do no good. The time that is gone is gone forever.

All we have is the time that it is in front of us. It could be just minutes. It could be a few hours. We might have a day or two. We could have a few months.

Most believe that they have several more years ahead of them. What will you do with the time that is in front of you? Soon November, 2019 will be gone. In a brief amount of time, we will welcome in 2020. From now till then, how will you use your time?

There are really only two options: waste it, or, use it wisely. What can you do to use your time wisely in the minutes, hours, days, months, or years you have left to live? Make a list of what is really important. Do everything you can do to get those things done.

Remember: Once time is gone, it is gone forever.

by Glen Head

     A few days ago my mother and I went into Rural King, a huge store dedicated to farmers. My mother needed some chicken feed. As we were walking in I saw several carts full of bags of corn. As we were leaving I saw carts full of bags of corn. I was in the store a couple of days before and as I was buying my 4 bags of corn I noticed it was the same way. Carts full of corn upon my entrance and carts full of corn upon my departure. Well, I know why corn is so popular here in Kentucky – it’s because deer season starts in about a week. AND DEER LOVE CORN. And it’s legal for hunters to bait using corn.

Read More →