We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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South of the Border, Column No. 13 Columnist's note: This was our first Easter in Whitlash and sunrise on this past Easter Sunday was pretty exciting. That got me thinking about a number of other interesting and stimulating Easter mornings that my wife and I have shared in the 23 prior places we've lived and celebrated the holy day. Before I share the story of Easter sunrise in Whitlash, here's brief account of a couple of other memorable Easter mornings. A freezing Easter morning on Bald Knob...
Q: I fear for the attack on our homes, our families and our children—the future of our country. What can we do to combat the assaults? A: The family, for most, used to be a close-knit group, and the home was self-contained. It was shelter; it was security; it was a kind of school where life’s basic lessons were taught. It was a kind of church where God was honored. It was a factory where the basic necessities of life were made. It was a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures were enjoyed. A national leader once said, “The home...
“A man and a woman are walking up to a building. The man notices the woman and runs ahead to open and hold the door for her. As she walks in, she turns to the man and asks ‘Are you holding this door because I am a woman?’ He responds: ‘No. I am holding it because I am a gentleman.’” I’ve heard this anecdote hundreds of times from a good friend of mine who is a pastor. He tells it frequently to make the same point: It’s wise to act based on your identity, not based on the situation you find yourself in. In the story, the guy holds the door...
South of the Border, Column No. 12 Columnist's note: Recently Betty Ann Wolery, secretary for the Liberty County Cemetery Board, stopped me in the library in Chester and asked if I knew about the "English Boy" grave in the Whitlash Cemetery. I'd heard one story that told the English Boy was a sheepherder from England who died in a blizzard. I had never seen the grave. Betty Ann showed me the county cemetery register and a plat map of the grave sites in the Whitlash Cemetery. The first entry for...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: America has been a land of plenty for much of its history and some believe our nation can never fall. Are we in danger of going the way of other great and powerful nations? A: Fifteen hundred years ago the people of imperial Rome were living in luxury, ease, and prosperity. The Romans laughed at the rugged barbarians of the north. They had a far lower standard of living than the Romans did. They could not possibly conquer Rome—great imperial Rome. But they did. Those illiterate barbarians conquered...
South of the Border, Column No. 11 Columnist's note: I've had the privilege to live in many diverse locations over the years. A newcomer to an area has a unique opportunity to see a place with a 'new set of eyes.' Things and situations longtime residents may take for granted often stand out to the new arrival. Here are a few things I've found curious during the four months my wife and I have lived in Whitlash. In its basement the Whitlash Church has a cabinet full of sewing patterns During a...
In the fall of 2016, Ryan Jensen noticed a need in the community, so he decided to start an agriculture supply business in order to make quality products available locally. With Milk River Ag, he can obtain and distribute supplies like seed and feed and hay wrap, making them readily accessible to local farmers and ranchers. Milk River Ag is a family owned business where Jensen and his wife Linae grow hay and cattle and raise their three children: Levi (14), Ashlyn (12), and January (8) near Chinook. “Our business was formed out of the need f...
House Bill 658 and House Bill 652, the Medicaid Expansion bill and the Long Range Infrastructure Bonding bill This past week, the Montana House of Representatives passed both House Bill 652, the Long-Range Bonding bill, and House Bill 658, the Medicaid Expansion bill. The Bonding bill passed the floor with 68 yes votes and 30 no votes, and the Medicaid Expansion bill passed with 61 yes votes and 37 no votes. I opposed House Bill 658, the Medicaid Expansion bill, largely because the non-severability clause in the bill was removed and replaced...
Column No. 7 Columnist's note: Travelers headed north from Shelby on I-5 may have seen the 'standing elk' on the east side of the interstate just before the exit to Oilmont. The elk is in a slight depression on the edge of a grove of small trees (really the only trees next to the interstate for several miles). If travelers see the elk, the view is brief, especially at 80 mph. I first saw the elk when my wife and I were headed north to Whitlash from Shelby. About a 100 yards past the site of the...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: Is it true that Queen Victoria believed in Jesus Christ? A: In the biography of Queen Victoria there is a heart-warming story told. She went into the slums of London and visited the home of an elderly lady. When the queen rose to leave, she asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?” The woman said, “Yes, ma’am, Your Majesty, you can meet me in Heaven.” The queen turned to her and said softly, “Yes. I’ll be there, but only because of the blood that was shed on the cross for you and for me.” Queen V...
South of the Border, Column No. 7 Columnist's note: Liberty Hall, the century-old community hall in Whitlash sitting atop a small rise, is one of the first buildings a traveler sees when approaching Whitlash in the Sweet Grass Hills. I've read several accounts of the history and role of the building in the community since the hall was completed in 1916. Nearly every version of the history of Liberty Hall recounts the many community events held there over the years and, particularly, the dances h...
Columnist's note: My wife and I moved to Whitlash in mid-December. Despite a mild start to winter, we saw little wildlife except a few sharp-tailed grouse wandering through the yard and occasional deer across the pasture. Then February hit and there was virtually no wildlife to be seen around our yard, basically we were surrounded by snow piles, drifts and blowing snow. I was really curious to see what sorts of wildlife I would see in the Sweet Grass Hills come spring. In mid March we...
Whitlash, Montana. Columnist’s note: In the narthex (entrance) of the Whitlash Presbyterian Church there is a ‘centennial quilt’ on display. The quilt commemorates the church’s hundredth anniversary celebrated in 2013 and is made of quilt blocks highlighting major milestones of the church—when the church was organized, when the present building was completed and other significant highpoints. One of the blocks (see accompanying photo) is a drawing of the church building with the year 1945 along the bottom and the “E Hanging M” brand at a to...
The human soul transcends earthly value Q: Why is it that Christians say we have to believe their way or miss Heaven? Isn’t this a little narrow, maybe even arrogant? A: Christians do make up a religion—Christians believe God’s every word. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Who doesn’t want to be saved? Some years ago a man’s plane crashed into the ocean. He survived the crash, but had blood on his forehead which attracted the sharks, and he spent 10 hours kicking at the sharks to sur...
From Whitlash. For readers who missed it, Ground Hog Day was Saturday (February 2). That's the day the furry weather prognosticator gives an insight as to how much longer winter will last. Growing up in southern Illinois, where the woodchucks are widespread, my family made kind of a deal about the day. As kids we anticipated the day, hoping, "The ground hog doesn't see its shadow so spring will come soon." In our fifty plus years of marriage my wife and I have lived in seven different states,...
Mark Twain once said: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” The reason being that no-one wants to eat a frog. Putting off eating it until later in the day may seem tempting, but it will give you opportunity to put it off again and again until you don’t do it altogether. This is essentially the heart of all procrastination. We look at a task that we don’t want to do and come up with reasons to avoid it or we just don’t thin...
Dateline: Whitlash, Montana. In my first "South of the Border" column I wrote generally about the location of the Sweet Grass Hills (visible most days looking north from US Highway 2 from the Joplin/Chester area). More specifically the Hills are set in a line extending for about 50 miles east to west in a 10-15 mile wide band from north to south and adjacent to the national border. The various buttes/mountains/hills that make up the Sweet Grass Hills stand 3,000 feet above the surrounding...
A few weeks ago, my 5-year old son was playing with a girl from his class. I gave them snacks, a plate of chips each. My boy eyed up the plates and went to grab the one that appeared to be larger. I stopped him and asked if he was forgetting something. He smiled sheepishly and replied: “Oh yeah, ladies first.” When I asked him why he was going to let his lady friend pick first he replied with a line we say every day: “Because that’s what gentlemen do.” We repeat that line several times a day as a part of him learning to hold doors for ladie...
Whitlash, Montana. Ministers new to a church typically make an early effort to identify and contact all the church and/or family members who are living in assisted living or nursing homes. The reason is to connect with these folks who were involved with the church through the years and minister to them. These seniors may want to have Bible study, take communion, share information about what is going on in the church or simply enjoy an occasional visit with the minister. My wife has now been at...
Columnist's note: Alert readers will recall that mid-December my wife Sherry and I moved to Whitlash. For the next year Sherry will be the "pastor in residence" for the Whitlash Community Presbyterian Church. During the move our 23-year old granddaughter, Kayla Bonar, died unexpectedly in Ellensburg, Washington where she was working as a reporter for the local newspaper. Sherry and I drove to the Seattle area to be a part of the celebration of Kayla's life. Kayla was known by many locals as she...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham The human soul transcends earthly value Q: Someone on the radio spoke about God putting a value on the human soul. How can this be since no one can see or touch the soul? — S.S. A: It was reported several years ago that it would take a hundred billion dollars to get one man safely to Mars. That is a staggering amount of money. It is interesting how people place great value on things and even experiences. But God, in His outpouring of love for mankind, placed the value of one human soul at an i...
Citizens of Blaine County, It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve you! We have cried together over of the loss of loved ones and we have rejoiced together when our loved ones are found safely. During my short 9.5 years at your Sheriff’s Office I have formed friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my days. I have tried my best to address the concerns of all citizens of Blaine County and I am only sorry that we could not save the loved ones lost or prevent some of you from being victimized. For that, I am truly s...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Jesus’ acts prove he wasn’t an ordinary human Q: Is there proof that Jesus, who came to earth in human form, is really God? — P.S. A: Jesus lived a perfect life. Those who schemed to bring him to trial had to obtain false witnesses to bring charges, because he was blameless. “In Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). There was also evidence of His power — power that only comes from God. He had power over sickness and disease. His miracles were a witness to the fact that He is Lord of all nature. “Ev...
Jesus is larger than life itself Q: I am not necessarily against Jesus but I think people throughout history have embellished his story and made him bigger than life. Show me where I might be wrong. — D.Q. A: Jesus Christ is bigger than life! He breathed life into the first man, Adam, and He gives life to every human being. He is so much bigger than life that He speaks it into existence. “He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). “You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven … the seas and all that is in them, and You prese...
Have you found the source of real love? Q: Can a person really find a soul mate to share the deepest things of life? — S.S. A: A: Matchmaking has become a booming business in our culture’s restless search for a “soul mate.” Online services promise to bring light into your life by matching you up with someone just right for you. “Relationship experts” teach clients to practice “self-love” in order to attract a potential partner. One such expert wrote, “We have the power to create our own personal movie-like narratives, love stories based on...
