From the Home Place

March 15, 2026

We went to bed last night with a full-fledged blizzard taking place outside. A couple inches of snow, mostly in piles and some more strong winds today. It’s going to be a tad chilly as we head for church, it is 15 right now with a high of 23. The 22 mph WNW wind makes it feel like -9 outside: kind of tough on fresh baby cows.

I praise the Lord for sending the help of a special friend/relative to help with pickup repairs yesterday. The pickup is back together and running, thank you Jesus! As I have often said, “I’m the world’s worst mechanic, I bought four different size Cresent wrenches before I figured out you can adjust them.” I can usually fix a horse or a cow, but a broke-down vehicle is not my friend.

Speaking of friends, I hope you get to attend the services of your local church today. As you go, may I encourage each of us to go to be a friend, and to enjoy the company of our friends. In today’s culture there are those who measure success by how much money they have. Yet others look at their lot in life as a measure of success. Using those two measures, I’m not a very successful man.

Yet for me, the greatest measure of success is that of having many friends. You see, when times get really tough, or when a death invades your home, money and notoriety don’t bring much comfort. It is the friends that step up to be there for you that remind a person of God’s amazing grace. It is God’s grace that has allowed you to be a blessing to those around you, so they in turn can be a blessing to you.

So, today when you go to church, why not go with the expectation of making a new friend? The odds are really good that either that person needs you in their life, or you will one day need the friendship of that person in your life. No, I’m not saying that we should make friends just to fill needs in our lives, but I am saying that friends share love one with another. For some of us, making new friends is a difficult process, yet a friendly person will gather friends.

By God’s amazing plan for humanity, friends are to be a blessing one to another. As the Apostle Paul said, “In as much as it depends upon you, attempt to be at peace with all people.” Proverbs also reminds us that “there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Hopefully you have inherited a few new “relatives” as you have been blessed with close friends. I know Miss Deb and I feel like many of you who will read this are way closer to being loved relatives, than you are just friends.

Today, be friendly and praise God for allowing you to worship Him among friends. Oh, and that stranger at church today, most likely needs to develop a good friendship with you. Just remember, that creek runs both directions.

Celebrating friendship with you, Neal