From the Home Place

August 30, 2026

Good morning! Starting this day at 62, headed for a high of 82 with a bit of wind. After yesterday’s rain, I won’t complain if we don’t get anymore today. Tomorrow looks like upper 80’s for a high and a possibility of some rain, we will see what the last day of August looks like then.

At 5 a.m. it looks cloudy and breezy outside. There is a bit of Fall bite in the air, so who knows what September will bring our way? According to the heavy fog we had in early August, we are supposed to get a shot of snow sometime around the middle of September, so the ‘ol wives’ tale goes?

A week ago, the thirty-day forecast for September showed 60 for highs by the middle of the month, today they have adjusted that to 70’s and 80’s all month. I have no idea what the weather is like, but I’m sure enough expecting to be on a mountain side somewhere looking for a bugle-cow!

When I was a younger feller, I always loved Spring. New babies everywhere, brandings and starting a batch of new colts. But now that all of that is gone from my life, I really look forward to Fall. I love the cooler weather, the fresh morning air and the possibility of looking for an elk. No don’t worry about the elk, it’s been a long time since one of them has ended up in our freezer, I just enjoy looking and listening, waiting for the possibility of catching one! For me, the anticipation and the recreation is the best part of hunting.

My, if we only had that same mindset when it comes to serving our Lord. You see, for me, I get to serve Jesus, it is not a “have to.” When the Holy Spirit opens the door for an opportunity to serve the Lord, my excitement level jumps way up; much like when a bull elk walks into a clearing during season.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it seems to fit well here again. When we were planting a church in Custer, South Dakota, there was an ‘ol lumber jack who had a bumper sticker on his beat-up pickup which read, “If it’s tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?” Living in a town that derived 90% of its income from the tourists, his bumper sticker wasn’t really admired by most folks.

So, whether it’s tourist season, or hunting season, it’s always Kingdom season, and I’m full of anticipation! Every day of the rest of our lives, we get to do something that impacts the advancement of God’s Kingdom in some way or another. It may be verbally telling someone about Jesus, or it may involve doing something in His name for someone else, or it may involve just spending some of your precious time with someone who needs some company. You see, for some folks, this big ol’ world is a lonely place, and if we get the opportunity, I reckon we should be willing to set aside an hour or so just to be around somebody who needs some company.

When I look back at most days and realize just how much time I wasted, I’m always reminded that I could have, should have, been investing some of that time into the life of someone else. After all, remember our rule: If God gives us something He expects us to pass part of it on to be a blessing to someone else?

Well, if God blesses you with some time, get up and go to church, be sure that you invest some of that time into being a blessing to someone else. A smile is like peanut butter on toast; it just makes things better. A kind word is like adding jelly or honey to the recipe, and before you know it, you’ve done gone and been a blessing to someone!

Why settle for just a PB&J hunk of toast, go ahead and invite someone to go eat lunch with you. That will cause a heap of smiles, conversation and probably even some laughter; all ingredients of a great day! Today, let’s all work at being a blessing in the life of someone else! Shoot, it will probably be so enjoyable that we will look forward to trying it again someday this next week.

I don’t know about your life, but mine is richer when I live today with the anticipation of hunting season and Kingdom season!

Passing along the blessings with you, Neal