One Incredibly Busy Summer

For most people, summer time means vacation, holidays, relaxed weekends in the mountains, and fun trips away to fantasy land. Not here! Not this year! My summer was packed tightly full of exhilarating events. In fact, my head is still spinning!

First, the baby boy that my wife and I were expecting to arrive in early August decided he was missing too much excitement and started to hatch a plan of escape. On June 28th, Tricia ended up in the Dixie Regional Medical Center on complete bed rest six weeks before her due date. So Hope and I spent many days in early July dividing our time between Kanab and St. George. 

Then came our July 4th float with all the hundreds of hours of building, packing, and preparing that goes along with it. But we won the "most patriotic" award and got our 2600 packets of Gospel tracts passed out. 

Up next was our Faith & Freedom Kid's Camp at the Kanab city park the week of July 11th. It's an annual outreach that brings in 70 plus kids from our community to hear the Gospel and have a fun time. This year we were helped by a missions team from Pennsylvania. This meant trips to the Las Vegas airport to pick them up, preparing food to feed a small army, and lots of planning and prep time. 

Kid’s Camp must have sounded like too much fun for Baby Boy Hounshell to miss, so early on Sunday, July 10th, he kicked his way free and was delivered by emergency C-section - right during church time! True Christian Hounshell weighed in at 5 lbs 14 oz and was healthy with a nice, full head of hair - just like his dad!

You all know what a new baby means: visitors!! Lots of them from the east and from the south: grandparents, law-ins, cousins, friends! For most of July and all of August, the Hounshell house was reminiscent of a Holiday Inn with folks sleeping in every bed and on most available floor space. Now they're gone! It's quiet... and calm. 

While I’m thankful for all the life-changing events of the past three months, I am so glad “this” summer is almost over. In fact, it’s so close to done, I can see Labor Day from here...and maybe one of those relaxing weekends in the mountains.

Trouble in River City

Last year the good people in Kanab presented the full stage production of The Music Man at our local high school. It was a delight and my family and I really enjoyed it.

The main character, Harold Hill, a traveling musical instrument salesman pretending to be a music professor, performed the song number Ya Got Trouble "...Ya got trouble, my friend, right here, I say, trouble right here in River City.."

Harold was trying to improve his bottom line by convincing some naive parents that a new billiard table in town was about to usher in a moral catastrophe. But never fear, Harold was here to rescue the town's young lads by starting an alternative, wholesome pastime - a boy's marching band. Of course, every band needs uniforms and musical instruments.

What Harold really didn't know was the real trouble we have in our own "River City." Also, known as Kanab.

Recently, I was invited to a meeting of community leaders (religious, political, medical, law enforcement) to address the issue of a surging suicide problem in our town...yes, right here in River City. Oh, how we wish our only problem was a new billiard table.

I left after this meeting absolutely shocked! Since 2006, there have been 106 deaths investigated by the medical examiner in our community of nearly 4000 residents. Of that, 42 of them have been suicide and/or overdose. Last year alone there were eleven. Yes, we have trouble in River City.

All but four of the 42 deaths involved prescription drugs and/or alcohol. The youngest was 22 years old and the oldest was 81. But the real statistic is of the 24 incidents since 2009, all but two have been men. Of those 24 cases, only one-third was actually determined to be suicide; the other two-thirds were undetermined overdoses - of prescription drugs.

We have a problem. It's a drug and alcohol problem. It's time to "speak up and reach out." People need help. The only real solution is a saving relationship with the Great Physician!

Our hearts break for the families involved and we sincerely want to help with this "local epidemic" of death. If you, or someone you know, have had thoughts of suicide or if you struggle with drugs or alcohol, please get help. We are here for you. There are answers...life changing ones...and life sustaining ones.

Yes, we've got trouble; but we also have a way out! "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - Jesus in John 14:6

My Thoughts on Memorial Day

My wife, daughter, and I were blessed to be able to attend the veteran's Memorial Day service at the Kanab City Cemetery this morning. It was an excellent program that was well attended. Post 69 did a wonderful job of honoring their fallen brothers and sisters - and also of reminding us that we all owe much gratitude to many brave sons and daughters who made the "ultimate sacrifice" for our freedom. We also salute those living among us who served in our armed forces and were blessed enough to "come home." You all are truly our heroes. 

Why a New Website?

This is the very first blog entry on our new website. Some folks will ask, "Why a new website?" The answer is simple: effectiveness! After two years of having the old website, we thought it was time to update to a fresh look. Also, we were able to add or improve several features with this new web service.

This website will serve two purposes. First, it will hopefully introduce many new folks to our church. It might surprise you to know that a good number of people research their vacations and trips on the computer before leaving home. For some people, this includes looking for a church to attend while traveling.

The second purpose of this website is to keep our own congregation up-to-date on what is happening and to provide them with extra resources for their Christian walk.

I hope you enjoy and regularly use this website to your advantage. It is here for you.