Shannon Bunch - since he was 5 yrs old

This weeks column in the series "thanks" "Giving" reminds me that I first met this person when he was 5 years old. He was a little boy playing the piano and yes, he feet were not touching the ground, he was helped up onto the piano bench to play. His fingers went to walking over the keyboard creating music and out of his mouth came a voice that you knew immediately was unique and one of a kind. This little boy appeared to be destined to share his musical talents which could only be described for a 5 year old as gifts from God. With hundreds of thousands of miles driving and flying under his belt and with thousands of concerts and venues playing host to his talents, Mark Shannon Bunch has served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ non-stop playing the piano, singing and even preaching with each mile logged in his journey to be a disciple of Jesus. Friendships are an amazing gift from God, so I believe and I confess that when I first saw him playing and singing as a child never did I imagine the friendship that would have grown from then to now, over the past 30 plus years. Shannon, as he is known to audiences and his friends is gifted in more than just music. My "thanks" this season goes beyond his obvious talent but to the heart of his character and being. "Thanks" Shannon for being a great listener. His gift of listening is not in one year and out the other, but rather an intent listening to hear what you are really saying. This talent is not held by all and for most listening is just an act. Shannon is a "giving" person whose heart is touched by the experiences of others and he puts his thoughts into actions, something also lacking by many who assume the role of bystanders in the crowd instead of becoming a leader from the pack. Each spring I begin to assembly my thoughts of individuals and organizations, young and old that have made an impact. Sometimes there is a carry over from the previous year where I just ran out of weeks in which to acknowledge the difference others have made by sharing their lives with others. Our friendship, the one Shannon and I share has grown with each year and with each new days experience. Geographically from Barbourville, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee and now even the State of Texas, our friendship covers some land. Our experiences together include his wife Melissa and their daughter Emme Blu. What laughter we've shared and memories we've all built all because as a 5 year old Shannon was already doing what he loved. In friendship trust comes from trying and confidence comes from confiding. Shannon Bunch has impacted countless lives through his ministry and while I'm saying "thanks" "giving" I know what Shannon is saying..."To God Be The Glory". Until then

Don't miss an opportunity to say "Thanks" for others who are "Giving"

"Thanks", "Giving" is my personal way of sharing the stories of the people who have impact my life. Over the years that I have been publicly expressing my "thanks for the investing, "giving", of others into my life I received many comments. A few of the individuals have been caught totally off guard while others have continue to encourage me but only after providing me with instruction to select others, all the while saying thanks too. I began this personal tradition because after the passing of a friend I had wished I had said more during our lifetime as friends. A lost opportunity because we failed to take the time to say "thanks" because a major moment in our lives when we simply planned on expressing "thanks" for their impact or importance to us and then they are gone and we live with the regret. Death has a cruel way of creeping up on us and stealing from us plans and dreams. Medical issues, sickness and disability have a way of also stealing from us repeat moments of fun, sharing and plans. These heartaches can become a serious problem if we don't correct the behavior of prolonging, putting off, and procrastinating. (Yes, those three "P's" I just used are a preachers prerogative). Often I've had people share with me that they are scared to share their feelings or to express their thoughts. It can be scary. Rejection is the last things we want to experience but it is not our responsibility to make sure that others understand our motives. It is important however for us to express our hearts and gratitude, especially among our friends. Will people think weird of us, possibly? Will our friends think we have a secret motive, possibly? The truth is that the answer to both of these questions could be answer yes because they are true. We are weird. Think about it, most folks don't say thanks anymore. There is an attitude of you owe me going around and yes, we do have a secret motive. We want people to know they matter to us and we have learned from them and we want them to know it. I see no wrong in having the motive for saying "Thanks" and for "Giving" back so others will know their lives matter and you appreciate them. I assume no responsibility for others feeling uncomfortable with receiving praise, honor or thanks. I do assume full responsibility for my words and actions and I want no missed opportunity of following my heart. Until then

Thanks to Scott Bryant for making a difference in me.

It is my favorite time of the year again. FALL! I love watching the leaves turn their color. I even love watching the leaves from from her branches, the cool breeze, witnessing animals preparing for winter, there is just nothing about this time of the year I don't find great appreciation from. Fall is also a special time of the year for me in writing this newspaper column too. It is my annual 'thanksgiving' time where I publicly reflect on people who have made a difference in my life. People whom I have not forgotten from my past, and even new folks that I've met on my journey through life. Positive minded people who can honestly reflect on life, including difficult moments are the folks I enjoy being around the most. People who from their own experiences share so that others can learn, grow, and become better equipped for the trials ahead while seizing the best possible from life. These are my favorite kind of people! The year was 2008 in the month of March. I was sitting in church, minding my own business, not being very sociable just there to worship God as I was on my own journey seeking God and His will for my life. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ remains one that I know it is our duty as followers to seek Him especially when we are in discovery mode, looking for answers to trying times and difficult situations. My seeking goal was to confirm His will in my life, whatever it ended up being and to accept His plan and move forward. In pursuit of God that is when I heard Scott Bryant share his testimony of God's working in his life. I didn't know him personally, I had seen him around church, he was gifted musically but it was the words he used in his testimony about God loving him, and of how God's was using him that was my encouragement and has served as a continuing guide even to this very column. To know that God loves you and has a plan is the beginning of a relationship with God. To know that His plan continues is a part of discipleship and following His will is the answer for our future as Christians wanting to be used by Him until the end. My first 'thanksgiving' of 2015 is for Scott Bryant and all those who are not ashamed of God's work in their lives. Romans 8:28 simply requires us to seek Him for all our answers. Until then

The 68th Annual Daniel Boone Festival

Heritage to mountain people can easily be defined. It is where we come from, stories about those that came before us and our heritage also directs our future. The Daniel Boone Festival is for the Commonwealth of Kentucky a festival of heritage. This area we call home has a rich history that was forged through determination and dreams. The DBF is the only festival of its kind that honors the pioneering efforts of Daniel Boone in the historic location of the Wilderness Trail. This history is the foundation of our individual communities and without the determination of those early settlers who crossed the Cumberland Gap and "pressed their way forward through the thickets" our history might very well have found us in 2015 still a part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Daniel Boone Festival is a real educational opportunity about this region for children and adults. While much of the conversation among friends during the 68th Annual Event will be about which concession food booth of home cooking has the best chicken'n dumplings, the importance of the festival should highlighted each year, passing along this heritage and history. Thinking about our modern times it is easy to become frustrated and overwhelmed with the complexity of life's issues and the fast past at which information flows and things change. History serves as a great teacher about the struggles our pioneers faced and their courage to address the issues they faced. With no cellular phones, walking to where you needed to go and then conversing to share what you had learned or heard was the communication connection in their time. A lesson from history would serve each of us well. The early pioneers had to work together. Early pioneers learned to agree and disagree yet they volunteered to help and to be of aid when their neighbors had a need. Our future can be filled with dreams too, but it will take a re-dedication of our determination to work for the common good. Our heritage came at great expense which included the loss of life for those who traveled cutting, cleared and expanding the Warriors Path. In honor of our those who came before us, let us pause to take time to honor God as they did, for all things. Let us also pause and thank God for the opportunity we have to be pioneers of peace in a world were the experience has been lost along the journey. Until then

What's up with church services?

Have you ever thought about the what and why's as to the order of your church worship services? This topic thinking I expect will cause us to also consider the value if any of some things and rightfully so. The Bible says that everything we do in public worship should be done to glorify God and to build up the body of Christ. A time of testimony where individuals share what God has done in their lives certainly glorifies God and at the same time encourage those attending and witnessing the testimony. A time of reflection with respect to God's blessings in our lives also serves multiple functions too. Singing and responsive readings are a great way to collectively involve a congregation in unity of purpose. Listening to a prayed out and holy spirit directed message is equally important in this cooperative experience we call church worship. The value of a public church worship experience first begins with a call to 'Make Known" the love and plan of God through the gift of His son Jesus Christ. The second value of a church worship encounter is to provide for the opportunity of assembly. There is treasured value in the gathering together the diversified body of Christ. I write diversified because we each come to Christ from our varied roads of travel. Each journey filled with countless individual experiences where you and the creator have been privileged to confront each other on your travel to truth and peace. Truth and Peace are found when confess our sins and failures. This honesty allows us to 'fellowship', shake hands, pass the peace or greet one another. Confession allows for confidence and celebration of forgiveness. Celebration occurs from testimonies, hymns, responsive readings, solo's and from the reading of God's Word, the Bible. Giving back is important. Tithes and offerings are individual expressions of our gratitude for His goodness. Responding to what we have experienced, been exposed to, and have learned from and about God can be both public and private in nature. If God has been so good to you that you must share, by all means share. If the touch of God has changed you then as you go, let your action be a public testimony of change that has happened within. The most important item of worship is that occurs, individually. Until then