Blue Springs Baptist Church
We haven’t been ignoring this situation. Trust me. In a town this small, something this big doesn’t slip through the cracks.
According to multiple reports, members of Blue Springs Baptist Church in the northern portion of Trigg County voted to remove several fellow members from the church roster because they signed Grow Trigg’s petition to vote on the repeal of prohibition here.
To a degree, I struggle with this as a journalist. To a far greater degree, I struggle with this as a Christian.
Would it be judgemental of me to call these people out for being judgemental?
Here’s my take. The Bible teaches us to love our neighbors and spread the message of God’s love. On the surface, what this church has done would seem to be counterproductive to those goals.
I was asked by several people why The Cadiz Record didn’t print a story when word first got out that higher-ups at the church visited members who signed the petition and told them they could maintain their membership by apologizing. In hindsight, I don’t regret the decision not to run a story, and at the same time, I don’t begrudge other media outlets from covering the situation.
In general, churches in this county have congregations of a relatively small number of people. Those people keep the churches afloat through tithes. If the churches were funded through means mandated by law, there’d be a story. If the churches were doing something patently illegal, there’d be a story. Neither of these is the case.
What you read here is my opinion. I’m not saying the situation isn’t news, but as long as these goings-on stay confined to the church, the only place you’ll read about it in this publication is on this page.
So long, Toppy
For those of you who don’t remember (or didn’t know to begin with), I’m a former employee of Boots Randolph Golf Course. I worked there for the better part of two years right after I graduated high school in 1998.
Boots has a very healthy senior league and has for many years. I had the chance to meet a wide variety of folks while working there, but the ones that made the largest lasting impact on me were the ones I saw the most often, and it seemed like some of those older golfers were there more than I was.
In retrospect, they probably were.
One gentleman I made a particular connection with passed away this weekend – John Edwards. I, along with many of you, knew him as Toppy.
To be honest, I’m not sure how golf Toppy actually played while I was working at Boots. I know his health wasn’t always great, and that kept him off the links a bit. But it didn’t keep him from visiting the pro shop or riding the course.
Toppy had his own parking space. While I was there, only a few spots were reserved – one or two for the handicapped, and one for Toppy. Last time I visited the course, his spot was still there. Even with other people parking there, I hope they keep the sign.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I spoke to Toppy. I just know I’ll miss him.
I saw a guy eat a sword
Saturday morning at the Ham Festival, I crossed paths with sword swallower Dan Meyer. He was high-fiving Peewee, the guy on the stilts. I told him I was looking forward to his show and what assistant’s duties he planned to force upon WKDZ’s Bill Booth.
Turns out, Bill’s a wimp. Dan’s words, not mine.
I don’t blame Bill for being a little skittish, though. Dan “forced” Bill to remove a sword from his gullet twice, once using a whip. Dan nearly had to beg me to check a sword for authenticity.
Anyone with thoughts of asking me to do something like that in public, remember one thing: I am, by nature, an observer.
(Justin McGill is executive editor of The Cadiz Record and can be reached by email at jmcgill@cadizrecord.com.)
