For the past two-plus years we, as a world, a nation, and individuals, have been going through unprecedented challenges and hardships. There have been riots, some of the worst political upheavals in modern times, a pandemic that is still wreaking havoc on humanity. There have been heated and volatile arguments about vaccines and masks. 

We have seen some of the most un-Christian behavior even among Christians throughout all of this. The cry and attitude about personal rights has taken precedence over all else.

People are trying to find something that will provide a sense of normalcy. What that boils down to for many is taking care of one’s own needs to the exclusion of others’.

Awhile back a good friend told me how he enjoyed playing baseball when he was in high school. He loved the game, but he hit a slump. His coach noticed and told him that when things started to slip, it was time to get back to the basics.

The coach told John to just go to the batting cage and simply work on his swing, to pay attention to his form. He said to simply play catch with another team member, throwing each other grounders and pop-ups. Just toss the ball back and forth without trying to make each throw perfect. Have fun with it. Get back to the basics. And it worked!

Recently, the phrase “get back to the basics” came back to me in a powerful way.

It seems to me many would benefit from getting back to the basics of the Christian faith – loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; loving your neighbor as yourself; caring for the least of those among us; remembering the words of Jesus, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

By extension, that makes us the brothers and sisters of our Lord – and of one another. And as such, we are to love and care for one another.

Our Lord calls us to share his love as being part of his family. Being bound together means we care for one another, we help one another, we look out for one another, we do what is best for one another – even for the stranger in need.

When we recognize that someone is hurting, afraid, sick, or challenged, we are given the opportunity to be God’s instruments. We are the ones who can speak comforting words to another, perform acts of kindness, provide support to help see another through their difficult time. We are the ones who can be proactive on their behalf.

Let’s get back to the basics and do our Lord proud.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: 'Back to basics' is key in times of stress

CRESTVIEW — The showy chaste tree makes an attractive specimen as the  centerpiece of your landscape bed or in a large container on the deck.

Much more of them are being seen since the Florida Department of Transportation has recognized the tree as a desirable median planting.

Easy to grow, drought resistant, and attractive to butterflies and bees, Vitex agnus-castus is a multi-stemmed small tree with fragrant, upwardly-pointing lavender blooms and gray-green foliage. The chaste tree’s palmately divided leaves resemble those of the marijuana (Cannabis sativa) plant; its flowers can be mistaken for butterfly bush (Buddleia sp.); and the dry, darkened drupes can be used for seasoning, similar to black pepper, making it a conversation piece for those unfamiliar with the tree.

Vitex, with its sage-scented leaves that were once believed to have a sedative effect, has the common name “Chastetree” since Athenian women used the leaves in their beds to keep themselves chaste during the feasts of Ceres, a Roman festival held on April 12.

In modern times, the tree is more often planted where beekeepers visit in order to promote excellent honey production, or simply included in the landscape for the enjoyment of its showy, summer display of violet panicles.

The chaste tree is native to woodlands and dry areas of southern Europe and western Asia. It will thrive in almost any soil that has good drainage, prefers full sun or light shade, and can even tolerate moderate salt air.

Vitex is a sprawling plant that grows 10 to 20 feet high and wide, that looks best unpruned. If pruning is desired to control the size, it should be done in the winter, since it is a deciduous tree and the blooms form on new wood.

The chaste tree can take care of itself, but can be pushed to faster growth with light applications of fertilizer in spring and early summer and by mulching around the plant.

There are no pests of major concern associated with this species, but root rot can cause decline in soils that are kept too moist.

Sheila Dunning is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Chaste trees are great within a landscape

On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States of America endured a horrific attack. Most of us remember where we were that fateful day and what we were doing. Many of us watched in horror as the Twin Towers collapsed.

Twenty years later, there is a new generation that didn't experience this event and may not know too much about what happened. We have an opportunity to teach them about this historical event and share the heroism of the men and women who worked tirelessly to save the lives of those affected by the plane crashes.

The city of Crestview is observing the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a "solemn and respectful" display of events Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Crestview Community Center, located at 1446 Commerce Drive, across from the library.

There will be exhibits and photographs on display, with the center opening from noon to 5 p.m. This part of the memorial event is free and open to the public.

At 3 p.m. Crestview High School's theater department will perform scenes from a drama entitled, "110 Stories," which is a compilation of survivors' stories from all the sites involved in 9/11. This includes the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93 that ended in the field at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which didn't reach its intended target due to brave men and women on that flight.

Crestview Mayor JB Whitten will host an exhibit of vehicles and tactical gear that would have been used by those responding to this crisis. There will also be storyboards explaining the attacks.

This is a wonderful opportunity to pass along history to our younger generation that may not have even been born when this happened.

This should be very moving, especially to those of us old enough to remember that fateful day.

In addition, there will be other exhibits detailing the history of the events that happened on 9/11. 

At 6 p.m., a Remembrance Dinner will be served, catered by the Knife's Edge from Bob Hope Village in Shalimar. There will also be a presentation by Crestview police and firefighters representing their brave counterparts from the World Trade Center in New York City. Many first responders willingly gave their lives in order to save those affected by this act of terrorism and we appreciate their sacrifice.

Tickets for the dinner and presentation are $35 each and available at the billing window in City Hall, the Community center office or online at www.downtowncrestview.org/events. For online tickets there is a $1 fee for processing.

Whitten summarized his goal with this statement, "We want all our citizens to join us in remembering this tragic moment in our nation's history."

This will be a day of solemn remembrance for the fallen and a time for prayer, reflection and thanks to the heroes who stepped up to help those in need.

Thank you to all of the heroes of 9/11, we salute you for your bravery and love for our country. We will not forget you and will continue to tell your stories.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: It has been 20 years since the Sept. 11 terror attack

CRESTVIEW — Could Stephen Sondheim have been thinking about the Crestview Public Library when he penned the lyrics to “Something’s Coming” for “West Side Story?”

Could it be? Yes, it could

Somethin's comin', somethin' good, if I can wait

Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is

But it is gonna be great!”

We’ve been hinting — pretty strongly — that something great is coming to your library. We’re going to have to close from Sept. 11 through Sept. 18 to get it all ready, but we know you’re going to love it when we reopen Monday, Sept. 20.

So, what’s coming? We’re redoing not just the circulation desk area, but the whole checkout process is going to be high-tech, more streamlined and we’ll even have a self-checkout kiosk!

If you want to get a sneak peek at the improvements before everybody else, come to our preview party from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. There will be activities, food and prizes, plus this is probably the only chance to for kids to run in the library when they put on slides and race across the carpet.

Miss Heather will hold a story time around the “campfire,” and everybody can get into making s’mores. The always helpful library staff will demonstrate the new checkout system, self-checkout process, and new card catalog.

In many ways, this ain’t your grandma’s library, but the more things change, the more some things stay just as great as they’ve always been.

Your library still has stacks and stacks of great books, movies and music, classes and activities for folks of all ages, artwork on the Sandra Dreaden Gallery Wall and in the lobby, and the same helpful staff you can always turn to for advice and assistance.

And there’s one more great thing comin’, Mr. Sondheim. The Friends of the Library is returning! Stop by the circulation desk — either the current configuration up until Sept. 10 or the new one starting Sept. 20 — and find out how you can get involved in our fun community support group.

More about Sondheim

What? You don’t know who Stephen Sondheim is? Sounds like you need to stop by your Crestview Public Library to learn all about this great Broadway composer!

For complete event listings and more information, visit www.cityofcrestview.org/178/Library, call 850-682-4432, and follow the library on Facebook and Instagram.

Brian Hughes is the City of Crestview's Public Information Offficer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Check it Out: Somethin’s comin’, something’ good…to your library!

In 1995 Joseph Girzone wrote a wonderful book, "Joshua: A Parable for Today." It is a novel about Jesus (going by the name Joshua) returning today in a small, but diverse town.

I loved that book. In fact I read it several times.

Then, in 2002 the movie version, "Joshua," hit the theaters. Joshua was played by Tony Goldwyn. Stacey Edwards played Maggie. And as you may surmise by her name, Maggie was a modern equivalent of Mary Magdalene.

As often happens when books are turned into movies, a few licenses were taken with some scenes, but the plot remained untouched.

Spoiler alert!

One scene in the movie but not in the book was a conversation between Joshua and Maggie toward the end of the movie. Maggie was angry and upset that her life was in total shambles. She was angry that Joshua, with whom she had become quite fond, was leaving town.

In a fit of anger, she threw down a beautiful glass object she had been holding. It smashed into a hundred small splinters. She then stormed away from Joshua, tears flowing down her face.

As the movie draws to a close, Maggie talks with a local pastor, saying she was leaving town to start her life over again. He tells Maggie that Joshua left her a gift. He then held out a beautiful glass sculpture, obviously made from the hundreds of glass shards created when she threw it down during her confrontation with Joshua.

For most of us, the message was quite clear. When life becomes shattered, Jesus can pick up the pieces and create something beautiful for us and of us.

Quite often when bad things happen to good people, there are many questions: Why me? What now? How could this happen to me?

Despair can settle in as people tend to look toward what may be a bleak future.

And that is exactly what people without hope will see – a bleak future without any prospect of matters getting better. That is a horrible place to be.

Yet the assurance of being healed, even though the results may be different, is what comes from having faith in Jesus Christ. Realizing he is with you, has your best interest at heart, and wants you to know the joy of life creates hope and anticipation.

Jesus can take the broken pieces and shape and mold them into something beautiful – different, to be sure, but just as beautiful.

Romans 5:3–5, New Living Translation, states, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” 

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Faith in Jesus gives hope

Want to see s’more of your Crestview Public Library? 

Come to our Sneak Peek Party on Sept. 17 at 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. 

Be the first to see all of our improvements and perhaps more of the library than you’ve ever seen before. 

You can also:

• Eat a “s’more.” 
• Listen to live guitar music played by Rick Sanders. 
• Enjoy a story read by Ms. Heather while you “roast” a marshmallow by a “campfire.” 
• Play with Florida Fish and Wildlife’s interactive animal displays. 
• Ski through the library. 
• Use our new self-checkout. 
• Learn how to use the new catalog. 
• Join our Friends group. 

Registration is not required for this free event designed for all ages. 

Call me at 850-682-4432 with questions.

Heather Nitzel is the Youth Services Librarian at the Crestview Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Library to host sneak peek of new look, services

Some time ago, a pastor told me he was having a bad day. He had just learned of the death of a good friend and the news left him stunned.

The deacons in the church were arguing among themselves about a matter that should have been a no–brainer, but their wrangling could potentially split the church.

The budget was in trouble because contributions were falling off, and membership was dwindling slowly but surely.

The pressures weighed heavily on the pastor, causing a sour frame of mind to envelop him.

There was a knock on the church office door. He ignored it. A short time later the knock came again, more insistent. He ignored it again.

The knock came a third time, louder and even more insistent. Irritated, the pastor flew out of his chair, and threw open the office door.

Before him stood what may have been a homeless person, or someone down on his luck. The man appeared somewhat weathered, had endless tattoos that were revealed by his T–shirt and shorts, his smile exposed gold–covered teeth, commonly called a grill.

The pastor said in a not–so–pleasant tone, “You certainly are insistent. What do you need?”

The man smiled and said, “How are you today?” The pastor replied brusquely, not telling the truth, “I’m fine. What do you need?”

The man hesitated a moment, trying to appear friendly. But he was taken aback by the pastor’s short and somewhat hostile tone of voice, and simply replied, “Uh, nothing, nothing,” and then walked away.

A while later the pastor sat in his study reflecting on what had transpired. He realized his abruptness with the man at the door was because of his own internal turmoil.

The unexpressed grief over the death of his friend, pressures of a divided church board, unhappy members leaving the church, all came to a head.

The gentleman at the door was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and became the recipient of the pastor’s outburst – misdirected as it was.

This pastor told me that if he came across the gentleman to whom he was so rude, he would definitely apologize and seek forgiveness. I don’t know if he saw him again, but knowing the pastor as I do, I’m sure he would have followed through.

It happens, doesn’t it? There are times we tend to let pressures build up until they come out in hurtful ways. This is why it is important to not be so private that we cannot talk with others to help lighten our burdens, gain a different perspective, and deal appropriately with matters at hand. The apostle Paul said, “Be angry, but do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26)

Yes, put it all in perspective. Seek the counsel of a good friend. Seek guidance and comfort from the Lord and the scriptures. You are not alone, no matter what anyone else might tell you.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: You are not alone — seek counsel and guidance

Where did the summer go? I know that technically it is summer until Sept. 21, with the first day of fall being Sept. 22, and with this heat it still feels like summer.

Since school is now back in session, summer vacation is now over for most students.

Now that children are back in school we need to be mindful of our driving. Children and teenagers don't always make the best decisions, so it is up to us, as adults, to watch out for them.

Please pay extra attention to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic before pulling out of a parking lot onto the street, particularly around schools. Be aware of all traffic, especially bicyclists and pedestrians.

Our children are precious and we don't want them hurt due to any distractions.

Slow down around schools, bus stops and school buses. When a school bus pulls over and stops to let children on or off the bus, once the red lights are on, whether the "stop" sign is out or not, stop while children are entering or exiting.

Do not try to quickly pass the bus so you don't have to stop, as you may hit a child.

No one's time is more important than a child's life. It is our duty to protect them from mistakes, such as stepping in front of a car when exiting the bus or not paying attention to traffic.

Older students also have responsibilities. When walking either to or from school or the bus stop, students need to walk on the side of the street or, if possible, on the sidewalks.

Walking in the middle of a street and blocking traffic could lead to an accident. No one wants a student to get struck by a vehicle.

The students need to be aware that many of the vehicles are driven by people trying to get to work on time. There needs to be respect on the part of both the drivers and the students so that everyone gets to their respective destination safely.

Both drivers and pedestrians need to pay attention when out on the streets.

One safety tip for drivers is to leave for your destination earlier so you don't feel the need to speed. The safety of our children is much more important than getting some place earlier.

Students need to be taught the following safety rules:

• Look both ways before crossing a street or parking lot.
• Don't walk between parked cars as it is too difficult to be seen.
• Don't run across a street, as one could trip and get injured.
• If possible, cross the street with a light or a crossing guard.

Let's be aware of our students and drive carefully this new school year. We pray that both students and teachers will have a successful year.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: School is back in session

Ever want to spend a day on the farm? Farming used to be what everybody did many decades ago. The number of farms has decreased drastically over the years.

We’ve become disconnected from our food and fiber production. Many kids don’t know what a cotton plant or peanut plant looks like these days.

We, in agriculture, want you to reconnect with us.

We want to show off our new technologies that we use to farm now. Large farm tractors come equipped with GPS guidance these days. Not only does that make straight rows, but it means precise planting and care for the crop.

Farmers also use variable rate application equipment, which means providing just the right amount of fertilizer or pesticides only where it is needed. We have more technology in our tractors than most people have in their cars. Come visit us and let us show you our high-tech agriculture.

Remembering our roots

Now, we don’t want to forget our roots. Those older tractors helped us for many years. They paved the way for the new innovative machines that we now use. Come enjoy antique tractors as well.

We want to invite you to come experience a Day on the Farm.

Okaloosa County Farm Bureau is hosting this event on Sept. 11 at Nixon Farm Corn Maze on Martin Mill Road in Baker. The fun will start at 10 a.m.

We will have antique and new tractors on display. We will have concessions available for purchase. Our farmers will demonstrate their equipment that afternoon. We will also have an antique tractor parade.

Bring the kids. We’ll have fun activities just for them too! This will be day of fun for the whole family. Come reconnect with agriculture!

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Come experience a Day on the Farm

As our wonderful summer has now ended and school life is back in full swing, the list of activities and services available at the library are equally as exciting.

Brainfuse is available for all your schoolwork woes; whether you need help with your homework, personalized worksheets for practice or talking to a live tutor, Brainfuse is the place to go. Fun fact: There is also a component to help you prepare for that next job or to look for the perfect one.

Regular activities

Back to our regularly scheduled programming, Storytime and Teen Times are jumping back into their regular routines again, and we can’t wait to see you there.

For those of you that are looking for a more mature activity selection, there is a place for you also. Bookclub turns the pages of a new read every month at the library, helping you prepare for the next summer reading challenge in 2022.

If you don’t like to just roll the dice and see what turns up, the best strategy would be to undertake a rousing game of Scrabble or chess … or better yet, endeavor to reign victorious at both

Looking to the stars will have a much more informed impact following the astronomy workshops that will dazzle your imaginations. Dig your fingers into Hobby Farming and learn new techniques and skills such as canning or dehydrating your harvest. Craft up a new centerpiece of discussion in Coffee & Craft, something new each experience. Knit together new memories in the Knitting and Crochet Circle.

With so many options, you are sure to find the right spot for you, and we encourage you to try something new. Maybe you will find a new passion you didn’t know you had!

If you need more information, remember to stop by the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, or the website at https://cityofcrestview.org/library.php.

August Whittle is the adult services librarian at the Crestview Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Find your new passion at the Crestview library