Many of you

know I was well into my middle age years before I finally found my little

niche in life here in the newspaper business. And, strangely enough, it

was right here in this building, nearly 20 years ago, just a couple of

rooms down the hall, where I first started my new careeras receptionist

and advertising secretary for the old Fayette Sun. Even more strange is

the fact that I also did religion newsbriefs, if you willexactly what

I'm doing now, and from exactly the same source, your bulletins and newsletters.

My career has truly gone full circle, hasn't it?

Of course,

in between has been some pretty exciting stuffreporter, columnist, photographer,

editor, and managing editor for the "other" paper; death-defying

chases in police cars; emotional, gut-wrenching political stories and

editorials; precarious and sometimes dangerous photographic experiences

(I once climbed and perched on top of a barn to get a photo of a suspected

tornado's path); and feature stories on the people and pulse of Fayette

which warmed my heart.

Now, a settled

and much-mellowed senior citizen, I can't help but reflect back on those

things which really made an impression on me in my neophyte newspaper

years. One of them is the gentleman who is the topic of the story below.

I first heard

of him when I was doing the religion news 20 years ago. Now I hear him

on the radio constantly and read of his good work everywhere.

The following

article appeared in the Fayetteville Christian Church "Caller"

some months ago and impressed me enough to want to keep it and share it

with you. I love stories about people and where they came from, what they

became, and how they got thereguess that's why I love the newspaper business,

huh? This was written by Daniel Overdorf, Senior Minister of the Fayetteville

Christian Church. I know you will enjoy it...

Investing Wisely

Bonds, real

estate, blue chips, certificates of deposit, precious metals...the world

of financial investing can get awfully confusing. In every investment

opportunity, however, there is one bottom-line question to which you'll

find yourself returning: What's the return? What will I profit by investing

in a certain opportunity?

Perhaps that

same question should be asked concerning other matters in life. Let me

tell you about one man's investment and the return he realized.

Soon after

marrying, George McClusky decided to invest one hour a day in prayer.

Every day at 11 a.m. he would pray specifically that his children would

come to know Christ, and that their homes would one day honor Christ.

After a while, he decided to expand this prayer to the future generations,

investing prayer for this grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As George's

two daughters grew, they both married Christian men who became full-time

ministers. These two couples provided George with four grandchildren,

all of whom also grew up to enter full-time ministry. This generation

produced two boysgreat-grandchildren of George. The two boys, cousins,

chose the same college and became roommates. During their sophomore year,

one of the boys made the decision to enter full-time ministry. The other,

however, knowing and feeling the pressure of the family legacy, chose

not to enter the ministry. In a manner of speaking, this young man became

the "black sheep" of the familythe first in four generations

not to enter full-time ministry.

This black

sheep decided instead to pursue his passion for psychology. After completing

his college studies, he entered graduate school, eventually earning a

doctorate. He began writing, producing books about parenting, marriage,

and the family. The books became best-sellers, and eventually he started

a radio program that is broadcast daily on thousands of radio stations.

The name of

this "black sheep?" James Dobson. Dr. Dobson is the founder

of "Focus on the Family" and is one of the strongest voices

for Christian values in our world today. George McClusky's investment

had quite a return, wouldn't you say? Prayer for our families...sounds

like an opportunity too good to pass up!

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