Law enforcement vehicles block Y Highway at night with emergency lights flashing across the road.

My Neighbor Shot Four Officers Last Night and Stone County Woke Up Different

A quiet stretch of Y Highway in Stone County turned into a roadblock under flashing lights after my neighbor, Richard Bird, shot four officers, killing two and wounding two. I was stuck near Reeds Spring as helicopters and drones swept the woods. Here’s what that night revealed about sin, brokenness, and the urgent hope of the gospel.

Branson, Before the Lights

In this heartfelt reflection, pastor and writer Rich Bitterman shares vivid memories of growing up in Branson, Missouri—before the lights, before the boom, when the Ozarks whispered instead of shouted. “A Place That Chose Me” is a nostalgic journey through small-town life, sacred places, and the enduring pull of home in the Missouri hills.