Faith

God’s house of prayer

PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal

Johnny’s mom was furious. She heard the report from her daughter, “Mom, Johnny has been causing a scene.” The mom rushed out of the Sunday School room into the Fellowship Hall and sees many women with exasperated looks on their faces. She sees the pastor running over to the Fellowship Hall, his alb blowing back due to the speed at which he runs. She rounds the corner and sees what the commotion is about.

Righteous wealth is far better

PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal

In Luke 16, we hear as Jesus says, “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

Breaking news: Jesus commends dishonesty. This would have been a headline in the days when Jesus walked on the earth. At least that is how some in the media might have portrayed Jesus’ words. Yet that is not what the Scriptures say. Jesus says, “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.”

Williams talks ‘Life With the Holy Spirit’

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Many Christians are frequently looking for ways to deepen their relationship with the Holy Spirit, and recently, author Janet Williams wrote a book to help with just that, titled “Life With the Holy Spirit.”

Good fruit

PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal

Summer has been in full swing for a while, and the fruits of summer have been enjoyed. No, I’m not talking about heat beyond compare – well, heat beyond compare this side of the afterlife for those who reject our Lord and Savior; I’m talking about the fruits of a garden if you planted some things to grow. We have been swimming in cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes, along with some bell peppers and eggplant. It seems those who want things tastier than the usual bland things mostly grown hydroponically for mass sales at stores tend and nourish the dirt of this earth. Gardeners and farmers tend and nourish the ground, adding supplements in due season, because they want their crops to be bumper crops, and they enjoy tastier things than what can be had from the closest big-box store.

The greatest is love

PASTOR’S CORNER, Phillip Dow, New Beginnings Church, Liberal

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

—1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

When life gets stripped down to its essentials—when the noise dies down, the titles fade, and the dust settles—what are we left with? Paul answers that question with stunning clarity in this single verse from 1 Corinthians 13: “These three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”