Faith

PASTOR’S CORNER, Jeremy Harris, First Southern Baptist Church, Liberal

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. ~ Romans 6:12-13

Chuck Norris has to register his hands and feet as weapons of mass destruction. However the rest of us have probably not ever considered ourselves as weapons. Paul in his letter to the church in Rome makes it clear that our bodies and even parts of our bodies are being used (with our permission) as either weapons for UNrighteousness or as weapons of righteousness. Some translations use the word instrument here, but the greek word Paul uses literally means weapon.

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

The Church is not the world. The world is fickle. The world is flaky. The world is lit up with fireworks. We have quickly kindled a love of celebration for freedom by lighting off fireworks, or at least hearing them, but the Church is more somber in Her celebration.  While the world set aglow and is filled with “LOUD NOISES!”, the Church quietly celebrated the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her relative, Elizabeth, to see the glad tidings that God bestowed upon Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as the gladder tidings which the angel Gabriel brought to that lowly maiden, Mary.  All this is found in Luke 1:39-56.

After they shared greetings with one another, just as we might, the baby, John who would be baptizing people in the Jordan in the years to come, leapt in the womb of Elizabeth at the greeting of Mary as his Lord, Jesus, was upon the scene. 

PASTOR’S CORNER, Jeremy Harris, First Southern Baptist Church, Liberal

I’m sure all of us at some point in our lives have met someone who was downright unlikeable. Have you ever considered that you might be someone else’s “unlikeable?” When it comes right down to it, we all do somethings that are less than likeable. We’ve all chosen to be rude, or self serving, or to lie, or to cheat. We yelled when we should have stayed calm. We fought when we should have forgiven. Would you like some good news? God knows all about your shortcomings and He loves you still!

PASTOR’S CORNER, Jeremy Harris, First Southern Baptist Church, Liberal

As a guy who has grown up Southern Baptist all my life, I do not have much experience with the practice of catechism. It’s just not something we do. However several years ago I heard this statement from the Westminster Shorter Catechism that has stuck with me. The question being answered is “What is the chief end of man?” Basically, why are we here? The answer given in the catechism is “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Have you ever considered that our failings can point out our purpose?