Counterfeit Religion by Patty LaRoche
Counterfeit religion is not in short supply. Too many church-goers have been tricked into believing that they are going to Heaven because they do good works or fake behaviors that deceive. They are in trouble. There is no relationship with God. There is no “new creation” after they claim they accepted Jesus into their lives. There is no fruit blooming as a demonstration to others that they have matured in their walk with the Lord.
Oh, they go through the motions. They take brownies to an ailing neighbor. They bow their heads in prayer and are slightly bothered when someone takes God’s name in vain. They promise to pray for hurting friends and volunteer at the church food bank. Their Bibles lie open on their coffee tables, and they host prayer groups in their homes. Still, no heart change exists. There is no desire to become holy, even though 1 Peter 1:16b makes no bones about it when he repeats what God told the Israelites: You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Before you decide to throw in the spiritual towel, please know this: A pretend Christian is not a struggling Christian. The latter describes every one of us; we all sin and mess up. (Thank you, Jesus, that I’m not alone in this.)
But notice the clarity of God’s demand. There is no “consider holiness” or “think about acting holy” or “hope you find holiness before you die.” No such luck. God wants more. You. Shall. Be. Holy…
If you’re like me, you’re squirming. Wouldn’t it be better if we were told just to “try a little harder” or “be nice” or “figure out a way to make people like you”? Asking us to be “HOLY” seems a little too much, don’t you think?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what we think. It matters what God thinks, and that is the goal He has set for each of us. We must pray for God to help us resist temptation and choose purity, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where we are displeasing our Creator, and study the Bible to know what is expected.
Counterfeit/pretend religion deceives. It keeps us in acting mode. We play the part well, while hiding the real us from others.
- Our Cheshire grins, saved for neighbors or pew-mates, belie the alley-cat fights dominating our homelife.
- A daily fix of Facebook draws us into quarrels as passions are ignited over differing political opinions or self-righteous, judgmental calls.
- We belt out “Amazing Grace” from the first row of pews but once inside our car, tune our radios to secular music about sex and booze.
- We cry out to God when an emergency arises but completely ignore Him once our prayers are answered.
Counterfeit Christians want the most of God with the least effort. They desire to keep one foot in their daily pleasures and one foot in spiritual considerations. James 4:4 addresses such a contradiction: Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Our goal needs to be to draw closer to God. But here’s the awesome part—that’s God’s goal too! He is waiting with open arms for us to ask for His help to make us holy. We are not left floundering, hoping we get smacked upside our heads with a halo. All we have to do is ask with a sincere heart, “Heavenly Father, please teach me how to be holy.” That’s my prayer. I hope it’s yours too.
The Artificers In August
The Artificers In AugustAugust is almost here! Check out the calendar below for all the classes and events happening this next Month! |
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Summer ReviewAll of your Favorite master and guest artist are sharing a show this First Friday! Come in during August 4th to have a last chance to see all their work together! |
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Classes Are Available On The Website!All of the classes for the rest of the year are up on our website! Go check them out and get in before everyone else!! |
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Obituary of Chester Bower
Chester “Chet” Eugene Bower, age 79, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Tuesday morning, July 25, 2023, in his home after battling cancer. He was born on November 6, 1943, to Jesse and June Dunbar Bower.
He graduated from Uniontown High School in 1961, and married Linda Morilla in 1965. He worked the majority of his career in bridge building construction and after retiring, worked in house construction for a few years.
For the last 20 years he has enjoyed gardening and selling produce to the community through the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market.
He was a member of the Community Christian Church.
Throughout the years, he enjoyed coaching baseball, hunting, fishing, camping, playing cards, and spending time with his grandkids.
Survivors include his wife, Linda of the home; his son, Jerod Bower, Devon, KS; his daughter, Belinda Smith (Nathan), La Monte, MO; five grandchildren, Paige Stainbrook, Brenna Bower, Jenna Smith, Ethan
Smith, and Tyler Smith; and one sister, Roberta Rickman.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Bower; his mother, June Dunbar Bower; four sisters, Mabel Bower Green, Margaret Bower Rhodes, and two infant sisters; and five brothers, Jay Bower, Floyd Bower, Perry Bower, John Bower, and Leroy Bower.
There was cremation.
Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 29 th , at the Community Christian Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time at the Church.
Memorials are suggested to Show-Me Christian Youth Home or Community Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS
66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Naomi (Sweeney) Snow
Naomi Carol (Sweeney) Snow, age 85, resident of Pittsburg, KS died Wednesday morning, July 26, 1937, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg. She was born on September 17, 2023, in Deerfield, MO, the daughter of Archie Carl Sweeney and Gertrude G. (Relaford) Sweeney. She lived in the Kansas City area, Warsaw, Mo, and later Pittsburg, KS.
Survivors include her husband Victor J. Snow, Jr.; her children, Donetta “Donita” Schuler, Pleasant Valley, MO, Daniel “Danny” Seeley, Warsaw, MO, Sheila Palmer, Kansas City, KS, and Glendale “Glen” Tippin, Kansas City; her brother, Vernie Sweeney, Kansas City area; her step children Victor Snow III, Vicky Henderson, Mike Snow, and Robert Snow of the Kansas City area; as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family, friends, and a World that loved her.
She will be sadly missed by all, leaving a great void in our lives. All who knew her have no doubt that she has reached her Mansion in the Sky with the Lord.
Pastor Danny Brown will conduct services at 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 2nd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Naomi Snow Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Nick Trim: New SRO at Uniontown School District
Nicholas (Nick) Trim, is the new School Resource Officer at Uniontown School District 235.
He will wear many hats at U235 in addition to SRO, which include: transportation director, and environmental and school safety coordinator.
“My duties as an SRO include being the Law Enforcement presence at the school and act as a liaison between school staff and Law Enforcement entities to determine if the issue at hand is a crime or violation of policy,” Trim said. “Most importantly my job is to help influence students to make good choices in life and be a mentor for them should they need it. My job is to investigate and send for prosecution any violation or crime that arises on school grounds.”
“This is my first year as transportation director in the civilian sector,” Trim said. “I’m learning as I go. But the most important aspect of this job is student safety. My job is to ensure all district vehicles are with in compliance of state and federal law and road worthy and ensure the transportation staff remains current in their training and state mandated requirements.”
“My duties as environmental and physical safety coordinator include ensuring fire extinguishers are serviceable and ready to use,” he said. “Physical locks, security measures, and surveillance systems for the school system are in place and serviceable. Provide national disaster safety measures and drills.”
Trim earned his associates degree from The Community College of the Air Force in Tactical Aircraft Maintenance. He was a
U.S. Air Force Technical Sargent (E-6), Retired Active Duty Air Force May 1996-June 2016
He is a U.S. veteran of operations – Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom as An F-15 C/D/E Crew Chief serving based out of Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Kadena AFB, Okinawa; Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM.
He has 12 years Law Enforcement experience:
- 6 years Reserve Deputy, Otero County, New Mexico
- 2 Years Full Time Fort Scott Police Department
- 5 plus years Full time Patrol Deputy Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
“The best part of my job is being able to meet new people, help those in their most dire time of need, and navigate negative circumstance to a positive outcome,” Trim said.
“The biggest challenge in this job is doing the right thing to the right person at right time,” he said. “I have learned to live by this motto: Clear your mind and purify your heart as to means of overcoming fear and uneasy circumstances.”
He has been married to Melissa for over 24 years and has two boys. Nathan, 18, a 2023 graduate of Christian Learning Center (CLC) in Fort Scott. Nathan leaves for the Marine Corps in August 2023. Zachary is 7 years-old and entering the 1st grade in the fall of 2023.
He has a German Shepard, Thor, and a black lab mix, Dixie.
In his spare time he enjoys hunting, teaching people self-defense with firearms and firearms safety.
Inspirational Basketball Show August 6 at FSHS
CHAMPIONS FOREVER- Are you ready to be inspired?! They were finalists on America’s Got Talent!! — Bruce, Diane and their family of 12 children have been in 40 countries, using their Spin-tacular Basketball Show to entertain and share a message of HOPE to this generation! They had even been invited to perform for 3 back to back NBA Finals Games. This show is an awesome way to tie up Summer with your family, right here in Fort Scott. Champions Forever will be at Fort Scott High school on Sunday, August 6th at 2:00 p.m. Get your tickets at www.advancebourboncounty.com
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 27
Newly Created Position in USD 234: Haley Jones
Haley Jones, 28, is the new USD 234 Board of Education Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator, as of July 5.
The position is a combination of administrative assistant and communications coordinator, which is a new feature to the board.
“As administrative assistant, I perform various clerical tasks, take phone calls, filing, organizing calendars, and greeting those who visit the board,” Jones said. “With the communications coordinator position, I create/send out any important information or updates for our school district- via email, social media, texts, and our website. As well as reaching out to those in our community who are able to be of assistance in helping spread the word for us. I will continue to grow in this position and learn/take on new responsibilities.”
Jones was a para-educator at Fort Scott High School in early 2020, and then in late 2020 worked as an insurance customer service rep for Cobalt MedPlans until July of 2023.
Jones graduated from FSHS in 2013 and then graduated from Fort Scott Community College with an Associates Degree in 2017.
Her family is boyfriend, Derek Houdashelt and children nine-year -old Aiden Houdshelt and 8-month-old Kash Houdashelt.
Friday Night Free Concert: Faith’s Journey
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be a special performance by Faith’s Journey, a trio from Branson, Mo. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 301 S. National Ave., which is bringing this concert to the public.
A free-will offering will be accepted.
Faith’s Journey is a ministry of music that performs over 120 dates a year from coast to coast. This ministry is comprised of Jonathan Edwards, MC and baritone for the group; his wife Deana Edwards soprano; and Scott Roberts, tenor and pianist.
Faith’s Journey has ministered on small and large stages across the country singing great traditional gospel music. They have been featured performers at Branson’s Silver Dollar City as well as had their music played on radio stations across the country.
Friday Night Concerts are organized by Ralph Carlson and sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Sound support is provided by Dave’s Music and Jim Butler.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 26
CHC/SEK Fort Scott Offers Mammograms to Women at Open House on August 2
FORT SCOTT – Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) invites women to celebrate their health at its 3D mammography event. “Celebrate You” will be from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 2 at 2322 S. Main St.
For women age 40 to 74 years of age, it is recommended to have a screening mammogram every one to two years. CHC/SEK is proud to offer 3D mammography services to area women. According to the American Cancer Society, several studies have shown 3D mammograms provide more detailed imaging and can detect up to 40 percent more cancers than 2D mammograms.
No appointment or referral is required to attend the event. Most insurances are accepted however, no one is denied care. Those who attend will receive free refreshments and a gift. For information about this event, call 620-223-8484.