Toadstool Incognito by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
As I backed the Chrysler out of the garage, I looked to my left and saw a piece of trash in the pasture that had blown across the fence. When I returned home, I spotted it again but didn’t bother to take the time to retrieve it. After a couple more days of repeating this scenario, it finally dawned on me what I was actually seeing. As I walked toward the “trash” with my tape measure, I squatted down and measured an amazing 11”-diameter toadstool. Judging only by looks, things are not always what we think they are.
The next day, I had an entertaining conversation with my mother-in-law. It was Sunday and I had gone to the 9:30 a.m. service, returned home, ate lunch, and changed into work clothes because I wanted to pick up the sticks in my yard. But first, I grabbed my mother-in-law’s mail and headed to her house across the lane. When I entered the back door around noon, she looked at me and asked, “Didn’t you go to church today?“ I grinned and responded, “I went to the early service.” I don’t blame her for assuming I hadn’t gone to church because I looked like the grapes of wrath from the top of my head to my dirty tennis shoes. I was a Christian incognito — just like the disguised toadstool.
I’ve always been fond of the Old Testament account where the prophet Samuel is at Jesse’s place trying to find the right son to anoint as the next king of Israel. Like the rest of us, Samuel thought a king should have a certain “look” about him. “…Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ’Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ’Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:6,7 NLT). (The heart is the center of our inner life, the place of thinking, feeling, and choosing.)
The outward appearance of a believer is all anyone can literally see. So we need to remember that our everyday born-again lifestyle needs to correspond with our born-again heart that obeys God and loves others. It’s good protocol to do a self-checkup on our heart quite often. What kind of facial expressions do we carry around? Have you ever had someone ask, “Why are you looking at me like that?” I have, and it wasn‘t a compliment either. The Bible describes our facial expressions as our countenance. What’s in the heart will show up on the face. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance…” (Proverbs 15:13 NKJV). And after Cain murdered his brother, “So the Lord said to Cain, ’Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?’” (Genesis 4:6 NKJV). Either way, your face will surely show it.
Just as Jesus taught His followers 2,000 years ago, we find that it’s still all about the heart. “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT). At that time, the religious leaders were only concerned with outward appearances and were completely neglecting inward purity, which was/is a big “No No” to Jesus. He spoke to them bluntly, “…You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy — full of greed and self-indulgence! …First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too” (Matthew 23:25 NLT).
The Key: Next time you wash the dishes, do your part and examine your heart.
AD: Help Wanted at Bandera Stone
Bandera Stone is a natural stone quarrier and fabricator based
in Bourbon County since 1988. We operate a cut stone mill &
quarry in Redfield, a quarry near Bronson, and have recently
opened a showroom in Uniontown. We provide crushed rock to
farmers, ranchers & homeowners in the western half of the
county, and ship building stone throughout the United States.
We are continuing to expand and have IMMEDIATE OPENINGS for
FULL–TIME EMPLOYMENT, NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED.
We will provide training to operate a variety of stone fabrication tools and equipment. You will create products that last a lifetime and take pride as they are displayed and help beautify homes, businesses, parks & recreation facilities, public buildings and more in our local area and across the country.
We offer:
• Competitive Pay Rate
• Paid Vacation & Holidays
• Health Insurance (BCBS—low cost to you, low $500 deductible)
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Work locations in Redfield & Bronson
APPLY: email your resume to [email protected] or call 620–223–3920 or in person at 103 3rd Street in Uniontown or 101 W 4th Street in Redfield.
AD: Vote Republican November 8
Healthy Cooking for the Holidays
By Clara Wicoff
Southwind Extension District
What do you most look forward to about the holidays? For many, including myself, the answer may be holiday foods. Many families have incredible traditions centered on traditional foods that they only get to enjoy a few times each year. These holiday celebrations and traditions are important and should be cherished. At the same time, you may be wondering how you can make your traditional holiday recipes healthier.
Many favorite holiday foods, like pumpkin pie or green bean casserole, actually start with a healthy first ingredient. By focusing on that vegetable or fruit, you can reduce the large amounts of fats and sugar usually found in our traditional holiday recipes. To do this, consider switching from a traditional green bean casserole to a green bean sauté, from traditional mashed potatoes to yogurt mashed potatoes, from a traditional pumpkin pie to a crustless pumpkin pie, or from a traditional apple pie to slow cooker baked apples. Some of these recipes still contain more calories than we should regularly consume, but they are more healthful alternatives as compared to the traditional recipes because they increase the nutritional value and fiber while decreasing the calories, added sugar, and sodium.
With all of this, it is essential to highlight the importance of adapting this based on what is important to your family traditions and culture. There may be some recipes which are important for your family to enjoy as is. If this is the case, consider if you can make just one swap to a healthier recipe for a different item.
To learn more, consider attending my “Healthy Cooking for the Holidays” program at the Erie Library on November 16th at 10 AM. Attendees will dive deeper into this information and practice making one of the recipes. This program is free, but an RSVP is required by calling 620-365-2242.
For more information about healthy holiday cooking, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.
No Bourbon County Commission Meeting on Nov. 8
There will be no Bourbon County Commission meeting on Nov. 8 because of the election.
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION for Nov. 7
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
NOVEMBER 7, 2022
12:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
J. Jones T. Van Hoecke M. Wells K. Harrington
II. CONSIDERATION:
1. Approval of financial services from BakerTilly
2. Approval of Special Use Permit
III. Adjournment:
U.S. Senator Moran at Fort Scott Community College on Nov. 7
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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) today announced he will tour Fort Scott Community College at 10:30 a.m. CT, on Monday, November 7th. Media is invited to attend. |
City/County Commissions Meeting Nov. 22
There will be a joint City/County Commissions Meeting on November 22nd, 2022, at 12:00 PM. It will be held at the Empress Center.
Firefighters Coming to the Library
Storytime at Fort Scott Public Library will feature special guests from the Fort Scott Fire Department this Tuesday, November 8, at 10 am. Bring your young children to learn about firefighters and fire trucks with a touch-a-truck session, and then stay for stories, crafts, and snacks with Miss Val. Kids will also receive a plastic firefighter hat (while supplies last).
Storytime is a weekly event, with remote options available. In-person storytimes are Tuesdays at 10 am, while virtual storytimes are posted on-demand, with curbside pickup options, on Thursdays at 10 am. For more information, contact Miss Val at [email protected]. Watch the FSPL Facebook page for upcoming events, and fill out this form to order a curbside storytime kit if you want to participate virtually: https://forms.gle/
What’s Happening in Fort Scott Nov. 4
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Obituary of Betty Button
Betty Jean Button, age 82, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. She was born January 17, 1940, in Ellis, Kansas, the daughter of Henry Kutina and Stella Parsons Kutina.
Betty married Ronald Button on January 17, 1955, at Ft. Scott. Betty along with her sister-in-law, Rose, completed beauty school in Nevada, Missouri. Betty worked as a beauty operator in Ft. Scott for many years. Later in life, she worked for Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott. Betty liked to travel and watch gameshows.
Survivors include her three children, Johnny Button, of the home; Teresa Vanderpool (John) of Uniontown, Kansas and Cheryl Russell (Larry) of Ft. Scott, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Michael Russell, Justin Russell, Nick Russell (Jessy), Josh Vanderpool, Cody Vanderpool, Menda Candido (Jurandir) and Kayla Bunnel (Jeremy) and eleven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie, on April 20, 2018. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ruby, twin brothers, Floyd and Lloyd, and a granddaughter, Melissa Russell.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 9th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Paws & Claws Shelter and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.