Matthew 28:18-20 is one of the most recognizable passages in the Bible. Referred to as “The Great Commission,” these couple of verses tell us what our work here on earth should entail. In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

GENUINE JOY. The way King Solomon describes his life in the book of Ecclesiastes reveals much about the vanity of pursuing the "things" of earth. In chapter 2, Solomon greatly gratified his fleshly desires. He gave himself to drinking wine. He made houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, and pools to water everything. He had great numbers of servants and more herds and flocks than anyone. He gathered great amounts of gold, silver, and special treasures from various kingdoms. He also had many singers and musicians to entertain him. He then says, "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure" (v. 10). Solomon had it all. You would expect him to be the happiest person on earth. Yet what was his conclusion? "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind" (v.11). In other words, despite all of his earthly wisdom and earthly treasures, it provided no real joy to his soul. True joy only comes from being rightly related to God and finding joy in Him. That's why Paul exhorted the Philippian Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). God longs for us to rejoice in Him and His blessings rather than the temporary things of earth. There are many more, but here are seven reasons true Christians rejoice. #1 - Jesus paid the debt for all of our sin (1 Pet. 2:24). #2 - The Lord has given us eternal life (John 10:27-28). #3 - Because we are in Christ, there is no condemnation (John 3:18, Rom. 8:1). #4 - The Lord has set us free from being enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:6). #5 - God makes all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). #6 - The Holy Spirit is our indwelling guide, helper, and teacher (John 14:26). #7 - The Lord will meet our every need (Phil. 4:19). The bottom line: True joy is found in Jesus, not in the junk of this world!

The Hobart Homemakers FCE group met Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. Janie opened with the Flag Salute. Roll call was, "What are you taking to the fair?" It was answered by 6 members. The minutes and treasurer’s report were read and approved.

Freedom has always been something that we have guarded closely in this country. The United States was founded on the idea of individual freedom, and care has been taken through the years to preserve those freedoms. However, freedom, when it comes to our personal choices, can be a dangerous thing. Maybe a better way to say it is that the free choices we make can have consequences.

OUR SUFFICIENCY. Have you ever noticed that some people have a good dose of an inferiority complex? Perhaps at times we all feel like we don't measure up to the physical or mental abilities of others and therefore lack self-esteem. This perhaps especially manifests itself in young people. Moses serves as an example. After God told Moses that he was the man to deliver Israel from Egypt, Exodus 4:10-12 tells us, "Then Moses said to the LORD, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.' So the LORD said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'" I suppose there's a place for encouraging others in their abilities when they lack self esteem, but exceedingly far more beneficial is encouraging them that God has made us as we are for His glory. God made us with our height, hair color, eyesight, mental and physical abilities, etc. The Apostle Paul stated the truth of his situation, saying, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am..." (1 Cor. 15:9-10). God didn't give Paul the same experiences as He did the other apostles who walked for three years with the Lord Jesus. Paul was also apparently short and had poor eyesight. Did that make him have an inferiority complex? Not at all! His view of life was - "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10). Paul's confidence was not in himself but in Jesus and so he stated, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Where is our trust?

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday, July 15th, that 26 Kansas nonprofit organizations will receive more than $4 million in Community Service Tax Credits (CSP) to improve and enhance fundraising efforts for education, healthcare, childcare, and housing projects.

Terry Odle: “Yes, Sentinel ads do work! I placed a “Lost” classified in the paper on Friday afternoon, and when the online edition came out at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, my lost chair had been found, and the reward was paid.”

THE 35TH INFANTRY DIVISION BAND with the Kansas Army National Guard performed at the Nova Theatre on Wednesday, July 14th. Those that attended the performance were entertained from the minute the talented musicians hit the stage. Their array of songs had everyone clapping, tapping their toes, singing, laughing and crying.

At the end of the regular monthly meeting of the Stockton USD 271 Board of Education held on Monday, July 12th, the members present voted to contract Rhonda Rogers as the grade school secretary. They also accepted the resignation from Hannah Friend as the junior high volleyball coach, and approved Megan Riener as the new junior high volleyball coach.

THANK YOU! Harry and Willardene were elated with the card shower and reception on July 3rd in recognition of their 60 years together. A special thanks to daughter Ellen and daughter-in-law, Tiffany, for arranging the event.