Memorial Day Messages

 We had two great Memorial Day messages this past Sunday. One about making memories through caring and ministering to others and one about giving honor to those who deserve it whether you like them or not. I am glad to go to church where we are ministered to by great pastors and where we can fellowship with great people.

I will never write here all that our pastors have said. You need to be there in person to hear them for yourself. I only share how their words affected me and any inspiration that the Holy Spirit gave me while they were preaching.

Bridget in Church

 It was good to have our sister Bridget in service last night. She seems very thin and frail but she seemed to be clear headed and in good spirits. Bridget still has a long road of recovery ahead of her. But at least she was strong enough to go to church last night. Thank God for that!

Thoughts On Uvalde

 There is a troubling thought about school shootings that is overlooked or ignored in the reporting. There is some evidence and understanding that homosexual rape of a boy by a man produces such shame and rage that it could easily turn a troubled, weak boy into a mass murderer.

You cannot research this on Google. But there is truth in the Story of Lot in Sodom that shows just a glimpse into the irrational rage of homosexual men towards outsiders. This was well know to ancient people, but it is hidden from our modern world.

The Uvalde shooting will devolve into a gun ownership argument. Gun laws make it hard to own a gun but those laws did nothing to stop mass murder. And this poor 18 year old boy will be labeled as troubled or a loser or a monster to dehumanize him without understanding why a young boy is so filled with rage against society.

We reap what we sow. God is not mocked. 

One final thought. People who murder the unborn with no shred of remorse are up in arms and distraught over 19 young children murdered in cold blood. Hypocrites!

Troubling Thoughts of Job

 "Does it seem good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?" Job10:3

When our pastor mentioned this verse recently it struck me that just maybe Job was more aware of what was happening than we might understand. Job felt hurt that God would treat him so badly and afflict him in such a cruel manner. Persistent pain and overwhelming grief and financial pressure one on top of the other. Would you or I be able to bear up under even one of those things? Job tried hard to stay righteous with his mouth. To believe that God is good when He seems to be acting against us is hard.

Job felt that God had forsaken him in the darkest hour of Job's life. Job wondered why God would turn blessing into cursing. And Job questioned God's goodness towards him. Job felt oppressed and Job felt abandoned.

One final thought. Job wondered why God would be happy with the one who devised all of this evil against him. Why would God smile at the plans to hurt him? Why is God pleased while Job is suffering? 

It is easy to bear up under the attacks of our enemies. But it is devastating to suffer at the hand of our Father and our God. The wonder of the whole story of Job is that Job didn't turn away and forsake God.

People have turned away from Christ and the church over smaller issues than I have gone through. I'm still here and I trust that God will act for me right now. Amen!

Good Folks

 I am amazed at the kindness and the helpfulness of the people in my new church. They never cease to amaze me. God bless these good hearted people.

God blesses those who bless me. Amen.

Sleeping Through The Storm

 "But he was in the stern, asleep on a pillow." Mark 4:38

There are three men in the Bible that I can think of who were found sleeping on a boat in the midst of a storm where all around them were afraid. One of those is in this text. Jesus was sleeping through the storm. One was Jonah who also was found sleeping through a storm and the third was Paul on his way to Rome where he was sleeping below deck.

How do we find a place in Christ where we are able to sleep through a storm that is raging around us? Jesus said it is faith that allows us to be at peace when all those around us are in turmoil. Also, Jesus might be asleep on the boat but he is still on the boat. Storms are what make life interesting and surviving storms gives us something to rest on and boast in God over.

God never sleeps. But His son did. And if God is always vigilant about what is going on in our lives then why do we worry about things that we have no control over?

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

An Important Concept To Understand

 One thing that we must always keep in mind is that the bible is strictly focused on God, not on history. The Bible is God's word to humanity. The Bible tells us how Christ got here and why he came and how God worked through human history to bring bout redemption. 

There is history in the Bible but it is not a history book. You can go crazy trying to make historical sense out of the Biblical record. There may be benefit in speculation over what is not written and recorded but the focus of the Bible is so clear and easy to understand that we are without excuse.

It does not matter where Cain got his wife or how long it took Noah to build the ark or why God did not criticize Abraham for not defending his wife's honor. Do we really need to know if Paul was married or how did men travel and ignore their families?

God had a plan before the world began. We are involved in some kind of eternal Divine drama. We have to take the bible for what it is and not try to force onto it more than is there. It is only required that we be faithful to what we know and leave the rest to God.