Dear Church Family –
The Good News this past week:
1. God displayed His glory in creation Monday with an eclipse of the sun by the moon. Judith and I, along with kids and grandkids, got to see it in the path of totality and it was spectacular.
“Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.” (Psa 148:3-6)
2. The National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics ruled that only biological females can compete in the league’s women’s competitions. One news analyst liked this to last Monday’s eclipse and said, “Now, it seems like we're close to being on the other side of the eclipse of reason on this issue. It's getting brighter, I think.”
3. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an Arizona law dating from 1864 that bans most abortions is enforceable and does not conflict with a newer state law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of gestation.
The Bad News this past week:
An Idaho teen was armed and planning to attack churches on behalf of ISIS. The good news is that the FBI uncovered the plot and arrested the teen. The bad news is that the teen had turned to radical Islam, that he planned suicidal violence against Christians, and that the FBI warns that we can expect more of this in the near future.
I hope, and pray, that the “eclipse of reason” in our nation is waning and that the light of reason will return. Our best activity is to keep the light of truth burning brightly in our lives, our families, and our churches.
As Dr. Jim Denison said so well in his Daily Article this morning: “…evangelism is not the imposition of personal opinion but the sharing of life-giving truth. Spiritual formation is not the religious hobby of some but the indispensable path to flourishing for all. Serving Christ is vital to serving America.”
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” (2 Cor 4:16-17)
We’ll see you Sunday when we look at one of the most comical statements of Jesus, where He used humor and hyperbole to make a point that pierces the heart. It’s in Matthew 7:1-6.
Because of Christ and for His kingdom – Pastor Tim