Dear Church Family –
It is good to be back! I missed you all last week. Last Sunday I was with grandkids at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pinedale, Wyoming, and a week ago Sunday I preached at Oshoto Community Bible Church in Wyoming where our own Todd Busenitz pastors.
I enjoyed a few blessed days away from news and the news media. I think it’s good for all of us to take an occasional “media fast” to lower our blood pressure and recalibrate our minds and spirits to eternal things.
Re-entering my normal life pattern this week, I noticed that the Presidential campaign in America, and the war in Israel, haven’t gotten better while I was gone.
The presidential campaign shows two very different views of what’s good for America. And the war in Israel shows two very different views of what’s good for the Middle East.
God has given us universal principles to help us discern the best of competing ways of life. One of those principles is: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” It’s repeated twice in Proverbs so we won’t miss it: Proverbs 14:12 and 16:23.
The Harris/Walz vision for America is a way of death—certainly to unborn babies, but also to freedom of speech and religious freedom and some aspects of democracy as they tilt toward socialism.
The Hamas vision for the Middle East is a way of death—certainly to Israelis and the nation of Israel, but also to democracy, and religious freedom.
We have been given the joy and stewardship of living, showing, and facilitating the way of life.
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’” (Jeremiah 21:8) “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
I’m excited and encouraged about our new Fall Sunday School classes that started last Sunday, and Fall Bible studies that are starting soon. These are the best ways to get to know others in the church and help each other apply God’s Word to life situations.
Thanks to Bitty Wiebe for contributing to these thrice-weekly-thoughts while I was gone. And thanks to Dr. Gary Gromacki and Ben Bielenberg for leading us in God’s Word while I was gone.
At Todd’s church two Sundays ago, I shared a recent statement I heard that has lodged in my mind and spirit this summer: If you’re not in a trial right now, first, thank God, second, realize that some of your brothers and sisters at church are.
Looking to Jesus for His vision for life – Pastor Tim
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