Wisdom of The Week

     While we were out looking for a Christmas tree a week ago, we heard some faint “honking” above us and looked up to faintly see a flock of probably 30-40 geese heading south for the winter, flying about a mile above us in order to clear the Cabinet Mountains with peaks around 8,500 feet in elevation. Canada geese, in their iconic V-formations, can fly an astonishing 1500 miles in just 24 hours, providing they have a tailwind and not a headwind. They normally average about 40 mph but with a headwind, can reach speeds up to 70 mph. They migrate from the northern regions of North America to temperate areas of the southern states or into Mexico. They fly in V-formation to conserve energy (approximately 23%). The goose in front expends the most energy, splitting the air currents as it flies. When it tires, it drops to the rear of the formation and the next goose in line takes over. After wintering in the south, they will return in early spring to the same nesting site each year, a trip that averages 7-10 days.

     So what’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled during a single trip?  For some, the answer will be a few thousand miles–maybe across the country, or possibly across the ocean to another country. For some it might be from the couch to the refrigerator!  But, regardless of the answer, our travels pale in comparison to the migration of some birds. A few species remain in place year-round, but many undertake incredibly long journeys  to reach their breeding grounds or for their winter get-away.  Some species circumvent the globe by the time they’re done–and repeat that each year!

     The bar-tailed godwit (a shore bird) makes the longest non-stop flight of any bird–up to 7,500 miles, with a total round trip each year of about 18,000 miles!  The sooty shearwater (another shore bird) travels about 40,000 miles per year! But one bird has them all beat, hands down, and that is the Arctic tern, which travels from pole-to-pole, covering up to 60,000 miles a year. They have a lifespan of up to 30 years, so some may travel up to 1.5 million miles in their lifetime–the same as flying to the Moon and back three times!

    One of the most amazing migration “miracles” is demonstrated for us by the dove-sized golden plover which is born in Alaska and winters in Hawaii.  When the young are just three months old, their parents leave them and return to Hawaii. The young golden plovers, over the next weeks eat voraciously, increasing their body weight by 50% so they will have enough “fuel” for the 2,800 mile non-stop flight to Hawaii. Together the young take off for Hawaii, flying as the geese, in V-formation to conserve energy. Their trip takes about 88 hours over open water without a break, flapping their wings about 250,000 times. (Imagine doing 250,000 push ups!).   So, how did they know to put on that extra weight for their trip and who told them to go to Hawaii or even what direction to fly? They had never been there before and there aren’t any orientation points along the way and they have to fly through all sorts of weather conditions and in the darkness of four nights. Yet they make it to their destination and are reunited with their parents. How do they possibly do it?  Evolution has no answers!  You see their all-wise, all-powerful, Design Engineer, the Lord Jesus Christ who created them, pre-programmed them with the coordinates of the destination and gave them a built-in auto pilot which continuously monitors their course position, making corrections as needed.  

     It is not by chance that the young golden plovers put on the extra weight. It is not a coincidence that one day they decide to go on a trip to Hawaii, let alone know what direction to fly or how to stay on course. Just think, the slightest deviation from their programmed course would mean disaster.   To fly the 2,800 miles in 88 hours, the plover has to cruise at 32 mph which scientists have discovered is the optimal speed in order to not use up their fuel before they arrive at their destination. (From If Animals Could Talk by Dr. Werner Gitt). 

     And then, to add to the wonder of God’s amazing designs, we have high-flying birds that migrate at high, oxygen-thin, altitudes.  If you’re a mountain climber, and you have just scaled the highest peak in the world–Mount Everest–the air is so thin (about 1/4 the oxygen content as at sea level), you need an oxygen tank to breathe. But suddenly you hear a honking–and a flock of bar-headed geese fly over your head on their annual migration from Central Asia to northern Burma for winter. God’s construction of the bar-headed goose includes larger-than-normal wings, lungs that inhale greater-than-normal amounts of air, and blood containing a special type of hemoglobin that carries higher-than-normal levels of oxygen to its tissues and organs. God also designed this bird to produce a lot of heat when it flies, preventing ice from forming on the bird’s wings. 

     All these examples from God’s creation show us in a visible way that Christ can, and will sustain His creatures through all difficulties.  God shines His glory in the farthest reaches of the earth–even where life’s presence seems utterly impossible. If God equips and provides for birds in such an amazing way, surely He will do the same for us who are the “crown of His creation.”  “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars (and the migratory birds!), which You have set in place; what is man, that You are mindful of him? And the son of man, that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him with glory and honor! You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet.” (Psa. 8:3-6).  

     Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air and how the heavenly Father cares for them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (My paraphrase of Mt. 6:26). Job 12:7 says, “But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and let them teach you.”   The next time you see a flock of ducks or geese flying overhead, migrating to their winter home, be reminded how much God cares for His creatures–especially for you!

Forever His,

      Pastor Dave

     I can remember what my father-in-law would say when that first snowfall came during hunting season in the fall. He would call it “trackin’ snow,” meaning it will be much easier now to not only spot a deer or elk (against the white background) but also to follow their tracks and see where they are headed.  I still really enjoy getting out in the mountains after a snowfall to see all the tracks of animals which you might otherwise not even know are there.  Well, we did have a light snowfall toward the end of rifle season and I had fun identifying all the tracks where I was hiking with a friend from church. We found tracks from deer, elk, moose, black bear, rabbit (both snowshoe and cottontail), squirrel, grouse, mountain lion, wolf and either red or kit fox.  We didn’t see any of the animals that made the tracks (we did see the grouse) but because of the tracks (and droppings) we knew they had been there not long before we came by. (NOTE: We did not see any Sasquatch/ Big Foot tracks!) 

     We don’t need snow to follow the “tracks” that God has left throughout history, which is really “His Story!”  We might call them “God sightings” or “God’s hand.”  We obviously don’t actually see Him, but we see evidence of His having been there.  Such signs of God’s having been there fall into two categories. We might call them “Class I” and “Class II” miracles. “Class I” miracles are when God interrupts the natural laws which He created, such as when He turned water to blood or to wine, or when he used a boy’s lunch to feed thousands of people with 12 baskets of leftovers, or when He healed a person blind or crippled from birth, or when He raised the dead, or when He walked on water or caused the stormy sea to be instantly calm.  

     “Class II” miracles are when God uses His natural laws to orchestrate events which some might write off as “coincidences,” but are in actuality God at work behind the scenes carrying out His divine purposes, often in the form of provision or protection or by causing people’s paths to cross.  One example of the latter is when “an angel spoke to Philip saying, ‘Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians…and he had come to Jerusalem to worship. And was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah” (Acts 8:26-28).  God prompted Philip to engage him in conversation. The man was reading from Isaiah 53 but didn’t understand what he was reading. “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him” (v. 35).  And the man got saved (v. 37)! 

     There have been several periods in “His Story” when there have been multiplied “Class I” miracles: during the time of Moses and the wilderness wanderings; during the time of the prophets, especially Elijah and Elisha; during the time of Jesus (cf Jn. 20:30,31) and the Apostles (cf Heb. 2:4).  Apart from those times, such miracles are rare.  But all throughout “His Story” there have been multitudinous “Class II” miracles, i.e., evidences of God at work.  If you are a Jesus follower I’m sure you have been witness to many.  

     Just this past weekend we happened to encounter a Christian friend whose son attended our Christian school many years ago. They live not very far away from us and right next to Highway 2. This past summer a pickup traveling by on the highway had some mechanical problems with the drive train and veered across the highway, clipping off a utility pole and plowing right through a little rental apartment on their property. It  was a storage building which they fixed up.  The owner mentioned that just minutes before the incident, the school bus had come by and let off children who would have been in harms way, but made it safely to their homes. She also said that the lady renting the apartment was still at work when the accident took place. Also, the owner had been out mowing the lawn by the apartment and decided to go sit down on her deck in the shade to cool off.  The unbeliever might say, “My, how fortunate,” or “How lucky,” or “What a coincidence,” but as believers, we know it was a “God thing.”  God was definitely at work orchestrating the timing.  

     When I resigned as an engineer at Hyster Company in Portland, Oregon to return to Montana and work with Rocky Mountain Bible Mission, we moved back with a U-Haul truck.  Our home church took up an offering to help with our expenses. I still remember the amount they gave us ($483) because it exactly paid for the truck rental (a “few” years ago!)!  On another occasion, we had made a faith promise for a building project at Three Lakes Community Bible Church near Troy, Montana where I pastored for 37 years.  A faith promise is an amount that you trust God to provide in a special way–not just something you pledge to give above your normal giving. It is exciting to see how God will provide the amount. In this case we had made a mistake on our income tax return. We had paid too much and we got a refund–the exact amount of our faith promise.  (That might even count as a “Class I” miracle, for we are talking about the IRS!)

     God leaves His “tracks” everywhere.  We can’t see Him (Jn. 1:18; 4:24), but we can see where He has been.  He is actively involved in our everyday lives providing, protecting, and bringing us across the paths of folks who minister to us or to whom we minister.  Learn to identify His “tracks” and give Him the praise!

Forever His,

     Pastor Dave

     Probably most of us had an abundance of food on our Thanksgiving table and we likely ate more than usual and, like the turkey, were “stuffed.”  When there are so many good things to try, it’s hard not to feel like you are “full and running over”–and then, of course, you add some yummy desserts that you can’t resist!  About all you can say after that is “uff da!”  (A Norwegian expression for almost any occasion when you are a bit overwhelmed by the situation–like eating too much!)

     As we sat before an abundance of food with the added blessing of fellowship with Christian friends, I couldn’t help but think of how God is a God of abundance who showers us with blessings beyond measure. Scripture is full of examples and expressions of God’s “fullness” in both character and provision.  Paul tells us that “It was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Jesus Christ)…For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete…” (Col. 1:19; 2:9,10).   God “has bless us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).   When Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus, he prayed: “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:18-23).   

      We have many examples in Scripture of how God provides in abundance.  When approximately two million Israelites were in need of water, God had Moses strike the rock and enough water poured forth for all of them to drink (and I’m sure for their livestock as well)…Ex. 17:6. NOTE: the rock symbolized Christ…

(I Cor. 10:4).  When they complained about the lack of meat, God provided enough quail that each person gathered at least ten homers (Nu. 11:32).  One homer is equal to 11 bushels and a bushel is 8 gallons, so each gathered at least 880 gallons of meat!. 

     David spoke of the LORD (Jehovah) as his shepherd who “anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psa. 23:5).  

     When Jesus attended the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the host ran out of wine (weddings would last about a week). When Jesus mother asked Him to do something, He had them fill six twenty-gallon water pots with water. He turned the water into some 120 gallons of wine which was better than what the host had been serving (Jn. 2:1-11). 

     When Jesus fed the 5,000 men (plus women and children) with the boy’s lunch of 5 barley loaves and two fish, there was plenty for all to eat plus 12 baskets of leftovers (Jn. 6:1-14)!

     On one occasion Peter and his fishing partners (Andrew, James and John) had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus told them to go out into the deep part of the Sea of Galilee and cast out their nets. “When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink” (Lk. 5:6,7). 

     The point is, when God supplies He does so abundantly. That applies not only to His material blessings, but to spiritual as well, as we saw in Eph. 1:3. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly (full and overflowing)” (Jn. 10:10).  (Abundantly means “beyond measure; superabundant in quantity or superior in quality.”) Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (Jn. 15:11).  Paul prayed for the Roman believers: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro. 15:13).   John, in his gospel, wrote: “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (Jn. 1:16).  Paul too spoke of His abundant grace: “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Ro. 5:17,20). 

     Praise God for His “fullness” and for blessing us beyond measure to where our “cup is full and running over”!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     Probably this coming Thursday many will sit around a table of abundance with family and friends and will give thanks for God’s gracious provisions.  Thankfulness is a marked characteristic of those with a Christian foundation and a biblical worldview.  An atheist or agnostic may have feelings of gratitude, but whom does he thank?  We read in James’ epistle: “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (Jas. 1:17).  As believers we need to acknowledge that continually, so need to have an attitude of gratitude to the Giver of all good things.  

     In his letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul gave a list of our duties as Christians such as esteeming those who minister to us spiritually, encouraging those who are troubled, not seeking revenge, always rejoicing, always being in communication with God AND, “In Everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thes. 5:14-18). Not everything that takes place in our lives is something for which we are thankful, but, because God is sovereign and has a purpose for everything that comes our way to help conform us to the image of Christ (Ro. 8:29), we can “KNOW that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28).  Therefore we can “IN everything give thanks” (I Thes. 5:18). 

     The Apostle Paul set a great example for us. He was sitting in a damp, dark dungeon in Rome awaiting  execution for his faith. But, as with his previous imprisonments, his faith was not shaken and he continued to praise God and give thanks.  Paul undoubtedly had time to reflect on his lifetime of memories from his years of ministry since his conversion on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. He begins his final letter to his understudy, Timothy, with a word of gratitude: “…to Timothy, my beloved son, grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, …as I constantly remember you in my prayers, night and day, longing to see you…” ( II Tim. 1:2-4).  The phrase “I thank God” in Greek literally means, “I am having gratitude to God.” Gratitude was Paul’s mindset, as we also see in (I Thes. 5:18).  

     It is interesting to observe that as a society falls away from following the Lord Jesus Christ, they also become less grateful.  So, a lack of thankfulness is a symptom of spiritual decline, in a society and in an individual.  In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul speaks of those who suppress the truth about God (Ro. 1:18-20). They no longer “honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21).   When we individually or as a nation lose sight of who God is and what He means to us and what He does for us, we lose our attitude of gratitude. We become critical, divisive, and immoral. We enter a downward spiral of depravity.  When you look at the conditions in our nation today, it is pretty clear where we are. Read Ro. 1:18-32 and you see a very detailed description of our society. It all began with suppressing the truth about God as evidenced in His creation and conscience and soon we become ungrateful and our “foolish heart is darkened and professing to be wise, we become fools.” 

     The only solution is to repent and to return to God, to worship Him and Him alone, acknowledging that He is good and that He is the Giver of all good gifts.  We need to “Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations” (Psa. 100:3-5). 

Happy Thanksgiving  

Pastor Dave

     The spread world-wide of the COVID-19 virus has brought to mind a life or death race by dogsled that took place in Alaska nearly a century ago.  In 1925, an outbreak of the deadly and highly contagious disease of diphtheria broke out in Nome, a remote town on the west coast of Alaska that was established when gold was discovered there in 1898. By 1899, Nome’s population reached 10,000.  There were about 1500 people still living there when the diphtheria epidemic hit in the winter of 1925.  

    The lone doctor in Nome knew the only hope of saving countless young lives was to get a vaccine within days, but the only source was in Anchorage, some 1,000 miles away.  This was before airplanes and snowmobiles were used to deliver supplies and mail.  Dogsleds were the main means of travel and delivery of supplies.  Time was of the essence, as people were dying and the serum needed to get there as quickly as possible.  The serum traveled by train to Nenana, where a dogsled team picked it up and took it to Nulato where another team would take it to Nome, another 674 miles.  It took a team from the Postal Service an average of 25 days to go from Nulato to Nome, but in the extreme cold (temperatures form -60 to -70 degrees Fahrenheit), and high winds, the serum would last only about six days. So, they set up a relay race with 20 mushers and their dogsled teams and, in spite of the extreme weather and a near-deadly shortcut, the serum arrived in Nome in five days and 7 1/2 hours!  Many lives were saved by a chain of people who urgently worked together–each doing his part–to deliver life to people who otherwise would be doomed. 

     Joe Redington, Sr., who lived in Alaska and spent much time using dog teams himself in his work, in order to preserve the culture of sled dogs and their use in Alaska, established “The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race” (nicknamed “The Last Great Race on Earth”) in 1973. It begins in Anchorage and ends in Nome. The Iditarod Trail was actually cleared in 1908 by government employees but it wasn’t until the 1910 gold discoveries in Iditarod (now a ghost town) and other communities, that it became regularly used to get supplies and mail to miners and settlements–delivered, of course, by dog teams. It also provided the route for gold to be sent out of Alaska when the Bering Sea was frozen, preventing ships from reaching Nome. Dog teams carried gold to the ice-free bay at Seward to be loaded on ships there. 

Joe also established “The Serum Run Race” from Nualto to Nome. It is nicknamed “The Great Mercy Run.” 

     There is a life-or-death race going on in our world right now–“The Great Mercy Run” to get the life-saving message of Jesus to people who will die without it. And, like the mushers delivering the life-saving serum to those in Nome, Alaska faced great adversity from the severe cold, wind and blizzards, those today who bear the “Good News” of the Gospel of Christ also face much opposition from the enemy of our souls who is doing everything possible to stop the “serum carriers.”  He is, according to Scripture, “Filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (Rev. 12:12 NIV).    As we observe the condition of the world today with the constant conflicts and wars and sexual perversion and political unrest and anti-semitism, we can’t help but think that the time is very near for Jesus to return, meaning folks who are dying of the “sin virus,” have very little time and we need to get the “serum” to them ASAP!  The Apostle Paul had a prayer request that surely applies today: “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men…and protected from the evil one”  (II Thes. 3:1-3 NIV).  Billions of people are dying and the “serum” of the Gospel is their only hope.   Their eternal life depends on it and the enemy is doing all he can to keep them from receiving it.  We each need to be part of the “rescue team” bringing them the one thing that can save them–the good news that Jesus died to pay the penalty of their sin, was buried, and rose again. He loves them and will grant them eternal life if they receive Him into their life as the only means of salvation. For, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (I Jn. 5:11,12 NASB).   If you do not have the Son in your life, invite Him in today.  If you do, be part of the Great Mercy Run.  Time is short.

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     Obviously, nothing ever takes God by surprise, and that includes the rebellion of Lucifer and the other angels who followed him or the disobedience in the Garden of Eden by first Eve and then Adam.  From before the foundation of the world, God had a plan of redemption to give man an opportunity to be reconciled to God.  The first promise of that plan was given when God addressed the serpent used by Lucifer (Satan) to tempt Eve. God said: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He (the Redeemer, Jesus Christ) will bruise you (Satan) on the head (a fatal blow..Heb. 2:14), and you shall bruise Him (the Redeemer) on the heel” (Gen. 3:15).  The “seed of the woman” (implying a virgin birth...Isa. 7:14) would have to suffer (at the Cross) in order to deal a death blow to sin and Satan. The Apostle Peter wrote concerning that event: “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin, and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (restored)” (I Pet. 2:24). 

     From that point forward we see the plan of redemption developed. God set a pattern in Genesis 3 when He provided coverings for Adam and Eve from animal skins. We have the picture of an innocent substitute and the shedding of blood to cover (atone for) sin.  Then throughout the rest of the Old Testament we see the sacrificial system continuing that theme, all pointing to the coming of the “Seed of the Woman” to defeat sin and Satan.  “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who are under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4,5). “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins…That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (I Jn. 4:9,10; Jn. 3:16b).  

     With Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the plan of redemption was complete, offering man a way to be reconciled to God and to enjoy Him forever. “And the witness is this that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life” (I Jn. 5:11-13). 

     In Scripture, prior to the revealing of the plan of redemption, we have the account of God’s Creation of the universe, the earth and all things in it  and on it, including man, in six literal 24-hour days (Gen. 1,2). After the carrying out of the plan of redemption, we have Scripture concluding with prophecy of “what must take place after these things” (Rev. 4:1).  We are given details of the future of the Church and of Israel and of Christ’s coming to reign for 1,000 years and then of the  final judgment of all unbelievers and finally of the eternal state for both saved and lost  (Mt. 5:41,46; Jn. 5:28,29; Rev. 20: 11-15).  

     So, the “bookends” of God’s redemptive plan are creation and prophecy.  It is interesting to see how intensely these have been attacked by our adversary, the devil, and how these two essential truths are rationalized away in some Christian circles. Many are intimidated by today’s modern science that is founded on evolutionary assumptions that leave our Creator out completely.  So, some come up with theories (such as “Theistic Evolution” or the “Day-age Theory”) that compromise Scripture with the supposed evidence of evolution. They fail to take a literal approach to the Creation account.  But, there is no reason we need to, nor should we, compromise God’s truths for man’s theories. Paul warned saying, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception…” (Col. 2:8), and that is exactly what the teaching of evolution is–empty deception (with no true evidence).  Similarly, many believe that things are just going to continue going on as they always have (“uniformitarianism”). Peter addresses them, writing: “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men…the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (II Pet. 3:3-10).  (NOTE: Yes, there is going to be “global warming”!)

      Note that the truths from God’s Word that are mocked today are the creation account, the Flood of Noah, and prophecy of coming judgment.  Creation and the “the day of the Lord” (or final days of history before eternity begins) are the “bookends” of God’s redemptive plan for man to be saved eternally.  If the enemy, Satan, can get man to doubt the validity of the “bookends” of creation and prophecy, then he can get them to doubt and reject God’s redemption plan as well.   But, praise God, “All Scripture (including the creation account, redemption plan, and prophecy) is inspired (“God-breathed“) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (II Tim. 3:16,17).  

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     One of the unique things about reptiles is that they continue to grow throughout their lives and because their skin (or shell, in the case of turtles), does not grow larger, they shed their skin as they grow.  Snakes shed their skin all at once and do so 2-4 times a year (the young even more often, as they are growing even faster).  For all animals, molting is the process by which they get rid of or shed old feathers, hair or skin to make way for new growth. 

     God’s desire for us as believers is also that we grow spiritually our entire lives here on earth.  It is easy to become too satisfied with our stage of growth or level of attainment and stop growing or going. We are comfortable where we are and don’t really want to venture out from where we are.  Twice during Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, God had to rebuke them for staying too long. Moses records: “Then we turned and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and circled Mount Seir for many days. And the LORD spoke to me, saying, ‘You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north’ ” (Dt. 2:1-3).  They were camped adjacent to the region controlled by the descendants of Esau, the Edomites, and thus kinsmen of the Israelites, but God told them to go on north toward Canaan. 

     Long before, they had wanted to stay too long at Mount Sinai (also called “Horeb”) where God had given the law to Moses. But, Moses writes: “The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain…see, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give your fathers’ ” (Dt. 1:6,8).   

     It is possible for us to become too satisfied with where we are and what we are, when the Lord may well have something more for us to do, and definitely has more for us to become .  Possibly, like Israel at Sinai, we may be content to stay in a situation where we have seen God work in the past. Or, like Israel at Edom’s Mount Seir, we want to stay in what we think may be friendly surroundings, rather than to venture into overtly enemy territory. Or, perhaps we have stayed long enough at a certain stage in our Christian growth or service, and God wants us to go further. 

    Paul wanted to continue preaching near his home in Asia Minor, but God said for him to go on into Europe (Acts 16:6-10).  God may not be asking us to change location or position, but He does want us to go on further with Him.  The last words written by Peter are profoundly important: “You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (II Pet. 3:17,18). 

     Years after coming to know Christ as Savior, the Apostle Paul wrote:  “That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection….not that I have already obtained it or become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:10-14).  Paul obviously was motivated to keep going and growing his entire lifetime.  Even when in prison in Rome and awaiting death he wrote to Timothy asking him to “bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments” (II Tim. 4:13).   Paul wanted to keep reading, studying and growing right up to the very end. Thus he could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). 

     As we grow, like the reptiles, we need to “shed our old skin” occasionally to make room for the growth.  Paul put it this way: “That in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:22-24).  The writer of Hebrews exhorted believers to “Lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” (Heb. 12:1,2).   

     No matter where you are in your spiritual growth process, don’t stop there!  Keep going and growing. Like the Apostle Paul, none of us has “arrived.”  There is lots of room for growth, especially when you shed that “old skin” as often as needed!  If you think you’re green you’re growing. If you think you are ripe (done maturing), you are rotten!  Something to think about!

Forever His and still growing, 

Pastor Dave

     Children, with their curious, impressionable minds, are known for questioning things, including parental instructions.  “Why?” and “How come?” are soon part of their limited vocabulary.  Part of the motivation is just to learn what this new, amazing world around them is all about, but another motivation comes from our old, sinful, rebellious nature, challenging authority. 

      Whenever we begin a question with “why,” we need to realize that the answer must necessarily be theological, not scientific. Science can deal with the questions of “what” and “how,” and sometimes even with “where” and “when,” but never with “why!”  “Why” questions have to do with motives and purposes, even when dealing with natural phenomena. (“Why does the earth spin on its axis and why is that axis tilted a certain amount?” “Why do we have mosquitos and poisonous snakes?”)  Even though we we can partially explain such things by secondary causes, we finally encounter a “first cause,” and then the “why?” can only be answered by God, the only “uncaused cause” in the universe.  

     It is not only children who ask “why?”  As adults we often question why things happen to us. Who, at one time or another, has not questioned God?  Many wonder, “If God is loving and all-powerful, why is there evil and suffering in the world?” “Why are believers killed for their faith?”  “Why didn’t God stop the Jewish Holocaust from happening?” Our “Why?” questions are probably just as frequent as those of little children!

      In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: “Who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it?” (Ro. 9:20).  After all the terrible things happened to Job in the Old Testament, “his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks,  Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ ” (Job. 2:9,10). Later, after Job expresses his hopeless condition, Elihu, a descendant of Buz, the nephew of Abraham (Gen. 22:21), having apparently witnessed the entire confrontation between Job and his three friends, could restrain himself no longer from speaking (Job 32:18) and said to Job, “Why do you complain against Him (God), that He does not give an account of all His doings” (Job 33:13). 

     The wise thing to do is simply to believe that He has good reasons for everything, whether we can discern them now or not. When the LORD appeared to Abraham to tell of the coming birth of a son to Sarah and also to warn of the destruction of Sodom for its wickedness, Abraham pleaded for any righteous that were living there. (His nephew, Lot, and family resided there.)  Abraham argued, “Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee!  Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Gen. 18:25).  The answer, of course, is “Yes!”  But, we don’t always understand His actions at the time. Some things, according to our finite human thinking, just do not make sense. But, God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” (Isa. 55:8).  The Psalmist, who often questioned God’s action or lack thereof, or His timing, also wrote: “As for God, His way is blameless (perfect)!” (Psa. 18:30).  “God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” (Psa. 115:3).  The Apostle Paul wrote, in reference to the purposes of God, “who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11),  and what He does is always right and just, even though we–in our mortal bodies on this side of glory–cannot fully understand “why.”  

     It is our high privilege simply to trust Him, not to question Him. Paul gives us some insight in his letter to the Romans: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Ro. 8:28-30).  Romans 8:28 isn’t complete without reading the next two verses which explain what God is doing with the “all things”–good and bad in our lives–conforming us to the image of Christ, and in that process, God wastes none of the events in our lives, whether we understand the “why?” or not.  He is God and we are not!  As someone said, “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”  Good advice!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     When I see photos of myself back in high school or college days and then look in the mirror it is hard to believe all the changes that have taken place. I actually used to have dark brown hair and smooth skin and…. What happened?  How did my hair turn white and my skin wrinkle?  Well it was a gradual process. It was hard to notice any change in just a day or week or month or barely in a year.  But somehow I got to where I am now, a white-haired, aged man!  

      As I read about the beginnings of our nation with the desire of our early settlers for a place to worship and serve God freely without interference from government, leaders who had a biblical world view of the sanctity and value of life, whether in the womb or in the latter stages of life, scientists who had a core belief in a universe and all of life as created by Almighty God, not evolving through vast amounts of time by random chance, public schools that emphasized patriotism and a love of country and pride in our history and encouraged prayer and Bible reading, teachers who allowed students to share their opinions and beliefs without embarrassing or making fun of them, and who used pronouns when addressing students that reflected their biological beginning as male or female…I wonder, how did we get to where we are today with the LGBTQ and transgender agendas and the teaching of Critical Race Theory and the making fun of or even punishing of those who stand up for biblical values?  

     It took place, much like my hair turning from dark brown to white, little by little over time, without any dramatic difference from day to day.  In the 17th Century, thousands of Puritans migrated to New England, built homes, established government, and founded churches. They soon recognized the need to train the next generation of pastors, so “established universities to equip young men for ministry. For example, in September of 1636, classes were first held at New College in New Towne, Massachusetts. In 1639, the school was renamed Harvard College in honor of English minister, John Harvard. Their original motto? ‘Truth for Christ and the Church’ ” (Today In The Word, Aug. 16, 2021). The mission statement was clear: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.”  My, how things have changed. Today, it is difficult for a Christian student at Harvard to even express his biblical values without negative consequences.  The same is true of other early universities such as Dartmouth, Yale, and Princeton which just 100 years ago had a philosophy of education similar to strong Christian colleges today. But something happened to these great universities. Through a series of circumstances over time, they gradually left their moorings. Progressives like John Dewey stealthily and methodically have made great changes in our philosophy of education, using the classroom as a soapbox for their ‘gospel of new social order,’ and as writers of textbooks, they are to a large degree responsible for the mass departure from traditional ideals and biblical morals. They scoff at the concept of a vital, personal faith in God, they belittle the framers of our Constitution and decry our system of government as out-of-date and create racial tension with their “Critical Race Theory” that you are either a suppressor or suppressed because of your skin color.  

     As we look in Scripture at the history of Israel, we see a similar pattern. Over time, Israel formed alliances with other kings and assimilated the worldview of other nations–their thinking, their morality, their values, their worship. These foreigners had slowly sapped Israel’s strength, but the people–like a frog in heated water–was not even aware that it was happening. It was a process of “Creeping Compromise” that occurred one small choice at a time, moving them further and further away from God and His purposes for them. Each small compromise had led to a huge move away from the one true God.

     Our Christian colleges today are facing some very challenging times. Do they compromise to “fit” into what is happening in our culture or do they stand firm on their biblical moorings and face whatever the consequences may be.  Some of the things coming down in our nation will make life very difficult for those who maintain their Christian foundation.  What choices will they make?  Will they go the way of Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc., or will they stand firm and hold to biblical truth?  I pray that they will!

     It is easy for “creeping compromise” to happen in our lives as well. We make little compromises of our biblical convictions and pretty soon we have strayed a great distance from our Christian “moorings.”  Someone said that “sin doesn’t leap upon you, it creeps upon you.”  That is pretty true. It is the daily, moment by moment decisions we make that soon result in a change in the direction of our lives.  It is one thing to be a “Bible-believing Christian.” It is another to be a “Bible-behaving Christian.”  We need to daily, moment-by-moment, heed the admonition given by the Apostle Paul to the Roman believers (who lived in a culture much like ours today): “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Ro. 12:1,2). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     We’ve had several nights with temperatures in the low twenties, so needless to say, our gardening has ended for the year and the trees are also in a beautiful array with their many hues of red, orange and yellow.  We have one street in town that is bordered on both sides from end to end with a variety of maples, mountain ash and other colorful deciduous trees that are spectacular right now (Louisiana, for you locals!).  I love this time of year with the cool, crisp, clear days and God’s art display of color.  

     As I wrote in an earlier “Wisdom of the Week,”  our labels fell off our little pots in which we had started our vines for the garden, so harvest time was quite interesting. We had winter squash growing with the pumpkins and pumpkins in with the zucchini and I believe may have developed some new hybrid “squakins!”   But, one thing I do know, we wouldn’t have had any harvest if we had not first sown the seeds for our corn, beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers, squash, potatoes, etc. I also know that if we planted corn, we got corn. There were no beans produced by the corn stalks nor were there potatoes on the squash vines!  

      The Apostle Paul gives us an immutable law, “The Law of Harvest,” in his letter to the believers in Galatia: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good; for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:7-9).  In agriculture and horticulture, if you sow corn, you get corn; if you sow wheat, you get wheat. In the moral and spiritual realm you also reap what you sow. The principle of sowing and reaping is immutable, invariable, unalterable, and irrevocable and it is applicable to every sphere of life.  What you plant (sow) is what comes up.  If you sow “wild oats” that is what will come up, even if you pray for “crop failure!”  Wheat that has been found in tombs in Egypt, put there several thousand years ago, when planted still comes up as wheat–it did not forget what it was.

     What you sow is what you will reap.  There are many examples in the  Bible. Jacob, whose very name means “tricker,” or “deceiver,” tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing due his brother, Esau, the first-born.  He then ran away to live with his Uncle Laban for several years, thinking he had gotten away with deceiving his father. He fell in love with Laban’s youngest daughter, Rachel, and worked for seven years to have her as his wife, but Laban tricked him, and gave Jacob his oldest daughter, Leah, instead. What we sow we reap!  Jacob had deceived his father into thinking he was the oldest son, when he was actually the younger son.  Chickens do come home to roost! (A paraphrase of Gal. 6:7,8!). 

     Another obvious principle of “The Law of Harvest” is that you only reap if you sow.  If you don’t plant the seeds, there will be no harvest.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn. 12:24).  In Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matt. 13:1-9, the seed refers to the Word of God.  It is our responsibility to sow God’s Word in people’s lives so the Holy Spirit can take it and show them their sinfulness and God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  Just living an exemplary life before others isn’t sufficient. They need to hear about Jesus. They need to hear what God’s Word says about salvation by faith alone in Christ alone (cf Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6).   We must plant the seed of God’s Word and then water and cultivate through loving them.  Then we have to be patient in waiting for a harvest–which only God can provide.  Paul says, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9).  Each of us probably has family and friends with whom we have shared the “Good News” who have yet to respond. Keep loving them, praying for them, and–if the door opens–sharing God’s truths again with them.  Don’t give up!  Keep sowing the Word. God has promised: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:10,11).  

     Forever His,

            Pastor Dave