Wisdom of The Week

One of our favorite new Christmas songs is “It’s About the Cross” by the Ball brothers, the lyrics of which are:

It’s not just about the manger

Where the baby lay

It’s not all about the angels
Who sing for him that day

It’s not all about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It’s not all about the wise men
Who traveled from afar

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It’s about the cross

It’s not just about the good things
In this life I’ve done
It’s not all about the treasures
Or the trophies that I’ve won

It’s not about the righteousness
That I’ve find within
It’s all about His precious blood
That save me from my sin

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It’s about the cross

The beginning of the story
Is wonderful and great
But it’s the ending that can save you
And that’s why we celebrate

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about God’s love
Nailed to a tree
It’s about how every drop of blood
That flowed from Him when it should have been me

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday

It’s about the cross (it’s about the cross)
It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

     What a powerful, spot on message. At Christmas, we most often focus on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to the virgin Mary. And that is an amazing story, but the purpose of Jesus’ mission to earth was “To seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10) and that required Him to be “Mary’s Little Lamb whose fleece was white as snow” so He could die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin (II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:24). In order to put away our sin Jesus had to be without sin so He could bear our sin and, as the God-man, be the innocent substitute for the sins of the world. 

     So, how appropriate that Jesus be born where the lambs were raised to be sacrificed in the Temple in Jerusalem.  Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, would introduce Jesus as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). The multitude of lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple were mere pictures or types of the One who would come to “take away” sin once and for all by His one sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14,22-27; 10:10-14).   

     You will recall that the last plague that God placed upon the Egyptians to get Pharaoh to let the Israelites go was the death of the firstborn. In order to avoid the plague the Hebrews had to kill an unblemished one-year old male lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintel of their houses (Ex. 12:5-7).  God said, “And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…” (v. 13).  And, remember what Abraham spoke prophetically when Isaac, seeing the altar and having carried the wood, asked “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7). Abraham replied, “God will provide Himself the sacrifice…” (v. 8).  God provided a ram caught in the thicket to substitute for Isaac, but ultimately provided Himself as the substitute for us all (Jn. 3:16). The Apostle Paul referred to Jesus as “Christ our Passover (who) also has been sacrificed” (I Cor. 5:7).  

     So, Christmas: “It’s all about the cross.”  It’s all about Mary’s Little Lamb whose fleece was white as snow who became the sacrifice for our sin. Praise God for “His indescribable Gift” (II Cor. 9:15).  Have you received God’s Gift (Jn. 1:12)? If not, why not do so this Christmas!  

Forever Grateful,

Pastor Dave N

     I heard about a Christmas program given by some Sunday School children. At one point four children were to come out, each carrying a big letter to spell the word “STAR.” Somehow they got mixed up and instead of spelling S-T-A-R they spelled R-A-T-S!  Sadly, to many people, Christmas isn’t a shining star–to them, it’s “Ah, Rats.” It’s a miserable time because they are miserable for any number of reasons. 

     Many people become depressed at Christmas time. Instead of Christmas joy, they experience Christmas “oy” (which is an abbreviation for “Oy Vey,” a Yiddish phrase expressing exasperation or dismay, like our “woe is me!”). I am reminded of the story of a young, harried mother doing her Christmas shopping. With her arms full of packages and shopping bags and with several children in tow, she pushes her way into a crowded mall elevator. As the door closes, she sighs and says, “Whoever started this ‘Christmas Thing,’ should be strung up and hanged!”  From the back of the elevator an elderly gentleman responds: “Don’t worry they already crucified Him!”  

      It isn’t just the hustle and bustle and hecticness of Christmas that causes some to experience “Christmas oy.” Some have lost loved ones recently and feel alone. For others they are separated from family and long for the good old times of family get-togethers. Some may be facing serious health problems or financial problems.  The shortness of daylight hours adds to the melancholy and feelings of “oy.” 

     But,don’t forget the message to the shepherds in the hills overlooking Bethlehem watching over their sheep the night Jesus was born.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them with the glory of the Lord shining around them. The shepherds were, understandably, very frightened. But the “angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’ ” (Lk. 2:8-10). 

     That was probably the text for many sermons yesterday (as it was at our home church), for it was the third Sunday of Advent, with the theme: JOY.  As was pointed out by our pastor, it is important to distinguish between “happiness” and “joy.”  Happiness depends on “happenings” (circumstances.) When things go as we desire, we experience happiness. Joy is an inner peace and contentment and it doesn’t depend on circumstances, it depends on Jesus. “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things” (Kay Warren).   

     Joy can’t be manufactured. It comes from having a right relationship with Jesus Christ–first of all by receiving Him as Savior and then abiding in Him, depending upon Him, allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to be in control (being “filled with the Spirit”…Eph. 5:18; “walking in the Spirit”…Gal. 5:16). It is important to note that the joy available to a Christian is actually Jesus’ joy. John records these words of Jesus to His disciples:  “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).   Joy isn’t something we ask for, it is something we have in the person of Jesus Christ who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Note that in that same chapter of John, Jesus said: ” I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in Him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). We don’t produce the fruit, we “bear” or “support” the fruit that God the Holy Spirit produces when we abide in Christ. Part of that “fruit” is the “fruit of the Spirit” which is “love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…” (Gal. 5:22).  “The fruit of the Spirit is not lemons!” (Phil Callaway, Prairie Bible College). “Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian” (G. K. Chesterton). Because, Jesus is our joy.   Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the beautiful choral piece entitled Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, celebrating the joy that comes from knowing Christ. 

     As Ezra the priest read from the Scriptures to the Israelites, conviction of sin caused the people to weep, but Nehemiah said to the people: “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep…Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:9,10).  Similarly, “the joy of Jesus is our strength.”  

     So, if you want to experience Christmas joy rather than Christmas oy, let Jesus be your joy.  If you’ve never asked Him to be your Savior, it must start there. Then let Him be Lord of your life. Abide in Him. Put Him first in all things so you can say, with the Apostle Paul, “For me to live is Christ…” (Phil. 1:21).  Then you will experience true joy–His joy–no matter what your circumstances. 

               “If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, 

            let Jesus come into your heart,

            Your sins He’ll wash away,

             your night He’ll turn to day,

             your life, He’ll make it over again.”         (“If You Want Joy”  by Larry Nickel).

A Joyous Christmas to you all,

Pastor Dave N

      As I meditate on the wonder of Christmas, how God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to earth to become one of us so He could suffer and die to pay for our sins and defeat Satan (Heb. 2:9, 14,15), I can’t help but wonder why God made us in the first place. As you think of what it cost Him to come to earth and atone for our sins, why didn’t He just continue as He had from eternity past, just the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect fellowship?.  He knew man would sin and He knew the price He would pay for those sins. Yet we read in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5-8). 

     If God hadn’t made us in the first place, none of this condescension, suffering and death would have been necessary. So, why did He create us?  It wasn’t because of some need or lack in His life, for He is the all-sufficient, perfect God who has need of nothing outside of Himself. He didn’t need us to entertain Him or provide amusement (although I’m sure we have done plenty of that!).  In no way was it because He was lonely or was dissatisfied with His own eternal existence!  Nor did God create us as His “peers,” for “...the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him” (Dt. 4:35).  He said to Isaiah: “I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God” (Isa. 43:5,6). To emphasize how Jesus Christ is superior to Moses, the author of the book of Hebrews wrote: “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God” (Heb. 3:3,4). Obviously, an all-powerful, sovereign God cannot create other “gods” like Himself. His attributes (His eternal intrinsic perfections) limit there to being only one God.

    So, if it wasn’t because He had a need or lacked something, nor because He was lonely, nor because He wanted to have some “peers.” Then “why in the world” did He create us despite knowing we would sin and that He would end up coming to earth, taking on a human body, being rejected by His chosen people the Jews, and suffering a cruel death by crucifixion all to pay for our sin?  God created us in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26,27; 5:1) so we could choose to love and serve Him freely, knowing this free will meant the possibility of sin, which then paved the way for God to demonstrate His unconditional love by sending Jesus to die on the cross as a sacrifice to redeem humanity and offer forgiveness for sin, ultimately revealing God’s grace and mercy. 

     Just as “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…” (Psa. 19:1 cf Psa. 8:1-3), God created man, the crown of all creation (Psa. 8:3-8) to display His glory.  We read in Paul’s letter to the Colossians that Jesus Christ created all things, “both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities…” Everything was “created by Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16).   We were created by the sovereign will of God “for His glory.” When John was caught up to heaven, as recorded in Revelation, he saw a scene of living creatures around the throne giving “glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne” and heard them saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Rev. 4:9-11). 

     God chose Abraham in order to establish a nation, Israel, through whom the Scriptures would be revealed and through whom the Messiah would come to earth to be the Redeemer-Deliverer promised in Gen. 3:15 and through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). Of Israel, God said, “…whom I have created for My glory…You are My servant, in whom I shall show My glory” (Isa. 46:13; 49:3).  Israel was to reveal the glory of God to the other nations of the earth. Similarly, we were all created to bring glory to God, to display His love, His grace, His compassion, His mercy and forgiveness.   All of this required the creation of beings in His image with free will to obey, love and serve and have an intimate relationship with God.  We chose to disobey, resulting in broken fellowship with God, but that gave Him the opportunity to manifest His attributes of mercy, grace and love by coming to pay for that sin–all in God’s plan “from before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).  Nothing ever took God by surprise or caused Him to “go to plan B.”  We were created by the will of God to display His glory.  

     So, that is why God made us. That is why we have Christmas and Easter.  Do I understand all this? No!  It will always amaze me and blow my mind, but it does help me understand why Paul, in writing to the Roman believers about the sovereignty of God broke forth with these powerful words: “Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!  For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Ro. 11:33-36). 

Forever His,

Pastor  Dave N

     I trust you had “Happy Thanksgiving” as you spent time with family and friends “counting your blessings.”  As Christians we have an infinite number of things for which to give thanks, both seen and unseen. “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).  In addition to the abundant material blessings of God’s provision, we have the innumerable unseen blessings we receive through our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Paul tells us that in Christ we have been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3).  Quoting from Isa. 64:4, Paul also writes: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God” (I Cor. 2:9,10). 

     As Christians, the indwelling Holy Spirit reveals to us what we have “in Christ.” We have been adopted as full sons into the family of God (Ro. 8:15,16; Gal. 4:5),  becoming “Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Ro. 8:17). By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been “born again to a living hope…to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven” (I Pet. 1:3,4).  Through Jesus’ shed blood, we have been redeemed (bought back) and forgiven (Eph. 1:7,14; Heb. 9:12). We have been justified and declared righteous (Ro. 4:25; 5:1; II Cor. 5:21).  We have been reconciled (brought back into the right relationship with God…Ro. 5:10). We have been sanctified (I Cor. 1:30; II Cor. 6:11; Heb. 10:10) and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30) and are thus secure (Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30; I Jn. 5:11-15). Not only do we have eternal life, but a new, abundant life available in Christ (Jn. 10:10; Ro. 6:4; II Cor. 5:17).  We have a new Divine nature (II Pet. 1:4) which, when we allow it to be in control, we no longer have to sin and we have manifested in us the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal. 5:22,23). 

     With Christ in us, we have the hope of glory (Col. 1:27) and we have His peace and His joy (Jn. 14:27; 15:11).  We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5).  So, let come what may, I have Christ in my heart and “can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). No matter our circumstance or adversity we can say, “For this I have Jesus.”  I am complete in Him (Col. 2:10).  

     I understand now more fully the exhortations of Scripture to “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20); to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4); and “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ” (I Thes. 5:18).  Because of being in Christ, we can even “exult in our tribulations” (Ro. 5:3) and “Consider it all joy when we encounter various trials” (Jas. 1:2), for we know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Ro. 8:28), and that purpose is to “conform us to the image of Christ” (Ro. 8:29). 

     These “blessings” which I have discussed are only for those who are “in Christ.”   Those who have yet to trust Christ for eternal life don’t understand all these “unseen blessings.”  Those of us who have made that choice have been “blessed by the Best” and we feel sorry for the rest, hoping they too will discover this amazing grace that God extends to all (Tit. 2:11,12).   

     How about you?  Have you been “blessed by the Best”?  You can be.  Acknowledge your sinfulness and the sufficiency of Christ in His death and resurrection to save you and ask Him into your life. He is definitely the “Gift that keeps on giving!”

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     The Pilgrims’ landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts on Dec. 21, 1620 was anything but a heartening experience. True, they had reached their long-awaited destination, but privation, illness, and hunger were awaiting their arrival. Their first winter in the new world looked as though it might be their last. Of the 100 Pilgrims who waded ashore in the icy water, barely half survived to see spring. Scurvy and pneumonia exacted a fateful toll upon them. Had it not been for friendly Indians, those Pilgrims who remained may not have made it through the next season. But, instructed by the natives, they planted crops, harvested them, and laid up meager stores against the coming winter. 

     In the fall of 1621, probably in late November, the Pilgrims set aside time for a thanksgiving harvest festival as a time to give thanks for rain, crops, and other manifestations of God’s goodness and mercy. The festival was celebrated around tables laden with Indian corn, barley, cod, bass, waterfowl and five deer contributed by their special guests, the Indians. Obviously the people had a lot of privation and suffering and loss to complain about, not to mention the uncertainty of what lay ahead for them; but, they had found what they were looking for–a land where they had freedom to worship God. Their giving thanks wasn’t just for the material blessings of harvest and their new Indian friends and their help, but for the freedom they had in this new land to openly follow and worship their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God’s “indescribable gift” (II Cor. 9:15). 

      Fast forward a little more than 400 years to our current “Thanksgiving” celebrations.  For millions, Thanksgiving is no more than traveling to visit family, eating way too much and then fighting over who has to clean up and who gets to sit and watch athletes who make astronomical salaries chase each other up and down a field fighting over a $75 ball. The center of life of our cities was once our churches and municipal buildings or cultural centers.  Now it is huge multi-million dollar sports complexes and shopping malls. Thanksgiving weekend becomes a frenzied shopping extravaganza–a launching pad for Christmas gift buying. Or, in our “neck of the woods,” there is a last ditch effort to get that big buck or bull, as it is normally the final week of rifle season!    There is little focus by most on gratefulness for our multitude of blessings from a gracious, merciful God. 

      We seem to be saying “Thank you,” less often these days, and it’s not a good sign. The “ingratitude attitude” that pervades our society is not simply that we are not as polite and well-mannered as we once were, but it may be a symptom of something far more disturbing: evidence of a nation in trouble. A biblical review of the national life of Israel provides abundant proof of just how costly a lack of thankfulness can be. Inherent in every festive occasion for the Jewish people was a specific element of thanksgiving. It seems that everything that was wrong grew out of the failure to be thankful. But the root cause of the ingratitude was a departure from following the one true God and failure to acknowledge Him as the One who bestows on us “every perfect gift” (Jas 1:17), the One who “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (I Tim. 6:17). 

     So, ingratitude is a symptom of a deeper spiritual problem.  The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the church at Rome: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…for even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Ro. 1:18-25). Ungratefulness is a symptom of suppressing the truth about who God is and what He has done and does for us. 

     Thanksgiving is a mark of spiritual maturity. Its presence springs from a biblical worldview. It is a declaration of dependence upon God and an acknowledgement that He alone is our Provider and Protector. Thanksgiving is really an expression of faith, a response to the promises of God for provision and protection and it unleashes the power of God in and through us. Thanksgiving is the only sensible response to the character of God who never changes, who is good–all the time. 

     Giving thanks isn’t just for Pilgrims–it’s for each one of us. Don’t spend your life standing at the “complaint counter.” Count your many blessings!  Have an attitude of gratitude. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”    Practice “Thanks-living!”

Forever Thankful,

Pastor Dave N

     One of the fastest growing businesses in America is self-storage units. We see storage units springing up everywhere, not only in our local community but pretty much everywhere we travel.  Obviously people have so much stuff that they need extra room to store it all.  According to the devotional for Sept. 13, 2024 in Moody’s Today In the Word, “the self-storage industry in the United States is worth 44.37 billion dollars a year and is expected to keep growing.”  Obviously many people have more than they know what to do with, while countless others in the world are lacking in even bare necessities. 

     I am reminded of a parable that Jesus taught that we might call “The Rich Barn Builder” (Lk. 12:16-21).  Jesus tells of a rich man who has a very productive farm and decides to build bigger barns to store his abundant harvest, essentially focusing solely on accumulating wealth, only to be called a “fool” by God because he neglected his spiritual life. He died that night, leaving all his possessions behind, just as Scripture warns: “Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich. When the glory of his house is increased. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him”  (Psa. 49:16,17);  “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Eccl. 5:10);  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there” (Job 1:21 cf Eccl. 5:15); “…If riches increase, don’t set your heart upon them” (Psa. 62:10b); “There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt” (Eccl. 5:13).

     A lesson which mankind seemingly has not learned in all these centuries, in spite of the exhortations from God’s Word is that things will not fully satisfy us, we will always strive for more, thinking somehow that will bring the satisfaction we are seeking. But Jesus  said: “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Lk. 12:15).   All our possessions are temporary and will never truly satisfy.  The only thing that lasts and what really matters is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

     In his letter to Timothy, Paul addressed the issue of riches and possessions and said that “Godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. but those who want to get rich fall into temptations and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction (like the rich barn builder).  For the love of money (and possessions) is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang” ( I Tim. 6:6-10).  Paul goes on to tell Timothy: “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, and to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed” (vv. 17-19). 

     When a wealthy person with many possessions dies, what does he leave behind?  All of it!  That is why Jesus, in His “Sermon on the Mount,” challenges: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Mt. 6:19-21,33).

     You can’t take it (worldly possessions) with you, but you can “send it (spiritual fruit) on ahead.”  Do you have a “storage unit” in heaven where you are accumulating heavenly resources by seeking first the kingdom of God and allowing God to work in and through you to bear fruit that will remain  (Jn. 15:8,16)?  Or are you focused on filling up storage units here on earth?  When we stand at Judgment Seat of Christ, all that “stuff” will be burned up. Only what’s done for Christ (sent on ahead) will remain(I Cor. 3:10-15; II Cor. 5:10). 

     Whatever God has blessed you with here on earth, use it to help build up His Kingdom, and one day you will discover you have a “storage unit” in heaven there reserved and waiting for your arrival.

Forever His, Pastor Dave N

     World War I, known as “The Great War,” officially ended when the “Treaty of Versailles” was signed on June 28, 1918 in the palace of Versailles outside of the town of Versailles, France. Fighting, however, ceased seven months earlier when an armistice–temporary cessation of hostilities–between the allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of “The War To End All Wars” as people wistfully expressed the hope that it would be the final war and there would be peace. The word “armistice” is from the Latin and means “arms standing still.”  (NOTE: Interestingly, Jeremiah said of the false prophets in his day, “…they have misled my people by saying ‘Peace! when there is no peace…’ ” (Ezek. 13:10).

     In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of “Armistice Day” with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” The original celebration involved parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. An act approved on May 13, 1938 made November 11th a legal holiday, a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace. It  was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of WW I, but in 1954, after WWII and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veteran’s service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, the holiday officially became “Veterans’ Day,” a time to honor American veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans’ Day Proclamation.”

     World War I was supposed to end all wars, but many, many wars have followed and there is still no real peace in the world. We currently have war between Russia and the Ukraine and between Israel and her surrounding enemies that vow to eliminate the Jewish people and their nation (much like Hamaan attempted to do centuries ago). The fact is, there can be no peace between men or between nations, and “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6.7) will continue until the “Prince of Peace” returns to earth.  Zechariah of the Old Testament prophesied  concerning the coming of the Messiah into Jerusalem, riding on a lowly donkey’s colt: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9).  The prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus when He came into Jerusalem on what we call “Palm Sunday” (Mt. 21:4,5).  

      Zechariah’s prophecy continues: “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zech. 9:10).  This was definitely not fulfilled with Jesus first coming to earth, for there have been wars somewhere in the world practically every year since Jesus came. Nevertheless, the day will come when He shall indeed “speak peace” to all the nations. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can make such a peace, for He alone is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).  Indeed, He has already paid the price to make such true and eternal peace, for “…He made peace through the blood of His cross…” (Col. 1:20). 

     As world-wide conflict escalates to a climax at the end of the period the Bible calls “the great tribulation” (Mt. 24:21,29) and “the time of Jacob’s (Israel‘s) distress” (Jer. 30:7), all the armies of the world will gather against Israel at a place Har-Megedon” (or “Armageddon”), for “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” (Rev. 16:14-16). Then the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16) returns to earth with the armies of heaven which will conquer the enemies of God and of the Jews and of Christians and will establish His kingdom, “Making wars to cease to the end of the earth” (Psa. 46:9), “And the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:17).  THAT will be “The War to End All Wars,” and until that time, no matter the efforts of the United Nations, no matter the efforts of the United States or the United Kingdom, there will continue to be “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6).  (NOTE: When the antiChrist comes on the scene, after the rapture of the Church, he will establish a temporary–3 1/2 year–period of peace but will then turn against Israel and usher in the “Battle of Armageddon”).

     Meanwhile, as we live in this chaotic world of sin and wars and destruction, we can individually find peace with God by trusting in Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace,” as the sacrifice for our sin. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro. 5:1).  We can also experience the  peace of  God. Paul wrote this to the believers at Philippi: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all expectation, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6,7).  

     We want to thank all the veterans (as well as those on active duty today) for their service for our nation, sacrificing their time and often their health or lives to maintain the freedoms we so cherish. And although they cannot provide the lasting peace we long for, we give all glory to our God who can!  He conquered sin and death through the cross and the resurrection, and will one day return to establish peace to this war-torn world. “Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 20:20).

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     As a result of the shutdowns during the COVID epidemic, we experienced a number of shortages such as toilet paper and hand cleaner and disinfectants.  At other times in our history there have been shortages of other basic needs such as for gasoline. I remember, while working in Oregon, that at one time we could only buy gas on certain days, and then had to wait in long lines and were limited to 10 gallons.  Shortages of products can affect our lives from just an inconvenience to creating an urgent situation.

     There is another shortage which I believe, at this time, is much more consequential for our nation, and that is a shortage of good leadership, from a national level on down to local levels.  This great nation of ours has had some amazing leaders in its short history and God has blessed us in so many ways and used us to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of folks all over the world. There have been so many occasions throughout our history when God worked mightily either to establish or to preserve America against those who attempted to hinder or destroy our “experiment in freedom.” 

     But, as we have gradually departed from the Judeo-Christian principles of our founding fathers which were expressed in such documents as the Constitution, and our laws (based largely on the Ten Commandments), we have experienced a decline in strong, servant leaders to where we now have a glaring shortage, which has not only adversely affected the citizens of our nation, but our influence throughout the world.   

     Our elected leaders, who are to be representative of the needs and best interests of their constituents, often focus their attention instead on campaigning to keep their political careers going by catering to the voice of those who are attempting to “change” our nation away from following the principles of God’s Word and His desire and purpose for us. Instead of dealing with real issues, leaders are pandering to the Woke and LGBTQ crowd, to humanistic evolution, to climate change alarmists and the result is that our nation is floundering without a clear direction of purpose.  We are experiencing tragic moral and spiritual decline, with increasing violence, hate crimes, drug and human trafficking, and political unrest and division.  Many leaders don’t have the courage to stand up against the cultural tides (more like a tsunami!) as they cower in defending our Constitution, values, morals and truth. We risk losing the very freedoms and way of life that have defined this great nation. 

     Common sense is no longer common. It is, in fact, a rarity.  Basic truths regarding  things such as marriage, the home and family, the sanctity of life from conception to old age are being questioned. Logical thinking is seen as controversial or absurd. Our defense of truth and morality is seen as “hate speech” and is the basis for the need of counseling!  We are told to ignore the biological realities that there are only two sexes (Gen. 1:27) and that life begins at conception (Psa. 51:5). We are on a very perilous path where reality and truth is sacrificed on the altar of ideology. We have become like a ship without a captain, tossed by every wave and headed for destruction. The Apostle Paul warned the believers at Colossae: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ” (Col. 2:8).  That’s a warning we definitely need to heed today!

     When Israel desired to have a king like all the other nations around them, they selected Saul because he was tall and handsome (I Sam. 9:2). But Saul “acted foolishly” and did not “keep the commandment of the LORD which He commanded him” (I Sam. 13:13), so God “sought for Himself a man after His own heart” to replace Saul (v. 14).  God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the one whom God selected, telling him: “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7). Although David had his own weaknesses, he had a heart for God, and under his leadership, Israel prospered and for the most part walked in obedience to God.  In fact each king after David was compared to him. For example, though David’s son, Solomon did well for the first part of his reign, he disobeyed God’s command regarding multiple wives (Dt. 17:17) and “when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of his father David had been” (I Kg. 11:4).  When Abijam, son of Jeroboam, became king over Judah, “he walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David” (I Kgs. 15:3).  But, Abijam’s son, Asa “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father” (v. 11). 

     The condition and plight of a nation, a state, a local community (and also a church), depends largely on the quality of its leadership. Good leadership is the backbone, the glue, of any successful nation and right now ours is crumbling.  America desperately needs leaders who will uphold truth and godly principles, protect our freedoms and prioritize safety and sovereignty, not those who lay down a welcome mat to disaster and borders open to invasion by those who would destroy us. So, as I said last week, Pray, Vote, and put your Hope in God!

Forever His, 

Pastor Dave

     As followers of Jesus Christ, we have dual citizenship. While we may be citizens of the country in which we live, we are also citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).  Along with citizenship goes responsibilities.

     As citizens of heaven, we are to live in submission to the authority of God and His Word. Scripture, not the culture in which we live, needs to be our final authority for faith and practice.   We are to keep His commandments (Jn. 14:21), seek first His kingdom (Mt. 6:33) and give Him first place in everything (Col. 1:18). We serve as Christ’s “ambassadors” (II Cor. 5:20), acting as His representatives on earth, helping others to be reconciled to God (II Cor. 5:18,19).   As citizens of heaven we also have the amazing privilege of access to our Heavenly Father at any time in any place through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who became our High Priest through His death and resurrection and continues to be our intercessor and advocate (Heb. 7:25; I Jn. 2:1).  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become children of God (Jn. 1:11; I Jn. 3:1,2), have all the privileges of sonship and are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Ro. 8:16,17).  We have been set free from bondage to the old, sinful flesh and have a whole new life in Jesus Christ (Ro. 6-8; II Cor. 5:17).  We are made free by the truth (Jn. 8:32,36) and can experience the “abundant life” that Christ came to provide (Jn. 10:10). We have been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). We are “blessed by the Best!”  We are so privileged, but also have the corresponding responsibility to live for Him, not for self.  “He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died  and rose again on their behalf” (II Cor. 5:15). 

     As citizens of a nation, we are also to submit to those in authority over us, for they are established by God (Ro. 13:1-7; I Pet. 2:13-17). We are to obey the “laws of the land” unless they conflict with a command from God or truth from His Word.  For example, when Peter and John were told not to speak anymore about Jesus (Acts 4:18), they said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (v. 19). Peter and John continued to preach about Jesus and were brought before the Council where the High priest said: “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name…” (Acts 5:28). “But Peter and the Apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men’ ” (v. 29).  When we are saved, we are not taken out of the world (Jn. 17:15,16), but are left as His “ambassadors” (II Cor. 5:20)  to be God’s representatives to the inhabitants of the nation where He places us. We are not to isolate ourselves but insulate ourselves with the “armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-18) to be “salt and light” (Mt. 5:13-16).  We are to be a godly influence as good citizens both of heaven and on earth.  

     For those of us who live in a free country, we have many privileges but with them, many responsibilities to use those privileges to be Christ’s ambassadors to help others be reconciled to God.  One way in which we can be “engaged” citizens and influence others for good is to exercise our privilege to run for political office and to vote.  It demonstrates that we care about the condition of our nation and its people.  We are seeing a great spiritual battle taking place between good and evil, between an anti-Christian world view and a biblical world view.  It is not just a matchup of personalities from which to choose, but of moral policies and issues. If Christians are not involved in the politics of their nation, decisions will be made by people who think that Christianity is no longer relevant and that absolute truth does not exist. As Edmund Burke once said, “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” Not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We are not only responsible for our actions, but also for our lack of action. James 1:17 says, “Therefore to the one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  Voting is part of our stewardship to use all the resources we have been given to be an influence for God. 

     A poll released this month by the “Cultural Resource Center” at Arizona Christian University reported that 51% of those who identify as “people of faith” do not plan to vote. That’s 105 million people, 41 million of which are professing Christians!  How sobering is that!  Granted, politics is not the most important thing, but that doesn’t mean that politics isn’t part of the larger arena by which God can orchestrate things for His glory. Politics matters because politics creates policies that impact people made in the image of God. Our elected leaders make decisions that will have an incredible impact on us and on our children and our grandchildren. 

     Rather than argue about the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of those running for office, focus on issues and policies. Check out their party platform and what they stand for and believe.  Where do they stand on the sanctity of life versus abortion? Do they uphold the law and those who enforce it?  Do they support the Constitution and applying it,  or advocate interpreting or changing it to adapt to our culture?  What is their view of open borders and illegal immigration?  What do they propose to do about rising crime rates, sex trafficking and the massive use and selling of drugs?  What is their view of the dangerous teaching of the “Critical Race Theory,” about sexual identity, and about the transgender mutilation of children?  What is their view about homosexuality and marriage? Are they advocates of “free speech” or do they squelch the speech of those who disagree with their worldview?  Are they advocates of big government and high taxes or less government involvement and lower taxes?  These are not just differing political views, but crucial issues, matters between good and evil, that greatly impact each one of us, our culture, our nation, and affect the continuation of the Christian freedoms we have been so blessed with in this great nation.  

     So, please, please, as Christ’s ambassador, Pray for our nation and leaders and the upcoming election (I Tim. 2:1-4), Vote, and then put your Hope in God!  It is our great privilege and responsibility. 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

     A year ago we were working to unload a big trailer load of branches at our local landfill (which, by the way, has one of the most beautiful views of our majestic Cabinet Mountains of any place in the area) when a charcoal gray pickup drove up beside us with a big St. Bernard dog hanging out the window. A tall (6’5″) man got out and said, “My dog told me I should stop and help you folks!” He proceeded to help us unload our trailer. As we visited we discovered that he and his wife are followers of Jesus and had moved to Libby just a couple years before.  We had a great time of fellowship in the Lord.  We also found out that he was a punter in the National Football League for a number of years and then spent time in the military as well as the police force. His wife spent some 26 years as an ER nurse.  And, the handsome St. Bernard’s name is “Bandit”!

     This past Friday afternoon we had a severe wind storm followed by a hard rain (and we had just taken down our rain gutters to work on our facia!).  Our neighbor to the west has a row of big cottonwood trees (part of the curse, we are quite sure!) and the wind, as it usually does, blew from west to east, so our field and driveway were covered with branches. We spent all morning loading our trailer with the branches, some of which were big enough that I had to cut them up with a chainsaw. It was about 1 p.m. by the time we got our heaping load of branches to the landfill. As we worked hard to unload (it would be nice to have a dump trailer!), Kathy commented: “Where is our football friend when we need him?”  Well, just as we were about done, guess what happened?  A charcoal pickup drove up beside us with a big St. Bernard hanging out the window. Our football punter friend got out and I said, “We’re just about finished. You are late!”  What are the chances?  God is Good!  Again we had a great visit and got to help him unload his pine needles and love up Bandit. He shared about some of the difficult times they have been through in their lives, but how God always provided the grace to make it through. God is good, all the time!

     Goodness is a core quality or attribute of who God is. By nature, God loves to bring joy and blessings to all His creatures. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil (sinners), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him” (Mt. 7:11).  He, as our loving Father, also loves to surprise us with things for which we didn’t even ask.  James writes: “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).  

     Life is hard because we live in a world under the curse of sin and among people with sinful natures (each of us included).  We have storms that leave destruction (just look at the devastation in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas caused by hurricane Helene, with hurricane Milton on its way to the coast). God never promised that life would be easy. In fact, after sin in the Garden, God told Adam and Eve that life would be difficult. But, God is there in the midst of the storms as our refuge. So, even then, God is good. He also uses adversity to mature us, to conform us to His image (Ro. 8:28,29). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride” (Psa. 46:1-3). God is good–all the time!

     So, “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. 100:4,5).  “Oh the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. And men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts; and I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness, and shall shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works” (Psa. 145:5-9). “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (I Chr. 16:34).  “O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

     Life is hard, but God is good–all the time!

Forever His, 

Pastor Dave N

P.S  (From  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis”  

     “Aslan is a lion–the Lion–the great Lion.” 

    “Is he quite safe?”   

    “Safe? Who said anything about safe?  Course he isn’t safe.  But He’s good.  He’s the King.”