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Published: 05 November 2021

“Missions”

A mission by definition is, “a sending out or being sent out with authority to perform a special duty.”  Our English word is from the Latin, “to send.”  Webster’s dictionary uses several religious examples because the use of the word historically has often been associated with the church.  However, military personnel are often sent on a mission as are people in other vocations.  Sometimes, when we see a person in a hurry, we might say, “Wow, shes’s on a mission.”  Our mission as a church is sometimes referred to as the Missio Dei.  That’s another Latin term that means, “the Mission of God.”  What is God’s mission?  What is He up to and how are we involved in this mission?  The answer is found in Matthew 28 in what we refer to as the “Great Commission.”  We have been sent to the world to make disciples of all kinds of people, baptizing them and teaching them everything that Jesus taught.  If that is too wordy, think of it this way, the mission of God is to have lots of kids with the character of His Son.  God made people in His image for relationship with Him.  His mission is to restore the relationship and the likeness—for our good and His glory.  That is why Randy and Rose Barnes are in Hardin, Montana.  They are there by God’s call, supported by God’s people, joining God in His mission.  Join us Sunday to learn about the ways God is at work.

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Published: 29 October 2021

“Things are Bad…”

Covid. Political in-fighting. Afghanistan. Gaza. Inflation. Supply chain disruption. Opioid addiction. The mental health crisis.  Porn. Shootings.  Stabbings.  Domestic violence.  Trafficking.  Detroit Lions, 0-7.  Things are bad.  In spite of our many technological advancements and creature comforts, the overall state of humans is still failing.  We may live more years but we’re still going to die.  We have indoor plumbing and refrigerated food and information at our fingertips but people still fight, hate and isolate.  The church has been an advocate for education for many years but we do not believe that education is the final solution.  The church has been at the forefront of medical treatment and health-care but we do not believe that death will ever be averted.  We’ve heard again and again since March 2020 that “together we can beat Covid.”  Cooperation would sure help but we need more than human ingenuity and unity to overcome this health crisis.  Like everything else we face in this broken world, we need Divine Intervention.  This world is subject to frustration and has been ever since the first man and woman decided to give life a try without God.  We’ve been in one form of a mess or another for thousands of years.  Our short-term confidence may be in science, government and human cooperation but one would be a fool to have long-term hope in any human effort to bring Heaven to earth.  The badness of this world is another common theme in the pastoral letters.  However, the badness is only a backdrop to the Intervention.  You do not need to be a pessimist.  By faith, you can be a Divine optimist.  We have a blessed hope!  We’ll look at it Sunday—unless He comes first.  😊