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Published: 10 May 2019

I still like, “Let not your heart be troubled” better than, “Dude, take a chill pill.”  But, the point is the same, we need to relax in our Father’s sovereign care.  Admittedly, there are plenty of things that could tempt us to worry these days.  There are shootings, fires, bombs, crashes, tornadoes and brain-eating gummy bears, (okay, I made the last one up).  In spite of all the scary things in the world, Jesus told us to stop worrying.  The apostle reminds us of Jesus’ teaching when he wrote, “Don’t worry about anything but pray about everything.”  One of the psalms in the Hebrew songbook has line that reminds, “Fret not thyself.”  Yet, anxiety is a real struggle in the world today.  The Thessalonian believers were “freaking out” because someone had said that the Day of the Lord was already underway.  While that would be something to freak out about if it had already started, it was obvious, in light of the teachings, that they were safe.  We can be a little judgmental toward our Christian ancestors but we probably have to admit that the truth isn’t always our compass.  Sometimes we get worried because of lies that we have heard or manufactured ourselves.  The truth of God’s Word is given to us that we might have confidence, comfort, and strength.  If we’re fretting, we may want to stop and think on the things that are true.  I’ve heard that when we do that, the God of peace will be with us .  Give it a try.

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Published: 03 May 2019

I really enjoying browsing in Bookstores.  I seldom leave without another book for my personal library.  I have noticed that the fiction sections in Bookstores seems to be expanding.  It’s getting harder and harder to find reality these days!  I enjoy reading fiction, especially when it points to reality; but there is a danger with all this fiction.  The danger is that we’ll read all literature, including the Bible, in the same way.  For example, I’m currently reading, “The Lord of the Rings;” some evenings I get completely absorbed in Middle Earth.  Frodo’s journey to Mt. Doom is quite an adventure.  My grandsons enjoy reading Harry Potter and can speak of the details with clarity.  None of that is bad unless we start thinking that the Bible is just another book of fantasy or fiction.  If we put the wizards and the prophets in the same category, we have a problem.  If we think that angels and elves are really the same thing, we are in trouble.  If we think that Heaven and Hell are just metaphors or fictional destinations, we may be lost forever.  Fiction should illustrate and remind us of present and future realities…not reduce truth to another creative endeavor.  Our text for Sunday reminds us that saints will be glorified one day to a state we can hardly imagine today.  The text also reminds that those who refuse the invitation of Jesus will be banished forever to everlasting ruin!  That’s no joke.  There are real consequences to our choices.  Let’s make sure we keep the fiction and the non-fiction separate in the bookshelves of our heart and live with the reality of God’s grace and goodness in our daily walk.