Pastor's article
November is finally here. What makes you excited about November? Is it the thought of turkey, dressing and all the fixins? Is it that football season is getting more and more competitive as the season moves on? Is it the excitement of Black Friday? Or dare I say, the election? The good thing is that the election is almost over, and yet for many of us the election will continue to be topic of discussion that carries through the holidays-whether we want it to or not!
I read a story this week of a town in Saskatchewan, Canada. They are having a mayoral election, but they have a problem-no one will run. I assume that either the pay is not worth it, or no one wants to deal with the politics of the town. Officials in Kyle said the current mayor, George Williams, who was elected in November 2021, says he is retiring-he’s had enough. And the town has no one to step up. They have sent out two rounds of applications, but no one is interested. The Chief Administrative Officer Amber Dashney said “It’s a little concerning, but I am confident that someone will step forward.”1
Politics has become (even more than before) a powder keg for many families, which adds more stress to the holiday season. The anger and discord is so volatile for our country that no matter how the Presidential election turns out, most likely half of the people will be upset. Politics has become the nation’s number one sport-literally. Politics has drifted into everything, in our movies, in our sports and yes even in our church families. The fact is that the Bible tells us that our elected officials are people, we as Christians should respect because God has ordained our leaders. Romans 13:1 says
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
While I have participated in early voting, I do not know who our next President or any other politician will be elected, I know that God has a plan. God allowed good kings to rule and often the people had bad kings for disciplining God’s people. So, what is the purpose of writing this article for you to read, especially about politics. Well, regardless of how this goes, we as Christians should learn that we must trust the Lord in the leaders, pray for our leaders and love those we may not even agree with.
I think we should be involved and be active in our societal issues so we can be the light on a hill. But I also know as the holidays arrive some may be nervous about that “crazy” relative who can’t let a meal go by with out serving up discord. So how do we deal with that difficult conversation. James gives Christians very practical advice on our day-to-day life. I believe that as the holidays arrive, and the stress that goes along with it, we must guard our witness and particularly our tongue. James 3:3-6 says,
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
I hope that the discord will settle down as the election results come in however the sting may still be present for weeks to come. As “those” people we love or maybe even the ones that we barely “like,” we can sit down and give thanks at thanksgiving.
We can rejoice that God has given us so many things to be thankful. We have a roof over our head. We have food to eat. We have a family, including a church family. We live in a country where we can still worship the Lord. And most of all, we have a God who loves us. This month give thanks to the Lord, because that is really what life is all about.
In Christ,
Brother Alan
1 https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/24/canada-Kyle-Saskatchewan-no-mayor-candidate/7321729801603/
Children's Minister's article
During the previous month, I've been reading about Moses and the Israelites as they wandered in the desert during my personal quiet time. Coincidentally, our Wacky Wednesday lessons have focused on the same part of the bible. Well, when God places the same passages of the bible before you to study in TWO separate areas of your life...it just might be something you need to pay close attention to!
So, as an overview, Moses was tasked with leading God's people through the desert. Moses had some awesome experiences, communing with God in the tabernacle, receiving the ten commandments on the mountain and getting to glimpse God's very essence, his glory. He also had some really awful experiences as the Israelites complained about his leadership, turned their eyes from God to worship idols and even betrayal from family members. It's pretty heavy stuff!
Now, I don't believe God led me to study these passages because I'm about to go on a mountain to talk to God or be betrayed by a friend or family member. I don't know about you but God doesn't usually use the lives of bible personalities to parallel my life. But I can find some basic things about God and his character to apply to my everyday choices.
First, God is creative and compassionate in his provision. Every time the Israelites needed water, he provided it. And when they needed food he provided that too. That provision didn't look like what they were used to back in Egypt, but it perfectly fit the Israelites' needs and circumstances. I can trust my God to provide for me and my family. That provision may not look the same as his provision for my fellow Christian friends. But I can trust him to provide and I need to keep my eyes open for his creative provision in my life. (Manna, anyone?)
Second, God is thoughtful and thorough in his plan. The Israelites' wandering in the desert was more than just waiting for a sinful generation to die off so they could enter the promised land. God used every step for his purpose. He showed Moses that relying on people rather than trusting him would always lead to disappointment. He gave his people basic rules for relationship with him and with others. And he showed the younger generation what the consequences of sin would be. Sometimes I may feel like I'm just treading water and my life is not going forward like I believe it should. But I can realize that God has a purpose in every one of my days and I can know that his plan is bigger than I could even dream.
Third, God is upright and dependable in keeping his promises. Even after all the Israelites' complaining, whining and rejection, God never wavered from the promise of the land where he would establish his people. Sin had to be punished but he never left them, he always forgave them and he fulfilled the covenant that he made with them.
As someone who has placed my faith in Jesus Christ, all God's promises in the bible are now promised to me as well. I can depend on God to forgive me, to love me, to provide for me and to never leave me. I can trust that God will lead me, protect me and is even now preparing another promised land for me when the time comes to return to his side.
So the next time I look at my circumstances and wonder "God, what am I doing here," I just need to remember Moses and the Israelites. Maybe my circumstance is just my "manna" -- what is it? I can have confidence that God has a reason for every one of my minutes and that he's fulfilling the promises that he's made to me as his child.
In Christ,
Marie Dittmar