From the Pastors

What tragic and discouraging times!

· A cyclone in Myanmar that kills thousands and leaves many thousands more homeless, without food or water.

· A massive earthquake in China that again kills thousands and leaves people homeless, without food or water.

· A typhoon in the Philippine Islands that overturns a ferry, killing hundreds.

· Extreme flooding in the United States. While not so deadly, many thousands of acres are under water, crops are destroyed; businesses are closed; thousands are without homes; power, food and water are unavailable; interstate highways and railroads are impassable.

The cost of fuel is growing beyond the means of many to keep up, and the increases in fuel costs will be reflected in the cost of food and commodities that we all use.

Our two leading presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, promises to bring welcome changes if they are elected. That sure doesn’t help us now!

Millennia ago, Jewish pilgrims, journeying to Jerusalem, looked at the mountains, and then affirmed that they knew the Source of their help when they needed it:

“I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from the mountains? No, my strength comes from God…” Psalm 121:1 (the Message)

Psalm 46 is even more encouraging to those with doubts, fears, stress or trouble in their lives:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah .

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

What hope these verses bring to the child of God who is discouraged by circumstances, by events, by illness or by death.

Last week we lost two members of our church family, Laurie Palmer and Mike Skrypez. Both died after illnesses which lasted several years.

At the celebration service for Laurie on June 22, you could see the joy in those who were here. Oh, certainly there were tears, certainly there was heartbreak and emptiness, but also present and visible was the hope of those who know Christ.

Laurie, even when facing death, knew that she was in the hands of God and that she would be in His presence when she took her last breath. The family and friends at that service reflected her faith and assurance.

I sat with Mike and Rita the afternoon before his death. We discussed dying, along with Mike’s faith and hope in Jesus Christ. We read Scripture together then we prayed together. Mike wasn’t eager to die. He wanted to remain with his wife and their family. But he didn’t face his death with fear and uncertainty.

Mike had the assurance that when he died, he would be in the presence of his Savior. He had placed his hope in the Lord, and that hope was fulfilled the day after we talked and prayed, when he quietly slipped into Heaven.

God has been a very present help to Jim and his family, and to Rita and her family, as their loved ones have passed on.

God is a very present help to all those who call on him. That includes you and me when we call on Him. In the days when depression could come so easily because of events and circumstances, God is there to help us in our daily walk.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews expressed this thought much better than I am able:

“Now that we know what we have – Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God – let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Heb. 4:15-16 (the Message)