Outdoor Service Continues

There will be two canopy tents, each located on the east and west side of the parking lot close to the building. Chairs will be set up so that people can practice social distancing.
As always you can stay in your vehicle if you so desire.

Bees and Fallen Trees

Hello Friend,

I have a good friend by the name of Joe (not his real name) who loves to work in the great outdoors. One of his favorite activities is working in his garden. Recently a thunderstorm came through and knocked down some branches. After the storm Joe began to rake up the leaves and put the fallen branches in a pile to be burned later. Things were going well and nearly done until Joe stepped upon a nest of wasps.  Immediately they flew up and began to attack him. At that point my friend ran for his life. Joe got away but not before the wasps had stung him numerous times. No one likes to be stung, but for Joe this situation was more serious, because he has had allergic reactions to bee stings in the past. The previous reactions were never serious but the areas would be sore and swollen. So after the scary incident, Joe endeavored to clean the affected area and watch for any reaction. Thankfully after several anxious hours the only reaction Joe experienced was pain. I’m not sure why Joe didn’t have a reaction to the numerous bee stings, but I do know that God was somewhere in the mix. 

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we have an account in the sixth chapter of a time when some jealous leaders incited King Darius to make a law forbidding anyone from praying to any man or God other than the king himself. After the law went into effect, Daniel, a follower of God continued to pray three times a day to his God, an activity he had done in the past. Once the jealous leaders found out that Daniel was still praying to God, they told the king of Daniel’s lawbreaking activity. Unfortunately, this meant the lion’s den for Daniel. Because the king could not undo the law which he put into place, he had Daniel placed in the lion’s dean and a stone was set over the opening. Verses 20 to 22 of that chapter tell us what happened on the following morning, 20 “When he (the king) came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ 21 Daniel answered, ‘May the king live forever!’ 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”

God in his goodness spared Daniel’s life. And in a similar way God spared Joe’s life from the numerous wasp stings he unfortunately received. Now, I’m not advocating trying this dangerous activity at home. Don’t intentionally go out and get stung by a bee! But what I am saying is trust the Lord with your whole life! Because of Christ’s work on the cross, those who believe in Him don’t have to fear the sting of death. Death has been defeated by the shedding of Jesus’ blood and the giving of his life. And that good news is something to make a real buzz about.

Blessings, 

Pastor Tom