As we take the time to reflect on the recent election, let’s do our best, as followers of Christ, to react in a Godly manner. For those who are elated over the outcome, remember Proverbs 24:17  “Do not gloat when your enemy falls, when he stumbles, do not rejoice” We need to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another, in love. Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3)

For those of an opposing political view, the council of Paul to the church at Corinth seems appropriate “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2nd Corinthians 6:10) Also his command in his first letter to the Thessalonian’s 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. Let us all remember Romans 8:28 “…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

He will use this political outcome to conform us more to the image of Christ. So let us pray for one another and realize that God uses all things – the good, the bad, and yes, even those things, which some believers feel, are good, while others, who love the Lord, feel are bad. In the Epistle of James chapter 1 verse 22 God inspired the writing “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” We should all take that to heart and live as 1st Thessalonian’s 5:13 says “In peace with one another”

President Kennedy expressed what reminds me of that verse in James. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them” This is true in all situations, but was said in reference to Veterans Day, which we celebrated this past Friday. For those who served this country we also, as President Kennedy exclaimed, wish to honor our veterans, not only with words, but with the lives we live, in this country, borne from the desire to live in the freedom our constitution grants. We thank all veterans for giving themselves in service to this goal, not only in attaining, but in also keeping this nation free, knowing that alongside freedom lies responsibility. May the Lord Jesus, through his Spirit grant us the grace and courage to uphold that responsibility.

Rev. Larry Sassmann Assistant Pastor

“It’s not real, Mom!” “Yes” responds the devil and those demons listening in! We are so surrounded by witches, vampires, zombies, voodoo, black magic, and the occult that we take it all in stride…think Supernatural, Witchblade, Millennium, The Dead Zone, The X-files, Angel, Dark Angel, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or go back to Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Dark Shadows. The Exorcist, Carrie, Devil’s Advocate, The Craft, The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project, Halloween, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street–these movies tantalize, please and ultimately desensitize us to demonism, witchcraft, and magic. The horoscope is in our daily newspaper. Then there are books, stories, and games: Harry Potter and Merlin the Magician, board games–like Ouija–and role-playing games that use witchcraft, sorcery, spells, and spirits. All that can’t be real or we would have to adjust our ideas of harmless fun. Even most of us not all that into pop culture have computers that don’t show icons, but instead give us our choice among charms. Public universities offer courses in witchcraft and paganism. We have always been curious to know if there is more to this life; now in the face of very public failures of organized Christianity, people are growing more open-minded to any religion that appears to fill the spiritual void in their lives. The voice of a new generation says, “The truth is out there …somewhere.” “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,” (2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV). Our desire to know the future and to control events that are not ours to control is at the heart of witchcraft, though these abilities belong only to the Lord. This desire has its roots in Satan’s first temptation to Eve: “You can be like God” (Genesis 3:5). There are only two sources of spiritual power: God and Satan. (Satan has only the power that God allows him to have.) To seek spirituality, knowledge, or power apart from God is idolatry, closely related to witchcraft. Witchcraft and Spiritism often involve the ritualistic use of magic potions and mind-controlling drugs to achieve an altered state of consciousness, which can open us up to the invasion of demonic spirits. Christians do believe in the visible and the invisible, both good and evil. (“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:12 ESV). We don’t need to fear Satan’s power, but we should respect it and stay away from it and all of Satan’s counterfeits to holy spirituality. So do Christians celebrate Halloween? Halloween literally means “the holy evening” and begins with the Christian concept of the importance of the individual soul. It started as a time to remember the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed by attending church services, praying, making special food for the dead, lighting candles on graves to help the dead find their families, wearing masks to hide those on whom the dead might seek vengeance and costumes to honor the saints, and ceremonially acting out the battle between good and evil, around bonfires and while dressed in costumes of saints or of evil spirits (now known to us as “trick or treating”). Halloween was considered a time when evil could manifest itself. It is an acknowledgement of that existence, to ask for God’s blessing and protection from evil in the world. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” (Philippians 4:8 ESV).

                                ∞   Rev. Linda Lee Karanja-Sebastian   ∞

 (http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/whats_the_difference_between_h.html;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween; https://realtruth.org/articles/113-wwap.html;

https://gotquestions.org/Bible-witchcraft.html).

“Do you know Jesus?” “Oh, yes! I love God.” And that seems all right. And it can be all right. But it also can be a very deceitful, dangerous twist. What am I possibly talking about? Loving God — dangerous? In a multitude of ways, Scripture shows us that we are to: Trust God “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20). “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture” (Psalm 37:3). “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). “This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all, especially of those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). And Love people “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing back in return” (Luke 6:35).  When asked how often we are to forgive: “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (Matthew 18:22).  Seven being the number for perfection and completeness, that’s a whole lot of forgiving. It’s forgiving that requires a love much greater than any we can muster if we’re not trusting God to bring his fruit — love — to blossom in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  That sounds difficult, but not dangerous. Here’s the twist: how much easier it is for us to love God and trust in people. You see, loving God puts us in control of our relationship with God. We find it comforting to give him love, not having to consider the salvation given us by God’s grace, as a gift. (“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8). When it comes to gifts, the receiver has absolutely no control, and no choice but to acknowledge the gift giver. Likewise, trusting people gives us control, because we all know that people will fail, so there really is no faith at risk. (“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people” (Psalm 118:8). “Fear of men will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). It’s so much more comfortable knowing pretty much how things will turn out, and not having to face that challenge that comes with trusting God. How much power we are giving Satan, with this twist on God’s way! By failing to trust God, and by failing to love others, we miss opportunities to show others God’s great gift to us, salvation, and redeemed life forever. Instead, let’s keep on trusting God and loving others.

≈≈     Written by — Rev. Linda Lee Karanja-Sebastian        ≈≈

See Bruce Larson in How to Reach Secular People by George G. Hunter III, 1992

Written by,  Rev. Richard L. Shaw Ph.D, Pastor

The Apostle Paul issues a stern but loving warning to the backslidden church of Galatia in his epistle to them, Galatians 6:7-10.  There he admonishes them against a common condition of all people, including the Church-deception.  “Do not be deceived,” he says, “God cannot be mocked.”  It is no mocking of God if we live like we did before we were saved (the flesh) but it is to our own loss and distress.

Then Paul appeals to the law of sowing and reaping, using a metaphor from the discipline of agriculture.  Whatever one sows one reaps.  One cannot sow according to the flesh, and realistically expect to reap the peace and joy, the winning of others to Jesus, get many answers to prayer, etc.  The law of spiritual harvest is as inexorable as the law of physical agriculture.  If the farmer sows beans, it is beans he will reap- not peas or cauliflower. So, if your life is not producing much spiritual fruit, check the seeds!

What are you sowing?  Contention?  Pride?  Selfishness?  Deceitfulness?  Be ready for a harvest!  It won’t be pleasing. But if the you sow to the Spirit- Love- Peace- Joy-Acceptance of others- Eagerness to serve- Humility-you will also have a harvest.  But a totally different harvest from sowing to the flesh.  God further promises, through the Holy Spirit, that we must not grow weary in doing good, because we will reap if we don’t grow weary.  Therefore, he says, find, and fulfill opportunities to do good to all people.

Written by, Rev. Larry Sassman, Assistant Pastor

This past week we entered the last month on the Hebrew calendar, Elul. The word Elul means search – the significance is to prepare, through earnest reflection, for the ten days of repentance starting with Rosh Ha Shanah (The Feast of Trumpets) and ending with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). During that time observant Jews ask God’s forgiveness for their sins and that He write their name in the Book of Life for another year. This tradition is believed to coincide with the story of the golden calf and Moses smashing the Ten Commandments, because of Israel’s sin, and the receiving of the 2nd set (Exodus 32; and 34:27-28).

During the month of Elul, God is considered to be more approachable (by rabbinic tradition). The letters that make up Elul also maintain significance; Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed, and is considered by some to be an acronym for Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li which translates to Song of Songs 6:3 “I am my Beloveds and my beloved is mine”.

When Jesus shouted “It is Finished” on the cross (John 19:30) the curtain that separated man from the Holy of Holies was ripped in two showing God was now approachable to all, at all times (Matthew 27:51). We, if we are “in Christ”, can be assured our names are in the aforementioned Book of Life, as we have been sealed, by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Yet Peter tells us we should prepare, not for salvation, but because of it. 1st Peter 1:13 declares “Therefore prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled, set your Hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

As we enter these days of searching, on the Jewish calendar, let us also search our hearts and allow the Spirit who seals us, to reveal any areas of our lives that still need to be given to His control. Remember that Christ gave all to become your Beloved! Are you His?

#Rosh Ha Shanah#Yom Kippur#Ten Commandments#Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed#Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li#Holy of Holies#Peter 1:13#Jesus Christ