We're Not Okay and That's Alright

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. (Matthew 27:57-61 NLT)

The 27th chapter of Matthew is a rather depressing and sad chapter. Here is a brief synopsis:

Jesus’ death is planned out by the religious leaders
    Judas hangs himself
        An innocent man (Jesus) is put on trial
            The audience of the trial wants a guilty man set free
                An innocent man (Jesus) is found “guilty” and humiliated publicly
                    Jesus is crucified
                        As he is dying, Jesus is further ridiculed and verbally assaulted
                            Certain women could/would only watch from a distance
                                Jesus dies and is buried in a “borrowed” tomb
                                    Plans are made and kept to guard the tomb of someone dead

Ugh. Like we said, depressing.

Many Christians believe - some adamantly - that a follower of Jesus can never be depressed. After all, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Yet, pulling one verse out of context does not make one a biblical scholar.

Depression, sadness, hurt, anxiety, pain, stress…these are all found throughout the Holy Scriptures and afflicted even the stoutest of biblical saints.

One of Christianity’s greatest preachers, C.H. Spurgeon was frequently plunged into severe depression. Quite a bit of his mental crises were due in part to gout. In a biography of this "prince of preachers", Arnold Dallimore wrote, "What he suffered in those times of darkness we may not know...even his desperate calling on God brought no relief. Spurgeon himself once wrote: “There are dungeons beneath the castles of despair.”

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any lower…dungeons.

In all honesty - we’ve all been there. A loss of a loved one. Loss of a job. Destruction of a friendship. Frail health. Chronic pain. Addiction. Financial stress. Impatient demands of others. All of these, plus countless other things, can drive even the sweetest of saints to a moment of mental anguish and spiritual struggle.

Chuck Swindoll once wrote: “Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life's calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, ‘I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not.’ But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life thoroughly vindicated his bout with discouragement. You and Your Problems Transformed by Thorns, p. 58.

Even the early followers of Jesus despaired. Matthew 27:61 - “Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.” Do you think they were waiting for his triumphant resurrection? No, more than likely, these two could only see and feel: “The One we believed in and followed is gone! Our Messiah is dead!”

We too, often become overwhelmed by life and its often relentless and choking grip…and in our limited thinking we say to ourselves: “Where is God? Why doesn’t he hear me? Why doesn’t he hear my prayers? Does God not care for me or my problems?”

Be honest - you know we’ve all done it. So, quit being ashamed of being human. After all, if you’re reading this, “Surprise! You’re human.” You are flesh. You are bone. You are blood. You are at times weak. At times you fail. This is what it means to live in a fallen world.

Instead, give thanks that God extends mercy and grace when we do fall. He gives us what we do not deserve and does not give us what we do deserve in those moments of despair.

In the midst of their pain and loss, God reached out to the two Marys. Even though it was at a tomb, guarded by the enemy, without joy and hope, God had not abandoned them. God had not left them to their own demise. God did not discard them because they were filled with sadness.

Rather God met them there. He brought forth the greatest moment of joy the world would ever know. He raised from the dead the One who could lead all the captives of sin and death to eternal and everlasting freedom. God brought to life the only One who can give us life.

Holy week is upon us. It is a tough week. Maybe you are encountering a tough time. Know this: it’s okay to fret. It’s alright to stress. It’s normal to get overwhelmed. It’s fine that you are not fine.

That is the reason for Christ Jesus.

Christ has come.
    Christ has died.
        Christ has been buried.
            Christ has been raised from the dead.
                Christ has ascended to the right hand of the Father.
                       Christ is coming again.

That’s good news brothers and sisters. We pray it brings a glimpse of hope to your burdened hearts and a smile of joy to your face. It’s okay to not be okay…because, in the end, it will all be okay.

Out of Focus - Out of Faith

 

01-18-2022

When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.' 

The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said. And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land.

The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with these people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” 

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

As we put together this week’s newsletter we are busy getting ready for our church’s Annual Conference this coming Sunday evening. We will get to see our wonderful District Superintendent, Kevin Brouillette and share what God has done for his people at Cornerstone Community Church this past year and focus on what we hope to see our heavenly Father do this year.

This is a vital exercise for our faith because we need to remember what God has done and focus on what he is and is going to do - for that is the springboard of faith to trust him.

To be honest - we don’t know what 2022 holds in store for any of us. We are not sure of anything at this point. We think most of us may be a little uncertain of what we are supposed to be doing. The Church, as we know it, is rapidly changing. Ministry is going to look alot different moving forward. We think all of our lives are going to look different moving forward as well. And, maybe that’s a good thing.

With that in mind we offer the following verses to guide us as we journey into 2022...

John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 6:31-34: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Now, notice a few things which will undoubtedly encourage you in the days ahead…

1.) Become aware of how many times these verses point to where our focus should be. God. Yahweh even speaks to himself as the place where we should concentrate. So often we revert to situational faith where we center on our problems. God says, in a nutshell, “Your situation is temporary. I am eternal. Look to me - I do not, will not change nor will I leave you.”

2.) This world is filled with obstacles and disruptions, disease and disaster. Nothing is going to change that. Rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, loved or unloved. No one escapes struggles. The sooner we accept this truth the better we will better understand —

3.) God has overcome the world and its problems. WHATEVER, WHOEVER, WHEREVER - God has already overcome. Victory is his and therefore ours. Hence —

4.) Don’t worry about a thing. Rather, seek. When worry comes - and it will for ALL of us - take that worry and move it to seeking. Seek God. Seek his comfort. Seek his peace. Seek his strength. Seek his hand of mercy. Seek his kingdom. When you do —

5.) God, through his Son Jesus the Christ and his Holy Spirit, will provide what you need…he will provide the way. Not the way out. Not the way around. Not even the way through. Wait. What? Remember, He is the way…”For I am the way, the truth, the life…” IE: He will provide himself. What more do we need?

So many questions face the bride of Christ (the church) presently that it’s difficult to know where to begin. Some of the issues Missy and I are struggling with: Can we continue in the ministry full-time or is it time to revert to being a “tentmaker?” Will fellowships of faith need to focus more on collaborative ministries…or even come together and unite under one roof? Is it time to do away with the “system” which has run the church for the last 70 plus years? Where will the funds come to support what the local church seeks to do? What role does fellowship play moving forward? To what extent do local missions mean more? How do we care for our online friends? 

Yes, we are worried about a lot - therefore we need to be focusing on God and his deliverance. We need faith. You need faith. We all need more faith. The great Christian George Muller once wrote: “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

André Masséna, was a French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. As one of Napoleon's generals, he one time suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that surrendering was the only answer. Why risk the lives of all of the innocent people of their town?

The old caretaker of the church reminded the town council that it was Easter and encouraged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. Rather than focus on Masséna and his 18,000 soldiers, the man of faith urged them to focus on the resurrection of Christ. Incredibly, they followed his advice. 

The caretaker went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. Loud and long they rang. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and immediately concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. A quick decision was made to brake camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, the entire group had vanished.

Let the words of Paul remind us all how we are to make our way through 2022: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.  

Focus on God. Focus on your faith. If we do, perhaps we will “see” our way out of this.

Steve and Missy

What? Me Worry? Yep...

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own."

- Matthew 6:25-34 (NET Version)

  

For years a woman had trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went to investigate. When he got there, he found a burglar. "Good evening," he said. "I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you."

How many of us are waiting for something bad to happen? How many of us continually worry about things that may or may not occur? I would say all of us are, at some point in our lives, in that same boat. To misquote Shakespeare, “To worry or not to worry, that is the question.”

To the followers of Jesus at Philippi - during Roman occupation - Paul the apostle quipped: “Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” That’s a great statement - but oh the difficulty in actually placing that truth into action.

Seriously - can we actually live a life free of worry? Is that even possible? In all honesty it seems to be complete and utter nonsense. After all, can anyone live a worry-free life? Anti-anxiety if you will…

The Greek word for worry/anxiety is μεριμνάω (merimnáō) which means, literally, “drawn in opposite directions,” "divided into parts." Figuratively speaking we might use the phrase "to go to pieces" because continual worry and anxiety pull us apart in different directions. Hence, as we can see, in the New Testament it is invariably used in a negative light. So, what are we to make of this?

Well, a couple of things. First - when the Bible speaks of worry it does so in a sense that means to be a constant worrier - ie; someone who NEVER has any faith or who NEVER trusts that things will work out. It DOES NOT MEAN that we won’t ever have anxiety or fear or worry. It simply means that it will not cripple us or pull us away from Christ. Anything that pulls you away from Jesus is sin...continual worry is just that. Not everyday-going-through-life worries and concerns - that is not sin.

Secondly, the Word of God is actually trying to not focus on the negative (worry/anxiety) but rather on the positive (faith/trust). Many people (believers in Jesus and non-believers) read the scriptures and focus on the negative aspects rather than the positive. These people also have the same mentality in their normal lives - the culmination leading to depression, all types of disorders, and even psycho-somatic conditions (I’ll let you google that so you’ll feel smarter).

Yet, God’s word is about healing, hope and wholeness. God is NOT a divine being who is bent on destroying your life and making everything cumbersome… God IS the Divine Being Who gave his own Son’s life in order that you might have joy - and that your joy would be complete.

Some of you are really struggling right now. We are really struggling right now. Smiles and lies aside, we feel that most of us are dealing with multiple issues and at times unbearable weight. We miss one another. We long to embrace one another. We hurt incredibly over the loss of loved ones. We weep over our children being sick. We are broken over our parents and their isolation.

We worry about tomorrow. We are anxious about paying our bills. We are stressed over going into more debt without any relief on the horizon. We are worried about jobs. We are anxious about vaccinations working or not working.

Yes, it is okay to worry. It’s not a sin. Just don’t be pulled away from your faith by your worry. Don’t be divided in your love for Jesus by your anger against your neighbor. That is sin.

We are anxious to hear how you are doing and join with you in worrying what tomorrow might bring. But, we are trusting the hand of the One who holds tomorrow. Are you?




Steve and Missy