Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

From the Pastor

May 24, 2019 by Rev. John Hartman

From the Pastor

Our Men’s Monday morning Bible study is reading a book by Bill Hybels, titled, “Holy Discontent.” In it, he talks about finding something that fuels our passion for change. Something that annoys us or angers us to such a degree that we feel called to step forward and do something about it.

You may work in a bureaucracy where you are treated like a number, but the Bible says when your prayer hits the switchboard in heaven, it goes straight through to the Boss. Why? The Lord of the universe defends those who are oppressed.

Did you know Florence Nightingale was famous for the ferocity of her anger against inadequate medical care? It is said that Abraham Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation in a fit of anger. It was the fury of the American people after the sneak attack at Pearl Harbor that mobilized this great country to help save the world from tyranny. It was the anger of black people forced to ride at the back of the bus that started the Civil Rights Movement. “Holy Discontent” is how wrong things get made right.

Let’s be very honest, we live in an evil world, and our own nation has not always done the right thing. But on this Memorial Day weekend we recall times when God has used our anger for his own purposes in the world. War is evil, but sometimes God uses evil to overcome a greater evil. Just think, if we had not fought a war against Germany during the 1940's, today there might not be a single Jewish person alive on the face of the earth. Imagine, democracy, freedom, this nation, and even our beloved church might not exist. And so, knowing how blessed we are to gather freely for worship, we tremble as we sing,“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, he is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; he has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword, our God is marching on.” May God continue to march on in your life, and fill you with the love, light and life of Jesus Christ.

Happy Memorial Day,

Pastor John

Quote of the Week

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." When we make God our King and advance his Kingdom in our nation, we serve both our Lord and our country.” Joseph Campbell

Joseph John Campbell was an American Professor of Literature at Sarah Lawrence College who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion.