The Weekly Epistle 10/9/19

Hi Church,
God is good…and this is where you say, “All the time.”  Whenever you hear someone say, “God is good,” you can’t help yourself but add, “All the time.”  We know that cleanliness is next to what?  “Godliness.”  We are to “let go and….let God.”  And “When God closes a door…he opens a window” (or opens another door).  God helps those who?  “Help themselves.”  In the nineties it was WWJD (“what would Jesus do?”), PUSH (pray until something happens) and FROG (fully rely on God) and on and on it goes.  Oh!  one more- “tweet others…as you want to be tweeted.”  That one brings a smile to my face.
 
My point?  Some are true, some are not.  And sometimes in our desire to simplify truth we can actually trivialize it.  I realize that God dedicated a whole book of the Bible to proverbs that gave us truisms of life put on the bottom shelf where we can easily reach them and apply them to our lives.  There is power in shrink wrapping complex truths into clear and memorable statements.  I do it all the time in communicating God’s word each Sunday.  I did it this past Sunday in saying, “If Jesus is worth serving, he is worth serving well.”  
 
There is a place for pithy statements that help us remember truth.  But one-liners aren’t always helpful.  Life can be hard sometimes and to hear my struggle boiled down to, “God will not give you more than you can handle,” isn’t very useful. To be precise it isn’t accurate either.  The truth is God will give me more than I can handle so that I will lean on Him.  It is all about what He can handle that gives me strength.  
 
The tongue has the power of life and death, Proverbs 18:21 tells us.  Ephesians 4:29 reminds us that beneficial words are spoken according to one’s needs and build up those who listen.  Speaking God’s Word to others is most beneficial when we have taken the time to listen to what it is that the person needs.  Speaking life words isn’t just a matter of truth; it’s an issue of love.  God’s Words are both true and loving.  And what an awesome privilege to speak the truth in love to others.  
 
Don’t forget to check out the announcements!  Let me highlight a few of them.  Our trunk or treat event is growing so more cars are needed.  Wouldn’t it be great to fill two parking lots with decorated cars this year?  Secondly, on November 3 during fellowship time, we will pause to celebrate the projects completed through the “What’s Next Campaign.”  Our second service will begin 15 minutes later than usual and go from 11:00-noon.  We will shoot to keep each worship service to one hour so that we can have a full 30 minutes between services to celebrate together over in the gym (10:15-10:45).  Hope you plan to attend our community night of Worship on October 20 at EBC.  It will be night of praise to our God who is blessed when we worship Him in unity and truth!  
 
See you Sunday.  And church, keep looking up!  Pastor Brian