Dear friends,
On Tuesday night, I attended our men’s study where we have been discussing the book entitled “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by R. Kent Hughes. This week’s topic was the discipline of the church. In sharing our experiences, we found that all of the men in the group were not in the first church that they attended. The most surprising reason for leaving a church was that one brother learned that the elders in the church where he was going arranged marriages for people there, citing the story found in Genesis 24 of Isaac and Rebekah as their example to follow.
When I was with Operation Mobilization in Europe as a single young man, I remember hearing people who served in India say that Westerners enter into marriage with a hot plate that goes cold, while people in India start with a cold plate that gets hot. Although the high rate of divorce in the West attests to that claim, I am glad that I had the freedom of choice in looking for a bride.
On Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit a lady who lives on the street where I grew up. She had been taking care of her mother until her death a couple of weeks ago. I learned that her brother died nine years ago after having an operation. The last time I talked with him, he told me that he worked in a radio station. It was neat that we grew up in the same neighborhood and were both working in communications. I also learned that their mother was a Holocaust survivor. I can’t imagine what she went through.
The horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas this week brought to light the contrast between good and evil. People stood in the hot sun for hours to give blood to help save lives. A radio station in Montreal aired a quote from the late Fred Rogers, a minister who entertained millions through the medium of television, about looking for the helpers when a terrible event occurred. The quote is shown on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LGHtc_D328.
For those who love the Lord, we know that we live in a world filled with evil, as the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy relationships and lives. Yet, we do not lose hope, because we know that God is greater than the devil. May we seek to help others find new life in Christ.
Scripture for the weekend: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “Men, on the most elementary level, you do not have to go to church to be a Christian. You do not have to go home to be married either. But in both cases if you do not, you will have a very poor relationship.” – R. Kent Hughes (from his book “Disciplines of a Godly Man”)
By His grace,
Steve