Hello, Crossroads Family !
As I write, the snow has stopped momentarily, but apparently there’s more coming. I hope you’re safe and warm today. If you’re sick, know that people are praying for you ! Don’t hesitate to let someone know if you need something !
We will keep you posted about church activities this week. Keep an eye on the church website (nevadacrossroadschurch.org) and our FB page. We’ll try to send out text blasts as needed. We’ve been looking forward to the start of Immerse on Wednesday, to the next session of Recharge for men on Thursday, as well as the women’s Abound Conference in Joplin this Friday and Saturday. We’ll watch the weather and make decisions accordingly.
The reading assignment for the first session of Immerse is pp. A15 – 39 in the Immerse Bible. That’s the equivalent of the entire book of Joshua, in case you don’t have an Immerse Bible. Read and be prepared to discuss these four questions :
- What stood out to you ?
- Was there anything confusing or troubling ?
- Did anything make you think differently about God ?
- How might what we read change the way we live ?
Starting this Sunday, there will be a small group gathering for prayer in one of the rooms at the church at 9:00 if you would like to come. Come if you have a need to be prayed for or if you simply want to pray for others and for the church. Catherine Moss will be facilitating.
Below are some notes from Sunday’s elders meeting, followed by an attempt to answer the question, “Why do bad things happen ?”
Elders Notes
We had a good elders meeting, the second meeting of our new Elder Board. Thank you for praying ! I’m grateful for this group of men and the vision God is giving them for present and future ministry at Crossroads !
1. We met with two representatives of our Crossroads Missions Team. The Missions Team has planned a quarterly missions emphasis for the coming year starting with another hot dog / hamburger party after church on Sunday, March 30, this time at Walton Park rather than at the church. There will be a sign-up list for you to bring supplies for that cookout. I’ll hope you’ll be able to come !
2. Bobbie Barbour shared her testimony of faith in Christ in view of becoming a member at Crossroads. We’ll receive Bobbie “officially” this coming Sunday morning.
3. We discussed some recent communications / needs received from members of the congregation. We also had discussion about communication this week in light of the approaching snowstorm.
4. We had some thoughtful discussion about two of our goals for this year : determining what a church building fund needs to look like, and growing the pastor’s salary to accommodate a full-time pastor. A phased-in approach seems necessary ; determining what those phases look like and the financial goals for each will be part of the discussion at our next elders meeting.
5. Tom will take some time off during Spring Break. Mark Tice will preach in his place on Sunday, March 16, and we will have a student from Midwestern Seminary, Markus Kirner, filling in on Sunday, March 23. Markus is a 28-year-old seminarian from Germany who has also lived for a few years in Argentina. He is looking forward to connecting with us on March 23.
6. Tom will attend EFCA One, the biennial national conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America, to be held June 24-26 at Valley Church in West Des Moines.
7. We closed the meeting in prayer.
Why do bad things happen (to good people, or to anyone) ?
The following is part of a letter written to me seventeen years ago by my good friend and spiritual mentor, Jim McColloch. Jim was a pastor from a Bible Church background, although he was pastoring First Baptist Church in Hermann, Missouri, when he and I and another pastor-friend met weekly for Bible study and encouragement. Jim was also a Vietnam War veteran, developed lung cancer later in life, and is now with the Lord. Jim wrote this letter to me when our family was in the early stages of our journey through cancer. I hope it might be helpful to you. We serve a wonderful Lord who oversees all things ; He is not absent from any situation, nor unaware of what happens in our life.
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There are four reasons for sickness and disease in the world today :
(1) The fall of man. Because Adam disobeyed God, the entire creation is tainted by sin and the consequences thereof. God will not set aside the consequences of sin in this world until He establishes the Millennial Kingdom. Until then, everyone experiences physical death and the consequences of sin in the world, including sickness and disease that lead to death.
(2) The economy of God in the world is that “whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.” One cannot violate God’s laws without impunity. If I jump from the roof, God is not going to set aside gravity, and I will get what I deserve for jumping.
(3) Chastisement of believers : This chastisement is reversible if the sin involved is not unto death. (See 1 John 5:16 and 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 for an understanding of “sin unto death.”)
(4) To show the work and/or glory of God. If God is using sickness, disease or infirmity to show His glory, He will not heal it, just as He did not heal Paul of his “thorn in the flesh.”
Understanding these points, we must realize that God does not, at the present time, provide remedy for every sickness or disease because it’s impossible to do so and be consistent with His own Word.
Some years ago, I had a Sunday school teacher who had a brother involved with the “health and wealth” crowd. My teacher was t-boned at an intersection resulting in multiple injuries. While he was in the hospital, his brother visited to ask him what he had done to deserve what happened. This is usually the mindset of the “health and wealth” proponents. While they claim God will heal if the individual has enough faith and prayer, they usually claim that sickness and disease are the results of sin in the individual’s life. This is not always true, as in John 9 where the disciples asked what sin the man or his parents had committed that he was born blind. Jesus said it was not due to the man’s sin but so that the works of God could be manifested. In addition, Jesus said that Lazarus had died so that God’s glory could be revealed (John 11).
Tom, my brother, when we are afflicted physically we often struggle mentally and spiritually because we are triune beings and what affects one area of our being affects every area. I know this is a difficult time for you and your family, and it is normal to wonder what caused the disease. Also, there will always be people with erroneous opinions they are eager to share. But our Lord is faithful, and He will not allow more than you can bear. Neither does He waste anything, so we know this will work together for good because you love the Lord and are called for His purposes.
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In addition to the points Jim makes, I might add that in the case of Job the suffering was the result of spiritual warfare taking place, of which Job was ignorant, as far as we can tell. (Job turns out to be a really good picture of Jesus. Probably no human being suffered more than Job except Jesus.) At the end of Job’s questioning, God didn’t really lay out an explanation for his suffering ; rather, He gave a great demonstration and oration concerning His rule and control over all the earth. Job’s response was to say, “I had heard of You, but now I see You !” (Job 42:5). Nothing happening in the world is outside of God’s control and concern.
Paul adds in 2 Corinthians 1 that when we suffer we are better able, later, to help people who suffer in a similar way. I’ve seen that happen many times during my life.
Mostly, as followers of Jesus, the best thing we can do for those who suffer is to weep with them, to pray for them, and to seek ways to care for them in their distress. The church family is a good place to be when we’re hurting ; care and support are available there.
Thanks to all of you who have been ministering these days to those who are hurting and/or in need.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday morning, Lord willing ! We’ll take time in the sermon to dwell on Ephesians 4:26-27 — “Be angry, yet do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
The Phillips Bible puts those verses this way : “If you are angry, be sure that it is not out of wounded pride or bad temper. Never go to bed angry—don’t give the devil that sort of foothold.”
Anger, if we’re honest, is probably more present in our lives than we realize. Is there really a way to release it or overcome it ?
— Tom
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