October 2025

Hope in a Broken World

“The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.”  2 Peter 3:9 (GW)

When God looks down on the earth and sees so much sin in the world, why does he put up with it? He’s got the power to shut it all down. So, why is he allowing a broken planet to continue limping along?

Because although the world’s broken, God is still in control—and history is moving toward a climax. History is his story, and he’s not finished yet.

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (GW). 

God is patiently enduring all the grief that he sees on this planet. Why? Because he’s waiting for people to step across the line and follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He wants all people to become part of his family—that includes you!

And if you’re in his family, he wants you to share the Good News of Jesus with everyone you know, because he wants them to be part of his family too. God is waiting so that more people have the opportunity to receive his grace.

Many people say, “I can’t believe in a God who would callously stand by, unmoved, and watch children suffer.” I don’t believe in that kind of God either!

I believe in a God who weeps when He sees the people He created hurting one another. And I believe in a God who is one day going to stop evil dead in its tracks and settle the score. The Bible says there’s going to be a day when God judges all sin and evil.

But here’s the good news: If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, you don’t need to fear that day. The Bible says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT). That means when you stand before God, you won’t stand there alone or ashamed. You’ll stand in his grace—totally forgiven, because of what Jesus has already done for you on the cross.

Yes, the world is broken, and yes, there’s evil—but God is in control. He’s still got the whole world in his hands. And he’s giving us a little more time to choose him and to tell others about his love for them.

What are you waiting for?

Talk It Over

- Do you feel a sense of urgency to tell people about the gospel? Why or why not?

- If you knew Jesus was going to return to earth tomorrow, who would you share the Good News with today?

-How can we know what God feels when he looks at the world?

Are you ready to step across the line and follow Jesus as your Savior and Lord?

If you’ve never invited Jesus into your heart, I want to offer you that opportunity now. Tell God you trust his promise of salvation through Jesus by praying this prayer: “Dear heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against you, and I ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for your promise that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no condemnation for those who are in him—and that through him, my guilt is taken away. “I believe in Jesus and accept him as my Savior and Lord. I give my life to you completely, trusting in your grace and love. Thank you for saving me and making me new. Help me to follow Jesus every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Pastor Doug

September 2025

Singers of a New Song

Read Psalm 96

As the modern proverb goes, “Everybody sings in the shower.” Good voices or bad or in between, for most people it is hard not to sing at some time, especially in the shower. Even for the non-singer, music touches the heart. Music is a deep expression of the inner being. That is why music is so important to the expression of our faith in Jesus Christ. Can you imagine the church without music?

To be sure, some music is trash. Ugly and immoral thoughts have been put to music. That has to be among the highest forms of misuse of a gift from God. Music is the deep expression of one’s inner being. It is a gift from God to be used to honor and praise God. Should not all music, sacred and secular, be sung as a praise to God? If it doesn’t honor God, then it is not worth singing or playing.

WE are to “sing to the Lord a new song.” That does not necessarily mean that you have to write a “new song” every time you sing. It does mean that songs, new or old, that capture the depths of you heart and love for God, has to be sung. When the song fits the circumstances, needs, and expressions of your life, it is a new song.

The hymnody of the Church is a wonderful gift! It is among the highest expressions of praise to God. Think of all the music you know. Much of it is music of the Faith and of the Church. Take away such “church music” and tunes derived from the music of the faith and we lose a giant chunk of all the tunes in the music library of this culture. Take music from the worship service and you suffer a major loss., “Sing to the Lord a new song!”

The strong yearnings of heart and soul have been expressed in music. Think of the hymns of faith that came out of the slavery years of this nation. The beliefs of our faith are supremely expressed in music. Prayers are put into song. The mighty acts of God are put into liturgies and anthems. Music is a marvelous medium for praising God. With all of God’s people say, “Sing to the Lord a new song!”

PRAYER THOUGHTS: AS you pray, sing or read a beloved hymn.

Pastor Doug