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It is hard sometimes to decide on a topic for the newsletter, but with so much of what I would describe as total ignorance of Biblical truth, there is plenty of material. Last week, I received via email a link to an article in the Tuscaloosa Alabama News. In the article, the author interviewed several people as to whether they viewed homosexuality as a sin. One person answered this way: “I think the Bible is pretty clear that traditionally homosexuality has been a sin, but I think there are other things in the Bible that have traditionally been declared a sin that God’s people have determined are no longer sinful.”

Occasionally, I will read something that I like to pass on to you. This week, I’ll share a devotional thought from C.H.Spurgeon, a preacher from the 1800’s. He had these observations on the trials and tribulations that affect God’s people. The scripture used is the last part of Isaiah 48:10… “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (KJV uses chosen, instead of tested).

In these days of drought and instability in the markets, with political upheaval and a general feeling that things might be out of control, I believe we need these words of encouragement. Now, the idea of God testing us in the furnace of affliction is not something we want to hear, but there are positive things that come from this.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we find in chapter 3, that Daniel has three friends who are thrown in a furnace for refusing to worship the pagan king. The fire does not burn the three men, and the king, Nebuchadnezzar, sees not three, but four men in the furnace.

Now to Spurgeon’s comments: “Let affliction come. God has chosen me to be in it. If it is poverty, God is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness may come, but I have a healing ointment–God has chosen me.

The fourth man in the furnace is understood to be Jesus. When we are in the furnace, he is beside us. In our quiet room, He sits there beside us. In poverty, in our lonely house, with its bare walls the Lord of life and glory is there, consecrating those walls. No matter the trial, whether it be poverty, illness, loneliness, or any other “fiery furnace”, the Son of God is there with His people.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

If you are a Christian currently undergoing trials of any kind, God has promised to see you through it. If you are not a Christian, let me share a word of testimony from a person who recently placed their faith in the Lord Jesus: “I still have the same problems and pressures I had before, but the burden is lighter.”

Praise God for His presence in the lives of those who love Him!

To Him be the glory,
Pastor Jerry

Dear readers,
The email version of this weekly blog is called “Lake City News”. There is a reason. I grew up in Rock County and Pony Lake was almost in our back yard. At one point in history, there was a town platted there, and it was called Lake City. In the “Remember When” column in our local newspaper this week from 100 years ago, there was this: “The poverty and wealth dance at Lake City was well attended and a good time was reported.” This would have been 1912. The dance hall, lumber yard, and post office at Lake City have long since disappeared, but it’s fun knowing I lived there.
I spent a day last week trying to remove some pesky beavers at Lake George (our other home by a lake). They have worn out their welcome. Actually, I don’t remember ever welcoming them, they just moved in without asking. I didn’t have any success with that project yet, but I’ll be spending some more time there this week.
Removing unwanted rodents could be compared to rooting out sin in our lives. Some of those things creep in, and one day we realize they are not as innocent as we thought, and it is much harder to kick them out after they become established.
In order to begin working on the beaver problem at our lake, I need to get authorization to use the means necessary to evict them. That came in the form of a permit from Game and Parks. I now have the authority to use physical force to remove the unwanted visitors.
As Christians, we have been authorized to deal with sin, and we also are given the necessary tools to get the job done. Our authority is granted by the Lord, and our helper is the Holy Spirit. In addition, we have the Word of God, which shows us the way to not only deal with present sin, but which also instructs us in the way to keep sin from taking over in our lives. The proper application of His Word is very effective in dealing with sin.
Of equal importance are prayer, confession, repentance and relying on the power of God’s Holy Spirit, not our own: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The very best way to enjoy freedom from sin is to never let it take up residence in your life. Here are three commands concerning temptation to sin: Flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14), and flee the evil desires of youth (2 Timothy 2:22).

In His Truth,
Pastor Jerry

Hello again,
After some really nice weather early in the week, there was a drastic change in the temperature, along with some very windy conditions. It’s hard to remember if I’ve seen these kinds of contrasts before. Usually, after a cold early winter, we get a “January thaw”. I don’t think there has been anything to thaw so far this winter. Even with the cold of the last two days, I can’t think there is much frost in the ground.
I’ve been setting up a new computer this week. Very early in the process, I was encouraged to install an anti-virus program. I started thinking about what an anti-virus program does. In effect, it keeps unwanted people from getting in and messing up your computer.
Applied to the Christian, an anti-virus program would keep wrong thoughts and actions out of our minds and our hearts. Guess what? God has an anti-virus program. It includes his word, and his Spirit. At the moment of salvation, God permanently installs his Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer, and by faithfully and consistently reading the Bible, the “program” is regularly updated.
Many Christians, however, fall short in the Bible reading part, so their adversary, Satan, is able to corrupt their thinking, and it shows up in their actions.
Many of the anti-virus programs I’ve seen, use a shield as part of their logo. In Ephesians chapter 6, we read these words: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:13-18).
We Christians have God’s “anti-virus program” installed, it is up to us to keep it updated. With all the attacks coming upon Christians today, it would be wise for us to keep our defenses current, by being continually in prayer and in the reading and study of His word.

In His power,
Pastor Jerry