PASTOR’S PONDERINGS NOVEMBER 2025

Pastor’s Ponderings –

Many times, one of the hardest things for us to do is invest our lives in other people. And when we hear something like that, we tend to become a little defensive and we declare, “Wait a minute, I invest my life in other people all the time.” And you’re right, we do. But I think if we are going to be really honest, I think we will have to admit that at least much of the time, we invest ourselves in other people at a level that we are comfortable with. At a level that is safe for us, at a level that we feel we can control. How many times are we willing to pour our lives into another at a level that is completely beyond our control? And understandable, you might ask, “Why would I even want to invest my life in someone else if I cannot control the situation…how is that even a help to them?” Well, what if it was God that was in control? What if God was the One who called the shots as to how much of my life I poured into that other person? “Yeah, but then it’s out of my control.” Yeah, I know, but is that not how God calls us to live our lives all the time; out of our control? I kinda think it is. “Yeah, but that’s really uncomfortable.” Yeah, I know.

A gentleman by the name of Paul Murphy once wrote: “Ministry is messy because it deals with people at the very core of their being. As imitators of Jesus, we are meant to move toward others with love and grace, even in the face of their brokenness and sinful failings. Do I criticize the sinful mess of the world around me? Do I judge it or condemn it? Do I distance myself from it? Or am I, like Jesus Himself, responding to the sinful messiness in the lives of others by moving toward them with love, grace, and a heart longing for them to be restored to God?” You see, it is either investment in the lives of others on my terms, or investment in the lives of others on God’s terms. It’s either in my control as to how much of myself I pour into someone else, or I am under the control of Jesus Christ, at which point God is in control of how much I will be invested in the life of another person.

C.T. Studd, missionary to China, India, and Africa once said, “Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” Is God in control of your level of investment? Is God in control of your level of willingness? There are many things that hold us back from ministering to the needs of others to the level that God calls us to minister. But I

think two big things are the fact that serving God does not necessarily guarantee that things will always go smoothly for us. In other words; it may get messy. It may get really messy, and if we’re gonna be honest, we have to admit that we really don’t want to get that dirty. And secondly, the majority opinion is not necessarily God’s will. It’s very difficult to not be swayed by the majority. Did you ever notice how often God is not on the side of the majority in our world today? But I will guarantee you this: God is always on the side of right, because He is always on the side of truth. God is truth. I am reminded of Paul’s departing words to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:27-28. “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.” Whether they know God yet or not, people are very important to God, and He loves them very much. Therefore, invest deeply; invest much, under God’s control. “Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  C.T. Studd

Blessings to you all

 Thank You…

During this past Pastor Appreciation month you have overwhelmed us with cards, gifts and such kind words.  Thank you.  It is truly a blessing for us to be with you, and we are so thankful for you.  May God bless you.  During this month of November and Thanksgiving, our church family is one of the things that we are most thankful for.

Thank you again, we love you.

Pastor Steve and Kristi