PASTOR’S PONDERINGS SEPTEMBER 2026

Pastor’s Ponderings …

The story is told of a little boy that was growing up in a very nice home in a quiet neighborhood.  He lived there with his mom and dad.  He had it good.  He even had his Aunt and Uncle that lived right next door.  He had a vivid imagination, he was very creative, and he loved adventures of every kind.

Well, as life would have it, one day the little boy was bored.  And when boredom teams up with curiosity in a little boy, look out.  He found a can of black paint and a paint brush in the garage.  And then he had a great idea!  He began to paint…on the driveway.  A great big black X.  It took up the whole driveway.  And well, “it had to be big, because if a helicopter was going to land, it had to be able to see where to land from way up high in the sky.”  He had seen this in a movie, which the helicopter always lands on the X.  He was so thorough.  He even went over it twice to make sure it was nice and big and bright.  He was so proud of himself, he didn’t even spill any paint.  He stood back to admire his work.  And then he sat down on the lawn to wait for the helicopter to land.  He was sure they’d land on his driveway, because, well, because he had the best X ever!

About that time, his dad got home from work.  And as he turned to pull into the driveway, he stopped cold.  The little boy could see the look of horror on his dad’s face, and he knew in an instant what he had done was wrong.  He wasn’t trying to do anything wrong, he was just trying to help the helicopters have a place to land.  But now, seeing the look on his dad’s face, he felt awful.  He burst into tears, and went running into the house, and up to his room.  Well, his dad pulled into the driveway as best he could, being very careful not to drive on the new, freshly painted “heliport”.  He gave himself a couple minutes and then went up to talk to his son.  The little boy lay on his bed, crying.  His dad sat down on the bed next to his little boy and said to him, “it’s ok son, it’s ok, I’ll fix it”.  A little while later after the little boy had pulled himself together, he looked out his upstairs window to see his dad on his hands and knees with a brush and a bucket of soapy water scrubbing the driveway.  And to his amazement the big black X was gone.  He couldn’t believe it, it was completely gone!  He had to tell someone!  So he ran downstairs and ran next door to tell his uncle.  He was so excited that when he tried to tell his uncle the only words that would come out were, “I made a big mess!”  “Oh”, said his uncle, “well did ya clean it up?”  “No”, said the little boy, “I wasn’t strong enough, but my dad was, he cleaned it all up!”

Isn’t that just exactly how it is with us?!  We get ourselves into such a mess.  So much so that we can’t fix it, we’re not strong enough.  We don’t even know where to start.  But our Heavenly Father does, and our Heavenly Father is strong enough.  He knows exactly how to fix the mess.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.

Whatever mess you may find yourself in the middle of today, whatever seems too overwhelming for you, our Heavenly Father knows the way through it.  Our Heavenly Father is strong enough, He can fix it.  He can clean it up and remove the mess.

 Keeping your eyes on Jesus,

Pastor Steve                                       

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.

But if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in

our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the

atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for

 the sins of the whole world.”

I John 2:1-2