He is still in control...

As I have watched the Gulf Oil Crisis unfold, I have found myself deeply disturbed and troubled.  In fact, one night several weeks ago, I laid awake in bed ruminating over it.  Since then, I have attempted to sort through my emotions in order to ascertain why it has affected me so deeply. This may be painfully obvious to you, but here is my epiphany:  The Gulf Oil Spill is a metaphor concerning our government’s (indeed, humanity’s) inability to cope with an ever increasing array of difficult and complicated crises.  Perhaps in another time or season, the spill would not have so deeply impacted my thinking.  However, when this troubling situation is combined with what else is percolating on the world front, the future seems tenuous at best – the economy (stateside and global); political polarization on the home front; Iran; North Korea; Iraq; Afghanistan; the Gaza Strip.  From a strictly human perspective, our world appears to be spiraling out of control.  Our president must feel like the Dutch boy who attempts to plug an ever increasing number of leaks in the dam with his fingers.  Once one is plugged, another pops up. Eventually, the Gulf Oil Spill will be resolved, but at a heavy cost.  Even so, other problems will replace it. You might be thinking, “Gee, Tony, this is a cheery message that you have passed along to us.  Thanks a bunch!”  I do believe there is good news.  We worship a God who ultimately is in control of all things.  Nothing takes him by surprise.  Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 are two passages that assure us of this.  So, take heart.  As we do our part in making this world a better place by sharing the love of Christ with others and standing for truth, we can rest assured that all things work for the good of those who love God and have been called according to his purpose.  We can rest assured that the Lord has plans to prosper us, and not harm us; plans to give us hope and a future.
​Keep the Faith, Pastor Tony

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