September 2017 Monthly Letter
Dear Reconciler Family,
As I picked up my Los Angeles Times newspaper today, the headline screamed out: CHAOS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE!
“Plans for a right-wing rally blow up as white nationalists clashed with anti-racists in Virginia.” It went on to say 3 people were killed and 35 injured on a violence-filled Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white nationalists had gathered for one of their largest rallies in at least a decade, only to see the event end in chaos and national controversy. One woman was killed when a driver plowed a sports car into a crowd of protesters. Two troopers died when a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed near the city after monitoring the chaos. They were Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Virginia, and Berke M.M. Bates. 40, of Quinton, Virginia.
One interesting bit of news was that by the end of the day, top political officials around the nation, both Republicans and Democrats, were unanimous in denouncing racism and the violence that stemmed the rally, which was called off before it could even begin.
This tragedy highlights how fragile the world we live in is! It shows how quickly life can be snuffed away! And it is easy to dwell on it and become fearful at times like this. But knowing our tendencies to be fearful, Jesus said to His disciples, “Fear not, little flock.”
John wrote “perfect love drives out fear,” 1 John 4:18. God does not want His children to live in fear. He is all powerful! And the Holy Spirit lives in us as our teacher. Another passage that I find uplifting is in Psalm 23:4-6: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Satan is the author of fear. Jesus is the author of boldness and courage, and He calls upon His followers to be bold and courageous.
Northern Virginia has a warm place in my heart because it’s where our son, Bradley was born. It’s also a very pretty area. My wife Jannice had the privilege of pastoring there in the 1970s. May its inhabitants find peace and tranquility in the name of Jesus!
Thank you all for your examples of Love, Hope and Peace! Thank you for your many prayers and financial support. Your loyalty and great faithfulness has kept this ministry up and running for 22 years! What a great testimony to you as loyal, faithful sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your rewards in heaven must be great! God never overlooks our good works and our loyalty to the work He is doing. What a wonderful blessing it’s going to be to see those rewards! CHEERS!
