In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8

After having dug to a depth of 10 meters last year, Scottish scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago. Not to be outdone by the Scots, in the weeks that followed, English scientists dug to a depth of 20 meters, and shortly after, headlines in the English newspapers read: “English archaeologists have found traces of 200-year-old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the Scots.” One week later, “The Kerrymen,” a southwest Irish newsletter, reported the following: “After digging as deep as 30 meters in peat bog near Tralee, Paddy O’Droll, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Paddy has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Ireland had already gone wireless.” (Richard Bonine Jr.)

The new year, 2018, will bring with it new challenges and new opportunities. Among those opportunities will be the new chances to hear the voice of G-d in our lives. People all around us are trying to begin new routines, and end bad habits. Gym memberships were purchased for Christmas, along with new exercise machines and running shoes. But how many people will look for ways to simplify their lives and try to hear the voice of G-d?

Listening to G-d, listening to the voice of G-d calling us through the cacophony of living in 21st century America is a real challenge. This year, if you have determined to exercise your body, I encourage you to exercise your ears and your mind — listening for the voice of G-d and discerning what G-d is saying to you. Take time each day to quiet your mind and listen for the still, small voice of G-d. Jesus – he does the body and the mind good.

Pastor Dave

Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Two hunters came across a bear so big that they dropped their rifles and ran for cover. One man climbed a tree while the other hid in a nearby cave. The bear was in no hurry to eat, so he sat down between the tree and the cave to reflect upon his good fortune. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the hunter in the cave came rushing out, almost ran into the waiting bear, hesitated, and then dashed back in again. The same thing happened a second time. When he emerged for the third time, his companion in the tree frantically called out, “Woody, are you crazy? Stay in the cave till he leaves!” “Can’t,” panted Woody, “there’s another bear in there!”

Ever feel like you are trapped between two bears, each who want to eat you, and you don’t know where to turn? The beginning of a new year can feel that way. When January 1st comes, we see the old bear behind us and the new bear is staring us in the face. What will become of us in 2018?

There are a lot of scary things that go on in the world, and we will be challenged if not downright scared by the happenings both in this world and in our personal lives. But G-d has not called us to live in fear. G-d has called us to stand in the confidence of the Lord, in the obedience of the Lord, and in the faith of the Lord’s Omnipotence.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones said “I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt, and anxiety.”

This new year, let us determine to live without fear — and live into faith.

Pastor Dave