July 17, 2024

Greetings from VBS Central!

Thank-you to the wonderful team or leaders and helpers who do such a wonderful and creative job of providing this focused week of gospel teaching. While the details and organization are wonderful, we pray that the Lord will use this as a means of gospel growth. Please pray for fruit.

A Chinese official was asked one day what he thought of the French Revolution. He said, “It’s too early to tell.” I often think of that response when I find myself in the middle of what may be a momentous event, like Saturday nights assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The fact that events like this are known around the world almost instantly puts expectations on reporters, broadcasters, writers, historians, bloggers, podcasters (and pastors maybe?), to set this in perspective and make insightful observations that provide audiences with understanding and certainty within minutes of the events. This fuels assumptions, conspiracy theories and falsehoods that stir and provoke instead of inform and help.

There is one certainty that is clear and that is how uncertain life really is. Donald Trump came within millimeters of being killed. How many other attempts on him or other public figures were foiled by circumstances or security, we will never know. Every evening when Cathi and I pray for our meal, I am reminded that for one more day, the Lord has sustained us. We thank God for the food that he has graciously provided, but the fact that we are together, alive, alert, and able to feed ourselves is a testimony to his divine protection, not just provision.

We will never know how many accidents we avoided, disasters we were spared or even bullets that missed by a turn of our head at just the right moment. It may be too soon to tell all of the fallout and impact of certain major events on a campaign or country, but do know that every day that we live is a gift to us from God that is be lived with humility and received with thanksgiving.

As you pray at dinner this evening, thank God for sustaining you for one more day. You are here for him. It is a sweet wonder to consider that and rest in the fact that when we have accomplished his plan for us, that he will call us home. Until he does that, you are immortal.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Luke 7:24-35