From the Pastor’s Desk:
Jesus began his mission in a political, social and economic time that had many of the characteristics of our present economic system. The promised wave of Roman prosperity did not reach the bottom of society. Jesus challenged the political, financial and religious elite that created burdens for the people, rather than meeting the needs of the people. Global prosperity did not work for the Roman Empire, neither did it work for the British Empire and now we have found that it has not worked for the United States.
People during the time of Christ were searching for answers, good news and hope. Is that not the same today? The modern poor are confused, disappointed, uncertain and angry. The number of homeless continues to grow and the pandemic rages across our country with over 400,000 deaths in our country. The middle class is wanting answers and less taxation, while the rich upper class seems to get richer. Jesus talked about taxes, the plight of women, disability, social and economic exclusion and the arrogance of power. The mission of Jesus was not about offering the poor mirages, miracles or quick fixes. The mission of Jesus was about bringing the people back to His heavenly Father, and about accompanying vulnerable people in a struggle to make the structures of life resonant with the values and dignity of the individual in the light of the Gospel’s good news. We are in a time of change, and we must be certain that God is at the heart of the changes in our country and that the state or any individual does not become god and religion. We must look to the past and learn.
Our nation needs healing. There is a change in government whether people like it or not. The next four years can be a time of healing or it can be a continued time of anger, lies, death and a tearing down of our country. Rome the greatest empire in the western world was constantly attacked by barbarian tribes who eventually sacked the city of Rome, but what really drained her strength and destroyed her were the civil wars and political trouble on the inside. God needs to be the strength upon which our country relies. Please pray for our country.
THANK YOU! To the individuals, and to the Vietnamese Community, who enabled us to purchase our new (to us) piano!