Dear Friends,
“Light and momentary afflictions.”
The man who wrote those words, the Apostle Paul, experienced trials that none of us have had to bear. His list of aversity includes imprisonments, countless beatings (often near death). “Five times,” he says “I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure” (2 Cor. 11:23-27).
“And, apart from other things,” Paul says “there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”
It would be an understatement to say Paul’s life was characterized by adversity. He knew suffering, both physical and emotional. He and his companions were, as he says afflicted in every way. But not crushed. Perplexed, but not driven to despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down, but not destroyed.
I was thinking about Paul’s example this week as I found myself listening to some of the songs currently being featured on Christian music radio. With no malice toward any of the current artists, let me share some lyrics:
Hey God, it's me, I been lost a little while
Walkin' all these miles and I'm in need
Of some direction 'cause down here it's gettin' hard
I been searchin' near and far, help me believe.
Here’s another song:
Face down in the desert, my faith is weak
The heat is high, hope is dry, can't understand it
I've been climbing the branches, but I still can't see
The higher I go, the less I know, starting to panic
When I, when I, when I'm low
All I, all I, all I know
He's gonna lift me up, He's gonna fight for me
It only took a single stone to drop a Philistine
When I'm in the fire, He is next to me
When the flame is high, I know He will rescue me
One more:
I've been holding on for dear life
Struggle every day and night
On the losing end of another fight
And I've done all I can do
I've been holding heavy on my shoulders
Burdens got me weary feeling older
Trusting in myself got me nowhere
So I lift my eyes to You, oh
My help comes from the Lord
And I don't have to carry this anymore
Let the world bring me to my knees
I'm holding on to God
'Cause I know my God is holding on to me
Now let me be clear. There is biblical warrant for crying out to God in the midst of emotional distress – in our discouragement, our lack of faith, when we are weary or defeated, and feel as if we can’t go on. It is right and proper for us to turn our attention to the promises and character of God. To put our hope in Him. What these modern songwriters are doing lines up with what David and others did in the book of Psalms.
But the popularity of these contemporary songs points to a culture of anguish, hopelessness and pain among God’s people. It must be that a lot of Christians are drowning in despair and looking for a solid rock on which to stand. Unlike the Apostle Paul, who was pressed but not crushed, it seems many modern Christians are in a near constant state of perplexity, doubt and defeat. Listeners resonate with these songs because they mirror the listener’s emotional and spiritual condition.
And the preponderance of these kinds of therapeutically centered songs has me thinking that many Christians in our day need to learn something the Apostle Paul learned.
As he sat in a Roman jail under house arrest, awaiting trial on charges of disloyalty to Rome, here’s what he wrote to the Philippians.
“I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).
I find myself wondering if, in our day, it is too easy to turn in irritation into a catastrophe. If it’s too common for an annoyance to become a trauma. If an unfulfilled longing can too quickly become a deep emotional wound.
Abigail Shrier, in her book Bad Therapy, argues that many of the emotional challenges facing young people in our day are being too easily pathologized. Ordinary sadness or nervousness, for example, are being too quickly diagnosed as severe psychiatric disorders. These diagnoses quickly become a child’s new identity.
I would suggest that her observations about our therapeutic culture are not restricted to children or adolescents.
Jesus offers the only real hope for the brokenhearted, the wounded, the guilt ridden, the traumatized or those who are in despair. “Come to me,” He says. “Cast your cares on me. Lay down your burdens. Put your hope in God. Know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
I don’t want to minimize the real anguish some are wrestling with in this life. Nor do I want to simplify the solution. But I do want to suggest that however long the path, however long the journey takes, the ultimate solution for the ache in any soul is the perfect peace promised to all whose mind is stayed upon Jehovah.
Today’s light and momentary afflictions – whatever they may be – are instruments in the Redeemer’s hand producing in us an eternal weight of glory. Like the Apostle Paul, may we come to the place where we can declare “I have learned the secret. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
ROOTS FALL KICKOFF - THIS SUNDAY!
Roots Students – get ready for your Sunday afternoon gatherings to start up again this Sunday.
And Parents – Pastor Cole is planning to meet with you on Sunday afternoon, August 16, to go over plans for the ‘26-‘27 school year. He’ll be in touch with the details.
CPR TRAINING
A week from Saturday.
That’s the date for our CPR Training Class at church.
And now is the time to sign up. Because there is some work you need to do ahead of the class in order to be certified.
We would love to have more of our child care workers, security team members and any other church members equipped to provide CPR. That way, in the event of an emergency, we have people who are trained and know how to respond.
That’s why we are providing a Red Cross certified training course at our church on Saturday, August 15.
As a church, we will cover the registration cost for any church member who wants to participate in the training.
Here’s the info on the class, along with a QR code to register. Or click here (https://us.list-manage.com/gPljnu0A_gR?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) for more information or to sign up for the class.
MEN'S END OF SUMMER HANGOUT
Food. Fellowship. Some friendly competition. It’s all part of the plan for our Men’s End of Summer Hangout on Friday night, August 21 at church.
For those men who have been in Forge Groups this summer, the Hangout is a chance for all who the groups to get together. And for those who haven’t been in a Forge Group this summer, it’s still a great time to get with other men from the church for some relaxed fun.
Here’s the info.
AWANA REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Our Awana Kickoff night this fall is Wednesday, September 2. And registration for Awana is now open (https://us.list-manage.com/t0RHrMVR8hN?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf). To make sure your kids have a spot reserved, make sure you register them ASAP!
Don’t forget – if you’re a member at Redeemer and you’d like to minister to and love on kids each week, here’s the perfect opportunity for you to pitch in and serve. Contact Laura White and let her know you’re interested. Laurawhite811@gmail.com (mailto:Laurawhite811@gmail.com)
CURTIS THOMAS' LAST (?) ROMANS CLASS
For 67 years, Curtis Thomas has been leading people through the Book of Romans. His study of this New Testament letter has been revolutionary in the lives of countless hundreds of people.
This fall, Curtis will be leading what he tells me will be his final class through the Book of Romans. One last chance for anyone who is interested to walk through the book with him as your guide.
Sign-up sheets will be available at church this Sunday. The study will be on Monday nights from 7:30 – 8:30 pm, beginning on September 14 and continuing for 20-24 sessions. Curtis is hosting this class in his home in West Little Rock.
You can reach out to Curtis with any questions you have. c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net (mailto:c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net). Or 501.680.8583.
MEN'S FOUNDATIONS STUDY
Every stable structure is built on a firm foundation. And to help strengthen the spiritual foundation of all the men in our church, we will be kicking off a two-year class this fall called Foundations – And Why They Matter. The first of our three fall meetings for the Foundations class will happen on Thursday night, September 17 at 7:00 pm at the church. The remaining class dates for this fall and next spring are listed below.
Although it’s not a requirement, men who will be taking this class will be helped by getting a copy of Paul David Tripp’s book Do You Believe: 12 Historic Doctrines To Change Your Everyday Life (https://us.list-manage.com/lROSWepEUHe?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) and to read chapters 1-2 before the first class.
The class will be highly interactive and discussion based.
Men, put these dates in your calendar now and plan to join us for the Foundations class this fall and next spring.
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is our preview (https://us.list-manage.com/MFRP69oTEri?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
When Edward Gibbon wrote his classic work The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire in 1776, he showed the factors that led once mighty Rome to its current place in world history. As we conclude our study of the Book of Judges on Sunday, we’ll see clearly the depths of the decline of God’s people after they entered the Land of Promise. And we’ll see how well lit the path is that leads to destruction even in our day.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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