Month: March 2023

Not of preaching, not of life – don’t read this that way.  I just feel like I could sleep for a week.  Anybody else?  For us it’s likely been travel, some concerns, this goofy time change, and the yo-yo weather all piled on top of one another.  I appreciated this clipping from almost 30 years ago 🙂 

REST – According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.

Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.”

The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”

People are also like that. That’s why we all need to take time to rest. In today’s Scripture, Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of ministry. And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us when He “rested from all His work” (Gen.2:3).

Shouldn’t we take His example seriously? Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.

Our Daily Bread, June 6, 1994.

Yours Because I’m His,

Pastor Scott

On Sunday (⅗) I got my tongue tangled while I was trying to tease Pastors Jim and Jad whilst also thanking them.  I’m not talking about my Eutychus* joke, I think that was fairly straight-forward. 🙂  I’m talking about the point I was trying to make about the difference between topical and exegetical preaching.

Topical preaching (or stand alone messages) can be like medicine or wound care.  The preacher, especially in cases like these where he’s part of the body, observes an issue but isn’t tied to the next paragraph in the book he’s preaching on, so he can tackle the issue.  It’s a good and necessary use of God’s word!

Book studies (verse-by-verse; expositional, & exegetical) is what I normally do.  Think of those as food or dietary supplements.    The better your diet, the better you can fight off diseases (the corruption of this world).  But we all are troubled sometimes; so I’m thankful for Pastoral EMTs who can apply necessary medicine in good season! 

Glad to be back and glad Jim amd jad had my back,

Pastor Scott 

*“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.  But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”  Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.” 

Acts 20:7-12

Thank you Word of Grace!  Thank you for your prayers, thank you for your notes and cards, thank you for your financial gifts.  We ran out of town on the last Monday in January without any thought about the need to pay for gas and food, etc.

God showed Himself to be a miracle-working God in so many ways in Tyler and Abbie’s story, but I’m also really struck by how He didn’t forget us.  I was almost puzzled as people immediately started sending money.  Checking out of the hotel after the first week disabused me of that puzzlement, and greatly reinforced the truth that God knows our needs BEFORE we even ask  (Matthew 6:8,32)!

Because He loved us first,

Pastor Scott