● September 2023 "The Mountain Top Messenger" Newsletter
(please click on above link to open current newsletter)
Oh my goodness, September! School is beginning, leaves are changing, and you know what is going
to be on the way soon, but I think I will wait at least a month before I use the "S" word. Change,
I talk about it all the time, everything in this world changes. I have shared stories with
people about how I love to visit and talk with shut-ins about the changes they have seen in their lives.
I remember Walt Schutte talking about a wood planer using a steam engine and moving it
around with horses. Madge Houle telling me how that when she was little, they would all load
up in the sleigh and cover up with quilts and head into church pulled by the horses. The
changes they had seen.
As I have contemplated these things, I have also spent some time looking at the changes in
my life. I remember watching Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. I remember watching
JFK's funeral and a small black and white TV with my mother. Playing outside all the time,
and being home before the 9:00 pm siren.
One thing we can be assured of is that life in this world will change. Kind of like weather in
northern Wisconsin, don't like it? Wait 5 minutes. Now you may be wondering where in the
world is he going with all of this? Well, there are two points I am going to try and address.
First and foremost, while things change, just about everything in this world changes, there is
one constant. That constant of course is God. God and His love for His people, for you and I.
God never changes, He is the same as yesterday, today, and forever, on that we can rest assured.
He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. That is what we build our
faith upon, that there will never be a change.
The second point I would like to work on is our living in a constantly changing world. How do
we hang on to the consistency of God's love when everything around us is always in flux. I
am going to try and address this and give an example that someone sent me the other day,
let's see if we can make some sense out of it. Apparently, Bill O'Reilly made the following
statement; "There are theologians that believe the Smart Phone is a tool of the devil, a device
that will prevent millions of people from living lives of honor. The basis for this belief is that
there is instant access to evil right in your hand. Every vice can be indulged; drugs can be
purchased, gambling, illicit sex. Adultery, defamation, cheating on examinations, financial
fraud — you name it — the smart phone can serve it up. To everyone. No boundaries.”
My first thought, wow! Now there was more to the statement which spoke about how younger
Americans have no moral guidelines and live in a world where their wants and needs are all that
matter. And he spoke how the smart phone dominates the lives of millions of people for hour after
hour with no moderation, the famous "if it feels good do it."He concludes by voicing the opinion
that Satan's soul-stealing job is much easier now.
Therefore, as I thought about this, as I considered the sinfulness of the smart phone I began to
consider all of technology, not just present but past technology as well. And then not just technology
but all of mankind's advancements throughout history. I believe I am correct in the belief
that just about anything created to benefit mankind can also be used by the Devil to attempt to
lead people away from Christ. I can only get an image of
Bill O'Reilly on that day talking of the evil of radio, and all
the wasted hours listening to serial programs. Or how
about the phonograph, all that pagan music, that with
lead to all the Satan inspired Rock and Roll of the 50's
and 60's. And don't even get me started on horrors of television.
I then thought of other things, what about some
of the wonderful advances in science and medicine. The
development of drugs to help people in their struggles
with pain, those same drugs now turned on the streets to
addict millions and ruin their lives.
Then my thoughts came back to what do we do? How do
we combat this, do we go back to the basics? Do we get
rid of science, technology, and medicine? Oh wait! In the
beginning, Satan used the fruit of tree to turn man against God! We can't go back, we can't get
rid of it all. We have to resist Satan and his urges. For each of those things that Satan can use
for evil, we in turn can cause those things to be used for good as well.
The radio had brought the word of God to millions upon millions of listeners, phonograph has
help spread the Word, television has done the same. And guess what, so can the smart phone.
My smart phone contains a Bible app and with that app I have received and read my daily scripture
for 495 consecutive days, I don't know that I could have done that without it.
The final word in this long dissertation is this. Satan is evil, he will use whatever tool he can, to
try and draw you and I away from Christ and as he tries to stop others from finding Christ. We
can and must use those same tools to do our best to help strengthen our faith and trust in Christ
and sharing the Good News of the never changing God with those around us.
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Until next month,
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to
you, the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Pastor Rick
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