Strictly Personal!
While being careful to observe Proverbs 27:1 (KJV) (“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”) let me simply say that should God give me the grace of three more days, I will be ¾ of a century old by the time I write my next blog. I’ve lost a bunch physically, and plenty of people my age start to (or already did) lose some mentally – but some don’t. Jack Baskin still sounds as sharp as ever, and he’s 89! Pills notwithstanding, all of that is in God’s precious and loving hands. I want to and pledge to do what I can as long as I can.
Without attempting to play the part of elder statesman, I have seen some changes. Who would have ever thought we would see an American political party advocating abortion on demand for no particular reason at any point of the pregnancy and even beyond? Yes, Maine’s high school girls might occasionally go to visit a relative out on the Left Coast for unknown purposes, later to return amidst whispers, but nobody (and I do mean nobody) was cheering about it, certainly not state legislatures! And back in those days, the boys had their own locker room and so did the girls, and there existed no debate over who went where. It was a simpler time – there were only two genders in those days.
And people respected “going to church.” The Bible is full of prophecy, so Christians are not shocked to see the trends of this world and the intellectuals’ defense of such ridiculousness,
but sometimes I still shake my head in wonderment at the “signs of the times.” But thank God, nothing has, or ever will, match the wonderment, the thrill, the power, and the peace,
of the New Birth through a Triune God. God the Father, through the power of the Holy Ghost, via belief in God the Son, gives us eternal life when we accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and Saviour! What a thing, what a thing, what a thing! Through the written Word of God we are told, not just “of” but “how to” be born into the Family of God. These are things that no scientist could ever discover, and these are things that no devil can ever deprive us of. God grants to us eternal and quality life!
Back in the tumultuous 1960s (we thought they were tumultuous , but in comparison…) guys were burning draft cards (Thank God President Trump is wary of sending our 18-year-olds off to countries they have yet to learn about and couldn’t locate on a map) and girls were doing the same to certain parts of their particular dress (At least it wasn’t the opposite, as girls weren’t drafted and guys weren’t supposed to be cross-dressers). Anyway, at the time those activities seemed to be their respective passions and purposes in life.
But when God reaches down to save a poor lost sinner, He gives them such a brand new passion and purpose (not to mention a brand new destination – Heaven) that life is forever and eternally changed. That’s what God did for me over forty-six years ago, and I haven’t, and never will, stop thanking Him. Fantastic Family, Fabulous Friends, and experiences from a physical birth in tiny Machias, Maine, to Spiritual Birth in Bangor Maine, on to years of (in my own feeble manner) being privileged to serve the LORD Jesus Christ by His grace.
Those reading this are almost certainly my family and friends, and almost as certainly my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you, and may God bless you! And whoever you may be, remember John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
It’s Strictly Personal, but so are you!
Love to all,
Pastor
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