Today, words mean less than ever in the history of humanity. In the past, a person’s word was their bond. My dad said there was a time when he could have gone the bank and got a loan on his word when he was young man. Today, those days have passed because so many people don’t really consider what they say as binding and important. Our political leadership is, to some extent, part of the problem. When they are running for election, they will often tell people what they want to hear to get the vote and then once elected, do the exact opposite of what they said they would do and turn out to be a totally different political animal than they represented themselves as. Our news media is often uncovering people in high positions that represented themselves as honest and trustworthy that have violated the public trust. This is the world we live in- one where people use words all the time and yet have no intention of honoring what they have committed themselves to. To some extent, I guess we are all guilty at times of having to violate our word when priorities shift as we seek to do the best we can for our families, our world and God.
            For us that have publicly and personally received Christ as our Savior and King, we are called to a higher standard of faithfulness in deed and word. When we look a Jesus Christ, we see a man/God that was totally faithful in his walk. He didn’t let self-interest, family or any other issues get in the way of doing his Fathers will. When we accept him as our Savior, we promise to serve and follow only him and yet the world continues to creep into our priorities like a malignant cancer. Why does this seem to be such a problem, as Christ's body, the church struggles with staffing and funding ministries and church and Sunday school attendance? Why is it more important that we spend time with our friends outside Christ's body, spend our money on our personal gratification and avoid any possibility that we might come in conflict over our faith? This also includes focusing on all the negatives around us instead of the blessings of God. When we join the church, we promise to be faithful in our walk. To my understanding that means walking with Christ in his word, prayer and mission.
            Currently our country is dealing with increasing fractionalization.  The church is called to be an institution of reconciliation as it faithfully follows Christ. I am asking you today for the benefit of our country, your soul and your family, to remember the vows given at your baptism and confirmation and to close with Christ in communion through his word and prayer. More specifically, I am asking you to pray for peace and justice and reconciliation in our country. I believe that when we pray God opens doors according to his will and his will is that we love each other as he loves us. So please pray, read your Bible and make attending services a priority. You might find your life growing and benefiting in ways you never expected.
 
                                                                                                Pastor Wayne