Mid-Week Messenger

Nov 14, 2024

Greetings Everyone

Giving thanks or remaining thankful in life is a hard discipline to sustain, it is especially hard in times of both trials. In the movie Batman vs. Superman: The Dawn of Justice, the sworn enemy of Superman, Lex Luther (played by Jesse Eisenberg), reveals his conclusion that either God was not powerful enough to stop evil and suffering in the world, or he was not good enough to do it. It was this conclusion that drove him to an unbelief in anyone with power, including Superman. The character went on to explain in a relatable but heart wrenching scene, that when he was a child growing up in an abusive household, he would pray to God for help, but the abuse did not stop. I have heard this same sentiment over the years, and if we’re all to be honest, we have all probably had similar thoughts during times of suffering.

There are several different moments in the Bible when suffering comes upon those who fear and honor God, and they cry out with the same questions. This is one of my favorite aspects of the Bible, God’s Word does not discard or diminish real human experience or grief. The earliest written book that we have is the book of Job, which deals with this very struggle. God allows Satan to take everything away from Job, including his wealth, family and ultimately his wife leaves him. His friends come to talk to him and have a certain view of God which they try and get him to embrace. They offer up thoughts like, maybe God has abandoned you for something you’ve done or have not done. This could be summed up as retribution theology, God is paying you back. Job ultimately does not abandon God, or curse him and resolve to die. In the final scene of the book God comes and as readers we expect an answer for why God let all this happen to his servant Job!

Instead of answers, Job gets questioned by God. These questions are so profound no one can answer them, and Job resolves to admit that God is not held to the human demand for answers. The worst part of the story is that Job gets everything back and more, a family, wealth, a wife and honor. I say that because the reality for so many suffering is they don’t end up with a happy story in this life. So, why are we not given the answers in suffering, how can we give thanks when everything seems to be fully apart? How can God be trusted to give thanks? The answer is that we cannot possibly know all the reasons. Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” How can we reconcile that with God’s response to Job? First notice that Paul does not say in “every single thing”, God works for those. Some things come about that ultimately nothing good comes from. Yet, when “all things”, are taken together they drive us to depend on God more than we ever would have by our own selves. Or as Jim Davis reminds us in his book “The Great Dechurching”, it is in the suffering we experience in exile that we have to depend on God even more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is God out of control or unable to stop the evil and suffering we encounter, no. Will God never let us experience evil and suffering, no. Will God give us the answers in this life time to everything we want to know, no. Will God ever abandon us, even when every fiber in our soul wants to abandon Him? No. It is not quality of our faith that holds us close to God, it is the quality of the object of our faith, the covenant love of the crucified Son. Jesus knows our suffering, “My God why have you forsaken me.” (Matt. 27:47) He also obeyed perfectly on our behalf, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) Give thanks, even in suffering, for in this your self reliance is stripped away as you draw near to the heart of God, and He draws near to you.

Pastor Ben Melli

Week At A Glance

Sunday, November 17th 

9:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study in the Chapel

10:00 a.m. Worship Service with Pastor Ben Melli

Monday, November 18th 

5:30 p.m. Bell Choir

Tuesday, November 19th   

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast

Wednesday, November 20th  

10:00 a.m. Ladies AM Bible Study (LAMBS)

2:45 p.m Youth Christmas Choir

5:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study on Psalms with Lynn Cale

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Thursday, November 21st 

10:00 a.m. Bible Babes Bible Study

Help Needed 

Sid and Deloris House need a ride to church and back home. They live off of State Park Rd. If you are able to help please contact them directly or call the church office at (406) 862-2802.

 

 

EVENTS CALENDAR

Holiday Food Drive

Food Drive Update

There is still time to make your contribution to the Food bank for Thanksgiving. We met with the food bank team last week and they are excited for our chicken drive. I’ll go shopping next week so if you can make your donation by this Sunday, Nov 17 that would be great, if not we’ll continue the collection heading into Christmas. Thank you for your contributions!! Let us know if you have a family in need that we can helped directly.  See Chris Washer, Vicki McConnell or any Deacon if you have a question or donation. 

Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian women will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 19th at 1:00.  
         Topics for discussion will be the jewelry sale and luncheon. Also, Marlene will share with us about the Thank Offering given to help with projects around the world. Please remember to bring your donations. Blessings, Susan Tate

DIRECTORY UPDATE 2024

If you are not in our church directory and would like to be, or need to update your info, please email the church office. And don’t forget to let us know if you would like to be added to the Mid-Week Newsletter list.

CONTACT US

You may also like …

Mid-Week Messenger

Mid-Week Messenger

Greetings Everyone During my senior year of high school at Black Forrest Academy our class made two trips that are...

Mid-Week Messenger

Mid-Week Messenger

Greetings Everyone “Praise the Lord!” This is the phrase that begins each Psalm 147-150, and thus ends the book of...

Mid-Week Messenger

Mid-Week Messenger

Greetings EveryoneThere was a book recently published called “The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They...

301 Central Ave,
Whitefish, MT 59937