July 28, 2023Dear friends,
In this space last week, I wrote that I was reading “Clinging to Hope” by Charles R. Swindoll, who has been a pastor for many years. His messages are available from “Insight for Living” on WCHP – 760 AM – a Christian radio station in Champlain, NY that airs our programmes – “La Voix de l’Ēvangile” on Mondays at 3:00 pm. Karen and I are grateful for this outlet, as well as CKZW – 1650 AM – that broadcasts our programmes on Fridays at 11:00 pm and Saturdays at 11:00 am. When I was young, I enjoyed listening to the radio, including broadcasts of baseball games from St. Louis. The Cardinals were my favourite team until Montreal was awarded a franchise in the late 1960s.
As a teen, I had a newspaper route, delivering “The Montreal Star” to people in my neighbourhood. I enjoyed meeting people from many walks of life (and still do). Years later, I got a job at their competitor, “The Gazette,” and was surprised when a childhood friend became my supervisor. Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?
In “Clinging to Hope” Chuck Swindoll writes: “They never saw it coming. On a cold, quiet Saturday afternoon in a suburban township just outside Detroit, a family of four was getting ready to watch a movie together – mom, dad, and their son and daughter, ages two and four. Then, just before four o’clock, the upstairs playroom exploded in a ball of flames.
An airplane had crashed into their two-story home, tragically killing the pilot and two passengers. One moment that family was sitting cozily on their couch. The next moment they were fleeing for their lives. They went from comfort to calamity in a matter of seconds.”
Chuck Swindoll then examines the book of Job and shares three truths “that will help us walk in the path he cut for us through his own crushing calamities:
- Our trials are inevitable.
- Our friends are fallible.
- Our God is sovereign.
When calamity crashes in, remember Job. With his feet firmly fixed on solid theology, he stayed ready for whatever winds of calamity blew in. Follow his example. Place your feet on these steadfast theological foundation stones, and lean into the trials with hope:
- Our trials are inevitable; don’t be surprised.
- Our friends are fallible; don’t be fooled.
- Our God is sovereign; don’t be disillusioned.
Having that good theology in place helped Job stay ready so that when calamity came, he didn’t have to get ready. And it can do the same for you.”
Karen and I are grateful for all who pray for us and our family. Sixteen years ago, our oldest daughter, Joëlle, married David in Montreal. Happy anniversary! Please pray for our second daughter, Candace, who is expecting her second child in August.
Scripture for the weekend: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
Thought for the weekend: “It is a strange sort of strength which is weak and by its weakness grows stronger. Who ever heard of weak strength? Or more absurd still, that strength is increased by weakness?” – Martin Luther (in reference to the apostle Paul’s thorn in 2 Corinthians 12)
Steve