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January 7, 2003
The Battle Is Won, The War Has Just Begun
What is going on?
Granted, it's been a long time since I've written, and much has happened since then, including a couple more mission trips to Mexico. And looking over the past two years, there's just too much to talk about, too much to review, too much to remember. So I'll just write what's on my heart.
We are under attack... This past year I've seen more confusion, pain, questions and doubting than the years I've been at Central. Let's recap... While on a mission trip, Nic's brother had an unexpected seizure, of which the doctors couldn't find the source or reason, and he continues to have medical difficulties. Just after a Sunday service, an elderly german man had a heart attack in the parking lot and passed away. And recently, 3 members of the Barth family were hospitalized. Along with that, many other smaller events that have only hurt people, discouraged people, or turned people away from God occurred. Even I had fallen into a deep hole at one time and made a major mistake. What's going on?
Are we straying from God and coming under faster, heavier attacks? Or are we drawing so close to God that Satan's getting desperate to keep us from Him?
We recently had an absolutely amazing worship night, which seemed to have an impact on the youth group and church, and we've got another coming up. The missions trips have all been amazing spiritual experiences. Our connection with the Cristo Vive church in Mexico is very strong, and we have many friends there now, some of which have visited Canada a couple of times. Our church has experienced some strengthening events, and put more of an effort on change, finding out what we're lacking and working to draw closer to God as a church body, consistently praying for revival.
And even so, it's so easy to look at God and question, to doubt, and in some cases to hate, what He is doing. Aaron and Jessie, having just been in a near fatal accident, and coming close to meeting our Maker, are still hospitalized and may never recover fully, or be able to continue their passions in life. Is this God's doing? Is this Satan's doing? God is in control, so He must have let it happen. But why? It's so easy to turn away and wallow in pity and doubt. But it's times like this that our only hope is IN God, that we must turn to Him and continue to pray. How will being against God help anything? How can hating Him or ignoring Him make anything better?
No, as we draw closer to Him, we'll be attacked all the more, and have more reasons to turn away from Him, but we cannot; we must press on and remain in His will, trusting and having faith in His love and control. God is always working, though we may not understand why or how. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.<i> Our faith in God is unbreakable. Nothing can change that once we've experienced Him. He is just and loving and faithful and His will is perfect.
That is our faith.


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