The Pastor's Perspective

            As w e navigate this world it does not take long before you realize that the world is teeming with hurting people . Look around, and you’ll find individuals silently battling unseen struggles.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted this stark reality in a 2010 report, noting that deaths by suicide surpassed those from car accidents . The numbers have only risen, especially in the wake of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic . As sad as these statistics is, I believe it highlights a  sobering truth: many are enduring profound difficulties in their lives .      Sometimes, we fail to recognize the depth of pain hidden behind a smile .  When we face arduous times, it's common to feel utterly alone, as if no one else has ever experienced such a unique struggle . This is due in part to the mask that we all wear. Very few people are willing to open up to express the struggles and the...

       Ever felt like you're running on a treadmill, expending massive energy but getting nowhere? That feeling, that heavy weight in your chest, the constant irritation simmering just below the surface – that's the path of frustration. It's a path many of us find ourselves on, sometimes without even realizing how we got there. It can show up in countless ways: At work: That project that keeps getting delayed, the colleague who never pulls their own weight, the endless stream of emails, dead lines that seem to be missed, expectations that can never be meet. At home: The never-ending chores, the miscommunication with a loved one, the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibilities. Things constantly breaking down, and bills that never seem to get paid.  In life generally: Traffic jams, slow internet, unexpected expenses, or even just feeling misunderstood.      Frustration is a powerful emotion, and if left unchecked, it can lead to bitterness,...

          Do you ever find yourself questioning the authenticity of someone's words? We've all been there, wondering if the promises made to us hold any real weight. This age-old phrase, "Actions speak louder than words," reminds us that true intentions are best revealed through what we do rather than what we say.      A remarkable story from 1994 perfectly illustrates this idea. Russel Herman, a man who passed away at the age of 67, left behind a will with grand declarations. He pledged $2 billion to the city of East St. Louis, another half-billion for the national forest system, and a staggering $6 trillion to the federal government to help pay off the national debt. But there was a catch – when Russel passed away, his only asset was a 1983 Oldsmobile.      While we might assume Russel had noble intentions, his lack of tangible assets meant his promises were empty. This story serves as a powerful lesson: nice words mean l...

     Abraham Lincoln Praying There was a man who happened to have an appointment in the early hours of the morning with President Abraham Lincoln. He did not want to be late and so he decided he would arrive for this meeting 15 min early.       While waiting for the appointed time he heard in the next room a voice as if in grave conversation, and asked an attendant standing by, "Who is talking in the next room?       "It is the President, sir," replied the attendant.       "Is anybody with him?" the gentleman inquired.       "No; he is reading the Bible."       "Is that his habit so early in the morning?" the man asked.      "Yes, sir, he spends every morning from four o'clock to five in reading the Scriptures and praying." We live a life full of busyness and worry. Many times we have so  many things that need to get done and we feel like we have so litt...

     William Allen White, a famous newspaper editor in Emporia, Kansas, once gave a 50 acre tract of land to the city for a park.      At the dedication of the park, Mr. White walked up to the poem and gave a small speech. In that speech Mr. White shared with the audience about the blessing of giving. Mr. White said this;      "There are three kicks in every dollar. One kick is when you make it, and boy how I love to make a dollar! One kick is when you save it and I have the Yankee's lust for saving a buck. The third kick is when you give it away, and that is the biggest kick of all"       Generosity is a virtue that we are grateful being the recipients of. Look back on your life and I am sure you will find a time in your life when someone was generous with you. When someone gave you some time to listen to you. Times when someone helped you with a problem you were having. Times when someone out of their own generosity gave...

     If you have lived for any length of time you have had your fair share of grief. There have been loved one's who have passed on, jobs that you have lost, relationships ruined, the list could go on and on. Grief is sadly one of the problems that all of us face in this life.      The author Edgar Jackson in a few short words describes grief perfectly. He writes; Grief is a young widow trying to raise her three children, alone. Grief is the man so filled with shocked uncertainty and confusion that he strikes out at the nearest person. Grief is a mother walking daily to a nearby cemetery to stand quietly and alone a few minutes before going about the tasks of the day. She knows that part of her is in the cemetery, just as part of her is in her daily work. Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there. Grief is the emptiness that comes when you eat alone after ea...