The presence of evil in the world is undeniable. While many philosophies and religions try to make sense of the world by denying its existence, the human experience quickly refutes their ideas. In other words, the preponderance of evidence shows that we are presently living in evil days. Evil is our turning away from our love of God and others toward selfish love of our-selves. Our society embodies evil, and propagates evil instead of rejecting it. On a personal, family and communal level we are constantly faced with evil. Let me explain two types of evil, and then focus on the latter.
Natural evil - This refers to natural disasters. Natural evil is that which causes pain and suffering to humanity, but which is not due to direct human involvement. Congenital diseases, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, drought, and famine are all cases of natural evil. Moral evil – The primary focus of my sermon. There are two sources of moral evil at play in the world. There is a rebellious devil bent on destroying God’s good purpose, and a fallen humanity that manifests in human activity, like murder, physical injury, rape, robbery, embezzlement, hatred, racism, etc.
FIRST: The Causes of Moral Evil
When people, created in the image of God, choose to act in defiance of God’s law, the re-sult is moral evil. God did not create moral evil; rather God created the possibility of evil. What do I mean by that? God loves humans so much that He gives to humans the wonderful gift of freewill (i.e., the ability to decide his/her course of action. That freedom to choose creates the possibility of evil, and, consequently, the suffering that results.
God created humans in His own image, capable of having and sustaining a personal relationship with Him. But to really be in His image, they have to be capable of freely loving Him and following His will without being forced. God allows free-will for human beings to sin or do the morally right things. God allows free will be-cause He has justice and judgment and rewards for the deeds and actions of all humankind.

SECOND: The Consequences of Evil
Evil manifests itself in pride, temptations, hatred, trouble, deceit, evil plot, lies, terroristic bombings, immorality, and solidarity with evil activities. Evil is embraced in society and personal lives because there is little or no fear of God. Let’s look at innocent people being killed in what is called “soft target” shootings: school shootings, church shootings, concert shootings, movie theatre shootings, mall shootings, super-market shootings, political meeting shootings, etc. On this Memorial Day weekend, we meet to praise God for our freedoms and to memorialize those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. But hadn’t it been for evil, there would be no wars.
Today, thousands of Memorial services are held around our country and US territories to memorialize these dead veterans. On Monday millions will visit cemeteries to honor the dead. One of the big tragedies about those we memorialize this weekend, is that they left loved ones behind who probably are still mourning their lost, which includes spouses, children, siblings, friends and colleagues. They have left many relationships damaged for life. They have left much unfinished business in their families.
THIRD: The Cure for Evil.
Why should we believe in a God who allows children to be molested and murdered, and al-lows bloody warfare in His name? Don’t blame God! The source of evil is not the devil, it is our own free will. People choose evil. The ultimate cure for evil is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the Savior of the world. People are not ethically and morally pure by nature. We need to pray believing God for evil people to receive a new heart from God.
Yes, we need to pray that the hearts of evil people may experience transformation and that they will begin to love what God loves.
Pray that they will receive a heart that fears and loves God and wants to do the things that bring honor and glory to God. We need to believe in the power of mass and personal evangelism. God has a plan to forgive hu-mans of their evil ways, but how will they hear without those who will share with them the Good News of Salvation? (Romans 6:23).
To sum it up: We are called as Christians [Soldiers of the Cross] Engage in spiritual warfare—fight against the work of evil forces; battle with evil spirits or demons that intervenes in human affairs in various ways
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness in high places (Eph.6:10-12).
Thankfully, the Lord will deal with the evil and wicked ones and set this world right—the world will study/wage wars no more (Joel 3:10; Joel 4:10).
Thankfully, the Lord embraces the righteous and provides for them a light shining in the darkness, which illuminates the path of righteousness, and He provides for his people a fountain of life.
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus just to take Him at His word…”
Written by Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, the Father of our Lord Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!” (1 Peter 1: 3-4)
 
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in the summer of 2020 reveals that more Americans than people in other economically developed countries say that the COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered their faith in God. Nearly three-in-ten Americans (28%) report stronger personal faith because of the pandemic, and the same share think the religious faith of Americans overall has strengthened, according to the survey of 14 economically developed countries. This comes as no surprise to me, because in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, one might expect that more people would turn to religion, given the death, fear, and isolation the pandemic has generated.
 
My belief is that for many Christians, positive religious reframing helped to transcend stressful times by enabling them to see a tragedy as an opportunity to grow closer to God or to improve their spirituality. Described as ‘loss of fellowship’, the absence of face-to-face religious assembling is one of many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that have been reported by church goers everywhere. I wonder if the above research results still hold for Americans as church attendance is presently in sharp decline. Is it that the majority of church goers have resigned to attending religious events on social media? Or, are people having conflict of faith in God and consequently feel less need to affiliate with the church?
 
What event or period in the Christian church calendar energizes congregations? Could it be Lent? Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent--a period of 40 days during which Christians remember the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ. Lent is meant to be a time of repentance. That’s not a feeling of shame, but an awareness that sin separates us from God and of what it cost Him to be reunited with us. This special 40-day period before Easter is a unique time for us to take inventory of our lives, commune more intimately with God through meditation and prayer, and clear out those things that may distract us from our commitment to him. Within the next 18 days the Christian church will observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (Resurrection) Sunday, in that order.
 
We praise God that we have lived to see another Springtime. For me, Spring is a season for new life, new goals, and new beginnings. I am praying for a new surge of energy and passion for Christ amongst us. Do you have a project for Springtime? What is different this year?  Many people who were once available to volunteer for projects haven’t been seen in a while at church. Notwithstanding, we have much to do. We are about to begin the renovation of our church building. How can you help move this task forward?
 
The truth is that COVID-19 has decimated our congregation and we need to rebuild it. We have a number of members whom we haven’t seen in church since mid-2019. I am personally praying for their return. We need to reach the unchurched people in our community with the good news of Jesus.  We have been using Facebook and YouTube to share the gospel of salvation, which continues to be received by many. We will be sending out bulk mail to reach hundreds of homes in the adjoining communities to introduce ourselves and invite them to church. We need new members to rebuild the choir, committees, and boards. We need new members to fill out the pews. We need additional members to build a vibrant and impactful ministry. Just as children are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127), and just as the increase of Abraham's descendants was a blessing, so also the growth of Christ’s church is a blessing from God.
 
The church has a mandate from Jesus to be fruitful and multiply. This may be done through personal fellowship, personal witnessing or visitation to people’s homes or places for social gathering. During this spring we will be encouraged to use our gifts and talents for personal witnessing. The most powerful tool we possess ​is our testimony of how God saved us and what the Lord has done for us. Our testimony can be a source of healing, and sharing the benefits of living for God can be an inspiration to many, leading them to a saving knowledge. This is a time to consecrate ourselves to the tasks ahead of us.

I encourage you to be hopeful. God always has the last word. Just look at the Easter event! On Good Friday the world of darkness had thrown everything it had on the Anointed One and buried Him in a tomb – thinking it had the final word. But the final word belonged to God. On Easter Sunday God overturned the world’s verdict, as our Savior Jesus Christ rose from that tomb and conquered the darkness of the world forever.
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

​“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith (Romans1: 9, 11-12).”
 
Reflecting briefly on 2021, our Sunday morning services went well since we resumed congregate worship on Mother’s Day. Whether you showed up in person at church, or you watched our Sunday morning services on virtual platforms, such as Facebook or YouTube, or you read a hard copy of my sermons, I greatly appreciated your efforts. Nevertheless, despite some of you were ill, and some continue to be ill, it is a little concerning that I haven’t seen some of you at church in almost 2 years.
 
2021 was a difficult year in so many ways. Some of you and your family members became ill because of Covid-19. The pandemic changed how, when and where we worked (if we worked), and it changed education for those in kindergarten schools through graduate level schools. But 2021 was also a blessed year for us, in that our families were blessed with new jobs, job promotion, new cars, new babies, and love flourished. We praise God for the treasure of a loving family during hard times, in that we supported one another and shared life's joys and sorrows.
 
Of course, there will be plenty to worry about in 2022, but alien invasion of our communities will not be one.  I certainly will not be expecting to greet visitors from another planet. For sure, all of us will face difficult times with disruptive and unexpected events that threaten to negatively affect our lives. Some of these times will be emotional, some will be spiritual, some will be physical and some will be financial. Some of the challenges that are likely to come our way might seem to be more than we can handle or even beyond our capabilities, but our God promises to provide for us in time of need.  We can come to Him with every question, doubt, worry, and anxiety because He cares for us. His plans for us are immeasurably more than we can ask for or imagine.
 
Let this be especially good news to you: Covid-19 pandemic will either be eradicated or we learn to live with it as a new normal. It is important then that our Church envisions and continues to plan for our congregation to return in full strength. I eagerly await the entire Church meeting together, singing together, sitting together under the teaching of the Word, and sharing meals together. I pray that this time of isolation will make us all hunger more deeply for time with the Body of Christ, and will make our reunion all the sweeter. Looking forward to seeing those of you we haven’t seen in a while.
 
I am thankful to the Deacon’s board, Board of Trustees, Moderator, Church Secretary, Clerk, Treasurer,
Financial Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Choir Director, members of the various committees, Violet Oliphant, our new organist, the Bible study group, the congregation at large, and visiting friends for their support during a difficult time. May the words below be our prayer:
“Take my life, and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of they love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful all for thee.”
 
God’s richest blessings, Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor
 

​ 
"You will see greater things than these . . ."  John 1:50
Grace and peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the continued onslaught of the new variants of COVID-19, I extend my wishes that 2022 will be filled with faith, hope, love, joy, good health and prosperity for all of us. It is in God that we hope: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is the faithful God who keeps his covenant and love with those who love him and keeps his statute for a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). An amplified version would read, “All our hope is in God’s faithfulness and He will keep His promises to His people: pardon them, deliver them, cleanse them, and when that time comes, give them rest in His kingdom.”
 
Many of us have experienced changed lives in 2021, resulting from sickness and personal losses. Some of us have experienced a challenge to our faith resulting from sickness, family problems, and either lack of desire or inability to connect with one another. Only you know if you have veered off the narrow path of faithful Christian living? Has your love for God weakened?  Has your passion for church attendance died? Have you missed weekly fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
 
What are your plans for 2022?  Is the cause for which Jesus gave His life of any concern to you?  Never forget that God needs you for various kinds of ministries this year.  The searching questions are, “How will your life’s schedule fit into the life of the church?” “What needs to change for you in order to become a faithful servant of Jesus during 2022?” “Where in your life do you sense a need for change and growth?”
I appeal to you that you allow God to affirm the positive things in your life and change what needs changing (2 Cor. 5:17). We are all a work in progress and we all grow in Christ at different rates. However, my prayer is that God’s intervention in our lives will manifest itself in our love for Jesus. Our church could use a big boost in regular attendance at congregational worship. We need serious and sustained evangelistic efforts, sacrificial financial giving, and an overall commitment to the weekly programs. We need to begin the renovation of the church building early spring. Join me in prayer, that we will be ready for the new things that God will be doing in us, and with us, and through His church. Please let the verse of the hymn below become your heart’s desire and prayer:
Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to Thee,
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
.
Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
 
Yours truly,
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor
 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1: 7b).

     Your full participation in the observance of the Advent season this year is greatly encouraged.  The Christian communities during the Advent season focus on “the reason for the season” – Jesus Christ.  We are reminded that God loves us, interested in our personal struggles, and keeps His promise to save us. I encourage you to be very prayerful and earnest as we at WHBC observe this Advent season, which begins this Sunday and goes up to the Sunday before Christmas. We will observe Advent with a wreath with 5 candles that represent 1) Hope; 2) Peace; 3) Love; 4) Joy; and 5) Jesus, which will be lit each Sunday.
      We praise God for the Incarnation, which is the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh as Jesus Christ. John puts it this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus took on a human body and human nature to experience humanity in all his lived-experience, because it was necessary for God to become man that He might be able to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26).  In other words, Jesus came to us in a human body to share the lived-experience of humanity, and to save us (Luke 17:11-13).
     We can acknowledge on one hand that the world is full of pain and suffering, hardships and turmoil, disappointment and regrets, while on the other hand be comforted by the fact that the Advent message (the Gospel) is good news for everyone. The message is that the mission of Jesus is Salvation – deliverance, healing of broken hearts, and supplying of needs.  The Gospels teach us that Jesus is the embodiment of hope, joy, peace and love, and there is something special about hope among the people of God. Without hope we have no power to walk in love; no power to keep going on and not give up; no power to hold fast to the way of righteousness; and no power to hold ourselves to resist some brief ungodly pleasures.
     This time of the year is hectic and busy with activities for most of us, including work, volunteer projects, church, and spending time with family and friends.  There is also the pressure to find the perfect gifts for everyone on our ever-expanding lists on a rather limited budget.  Rather than spending your time stressing about what is unavailable, unaffordable, and unappreciated, let this Advent season be for you personally a time of thanksgiving, reflection, daily bible reading, and praying. Let us thank God that to this point, we have survived or escaped the COVID-19 pandemic.  Let us allow our observance of the Advent season to prepare us for a joyous celebration of Christmas, the second coming of Jesus, and to remember how Jesus comes to us in our daily lives. Let us join the voices of generations of saints, past and present in the refrain, O come, O come Emmanuel!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

Greeting to the Church of Jesus Christ that is in West Henrietta. How would you know that your opinion on an issue is incorrect? How do you know that someone’s opinion is questionable?

Have you ever been a member of an after-school’s debate club? As a former member of such a club, I join many who have credited their debate club for teaching them speaking and listening skills, for helping them to exhibit grace under pressure, perform critical thinking and foster empathy. However, whether or not we have been a member of a debate club cable television and social media have brought the debate to you.

The topics that are assigned to us range from personal to national, religious to secular, political to apolitical, and the simple to the complicated. COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson &Johnson Janssen), civil rights, censorship and freedom of speech, abortion rights, voting rights, social welfare programs, health insurance, climate change, the right to own a gun, death penalty/capital punishment, and artificial intelligence are all on the table. Let me encourage you to include the person of JESUS on the table. In short, include JESUS in your daily conversation with everyone, but especially non-Christians. Discuss the challenges of living the Christian life and why JESUS should be LORD of our lives.

Disagreement is rarely considered as something positive in some cultures or subcultures. It is rather viewed as an annoying obstacle to people receiving the truth. On the other hand, there are those who argue that disagreement can lead to several fruitful results. I personally believe that its human to have reasonable disagreement, and a healthy debate can have fruitful results among God’s people. You may agree with me that not all the debates we are exposed to on cable television and social media involved reasonable people or people exhibiting grace or much critical thinking.

As Christians, we should not shy away from the debates of our time, but we must strive for truthfulness and decency. We should strive for curiosity rather than a clash with others who disagrees with us. Conversations based on curiosity are efforts to understand and to find common ground. Instead of trying to win an argument regardless of the consequences, you should strive to cultivate understanding.

I believe Christians should strive daily to become more informed about the world around us. According to Occam Barber, “You are completely entitled to opinions that are not supported by evidence. But the moment you spread those opinions as fact you are a liar…” As a result, we have a responsibility to be honest consumers of that information. I implore you in your striving to get your information from different sides of the political spectrum that will expand your minds and increase your understanding of multiple sides of important issues. However, our primary source of truth must be the word of God and every philosophy, ideology, and school of thought must be weighed on that scale.

In closing, strive always to choose curiosity and empathy over conflict in your conversation with people with whom you have a disagreement. Listen to everyone’s stories and experiences since those are the platforms on which their convictions are usually based. Then and only then, you will have a true sense of how much we are all in need of God’s grace.

May the strength of God sustain you;
May the love of God go withyou this day and forever. Amen!
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:2). 

Because of the daily trials, tribulations, tragedies, and testing and very little triumphs in life, we often say that we don’t know what to make of the present time. We worry about the past and fear what will happen in the future. Let me invite us to pause and agree on this: Life is not just one thing. It’s good and bad, sickness and health, weeping and rejoicing, life and death, war and peace, all mixed together. While we cannot afford to make light of neither the negatives or positives of the present age, we can appreciate today if we don’t worry too much about tomorrow. According to Joshua Becker (2021), “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

In Romans 8:18-23, St. Paul wants us to understand two certainties: First, the present time is marked by sufferings because of mankind’s fall into sin. Paul speaks specifically to “the sufferings of this present time”. He was not referring to a difficult period in history, but to the entire present age. The whole history of creation since the fall is marked by suffering. The history of nations is marked by struggles and catastrophes---wars, natural disasters, internal conflicts, power struggles, and crimes. The history of individuals is also in large part a history of trials---the trials of growing up, figuring out what to do with your life, whom you will marry, rearing children, working through struggles in your marriage, providing
for your needs, growing old and facing health and death. Secondly, Paul says that the future is marked by blessedness for believers as God fulfills His promises to us, and he urges Christians then to endure the temporary sufferings of this life for our future glory with God, which is absolutely certain. According to Paul, God has promised it and He cannot lie.
The Key to persevering in suffering with hope is to keep your eyes on the promised future glory.

Living With Hope
We have a God in whom we can trust. His nature and promises remain unchanged in our changing world. He is not good today and bad tomorrow. He does not capriciously change his mind and decide to be kind today and harsh tomorrow. We are like that, but God is not. The following Bible verses assure us that God is our strength, refuge, and hope: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4). Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2). 

Hope is the Christian’s sure and confident expectation. Hope is an unbreakable spiritual lifeline to God (Heb.6:19-20). Hope is what keeps someone going against all odds. Hope is about overcoming, succeeding, and living the victorious Christian life in this world. Let’s hope for a triumphant and victorious future with God. When you are tempted to give up, remember the goodness of God. When you want to resign from life, remember the goodness of God.

Be An Encourager
If you would agree with me that God is intentional and purposeful about all that He does, then you would have to agree that God has a purpose for each one of us at a time as this. His purpose is that we individually or as family units, representing West Henrietta Baptist Church become a shining light for the testimony of Jesus Christ. The question on my ​mind, is how we may best serve God’s plan and purpose at this time? I encourage you that whatever else you feel called to do, you will reach out with a word of encouragement. Encouragement is to inspire with courage, and help someone to persevere. Your encouragement may be delivered with a visit compliant with COVID-19 stipulations, a phone call, a letter, or a Card. Some of us are by nature encouragers, while some have to make special effort. Nonetheless, it is required of us to encourage one another to become our better selves. 

Many people are experiencing a challenge of faith resulting from sickness, financial problems, family problems, loneliness, and fear of the unknown. Connecting with members of your church family or any other Christian with a word of encouragement can help them move from fear to faith. Reaching out to each other daily with prayer and a word of encouragement is how we deepen our relationships. Praying for one another is real spiritual warfare that actually changes things, and it is worth all the time we can devote to it. Pray daily for your church - for your pastor, moderator, deacons, trustees, choir members, organist, and the
various committees.
​
“Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor​

A hearty welcome to this page and my prayer is that the Lord Jesus will grant you His grace and peace today.  This article is a reflection on happiness, so at the beginning, please reflect on the following three questions:

• Are you a happy person?
• What makes you feel happy?
• What are the 3 most important things for you to be happy?

Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness as "the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worth while" (2007".  It is a reality that some people experience more unhappiness than happiness.  These are people who most times just lack joy. While depression and other psychological diseases are certainly a clinical illness and should not be minimized, the following are factors that contribute to unhappiness. 

• We worry, and it creates inner turmoil. 
• We hold on to grudges and find it hard to forgive those who offend us. 
• We harm outselves by carrying negative energy--shun pessimism. 
• We compare outselves to others--playing the internal comparison games. 
• We choose to be happy only when all our dreams come true. 
• We have not discovered our God-given purpose in life. 
• We are lonely. 
• We are too proud to share with others our vulnerabilities or needs. 

I find it incredibly interesting that when Jesus began His earthly ministry, when he began to teach, His first teaching was about happiness.  He saw that people's deepest desire was for happiness.  For Jesus, happiness is an inside job; it begins inside us, in our hearts, and it is that kind of happiness that He came to give.  I invite you to note the context Matthew sets for us, and then listen for the keys to happiness Jesus reveals in the Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-9). 

• Happy are the poor in spirit--Happy are those who are dependent on God (Psalm 51:17 & James 4:10). 
  
• Happy are those who mourn--Like Jeremiah who wept over the spiritual emptiness/sinfulness of this people. 
  
• Happy are the meek or gentle. 
  
• Happy are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness (Psalm 63:1).
  
• Happy are the merciful--those who never return evil for evil.
  
• Happy are the pure in heart--refusing to join others in sin (Colossians 3:1-11).
  
• Happy are the peacemakers (James 3:18). 
  

For Jesus, happiness thrives on an external perspective.  However, for many, the reality is that happiness is transitory, fleeting, and circumstantial.  We discover that happiness too often depends on the conditions or people around us.  That may be so, but as Christians, we should not allow unhappiness to have dominion over us.  There are so many films and songs about happiness. 
Bobby McFerrin's song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is one song that comes to mind.  In addition to Jesus' keys to happiness, the social science literature is replete with steps to happiness, but given the limited space allowed for this article, I suggest the following: 

• Surround yourself with positivity
  
• Learn to forgive
  
• Savor life's joy
  
• Do what you love and keep tabs on things you feel blessed to have. 
  
• Enjoy the present and don't live in the past
  
• Nurture relationships
  
• Develop strategies for coping with life's challenges
  
• Do not carry grudges or negative energy
  

My prayer is that you find the secret of true happiness...a happiness that withstands the ups and downs of life, the  storms and trials that inevitably come our way. I pray for happiness that lasts with no discouragement,  no frustration, no grief, no failure, and no bad weather can destroy. 
Rev. Dr. Peter Grinion, Pastor

                                                           FEAR, FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are now at a juncture with COVID-19 to adopt major changes at home, at the workplace, and at church. Let’s consider the following as they relate to returning to congregational worship on Sundays and Bible study on Wednesdays.

FEAR
Fear is a universal natural instinct. It arises with the threat of harm, either physical, emotional, or psychological, real or imagined. We fear natural disasters, thunder & lightning, heights, flying, the oceans, darkness, crowds, pain, diseases, and viruses like COVID-19. When it comes to COVID-19, we are nervous and anxious about symptoms like headache, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Our anxiety becomes more heightened if we have been diagnosed with medical vulnerabilities (i.e., chronic medical conditions like autoimmune disorders, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) because medical science indicates that people with the aforementioned illnesses are at the greatest risk for severe disease if infected with COVID-19. 

But now, we are all knowledgeable about the best ways to protect ourselves from this coronavirus (and other viruses) which include: washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not touching your face, practicing social distancing, and especially avoiding close contact with people who are sick, coughing and sneezing. We can avoid spreading germs by coughing into the crook of our elbow and staying home when we feel sick. Here are some truths that I feel comfortable sharing with you at this time:

• All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19. Get vaccinated as soon as possible!
• Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. Get vaccinated; it won’t hurt you.
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (Center for Disease Control and Protection, May 2021).

It is true that fear causes people to live far below their ability or optimal level of functioning. If we are not careful, a thousand fears will attack us when we awake in the morning. Following the safety protocols, you should feel comfortable enough to return to congregational worship at church on Sundays at 10:00 am.  I believe I have the backing of medical science and scripture to say, don’t give in to fear. Scripture contains the phrases, “Don’t be afraid” and “Do not fear” more than 300 times. The Bible repeats the command, “fear not” exactly 365 times, or one for each day of the year (Dr. C. Livingstone Allen: 1913-2005).

FAITH OVER FEAR 
Faith is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in the Word are true, even though unseen, and give the believer a conviction that what he/she expects in faith, will come to pass.  Faith is an active trust in God, a belief in what God says is true that results in action. Our faith allows us to trust God and ask Him to lead in the affairs of our lives. In times of crisis, it means everything to be able to trust God…not your own knowledge or strength. It is comforting to feel the strength of the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 26-27) and to know that you are not alone.
Faith makes it possible to accept that nothing happens outside the knowledge and permission of an omnipresent, omnibenevolent and omniscient God. During a crisis people often ask, why? Why do things like this happen? More pointedly, where is God in all this? In the Old Testament you find lots of scriptures crediting or blaming God for their suffering. For example: “It is good that a person should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh…For the Lord will not cast off forever. For though He causes grief, yet He will have compassion according to the multitude of His loving kindness” (Lamentations 3:26-32). The aforementioned passage indicates that, people of Israel believed in the sovereignty of God over all creation. They believed that, since God all-powerful, nothing could happen apart from God’s dominion. This led them to believe that, if you’re hurting God, that must have caused it, either to punish you or teach you a lesson. Is there a spiritual lesson you learned from COVID-19?

Faith is absolute reliance on God. In the New Testament, when Peter walks on the water toward Jesus--a demonstration of solid faith, but his faith wavered in sight of the great waves and he sank (Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21). We learn from this story that life is a product of thoughts and thoughts reflect our faith. The way of faith is the supernatural way—it is trusting, obeying, and relying on God. Peter failed when he started to trust in sight, senses, human wisdom and strength. Join me in trusting God with our lives—in all things. Don’t be afraid! Faith makes it possible to believe what seems impossible. “Imagine never letting a bad moment ruin your day ever. Imagine being so resilient that finding the silver lining in any given situation becomes second nature. Imagine switching out feelings of panic and stress with feelings of confidence and capability” (Social Media).

FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is a relationship of inner unity among believers expressed outwardly. Our fellowship with others is only as good as our fellowship with Christ. No matter where we are in our faith, fellowship provides us with strength. Being around other believers gives us the chance to learn and grow in our faith. Fellowship is doing God’s will together. It’s time to return to church, if you are physically able to do so. Some people have been away from church for more than a year. What are your lingering fears to return to congregational worship? Somebody writes, “It was a wonderful experience to return to church after being away for more than a year. There was just something about being there that calms me down, makes me feel connected and whole, and simply allows me to breathe again.”
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, June 2, 2021

Today being Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the most sacred time of the year for Christians. Palm Sunday recalls an event in the Christian scripture (The New Testament) of Jesus entering into Jerusalem—and being greeted by the people waving palm branches. Their praise was lifted with remembrance. They remembered all the mighty works they saw Jesus do such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 1217-18). They told of the great things God had done in their lives.

For Christians, Palm Sunday is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow Him When we welcome Christ into our hearts, He must have the freedom to change our lives, and through the Holy Spirit, convict us of sin. When we welcome Jesus into our hearts and homes, we receive Him by seeking after Him with real effort. We receive Him by humbling ourselves.

Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgement than for you! And you, Capemaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sidon, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgement than for you!"

On Palm Sunday, St Luke 19:41-44 records that as Jesus came near the city of Jerusalem. He saw the city and wept over it, because a great number of the residents rejected His message, lordship, and claim of being God the Son. This was a deeply moving moment for Jesus. His tears were not for His own fate in Jerusalem, but for the fate of the city itself. Scholars believed that the word “Wept” might be rendered 'wailed'; Jesus burst into sobbing as he lamented lost opportunity.
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Jesus predicted five specific aspects of the Roman attack upon Jerusalem:

• The building of an embankment.
• The surrounding of the city, laying siege.
• The destruction of the city.
• The killing of the city's inhabitants
• The complete leveling of the city.

Jesus weeping here showed the heart of God; how even when judgement must be pronounced, it is never done with joy.  Even when God’s judgement is perfectly just and righteous, His heart weeps at the bringing of the judgement.  This week especially, we are challenged to cultivate and seek after the mind of Jesus.  Each one of us ought to pray, "Break my heart God with what breaks Yours.”  My friends, sin or acts of unrighteousness break God's heart, and so as Christians, we

• Say no to idolatry
• Say no to hypocrisy
• Say no to hatred
• Say no to pride
• Say no to greed
• Say no to disobedience toward Jesus, the Messiah.

Each one of us should ask ourselves the following questions: Do I get upset at the same situations that angered the heart of God? Do I turn a blind eye at what moved Jesus to tears or failed to notice the people and situations that stirred His compassionate heart and caused Him to take action?

Good Friday is a reminder to Christians that Jesus has in fact dealt with evil in that greatest act of evil. In the greatest act of evil in the history of the world, Jesus was killed. The Son of God stepped out of eternity to live as a human and to die as a divine sacrifice. His death had nothing to do with His sins (since He was sinless), and in fact, we are told that our sins were placed on Him. He suffered in our place so that God could forgive and redeem His creation.

The Scripture tells us that while Christ has redeemed His people, God is being gracious to allow more time for more people to hear what Christ has done for them before He ends evil in an ultimate act of justice (2 Peter 3:8-10). Now is your day of Salvation; if you hear His voice pleading to you to accept His message of salvation, harden not your heart.

Rev. Dr. Peter Grinion, Pastor