My heart is filled with the deepest gratitude for you - my Church Family. Your prayers, cards, phone calls, visits and food have meant so much to me these last years and have sustained me through difficult times. Your prayers for my son, Jimmy Crawford, during the time of his bereavement and his cancer surgery and treatment, have brought me such comfort. He was able to come see me for my 95th birthday. What a joy that was. Thank you so very much. Ruth Crawford
Hope for the In-Between Times
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27
I genuinely wish that it was not true. But it is. As we walk along the Path, we will encounter danger.
As we’ve identified in worship these last weeks, the Bible is littered with stories about how the faithful encountered trouble along the way. Peter was thrown in prison, where he awaited his impending execution. Paul’s journey to Rome made little progress and nearly took his life. Nehemiah was trying to rally the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem’s city walls when they encountered sabotage. Jesus tells the story of an individual who was attacked while traveling on the path and was left for dead by robbers.
We take consolation in the fact that God redeems these challenging moments and even uses them for good. Peter was rescued by an angel. People’s lives were saved because Paul’s boat kept getting blown off course. Nehemiah experienced the power and strength of community. And that poor soul who was beat up was tended to by a good-hearted neighbor.
To sum up a month’s worth of study, we’d quote Paul’s motivational speech from the deck of the ship that was being battered by the waves: “Take heart, friends!”
Be courageous. Have no fear. Do not lose heart.
Not all of our stories have happy endings, though, do they? I am troubled by this, too, brothers and sisters. To suggest otherwise would be flat out dishonest.
To live means to lose. The author of Ecclesiastes makes this point well-enough, but we really don’t need to turn to the Old Testament to learn this lesson. We know this to be true because the ways of our world are relentless and hard. It doesn’t always turn out the way we wish. Our prayers are not always answered. Bad things happen to us along the way.
Where then is our hope?
Our hope lies in a God who will not allow sorrow and pain to win. First the hard news: sometimes the sorrow and the pain that we experience in life does in fact win the day. Now the good news: the darkness that we experience will not win the war. Because of God’s love for us, and because of the power of the resurrection, we can forever claim God’s victory over eternal sorrow and eternal pain. This reality—this kingdom reality—is what keeps us going when we live a story that does not have a happy ending.
People of faith seem to understand that there may be (typically is) a sizeable gap between our hard stories and a happy ending. In fact, that happy ending may be delayed until the Great Day of the Lord. We have ultimate hope, yes. It’s the in-between time that weighs us down.
Jesus seemed to anticipate this reality when he was concluding his earthly ministry with his disciples. He grasped that his disciples would have to live in the in-between. He knew that there would be times when his followers would not feel the ultimate resolution and redemption of their circumstances. He knew that his followers would be disheartened, downcast and frightened.
So, he sought to reassure them.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Jesus promises us peace for the in-between times. When we are experiencing hardship and challenge and have not yet experienced the hope of divine resolution, Jesus gives us peace.
I think it’s important to note that he does not promise to make it all better. Our well-intended parents used to lie to us when we were children, didn’t they? We would experience a boo boo, or a let-down, or a loss, and they would seek to comfort us with kisses, hugs, milkshakes, maybe even cash. And they would ask us, “Now, isn’t that better?”
Yes, we would nod. And we would lie, too.
It didn’t make it better. But our parents’ presence made a difference, didn’t it?
Jesus gives us peace—not as the world gives—but as only God can give. “Be of good courage,” He tells us. “Shrug off the troubles that weigh you down.”
Christ’s peace is decidedly hard to define. Perhaps it is the gift of non-anxiousness in the midst of stress and worry. Maybe it’s the sense of sanctuary that we experience when our world goes to hell. Maybe it’s the sensation of being held and of being swaddled in assurance and encouragement.
Whatever Christ’s peace is, it is enough. The Bible tells us so.
I like how Christian author, Frederick Buchner says it: “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”
But fear is so easy. How do we resist its inky darkness?
By choosing Christ. That’s how. For He stands with us in the in-between.
Supper on the Grounds and Ice Cream Making Competition
Please join us for a Hot Dog Supper and Ice Cream Making Competition on Sunday, July 29th! Bring family and friends to eat, laugh, and fellowship together!
Here's the schedule for Sunday afternoon:
4 - 5 PM: Deacon-hosted children's event. The Deacons want to host an event for children from birth - 8th Grade in the MFC to get to know them and spend time in fellowship with them. The parents will be with Jeff during this time period. If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Debbie Logan at logandebbie4@gmail.com.
5 PM: Everyone will be in the MFC for a hot dog supper followed by our homemade ice cream making contest. When you arrive, you can put your ice cream in the freezer in the kitchen.
Ramp Building Crew
Before and after pictures of the work done by our church’s ramp crew. We are grateful for their willingness to help those in need in our community.
Letter from Community Table
PO Box 62 Dillsboro, NC 28725
828.586.6782
CTofJackson@gmail.com
Communitytable.org
Providing nutritious meals, in a welcoming environment, to our neighbors in need.
Dear Friends:
Thank you. These words are insufficient words, but heart-felt. In 2017 your generosity heped us serve 26,731 meals and distribute 9,523 boxes of healthy food!
It is difficult to express how much your support means to us. As the new Executive Director, I have been overwhelmed by the love and support this organization receives. The people who make up this community are astounding, and your willingness to care for your own is a blessing.
Together, we can continue to make sure no on in Jackson County goes to bed hungry.
Sincerely,
Paige Christie
Executive Director
Special Thanks to Cheryl Beck for Submitting this Story to the Sylva Herald
Colorful “Be Kind” posters have popped up in some of the store windows around Sylva recently. They are part of the “Kindness Project” mission activity from the Vacation Bible School held recently by Sylva First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Sylva, and St. John’s Episcopal Church at Bridge Park. The children created them as reminders to the public to consciously focus on being nice and helpful to others. Also to be found are “kindness rocks” in town parks. More than 90 children participated in the week-long VBS.
A Note from Roy B and Sandy McClure
In memory of Roy C McClure
We are so blessed to have such a great church family as the First Baptist Church of Sylva. It is always difficult whenever you lose a family member and especially a parent.
Thank you to Rev. Mathis for providing a Graveside Service that was befiting of my father's wishes.
The church’s Bereavement and Pastoral Care Team have been wonderful to help with any needs that we had. Even though I don’t live in Sylva, I still call FBC my church since I grew up in the church and was baptized here.
A big thanks to Ms. Tonya Lloyd, Ms. Ruth McConnell, and Ms. Holquist and other church members who were very helpful in coordinating and providing the luncheon provided at the church. A big special appreciation to Ms. Tonya Lloyd who was very caring and supportive in coordinating between our family needs and the church’s Fellowship Hall.
As you know my father, he was a very quiet and reserved person. He didn’t want his death and burial to be a big event. But he was blessed to have many family members that wanted to come to say good bye to (Dad, Papa, Brother, Uncle, and friend) including the many wonderful church friends, hiking and bridge friends that the family needed a place to celebrate dad’s life and visitation with family and friends.
Thank you for the use of the fellowship hall and the wonderful luncheon provided by your church family. Ms. Lloyd, Ms. McConnell and Ms. Holquist were a big help.
I also want to say thank you to Mr. Proctor as he helped with a lot of our needs in Sylva. Mr. Proctor was very helpful in taking care of some our needs and the assistance that he provided.
It is so wonderful for the love and support from First Baptist Church.
Thank you for your prayers, love and support.
Love
Family of Roy C. McClure
When We Regret Our Behavior on the Path
What do we do when we experience danger on the Path of life?
This has been the question that we’ve been holding these last few Sundays in worship. Peter found himself in jail, waiting for his impending execution. Paul kept getting blown off course on his way to Rome. Nehemiah and his faithful friends encountered sabotage when they tried to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
In each of these circumstances, God redeemed the difficult and the challenging. Thus, we are able--in the words of Paul—"To take heart and to be courageous!” in the face of the obstacles that spring up along the way.
But how about God? How has God responded when things didn’t go as He had hoped? What did God, Himself, do when faced with disappointment and heartache?
In a word, He overreacted. Let me explain.
We all know that God created the world and all that is in it. And he proclaimed it was good. But things did not go as He had hoped. God’s creation—namely, humankind—had grievously disappointed Him.
Genesis 6 reports that, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:5-6)
Let that last line sink in for a moment and feel the sense of despair God once felt: “I am sorry that I have made them.”
This was not what God had intended. His creation, says the author of Genesis, “had become corrupted and was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:12) God had become disgusted with his creation, save for one person—Noah. He made a promise with Noah and his family and instructed him to make a lifeboat for humanity and the animal kingdom.
God’s response to this tragic set of circumstances is to eradicate the creation that he once called beloved.
“I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life.” (Genesis 6:17)
When faced with a significant fork in the road, God chooses to blow it all up which, of course, is His right. God is God, and we are not. Although we may find this demonstration of divine wrath particularly hard to imagine, we cannot escape the fact that God may do with His creation as He sees fit.
But God almost instantly regrets his decision to destroy his creation. Upon smelling the sweet aroma of the burnt offerings from Noah’s sacrifice, “The Lord said in His heart: ‘I will never again curse the ground because of humankind…nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.” (Genesis 8:21)
God seems remorseful for what He has done. He will not do again what he has done. Yes, God seems sorry for his decision to wipe out creation.
It’s true. This image of a sorrowful God is unsettling and dispiriting. We’re not accustomed to thinking of the God of the Universe with such decidedly human attributes.
And yet…
There is something quite reassuring about this unnerving story. God reacts to a disappointment on the Path much like we do when we experience heartache, frustration and tragic changes of plans. We often respond to these circumstances and developments with harsh words, with debilitating sorrow and yes, even violence. And like God, we’ve also come to regret these gut reactions.
But like God, we can also learn from these moments. God certainly learned from what He had done. Upon seeing the power of his wrath as dispensed by His omnipotent hand, God chooses never to do it again. What’s more, he makes a solemn promise to the survivors of His apocalyptic actions, saying: “I am establishing my covenant with you…(that) never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:11)
God even creates a reminder--we’ll call it insurance for humanity--so that he will not unloose his wrath upon the whole of His creation. God creates a rainbow, not to remind humankind of his promise but to remind Himself of the promise He had made with them.
“When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant…and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:16)
This statement is consistent with the great love and commitment that God demonstrates to His people throughout the story of Israel and also in the new covenant that He makes to us in Jesus. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
Things do not always go as we had hoped or as we had planned. Danger is definitely present along the way. And sometimes, sometimes, we do not respond the way we should. We react. We lash out.
But we can learn from these moments and promise never to react in that same way again. We have the capacity to learn, to be reminded of the consequences of our actions and to do better next time.
God, Himself, shows us how.
Seeing the Bible With Fresh Eyes
"In Cambodia, widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor still need protection. The spirit world is an everyday preoccupation, with temples in every neighborhood and frequent offerings to stone idols. Daily bread is not a given. These are major concerns of the Bible, but in the US, we usually gloss over these passages or spend a lot of time contextualizing them to make sense to us. In Cambodia, though, many of these passages apply directly to the lives of Cambodians with little explanation needed. By reading the Bible in Khmer alongside Cambodians, I see significant themes that are hard to notice in an American context. New words, interesting translation choices, different grammar, and having to read more slowly help me see things I've never noticed before. You may not be able to learn a new language just for reading the Bible, but I encourage you to think about how you can find ways to see the Bible with fresh eyes."
- David and Lauren Bass, CBF field personnel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A Note from Dianne and Greg Scott
Dear members of the Pastoral Care Team,
We cannot express to you how grateful we are to you for your continued prayer for our daughter Tracy and for us.
We are upheld by such a cloud of witnesses to the love of Christ that we feel his comfort in the midst of such a long battle for Tracy. She remains stable at this time. We remain with her in Virginia as she and her son need help to care for her and to run her household affairs.
Thank you for your kind hearts and faithful prayers.
In Christ's love,
Dianne and Greg Scott