HOW GOD USES PESTILENCE

When God created the earth and all life about 6,000 years ago, it was perfect. There was no disease, no pain, and no death. But when Adam sinned, the world was cursed and pestilence came into being.

So God has used this pestilence in six ways throughout history: 1. as a warning for obedience; 2. for judging disobedience; 3. as a demonstration of His power; 4. as an appeal for repentance; 5. to show protection and comfort; and 6. to prophesy Christ’s return.

To read the rest of this bog:

GO TO THE PAGE: HOW GOD USES PESTILENCE.

CORONA COMFORT

We know that corona can mean crown [from Latin and Old English] and it has become a word of worldwide fear: the corona virus.

But Corona Comfort comes from the One who wears the ultimate CORONA – Christ, the King of kings.

As Archbishop Dolan of New York said on Fox News, “There are two promising phrases given over and over again in the Bible– repeated both in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament by Jesus and the apostles.” These are:  “’Don’t be afraid’ and ‘don’t worry’.”

To paraphrase one of these promises:  Even if there is no food on the grocery shelves, or no fruit or vegetables at the farmer’s market; even though there is no toilet paper or hand cleaner left; though businesses are closed and nobody can work; when so many are sick and some are dying, “I will still exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength!” Habakkuk 3:17-19

Another great promise is found in Philippians 4:6-7,”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God’s peace and strength are available to all who will ask for it.

Personally I’m at high risk and my wife is at very high risk for infection from COVID19. We have been self-isolating for several weeks now, and continue to pray for everyone in our family to be protected from this pestilence. But only God knows what the future brings, with or without COVID19. But one thing is certain, should I succumb to any virus or disease, I have my own CORONA COMFORT.

It’s found in Revelation 2:10,^”Be faithful until death, and I will give you the CORONA of life.”

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

HAPPY HOLIDAYS - MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

These three greetings have one thing in common: you are wishing someone else happiness and joy. They’re very unselfish words that can uplift another’s moment with joyfulness. And it will make you, the greeter, happier as well.

Cheerful greetings are used mostly around the holidays, but are appropriate at any time. Saying anything from “Have a nice day,” to “Nice to see you,” may encourage another person and will lighten your load too; especially if it’s said with a smile.

But a friendly word around Christmas is most important. Many folks are less than merry around this time of year. Memories from past holidays about family problems, loved ones lost, financial pressures, health issues – all detract from the joy of the season.

And joy is what Christmas is all about: the joy of giving and receiving; the joy of remembering the good times, the joy of counting our blessings, the joy of being alive, and the joy of God’s gift of joy for each of us.

The Bible, through which God has revealed Himself to us, informs us that God is full of joyfulness. The word “joy” and its synonyms are found in over 400 verses in both the Old and New Testaments. God wants me to be joyful and He wants you to be joyful – at Christmas and all year long.

When Jesus was born the angel greeted the shepherds with words of joy, “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” Why? It was because the Savior had arrived on earth as a baby, and He would grow up to fulfill His mission of salvation for all who believe. It is His birth that brought “Joy to the World.”

It was then Christ’s life and teachings that implemented the opportunity for joy to all of us. Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” His words bring joy, as do His death and resurrection.

When the disciples saw Jesus just before His ascension back into Heaven, Luke 24:52 says, “And after worshiping Him they returned to Jerusalem with great joy!”

When we’re missing joy in our lives, which may happen more than we’d like, we can ask God for the joy He promises to give us.

COPYRIGHT 2019 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

NEVER IN HISTORY

Never in history has so much knowledge about God and His truth been available to so many people. Except perhaps when Adam walked with God in the Garden, or when Christ Himself was teaching on earth. Books, videos, computers, phones – all are readily and easily available to more individuals than ever before.

Bookstores still sell books, and many of them are about our great Creator! Videos from Christian sources are replete with messages that help us understand the Savior better. Computers allow us to access everything from books and videos to live sermons and lessons from the Bible by some of the best preachers and teachers that have ever preached or taught.

And our cell phones – what a marvelous tool for learning and studying the Gospel and sharing it with others via texting or other messaging apps. There seems to be no limit to what Christians can do for the Kingdom! It’s a great time to be alive.

This is especially important since schools at all levels and the mainstream media are ignoring God’s power which is available to those who need it. [Who doesn’t need God’s help every day?] There is a vast empty void that we can help fill by sharing with those who read our messages.

I was speaking with a friend who said he was reading R. C. Sproul’s book on the Holy Spirit, where Jonathon Edwards’ great sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” was quoted. To show the change in our culture, when I was in High School our literature text contained this sermon and we were assigned to read and study it. I don’t know if it’s still in the books, but I’d be surprised if it were.

So take advantage of modern technology, as well as printed, and become a serious student of God’s Word and ways; and then use the same technology to share His way to eternal life with others.

COPYRIGHT 2019 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

DIVIDED HUMANITY

Along comes a man who disrupts the status quo of the nation’s leadership. He’s not from the ruling class, not an insider; he’s an interloper in the minds of some. He doesn’t deserve the attention he’s getting. Criticism is heavy against him from some party leaders.

Yet there are many who also like his refreshing character. He’s less political than popular. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and openly criticizes those who condemn him and his ways. He is like a folk hero to a lot of citizens. And his public speaking ability is without peer.

So two camps arise and not many are indifferent toward him. It’s either love or hate, and the haters get more press than the lovers. Some extremists even call for his assassination; others simply for his removal in some “legal” way.

He’s not the first in history to be misunderstood and treated this way. Many others before him were driven away more easily than he, and this tenacity infuriates the haters even more. Their rage is like a derangement.

In some public gatherings violence breaks out between the two camps and people are injured or even killed. The authorities often seem helpless to intervene. The hatred is very evident to outside observers.

And yet he perseveres and attracts larger and larger crowds to his events. It is a worshipful experience for his followers. They chant and cheer and applaud at nearly every statement. They think deeply about his words and challenges and look forward to hearing him for years to come.

But alas, the hatred prevails. Liars are paid to present all sorts of sordid and untrue accusations. The opposition doesn’t allow much of a defense and he is indeed condemned to die after a mock trial.

He is crucified on a cross between two thieves.

COPYRIGHT 2019 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

INSIGHTS FROM HONDURAS

I recently had an opportunity to interview Stu Reed, an Alliance man who has been a missionary in Honduras for the past twenty years. He was an engineer at B&W Research in Alliance where he received twenty patents. Stu retired from B&W after twenty-seven years with the company, and became a missionary with the Friends Church in the city of Santa Rosa. He ministers with his wife Odilia, who is from Honduras, along with their four children still at home, ages seven to thirteen. His insights are very helpful for our understanding of the current immigration situation.

Carl:    Your mission in Honduras is with children?

Stu:     Yes, with children and adolescents. Most of the ministry is for preschool children, ages 3-5 (there are three years of pre-school in Honduras); the ministry for adolescents is primarily grades 7-12.

Carl:    You and your wife Odilia meet the needs of how many children each week?

Stu:     We are teaching approximately 3000 children each week, and are feeding almost 1000.  We have 5 teachers who teach in the kindergartens and a team of 16 volunteer teachers, who are mostly pastors, from various local churches who help teach in the High School.

Carl:    How and where do you shop for food for the kids? Grocery stores? Open air markets? Walmart?

Stu:     Our projects in the kindergartens are all cooperative.  The teachers administer the funds for the food and line up someone to buy the food and prepare it for the children, usually one of the mothers.  At the end of each month, they provide us with a report of what the menus were, and how much was spent for each meal.  In this way, the work for any given class is not so huge and can be managed by a single teacher and her designated person.  We provide a reimbursement to the teacher who manages the funds at the beginning of the next month, sufficient to cover costs for the upcoming month.

For our Saturday projects, we and our teachers generally do the food preparation ourselves.  In most all cases, the food is purchased at the open air market or agricultural fair, where we buy directly from the growers.  Bread is purchased from a bakery outlet, and tortillas from a woman who makes her living making and selling them.  Where we live, there is no Walmart, but there are several larger grocery stores which are pretty well stocked, although not by USA standards.

Carl:    Why are there so many kids in need?

Stu:     Honduras is a very poor country with great inequality – about 2/3 of the population lives below Honduras' definition of poverty, and nearly a 1/5 in what is called extreme poverty, which is a family income of less than $2 per day.  Little is being done to improve the situation of the poor, since they comprise a profitable supply of cheap labor.  The percentage level of poverty in Honduras is largely unchanged since I first arrived there in 1999.  The absolute number of people living in poverty now is significantly larger since the population has grown substantially in those twenty years.

Carl:    Does the government allow / support your work?

Stu:     We are permitted by the government to teach the Bible in the public schools. Our projects are supported by the teachers who are government employees, and by the departmental board of education, a government agency.  At present, we are the only ministry that is permitted by the department to teach the Bible in the kindergartens.

Carl:    Are living conditions as bad as we see on the news?

Stu:     Definitely. The conditions are very bad, and a great many people feel they have no recourse or hope that things will get better, or that they can make things different or better for their families.  The poverty is grinding and it affects the majority of the population, especially since agriculture is on a downturn. Gangs and narcotraffickers are endemic. Many in the government, including the police and the military, are corrupt. Most people feel both hopeless and powerless.

Carl:    Have you had any encounters with the gangs?

Stu:     Yes. Encounters with gangs in Honduras, including in Santa Rosa, are commonplace.  We have not been specifically targeted by the gangs as of yet, but we and our ministry are still affected by them and their presence.

Carl:    Do you personally know any who have fled for the USA?

Stu:     Yes we know a fair number who have fled to the USA looking for work, both family and friends, some before the current caravans, some since.  And we are aware of many that are still actively considering it.

Carl:    What do Hondurans say about the USA?

Stu:     Hondurans generally see the USA in a positive light. It is seen as a very wealthy country, with workers that are well paid and where decent paying jobs are readily available.  Even the minimum wage is considered to be very generous.  The USA is considered to be a safe place to live in comparison with Honduras – less corrupt and less violent, with a much more extensive “safety net” for the poor and disadvantaged. 

            North Americans are seen as generous and willing to give to those less fortunate, and it’s generally assumed that all Americans (especially tourists) are rich and have money and goods to give away.  Interestingly, one of the largest sectors of the Honduran economy consists of the money which is sent to Honduras by Hondurans working in the US (both legal and illegal) to support their families.  Most people are very aware of what is going on in the USA in politics and international affairs.  They are sufficiently sophisticated to know the difference between what is reported about the government in the USA and what its citizens are like.

Carl:     Is there a middle class in Honduras?

Stu:     Yes, there is a middle class, but it is not anywhere near as large as in the USA While in the USA there are perhaps 5-10% rich, 80% middle class and 5-10% poor, in Honduras, there are about 5% rich, perhaps 10% in the middle class, and 80%+ who are poor or very poor.  From our point of view in Honduras, we are not moving towards the income distribution present in the States, rather the USA is moving toward the situation in Honduras.

Carl:    What utilities are available, such as water, sewer, gas, electric, or fuel oil?

Stu:     This depends a great deal on where you live. In larger cities, most utilities are available.  Electricity is available in about 80% of the country. Water and sewage services are available in cities, which are provided by the municipality. Sewage is typically not treated, even in some of the larger cities. In outlying areas people rely on wells or streams to provide their water.  In Santa Rosa, our water comes typically once a week – we have 4 tanks on the roof to store the water to use during the week. 

There is no gas distribution in Honduras, neither public nor private. Propane is available in tanks for those who have a gas stove.  There is no central heating and no water heater in a typical house, so gas is used strictly for cooking.  Firewood is widely available from vendors, although in cities like Santa Rosa it’s not legal to use it for cooking – but some still cook with it.

Carl:    Are there many thriving commercial businesses?

Stu: There are many thriving commercial businesses in Honduras, and most are subsidiaries of, or suppliers to, companies in the USA and Europe.  They are generally owned by the rich or large international businesses.

Carl:    Are you allowed to give suggestions to national leaders for improvements?

Stu:     I personally am not, because I am a resident and I’m expressly prohibited from stating political opinions.  While in theory Hondurans have the right to express their opinions, in practice it is not so, and they are rarely heard.  For that reason, there are very many large public demonstrations (thousands of people). Frequently the people involved in protests risk their lives because they fear police or military repercussions.  Dissent is actively discouraged and so is organizing opposing political entities.  The government controls virtually all print and broadcast media; so much of the work to organize protests and to disseminate news is accomplished through social media.

Carl:     So you have Facebook and Twitter etc. readily available as well as internet service?

Yes, we have pretty much all social media which is internet based, including Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp,  etc. But we are also well aware that licenses for these are granted by the government and can be withdrawn at any time – this has happened in the case of radio stations and newspapers that have supported opposition views.  The government owns and operates the telephone system and licenses and controls cell phone networks and has the ability to monitor both voice and text messaging. We are a bit careful because of that. If the social media become more inconvenient for the powers that be than the international backlash, these will no longer be available, but for now they are.

Carl:    On a personal note, how and when did you come to Alliance?

Stu:     I grew up in Canandaigua New York, and graduated in 1970 from Bucknell University in Lewisburg PA with a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering. I moved to the Alliance area right after graduation to work at B&W.  I also studied at Malone College, and earned an MA in Christian Ministries in 1996.

Carl:    You had a very successful career at B&W Research.

Stu:     In addition to the patents, I was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame, and was McDermott’s Inventor of the Year in 1996.  I’m a lifetime member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a Registered Professional Engineer (Ohio), and a member of the Society for Experimental Stress Analysis and the Instrument Society of America.  I have written approximately 100 technical reports and publications, both internal and external to B&W.

Carl:    When did you start going to the Friends Church?

Stu:     I grew up in the Methodist Episcopal Church until age 17, when I went to college and became secular.  I started going to the Friends church after volunteering on a Disaster Service project in 1990.  We went down to Shadyside OH on the church bus, and by the time we made it back to Alliance I was convinced by my fellow workers.  This was on a Saturday and the next day I was at the Friends Church and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I’ve been part of this wonderful church ever since.

Carl:    What is your long term goal for your mission?

Stu:     Our ministry is known at Alliance Friends as “Stu’s Kids”.  In Honduras, it is known as “MInisterio VIVE”, an acronym for Vida Integral, Vida Eterna (full or complete life, eternal life).  Our motto is “Feeding Body, Mind and Spirit”.  Our goal is to introduce our children to Jesus, so that they know Who He is, and to prepare them to recognize His voice when He calls them, and to prepare them to follow Him.  We want them to be healthy in body, mind and spirit, and to see that there is hope for a different and better life, and that that hope comes from following Christ.  We seek to follow the Lord’s leading in our ministry and cannot say what the long term holds for us or our ministry, but we are confident that He holds the future, and know that at present we are where He would have us be and doing the work that He has for us to do.

            Right now there are major disturbances going on in Honduras, so we need Americans’ prayers!

COPYRIGHT 2019 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

WORSHIPING THE LORD IS A BLESSING

The music may be bad, the preaching less than perfect, but being in church on Sunday morning is a blessing. This is because just by making the effort to get up and attending with other believers to worship God together is a blessed activity.

Greeting brothers and sisters with a smile and a pleasant word encourages both you and them. Singing along as best you can is healthy both spiritually and mentally. Learning from the sermon is uplifting to mind and soul. Listening to the Lord is enlightening to our total being.

Giving is also a part of worship; knowing that we are advancing the Kingdom both locally and around the world. All we have comes from God, so we are simply returning a portion of it to His work.

But we need not worship only on Sunday. We carry on throughout the week by reading our Bible, listening to Christian music, [and singing along] and talking about Jesus to others with whom we come in contact.

And doing good for others is an extension of our worship. Our good works glorify God and demonstrate our love for our fellow man. This enables them to see God in us and through us. And together we praise God in our hearts and vocally too.

So, plan on attending a good Bible teaching church; plan on singing and greeting everyone with a smile; plan on giving to the church and other good causes; plan on listening to Christian music all week long; plan on reading your Bible – either the bound edition or on your phone; plan on talking about the Lord to others; and plan on doing good whenever and however you can.

And the more you do all of these things you will be both giving and receiving greater and greater blessings day after day.

COPYRIGHT 2018 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

KNOW THE TRUTH - BE FREE

Knowing the Truth results in freedom from several things – freedom from uncertainty; freedom from error; freedom from confusion; freedom from falsehoods; freedom from doubt, and more.

The truth is a very narrow thing. In accounting, the truth can be one number, one digit, one answer – and only one. In science, truth is one chemical reaction, one biological process, one physics calculation – and only one.

In many disciplines, truth is conclusive – It’s unique, it’s accurate, it’s the only conclusion. When all the facts have been accounted for, one can clearly see the truth.

 As a result, uncertainty vanishes, error has disappeared, confusion is clarified, falsehoods are revealed, and doubt is swept away. A sense of confidence arises to the extent that when someone attempts to dispute the truth that has been learned the evidence can be presented to refute any claims to the contrary.

In philosophy and theology, however, the truth is less demonstrative. It is there, for sure, but much harder to see and to prove. Without the physical senses to confirm truth, the mind becomes open to uncertainty, error, confusion, falsehoods, and doubt.

But the truth can still be found, and when it is discovered, the self-assurance of its accuracy is just as concrete as any scientific or mathematical evidence would provide.

Thus, when one encounters an unbeliever of the truth, and one answers any criticisms of his certainty, he may be accused of being narrow minded, closed minded, or even addle minded. The doubters of the truth cannot accept the narrowness of the truth or the confidence that the believer of the truth demonstrates.

But the freedom that results in knowing the truth allows the believer to have complete assurance of his faith in the truth. There is no need to further examine or study contrary opinions or to keep an open mind about distracting ideas.

The sealed mind is secure in the truth, if it is indeed the truth. After all, Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

  

COPYRIGHT 2018 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

CHURCHES DO MORE THAN JUST PRAY

On April 21st The Review ran a very nice article about local churches joining together for a prayer chain along State Street on Sunday afternoon, the 15th. It was a sign of spiritual unity in our community, and an effort to seek God’s guidance and help for our city and schools and surrounding townships. This is a very common and normal thing that Christians do – they pray together.

It was surprising, however, to see some negative Facebook comments about this faithful activity by our citizens. Some folks thought the churches should do more than just pray – and thankfully they do.

We could fill several pages with both public and private acts of compassion and service done by churches and Christians in the Alliance area. In fact there are at least thirty-one area churches involved in a variety of programs to help families and individuals in need. Here are just a few examples of what is being done.

Five days a week at least one meal is provided, plus food pantries and free hygiene products. Clothing is given away free or for a small price. Homeless shelters are available. School supplies and backpacks are handed out before the school year begins. There is help for rent, utilities, and other needs.

Services include pregnancy tests and counseling at the Alliance Pregnancy Center and employment opportunities through Men’s Challenge.

There are activities for kids at the skate park, basketball programs, bus trips, and Days in the Park.

Every church involved in the prayer chain as well as every other church in this area follows Biblical teachings about helping others, serving others, loving others, and praying for others!

The critics are welcome to join one of the church’s activities that are so very helpful to folks in need and they may discover first-hand what followers of Jesus are doing in addition to prayer, and thus see what Christ can do for them as well.

This was posted by Carl E. Gustafson in The-Review – Alliance OH on 04/28/18.

THEY CALL ME MO

They’re calling me “Mo.”  It’s not my full name, but someone called me that this morning – on my first day here – and it stuck.  This is a pretty amazing place – friendly folks, a strong economy, good leaders – a utopia, no doubt.

When I moved here, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I’d heard that the houses were very nice and the utilities and roads were excellent, and the climate was perfect.  Still, it will take some adjustment.

I came from a smaller town, so the larger population seemed frightening at first.  But then I realized that a big city is simply made up of smaller places – neighborhoods and communities with things in common. 

Large or small, having grown up in the country, I prefer city life.  Everything is closer and more convenient.  Neighbors right next door to chat with and compare notes about anything and everything.

     
I had to move on in without my family because they couldn’t come with me yet due to work and school and other activities and responsibilities.  My transfer will be hard on them at first, but I’m confident that they’ll adjust.  Plus it won’t be that much longer until they can join me here.  I’m looking forward to that – being together again with my wife and having my children and grandchildren visit.

     
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that many friends and a whole lot of relatives live on the other side of town; some of whom I didn’t know that they had moved. You know how hard it is to keep in touch with everyone you’d like to.  Oh, sure, I’d send Christmas cards some years, but not everybody did that anymore, so I’d lost touch with many of my buddies and aunts and uncles and cousins.

     
But that’s one nice thing about friendship – a good friend is always a good friend.  It just takes a hug or a handshake and it’s like you were never apart: a few minutes of catching up and it’s just like old times.  I haven’t been around to visit all of them yet, but I plan to as soon as possible.

     
I also need to find out what all is required in my new work assignment and how much overtime will be needed.  Most of my career has been spent in building trades, so I’m looking forward to how I can continue to contribute to the success of the organization.  I had been laid off a few times in the past when companies closed or were sold, but I’ve been told that this job is “permanent” – at least until I choose to change positions again.  That’s a big relief!

     
One of the best things here is the welcoming committee.  They made me feel right at home almost immediately.  They told me all about where everything is and how to get what I needed to set up housekeeping and where to get the best organic food and so forth.  I learned about transportation options and the parks and recreation facilities and libraries and museums.

And they said I could be on the committee to welcome other newcomers; which I’m considering, especially since I learned that one of my grandsons will be moving here in the not too distant future. It will be great to see him again. 

He’s only twenty-one, but an outstanding engineer already.  He played baseball in high school and college, so I hope there’s a team up here he can join. I always loved to see him pitch; although he was good at any position.  Actually, he was very good at every sport he tried; golf, bowling, tennis, swimming, or soccer – you name it, and he could do it.  I remember when he was very young he could throw a ball clear over the roof, when other kids his age could hardly throw at all.  

Sorry about that, just bragging a bit about my one of my grandkids.  He must have inherited his skills from his other grandfather, who was also an excellent athlete.  Although I didn’t have the opportunity to play sports when I was younger, I did enjoy hunting and fishing.

I was always a very good shot.  And I seemed to have a built-in compass, because I never, not once, got lost in the woods. God provided meat for our sustenance, and venison was one of my favorites.  But I also hunted partridge, pheasant, quail, and other small game.  And fishing was always fun too.  I hunted and fished with my father-in-law every chance I could.

In fact, her he comes now – along with a whole crowd of relatives.  It looks like a great family reunion is getting under way.  Fantastic!  And everybody looks so terrific.  Just the way I remembered them back on Earth, only healthier and more robust.

Oh, I failed to mention that I’m in Heaven.  A couple of angels brought me here after the cancer got me, and St. Peter welcomed me. Of course the highlight was seeing Jesus – you won’t believe how great that is until you come up here yourself!  Look me up when you get here: ask for Mo.

Copyright 2018 by Carl E Gustafson

THE SOURCE OF AMERICA'S PROBLEMS TODAY

THE SOURCE OF AMERICA’S PROBLEMS TODAY…….

If you seek HIM, HE will be found by you, but if you forsake HIM, HE will forsake you. 2 Ch. 15:2.

Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your GOD and have no awe of ME," declares the LORD, the LORD ALMIGHTY. Jer. 2:19.

Those who turn away from YOU will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water. Jer. 17:13.

THE SOLUTION IS TO TURN BACK TO GOD!

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among MY people,

If MY people, who are called by MY name, will humble themselves and pray and seek MY face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now MY eyes will be open and MY ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.  2 Ch. 7:13-15