FROM
THE
PASTOR'S DESK
Dear
People of God,
The word of the Lord to Ezekiel: “…and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of a valley; and it was full of bones.” (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Imagine finding yourself in a desolate place surrounded by dry and dusty bones; bones that possess no life; bones that cannot of their own accord become alive. It’s a valley that breeds hopelessness and despair.
There are many today who see the world around them like a valley of dry bones. Our world is in a state of global economic recession; our nation has seen unemployment rise to new levels; our elected representatives cannot come agreement on any issue before them; corporations we once believed to be solid are now on the brink of bankruptcy. In our neighborhoods we see new for sale signs appear with great frequency and remain for months on end. Those whose employment seems rather stable at present are fearful of what the future may bring. It is so easy in these days, with what we see happening around us, to lose hope and to be overcome with anxiety and fear.
Yet if we read the complete story of Ezekiel’s sojourn in the valley of dry bones, we discover that all is not lost. The picture is not as bleak as it may seem. The story ends on a high note. The bones come to life, not through any act on the part of the bones themselves, not through any magic words from Ezekiel but through the power of God. A power that transcends human understanding;
The word of the Lord to Ezekiel: “…and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of a valley; and it was full of bones.” (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Imagine finding yourself in a desolate place surrounded by dry and dusty bones; bones that possess no life; bones that cannot of their own accord become alive. It’s a valley that breeds hopelessness and despair.
There are many today who see the world around them like a valley of dry bones. Our world is in a state of global economic recession; our nation has seen unemployment rise to new levels; our elected representatives cannot come agreement on any issue before them; corporations we once believed to be solid are now on the brink of bankruptcy. In our neighborhoods we see new for sale signs appear with great frequency and remain for months on end. Those whose employment seems rather stable at present are fearful of what the future may bring. It is so easy in these days, with what we see happening around us, to lose hope and to be overcome with anxiety and fear.
Yet if we read the complete story of Ezekiel’s sojourn in the valley of dry bones, we discover that all is not lost. The picture is not as bleak as it may seem. The story ends on a high note. The bones come to life, not through any act on the part of the bones themselves, not through any magic words from Ezekiel but through the power of God. A power that transcends human understanding;
a
power found in the Spirit of God, a spirit that makes
all things new; a spirit that brings hope to hopeless
situations.
On Easter Sunday as we retell the ancient story of three women who went to anoint Jesus dead body but found his body not where it was supposed to be, we remember how God brought life from death and hope from despair. This remarkable story, that many have attempted to discredit, has stood the test of time because it’s true.
My partners in ministry, life may look bleak today as we witness changes in our economic way of life that resembles a valley of dead bones; a place that seems beyond hope. But we who are believers know better. We know that no situation is beyond hope because God proved that when he made the valley of bones live and when he raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter day.
Take time in your life to give God thanks for bringing life from death. Never lose hope - life is not without redemption. As God did with the dry bones and in raising Jesus from the sleep of death he proved that no situation is without hope and that as long as God is in charge nothing is outside the realm of possibility.
With abiding hope,
The Rev. Bernard W. Carl, Pastor
On Easter Sunday as we retell the ancient story of three women who went to anoint Jesus dead body but found his body not where it was supposed to be, we remember how God brought life from death and hope from despair. This remarkable story, that many have attempted to discredit, has stood the test of time because it’s true.
My partners in ministry, life may look bleak today as we witness changes in our economic way of life that resembles a valley of dead bones; a place that seems beyond hope. But we who are believers know better. We know that no situation is beyond hope because God proved that when he made the valley of bones live and when he raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter day.
Take time in your life to give God thanks for bringing life from death. Never lose hope - life is not without redemption. As God did with the dry bones and in raising Jesus from the sleep of death he proved that no situation is without hope and that as long as God is in charge nothing is outside the realm of possibility.
With abiding hope,
The Rev. Bernard W. Carl, Pastor