Weekly Newsletter July 29

I’m with CtC’s BSA Troop 902 at Camp Olmstead in Goshen, Virginia this week. It’s hot. I’m sweaty. It’s rainy. I’m wet. And we’re doing great! 

We left for camp last Sunday morning before church. Just after we pulled out of the church parking lot, I remembered that I forgot to bring any insect repellant. Only a few hours after arriving, I felt something itchy on my neck. I reached back to scratch and discovered through my short sweaty hair something small. It was a tick, and I’m thrilled that I found him before he made a home in me. I tried to squash him but he was tough. I got rid of him, for sure. And the next thing I did was to go to the camp's trading post to buy and spray myself with repellant. And I haven’t stopped using it. Evil is like that tick. It sneaks up on us, ready to poke it's little head into our lives and devour us little by little, bit by bit. 

The apostle Paul warns us to prepare against the evil that is all over this world. In his day, he used a soldier's armor as a metaphor for God’s protective and instructive work in our lives. We live in dangerous times, and evil is as sneaky as that tough little tick. It will creep into our lives in the simplest ways. I was just walking through the grass. It wasn't tall. I was minding my own business, but like a tick, evil seeks us out. Evil thoughts, evil words, and evil actions stick to us and suck the God-created life right out of us. Like a tick, evil gets a hold of us, within us, where it lives unnoticed until it grows, spreads, and destroys the life of its host. It’s a parasite, which by definition supports its own life only by stealing from any other living thing. 

God never intends for us to live with ticks burrowing in and sucking our blood. We must be vigilant, wise, alert, and act accordingly. Had I prepared myself with repellant, the tick would have left me alone.

Spiritually, we protect ourselves in order to live the life God intends. Here is what that includes: salvation from evil’s attacks, faithfulness to God’s ways, discerning truth from falsehood, knowing and acting rightly instead of unjustly, and peacefully instead of seeing everyone as being against us. Faith in Jesus repels evil. And the Holy Spirit comes to us.

Thank you God, for protecting me from this dreaded tick. Small as it was, it could do great harm. Help us all trust, follow, and seek your good presence in our lives every moment so that all people may experience your life-changing love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I hope you'll worship with us at either campus this weekend. Let's keep loving God, serving others, and engaging them with the message of Jesus, the Christ.

Pastor Roger

We are here to love God and all people so that all people may experience the

life-changing love of Jesus!

LOVE - We meet every weekend to experience God's love for us and show His love for others.

SERVE- We use our abilities, talents, skills, and passions for the good of others.

ENGAGE - We engage with friends to care for one another and to make new friends so they may experience God's kindness too. 

Talk about last Sunday's message. Ask questions. Discuss. Pray. Learn and grow! Both campuses are invited to join.

Men from both campuses are invited to enjoy great conversation and food at
Schaefer's Restaurant, 208 Bank St., Chesapeake City, MD.
 Call Kevin Sturgis or click the graphic to RSVP by email.