Pastor’s Piece for June 2025

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold,
but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove
in practice that the plan of God for you is good...” Romans 12:2

Dear Family,

A woman who fled to the USA from a bad situation in another country was amazed at the way of life she found here. “Really?” she asked. “You have entire stores filled just with toys?” She had never imagined such extravagance. Yet after she got a job and was earning money, she rapidly accumulated things for herself. After some time her apartment was crammed with possessions and she had filled more than one storage locker. It took a friend's intervention for her to see that she had absorbed a spirit of materialism without realizing it. Once she saw it, she could purposely get back on track with her true values.

We all change over time, and we may take on attitudes and values without making a deliberate decision about it. So the Bible tells us to beware of the danger of being ensnared by ideas and behaviors that aren't from God. “Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong.” Exodus 23:2. As we head into summer, it's important to make conscious choices to honor the Lord day by day. The freedom to enjoy time outdoors and on the road is a gift. It's nice to be carefree, but we must not become careless. Jesus calls us to be devoted to Him in every season. This includes spending time with God's Word and God's people. There are unique ways to enjoy ourselves during this season, but there are also distinct ways to serve and give of ourselves. Let's be intentional about all we do, and let's keep following Jesus together!

Dale