Ukrainian Crisis

Bulletin

Dan Peters
02/27/22 - Attitude

Ukrainian Crisis

Emotionally it is difficult to be a consumer of so much media of the events going on. Our hearts hurt for people. Sometimes we need to step away from such news and consider not only our lives, but our assumptions.
   I am reminded when I was a younger preacher going to a 6:00am Bible study with an older preacher and an elder. The elder would bring the coffee every study. Then I picked up some sweet rolls from a convenience store. For almost 2 weeks I did that, on my own. I did not promise them or speak about it. I just kept bringing sweet rolls to every study.
Then one day running late to the study, I forgot. Upon arriving, as the elder was pouring the coffee, both the older preacher and elder asked, “Hey Dan, where’s our sweet roll”? They asked that question like I did something wrong to them, by not volunteering to bring a sweet roll. They had just become so used to it, they expected it. From my point of view, especially as a teenager, I did them no wrong. I didn’t promise or guarantee anything. They were “put out” with me, under the guise of joking about it. But I brought sweet rolls from that time onward! But did I do them wrong by not giving?
Every day when you get up in the morning, and have life, it is like God giving you a sweet roll for the day. Life. If one day you don’t wake up, or your life is taken away by the Russian military, this doesn’t mean that God has done you wrong. Every day is a gift. God has not promised earthly life, eternally. Every day life on earth is a gift. When I stopped voluntarily giving them a sweet roll, I did no harm to them. (I thought they could be thankful for the mornings I had given them, a sweet roll). So should we not feel thankful to God for all the mornings, he has already given us? Or should I complain that I have run out?
Job, after losing millions of dollars in his animal stock, and his 10 children, all in one terrible day, says this, “…
   “ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
   And naked I shall return there.
   The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
   Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” (Job 1:21-11).
Job had such a great attitude, and one to be imitated. Job was a commune-r with God more than a consumer of God’s gifts. The greatest gift from God is none other than God himself, wrapped up in Jesus Christ on the cross. He paid the price for my sin, now let me live with him here, and when I die. Every day is a gift but eternal life is the greatest gift, God himself (John 17:1-3). Dan Peters