TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Dear friends, It’s time to say goodbye. After about 25 years of sending WEEKLY MESSAGEs, I am signing off from this task. I started sending WEEKLY MESSAGEs to a couple of dozen people right after a friend showed me how to send the same (hopefully thoughtful or meaningful) message to many people at one time. Surprisingly, the list has hovered around a thousand email addresses during much of this time. I’ve enjoyed your comments, both kind and critical, and I hope the messages (roughly 1,300 of them) have served to help you think of something Godly, good or helpful now and then. It’s getting harder to come up with new material, and like my four different daily devotionals (found on Amazon) which required over 1,460 stories, the idea well has mostly dried up. Thank you for your faithfulness in reading. I you wish to look at any WEEKLY MESSAGE since 2007, you can perhaps find it on my blog site, http://pbtsplace.blogspot.com/, listed by year and month. Amazon will carry my books probably long after I’m gone from earth, and I hope one of two of those can bring a smile or a moment of peace to all readers. This entire experience has been a blessing to me. God be with you till we meet again, Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

DEALING WITH HATRED AND RUMORS

What kind of world might we have if people were more caring and less hateful and spiteful? What kind of life might we have if our leaders – and we ourselves - put the best construction on things, rather than letting anger, hate and retribution rule our mouths? After Rev. Charles Simeon (1759-1836) was named pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, England, at age 23, he faced years of opposition. Since most members in that congregation had wanted the associate minister to be appointed pastor rather than Simeon, they began spreading rumors about him and rejected his ministry, at times even locking him out of the church. But Simeon, who desired to follow the Spirit’s leading, attempted to cope with the gossip by creating principles to live by. One was, “Never believe rumors unless they were absolutely true,” and another was, “Always believe that if the other side were heard, a very different account would be given on the matter.” In this way, Simeon followed God’s instructions to His people to cease the gossip and malicious talk He knew would destroy their relationships with each other. In the Eighth Commandment, God said, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16), and also, “Do not spread false reports.” (Exodus 23:1) Think how different our world would be today if more of us, and especially those in leadership positions, avoided spreading rumors and false reports? Think how we could help making family, work and society better by refusing to believe rumors the moment we heard them? And Rev. Simeon? After enduring years of disrupted services and insults in the street, he remained at Holy Trinity for the rest of his life and his congregation grew large. He became a leader among evangelical churchmen, and was one of founders of the Church Missionary Society, promoting Christianity among Jewish people. He died at age 77 and with inherited money, established the Charles Simeon Trust that continues to fund ministries to this day. God’s Word always directs us better than our words. Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

HOW TO GET NEW FRIENDS

Dear friends,

A few years ago, Dr. Joe Stowell, renowned Christian author, speaker and educator, related an experience he had on a plane flight. He had just taken his assigned seat next to the window when a family with three small children entered to be seated. The oldest child, perhaps 6-7 years old, was visibly upset that she wouldn’t be sitting by a window and said, “Daddy, you promised I’d get to sit by a window so I could look out, and now they say I can’t.” 

After an exhaustive speaking tour, Dr. Stowell had planned to enjoy some “alone time”, but heard himself telling the mother, “I can move to the inside seat here so she can sit by the window.” The little girl hardly waited for an answer as she quickly bounced over Joe to the window seat. She told Joe her name, then turned to the window to watch the fascinating sights outside the plane. After a few minutes in the air, she reached over to Joe in a gesture to shake hands and said, “Wanna be friends?” The world-famous gentleman said he could only smile at the little girl and say, “Yes, of course!” as they shook hands.

In John 15:15, Jesus told his disciples, “I no longer call you servants. Now I call you my friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Those twelve men could not have realized it then, but the Savior of the world, King of kings and Lord of lords, had just extended His hand to them and said, “Let’s be friends!”

In 1855, Pastor Joseph Scriven remembered those words of Jesus when he penned a poem in Canada to comfort his lonely mother in Ireland. From his little poem, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” grew to become one of Christianity’s most beloved hymns. 

Think of it - the Lord of the Universe considers us His friends! He holds His hand out to us that we might take it and follow Him through life. Some Christians may wish to consider Jesus their Master and Lord, but others are so pleased and grateful to call Him “friend.”

May we value all our friendships, and especially with Jesus, our best friend of all!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com 

WHAT ARE WE WORKING FOR?

How do you view the matter of working in life? Is work a curse or a blessing? Labor Day is here once again, the national holiday celebrated the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.  

It’s ironic Labor Day should be a day off from work, as it is in most cases. Yet many do continuing working today - the food and sales industries, hospitals, transportation, police and other sectors of society remain on duty to help us have our basic needs who are taking the day off. 

But one problem can create another. Stopping work can create laziness. During this Covid19 epidemic, people have been required to stop working in order to help stop spreading the disease. This creates the problem of no income, which our government attempted to solve by increasing unemployment compensation. But they increased those funds so greatly that many people no longer want to work so long as they are getting money for free. 

Our government leaders missed the truth of the adage, “Give them enough to do something, but not so much as to do nothing.” They also ignored the Biblical truth of, “If a person will not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). If a person chooses to be idle when he could work, he or she should also forfeit the right to get paid. But once a new government handout program is in place, it’s hard to remove it. People get accustomed to not working. One problem creates another.

Working helps people live with dignity and usefulness. Not working gives rest for awhile, but making idleness a way of life unravels a basic strength of society. Jesus rested often, but He never stopped doing the work He was called to do, which was to save the world bent on destroying itself. Praise God that He did.

We would all do well to follow His example. Working achieves basic human needs. Living on handouts helps no one.

Time to mow the lawn!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR IN NOVEMBER?

         To answer all of those of you who would say “I can't believe you would vote for Trump.” I’m not just voting for Donald Trump.  Let me tell you what I am voting for this coming November 3! 

        I’m voting for the Second Amendment.  I’m voting for the next Supreme Court Justice.  I’m voting for the Electoral College and the Republic we live in. I’m voting for the police, Border Patrol, ICE and law and order.  

        I’m voting for the Military and the Veterans who fought and died for this Country.  I’m voting for our Flag that is too often burned or missing from the Democratic background.  I’m voting for the right to speak my opinion and not be censored.  I’m voting for citizenship and secure borders.  

        I’m voting for the right to praise my God without fear.  I’m voting for every unborn soul that the other party wants to kill.  I’m voting for Freedom and the American dream. I’m voting for Israel. 

        I’m not just voting for a person, I’m voting for the future of my Country! I’m voting for good and against evil.  

What are you voting for?  

REV. BOB TASLER, www.bobtasler.com