Faith

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

Oh no! What is going on? My social media is down! I have no YouTube, X,  What’sApp, or Instagram. Even my Facebook is gone! I picked up my phone and something has happened to it! I am unable to call out I have lost all my connections with the outside world! I got rid of my landline and now I have no backup to call or connect to my family and friends. I hurried to my computer thinking “Surely my e-mail will work – it won’t be as good as my phone or Facebook but at least I will not be completely cut off.” Oh NO! I am cut off because even my computer is down.

That means my smartphone is not going to work either. I decided to go get in my car and head toward town thinking surely somebody will be open, but when I got in my car and tried to start it, there was no response. A voice from my OnStar kept saying: “You are unauthorized to operate this vehicle.”  OnStar had a signal challenge and was keeping me from using my automobile. Living alone was never a problem with all these forms of media, even being so far out in the country. The only thing in my house that was connecting me to the outside world was an AM radio.

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

I would like to share my Sunday morning message with you that I shared with my church family. We will call it the Reader’s Digest version, which means it is compact and shortened. The title was “Will your religion get you into Heaven?” I first explained what a “religion” is. Buddhism is a religion, Christianity and Hinduism are religions as well as Islam and Judaism. According to some estimates, there are more than 4,000 religions around the world!

Denominations are different expressions of the “Christian religion” Many were started by men who made a stand or proclamation that folks followed and adhered to.  The Lutherans began when their leader Martin Luther, nailed a paper with his complaints about the church he was leaving to its front door. The Mennonites traced their beginnings back to their first leader Menno Simons. The Mormons began with Joesph Smith. The Church of God started with a man named D.S. Warner, and one branch of the Methodist started with John Wesley, thus the Wesleyan Methodists. And then there were two men, Stone and Campbell, who were responsible for the Disciples of Christ.  And so, it goes for many more!

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

Her name was Shirley, It was unfortunately that time in life when she just couldn’t care for herself any longer. She had enjoyed the grandkids coming over and the joy they brought. Her cookie jar was always full.  A few years ago her husband of 50 years had gone home to be with the Lord.

Shirley was trying hard to hide the work her husband had done and she wasn’t getting done. She hired lawn care and handymen but the cost was more that her meager retirement could handle. But she pressed on. She had a big family: three kids and their numbers totaled 14! three sons-in-law, three daughters and eight grandkids! But they could only visit a few times a year. So the dreaded loneliness began to take its toll.

The house that once rang with children’s laughter and family and friends visiting was quiet now. Shirley sat by the window and had to fight back tears! “Why did I not see this coming? Could I have done anything different to make this time better?” she thought.

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

I grew a year older this week and I wasn’t looking forward to it! I remember as a child saying I was something plus 6 months! It was so important back then to project that you were getting older! Not anymore. Just let me quietly age and move on.

Age does have its benefits – you’ve lived and learned a lot of things, things you can share with younger folks so they don’t make all the mistakes in life. That is, if they listen. If you have lived a Christian life and walked with the Lord for many years you have insights into things that many don’t have. Young Christians need a lot of patience and unfortunately, many church folks don’t have it! I needed so much grace and understanding when I started my walk with Jesus. I was so glad I had a few who came alongside me and helped point the way for me to go. And when I messed up, there was no harsh judgement, just love and understanding. And along with that, I was told where I went wrong and how to get back on track. I wish our churches were full of people like that.