It is Friday the 13th in Marysville. Temps might hit the seventies and we can still see the sun. And now the Sun has arrived. Can you believe it?!
☀️Wars and Rumors of Wars
What are we supposed to do while the world burns? We watch, we pray, we be sober, we do our jobs.
I don’t have new or breaking intel to share about the war between Hamas and Israel. This news cycle has virtually no end of reports and commentaries. I don’t know if you believe in God, but Christians at least should be casting any anxieties on God because we know He cares for us. Pray and don’t stop. And since each of us has a different calling, steadfastness doesn’t mean we all do the same thing. So today, let’s think about being a bit more sober.
By sober I don’t mean just not drunk, though that’s a good start. To be sober, I mean thinking sensibly about what’s going on. Imagine if we had a more reasonable than reactive society. Yeah, that would be better.
Here are a few reminders about reality under the sun.
First, there is nothing new under the sun, and there is nothing new about war, hatred, suffering, and atrocities done by some men to other men, women, and children. One benefit—for those with ears to hear it as a benefit—of war is that it blows away the fog of mindlessness about our condition. We all are, and always have been, going to die. Men pass their days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. There are long-standing animosities between the sons of Ishmael and Isaac, and the current savagery by Hamas against Israeli citizens is evil through and through. It is also true that unless we repent, we will all likewise perish.
Second, there is nothing new about lies, propaganda, and war-mongering. So Biden apparently freed up access to 6 billion dollars for Iran a month ago, and it seems that much of that money went to arm Hamas. Now (some of) the U.S. administration has verbally condemned the depraved acts of Hamas, which is proper. But which side of the mouth is that coming from? There are questions about what Israel’s government did and didn’t know about a planned attack by Hamas, and how Israel could have “let” this happen. Someone is certainly conspiring somewhere. Just because one side meant it for evil doesn’t mean two (or more) sides can’t mean it for evil. Our passions are at war within us, the gunplay just shows the greed-lusts in our hearts.
Third, there is nothing new about hypocrisy, false virtues, and all sorts of two-facedness. There is NO defense for how Hamas attacked, raped, killed, and paraded their victims. We see what’s happened and we grieve with those in Israel. What we don’t see as much, because it’s not so publicly broadcast, is the babies killed in Israel by Israelites through abortion (which was likely more than 16,000 last year). And for the U.S. to get so indignant about the murder of babies by Hamas is good in so far as it should make us righteously angry about the more than 2600 babies murdered in the United States every day! There is blood all over our hands.
The blood of Jesus Christ is our only hope. He alone is the only one who can forgive us and cleanse our guilt, and He is our only true Peace in this world of tribulation and trouble. But take heart, He has overcome the world. So let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation in the Lord Jesus.
☀️Snohomish County Action Night
by Ben Smith
The other night I was thankful to be able to attend the 2nd annual Snohomish County Action Night at the Marysville Historical Society on Armar Road next door to Jennings Park. Organized and hosted by Jon Nehring and Nate Nehring, it was an informative and entertaining evening with acquaintances and friends, new and old. The venue is a charming local historical museum with many interesting displays and exhibits about how Marysville has been in decades and generations past, including a very good mock-up of an old-timey pharmacist's shop. I recommend a visit.
Brandi Kruse the reporter wasn't able to make it this year, but Jonathan Choe of the Discovery Institute in Seattle and formerly with KOMO News was the keynote, and we heard an encouraging word from the new Washington State Republican Party Chairman, State Representative Jim Walsh, and from our Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney. All three gentlemen gave rousing and practical talks. It was a very encouraging evening, to see the assemblage of local elected officials (many from Marysville and our neighbor cities) and local candidates for offices ranging from school boards to mayor and city and county councils congregating together to plan on doing good in our town, and across the state. That the common-sense responsible citizens of our area - i.e., the conservatives and Republicans of Washington State and Snohomish County are planning on continuing to strive to do good, and are focusing on increasingly winning elections from here on out was the primary theme of the evening.
☀️Looking Around
“What are Marysville’s greatest transportation needs?” That’s a great question, asked here on the city’s website, that includes a link to the Transportation Survey. Give your feedback until November 5.
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On October 11, Mayor Nehring posted: “Most of our property crimes finance drug addiction. There is nothing compassionate about allowing this. Those who commit crimes in Marysville will face real consequences for their actions and the chance to choose a better path as this article describes.” He also linked to a report in The Herald about a newly passed city ordinance regarding public disorder crimes.
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This news comes out of Oklahoma, which is not only far away from Western Washington on a map, it’s far away from us in cultural mindset. But, we take encouragement where we can get it. Pastor Dusty Deevers won the Republican Primary in Oklahoma's 32nd state district. Mr. Deevers is a Christian man seeking to end abortion and return to a “constitutional conservatism grounded in God’s Word.” Amen!
☀️Upcoming Events
Coffee Chat on Code Enforcement - Monday, October 16, 10:00am at the Marysville Community Center. See the Facebook event page for more info.
Trunk or Treat - Saturday, October 28, 11:00am - 1:00pm at Cascade Christian Reformed Church. See the Facebook Event page for more info.
☀️Friday Fun
When you need a little something positive:
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