“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”
Romans 1:8

In the Lord, I could not be prouder of a church than I am of EBC. I know I’m a little bit partial, but seriously I thank my God through Jesus Christ for each of you and all of you. You all are my joy and crown!

To be sure we have our problems, sins and failings. There are things we need and can do better. There are areas of growth we need to be stretched into. But your faith is evident and you have been the source of blessing and much good to many people- not only in Star Valley but all over Wyoming, the U.S. and even the world. For the obscure place in which we are planted we have had tremendous fruit for the kingdom.

I don’t say this to blow up your pride and cater to your flesh- I say this to encourage you. Sometimes in the midst of pressing duties and responsibilities we lose track of the big picture. We get discouraged and wonder if the sacrifices we make are worth it. We get weary in doing good. But do not faint, for we shall reap.

Your love for each other is evident. O yeah, we sometimes have our family squabbles and tiffs, but by God’s grace not only have these been rare but they have also been a source of growth for all of us. As a pastor I have grown much through the years- learning what is truly important- what are hills to die on and what aren’t.

You’ve been gracious with me through much. For these things I am truly thankful to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you. I pray you will indulge more grace my direction in the years that lie ahead- and I in turn to you.

Because of grace,
Tim

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Ministry is a solemn responsibility. The charge that Paul places on Timothy is a responsibility that Timothy will someday give an account of before the judgment bar of God.

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things… I Timothy 5:21

One of the most sobering passages in the Bible relates this truth to the task of the watchman.
The watchman was commissioned with a task of being an “early warning system” if an army was coming to invade the land.

God relates this to the work of Ezekiel the prophet: Ezekiel 33:1-7
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet to warn the people.
4 Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
5 ⌊Since⌋ he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood is on his own hands. If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.
6 However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.
7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

As we consider our responsibility to share the gospel with those around us- let us not forget that we will give an account.
We are not empowered to secure results- those are with God- but we must “give warning” so “blood is not on our hands”.
May the Lord find us faithful.

Because of grace,
Tim

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