Uncle Screwtape

5-1-2023
C. Hayden
 
C.S. Lewis penned in “The Screwtape Letters”, many imagined writings from a prominent high-level demon known
as Screwtape to his less experienced and growing junior demon named Wormwood. These letters attempt to
inform his struggling nephew in the ways of interacting with humans in order to bring maximum destruction in
their lives while at the same time shutting-down any interaction they may have with God (named the enemy by
Uncle Screwtape). Lewis’ work has become a Christian classic and has opened the understanding of millions of
believers to the deceptive nature and purpose of the demonic realm in our
world. I suggest every Christian buy 2 copies and give one to a friend. Anyway, I
would like to bring up one quote from the book that is very telling.
Screwtape writes this to his nephew Wormwood , “ It is funny how
mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best
work is done by keeping things out.” This is such a great line. In only 25 words,
Lewis reminds us that we are not only tempted by the things that we do
imagine, but we can be destroyed by allowing ourselves to remain ignorant of the
things God wants to reveal and train us in. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 we read,
“ 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did
not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
We have become just too intelligent to believe in what the Word of God has to say to us. The world is just
too smart to believe in their need for salvation so demons go about keeping out of their mind the truth that is in
Christ’s sacrifice for mankind’s sin. Unfortunately for the Church, many “Christians” are just too intelligent to
believe in the influence that demons have in our world so Uncle Screwtape informs Wormwood to continue to
keep the truth of that information from the church goers mind lest they become informed and a threat to the
devil’s devices. Something to think about.
 
May God bless you even more!!
Pastor Chris

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“What Would You Do For Love?”

4-15-2023
J. Fields
 
I love this time of the year for multiple reasons, Spring is right around the corner which means flowers and
trees are blossoming, warmer weather, green grass, and most importantly it’s the season that we celebrate our risen
King! For just a moment I’d like you to close your eyes and picture the Easter story. I’ve re-watched clips of the
Passion of the Christ movie several times and I’m continually heartbroken every time I see the clips of Jesus being
beaten, carrying the cross while blood drips down his face, having a crown of thorns jabbed into His skull, and the
gruesomeness of these huge nails being stuck through His hands as He hung on a cross. Can you believe you are
loved so much that someone went through all of this for you? Jesus Christ died the most gruesome death for each
one of us, now if that doesn’t make you understand how much you are loved I’m not sure what will, but…. I have
even more fantastic news!
Not only did Jesus die on a cross for the forgiveness of your sins, three days later He conquered death for
you by being raised from death. That’s right, Jesus Christ loves you so much that He kicked the enemy right in his
face so that you and I could have a life that is above sickness, death, and defeat. We were never told that life would
be perfect or that we wouldn’t have any battles but He did promise that if we have. a relationship with Him that He
will give us a comforter. John 14:15-18 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father,
and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be
in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
Since God loves us so much that He would send His only Son to hang on a cross for us don’t you think we
could at least fall in love with Him in return? Some people may call me a Jesus freak or they may say oh Jason you
just don’t understand how life really is, well, let me share this with you, you don’t know my story. When I was lost
God snatched me from the hands of the enemy, before I was ever born, He knew exactly who and what He wanted
me to be like, He created me and you in the most beautiful way, He said “Jason, I love you so much, look at what I
did for you, won’t you accept all of me and be a fire for me all the days of your life?”
This Easter I pray that you will grasp all that He has done and continues to do for you. Jesus Christ isn’t
just sitting on the throne twiddling His thumbs, He is sitting to the right of His Father working on our behalf so the
next time a negative thought comes into your mind just give it to God, the next time the enemy tries to knock you
don’t, give it to Jesus. You are beautifully, wonderfully, and perfectly created and loved. Death was conquered
once and for all for those who know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ, if you don’t know Him or if you have
someone in your life that needs Him, I pray you will share the Easter story with them. Let me leave you with this.
As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire, And I
long to worship Thee. You alone are my Strength, my Shield, to you alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my
heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee. You’re my friend and You are my brother , even though You are a King I
love You more than any other. So much more than anything , you alone are my Strength, my Shield , to you alone
may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.
 
Happy Easter!
Pastor Jason

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The Passover Sacrifice

C. Hayden
3-22-23
 
The Good Friday/Easter event has many comparisons as we travel through the pages of the Old And New
Testament. None more prominent than the Genesis account of Abraham and his son Isaac. Most of us know the
story. God spoke to Abraham and told him to take his son Isaac to the mountain of Moriah, there to offer Isaac up
as a sacrifice and show of obedience and faith to the Lord his God.
 
We find this account in Genesis the 22nd chapter. Verse 6 says that Abraham took the wood of the burnt
offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went
together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My
father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then Isaac said, “Look, the
fire and the wood, but where is the [ b ] lamb for a burnt
offering?” By this time Isaac must have thinking that something is not
right here. But like the trusting son he was, Isaac was obedient to
follow Abraham regardless of how things looked. Abraham, of
course, responds to his son. In verse 8, Abraham said, “My son, God
will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
 
We know the end of this episode. God indeed provided a lamb, a real lamb (actually a ram) that became the substitution for Isaac satisfying the requirement that God had first laid upon Abraham. Sound familiar?
 
This Abraham/Isaac episode is known as a type of the sacrifice God made for us. We are a type of
“Abraham” and a type of “Isaac.” Deserving to be put to death (Like Isaac), but because of our faith (The faith of
Abraham), God indeed provided a lamb for the sacrifice. The lamb provided was not our death. We are unworthy
to pay the price for, not only our own sin, but in no way for the sins of all mankind. But God provided His Son Jesus
to die on the altar of the cross. And by God’s grace and through our faith, just like Abraham and Isaac, we are
saved from certain death and given eternal life instead. There are other types of the Christ saving us in scripture.
Noah and the type of Jesus being the Ark being one and the Israelites and the lamb’s blood on the doorposts
saving the firstborn being another. They tell us what Jesus did for us on Good Friday and what the result would be
for all that believe in His resurrection. He gave His life for our sin so that we would have eternal life in Him! Have a
wonderful Easter season this year.
 
May God bless you even more!!
Pastor Chris

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