Insights & Observations

May 14, 2025

Leadership Notes

     Many thanks for your prayers surrounding the eviction of my gallbladder. He was a pesky little fella. The surgeon hinted that it was more involved than anticipated. I’ll get the full rundown at my two-week follow-up. Now it’s time to get back to 100%.

     While laying low over the weekend, I collected an assortment of insights and observations I thought interesting. Your level of interest in them is up to you, I suppose.

1.   When the Bible says “do not lean on your own understanding” {Proverbs 3:5-6}, the

Bible is being serious. Your heart is deceitful, your emotions fluctuate, your

understanding does not see the overall big picture. God never lies, God never changes,

God knows all.

2.   Why is talking sexually at work considered sexual harassment, but talking about

sexuality to kids in elementary school considered essential?

3.   Johnny Cash once said, “I have tried drugs and a little of everything else. And there is

nothing in the world more soul-satisfying than God. It takes a real man to live for God – a lot more than to live for the devil. Everything I have and everything I do is now

given completely to Jesus Christ. He is the only way to Heaven.”

4.   Campus Pastor Oliver Burdick posted Four Unpopular Biblical Truths –

> Homosexual Behavior is Sin

> Abortion in Murder

> Hell is a Real Place

> Loving Jesus Means Obeying His Commands

5.   A parent writes, “I have had lots of discussions with parents of high school athletes

this week regarding their daughters having to compete against a top seeded male in

girls competition. My takeaway is that we as adults have completely failed our kids.

Instead of rejecting absurd Orwellian state policies, adults in power are playing legal

and political games while kids are left to suffer…” I {Pastor Richard now} have to

wonder where are the men and the dads in places where this is a problem? Weakness

and caving in to people’s mental illness seems to be running rampant.

6.   Finally, I love this observation by Christian musician and author Nzube Olisaebuka

Udezue, “Thinking that wealth is only measured in money is a sign of poverty.”

    And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

“Christ did not redeem his Church with his blood that the Pope

might come in and steal away the glory.”

     With Much Love and Affection,

                    Richard