Hello friends and family of BBT.  My prayer for you this week is that you have a fresh revelation of the love of your Heavenly Father.  Keep reading to find out what’s coming up.

I really enjoyed last Sunday. More people were able to come back.  Priscilla encouraged us to do what God has called us to do as that is the only way things change.  These terrible shootings can’t be stopped by anything short of a change of heart, and we know the One who does that.  I shared about choosing joy, and it was a joy to do it.  Check out our podcast.

This week was planned to be a memorial for Chuck Small for the benefit of local friends and relatives, but circumstances prevented us from going forward with that.  We do not know at this time whether it will be rescheduled.  Keep the family in prayer.

In this message, I’m going to take on a subject that seems to have a lot of confusion around it.  In Hebrews 12:4-13, we are told that God disciplines those whom He loves.  Translations vary, but the idea of punishment is clearly evident.  So why would someone say that God does not punish?  I think what they mean to communicate is that God does not punish His children for harm or vengeance.  Every bad thing that happens in life should not be taken as some kind of retribution from God.

So then, if God does punish, what does that look like?  Consider a good parent.  Would they punish a child without first making sure that the child understands the offense?  That would be cruel and destructive.  It is even written into our laws.  We have a right to know what we are charged with and to face our accusers.  By the time we are sentenced, there is no question of the charges.  Humans may fail in this, but you can be sure that God will not.  If He disciplines us, we will know who, and we will know why.  Let’s look to the Word for answers.

See you Sunday.

Love y’all!