Sunday Services: 10:30 AM
505 South Sixth St. Burbank, CA
91501

FaithView, For Storm Riders:
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”–1 Peter 3:15

What’s it like to be at a loss?

Or better put, do you remember when you were at a loss? Not at a loss about what to do, but at a loss as to why. Why did God bring about a certain thing? Why did God allow a certain thing to happen?

Of course, in the “Hall of Fame of Whys,” the biggies are: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do children suffer at the hands of the wicked? Why Cancer? Why Alzheimer’s?

Is it wrong to let our honest response back be, “I don’t know?”

Unfortunately, we are so trained to give the stock answer: “Well, you know, we live in an imperfect and fallen world…” Yada, yada, yada…etc, etc, etc,…

That’s okay. I’ve said it before. I’ve said it to people in the emergency room, in the ICU, at the graveside, and at the post-memorial service gathering.

There is truth to it, but after peddling it out so many times, I begin to wonder if it’s a valid line of comfort or if it’s really just the best shield to deflect anger at God away from me.

None of my bones are stationed against the belief of God having a plan. The faithful assurance I gain from the Word, and a walk with him daily reinforces my conviction that he has a plan for every moment of every day.

However, in my carnality, I don’t like it. Oh, I like that there’s a plan, but I do not appreciate being left on the outside looking in.

Logic leads that the Lord would at least key in those involved in ministry. After all, we’re the ones in the breach comforting in times of great pain. Reason would conclude he would even lend insight to his most faithful folk whether or not they had a ministry credential hanging on their wall.

But he doesn’t.

We fail on a couple of fronts. One, we fail when we think we know. Lot of guys and gals running around out there thinking they know everything from why there was a car crash to why Jesus will return in the spring of 2025. These are dangerous folk.

Two, while some of us may not be hung up on knowing everything, we do get hung up on thinking we have a right to know everything. We forget our place regarding the creation versus Creator relationship and believe we are owed an explanation (see, “Job”). These are very arrogant folk.

Do we have to know everything God is doing? Does it not suffice, and bless, just to know that God involved in the doing we see?

The line from the great hymn goes: “Just to rest upon his promise, just to know thus sayeth the Lord…”

I’ve been in scary situations. Situations even years removed still chill me. I can still see the faces of people hurt and terrified about what life will be like in the fallout of their disaster. Moments where if not for the Lord, I wish I could have melted away.

To the believer in crisis I refuse any longer to just say; “Well, you know, we live in an imperfect and fallen world…” 



Instead, I/we need to the do the job of a shepherd and lead them back to their faith. To the place where they know God is real. To the place where they know that God has a plan and that all things will work out to his glory as well as our well-being.

To the non-believer, we start by living the Gospel in front of them, not by beseeching the Lord to explain to us the why of it all–just so we can explain it back to the individual and take ourselves off the hook.

In crisis there is no one size fits all, there is only the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. This means getting yourself out of the way, about what you think you should say, and letting the Spirit have full control.

In a crisis, there is not only the individual in the midst of trauma, but there is also the believer God has placed to be his right person at the right time.

You, me, us…

“We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and bye, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.”—Oswald Chambers.

I’m not suggesting you go out and take a crisis management class, but instead prepare yourself to be the right person, in the right place, at the right time when God calls.

When the time comes for the comfort of the Lord to be demonstrated, don’t lose the moment searching for some pseudo-deep theological answer (“Gee what would Rick Warren or Billy Graham do?”). Instead lean upon the daily walk which reinforces to us God’s great love and plan, and be the vessel for the Holy Spirit to come and do its great work.

“Hall of Fame Whys” are tough, and man’s responses to man can easily become cheap. You’re not going to find comfort in them, but you will–the hurting will–in “…just to know thus sayeth the Lord.”

Boom!

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A VBS Unlike Any Other:

VBS Goes to Rome: The theme for Vacation Bible School this year is “Rome: Paul & The Underground Church”

The dates are June 26-30…Look at your calendar…share with your friends…Pray for Seana Zilbert, who is directing…Make plans to volunteer.

You can sign up your child and their friends here on our website. Look the button up top, click, and follow.

Note to Church: Expect much work to be taking place around the church throughout the month of June as we prepare for VBS.

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Burbank Faith now has a Twitter account. You can follow us at; @BurbankFaithNaz

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Eric Canto has created a Burbank Faith channel on YouTube and has placed all of our recent services there. Go check it out.

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Check out Burbank Faith on YELP and be sure to write a review of our church.

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July is Camps Month: Remember July is camps month…Junior High, High School & Kids will all have separate camps at Granite Ridge.

District Assembly is July 12-14
(It is one month later this year due to General Assembly (Indianapolis) being held June 21-30.)

SrHi Camp: July 16-21
Kids Camp: July 23-28
JrHi Camp: July 30-August 4

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“Big September” every Thursday in the month of September (7, 14, 21, 28)…Old Testament overview. We’ll feed you and care for the kids. Mark your calendar. Big September is just like Big Wednesday times four…

 

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Did You Know?
On this date…

…In 1742, English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in his journal: ‘Oh, let none think his labor is lost because the fruit does not immediately appear.’

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Church Calendar:
June 18: Father’s Day— Sunday Service, 10:30 AM…Sunday evening “Prayer Hour” from 6-to-7:00 PM
June 26-30: VBS Week
July 6: Church Board Meeting
July 12-14: District Assembly
August 12: Church Garage/Yard Sale
“Big September” every Thursday in the month of September (7, 14, 21, 28)

As believers, we have to remain in continual prayer for all of our first responders…all our leaders…not a political party but for those carrying the heavy burden of leadership in our country and communities.