Revelation 9:13-16

The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. - Revelation 9:13-16

Dear Lord,

My dear friends who have watched the news lately sat with me over lunch and decried the terrible things going on in my country and all over the world. It seems that you let things spin out of control. But you don't. You moderate the the evil that Satan rages to wreak on the earth. You are not responsible for evil but you will not rid the earth of all evil until the end. I know, I know. You want us to preach the gospel to all those whom you give the wake up call too. Lord, help us, your church to stay focused on relieving suffering through the hope of Christ as you allow the devil to torment people. Beat him at his own game by using the sorrows he creates to drive people into our churches and your arms.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

These are the worst of times and best of times at the same moment.