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Dear Shiloh Family, It was a wonderful evening of ping-pong, corn hole, food, fellowship, and fun. Mostly, the gathering was designed to show appreciation to the senior players, form bonds, and promote general comradery. After cleaning up three pans of lasagna and all the fixings, it was time for them to go. We have to be very creative with the parking situation at our house, and unparking is a bit like playing auto Jenga. They have to leave in a certain order and in very intentional patterns. 

Consequently, one young man had pulled down a slight incline off the back of my concrete pad. He had meticulously inched his pickup into a situation where his wheels were simply spinning in place. Of course, all his teammates were yelling encouraging instructions (we'll leave it at that). After watching the mele for a while, I finally intervened. 

"Hey man, put it in 4-wheel-drive." I suggested. 
He almost seemed agitated that I would even bring it up. 
So, I thought his truck might have been broken. However, as you can imagine, his comrades jumped on the band wagon and echoed my plea. Finally, I offered the solution once more and questioned, "Is your 4-wheel-drive working?" 
He retorted, "Yes, but coach..." 
"What?" I answered.
Then came the classic reply; a reply I won't soon forget. In near frustration, he yelled, "Coach, it's 4-wheel-drive, not 4-wheel reverse."
In almost disbelief, I asked him if he was serious, and he replied in the affirmative. I smiled, walked down the steps and informed him that it worked forward as well as reverse. When it is engaged, it becomes full-time all-wheel-drive. He backed out smoothly and without further incident. 

We find that very humorous and somewhat unbelievable, but aren't we the same way with God sometimes? I'm not comparing him to a vehicle, but I am saying that we often think He is only good when we are moving forward. We become convinced that God can only assist us and He only cares about us when we are on life's interstate and speeding down the super slab of spiritual relationships. Do we forget that He loves us and cares when we are in the ditch? I'm afraid that therapeutic sermons and feel-good churches have made us numb to the fact that God sometimes has to back us up before we can move forward for Him. In fact, my Heavenly Father frequently pauses all progress to allow me to better hear Him and know that He is speaking. 

Psalm 46:10-11: 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. NKJV 

Rest assured that the God on the mountain is still the God in the valley. He still commands the wind and waves and calms the seas. If need be, when the world seems to have swallowed us up, He can transport us via the belly of a fish. Even when the vessel is breaking apart, like Paul, we simply need to stay with the ship. God can even float us to shore on broken pieces. God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good. He is present forward and backward, and He is certainly an all-wheel-drive factor in our lives. 

I know the scripture is a bit long this week, but please, take a few more minutes to read Psalm 139. 

Psalm 139:1-10: 0 Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, 0 Lord, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. NKJV 

God's providence will never lead you where His grace cannot rescue you. 

God bless you all, 
Pastor Derrell