From the Pastor

	The airwaves, the TV newscasts, the newspapers and even the blogs have been full, 
as of late, with news of the ongoing disaster in Haiti – the original quake and the 
aftershocks, the injuries and deaths, the hunger and thirst, the suffering and the 
desperation of the people of Haiti.  A few have been piously smug about the disaster 
– even insinuating that the people of Haiti somehow brought this disaster upon 
themselves.  But most have been highly compassionate, even giving freely of their 
time and talents and treasures to do whatever they can to help alleviate the 
suffering of the people of Haiti.        
 
	So, where is God in all of this?  Is God the “punisher”, as some have 
insinuated – the one who inflicts an earthquake and then sits back and says, “There, 
that’s what you get for messing with Me”?  I rather doubt it.  It just doesn’t fit 
the picture of the loving Heavenly Father that both the Old and New Testaments 
paint!  Or, does the devastation mean that God is disinterested, sitting on a comfy 
throne somewhere in the heavens and looking down and saying, “Oh”?  I rather doubt 
that also.  That just doesn’t fit with the picture of the God of love, the God who 
set aside His heavenly glory and took on human flesh in order to dwell with us and 
share the pain and the suffering of our lives.So, where is God in all of this?  God 
is right there, right in the middle of the fray – with the victims and the relief 
workers alike.  In fact, it’s God’s compassion that can be seen in the very acts of 
the relief workers – as well as in the giving of those here at home who support 
them.  As the saying goes, it’s “Gods Work – Our Hands”!  And the people of Haiti 
testify to this – both in the stories they tell and in the songs they sing.  One of 
the news reports coming out of Haiti told of how the phrase “Blessed be the name of 
the Lord” (albeit in French) is so often heard among the victims.  And the songs 
that they sing are virtually all songs praising God for His great love.
 
	February is often called the month of love.  We wait with eager anticipation 
to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day and to show signs of our love for one another.  
But, truth be told, the earthly love we exhibit is really just a mere reflection of
our Maker’s love for us.  Now this year, just three days after we celebrate St. 
Valentine’s Day, we enter into the Season of Lent – the Season of reflection upon 
the depth of God’s love for us as seen in the extreme lengths God (in the person of
Jesus the Christ) would go to in order to save us from ourselves.  So this year, 
the month of February really is all about recognizing love – our love for one 
another and God’s overwhelming love for us. 
 
	So, as we enter February – when the days get a little longer and the weather 
gets a little warmer – lets absorb a little of the spirit of the Haitian people, 
who, despite being so devastated, can still sing praises to God and share their love 
with those around them.  Please give what you can to help support the relief efforts 
in Haiti, and please, please keep praying for God’s healing hand to be upon them.
 
     								God bless you all,	
    								 Pastor Holter