May 19, 2025

It was on Saturday, May 10th, in Cozad, Nebraska, that a father brutally murdered his two sons and wife before then killing himself.  It was the older boy's graduation day.   Horrific and sad in so many ways.  The father had struggled with mental health issues since 2009.  The parents of the murdered wife posted on Facebook a frustration with the state of mental health care in the United States.  

It is a sad state we are in as a country.  We so often don't fix the problem.   This was horrific.   A guy mentioned to me the other day that this have been demonic.  Possible.   How many mental health "professionals" could address that?  We will continue to see a mental health "crisis" until we can call sin "sin" and address the great need of salvation in Jesus Christ and the good news of the gospel to address these issues.   We will otherwise continue to medicate and put band-aid psychotherapeutic tools in place that help to mask the pain and struggle, giving us "tools" to deal with it. The gospel can help us with actually solving these issues.

It may be we mistakenly speak of the gospel being about the forgiveness of sins - our salvation.  It certainly is.   But, the gospel is about so much more... and it applies to our life right now.  Just a few more thoughts on what the gospel is about:

• abundant life
• being transformed by God and discerning His good, perfect, and pleasing will
• all these things added unto you
• being filled with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope
• God supplying every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus
• learning in whatever situation be content knowing you can handle it through Jesus who gives you strength

Shame on the prosperity gospel to preach about STUFF - none of this list above is about stuff!  Those false preachers preach prosperity and everyone gets their ears tickled and wants to hear more because, "Hey!  I want stuff!"   And, some even get "saved" (they pray the prayer so they can get stuff).  But when they don't get everything the wealthy pastor and others have, how can that not impact their mental health?  After all, they also harmed their spiritual health.  The shame of those deceivers.

Do we preach of the gospel as an "insurance policy" - fire insurance to save you from the burning of hell?   Don't do that!   I have several insurance policies, sadly.  I never think of them until I pay the bill or until I need them.   The gospel is not an insurance policy sitting there until we collect.  It is an inexhaustible supply of God's riches in Christ Jesus able to meet every need we have!   We can cash the check and use the funds today!  

I am hurting for this family and that community - I'm hopeful that maybe they had heard the good news.  Yet, I am pained that they never did find health.  "Mental health counseling" not based on the Bible will not succeed long-term.    Without addressing our physical, mental, and spiritual health - thus, there are always sin issues and occasionally demonic spirits involved - we will continue to see frustration with the state of mental health.   God, we need your help - help us to be wise disciplers and counselors of those around us!   

•New pre-school children (Age 3 prior to June) will now join with the pre-school to 5th grade.  
•Pre-school through those going into 5th Grade will be in rooms 117-118 downstairs (for the summer).
•Those going into 6th grade will join the middle school class.  Room 121.  
•Those going into 9th grade will now join with the high school class in rooms 115-116.
•Senior Graduates get to choose!   They may remain in the high school class for the summer or join another adult class (the 18–26 year-old class is recommended – meets in room 123).  
•Other Adults – Hopefully, you know where you are.  Adult classes currently meet in rooms 216, 100, and 122 (women).