Pastor Caroline - February 28, 2021 - Christ's Humility and Greatness

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday February 24, 2021 - I Will Be With You

 

And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew chapter 28 verse 20.

 

The very last line of this verse assures the disciples of Jesus‘ presence with them at all times. He told them that “in spirit” He would be very present; always. This conversation took place after the resurrection of Christ and the disciples met Jesus on the hill in Galilee, where he told them to go. 

 

Sometimes when a loved one is passing they may say something like this;

I will watch over you

            or

I will always be near

            or

When you see a white butterfly I’m letting you know I’m close to you.

They are trying to give you comfort before they leave, just as Jesus did with the disciples.

 

It is hard to let go of loved ones. But a time comes in everyone’s life when life here is over and a new life begins in eternity for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

It brings us great comfort to be able to remember some of the funny things, or kind gestures, or times prayer, or a great meal we shared with the very one we are thinking about. Personally when I hear a woman whistle I think of my grandmother,  on my mother’s side; or when I hear a man whistle I think of my Dad. In both instances I recall Grandma and Dad, who have gone to heaven. At that moment I feel their very presence around me and those doing the whistling do not even know the joy they just filled my heart with.

 

Music, prayer, conversations about Jesus with friends and time in the word of God all bring the very presence of Jesus to me. I feel loved, protected, comforted and guided in my day. I never feel alone. His promise, he will never leave me nor for sake me, is found in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5, rings in my ear. Even that one scripture brings me great comfort and empowers me to work through any challenge presented in my day. I never walk alone — Praise the Lord!! This is always amazing to me.

 

There’s a certain perfume that every now and again someone will be wearing and I think of my Mom when that scent lingers in the air. Or my daughter will say something and she is “so my Mom”, that it brings me right into Mom’s presence; in my mind. I am always grateful for the little nudges I get to stop; and, just remember!

 

Jesus assures us today, as He did with the disciples so long ago, that He will always be with us. To the very end of the age, He says.

And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew chapter 28 verse 20.

What a beautiful promise to hold in our hearts and minds.

 

Those very words to His disciples are meant for us to this very day, and throughout all our days bringing us much comfort, peace, joy and contentment until we meet with Him face-to-face in eternity.

 

I pray this word brightens your day and gives you strength to do all the Lord would have you do today.

 

See the cross, it is empty, Jesus has risen and sits with the Father in heaven!! Hallelujah!!   

The cross reminds us that Jesus is very near, He is always with us. That is good news!! Please share it with everyone you meet.

God bless you.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Ecclesiastes Part 30

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FOUR "F"S

There are apparently four factors around which much of Christianity seems to evolve. Some refer to these as the four “F”s, and to some degree they represent much of the life of Christian believers.

Faith, the first “F”, is of course, the basis of it all. The Bible says clearly that “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”(Hebrews 11:6). No-one can definitively prove God’s existence, any more than one can definitively disprove the existence of a divine being, but in the end it comes down to a matter of faith. Either you believe in the existence of God or you believe everything began with some kind of rock or singularity. It ends up being a matter of faith and which you think is the most likely to be the beginning of it all. But without faith, nothing happens.

Fellowship, the second F, is really just people of like faith wanting to get together and enjoy each other’s company.  We are told in Hebrews 10:25 to “not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” One of the most difficult things about the present situation is the impossibility of proper fellowship, and the ease of gathering together as people have been accustomed to do. But we are told to “…be subject to the governing authorities.  For….the authorities that exist are appointed by God…” (Romans 13:1). Even so, when possible, getting together with people of like faith is extremely important, when it can be safely done. 

The third F stands for food, which has always been associated with fellowship. The last time Christ met with His followers was over the comfort of a meal - the Last Supper. Jesus called Himself “…the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst…” (John 6:35). Additionally, he has been referred to as “…a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb…” (Revelation 22:1). The commemoration of Christ’s death itself involves food in the bread and wine. As well, most early church functions were centred around a meal; even today many people head to a restaurant for a meal or coffee after a church gathering.

The final F is fun.  Fun should also be part of a Christian gathering, after all, the Bible states, in John 15:11, that Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”  Psalms also tells us in seven places to joyfully shout or make a joyful noise unto God (66:1, 81:1, 95:1,95:2, 98:4, 98:6,100:1). Church gatherings were never meant to be dreary, wearisome affairs but to be enjoyable and fulfilling  events, even as they are serious and solemn in their own way. A person should always come away from such more uplifted than downtrodden, more joyful than tearful, and more enlightened than confused.

These are four of the aspects of Christian living and association. Now, the Bible states that God’s people (the church) in the New Jerusalem will be the bride of Christ. “…‘Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away…and he showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God…” (Revelation 21:9-10).   Genesis 2:24 also refers to a type of marriage with Christ: “…they shall become one flesh.”  If we are to be in this relationship with Christ, we must have faith in Him, want to be where He is as much as possible, break bread with Him, and have joy in His presence.  If that’s not what the case seems to be, then it may be a long eternity.  Just something to think about.

Pastor Caroline - February 21, 2021 - His Grace

Pastor Caroline - February 17, 2021

 

1 John Chapter 5 Verses 1-5 in the Good News Bible is where I would like to share from today.

Let’s read starting at verse one:

(1) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also.

(2) This is how we know that we love God’s children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands.

(3) For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,

(4) because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.

(5) Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

When my eyes fell on this title, “Our victory over the World”, my heart leapt with joy. The very first word, whoever, that is you and me, we are the whoever believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and we are the whoever, who loves God and so we must love His children. His children are those who believe Jesus is the Son of God.

Verse 2 says, by loving God and obeying His commands and showing our love to others shows them we are God’s children.

Our love must be that of the Father, reaching out to help others, provide for others, invite others to believe and accept Jesus as the Son of God, teach others to walk in His ways, and obey His commands which in turn will keep us from harming or hurting our fellow citizens.

We must not live and accept the worldly ways, as verse 4 says,

(4) because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.

 

We live in this world but we are not of this world. Philippians Chapter 3 Verse 20 in the Good News Bible tells us,

(30) We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.

 

We wait and our faith keeps us strong in the ways of the Lord keeping us away from the evils of the world, the very things we know are wrong and should not do because they eventually bring us harm, and so as we stand strong in our faith we are able to overcome sin and temptation!! We are over-comers!  Our victory is in our faith in Jesus, and Jesus on the cross, who overcame the world!!

Verse 5 asks,

(5) Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the son of God.

Jesus defeated the world and those of us who believe in Him and accept Him, as Lord and Savior, can claim the victory.

This my friends, is; victory over the world, by means of our faith, as we are told in verse 4.

I believe Jesus defeated the world and so I claim my victory over the world. How about you?

Have a blessed day in knowing whose you are, you belong to God. Hallelujah!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Ecclesiastes Part 29

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - RELIGION

 RELIGION

To what religion do you consider yourself to belong? More to the point, to what denomination (or branch/sect) of that religion do you really adhere? In reality, everyone has some “god” or something in which they believe.  Often we have made that “something” into our own creation. We have, in a sense, made a “god” in our image or have accepted a form of deity far removed from us.

Religion has been defined as man’s attempt to reach a god. And, as man has often defined “god” in a way that he would desire that god to be, then it not unexpected that religion would take a corresponding form. Over the years then, mankind has worked and slaved to make himself acceptable to an austere god, or has sacrificed young people and children to an angry god, or has just felt lost and alone from a distant god. Christianity has been really no better as we have defined God in so many ways and means that, as a result, numerous different forms and denominations have evolved and progressed, so that there are now over 41,000 different branches of Christianity.

Unfortunately, it seems to have always been this way. Back in Genesis, God showed how to sacrifice to Him, yet Cain wanted to do it his own way “but He did not respect Cain and his offering…” (Genesis 4:5). How many times do we try to do things our way? How often do we try to make God into an image of what we want and, thereby, try to reach Him in our way and not the way God has suggested. 

Even when God has laid down the rules and ways in which He wants things done, performing these acts properly is apparently not as important as true obedience to His wishes. Although He gave specific instructions for sacrifice in the Bible, it also states in Isaiah that “[to] what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?…I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats…Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil…If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land…” (Isaiah 1:11,16,19).

It’s obedience God desires. Even when we seem to follow His laws and instructions, it’s often not enough. An example is in Exodus, when God instructs the Hebrews to slay a lamb without blemish, and to “take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses…” (Exodus 12:7).  It seemed sufficient for the time, but still most of the people, save the children, perished before reaching the promised land. “…[Y]our entire number, from twenty years old and above…shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.  But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land…” (Numbers 14:29-31).

Is God really interested in the various means and methods by which we try to either reach, impress, or influence Him? Does He really care about our rites and rituals, our large churches (or mosques or synagogues), what we wear, or our multitude of programs? Or is it our sincerity and obedience that really matter? Following God’s laws and instructions may still be important but is it really enough? All of our efforts point upward as indicated by the blood on the doorposts and lintel in Exodus. If you connect points on each of the doorposts and lintel, then you obtain a triangle or arrow pointing towards heaven symbolic of man’s attempt to reach up to God.

So, as man’s various attempt’s to reach God are not enough, God provided His own solution. He reached down to us by means of Christ; His own “…lamb without blemish and without spot,”(1 Peter 1:19). He again wants our obedience to follow His new law: “…‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself,’” (Luke 10:27).  He also wants us to be obedient and to accept Christ’s sacrifice as payment for our sins.

“…[H]aving abolished in His (Christ’s) flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity,” (Ephesians 2:15-16).  Also, “…through Him we…have access by one Spirit to the Father,” (Ephesians 2:18), therefore, true Christianity is not a religion but a direct relationship with God through Christ.  If you connect the points of the nails that held Christ to the cross, you again have a triangle or arrow but this time pointing downward from heaven towards earth symbolic of God’s attempt to reach us.

The blood on the doorposts and lintel symbolized man’s attempt to reach up to God, and Christ’s crucifixion shows God’s attempt to reach down to us. If you superimpose the triangles resulting from the above, it reveals the Star of David as noted in the last of Revelation “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star,” (Revelation 22:16).

  It is not a religion but a relationship with Christ that can lead us directly to God. That’s true Christian faith and certainly something to think about.  

Pastor Caroline - February 14, 2021 - For God Loved

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday February 10, 2021

 

Today is Monday, February 8, 2021, and I just “need to” write my message for Wednesday, —— today.

Today a storm has passed through our county and now at 2 PM the snow falls gently from the sky as if God is sweeping off the rooftops in heaven. The snow has covered some trees completely in white and lightly brushed other trees with just a dusting of snow. Each tree now glistens in the sunshine that beams with light as if white lights are hidden in the branches and someone flicks a switch and behold, beauty; lights up the trees before me. Some trees have snowballs on them, just like Christmas ornaments, beautiful!! The mounds of snow (because of drifting), look like scoops of ice cream, vanilla of course.😊😊

How majestic and beautiful the scene is, the calm after the storm.

 

When I woke up this morning it was no time at all before I knew everything would be closed today. The wind blew, the snow swirled causing white outs and huge drifts, so immediately I claimed a day of rest, — well rest from the routine,— however, much plowing and shovelling had to be thought about and done before the temperatures dip tonight and perhaps we would not be able to even move the snow.

Change is as good as a rest, so they say, so Spencer plowed for hours and I shovelled that which needed to be done. My job was much easier than his I must admit. By early afternoon, we were cleared up enough that Spencer could head out to do his work, and I chose to stay home and write.  I am resting in the love of the Lord as I read Psalm 23 verses 1 to 3 from my Good News Bible.

(1) The Lord is my Shepherd;

I have everything I need.

(2) He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.

(3) He gives me new strength.

He guides me in the right paths, as He has promised.

 

Today after the storm, I realize God truly does look after us all. He takes us through the storm, He shelters us. He lets us rest, and now we see the beauty He bestows to us as we appreciate this winter wonderland.

 

When we think of quiet pools of water, there seems to be a peace and a calm in just that very thought. After our rest, we are refreshed, have new energy and are ready to carry on; as He leads us in the right paths as He has promised.

 

In this day, I pray you have a new revelation of rest, resting in His presence as you read His word, look at the beauty He provides, hear the quiet after the storm, realize and appreciate you are safe in His arms. This allows me call to mind a beautiful chorus of the song, Till the Storm Passes By

Here are the words to the chorus, and you may know it. You can bring it up on YouTube to listen to it.  ‘Til the Storm Passes By - Gaither Vocal Band (Lyrics)

Till the storm passes over

Till the thunder sounds no more

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand

In the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

 

Just reading these words brings us to a place of rest. Now, I rest from a new position, a safe position in His presence. I thank God the storm is over and we are safe, no damage around us or to us, much to be thankful for. I have everything I need, my precious Lord to guide me and to shield me. I am blessed, and so are you.

 

Lord, thank you for your blessings, love, laughter, health, peace, joy, contentment, and happiness. May we all rest completely in you and in the finished work of the cross, today and every day; until Your return or until the day You call us to glory.

I am resting in the presence of the Lord and I pray you are as well.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Ecclesiastes Part 28

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FAITH

FAITH

Faith is a word one frequently hears when any form of religious discussion is taking place. But what really is faith and do we all have it? In reality; yes, because we all exhibit faith every hour of each day even though we may not consider it as such. When one sits in a chair faith is expressed that it will support the weight of the person sitting. Likewise when you turn on a light, start your car, use a lock, etc., you show faith by believing that the device will work the way it should. So faith, in itself, is not uncommon.

Faith in the sense it is used in the Bible is really no different. If you can have faith in man’s works, why not in God’s works? If we can have faith in what man has made, why do we have trouble having faith in what God has said? And He has said quite a bit. Faith is defined as “…the substance (reality) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,”(Hebrews 11:1). We are told that “…without faith it is impossible to please him (God)…” (Hebrews 11:6) because “…the just shall live by faith…” (Hebrews 10:38).

The same words are used in Galatians 3:11 where it states that “…no one is justified by the law in the sight of God…” because  “…by grace you have been saved through faith…not of works, lest anyone should boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  From this it is apparent that no amount of works or deeds will result in salvation.  Instead, it is salvation which causes one to do the works and deeds; or as James puts it “…faith without works is dead” (2:20) as “…is the body without the spirit,” (2:26)

The point of this is that “…he who comes to God must believe (have faith) that He is…” (Hebrews 11:6).  If that is true, then we, by the same faith, must be willing to receive the grace offered to us by said faith because we can’t save ourselves and neither can we be saved by the law.  

What really does it mean to be saved? Although we talk a lot about the grace of God, we talk little about the sin that requires us to need the grace that God provides. The Bible is clear; in addition to the mercy, grace, and love that is talked about, the Bible also tells of the wrath of God that is coming. “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,” (Colossians 3:6) but by grace and faith we “…wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, (because it is) Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come,” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

We can see from the events around us the evidence of profound changes possible in the coming years.  We are also told by the Bible that there are only two possible outcomes for us in the ultimate future: having the faith to be given God’s grace or lacking faith which will lead us to God’s wrath.  If you read the Book, the latter is not the place one would wish to be. It’s really a little thing; when we can trust so much in what man can do, then to place as much trust in what God has promised to provide should not be too difficult. So, if we have faith in man’s accomplishments, we should be able, as well, to trust in God’s covenants.  After all, what man  can do will only benefit us until our time here is over.  What God has promised will last forever. Where’s your faith? It’s certainly something to think about.  

   

Pastor Caroline - Sunday February 7, 2021 - The Benefits of Wisdom

Let Us Bring Our Offerings to the Storehouse

 

God loves a cheerful giver, as we are told in 2 Corinthians Chapter 9 Verse 7

Let us bring our offerings to the store house. At this time we are unable to meet at the store house, so if you’ve been keeping your offering tucked away that is wonderful. 

Perhaps at this time you would like to mail your offerings to:

Master’s Hand Ministry
 c/o of Peter MacLaren
Post Office Box 1924
Pictou Nova Scotia
BOK 1H0

Or please feel free to call Pastor Caroline and she will gladly pick up your gift and take it to Peter. Even though we are not meeting, we have expenses to meet and we also would love to continue to support our local missions, (the breakfast program and Roots for Youth) and also our international mission with Pastor Gamel. 

We thank God for the faithfulness and generosity you have provided and as we continue to build the kingdom of God we love to reach out and help those who are in need of blessing. Thank you in advance for your generosity and remember God loves a cheerful giver. 

Little is much when God is in it!!

He can and does a marvelous work through us. 

Pastor Caroline - February 3, 2021 - Soar Like An Eagle

 

Isaiah Chapter 40 Verses 29 to 31 from the Good News Bible reads as follows:

(29) He strengthens those who are weak and tired.

(30 Even those who are young grow weak; young men can fall exhausted.

(31) But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise up on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

 

Are you tired and weary? Maybe physically in these winter days your energy is not what it is, say,  in the month of August. The cold tires you, the dampness in the air chills your bones and the lack of sunshine makes you weary. In August the warm breezes call you to the water for a nice swim and some exercise. Funny how the weather affects us.

Most folks I speak with these days are tired of Covid and the restrictions, not being able to see family and friends whether they are 200 miles or 2000 miles away. However, we must keep the travel restrictions in place for the good of everyone.

 

At this time we are kept from large gatherings due to a certain number restriction. Again for the safety and protection of each one of us. So many of us are missing church, theatre, restaurant meals with friends, the list goes on and on. However our numbers of cases right here in Pictou County are low thanks to everyone who is abiding by the requests given to us by our government and medical professionals. They are doing a good job and deserve our vote of thanks.

 

Take heart my dear people, for when we do our part now, one day this will all be behind us and we will be free “like a bird from his cage”.

 

When I think of that; I think of the eagle, how majestic it is in size and how graceful it glides through the air. They are huge, Google tells me an adult male is about 36 inches long and has a wing span of 6.6 feet. I’ve seen eagles but not up close and personal so to speak. I’ve watched them takeoff from a perched position to fly way up high and it is breathtaking. To see them sore through the air so beautifully, surely we forget, how it is possible for them to do it. Their strength is amazing, you can almost feel it if you’re close enough to them when they rise up. By close, I really mean keep a safe distance and watch from afar.😊

 

When I am tired and weary I close my eyes and picture an

eagle flying. I am renewed in my mind and some how my body gets a surge of energy as well.

Then I go to my Bible and read Isaiah Chapter 40 verses 29 through to and including verse 31, I feel renewed. I thank God for the strength He promises to both the young and the old. When we trust in Him our strength is renewed, the word says. We will rise up, like the eagle, we will run and not be weary, we will walk and not grow weak. This sure is good news for each and everyone of us and a great lift to our spirit.

 

So like the eagle let’s look forward, let’s concentrate on things to come, let’s all do our part to help control COVID-19 where we live. Let’s love one another enough to follow all the protocols, be mindful of the restrictions, wear our masks, wash your hands often, and give yourself a hug when in someone’s presence and tell them, this hug really is for you!!

 

When we do all we are asked, one day, we will be free as an eagle to come and go wherever we desire and be with family and friends enjoying life to the fullest, with a much greater appreciation of life itself.

When we depend on God in all our trials and triumphs we are in His presence and that is where we need to be when we are weary.  When we are weak He is our strength and when we are tired He is our rest. He is our all; — in all.

Enjoy your day,

Soar like an (🦅) eagle.

 

P. S. On Thursday, February 11 in the New Glasgow News you will find a writing from Mike Shindruk. You will see this writing on the Faith page under Our Father Knows Best. Also you will find it on our website and on Facebook on February 11 as well. Many of you have enjoyed Mike’s writings in the past in the New Glasgow News and so now he will share a writing once a month, please watch for and enjoy his message from the Father.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Ecclesiastes Part 27

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE CLIMATE

 

Evidence of a changing climate seems to be among the most talked about subjects we now hear about. It ranks up there with the pandemic and the economy as topics for discussion and to be solved. It makes the headlines almost every day.

Although the activities of mankind have undoubtedly played a large part in our present situation, there is also evidence that large shifts in the climate have occurred, in the distant past, before mankind could have played the part that it seems to be playing now. One theory regarding the disappearance of the dinosaurs has been attributed to a massive climate change.  The presence of fossil fuels under desert sands and polar ice indicates that these areas were once plentiful with organic matter.

While we should try to do all that we can to limit our affect on the environment, (God gave us this world to look after) it’s possible that what we are experiencing overall may not be entirely due to our consumption of fossil fuels.  Other factors may be also involved to some extent. For example, we are told in Genesis 2:5-6 that before the flood it had not rained on the earth “…for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth…But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Going from a mist that covered the whole earth to a rain as it had never rained before or since would certainly be evidence of a profound climate change.

Now many people consider these events just stories and fables, events which never really happened. But the Bible answers such this way: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19), and “[b]ecause the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25) “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

So if the account in Genesis is correct as the Bible states, and God had such an impact on the climate then, could He not have had a part to play in the changes that took place when the dinosaurs disappeared, the ice age developed, or when the deserts came to be? Could He not be playing a part in what is happening today, even though we as a people certainly have a large influence in what is happening at present?

The irony may be that if we don’t consider the influence God had in the events of the past, we may miss the warnings regarding the events to come. We may be so concerned with our indiscretion regarding our carbon footprint that we ignore the problems brought about by our disobedience. The climate changes taking place now seem to be minor compared to those foretold to be awaiting us in the future. The Bible warns in Matthew 24:6-8 of “…wars and rumors of wars…nation will rise against nation…and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Revelation 6 speaks of peace being taken from the earth (Rev 6:4), widespread famine and death (6:6-8), and of massive earthquakes (6:12-17). Revelation 8 goes on to tell of a third of the trees burned up and all of the grass being destroyed (8:7), of a third of the sea creatures dying and a third of the ships destroyed (8:9), of the stars being darkened and water being made poisonous (8:10-12). Chapter 9 goes on to tell of pestilences and plagues by creatures we have not yet even thought of. This and more all come after peace has been taken from the earth (Revelation 6:4).

Yes, we have climate change to concern us but without a change in our obedience as well as our carbon usage, what we have now may only be a mild inconvenience compared to the catastrophe that awaits us; and that truly is something we should be thinking about.