In this past week my eldest son, who is working at a camp in the Fraser Valley, wound up in hospital - I was notified by the Camp Director. He assured me that it was merely precautionary; he had apparently developed a bit of an infection on a leg injury.

I proceeded to contact the emergency department of the hospital. After a brief conversation with the nurse, my groggy son was put on the phone and he assured me that he was receiving some antibiotics and will be released shortly.

I followed up the next day to find out that he had spent a previous day exhausted and slept all day and was brought to hospital after he had fainted and was found on the floor. The hospital had been monitoring his heart rate and blood pressure because the infection had gotten into his blood stream. He was not “in and out”. He was admitted and kept for 3 days and now he continues to receive outpatient care.

I was frustrated with the emotional roller coaster, the not knowing – PLEASE tell it to me straight.

No matter how my son or the Camp Director “played down” the circumstances, the truth remained the same. There was an infection, it was spreading, there was a threat to his health… even his life… no matter what they “said”.

This is my last “Your Place of Worship”, as a family we are moving on in ministry. My hope is that I have been unafraid to tell it to you straight. Making the situation sound easier, doesn’t make it easier.

There is an infection. It is the effects of a life lived apart from Christ. And there is a cure – The Life surrendered to Christ. Just as a nurse or a doctor shares what they know about your condition, the Bible diagnosis us and our condition and prescribes the cure. Know the truth. Save your soul.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor.1:18 ESV)

In Love,
Pastor Doug

The weather is fair and the skies are clear. The captain sets sail with the ship’s hold filled with precious cargo. The well-trained crew hoist sails, raise anchors and perform all the duties necessary to ensure smooth sailing to the final destination.

Hundreds of miles from shore a ship appears. It sails a neutral flag, the crew takes note but returns to their duties. As the ship nears, draws especially close, the neutral flag is lowered and the Jolly Roger is hoisted, the skull and crossbones – it is Pirates!!
Soon what had seemed like a simple follow mariner turns out to be an enemy in disguise. The ship is overtaken, boarded and plundered, its crew slain, and its destination changed to Davey Jones locker – a trip to the ocean bottom.

In this world there are lots of people who seem to fly the neutral flag, even those who seem to sail under the same flag – who turn out to be pirates, soul pirates. Robbing men and women of the hope of their final destination.

The truth be told we need not find our anchor in people, but find our anchor in truth. People sell miracle water and hankies on television. People bilk the unsuspecting and hurting out of their money. The truth liberates and guides. Truth holds our conscience captive and frees our souls from suffering. Truth takes us to our destination.

Jesus has promised hope and life to all who follow Him. Seek out those who pursue truth, seek those who live by the Word of God and know true liberty and freedom and hope. Get on board with Jesus and defeat the Pirate that seeks your soul, your greatest treasure.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thess. 2:16-17 ESV)

In His Love,
Pastor Doug
Squamish Baptist Church