Retired in 1969 as a U.S. Navy captain, sporting his 24/7 smile, his joy is contagious. Frisky describes Wayne Bartz whose odometer just rolled over 100. Not miles. Years!

He’s as sharp as when he trained young pilots in more than thirty types of aircraft decades ago.

Asked recently how he was feeling, he flashed that impish grin: “I’ll be 101 in June!” That June is eight months from now! How’s that for optimism!

It’s a stretch to be upbeat these days with missiles filling the skies over the Middle East, war raging in Ukraine, teeming hordes ignoring our southern border, biblical marriage scorned, freeways as shooting galleries, soaring living costs, gender mutilations of children and the choice for life ripped from tiny, pre-born hands.

Circa 740 B.C. the prophet, Isaiah, (whose earthly reward was to be sawed in half) wrote:

* “People will oppress each other, man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders; vulgar people will sneer at the honorable. Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall because they speak against the LORD and refuse to obey HIM. They provoke HIM to HIS face. The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like people in Sodom and don’t try to hide it. They’re doomed! They’ve brought destruction upon themselves. Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They’ll enjoy the rich reward they’ve earned! But the wicked are doomed and will get what they deserve.”

David has a word for us at this precarious hour:

**“I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken for HE is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.”

Like Wayne, that forever-young salt who can’t wait to turn 101, in these turbulent times you need not be shaken; the LORD is always with you, right beside you.

***“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell GOD what you need and thank HIM for all HE has done. Then you will experience GOD’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand.”

*Isaiah 3:5-11; **Psalm 16:8-11; ***Philippians 4:6 

Please hang in there for one of the clearest descriptions of the state of our nation today. It’s coming immediately after Paul Stookey’s 1969 hit, “The Wedding Song,” subtitled “There Is Love.”  As Captain and Tennille sing it, listen for its poignant, spiritual applications.

Now a very timely message from GARY HAMRICK, Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia.

Thank you for persevering with me through this lengthy epistle. 

George Toles
George@HisDeal.org 
‍www.HisDeal.org