We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Is it Wrong to Be Scared of Hurricanes? Q: I live in Florida and am terrified of even the threat of a hurricane. It seems the newscasters thrive on this kind of terror. Is it wrong to be fearful? A: People have faced ominous storms since the beginning of time. Many face them with defiance, refusing to pay attention to the warnings or prepare for catastrophe, only to be caught in the storm’s fury. There was a day when forecasters could not tell us with precision when storms would hit, but that d...
I read a story about CS Lewis years ago in which a friend asked him if attending church is a necessary part of following Jesus. In response, Lewis answered “No” and pulled a coal from the fire and placed it on the hearth. In response, he asked his friend to describe the coal on the hearth. The answer was the sort of thing you’d expect: hot, glowing, etc. The conversation continued before Lewis turned the conversation back to the burning coal and asked again for a description. This time, the answer was different: cold, dark, etc. As the coal...
God deserves our thanks during good times and bad Q: I have been blessed with wonderful parents who are now elderly and in declining health. They are in pain and distress daily yet they are constantly rejoicing that the Lord is with them and they pray for others who have no faith in Him. I cannot accept their faith when I see no sign of God’s mercy. Why doesn’t God relieve their misery? — C.C. A: For those who look not on their own sorrow but to the Savior’s sorrow for the weak and dying, they have learned comfort from the Bible verse that sa...
Q: I enjoy making money and doing things that please me. My mother tells me about the stories in the Bible about how riches can corrupt. Is her interpretation correct? A: Luke 16 is the famous passage about a rich man whose disobedience to God led him to reject the very thing he longed for—eternal life. God does not condemn people because they are rich, nor does He justify others because they are poor. Poverty is not a virtue, nor are riches themselves sin. But Jesus did say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: Is misrepresentation to protect myself a lie if it doesn’t hurt anyone else? — T.T. A: The Bible teaches that proper conduct includes truthfulness. God’s Word teaches that we should be truthful in our representations of ourselves. Jesus denounced the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees! In the Sermon on the Mount, He rebuked all hypocritical giving, praying and fasting. We should be truthful in speaking of our past achievements in our particular vocation. God does not ask us to understate the fac...
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Set an example through prayer for your children Q:Is it important for children to pray and, if so, what should a parent do if a child refuses to pray? — P.C. A: Encourage your children to pray and teach them by example. When children see and hear their parents pray it can become a natural and important thing throughout their lives. But don’t force your children to pray. Perhaps a few minutes before bedtime you can read a story to them about Jesus and ask them if they understand what the story is abo...
Editor’s Note: This was submitted to the Big Sandy Mountaineer this week and we felt it was appropriate to publish in the Blaine County Journal as well. Author’s Note: This poem is republished here in honor of Robert Lucke, who loved poetry and kept it alive in the Mountaineer for so many years. He inspired this poem when he described his grandmother’s prairie garden to me with such admiration and nostalgia. Both of my grandmothers were Big Sandy homesteaders who also had gardens. My Clawiter grandparents were early Big Sandy homesteaders aroun...
One of my favorite quotes from the boxer Muhammad Ali is about training: “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” I have a good friend who says it a bit differently: “Training is better than trying hard.” The idea behind this is simple: the key to becoming good at anything is training. Exerting effort every day over the course of months and years accumulates into excellence that cannot be matched by putting effort forward in the moment. When I worked with kids in...
Q: My whole life I have heard that Christians are expected to be Christ-like. Is that really possible? — D.I A: It is God’s will for His followers to become more like Christ. He came to show us the way, but it can only happen as we submit every area of our lives to His authority. The key word is “submit.” It is an unpopular word particularly in today’s self-indulgent culture. The idea of handing control over to someone else (even God) goes against the grain of our natures. This is usually the first spiritual battle a new believer encounter...
Take time to appreciate the gifts given to you Q: I don’t mean to be ungrateful but when my family gives me gifts, they are things I can’t use or don’t want. Is it wrong to ask for something specific, like a gift card, so that I can buy what I want? — G.C. A: Have you ever thought about what a gift really is? The giver initiates the gift. Often the giver chooses the gift with a specific purpose in mind. Many grandparents will give stocks and bonds to build up college funds for their grandchildren. The young often do not appreciate such gifts a...
Q: My friend is the kindest and most thoughtful person I know, and yet she has no interest in God or religion. Frankly, she’s better than most of the Christians I know. How do you account for this? A: I’m sorry your friend has no interest in God—but I’m still thankful for her thoughtfulness and kindness. The world certainly would be a better place if there were more people like her! The Bible says, “A kindhearted woman gains honor” (Proverbs 11:16). Although she doesn’t realize it, her personality didn’t happen by accident or chance; instead...
About a year ago, I published an update in local papers about the plans by the Montana Department of Transportation to reconstruct the remaining 10 miles of US 2 between Chinook and Havre. This project, known as Lohman East & West, is still on schedule, with a bid letting date in the fall of 2019, and construction expected to begin in calendar year 2020. It remains the most expensive project in Transportation Commission District 3 in a five year period, and will have to be funded in two separate fiscal years. This project will replace the...
Q: Recently we moved into a new neighborhood, and I suppose we ought to get involved in a local church, but I’m not sure it’s worth the effort. After all, what difference does it make what church you join—or if you join one at all? Our previous ones didn’t do much for us. A: I’m sorry you haven’t had a positive church experience—but I hope this won’t keep you from seeking one in the future. Churches (like people) differ from each other, and I strongly encourage you to seek out the one that God has for you. Have you ever asked yourself what y...
Q: My grandchildren say I worry too much, even about things that don’t really matter. I suppose I am a bit of a worrywart, but I’ve always been like this, and I’ve told them I’m just too old to change. Am I right? A: It’s true that the older we get, the more we tend to become set in our ways. But it doesn’t have to be like this—and it shouldn’t be, especially with spiritual problems like worrying. Admittedly some people worry more than others; perhaps you’re one of them. But that doesn’t mean we can’t change, even as we grow older—with God’s...
Q: I know I ought to read the Bible, and I’ve tried, but I’ve always been a poor reader, and finally I just gave up. Does God think I’m a bad person?. A: God knows both what you can do and what you can’t do—and He doesn’t get angry with you or look down on you because of this. We aren’t all the same; God created us with different abilities. The Bible says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6). Don’t misunderstand me, however. The Bible is God’s Word, and if we ignore it, our lives will be morally a...
Q: I’ve never really understood Jesus’ prayer just before His arrest. It almost sounds like He was begging God to rescue Him so He wouldn’t have to die. Am I right? — Mrs. V.McF. A: One of the most moving events in the entire Bible took place when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, a secluded area just outside Jerusalem. In hours, He would be betrayed and arrested, and the conflict of the ages between good and evil — between God and Satan — would take place. Could it be avoided? In His prayer, Jesus looked deeply into the “cup” He wa...
Q: My friend says that Jesus never claimed to be God, or anything like that. He says Jesus was on a spiritual search just like the rest of us, and what we basically learn from Jesus is how we can find our own spiritual path. Is he right? A: No, your friend is not correct. Even before Jesus was born, an angel told Joseph that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because the child already growing in her womb would be called Immanuel—which means “God with us” (see Matthew 1:18-25). One way Jesus demonstrated His divine nature was b...
Q: Many of our church members are getting older and can’t get out much anymore. Our pastor tries to visit them, but what else could we do to stay in touch with them? I’m getting older myself, and this concerns me. — Mrs. B.T. A: I’m grateful for your interest in those who are older and aren’t able to attend church as often as they once did. It’s easy to overlook them, I know — and yet at one time they were a very important part of your church, and more than ever they need your love and spiritual encouragement. The Bible commands us to “show r...
Q: Mr. Graham, how would you like to be remembered? A: Editor’s note: Before his death, Billy Graham approved the following response as his final My Answer column. Mr. Graham’s column will continue in some form. I hope I will be remembered as someone who was faithful—faithful to God, faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faithful to the calling God gave me not only as an evangelist, but as a husband, father and friend. I’m sure I’ve failed in many ways, but I take comfort in Christ’s promise of forgiveness, and I take comfort also in God...
Q: My ex-boyfriend knew I was a devout Christian, and he claimed he was also. He even started going to church with me. But then he pressured me to have sex, and when I refused, he just laughed at my beliefs and ended our relationship. This has really shaken me. How could anyone be so two-faced? — S.K. A: First of all, I commend you for your refusal to give in to his demands; God will reward you for your faithfulness to His moral standards. I trust that in time He’ll bring across your path a godly man who loves Christ and will love and respect y...
Q: When we do something wrong, why doesn’t God just ignore it? He knows we’re not perfect, so why doesn’t He just overlook the bad things we do and hope we’ll do better the next time? A: You’re right when you say that God knows we’re not perfect, because He knows all about us—not only what we do but what we think. The Bible says, “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Why, then, doesn’t God simply ignore it when we do something wrong? One reason is because He knows what happe...
Tis the time for New Year’s Resolutions. Tis also the time for very up close and personal dreams as well. Are they related, that is my question? For the past few years I have been having very up close and personal dreams. Let me tell you about one I just finished a few minutes ago. I was staying with a friend at the School House Log cabin on Clear Creek where Henderson Creek meets Clear Creek. In the cold reach of reality, that cabin is not even there anymore. Across the road from that cabin was another large structure that is gone now too. I...
This is the time of year that we look back in time at what good and bad has happened during the past year and we look forward to see what good and bad we can look forward to in the coming year. This has been a strange year. The politics of it , that seemed to be the worst for me at any rate. To be able to say that I did not want to vote for either political ticket, that has never happened before. Not for me anyway. Usually one of the candidates has some redeeming features that I can hang my coat on. Not these two. Nothing. But one had to win...
We would like to thank everyone in the community who participated in making Christmas Merry for a lot of kids and families. Whether it was through your generous donations of money or shopping for an Angel from the Angel Tree at Finley's. A special thanks to the schools for their help, the Honor Society for wrapping the gifts and the CCD kids for delivering cookie tins. We also want to thank First Bank and the Library for the use of their buildings. This program has been such a wonderful success...
Once again it is that magical time of year called Christmas. To paraphrase Robert Frost, we stop often to watch the falling of downy flake along the streets and boulevards of our home towns or even better, we stop out on Beaver Creek to watch those woods fill up with snow. Christmas is for giving and those who have been giving all year long certainly know how to do it now. It is a time to share, reflect and wait for the Christ Child to be born and once again come into our homes and families. In the meantime we light candles, get Yule logs roari...
