“When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” Richard Nixon

“The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” Joseph Stalin

“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” Michael Scott

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Life’s challenges call for gratitude, resilience, and a commitment to faith, hope, and grace. In the face of chaos and opposition, it’s important to stay grounded, resist negativity, and trust that difficulties are temporary and restoration will come. Grace is always present, inclusive, and transformative, offering strength to move forward and unite with others. Living with purpose means embracing faith in every aspect of life, especially during tough times, and reflecting hope and grace to those around us.

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Pastoral leadership is a calling to shepherd the church with integrity and a genuine heart, especially in challenging times. It emphasizes the importance of community through small groups, the unique role of church elections, and the relevance of Scripture, such as 1 Peter, in navigating chaos. Pastors are called to serve eagerly and willingly, avoiding dishonesty and modeling Christ-like servant leadership to inspire and guide their congregations.

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In this episode Waterstone pastors, Larry Renoe and Paul Joslin, have their final conversation on the podcast and discuss the recent presidential election with hopes to provide a space to process this 2024 political season.

Suffering as a Christian is seen as a way God shapes and strengthens our faith, giving purpose to hard times instead of them being pointless. It also connects us to a bigger family of believers, including those throughout history who stayed faithful through struggles. In those moments, the Holy Spirit shows up in powerful ways to help us keep going. Hard times can also reveal the depth of our faith, showing who’s truly committed versus just going through the motions. God uses these challenges to grow our character, putting more value on who we’re becoming than how comfortable we are. We’re also called to share our faith openly, even when it’s risky, as a way to show how Christ changes lives. Through it all, we can trust God is in control and let Him carry the weight of what we’re going through.

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As the end of all things draws near, believers are called to live purposefully according to God’s will, emphasizing prayer, love, and service. Especially during divisive times like the election cycle, unity through prayer becomes essential to foster peace and order. With this sense of urgency, believers are encouraged to use their spiritual gifts to serve others, practice hospitality, and cultivate a loving community that both reflects Christ’s love and prepares for his return.

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Waterstone’s Lead Pastor, Larry Renoe, interviews Dr. Scott Klingsmith, who is the Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Denver Seminary and also has over 35 years of missions experience overseas. Scott brings a global perspective to our podcast this episode and the focus of their conversation is on the history of Christians in politics. What has the political engagement of Christians throughout history looked like and how should Christians engage today? They also cover the much debated topic of whether or not America is a Christian nation. We hope this is a helpful discussion as we approach the presidential election in November 2020 and again in 2024.

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