Pastor David Cameron has written this week’s letter. We hope you are blessed by his thoughts this week.

Humor has long been my first coping mechanism.  So, when the Doctor told me I have two herniated discs in my neck and a 50 / 50 chance that it will take fusing vertebrae to get relief I thought, “I am, literally, going to be a stiff-necked people.”

That bit of irony helped me process the moment and I went on with my day, hopeful the other 50% will win out.

God has a way of using events to focus my attention where He wants me to focus and learn.  That little bit of verse kept coming back to me, and I finally had to look it up and see what it said.

I was surprised to find there were multiple verses that spoke of “stiff-necked people” …at least at first.

The phrase, in its time, was a way of saying “You’re as stubborn as an ox” in a slightly more polite fashion. When an ox was not of a mind to plow, it would stiffen its neck and resist the pull of the yoke. They are STRONG animals, so a stiff-necked ox was a frustration and problem for a farmer.

As I read that and understood the reference better, I could feel God telling me, “You really can be like that at times.”

I must confess that’s true. God is always at work in and through His children, trying to teach us, guide us, shape us to be more like Jesus in our thoughts and actions.  Some days I am less inclined to be taught, guided and re-shaped than I should be. I get a look at where God is leading, decide I have other plans, and dig in on doing what I want.

And, eventually, I discover I’d have saved myself trouble or heartache if I’d just let God guide me where I should have been headed all along. 

Jesus tells us: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:29-30

His yoke is easy.  Even more so when we don’t stiffen our necks and pull against Him.

Thank you, God, for Your Patience, Grace, and Mercy – even when we’re stiff-necked people.

Peace in Christ,  

David Cameron