Newsletter

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

September 11, 2025

     Recently, my 4 year old grandson, Samuel, and I were discussing how an angel turned bad and became ‘the devil.’ Reflecting on the fact that God created that angel, Sammy said: ‘Well, then, Papa—God had a bad idea!’

   In the days through which we are now living, it’s easy to understand my grandson’s conclusion. Sometimes, the horror of evil in an otherwise wonderful world—a question which has baffled and beguiled humanity since our beginnings—leaves us speechless, devastated and without answers.

   A prophet in Israel struggled with this very problem, writing: 

  “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save…For plundering and violence are before me; For the wicked surround the righteous.”

              (Habakkuk 1:2+3)

   Today, as I write this, I hear the bells ringing that accompany moments of silence to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 lives that were taken by the terrorists that attacked America 24 years ago on September 11th, 2001.

   We who were alive that day remember where we were when we first heard of planes flying into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania—that last plane being taken down due to brave patriots who prevented it from hitting another significant symbol of our nation.

    We memorialize 9/11 with a heart that is made heavier with the memory of what happened yesterday; the heinous assassination of a young father, loving husband, brave patriot and faithful believer in God, Charlie Kirk, founder of ‘Turning Point, U.S.A.’ His very public murder in front of thousands of college student has left us horrified and bewildered, asking ourselves ‘what is happening to our country—and to our world.’

    Add to this painful parade of events the senseless and horrifying murder of a lovely young woman, Iryna Zarutska, on a light rail in North Carolina. She was a Ukrainian immigrant, still in her work uniform, just trying to make her way in a country she thought would offer her safety and a better life.

   Not too long ago—and already gone from the headlines—is the heartbreaking report of a shooting in Minnesota, in which two innocent and beautiful children were killed and many others injured during the first Mass of the season at their Catholic school.

   These and so many other disturbing and even depressing stories can leave us pondering what my grandson did a while back. What do we do with all this pain, suffering, violence and heartbreak? Are we all the victims of a ‘bad idea?’

    Scripture tells us ‘that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)

    Jenny and I trust in that promise in these difficult and challenging days.

    Thinking about Charlie Kirk’s murder, she quoted the words of Yeshua himself in John 12:24:

   “Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

  My wife and I were schoolchildren in the 60’s when we witnessed, through our TV’s, the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.

    We know from experience that our nation can carry on and overcome these terrible, tragic and troubling things. We trust in the LORD’s ability to bring about a greater good and a greater harvest.

    Samuel will learn, as do we all, that God is good—and will always bring good out of what may seem like ‘a bad idea.’

    We also know that we live in a fallen world, full of suffering and sin, and that this age is one that is coming, one day, to an end.

    Like the apostle of old, “we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

              (2 Peter 3:13)

    ‘Forever’ holds out this promise in the midst of our ‘yesterday’ and our ‘today.’

    Sometimes, all we CAN do is what we MUST do. We keep believing, trusting and praying—even in the midst of events that try and test our faith.

   As we take to our knees to lift up the families and loved ones of all who have been lost—as we ‘appeal to heaven’ for our country, for the hostages still held in Gaza, for an end to war and for the redemption of this sad and sorrowing earth, we can take some small comfort in the words of this beloved hymn:

 “This is my Father’s world

Oh, let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world

The battle is not done

Jesus, who died, shall be satisfied

And earth and heav’n be one.”

   Through all these tragic stories that bring us to tears and break our hearts, we know the end of our story—HIS-story—and it is a happy and triumphant one.

   Until that day, we now and will always say:

   ‘Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai!’

‘Blessed is He who comes in the NAME of the LORD.’

   ‘Even so, Come, Lord Jesus, Come!’

    With love in Yeshua’s Name,

       Shalom,

        Marty and Jennifer Goetz

             And family