Newsletter
Tim Scott
Making it Count

The Urgency of Now: Life moves with relentless speed, like an arrow released from its bow. David understood this temporal nature when he prayed, "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." — Psalm 39:4. We often live as if we have an endless supply of tomorrows, but in the Word we are soberly reminded that our life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." — James 4:14. This isn't meant to discourage us but to instill a holy urgency in our hearts. When Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." — John 9:4. This wisdom isn't just about acknowledging life's brevity—it's about making each moment count for eternity. The ancient Romans had a saying, "Carpe diem" (seize the day), but as believers, we're called to something greater: to redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Don’t let days, months, or years slip by without acting on God’s call—use this brief life to make an eternal impact.

Making it Count
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Unseen

Throughout Scripture, we see God calling His chosen servants into periods of solitude. These aren't merely moments of rest, but crucibles of transformation where the unseen work of the Spirit takes place. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading the Israelites. David, though anointed as king, spent years in caves and wild places, penning psalms that would echo through eternity. Even Jesus, the Son of God, "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). Consider Elijah's experience on Mount Horeb. After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear and discouragement. God didn't rebuke him but invited him to "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" (1 Kings 19:11). In the silence that followed the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah heard the "gentle whisper" of God, restoring his soul and redirecting his mission. These moments of solitude aren't about escaping responsibility, but about encountering God in the depths of our being. It's in these unseen places that we're stripped of pretense, faced with our true selves, and molded by the Master's hands. As the Psalmist declares, “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10. In our hyper-connected world, do we dare to disconnect, to seek the face of God in the quiet places? It's there, in the unseen, that our greatest victories are won.

Unseen
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Adversity

In this fallen world, adversity is not just a possibility — it’s an inevitability. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, and trials come to all who draw breath. As we read in Ecclesiastes 9:2, “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean.” This truth may seem disheartening at first glance, but it carries within it a profound lesson.

Adversity
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Time

How often do we find ourselves caught in the web of procrastination, pushing off tasks that weigh on our minds? This delay isn't just about missed deadlines or unfinished chores; it's a spiritual battle that robs us of our God-given purpose. The stress that gnaws at us isn't from the work itself, but from our inaction in the face of responsibility. Consider how swiftly our anxiety dissipates when we finally take that first step, make that call, or begin that project we've been avoiding. It's as if a burden lifts from our shoulders. This isn't coincidence; it's a reminder of our calling to be good stewards of our time and talents. The Bible speaks clearly about the dangers of procrastination. Proverbs 13:4 tells us, "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."

Time
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Awakening

Spiritual Slumber: In our modern world, it’s easy to become entranced by daily routines and material pursuits. Many live in a state of spiritual slumber, unaware of the greater reality beyond our immediate perceptions. We rise, follow a routine, sleep, and repeat. In Ephesians we are told to wake from this spiritual sleep: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” — Ephesians 5:14. This call to awakening is not just for non-believers, but for Christians as well, who can easily become lulled into complacency by worldly cares. Jesus tells us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3. This rebirth is a spiritual awakening and salvation, opening our eyes to the truth of God’s kingdom and eternal life in Him. 2 Corinthians elaborates on this transformation: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 

Awakening

tinku

Blood Sacrifice and a Fight to the Death

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfiZQhy57oQ&rel=0] The Tinku festival, held in the small village of Macha, Bolivia, once a year, is a brutal form of blood sacrifice.  At the beginning of May surrounding communities travel long distances and once they arrive in Macha they sing, dance and drink large amounts of alcohol in the streets.  This is done to arouse and worship Pachamama (Mother Earth) for the coming harvest.  Many Bolivians hold Pachamama in high regard even though they would also consider themselves Catholics as well.

The main aim of the Tinku festival is for communities to fight each other in the hopes of shedding blood.  The more blood that drips on the ground, through combat, the better the coming harvest will be.  Most fights occur by fist to fist combat, but whips, clubs and barbed-wire are also know to be used.  The Bolivian government knows of the festival and can only try to contain it each, not stop it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPVKoIWJSuI&rel=0] When we arrived in Macha for this years festival we had heard stories but we didn't know what to expect.  One grim comment from our guide set the tone for the worst when she said, "The people say it is necessary for someone to die.  Somebody die's every year and they don't stop fighting until there is a death.  The more people who die in fighting the better the harvest."

In some pits we witnessed 4 to 5 fights occurring at once.  We even saw women fighting women.  At one point we also saw a woman with a small baby, less than one year old, strapped to her back, as she refereed a battle between two men.  The baby cried and cried and was even stuck by a wild blow thrown by one of the combatants!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xV4PVYlfvE&rel=0]

As the day wore on drunk fighters swung wildly at anything, even us.  The police quickly gave up on trying to monitor the fights and began pitching tear gas in the crowds when the surge of violence became too much.  The officers themselves were even overrun and we were gassed 6 separate times as the fights near us got out of control.

Overall by the end of the festival two people lay dead.  Hundreds more hurt in combat.  Yet the people cheered, drank and sung songs long into the night.  Some might defend this practice as cultural right, but that is ignorance and cowardice.  If mankind is allowed to perform, in essences, human sacrifice,  then at what point do we draw the line between right and wrong.  Cultural customs should not be an excuse to commit murder.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FHWt2pjJBw&rel=0]

To preach Christ we must be ready to go anywhere and face anything.  The message we speak is not violence or death, but life and joy in Him.  God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.