Notes from Pastor Renstrom |
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On this page, you can read selected Grace Notes articles from Pastor Tim Renstrom from past months and study them in closer detail. Enjoy!
October 2020
Question: How Do You Treat the Landowner’s Representative?
Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 21:33-46. Please take a moment and read it now. I’ll wait for you to look it up...really...thanks!
I was going to use this as a sermon text in one of our upcoming services, but decided that this could also be useful as a newsletter article. So the question above is asked of you...how do you treat the landowners representative?
Jesus is clearly talking directly to the chief priests and Pharisees. Our text indicates this. But he is also talking to us. A parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”—a story to give us understanding for living our lives on the basis of God’s expectations. In this parable we could be the tenant farmers—who leased the vineyard. In other words, as we live in this world, we simply rent our space from our creator God for the short time that we are here. We are expected to maintain it, to farm it, to gain a living from it, to help others from it, and to return to the landowner—God—his portion: his ‘rent’.
All of which brings up another question: How good are you at recognizing that you are only a lessee of the property which you manage in this life? Or are you like most of us and consider everything ‘mine’ (like the seagulls in “Finding Nemo”)?
It is important that we are not owners...it is actually a gospel (good news) thing. If we were owners, all of our screw-ups, all of our mistakes, all of our bad decisions would be permanent and we would destroy the place where we live. But, because God is the landowner, He continues to repair our devastation for all the ‘future generations’, until the return of Christ and Judgment Day.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, how do we treat God’s representatives who come to collect His fruit? You may be asking me, “What do I owe him? I want to pay, but I don’t know how?” The Old Testament has an entire list to help us to understand the answer to that question, but I like the simplicity of the New Testament answer: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7) and, as Paul spoke about the Macedonian churches, “During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability…” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). So we pay our ‘rent’ cheerfully according to our ability.
Old Lutheran stewardship talks about that we owe God’s representatives “time, talent, and treasure.” So, as they come to collect, we look at ourselves and we ask how we can cheerfully and according to our ability answer these questions:
· What portion of my time do I pay back to God—or do I beat the servants who come asking? (Time in serving people and institutions, but also time in Bible study and devotions.)
· What portion of my talent that God has given me do I pay back to God—or is it just mine to serve me in my interests for my prosperity? (Talents used in the Church, but also time used in just being a Christian friend to listen or be present.)
· What portion of my treasure do I pay to God’s representatives? Do I give all that I ‘owe’ Him?
While we pay our ‘rent’ in the variety of ways indicated above, we also pay our ‘rent’ as we give forgiveness to those around us, both when they have sinned against us and when they simply need to hear the forgiveness of God that is theirs through Jesus.
There are so many options! But none of this matters without faith. Arguably, the greatest debt we owe our landowner God is faith—to believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him has eternal life. And this faith comes from hearing the Word of the promise. And this faith comes from the work of the Holy Spirit given us through Word and Baptism.
We believe. We sin. We are forgiven. We believe. We examine ourselves and, by the grace of God, are constantly re-answering the question: How do I treat the landowner’s representative—or, better said—how do I treat the landowner’s Son? We change our answer from, “Death to the Son!” to “I believe! Help me believe better!” And in the grace of God, he does. Amen.
Question: How Do You Treat the Landowner’s Representative?
Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 21:33-46. Please take a moment and read it now. I’ll wait for you to look it up...really...thanks!
I was going to use this as a sermon text in one of our upcoming services, but decided that this could also be useful as a newsletter article. So the question above is asked of you...how do you treat the landowners representative?
Jesus is clearly talking directly to the chief priests and Pharisees. Our text indicates this. But he is also talking to us. A parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”—a story to give us understanding for living our lives on the basis of God’s expectations. In this parable we could be the tenant farmers—who leased the vineyard. In other words, as we live in this world, we simply rent our space from our creator God for the short time that we are here. We are expected to maintain it, to farm it, to gain a living from it, to help others from it, and to return to the landowner—God—his portion: his ‘rent’.
All of which brings up another question: How good are you at recognizing that you are only a lessee of the property which you manage in this life? Or are you like most of us and consider everything ‘mine’ (like the seagulls in “Finding Nemo”)?
It is important that we are not owners...it is actually a gospel (good news) thing. If we were owners, all of our screw-ups, all of our mistakes, all of our bad decisions would be permanent and we would destroy the place where we live. But, because God is the landowner, He continues to repair our devastation for all the ‘future generations’, until the return of Christ and Judgment Day.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, how do we treat God’s representatives who come to collect His fruit? You may be asking me, “What do I owe him? I want to pay, but I don’t know how?” The Old Testament has an entire list to help us to understand the answer to that question, but I like the simplicity of the New Testament answer: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7) and, as Paul spoke about the Macedonian churches, “During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability…” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). So we pay our ‘rent’ cheerfully according to our ability.
Old Lutheran stewardship talks about that we owe God’s representatives “time, talent, and treasure.” So, as they come to collect, we look at ourselves and we ask how we can cheerfully and according to our ability answer these questions:
· What portion of my time do I pay back to God—or do I beat the servants who come asking? (Time in serving people and institutions, but also time in Bible study and devotions.)
· What portion of my talent that God has given me do I pay back to God—or is it just mine to serve me in my interests for my prosperity? (Talents used in the Church, but also time used in just being a Christian friend to listen or be present.)
· What portion of my treasure do I pay to God’s representatives? Do I give all that I ‘owe’ Him?
While we pay our ‘rent’ in the variety of ways indicated above, we also pay our ‘rent’ as we give forgiveness to those around us, both when they have sinned against us and when they simply need to hear the forgiveness of God that is theirs through Jesus.
There are so many options! But none of this matters without faith. Arguably, the greatest debt we owe our landowner God is faith—to believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him has eternal life. And this faith comes from hearing the Word of the promise. And this faith comes from the work of the Holy Spirit given us through Word and Baptism.
We believe. We sin. We are forgiven. We believe. We examine ourselves and, by the grace of God, are constantly re-answering the question: How do I treat the landowner’s representative—or, better said—how do I treat the landowner’s Son? We change our answer from, “Death to the Son!” to “I believe! Help me believe better!” And in the grace of God, he does. Amen.
September 2020
On Random Topics During an Election Year
As the title of this article suggests, this will cover a variety of thoughts…
1st: We have been holding in-building, in-person worship services for the past couple of months. One of the things that pastors try to notice is who is taking communion and who is not. I know that the health situation of our world still makes many of you cautious about attending ‘large’ group gatherings—so—it is important for you to know that, like always, private or family communion is available. Just make an appointment with me. Or stop in and see if I have time when you go by. Our Lord’s Supper is too important and too valuable to be consistently missing receiving it.
2nd: On a related note, starting September 6 we will be offering a single in-building Sunday worship service at St Stephen’s—10:30 a.m. The in-building Sunday worship at St John’s will start at 8:45 a.m.
3rd: Thank you for your continued response in stewardship to our Lord’s Word! Because of God’s work in you for your continued response, much time and many talents and treasure continue to be offered to continue God’s mission among us and through us.
4th: As we move forward toward our national and local elections I’m not going to suggest who you should vote for—because, frankly, it’s none of my business how God works through you for that decision and I don’t have a clue how I’m going to vote, yet! But let me encourage you to look at the whole person(s) and all the issues through the lens of God’s Word and prayerfully consider his guidance.
Finally: In the grand scheme of things, we in the Lutheran Church don’t pay much attention to saint days. And, while I think we could take note of the examples of the faithful God has sent before us a little bit more, for the most part I think we do just fine. Having said that, I do note that my birthday is on the day set aside by the ancient Church for St. Bartholomew.
St. Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael in John’s Gospel) was one of the twelve apostles. He is the one who commented, “Can anything good come out of North Dakota?” Or was that—Nazareth?!! All joking aside, he recognized Jesus as the Son of God, the King of Israel, and was with Jesus throughout his Judean ministry. According to some early church fathers, he was an evangelist to Armenia (over by Turkey and Iran) and was martyred by being flayed alive. My Treasury of Daily Prayer (CPH, © 2008, p 653) quotes a writing from Gregory of Nazianzus for meditation for St. Bartholomew’s Day:
[C]onsider by [St. Paul’s] example how important a matter is the care of souls...The manifold character of his ministry? Consider his loving-kindness and, on the other hand, his strictness and the combination and blending of the two in such way that his gentleness should not weaken nor his severity exasperate...On behalf of some he gives thanks; others he upbraids. Some he names his joy and crown; others he charges with folly. Some who hold a straight course he accompanies, sharing in their zeal; others who are going wrong he checks. At one time he excommunicates; at another he confirms his love. At one time he grieves; at another rejoices. At one time he feeds with milk; at another he handles mysteries. At one time he condescends; at another he raises to his own level. At one time he threatens a rod; at another he offers the spirit of meekness. At one time he is haughty toward the lofty; at another lowly toward the lowly. Now he is least of the apostles, now he offers a proof of Christ speaking in him; now he longs for departure and is being poured forth as a libation, now he thinks it more necessary for their sakes to abide in the flesh. For he seeks not his own interests, but those of his children who he has begotten in Christ by the Gospel. This is the aim of all his spiritual authority, in everything to neglect his own in comparison with the advantage of others.
This is the on-going goal of your pastor.
Your servant in Christ, Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
On Random Topics During an Election Year
As the title of this article suggests, this will cover a variety of thoughts…
1st: We have been holding in-building, in-person worship services for the past couple of months. One of the things that pastors try to notice is who is taking communion and who is not. I know that the health situation of our world still makes many of you cautious about attending ‘large’ group gatherings—so—it is important for you to know that, like always, private or family communion is available. Just make an appointment with me. Or stop in and see if I have time when you go by. Our Lord’s Supper is too important and too valuable to be consistently missing receiving it.
2nd: On a related note, starting September 6 we will be offering a single in-building Sunday worship service at St Stephen’s—10:30 a.m. The in-building Sunday worship at St John’s will start at 8:45 a.m.
3rd: Thank you for your continued response in stewardship to our Lord’s Word! Because of God’s work in you for your continued response, much time and many talents and treasure continue to be offered to continue God’s mission among us and through us.
4th: As we move forward toward our national and local elections I’m not going to suggest who you should vote for—because, frankly, it’s none of my business how God works through you for that decision and I don’t have a clue how I’m going to vote, yet! But let me encourage you to look at the whole person(s) and all the issues through the lens of God’s Word and prayerfully consider his guidance.
Finally: In the grand scheme of things, we in the Lutheran Church don’t pay much attention to saint days. And, while I think we could take note of the examples of the faithful God has sent before us a little bit more, for the most part I think we do just fine. Having said that, I do note that my birthday is on the day set aside by the ancient Church for St. Bartholomew.
St. Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael in John’s Gospel) was one of the twelve apostles. He is the one who commented, “Can anything good come out of North Dakota?” Or was that—Nazareth?!! All joking aside, he recognized Jesus as the Son of God, the King of Israel, and was with Jesus throughout his Judean ministry. According to some early church fathers, he was an evangelist to Armenia (over by Turkey and Iran) and was martyred by being flayed alive. My Treasury of Daily Prayer (CPH, © 2008, p 653) quotes a writing from Gregory of Nazianzus for meditation for St. Bartholomew’s Day:
[C]onsider by [St. Paul’s] example how important a matter is the care of souls...The manifold character of his ministry? Consider his loving-kindness and, on the other hand, his strictness and the combination and blending of the two in such way that his gentleness should not weaken nor his severity exasperate...On behalf of some he gives thanks; others he upbraids. Some he names his joy and crown; others he charges with folly. Some who hold a straight course he accompanies, sharing in their zeal; others who are going wrong he checks. At one time he excommunicates; at another he confirms his love. At one time he grieves; at another rejoices. At one time he feeds with milk; at another he handles mysteries. At one time he condescends; at another he raises to his own level. At one time he threatens a rod; at another he offers the spirit of meekness. At one time he is haughty toward the lofty; at another lowly toward the lowly. Now he is least of the apostles, now he offers a proof of Christ speaking in him; now he longs for departure and is being poured forth as a libation, now he thinks it more necessary for their sakes to abide in the flesh. For he seeks not his own interests, but those of his children who he has begotten in Christ by the Gospel. This is the aim of all his spiritual authority, in everything to neglect his own in comparison with the advantage of others.
This is the on-going goal of your pastor.
Your servant in Christ, Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
August 2020
Aren’t These Fun Times!?
For a lot of people right now life is...interesting, frustrating, exasperating, unpredictable and, perhaps, several other descriptive words! And, for a lot of people, our response is fear, obstinacy, stubbornness, pigheadedness, inflexibility and, perhaps, several other even more descriptive words! We don’t like change, especially forced change. We don’t like not knowing when the ‘next shoe is going to drop’ nor do we like not knowing what that ‘next shoe’ is going to be! And so we react like...well...it has to be said...13-14 year olds going on 2.
What if we should be thankful for these times of trial? What if each morning we should be waking up and saying, “Thank you, God, for another day of trials! What are you going to give me today that you are going to overcome for me?”
In Scripture, St. Paul writes that we should rejoice in our sufferings…(Romans 5:3) and that he rejoiced in his sufferings for the Colossians (Colossians 1:24) and that we should imitate him (1 Corinthians 4:16).
I have a book of devotions that I have been using for openings for our Elders and Council meetings. (Actually it’s a series of 3 books.) It is titled Comfort From Meditations: For Such a Time As This. The book based on the Old Testament starts with a meditation titled “God Provides Strength for Each Day” and uses Isaiah 40:28-31 as its text. Even more interestingly, the book based on the Epistle starts with a meditation titled “Thank God You’re Tested” and uses 1 Peter 1:6,7 as its text. Both concepts are helpful for us today.
In “Thank God You’re Tested”, the author writes, “…[W]e see why the Apostle Peter speaks so highly of trials in the Christian’s life. They are all important tests of our faith, and they have wonderful results, because God’s own purpose is behind them…Difficult, yes! Distressing, yes! But thank God when you’re tested! For it is your gracious God himself who tests your faith. He himself is in the test. He applies pressure to reveal and to correct any weakness. And if he brings you through the fire of afflictions, it is not to harm you, but only to refine, to purify, to temper and to strengthen your faith.”
We don’t know all the ‘whys’ behind the current social unrest in our world and the ‘whys’ behind the Covid-19 virus and the death and destruction and hype caused by these and other disasters in our world. But we know that Christ has lived, died, rose and ascended—alive—to redeem this world and all its problems; to redeem us and all our problems. We are saved. We are given faith to believe God’s promises. And he promises to bring only good to his people (we are his people) and to work in all things for the good of those who love him.
Therefore, in the midst of our current human unrest, we pause to thank God for trials and tests. We thank him for using the trials and tests to show us where our faith is small and weak. We thank him for strengthening us through these same trials and tests.
Which brings us to the new wrinkle in our current trials...face masks. Some people like them, some people disdain them and some people go, “Whatever.” But, according to our Governor’s Executive Order 20-81, those who are able to should wear face masks in any indoor public gathering, including houses of worship. Therefore, as we have posted on the entries to our churches, those who are able to wear face masks during worship should.
There are many reasons people are unable to wear masks—and they are covered in the executive order. But, if you are one of the people who refuses to come to church because you ‘don’t like the Governor telling you what to do,’ I invite you to examine your motives—are they of God? Are you protesting a government order? If so what message are you sending and to whom? What do you gain from exempting yourself from public worship, God’s Word and the sacrament, if it is just ‘for the principle of the thing’? Examine yourself in light of God’s Word, and if you are sinning, please repent, confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
Remember, we do have ‘in-person’ worship in both our buildings now. If you are unable to attend ‘in-person’, we do have other alternatives as listed elsewhere in this newsletter.
Aren’t these fun times! Thank God you’re tested!
Aren’t These Fun Times!?
For a lot of people right now life is...interesting, frustrating, exasperating, unpredictable and, perhaps, several other descriptive words! And, for a lot of people, our response is fear, obstinacy, stubbornness, pigheadedness, inflexibility and, perhaps, several other even more descriptive words! We don’t like change, especially forced change. We don’t like not knowing when the ‘next shoe is going to drop’ nor do we like not knowing what that ‘next shoe’ is going to be! And so we react like...well...it has to be said...13-14 year olds going on 2.
What if we should be thankful for these times of trial? What if each morning we should be waking up and saying, “Thank you, God, for another day of trials! What are you going to give me today that you are going to overcome for me?”
In Scripture, St. Paul writes that we should rejoice in our sufferings…(Romans 5:3) and that he rejoiced in his sufferings for the Colossians (Colossians 1:24) and that we should imitate him (1 Corinthians 4:16).
I have a book of devotions that I have been using for openings for our Elders and Council meetings. (Actually it’s a series of 3 books.) It is titled Comfort From Meditations: For Such a Time As This. The book based on the Old Testament starts with a meditation titled “God Provides Strength for Each Day” and uses Isaiah 40:28-31 as its text. Even more interestingly, the book based on the Epistle starts with a meditation titled “Thank God You’re Tested” and uses 1 Peter 1:6,7 as its text. Both concepts are helpful for us today.
In “Thank God You’re Tested”, the author writes, “…[W]e see why the Apostle Peter speaks so highly of trials in the Christian’s life. They are all important tests of our faith, and they have wonderful results, because God’s own purpose is behind them…Difficult, yes! Distressing, yes! But thank God when you’re tested! For it is your gracious God himself who tests your faith. He himself is in the test. He applies pressure to reveal and to correct any weakness. And if he brings you through the fire of afflictions, it is not to harm you, but only to refine, to purify, to temper and to strengthen your faith.”
We don’t know all the ‘whys’ behind the current social unrest in our world and the ‘whys’ behind the Covid-19 virus and the death and destruction and hype caused by these and other disasters in our world. But we know that Christ has lived, died, rose and ascended—alive—to redeem this world and all its problems; to redeem us and all our problems. We are saved. We are given faith to believe God’s promises. And he promises to bring only good to his people (we are his people) and to work in all things for the good of those who love him.
Therefore, in the midst of our current human unrest, we pause to thank God for trials and tests. We thank him for using the trials and tests to show us where our faith is small and weak. We thank him for strengthening us through these same trials and tests.
Which brings us to the new wrinkle in our current trials...face masks. Some people like them, some people disdain them and some people go, “Whatever.” But, according to our Governor’s Executive Order 20-81, those who are able to should wear face masks in any indoor public gathering, including houses of worship. Therefore, as we have posted on the entries to our churches, those who are able to wear face masks during worship should.
There are many reasons people are unable to wear masks—and they are covered in the executive order. But, if you are one of the people who refuses to come to church because you ‘don’t like the Governor telling you what to do,’ I invite you to examine your motives—are they of God? Are you protesting a government order? If so what message are you sending and to whom? What do you gain from exempting yourself from public worship, God’s Word and the sacrament, if it is just ‘for the principle of the thing’? Examine yourself in light of God’s Word, and if you are sinning, please repent, confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
Remember, we do have ‘in-person’ worship in both our buildings now. If you are unable to attend ‘in-person’, we do have other alternatives as listed elsewhere in this newsletter.
Aren’t these fun times! Thank God you’re tested!
July 2020
And Life Goes On
He [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8 EHV)
We’ve all been there. We’re all there right now. We’ve all had those ‘life’ events that trigger the questions, “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
The questions are usually triggered after personal or shared disasters: death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, serious accidents, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes...you know what they are. The question can also be triggered by significant joyous events: weddings, retirements, graduations, etc.
Of course, the current event common to all of us that causes us to wrestle with these questions is the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
We face conflicting information from leaders and scientists. We have our own independent ideas, based either upon fact or perceived fact. And we each respond—or freeze—differently, based on our personalities and our pasts.
What’s the answer to the questions? Perhaps we can take a cue from Disney’s movie Frozen II. Now, don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing intentionally Christian about any of Disney’s movies. But they do often, perhaps unintentionally, promote Christian ideology.
In Frozen II, there is a place in the movie where the character Anna has to face life after believing that she has lost two of the most important characters in her life. As is typical of all musical productions, she bursts into song: “The Next Right Thing.” As the title of the song suggests, she concludes she simply must look to do the next right thing. (The song really is a pretty good song!) And, perhaps, that is good advice for us in whatever situation we find ourselves. Do the next right thing.
But what’s the “next right thing’? Instead of looking inside of ourselves for a ‘tiny voice’ to give direction, we, baptized Christians, look to God’s Word. The “next right thing” for the apostles after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, was, in God’s Word, to receive power from on high and be his witnesses to the world. It is a pattern that repeats throughout Scripture from beginning to end. Ours is not to determine the “why” of all of the workings of the world and God’s interactions therein. Ours is enough to know that sin is in the world, disasters happen because of sin, but Jesus is in the world reconciling us to himself.
And the next right thing for us to do? In the power we have received from Baptism—the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, forgiveness of our sins, and faith to believe our forgiveness—the next right thing for us is to be who we are. We are witnesses to the work of God in the world around us and through us.
And what is the work of God in the world around us and through us? Love. Salvation through the faith that looks to and trusts in the work of Jesus on the cross. Mercy. Justice. Healing. In salvation we are tasked with telling the world of the good of God in the face of the evil with which we seem surrounded.
The Christian Church is essential to the world in all times, especially now. Not just to feed her own members (how selfish!!), but to proclaim and bring hope to a world which has lost its direction. You are the Christian Church.
We find ourselves in the midst of multiple ‘major’ events...and life goes on. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?” All but the youngest among us knows that the impossible happens—and life goes on. How can it? How can we cope with it? In the cross of Jesus and all that it means. What do I do now? Take a step—in the footsteps of Jesus—into his Word. And through his Word, share his love with all. And He is and will be with you always, leading and carrying you to your next steps. And life goes on!
And Life Goes On
He [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8 EHV)
We’ve all been there. We’re all there right now. We’ve all had those ‘life’ events that trigger the questions, “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
The questions are usually triggered after personal or shared disasters: death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, serious accidents, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes...you know what they are. The question can also be triggered by significant joyous events: weddings, retirements, graduations, etc.
Of course, the current event common to all of us that causes us to wrestle with these questions is the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
We face conflicting information from leaders and scientists. We have our own independent ideas, based either upon fact or perceived fact. And we each respond—or freeze—differently, based on our personalities and our pasts.
What’s the answer to the questions? Perhaps we can take a cue from Disney’s movie Frozen II. Now, don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing intentionally Christian about any of Disney’s movies. But they do often, perhaps unintentionally, promote Christian ideology.
In Frozen II, there is a place in the movie where the character Anna has to face life after believing that she has lost two of the most important characters in her life. As is typical of all musical productions, she bursts into song: “The Next Right Thing.” As the title of the song suggests, she concludes she simply must look to do the next right thing. (The song really is a pretty good song!) And, perhaps, that is good advice for us in whatever situation we find ourselves. Do the next right thing.
But what’s the “next right thing’? Instead of looking inside of ourselves for a ‘tiny voice’ to give direction, we, baptized Christians, look to God’s Word. The “next right thing” for the apostles after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, was, in God’s Word, to receive power from on high and be his witnesses to the world. It is a pattern that repeats throughout Scripture from beginning to end. Ours is not to determine the “why” of all of the workings of the world and God’s interactions therein. Ours is enough to know that sin is in the world, disasters happen because of sin, but Jesus is in the world reconciling us to himself.
And the next right thing for us to do? In the power we have received from Baptism—the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, forgiveness of our sins, and faith to believe our forgiveness—the next right thing for us is to be who we are. We are witnesses to the work of God in the world around us and through us.
And what is the work of God in the world around us and through us? Love. Salvation through the faith that looks to and trusts in the work of Jesus on the cross. Mercy. Justice. Healing. In salvation we are tasked with telling the world of the good of God in the face of the evil with which we seem surrounded.
The Christian Church is essential to the world in all times, especially now. Not just to feed her own members (how selfish!!), but to proclaim and bring hope to a world which has lost its direction. You are the Christian Church.
We find ourselves in the midst of multiple ‘major’ events...and life goes on. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?” All but the youngest among us knows that the impossible happens—and life goes on. How can it? How can we cope with it? In the cross of Jesus and all that it means. What do I do now? Take a step—in the footsteps of Jesus—into his Word. And through his Word, share his love with all. And He is and will be with you always, leading and carrying you to your next steps. And life goes on!
June 2020
Please note! The information in the following letter is very important and a change from what we have been doing! Please read carefully for the information about your congregation’s worship!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 CSB)
Changes…
Temporary Worship Schedule changes:
· St Stephen’s resumes regular worship on May 31, 2020 with a time change.
· St John’s resumes regular worship on June 7, 2020 with a time change.
The Sunday schedule is as follows:
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 8:00 a.m. (Must wear a mask)
St John’s Lutheran Church 9:15 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
Welcome home! Our church Councils’ have made some changes (temporary) in how we are doing things—isn’t it great to remember that Jesus Christ is always the same?
In response to expert recommendations surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we are resuming our Sunday Worship with the above changes in time, and with some further protocols. These protocols may need to be adjusted and/or changed as we learn to adjust to them.
Protocols include, but are not limited to:
We are working with our janitors in each space to provide for proper cleaning before and after our services.
The reasons for the time changes: based on our average worship attendance, St Stephen’s has the greater likelihood of a greater number of participants, hence, we wanted to offer additional worship opportunities. Splitting the times, St Stephen’s at 8 and 10:30 with St John’s at 9:15, gives time for proper cleaning between services.
Also, please note, at St Stephen’s we are offering a Worship time for “masks only”. This is for our members who feel most comfortable wearing masks and being around people who wear masks. Please do not attend this service if you do not intend to wear a mask. We honor your choice, but we also want to honor those who choose otherwise. We do have the 10:30 worship which is for all—masked or nonmasked. We make no distinction between them. We ask that you do not make any judgments based on whether people want to wear masks or not. The St John’s 9:15 service is for all—masked or unmasked.
In both congregations we encourage people to use proper PPE (personal protection equipment). If you have hand sanitizer, we encourage you to bring your own, but we will have some available at the churches—depending on delivery dates!
I think that’s enough to try to digest in one letter—too much, probably. But the information is important to get out. But the most important information is what we started with: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has always been with us. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, moves us to faith, and Jesus forgives our sins because of his work. And Jesus has been with us throughout this pandemic wherever we’ve been. He guides us to abundant life, just as he has given us eternal life.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Please note! The information in the following letter is very important and a change from what we have been doing! Please read carefully for the information about your congregation’s worship!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 CSB)
Changes…
Temporary Worship Schedule changes:
· St Stephen’s resumes regular worship on May 31, 2020 with a time change.
· St John’s resumes regular worship on June 7, 2020 with a time change.
The Sunday schedule is as follows:
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 8:00 a.m. (Must wear a mask)
St John’s Lutheran Church 9:15 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
Welcome home! Our church Councils’ have made some changes (temporary) in how we are doing things—isn’t it great to remember that Jesus Christ is always the same?
In response to expert recommendations surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we are resuming our Sunday Worship with the above changes in time, and with some further protocols. These protocols may need to be adjusted and/or changed as we learn to adjust to them.
Protocols include, but are not limited to:
- Members who, for whatever reasons—age, vulnerability to the virus, family members who are vulnerable, if you have a cough, a fever, or a sore throat and a multitude of other reasons—are unable to attend are encouraged to continue to use the virtual worship options we are continuing to offer—radio, tv, Facebook and website.
- We will have no more that 25% of our capacity in our enclosed space. In each of our spaces that number is about 70-80. This is why we are offering two worship times at St Stephen’s.
- We will need to maintain our 6 foot social distancing recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Members of the same household can be closer than that, but we need to maintain 6 feet between members of other households—as we are entering and exiting and as we are sitting in the pew. Please don’t stand in the entries and visit. It creates a roadblock for others who want to get through. Outside, away from the doors, in nice weather, is a very good place to maintain distancing and catch up with each other’s lives.
- Our services will be modified from what we are used to. They will be somewhat shorter, and will have no singing (singing propels the aerosols from our mouths farther than talking; shorter because we want to limit the time we are together). There will be no ‘coffee time’.
- Offerings will be received in an offering plate at the entry to the sanctuary.
- Bulletins. Each congregation will do bulletins differently. At St John’s the service will be shown on the screen and only a few bulletins will be printed for those with limited eyesight who are unable to see the screen. At St Stephen’s the bulletins will be laid out on a table as the participants enter for us to pick up.
- I know this is going to be weird—but—as you come in, please fill in from the front of ·the church. If you do that, not everyone needs to walk past you to find their seat and it’s easier to figure out the 6 foot social distancing. And, when you exit, we ask the people in the back of the church to exit first and that those in the front would wait patiently for the others to exit.
We are working with our janitors in each space to provide for proper cleaning before and after our services.
The reasons for the time changes: based on our average worship attendance, St Stephen’s has the greater likelihood of a greater number of participants, hence, we wanted to offer additional worship opportunities. Splitting the times, St Stephen’s at 8 and 10:30 with St John’s at 9:15, gives time for proper cleaning between services.
Also, please note, at St Stephen’s we are offering a Worship time for “masks only”. This is for our members who feel most comfortable wearing masks and being around people who wear masks. Please do not attend this service if you do not intend to wear a mask. We honor your choice, but we also want to honor those who choose otherwise. We do have the 10:30 worship which is for all—masked or nonmasked. We make no distinction between them. We ask that you do not make any judgments based on whether people want to wear masks or not. The St John’s 9:15 service is for all—masked or unmasked.
In both congregations we encourage people to use proper PPE (personal protection equipment). If you have hand sanitizer, we encourage you to bring your own, but we will have some available at the churches—depending on delivery dates!
I think that’s enough to try to digest in one letter—too much, probably. But the information is important to get out. But the most important information is what we started with: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has always been with us. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, moves us to faith, and Jesus forgives our sins because of his work. And Jesus has been with us throughout this pandemic wherever we’ve been. He guides us to abundant life, just as he has given us eternal life.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
May 2020
Perspective
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (Revelation 21:3-4 CSB)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a long time since we have had the opportunity to gather together. Please, be assured that I miss all of you. By the grace of God we’ve been able to keep connected in some different ways, but it is not the way that most of us prefer. And, likewise by the grace of God, the time will come again when we will gather around Word and Sacrament to hear and share the saving story of our salvation through the work of Jesus, by grace, through faith. Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Depending on which church’s newsletter you read (St. Stephen’s or St. John’s), the details of this following information may or may not be available to you. But I want to share with all of you, so that all of you can know God’s continuing work among us. In the past month we have celebrated 4 baptisms and 1 funeral, as well as a number of individuals and families requesting and receiving the Lord’s Supper in our combined ministry. Thanks be to God, he does not practice ‘social distancing’! He comes close at all times and reaches out his saving arms to rescue redeemed sinners.
A few words by way of further encouragement.
When I was a young child my father modeled a very important lesson for me: Perspective. He wouldn’t call it that. He would simply always point out, to my obvious frustration, that there are always at least two sides to every argument. As I grew older, I quickly learned that there could be several sides to any argument—and, I learned, that if one was going to be successful in debate or negotiating, it was critical to be able to argue the ‘other side's’ point of view even more effectively than they could. Knowing the other side’s perspective didn’t mean that the other side was ‘right’. It just meant that you could see things from their perspective.
This is a vital lesson to be learned in many areas of life—not just negotiating or debating. It is helpful to have perspective in dealing with people richer or poorer than one’s self. It is good to try to understand urban\suburban thinking vs. rural thinking—they are quite different and each can be quite frustrating to deal with when one doesn’t know the differences. There are different perspectives when one looks at our nation from a ‘saltwater’ state perspective vs. a Midwestern state perspective.
As you can imagine, the above thoughts are not exhaustive. But they begin to give you an idea about perspective. This now brings us to our current world-wide ‘crisis’. You may begin to understand why I put ‘crisis’ in quotes in a moment as you consider the following statistics.
The Worldometer is an internet tool. It tracks statistics of various sorts and makes estimates in an ongoing fashion. I’m always skeptical of anything I find on the internet, but this has mostly favorable reviews. So I will use their numbers to try to put the COVID-19 event into perspective. Please understand, that as I do this I consider one death too many and all lives are extremely valuable.
As of 5:00 p.m., April 21, world-wide there were an estimated 177,179 deaths since January 1, 2020, caused by the COVID-19 virus. Yes. That’s a lot of deaths.
In the same period of time, there were an estimated 328,000 suicides; 413,000 traffic deaths; 514,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS; 1,529,000 deaths from smoking; 2,512,000 deaths from cancer; and...drum roll, please...13,004,000 deaths by abortion. That’s a lot more deaths.
But, as one person said, “Those are all things I have control over…”, thus implying what many of us are feeling, we fear the unknown. My question is, where’s the ‘crisis’ call, the ‘social distancing’—the government cry for drastic public action—for suicides, traffic deaths,...abortion? But that’s not the point of this message.
The point of this message is perspective. Ours. God’s.
Our perspective is we have death all around us—some over which we think we have some control and some which frightens us to paralysis because we see no one with control.
God’s perspective is shown in the verses from Revelation 21 quoted at the beginning of this message. His words are both proclamation for today and predictive of the future. The Lamb is victorious over Satan, sin and death. The Bridegroom has come and is coming for his bride. Christ Jesus is the sacrificial lamb whose death on the cross pays for the sins of all humanity and whose resurrected life gives the sure and certain hope of abundant life in the presence of God while we are in this world and when we enter eternal life in heaven, the new Jerusalem, when this present age is brought to its end.
God’s perspective is that we are his. His sheep, his family, his lost sinners made righteous by the blood of the lamb. Jesus’ promise at the end of Matthew holds true, always: “I am with you always…” It isn’t broken because of pandemic. It isn’t broken because of ‘social distancing’. It isn’t broken by our sin. It isn’t broken by the consequences of our sin. Jesus is always true to his Word. By grace through faith, Jesus says to us “Your sins are forgiven. You are mine.”
God’s perspective is right—righteous. Ours is fogged-in in the sin-filled world that surrounds us. In the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to look to his Word for understanding, and to see the right perspective—that the way through all the events in this life of ours—is through the one that is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perspective
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (Revelation 21:3-4 CSB)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a long time since we have had the opportunity to gather together. Please, be assured that I miss all of you. By the grace of God we’ve been able to keep connected in some different ways, but it is not the way that most of us prefer. And, likewise by the grace of God, the time will come again when we will gather around Word and Sacrament to hear and share the saving story of our salvation through the work of Jesus, by grace, through faith. Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Depending on which church’s newsletter you read (St. Stephen’s or St. John’s), the details of this following information may or may not be available to you. But I want to share with all of you, so that all of you can know God’s continuing work among us. In the past month we have celebrated 4 baptisms and 1 funeral, as well as a number of individuals and families requesting and receiving the Lord’s Supper in our combined ministry. Thanks be to God, he does not practice ‘social distancing’! He comes close at all times and reaches out his saving arms to rescue redeemed sinners.
A few words by way of further encouragement.
When I was a young child my father modeled a very important lesson for me: Perspective. He wouldn’t call it that. He would simply always point out, to my obvious frustration, that there are always at least two sides to every argument. As I grew older, I quickly learned that there could be several sides to any argument—and, I learned, that if one was going to be successful in debate or negotiating, it was critical to be able to argue the ‘other side's’ point of view even more effectively than they could. Knowing the other side’s perspective didn’t mean that the other side was ‘right’. It just meant that you could see things from their perspective.
This is a vital lesson to be learned in many areas of life—not just negotiating or debating. It is helpful to have perspective in dealing with people richer or poorer than one’s self. It is good to try to understand urban\suburban thinking vs. rural thinking—they are quite different and each can be quite frustrating to deal with when one doesn’t know the differences. There are different perspectives when one looks at our nation from a ‘saltwater’ state perspective vs. a Midwestern state perspective.
As you can imagine, the above thoughts are not exhaustive. But they begin to give you an idea about perspective. This now brings us to our current world-wide ‘crisis’. You may begin to understand why I put ‘crisis’ in quotes in a moment as you consider the following statistics.
The Worldometer is an internet tool. It tracks statistics of various sorts and makes estimates in an ongoing fashion. I’m always skeptical of anything I find on the internet, but this has mostly favorable reviews. So I will use their numbers to try to put the COVID-19 event into perspective. Please understand, that as I do this I consider one death too many and all lives are extremely valuable.
As of 5:00 p.m., April 21, world-wide there were an estimated 177,179 deaths since January 1, 2020, caused by the COVID-19 virus. Yes. That’s a lot of deaths.
In the same period of time, there were an estimated 328,000 suicides; 413,000 traffic deaths; 514,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS; 1,529,000 deaths from smoking; 2,512,000 deaths from cancer; and...drum roll, please...13,004,000 deaths by abortion. That’s a lot more deaths.
But, as one person said, “Those are all things I have control over…”, thus implying what many of us are feeling, we fear the unknown. My question is, where’s the ‘crisis’ call, the ‘social distancing’—the government cry for drastic public action—for suicides, traffic deaths,...abortion? But that’s not the point of this message.
The point of this message is perspective. Ours. God’s.
Our perspective is we have death all around us—some over which we think we have some control and some which frightens us to paralysis because we see no one with control.
God’s perspective is shown in the verses from Revelation 21 quoted at the beginning of this message. His words are both proclamation for today and predictive of the future. The Lamb is victorious over Satan, sin and death. The Bridegroom has come and is coming for his bride. Christ Jesus is the sacrificial lamb whose death on the cross pays for the sins of all humanity and whose resurrected life gives the sure and certain hope of abundant life in the presence of God while we are in this world and when we enter eternal life in heaven, the new Jerusalem, when this present age is brought to its end.
God’s perspective is that we are his. His sheep, his family, his lost sinners made righteous by the blood of the lamb. Jesus’ promise at the end of Matthew holds true, always: “I am with you always…” It isn’t broken because of pandemic. It isn’t broken because of ‘social distancing’. It isn’t broken by our sin. It isn’t broken by the consequences of our sin. Jesus is always true to his Word. By grace through faith, Jesus says to us “Your sins are forgiven. You are mine.”
God’s perspective is right—righteous. Ours is fogged-in in the sin-filled world that surrounds us. In the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to look to his Word for understanding, and to see the right perspective—that the way through all the events in this life of ours—is through the one that is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus our Lord.
April 2020
On Words that Begin with “F”…
Charlotte has a shirt—I know that you are all glad to hear that! Let me start again: Charlotte has a shirt—that has these words printed on it, “Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27”. Good point.
The direct quote of John 14:27 is “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful” (CSB). Jesus is talking to his disciples in the upper room on Thursday night before (what we call) Good Friday. He knows what he is going to go through. He knows what they are going to go through. He is telling them that he is “going away” but that he is not leaving them alone. He has promised them the Holy Spirit is coming. Jesus is warning that the “ruler of the world” (Satan) is coming—but that Satan has “no power over me [Jesus]”.
And Jesus has left them with “peace”.
Peace. Likely “shalom”, considering it was highly likely that Jesus spoke to his disciples in Aramaic or Hebrew—although it is highly probable that he also spoke Greek. In Greek it would be the word from which we get the name “Irene”.
Peace. Being whole, intact, having prosperity. Harmony, tranquility, wellbeing, health. Salvation given from God. In the midst of a great trial, some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples are about peace. Shalom.
These words would have to be what would carry these followers through the next three days! Jesus is forcibly arrested, brutally beaten, driven through the city carrying his own cross, crucified, died and was buried. The followers knew, if any of the Temple leaders identified them, that the same was in store for each of them! Still, Jesus said, “Shalom. Peace.”
Fear...our first “F” word. Fear drives out peace. It splinters the community. It brings about disharmony. It causes physical, emotional and mental illness. It brings about economic poverty, as well as social and mental poverty. There is no tranquility, only an uproar that gets louder and louder as we are enveloped by fear.
The fear the disciples were facing was great—huge. In some ways it was similar to, and in some ways different from the fear we face in response to this COVID-19 epidemic...because fear is fear. It is no respecter of logic.
I read an article about our responses to our current situation (“Why some people just won’t stay home despite the advice” by Scottie Andrew). I think it identifies us pretty well. No matter what the age of people is, there are three basic responses to fear—1.) over-responders; 2.) under-responders; and 3.) the in-betweeners. Over-responders are the panic buyers—like those who have months of toilet paper on hand. Under-responders are those young people on the beaches on spring break, or the senior citizens who fill the aisles at Walmart just to get out of the house. (In-betweeners are those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.)
Both the over-responders and the under-responders are reacting out of fear—in an attempt to maintain some control over the situation and their lives. Fear does that. The uproar has gotten so loud that fear makes everything feel out of control. We just want the world to slow down—STOP the merry-go-round! I want to get off!
The other “F” word...Faith.
Faith conquers fear. Remember the words from the liturgy (Divine Service, Setting Four, Lutheran Service Book)—the “alleluia” before the Gospel? “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” In John 20, from which these words are quoted, the following words finish the sentence: “and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Faith. Believing. The same thing in Bible talk. Faith that Jesus is the Christ conquers fear. Believing that Jesus is the messiah conquers fear. Faith, believing that, yes, Jesus died on a cross, but he died to pay for the sins of the whole world, for mine and yours, so that we can be and are forgiven, and in being forgiven we are moved from death to life—even everlasting life with him in heaven and abundant life here on earth. That faith gives birth to hope and that hope conquers fear.
Faith conquers fear in a time of an epidemic. Whether this is a short-term or long-term epidemic only God knows. But we know that we do not face this alone. Faith knows that. Faith isn’t the absence of fear—that would be insanity. In this world we have much to fear: COVID-19, heart disease, cancer, evil people, and Satan, just to name a few things. Faith conquers fear. It looks to Jesus, who conquered death and Satan, and trusts the peace the he gives to us.
Peace, Jesus’ peace, will carry us through this difficult time, just as it carried the disciples through those hard days before Easter—and even through the rest of their lives. It changed them. The disciples still suffered. They still died—most of them from violent means! But they lived and live in peace. Likewise for us. We’re changed. Faith, given to us by God, does conquer fear so that even in difficult, even dangerous times, we still live. Because God’s faith conquers fear.
Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
On Words that Begin with “F”…
Charlotte has a shirt—I know that you are all glad to hear that! Let me start again: Charlotte has a shirt—that has these words printed on it, “Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27”. Good point.
The direct quote of John 14:27 is “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful” (CSB). Jesus is talking to his disciples in the upper room on Thursday night before (what we call) Good Friday. He knows what he is going to go through. He knows what they are going to go through. He is telling them that he is “going away” but that he is not leaving them alone. He has promised them the Holy Spirit is coming. Jesus is warning that the “ruler of the world” (Satan) is coming—but that Satan has “no power over me [Jesus]”.
And Jesus has left them with “peace”.
Peace. Likely “shalom”, considering it was highly likely that Jesus spoke to his disciples in Aramaic or Hebrew—although it is highly probable that he also spoke Greek. In Greek it would be the word from which we get the name “Irene”.
Peace. Being whole, intact, having prosperity. Harmony, tranquility, wellbeing, health. Salvation given from God. In the midst of a great trial, some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples are about peace. Shalom.
These words would have to be what would carry these followers through the next three days! Jesus is forcibly arrested, brutally beaten, driven through the city carrying his own cross, crucified, died and was buried. The followers knew, if any of the Temple leaders identified them, that the same was in store for each of them! Still, Jesus said, “Shalom. Peace.”
Fear...our first “F” word. Fear drives out peace. It splinters the community. It brings about disharmony. It causes physical, emotional and mental illness. It brings about economic poverty, as well as social and mental poverty. There is no tranquility, only an uproar that gets louder and louder as we are enveloped by fear.
The fear the disciples were facing was great—huge. In some ways it was similar to, and in some ways different from the fear we face in response to this COVID-19 epidemic...because fear is fear. It is no respecter of logic.
I read an article about our responses to our current situation (“Why some people just won’t stay home despite the advice” by Scottie Andrew). I think it identifies us pretty well. No matter what the age of people is, there are three basic responses to fear—1.) over-responders; 2.) under-responders; and 3.) the in-betweeners. Over-responders are the panic buyers—like those who have months of toilet paper on hand. Under-responders are those young people on the beaches on spring break, or the senior citizens who fill the aisles at Walmart just to get out of the house. (In-betweeners are those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.)
Both the over-responders and the under-responders are reacting out of fear—in an attempt to maintain some control over the situation and their lives. Fear does that. The uproar has gotten so loud that fear makes everything feel out of control. We just want the world to slow down—STOP the merry-go-round! I want to get off!
The other “F” word...Faith.
Faith conquers fear. Remember the words from the liturgy (Divine Service, Setting Four, Lutheran Service Book)—the “alleluia” before the Gospel? “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” In John 20, from which these words are quoted, the following words finish the sentence: “and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Faith. Believing. The same thing in Bible talk. Faith that Jesus is the Christ conquers fear. Believing that Jesus is the messiah conquers fear. Faith, believing that, yes, Jesus died on a cross, but he died to pay for the sins of the whole world, for mine and yours, so that we can be and are forgiven, and in being forgiven we are moved from death to life—even everlasting life with him in heaven and abundant life here on earth. That faith gives birth to hope and that hope conquers fear.
Faith conquers fear in a time of an epidemic. Whether this is a short-term or long-term epidemic only God knows. But we know that we do not face this alone. Faith knows that. Faith isn’t the absence of fear—that would be insanity. In this world we have much to fear: COVID-19, heart disease, cancer, evil people, and Satan, just to name a few things. Faith conquers fear. It looks to Jesus, who conquered death and Satan, and trusts the peace the he gives to us.
Peace, Jesus’ peace, will carry us through this difficult time, just as it carried the disciples through those hard days before Easter—and even through the rest of their lives. It changed them. The disciples still suffered. They still died—most of them from violent means! But they lived and live in peace. Likewise for us. We’re changed. Faith, given to us by God, does conquer fear so that even in difficult, even dangerous times, we still live. Because God’s faith conquers fear.
Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
PASTOR"S LETTER REGARDING COVID-19
March 18, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 CSB)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3 CSB)
In the midst of difficult times our sure and certain hope rests in Jesus, even when we have to make decisions we’d rather not make. But, through prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversation we still make those choices. To that end…
In light of the infectious spread of the COVID-19 virus, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church are cancelling all worship services and large group church activities—member and nonmember—through March 29, 2020.
At this time the offices will remain open on their regular schedules. After March 29 we will reassess as we look forward to Palm Sunday (April 5), Holy Week and Easter (April 12).
Two things are for certain:
I am available for individual/family confession and absolution and communion by appointment. Please call ahead of time as I hope my calendar gets filled with these opportunities!
We are working on ways to connect via video on facebook and our websites. We are planning to continue, in some form, our Sunday morning worship broadcast, 11:00 a.m., WCMP 106.5 FM and 1350 AM out of Pine City. Please be somewhat patient with these as some of this is a new venture for us. Allow me to also encourage you to watch “Main Street Living” on tv channel 29 in most locations—it’s a very good program!
A brief word regarding financial stewardship: It is easy for us to not remember our church offerings when we aren’t in church—we’re human! However, our expenses continue, even when we are unable to attend worship in times like these. If possible, please continue to consider your response to God’s love in your life and, according to His blessings to you, mail your offering to the church.
This is not a decision with which any of us are happy, but I believe it is the right decision and the God-pleasing decision. I remind all of us of God’s Word in Romans—“in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him”—and in Matthew—“I am with you always.”
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J Renstrom
March 18, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 CSB)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3 CSB)
In the midst of difficult times our sure and certain hope rests in Jesus, even when we have to make decisions we’d rather not make. But, through prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversation we still make those choices. To that end…
In light of the infectious spread of the COVID-19 virus, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church are cancelling all worship services and large group church activities—member and nonmember—through March 29, 2020.
At this time the offices will remain open on their regular schedules. After March 29 we will reassess as we look forward to Palm Sunday (April 5), Holy Week and Easter (April 12).
Two things are for certain:
- Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and rose again to pay for our sins, forgive our sins and give us hope for each day and eternity!
- God willing, whether we recommence our Sunday worship on April 5 or “August 16”, together we will celebrate Easter in a big way!
I am available for individual/family confession and absolution and communion by appointment. Please call ahead of time as I hope my calendar gets filled with these opportunities!
We are working on ways to connect via video on facebook and our websites. We are planning to continue, in some form, our Sunday morning worship broadcast, 11:00 a.m., WCMP 106.5 FM and 1350 AM out of Pine City. Please be somewhat patient with these as some of this is a new venture for us. Allow me to also encourage you to watch “Main Street Living” on tv channel 29 in most locations—it’s a very good program!
A brief word regarding financial stewardship: It is easy for us to not remember our church offerings when we aren’t in church—we’re human! However, our expenses continue, even when we are unable to attend worship in times like these. If possible, please continue to consider your response to God’s love in your life and, according to His blessings to you, mail your offering to the church.
This is not a decision with which any of us are happy, but I believe it is the right decision and the God-pleasing decision. I remind all of us of God’s Word in Romans—“in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him”—and in Matthew—“I am with you always.”
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J Renstrom
March 2020
What’s New?
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
I know that it will be hard for many of you to imagine, but I’ve always been a bit of a troublesome child. Back in my teen years, when my parents would complain about how bad I was, and how bad my generation was, and how the world was going to fall apart if we (my generation) were ever to be in charge of things, the smart aleck in me would respond, “And I suppose your parents never said the same thing about you?” You can rightly imagine that I only said that out loud—once! (Yes, I am a sinner. I did not always treat my parents with honor.)
But, sin aside, it is true. Each preceding generation is concerned about the succeeding generation’s attitudes, dedication and leadership. Builders complained about Boomers. Boomers complained about “Xers”. And everybody blames the Millenials! And we’re getting ready to cast blame on “Zs”, next… And, each time a preceding generation has turned the world over to the next generation, they’ve turned it over to them in a mess.
Here are some examples of generations complaining…
Hesiod, a Greek who lived 800 years before Jesus came in the flesh, wrote, "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint".
Sound familiar? At least the thought behind it? Or, maybe this quote from Aristotle who said it 350 years before Jesus came in the flesh: “They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.”
Here’s a quote from an ancient sermon by Peter the Hermit, 1274 A.D.: "The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."
It seems that in 1907 (that’s already 100+ years ago!) a Kenneth John Freeman, in his Cambridge dissertation, summed up the ancients’ complaints about young people this way: 'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.'
(The above quotes were found at https://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-wrong-with-young-people-today.html)
It is always easy to magnify the sins of others and to minimize my own sins. So let’s bring this home to the church, today. I recently read an article by David Zahl which I will summarize by saying that, generally speaking, young people today are more like their parents than many previous generations. There are negatives and positives when one considers that statement.
First the negatives: Grandparents—you worry about your grandchildren’s church attendance and faith. Rightfully so, because, while church attendance does not earn eternal salvation, faith gives eternal salvation and faith is fueled by regular feeding in God’s Word and sacraments. So, considering the statement above, grandparents, how did you raise your children? You grandchildren aren’t much different than they are. What attitude did you have in working with church people and church attendance? What did they see? What did they hear? Was it God-pleasing? Or, did they hear, “I guess I have to do this…”?
Parents—are you struggling with your children and the exercise of their faith? Perhaps you could honestly examine yourself?
This is much too short an article to address the many issues this can bring up. The challenges of Godly parenting are far too complex to be addressed this simply. But, if it’s true that young people are more like their parents than many previous generations, perhaps this is a good beginning point?
I said that there were positives…and there are! You who are older…you have faith given to you by the Holy Spirit. If the younger people are like you, and I believe that they are, they have received saving faith from the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and Sacrament. I can’t guarantee that it is still with them, as Scripture does warn us against losing our faith, but it also promises that if we raise our children in the ways of the Lord, when they are old they will return to the Lord. Good news! In spite of all that we do to mess our kids up, God raises them well and keeps them in his care!
Older people have much to offer. They have already struggled with the challenges of youth—and in some situations—still are struggling. How did you deal with the answers that you got and aren’t terribly happy with? How did you share that struggle with younger people? Honest conversation with Christian parents and grandparents goes a long way in helping young faith.
When I was young, the rallying cry was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30!” Today young people still aren’t sure that the grownups know what’s really going on. And they may be right—when I look around, I’m pretty sure they are. But we know the one who does know what’s going on. He is the Triune God from which came Jesus, the Son of God, to give us hope and wisdom and faith. How can we, across generations, talk about how we see God bringing faith into the challenges of church and life? And, how do we talk about it?
Solomon once said that there is nothing new under the sun. Inspired by God, he’s right. All the problems of the world, our lives, and our faith keep repeating themselves. But the promise of God is not new, either! Our sins are forgiven in Jesus’ work, by grace through faith. That doesn’t change. And that’s way more assuring than worrying about how badly the young people are taking care of the world!
What’s New?
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
I know that it will be hard for many of you to imagine, but I’ve always been a bit of a troublesome child. Back in my teen years, when my parents would complain about how bad I was, and how bad my generation was, and how the world was going to fall apart if we (my generation) were ever to be in charge of things, the smart aleck in me would respond, “And I suppose your parents never said the same thing about you?” You can rightly imagine that I only said that out loud—once! (Yes, I am a sinner. I did not always treat my parents with honor.)
But, sin aside, it is true. Each preceding generation is concerned about the succeeding generation’s attitudes, dedication and leadership. Builders complained about Boomers. Boomers complained about “Xers”. And everybody blames the Millenials! And we’re getting ready to cast blame on “Zs”, next… And, each time a preceding generation has turned the world over to the next generation, they’ve turned it over to them in a mess.
Here are some examples of generations complaining…
Hesiod, a Greek who lived 800 years before Jesus came in the flesh, wrote, "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint".
Sound familiar? At least the thought behind it? Or, maybe this quote from Aristotle who said it 350 years before Jesus came in the flesh: “They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.”
Here’s a quote from an ancient sermon by Peter the Hermit, 1274 A.D.: "The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."
It seems that in 1907 (that’s already 100+ years ago!) a Kenneth John Freeman, in his Cambridge dissertation, summed up the ancients’ complaints about young people this way: 'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.'
(The above quotes were found at https://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-wrong-with-young-people-today.html)
It is always easy to magnify the sins of others and to minimize my own sins. So let’s bring this home to the church, today. I recently read an article by David Zahl which I will summarize by saying that, generally speaking, young people today are more like their parents than many previous generations. There are negatives and positives when one considers that statement.
First the negatives: Grandparents—you worry about your grandchildren’s church attendance and faith. Rightfully so, because, while church attendance does not earn eternal salvation, faith gives eternal salvation and faith is fueled by regular feeding in God’s Word and sacraments. So, considering the statement above, grandparents, how did you raise your children? You grandchildren aren’t much different than they are. What attitude did you have in working with church people and church attendance? What did they see? What did they hear? Was it God-pleasing? Or, did they hear, “I guess I have to do this…”?
Parents—are you struggling with your children and the exercise of their faith? Perhaps you could honestly examine yourself?
This is much too short an article to address the many issues this can bring up. The challenges of Godly parenting are far too complex to be addressed this simply. But, if it’s true that young people are more like their parents than many previous generations, perhaps this is a good beginning point?
I said that there were positives…and there are! You who are older…you have faith given to you by the Holy Spirit. If the younger people are like you, and I believe that they are, they have received saving faith from the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and Sacrament. I can’t guarantee that it is still with them, as Scripture does warn us against losing our faith, but it also promises that if we raise our children in the ways of the Lord, when they are old they will return to the Lord. Good news! In spite of all that we do to mess our kids up, God raises them well and keeps them in his care!
Older people have much to offer. They have already struggled with the challenges of youth—and in some situations—still are struggling. How did you deal with the answers that you got and aren’t terribly happy with? How did you share that struggle with younger people? Honest conversation with Christian parents and grandparents goes a long way in helping young faith.
When I was young, the rallying cry was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30!” Today young people still aren’t sure that the grownups know what’s really going on. And they may be right—when I look around, I’m pretty sure they are. But we know the one who does know what’s going on. He is the Triune God from which came Jesus, the Son of God, to give us hope and wisdom and faith. How can we, across generations, talk about how we see God bringing faith into the challenges of church and life? And, how do we talk about it?
Solomon once said that there is nothing new under the sun. Inspired by God, he’s right. All the problems of the world, our lives, and our faith keep repeating themselves. But the promise of God is not new, either! Our sins are forgiven in Jesus’ work, by grace through faith. That doesn’t change. And that’s way more assuring than worrying about how badly the young people are taking care of the world!
February 2020
Changing Attitudes
Greetings in the name of our incarnate, crucified, risen and ascended savior, Jesus! May his blessings overflow in your lives as you grow in confidence in the faith he has given to you. It is my joy to give thanks for you as we are yoked together in his service in this world so that others may come to the same faith we have and receive eternal life by grace, through faith, because of his work.
A short time ago someone at church asked me this question: How do you get people to change their attitudes?
I think the answer to the question is simple (but hard to achieve!). To change attitude one needs to bring HOPE and have ACTION!
For us as Christians, the first part is easy. We have the hope of the world! We follow a church calendar that allows us to celebrate all that God has done to bring us this hope—Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. The ancient Christians set up this calendar to bring to us, and remind us of, this hope on an annual basis. And we’re still smart enough to follow it! We hear the Word preached to us from our pulpit, we receive the sacraments as offered. This is hope! It is because of Jesus—because it is Jesus!
We are not like the rest of the world which has no hope. The world without Jesus has no purpose—it is just here by chance. It has come from nowhere and has no idea where it is going—perhaps, it thinks, to oblivion. It wants to “grab gusto” because it “goes around once,” but all around it experiences depression, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, accidents, poverty, ignorance, hard work…you get the idea…and death. Life is hopeless.
We who have hope experience the same things. But with a ‘but!’ There is a difference. Hope. With hope we have a purpose given to us by our creator God—to serve one another and care for the creation in which we are placed. We receive abundant life in this life—all that is good for us is available for the asking from our redeemer God. And we know where we are going, by grace, through faith—to heaven: the new heavens and earth remade for us where there is no more sin, sickness or death. And we have a sure and certain hope that we have and will receive these things because of the promises of God. So we know that as we experience these same things listed above that we have divine help instead of depression and despair.
So, to change attitude from despair one needs to bring hope. We have it. But there is one additional element to change attitude. To me it seems to be the harder element to achieve. To change attitude one needs to have action!
This is time to ask and answer the question: Why do we need to change our attitude? Because we’re like big flat rocks lying at the bottom of a hill. To be of any use we need to be at the top of the hill for whatever building is happening. But we can’t roll ourselves up there! So we despair and we think, “What’s the use?” and just lie there. We are apathetic.
Apathy. It creates inertia, just the opposite of action. I think the “action” side of this equation is harder because the devil has worked so much apathy into our congregations. We’re stuck at the bottom of the “mission hill” and think that there’s nothing we can do.
But hope brings action, too! Unless we choose to be stuck as a flat rock at the bottom of the hill, this hope—this Jesus—picks us up and moves us to the top of the hill—into his mission!
Bottom line? We have Jesus, who redeems us and moves us into his work. Bottom line? If we’re satisfied despairing like the world which has no hope, if we’re satisfied being worried about existence and reminiscing about the past, we can be a rock lying at the bottom of the hill. Jesus will likely honor our unbelief and allow us to damn ourselves. If we want something different for the future of our congregations, if we want a ‘change of attitude’—we have the hope of the world! We have Jesus!
Changing Attitudes
Greetings in the name of our incarnate, crucified, risen and ascended savior, Jesus! May his blessings overflow in your lives as you grow in confidence in the faith he has given to you. It is my joy to give thanks for you as we are yoked together in his service in this world so that others may come to the same faith we have and receive eternal life by grace, through faith, because of his work.
A short time ago someone at church asked me this question: How do you get people to change their attitudes?
I think the answer to the question is simple (but hard to achieve!). To change attitude one needs to bring HOPE and have ACTION!
For us as Christians, the first part is easy. We have the hope of the world! We follow a church calendar that allows us to celebrate all that God has done to bring us this hope—Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. The ancient Christians set up this calendar to bring to us, and remind us of, this hope on an annual basis. And we’re still smart enough to follow it! We hear the Word preached to us from our pulpit, we receive the sacraments as offered. This is hope! It is because of Jesus—because it is Jesus!
We are not like the rest of the world which has no hope. The world without Jesus has no purpose—it is just here by chance. It has come from nowhere and has no idea where it is going—perhaps, it thinks, to oblivion. It wants to “grab gusto” because it “goes around once,” but all around it experiences depression, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, accidents, poverty, ignorance, hard work…you get the idea…and death. Life is hopeless.
We who have hope experience the same things. But with a ‘but!’ There is a difference. Hope. With hope we have a purpose given to us by our creator God—to serve one another and care for the creation in which we are placed. We receive abundant life in this life—all that is good for us is available for the asking from our redeemer God. And we know where we are going, by grace, through faith—to heaven: the new heavens and earth remade for us where there is no more sin, sickness or death. And we have a sure and certain hope that we have and will receive these things because of the promises of God. So we know that as we experience these same things listed above that we have divine help instead of depression and despair.
So, to change attitude from despair one needs to bring hope. We have it. But there is one additional element to change attitude. To me it seems to be the harder element to achieve. To change attitude one needs to have action!
This is time to ask and answer the question: Why do we need to change our attitude? Because we’re like big flat rocks lying at the bottom of a hill. To be of any use we need to be at the top of the hill for whatever building is happening. But we can’t roll ourselves up there! So we despair and we think, “What’s the use?” and just lie there. We are apathetic.
Apathy. It creates inertia, just the opposite of action. I think the “action” side of this equation is harder because the devil has worked so much apathy into our congregations. We’re stuck at the bottom of the “mission hill” and think that there’s nothing we can do.
But hope brings action, too! Unless we choose to be stuck as a flat rock at the bottom of the hill, this hope—this Jesus—picks us up and moves us to the top of the hill—into his mission!
Bottom line? We have Jesus, who redeems us and moves us into his work. Bottom line? If we’re satisfied despairing like the world which has no hope, if we’re satisfied being worried about existence and reminiscing about the past, we can be a rock lying at the bottom of the hill. Jesus will likely honor our unbelief and allow us to damn ourselves. If we want something different for the future of our congregations, if we want a ‘change of attitude’—we have the hope of the world! We have Jesus!
January 2020
From The Devotional Bible; Historical Meditations for the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, CPH 1948, pp. 24-26.
Wise Men Still Go to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-15)
Surely the star did not whisper that the King was born! How, then, did the Wise Men of the East know that this unusual star announced the coming of the King of Kings? They learned this the same way that you and I know this truth—through the Word of God.
Centuries before the coming of the Christ Child, King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Palestine and led many Israelites into captivity. In this Babylonian exile the people of God spoke of the hope which was theirs that God would raise up unto Israel the Greater Son of David, who would establish an everlasting Kingdom. And though this promise of God was misunderstood—for many thought of an earthly kingdom—nevertheless this hope was expressed again and again by the captives of the East. The Wise Men surely knew the story. When they saw this unusual star, they put two and two together and concluded that the King had been born.
So they traveled to Jerusalem to do the King homage. There again, through God’s Word, they were directed to Bethlehem, where they found the Christ Child and worshiped Him as their Lord God and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Matthew 2:1-15 RSV)
We, too, go to Bethlehem in spirit and worship the Christ Child as our Lord and Savior. We know from the Scriptures that this Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah of prophecy. Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem.
He is the Star of Peace. He came to reconcile us to His Father through His death on the Cross. Once more we can come to the bosom of the eternal God and know that He loves us. We are at peace with God and therefore at peace with our own conscience.
He is the Star of Hope. All the weary and heavy-laden can turn to Him and find rest for their souls. We can look into the future and see heaven with all its glory. This hope takes the sting of disappointment out of our hearts, our lives, our homes.
He is the Star of Comfort. Life is filled with sorrow and tears and death. But Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; He heals broken hearts and promises that we shall live, because He lives.
He is the Star of Joy. Bethlehem’s angels announced good tidings of great joy. Sin is forgiven, salvation is certain, heaven is our home.
Wise men still go to Bethlehem. We, too, are wise if we go. Only if the Christ Child finds room in our hearts, shall we go on daily rejoicing that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
Prayer: Christ Child of Bethlehem, enter Thou into our hearts, and cleanse them from all sin, that we may worship and adore and serve Thee, who art the King of Kings and the Savior of us all. Amen.
From The Devotional Bible; Historical Meditations for the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, CPH 1948, pp. 24-26.
Wise Men Still Go to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-15)
Surely the star did not whisper that the King was born! How, then, did the Wise Men of the East know that this unusual star announced the coming of the King of Kings? They learned this the same way that you and I know this truth—through the Word of God.
Centuries before the coming of the Christ Child, King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Palestine and led many Israelites into captivity. In this Babylonian exile the people of God spoke of the hope which was theirs that God would raise up unto Israel the Greater Son of David, who would establish an everlasting Kingdom. And though this promise of God was misunderstood—for many thought of an earthly kingdom—nevertheless this hope was expressed again and again by the captives of the East. The Wise Men surely knew the story. When they saw this unusual star, they put two and two together and concluded that the King had been born.
So they traveled to Jerusalem to do the King homage. There again, through God’s Word, they were directed to Bethlehem, where they found the Christ Child and worshiped Him as their Lord God and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Matthew 2:1-15 RSV)
We, too, go to Bethlehem in spirit and worship the Christ Child as our Lord and Savior. We know from the Scriptures that this Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah of prophecy. Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem.
He is the Star of Peace. He came to reconcile us to His Father through His death on the Cross. Once more we can come to the bosom of the eternal God and know that He loves us. We are at peace with God and therefore at peace with our own conscience.
He is the Star of Hope. All the weary and heavy-laden can turn to Him and find rest for their souls. We can look into the future and see heaven with all its glory. This hope takes the sting of disappointment out of our hearts, our lives, our homes.
He is the Star of Comfort. Life is filled with sorrow and tears and death. But Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; He heals broken hearts and promises that we shall live, because He lives.
He is the Star of Joy. Bethlehem’s angels announced good tidings of great joy. Sin is forgiven, salvation is certain, heaven is our home.
Wise men still go to Bethlehem. We, too, are wise if we go. Only if the Christ Child finds room in our hearts, shall we go on daily rejoicing that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
Prayer: Christ Child of Bethlehem, enter Thou into our hearts, and cleanse them from all sin, that we may worship and adore and serve Thee, who art the King of Kings and the Savior of us all. Amen.
November 2019
This month’s article comes from a part of a writing by C.F.W. Walther, 1st president of our Missouri Synod.
Matthew 7:28-29
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
A person may pretend to be a Christian while in reality he is not. As long as he is in this condition, he is quite content with his knowledge of the mere outlines of the Christian doctrines. . . . However, the moment a person becomes a Christian, there arises in him a keen desire for the doctrine of Christ. Even the most uncultured peasant who is still unconverted is suddenly roused in the moment of his conversion and begins to reflect on God and heaven, salvation and damnation, etc. He becomes occupied with the highest problems of human life.
An instance of this kind is afforded by those Jews who flocked to Christ and also by the apostles. Those multitudes heard Christ with great joy and were astonished because He preached with authority and not as did the scribes. But the majority of these hearers never advanced beyond a certain feeling of delight and admiration. The apostles, too, were uneducated people, but they acted differently. They did not stop where the rest stopped, but propounded all manner of questions to Christ. . . . It is, therefore, quite true what the Apology says: “Men of good conscience are crying for the truth and proper instruction from the Word of God”
—C. F. W. Walther
This month’s article comes from a part of a writing by C.F.W. Walther, 1st president of our Missouri Synod.
Matthew 7:28-29
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
A person may pretend to be a Christian while in reality he is not. As long as he is in this condition, he is quite content with his knowledge of the mere outlines of the Christian doctrines. . . . However, the moment a person becomes a Christian, there arises in him a keen desire for the doctrine of Christ. Even the most uncultured peasant who is still unconverted is suddenly roused in the moment of his conversion and begins to reflect on God and heaven, salvation and damnation, etc. He becomes occupied with the highest problems of human life.
An instance of this kind is afforded by those Jews who flocked to Christ and also by the apostles. Those multitudes heard Christ with great joy and were astonished because He preached with authority and not as did the scribes. But the majority of these hearers never advanced beyond a certain feeling of delight and admiration. The apostles, too, were uneducated people, but they acted differently. They did not stop where the rest stopped, but propounded all manner of questions to Christ. . . . It is, therefore, quite true what the Apology says: “Men of good conscience are crying for the truth and proper instruction from the Word of God”
—C. F. W. Walther
OCTOBER 2019
On Being Present
Most of you already know this...I believe I’ve mentioned it a number of times...I enjoy watching people. In fact, it’s about the only thing I enjoy about flying. I’d get back into a corner and watch people from all cultures...macro, mini and micro...and watch them interact with ‘the airport’, with the horde of people coming through the crowd, and with their friends and family. It was a unique learning experience!
Did I tell you that it’s likely been over 10 years since I’ve flown? Things have changed. It’s not as much fun anymore...the reason? The wonderful invention referred to as the ‘smart phone.’ More and more people of all different groups are joining the ‘head bowed to the glass screen’ culture, oblivious to the world around them.
Are they present? In a way, one could argue, they are. They are present with those with whom they are interacting on the other end of the invisible cable, even as they are not present with those they with whom they are bumping elbows.
Does it matter? I don’t know…
Are we ‘present’ with those by whom we are surrounded? We are called to be Christians, called by Word and Sacrament to agape—unconditional, other centered, always serving others—love. It’s the whole “Love your neighbor as yourself” command. Can we live the love to which we have been called if we are not ‘present’ with those who surround us?
I have to honestly say that I am not always present. And I can honestly say that, from time to time, the glass screen culture captured me, too! It is amazing how, even on vacation, when that little box buzzes, we have to answer, or at least glance at it, for fear we might miss out on something! I am not writing about a culture that I stand above and look down upon. I am writing about a culture that I am within and of which I have been a part for over 20 years.
Present...It was a third of the theme for the National Youth Gathering that eight of us went to this summer. One presenter that some of our youth went to see—an NBA professional—equated it to being “where your feet are”. There is a time to be on the phone texting important information. There is a time to be in conversation with someone on a phone. There is also a time to set that stuff down and to be present with someone in the same room or the same building as you are.
But glass screens aren’t our only distraction to being present. Maybe it is some other electronic device, like a TV. Maybe it’s a situation. Maybe it’s a thousand other distractions that lead us to not be present with others...or ourselves. How many times do we engage in a conversation...and can’t wait for it to end? That’s not being present! How many times do we ask someone, “How are you?”, and don’t listen to the answer? Or hope they don’t answer truthfully?
Some don’t like to be alone with our self. The worries, the struggles or everyday life are easier to deal with when one is not present.
On another level, how many believers are truly present with God? How many times are we “where our feet are” in worship? In prayer? In meditation? How many times are we presenting solutions to God for our situations rather than listening for him? Or planning our afternoon? Or preparing Sunday afternoon activities? How many times are we going through the motions rather than gladly hearing and learning God’s Word?
God tells us to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And he tells us “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Our God who forgives our sins and sinful behavior because of the work of Jesus, his Son, is always present. Our sin doesn’t drive him away. He removes it. He is present. Our phones don’t drive him away. He breaks through the static. He is present. Our distractions don’t drive him away. He gets our attention and fixes our focus—our eyes fixed on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith.
On Being Present
Most of you already know this...I believe I’ve mentioned it a number of times...I enjoy watching people. In fact, it’s about the only thing I enjoy about flying. I’d get back into a corner and watch people from all cultures...macro, mini and micro...and watch them interact with ‘the airport’, with the horde of people coming through the crowd, and with their friends and family. It was a unique learning experience!
Did I tell you that it’s likely been over 10 years since I’ve flown? Things have changed. It’s not as much fun anymore...the reason? The wonderful invention referred to as the ‘smart phone.’ More and more people of all different groups are joining the ‘head bowed to the glass screen’ culture, oblivious to the world around them.
Are they present? In a way, one could argue, they are. They are present with those with whom they are interacting on the other end of the invisible cable, even as they are not present with those they with whom they are bumping elbows.
Does it matter? I don’t know…
Are we ‘present’ with those by whom we are surrounded? We are called to be Christians, called by Word and Sacrament to agape—unconditional, other centered, always serving others—love. It’s the whole “Love your neighbor as yourself” command. Can we live the love to which we have been called if we are not ‘present’ with those who surround us?
I have to honestly say that I am not always present. And I can honestly say that, from time to time, the glass screen culture captured me, too! It is amazing how, even on vacation, when that little box buzzes, we have to answer, or at least glance at it, for fear we might miss out on something! I am not writing about a culture that I stand above and look down upon. I am writing about a culture that I am within and of which I have been a part for over 20 years.
Present...It was a third of the theme for the National Youth Gathering that eight of us went to this summer. One presenter that some of our youth went to see—an NBA professional—equated it to being “where your feet are”. There is a time to be on the phone texting important information. There is a time to be in conversation with someone on a phone. There is also a time to set that stuff down and to be present with someone in the same room or the same building as you are.
But glass screens aren’t our only distraction to being present. Maybe it is some other electronic device, like a TV. Maybe it’s a situation. Maybe it’s a thousand other distractions that lead us to not be present with others...or ourselves. How many times do we engage in a conversation...and can’t wait for it to end? That’s not being present! How many times do we ask someone, “How are you?”, and don’t listen to the answer? Or hope they don’t answer truthfully?
Some don’t like to be alone with our self. The worries, the struggles or everyday life are easier to deal with when one is not present.
On another level, how many believers are truly present with God? How many times are we “where our feet are” in worship? In prayer? In meditation? How many times are we presenting solutions to God for our situations rather than listening for him? Or planning our afternoon? Or preparing Sunday afternoon activities? How many times are we going through the motions rather than gladly hearing and learning God’s Word?
God tells us to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And he tells us “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Our God who forgives our sins and sinful behavior because of the work of Jesus, his Son, is always present. Our sin doesn’t drive him away. He removes it. He is present. Our phones don’t drive him away. He breaks through the static. He is present. Our distractions don’t drive him away. He gets our attention and fixes our focus—our eyes fixed on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith.
September 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A couple of days after I am writing this for our newsletter, I have the privilege of presenting the opening devotion to the Circuit Visitors Conference up in our MN North District office. Then I get to hear and wrestle with a presentation given by a colleague for whom I have a great deal of respect, Rev. Dennis O’Neil, as he leads a discussion on a paper written by one of my old seminary professors, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs.
His paper is entitled “The Myth of ‘Righteous Anger’”.
It intrigued me when I heard of it. So I looked it up. I think that this should be a very interesting discussion and want to share some of it with you! Dr. Gibbs writes in the opening paragraphs of his paper:
... as I have been talking with other Christians, some clergy and some lay, about this study and about what I’ve been finding in the Scriptures, most people have objected to and at times even instinctively rejected the clear, simple answer to the question, “What does the Bible, and chiefly the [New Testament], say about anger?” These friends and colleagues have not wanted to talk about what the Bible actually says about anger. They’ve wanted to move quickly, instinctively to other topics. People have offered special circumstances, or qualified the scriptural testimony—seemingly anything to avoid being confronted by the answer to a question that, once you search for it, is not hard to find and is really quite clear. If I may speak frankly, without exception my Christian friends and colleagues have wanted to justify their anger; each time they have done this, they have appealed to the category of “righteous anger.”
“They wanted to justify their anger…” Hmmm. Sounds like all of us! Dr. Gibbs moves in pretty ‘churchy’ circles, living in St. Louis, Missouri, teaching at our Concordia Seminary, and he points out that “without exception” when confronted with the question of what the Bible says about anger, his contacts wanted to justify their anger. And, I’m willing to wager, so do we all.
Dr. Gibbs points out, that in his study, people usually went to Ephesians 4:26 for a justification for their anger. “‘Be angry, yet do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (EHV). We Christians want a Biblical excuse for our all so human anger, so we cling to a verse and twist it around so that we can be angry. We think that since God can be angry, we should be able to be angry and God would be ok with it, as long as we are angry about the same things that He is.
Yet this verse really doesn’t allow this. Dr. Gibbs, writing about Ephesians 4:26-27 and James 1:19-20, again:
The testimony of the NT barely acknowledges the presence or possibility of “righteous anger” in the sense that people normally use this phrase. There is certainly no direct teaching about or encouragement to such a thing. Whatever people may mean by “righteous anger,” it is a construct based on actions of various people (Moses, the prophets, Paul, etc.). But there is no such thing as a genuine, clear, biblical definition of or justification for “righteous anger”—unless the anger is the Father’s or the Son’s wrath. Far more often—in fact, almost exclusively—Christians are warned about the dangers of anger. The texts rarely, if ever, distinguish between the emotion of anger and sinful thoughts or words or deeds that may arise from that emotion. Here, simply and clearly, is the New Testament’s teaching about human anger: it is spiritually dangerous, and at times it can straightforwardly be called sin.
I would add, that within in the structure of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the discussion of anger is under Paul’s urging in 4:1-2, “As a prisoner in the Lord, therefore, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Live with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love” (EHV). He goes on to talk about peace and building up one another in love, and to put off the old self. Nothing encouraging anger—everything encouraging peace.
I think Dr. Gibbs has some very good words for us here. We should confess our sin of anger, not justify it, repent and receive the forgiveness earned for us and given us by Jesus on the cross—through his Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to read the full article it’s online… https://concordiatheology.org/2018/11/jeff-gibbs-the-myth-of-righteous-anger/ . If you can’t get it, ask, and I can print out a copy for you.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A couple of days after I am writing this for our newsletter, I have the privilege of presenting the opening devotion to the Circuit Visitors Conference up in our MN North District office. Then I get to hear and wrestle with a presentation given by a colleague for whom I have a great deal of respect, Rev. Dennis O’Neil, as he leads a discussion on a paper written by one of my old seminary professors, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs.
His paper is entitled “The Myth of ‘Righteous Anger’”.
It intrigued me when I heard of it. So I looked it up. I think that this should be a very interesting discussion and want to share some of it with you! Dr. Gibbs writes in the opening paragraphs of his paper:
... as I have been talking with other Christians, some clergy and some lay, about this study and about what I’ve been finding in the Scriptures, most people have objected to and at times even instinctively rejected the clear, simple answer to the question, “What does the Bible, and chiefly the [New Testament], say about anger?” These friends and colleagues have not wanted to talk about what the Bible actually says about anger. They’ve wanted to move quickly, instinctively to other topics. People have offered special circumstances, or qualified the scriptural testimony—seemingly anything to avoid being confronted by the answer to a question that, once you search for it, is not hard to find and is really quite clear. If I may speak frankly, without exception my Christian friends and colleagues have wanted to justify their anger; each time they have done this, they have appealed to the category of “righteous anger.”
“They wanted to justify their anger…” Hmmm. Sounds like all of us! Dr. Gibbs moves in pretty ‘churchy’ circles, living in St. Louis, Missouri, teaching at our Concordia Seminary, and he points out that “without exception” when confronted with the question of what the Bible says about anger, his contacts wanted to justify their anger. And, I’m willing to wager, so do we all.
Dr. Gibbs points out, that in his study, people usually went to Ephesians 4:26 for a justification for their anger. “‘Be angry, yet do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (EHV). We Christians want a Biblical excuse for our all so human anger, so we cling to a verse and twist it around so that we can be angry. We think that since God can be angry, we should be able to be angry and God would be ok with it, as long as we are angry about the same things that He is.
Yet this verse really doesn’t allow this. Dr. Gibbs, writing about Ephesians 4:26-27 and James 1:19-20, again:
The testimony of the NT barely acknowledges the presence or possibility of “righteous anger” in the sense that people normally use this phrase. There is certainly no direct teaching about or encouragement to such a thing. Whatever people may mean by “righteous anger,” it is a construct based on actions of various people (Moses, the prophets, Paul, etc.). But there is no such thing as a genuine, clear, biblical definition of or justification for “righteous anger”—unless the anger is the Father’s or the Son’s wrath. Far more often—in fact, almost exclusively—Christians are warned about the dangers of anger. The texts rarely, if ever, distinguish between the emotion of anger and sinful thoughts or words or deeds that may arise from that emotion. Here, simply and clearly, is the New Testament’s teaching about human anger: it is spiritually dangerous, and at times it can straightforwardly be called sin.
I would add, that within in the structure of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the discussion of anger is under Paul’s urging in 4:1-2, “As a prisoner in the Lord, therefore, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Live with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love” (EHV). He goes on to talk about peace and building up one another in love, and to put off the old self. Nothing encouraging anger—everything encouraging peace.
I think Dr. Gibbs has some very good words for us here. We should confess our sin of anger, not justify it, repent and receive the forgiveness earned for us and given us by Jesus on the cross—through his Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to read the full article it’s online… https://concordiatheology.org/2018/11/jeff-gibbs-the-myth-of-righteous-anger/ . If you can’t get it, ask, and I can print out a copy for you.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom