6-23-2026

Good Morning!

    Romans 6:1; “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”

         It always makes for an interesting, and lively, discussion.  This is especially true when you are talking to sixth, seventh and eighth graders.  They always answer so enthusiastically.  It starts with the discussion about the completeness of God’s grace and the completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice.  It goes something like this. 

   Student: “So I don’t have to do anything to get into heaven?”  Me: “No, in fact, there is nothing you can do.”  Student: “So now I am free, to do what I want?”  Me: “Yes you are free to do what you want; your salvation has been given to you because of God’s love and not because of your hard work or value.”  Student: “So I can sin if I want to?”  Me: “Yes.”  This is when bedlam breaks out.  I usually take a drink of water, or tea, or coffee, or something until it settles down a little.  A few of the kids are thinking of all the things they want to do but most are trying to figure out what is coming next.  So, then I turn it around and ask them questions.

   Me: “Yes, you are free to sin but why do you want to?”  Students: “It’s fun.”  Me: “Sin is what separates us from God’s love; why do you want to do something to hurt your relationship with God?”  “God has just forgiven you all of your sins; he has freed you from the bondage of sin and the slavery to the law; why do you want to sin, why do you want to go back to that?”  Now it is a little quieter.  Me: “Since God has shown how he loves you by sending Jesus to die for you; what should be your response?”  Student: “Love him and give thanks.”  Me: “How can you do this by sinning?”  Now it gets really quiet.

    This is the jist of Paul’s rhetorical question at the start of Romans chapter 6.  We have God’s grace poured out upon us; so, if we keep sinning, we get more grace so we might as well keep on sinning.  This is the argument put forward.  Paul responds with the dramatic and forceful response that we are dead to sin.  Our desire should be toward God not toward sin.  When our sinful nature has been changed from desiring to sin to desiring to love and serve God, this is the result of forgiveness alive in our life.  Our faith is moving forward.  Why would we want to sin?  The truth is that we do not want to sin.  We may slip into sin again (and again) but we do not desire it and often feel guilty after we have committed it.  This type of sin is not what Paul means.  It is the desire of the heart that reflects what is in our heart.  Is faith in God’s forgiveness and the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice in our heart or do we deny and reject it?  If we have the Spirit living in us, we desire to do God’s will; it is about this simple.  The hard part is that we still have the sinful nature which battles against the new creation we are because of Christ.  We battle against sin, we hate sin and we do not desire to sin.  We desire God’s love and grace.

Father, lead me away from sin.  Guide me by your Spirit to desire your will.  Be with those who are especially tested and challenged at this time.  Protect them with your loving arm and keep them from falling.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

6-22-2026

Good Morning!

     Psalm 25: 14-15; “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.  My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”

    Just someone to talk to; just someone who you can share your thoughts with; just someone who you can be yourself with.  Most people want and need a friend.  They seek that special companionship that only true friendship can bring.  The main thing about true friendship is the complete honesty that you generally have.

   It is your best friend that tells you the person you are dating is not the right one.  Your best friend is the one to tell you that the clothing you have on isn’t you.  It is your best friend who you share your dreams with and who helps you keep your life grounded.  It is usually your best friend that you call first, whether it is wonderful news or the worst news.

    In many ways, we can view Jesus as our best friend.  He is the one who truly knows you better than anyone else.  He knows your fears; those things in your life that cause you to stay awake at night.  He knows those events that cause us to worry.  It might be struggles with your spouse, or other family members.  It might be struggles with your boss or a co-worker.  It might just be the struggles that can come with getting older; but the fears can make us feel very lonely.

    It is through that loneliness that Jesus leads us to hope.  It is through his love and grace that we are kept safe.  He protects us from the snares and the traps that the devil sets for us.  He protects us from the fears that can paralyze us.  He gives us the confidence of our salvation and to us the peace that only he can give.  It is through his loving kindness and patience that we receive form him the blessings of this life and the ability to face the trials and struggles with hope.  It is that hope that secure us.

    Jesus is your best friend especially in that he will never abandon you or forsake you.  Even when others do, he will always be there to comfort you and to guide you through the trials and fears.  He speaks to us those words of comfort through his Word and hears our cries.  He listens better than any best friend because he offers true healing and true hope. We can live in the certainty of his wondrous grace.  In him and in him alone we know that our salvation is secure.  It is only by his grace that we win those battles and can face those fears with the certainty of the victory promised to us by God.  Given to us at our baptism, we can hold onto that promise that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love.  He is our friend; he is our salvation.  He protects us from all the devil throws at us.  In him alone we have peace.

Gracious Lord, you are our hope and salvation.  In you we have the peace and comfort to face this world.  Guide us by your light of truth.  Be with those who feel lonely and without anyone to be with them.  Guard and protect them from the traps that the devil lays before them.  Keep them safe in your loving arms.  Bring them safely home.  In your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

6-21-2026

Good Morning!

     1Timothy 2:1; “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.”

      I am always fascinated by looking at Facebook at what people write or think.  One thing that is interesting is that so many people place requests for prayers on the site.  People ask for prayers for themselves, for their children or other family members.  It might be prayers for health or success in a new venture or just for the Holy Spirit to give them some comfort and peace.

    Of course, the standard reply is something like “I’ll pray” or “prayers are being offered” or something like that.  I often wonder if it is meant or if it is just a comment that is made along the line of when we say, “How are you?”  We usually don’t want the person to give us a real answer.  Is the saying “I’ll pray for you” the same thing, just and answer.  I hope not.

    Prayer is one of the most beautiful gifts that God gives his people.  First, it helps to connect us to God in a family fashion.  We are told to approach God as our loving Father.  This allows us to speak honestly and frankly from our heart.  We speak, even when God already fully knows what is in our heart.  God knows what weighs heavy on our heart, what our fears are and where our struggles lie.  Yet he invites us to speak to him, in what is best thought of as the holy conversation, the reading of Scriptures (listening to God speak) and the response of prayer (speaking to God as he listens).  It is in this that we find comfort and consolation.

    Yet there are other benefits which all Christians should rejoice in.  Prayer, when offered with others and for others, tends to bring a closer relationship with those people involved.  Married couples often report a closer relationship with their spouses when they pray together and for each other.  Family members claim a closer relationship with their siblings when they grew up actively praying for each other.   Church members tend to be closer when they join in prayer for each other and with each other.  This is part of the “bearing one another’s burden” that we are encouraged to engage in with one another.  Prayer strengthens our personal relationship with God and it strengthens our personal relationships with our fellow believers.

    It can also strengthen our compassion and empathy for those for whom we pray.  We tend to connect with their experience more intensely when we pray for them.  There also tends to be more grace offered for their lives and less judging of their actions.  Prayer, true prayer, brings us peace.

    So, if you are a FaceBooker, and you say that you will pray for someone; mean it and do it.  Often, it is easiest to pray for someone immediately when the need is brought to your attention.  Write it down to remember it if you can but pray right away and you will keep your promises and you will hear God’s call to make supplications and intercessions for everyone.

Father, teach me to pray for others, especially those who are in great need.  Father, you teach us that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those brothers and sisters who are in the greatest need.  Lead me to make intercessions for them.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret          

6-20-2026

Good Morning!

     Matthew 16:6; “Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

        It is often called “herd mentality” or “mob mentality.”  It is a social and psychological phenomenon which describes when a group of people begins to act in a fashion that may be different than how they would act individually.  We see it most often on the school yard.  All of a sudden, a group of kids decide to pick on one child.  The group just gangs up and is merciless to one child.  Many have experienced this at one time or another.  It may have been on either side of the interaction.  You may have been the victim or you may have been one of the perpetrators.  This event seems to grow beyond any sense of logic or reason.

    Some scientists think that when a group begins to act in this fashion, that one of the first things to go away is personal responsibility.  People tend to see their personal beliefs and actions to be overruled and controlled by the mob.  We simply go along with the crowd and as someone begins to escalate the problem, many seem to just go along even escalating the event as it occurs.  Many scientists feel that each person can deny personal culpability; it frees the individual from personal guilt.

    When Jesus was speaking of the “leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” he was speaking specifically of their false teachings.  It also can speak to the way that sin, once it begins to grow, can easily consume those who are either not paying attention or are easily swayed.  So, if we are in a group and gossip begins; it becomes easy for us to join in, add to the lies and falsehoods, and perpetuate the pain.  Be sure to always remember that sin causes pain to all those involved.  Sin is something that can and does grow easily if we let it.  It can grow until it crowds out all of our faithful actions. 

    Jesus warns us against this.  He warns us that sin, left unchecked, grows and grows until it destroys all around it.   Sin, when viewed as harmless or “not that big of a deal” grows until it reaches the point where many are harmed.  This is why Jesus continually encourages us to be watchful; to be alert to what is going on around us, what is being said, on what is happening.  Sin can start so small and mushroom so large before we even have time to think.  Sin is stronger and faster than we are; our only hope is to avoid it.  The only way to avoid it is to cling to Christ through the faith that he gives us.

    We are never stronger than sin.  We should never think we can play with it or toy with it.  Sin is only destructive and painful.  Our only chance of avoiding the leaven of sin is to cling to the cross of Christ.

Father, lead me to cling to your wondrous grace.  Lead me to hold onto the cross of Christ.  Keep me from the enticement of sin.  Be with those who are being tempted and are weakening.  Give them the strength to stand up to the struggles of sin.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret        

6-19-2026

Good Morning!

     Luke 10: 2; “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

    Are you one of those people who look in awe as someone does something that you just don’t see yourself doing?  Are you amazed when someone becomes a missionary, moves halfway around the world, lives in some remote part of the world in order to witness about Jesus?  Do you marvel when someone quits their job and suddenly becomes a mission person like a nurse or teacher or carpenter?  They leave a good paying job, the security they know and go to where their skills are desperately needed but definitely in a poor paying, somewhat unsafe place.

   It doesn’t even have to be this grand.  Maybe you see someone serving on a district or regional board for the church.  They have to get up and speak before large crowds and place their faith and their ideas out there where they can be attacked.  It might just be to serve as an elder in your church and you think “there is no way I could do that!” 

    We often hear that we need to “get out of our comfort zone.”  We need to “expand our horizons.”  In some ways this is true but in some ways; not so much.  It is true in that we need to live our life as a witness for Christ.  If we always shrink away, we need to strive to let our light shine.  Yet if you are one of those people who struggle doing that, then start small.  You don’t have to give up your job and move to a place you can’t pronounce.  You can start at home and at your place of work.  You can start with your children and grandchildren or your brothers and sisters or your spouse.  Then you can move to your co-workers and friends.

   The great thing is that you don’t have to be an elegant speaker; you simply need to let the love of Christ shine through.  It can be with a kind word first thing in the morning; it can be an extra dose of patience.  It can be stopping to help open a door or a simple smile.  Showing God’s love by simple acts of kindness can go a long way.  It can lead to someone asking you why you are so kind and happy.  Here is a chance to witness.  It doesn’t have to be a long theological statement.  It can simply be that with Jesus in my heart I am content with my life.  If they want a deeper answer, send them to your pastor.

   There is a lot of harvesting to do.  There are many souls who need to hear of God’s grace.  Any way that they can hear the message is important and those souls that are next door to you need it as much as someone half a world away.  God calls us to witness to everyone.  It doesn’t have to be fancy; just honest.  After that, let the Holy Spirit take over.

Father, give me the courage to be your voice.  Give me the courage to be your hands and your arms.  Let your love flow through me to those who need it the most.  Keep me alert to the times and places when I can do the most good.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

6-18-2026

Good Morning!

     Matthew 9:6; “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic— “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

     The man was a paralytic.  We don’t know exactly what this meant but he was apparently bedridden.  His life would have been extremely difficult.  There were no drugs to help with spasms.  There was no health care system for looking after him.  He was left to rely on the kindness of his family and friends.  We don’t know if he was paralyzed from birth or if his condition was the result of an accident or an assault. 

    His life would have been one of meager existence.  It would have been difficult to call it living.  He may have gone for days without eating or being bathed.  He was probably covered with sores.  He would have been very easy to overlook.  He would have been someone who would have been considered a drag on society, less than just about anyone.  What could he do?  What did he have to offer?  Yet Jesus stopped what he was doing, took a decided effort to heal this man both physically and spiritually.

    There are many lessons for us in this story but the one we want to look at is the value of the man.  What was the value of this man?  He wasn’t producing anything for society.  He couldn’t even take care of himself let alone his family.  He simply existed and was a drain on society.  Yet Jesus stopped and healed him.  Jesus also healed a woman who bled; he raised the only son of a widow.  He healed the lepers; he healed the people who were demon possessed.  He healed people who had value.  They had value because of who they were; they were God’s creation.  They had value because of the value of the one who created them, who redeemed them and who keeps them in faith.  Their value came from God.

   Our value comes from God.  It is not what you produce.  It is not because of what you have or say.  Our value comes from God and exists because of God.  All people, all humans have value because of the creator, redeemer, and sanctifier; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Triune God gives us value and He gives value to all human life.  Because God gives human life value, he chose to save it and not destroy it and we should do the same.

   We have value because of God’s grace.  He chose to redeem you.  He chose to love you and to redeem you from the scourge of the law and from his holy, righteous wrath.  Our value is not dependent upon what we do.  Our actions also do not devalue us either.  God’s love is pure and true and for us.  Our love for all of our brothers and sisters should also be pure and true based upon God’s value of them and not ours.  We love, not because of what others can do for us but because God first loved us and them.

Father, in you do we have all value.  Your love fulfills all the worth that we have.  Teach us to treasure all those around us.  Lead us to be the agents of your love, especially to those that the world sees as worthless.  All your children have value for all are loved by you.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

6-17-2026

Good Morning!

     Hebrews 11:8; “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

    One of my favorite movies is “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”  In it there is a part where Indiana Jones has to cross this huge chasm.  He is told that he must take a leap of faith to make it across.  During the scene, we can see the fear and the angst on Indiana’s face as he takes the step.  He ends up stepping onto a walkway that is unseen.  Yet I think that his expression reveals much to us about a leap of faith.

    In our verse, we read how Abraham left his home, his father and his family, his friends and the familiar surroundings of his home and left.  He took his wife, a nephew, and his possessions.  He went in the direction that God led him but Abraham wasn’t sure where he was going.  He only knew that God knew where Abraham was going and that was enough for Abraham because Abraham had faith.

    I am not sure what kind of reaction most husbands would get if they told their wives that they were packing up and moving but He didn’t know where.  I am not sure how most men would react to the call that Abraham received.  Events that truly require faith can be difficult.  When our life is going the way, we want it to go, healthy, wealthy, and wise, it can be easy to say that “I have faith.”  But what happens when life goes the other way? 

    It is at those tough times, those terrible times, those horrific times, which cause us to feel the angst of faith.  When things go the way, they are supposed to go, happy and healthy children, successful job, loving spouse, and everything else we want; we can say “I’ve been blessed and I have faith.”  Yet when God peels away the veneers of stuff that we use to measure happiness or contentment and we are left with only Him to cling to; faith can be both fearful and angst filled.  We look and don’t see the path; we may not even be sure of the direction that we are travelling.

    Yet God tells us to trust in Him.  We can look at all the promises that he has already kept, we can look at the total faithfulness of his actions, we can look to his incredible grace already poured out on us and we can see that we can and should do just that; we should trust in His promises.  Faith can be described as hugging back.  God picks you up and holds you close to his chest so you can hear his heart and feel the warmth of his love.  Faith is hugging back and thus clinging tightly to God and his incredible mercy.  So, we may waver, we may have twinges of fear and angst but we still take that step of faith fully confident that God has placed the walkway beneath our feet to keep us safe I his loving arms.

Gracious Father, strengthen my faith.  Lead me down the path of your righteousness that I may grow in my faith that I may cling even tighter to you.  Be with all those who struggle with life’s challenges at this time.  Give them the courage to take the step of faith that we all need to take.  Guide them gently in their ways.  In the precious name of Jesus our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret    

6-16-2026

Good Morning!

            Romans 8:1; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

      One of the saddest conversations that I have ever been part of was with a young lady who was bemoaning her future.  She was a good student who studied intensely and worked hard in class.  She was a musician and a decent athlete.  She also was a very nice young lady.  She had a scholastic scholarship waiting for her at the college she was attending.  Yet she was looking for and waiting for something catastrophic to occur.  She kept telling me that she didn’t deserve the good things that were happening; something bad was bound to happen.

    She had this sense that somehow, she was unworthy of what she had.  She had a lot of explanations as to why she didn’t deserve what she was getting.  “The school was small so it distorted her class ranking;” “her teacher helped her fill out her scholarship papers;” “she just guessed the right answers.”  She lived a life where she felt incredible self-condemnation.  She felt that she was completely unworthy and worried what would happen when the rest of the world “figured that out.”

    Many of us live with this deep seeded fear.  We do not believe that we should have what we have.  We hear a voice that tells us that we are not good as parents, as a spouse, as a child, or worker or co-worker.  We hear the voice tell us what a disappointment we truly are and when everyone else figures this out and the truth comes out; then we know that we are the loser.

   This is why this message from Paul is so wonderful.  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  God does not condemn.  If you are hearing the voice that condemns you, that attacks you it is from the devil and the old sinful nature in us.  It is not God telling you that you are worthless or unworthy.

    God sent Jesus to die for you.  He sent his only Son to suffer for you.  He did this so that you would be made worthy.  He did this to give you the peace that comes with the knowledge that you are his redeemed child.  He seeks not to condemn but to give you salvation and to give you hope.  God does not condemn you rather he frees you from sin and from the condemnation of sin.

    This is a great blessing but one that we must remember and we must focus on God’s voice of forgiveness rather than the devil’s voice of attack.  We are free from the slavery of sin and the bondage of the law.  We can live a life that is not filled with condemnation, self or otherwise.  We are free because of his grace.  We are free to live a life of joy and peace which he gives to us.

Father of grace, in you we have hope and in you we have no condemnation.  Give us the courage to stand up to the devil’s lies.  Be with those who are especially tormented by the devil’s attacks.  Give them peace so that they may rest secure in your loving arms.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

6-15-2026

Good Morning!

   Colossians 3:13; “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

    It is always somewhat humorous to read an article or a study that “supports” the truths of the Bible.  In a study in the “Journal of Behavioral Medicine” people who forgive others, and do so unconditionally, tend to live longer and healthier lives than people who do not.  They listed many different ways that forgiving others is healthy for you.

    When we forgive others, our stress level is lower.  We can sleep better.  We are not in the angry mode which produces a chemical imbalance in our bodies.  It helps your heart.  It strengthens your immune system.  It strengthens your healthy relationships. 

    Probably the greatest physical benefit is the reduction of stress.  Stress, when it occurs over a long-term period, can damage your mental health and can lead to ulcers and other physical problems.  One of the strong ones is the lack of good quality sleep.  Sleep deprivation is a huge damaging condition.  Stress leads to many immune and cardio problems.  Not forgiving leads to stress and stress is not healthy.

    God has shown us, given us, and guaranteed us a better way.  He teaches us that forgiveness is the best way.  He shows us that to forgive is the healthier choice.  It is healthier in that forgiving others gives you peace.  In part because it puts you in charge of how you react to others.  When you forgive you no longer keep score in your head and heart.  You do not have to remember who you are upset with and why.  You are not calculating how to even the score.  You can let the pain of the sin leave you and you can be filled with God’s peace.

    It may be difficult at times, forgiving a spouse or other family member may require more time than the stranger at Walmart.  Yet God encourages to take the time and to make the effort to forgive as we are forgiven.  We may have to go to God in prayer often asking for the strength to forgive; but forgiveness is necessary.   Forgiveness frees us from the slavery of sin.  Slavery to both being the sinner and being the one who retains the sin and thus carries the pain.  Strive to forgive.  Make that your top goal in life; to forgive those sins which are committed against you.  By forgiving, you engender a more peaceful life, a life in which you are more content.  It will make your relationships stronger and help to build community with the people that you deal with on a daily basis.  Strive to forgive as God forgives you.  It will be difficult because God is perfect and we are not but we must daily strive to forgive.

Father of all forgiveness, empower me to forgive.  Strengthen me that I might rise above this world’s temptation to retain sins.  Give me the peace to forgive and the peace that I receive because I forgive.  Be with those who are especially burdened by the struggle to forgive. Give them the wisdom to forgive and to be relieved of the pain that results from holding onto sins.   Lead your Church to show the example of your forgiving grace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret       

6-14-2026

Good Morning!

      Romans 8:26; “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

    Sometimes there are no words.  Sometimes we experience things that leave us in such a mess that we don’t know what to say.  There are times when we face situations and we just don’t know what to say; what to say to each other, what to say to God.  These events may be sudden like an unexpected death or a sudden change in the health of someone we love or not knowing what tomorrow will bring.  We are left stunned and don’t know what to say.  Sometimes it is just a sudden change in our surroundings.  It might be a divorce or a loss of our home or some major economic event.  What do we say? We aren’t even sure of how the story will end, what do we do when we have no words?

      It can take the form of unexpected arguments or battles that we don’t see coming and don’t know how to respond.  It can be two or three hitting us at the same time.  What do we say?  Perhaps you are a single parent at your wits end.  There has been one too many struggles.  Money runs tight, demands of the children grow, the house needs work, the car needs work, you need rest but there is none in sight and now there is trouble at school.  What do we say?  Where do we go?

    The world and our sinful nature want you to think you are all alone.  That the battles we face can and will destroy us.  We feel that there is nothing to do, we can no longer face the struggle; there is hope.  Even in this wordlessness, we are not alone and we are not without hope.  The greater our weakness, the greater is God’s grace present in our life.  Paul wrote that God’s grace is made great in our weakness.  In our weakness, we can only turn to Christ, look to him and cry.  The greatness of God is that is all we need to do.  From that point on, the Holy Spirit will pray for us, pray with us, and take our pain upon himself for us.

    So, if we feel pain, seek healing, desire peace, or comfort, we do so with God’s Spirit praying on our behalf.  We do so with God’s comforting agent being with us through the whole event.  The God who loves you so much that He sent his Son to die for you will never abandon you.  He will never turn away from you; he will never close his ear or heart to you.  He will take the pain of your sorrow and give you peace.  He will never leave you without hope.  Even when we can speak no words, God will never leave you.  He will always hold you close, like a parent comforts a crying child, God’s grace is upon you.

Heavenly Father, there are times when I can find no words to express my pain or my fear or my sorrow.  Yet I know that I have comfort and hope in you.  Lift me up that I may see the light of your salvation.  Keep me safe and warm in your loving arms.  Be with those who are especially silent at this time.  Give ear to their voice that they may be comforted.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret  

6-13-2026

Good Morning!

              Matthew 17:5; “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

      One of the professors that I had in college had an interesting method of teaching.  While he lectured, he would stop and say a name or place or event twice.  If he said it twice, you made a note of it as something to make sure you knew what it meant or why it was important.  If he would stop, say the name twice and then spell it; you knew it must be important.  Yet if he stopped, say it twice, and then spell it out while writing it on the board; well, you knew that it was going to be on the test and you had better know exactly what it was that he wanted you to write about it.  When he would write it on the board, it was the equivalent of him saying, “Pay attention and don’t forget this; this is important!”

    Our verse is the equivalent of God telling you, “Pay attention and don’t forget this; this is important!”   Just in case there was any confusion as to who was speaking and if what he as saying was important; God the Father makes it totally clear.  “This is my beloved Son…listen to him!”  It doesn’t get much clearer than this.  It was clear to the disciples who heard it; they fell on their faces terrified of what they had just heard.  Yet when they looked up, they only saw Jesus.

    That is what we need to do; look up and only see Jesus.  We can look to what he says, what he does and what he wants of us and for us as God’s truth.  We can rest assured of his promises of grace and hope.  We can know with full confidence that he is doing what he said he would do.  He is at the throne of God interceding for us, praying to the Father on our behalf.  He is ruling from his throne at the right hand of God, putting all powers under his feet so that every knee will bow before him.  He is expanding his kingdom so that all those who call upon his name will be saved.  With all this power at work for us, we cannot lose.

    Yet even greater than this power is the love which Christ has for us.  His steadfast love and mercy never fail us.  He continues to walk with us and to guide us by the Spirit.  We are never left to face the assaults and attacks of the devil on our own.  We can always find our comfort in his words of grace.  We can always go to him with our cries and our fears and he will hear us.  He is our rock and our fortress.

   After all this there waits for us the reward of life eternal with him in the restores creation.  It waits for us with its promise of a perfect and restored creation for us and for all who believe.  It is fast approaching, and with it, the end of pain and sorrow, of suffering and death; these will be gone.  Our hope is secure.  “Listen to Him.”

Father in heaven, open our ears that we may listen to your Son and to know him as the true Savior.  Strengthen our faith and empower our hearts that we might cling to you.  Be with those who do not hear that they may come to know your grace, mercy, and truth.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret   

6-12-2026

Good Morning!

    John 10:29; “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

    A young child was walking with his father down a slippery path.    His father looked down at him and told him to hold onto the father’s hand.  The young child looked up and said, “No Dad, you hold my hand in case I fall; I might lose my grip.  You should take hold of my hand because you won’t let go.” 

    This is why it is so wonderful that we are held in the Father’s hand; he won’t let go and no one can steal us out of his hand.  God holds onto me and not the other way around.  How many times have you tried to get a child to take your hand and then, when something more interesting comes along, they let go and walk away?  Or how many times have you tried to hold their hand only to have them pull away because they thought they didn’t need your hand?  Have you ever had a child let go of your hand and run away in fear?  A child holding on isn’t a very strong hold but when the parent holds on it is much stronger.

    So even during those times of our lives when we thought we knew all the answers and didn’t really need God; he continued to hold us in his hand and protects us.  Even if we rebel, he holds onto us calling us back to his gracious truth.  He holds us as a parent holds onto the wandering child.

     Yet, perhaps even more comforting, God continues to hold us when we let go because we are afraid.  Many of us have been, or are, at a place where we know only fear.  We feel like we are standing on the edge of a deep gorge and it is slippery and maybe even windy.  It seems like it is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to keep standing.  We can feel like we are ready to fall at any second and we stand in fear.  We may be struggling with the issues of our parents as they get older.  We may be struggling with issues of our children who fail to see a need for the church or faith.  Maybe we are struggling to try to hold onto our faith as it is daily attacked.  There are many issues and events in this world that cause us to fear slipping and falling down and if we were on our own, we would.  But we are not alone.

   God is holding you in his hand and he has promised to not let go.  It is not our strength or courage that keeps us safe but it is entirely God’s love for us.  So, if you feel like you just can’t make it one more step; let God carry you, he has been all along.  Trust in his grace and mercy to care for you to protect you and to keep you safe. 

Father of all love, too often I let go.  I fail to trust in your mercy and I let go.  Thank you for not letting go of me.  Thank you for keeping me safe from the devil’s attacks.  Help me to find comfort in your loving arms.  Give me the peace that the world cannot give or understand.  Help my brothers and sisters who are struggling at this time.  Let your mercy pour over them.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret            

 

6-11-2026

Good Morning!

       1 John 4:8; “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

      It is generally assumed that, when it comes to men and women, there is a vast difference in the traits that each look for in a spouse.  So, it came somewhat as a surprise that of the top twenty traits that we look for in a spouse, seventeen of them were the same.  Some were at different levels by a line or two but otherwise, they were pretty much identical.  Women listed their top three traits as warm, reliable and fair while men listed reliable, warm, and fair.  The only differences were that women wanted their men to be lenient, flexible, and generous while men wanted their women to be even-tempered, creative, and practical.  Beyond this we tend to look for similar traits.

    This really shouldn’t surprise us as most studies show that, deep down, we want a spouse who is similar to us in our values, dreams, beliefs, and expectations.  This almost always is the way it goes.  Sometimes we think a couple is very different but when the core traits are studied, they tend to be as similar as any other happy couple.  We look for the right traits.

    Yet what is the greatest trait that we see in God.  Some would say it is his power and majesty; that the most important trait of God is his sovereignty.  God is God and there is none other and that is what matters.  Some say that it is the fact that God is eternal.  He always was and always will be.  Some will claim that this fact can give us comfort that God will always be so; nothing will ever change.  Some claim that it is God’s holy righteousness that is the most important trait.  Everything will be “right” at some point in time.     

    Scriptures tell us a different story.  Scriptures so us that the most important trait of God is love.  God is by nature a loving God.  It is this nature that moved God to send Jesus to be our Savior.  It is his loving nature that causes God to redeem us and not wipe us out and start over.  It is this loving nature that moves God to have compassion on us.  It is the loving God who holds us close to his heart and who leans his ear towards us.  It is God’s love that causes him to continually reach out to us as a loving father calling us back into his holy family. 

   It is God’s loving nature that moves him to send us his spirit of comfort when we are in need of his comfort.  It is God’s loving nature that moves him to never abandon you.  Abandoning you may be the right thing to do; it may be the just thing to do; but God does the loving thing and he redeems and saves you to be his child.  It is God’s loving nature that moves him to let nothing separate you from his love. 

Father of all love, you sent Jesus to die for me.  There is no greater love.  Guard me by your Spirit that I may always remember your grace and mercy.  Move me to show this same type of love to those around me, especially those who need it the most.  Help me to see that those who need it may not always return it.  Bring all to the knowledge of your saving Gospel.  Give those who are hurting and lost in their journey of life the comfort of your mercy.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

6-10-2026

Good Morning!

             1 Peter 3:21; “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

       It must have been quite the event to watch.  It was the formal claiming by the explorer for the king or queen who funded them.  At first a landing party would have set foot on the land and searched to make sure it was safe.  Once it was determined to be safe, the lead explorer would take the skiff boat ashore with the flag of the nation that he was sailing for.  He would take the flag, attached to a long iron shaft and the drive the shaft into the ground.  He would then proclaim, “I claim this land in the name of King whatever!”  This was how the European kingdoms claimed land throughout the new world.

     During the great land rushes, the settlers would ride their horses, wagons or just run to the land that they wanted.  They would place flags or strips of cloth on the perimeter of the land and then claim it as their new home.  The marking of the land as claimed by someone gave ownership of the land.

    This is what we can think of when we think of Baptism.   This is part of what we are doing when, during the Baptism, the pastor makes the sign of the cross on the forehead and on the heart of the person being baptized.   As he does this, the pastor says receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.  You are marked, claimed by Jesus as his own child.  Nothing will ever separate you from Him because he has claimed you and nothing can ever pull you from his hand.

    This is what we call the baptismal promise and that we live in God’s baptismal grace.  We only need to recall this promise; we are claimed by Christ the crucified.  Regardless of the failures of our life, that promise is always there, that promise never leaves.  The promise made to us in our Baptism is entirely dependent upon God and his mercy.  It is a promise that he makes to each one of us who is baptized.  Forgiveness of sins and our salvation to eternal life are promised mercies.  Neither depends upon us but rather depend entirely upon God.

     So, we can always come back to the certainty of God’s promised mercy, the forgiveness of sins, because of the simple promise that God made to us in our Baptism.  We are God’s baptized children forever his forever saved.  So, no matter what we face, no matter what comes our way, we always have God’s promise.  We can always trust in God to keep his promise made to us in our Baptism; we are marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.

Father of all grace, through the mercy of Baptism we are your redeemed children.  You have made us yours and keep us safe within your loving arms.  Help us to remember the wonders of your grace.  Keep us secure in the knowledge of our salvation.  Be with those who are hurting at this time.  Remind them of the promise that you have made to them.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret    

6-9-2026

Good Morning!

    Ephesians 4:31; “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

      A man was camping in the woods in the Black Hills.  As he went to go through the stream, he was bitten by a rattlesnake.  They rushed him to the hospital where the anti-venom was administered.  As he was leaving the hospital, he asked the doctor if the bite was truly deadly.  The doctor told him, “No, the bite is not deadly it is the venom that the bite leaves.  That is what really kills you.” 

    That is true in our life as well.  It is never the “bite” that really does the harm.  In our life it is never the cruel word that is said about us that kills us.  It is not the slight against us.  It is not the cruel action against us.  It is not the way that others mistreat us.  These things do not kill us.  They hurt us; they hurt us a lot but they do not kill us.

    What will kill you is the “venom” that these acts leave in us.  The bitterness, the anger, and the hatred that we feel toward others is what kills us.  It is the residual that we carry in our heart that truly destroys us and it destroys us from within and not from without.  It is the anger that we cling to; it is the bitterness that we keep hold of that causes us to suffer and die. 

     This is why Jesus tells us over and over, throughout the entire of Scriptures not to hold onto the hurt that others cause us.  This is part of why he tells us to forgive those who sin against us.  As long as we hold onto the pain they caused us, the bitterness and the “venom” grows within us and poisons us to death.  This poison separates us from God’s family as we stand on the outside looking in.  As we hold onto the wrath we feel, the devil leads us down the path that leads to sin which leads to our death.  The bitterness we hold onto and allow to fester and to consume us eventually will destroy us.

    So, Jesus tells us to let it go.  Let go of the bitterness and the anger.  Throw the pain away and cling to God’s hope.  It may take some time.  It might take many times of throwing away the anger and the bitterness before it is finally all gone but we must keep throwing it away.  As long as the venom is in us, as long as the bitterness remains, we are susceptible to the revenge mode that the devil tries to entice us into.  Sin remains crouching at our door.  Jealousy, pettiness, greed, and the like all grow from the poison of resentment and bitterness.  As long as these remain festering in our system, we are separating ourselves from God.  So let the bitterness go; let the anger subside and grab onto the incredible promise of God’s mercy actively growing in our lives to be the beacon we desire.  Focus on the good things; focus on God’s grace.

Father of all grace and truth, lead us to release from our body the poison of anger, resentment, bitterness, and malice.  Guide us by your Spirit to walk the path of your righteousness.  Lead into all truth and in all truth into all mercy.  Move us to show the same mercy to others that you have shown to us.  Free those who are holding onto their bitterness.  Release them that they may know your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret