10-24-2025

Good Morning All,

        Luke 18:13; “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

     When I first started to take classes at the seminary there was a standard joke told by all the professors the first time they talked to us.  Apparently, it was in the “joke of the day” file of the morning announcements because each one told it.  We laughed harder when the president of the seminary or one of the deans of faculty told the joke than we did when one of the associate professors told it.  The joke was this.  “Now that you are going to become ministers you expect to be invited out to dinner more often.  People will invite you and feed you just so they don’t have to say a table prayer.”

    It was funny the first time but not so funny the fifth time.  Yet there is a certain amount of truth in this statement; many people will do almost anything to get out of praying, especially in public.  So why are we so intimidated by praying?  For many, it is the “public” part that really throws us but almost as many have trouble praying.  I remember talking with a woman who struggled with prayer.  “I just don’t know all the right words.”  This is a common theme for many.  We don’t know all the “church words” and how to use them.

    The first thing to remember is that prayers which are part of the liturgy of the church have been written and honed throughout the centuries.  These are specially written for certain times and events.  Yet this should not deter our personal prayer.  The thing to remember is that prayers are not meant to impress your neighbor or even God but rather they are to speak from the heart.  Our verse is from the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying.  The Pharisee speaks loudly and boldly about how good he is.  This is for the benefit of those who are listening.

   Yet the tax collector never lifts his eyes to heaven and asks for mercy.  Notice his prayer is only seven words long.  Our prayers don’t need to be any longer than that.  “Father, forgive me for I am a sinner.” “Father, I am frightened; please comfort me.”  Father, I am in pain; please heal me.”  “Father, I am in sorrow and sadness; please console me.” “Father, thank you for this blessing.”  None of these are long or “churchy” but they express our needs and fears.  They express our joys and happiness.  This is what prayer is; it is telling God what it is in your life, right now, that causes you to lose sleep or cause you to cry or cause you to shudder.  Tell God, as simply as possible.  That is true prayer.

Father, too often we do not know the words to say.  We think we are inadequate and that we lack the skill to pray.  Father give us the courage to see that you desire our prayers and that through them you bless us.  Guide us by your Spirit to boldly come before your heavenly throne and seek your grace and that we can be confident of your mercy.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

10-23-2025

Good Morning All,

           Mark 9:27; “But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.”

    If you are old enough, you might remember when President Johnson spoke to the American public and delivered the line, “My fellow Americans, I come to you tonight with a heavy heart.” He went on to explain how painful being president of the United States had been.  He eventually stated he would not run for reelection.  He claimed it was because he didn’t want the presidency to be drug down by the politics of the discussion.  I think most people just thought that he was worn down by being president.

    I think most of us agree that being president is heavy on the heart.  I am always amazed at how much those men age while in office.  Look at Bush and Obama, they were fairly young looking when they began their terms but have aged incredibly.  The stress of the job must be beyond most of our comprehension.

    There are many times when in our life, we feel we live with a heavy heart.  There are times when we look around and with a sigh, wonder what can come next.  I have an older vehicle that I drive.  My “check engine” light is always on.  I have tested it and replaced the part but the light is still on.  My mechanic tells me it could be any one of a half-dozen things that make the sensor go off.  I can live with it but I know people who have a doctor tell them the same thing.  They try this or that but the doctor is never sure if it will help, hurt, or leave no change.  My SUV is one thing but a person’s health is different.  Facing this can cause a heavy heart.

     Struggling with personal relationships that can be troubling and painful.  Spending most of your time alone, even if you are part of a family, can cause a heavy heart.  Struggling with every day bills (can this winter get any longer or more expensive?) or a job that seems less than satisfactory (if you have a job); or just getting up in the morning because you feel depressed about the way life has been dealt can cause a very heavy heart. 

    When we look at this, we might be saddened.  Yet everyone experiences this at some time or another.  You see it when you see some people turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to dull the senses.  You see it when they tend to be abusive to those around them.  You see it when a person tends to just fall out of touch with all the people.  These are the answers that don’t work.  Yet we have one that does.  Jesus will lift you up and will lift your heart.

    Through his death on the cross, by being lifted up himself, Jesus has freed us from the power of the devil.  The devil will still tempt and tease us but he cannot torment us unless we let him.  Christ has made him powerless.  Our hope and our salvation are secure in God’s plan of salvation for us, especially made for you.  By trusting God to provide for us and by relying on his mercy, he will lift up our hearts and carry the weight for us.  We need to rely on God’s grace to carry us through.

Father of grace, you lift us up out of the mire and the filth of this broken world.  We ask that you never let us fall.  Be with those who are feeling heavy-hearted at this time.  Be with them and comfort them with your Spirit of hope.  Use us as your hands to bring them comfort.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret      

10-22-2025

Good Morning All,

     Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

      I would be one of the first to admit that my musical taste is somewhat eclectic. I enjoy the classics, old rock, and roll, country-old and new, jazz, gospel and weird or strange or comical.  One of the more weird/comical sings is one called “Homegrown Tomatoes” by Guy Clark.  The chorus goes like this: 

Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
And that's true love and homegrown tomatoes.

 

    I always like that chorus.  “Only two things that money can’t buy and that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes.”  There is true in that.  If you buy a tomato, no matter who grows it, you have a purchased tomato.  If it is given to you, you still haven’t grown it at home.  If you think about it a little, it all makes sense, at least as much as it can.

    True love can’t be bought either.  That is something that is freely given.  You can purchase loyalty or even respect but you cannot buy, earn, or even really deserve love.  True love is something that exists within your soul within your nature.  That is one of the greatest “natures” or traits of God; He is, by nature, a loving God.  He wants to love us and for us to love him.  That is why the gift of eternal life is freely given.  It is born out of God’s nature; his loving nature which desires us to be his dear children.  It is born out of his desire for us to return to him and to be faithful to him.

    That is something that many of us struggle with.  We cannot seem to understand that we cannot do anything to earn or deserve salvation.  It is freely given by God.  We don’t go looking for it; we don’t seek it out; we don’t figure it out; we don’t have a sudden thought and decide to follow Jesus; we are completely incapable of that.  All we have is God’s true love, given to us freely by a loving, gracious and merciful God.  The fact is we don’t have enough to ever pay for our sins.  We don’t have enough money, or tears, or good works.  We lack what we need.

     That is why God’s true love is such a wondrous gift and really beyond our imagination or understanding.  How can God truly love us, even when we daily turn our backs to him, how can he continually forgive us and call us back into his presence?  We cannot explain but we can believe it; we can trust it with our lives because this is the only hope we have.  We only have his grace, freely given to us by a loving God.

 Father of all grace, you freely give us salvation and guard us by your Spirit.  Strengthen us to see that it is only through your love that we are saved.  Help those who are still struggling to see your grace and to trust only in your promise.  Lead them by your grace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,                                

Pastor Bret  

10-21-2025

Good Morning All,

     John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

     A story relayed to me a while ago. It was an amazing event to attend. The man was clearly slowing down but at the age of 93; he had the right.  He was one of the most respected theologians ever.  He had a bachelor’s degree in theology as was his masters’ and doctorate.  He had studied and taught at all the prestigious universities all over the world.  He taught at Oxford, Yale Divinity, and Notre Dame.  He had numerous honorary degrees along with all the real ones.

    He was retiring from all teaching.  He had been emeritus for a number of years but his love for the Bible and his yearning to learn and to teach were so powerful that he simply wouldn’t quit.  There were many days when the candidates who were writing their doctoral theses would sit around and listen to him speak of his studies.  He could take one verb in a verse and teach about the intricacies of God’s love revealed to us by that one verb.  But today he was finally going to be done.  He was receiving one last award from the school where he had served as the dean of theological studies for over 20 years.  He shook hands with the President of the University and walked up to the podium.  He looked out at the hundreds of colleagues, friends, students, and well-wishers.  This was going to be his final sermon.

    So, as he stood there looking out on all these people; he began to smile.  He started in with a low and strong baritone voice.  He began with the statement, “I have studied God’s Word for over 70 years.  I have studied with the greatest theologians in the world.  I have studied and studied and as my last sermon I want to share with you the absolute greatest biblical truth ever.”  All those in attendance began digging for paper to write on, they placed their phones on video recording; no one wanted to miss what this brilliant man had to say.  There was not a single sound in the auditorium as they waited for him to speak again.  He looked and smiled.

    I want to give credit to the instructor who first revealed this to me.  In all my studies nothing has ever surpassed this.  So, I would like to thank Mrs. Henderson, my kindergarten Sunday School teacher.  He stopped, took a drink of water, and then began to sing in a very strong baritone voice. “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong they are weak but he is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me; yes, Jesus loves; yes, Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so.”  He smiled, said thank you and then went and sat down. 

    There was stunned silence, after about 45 seconds, he stood and went back to the podium.  “It really is that simple; no matter how much you study, never, never, never, ever, no not ever can you forget that single truth.  Everything else pales in importance and everything else is of no value.  Without God’s love, we have nothing.”

Gracious Father, we give you thanks for your incredible mercy, that unending and undying love that you have for us.  Help us to cling to that love and to believe you when you call us your dear children.  Father, your love prevails.  Be with those who do not know this love.  Bring them home.  In the loving name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

10-20-2025

Good Morning All,

     Psalm 4:3; “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.”

     I send these emails out on Yahoo.  Every time I log in there seems to be an advertisement for a cellular phone.  They have “4G” or “5G” or “6G” or whatever number they throw in to impress you.  Apparently, I am supposed to get one of them.  Every so often there is an ad for an iPhone but not very often.  It seems that the most common ad is for Verizon.  This is the one where they compare the coverage of the different carriers.

    They had the ad on TV a short time back.  They showed the coverage area and then the person was supposed to guess what the shape was.  Of course, only Verizon had enough signal coverage to show that the map was of the United States.  According to the map, I should be able to go anywhere in the United States and if I called you; you should be able to hear me.  However, I bet if I go to a place like Hope, South Dakota or maybe Mahto, South Dakota; it could get difficult to hear me.  The coverage could be a little weak there.

    Of course we can have trouble just about anywhere.  If you travel down a hill into a valley, it can get kind of spotty.  Sometimes the weather can be fickle as well.  Of course, my biggest trouble is that my battery is usually weak.  So, then I have trouble with that.  All in all, the cellphone is a handy gadget but I really hate having to rely on something that works most of the time.  You wonder if it will work when you really, really need it.

    Fortunately, when we really need to place a call to God, He always hears us.  This is his promise to us as his dear children.  He will always hear us and, when we pray in faith, he will answer us.  Sometimes this takes the form as a quieting of our fears or a release from the stress that we feel at the time.  By giving our fears, a voice and speaking them to God, he will calm us.  He will guide us to see that, while the problems look big now, they are never bigger than God.  This is part of God’s answer to us.  It isn’t a bolt of lightning that flashes across the sky rather it is the peaceful calm that God, and only God, can give us.  The peace that the world cannot give.

    So, we can and should call to God in all trouble and in all sorrows.  We should call to God to guide us, guard us and to protect and to give us peace.  He is never out of range and we are never out of his coverage area and the wonderful thing is that the battery is never dead.  God hears you when you pray; so pray.  God wants you to pray to him; so pray.  God uses prayer to give you comfort and peace; so pray.  It is one of his greatest gifts that he gives to you so don’t be afraid to use it.

Gracious Lord, you hear us when we pray even when the words do not flow you look into our heart and hear us.  Give us the courage to come to you often with our hopes and fears, our wants, and our needs.  Be with those who are especially in need of your mercy.  Cause them to call upon you so that they may receive your peace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

10-19-2025

Good Morning All,

       Matthew 17:20; “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

     He was called “The Great Blondini.”  He was an acrobatic daredevil who would dazzle people with his stunts on a tightrope over Niagara Falls.  One time he stopped in the middle of the rope, sat down, and cooked an omelet.  He first crossed Niagara Falls in 1859.  Yet one of his greatest stunts occurred a few years later.

   People had come to look forward to his antics.  He was a great showman who played to the crowds.  Once he asked if the people thought he could go across the tightrope while pushing a wheelbarrow.  Everyone there gave a rousing cheer of support.  He then asked if they thought he could do it blindfolded.  Again, a loud and rousing cheer went up.  He then paused and looked at the crowd and asked if they thought someone could ride in the wheelbarrow.  Once more, everyone shouted their approval.  He then asked, “Who wants to go first?”  There was dead silence.

    The people had faith but not very much.  They thought he could give someone a ride in the wheelbarrow across the span of Niagara Falls just so long as it wasn’t them.  Faith is defined by Christians as the desire to embrace God’s promise of forgiveness.  It is that desire that God gives us to trust in the promise of forgiveness and salvation.  This is the working and simple definition of faith that we use in Confirmation class.  Faith is the desire to trust in God’s promise.

    This desire must counter the desire to trust ourselves.  This sinful desire of not trusting God is the devil’s ploy.  From the time of Eve until Christ’s return, the devil will always ask, “Did God really say?”  Faith turns away the desire to believe the devil and to believe in God.  Faith takes the promise that God makes to us and holds onto it as tightly as we can.  We embrace it gladly and with the confidence of God’s promise of forgiveness. 

    The beauty of faith is that it doesn’t take much.  We are never measured by how much faith we have; it is only necessary to have faith.  Yet growing our faith should be an earnest desire and goal of the Christian.  The deeper the faith the tighter we can cling to God’s promise of salvation and forgiveness.  The stronger the faith we possess, the greater we will be able to fight off the devil’s attacks and temptations.  A strong and growing faith will aid us in the battle against the world and what it throws at us as well.  Faith, the desire to trust in God’s promise, will help us prevail against the devil by God’s grace.

Father, give us faith the size of a mustard seed.  Help us to move the mountains of doubt and despair that hinder us.  Bring us closer to you so that we may cling even tighter to you.  Help those who feel the embrace as weak or not there.  Guide them by your Spirit.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

10-18-2025

Good Morning All,

           Isaiah 53:5; “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

     “The things we so for Love” was a song by a group called 10cc.  It was a lover’s lament about how crazy it was for him to be in love with the girl that he was in love with.  He tried to call her but the lines were down (old song).  He is convinced that she wants to break up with him but she comes to him and wants to make up and start over.  The poor guy is lost but he is completely in love.

    There isn’t much we wouldn’t do for the one or ones that we love.  If one of our children needed a kidney transplant, we would be the first to volunteer.  If a sibling needed a bone marrow transplant, we would be tested immediately in order to help.  We understand the idea of enduring something painful in order that someone we love would then be able to live a better life.

    This is how we should look at what Jesus did for us.  He did it out of love.  Our verse is part of what is called the “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah.  Isaiah explains how the Messiah will come as a servant and suffer the punishment that we deserve.  This is done entirely out of love; similar to what a parent or a family member would do for one of their beloved except at a greater level.  It was done for us out of love and not out of duty.

    The reason we want to look at this is because we should respond to what Christ did for us out of love and not out of guilt.  Too often, we look at what Jesus did for us and we feel guilty.  Rather we should look at what Jesus did for us as the ultimate act of love.  It is this love that we should then emulate as we interact with those around us.  We should interact with and through love not through guilt or duty.

   Think how our interaction with those around us was out of love and not out of duty.  It would be more spontaneous and inviting.  It would be freer in coming and more open to response.  It could also encourage a greater level of reconciliation as those whom we love would be encouraged to love us back and to then love others around them.

    So, as we travel through this Lenten season and we look at the suffering of Jesus.  Try not to feel guilt but rather feel love.  Don’t look at what Jesus did for you and think “I owe him big time” rather look and think “that is how you love someone.”  If we respond to love with love, our life will be far more content and far more peaceful.  For the things we do for love are borne out of desire and hope.  Hope that comes from Christ.

Father, in Jesus we see love in its purest form.  We see love in its total perfection.  Help us to respond with love and not with guilt, to respond with love and not from a sense of duty.  Help us to respond to those around us who are in pain or lonely, lost or in despair.  Guide us with your love to show them the love that you give to us.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret