Well, that was fun!

            I’m not certain that a worship service could or should be described as fun, but that’s the word that came to mind after yesterday’s “One Service Sunday” at Redeemer. We had a mixture of songs led by the praise team and singing led by the organ. We had some chanting, and a rousing sermon by Pastor Miller. A choir of around thirty was a great addition to the worship as was the welcoming of ten new members. And the adult baptism, with the youth serving as sponsors for the high school freshman, had people smiling from ear to ear at the goodness of our God and the ministry carried out by our youth.

            We originally planned the service to make the time change Sunday a little less uncomfortable (everyone worshipping at 9:30). It also helped that with the leap year we had and extra Sunday to do something with (53 instead of 52). Some have suggested that there are other congregational events that would benefit from being all in the same worship service and we will be looking into these regular but not frequent opportunities.

            Many thanks to Scott for the materials he assembled and led us in carrying out. Thank you, Katie, for the printed orders and the screens we followed. Also, to Sharon and Cheryl for leading the choir (thanks to all of them, too!) and the praise team for leading much of our singing. Thank you, also, to Pastor Miller who is always a gift when he helps us in our worship.  

            Thank you, Lord, for the time we shared, the gifts that were offered, and the grace You so freely provide in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus. 

What's on your mind?

A writer whose work I greatly value, Dr. Dale Meyer, often refers to TOMA – top of the mind awareness. He encourages those of us in the ministry to be cognizant of the thoughts that are atop the minds of those who come for worship or a Bible class or a small group get-together.

What’s been on the top of the minds of those who belong to God and to one another at Redeemer? Well, to judge from correspondence the coronavirus is one such item. While the authorities addressing this on our behalf in the United States assure us that (1) our nation is in good shape with respect to precautions, and (2) regularly washing our hands is one of the best strategies we can practice, what else might we consider? 

We could also, perhaps, shake hands less. We could reintroduce the elbow bumps that were the practice a few years ago, or the foot taps that we see on social media. Common sense could well go along with those.

But we may be led to doubt human ability to solve such a crisis, whatever strategies are put in place. That’s a naturally occurring pessimism.

 Thankfully, we also have a way of looking at such a threat or scare theologically. Psalm 91 reassures us: “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him…No plague shall come near your tent….” Still, with all the fearmongering going on, there is the temptation to wonder: “Does God answer our every prayer? Does He rescue us from the trouble of the day? Can we truly count on long life, or no plague coming to our house?”  

The key is to read the psalm, and all of Scripture, in light of Christ Jesus, as a gospel-centered Christian. That’s the method Dr. Timothy E. Saleska described and encouraged in the recent issue of Concordia Journal. A way to do just that is to consider/remember: God answered Jesus’ prayers and sustained Him in a world of hurt. Jesus has a long-life, thanks to His resurrection from the dead. While Jesus as a true man would have experienced illness, no illness took Him down. 

So, reading scripture through Jesus calms our TOMA. Top of the mind awareness meets Jesus, Who, thanks be to God, gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).  

Many thanks!

Thank you to all of you who have asked about the health of both my mother, Carla, and my wife, Jami. Jami and I were able to visit my parents in Colorado last week (hence the absence of this blog). Carla is making progress and all appreciate the prayers for her continued healing.

This weekend Jami had an appendectomy. Her discomfort began on Saturday morning and culminated with surgery mid-morning on Sunday. She is recuperating at home and doing very well.

Thanks be to God for the medical teams and the care of our brothers and sisters in Christ!