Author: Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Proverbs 11:25

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. – ESV

Aubrey bought a fleece-lined coat for her aging father, but he died before he could wear it. So she tucked a note of encouragement with a $20 bill into the pocket and donated the jacket to charity.

Ninety miles away, unable to endure his family’s dysfunction any longer, nineteen-year-old Kelly left his house without grabbing a coat. He knew of only one place to turn—the home of his grandmother who prayed for him. Hours later he stepped off a bus and into his grandma’s arms. Shielding him from the winter wind, she said, “We’ve got to get you a coat!” At the mission store, Kelly tried on a coat he liked. Slipping his hands into the pockets he found an envelope—with a $20 bill and Aubrey’s note.

The above story was in my inbox this morning as a part of a daily devotional that I read every day. It really resonated with me, and so I share it with you. It reminded me, once again, of how ministry is not usually a series of grand gestures or public displays. Sure, Jesus could feed 5000+ people with a bit of bread and fish, but when we manage to feed one person, the act is no less significant. I would imagine Kelly never forgot that thrift store coat with its unexpected treasure. Likewise, the person on the receiving end of any good work we can do will remember that personal act of kindness, and may even be inspired to “pay it forward”, as it were. No doubt, many of us have heard or seen the saying “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty”. This powerful bit of wisdom was first penned by journalist Anne Herbert on a placemat in Sausalito, California in 1982. I don’t know anything about Ms. Herbert’s faith or beliefs, but if you needed to boil down the essence of ministry into a sentence, you could do a lot worse! Jesus’ own ministry was itself a series of often random encounters that left everyone involved changed for the better. It’s no different for we 21st century disciples of Jesus. A co-worker, the person next to us in line at the grocery, the fellow parishioner, the stranger you encounter; all of these interactions are opportunities to put this philosophy into practice. As we go about our everyday lives, let us all commit ourselves to following Jesus’ example, and be ready to grasp the moment. You might just make someone smile, or make their day…or even change a life! 

Let us pray…

God of all goodness and beauty, help us to recognize the opportunities for ministry that present themselves in the smallest things. When we choose to make kindness, mercy, generosity, and love the operative forces in our lives, we are embracing the life into which you have called us, and modeled for us in the person of you son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, be safe…and be watchful!

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †

By Pastor Wes Poole

LUKE 6:37

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven – NRSV

As we approach Father’s Day, I find myself contemplating the often fraught relationships between children and parents. I am no stranger to this personally, as my father and I never really understood one another well. Since his passing in August of ’09, I have spent a great deal of time grappling with forgiveness. Some days it’s easier than others, yet it’s always the goal. Jesus says as much in the verse above.

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. Most people just want to be understood and accepted. Fathers and Sons are certainly no different. 

Of course, this is operative in most relationships, not just those of sons and fathers. In the church particularly, we are commanded by Jesus himself to make forgiveness the motivation behind all of our actions. For where there is forgiveness, judging others is far more difficult. Where there is forgiveness, condemnation has no real teeth. Forgiveness begets more forgiveness, and it becomes the very oil that smooths out the machinery of life! When we can look at a brother or sister without judgment and armed with a pocket full of forgiveness, strong new relationships are formed and ailing ones can be repaired. One of my favorite musicians, Vince Gill, once addressed an awards ceremony where bad feelings had arisen around an artist. He stood at the podium, and said this: “You know who gets blessed when you forgive? You.” Got it in one, Vince! Kindness, patience, forgiveness, unity… When we strive for these things, the blessings are always manifold. In a world all too often diametrically divided these days, may we modern day disciples of Jesus take his command seriously; modeling for the world the better way he taught us. It will make a difference!

Let us pray…

God of forgiveness and second chances, you showed us in Jesus Christ a way of life that will blessings into the world; spreading unity and concord, rather than hatred and division. Strengthen our resolve to “do unto others” in the way he taught us. All others!! We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. I hope to see you all in church soon!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

By Pastor Wes Poole

Hebrews 10:23-25 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – RSV

A professor of mine in seminary used to lift up regularly the fact that we should always give thanks to God for what he “has done, is doing, and promises yet to do”. This resonated with me then, and has stayed with me in the almost thirty years since I first heard him say it. We worship a God who has indeed performed mighty acts, continues to work for and through us today, and promises a future of unlimited forgiveness and empowerment for service. This is truly good news. It means that through everything, God has not only promised to provide us with what we need, but that scripture has clearly shown this to have always been true. Remember, our God is a God of action, not just words. Moreover, God is not content simply to act from “on high”, he includes us in his Holy Work and wants us to bring others into his ongoing ministry. 

When I was a little kid, my family and I used to spend many if not most summer weekends at a campground in Myrtle Beach, SC. My parents kept an old Airstream trailer in storage down there. They’d call the campground, and the staff would have the camper set up for us when we got there. I have so many wonderful, early memories of that time. I remember watching my little sister take her first steps there. The downside was, we missed a lot of church in the summer. Towards the end of one summer, after a long absence, we were in church again on Sunday. As we were standing in the narthex, our senior pastor, Bernard Trexler, put his hands on my shoulders, looked my father in the eye, and said: “This boy needs to be in Sunday School.” That was that! We had fewer beach trips, but the good pastor set into effect a series of events that helped direct the course of my life. I owe the late Pastor Trexler a great debt of gratitude for his forthright faithfulness. That is God at work in the present, empowering his people for future service. I hold that story dear. It is a treasured part of my personal piety. To think that God cared enough even for little 7-year-old me that he would start equipping me for service is both staggering and humbling.

It also hasn’t changed in the years since. God almost always acts through his most trusted agents…us! Even with all that God has done, he never stops creating, and has called all of us to be a part of that in some way. If that sounds daunting, remember the old saying, “You can’t break God’s promises by leaning on them!”. Whether it’s making sure a little kid makes it to Sunday School, to meeting the challenges of our day and age such has racism, division, and poverty, God’s promises are sufficient. I call upon all of us here in the Good Shepherd family to recommit our efforts to building one another up in the faith. Our trust in God, like his promises themselves, will always bear fruit.

Let us pray…

Lord, continue to empower us to be your instruments of peace and reconciliation in this world. We know from the witness of scripture that you have done mighty things in the past, and have promised never to stop acting on our behalf. Keep us firmly rooted in faith and strengthen our resolve to make a positive difference in the lives of others as Jesus showed us. For we ask these things in his name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. See you in church this summer! 😉

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

By Pastor Wes Poole

I find myself today reflecting on all of the profound change the last year and a half has brought me, my family, and our church family. I remember being excited and filled with hope for the future in January of 2020, as you gifted me with the trust to be your pastor. In the past year, COVID notwithstanding, I think we have seen many of our hopes realized. Indeed, hope has not disappointed us here at Good Shepherd Church. Sure, it’s been tough, but the Holy Spirit has continued to infuse us with energy, power, and enthusiasm; the strength to meet the challenges we will surely face as we carry out Our Lord’s ministry. So many of you have stepped up and done your part to keep this important ministry alive. For that, I will always be profoundly grateful. We have continued to celebrate our blessings while allowing growth, change, and yes…adversity, to enrich us. Even after all we’ve endured together, I still feel the sense of excitement and purpose in myself and humming all around us. We’re back! The doors are open! Our voices are literally raised again in praise! It’s going to be OK!! God has surely smiled upon this family!

Because of the best efforts of many, growth and change are still going on around us, in the worldwide church, in this congregation, and in our communities. Diversity is still the watchword for our time, and thanks be to God for that! Cultural relevance, inclusivity, sensitivity to the differing needs of all people; these are all high priorities in an ever increasingly connected world. Unity through diversity, strength through celebrating our brothers and sisters everywhere, regardless of race, creed, gender identity, or life’s situation; what has Jesus taught us to celebrate if not that?! What does this mean to the individual congregation struggling to cope and remain relevant in a world that seems to change shape every five minutes? How do we come together with all of the different elements of society and even right here within the walls of Good Shepherd and speak a language that effectively tells the Story that we have been charged with telling? These are hard questions but good ones, questions that the Christian church in all of its denominations is dealing with here at the beginning of this new century.

First and foremost, we are the Church, the Body of Christ in the world. This identifies us as followers of and believers in the Triune God. What this means for us as a church family is that we do and say things that do not always jibe with that which is socially acceptable or politically expedient. We have a radically inclusive Story to tell, songs to sing, and people to whom we are called to minister. From visiting our own sick and shut-in, to meeting the needs of the hungry and poor, to supporting our Synod and greater church, we have a multitude of tasks which make up the ministry of Good Shepherd Church. Gathered together in worship around the Word and the Sacraments, we reemerge refreshed and strengthened into a world that needs us…through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I mean that same Holy Spirit we just celebrated the last two Sundays; that person of the Trinity about whom we Lutherans often forget. It is the Spirit who fans the flames of our faith and provides us with the divine strength necessary to carry out our ministry. The amazing thing about working for God is that He never leaves us solely to our own devices. God, through His Holy Spirit, gives us the backbone to stand up to what the world throws at us and frees us from the fear of change. The Holy Spirit is the One who motivates us and energizes us in all things. The Spirit frees us from fear and anxiety and turns us loose as Our Lord’s agents on Earth. God who is never boring or static is always doing a new thing.  He is the same God of Creation who made all that is, and His creative genius is still here among us at work. The Holy Spirit is the Divine Agent of life and growth and change. The Spirit is the One who rallies us all as a family around the one, universal truth which cannot change…God, in Jesus Christ, has loved our imperfections away and has restored us to our right relationship with Him. That same spirit is still alive and well at Good Shepherd. Again, we’re back! We’re open! God is with us and the Spirit is always blowing amongst and through us. All we need now is you! C’mon back! Let’s get on with being the Lord’s hands; always serving our neighbor.

Let us pray…

God of growth and new life, we thank you for the energizing gift of your Holy Spirit. As we move towards a new normal, help us to be open to new opportunities to serve You and our neighbors. You have given us a spirit of fearlessness and power. Help us to use that power to spread the Good News to a world always in need of hearing and experiencing it. We pray these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe, my friends. I look forward to seeing you and continuing to do ministry with you.

Your partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes †

By Pastor Wes Poole

I’ve been sitting on this one for awhile. I don’t promise never to put it in a sermon at some point, but it spoke to me today.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man held out this package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.” The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. 

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.  On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence.  Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice angrily.. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?” Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.  “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. 

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!” God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: “The son, the son, who’ll take the son?” Because, you see, whoever gets the Son gets everything. 

“Whoever gets the Son, gets everything!” Or, as the evangelist John tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” You see, God goes one up on the auctioneer in the story…He paid the price for us in advance…He gave His only Son to us that we might indeed “get everything”…new and abundant life now and the hope of even greater life to come. The  message of the Church is much like the painting in the story. It is life giving and life altering. “The son, the son, who’ll take the son?!” Maybe an even better question to ask these days is, “Who’ll take the Son to others? Who’ll tell the Son’s Story to the people who need to hear it?!” The answer to those questions should be easy….we’ll take the Son. We’ll tell His Story. May God continue to bless our family of faith as we strive to find ways to do just that!

Let us pray…

God of Life, we thank you this day for the gift of your Son; the gift of new life and salvation. As you granted us this amazing gift for free, inspire us to bring this inexhaustible supply of hope and purpose to others; that your love may be known throughout the world, for we ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus the Risen Christ. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. 

Many blessings,

Pastor Wes †