Category: Faith Conversations

Read inspirational messages and share your faith.

“FATHERLY” ADVICE

Daren Bernecker

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 †

THE POWER OF PROMISE

Daren Bernecker

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 †

IT’S GOING TO BE OK!

Daren Bernecker

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 †

TAKE MY SON

Daren Bernecker

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 †

A “PENTECOSTAL” SPIRIT

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Pentecost…the great, generally underrated third of the “Big Three” celebrations of the church year. Sure, Christmas and Easter get all the good press, but how often do we give Pentecost its due? Pentecost comes a bit early this year, but we will still be missing one usual, and rather important part, Confirmation. Like last year, COVID has made it necessary to postpone that celebration until Reformation Sunday. It’s always inspiring to see young people make public profession of their faith and take their places as adult members of the church. That won’t be diminished at all by waiting until October, but where do we find meaning and relevance in Pentecost right now?

I’ve always found it imminently appropriate that Pentecost comes on the cusp of summer. We’re approaching a time of year when our attitudes towards the church and its ministry can become a bit lackadaisical. With the world opening up thanks to the vaccines, people are more eager than ever to get in the car, or on a plane, and simply go somewhere else! That’s certainly the case in our house. Christine, Ian, Julia and I are already planning a vacation that we can’t even take for another two and half months! It’s not hard to see where people’s minds are, and rightly so. I’ve never been of the opinion that one needs to apologize for looking forward to some well earned R and R. This is where the Spirit of Pentecost can be most helpful to us.

The “Spirit” of Pentecost…a fitting phrase if ever there were one. The Spirit is exactly what Pentecost is all about. For those early Christians long ago, it marked the day that God gifted His empowering and life giving Holy Spirit on His newly formed church. With the gift of the Spirit came the gifts of communication, understanding, and mission. All of these things are vital to the ministry of Christ’s Church, wherever it may be.  The traditional symbol for the Spirit at Pentecost is fire. The imagery is unmistakable. God has lit a flame of faith in each and every one of us; a flame which needs to be tended throughout the year. As we draw near to the summer months of rest and recreation, let us remember that our much needed recreation is just that…a re-creation of ourselves into hopefully better and even more enthusiastic workers in the Lord’s Vineyard.  Pentecost reminds us that even though the weather is warm and our thoughts may turn often to more idle pursuits, the Fire of the Spirit is still alive within us; moving us always forward in our journeys of faith.

May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire us to proclaim the Good News boldly, creatively, and joyfully!

Let us pray…

God of newness and rebirth, as you gifted those first Christians with the gift of your Holy Spirit, we ask that you gift us with a fresh outpouring of that same Spirit of Truth and Understanding. As we approach a time traditionally given to rest and revitalization, help us to emerge with renewed zeal and enthusiasm for ministry; that we might bring others to know your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. I hope to see you Sunday…and don’t forget to wear red!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes †

PURPOSE AND PEACE

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Summertime and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’, and the cotton is high.
from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin

OK, so that’s not my standard Biblical citation that I would usually use for our weekly devotion. I guess that’s just where my mind has been lately. Notwithstanding the fact that this particular quotation comes from one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of music (sacred or secular) that has ever been written, I think it captures the attitude many of us strive for in these Summer months. Sitting on the edge of a cool lake, outdoors breathing the fresh air and taking in the beauty of God’s Creation, lazily casting your fishing pole out into the water…mind on nothing at all…peaceful, relaxed, and content. It’s a powerful image and completely fitting for us. After all, God Himself is said to have rested after He created the Universe. After having our normal activities curtailed for most of the last year, the notion of a bit of travel and recreation is just a sweet, sweet thought! Christine, Ian, Julia, and I will be spending a few days this coming August in the SC Low Country, one of the original homes of laid back living and “high cotton”. The South is, aside from being a great place to vacation and relax, where most of our family lives. In fact, we’re going down in July to get my mother so she can spend some quality time with us before we head back down in August. I’m really looking forward to introducing her to our new church family. Even though we don’t live in the South anymore and likely won’t ever again, it is home…and the call to return home is a strong one indeed.

There is a stronger call, however, that also comes at the beginning of the summer months; a call that we, as Christians simply cannot ignore. This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of Eastertide. Pentecost follows, and soon we will find ourselves in those long, “green” Sundays after Pentecost that stretch through the summer months. I find it quite apropos that the third great celebration of the Church Year, Pentecost, is placed on the cusp of summer. While most of us are planning how to maximize our summer “R and R”, we are reminded of the Holy Spirit’s call to all of the members Christ’s Body, His Holy Church. Does this mean that we should abandon our plans for vacation and focus entirely on work? By no means! What Pentecost and its long season after does represent for us is the challenge not to forget our call to ministry as we seek refreshment. The work of the church is never done. Even though we are still playing “catch up” in many ways as the world recovers from the COVID lockdown, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are constantly to be seeking new and relevant ways of telling the great story of Our Lord and his love to the world. Sure, it may be a long time before the church is “back to normal” completely. Likely, some things will never quite go back to the way they were. That’s OK though. That’s life…and life is change! The gift of the Holy Spirit given to the church on that Pentecost Day two millennia ago, is still as alive, active, and fiery as it was way back then…and more than capable of meeting the challenges ahead. I pray that Spirit continues to enflame our hearts and engage our minds for ministry as we move into a hopeful future. 

May the Blessings of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit fill us with purpose and peace!

Let us pray…

God of rest and refreshment, instill in us hearts eager for the challenges of ministry. Help us always to take care of each other and ourselves; that we might be ready to meet the needs of our Good Shepherd family, and our greater community. Jesus showed us the way to peace and eternal life. May we be equal to the task of showing others the way to him. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe.

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes†

AN EASTER PEOPLE…ALL YEAR LONG

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.  All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.  – NRSV

Easter is still not quite over. The festival liturgy of Easter Sunday may behind us for another year, but the season has carried on for its appointed fifty days, preparing us for the months ahead. Moreover, this year, we have been able to celebrate this holiest of seasons in person, beginning with Palm Sunday. This year, the echoes of “Christ is Risen indeed!” reverberate extra sweetly through these special days as we continue celebrating the greatest single event in the history of the human race. It is during these fifty days, as we move from Easter Sunday to the Day of Pentecost, when we begin to see how the celebration and the practice of our faith intersect. Is it enough to shout with joy, “Christ is Risen”? In a word, no. If we are truly to understand the enormity of what Our Lord has done for us, then we must be able, like those apostles of the early Christian Church, to use that Easter momentum to put our faith to work in the lives of others. St. Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that the early Christians went to great lengths to make Christ known to their neighbors. Indeed, it appears that they spared nothing, not even their own possessions, in the pursuit of showing others what God had done in Jesus Christ. It is interesting that in two thousand years, very little has changed in that respect. Today, the Christian Church is much larger and more marvelously diverse than ever. We span the entire world and command a great many more resources. Still, our mission has not changed substantively from that of those first believers. There are still people who need to hear the Good News, there are still the poor, hungry, sick, and needy looking for comfort which we can provide in the name of Jesus Christ. We still need to come together weekly to worship and share the Holy Meal which provides refreshment and renewed energy, and to share our resources so that others may find comfort and relief. Of all the wonderful things that can be said about our God, our faith, and our mission in His Creation, this one thing remains true…none of the above is static. Our God is alive, at work in our lives right this minute! He asks us to take our faith and do the same; to be His co-workers in the Kingdom, making a difference in the lives of all whom we touch. As the Easter season winds down and the summer months approach, let us keep our faith alive by continually acting upon it. Christ is Alive! We now have new life in him.  May we always live that new life joyfully and faithfully.

Let us pray..

God of justice and generosity, renew in us all the zeal and enthusiasm to serve you by serving others. Like those earliest Christians, instill in us the will and the real desire to share our time, talents, and treasures with our church’s ministries, and wherever we see need in our communities. Jesus has shown us the way; may we be his hands in the world today, for it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes †

MID-EASTERTIDE PONDERINGS

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Then let us feast this Easter Day on Christ, the Bread of Heaven;

The Word of Grace hath purged away the old and evil leaven.

Christ alone our souls will feed. He is our meat and drink indeed;

Faith lives upon no other.    

from Martin Luther’s hymn Christ lag in Todesbanden

I recently read a true story about a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa.  Some of his friends asked him, “Why have you become a Christian?” He answered, “Well, it’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions, and you didn’t know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive…which one would you ask which way to go?”

Which man indeed?! It is at the most holy celebration of Easter that we see the true depth and power of our God and our Christian faith. There are many religions in this world. Most of them exhibit some degree of truth. Most provide, at least to a degree, good and wise direction with which the believer can order his or her life. Similarly, there are many enlightened philosophies that have developed in the course of human history. I am certainly not going to stand in judgment of any of them, and will have words with anyone who does! They also give their adherents much that is positive and wise; helping people to work to live together in peace, freedom, and dignity. However, our Christian faith brings something to the table that is unique. We are not just another enlightened philosophy, nor are we the typical religion, worshipping an intangible and unseen god or gods. For us, our faith is centered, indeed is completely grounded in an actual person…Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Son of God…God Incarnate….Our Resurrected Lord who sacrificed his life for ours.

    It’s easy to think of faith and belief in God in otherworldly or ethereal terms. Many fall into the trap of regarding God as if He were imperially regarding us on high “from a distance” and not actively engaged in our lives. Easter shows us once and for all that this simply is not true. This is the God who literally became one of us so that He could free us, as Luther put it, from the “bonds of death”. No, Our God is a hands-on God; never leaving us alone to our own device; never separating us from His love and forgiveness.

    For family devotions, Martin Luther once read the account of Abraham offering Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. His wife, Katie, said, “I do not believe it. God would not have treated his son like that!” “But, Katie,” Luther replied, “He did.” Yes, the God of Easter is the One who has and will continue to give His all for His beloved children. Like the devoted parent who would never think of turning his or her child out into the world unloved and unaided, so has God regarded us. Christ’s Resurrection is also the promise of our own resurrection; the new and unending life we now have in Him! It’s a real life…a life lived in the present…and it’s ours in the person of Jesus Christ! Christ Is Risen Indeed!  Thanks be to God!

Let us pray…

God of life and hope, we thank you during this Eastertide for the gift of your active presence in our lives. Just as you sent your Son to redeem us through his own death and resurrection, you remain with us; emboldening us for service by the power of your Holy Spirit. Continue to refresh us during these 50 holy days of Easter, that we might be Christ to our neighbor, and beacons of hope for a weary world. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe! See you in church! (I just LOVE saying that!)

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes †

RESURRECTION REFLECTIONS

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Acts 4:33

 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. – NRSV

A little boy born with Down syndrome attended his third-grade Sunday School class faithfully each week. As you can expect, the other children did not readily accept the boy because he seemed different.

The Sunday after Easter, their teacher brought in small boxes–one for each child. The children were told to go outside, find some symbols of new life, and put them in their containers. So the children ran wildly throughout the property looking for something to fill their boxes.

Once they returned to the classroom, they began to share their discoveries with the class. One by one they opened their boxes to show flowers, butterflies, leaves, and more. Each time the class would “ooh” and “ahh.”

Then the child with Down syndrome opened his box to reveal nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid! It’s not fair! He didn’t do the assignment right!”

The little boy exclaimed, “I did so do it right! It’s empty…because the tomb where Jesus laid was found empty!” 

Can you say…theological mic drop?! Yea verily! He did SO do it right! As Luke reminds us in Acts, great grace is available to us, just as that little boy showed his class that day. The resurrection of Jesus is the single most important doctrine of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, Jesus would simply have been an enlightened teacher, long since passed away, and our faith would be more philosophy than religion. As it stands, Jesus is alive and reigning at the right hand of God; yet always at our side, providing strength and encouragement for life’s journey. For me, this Easter has an especially powerful feeling of new life because we seem to be turning the tide on the pandemic. We should always give thanks God for what He has done for us in Jesus Christ, but that gratitude just seems that much sweeter this year. Every holiday, birthday, milestone, and even the most mundane of daily tasks takes on a new luster. Christ is Risen! We have a share in that new and eternal life. Now that we are beginning to be able to move about again and reconnect with our sisters and brothers out there in the wide world, let us also recommit to being the kind, welcoming, generous, and loving community Jesus has shown us how to be; building one another up and always striving to live into Jesus’ example in our daily lives. Thanks be to God! The Tomb is empty! May our hearts be ever full of that powerful Easter Joy!

Let us pray…

God of new life and perpetual hope, we thank you this day for Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus, who showed us how to live and be in this life, and opened the way to life eternal. Make of us a people committed to telling our Story to the world in both words and deeds, that all people might come to know the true Joy of Easter. We as these things in the name of Jesus, the Risen Christ. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes †

THE GIFT OF DOMINION

Daren Bernecker

By Pastor Wes Poole

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” – NRSV

In just a couple of hours, I will receive my second Pfizer COVID vaccination. To say that I am grateful hardly does it justice. I am profoundly relieved that and my family and I will be spared from this awful disease that has taken so many lives. I am also just astonished by how quickly the vaccine was created. It took over 20 years after the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 for an effective vaccine to be created. This time, it took less than a year! That got me thinking about the Creation stories in Genesis. God has granted humankind dominion over the Earth. Now maybe that doesn’t sound like that big of a deal. We’ve heard all of that before. Still, as I pondered the ramifications of this “dominion” with which God has gifted us, it struck me as something to which we should perhaps pay closer attention. God in His wisdom has given us the capacity to make sense of the world around us; to bring order to it in a way that benefits everyone. This is a monumentally awe inspiring reality. Think about it. God has trusted us with the fruits of His creative genius. With that trust comes a responsibility to care for this world He brought into existence…and the lives of everyone and everything in it. We don’t always live up to that trust. Pollution, climate change, poverty…all of these things still plague us, yet are within our grasp to make better. This COVID pandemic though has shown us what can happen when we manage to live up to God’s trust, and put the faculties with which He has gifted us to good use. God has given us everything that we need to make this world a better place for all who live in it. Following the example Christ set for us, we Christians have the responsibility to bring our gifts to bear in a way that relieves suffering, heals grief, and makes the world a kinder, more generous place. Join me in taking a moment today to give thanks to God who not only loves us, but has made us a part of His Plan; a part of the solution to any of our world’s problems. With God, all things are possible!

Let us pray…

Creator God, we thank you for the gift of Creation, and for the opportunity and responsibility to care for it and each other. Inspire us to focus our gifts and energies on healing the world’s hurts, and bringing hope and joy to everyone who needs it. Jesus showed us how to live and care for one another. Be with us as try to live up to his example, for it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe.

Blessings always, 

Pastor Wes †