Is This The End?

May 15, 2020

I wish I could tell you that this is the last time you are going to hear about COVID-19. While this is the last devotion in our series on the pandemic, it doesn’t sound like it is going away any time soon. Sure, restrictions are being lifted across the country as the virus updates seem to be headed in the right direction. Yes, you can go to stores and restaurants that were closed. Yes, you can worship with your fellow members in-person. Yes, you don’t have to stay at home. But is this really the end? I’m sure you know by now that this is going to go on for months. But as for now, it is at least the end of extreme restrictions.

Even without restrictions, there are still many words of caution. Keep your distance and wash your hands. If you are sick and potentially have the virus, don’t spread it to others. Large groups in tight spaces still have potential to spread the disease if we aren’t careful.

So was this a sign that the end is near? Of course it is, as have been the numerous signs that Christ told us to watch for since the time He left this earth. Wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters, pestilence, hatred and disease are signs that the end is near.

So what are we to do? Be prepared. Not with hand sanitizer, masks, gloves and social distancing, but be prepared with repentant hearts eagerly awaiting Christ’ return. He could come back before you finish reading this devotion, or He might wait thousands of years yet to return, but he said the signs are obvious and we should prepare to meet Him at the end of all time.

Whether we gather for worship in-person or online, may our hearts be united in Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is only through Him that we are saved and have everlasting life. During these trying times, may our hearts be focused on Him and eternity as we await the end to come, when He will take all who believe in Him to heaven forever.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because all these things must happen; but that is not yet the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But whoever endures to the end will be saved. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24: Various Verses)

- Pastor Ryan Heiman

A Return To Worship

May 12, 2020

Do you ever feel like no one has ever endured anything like what you’ve been through? Though the details may be different, the gist has happened before. Unable to worship the way you’ve wanted because of forces beyond your control? Imagine not being able to worship the way you wanted for 70 years because of forces beyond your control. That’s the situation Ezra and the people of Judah found themselves in. In the era of history God assigned to them, public worship was supposed to happen at one place, in one building: Jerusalem and the temple. Yet after an oppressive army destroyed their temple and deported their people, Ezra and the others simply could not go there. Yes, they worshiped in a unique way while in exile; but they had a continued sense that things just weren’t right.

But in his timing, God decided that all would change. He moved the heart of Cyrus, sovereign of Persia, to let the people return. They rebuilt the foundations of the temple and worshiped God there. We’re given a glimpse of their first worship back in Ezra 3:11-13:

They sang antiphonally to praise and thank the Lord: “Truly, he is good, because his mercy toward Israel endures forever.”

All the people shouted loud praise to the Lord when the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid. However, when many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of families, who had seen the first house, saw this house being founded, they wept loudly, although many also raised their voices in a shout of joy. The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful cry from the sound of the people weeping, because the people were shouting loudly, and the sound could be heard far away.

This coming Sunday, May 17, God-willing, at all or most of our Grace locations, we get to return. We get to return to worshiping in the physical presence of one another, to return to spaces designed to help us celebrate who God is and what he’s done for us. We get to return to a bit of normal, though a few things will look and feel different. We’re grateful for the ability to worship from a distance online. Yet we also look forward to worshiping in person as a fuller reflection of all the worship experience is meant to be. Great joy comes in singing, praising, and thanking the Lord as the people of Judah once did and, like them, doing it together in person. Yet there may be some cause for sadness. Grace members used to worshiping in Vail may have to wait longer. Some who are not comfortable yet returning to a social setting may choose to wait – and that’s understandable. We will have distancing and sanitizing measures in place, and it may be a slight distraction for some.

So if you have some apprehension about gathering together in groups again, you’re not the only one, and you’re not alone. Remember Ezra and those with him. Learn from them to let any worry you may have be mixed with joy – joy that God keeps his promises. Joy that God welcomes us close to himself. For us the certainty of nearness to our heavenly Father comes not just from the ability to worship in a special place; but above all from the sending of Jesus into our world. He is the very dwelling place of God, destroyed but rebuilt only 3 days later. In Jesus we have certainty that God welcomes us to himself. We have certainty that he will return visibly one day to make all oppressive viruses and armies a thing of the past. All will be swallowed up in the victory of life with him, and the praise will go on forever.

-Pastor Frank Rose

Cautious Yet Confident

May 7, 2020

Every month I receive an email from Grow In Grace, our Seminary’s continuing education department, which includes items of pastoral interest. There was an article in the April email which highlighted a pamphlet called Whether One May Flee A Deadly Plague. Martin Luther wrote this practical pamphlet in 1527 in light of a bubonic plague which was ravaging Wittenberg, Germany. (Go here to read the pamphlet in its translated entirety.) Even though the bubonic plague in Luther’s time vastly differed from our current coronavirus pandemic, a few points are worth repeating because of their current applicability to encourage Christians to step forward in a cautious yet confident way.

God is still in control. Your pastors have echoed this thought in our previous Covid-19 devotions, but it remains a foundational starting point. Our God has immense power. Not only did he create our entire universe in six, twenty-four hour days with his word alone, he continues to flex his power as he wishes. Think back to the Bible’s historical accounts where God used his power to protect his people from all sorts of dangers to see how this was true. In the same way, God’s power remains despite our microscopic enemy which currently defies our best and brightest minds.

Our neighbor’s health is our priority. In Luther’s Small Catechism, he gives the following explanation on the 5th Commandment: You shall not commit murder. “What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.” Regardless of your personal risk or history with Covid-19, a Christian’s concern is for others. This includes our brothers and sisters in Grace church family as well as those outside of it. We should seek what is best and do what is needed to protect our neighbor’s health despite the inconvenience or our potentially conflicting opinions.

We follow the prescribed safety measures. Luther’s advice to mitigate Wittenberg’s bubonic plague are remarkably similar to ours – stay at home, avoid unnecessary contact with the sick, take appropriate medications, and remember God’s promises. Even though we are currently lacking the medications, God’s gift of science has blessed us with the know-how to keep ourselves safe now and to reasonably predict the future. To purposefully disregard these safety measures not only endangers our neighbor’s health, but also puts our Lord to the test (Matthew 5:5-7).

We practice and respect Christian freedom. As we begin a phased approach to resuming a more normal life, we again consider how to practice our Christian freedom. Whereas one Christian may be comfortable revisiting old haunts and connecting with old friends, another may not. Neither choice is right nor wrong; they are simply different ways to practice our Christian freedom. Romans 15:1-3 gives us further instruction about our Christian freedom. “We who are strong [in faith] have an obligation to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for the good purpose of building him up. For even Christ did not please himself.” We are to respect other’s Christian freedom and, as a rule, not force one’s upon another’s.

Even though our current coronavirus plague is far more disastrous and widespread than Wittenberg’s bubonic plague, our response is still the same: we step forward in a cautious yet confident manner. We are confident that God is still in control and have no reason to sinfully worry. Yet we cautiously act to protect our neighbor’s health according to the prescribed safety measures. As we begin a phased approach to resume a more normal life, we recognize and respect the differences that our Christian freedom allows.

Only our Lord knows how long this coronavirus will continually plague our world’s headlines. However, throughout it all, we step forward as Luther advised those enduring Wittenberg’s bubonic plague in 1527 – cautious yet confident.

– Pastor Tim Patoka

The Government is Not Your Enemy

May 5, 2020

I don’t know if you have struggled with this, but many have over the last couple months. Many have seen the government as their enemy, even as those serving in the government have been trying to protect them and everyone else. In social media posts and conversations, some have assigned terrible motives to our city, state, and nation’s leaders. But Christians are called to respect those in authority and to take the words and actions of others in the best way. Some have said they’ll do what they want; they don’t care what the mayor (or governor, or president) says. In some cases, those in government have been treated like enemies of the people. Some people have given the impression that they know best how to handle data, information, pandemics, the economy, reopening of businesses and activities. However, very few of us have the intimate knowledge and experience necessary to make those critical decisions.

Another thing we’re missing? The responsibility to make those decisions. We have not been called to those positions. It is easy to sit at home and question things, and doubt people, and say what ought to be done, and post disrespectful things on Facebook. But the reality is that God hasn’t given me that responsibility, and the lives of thousands or millions of people are not affected by what I decide from my recliner at home. This responsibility has been given by God to others. You may remember these words the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities. For no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God. Therefore the one who rebels against the authority is opposing God’s institution, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to evil. Would you like to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive praise from him, because he is God’s servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he does not carry the sword without reason. He is God’s servant, a punisher to bring wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, because the authorities are God’s ministers, who are employed to do this very thing. Pay what you owe to all of them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed (v.1-7).

You know what doesn’t matter? Whether those leaders realize that they are God’s servants. God works through them whether they know it or not. God also promises that he does so for the benefit of his people (Read Romans 8). You know what else doesn’t matter? Whether you or I agree with them. Now, we certainly can question and disagree. Our constitution even allows us to voice our disagreement. However, how a Christian does that is important. It is important to God. He says we are to submit to them. He says not to rebel. He says to do what is good. He says to give them respect and honor. There is a way to do those things while having a different opinion than they do, but we often find that a difficult line to walk.

There may be room for us to repent these days. We may have crossed the boundaries of respect and honor. We may have even done it publicly for others to see, perhaps causing non-Christians to not understand the proper view of government for a Christian. Have we been a poor witness for Christ in this too? Yes, we may need to repent, if not for public disrespect, then perhaps for thoughts we’ve had or conversations had at home.

How nice it would be in the eyes of our Savior if we were to use this time as an opportunity to apply Romans 13 to our lives! What if we were to take the words and actions of governmental authorities in the best way possible, to think the best and not the worst? What if we were to be understanding of the position they find themselves in? No one alive has been through something like this. There is no playbook for it; it is being developed on the fly. They will be criticized for whatever decisions they make. What pressure they must be under! What if we lifted them up in prayer to God just like he commands us to do in 1 Timothy 2? “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (v.1-4).

In our frustration over limitations placed upon our lives, we may have forgotten that Peter also wrote to instruct Christians how to live in a way that honors God: “Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the king as the supreme authority or to governors as those who have been sent by him to punish those who do what is wrong and to praise those who do what is right. For this is God’s will: that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Do this as free people, and do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but use it as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17).

This is absolutely a unique time and a special opportunity to honor God and those in authority by speaking well of them, showing them respect and honor, and by praying for them. God is still in control and he is accomplishing his purposes through those whom he has called to lead at this time—even if you or I can’t see that clearly. May God forgive us through Jesus where we have been wrong. May he also inspire us by the Holy Spirit through his words above so that we have such a love for God that we make every effort to live his will during this trying time.

-Pastor Koehler

For a Little While

May 1, 2020

“Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time. Because of this you rejoice very much, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of trials so that the proven character of your faith—which is more valuable than gold, which passes away even though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:5–7).

“How long?” That has become a popular question for people to be asking. How long will it be until I can sit down in a restaurant again? How long will it be until I can get my job or my work hours back? How long will it be until we can join together with fellow believers at our worship services and Bible studies? How long will it be until I can feel comfortable leaving my house for whatever reason I need to?

And the fact is that right now, we don’t have a lot of answers to those questions. Plans that state, local, and national governments have made continue to be adjusted. Lots of people try to guess what timelines might be, but none of us knows the future, so none of us knows for sure.

One thing that we do know for sure is that while we live our lives, we will face uncertainty and fear. We will be subject to suffering and to pain. We will have troubles and trials. But Peter, writing by inspiration, tells us that these things will only last “a little while.” And after that little while is over, all of the difficult things that have tested our faith will be replaced by glory when Jesus is revealed.

Depending on your particular situation, you may have found that your regular routine has been interrupted and that you have more trouble even knowing exactly how much time has passed (“what day is it, anyway?”). Time seems to be different depending on our circumstances. “Time flies when you are having fun.” And when we are not enjoying ourselves, it seems to last forever.

God’s promise, guaranteed to us by the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that our lives will last forever. Our living with Jesus in glory will last forever. Our joy in him will last forever. But right now, we deal with the sadness and the loneliness, the suffering and the pain, and whatever else God allows into our lives. It may seem like it lasts a long time. But God’s promise to us is that these things will only last a little while. And even for that little while that they last, they serve an important purpose: they give us opportunities to demonstrate faith. As Peter reminds us, “Because of this, you rejoice very much.” Let’s rejoice even in the midst of uncertainty and even in the midst of suffering. Let’s rejoice because we know that in a little while we will be with our Savior.

-Pastor Nathan Kassulke

What Will The New “Normal” Be?

April 28, 2020

Can you imagine going to the grocery store wearing a mask forever? Do you think that you will always need to be 6ft away from everyone? How will it feel if we worry about Covid-19 all the time? We don’t know what the new “normal” will be in the near future, but we can guess that things won’t go back to the way they were before in exactly the same way. We can only imagine what life will be like in the weeks, months and years ahead.

We do know that whatever the new “normal” is, it will still be filled with sin and problems whether they are Covid-19 related or not. We face death. We have disease. We experience pain and suffering now just as we have in the past and will in the future. We have a pretty good sense of the ups and downs that the near future will hold. It will still be “normal.”

But can you imagine what eternity with Christ will be like? That will be the forever “normal” for all who believe in God. While some might say the 45 days of “stay at home” have felt like an eternity, they are less than a blink in the grand scope of forever. The “normal” of eternal life is often described in terms of what it is not: no pain, no sorr0w, no tears, no death, no suffering, nothing like the sinful world we live in. We look forward to a forever normal of praising our God with all believers in heaven.

This forever “normal” is all possible through the blood of Christ. He changed everything. His life, death and resurrection open the gates to eternal life. The faith worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit created a new person who believes and trusts in God. Our “normal” existence is now with Christ, awaiting a life in heaven with him forever.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me, but raise them up on the Last Day.  For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life. And I will raise him up on the Last Day” (John 6:38-40).

-Pastor Ryan Heiman

The Resurrected Lord: A Resource for Change

April 24, 2020

What would you like to change about the situation you find yourself in?

Most of us would put “make contagious virus go away” near the top of the list. In addition to the obvious benefit of less sickness and death, so many other positive changes would also follow: get people who need it back to earning income, get back to closer interactions with people, watch fears dissolve.

Or perhaps that question hits you on a more personal level: “I would like to change this bad habit, solve that relational problem, process this bad past experience.” We all have parts of us that we’d like to see change.

Then there’s the answer God indicates repeatedly. What should change? Our propensity to rebellion, ingratitude, and a desire to be in charge of our own lives. These all cause the wrecking of our relationship with him and the utter ruin of our being. God knows this needs to change.

In all these examples, a key question is: what’s our greatest resource for such change?

The answer for most in our world is some combination of personal and human wisdom, will-power and striving, along with a good deal of luck and chance. Yet the answer for a Christian ought to be mainly this: I have the resurrected Christ Jesus and the riches of his kingdom available to me through faith right now.

There is no resource for personal and group change like Jesus. There is no transforming event in all human history like his physical resurrection. Through him the rebel is made a friend. People bound to self-ruin find restoration. Self-centeredness fades, and joyful unity with God comes. Because of who Jesus is and what he has done, incredible things are now true of the present and future you.

- “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

- “He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:18).

For personal change, you now have a resource much more potent than will power and human advice.

- “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

- “Be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

You have the promise of a value and glory which do not diminish even when unwanted circumstance thrust themselves into your humble life.

- “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

- “We reflect the Lord’s glory, and are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The list could go on. This sampling reminds us how incredible Easter is. A few short weeks ago we celebrated Jesus, the God-man, being crucified on our behalf and then rising again. Now we’re invited to continue to unravel all the implications of his continued life.

Some changes we simply have to wait for. None of us knows precisely how long this virus will bring unwanted change. But things will get better. God has proven his ability to transform the worst of possible situations, the death of his perfect Son, into life giving resurrection. He’ll do it again in dramatic fashion one day. Until that day we ask God to apply the resurrection of Jesus to our daily lives, and marvel at the slow but sure changes he brings.

-Pastor Frank Rose

Waiting

April 20, 2020

It has been just over a month that the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic began affecting the daily lives of Arizonans. On March 11, Governor Doug Ducey signed the first of many Executive Orders intended to slow the spread of this novel virus. On March 15, the Grace Lutheran Church family held its last worship service where everyone and everybody was invited to gather around God’s Word. On April 1, many streets and stores drastically quieted down when non-essential movement came to a temporary halt. Does it feel like it has only been a month since the coronavirus first came to Arizona in force? Are you already thinking of ways to productively fill your time should these protective measures stretch into May or beyond? 

Regardless of how you have been coping with these unexpected times, we all share in our need to wait for things to get better. It is very unlikely that the apostle Paul had any viral concerns in mind when he penned his letter to the Christians in Rome. Nevertheless, he gives us some guidance about how we can wait in a Christian manner in Romans 12:12.

Paul lists three aspects to the Christian’s waiting: rejoicing, patience, and constancy. To rejoice in hope is to gird ourselves with the Easter gospel we heard last week. Even though Christ died because of having everyone’s sins counted against him, he has arisen! We have a Savior and all his promises which are surely given to us! This in turn makes our hope more than mere well wishes but to a guarantee – a guarantee that is with us no matter what happens with the coronavirus or how long it lingers.

To be patient in tribulation is to embody the Seventh Petition of the Lord’s Prayer “but deliver us from evil.” God can, and certainly does, prevent all sorts of evil from upsetting our lives. God also can, and certainly does, allow evil to plague our lives as is currently the case. During these evil tribulations, we draw ever closer to God’s Word so that we may be refined as gold and come out stronger than before (1 Peter 1:6,7).

To be constant in prayer is to take God up on his offer to come before him as confidently and often as a beloved child comes before their dear parent. While prayer can never replace the means of grace (the Bible, Baptism, and Holy Communion), prayer should bring us back to these faith-sustaining methods. As we ask and give thanks for various things, we do well to remember what God has actually promised in his Word. Whenever we wonder how we received this privilege to pray, we remember our baptismal waters where God marked us as his child who, therefore, can pray to the Lord himself. When (not if!) our prayers remind us of our need for forgiveness, we yearn for Holy Communion’s blessings. While the forgiveness we receive through the Word is just as effective, we perhaps better appreciate its delivery through Holy Communion in light of current coronavirus precautions.

While we must wait for our country to recover from this current pandemic and our life’s activities to resume their routines, we have ample opportunity to embody Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (ESV). How is that you can put these three aspects of Christian waiting into practice? Our exact answers will be different from each other’s due to the wide variety of our situations. However, there are some commonalities amongst us all. We can rejoice in the hope that we always have because of the Easter gospel. We can be patient in whatever tribulations we face because we have God’s assurance that he is always in control and working all things for our eternal good (Romans 8:28). Finally, we can be constant in our prayers so that our faith may increase even more. May our Lord help us do these very things and grow closer to him as we continue to wait.

– Pastor Tim Patoka

Quiet Time

April 17, 2020

We are reaching the end of the week after Easter. For many years, this week has been pretty quiet around Grace. After a busy Lenten season with extra services, and the worship opportunities that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday bring, and the excitement and busyness of Easter morning, we have typically not scheduled even the normal meetings and Bible studies during this week. So many people are usually involved in the planning, the preparation, the meals, the music, the services! We have historically considered this week to be a chance for everyone to take a breath and relax before resuming the usual church routine.

If you have been involved with our congregation for some time, you may recall how quiet this week has been at church in the past. But if you thought that was quiet, you should be around our four worship locations now! This is the quietest of post-Easter weeks! Not only are there no meetings or Bible studies, there are no worship services. Only essential tasks are being carried out—and by only a few people in a very safe manner.

Although this is not the way we would ever plan for quiet time, it is perhaps a good reminder that we routinely need that in some measure. Even Jesus needed quiet time. I was reminded of this as I have been making use of some daily quiet time now to read through the New Testament. Popping off the pages of the gospels were those occasions when Jesus purposely went away by himself. He needed to get away from the crowds, from teaching, from the busyness. And what he really needed was time to talk to his Father in heaven. One example is found after he had taught and fed the crowd of more than 5,000: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray (Matthew 14:22-23).

God has allowed most of us more quiet time than we are normally accustomed to. I realize that for some, their job has not changed much. For others, having the kids home now doesn’t seem quieter! But for those working, the commute finds quieter streets. There is a forced quietness in stores where the number of customers is limited. We are staying home more instead of scurrying around everywhere like we might normally. Sunday mornings right now don’t demand getting ready for church in the same way and driving in. The pace of most things has slowed down.

It is tempting to complain about everything that is going on, but perhaps we can find the blessings in what one member told me is like the “longest snow day” ever. She related how, as a kid, staying home from school because of the snow was a huge treat, a special cause for celebration! God has pressed “pause” on so much right now. I encourage you, in the midst of a quieter time for most, to follow the lead of Jesus, your Savior. Embrace the opportunity to step back from the busyness. Spend more time in prayer. In addition to your own life and concerns, there are certainly many other people and things to pray about these day! This is also a time to give God praise for all the blessings of Easter. Shouldn’t we also express our trust in him and his rule over all things—even in time of world-wide crisis? Spend more time in his Word also. Let him speak to you. Explore a book of the Bible you know little about. Read through the gospels…or the letters of the New Testament. Read through all of the Psalms. Undertake a comprehensive reading plan to go through the whole Bible. Pick your approach or ask a friend what they are doing and join them. Find peace in this storm and calm in the quietness as you listen to God as he talks to you.

The transition for some of us right now is a little tricky. Working from home all the time is a little weird for me. Most of you parents have not been home schooling, but you are now. Having everyone home all the time is strange. No matter your circumstance, find the quiet time and spend some of that with your Lord and Savior.

-Pastor Ron Koehler

Essential

April 14, 2020

As people all over Arizona and the rest of the United States have been dealing with businesses shutting down to help maintain social distancing, many discussions have centered on what businesses need to stay open. As many people are not required to go in to work, but can work from home or have lost their jobs, some people need to be at work in person consistently. People are recognizing that there are “essential businesses” and “essential workers.” On the other hand, that apparently means that some businesses and workers are not essential.

Sometimes that is very obvious. If the grocery stores close, where will people find the food that they need? If people have emergency medical needs, where would they go if the hospital has closed its emergency room? Services like these are essential.

But what about churches? Are they essential? In some states, churches are being harassed for having even a small gathering of any sort. I am very thankful that in Arizona, the governor’s order clearly states that churches have constitutionally-protected rights to worship and that therefore local governments cannot shut churches down completely.

So is church essential? Well, you are not likely to die if you miss a Sunday here or there. Churches are not essential to our physical health. As you long to return to church meetings in-person and to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion together, you are recognizing that church is very important, and the fellowship that we enjoy together is a wonderful blessing. I would dare say that we know and recognize that church is essential.

So why have we stopped meeting? The decision was made more out of concern for those around us who might hear from us in the future. We want them to know that we care about their bodies and their souls, and if people are worried that they could catch a serious illness, we should not put them in that position. We also made that decision because many of our own members are at a very high risk for serious complications if they were to contract the virus.

But we also stopped meeting in-person and instead communicated online even more than before because ONE THING is particularly essential, and it is at the heart of what we do at church. That one thing is the Word of God. It is listening to what Jesus says. In fact, he said that vey thing when he visited the house of Mary and Martha. Martha wanted to take care of Jesus physically. She wanted the house to look nice and for him to have food and other necessities. But Jesus wanted to take care of both Mary and Martha spiritually, so he was pleased to have Mary sit and listen to him. Martha complained, but Jesus rebuked her. The Lord answered and told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Church is essential because it is one of the places where Christians grow in faith. It is essential because we need the support and encouragement of others. It is essential, and we will gather around Word and sacrament again, hopefully (prayerfully) very soon. Meanwhile, we can still receive the one essential thing, the one thing needed. We can read our Bibles on our own in our homes. We can listen to and even watch the services that are still being provided (by a small group of pastors and volunteers who are “essential” to getting that done), and we can make use of the devotional resources available to us in a number of places and ways. May we treasure and make use of all these opportunities! May we be like Mary in longing to hear from Jesus! May we pray as the hymn-writer did:

One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure Teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure, Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain—
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

How were Mary’s thoughts devoted Her eternal joy to find
As intent each word she noted, At her Savior’s feet reclined.
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing;
All earthly concerns she forgot for her Lord
And found her contentment in hearing his Word.

Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure, Jesus, can be found in you.
Let me find in you my pleasure; Make my will and actions true,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine (Christian Worship 290).

-Pastor Nathan Kassulke

The Greatest Day in the Midst of Chaos

April 10, 2020

If or when a cure is found for COVID-19, it will be celebrated as one of the greatest days in our history. With essentially the entire world on lock down, it will be an exciting moment when life can resume some sense of normality. It will be even better if the fear of COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past. Until then, it is a chaotic time in our world with more questions than answers. Who do we believe? What is the right answer? How do we stay safe? Why? 

The church has been impacted by the chaos as well. God’s people not able to gather to praise him regularly, especially not having a typical Holy Week, has tested our faith. Through the many online and mailed resources we have at least been able to “virtually” gather to be nourished by the Word. But there are still many other questions the church faces. Will the church survive financially? Will people feel safe gathering again? Will online habit replace in-person gatherings? How will this change people’s faith in God?

It is in the midst of this chaos that we celebrate the greatest day in history: Good Friday. I think “Good” Friday might not be enough, Greatest, Best, Most Wonderful, Spectacular, and so forth. I don’t know if we even have enough descriptive words to truly describe how important Good Friday is. It is the day that all of Scripture was leading up to. Four thousand years of history and prophesy were centered on the sacrifice that God was making through his son, Jesus Christ. Two thousand years later we still focus on the cross of Christ as the only way to everlasting life. All the sins of the world, past, present, and future, were placed on Jesus to pay the price we couldn’t pay. Without Good Friday there would be no good in the world at all. It is the transformational day in history that rescued sinners from eternal condemnation and offered them forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Christ.

When Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit, the cure for sin was secured. It is a day that has been celebrated ever since. While we know it is the greatest day in history, our celebration often has a somber tone because it our sins that caused his death. We have to take full responsibility for his death. That is why it is also with great sorrow that we ponder this Good Friday. It is just as if I am one of the soldiers pounding a nail into his hand when I dishonor his name. I could be a Pharisee hurling insults at him as I still sin daily.

It is in the midst of this chaos of greatness and sorrow that Good Friday is God’s cure for this world’s problems. Even in our uncertain times, he is still the cure for sin. Jesus said it best: “It is finished.” Sins are forgiven, and eternal life is yours. 

After this, knowing that everything had now been finished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine was sitting there. So they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!” Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30)

—Pastor Ryan Heiman

The Power of The Voluntary Sufferer

April 7, 2020

There is a massive difference between voluntary suffering and involuntary suffering. Imagine a man walking along a path, and suddenly, without warning, a heavy log is thrust upon him and a voice shouts, “Carry this.” The man would probably be battered, bruised, and knocked over. He’d likely get upset that he’s been assigned such a burden. Now imagine a man walking along a path, and a log lies in his way, and a voice says, “Carry this.” This man would have a chance to decide to voluntarily bear up under the weight of the log, and carry it. His outlook is far more likely to be “this is a challenge, and I’m going to meet it.” Even more so if he’s convinced that carrying the log has a point; let’s say, it’ll be fuel for a fire in a cold house.

So which of the two more characterized your response to coronavirus? None of asked for this, none of us wants it, but here we are. Have the past weeks caused you to get bitter at the bad news, inconveniences, and isolation? How can your attitude change into, “This is a challenge, and I’ll do my best to bear my share of the weight”?

Consider what holy week is all about: Not a man caught off guard by the hostility of his enemies, forced to bear a burden he never wanted to carry. But God in human flesh who saw what was coming, and marched toward the storm of violence so that he could carry its weight and come out standing.

Before the agonizing death happened, Jesus said, “I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18) And in Hebrews 12:2 we’re told “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

Of all the burdens; Jesus had reason to run, to reject, to refuse the cross with its weight of sin and wrath. But he didn’t. Instead he stood up under its weight until it crushed him to death. He was sorrowful, but not bitter. He was pained, but not vengeful. The ultimate challenge, the one too great for any of us to face, was met and endured and overcome by Jesus.

One result of his death and resurrection which we celebrate this week: His invitation to you to “bear your cross and follow him,” takes on new meaning. No, you don’t have to carry the same cross as he did. But there will be crosses of grief and shame caused by things like coronavirus, as well as plenty else. Only now, because he has risen, you don’t face the challenges alone, but with him.

You didn’t ask for this pandemic, and you don’t want it. But in Jesus you have a share of his victory over the wages of sin – all of them. You have the confidence to look at the hard stuff of life, and to view it as your invitation to follow Jesus in your own unique way. You’re aided by his presence, certain of his victory.

So go to the cross this week with Jesus, and watch him voluntarily suffer. But don’t stop there, go also to the empty tomb and see him alive, immune to sin’s poison. Whatever these recent weeks have taken from you, have faith that new life is constantly offered you in Jesus. That’s the promise of his resurrection, which in a unique way we celebrate this week.

 – Pastor Frank Rose

Set Apart

April 2, 2020

When I prepare my lessons for Grace-Tucson’s Youth Catechism class, I often remember how applicable God’s Word is to his children’s lives. Whether his children are preparing to be confirmed or have long passed that joyous day, God’s Word is always relevant – even in these COVID-19 days. Our current unit in Youth Catechism class on God the Holy Spirit is one example of this continued relevance.

What makes the Holy Spirit unique from the other persons of our Triune God is his work of sanctification. God’s Word mentions the Spirit’s work in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “God chose you…for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth.” The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification is perhaps better understood as being “set apart” in two ways: 1) set apart for God and 2) set apart for godly living. To be set apart for God is to be a Christian, that is, to know who the one true God who is and trust in his promise of salvation. To be set apart for godly living is to model God-pleasing behavior with a thankful attitude. Every person whom God has chosen to be his child through faith has been set apart by the Holy Spirit in these two ways.

Because sanctification is an abstract concept, look at the following picture which illustrates its two-part meaning.

You see an apple that has been set apart from the others. As this colorful apple is still an apple yet different, so Christians are still sinful humans yet privileged to be called God’s children. As this colorful apple is expected to taste better than its drab neighbors, so Christians are expected to live in God-pleasing ways compared to those still lost in sin. Christians can be compared to this colorful apple because of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification.

Christians have opportunities to show their appreciation for the Holy Spirit setting them apart for God during these COVID-19 days. While we all bounce from headline to headline and wonder what will happen next, God’s promises for his children remain fixed. Christ has died and risen to be our Savior. Whoever goes to him in repentance will leave refreshed by God’s promise of forgiveness and guarantee of life in heaven. While we wait at home for an eventual vaccine, we can now give thanks to God that his power is still at work for the eternal good of those whom God has chosen to be his sanctified children. While we may not understand how the coronavirus fits in God’s plan, we are certain that God’s power is carrying out his wise and perfect will.

Christians also have opportunities to demonstrate their Spirit-given nature as set apart for godly living during these COVID-19 days. We are rightly concerned about this virus’ danger and should view our current governmental decrees as specific ways to obey the 4th and 5th Commandments. Yet we have no need to worry for our God is still in control. With the extra time some of us may have on our hands, we can take it upon ourselves to get into God’s Word in new ways – perusing the recent wealth of online resources across our Wisconsin Lutheran church body, embarking on a thorough Bible reading plan, or developing a devotional/prayer life that could continue after COVID-19. As life has unexpectedly changed around us, so there is potential to think outside the box to share our confidence in Christ during this COVID-19 crisis. How might you share this sure word with those in your neighborhood in spite of social distancing measures?

While the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification can initially seem exceedingly abstract or complex, this dual set apart nature is the heartbeat of every Christian. The Holy Spirit has set Christians apart for God so that they may benefit from all of his promises. The Holy Spirit has also set them apart for godly living so they may show their faith with their lives. As we navigate through these COVID-19 days, we have ample opportunity to give thanks to God for his work of sanctification in us. In a sea of chaos, we have our God and his powerful promises. In a world that looks drastically different than not too long ago, God has offered his children new opportunities to show their faith’s confidence to the world around.

 – Pastor Tim Patoka

Shelter and Refuge in the Storm

March 30, 2020

“One who lives in the shelter of the Most High will stay in the shadow of the Almighty. Surely he will rescue you …. from the destructive plague” (Psalm 91:1,3).

What could those words possibly mean? Sure seems like a guarantee that if you trust God, he won’t let catastrophic plague happen to you. And if pandemic sweeps across the globe, affecting both the righteous and the wicked…. then what? Are those words of God untrue?

In Psalm 91, God clearly promises care for whoever shelters in him. But what kind of care? Consider another verse from the same Psalm: “He will give a command to his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).

Psalm 91 doesn’t promise avoidance of suffering as much as his presence and care “in all your ways,” including times of suffering. God’s care shows up not only in the ways that he spares us from much disaster, but even when new dangers suddenly take over the landscape of our lives.

Even though deadly virus may be a new uncertainty for most of us, God’s care and shelter have already been proven and guaranteed to us all. Any good shelter protects by absorbing the worst while protecting the sheltered. The worst of the cold or heat. The worst of the arrow or fire.

“With his feathers he will cover you, and under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:4).

Jesus acted like a mother bird protecting her young when he determinedly strove to the cross. In him, we find a shelter from the cold distance of our rebellion against God, shelter from the fiery torment of actually existing apart from his loving presence.

That’s our certainty of shelter no matter the storm. We have no guarantee that the spread of COVID-19 won’t get worse, that it won’t infect people we love, that any of us won’t have our lives here snatched away by this sickness. But we do have the guarantee of God’s presence with us, no matter what.

“Neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Jesus not only absorbed the blast of death, he came back to life afterward. That means he’s a living shelter. Nothing surprises him, catches him off guard, or worries him. Our lives are in his hands, all of it. It’s always been that way.

Through so many untold tragic times in human history there have always been those who do as much as humanly possible to make the best of bad times – and thank God for them – doctors, scientist, leaders. There have always been those who are driven even further away from God’s loving care, deeper into self-reliance. And there have always been those who find refuge in the shelter of Christ.

By his mercy, may this be a season of sheltering in Jesus, no matter what happens. May God give you wisdom in leading others to the same refuge. Though we don’t have it nearly as bad as he did, may our attitudes reflect Job’s when he said, “Even if he slays me, I will wait for him with hope” (Job 13:15). Be assured that when your end comes, however it comes, Christ will be there. And with him, hope and life.

-Pastor Frank Rose

Easter Assurance

March 26, 2020

I’m sure most of you are getting more than your fill of Coronavirus coverage. It’s been interesting to see how companies and business and organizations have responded. I’ve heard from insurance companies, airlines, gyms, restaurants, golf courses, car rental companies, retail stores, our internet provider, our church body, and more! Businesses and organizations that we interact with have been expressing their concern for their customers’ health, allaying fears by explaining their cleaning practices, and encouraging you to be smart about how you interact with them and others. For a while, they were urging you to continue eating at the restaurant, working out at the gym, renting their cars, and shopping in their stores—with the exception of when you were sick. Then staying home was urged. Well, that has all changed, hasn’t it? Now everyone who can ought to stay home and many of those businesses are not open as they were. Some have come up with interesting ways to still connect with people: curbside service, free delivery, offers to speak on the phone, etc.

Your church is no different. Your pastors initially met to talk about sensible practices. The Ministry Board addressed the same. Members offered some ideas about how best handle things as we wait for the virus to peak and decline. That information was shared…and then things changed just days later! A quick decision was made to cancel on-site services, meetings, and events. Online services sprung up the next day. More emails started to flow to members from the church, more mailings to members began to be made, the number of phone calls to members started to increase. Pastors and leaders continue to talk and meet in order to adapt to an ever-changing situation. We too have come up with interesting ways to connect with people.

A pandemic causes us all to search for answers. How do we solve it? What do we need to do to be safe? How will we survive? Do we buy up more than enough supplies and withdraw? Avoid crowds? Work from home? Stay in our houses and hide from it? We simply don’t know how best to deal with a pandemic, so we try to find a way to minimize our risk and exposure so that we can survive. We take the advice of health experts and obey the requirements and urgings of our government. We are taking this very seriously!

Just for a moment, think with me about the deadly disease we ought to be taking even more seriously. Sin is the greatest threat to all people, and this is why: everyone already has it, there is no cure, and it is fatal. Every person will die because from it, and the true threat of it is an eternity of perpetual suffering and separation from God.

In the midst of all the bad news above this sentence, I want you to remember Easter, which is just weeks away. Think about how Good Friday’s cross was not the end for Jesus. He paid for sin on it, but then he rose from death! He cured the sin pandemic and then proved it by not allowing death to hold him and announcing his victory over it all as he confronted Satan in hell! Jesus’ promise that because he lives, you will live, is the greatest news you could ever hear.

You may have recognized or heard that the Coronavirus name comes from the word “crown.” It is so named because of crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus itself. God’s people need not fear this “crown” or any other virus or disease—or anything—because Jesus provided the remedy for their root cause when he wore a crown of thorns. Every person who trusts in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection has been promised a different crown, a crown of righteousness and eternal victory: From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will give it to me on that day, and not only to me but also to everyone who loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). That’s what Easter is about. Jesus’ victory is your victory! We have nothing to fear—not now and not in eternity. We live with that joyous fact every day and it moves us to work to put sin away and live in a way that honors our Savior. And when we do sin, we look to the one who defeated that disease, and he heals us. This is why we look forward to celebrating Easter—no matter what form that celebration takes this year!

-Pastor Ron Koehler

Closeness in Christ

March 23, 2020

Social distancing has become a necessary new reality. For how long, we don’t know for sure. God made us all with a desire, even a necessity, for close contact with others. Even as contact with closest family members continues for most; loneliness and isolation add themselves to the list of coronavirus fall-outs. As if there wasn’t enough to dampen our moods; loneliness and isolation have long been related to depression and anxiety. As if there wasn’t enough for our immune systems to deal with, isolation has been tied to weaker physical immunity and negative neurochemical brain changes.

So what resources do we have to deal with this multi-faceted problem that our world and we as individuals face? Consider a man who was once socially distanced for a different reason. When Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians, he was in chains, imprisoned because of his desire to share the message of Jesus. He was writing to people from a distance. What advice did he give them?

“Just conduct yourselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, contending together with one soul for the faith of the gospel, not frightened in any way by the adversaries. This is a sign for them of their destruction and of your salvation, and that from God” (Philippians 1:27-28).

Despite the distance, Paul expressed his great desire for the Philippian Christians. He told them to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. The same high standard applies to us as well. Despite a virus that threatens to take lives and upend so much of life as we know it; none of that changes the foundation of our lives. The gospel message tells us that God himself once took on a body which knows the challenges of maintaining physical life amid mob hysteria. Jesus’ lungs knew the horror of running out of breath after an agonizing time of suffering. He died on behalf of all, that all who die connected to him would not have to face eternal isolation from God. He took new breath on Easter morning to assure us that any cause of death need not be permanent, that even physical life is promised in our future. That’s the gospel. Though we all must die because of our sin-distancing from our Father, we are brought close to him again in Christ.

So even in a time like this, aim for a life which is worthy of that message. Take some time to consider not just how to stock up and stay safe, appropriate as those activities are. Take time to consider: is this an opportunity to share the gospel with others who are afraid? Is this an opportunity to pray more insistently that God would strengthen the bodies of the sick and the faith of those who fear? Is this a time to help the people around you in their need?

Though coronavirus is causing separation and break down of many kinds, there still is one faith that promises a way to overcome it all. One Lord who connects himself to us humbly, but raises us to himself gloriously. So don’t be afraid. God has given ample signs of the absolute defeat of every enemy which threatens life as we sense it should be. What evidence? Jesus’ resurrection for one. But notice how Paul mentions something else: the unity of believers. When a group of Jesus’ followers responds to challenging and uncertain times by standing together on the gospel of Christ, when we contend together for the faith of the gospel, we act as God’s signs to a world that needs him. We give evidence of a coming destruction for some, but salvation for others. Though socially distanced, may God allow this to be a time of spiritual closeness; closeness of you and God; closeness of us and one another.

-Pastor Frank Rose