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How Committed Are You?

 (Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column February 14, 2024) …And all who dwell on earth will worship [the blasphemous beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:8-10) Yes, here I come interrupting your lovely Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day celebrations with some difficult words from Revelation. I honestly had considered writing about Christian origins of today’s consumerist holiday, but I’m not well-versed and Wikipedia seems to do a thorough job. I am currently preaching through the bulk of Revelation at Baldwin Christian Reformed Church. My interpretation is not a strict literal interpretation of the book. I believe it may contain
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The Christmas Father and Son

(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column December 20, 2023) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her n

Thankful for Plenty

 (Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column November 8, 2023)  “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him...Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my peop

A Joyful Life and an Imperishable, Undefiled, and Unfading Inheritance

 (Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column September 27, 2023) …According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ( 1 Peter 1:3-5, 8-9) Over the last month, I’ve been preaching about rewards. For all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ, there is the promise of salvation and eternal life (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-39; 3:17-21). It’s a reward in the sense that it is not fully received until the completion of this life, it’s only for some, and it is an i

Back to School Wisdom

(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column August 16, 2023) Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes…Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ( Proverbs 26:4-5, 11-12) “Back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that I’m not a fool...” Any time I hear the words reminding us of what happens around this time of year for many children, I can’t help but also hear those words from the ’90s Adam Sandler film, “Billy Madison.” Whether you’ve seen it or not, I’m not giving my personal support or recommendation to the movie, but those sing-song words as Billy waits for the school bus are locked in my memory. Already this month, teachers have been preparing their classrooms and teaching curriculum as well as going through development. Some student

Some Things Never Change

(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column July 5, 2023) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) When I was a kid, I played baseball, basketball, and soccer in my hometown’s rec league. If I wanted to play, my parents would sign me up. If I decided I didn’t like the sport or didn’t want to play anymore, they made me finish the season (except for my final year of Little League baseball when I got sick of riding the bench and completely lost interest). Fast forward to this summer and my wife and I enrolled our two oldest children in softball and t-ball for their first summer team sports. My interest in baseball has continued as a fan of the White Sox. My kids have shown interest in the sport over the last year, helped by having friends who are playing. We were gone during the first week of practices, so I wanted to practice some with them at home before their first nights and when we have time as

Just Stop Killing

 (Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column May 17, 2023) “…And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning; from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image…” (Genesis 9:5-6) Four Wisconsin law enforcement officers have been killed in 2023. According to Officer DownMemorial Page as of May 8, there have been 39 Line of Duty deaths in the U.S.A. this year. Not all those have been the result of violence against officers, but more than half have been. I’m writing this just days after St. Croix County Sheriff Deputy Kaitie Leising was killed. On the same day, eight people were killed and seven injured by a shooter at a mall in Allen, Texas. A month ago, another two of Wisconsin’s four officers killed were Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel. A month and