Skip to main content

Life Continues


(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column February 3, 2021)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,  that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15)

There are probably differences between you and I when it comes to how we see the world. What we pay attention to, what really gets us going likely is not always the same. We may watch or read different news sources. We may think differently when it comes to politics or theology or social matters. We participate in different aspects of community life, associate with different people, and choose to invest our time, energy, and money into different things.

We are neighbors—whether I’ve met you or know your name or not. I’m glad to live and minister and worship in Baldwin, WI. Even though we have differences, and they probably would cause disagreement if we got into discussions on certain topics, I can respect you and love you and want what’s truly good for you. That doesn’t mean we’ll always care about the exact same things.

Maybe thoughts about COVID are what dominate your life right now: fear of getting sick which impacts how you live day-to-day; thoughts about masks and vaccines, whether for or against, that you feel it’s your duty that everyone knows; fatigue with Zoom meetings, YouTube/Facebook Live church services, and not having as close of relationships as you did ten months ago.

Maybe thoughts about our nation fill your mind: if you’re an avid Trump supporter, maybe you’re still beating the drum of a stolen election (though, it likely won’t change anything); if you claim the Democrat party and are a Biden/Harris supporter, you’re excited; maybe you’re relatively indifferent to politics other than wanting decency and for politicians at all levels to actually get work done. Pray for our nation, state, towns and leaders; and know you’re not alone.

Sometimes we get all wrapped up in a particular issue or situation, and it’s hard to believe that everyone else isn’t anxious or frustrated or consumed the way we are. “Why doesn’t everyone think like me? Don’t they care?!” If you’ve grieved the loss of a loved one, especially someone close to you, how you experienced life around that time may have been substantially different from others. In times of grieving our minds don’t always function like they normally do. We forget things. We’re focused on personal matters that tend to be more important for us than whatever else is going on in sports, politics, even in major world events. It may come off to others that we don’t care—but really we’re needing care for ourselves. Meanwhile, though, life continues.



A lot of people are currently living in a state of grief. Life continues, and yet some part of reality has gripped us. What grieving people need is hope. Whatever you’re feeling—sadness, anger, frustration, boredom—perhaps the season of life you’re in is showing you something you’ve trusted in, you’ve depended on, you’ve assumed should always be a certain way. Are there things we can and need to let go of, and place that trust in the God alone who gives us hope in his Son?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm talking about practice!

Practice...If you've had any interest in basketball or sports media in the last 10 years, then you probably remember Allen Iverson's press conference  rant  from 2002 on this topic.  You mention the word around me, and to this day A.I.'s voice pops into my head mocking the reporters, "We're talking about practice!"  This topic is our focus this week, coming from the theme presented at the young peoples' retreat I was on this weekend and re-iterated today in a conversation with a friend and her dad. When we think about the Christian life, there are certain principles and practices that are meant to be included.   Matthew 25:31-40 teaches believers metaphorically about their duties.  The sheep who inherit the kingdom of heaven are those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and in prison.  In John 3:21 , we find Jesus teaching that those who do what is true come to the light so that their wo
2 comments
Read more

Trouble at the Dinner Table

Note: While the intent of this blog is mainly to focus on how Sunday worship and preaching informs the week, I may occasionally take the liberty of focusing on worship practice and how the week meets Sunday. In this second post of this unofficial series on Sunday worship practice, I want to direct our attention to what it means to be a confessional church and some of the things that I'm wrestling with because of that.  As I mentioned last week, I have grown up in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), a denomination which officially affirms and utilizes three ecumenical creeds and three Reformed confessions .  We recognize that these six confessions do not have the same inspiration or authority as Scripture, but we affirm that they fully agree with the Word of the Lord.  The new Covenant for Officebearers (a document signed by all ministers, elders, and deacons who hold office in the CRC), which was passed by Synod (our governing body) this summer, goes on to say, These conf
2 comments
Read more