From Pastor's Desk

T was a fantastic summer (at least from my perspective.)   Karen and I commented many times, “the weather this summer has been fantastic!”  There were many meals we took outside to the picnic table where we enjoyed the beauty of the flowers, low humidity and cool breezes.  I have enjoyed hundreds of miles cycling on Fridays, and in the less structured evening schedule of the summer months. 

 I recall many summers when the rains did not come, the hot winds blew and the crops, the plants, life in general suffered greatly.  Usually the grass is all brown and the flowers have faded long ago.  Yes, I realize humidity levels have jumped recently and it seems oppressive, but when I think back over these past few months, I think it was a fantastic summer! 

 Not everyone would agree.  Some people have had different experiences and recall a completely different season.  Some recall other details that are defined as anything other than fantastic.  It is hard to envision a larger perspective of life when there are some details that go unresolved or that turn out differently than we expect.  I addressed this in a recent sermon as we considered the nearness of God even in the midst of tragedy. 

 The summer’s end brought us face to face with tragedy through a bridge collapse in Minnesota, a mining accident in Utah, an earthquake in Peru, flooding in the Midwest, an active start to the hurricane season, not to mention the on-going war in Iraq, continued violence between Israel and Palestine and the devastating reality of hunger and poverty around the world.  The question is often asked, “If God is so close then why is God so hard to find?”  These and many other details keep us from experiencing the promise of God to be nearby and not far off. 

 The biblical witness of the New Testament in particular points out that in Christ Jesus, God has come even closer than ever.  Jesus entered the world with a purpose, to reveal God’s love for the sake of the world.  He did not come to eliminate the challenges of life but to give us hope to live through the challenges we undoubtedly will face, with the confidence that Christ is with us.  We live in an uncertain world.  We live in a world where there is suffering, disappointments, war, hunger, poverty.  We live in a world where we debate over social issues, the use/abuse of energy resources, the effect of greenhouse gases, global warming.  We each come at these issues from a different perspective and we do not agree about how these issues affect our corner of the world. 

 The message we proclaim in Jesus is one that has the ability to sustain us even as we debate, and wrestle with challenging details. 

 We are part of a church which is united for the sake of the gospel.  Let us prayerfully keep a missional commitment of being called, gathered and sent for the sake of the world.

Pastor Craig Swenson