Easter Every Sunday?

"There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'" —Jeremiah 31:6

“Can’t we do something besides going to church every Sunday?” said little Johnny to his dad. Sure, son, what would you like to do this Sunday? “Oh, I just want to stay home and play video games and stuff,” said Johnny. “But what would God think?” replied his father.
“I’m sure God will be ok without us, Dad!”

Isn’t that close to what we adults even think, whenever we decide to do something else besides get up and get ourselves and others in our family ready so we can all go to church? You’ve heard the story about the mother who woke up her son one Sunday morning saying, “Come on now its time to get up and get ready for church.” “Aw, do I have too! I really want to stay in bed and sleep this morning,” he said. “No, you can’t stay home now,” his mom scolded, “after all you’re the pastor.”

Yes, even the pastor has to make an effort to get to church some times. And, you know what? God would be ok without us, too.

But will we be ok without God? That’s the real question. It’s not like we’re doing Him some favor by going out of our way to be in His House of worship on Sunday morning. Oh, He misses us when we’re not there, at least He misses us being there where He wants us to be: in fellowship with our neighbors and friends in Christ, in thanksgiving and praise which ultimately does us more good than it does Him and in the Bible study that helps us to grow in understanding the role of faith in our lives.

What happens when we’re not there is what happens to us. It’s what we’re missing that feeds our soul and nourishes our spirit. It’s what keeps us alive and renews our sense of purpose and our focus on God’s love for us, and how we can show his love to others.

An old English children’s poem, illustrated with hands clasped and fingers inside except the index fingers raised and touching each other, went like this:

Here's the church, and here's the steeple
Open the door and see all the people.
Here's the parson going upstairs,
And here he is saying his prayers.

The thumbs together were the doors and when opened the inside fingers represented the people. But the way I learned it as a child left out the parson and ended with all the fingers outside the clasped together hands:

Here’s the church and here’s the steeple
Open the door but where are all the people?

Sometimes after Easter and when school is out that later picture seems all too real. This year’s Easter service at Trinity was filled with people and it was a joy to share in the worship with all who were there. But from the time of the Apostles after Jesus rose from the tomb every Sunday became an Easter celebration of the new life we have been given in Christ.

If you were to ask someone who starved himself to death why he didn’t eat, first he couldn’t answer because he is dead, but if he could wouldn’t it be silly for him to say, “I’m sure the cook was ok without me!” No, we must eat for our bodies to live and we must worship that we may live with Christ in our lives. Just as you wouldn’t unnecessarily miss a good meal, why would you likewise miss going to church? Sounds like a “no-brainer” to me, what about you?

FROM DARKNESS TO DAWN

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." -Matthew 28:6-7

“How dark does it have to get before the night is over?” The question of a small child may seem without importance when one is struggling through a sleepless night. But with moral and spiritual darkness enveloping the night of our age we cannot help but speculate on the present course.

We would seem pointless to merely observe the many indications that such a night has fallen. Too often and too easily we decry what is happening to our nation with its loss of values and absence of leadership. We’re too negative; some will say while they can’t disagree with the prevailing circumstances that affects us all. Indeed, we quickly turn to more positive thoughts giving us hope that the night will soon pass. Are we any different than the unsure child seeking answers and confidence from a loving parent?

Enough with the bailouts and the president’s and congress’s health plan which many feel will lead us further into socialism and a national debt we can’t afford. Enough with questionable political practices behind closed doors of our government. Enough with alarm over encroaching gay rights activities, liberal bias in the media and a multitude of other disturbing trends in our society. “Enough!” we say. Enough! Let us look on the bright side. Let us think positive thoughts. Let us believe things will get better if we just do our job and don’t let our surroundings get us down. Isn’t this how we convince ourselves that the night is almost over—that dawn is almost here?

There are, unquestionably, many streaks of improvised light in this surrounding darkness. In our churches and Christian schools, in our homes and families, even in our jobs and neighborhoods, good people do good things and we enjoy many happy and encouraging moments that give us a degree of happiness and hope for a brighter tomorrow. There are certainly enough opportunities to concentrate our attention on flickering points of light in our lives instead of the outside blackness. And these are not inconsequential. They are not to be disregarded, especially where we see evidence of spiritual and moral influence and where Bible based Christianity still prevails in our hopes and in our dreams.

But there is still a better way to quiet the fear that gnaws against us—a better answer for the hope that lies within our hearts and gives us confidence of a new day. That is the guarantee of resurrection that our Lord Jesus Christ has given us. The hours and days immediately before the dawn of Easter morning were as dark as it can get on the earth. Jesus who brought new light into the world, a light that enlightens any soul from within, was extinguished on the cross. The forces of darkness had overtaken him in his cruel death. Gone was the One on whom anyone could look and be healed of all sickness and disease that inflicts darkness on our bodies, minds and souls. Gone was the life Who was the light of men. It seemed that darkness would prevail perpetually, that there would be no dawn, and that our greatest fear would be realized in the death and entombment of the Christ sent by God to help us.

We know that wasn’t the end, or we would not be here 2000 years later continuing our hope in the Creator’s purpose. The miracle of Jesus’ resurrection foretells the miracle awaiting us all. Our hope for a new tomorrow does not rest on the politicians, nor does it rest in our own feeble efforts at keeping the lights we depend on in our own worlds around us glowing. The dawn we truly await is one of enduring brightness which will remove all fear that night could ever again fall. This is not a desperate hallucination, as some would charge. It is not hope against hope, but it is based on concrete knowledge, concrete facts and concrete revelation which God has poured out into our hearts and minds.

Christ is Risen!!! We have cause for celebration of the Day to come prefigured for us by the Day the tomb was found empty and the risen Jesus appeared to his followers. This is the assurance we need to carry on through the night, no matter how dark it gets. For the reality is, it will most likely get darker before the dawn. But Jesus assures us, “Do not be afraid.” “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” “Go therefore and make disciples ...” The dawn is coming. Look up, for you know not when your redemption comes; but He is coming.
Amen.

LIFE AFTER DEATH!

“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

– 1 Peter 3:15

March is an appropriate month for our Lenten observance as we long for winter’s end and the beginning of spring. Lent began in February at the heart of winter as the church renews its focus on repentance looking at the Cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. And an unusual winter it has been. We’ve seen more than our share of cold days and nights and with greater than average snowfalls. Yet it seems to fit the season, and yes ours is mild compared to our friends in the north and northeast. But we are looking forward to spring, new growth in our lawns, gardens and forestations. The warmth of days and nights with longer light with which to enjoy them offer great appeal while temperatures are still dipping below freezing despite periods of sunshine amidst cloudy skies. Our longing reminds us that there is still life after death.
That of course is the message of Easter, now only a month away and by then spring should be in full bloom. But it is never too soon to be reassured of the Savior’s promise. And Holy Scripture gives us all we need for our faith to be kept alive even when the days of our lives are dark, whether due to season or circumstance. God’s Word brings us light and hope, encouragement and insight when we need it most. As Christians, the Bible is our surest source of knowledge and truth concerning this life and the next.

But there is other evidence in support of our confidence as believers in the Resurrection. A recent book by Dinesh D’Souza titled “Life After Death; The Evidence” examines our hope from reasoned, scientifically based analysis apart from the Bible. The author of “What’s So Great About Christianity,” another important apologetic review, D’Souza looks at the latest discoveries in physics and neuroscience, at convincing philosophical deductions and conclusions drawn from anthropology and biology which lend further credibility to the prospect of life after death.
Further, Dinesh shows how the view that death followed by an expectation of life beyond our present has benefited mankind in many important ways: “This means that life after death is not merely a rational and even probable belief; it is also a conviction that sustains and strengthens our civilization.” He is also not absent in urging consideration of the Bible’s claims as the most logical place for one to go to for reconciliation. Four historical facts are accounted for: The crucifixion and death of Jesus by his enemies, the empty tomb, the verifiable appearances to his followers and finally their astounding accomplishments in spreading the faith despite persecution and martyrdom. “These facts are affirmed by the mainstream of modern historical scholarship,” he writes. “In other words, the resurrection is believable because it makes sense of all the other facts listed above,” he concludes.

True, for the Bible-believing Christian (is there any other kind?) research like D’Souza’s offers little to our need for understanding. God has clearly made a more than adequate case in his own Book. But we live in a world of growing agnosticism against ever-stronger atheistic influences. That is reason enough to be armed, for the purpose that we are “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” For our hope, though it includes the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, ultimately rests on one essential fact: our life after death.

Winter is nearly over! Spring is coming!

HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR!

“Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.” – Colossians 1:5

2010: Is it the beginning of a new decade or is it the last year of the old? Sounds like the argument heard when we entered the new millennium 10 years ago (or was it nine?). Well, anyway, dating things is kind of arbitrary despite the meaning we put into them. January 1st is just another day on the calendar. It happens to be on Friday this year, but that’s only because our measure for years isn’t divisible by 7. Yet we fill it with significance anyway – another New Year, time to take stock, make some resolutions, set some goals and hope this year will be better than last. The Lord knows, and so do we, that last year had its fill of problems seemingly everywhere and for everybody. And of course we always begin with a celebration – a celebration of hope.

But hope can be an elusive thing if there are no foundations for it. A quick search of the Bible on my computer lists 169 occurrences of the word “hope” in 161 verses. The first time it is used is even speculative; Ruth telling her two widowed daughters-in-law there wasn’t much hope for her having new sons for them to marry so they should leave her and be on their way. The Book of Job, with all the tragedies that afflicted this poor soul, lists the word “hope” 19 times. But mostly it is expressed in negative terms as in one verse where he mentions it twice: Chapter 17, verse15, “where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?”

This trend is quickly reversed, however, in the Psalms with 28 references. Here hope takes on new meaning, such as Psalm 33:18: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.” And Psalm 119:81: “My soul longs for your salvation, I hope in your word.” And Psalm 146:5: “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” However, as might be expected usage by the Prophets is a mixed bag, frequently pointing to the false hopes that Israel tended to make. Yet there are a supply of concrete promises, such as in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Needless to say, perhaps, when we get to the New Testament positive references to hope far outweigh the negative. Matthew begins in 12:21, quoting Isaiah regarding the Christ, “and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” Though few in the Gospels themselves, Luke breaks out the word 11 times in the Book of Acts, and for the Apostle Paul it is a major theme, as in Romans 5:2: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” And 2 Corinthians 3:12: “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” And Galatians 5:5: “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—.” And finally, Colossians 1:5: “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.”

Therefore we have hope for a new year after all. The greatest is the hope we have in Jesus. That was what was missing in all the negative references and that is what gives us a positive outlook, regardless of all the reasons why 2010 may end with more disappointments than the year just past. Look up dear friends, our redemption is sure, God’s love is still sure, the grace of the Lord Jesus is always there and we have far more to be grateful for than we have not. May 2010 be one of increasing faith, love and commitment to Christ.

A CHRISTIAN DECLARATION

And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Matthew 22:20-21

The Season of Advent, a new year on the Christian calendar, has come. A time of preparation, consecration, devotion and praise! Our Savior first came to take on our human flesh and blood as an infant, a baby conceived in his mother’s womb by the Holy Spirit, and began an earthly journey that led to his death as a sacrifice on a Roman cross. It is a story that we contemplate every year while the days grow short and the night grows long. Then, in the darkest night of the Northern hemisphere, we celebrate the birth of our hope. Yes, we know that Jesus’ actual birth date was not established by the Church until the 5th century and many scholars place it more likely in the early fall of our year. Others hold fast to the 25th of December in spite of the Roman celebration of Saturnalia which it replaced. Either way, however, it remains symbolic of a turning from darkness to light in the Nativity of our Lord.

Many in our day and in our culture and around the world see again a darkness coming over the world in which we live. It is not a new darkness, but one that cycles throughout human history when morality becomes increasingly and universally more corrupt; when governments grow more intolerant of individual freedom and the free expression of religious faith; when economies decline and lives are lost in poverty and disease and war and terrorist acts. In times like these Christians look up, knowing that our redemption is near. But we must not use that wonderful assurance, we know to be true, as reason for passive resistance when we have been given the means for humanities sake to act responsibly. For as sure as God has given us the Gospel in His Son Jesus Christ, releasing us forever from the bondage and decay of the world; He has also through divine providence given us systems of governance rooted in his Law by which we have access in civil matters to voice our objections and concerns so that right and reasonable laws prevail.

Over the last several months a new Christian declaration has been formed and signed by Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life

2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife

3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Their website at ManhattanDeclaration.org says the following:

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

It seems to me that in the darkness, as we proclaim the Light who came into our world, the above referenced declaration gives honor and meaning to the Christian faith given to us in our baptism. May you have a blessed Advent and Christmas Season, and at the same time consider your declaration for the sake of our culture. Look up the Manhattan one, read it and if you agree, sign it on line. I did, what about you?

Merry Christmas,

Pastor PJ

INQUIRING MINDS

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 1:8-9

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Inquiring minds want to know. Is there a God who made heaven and earth and everything in it? Is there a final accounting for the life of man? Is there a life after this one where we can look forward to being in a better place? Is there a Redeemer who can save us from our deserved fate in death and give us hope that we have not lived in vain? Sadly, according to Lewis, not many are inquisitive of such things. It is more characteristic of our age to live in ignorance of such questions. The result of which is not only detrimental to the soul, but a cause of deterioration in present affairs.

Where are the minds today who like Peter found inquiry regarding the truth and value of eternal matters both beneficial to one’s present state of being but filled with hope for the outcome of life? They exist, to be sure. Otherwise Christianity would have died completely out long ago, Thanks be to the Word of God which continues to yield its benefit to inquirers of our generation. But trends in our culture of the West and specifically for us, America, leave us concerned. Not for the salvation of faithful inquirers guided by the Holy Spirit through the Word giving faith of our Fathers, but for those who lack interest in such things: Those in our own families, those in our neighborhoods, in our nation, in our government, our media and our schools of learning. How ineffective we have become, overall, and even in the Church to an extent, that Gospel redeeming influence is not making the impact we believe it should.

It is time for us to awaken, to be inquisitive about things that really matter, to ask tough questions and seek real answers pertaining to real and permanent things. It is time to take the Gospel seriously, not just in agreement but in dialogue, in the exchange of thoughts and intentions of the heart pleasing to our Heavenly Father. And this should be done in thanksgiving and expectation with demonstrated love where it counts. For only when Christians thinking of the other world are asking God what He would have us do in this one, will there be effectiveness in all aspects of life.

The believer, who truly knows where he or she is going, when their numbered days are completed and can rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, will make a difference. With Christ at our side, having redeemed us by his blood on the Cross, we will continue our inquiry of those around us, encouraging them with the Word to find the answers for themselves. This is our calling; this is our purpose.

SOMETHING ABOUT OCTOBER

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” - Ecclesiates 3:1

I love October! Something about the change in climate, the change of season, the change in people when things cool down but don’t get too cold. It’s a beautiful time of year with the color of the leaves and the crispness that fills the sky. The interests of people also take on the flavor of football weekends, baseball playoffs and, in the south especially, the NASCAR Chase.

October is a particularly meaningful time in the church as well. Schools have been session since August, routines for families have been reestablished, vacation absences have subsided and worship attendance starts climbing again in anticipation of holidays soon to come. For us Lutherans we again focus on Reformation themes and our annual remembrance of Martin Luther’s 16th Century contributions to the faith and emphasis on Holy Scripture and salvation by grace alone.

To be sure Christmas and Easter, scripturally understood, concentrate on the major events in the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But October gives its own opportunity for grateful observance of our salvation’s cause in the Person of God’s Son, while in the midst of more ordinary activities connecting our daily Christian lives. It is a time when our faith is exercised in the more normal things of daily life without dependence on the trappings of secularized holiday observance. It is a time to walk and work as followers of Jesus among our neighbors and friends while enjoying the contribution of sports, schools and social activities to our culture. It is a time to live and work, worship and play, all in thankfulness to our Creator and Lord.

It is a beautiful time! Enjoy it and be glad!

The Darwin-Luther Connection

This article by Dr. Ken A. Ham, is printed with permission from “For the Life of the World,” published quarterly by Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825.

Whether it’s liberal theology, evolutionism, the age of the earth, or moral issues (e.g., abortion and gay marriage), these are all ultimately battles over the same issue. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle Paul warns us about an ever-present danger: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Paul, in essence, is warning Christians that there will be efforts to seduce people away from a simple devotion to Christ and His Word.

To understand this text better, we need to go back to Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say . . . ?’ ”

From the beginning, the battle was over the authority of the Word of God. The first woman, Eve, followed by her husband, Adam, gave in to the temptation not to take God at His Word. Instead, he relied on his human reason to determine truth. All his descendants inherited a sinful nature that would be prone to refuse to take God at His Word, and instead they would make human reason their supreme authority.

This battle against God’s Word has manifested itself in every era of history. This year, Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday is being celebrated, along with the 150th anniversary of his work On the Origin of Species. More than ever, secularists are using evolution to attack the reliability of the Bible.

On every side the Apostle Paul faced skeptics who questioned the clear proclamation of God’s Word. The early church faced several challenges to the authority of the Scriptures, including Gnosticism, which taught that man was his own god.
In the sixteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences for forgiveness of sin and release from purgatory marked a climax in the elevation of human thinking above God’s Word. Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Church door, challenging such indulgences. This act sparked a debate about whether the Bible or the church is the ultimate authority, and it essentially began the Reformation.

The battle against God’s Word did not cease, as a series of men and events sought to undo the positive effects of the Reformation. Behind these attacks was an effort to make human reason supreme and steer people away from the authority of the Word of God. It was another manifestation of Satan’s attack in Genesis 3:1.

In the 1800s, new speculation about the age of the earth and the evolution of life raised questions about the accuracy of the Bible. The growing doubts gained international attention at the 1925 Scopes evolution trial. The trial marked a symbolic turning point in Christendom and in American society. The media reported that Christians could not adequately defend Genesis. In the decades that followed, increasing compromise about biblical authority in Genesis 1–11 has made the church so weak that the Bible no longer impacts the culture as it once did. The Bible’s influence is largely gone because the church has allowed human reason (including Darwinian thinking) to invade the church and push aside God’s Word.

Today a new reformation is needed. It’s time for a new generation of reformers to stand up and call the church back to trust in God’s Word where it is most under attack: the history of Genesis. Apologetics ministries, including the new Creation Museum, have already issued the call to turn away from the opinions of fallible men like Darwin and stand firmly on the entire Bible.
Believers need to nail Genesis 1–11 on church doors across America! And as we take God at His Word, we can then watch the power of His Word transform lives and influence the culture. Christians should be praying that the Lord will rebuild the foundations of His house that shifted from the firm ground of His Word because of the works of people like Charles Darwin.

Dr. Ken Ham is the founder and president of Answers in Genesis-USA and the high-tech Creation Museum near Cincinnati, Ohio. He has authored or co-authored many books concerning the authority and accuracy of God’s Word and the effects of evolutionary thinking, including the just released Already Gone and the bestselling The Lie: Evolution.

BIBLE STORIES OR FACTS?

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

What is happening to our youth in the church today? Or, we might ask, “Where are the youth in the church today?” Several recent studies have been addressing various aspects of these questions, but perhaps the overall problem is, “where is the Christian Church headed today?” The Hartford Institute for Religion Research drew some conclusions about the younger age of those who attend Megachurches, but pointed to the fact that most give little support to the church’s ministries. At the same time younger adults are more drawn to the large-scale, professional, high tech contemporary worship and the variety of activities they offer. Another study by the Pew Research Center highlighted the major differences in points of view of younger people and older people today. Claiming that the generation gap is now the largest since the 1960s, their survey showed disagreements over lifestyle, views on family, relationships and the importance of religion among other things. No big surprise there if one simply gauges the cultural trends of the day. And then there is an article in the Wall Street Journal last month titled “Why Sunday Schools Are Closing,” which describes the diminishing impact a movement little more than 200 years old is now having on the Church’s youngest.

Against these publically reported findings, comes another even more important study in the book “Already Gone – Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it” by Ken Ham & Britt Beemer with Todd Hilliard. Analyzing a survey of 1000 young people in their 20s who had attended church nearly every Sunday in their youth, but no longer or only on holidays continued to attend, Ken discovered some extremely insightful comparisons. One amazing find was that those who earlier had attended both Sunday School and church were more likely than those with only church attendance to have greater doubts about the truth and authority of Holy Scripture. They were also more likely to accept premarital sex, gay marriage and abortion and less likely to view the church with favor. What a contrast to an expected outcome for youth raised with regular attendance in Sunday School.

One might conclude from these results that a reduction in Sunday School participation can only lead to improvement, but if they are going to leave the church anyway that seems to be a fatalistic approach. No, Ken Ham is rather encouraging and I would urge you to read the whole book which may be obtained from www.answersingenesis.org, a great source for many materials that support the authenticity and authority of God’s Holy Word. But the root of the problem in Ken’s analysis is the lack of authoritative and competent teaching which leads to doubts about the Bible as an accurate, dependable and historically valid record of God’s creation and ultimate loving and fulfilled plan for the redemption of Fallen Man through the person and merits of Jesus Christ. By teaching “Bible Truths” instead of “Bible Stories,” and substantiating the facts as presented in God’s inerrant Word, even in age appropriate ways, it is Ken Ham’s and my belief that we may see the trend reversed. And regardless, we will at least be more faithful in the commission of our task. It begins with Genesis, for if we can’t defend God’s first revelation about Himself how can we insist on the whole truth of Scripture without “undermining every single thing that we say.” (p.90)

Yes, we preach Christ Crucified, about trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting, but we also defend the Word, live by the Word and stand on the Word without compromise. Does this come through to our children in Sunday School and in Church so that they are prepared when they face the doubters and naysayers in their maturing years? The Bible is not a collection of stories, often equated to myth, but is a factual accounting of God’s revealed knowledge to guide us on the path of life—to the Life.

PENTECOST WHAT?

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; ... and you shall teach them to your sons...”-Deuteronomy 11:18,19

June is a very key month of the year. It is the beginning of mid-year for the calendar of the church. The church has now passed through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter, all within a six month period emphasizing the great historic and biblical themes about Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and ascension. We now enter the second half of the year, with all six-months under the Season known as Pentecost. We count the Sundays after the Sunday of the Holy Trinity (June 7th this year) as Sundays after Pentecost until we complete our cycle of annual worship.

But for many, it seems, the church year has ended with Pentecost Sunday May 31st. They’ve done their duty, they’ve been faithful throughout the important stuff of the year, like Christmas and Easter, and they’ve been fairly good with their attendance while the kids have been in school. Now its time for a break--a six month long break, except for dropping in occasionally. Or maybe only a three month break, since the kids will be in school again in September.

Of course, summer is a time for vacations and it is a beautiful time to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors. And most people still have to work through most of the summer, but weekends are a good time to take it easy. Church may not seem to be much of a priority anyway—the choirs don’t sing and there aren’t any major celebrations to attract our attention. So why go to Church and Sunday School, at least so often, in the Season of Pentecost?

Pentecost, however, is as important for Christian worship as all five of the shorter seasons which precede it. In fact the wisdom of the church calendar is reflected in the length of time given to the Season of Pentecost. Such a period and frequency of worship is needed to give adequate balance to the climatic message of the Kingdom of God in Christ upon which we have been so dramatically focused until now.

The themes of Pentecost are as important to our Christian lives as those of Advent and Easter because now we look at our response to the Gospel. Have we been affected by the great truths of God’s Word which we have heard and experienced? Are the vivid images of our Savior’s incarnation and crucifixion imprinted deeply on our hearts and minds so that we carry them with us throughout the year? Does the miracle of the resurrection mean enough to us that we want to celebrate it every Lord’s Day?

The importance of every Sunday in June, July and August lies in the messages and themes that the Season of Pentecost offers. The color of the paraments in the church during this time is green, to signify our growth in the Christian life that has been won for us on the Cross. Our preaching will concentrate on how our lives may be empowered by the Holy Spirit, as were those of the early church under the ministry of the apostles. These lessons are indeed too important for the Christian to ignore or to gloss over just because it is summer time.

We hope this lesson in the meaning of Pentecost for the remainder of the church year will give you added incentive to keep your worship in the fellowship of your church alive and well this summer. For it is a time of refreshing in the wisdom of the Lord when we come together on these quiet Sunday mornings in Pentecost and let our hearts listen to God in the faith we have received.

WITH NO APOLOGY

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. – 1 Peter 3:15

Easter has passed, though the season is still with us until Pentecost, the last Sunday in May this year. And so we might expect the critics and doubters of Christianity, who come out of the woodwork spoofing and scoffing at our faith in Jesus’ Incarnation and Resurrection, to crawl back until next year. But increasingly it is not to be. Our current decade has seen growing opposition in all forms of media. There seems to be a crusade against historic beliefs subscribed by the Bible and any trust in its accuracy or dependability as the revealed and inerrant Word of God.

For the most part Christians have taken Peter’s advice as only offering passive resistance. We can all wait for someone to ask us personally, which they rarely do, meanwhile doing little to defend our faith except to react negatively upon hearing of an attack. Yet the first part of Peter’s admonition goes unheeded by the large majority of the faithful, which is to “always be prepared.”
This is perhaps most critical among those closest to us – our children, families and friends. A lack of emphasis on why we believe the Bible to be true, and an inadequate understanding of why it is defensible, can easily be communicated as not being of great importance to our faith. And unless our faith, and its subjective qualities, is grounded in objective reality and substance we will be weak witnesses to it. We may even inadvertently be giving support to ideas that are contrary to Scripture and truth.

Recent reports that the percentage of self-identified Christians in America has fallen by 10 points in two decades (Newsweek, April 2005) combine with a survey showing only 55% of American Christians having a strong view of the Bible (Barna.org) to give us cause for waking up in the Church. The progressive liberal education, political correctness and pervading influence of materialism and naturalistic philosophies over several centuries are having an accelerated effect upon our culture and its Christian population.

But can we with “gentleness and respect” defend our position and even perhaps regain some credibility in the public square? Of the first question our answer should be a resounding yes, of the second who knows? But that isn’t our main concern; rather that we not only know what we believe but be able to give a credible answer to why we believe it and why our faith is supportable by rational and factual evidence. In other words, why we know the Bible is true in what it says about the origins of the universe and mankind, how it got spoiled in the Garden, God’s plan to redeem mankind from sin and the fulfillment of that plan through the Cross and our assurance of Christ’s resurrection guaranteeing eternal life to faithful believers in Jesus Christ.

We can begin by studying the Bible as a whole and understanding how this most amazing collection of Scripture has been given to us, the reliability of its human and divine authorship, and its history of transmission through prophets, kings, apostles and Christian pastors and teachers over thousands of years. For if we use the knowledge available to us and to anyone willing to consider it honestly and we know well the Bible’s story, then with guidance by the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom we will be prepared to give our answer with reason and respect—and without apology!

Consider the effect of those first century Christians, convinced of Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection and the complete reliability of God’s Word. They turned the world upside down and history confirms that they and their followers did. Think what may happen if just American Christians having a strong view of the Bible increased from half to three-quarters or more. Nevertheless, may God’s will be done—with no apology!

CELEBRATING CREATION

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. – 1Corinthians 15:22

Celebrating Easter, celebrating Spring, celebrating Creation – what do they all share? So much it is worth our contemplation as we enter April this year of our Lord 2009. And we certainly need something to celebrate this year amid all the doom and gloom that has set in for our country and our time in the world. The apostle Paul said it best, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) When better to apply such encouragement than now as we prepare to enter Holy Week on Palm Sunday, April 5th.

Celebrating Easter may come a little harder for some this year. So much negativity in the air it’s difficult to manage that positive outlook that Easter usually brings. But then we think about Jesus rising from the tomb overcoming death and proving that God’s love for us is still intact and our confidence is restored. Not in earthly things, but the things that ultimately matter most in life, things worthy of praise. Truly, the Resurrection of our Lord is cause to celebrate and to be given our thanks. Here we have reason for joy in our hearts to replace our sorrow for having our sins covered by the Blood of Jesus who died for them on the Cross.

Celebrating Spring has its way of lifting us up, if only after a rather dismal winter with waves of cold temperatures and a few storms we watched pass through with concern. Seeing the greening of trees and grass and the flowering of fields and gardens renews our appreciation that some things return with regularity. This gives us hope that the same may hold for the economy and the American way. Winter for these may be more long-lasting, but nature’s springtime offers some respite to our outlook as we hope for a better future for our children and for coming generations.

Celebrating Creation is also appropriate in a time when God’s divine providence in making the universe and all it contains is given less credence than it deserves and demands. Celebrating Creation has much in common with both Easter and Spring. All are about new life, all are about God’s power and love, and all give us hope of redemption and purpose. Celebrating Creation doesn’t mean to worship the thing created, but to worship the Creator for the fact and evidence of his creating hand over all the eye can see. When we do this on the basis of God’s Word, for He is the only one who can tell us about it—He was there!—then we are giving Him honor, glory and praise. When God completed creation in the beginning as Genesis tells us, He saw everything he had made and behold it was very good!

When we celebrate Spring by thanking God for restoring life that had lain dormant through winter we again recognize his goodness in all that He has made. And when we celebrate Easter by coming to our places of worship praising God for raising his beloved Son Jesus from the dead, we are again acknowledging his goodness to us. The Resurrection of our Lord declares the power of God to make all things new. Not only the newness of Spring and not only our newness of life in the Spirit through our baptism and God given faith, a new creation itself, but a new heaven and new earth in the promise of God at the final resurrection when we will be like Jesus.Truly we have much to celebrate and much to think about when it comes to Creation, Spring and especially Easter. Let us then rejoice in all our Creator has done for us. Happy Easter!!!

WORSHIP

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. -Psalm 84:10

One of my favorite comments that I occasionally hear is when someone says they appreciate our worship services or that worshiping with us was an enriching experience for them. It is refreshing and encouraging to know that our offering is recognized as giving support to the worship of God’s people in our Sunday services.

Trinity’s regular worship preserves the traditional liturgical heritage of the Lutheran Church. Our form follows to a large degree from Martin Luther who reformed the Mass to ensure biblically sound teaching at the foundation of our faith. Luther, however, didn’t just have one “liturgy” but developed variations suitable to the season and to the contemporary needs of the church. Putting worship into the language of the people was one of his major contributions. Yet Luther was conservative in his approach, wanting to keep that which was beneficial for the heart, mind and soul, rather than making radical changes. Worship was to retain the dynamic sense of God’s presence and to raise people up to the appreciation of his holiness and grace. Participation of the laity was encouraged and hymn singing became as important as liturgical expression.

Central to Lutheran worship are the Scriptures. The opening prayers and absolution follow the Scriptures in form and content. The Introit which welcomes our Lord to our worship is derived from the Psalms. The Kyrie is our cry for the Lord’s help in all the needs of our earthly life, again biblical. The Hymn of Praise (Gloria in Excelsis) reflects the heavenly praise of God’s angels and saints gathered in his holy presence as we will one day experience before the eternal throne of Christ. We are transported to the mountain top and there we listen to God’s Word in the Scriptures and the Sermon of the Day. The Sacrament of the Altar invites our participation in holy communion with the saints of heaven and earth as we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord according to biblical and historical practice. Our worship is completed with prayers, anthems, hymns and spiritual songs as we make melody with our hearts to the Lord.

There is ample room within the form for refreshing variation in style and content, that our worship not become stale or only a rote offering of the flesh. Special services during Lent, Thanksgiving and Christmas also give us opportunities to experience different forms. Our choir and special music add substantially to every form and service, giving us joyful worship experiences to strengthen our daily walk with the Lord.

Some churches have given over completely to other styles of worship (usually called “contemporary”). Others have offered alternatives. Some of these have merit in attempting to reach the unchurched. Sometimes the rich heritage of Lutheran liturgical worship is discarded by the wayside. Our approach doesn’t satisfy everyone, but attempts to retain what is good yet with freedom to enjoy a variety of worship expression. We seek to enrich your worship experience without getting in the way of your meeting the Lord in the process. Sometimes we may succeed. Where we are lacking we pray for God’s guidance and direction. Above all, it is Him we seek to please and to serve. Yet it is for your sake’s that it is important we try. Please feel free to speak to your pastor with your thoughts on our worship practice and above all do not forsake coming as often as possible to worship our Lord together with us.

May we always continue to grow up into Him who is our Head, Jesus our Savior and Lord of all.

150 YEARS OF MISGUIDED SCIENCE

"Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth."

Thus states the Institute for Humanist Studies website for organizing celebration events in memory of Charles Darwin and his instrumental work On the Origin of Species first published in 1859. Answers In Genesis, a Biblical Creationist organization, in their January-March issue of Answers magazine encourages all Christians to dig a little deeper in their understanding of the issues and evidence regarding the “science” of evolution that itself has evolved since Darwin’s theoretical propositions. This emphasis is particularly important at present in view of the growing indoctrination in our public media, schools and government at all levels and in every area affecting our knowledge and beliefs.

We are seeing more and more a hardening against anyone who holds to the necessity of a Creator or who incorporates a belief in the Bible into their views on scientific evidence and the origin of life or species thereof. Increasingly anyone who criticizes Evolution of its essential validity, despite many weaknesses and unsupported conclusions, is considered ignorant, fanatic and out of touch with reality. All true scientists, it is claimed, accept the general theory as unquestionable and voices to the contrary are rightly subject to ridicule.
The basic tenets of Evolution are that science can only deal with nature and matter and these can only be evaluated in terms of time, chance and Nature’s laws. Good enough, but the overriding bias that we see today is the importance of eliminating God or the possibility of an outside intelligence in the equation at all. In effect for all practical purposes Evolution has become a faith based universal religion that is not to be questioned.

However, on the other side the Christian should know that they are being maneuvered into a corner, they are being dismissed as irrelevant and that even their values are being questioned and in many cases discarded. The victims will be our children and grandchildren, if not including ourselves. The most significant evidence of this is the effect on national policies favoring abortion of unborn children and embryonic stem-cell research.

Yes, the Christian community, i.e.: people in our churches, need to wake up, dig in and try to understand the issues and the facts concerning the glorifying celebrations they will be hearing about in this Year of Commemoration for Charles Darwin. There are scientific disputes by true and legitimate scientists who disagree with Evolution’s consensus. There are alternative scientific theories of beginnings and the development of life on our planet that do not contradict Christian beliefs and the Bible that supports them. But you will not hear much about them, either in public media, our schools or institutions of government. You will have to dig for it – but its there and in abundance. Just remember, if you hear only part of the evidence and believe it you have been indoctrinated. But if you examine all the evidence and then you make a decision, you have been taught.

CHRISTMAS – DID IT HAPPEN?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14

“The birth of God’s Son was no accident; it was not the result of unforeseen or uncontrollable events. The all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of all things is never caught off guard. God does not respond to human events; He superintends them. Nowhere is this divine omniscience more clearly seen or more profoundly delineated than in the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Marvin J. Rosenthal, Not Without Design)

Also pointed out by Rosenthal and others is that though many great men of history are remembered with holidays on their birthdays, none have both their birth and death commemorated as is Jesus Christ. Yet as we approach the celebration of his birth as the Incarnation of God’s Son we again face the challenges of skeptics and humanists who want public observance curtailed if not removed. The increasing nature of these complaints in media, advertising and the courts lay stress upon a Christian celebration that has been practiced for many centuries. For true and faithful believers it may only be a distraction. Our devotion to Christmas is only a seasonal tribute to our Holy Savior whom we revere and adore not only for his Birth but his Death and Resurrection as well. The Incarnation is central to our core beliefs; otherwise his sacrifice would be meaningless. Probably this is why the secularists want to take Christ out of Christmas.

Last year a number of large retail chains backed off in not allowing their salespersons from greeting their customers with “Merry Christmas.” It again was given to personal choice as it should be. This December the American Humanist Association is running ads on Washington, D. C. buses with the theme: Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." The subliminal message is of course, “there is no God and celebrating his Son’s birth is merely fostering superstition.” There is also a sort of “evangelical” spirit to their message of disbelief, which they have a right too as much as we with the Christian Gospel. But let us not be willing to back off in the public square with our message either. God in Christ sent his beloved Son Jesus to be born of a virgin, laid in a manger, glorified by angels appearing from heaven and worshipped by shepherds and by Wisemen from the East. For we have substantial and verifiable evidence in recorded history that these things happened. One may refuse to accept them, but no one can disprove them.

Did Christmas happen? Did God look down upon fallen man and see that the time was now ripe for the Savior He had promised to Adam and Eve, Moses and Abraham, prophets and kings to come into our human flesh, live and die but without sin. We say a resounding YES!!! He did! Alleluia! You want proof? You want evidence? Then be willing to accept it. Confess that we are sinners in need of grace, then accept and rejoice in the new life given to you as a gift from God in Jesus’ birth. Then truly you will be good for Goodness sake!

Election Concerns

OK, I've avoided getting political with the impending national election until now. I have forwarded some emails to family and friends that pretty clearly identify me with a certain campaign. Most already know my preference among the canditates for president and vice-president. I have a McCain/Palin sign in my yard and stickers on our two vehicles. The fact that I am a diehard Reagan conservative is well-known by most who know me very well. But as a pastor of a congregation I do try to respect the fact that there are differing political views among Christians that have nothing to do with their faith or my proclamation of the Gospel. I will not and I cannot preach according to my political or candidate preferences although I have no compunction against the same about matters of moral conviction. I will and have preached and taught against abortion, gay marriage and homosexual preference as much as against sexual perversion or marital unfaithfulness, lying, stealing and murder. These are issues for which clear biblical inference and application can be made and fall clearly within my pastoral responsibilities.

But I am concerned enough about the outcome of next week's election that I am compelled to address the reasons why I am convinced this is the most critical determination American voters will make in my lifetime. This is not only a political issue, but I believe it is a religious one as well. Why might I say that even though the protections in our constitution and the rule of law in our society seem as adequate as they have ever been to assure a reasonable result with qualified legitimate winners representative of a democratically chosen government?

My problem is not with the process per se, but with the electorate itself. We live in what is called the "information age." One might think that this assures a positive outcome. Never before in history has there been such access to ubiquitous information as we have in our day. But with it also come the greatest opportunity for spin and subtle manipulation ever seen. And the main concern I have is how misled and deceived voters of all ages and interests can become via advertising, political speech and constant repitition of mantras intended to evoke an intended response. Talk about tax cuts for the middle class instead of for the rich, universal health care and spreading the wealth as if these are panaceas for our social problems are obscuring the real concern of electing a president empowered by an unchecked Legislature that will consider itself licensed to remake our nation in their own image.

The fear I have which is shared by many of my political persuasion is that we begin down the slippery slope where government again becomes supreme in its own eyes of being omnipotent, omniscient, beneficient to all and the final authority in all matters of life and purpose. This is a return to the ideal of pagan cultures of the past, a world in which Christiandom and the Reformation have delivered us culminating in a kind of government unique in the annals of history advocating freedom from tyranny and opportunity for all.

I am not completely satisified with John McCain's political views and have my own concerns about his potential administration. I do favor his desire to end our wars in the Middle East with victory, but I do worry about his desire to find compromise with those "across the aisle" and what that may lead to. But in terms of his commitment regarding judicial appointments and his economic principles and his commitment to maintaining American values and security in international affairs, I believe our future will be safer for Christian values and our purposes for the expansion of the Gospel with his administration.

THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves.” – Luke 21:25

The following is a recent press release from NASA:

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has created a video of the moon transiting (passing in front of) Earth as seen from the spacecraft's point of view 31 million miles away. Scientists are using the video to develop techniques to study alien worlds.

"Making a video of Earth from so far away helps the search for other life-bearing planets in the Universe by giving insights into how a distant, Earth-like alien world would appear to us," said University of Maryland astronomer Michael A’Hearn, principal investigator for the Deep Impact extended mission, called EPOXI.

When I came across the above announcement while checking headlines from the Fox News Gadget on my Google Homepage, I was reminded again of how foolish and shortsighted most scientists and their followers are when they examine the universe with their sophisticated equipment. My first impression when viewing the video online and watching the moon passing over the earth was one of awe and appreciation for God’s magnificent creation in which we live. Their primary interest is in the vain search for any kind of extraterrestrial life to substantiate their idea that our life and our planet are not unique, the product of billions of years of random chance. Though some might postulate the possibility of a Creator or superior intelligence affecting our existence, most seem unconcerned in their quest for validation of their preconceived conclusions.

I am certainly not against space exploration of any kind for the sake of gaining knowledge or seeking usefulness and resources for our human needs. The efforts themselves, though at considerable cost, are likewise fruitful and have yielded many benefits to our lives as earth-bound people. My early career in aerospace engineering and manufacturing gave me an appreciation for scientific exploitation and its practical effects. But what a shame when the beauty of God’s Creation is not appreciated for what it really is: His loving provision for living creatures made in His image that the Bible calls man, “male and female he created them.” And then he gave us authority to rule over all the earth and over all living things.

Yes, we human beings have made a mess of things and we can expect that sinful man will continue the process, especially among those who fail to appreciate what our Heavenly Father has done for our reconciliation and welfare. Sending his Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and give us new life in Him further shows the purpose and intent of his beautiful creation.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1

The End of Our Journey

On Friday we stayed at the campground relaxing until evening when our group held a potluck at the campground pavilion. Then we gathered again in a central location for a campfire before heading off to bed.

Today, Nelda and I left the campground with no specific plan but did stop at Uncle Bill’s Flea Market, strung out on the highway as we headed toward Dillsboro. Bought a couple items, including an Elk Ridge pocket knife for me and a Rooster embossed hot plate for Nelda. Have to find out from Butch if I got ripped off on the knife! Then we stopped in Dillsboro at a craft store, then on to nearby Sylva just looking around. There we found the Heinzelmannchen Brewery where we enjoyed a beer tasting treat of 6 or eight different brews (who’s counting?). The young assistant to Braumeister Dieter Kuhn gave us directions to the Mill & Main Restaurant nearby where they served their beers on tap. It was a delightful lunch and after several glasses of Heinzelmannchen Kilted Gnome Scottish Ale (a High Gravity 7.5% ABV ale, “wee bit lighter than most with a hint of smoked peat flavor, balanced maltiness and a lingering hop note with a warming alcohol finish”) we came back to camp where I was ready for a brief nap, then a quick cold swim in the pool.

Tonight we will join the group a last time before leaving in the morning for home. One of the ladies is sharing a pot of beans and rice, which is probably all we’ll need to eat after our filling lunch. It has been an enjoyable time, meeting new friends, seeing new sights and just getting away for a few days. But we are ready to go home and pick up where we were and continuing the ministry that the Lord has given us in his mercy and grace.

Trail of Tears and Other Things

Cherokee NC is only 10 miles from our campground, so Nelda and I took off to get our tickets for the play without knowing where to get them. Several years ago when we went to Robbinsville with Butch and Mavis they took us to Cherokee as we saw the sights in the area. That was when the Indian in one of the shops told Nelda she was supposed to let the man walk ahead of her and for her to get behind me as we left his store. This trip she definitely didn’t want to go back to that shop, but not to worry—we would never be able to distinguish which of the many such shops in the town it was. A young Indian maiden in a local convenience store gave us directions to the Mountainside Theatre which we found easily enough but with the ticket office closed. We then located the ticket office in town, got our tickets and a Subway for lunch before heading back to the campground.

About 4:30 p.m. we joined the other Dixie Chapter folks in a caravan and headed to Sylva for a delightful supper at B’Regards then on to the theatre for the drama. We all sat together with our red “Dixie Chapter” t-shirts in the General Admission section and waited for the show to begin. Then the rains came, not much but enough of a thunder shower we headed for shelter above the seating area until it passed. Meanwhile the show was underway, first with a choir and comedy skits, then a fourteen scene play that depicted the whole history of the Cherokee nation with emphasis on the Indian Removal Act under President Andrew Jackson whose life had previously been saved by Junaluska, one of the Cherokee warriors that helped the U. S. Army at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama. This was the traitorous act as seen by the Cherokees that led to the Trail of Tears with the loss of many lives as they were forced to migrate to the Indian Territories—now Oklahoma. It was a moving drama which we thought well done, but not to the same quality for some who had seen it in years past. All in all it was a very entertaining evening.

A Ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Wednesday we took the Tuckasegee River Excursion on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad from Dillsboro to Bryson City and back. Dillsboro is a small mountain tourist town near Sylva and only about 4 miles from the campground. The trip along the river takes about an hour and a half each way with about the same time at Bryson. At the train stop is a museum of Lionel trains with a large and extensive display of model trains in full operation on a beautiful scale mountain table setting. We splurged on the Club Car tickets and enjoyed our beer and wine in comfortable chairs along the way with a large picture window to view the scenery. Lots of rafters and kayaks full of waving participants and other pictures I’ll share later.

Back at the campground we put some Johnsonville Brats on the grill and relaxed a while before going down to the Dixie Chapter campfire and joining our new friends for an evening of tall tales and good conversation. Met some Dixie members from the LCMS church in Foley who are looking for a new pastor, but I told them we still like Gadsden. It’s a small world after all! Anyway, tonight looks like we may go to Cherokee with the group and see “Unto These Hills,” the outdoor play about the Trail of Tears. Let you know more later.