Nov 11, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
My writings come out like clockwork at the sixth hour of the sixth day of the week. Each Saturday morning, they greet you as you wake, sitting by your first cup of coffee, they offer you the opportunity for reflection, perhaps on occasion inspiration, or simple gratitude for sometimes overlooked blessings. But on this day, the words arrive unexpectedly in your email box or Facebook feed. It is 2 am, most of us are sleeping, but as we slumber the clock strikes 11 am in France on this the 11th day of November 2023.
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent, soldiers celebrated, and the Great World War ended with a ceasefire. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, robbed of a generation of its young men, bankrupted, out of supplies and hope, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car at Le Francport, France. In its wake were 20 million dead, and 21 million wounded. For more than four years this terrible war had raged as millions of civilians died from disease, starvation, and exposure. The devastation of this war with its new technology killing machines and poison gas was so horrific that the British author, H.G. Wells, thought that certainly this would be “The war that will end war.”
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the war to end all wars came to a silent conclusion. The dead were buried, white crosses soon dotted pastoral landscapes. The young men who survived returned home, much older than their years, plagued for life with the sounds and images of hell on earth. A forced peace would simmer for twenty years before giving birth to new generation of despotic leaders, totalitarian movements, and more powerful and efficient killing machines. The Second World War would not be called “the war to end all war.” One hundred and five years after the armistice, we are reminded that the seasons of war are not over, it has never been over. The warring madness of power-hungry old men, extremists, dictators and zealots still infect the human species with the unspeakable horrors of war. The images from Ukraine, Palestine and Israel leave deep wounds on combatants and civilians.
In 1962, the songwriter Bob Dylan offered a prophetic voice. He held up a mirror to a nation that had just freed itself from the Korean War, a nation engaged in a Cold War, a nation that would soon send its young soldiers to the jungles of Southeast Asia.
“Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.” Bob Dylan
It is the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 2023. The guns are not silent, the war rooms in the Pentagon bustle with activity, weapons factories work round the clock and arms dealers make record profits. The security we seek, the security that we think we are buying, is little more than an illusion. We spend billions on armaments while the hungry wait at our door for a slice of bread and sadly it seems that H. G. Wells was mistaken. “The war to end all wars” has not yet been fought.
Maybe that war is not to be contested with guns and bombs. Maybe the war that will end all war is in fact a struggle for the soul of humanity. And if this is a fight for the soul of our species, then there is only one who can save us from ourselves. Jesus rejected the sword; Jesus knew that those who lived by the sword would die by the sword. And lest you think that I am preaching to you from some higher ground, let me assure you at this 2 am hour, that my theological cupboard is bare, I have no practical insights to offer the grief-stricken Israelis or the oppressed and forgotten Palestinians. I do not know how we are to confront systemic evil and the reoccurring drumbeats of war.
What I know is that the way that we have been living is not working. How many daughters and sons must be sacrificed for the soul of humanity to be awakened? How many tears, how many slow processions to graveside, where silent crosses remind us of young lives cut short? The answer is within us, and somehow, we must return to God and find a path to peace.
One beggar telling another where to find bread, I am your
Pastor Jim
[email protected]
Nov 8, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
We thank all of our TLC Veterans. We invite you to wear your service uniforms this Sunday November 12th.
You served with honor and distinction. We give thanks for your faithful service.
Nov 4, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
I believe that there is such a thing as pure coincidence. Random things happen all the time. If Felicia and I show up at a function in the same color of clothes, trust me it is a coincidence. If we show up in the same clothes, it is an unfortunate mistake. I believe that there are coincidences in life; sometimes the stars align, or we just happen to be in the right place at the right time to meet our lifelong mate, or conversely, we are in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffer some calamity. I believe there is such a thing as pure coincidence. I don’t think that the God who gave us free-will is orchestrating every human experience and interaction.
Having said that, I see in a mirror dimly, life is mysterious to me, and most of the time I have no clue what God is up to. A few weeks ago, Felicia and I were on vacation. One morning we ended up at a timeshare sales presentation. I am guessing that many of you are now questioning my intelligence. We agreed to attend the sales pitch as a favor to the young man at the front desk and it did not hurt that they offered me free coffee and $150. I advise people, if they have the time and inclination to find out more about timeshares, go to the presentation, take whatever incentive they offer, ask questions and under no circumstances are you to buy the product. I say, “Even if they give it to you for free, just thank them for their time and move on.”
The mystery of coincidence. There were 17 people going through the timeshare presentation that morning. Nine sales staff members would each be assigned to an individual or couple. After a group presentation the sales pressure would continue with your personal sales representative. The promise, when one is enticed to participate, is that the total time commitment is one hour. Like church, sometimes one hour turns into 90 minutes.
After a very short getting to know you conversation, our timeshare representative George asked what we did for a living. Being in the heart of LDS country, I had told Felicia to tell them that I was a proctologist, but she is not a good liar. “A Lutheran Pastor, how long have you been a Lutheran Pastor?” George carried his 66 years quite well, he was age- appropriately fit, polite, and smart. He was also broken. He opened his heart to us, his 39-year-old son had taken his own life, leaving behind George’s precious granddaughter. His eyes welled up, he cried, we held his hand, and listened to an all too familiar story, his guilt and shame on display. “If only I had recognized the signs, if only I had said this or done that.”
I looked deep into his tear-filled eyes and reminded George that his son died not of suicide, but of a mental illness. Some illnesses lead to death, not all diseases can be cured, and it makes no difference what we do or don’t do. Even the most competent medical professionals cannot cure every patient. His son was suffering from a terminal disease, his suicide was simply the final act of the disease process. “George, look at me. I have been down this road in my church and in my own family and I am telling you that you are not responsible for Shawn’s death. And equally important, George you need to know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Disease, addiction, depression, death, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Suicide is not an unforgivable sin. Shawn is loved and safe in God’s hands.”
The mystery of coincidence. Was it a coincidence that Felicia and I ended up with George this day? Was God’s hand in there somewhere? I don’t know. I am not that smart. What I can tell you is that George and I embraced as I walked out of the sales office. My friends, our humanity is shared with the people of every land, race, culture and religion. We are more alike that we are different. Keep your heart open to coincidence, it may not be a coincidence at all.
One beggar telling another where to find bread, I am your
Pastor Jim
[email protected]
Nov 2, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
Blessed to be a Blessing! We have been blessed richly by God, but we are never blessed in isolation, we are blessed that we can be a blessing to others.
For 70 years Trinity Lutheran Church has stood at the crossroads of South Whidbey Island. The cross above our sanctuary is illuminated as a beacon of hope. Hope can be hard to come by for many in this troubled world. Over those 70 years, we have weathered the storms of political discord, recessions and wars, culture upheaval and the isolation of the Covid 19 pandemic. Through it all, thousands of people have worshipped, the young and old have been baptized, grieving families have said goodbye to loved ones, children have grown up ventured off to college and returned home to TLC. Thanks to you TLC is a place of grace, a place of extravagant hospitality, a church where everybody’s welcome.
This Sunday we will be marking those 70 years of service, and we will be honoring those whose vision and sacrifice made it all possible. I hope that you will join us in person or online this Sunday. The schedule will be as follows:
8:00 am All Saints Worship with Holy Communion and an All Saints video.
9:00 am Festive Coffee Hour
9:30 am A historical celebration and program for all in the Sanctuary featuring videos, music and storytelling.
10:30 Festive Coffee Hour
11:00 am All Saints Worship with Holy Communion and an All Saints video.
12:00 Noon 70th Anniversary Party that will include 50’s music, lunch, Sock-hop, Root Beer floats, hula hoops and popcorn.
Wear your poodle skirts, slick your hair back, dress like Elvis, and plan on having lots of fun!
Blessed to be a Blessing!
See you Sunday!
Pastor Jim
[email protected]
Oct 28, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
It was sometime during our four-hour technical hike in the wilds of Snow Canyon State Park in Utah that the thought occurred to us. As we descended into lava tubes, climbed petrified sand dunes, trudged through desert sands and over ancient lava flows, we could not help but wonder about the Mojave Desert at night. Wiping the sweat from our brows, our journey near the end under a bright blue cloudless sky, we crested the final sandstone rock formations as lizards scurried past our feet. Intoxicated by nature we made the decision to return to the park in the darkest part of the night. Our walking sticks were in the car, we refilled our water bottles and entered the visitor center to seek the advice of the park ranger.
A dip in the hot tub, a short nap in the sun and a simple dinner followed as we waited, waited for the inevitable return of darkness. The sun would set at 7:32 pm but the window to experience the park in lightless silence was quite exact; 9 pm to midnight. It was critical to arrive at the north end of Snow Canyon before the moon crested the mountains. The drive outside of Saint George passed the usual shopping centers, gas stations and mobile home parks. It took about 20 minutes for the lights and signs of civilization to disappear. Entering the park, the darkness was striking. I turned on my high beams as advised, keeping an eye out for nocturnal desert wildlife. Deeper and deeper into the park we drove. The Toyota Rav4 strained as the elevation took us higher into the blackness of the night. When we stopped on the side of the road and turned off the lights of the car, there were no shades of darkness, we could not even see our hands in front of our faces.
Our journey now complete, we exited the car and glanced toward the heavens. The sky, the empty blue expanse that had presented itself during the day, was now displaying it’s glory in the darkness of the night. The heavens were alive, planets revealed themselves to the naked eye, and behind them bright points of light too numerous to count. We had never experienced anything quite like it. The Milky Way stretched out above us, the light of a billion stars merged to form a river of milky white. On the horizon the Big Dipper entered the star-scape, so large and clear that one would think that they could grab it. Shooting stars raced silently by, the rotating earth offered an ever changing canvas of wonder, and the light that had travelled 186,000 miles per second for thousands of years met the eyes of two simple awestruck humans.
As Felicia and I looked at each other, the problems in Washington DC, ferry schedules, church budgets, cars and clothes all seemed insignificant, and we knew would leave no ink on the pages of history. Felicia took my hand and said, “We are so small.” And as if choregraphed by the stars above we both said at the same time, “We are not alone.”
Our faith renewed, our place in creation affirmed, we drove back, closed our eyes and rested in anticipation of another day.
Pastor Jim
[email protected]
Oct 21, 2023 | Pastor Jim's Blog
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
Felicia and I had the privilege of biking and hiking through Zion National Park on a crisp clear October day. The journey began by renting bicycles, adjusting our helmets, and proceeding to the National Park entrance where I was informed that I qualified for an old guy lifetime pass. I reluctantly purchased a card that said, “Lifetime Senior Citizen Pass” and we were off. Towering above us were ancient cliffs formed over millions of years by geological forces and weather-related erosion. We stood in awe beneath the Court of the Patriarchs, and hiked to weeping cliffsides and hidden waterfalls. There was something sacred about the day, something eternal, something beyond our lives and our brief existence. We mused upon the magnificent and mysterious nature of our creator God. Entering a world previously unknown to us, we were mostly silent in wonder.
After exhausting ourselves, we put down our walking sticks, and sat by a river gorge under a canopy of blue sky. Looking for a human connection to this other worldly experience, we reflected upon the brief nature of our existence. Even those who qualify for Lifetime Senior Citizen passes are, as scripture reminds us, little more than a mist which appears for a short time and then is gone. Most of our first world problems will not warrant a single page in our life stories. The river rushed by us, just as it has for a million years. It waters carving new formations and bringing sustenance to wildlife and irrigation to downstream farms. Felicia and I could not help but consider just how small and seemingly insignificant we are in the larger scheme of history. How is it that we are small and insignificant, and yet God has given us not only the gift of life, but a calling, a calling to make a difference in the lives of others?
Utah is Mormon country. Felicia and I had the opportunity to tour the Mormon Tabernacle and the Temple in Saint George. Both were impressive historical structures, dating to the Civil War era. We were instructed to cover our shoes in protective booties, well-dressed stone-faced ushers directed us through a labyrinth of rooms with silent hand gestures. It was a different kind of sacred space, hidden behind a veil of secrecy. My occasional questions were not appreciated or answered. It was a world as different to us as Zion National Park. That evening we sat in a hot tub visiting with two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. They were lovely people, we talked about life, about the wonders of Zion, about our faith, all of us following the same Rabbi from the Galilee. It all reminded me of how little I really know, that my perspective is limited, as is my understanding of other cultures and religious practices.
I am thankful for the opportunity to change scenery occasionally, to experience life away from Whidbey Island to recharge batteries and encounter new places and people. We may be small, our lives are without question brief, our mark on history will amount to footnotes at best, but we are not insignificant. We are mysteriously significant, created in the image of God, entrusted with the care of creation, called to live and to love as Jesus did. We have one life to live, we have one chance to leave a legacy, and as the Park Ranger processed my “Lifetime Senior Citizen Pass” I was reminded of the precious nature of this day.
One beggar telling another where to find bread, I am your
Pastor Jim
[email protected]
