December 2020
Last Sunday I quizzed a few people on how their holiday went. The overwhelming consensus was that it was relaxed and enjoyable. Food prep was easier. Timing everything out, so as the be done together, wasn’t a problem. No real cleaning because there were no guests. The Covid dictates had a positive after all. Then my thoughts turned to Christmas. I believe we’ve stolen Christmas from ourselves. It’s been a slow progression over the last few decades and it has taken its toll. We’ve accepted the common wisdom that Christmas is all about parties, decorating “over-the-top”, hosting lavish dinners, along with lavish presents. It has not only robbed us of Advent, but robbed us of enjoying the season. How often have you said on December 26th: “I’m glad it’s over, I’m exhausted!”
I think back on my youthful Christmases. We did little things to prepare and had fun doing it! Sticking whole cloves into an orange and arranging them around the house was aromatic and fun. Stringing whole cranberries for the tree with needle and thread, and doing the same with popcorn was a healthy competition, as well. (Aside from the occasional poked finger!) Early on we decorated and put up the tree on Christmas Eve so as not to rush the celebration. Then there was helping Mom bake things ahead: like delicious fruit cake—not the store bought which tastes like chalk—not to mention: making rosettes. It was simpler and made for a memorable time. The days weren’t rushed through, they were savored. And the holy day was actually relaxing.
Today, Christmas comes in a smiley Amazon van. You can literally order everything you wish for and get rushed delivery. But it’s hard to get heated up over gifts you cannot personally examine, food that you guess its taste, decorations that appear to be like every store in any mall, and no real family traditions.—Note that I don’t include sitting around a computer or phone to “order” Christmas-in-a-van as an uplifting family time, because it isn’t.
The modern day “cancel culture” has hi-jacked Christmas. Everything is store-bought. Everything is about what modernists think it is about and then they superimpose it on us. They ignore the soul-searching of Advent. They ignore going to church on Christmas Eve, or at bare minimum it’s an afterthought. They ignore the Christmas story and all the richness it provides to the soul. Christmas has become cold for many because outside of money, they are not emotionally invested in it. And make no mistake, Christmas IS an emotional time. Christmas is meant to be joyous and joy is an amazing emotion.
I write this because I don’t want that to be you. Slow down and savor these next few weeks. Don’t let society dictate what gives rest for your soul and a warm glow to your heart. Christ came without any frills. Yet His coming brought inner joy to all. Savor the season and embrace His simplicity however you can. And never forget, at Christmas He embraces you with love, compassion, and joy! Then, despite all the frustration of 2020, His Christmas coming will be the best one you’ve ever had!
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
Church News:
- We will have church decorating on Tues. Dec. 8th around 6:30 til about 8. Although food is out, there might be a pot of chili in the kitchen to fortify you after work…..
- The Children’s program will be on Dec. 13th during the normal church service. Remember to sit as family groups and social distance as well.
- As we wind down the year, the church has been greatly blest in 2020. The LiveStreaming has been a God send. We invoked the emergency powers act to fund this early on and after delays in purchasing our own equipment, basically it is all here and being installed as time permits. Total cost will be about $13,000, but we now have a very professional venue. A huge thanks goes out to Seth Cordes for making this all happen!!!
- For the 1st 11 months of 2020 we took in offerings of: $111,735. The budget for 2020 is: $138,875. Last year in Dec. we took in around $25,000. So, make-up offerings and the special gifts some contribute should put us on track if all goes well this December. We’ll see. Anyway, in a tough year God’s people were blest and have shown it.
- The local food pantry is appreciative of the food donations and gift cards that were delivered to them before Thanksgiving. Their larder has been under a lot of stress.
- Note that Christmas Eve is on a Thursday night and Christmas Day falls on a Friday. Then a day’s break and the final Sunday of 2020 is the 27th. Keep all that in mind.
- The huge pine in the wires at the parsonage along with the dying ash tree have been removed and stumps ground. Hopefully, no more ice storm worries.
Tori and Tessa:
The girls are getting wooly. Dad hasn’t gotten out the clippers for a bit. But they are chipper and happy. Mom puts on about 2-3 miles with both per day and another 2 with Tessa by herself. She’s got boundless energy. Tessa “wears” her winter coat all the time, but Tori gets a jacket on cold days. She likes it as it makes her feel safe and special. Red has always been her favorite color. Festive, you know. Right now both are settling down for the equivalent of: “a long winter’s nap” by lying in the sunbeam as it journey’s through the windows. We can all learn from that. Time marches on and why not enjoy it in languid sunshine? One thought: Where would we be with the sun to warm our bodies and the Son of righteousness to warm our souls? Sometimes dogs are smarter than we are……
November 2020
This morning my WSJ had an article about: “Covid Fatigue.” I could add: Election Fatigue, Hurricane Fatigue, Winter might come early Fatigue, and a whole host of other ones! What’s going on in the world? Everyone longs to “get back to normal.” But will we ever have “normal” again? Last night I read a brief article on “mask fatigue” and the view of some that we’ll have mask wear with us throughout the foreseeable future! ARGGH!
No human being can prophesy the future apart from God. But some do a pretty good job of reading history and extrapolating trends for the future. One such book is called: “The Fourth Turning” written years ago by: Strauss and Howe. Their premise is that history is cyclical and in general terms repeats itself over time. The time of those “repeats” is about 75 years mirroring the seasons of: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. In America they would mirror: The Revolution to the Civil War (Spring), The Civil war to the Depression (Summer) and WWII, the Depression to about 1990 (Fall), and then the final turning of societal cycles through current times. We live in this 4th turning currently, or Winter in their view. This is when a nation totally changes and is a time of upheaval. All the societal “norms” are questioned and upended—political, financial, and cultural. And finally a new Spring “time” emerges of positivity. If they are right, and I think they are, it will be (is) a roller-coaster ride! No wonder we all feel as if our moorings have been pulled out from under us….Their book is intriguing, disquieting, and a bit scary.
Currently, I long for good news. I’m totally sick of bad news. I want to emerge from the chaos and discord of darkness and walk out onto that “warm, sunlit upland” that Churchill once spoke of. And that is exactly where the Christian Church fills the void!
Good news. That’s the meaning of the Gospel, the good news of salvation in Christ. It comes from the Greek word “euangellion” or evangel. It means the good news that the angels spoke concerning the birth of Christ and the salvation He earned for all people. Evangelize means to speak and share this good news. It means to get people to turn from darkness into God’s marvelous light. Or to venture out of the foreboding woods into that “warm, sunlit upland.” That upland is ultimately heaven, and God’s grace in Christ is what propels us onward and upward.
Change can be good and/or bad. Right now, most of us are conflicted over the status of the world. Covid has made this disquiet worse. The media has piled on by accentuating the negative and following their age-old dictum: “If it bleeds, it leads.” I want good news! I want to hear of families that work, of people that care for others and seek to build up instead of tear down. So do you. And Church is the place to find it. For we have the ultimate in Good News! News that always uplifts, forgives, and comforts us. So, hold on to Jesus, better yet, have Him hold on to you amid the maelstrom. For Spring will come, the birds will happily sing, and the spring zephyrs will sooth your woes. Christ makes it so….
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
Church News:
Remote services go forward. The holidays (if we escape another lockdown) should be interesting! Attendance is slowly creeping upward. Aside from Columbus Day weekend we averaged close to 50 for October. Giving was about $10,600. We’re holding our own thanks to your faithfulness. Today I got news from the synod that they are, too. Good News!
No one directly connected with the church has contracted Covid. More good news! Although A. J. Hafner’s father in Chicago still remains hospitalized with it. Pray for him.
We will have Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday November 25th at: 7:30 p.m. If you cannot have a bunch of folks for a group meal, it means that the cook will have less work to do at your home. Good News for them.
Today it is still snowing and I’m grateful we spend 2 weeks cleaning, sorting stuff, and painting the garage and shed. The snow shovels were easier to find. Also, the garage door hardware and cables, springs, and pulleys needed an overhaul. This was done earlier this week before the snow and cold. Timing is everything.
TORI AND TESSA are having a great time today playing in the snow! Tori hates the cold rain and the gloomy clouds. She’s a sun worshipper! Tessa doesn’t care about the weather and just is fun-loving and excited about smells. So today, both were crazy running, rolling, and shoveling snow (Tessa) with her nose! I think we can learn something from them about lemonade from lemons.—I’m going to try remembering that as I go out shortly and chip away at the driveways. BTW: It’s a good thing the paving project is waiting for Spring. It doesn’t appear to be a great Fall for it. Timing, timing.
One last bit of info: Last Saturday around noon I walked out the back door of the hall. I saw movement straight ahead and a big doe and a 6 point buck ambled off toward the neighbor’s woods behind the hall. Who says we live in the city?…
October 2020
Genesis 1:27 states: “so God created man in his own image.” What does that mean? We’ve always taught (correctly so) that it means we were created without sin, without any evil afflicting or affecting us. We were perfect in every way. However, I’m beginning to think that there is more to it than that. We also were created as sensory beings. Humans have 5 senses: smell, taste, touch, hearing, and seeing. So, we have a nose, taste buds, sensory touch receptors, ears, and eyes. The animals share in these things, too. Why? Why did God give us such important gifts? Why did He dream them up? I’m beginning to think that they are an integral part of God, His image, as well.
We know that God “sees” things here on earth and beyond. Recall Sodom and Gomorrah, where God speaks of going down to earth and “seeing” their evil. Likewise, God “hears” things, such as the prayers of His faithful. I can think of the passage: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” That’s talking about grace and the sacraments of blessing, but conversely, it argues for God being about to relate to our ability to “taste.” Smell? “Let my prayers be set before Thee as incense.” Incense smells good. Does God smell sweet, aromas? Apparently, yes. I cannot find a specific passage about “touch.” But He does touch our souls with His grace, so again, I believe you can say He relates to our sense of touch because He also possesses it.
Now, theologians have a fancy term to help us understand all this. It’s called: Scripture employs “anthropomorphic” language. That is, man centered language that descriptively applies man “stuff” to God, in order to help us relate to Him. So, does God have eyes, a nose, a mouth and tongue, ears, and skin receptors? No. He’s a Spirit being. But then, God intimately knows all about senses, gave them to us, and relates to them. Is that because He possesses such ability innately? I would say: Yes. Getting back to Genesis, that also is part of the “image of God.”
I’ve read that smell is the most powerful sense. Thinking back to my youth, when everyone raked the Fall leaves into the gutter on the street and then burned them, that burning leaves aroma immediately returns whenever I think about it. Also, Sunday roast beef permeating the house after church is truly unforgettable.
We possess all sorts of taste buds in our mouth. They change a bit over time, too. That’s why as you get older, you tend to like pickles, “bitter,” more than just sweets. Our hearing stems from little crystals within the eardrum that vibrate and pick up sound. What would life be like with no sounds to fill our heads? Eyes are obvious. Colors, shades, shapes and the interplay of light are vital for enjoying life. They enrich and help keep us from danger. And as for touch, well, a loving touch is truly a gift from God. It evokes joy and calmness. Whereas a sharp slap does the opposite.
I write all this because to me it means that we have a God Who can truly relate to us. He’s not some distant Entity. He’s literally “up close and personal.” And if you downplay God’s sensory abilities, just remember that once Jesus was born and assumed our flesh, all our senses were taken into the Godhead, too. But personally, I believe that they were already there and I find that comforting….Pastor Thomas H. Fox Sept. 30, 2020
Church News:
September was a busy month around the church The weather was fabulous for working outdoors. So. We finished oil staining the parsonage deck in two coats. Hooray! I also oil stained the back of the parsonage after giving it a really good scrape. The trustees, on the heels of taking down and redoing the old, rotted church portico, redid the soffit and fascia on the back of the house with non-rotting materials. It looks terrific! The Pastor also engaged in various minor repairs on the outside of the parsonage. (My muscles got a work-out!) The trustees were active and are appreciated.
At a voter’s meeting we agreed to repave the entirety of the asphalt at a cost of: $62,000. The paver’s schedule has filled up, so this will occur in the Spring. Also, this fall the dying ash tree in front of the parsonage and the white pine in the wires will be removed by a tree service.
Speaking of projects, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD WE WILL HAVE THE CHURCH CLEAN-UP FROM ABOUT 9 TIL NOONISH. We need everyone of all ages!!! So come, even for a few hours, if you can.
Sunday School is progressing along with Bible Class. The new arrangement of the hall facilitates social distancing, etc. Sorry, no food after church until the governor gives the go-ahead. Confirmation classes will be held on Wednesday’s from 4 til 5 starting on the 7th.
Everyone is healthy for now. Fred Laffin has eye issues, loss of sight, in one eye that the doctors are analyzing, and also will have knee surgery later this month. Our prayers are with him. The shut-ins are o.k. as of last check. Although, like you, they long for a covid-free life and all that goes with it.
Also, congratulations to Derrick and Camile Ward as they are expecting in late March.
Giving for September was approximately: $11,400. God is good. Additionally, some of the Live-Streaming equipment has been installed and the “crew” is working logistical kinks. Many of our churches have gone with live-streaming. The only negative is that some folks are tempted to use it instead of attending regular services. I remind all: in person participation is still the best! “Let us not forsake the ASSEMBLING of our ourselves together, as the manner of some is.”
One last item: this week the organ repair folks came back to install the big item they repaired in the great organ. It sounds great.
TORI AND TESSA:
Our oldest member really likes Tessa and Tori stories in this venue. Here’s a new one:
Tori has always been a fastidious little dog. She hates getting wet and makes us take her out with an umbrella when it rains—covering her, not us. Meanwhile, Tessa just plows through all kinds of weather. Anyway, they tacitly accept baths, but don’t like it when Papa digs out the clippers! Tori resigns herself to it, but afterwards likes looking prim and proper. Tessa fights it at every turn. And then races around when it’s all done. ‘The girls’ are very opposite—Tomboy Tessa and Fastidious Tori. Ah, life goes on.
September 2020
Why do we call it: Labor Day? Shouldn’t it be: Labor-Free Day? But, truth-be-told AND if you grew up in a work-ethic household, you probably labored a lot on that holiday weekend.
A couple of years ago I wrote a lengthy newsletter on trichotomy vs. dichotomy. You can hold to either position and still be a good Christian. But I concluded that I support the trichotomist position. The former (dichotomy) says that humans are comprised of a body and a soul. The later (trichotomy) says that we are: body, soul, and spirit. References to both are found throughout Scripture. So, what does all this have to do with Labor Day?
Obviously, we all possess a body. We have skin (the largest organ in the body), bones, tendons, organs, muscles, and the like. We all try to take care of our bodies, too. We exercise, walk, eat in a healthy manner, get our rest to rejuvenate the body, and even relax so as to help it heal. I guess Labor Day is about doing so in most people’s minds.
When it comes to our souls, what do we do to rejuvenate and take care of that vital part of us? After all, the soul is even more important than the body in that it is eternal. Recall the passage: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word which comes from the mouth of God.” You cannot live without your soul, so you cannot let it sleep. You cannot take a break from your soul, either, unlike ceasing your work-out regime. The soul is just “there” and always laboring. So what are you doing to strengthen your soul? Are you feeding it with God’s Word regularly? Are you communing regularly? Are you praying regularly?—Asking God to protect and defend you from Satanic attacks? God’s Word is the original “soul food.” Use it. That’s what Christ says in the above passage.
Then we come to our spirit. Everyone has a spirit. It’s the unseen aspect of our being that animates us giving us: drive and a purpose in life. I would say it has emotional components. Your spirit helps you to be happy, content, and grateful. Sometimes your spirit feels overwhelmed, listless, or sad. Let’s face it, if you feel stuck-in-the-mud on certain days, it’s because your spirit has run out of gas! When people die “their spirit departs from them.” Your spirit is really what makes you, you. A person. A unique creation of God. How all three of these components: body, soul, and spirit work together and are intertwined is a great mystery and also a gift from God. They make human life unique.
So, what can we do to enhance them, or at least prolong our lives in a better way? Labor Day should be about resting the body, the soul, and the spirit. But rest for the body gets all the attention, doesn’t it? So, how about calming the soul through daily prayer? How about “restoring the soul” Ps. 23, through ongoing worship and home devotions—along with pondering our blessings? These “enhancers” spill over into the spirit, too. That’s because the Holy Spirit works and uses them to uplift our spirits. This spiritual link with Him began when you were converted (probably that means your baptism for most of you). Thereby He drew you into a oneness with God. Faith in Christ has pulled you into God’s spiritual realm.
All of us have times when our spirit is broken, or close to it. Do you even think about the fact that rest for the spirit is even more vital than rest for the body? The Greater Spirit doesn’t want us to cut ourselves off from His vitality! He can and does repair us because He’s also our Maker, Preserver, and Comforter. In short, He knows what to do and how to do it to make us “right” again.
For most, Labor Day in America means rest for the body. That’s fine, well, and good. But people need rest for their soul, and rest for their spirit, too. In fact, I would submit that that kind of rest is even more important. Alas, it is usually forgotten and overlooked until we become dried up husks internally. God’s prescription to prevent this from happening is the same today as it was during Christ’s time. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word which comes from the mouth of God.” So, this Labor Day weekend, don’t just eat the food off the grill, but the Divine food that sustains forever. Be a new you! Our wise God makes it all possible….For nothing is impossible with God.
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
Church News:
- Our remote service production team: Seth Cordes and Jon Larson, are taking a break over Labor Day. It is well-deserved. They, too, are refreshing their bodies, souls, and spirits. Seth finally received the new cameras he ordered and will be installing them. That, along with other AV equipment will cost approximately $10,000 when it’s all in place. What a blessing.
- The trustees are finished work on repairing the front entrance area. Cost was minimal (mainly the dumpster fee). They will plan on fixing the fascia and soffit on the back of the parsonage at minimal cost, as well.
- Hooray! The parsonage deck is now fully stained!
- Everything starts up again on the 13th. Bible study will be starting a new book of the New Testament.
- Esther Lowrey, our oldest member, has her 93rd birthday over Labor Day weekend. Best wishes to her and God’s continued blessings.
- We had one Sunday in August where more than 50 were in attendance. We looked like we had our church back. Let’s keep it going. Or as the old hymn line says: “There still is room!”
- Giving for August was over $11,000. Regular, weekly, make-up giving is a huge blessing!
- On the 13th we will also have a voter’s meeting on asphalting the drives and parking lot. We have three quotes.
- The Fall clean-up should be held in early October. We’ll keep you apprised.
August 2020
August brings a lighter note and the question on many lips is: “So, what have you been doing during this Summer of 2020?” Beside the obvious, the short answer is: “Staying at home a lot.” Another answer is: “Grumping about wearing a mask.” Still another: “Trying to keep my sanity as all the days just seem to blend together.” I confess that we’ve felt and experienced all of the above. Yet, we have made a little lemonade out the lemons, too.
The Foxes took advantage of the really great weather of June, followed by a hot July, in that we’ve actually gotten a lot accomplished. So, we’ve been working on the yard and grounds after a couple of years of semi-neglect. Weed pulling and watering the planted flower beds has become a morning past-time for Debra Ann. The dogs happily join her, safely tied to a tree or two, where they thoroughly enjoy watching the walkers, barking at squirrels, and soaking up the morning sun. BTW, they say that death and taxes are inescapable, but so are weeds! This summer has grown a bumper crop.
Over the past few months our red haired Scottie, Tessa, has invented a new game she plays with my wife. Tessa loves Debra Ann’s socks! More specifically, she loves to steal socks and hide them. So, when my wife finds a sock stuffed in some corner, she makes a big deal over it, chatters about it with the dog, and then eventually finds a new hiding place. Then when Tessa re-discovers it, she walks all over the house with the sock in her mouth for a new location to ferret it away. Sometimes I find her “re-positioning” it a few times to new locales until Mom can find it again. And then the saga repeats. Tessa is in her glory. We just laugh a lot and pretend we don’t notice. When the relatives come to visit we’ll have to warm them not to leave anything in their suitcase or in reach—otherwise, it will join the “lost” sock!
My point in writing all this is that despite Covid, life goes on. Not being quite so stressed by “hurry-up” schedules is a good thing. Not being tied to a clock is a good thing. Taking life as it comes is a good thing. It’s more like living “Mayberry” (an ancient TV show), than it is about being frenetic. Sitting outside after supper in the lawn chairs and feeling the setting sun on your face is a blessing.
Because of all this, I have mixed emotions over the “pandemic” when it comes to church. It forced the issue of live-streaming the service. It was time and it will continue. Slowly the gear is arriving and being permanently installed. We hope to cross-train a few techie souls to spell Seth Cordes and Jon Larson after their many weeks of faithful service. Why not volunteer to help? After all, you’ll never be late for church if you do! Likewise, we’ve been able to reach more people on Sunday than would be present physically. A former couple who lives in Panama watches us every week. Don’t be reticent about sharing the link with friends or relatives. It’s painless and shows you really do care about their soul.
The drive-by communion is a blessing and has now dwindled off a bit. But it will continue for the present. Some of our older members and those with health issues just feel more comfortable with it. And communion is a powerful antidote to feeling down and depressed over current affairs. Or as one old friend once said: “How are you going to fight off the devil without ammunition.” Communion is another way to “reload.”
I do miss our fellowship time where the “flavor of Pinewood” comes to the fore. The fact is: all Christians need “the mutual conversation of the brethren.” It connects us to each other—especially right after hearing the Gospel jointly. It provides people with an outlet to talk about their issues in life within a Christian environment. It gives me a chance to gauge what’s going on in your life so as to better minister to you.—This happens when I can read faces—ah the masks again. In an age where we watch TV and view things strained through the prism of a camera, live “performances” and live sound and the energy that flows from them can never be replaced. So, come back as soon as you can and recapture the best of worship by being a part of it without any filters getting in the way.
August is my favorite month. The bounty of the gardens, the warm, soft air, the carefreeness of summer, high summer, all converge to heighten the senses. All winter long we waited or it and now that it’s here, so savor it. Isn’t the blessing of the different seasons awesome? God knew what He was doing after the Flood when He bestowed them upon us…..
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
July 2020
The year was and is famous: 1776. It marks the founding of America with the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. That year is famous for another reason, too. In England, the historian Edward Gibbon published his 6 volume work: “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” It traces the 500 year reign of the Romans in the known world and forms the foundation of our knowledge of Western Civilization. It goes from Rome’s early pagan years to the influence of Greek society upon Rome to the rise of Christianity to Rome’s eventual fall. That fall can be traced to around 300 A.D. when the Emperor split the empire in two and Constantinople became the eastern half’s capital with Rome ruling in the west. By 400 A.D. Rome had been sacked at least once by the Visigoths and others thereafter.
What does this have to do with America today, July 2020? Simply this: America and its foundational principles are currently under attack. Will we follow Rome? And how will Christianity and its principles, which have guided Euro-centric civilization, fare in this current maelstrom of emotions and politics?
The Greeks of ancient times formulated almost all the great ideals spelled out in America’s founding documents. Then they were streamlined and fleshed out in workable form via the Romans. Christianity gave a moral compass to it all and English common law and the Magna Carta further refined them. That’s the backdrop to: “All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (From the Declaration of Independence.) In the 246 years since those words were written and codified, America further added to and refined just what that means in a practical way through various laws and constitutional amendments. Probably the most gut-wrenching time for this took place during the Civil War from 1861-1865. Slavery was abolished and voting rights for all was the result. This was highlighted around 1964-5 when the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress, along with the right of women to vote passed around 40 odd years before.
As a result of this America and the Western World has been blest. Blest by God. Unlike other civilizations, the individual is actually important and vital to the whole society. Human life is a gift from God. The Western world has treated it so, too, albeit imperfectly. Personal prejudice dies hard, however. But the influence of that Christian principle triumphs over such prejudice. That’s because God made each human, gave His Son’s life to save each soul, and His image resides in them—although obscured by sin.
Such ideas are freeing! They give humans a sense of purpose and importance. If God made you and has freed your soul from the shackles of evil, then you can act, talk, think, and live accordingly. Such are the ideals of 1776!
Our founders gave us a democratic Republic. That’s because Kingly rule means individuals have no real rights or freedoms.—The citizens are all subject to the whims of one person. Marxism teaches that there are no individual rights, only the state matters. So, people are just cogs in a bigger machine with no real voice. (No wonder technological creativity ceases to exist in such countries.) And then there is mob rule. Mobs run on emotion. They breed chaos. It’s a stone age mentality in that the person hefting the biggest club beats everyone else into submission. And Fascists basically combine many of the above in that the “leader” and their “group” force others into submission through fear, intimidation, and violence. Recall that the Nazi’s were socialists!
So, what are we seeing in America today? Mobs intimidate. “Doxing” on social media does much the same. If a country lives by intimidation the rights of each person are diminished or destroyed. Can such behavior be uplifting to all? Think back on the French Revolution and the reign of terror where people turned on each other and death was the bloody result. History is replete with such examples.
Right now our country is having a heated and vicious debate over statues of all things! If some past personage had different views than others today hold to, they don’t belong—Off with their head—literally. We’re rewriting history and many seem to think it doesn’t matter. But Edward Gibbon would say: “It does.” Roman history would say it does. And Bible history would agree. “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” Those who reject lessons—both good and bad—from the past will flounder because they have no true knowledge which will prevent chaos and such emotionalism eventually destroys and eats itself. The result is that people suffer and die and the ideals of individual liberty and all that uplifts devolve into factionalism and anarchy.
Recall the era after Rome finally fell. It was about 600 A.D. and lasted until around 1200 to 1300 A.D. Recall what we call that era: The Dark Ages. Let’s all pray to God Almighty that the thought-filled foundational ideals of our nation don’t get destroyed by the emotional revenge group-think which seems to be going on. Or, as one of my profs used to say: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”! Learn from the past. Value its ability to teach both the positives to be embraced, and the negatives to learn from. For those who fail in this are doomed to repeat it all over again, and again and again. Humans struggled and equality was non-existent during the Dark Ages. God made us all for something far better.– One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all…..
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
June 2020
Everyone in America has an opinion about George Floyd, his horrific death via police brutality, and systemic racism in America in the year 2020. Every Christian should be troubled by it all on a multitude of levels. It certainly goes against Christ Who said: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Many are focused on racism as the cause of it all. That’s true on one level. I would prefer to say: “Sin and inner evil are the cause.” This especially includes the agitators and mobs who have fomented violence by using the concerned, peaceful marchers exercising their Constitutional rights as citizens as a shield to their nastiness.
As Christians, it is our duty to speak out against ALL sin and to apply forgiveness when repentance is evident. It is also our duty to support all lawful penalties against lawbreakers—whether they wear a badge or throw rocks and break windows and loot. It is our duty to pray (remember it can move mountains!) for everyone and ask God’s guidance and help—especially for the poor souls who suffer injustice. And it is our duty as citizens to vote and get involved in rectifying the situation following the dictates of our conscience. All this rolls up under the outline St. Paul lays out for us in Romans chapter 13. We are citizens of Two Kingdoms: the Church or the Kingdom of Grace, and the State or the kingdom of earthly power and the social contract between individual people and government at large.
So, when was the last time you voted? When was the last time you included the oppressed and hurting in your daily prayers? When was the last time you spoke up against injustice—like killing unborn babies? Christ tells us to: “love our enemies and to pray for those who spitefully use you”. That is a gigantic order from God, but He’s a mighty big God, isn’t He? Moreover, He can fill our every order, can’t He?
Many of us lived through the race riots of the late ‘60’s along with the war riots at the same time. We navigated the maelstrom of conflicting emotions. As my old Pastor used to say: “The Lord makes things clear over time.” He did. He still does.…
Of course, there are also those zealous believers who want the church corporately to do more than merely preach against injustice and pray. But St. Paul never did that in Rome when he was under house arrest and later beheaded over following Christ. He trusted in the power of the Spirit to change people’s hearts one-at-a-time via that preaching. This is true in American history, too. The Civil War was fought to free the slaves. This principle was both Constitutional and backed by society at large because it recognized, people recognized, that it was Christian. Christians treat everyone equally because: “All are sinners in need of Godly forgiveness” and “Christ died for all.”
The Church dare not tread on individual consciences as to how to respond to systemic racism in our country. We tell them to follow their Godly principles and not violate any other commandments in the process. Some will be more reticent in how they do this, others will be more involved and vocal. But, we’re not a political body. We’re a spiritual one. We know from Christ that He always worked at changing hearts and souls one at a time. And when we do, people will generally do the right thing. If enough Christians act in this manner, then we know that “righteousness will exalt our nation.”
Right now, America is upset and so are all of you. Injustice hit us in the eyeball last week. Dr. Martin Luther King once said (and I remember watching his speech) “I look forward to a time when people judge others by the quality of their character instead of the color of their skin.” Amen to that!
The cartoon character of years gone by: “Pogo” once said: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” It was true then and it’s the same today. We are all sinners who cause and/or allow such evil to fester. So, since each week we preach sin and grace, we’re actually using God’s tools to make a lasting difference in society at large. Every society has undergone upheavals like today. Every society has passed laws to alleviate injustice. But it still rears its ugly head. That’s because people need to change their attitudes one person at a time. Only God can do that. He does it through His Church. It’s called repentance and faith. And it begins with each of you. That’s because society, like the Church, IS you.
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
May 2020
The year was 672 AD. The place was the area of Northumbria in northern England, hard on the coast of the North Sea. A baby was born to a noble family. He is known throughout history as: the Venerable Bede (pronounced as “bead”). He happens to be the author of my favorite hymn: “A Hymn of Glory, Let Us Sing.” #212 TLH. It’s all about my favorite church holy day: Ascension.
This year Ascension is on May 21st (40 days after Easter). Unfortunately, unless God directly intervenes we won’t be able to worship that night due to the virus. But, that won’t stop me from thanking God for Ascension and it shouldn’t stop you, either.
You all should have learned the tripartite truths of Ascension in confirmation class. You know the story. 40 days after Easter Christ took the disciples to the backside of the Mt. of Olives. There He gave them the “great commission” to: “Go and make disciples of all nations” by baptizing people and teaching them Divine truths. There He promises to remain with us always according to His presence in Word and Sacraments. Then, right before their eyes He ascended into heaven “until a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Two angels appeared and told the followers that Christ would someday come again to earth in like manner—visibly. And He will because God’s Son, and His angels, do not lie. It was His bodily farewell to earth—for a time…..
The tripartite truth of Ascension is this: He ascended to sit at the right hand of God in glory and exercise power over all creation to benefit His Church. He went to prepare a place for you in glory. And He now hears our prayers from on high and rewords them to perfection before laying them at the feet of His Father. My personal image of Ascension is the joyous party and parade that must have erupted in heaven when He finally came home—triumphant! It must have been a party to end all parties! And He deserved every accolade because He had deservedly won them by offering His life for ours. I especially key in on the fact that Ascension is, therefore, all about Christ. Everything else was about His work of saving us. But now He could savor that work and reap the joy over it all. Being honored for self-sacrifice is O so sweet!
Now, back to Bede. At age 7 this boy was given to local monks at one of the big monasteries in Northumbria. This was often the case for noble families when it came to “lesser” sons who would not inherit their land or titles. There he remained his entire life. Around the age of 14 (686 A.D.) A huge plague ravaged the land around Jarrow, home of the monastery. Everyone died except 2 people, Bede and the Abbot. God had great plans for him. And by grace, Bede fulfilled them!
He went on to become an ordained deacon a few years later. He never sought high office in the church of the time. He was content to be humble and scholarly. He spent the next 25 years writing (among other things) a commentary on St. Luke, The Ecclesiastical History of the English Church, and even was one of the people who dated the time of creation and originated the A.D. designation for calculating time. During that span he additionally authored our hymn: “A Hymn of Glory, Let Us Sing.” He was perhaps (in my mind, definitely) the greatest churchman of his day. And on May 26, 735 A.D. he went to heaven. That date is intriguing as it was Ascension that year and he died singing the words of his great hymn in his room!!! The Roman Church in 1899 gave him an added name: “The Venerable” to mark his Godly achievements, and only one other person has ever attained such high honor in the Western arm of Christianity.
In our hymnbook, “A Hymn of Glory” has 7 verses. Each one contains exacting theology concerning Ascension and its meaning. I especially like enjoy vs. 5-7 where the truths of Ascension are applied to us. It is a timeless hymn. It will never go out of style. What a mind he had! What a faith he possessed! What insights were bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit! But, if Bede were alive he would tell you: “It’s nothing. Christ and His glory are everything!” So, never forget Ascension. He didn’t. It literally uplifted him, even in death.
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
Note that since we’ve had to conduct church business remotely due to the virus, we have had no formal meetings, nor will we this month. The only thing I wish to update you on is giving. Since regular services were interrupted in mid March, we’ve taken in about $15,000. YTD we’re taken in about $43,000. This means we are slightly behind budget for 2020. All in all, I want to commend the membership on their giving. Make-up offerings are a huge blessing, especially amidst the disruptions. Yes, I’d say that the spirit of Ascension is alive and well at Pinewood! THF
Tori & Tessa’s Corner: We both like to sleep. And then we get bored and like to: 1. Go out on the deck and search for squirrels. 2. Race up and down the hall—Tessa’s job. 3. Beg for a walk.—We always get a treat or a full meal afterwards, so that’s the best!!! With all the rain this past month, our walking has been curbed a little. Ugh. But Mom has done her best and we’re both in fighting trim. And then it’s back to sleeping. We hope you’ve been sleeping a lot, too. It rejuvenates the body and resets the brain for each day. Sleep is the real fuel that keeps us going. God made dogs and people that way. So use this time to relearn good sleeping habits! If we can, you can. Tori & Tessa aka: T&T
April 2020
The last few weeks have been surreal. Talk to your neighbors (at a distance) and they sound like they’re living in a dream-world. Since no one can really grasp how much the corona virus has changed our world, maybe we should call it: a nightmare? Everyone wants to “go back to the way it was, BC—before corona.” We hold onto that illusion because it’s safe. It’s what we know. But, this dream-world in which we find ourselves in is our new reality. It marks the beginning of “the great reset” which will fundamentally transform social, political, and financial structures in our society. It may take a few months or even a few years. But after March, this country, and the world, will never be the same. Down deep we all know that, hence the surreal atmosphere.
You immediately feel and hear it when you venture outside. It’s quiet. It’s still. You can hear the birds singing and the neighbors conversations a few houses over. That’s never happened in the 32 years I’ve lived on Wilmington Rd. I’ve talked (at a distance) to my neighbor across the street who has lived on Rt. 62 for about 65 years. She predates the building boom. Even she says that it is surreal. Boston is a ghost town. The roads are empty. And it is like that nationwide. People are on edge, living in a dream world and hoping it doesn’t end as a nightmare.
I was thinking about Holy Week and Easter—not the 2020 version but the first one. For the disciples and other followers of Christ it started out as a surreal nightmare. Their beloved Savior had been rudely captured, tried, and executed. Some of them, overcome by grief, had still managed to pull enough of themselves together to remove His body from the cross and hurriedly buried Him. Dark days indeed. And then with anguish in their souls they came back on Easter morning to complete the task. In the twilight of dawn they plodded to the tomb. Then and there their lives turned even more surreal. You know the story: the stone was rolled back, the soldiers were gone, angels greeted them, and those fateful, yet wonderful words: “Don’t be afraid” were spoken to them. In that instant, their lives fundamentally changed. “He is risen, just as He said.” Could it be possible? YES!!! It took hours and even days for this to sink in. Surrealism doesn’t pass instantaneously. Yet, the nightmare began to recede with each passing day. The disciples started out afraid in the Upper Room that night—“with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.” Yet Christ appeared to quell their fears. And He continued to appear over the next 40 days in Galilee, in Jerusalem, and in other locales. God’s Son never leaves His children gripped by fear. He comforts and uplifts them.
Have you ever wondered what the disciples’ psyche was like after the resurrection? Read the Acts of the Apostles, and you’ll find out. They went from a surreal nightmare to a fearless reality of certainty. The truth of the resurrection and the power it conveys fundamentally altered how they viewed their lives. It propelled and compelled them to preach, teach, and confess their risen Savior. They lived, breathed, taught, and confessed Christ crucified and Christ risen as the singular moral and spiritual compass for life. They finally discovered their purpose in life. And they were fulfilled, content, and joyous over it all!
Currently our political leaders are attempting to do what we’d expect them to do in this crisis. They are trying to reassure people about their lives and their future and to lead the nation. I’m not sure they will be successful. Many others share my concern and this has spawned the term: “The greatest depression.” None of us hopes for that. We hope one day we will wake up from this national nightmare and we can go back to “normal.” But anyone, especially those over 60 know that wasn’t the case for our forebears. We heard their stories of abnormal living as we grew up. We saw how frugal our parents were and we knew why.
My father didn’t talk about it very much. But my mother did! She talked about her dad not having work. She talked about peddlers going door to door to raise a few coins for food. She talked about the banks failing, long lines out the door, and fishing in the local lake in order to eat protein that night because the larder was bare apart from a little flour. This went on for years. And yet, they got through it and survived. They laughed, they cried, they went to bed and got up to persevere through another day. And the one constant in their lives that sustained them was: church. Every Sunday morning, even with stomach growling, my grandfather would trudge the 2 blocks to church and ring the bell before service. He would call the faithful. And they all came! They had nothing (in varying degrees) but they knew that God had everything. And that in Christ He shared it with them.
This Easter it appears that the church will not be full. Covid-19 is the cause. Fear and uncertainty are also the causes. Yet, the bell will still ring loudly. And if the live-streaming works, the message of the angels: “Fear not!” will still go out to you. Because I believe that message is eternal and the Holy Spirit stands behind it and works through it on uneasy hearts, America’s surreal nightmare can and will be overcome through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Death, and the fear of it, will be swallowed up in the Victory of Life over darkness. For the Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed!
This Easter looks as if it will be far different than any Easter in memory. That’s the surreal reality to most. But if you break it down, is it? The building might well be empty, but not your hearts. For Christ resides there. The message will be the same as in the past. The comfort will remain the same, as well. So it was for the disciples as long as they lived on earth. And it will be the same for you and me, too. And that’s because the gifts of Easter: love, compassion, truth, justice, forgiveness, goodness, purity, and a whole host of other “noble gifts” will never cease. The empty tomb proves that!
To My Beloved People,
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
March 2020
40 days. It marks the length of rain pounding down on planet earth as the great flood occurred. 40 days also marks the length of time that Christ’s resurrected body was on this earth after the resurrection until Ascension happened. 40 days spans the time when Christ was alone in the wilderness before Satan came and tempted Him. So, when Christians decided to mark a season of penitence before Easter and Holy Week, beginning in 325 AD, the 40 days of Lent were born.
Lent is introspective. It is meant to be. It’s a time to be completely honest with yourself, to think about what your sins have wrought, and to engage in real repentance. Over time, that took on external characteristics such as: refraining from eating fattening foods, extra prayers, and even our mid-week services. The whole idea was: make it real for people. And so with Ash Wednesday, we arrive at this sacred season.
Due to the Passover/Easter arrival in the Spring (northern hemisphere), Lent begins in the dregs of winter. It is usually cold, dark, dank, and people are cranky due to the weather. I’ve noticed over my years that parishioners often can be a bit grumpy then. Tempers are short, people are tired. And so they speak and act accordingly. Lent is really a study in contrasts. And then Easter comes and wipes all that away with joy, lightness of heart, and weather that fosters an uplifted soul.
Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with Lent. I don’t enjoy the weather—unless the groundhog actually brings an early Spring. I don’t really want to delve into my sins overly either. But, I need to. And when I do, I arrive at a more complete understanding of who I am and Who my Savior is. I arrive at the depth of His love for me. His pain paid for my sins. And with that realization my short fuse of temper and negativity is lengthened and resolution of my inner struggles happens—the truth of the resurrection makes it so! Light triumphs over darkness both externally and internally. All this occurs as we plod through those fateful 40 days—not counting Sundays as they aren’t technically considered as penitential as the weekdays.
Although God doesn’t operate by human cycles or human calendars or traditions, and neither does the Church, I find it informative that in our country the end of Lent usually occurs around mid April. April 15th is also a day of “relief” for the average American. That’s tax day. That’s when the hectic, frenetic time of paying bills to Uncle Sam occurs. And it is followed by the serenity of Spring! Likewise, use this Lent to behold the bill you’ve racked up due to your sins and then the light at the end of the empty tomb’s tunnel will shine all the more brightly upon you!
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
February 2020
St. Peter gives us a wonderful passage in his first epistle: “Cast all your anxieties upon Him because He cares for you.” February is dimmed by mid-winter blahs and with it come anxieties beyond measure. We need to focus on Peter’s words.
You and I are Christians. We are children of God Almighty. We are heirs of all God’s blessings including heaven. Our Savior has conquered all our enemies including death, on our behalf. He has triumphed over all our fears (anxieties). He promises us to never “leave nor forsake you.” He adds, via Paul in Romans, that “all things will work for the good to those who love God.” So, why do we still doubt Him? Why don’t we trust Him fully? The short answer is: our own sinful nature. But let’s delve into that so that we can work on a solution that will help us out of our emotional/spiritual doldrums.
My favorite prayer is the old Collect for Peace, which asks for: “peace that we may pass our time in rest and quietness.” The problem arises when someone or something hits us with the unexpected and peace and quietness are upended! I suppose it’s all about our control tendencies and in these cases the sudden lack thereof. Suddenly you feel helpless. YOU cannot handle it. Then comes the temptation to give in to hopelessness. Your nights are fitful and sleep (real rest) comes hard. During the day you run various scenarios around in your head concerning what you did, or didn’t do, that brought such consternation into your life. You run through your human solutions. You pray for help. And the bottom line is you have to trust in God’s goodness, but what you really desire is human verification and resolution. So, the issue, whether it be: financial, health related, or inter-personal; robs you of your joy over life. It’s not fun. And all of us go through such times.
Then, by God’s grace, what we have heard at church with our ears finally breaks into our hearts. What is that Eureka! moment? Just this: I’m not going to let something I cannot control, control me! I’m not going to let the machinations of this world rob me of my joy. My life is too short and time is too precious to live in fear and to let anxiety take over. God is watching over me and He won’t let anything destroy my happiness and contentment. He still loves me. He still died for me. He still blesses me. So, as the Psalmist says: “What can man do (truly do) to me?”
At the end of this February we will begin the season of Lent. It is a time of introspection with the attendant anxieties of a long winter, dark nights, and various dark thoughts. Lent means we will see our emotional pain clearly and also see what God has done to take it away from us, meaning: The Cross and the Empty Tomb. So, continue to listen to St. Paul and fervently: “Cast all your anxieties upon Christ because He really, truly, does: care for you.” The truth of Lent proves it once again.
Pastor Thomas H. Fox
January 1, 2020
Today is January 1st of a new year and a new decade! (Note to self: don’t write 2019 on checks anymore!) Anyway, this thought struck me: Are you forward looking, or backward looking?
Backward looking people find themselves dwelling on the past year and the “might-have-beens,” the what-ifs, the opportunities that escaped them, and regrets. Their minds are mired in unhappiness. All talk of: “new year’s resolutions” and a whole decade of endless possibilities stretching out before them seems semi ridiculous. In short, if you view your past as unhappy, then you’ll probably view your future as more of the same. So you end up being stuck in a rut, paralyzed by fear of failure.
Then there are forward-looking folks. They approach a new year with optimism. Yes, some are perennial “pie-in-the-skyers,” but others of this group don’t want to let negativity win, so they approach life with expectations of a better tomorrow. They know the old: “woe is me” but they refuse to succumb to it! This is the camp into which I would put most Christians.
Believers in Christ all know what it is like to suffer. We’re not immune from debilitating disease, financial pressures, the heartache of loss, the pain of disappointment, and even the attacks of the evil one. Yes, we all have our bad days, too, when we put on our own “pity party.” But, we don’t let the bad guys win. We don’t let such things ruin our lives or take away our good cheer. That’s because we believe and trust in the God of BLESSING! We believe in a God Who gave His all to save us from a life of feeling sorry for ourselves. We don’t have to let suffering dominate us. For our God has saved us from eternal pain and heartache, yes from the eternal “pity party” called hell, and given us a new year of endless possibilities fueled by and shaped by: love. Specifically, by His love for us in Jesus Christ. If God Almighty loves us; if God Almighty proved it by dying in our place for all our inner evil; if God Almighty adopted us as His children via faith, well doesn’t that provide us with proof of a better tomorrow? Or as St. John says: “God is light and in Him dwells no darkness at all.”
Being an optimistic Christian is a wonderful way to live. This new year provides each of us with a Godly renewal of spirit. That entails renouncing darkness and embracing the light. Start by doing so in the one venue you have total control over: your mind and spirit. By approaching each day with an attitude of blessing vs. gloom and doom you will never go wrong.
Pastor Thomas H. Fox