February 20, 2017
Rasmus Jensen, Lutheran Pastor

On this date, February 20, 1620, Rasmus Jensen dies in America – he has the distinction of being the first Lutheran Pastor in America.

“Under King Christian IV, Denmark sent two ships to explore the west (New World) in 1619. The first Lutheran pastor known to have visited the Americas came with them. His name was Rasmus Jensen. Little is known of Rasmus Jensen except that he was a Lutheran chaplain. Aboard the two little Danish ships, the Unicorn and the Lamprey, were 64 sailors, consisting of Danes, Norwegians and Swedes or Germans. That their chaplain should be Lutheran was fitting, since those nations had converted to Lutheranism. On the 23rd of January… the priest sat up in his berth and gave the people a sermon, which sermon was the last he delivered in this world…. On the 20th of February, in the evening, died the priest, Mr Rasmus Jensen as aforesaid, who had been ill and kept his bed a long time….

With that we reach the end of virtually all that is known of Rasmus Jensen: that he was a Lutheran priest doing his duty as long as he was able and dying on this day February 20, 1620. Jens Munk survived that bitter winter to return home with the only two crew members still living, the other 61 having perished. They reached Norway that September.” (Rasmus Jensen and New World Lutheranism, Christianity.com)

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Each one of us has been gifted with some gift that is beneficial for the body of Christ, that being the congregation of the faithful. And each one of us will be called in some manner or form to use that gift(s) – either in our context, or by being called out of our context into another that may seem so foreign to us. Are we willing to use our gifts no matter where or how or when G-d directs? Most likely none of us will perish for our faith – but most likely Rasmus Jensen never thought he would lose his life for his. As Martin Luther so famously said: “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”

Pastor Dave

February 19, 2017
Epiphany 7A

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:38-48

“Be perfect.” When we hear that command, most of us hear an injunction to a kind of moral perfectionism. But that’s not actually what the original language implies. “Perfect,” in this case, stems from telos, the Greek word for “goal,” “end,” or “purpose.” The sense of the word is more about becoming what was intended, accomplishing one’s God-given purpose in the same way that God constantly reflects God’s own nature and purpose. Eugene Peterson’s The Message gets closer to the mark, I think, when he translates it, “You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.” Does that let us off the hook with all the other things? Certainly not. But it does help us get to the root of the issue. We can only do these other things — repaying evil with good, forgiving and praying for those who harm us — to the degree that we can live into our God-given identity as blessed and beloved children.” (David Lose, workingpreacher website, Perfect, February 13, 2011)

My friends it is hard to live the Christian life. Period. End of Sentence. Often it is VERY difficult. We have always been told to “stand up for ourselves” – to “never back down” – “don’t be a doormat” – and “don’t let people take advantage of you.” But isn’t it also true that when we respond or react to someone who is being negative toward us, all we end up doing is adding fuel to the fire, and escalating the situation. Rather than doing that, Jesus says: “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second.” My friends, what Jesus is saying is this: as people who are supposed to be “Kingdom Dwellers” – light for the world, and salt of the earth – we are therefore supposed to live differently. When we allow the actions of others, in this case, being treated badly, and persecuted, and disrespected, and even attacked, when we allow those actions to influence our actions, meaning striking back either physically or verbally, then WE have lost control. But when we turn the other cheek, when we walk away, when we refuse to answer insult with insult, we have then maintained power over the situation – and have not relinquished control, at least control of our actions. And that is hard. But, the way of the Kingdom is not easy – it requires commitment and it requires courage if we are to live as God’s set apart, holy people.

Pastor Dave