The Landscape

[Excerpt from the Pastor’s report]

To the Congregation of United Lutheran Church, Laurel NE in the year 2026.

Greetings in Jesus' Name,

Change.  I suspect that it’s common to experience a feeling of simultaneous comfort and/or frustration that nothing is changing as an example, when we are driving through our city streets, and the country side.  The countryside is still stunning, the freshly mowed and harvested fields, as well as the sunsets are still beautiful.  Most things are just like they’ve always been.

I said, simultaneous comfort and frustration because nothing seems to be changing.  Some want change, others don’t want change.  But are things changing?  We don’t have to travel far to see change. 

We may not share a border with Minnesota, but things are changing dramatically in many towns there.  More than a few neighborhoods are now hearing a daily Muslim call to prayer over loud speakers, just to cite one example.  Change touched our community too a few years ago—and not for the better. 

So what is our response?  Let us not be deceived or given false comfort by the physical landscape that seems static.  Let us instead follow the admonition of God’s Word from Romans 13:11-14,

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake our of sleep for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

It begins with a long look in the mirror.  Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 4:29-32  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Le all bitterness, wrath anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you,  with all malice.  And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” 

Is our church is standing strong?  Are we are faithfully standing our post for the Master?  It begins with our relationships with one another.  We need to look in the mirror.  We live in a terribly evil world entertainment wise.  We’ve watched it’s downturn for at least a full generation.  I wouldn’t argue if it was two full generations.  In this climate, it’s so easy to rank sins.  I’m not doing what I see on TV, or streamed online.  But have you listened to what is coming out of your mouth?  We may not be Romans chapter 1 people, but we better make sure we are not Romans 2 “Christians”.  Look it up.

Have we become complacent?  Joel the prophet says, “Woe to those at ease in Zion.”  It’s time to awake out of sleep.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light!

There are so many things that happen around here where no one is seeing it.  But God does.  I want to mention just a few and give thanks [...list of various incredible people] I know I’m leaving out someone, and I apologize.  Many have stopped by the office to visit, and the door is always open. We must remember the words of Scripture, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.  Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the lord Christ.” 

(Col 3:23,24)

Judy and I thank God for you all for your love and encouragement and continually covet your prayers more than anything. 

That’s my two cents...

Pastor Tom