Rogness On Tap

Christmas Day December 25th, 2020 John 1:1-14 We live in darkness.   Our current lots appear as the darkest period of time in our lives. But, the greatest darkness of our history began infecting humanity from the first man. The darkness of this world is specific, it is a darkness made known through sin and death. It wasn’t always this way.   In the beginning, God created. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-2) All that was created was and is good. Creation was brought into existence through this Word. It was through the Word, life is given. It was through the Word, you were created. You are God’s, you belong to Him.   The darkness is a reality of a broken world. A world led away from the light of the Word made flesh. A world led into temptation and sin through the lies and murdering of the ancient serpent, in whom the truth does not abide. (John 8:4

The Festival of All Saints November 1, 2020 Revelation 7:9-17 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We’ve all been there, the lonely walk to the grave. No other walk seems to take so long or be so difficult. The hole in the earth stares back at you, open-eyed and awaiting another body to consume - the body of your father or mother, your brother or sister, or your son or daughter. The pastor speaks, he speaks words of comfort - words of hope, the Words of Christ Jesus Himself. Yet, the hope and comfort of Christ proclaimed is met with tears and sadness, ears that have gone deaf from grief. Is this the end? Are we left with only memories or will they too depart and fade from our minds as the leaves that fall to the ground?   However, today, Revelation presents a very different vision of life, a vision of overwhelming beauty and heavenly glory as we reflect on the lives of the saints - those who have died in Christ. In all His splendor, the Lamb is

This speech was given on the day of my promotion to Sergeant Major - June 19, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the promotion ceremony was conducted via Zoom. Before I begin, I want to thank CH Solhjem for hosting today’s ceremony and SGM Martinez for providing remarks. I am grateful for their leadership and allowing this ceremony to have the semblance of normalcy in very unnormal times, especially for my family who are watching via Zoom. Just think of all the places you will go the recruiter says to the new recruit as they are on the verge of enlisting in the United States Army. No, I don't believe recruiters are issued a copy of Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go." Still, in many ways, the recruiting pitch may have some similarities. You'll face danger, travel through wide-open spaces, enter the waiting place (which there are many), and hey kid - you will face problems. Am I doing a good job of recruiting future soldiers yet?  My parents kne

It’s Good Friday, and we aren’t able to attend our local congregation. Our family misses our brothers and sisters in Christ immensely. We miss the faces, handshakes, hugs, smiles, voices, most of all, the hearing of God’s Word and reception of Christ’s flesh and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. It’s frustrating.  It would be easy to simply become mad with the situation, to grow disheartened, to allow this frustration to take root and spill forth. But I cannot do this. I have a responsibility as head of my house to lead my family and to train up my children in the way they are to go. (Proverbs 22:6a)  There is a yearning in every member of my family to be with our fellow saints. This time will come again, and I pray it will come soon. For now, my responsibility is to lead my children to the cross of Christ.  Being Good Friday, we will hold family devotions, we will sing hymns, we will pray for you our neighbor, and we will participate in Good Friday services being

Text: Exodus 16:2-21, John 6:1-15 Sermon Preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD Over the past few weeks, our lives have been engulfed with news of the coronavirus named COVID-19. The spread of this virus has occurred at lightning speed throughout the world. On the one hand, this is partly due to the increased ease of travel across the globe. On the other hand, the virus is new, and we don't have treatments or vaccines for the virus. The result has been a world that is reeling and feeling vulnerable and, in many ways, feeling fearful and scared for the days ahead.   As you look around and as you examine yourselves, has the current pandemic revealed you trust in God to carry you through this time of tribulation? Do you have faith your heavenly Father will provide for the needs of this body and life as you confess in the First Article of the Creed? Is your hope anchored in the knowledge of the death and resurrection of Jesus upon the cross? Do you co

Text: Matthew 2:13-18   “Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” (Collect for the Feast of Holy Innocents, Lutheran Service Book) In my tradition, December 28th is observed as a feast day in the church year. The feast is that of the Holy Innocents. The feast of Holy Innocents is the third feast in the first three days of Christmas. The first is on December 26th, St. Stephen, who was martyred in both will and deed. On December 27th, St. John is observed, he is a martyr in will, but not in deed. Lastly, on December 28th, the Holy Innocents are martyred not in will, but in deed. It's not the beginning of the Christmas season you would expect, but it has a purpose in pre