Rogness On Tap

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 Text:  Luke 7:11-17 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The images and events within Afghanistan over the past month have been hard to watch. For those who served in Afghanistan, the emotions are mixed and raw. For some, this is where they were forced to grow up and mature - battling for life and death. For others, it is a place where they were given emotional or physical scars that will remain for the remainder of their earthly life.   Life would be easier if you could leave the experiences behind when you depart a war, but that's not how it goes. Instead, the dark memories of war patiently reside within one's head and await to be aroused when the journey of this life comes in contact with a sound, a taste, a smell, or an image that immediately takes one back to the battle, back to the fight, back to the death. The images of the past month, the death of thirteen service members in Kabul, did this for me as I am sure it did for many of y

Text: Luke 1:39-55 While growing up in Minnesota, talk of saints in my childhood church was not commonplace. To speak of Mary, let alone observe the Festival of Saint Mary, Mother of God, that seemed completely foreign. This is a bit surprising when you take a step back as Mary is spoken of throughout the Divine Service - specifically in the Creed and sometimes in the Proper Preface. Still, some of you may remain suspicious of observing Saint days throughout the Church Year, such as Mary. But, our Lutheran Confessions have always taught that it is right to observe the feasts and festivals of the Saints. The Augsburg Confession states: “Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling.” 1 The Apology of the Augsburg Confession further presents the three reasons for observing and honoring the saints more fully. To summarize the confessors,

July 4, 2021 Luke 5:1-11 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. On the 4 th of July, the country pauses for fireworks and picnics. But why? Well, for many, because we work hard and need a break. But, what is the 4 th of July? It's our nation's day of independence. It is the day the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, a document few will read, but many will quote these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So, you are promised an existence. The right to life – being alive. And you have the right to liberty, meaning you are free. But, you are also given the pursuit of happiness. Well, what does this mean? Is the pursuit of happiness a state of being, or does the word "pursuit" mean chasing after or seeking happiness? If you ask most people to

***This note was included in the weekly newsletter of my congregation.*** Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This Monday is Memorial Day. For many, it is a day off from work and spent with family or with friends for picnics. For some, it remains a sad day to remember those who have worn a military uniform in service to our country and laid down their lives in defense of their fellow man.   There is no way around it; war is an ugly endeavor that no one should ever desire. St. Augustine writes regarding war and peace: “Peace is not sought in order to provoke war, but war is waged in order to attain peace. Be a peacemaker, then, even by fighting, so that through your victory you might bring those whom you defeat to the advantages of peace. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ says the Lord, ‘for they will be called children of God’ (St. Mt 5:9).” The peacemakers are those individuals called into the battles of this world, not for glory or the rush of adrenaline, but the peace of fellow man. T

Texts: John 16:23-33 & James 1:22-27 Jesus says, “You will have tribulation…” The world is full of tribulation.   Tribulation is seen as the inward infliction of distress, affliction, or oppression. Many Christians believe we are living in unchartered times and experiencing oppression like no other moment in history.   In Finland, Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, Bishop Elect of the Lutheran Church in Finland was charged by the government for incitement against a group of people. Similarly, Päivi Räsänen, a member of Parliament (also a Lutheran) is facing charges of hate speech for comments made on a television show regarding her belief in traditional marriage. What did these two Lutherans do wrong? They confessed – they confessed what God’s unchanging Word says regarding marriage.   Should we be bracing for similar fates as the world surrounding us evolves?   The nature of the pending Equality Act in the United States, the repeal of laws protecting the unborn, the aged, and the orphaned