Rogness On Tap

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 ma...

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...

Text: Mark 16:14-20 & 2 Timothy 4:5-18 The symbol for the Gospel of Mark is the Lion – the Lion is a symbol of power, pride, magnificence, nobility, and courage. The Lion also represents Jesus' resurrection and Christ as the King of heaven and earth.   One of the reasons given for the Lion serving as a symbol of Mark's Gospel is the manner in which the Gospel begins. The roar of a lion is not without notice, it is fierce, and it is decisive. There's no birth narrative or historical recounting of events of wise men and angels; instead, the Gospel quickly and immediately begins with the fulfillment of John the Baptist, who is the messenger,   “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” This straightening of paths is the call and action of repentance within the heart of man, the need to be reconciled to the Father.   If you want to know the theme of Mark's Gospel, hear the words of John the Baptist and the wo...

  Text: John 20:19-31 Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! It's the evening of the first day of the week in today's Gospel, it's the evening of the first Easter, and the disciples are now assembled behind closed doors, except for Thomas. The locked doors provide security from the world, protecting them from the Jews who remain hostile towards followers of Jesus. Outwardly, this group appears safe and at peace, but inwardly, it’s a different story. Their lives are in chaos, their souls are in deep distress. The death of Jesus sent the disciples into a tailspin; it rocked them, leaving them searching for peace in the world and peace in their lives. None of this was how things were supposed to go… You can sympathize with the disciples. You, too, have experienced moments like this, where externally, you look great – even strong, but internally, it’s a living hell.   The United States military is often seen as a measuring stick for culture or a mirror of to...

Text: John 18-19 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “What is man?” In the beginning, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)   What is this image and likeness? As a child is an image of their parent – their appearance, receding hairlines, how they walk, the way they speak. But, the likeness and image of the Creator go deeper. Man, also known as Adam, receives God's character – God's law, His will written upon his heart.   Then, Genesis goes on to say, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The man carries out the will of God as a manager and steward of creation. His labors are not punishment, nor are they toilsome.   The question is often asked, what if Adam wouldn’t have sinned? Or, why didn’t God prevent Adam from being led into the Serpent's temptation? It is because God did not create a machine. In fact, as we confess in th...