July 28, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Where we live is surrounded by a twelve-acre grove of trees. I love it. My neighbors are Dory Deer, Rory Racoon, Snooty Nose Mrs. Possum, Owly Owl, Sammy Squirrel, and Bobby the Bunny. All of them are my close friends. Even recently, while grilling pork chops, I turned and there stood Dory looking over my shoulder, as if to ask, “What you grillin’?” If I had said deer sausage, she would have been on the run. Instead, I patted her nose, and told her it wasn’t anyone she knew. 😊 Once upon a time, Armona saw a cougar in the woods chasing after a whole herd of deer. In the forest, all who live there are my friends. But if Mr. Cougar shows up, I’m not sticking around to invite him to lunch. I’m afraid I just might be the lunch. Every spring, even knowing all our outdoor neighbors are vegetarians, Armona plants flowers. She gets frustrated to see all her hard work, occasionally eaten up in the evenings. The other morning, Bobby (he’s the bunny, you know) was nibbling on her Black-eyed Susans, that were about to bloom. She hollered at Bobby, but he didn’t understand. So she went to get the BB gun. Lucky for Bobby, there were no BB’s to be found. So, in my resourcefulness, I opened the freezer and picked up a dozen ice cubes. Taking the shot gun approach, I hoisted all of them into the air at the same time. Nary a one hit Bobby, but you should have seen him jump two feet straight up into the air, run two feet, and then stop as if to wonder, “What was that?” I wonder if Armona will quit planting those flowers. On the other hand, my friends have an assortment of pretty flowers to eat because of her generosity. I so love what the Lord has created. The blue sky, the green grass, trees with leaves that praise the Lord and clap their hands in the wind, and, of course, my outdoor friends. God created all these things for us to enjoy. If He did such a great job here on earth, imagine what heaven will be like. I can only imagine… God is so good! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved
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July 21, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius When I was a youngster in the early 1960’s, I delivered the morning Des Moines Register newspaper. I wasn’t much for news at twelve years old, but I remember being captivated by the reports of the Adolf Eichmann trial. Adolf Eichmann was a Nazi high official responsible for the killing of millions of Jews. Then, while watching television, on rare occasions, there would be documentaries of places like Auschwitz concentration camp. The images I saw and that were embedded into my memory, are too graphic to write for this reflection. My parents were always quick to hustle me out of the room, but still, you cannot unsee something once seen. Not believing a human could subject another human to such atrocities, I chose not to believe what I saw. Then one of my friends, who served under General Patton told me about liberating a certain Jewish concentration camp. He described the horrors he witnessed. He even had photos of bodies stacked up like cords of wood ready to be pushed into a mass grave. He said, “The Americans made those Nazi guards dig individual graves in which to bury the dead.” Ever since WW II, the Jews have adopted this motto, “Never again.” It reminds them to never again allow themselves to be victimized as they were by the Nazis. In the Book of Esther, General Haman tried to exterminate all the Jews. Why? If the Jews were no more, then there would be no lineage from which Jesus could be born. Obviously, this was a tactic of Satan. In the 1940’s, Adolf Hitler tried to once again exterminate the Jews. Why? The great tribulation to come at the end of the age is God’s way of bringing millions of unsaved gentiles to Himself. But the primary purpose of the tribulation is to call the Jews to Jesus. If there are no Jews remaining on earth, then there is no urgent reason for God to initiate the tribulation and put an end to the world. If that would happen, Satan’s authority over earth is extended. So now maybe we can understand a little better why the sudden explosion of worldwide anti-semitism. It is once again, a Satanic movement to postpone Jesus’ return to earth. I’ve got news for you, Satan. You lose! Looking at the world through the lens of the Bible, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved July 14, 2024 Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Recently, I went to California. Of course, I had to fly. What a hassle! Get up early to make it through screening on time, to catch your plane. “Show me your I.D., take off your shoes, empty your pockets, walk through the metal detector and wait right here.” All these intrusions and calisthenics, just to board your plane. I’m so happy that getting into heaven is as easy as simply believing in Jesus, and when the Father asks, “Why should I let you into heaven?” my answer will only be, “I’m with Him---Jesus the Son.” Why did I go? To see a man who is seriously ill. Besides, I love him like a brother. As a matter of fact, as we sat around the kitchen table celebrating communion together, I told him, “If I could choose a brother, I would pick you.” Ya know, men are not like women. We are not normally expressive. A man can go without seeing or talking to his friend for quite some time, and yet, in spite of the absence, still be friends. I think there is a song that describes that kind of relationship, “Friends are Friends Forever.” So, to my dear friend, my brother: “We’ve walked together in the good times with laughter, and with God. Together we have shared and come alongside one another through family trials. But, through it all, our friendship has held together by our mutual love for Jesus our Lord. Now, you’re on a new journey, maybe the final one, we don’t know. But I’m right there with you to support, encourage, and love you. I came to visit from far away to do those things. But now, I leave with more blessings from you than I came to give. Your faith in Jesus to see you through is a testimony to all you are, to all you will one day be. Jesus has prepared a mansion, one for you and one for me. I hope you are my neighbor, but this I know for sure, you’ll be there! But, if you’re not home when I get there, I’ll know where to find you. I will look for you at the feet of Jesus.” In the meantime, we remain in His grip. Love ya like a pastor and friend, but best of all, like a brother. Allan…. ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved July 7, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius Here are some random thoughts about fishing to brighten your day. 😊 No, it’s not about the big one that got away. Once upon a time, as Armona and I walked on a pier, there was an elderly lady fishing. Of course we asked, “How’s the fishin’?” To which she replied, “Oh, the number of fish you catch don’t matter. What matters is that God doesn’t mark time while you’re fishin’.” Now don’t you fishermen be using that line as an excuse to skip church! On another occasion, while fishing below a dam with a pedestrian walk-way, I cast out with a very heavy sinker. I wanted to set my hook in deeper water. I waited and watched for the splash. There was none. I looked at my line only to discover that it had gone straight up and was tangled in some ladies’ hat on the bridge. After finally getting it out of her hat, she said, “Hey….is this your line?” I said, “Yes! Could you walk another ten feet straight ahead and drop it in the lake?” She did! What a nice lady! By the way, the only fish that was caught that day was the one that my friend netted when it swam too close to shore. 😊 Just like always. The fish were biting yesterday and surely they will bite tomorrow. I always add to that bit of wisdom, “And they will never bite on Sunday during church.” That goes with, if you mow your lawn on Sunday, it will grow back twice as fast. It seems that whenever I go fishing, the fish don’t bite. It’s kind of discouraging. In John 21, after the resurrection, some of the disciples went fishing all night. They caught nothing. Early the next morning, Jesus asked of them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” They must have been discouraged too. Their answer was a simple, “No.” Then Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did and caught more fish that they could haul into the boat. How did Jesus know? He always knows! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved June 30, 2024
Reflection from the Heart of Allan Redenius Not too long ago, one of my friends was giving me a hard time. Everyone laughed—at my expense. This is what I told my friend. “I’m going to take you buffalo hunting.” To that he asked, “Where are you going to find a buffalo?” Right then, I had him right where I wanted him. I said, “You’re the buffalo!” Why did I think of buffalo? Earlier that week, another friend said she had gone camping north of Algona, Iowa. I have been there at that campsite and nearby is a conservation building with a stuffed buffalo. I asked of my friend, “Did you see the buffalo?” Well, of course she did! I proceeded to tell this tale. I grew up in a town named Titonka, which in the Sioux language means, “buffalo.” I said, “That same stuffed buffalo once roamed around the outskirts of my hometown every Thursday evening, around dark. No one dared to leave the safety of town. Once upon a time, legend has it that some boys went out of town on a Thursday evening, around dusk. They never returned.” Scratching her head, my friend asked, “Did the buffalo eat them or gore them?” To that I replied, “I don’t know. I never went out of town on Thursday nights.” Now some of you might think that’s a lot of bull. You’re wrong. That’s a lot of buffalo! I know, I know. I’m not quite right! 😊 Living life and loving Jesus, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved June 23, 2024
Reflection From the Heart of Allan Redenius Once upon a time, Growly Bear lived down the road. Never happy, always muttering some sort of unpleasantry. He reminded me of the troll in the fairy tale, Billy Goats Gruff. “I’m mean and I’m hungry and I’m going to eat you up,” said the troll each time someone crossed his bridge. Each time someone crossed his bridge, Growly Bear would utter sounds not unlike the mean, mean troll. After a time, the people living around Growly Bear began to ignore and avoid him. Eventually, Growly Bear faced a troll bigger and meaner than he, there always is one. Today the children of the community, Growly Bear’s neighbors, cross his bridge with immunity, protected by the bigger Growly Bear. One day, Growly Bear will die a lonely, lonely man, and I ask, “Why?” Certainly, he never heard what Jesus said, “Love God and live for your neighbor’s good.” That’s my paraphrase of the Lord’s greatest commandment! (Matthew 22:36-40) Have you ever asked yourself if you are the troll in the fairy tale, Billy Goats Gruff? Always angry, never compromising, never saying you’re sorry, not a gentle bone in your body. Is that you? Sometimes it’s good to look in the mirror and see yourself as others see you. If you see a troll staring back at you, like combing your hair, fix whatever ails you. Certainly, you don’t want to end up like Growly Bear, an old man, an old woman facing life all alone because of the seeds you planted in your younger years. Don’t think you can change your Growly Bear personality? The meanest Growly Bear of all, was a man named Legion. Jesus wasn’t afraid of him. He went to him. Legion changed and went from a man cursing Jesus, to a man wanting to follow and witness for Him. (Luke 8:26-39) Look in the mirror. Do you see a troll, or do you see Jesus? Oh, by the way, you can’t see both. Either you’re a 100% Jesus or 100% Growly Bear. My advice. Be like Jesus! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved June 16, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius The peel of many thunders in the distance signals the approaching of the storm soon to come. The flash of lightning which illuminates the sky in the dark of night is frightening to behold! Yes, for some, the approaching storm, with its’ sound of thunder and the sight of lightning, strikes fear into the hearts of many. As for thunder, I imagine its’ rumbling to be the voice of God. There are some loud crashes of thunder that do make my heart race and my pulse to increase. When lightning strikes close with an instant sound of thunder, I realize the power of God is on full display. In those moments of God’s mighty power marching before me, I know my need for Him. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) lifts us up in times of weakness. “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior Who saves.” Yes, the Lord is my confidence! There was a day when an approaching storm did strike fear into my bones. Maybe it was because of the in-ground, away from the house, fruit cellar in which mom and dad would take us kids for refuge and safety. Never figured out why the family was huddled together in the dark of that place while Dad stood above ground watching the approaching storm. Now, I’m the one standing on the outside watching the approaching storm, just like Dad. It must be a man thing. But more than the storm, more than the fruit cellar, my memory takes me back to the spiders in that old cellar. This was not in the era of BC, but certainly in the era of BP, before pesticides. You needed a stick to knock down the webs before you could even enter. Those creepy, crawly things were everywhere. Even in the outdoor outhouse you needed a stick to remove the webs before entry and use. You get the picture. Is it little wonder I don’t like spiders? I’m thankful today for a clean basement in which to take shelter from an approaching storm. But to be honest, I’d rather be on the outside watching the awesome display of God’s mighty hand—as long as it’s not too close. One thing is for sure. When the storm hits, I don’t want to be on the outside, wishing I was on the inside. Keep listening for the thunder. It just might be the sound of God’s chariot comin’ to whisk you home. Watchin’ for the Lord’s return, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved June 9, 2024
Reflection From the Heart of Allan Redenius A grandpa’s perspective of watching his grandson play in a state tournament. All of us know the pride and joy of parents when their child does well in almost anything, from academia to athletics. But what about grandparents who quietly sit in the grandstand? Again this year, our grandson qualified for the Iowa State High School Tennis Tournament. If this sounds like bragging, it is not, just facts. O.K., maybe just a little pride might show through. But, as I think about the journey to ultimately a fourth-place finish, doing that, well, it came with a lot of sacrifice. It all started in the 1970’s when grandma picked up a tennis racquet. Then, our son was only one or two. Off to the tennis court she went with son in tow, along with the play pen. As she played tennis, our son played with his toys on the court. She did very well and won many tournaments including the triple crown in the Fort Dodge City Tournament—singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Eventually, our son began to play tennis, quite well. I don’t know how many light bulbs he busted as he hit the ball against our garage door for hours on end. He too, was a state high school tennis qualifier and placed 6th in the state. Along the way, our daughter fell in love with tennis. She continued the sport through college and into her early career, meeting her tennis husband along the way. Of course, their sons too have taken up the sport. So, there’s a lot of history behind this year’s trip to the Iowa High School Tennis Tournament. As play progressed, with each hit of the ball, grandpa held his breath hoping and praying this one would be a winner. Actually, there were more winners than losers, and in the end, a fourth place finish. Over the years, I’ve observed this about sports in general. It’s easy to be gracious when you win but if you lose, it takes a lot more grace. Whether you are a winner or a loser, all of us must rely on God’s grace. When we stand before Jesus, He won’t ask about the tennis tournament, only about your winning faith will He inquire. From grandpa---I’m so very proud of you, grandson for your accomplishment. But even more proud of you that you rely on the grace of Jesus in your life! That will always guarantee a win! Love, Grandpa ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved June 2, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Since I are one, I thought I would offer up some wisdom to old people. 😊
There are many more rules of thumb to live life well into old age. Here’s one last thought. Embrace it. You can’t change it. Thinkin’ young, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved May 26, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius There was an era when the kind of car you drove showed off your personality. For instance, I remember a man who bought a Ford Edsel. Edsel was one of the biggest failures in car making history. It was manufactured for only three years between 1957 and 1960. But the man who bought this boondoggle of a car, was just as slow and lethargic as the car. Like the Edsel, this man was big too. On the other hand, if you owned a 1957 Chevrolet, now you’re talkin’ classy. I knew plenty of people with that make and model of a car. They were always energetic and enthusiastic, or so it seemed to me. My first car didn’t quite fit my personality. The only thing my 1956 Oldsmobile fit into was my pocketbook. I paid only $75 for this monster of a car. Pull into the gas station and tell the attendant, “Fill up the oil and check the gas.” Man, that behemoth used a lot of oil. But it lasted a good long time. Any car that might have run into it, would have bounced right off. It was built like a tank. One time, it hailed with huge hail stones. The parking lot was full of dented cars. Not my 1956 Oldsmobile! So, I’m thinking of my wife, Armona. What kind of car would fit her personality? Over the years, she did drive several convertibles. One of those convertibles was a 1996 Trans Am with a corvette engine and six speeds on the floor. Yes, the color fit her full throttle personality. The car was red! 😊 Kind of wish we still had that muscle car. By the way, she can’t wait until there are flying cars. Get to where you’re going—faster! What about me? Well, I drive what I would describe as a mid-size SUV, something practical. It’s comfortable, reasonably priced, if there is such a thing, and though not a pickup, I can haul a lot of stuff in it. All of us should feel sorry for the American mom. All of them have one car personality. They all drive vans. (Just so ya know, when our kids were living at home—their Mom did too.) Yes, cars tell you something about people. Just because you buy a different car that doesn’t fit your personality, that purchase doesn’t change who you are. Only Jesus can do that. And, when you give your life to Him, you’ll be on your best trip yet heading to Heaven! Love and blessings, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved May 19, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius In the last two weeks, I’ve attended two musicals, Tuck Everlasting and Beauty and the Beast. Each of these imaginative story lines cause me to ask of myself, “Why can’t I write a story like that?” Of course, I remind myself that there have been a host of those kinds of unfulfilled aspirations in my life, from driving a race car to flying a jet. Although, in my imagination, I am the fastest race car driver, Top Gun in the Air Force. Then I wake up and remember my race car was a green 1954 Chevrolet sitting in the garage. My jet airplane was a particularly high branch on an old apple tree. My racing career goes something like this. Speeding, thundering down the back stretch, entering into the third corner, Allan’s car enters low on the track. Only one car to pass before the infamous checkered flag. Picking up speed, dirt flying (this is a dirt track, ya know 😊), coming out of turn number four, he races into the lead. Can he hold on? Of course I can. I win! I win because it’s my story. Who likes their imagination to let them down in defeat? As for my flying career, that old apple tree served me well as we sped through narrow canyons, mounted to the sky above with after burners on full throttle. Oh no! Trouble with the engine. Losing altitude. The ground is speeding upward. Time to bail out. At the last moment, I eject from the swing as it hits it’s pinnacle. A split second of weightlessness and I’m on the ground. Sure, I can write a short imaginative story, but a novel of any length, with multiple characters and story lines, (not to mention the music), just might be out of my ability. Talk about multiple story lines and characters, the best examples can be found in the best book ever written, the Bible. Here’s the amazing part about the Bible. Every story line, every character points to one person, Jesus. No imagination, no speculation, only truth does the Bible speak. What is truth? Jesus said it in John 14:6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Believe it! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved May 12, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius There are two non-reoccurring experiences in life. Neither of which any of us are able to recall or share. The first, one-time experience is being born. None of us can remember the moment of our birth. Out from the quiet, warm comfort of mother’s womb into the loud cold reality of the world. Everybody is so excited with oohs and aahs. “Isn’t that the most beautiful baby?” In the meantime, the baby is traumatized by what is happening. That’s why they cry. That borning cry is probably one of abject fear at seeing light, hearing sounds, all for the very first time. But love conquers all, even fear. Soon the baby is quiet in mother’s arms. Maybe I was slightly in error when I opened with “two non-reoccurring experiences.” Jesus invites you to be born again as you come to Him in faith. On that wonderful day, there is no crying, no tears, maybe tears of joy. The day of your own “born again” experience is one you will remember—forever. The second non-reoccurring experience is death. We’ll all go through it. None of us can record what it actually feels like. Some might record the walk to death’s door, but there is no record of the moment of death. So here’s the deal. A baby is welcomed in the world experiencing fear. Too many people exit the world in fear of the finality of life. There are no more tomorrows. Unless, unless you, during your life were “born again.” You see, if you give your life to Jesus as your Lord, you will experience the joy of heaven and be greeted with the loving arms of Jesus for eternity! Reject Him and experience the burning lake of sulfur for eternity. My recommendation? Be born again! Love in Christ, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved May 5, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius I’m tired of waiting. All too often, life is about waiting. I’ve got better things to do than wait at a red light out in the middle of nowhere, when clearly there are no cars coming. But I wait, because that’s my conditioned response to a red light. Get to the airport early—and wait. If you’re late you just might hear these words I once heard announced by the terminal airline attendant. “Joseph Smith, if you’re in the lobby, look through the big window to my right. That’s your airplane speeding down the runway.” 😊 I guess, for Joseph Smith, a little waiting may have been better than no wait at all, either you wait, or you’re late. We live our life and, without realizing it, we wait for the end, death. Then it comes for us, and our natural desire is to put that moment off, so we can wait some more. My Dad said it best as he was living out his last days. “Everybody wants to live one more day.” I write these reflections and sometimes I wait, wait some more, and finally, God inspires me to record, in a few minutes, what took hours of waiting. “God, could you hurry up—just a little?” Whew! Got this one done. Have you ever noticed, we have a just in time God? God is always just in time. God is always right on time. All of us need patience. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) tells us of the benefits of waiting upon the Lord. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Waiting is part of life. So, what do we do during those wait times? Instead of nothing, let’s “wait upon the Lord” in prayer and meditation. Time goes by fast when you’re “mounting up on eagles wings.” Here’s a bonus for you. The view is so much better too. Waiting upon the Lord with no complaints, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved April 28, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius For us Baby Boomers, things that are no more:
Society is so broken now, only Jesus can fix it! Do you pine for days gone by? I do….. Just reminiscing, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved April 21, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Short vignettes from years gone by:
So, now an old man, I would give you this advice. Don’t be “shaggin’-the-drag” or cruising around with no purpose. How I wish I could have those hours back to use them for God’s Kingdom work here on earth. Although, I do use my past life experiences to relate to you so that I might witness to the glory of God. After all, in the above “near disasters” my guardian angels were kept very busy! Old man laughing at boyhood experiences….. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved April 14, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius I, for one, don’t like using initials in order to shorten sentences to a few letters. Here’s an example. It took me a long time to learn what LOL meant. Just in case you don’t know, it’s “laugh out loud.” Why not just say, “That makes me laugh?” Maybe the answer is, too many keystrokes. Why don’t people just say what they mean? Recently, I heard a sportscaster announcing a basketball game. Someone made a really spectacular play, but instead of calling it a “great move,” the announcer said, “That’s cold.” I guess it’s just a little better than “That’s cool.” 😊 Oh, did I just date myself? Can’t people be more imaginative, more descriptive with the use of the English language? “Breaking into the free. Rumblin’, stumblin’, down the field, he runs like lightning. The end zone is in sight. One defender to beat. A quick move to the left, and the would be tackler is left behind. The runner scores! The clock ticks to zero! The underdog comes from behind to win in the last second! What a finish! What a game!” It's all about adjectives. These are the words that captivate the reader, the listener. It’s all about capturing the attention, the imagination. You can describe a leaf falling to the ground as “the leaf fell to the ground,” or you can be a little more descriptive. “Feel the gentle cool autumn breeze as the trees dance with golden color. That which clothed the trees with beauty, begins to fall. Ever so gently it makes its descent from its lofty perch, tumbling, it moves this way and that. Slowly to its final resting place does the leaf fall, not with a thud. It makes no sound at all. There to rest until some stupid human brings a rake and lights a match.” 😊 O.K., that might be over the top, but were you not drawn into the story? (From Armona, “As someone who doesn’t waste time, I like ‘the leaf fell.” 😊😊) Talk about writings and stories. The best story ever told, the greatest book ever written, is the Bible. Read it for all its worth. Pay attention to every noun, verb, and adjective. But be drawn in. Why? Because this story is all about you and your eternity. Just sittin’ around the campfire thinking of another tale to tell. 😊 Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved March 31, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Surrender! That verb brings up many thoughts and emotions. Many a soldier has faced that outcome, surrender. Often times, the choice is one of two, surrender or die. To many, surrender, is to die. So with the last ounce of valor within, they fight on to the end. One of the greatest surrender speeches ever given was on December 22, 1944 at the Battle of the Bulge. Surrounded, outnumbered, and out gunned, the Germans had the American troops in a hopeless quandary. The German Commander of the Nazi forces sent a note to Brigadier General McAuliffe, commander of the American troops. The note asked for General McAuliffe to honorably surrender. To that, General McAuliffe gave the Germans a one-word response, “NUTS!” That surrender speech, or maybe lack of surrender speech, inspired the American forces on to an eventual costly victory. Most surrenders end in tragedy and sometimes, loss of life. King Saul, the first King of Israel, was mortally wounded in battle. Rather than be captured by the Philistines, King Saul fell upon his sword to end his life. (1st Samuel 31) He would rather give up his life than be taken prisoner, even if for a short time before his death. But surrender doesn’t always need to be an outcome of war. It could be as mundane as surrendering your life for a cause, an ideology. Jesus surrendered Himself to the Romans in the Garden of Gethsemane. At any time before the cross, and even on the cross, He could have called upon twelve legions of angels to come to His rescue. But the Lord chose to give up His life to save yours and mine. I choose not to surrender and conform to the ways of the world. I choose to surrender my life to Jesus, Who surrendered His life for me. In my surrender, I stand not in defeat, but in victory. Where do you stand? I pray with me. Fight on! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved March 24, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius I am one of those souls who believes in miracles. That’s the only way I can explain my life. It seems that God’s favor has covered me like a cloud, the Shekhinah. Yes indeed, God’s presence has been in my life, even when I don’t act so God-like. From walking among the hogs and cows, not realizing the danger, to climbing a hundred feet up into the silo as a boy, God spared me from injury. Then there was climbing onto the roofs of so many buildings and even high up into the granary to parachute into the corn below. Yes, my guardian angel was on full alert. In high school and college, studies didn’t come easily, neither did test taking. I’d hand in my test and, until the grade was recorded, this was my prayer. “God, I know you can do all things. Change my wrong answers to right answers. If you can’t do that, please give my professor a soft heart while he grades my test.” Don’t laugh. It worked! I need to report one of the grandest miracles in my life, well, it happened to my wife, Armona. In November 2023, she had a medical procedure which came back with a diagnosis of malignancy, a cancerous tumor. Now I know how devastating that word can be. Immediately, both of us dropped to our knees in tears and prayer. Here was my prayer. It was the same prayer I used in high school and college, the one I’ve used often. “Dear God, it’s your humble servant, Allan. Today I pray, not for me, but for the woman you gave to me to protect all the days of her life. So, now I ask for Your protection for I know You can do all things. In the near future, Armona will have surgery to remove this tumor from within her. I know it’s there; the tests showed it. But before that surgery Lord, please remove the cancer from within that tumor. She is in Your hands God, I can’t do it….Amen” For ninety days, that was my fervent prayer. On February 15, 2024, she underwent surgery, a lengthy ordeal. At 8 PM the doctor came in to report. “She is doing fine. There is no evidence of cancer.” Tears came to my eyes, and I didn’t hear whatever else he may have said. I was too busy thanking Jesus! All the time God is good! I believe in miracles! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved March 17, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Have you ever stopped to think about the end of the trail? In the late 1800’s, when the west was being tamed, the end of the trail was always a destination a place, like Oregon, the California gold rush, or maybe north to Alaska to dig for gold at the end of the trail. But once you got there, at the end of the trail, there was always another adventure, another trail inviting you onward. Technically then, you never find the end of the trail because it always gets moved. Kind of like chasing after the end of the rainbow. You think you’re almost there, but suddenly, you are not. For many who begin the journey, toward the end of the trail, they never arrive. Sometimes they die along the way. The survivors bury the dead, say a homily, sing a hymn, hitch up the horses and continue onward, leaving a loved one behind. Years go by, the wind blows, trees grow, the scenery changes, and even if you did return to pay your respects, the grave cannot be found. The end of the trail for the one left behind really was the end. At least the end of the trail here on earth. Over my lifetime, I’ve come to many “end of the trail” stops. Each stop met with sadness or joy. Whatever the occasion, I decided long ago to not stay mired down at the end of any trail. At every end, there is a new beginning, a new adventure. Now a lot of people see the end of the trail as the day they die. Not me. Not even death is the end, but a new beginning, a new life in heaven. There are a host of bunny trails you can follow, but only one trail has no end and leads to heaven, the Jesus trail. Follow Him! Sure, there will be stops along the journey, some good, some not so good, but don’t take your eye off He Who will never lead you down the wrong path. If you are stuck at the end of some trail, don’t just sit there wishing for something different, be a trail blazer! As Jesus said to the paralytic, “Pick up your mat and walk.” Happy Trails to YOU! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved March 10, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius I like sports. I never was very athletic, but that never stopped me from cheering for my team. Need to tell you, sometimes the cheer for “my team” isn’t so much for who I want to win, but it’s for who I want to lose. 😊 But there’s a couple of things about athletics that are, in my estimation, tainting the sport, all sports. The obvious first thing is money. The average professional baseball player makes $4.2 million a year. Get this. If he hits the ball 33% of the time, he’s considered to be worth it. Here’s an interesting, staggering salary. Joe Burrow, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, recently signed a five year contract worth $275 million, or $55 million per year. Even some college athletes are now making in excess of $1 million a year under NIL. Just you wait. Soon, there will be no free athletic events to watch on T.V. It will all be pay-per-view. Here’s the second thing I’ve noticed about athletics. Fans are crazy. Caitlin Clark, a star University of Iowa basketball player, is a phenomenal athlete. After her team lost a game to Ohio State, she was bowled over by a celebrating female Buckeye linebacker! On the same day, the Bills fans threw snowballs at Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. He won the game. Instead of congratulating him, they peppered him with ice-laden snowballs! Come on people! It’s just a game! Star athletes are cheered or booed, depending on the day’s performance. I’ve been in football stadiums and basketball arenas and have done the same thing. (I don’t boo, but I do cheer!) Oh, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. The excitement of an athletic event. But I wonder, how much the crowd would cheer if the Lord Himself ran onto the field? I can hear the announcer. “Running onto the field is He Who can save your life! Jesus Christ!” Would there be frenzied excitement, or awe-struck silence? Would the people welcome Him, or say “Who is this guy?” Sadly, I have a terrible feeling that He would be treated no differently than He was 2000 years ago. Beware, for this time when He returns, there is no middle ground—you’re either for Him or against Him. Get on His team TODAY! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved |