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March 1, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius October 7, 2023, seems to be a watershed moment in the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world. On that date, Hamas launched a surprise attack on a music festival in southern Israel, brutally terrorizing and killing more than 1,200 innocent Jews. At the same time, they captured 251 hostages, all treated brutally during their captivity for almost two years. Of those taken hostage, 81 died in captivity. To the nation of Israel, that sad day is a vivid reminder of the Holocaust during Hitler's reign. With that horrific event there should be, you would think, a worldwide outpouring of sympathy for the Jews of Israel. Israel now in open warfare with Hamas, through false propaganda and lies, Hamas has over the last two years stirred up unwarranted sympathy for their cause. You ask, “What is their cause?” Their constitution calls for the annihilation of all Jews. Furthermore, to accomplish that purpose, their constitution states that any negotiation for peace should only be used as a tool, a ploy, for the purpose of the elimination of Israel. Now suddenly, in the United States and around the world, there has arisen this spontaneous cry supporting Hamas and against Israel, “From the river to the sea!” What does that mean? Simply put, it means to kill all the Jews between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, the elimination of Israel. Up until the last two years, most Jews outside of Israel have lived comfortably without persecution in their places of residence around the world. During the last two years, there have been unprecedented acts of anti-Semitism. Though the sudden persecution of Jews around the world is indeed satanic, could it be that it accomplishes God's purpose? Recently, I learned a new Hebrew word, and it is this, “aliyah.” The basic meaning of that word means, “the Jews immigrating back to Israel.” It is the Hebrew word describing the prophetic return of all the Jews scattered around the world back to their homeland, Israel. “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36: 24 & 28) We live in a world that seems to be out of control. The fact of the matter is this. God is still in control. I believe that we are about to witness a great aliyah. Praise be to Jesus! To Abraham, God said this in Genesis 12:3. “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.” I stand on God's side, blessing Israel. Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved
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February 22, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius I often think of how easy our life is in America, the home of the free and the brave. We always expect the house to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, conveniences abound all around. Many people don’t even have to cook anymore. A quick run to the restaurant of your choice and your meal is instantly in front of you. For a few extra dollars they will even deliver your meal to your doorstep. Freedom brings all these things. Although freedom brings us an easy life, with it sometimes comes lethargy, gluttony, and laziness. I think that is the unseen price which we pay. It’s a hazard of freedom with no cost. The fact of the matter is that freedom comes at the price of bravery. Being brave and tough is not putting a ring in your nose, a tattoo on your arm, or limiting the command of the English language to one syllable words. Bravery is much more. All too many of those who were brave and tough in the past, and provided for us today an easy life, have gone to the grave. They are the ones who stormed Normandy beach, endured the cold in Korea, sweated in the jungles of Vietnam, and endured the deserts of Iraq. These men and women were and are the brave heart of America. Does America today have any brave hearted men and women from which to draw to fight the wars that might lie ahead? If we want to look for an example as to who might be a tough, brave, and a real man, we need to look no further than Jesus. The only piercings He ever had were in His hands and feet, and of course, the one in His side. The only tattoo that He wore, is your name engraved on the palm of His hand. (Isaiah 49:16) He could have run away from the battle of the cross. He chose to stay and gain the victory for those who would believe in Him. Are you brave enough to believe? Bravely standing tall in the shadow of the Lord, Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved February 15, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius “This book of the law shall not depart from thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, and thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:8-9 KJV) These verses are the baptismal verses my parents picked for me when I was just a baby. These prophetic verses have emboldened and given me good courage through my years in ministry. As I proclaim the word of the Lord, I am not afraid. I know that the Lord is with me wherever I go. Because of my confidence in Him, I proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, Jesus Christ risen. It is time for all of us to be bold and courageous in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ! Boldness and courage are contagious. No one follows a cowardly captain. Instead, too many Christians remain silent, not wanting to offend anyone. Shame on all of us for our silence. We stand at the riverbank and pull the bodies that are floating by out of the river. Should we not be running upstream to confront whoever is throwing them in? Ah… but it takes courage to confront such evil. Lacking courage, we silently watch the bodies float by. In the face of evil, to be silent is to acquiesce to evil. We cannot be like the Christians in Nazi Germany who sang only louder to drown out the death screams of the Jews in the death trains as they rumbled by the front door of the church. There are souls to save and there are too many floating by and everyone stands in silence. Arise people of God and do something! Throw them a life jacket! That life jacket is Jesus Christ the Lord! Being bold and courageous for Jesus! Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved February 8, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius As I sit and contemplate the state of the world, I ask myself how things might be different if only, “What if?” Recently in Minneapolis, “What if” Renee Good had just obeyed the ICE officer and had simply exited out of her car as requested? “What if” the ICE officer who shot her had deescalated their encounter in a different manner? I'm certain that neither of them anticipated the events that would happen to them that fateful day. I am just as certain that both would change the outcome of their mutual tragedy, if only they could. Just as an aside, if ever we want to see the presence of Satan in a situation, we certainly see him here in Minneapolis at this encounter. Renee Good was not without fault in that she disobeyed lawful authority. The ICE officer had only moments to react to what he believed was a threat on his life, and his reaction resulted in the death of Renee Good. If you watch and listen to the chaos surrounding that moment, there was cursing and confusion that only the devil could have perpetrated. “What if” God had been present and not the devil? What I have noticed about my “What if” scenarios, is that most of them end in tragedy. “What if” President Putin really knew Jesus as his Savior? Would he be raining down missiles indiscriminately upon the people of Ukraine? “What if” any tyrant loved the Lord? How much better would our world be? We all know people who have met up with tragedy and we ask, “What if?” “What if” they had only left five minutes earlier? “What if” they had taken a different route? Though we may all wish for different outcomes, we know that we can ask all the “What ifs” in the world, and still we cannot undo what has been done. If you are an unbeliever and as you come to die and wonder to yourself “What if,” your outcome will end in the tragedy of hell. You know the outcome of that scenario before you even wonder “What if.” Why not ask, while you still live, “What if I give my life to the Lord?” Do that and your life will not end in tragedy, but in glory. Love in Christ, Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved February 1, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius There are things that grieve my heart. One of which is that all too often we see the children of the church regularly attend Sunday School, complete confirmation, and along the way we hear them confess Jesus as Lord, then suddenly, it is as if the world yanks them away. What remains, the only memory of them in the church is their confirmation picture. From time to time, I peruse those confirmation pictures hanging on the wall and my heart hurts knowing that many, whose pictures I see, I confirmed, no longer attend church. If you are confirmed in the church, it is not at all like graduation. You graduate from high school and that part of your life is done. Confirmation is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of study and fellowship with Jesus. The disciples didn't follow Jesus for three years and then after the crucifixion say to themselves, “Well, that's finally over. I'll go back to being a fisherman and forget about the Lord.” No! They stayed in the Word and followed Jesus to their last breath. I wish I knew what causes a child to walk away from church. However, parental apathy toward Jesus is a heritage that is often passed down from parent to child. If the parent doesn't attend church, how do any of us expect a child to come to know Jesus? Deuteronomy 6 tells us that we must teach the word of the Lord diligently to our children. If a parent fails to do that, teach the word of the Lord to his child, is not the parent leading the child astray? Now if you, as a parent, don't think it's a big deal to teach your child about Jesus, hear what the Lord says to you in Matthew 18:6. “… whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and be drowned in the depth of the sea.” In churches where there is in Sunday School a lack of children, there is not a “kid problem.” Instead, what you have is a “parent problem.” Parents who are unwilling to bring their child to Sunday School and church. Several years ago, on the church playground, a little girl about eight years old asked this question. “Who is Jesus?” She had never heard of the Lord. Shame on that parent for not teaching this beautiful little girl about He Who can give her salvation. Come to Sunday School. Come to church. Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved January 25, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Have you ever driven down the road and suddenly and unexpectedly, there is a curve you must navigate? Instinctively you know that you have to make a hard turn in the direction of the curve. Life often does that to us. I'm reminded of the song, Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road. Once you see that stinky black and white ball of fur on the road ahead, you know if you don't make that hard right or hard left, you're going to be stink’n to high heaven. 😊 So, it is with my reflections. I think I need to take a hard right or hard left in my writing style. Over the last seventeen years, most of my reflections have revolved around lifetime memories that are sometimes entertaining, maybe funny, maybe not so funny, but almost always, I somehow twist them into a life lesson about Jesus. Seventeen years…ummm….that means I've written over 800 reflections. Wow! That means I've written over 800 sermons as well. I can guarantee you that every one of those sermons were about Jesus and your salvation. To be honest, with every reflection about my past life experiences, it becomes harder to recall a past episode in my life about which to write. I think there's two reasons for that. Number one, I'm running out of memories about which to write. Number two, it could be that my memory dial just isn't set on “total recall” anymore. Oh yes, there will continue to be Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius. However, the style in which I write may, from time to time, be more serious and intentional. It may be a comment on current events, and as a result of my opinions about which I write, my writing may, on occasion, generate disagreement. However, I promise that every reflection will still be prepared and presented to the glory of the Lord. Here we go on a new adventure! All to the glory of God! Love in Christ, Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved January 18, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius The reed grows tall and strong in the mire. But drain the swamp and soon the reed withers and dies. The freshly painted house, when neglected, soon fades and the paint begins to peel. After that, the wood rots and the house eventually falls down. The shiny new car loses its luster if never washed and polished. The athlete quickly loses his physique and athleticism if he doesn't stay in shape and practice. Let me add one more. He who neglects his faith, maybe never had any faith at all. I really don't care about the reed that grows in the mire, the paint on the house, the shiny new car that loses its luster, nor the athlete who loses his athleticism. But what I do care about is your faith. So how is it with your faith? I recently read a disturbing article entitled, The Unchurching of America. It recited a staggering statistic that each church body loses approximately 15% of its attendees each year. It went on to say that many people are turning to online mysticism, tarot card reading, artificial intelligence and other hocus pocus inspirations, all on the internet. Whatever happened to the daily reading of your Bible for inspiration and insight? Whatever faith you have, you need to water it, keep it fresh, polish it, and practice it, just to keep it alive and growing. You can't assume that faith will come to you. You must seek after it as a treasured pearl of great value buried in a field. Don't go looking for it in any place but a church that preaches the unaltered truth of Jesus Christ. There is no fortune teller, no false teacher, no charlatan from whom you can learn and take a shortcut to gain faith. You can't grow or nurture your faith if the church you attend just appeals to your emotion through a laser light show, fog on the stage, and music thumping in your chest. Why do I say that? “When the flash is gone, you got nothing.” I may be a lone voice in the wilderness, but as a nation, we need to push back on this alarming statistic that people are abandoning church. As born-again Christians, we can’t sit by and watch people abandon their faith. We need to tell them that it is only through Jesus by which they gain faith and grow their faith. In the name of Jesus… America come back to church, real church! Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved January 11, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Isn't it funny how you can remember some things? I remember my grandfather telling me that if I became a preacher, he would buy me a gold watch. Well of course, I, now being a preacher, and he, not being around anymore, I had to buy my own gold watch. Now, after 20 years or more, my trusty gold watch finally quit telling time. As with any broken watch, it was right two times a day. After its final tick-tock, I put it in the drawer thinking to myself I can live without a watch. As the story unfolds, I went for my annual health physical several months ago. Historically, I have a low heart rate. So, if you see me get up fast from a chair and start stumbling around like I'm dizzy, it's because I am. It's something I've learned to manage over the years without medication. But while undergoing my physical, my doctor said to me about my low heart rate, “You should really buy an Apple Watch. It will monitor your heart rate. It will even set off an alarm if your heart rate is too low.” Being a good patient, I went off to the store and bought an Apple Watch. Now I've been thinking about this Apple Watch alarm that might go off if my heart rate slows. What if I'm already unconscious when the alarm goes off? What if my heart rate is zero and the alarm goes off? What good is that? Is my watch going to sound the alarm and say, “Looks like you might be dead. You better think about waking up.” Actually, I like this Apple Watch. It tells me the number of steps I have walked during the day, how many calories I've burned, and then realizing that I am woefully lacking in exercise, it will even measure my mood. My mood, after seeing my lack of activity, is usually that of depression. 😊 What it doesn't do is tell me when I am happy. That makes me depressed. In the end this Apple Watch is just a gadget. It doesn't tell me the important thing of life, and that is my relationship with Jesus. I pray that if I had a watch that measured such a relationship that it would always be showing a glass filled to the top. How is your relationship with the Lord these days? Is your glass only half full? Work at trying to draw closer to God and He will fill your cup, even pressed down and heaping over. Time to go! Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved January 4, 2026
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius As a boy on the farm, my dad had milk cows. It was always my job to round up the cows and herd them into the barn. In the summertime, it was easy to round up the girls and bring them in. All I had to do was open the gate, tell my trusty dog, Sport, “Go get them,” and off into the pasture he would run to bring them home to the barn. One night I remember sitting at the kitchen table and looking out toward the barnyard and there lay a cow with its legs sticking up in the air. I said something to the effect that that was certainly unusual. I had never seen this before. My dad jumped up from the table with a kitchen knife and ran to the bloated cow. If you're wondering what he did with the knife, he punctured the cow to relieve the trapped gas within. The rendering truck came the next day to haul away the dead cow. Ever after that episode, my cow job expanded. Once Sport brought them into the barnyard, it was now up to me to keep the cows moving so that they would belch up the gas within and not bloat. Maybe I should do that after I eat a big meal. 😊 After the girls had been walking around for a while, then I opened the barn door and what happened next was always amazing. Every cow walked up to its stanchion, the same one every time. Then as dad milked the cows by hand, I walked in front and just watched the cows. I learned that it is better to stand in front of the cow when it's in its stanchion than to stand behind it. I shouldn't have to explain the reason why. 😊 As my dad milked those cows, without fail, all the kitties would line up for a squirt of milk. I remember his laugh. Then one day there was no laughter as he stood between two cows, and they decided to put the squeeze on him. That was a frightening moment as I remember him pounding his fists on them to separate. In the crush of the moment, he could not breathe. You can learn a lot about life in the barnyard and barn. I wonder how long Jesus stayed in the barn in which he was born. Such humble beginnings for He Who became the Savior of the world. Thank you, Jesus for being the “way” to spend all eternity with You! Love in Him, Pastor Allan ©2026 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved December 28, 2025
Reflections from the heart of Allan Redenius Not too long ago, Armona and I had an occasion to stay at a motel. So, as is our routine, we got up early and went down to have breakfast. As I was pouring a cup of coffee, she was someplace within the complex getting her breakfast food. I turned around and saw a table with a plate of food on it. Believing it was Armona’s food, I pulled out a chair and sat down. About that time a lady stood by the table and said to me, “Can I help you?” Suddenly, realizing that this was not Armona’s food on the table at which I sat, I was embarrassed. After the lady and I had a good laugh, I picked up my coffee and moved to another table. 😊 Our conversation continued with this lady. I asked my usual ice breaker questions. “What's your name? Where are you from?” Since I knew she was traveling, I asked, “Where are you going?” She told us her name and that she and her husband were from Colorado and were traveling to Wisconsin where her husband was scheduled to have triple heart bypass surgery. Whoa! Thank you, Jesus, for opening an opportunity to be Your witness! I asked if I could pray for her husband. Of course, she was more than happy to bow her head, as I offered up a prayer for healing for her husband, Scott. She was so appreciative and thankful. I tell you this story so that you too might take advantage of unexpected opportunities to witness to the Lord. As an evangelist or witness, sometimes you just must be bold and straightforward. After all, what was the worst thing she could have told me when I asked if I could pray for her husband? She could have said, “No!” In which case I would have respected her request but still would have prayed silently for her husband's well-being. I live by Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Oh yes, the Lord is my confidence! Go ahead! Put on your big boy, big girl pants and witness to the glory of Jesus! When you do, He will cinch up your belt, and give you words of grace. Love and blessings, Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved December 21, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Dear Santa: How many letters did I write to you at the North Pole when I was a child? Despite my not so good penmanship, you were always able to read my wish list. You were usually pretty good at delivering the present that I wanted the most, an electric train, a Magic 8 Ball, which was always good at answering whatever question you might ask. It was artificial intelligence before its time. I am sure there were other gifts including model cars that I can't remember right now. By the way, I never did get my slotted race car set. Thank you very much. But you know what, Santa? How is it that you could be in so many different places at the same time? You were on the hayrack the day after Thanksgiving in my hometown with your, ho, ho, ho’s, and then I would read that you were in a different town at the exact same moment. Kind of like Christmas. You and your reindeer travel the whole wide world in a twenty-four hour period. It's Christmas magic. Dem’ dare reindeer are truly amazing. Everything about Christmas is like living in a snow globe, everything seems so perfect. Ice skaters gracefully twirling round and round, snow falling gently on the scene, and to think nobody looks cold. But then after a while, the ice skaters coast to a stop, the snow stops falling, and I am reminded that all too soon, you Santa, retreat to the North Pole not to appear again until next year. I wonder what you will bring me then? I still have my electric train, but it’s all rusty. The Magic 8 Ball is long gone and just a memory. But I do have one memorable Christmas gift from 1959. If my house caught on fire, it is one of my treasures I would rescue from the flame. You see, Santa, this is the only gift that never breaks or gets rusty. It keeps on giving, not just Christmas after Christmas, but day after day. It is a Holy Bible you left for me under grandpa and grandma’s aluminum Christmas tree long ago. It's the best gift ever! I thought I would just let you know the memories you brought into my life. Merry Christmas! Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved December 14, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius As I was walking along the edge of my woods the other day, I met a unicorn. Now I know right away you are skeptical, but you weren't there. Besides, it's my story. 😊 Like Winnie the Pooh, who has his 100-acre woods in which to live, I live near what I call my 12-acre woods. In Pooh’s 100-acre woods, lives a menagerie of his friends, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and of course the unseen, always to be feared heffalumps and woozles, who steal your honey when you aren’t looking. So, it is in my 12-acre woods. I too have a menagerie of friends who sometimes come to visit me, Dory the Deer, Bobby the Bunny, Sammy the Squirrel, Owly Owl, among a host of others. Two years ago, a heffalump disguised as a cougar ran by chasing Dory the Deer on a dead run. For Dory, it was run, or be dead. After years of peace and tranquility in my 12-acre woods, woozles have appeared. Four woozles, disguised as hunters, have bought my 12-acre woods and now use it for their urban deer hunt. All those who live around cheer as Dory and her friends are picked off from above. Why? “Because the deer are eating my petunias.” There is sadness among my friends in my 12-acre woods. That sadness prompted Unicorn to come and meet me at the edge of my 12-acre woods. She had the appearance like a horse, graceful and strong, bringing purity, magic, and an untamed wildness about her. With her that day, she brought foreboding wisdom. “Who will care about those who live in the 12-acre woods when you are no more?” Indeed, the neighborhood cares more about petunias and woozles than those who live in my 12-acre woods. I turned around and as magically as Unicorn appeared, she disappeared. What's the lesson from this unicorn story? Guard your heart, lest woozles and heffalumps move in and steal who you are. You ask, “What do I have to lose?” If you love Jesus, holiness and joy are on display in your life. Don't let a woozle or a heffalump move into your neighborhood, called your heart. They will steal your joy. Looking out for my friends in the forest. Looking out for you. Love and blessings, Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved December 7, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius 68 years ago, December 7, 1957, is a day that I remember. It was the day my dad quit farming and had his “farm machinery auction.” At first, I thought this would be an exciting day. I didn’t have to go to school! Dad had all the machinery lined up in the yard. People were beginning to come and mill around and sort of, “kick the tires” on all his machinery. There was a lunch wagon there and my mom even gave me money to buy a maid-rite. I still hear the auctioneer’s cry, as the gavel slammed down, and he hollered out, “Sold!” Despite it being cold, to a little boy, who really didn't understand, this was indeed exciting. By the end of the day, all was quiet and the yard was empty. For me, this was the day I transitioned from being a “farm boy” to a “city kid.” It meant leaving something old, what I knew and loved, and moving to something new and scary. It was the day I left behind playing in the hay mow, being a gladiator of exceptional skill as I speared mice with a pitchfork in the silo, flying my fighter jet through canyons and clouds using an apple tree as the cockpit, raising tad poles in the cow tank, riding an imaginary horse fast as the wind through the grove as a cowboy chasing after imaginary bad guys. Yes, this was the day of unexpected change. But the most heart-wrenching event of the day, was this. Being told by mom and dad that my beloved companion and friend, he who was always at my side as protector and guide, my dog, Sport, would not be able to make the transition and live in the city. “Sport is a farm dog.” They were giving Sport to another farm family down the road. I think we all sat around the table and cried. I'm kind of tearing up even now as I write this memory. Our country remembers December 7 as a day that will live in infamy, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Though that is a sacred date for our country to remember, for me, December 7 brings back a flood of other memories from my childhood. “Who will give me 500, 600 or more?’ A hand goes up; the gavel slams down. The auctioneer cries out, ‘Sold!” One day can change your life. When the gavel comes down and your time is up in this world, are you ready for the next world? Come to Jesus today! Love, Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 30, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius If ever I got up in the morning with nothing to do, I would be surprised. I think of retirement that way. There's nothing to do. I am reminded of the best retirement quote I've ever heard. I asked a friend, who had just retired, “How do you like retirement?” Hear his memorable reply. “I get up in the morning with nothing to do, and I go to bed at night with only half of it done.” One of my other friends, who had just retired, told me he was going south for the winter. I asked of him, “Where are you going?” To that he replied, “I'm tying a snow shovel to the front of my bumper. At the first place where someone asks of me, ‘What the heck is that?' that's where I'm stopping.” I wish I could remember all the memorable quotes I've heard over the years. Here are just a few that come to mind.
Always pray for wisdom. Solomon did, and God gave him not only wisdom, He gave him riches beyond measure. Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 23, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Here are a couple of things I've learned in life, usually the hard way at the School of Hard Knocks. Maybe some of the wisdom I share, just might save you some agony.
These are just a few of the things I've learned over my lifetime along with a thousand other things. Here's another one. Don't take the Lord's name in vain when you hit your thumb with your hammer. Just jump around and grit your teeth. Pain goes away. You know, when you think about it, God didn't intend for life to be so difficult. After all, He's the One Who started out with only ten commandments. It is man who has expanded the law to fill libraries. When it comes to living life, follow this bit of wisdom. “Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 16, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Have you ever dealt with dishonest people before? Like most of you, I have too. I pray that you didn't get snookered out of too much money before you caught on to the fact that you were being cheated. In the middle of the scam, it is as if you get into what looks like a seaworthy vessel, and once launched from shore, suddenly the boat begins to sink. The Righteous Brothers sang a song in 1964 entitled, You've Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’. Kind of the feeling you feel about now as the water in the boat rises above your ankles and you realize, he, who sold you this pipe dream you invested in, is not in the boat with you. Indeed, toward him, you've lost that lovin’ feeling. So how do you beat a crook? Here's the short answer. You can't. The best thing you can do with any crook is to just get away from him. Where you have scruples, he does not. Where you believe in truth, lies are his language of choice. In your honesty, there may be some naivety. In his dishonesty, he is more than willing to take advantage of your naivety and trust. You have this picture of a golden goose who lays a golden egg. He, who is dishonest, somehow paints a detailed picture with all your expectations. The only thing about the golden goose is that it is a dead duck. As far as the golden egg is concerned, it ends up on your face. Jesus told us about living among the dishonest and people of ill repute in Matthew 10:16. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” What does that mean? Because you are a Christian, you need to be wise in your dealings with people. I’ll tell you my shortened version of what that verse means to me, and that is, just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you have to be stupid. Always remember, if you have any money, somebody is always more than willing to take it from you. There is no golden goose. Also, there is no Santa Claus. In life, here's Who you can trust. Jesus! Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 9, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius I need to admit to you that I am getting older. I don't feel like it, but the calendar of time makes it hard to deny. Now some people can retire and fade into the sunset with grace and the mindset that they have paid their dues in the workforce. They are content to pursue their hobbies, watch television, and watch the world go by. There are days that I think that would be nice. Like I've told all of my friends over the years, I now must heed my own advice. “You can't just retire and do nothing. When you retire, you must retire to something.” But I don't have any hobbies. Watching television isn't very satisfying. However, I can, on occasion, put my mind in neutral and just watch the world go by. Armona says that my mind is in neutral most of the time. 😊There are days when “neutral” is good and satisfying. Recently, I had an occasion to meet with some younger pastors. During the course of the conversation, they asked if I had considered retirement and what was my succession plan for the church if I got hit by a bus. As they were asking this, I thought to myself, “I've got more wisdom, grit, tenacity, and determination in my old bones, than they have in their collective thumbs.” So, I tried to politely deflect the question toward them. “What's your succession plan if you get hit by a bus?” Who plans on getting hit by a bus anyway? Come to think about it, the tone of their questioning indeed raised my blood pressure. Maybe their questioning was a coup to give me a heart attack and force me into retirement. When am I going to retire from my life passion, sharing the gospel good news of Jesus Christ? The answer is…..drum roll please. I pray that even my tombstone is a witness to my testimony. Thinking ahead…Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 2, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius There once was an old man who lived alone in the woods far removed from anyone, cynical, crotchety, and to top it off, an unbeliever. Every Christmas Eve, the neighbor children would invite him to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Always the same answer, “Bah humbug… if there is a God, why would he become a man?” One Christmas Eve, after the neighboring children had once again been rejected, a snowstorm arose. As the old man heard the wind howling, there was a sudden thumping on the window of his house. As he peered through the frosted glass, he could see these cold sparrows flying into the glass of the window seeking shelter. Feeling sorry for them, he put on his coat and went outside, walked across the yard, and opened the barn door. He began to call them to come to the shelter of the barn. Of course, though safety was close by, the sparrows did not heed his call. Feeling sorry for these freezing sparrows, the old man then sprinkled some grain between the house and the barn hoping the sparrows would follow the trail of food to warmth and safety. They did not. In his frustration and trying to save the sparrows from the cold and certain death, the old man hollered out to the sparrows, “I wish I could become one of you! Maybe then you would listen to me and follow me to warmth and safety.” After spewing out these words in unfashionable love, suddenly, the old man realized that what he wanted to do, become one of them to save them because they would not listen, was exactly what Jesus did on Christmas. Jesus became a man so that man would listen and be saved. Deciding that he could not save the sparrows, the old man decided to save himself. How the neighboring children were surprised and delighted when the old man, who had consistently rejected their annual invitations, suddenly sat down beside them at the Christmas Eve service. How is it with your heart? Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 26, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Do you ever feel like you are not aging while the rest of the world is getting older? I look around and I see that many of my friends have gray hair. Those that do not, I am sure use some kind of “hide my gray” formula. Yep, no aging for me! Looking good Billy Ray, strong as a prize fighter, fast as lightning, fit and trim, no bulge around the middle, tack as a sharp, 😊 that would be me. Then suddenly, I awake from my dream. One of my older friends once told me when I was younger, “In the morning, it takes me a long time to put my toupee on, put my teeth in, and install my hearing aids.” At the time he told me this, all I could do was laugh at him. Now I understand that getting older does slow you down. Except for putting in my contacts, I have none of the additional hardware my friend had to deal with each and every morning. My friend continued by sharing, “Then after all that, I have to sit down and have a cigarette. Then it's time for my afternoon nap.” I don't smoke, but I sure understand having to sit down before I begin my morning, and have a cup of coffee to get me going. No more jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn, riding my bicycle eight miles, or running four. However, as I age, it does seem that I am often up to pray and worship with the Lord way before dawn. When I do rise early for that purpose, to be alone with the Lord, it is more gratifying and fulfilling than striving to be physically fit and in shape. So, now I am in a conundrum. Do I spend my hours trying to maintain my health and lengthen my life, when already Jesus has counted my days, or do I spend those hours in Bible study, prayer, and meditating upon the Lord? God only gave you so many heartbeats, why waste them on exercise? 😊 Which one should I choose, physical fitness, or alone time with Jesus. This is my decision. I choose that which has eternal value. However, I will also exercise because my body is God’s holy temple. Since I can do two things at once, I will at the same time I exercise, worship my God. The guardian knight in the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, told those who sought after the Holy Grail, to “choose wisely.” So, what is your choice when it comes to spending time with God? I pray you choose wisely, that which has eternal value. Blessings… Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 19, 2025
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Recently, someone asked me this question. “What is your earliest life memory?” I believe the first life memory that I can recall is that of building a two-step ladder to climb up into a tree during the summer I started elementary school. Then there are memories of kindergarten that come to mind as well. Among them are:
Everyone has what is called “first memories.” But maybe more important than “first memories” would be something that I call “last memories.” In other words, as I go to die, what will be my “last memory,” my last thought? I pray it is not fear, pain, or a mind of confusion that clouds my exit memory. It would be my hope that I would depart from this world with grace knowing that all glory lies just ahead. As I bid my final adieu to my family and friends, may my final words be of witness to Jesus. That would be a good “last memory” to tell Jesus when I see Him face to face. “I witnessed to Your love, right up to the end.” What do you want your “last memory” to be? I pray for you, that it might be of Jesus. Thinking ahead…Pastor Allan ©2025 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved |
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