Pastor Allan's Blog

Have you ever thought about lost opportunities?  Things that present themselves to you and at the moment you turn it down, ignore it, or walk away from it.  Something presents itself and later you think, “if only….”
 
Here are just a few of my own personal financial lost opportunities:

• Using my Mickey Mantle baseball cards as “clackers” on my bicycle spokes;
• Spending silver dollar coins and not saving them;
• Turning down an investment opportunity that eventually would have been a gold mine.  Grrr…

Then there are more tragic lost relationship opportunities:

• Waiting until I was 55 to tell my Dad, “I love you.”
• Waiting too long to say, “I’m sorry” even when I didn’t have anything to apologize for;
• Failing to witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ because I lacked courage.

Often opportunities present themselves only once.  All too often we need to instantaneously make a decision to do something with it.  There will be times when we choose poorly.  It’s just part of our human condition.
 
In the world today, how do we know what to do with things and relationships that present themselves?  Here’s my advice---pray for wisdom!
 
Love you all,
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

When I owned my C.P.A. firm, people would ask, “When are you going to retire?”  I always had a standing answer for them.  “All my clients are my friends.  If I retire, I won’t have any friends.” J
 
As you know, I eventually changed careers and now I Pastor a whole group of new friends—more like family than friends.  With that career change, people now ask, “What’s the difference between being a C.P.A. and a Pastor?”  Again, I have a standing answer at the ready.  “When I was a C.P.A. and did your tax return, I would have to do it again next year.  As a Pastor, what I do today lasts forever.”
 
Yes, life is all about changes.  If you’re reading this reflection there still awaits one big change for all of us.  In anticipation of that big change, you and I need to wonder about the legacy we will leave behind.  Or, when life is over, and we are no longer here, will our life be as though you take your hand out of a bucket of water?  There is no hole.  Will anyone even know you were here?
 
To all my past friend, current friends, and future friends, this is the legacy I leave with you.  Believe in Jesus and our friendship will never ever end.
 
Just because…I love you all,
 
Pastor Allan   
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Maybe I’ve told you this story before, but if I have it bears repeating.
 
Armona’s Dad was a truck driver and hauled grain and livestock.  One day he was hauling a load of pigs and, at that time, you had to not only weigh them at the stock yard but each pig had to be counted to provide that information as well.  So, he called his friend, Fred to count the pigs as they, one by one, ran up the chute and into the trailer.
 
Of course, Fred was more than willing to help.  Stand and just count sounded pretty easy.  Kind of like a real cowboy who sits in the middle of the seat in an old pickup.  Don’t have to drive….don’t have to get out to open the gate….perfect job! J
 
Everything was in place and the pigs began to file by Fred for him to count.  “One, two, three, four, five, there goes one, there goes one, there goes one.”  What nobody knew was that Fred could only count to five. J
 
When the hog dust had cleared and all safely loaded into the truck, Armona’s Dad asked Fred, “Well, how many hogs did we load up?”  Fred’s simple answer was, “Well, I know there were at least five.”
 
What’s the moral to this story?  God gives us all a purpose in our lives.  Fred’s purpose was not to count, but he provided wonderful memories with his personality. 
 
What’s YOUR purpose?
 
 
Blessings this day,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

When I was eleven years old, I delivered the early morning newspaper.  Of course, I would always read the paper somewhere along my route after the sun came up.  One of the continuing stories I read about and has remained in my memory, is the capture and trial of a Nazi SS soldier named Adolf Eichmann.
 
Eichmann, along with Hitler engineered what Germany called the Final Solution.  It was a Nazi plan for genocide, the extermination of the Jews.  The details of Eichmann’s trial chill me to the bone.  How can such evil be manifested by one man against another?
 
Hitler and his henchmen were not the first in history to try to exterminate the Jews.  Ancient history teaches us in Exodus 1:22 that Pharaoh ordered all the Jewish newborn boys to be thrown into the Nile River.  In the Book of Esther, Haman gave the order in Esther 3:13, “….to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children…”
 
So why is there such anti-Semitism that runs throughout history?  In case you don’t know, the devil is at war with God.  He has been ever since he said, “I want to be God.”  As you know, Jesus was born in the line of Judah, a Jew.  Now in war, if you can strike a pre-emptive blow, often you gain the victory.  If all the Jews are dead, then Jesus could never have been born.  We all know that after every strike there remains a faithful remnant.
 
Those seeds of hate carry on from one generation to the next.  But what does God promise to people who stand with the Jews?  From Genesis 12:3, hear God’s covenant.  “I will bless those who bless you (Israel), and whoever curses you I will curse.”
 
So, to all my Jewish friends out there, from me to you, “God bless and sustain you!”
 
Shalom,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

September 16, 2018

When I was ten or so, my Grandpa bought a pair of white rabbits for me.  At that age, I didn’t know that two rabbits would turn into eight, eight rabbits would then turn into thirty two---well, you get the drift.  As a young boy, I was in rabbit heaven.  A new friend every day.  Maybe more like a whole lot of new friends every day!
 
The designated brooder house (that would be the chicken house for you city-slickers) became the designated rabbit house.  Over a hundred white rabbits chewing on the wall of their house meant that I needed to line the walls with chicken wire, or in this case rabbit wire.  These guys were a lot of work for one little boy.
 
One night, there was what I call the “great escape.”  At the rooster’s crow, I looked out my bedroom window at the crack of dawn.  There on the yard were lots and lots of white rabbits.  I gathered up those that I could outrun.  For a while, my herd was smaller, but not for long.  For a while too, there were no skinny foxes around. J
 
Then one cold November day, while Dad was picking corn, Mom said, “Let’s have rabbit for supper.”  At my tender age, I already knew about the circle of life.  For one of my beloved bunnies (notice that suddenly they are not just rabbits) the circle was about to close.  I’ll spare you the details of the long walk to the bunny house, from there to the barn, and back to the house with the finished product.  Oh, my Mom did all the in-between part.  I remember that she cried as the bunny’s circle closed.
 
That night, at the table, not one of us could eat what was prepared for us.
 
Well, not too long after that, we moved to town.  The bunnies had to go.  A man came to the bunny house, loaded up those cute little fluffy guys, and handed me one dollar for each bunny.  I remember taking $126.00 to the bank.  An entrepreneur was born!
 
From two to one hundred and twenty six in a relatively short time frame.  Why am I telling you this?  Because it’s part of my story!
 
Oh, by the way….JESUS is my whole story!!

Love and blessings….Pastor Allan

© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

September 9, 2018

This week marks an historic event in most of our lives, the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  All of us remember exactly where we were, what we were doing when we first heard of the attack on our country.  When the day was over, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives.
 
It seems every generation experiences historical tragic days that they remember.  For us baby boomers, it was the assassination of President Kennedy, the Challenger explosion, and of course September 11, 2001.
 
Particularly September 11 begs the question, “Why?”  Some think that maybe it was God’s vengeance that fell upon those in the Twin Towers that day.  In Luke 13, the tower of Siloam collapsed killing eighteen people.  If you read that text, Jesus refutes the “God’s vengeance” theory by answering, “Do you think they (the eighteen) were more guilty than all the others?  I tell you, no!”  You know, sometimes bad things happen to good people---just a fact of life.
 
Here’s another thought for you.  God knew all the people that were saved that day and perished.  He also knew those who died and were not saved and would forever reject Him.
 
What’s the moral of this?  Paul teaches us that, “Today is the day of Salvation.”
 
Oh yes, there is one other day we baby boomers remember.  It was the day the Berlin Wall was dismantled.  I watched as people cheered, laughed, and cried as the wall came down.  I cheered, laughed, and cried with them.
 
In all things----God is GOOD!
 
Love ya all like there is no tomorrow!
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

This week the funniest thing happened to Armona and me….go figure!! J  We usually have very humorous events happen very frequently but then laughter and joy are one of God’s greatest gifts.
 
We walked out together from church and each of us---at the same time—unlocked our cars.  I walked to her car and got in.  She walked to my car and got in.  Realizing that our keys wouldn’t work, we looked at each other and just started laughing.
 
Laughter is good for the soul.  It makes you feel better too.  Unless you do what we did.  Then, you need to question your sanity! J
 
How could we do that?  Her car is black.  My car is white!
 
Don’t even ask about changing our answering machine’s message as I attempted to make a new “recording.”  That’s a whole other story but extremely entertaining.
 
And then there’s the one about attempting to open the sun roof in my car---by the way, Armona typed the last two paragraphs and she’s still laughing!! J
 
I’m glad Jesus throws a little humor in my life every once in a while. 
 
Laughing and loving it!! J
 
Love in Christ,
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

‘Tis the season—oh for sure it’s not Christmas time yet, but there are, if you want to know, 121 shopping days left until then.  No, the season I’m talking about is the beginning of another school year.
 
For me, I don’t remember too many early childhood “first-day-of-school” memories.  But I do remember not liking school at all.
 
My Dad once shared his “first-day-of-school” memory.  After riding his horse to school, the teachers sent him home.  Why?  He couldn’t speak or understand a word of English.  You see, his parents were immigrants from Germany.  So, at home, Dad and his parents spoke German.  I’m pretty sure the language of the house quickly moved from German to English after that first day of school.
 
I’m not an educator, but I know in today’s world, Dad would have had an English Second Language teacher to accommodate him.  That was unheard of back then, so he learned English at home.
 
I still remember Mom and Dad and both sets of grandparents often speaking more German than English.  I always thought they were speaking German to keep secrets from me.  Now today, I hear many foreigners speaking their native language, and I think, when I hear them, the same thing. J  Also, I think to myself that my ancestors learned English when they came to America, why shouldn’t everyone else?
 
But you know what?  I better get used to foreign languages because the Bible describes the people who will be in heaven with me.  From Revelations 7:9, “After this, I saw a vast crowd, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.”  Yes, it’s going to a be diverse and colorful crowd.
 
Looking forward to that first day in heaven.
 
Love you,
 
Pastor Allan
P.S.  If you aren’t looking forward to the first day of school….I understand! J
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Some things just don’t make sense.  Here are some of my thoughts:

• It rains on your day off.   The days you work—well, the weather is beautiful.  How does that happen?
• When you are young, you have no money.  Yet the aged, who seem to have plenty of money, get all the discounts;
• As a youth, you think you will sleep late when you retire.  Then when you finally do retire, you’re up at the crack of dawn;
• The slow car in front of me seems to be following me.  Why does he have to turn right when I want to go right and left when I want to turn left?  He’s following me but I’m behind him….how does that happen?
• People pay good money to put their life at risk, just for the thrill of it;
• You go on vacation to rest and when you return, you’re more tired that when you left;
• We go outside to get some sun, then we smear sun tan lotion on to keep the sun off;
• Here’s another outside wonderment.  You go out to get a little fresh air and it smells like a hog lot;
• People buy an expensive recreational vehicle to go camping and get away from the crowded city.  Look at any campground and ask yourself, “Is that secluded living?”

Oh, the list could go on and on.  But, there is one more paradox for me to share.  It comes from Jesus words in Matthew 10:39.  “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
 
Have you found yours yet?  Live your life for Jesus…now that makes sense!
Love,
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

We’ve all heard the age old saying, “The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.”  All of us seem to grasp the wisdom of that proverb.
 
This week, I’ve been pondering exactly when I put away my little toys.  It’s as though there is a magic invisible door we all must crawl through.  On one side of the door is the life of a carefree little child and on the other side, a grown up with all the stuff that goes along with being an adult.
 
Here’s the problem with growing up and going through that door.  You can’t go back.  It’s as if you’re skinny going through but fat trying to go back through that same narrow door.  Maybe that’s what Paul means in 1st Corinthians 13:11.  “When I was a child I spoke and thought like a child.  But when I became a man, my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away my childish things.”
 
So does that mean I can’t play with my grandson’s Hot Wheels on Friday night anymore?  Oh well, I’ll just go to the races.  See what I mean by the price of the toys?
 
In my growing up, I think my Dad pulled me through that skinny on one side, fat on the other side, door.  One day at age thirteen, I was playing in the sandbox.  My Dad said that I was too old to be doing such childish things.  The next week, I had thirty-two lawns to mow and an early morning paper route.  No going back for me.
 
You know, as I think about it, over my life time, I’ve come through many doors wishing I had never pushed on them to see if they would open.  Then again, had I never pushed on any door, I’d still be in the sandbox.
 
Here’s another door you can’t go back through once you enter through it---the door to heaven!  The one place that, once you are there, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
 
Love you,
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Last month, my three sisters with their families and our family met for a “family reunion.”  Actually, I had three sisters, one died, and her husband remarried.  His new wife is a wonderful Christian lady and I have adopted her as a sister.  We love that she is a very beautiful part of our family!
 
We were to meet in Estes Park, Colorado but as we Iowans were standing on the side of the road in Rocky Mountain National Park taking in the scenery, suddenly a car roared up beside us with screaming people hollering, “Hawkeyes!  Hello, Iowa!”  What are the odds that we would see family within minutes of our arrival?
 
So lately, I’ve been reliving cherished family memories, or at least trying to.  How I wish I had kept a diary to record those special moments of times gone by.  Now reaching back into my memory is like reaching into the fog and grabbing a hold of something that just happened to be passing by.  Truth be known, these Reflections are really my personal diary that I share in a public forum.
 
Here is one of those family moments I so remember.  It involved my Dad and I as together we attended a Promise Keeper event in Des Moines, Iowa.  The preacher made an “altar call.”  Being the evangelist I am, I said to Dad, “Do you want to go down?  I’ll go with you.”  I was pretty sure, but not 100% certain of my Dad’s salvation.  This was his typical, don’t waste any words, two word reply, “I’m O.K.”  “I’m O.K.” have become cherished words in my memory.
 
If you have a loved one about whose salvation you are uncertain, ask the question!  Who knows but that you have not been born for just that moment?  You could make the difference between eternal life or death for the one you love.
 
I’m O.K.----are you?
Love in Him,
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

So here I am walking around in a life size, Biblical proportion, honest to goodness, Noah’s Ark.  It’s one and one-half football fields long and seven stories high.  It wouldn’t fit in either Kinnick Stadium or the other football stadiums in the State.
 
Here’s some interesting facts about the Ark that, though not in the Bible, just make sense:
 

• Noah captured rain water on the deck of the Ark, stored it in water towers, and distributed it throughout the boat with hollow wooden tubes;
• The animals that boarded the boat were probably juveniles.  After all, they all stayed on the Ark for a very long time;
• Not only was there probably a waste disposal system, but there had to be a system to get fresh air into the boat.  Upwards of 38,000 animals all in one place probably didn’t smell too pretty;
• Noah had to be an agronomist, shipbuilder, and so many other things.  But the most important trait Noah possessed was this.  He loved the Lord and obeyed Him.

Oh, one other thing on the Ark that surprised me.  There was a gift shop and they served great coffee and a wonderful cookie (that Armona made me split with her.) J  Come on people---Noah had to take a break once in a while!! J
 
Noah’s Ark in Kentucky.  If you’re there, don’t miss it!
 
Love,
 Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

What an amazing week! In the pulpit preaching on Sunday and in Knoxville, TN by Monday to participate in the Covenant’s tri-annual CHIC (Covenanters High in Christ).  It is a gathering of some 5,000+ Covenant High School youth from around the country.
 
Just in case you think today’s youth are lost to the world, I’m here to tell you that I worshipped with the remnant about which God speaks.  In this case, the remnant is our youth.  Watch out world, because they are charged and ready to be a light unto the world.
 
During my time with them, I learned that many of them understand the prayer, “Break my heart, oh God, for things that break your heart.”  The whole conference theme was all about, “Unite.”  All of us are God’s people united in His Kingdom.  All of us are created in His image, from the refugees, to those trapped in human trafficking, to poverty and oppression.  Of course, there was an interactive encounter with Covenant Kids Congo (a passion of my own heart), but what took me by surprise was the extraordinary compassion and interest the kids had for human trafficking.
 
Not only did these young people experientially learn Biblical truths, they taught me something new about worship.  It’s called Hip-Hop.  Yep, I even got caught up in the dance---but only for a moment.  J  But then again, it was the ancient teaching of the Bible that moved many to commit their lives to Jesus for the very first time.
 
Jesus, what a beautiful name it is!  He can move mountains and the hearts of the young.  God is doing something new in them….and in me.  Is He moving in your life?  If not, I don’t think the problem is with God…..
 
In His Love,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Normally we all think of rubber as being soft and pliable….maybe even a little spongy.  So, it would make sense that, as a little boy growing up on the farm, thinking that the tires on the hayrack would be soft.  How often did I stand there as Dad slowly drove by with the tractor and wondered to myself, “If I quickly put my foot under the tire of the hayrack he was pulling, I could easily test out my theory.”  Now in my older years, I realize the flaw in my theory. 
 
Often it was my job to throw hay bales down from the hay-mow.  Just like thinking rubber tires over my foot wouldn’t hurt, so I thought jumping twenty feet onto the hay wouldn’t hurt either—more flawed thinking!
 
Fortunately, I didn’t put my foot under the rubber tire nor did I jump from the hay-mow.  Oh yes, there was plenty of other stupid stuff I did as a youth.  But, by God’s grace, I survived my own thoughts! J
 
Today, I know that even a lot of adults use flawed thinking.  Esau gave away his inheritance to Jacob for a bowl of soup.  He said he was “starving.”  He used flawed thinking because he was only hungry, not starving.
 
Flawed thinking leads people to reject Christ.  Put on your straight thinking hat and accept Jesus’ invitation to come to Him today.  I need to tell you something.  Tomorrow may never come…..
 
Love you all,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Why are there harmless things from your youth that haunt you the rest of your life?  I’ve told you of the Jurassic Park movie I went to in 1959.  Those movie dinosaurs went home with me and tormented me for over forty years.  Here’s a secret I haven’t shared before.
 
While attending grade school in Britt, Iowa (yes, along with being a Titonka Indian, I am also a Britt hobo) we were required to take swimming lessons in lieu of P.E. or gym.  Why would a school have a swimming pool in those early years?
 
You’re probably thinking, “Oh, that’s a great idea for the elementary school to teach kids how to swim.”  Now, I’m not going to disagree with that thought, but there was a problem with this particular swimming pool.  It had the biggest grate over the drain that you’ve ever seen.  Let me describe it for you.
 
Of course, the drain was in the deep end of the pool.  That alone is scary enough if you’re a beginner at swimming.  In my imagination, the grate covering the drain was at least four feet in circumference.  Big enough to swallow a skinny ten year old boy in one Jonah sized gulp.  The only difference was that this humongous drain would never spit you out.  It took a long time to let go of the side of the pool and sprint to the other side.  I see it even now.  The drain smiling as its next victim swam overhead.
 
Not only have I fought off the dinosaur demon and the drain that smiles, there was also a tiger who lived in the cottonwood tree under which I walked every night in order to shut the barn door.  Imaginative childhood memories that have shaped who I am.  Now you know what’s wrong with me! J
 
There is One Who does not live in my imagination.  He is my refuge and strength.  He rescues me even from myself.  His Name is Jesus!!
 
Loving God and praying you do too!!
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

Every once in a while, I wonder if these Reflections are speaking to anyone.  So sometimes, I get discouraged.  But, often something unexpected happens to encourage me.  It’s as if God brings up a breeze to put wind in my sails.
 
This past week, I got a call from a man in California to whom I mail the weekly Reflection and Sermon!  He is a friend who has a storied past.  In years gone by, he played drums in the orchestra at the once famous Copa Cabana in New York City.  He was friends with Jimmy Durante, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and other well-known entertainers of that time.  That’s why I always ask a new acquaintance, “Tell me about yourself.”  You sometimes hear nuggets of interesting things.  (Thanks, Tom, for being my friend and sharing your story!)
 
Tom called just to tell me how much my reflections and sermons mean to him.  He went on to say that he looks for them in his mail box every week and they touch his heart.
 
Just when I think “what’s the point” of writing these, at the point of despair, God sends a message, “Keep going, keep writing” all from a friend 1,500 miles away.  Thanks God, I needed that!
 
I think that often we have a “just in time God.”  Just in time, He parted the Red Sea.  Just in time, God sent a great fish to deliver Jonah.  Just in time, God saved Isaac from death.  Galatians 4:4 tells us that Jesus was born “in the fullness of time.”  My interpretation is that Jesus was born just in time.  Just in time, God had my friend, Tom call me.
 
If you’re waiting on God for something, don’t get discouraged.  Just in time…..He will show up!
 
Praying for all of you,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

When I was a boy, I loved to fly kites.  I think my Dad must have too.  He was always buying string so the kite could go higher.  Once, I know, there was over a mile of string.  Even though one of my favorite songs is “Over the Rainbow,” I could never get the kite high enough to fly over the rainbow where blue birds fly.  Instead of going up higher with more string, the kite just went out further.
 
Once I had two kites.  After the first kite was airborne, I tied its string to a fence post.  With the second kite, I was the Ace German fighter pilot, the Red Baron of World War I fame.  Only problem was that when you collide two kites in mid-air, they both crash to the ground.  Like the Red Baron, that season of life was short-lived.  A pilot once told me, “there may be bold pilots, but there are no OLD bold pilots.”  Same applies to the survival rate of dueling kites.
 
Here’s something I learned about life from my kite flying experiences.  If the string to which the kite is attached breaks, it crashes to the ground.  So, even if you’re flying high and far, if you’re not attached to Jesus, eventually you’re going to crash.
 
Going it alone without the Lord in your life is a very bad idea.  Oh, the view might be great, the flight exhilarating….but without Jesus, the ground comes up pretty fast.
 
You want a safe landing?  Tie yourself to Jesus!!
 
Keep looking up---Jesus will soon be here!!
 
Love you all,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

This week, as school ends and summer vacations begin, I’m thinking of my boyhood summer days.  How I pine for those carefree days now.

One of my memories, is going to Vacation Bible School.  We lived on a farm and the church was a little over a mile away.  Mom packed my lunch, drove me to the church, dropped me off, and there I was not knowing anyone.

I’m certain my teachers had to tell me to pay attention more than once, but I know I learned about Jesus and His unwavering love for me.  That experience and so many other Jesus encounters made Him part of my DNA.  Maybe it would be better said, that I became part of His DNA.  After all, I am a son of the Most High God!

At VBS, I not only learned about Jesus, it was there I gave my first sermon.  At the end of the week, there was a parent program and I recited Psalm 23.
During recess, I learned how to play work-up softball.  Usually, I didn’t work-up. J  Most of my time was spent in the lonely right field.  That didn’t bother me, because soon the day would be over and I would be able to walk home.

Now if you’re a nine year old boy, walking over a mile along a gravel road to get home is no big deal.  As a matter of fact, it was fun.  Once in a while, I would scare up a pheasant, pick pink wild roses for my Mom, and even collect tadpoles in the Tupperware bowl that once held my sandwich.  It’s a wonder I didn’t drown in the road ditch!

When I got home, the roses went to Mom and the tadpoles to the cow water tank.  There I would, day by day, watch them change from who they were to who they would become….a frog.  The process was fascinating to a little boy.  I even had the foresight to float a 2x4 in the water for the frogs to get on and eventually jump over the side of the tank to freedom.

Life is like those little tadpoles.  It is always changing.  Who are you changing into….a son or a daughter of the Most High God?
 
Just wondering….
 
Blessings,
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

At the cemetery, as they were burying my sister in 2010, my two year old nephew (her son) asked his Daddy, “Daddy, can we take the green truck and drive to heaven to visit Mommy?”
 
Recently, one of our friends died.  His name was Matt.  We had gone to the funeral and our son picked up our youngest grandson from school.  Our grandson wondered where we were and our son explained that we had gone to the funeral of one of our friends.   After our grandson had thought this through with the innocence and wisdom of a six year old, listen to their conversation.
 
Our grandson asked, “Could I have Matt’s cell phone number?”  To which our son replied, “Why do you want Matt’s cell phone number?”  Here was his answer.  It so touched my heart and I know it will move yours’ as well.  “I want to call him to be sure he got to heaven O.K.”
 
In both my nephew and my grandson, I hear the voice of Jesus.  I hear the voice of hope in death.  No wonder Jesus challenges us to have a child-like faith. 
 
With a tear in my eye, I remain…..
 
Pastor Allan
© 2018 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved

When I was in practice as a C.P.A., guess what the most asked question might have been?  If you guessed, “How much tax can you save me?” you would be wrong.  The most likely question asked of me was, “Where can I invest my money?”
 
Did you know that the Bible gives advice about both of those questions?  Regarding taxes, Jesus said in Mark 12:17, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Then in Proverbs 22:7, this advice is given about investing.  “Neither a borrower or a lender be.”
 
Now in my life experience, I’ve learned this about paying tax.  If you’re not paying tax, you’re not making any money.  Pretty straight-forward thinking….I think.
 
About “neither a borrower or lender be,” I know this.  It has been my observation that those who generally make the most money have the nicest buildings.  Look around and notice that banks always have the nicest, newest buildings.  So if you are a borrower, the bank should send you a “thank-you.”  Instead, they send you a “payment due” notice.
 
If you are a lender, beware of this pitfall.  Loaning money to family or friends sometimes causes amnesia. J
 
What should you do with your money?  This is what God says in Malachi 3:10.  “Bring all the tithes (10%) into the Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out such a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in.”
 
Can’t give you any better financial advice than what God already has done!!
 
Blessings,
 
Pastor Allan
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