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December 1, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius I've always been fascinated by explorers who look for hidden treasure. I often imagine myself finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But like so many other adventure explorers, I think I’m close, and then suddenly, I'm not. Here's an example. Once upon a time, I made an investment in a manufacturing company. Often, Armona would ask, when thinking of that investment, “Has our ship come in yet?” This was my standard reply. “That ship is so far out in the horizon, I can’t tell if it's coming in or going out.” As a 7th and 8th grader, I remember reading about 16th century Spanish explorers in search of gold. But one man captured my attention more than the others. His name was Ponce de Leon. The treasure he sought after was not gold or treasure, but what he called, The Fountain of Youth. Now that guy had imagination! He chased after a dream. There needs to be more people like him. Although, I could have told him that had he followed Jesus, he would be forever young in heaven. Speaking of heaven, that is the one treasure worth more than gold and silver. Men seek after heaven. Unfortunately, some search with skepticism and doubt. Yuri Gregorian, the first Russian cosmonaut, while in space, is purported to have said this. “I looked and looked, but I did not see God.” He looked for the treasure of heaven, but did not see it. The Hubble telescope today peers into deep space. What does it see? It transmits to us beautiful pictures of our Galaxy. But alas, there has been no picture of heaven. John reports for us his sighting of heaven in Revelation 23:10. He describes it as, “... that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” Astronauts and cosmonauts may not see heaven in space. The Hubble telescope may not capture a picture of heaven. But know this. Just because it cannot be seen, doesn't mean that it is not there. Could it be that some search in far off places, when in fact, heaven is as close as their own heart? I've stopped looking for the treasure of heaven. I already found it. Where was it? The answer is simple. Find Jesus and you have found heaven. Your favorite treasure hunter, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved
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November 24, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Sometimes I wish I could paint with words, ever so delicately, the pictures I see in my mind. Let me give it a try. I stand in a lush meadow, a valley of beautiful wildflowers with all the colors of the rainbow. This river of beauty flows through the valley, softly turning, even as a river makes a gentle bend. Not even Solomon, in all his glory, was adorned in such indescribable beauty. At the valley edge, mountains of grandeur arise as if to stand guard and protect that which they gaze down upon with each morning sunrise. My gaze is directed upward to the mountains. I see a wisp of clouds, ever so delicately, covering the peaks. Even within the mountains there are hidden treasures, a mountain stream, a lake with water, clear as crystal, a thousand diamonds dancing across the surface. A soft gentle breeze brings the fragrance of soft flowers and whispering pines. It is here, I want to spend my days. Suddenly, in the distance, in the prairie grass I see a black horse, a steed of beauty with its mane flowing in the wind. For days I follow closely behind this proud animal, each day a little closer. On the third day, as I draw close, and we gaze intently at each other, I slowly turn and walk away. The one who, up until now was leading me, now follows behind. I have won him over and gained his trust. A loyal friend for years to come. Here's another vision I will describe. In the narrow streets of an ancient town, in chains, and with scorn and spite I was being dragged. The crowd of devils that surround me, put an altar of death on my shoulder, upon which I will soon die. The shame, the pain, the fear of what is to come is beyond imagination. Suddenly, the procession stops. A man, they said his name was Jesus, steps forward, and with love in his voice, says to me, “Let Me endure the shame, bear the pain, be the sacrifice, experience the death to which you have been sentenced.” My shackles fell off, my pain was no more, the demonic crowd around now hisses at Him, not me. I watch what happens next. Now I cry. Sometimes what I see in my mind is not always sugar plums. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 17, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius Armona tells me that I know more useless information than anyone she knows. For instance, did you know that Europeans drive on the left side of the road because of the medieval sport, jousting? I know you're already thinking with some bewilderment, “huh?” Most people are right-handed. So too, it was with jousters. They held their lance in their right hand and as they charged toward each other, each jouster would be on the left side of the rail. Consequently, driving on the left side of the road in Europe is a part of their heritage from the sport of jousting. One day, while driving to Colorado, we turned south off the Interstate in the middle of Nebraska. I kind of wanted to take a nap while Armona was driving. She asked of me, “If you're sleeping, how will I know when to turn?” This was my reply, “Drive until you go up a steep hill and then down the hill. At the bottom there will be a stop sign. Then, just turn right.” As I was dozing, this is what I heard, “How in the world did he know that?” See what I mean about knowing a lot of useless information? I often tell people; I know a little bit about a whole lot of things. That kind of knowledge has served me well over the years. However, there is one thing I wish I knew more about. What is that? Wisdom and understanding of the word of God, the Holy Bible. Whenever I read and study my Bible it is as though, the more I know, the more I want to know. Retaining in my brain and putting what I read in the Bible in the well of my heart, has served me better than anything else I know. There is nothing that is useless or irrelevant about the holy words contained in the Bible. Trust me, what you read from the Bible is trustworthy and true. It will serve you well. Staying humble in the little bit of wisdom and knowledge I do have. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 10, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius OK, I did it! I broke my own cardinal rule, the advice I give everyone. What is that rule? Always stay vertical! One of my cardio exercises is pickleball. Over time I've come to look forward to daily play for my exercise. Not that I'm an accomplished player, but I enjoy the competition and camaraderie with fellow players. Through pickleball I have met a whole new cadre of friends that were not in my orbit before I picked up a paddle. Each one now a precious friend. October 22, 2024, is a day that will live in infamy in my life. It was the day I sustained my first broken bone after 75 long years. As I was playing, I backed up to take a swing at the ball. That's another cardinal rule of mine that I must have momentarily forgotten. Never back up. Somehow, during the play, my feet got tangled up, and down I went, breaking my wrist and twisting my back. Ouch! So, what have I learned from this ordeal? What kind of advice can I give to you because of all of this? If you have cardinal rules to follow in your life for keeping you healthy, do not violate them! One moment of neglect is a second in time you wish you could have back. Let me give you three cardinal rules of life for you to follow. They are:
You may laugh at #3, but think about this. When you die and expect the elevator to carry you to heaven, do you not expect there to be a floor to step on to? If there is not, the fall only leads you to the abyss. Jesus is that assurance to carry you to heaven! Lovin’ Jesus, even though I’m boogered up a little, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved November 3, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius In the musical, The Wizard of Oz, the yellow brick road led right to the doorstep of Oz. As I thought about that, as I travel life’s path, there are many roads. I wonder where they lead. For instance, I recently saw a sign for Red Lion Road. What do you suppose lays at its end? Certainly not a lion….😊 Sometimes, don’t you want to take a road, just to see where it ends up? Whenever I go on one of those adventures off the beaten path, the road usually turns from blacktop to gravel. Oh great! Now I need to listen to Armona tell me, as her Mom, ever so kindly, told her Dad one day when he got lost. “Well, now you’ve gone another fifty bull-headed miles out of the way.” I like roads with names instead of numbers. Numbers are so non-descript, so impersonal. Roads with names are so much more memorable. Here’s a for instance. In Ayrshire, Iowa, there was a sign that said, “Highway to Heaven,” certainly, a memorable name. The problem with that name was the people kept stealing the sign. Isn’t that an oxymoron? A thief steals a sign that says, “Highway to Heaven.” Seems to me that his actions just made that sign into false advertising. His theft isn’t going to lead him to Heaven at all. In Lake City, Iowa, believe it or not, there is a street sign with this name on it, “Al Redenius Street.” No, it’s not me for whom the street is named, but I do have a picture of it. There are other road names that cause me to wonder. Here’s one, Painters Road. I took a hard look down that road and didn’t see a one. Here is another, Happy Canyon Road. At times, I’m a grumpy old man. Maybe I should take that turn off to Happy Canyon Road. Maybe it will improve my disposition! But of all the roads, this is the one that is most important. The narrow path that leads to Jesus. If you’re not on it, don’t miss the turn. All other roads lead to nowhere…. Which road are you on? Love in Christ, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 27, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius There are people I’ve met in my now hometown of Fort Dodge, Iowa that have so impressed my life. Here are just a few: Walt Stevens—Editor of the Fort Dodge Messenger for so many years. Always objective, always insightful in his reporting of local news. On one occasion at a community event, he asked of me, “Look at all the grey hair here. Who is going to attend these events in ten or fifteen years?” Well Walt, I think I’ve found the answer. People who were once not grey, are grey now and attend these community events. Dr. Clarence Tompkins—A humble Methodist preacher who had a vision for a place where the elderly could retire and live out their days in dignity. Literally, pennies at a time, he raised money to see his dream come true. He once told me, after the first residential building was completed at Friendship Haven, no one lived there. The people of Fort Dodge thought he was crazy and soon would be broke. Do you know what that man of humility did? This is what he told me, “Though the building was empty, at night I turned on all the lights. That way as people drove by, they would think the place was full.” His strategy worked. Soon people were lined up to move in. Roger Natte—A well-known local historian of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He knew so much history about Fort Dodge, it made you proud to be a Dodger. I told him once, the high school should offer a Fort Dodge History Class. If young people knew the proud history of their hometown, fewer of them would want to leave Fort Dodge. I could go on with my list, Dr. Bill Ryan, H.C. Kirkberg, Herb Bennett, and others of local notoriety. Each one of them adding just a little to my appreciation of Fort Dodge, Iowa. When Nathaniel was told that Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth, he asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” We all know that Jesus changed the world. Can anything good come out of Fort Dodge? All you need to do is open your eyes. There are flowers blooming all around! Hoping to be one of them…. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 20, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius A conversation with God begins with dancing bears in my memory from long ago. Where did they come from? Where did they go? An era, when all was idyllic, all was well. A time when the mind could think such thoughts as the eye watched clouds casually float by. There they are! Dancing bears in the clouds up high! Do you see them? Look ever so quickly! Soon the wind will move them on. Ah…for a time of peaceful bliss, clouds in the sky, a gentle breeze, and I even imagine God’s whisper in my ear. “What are You saying Lord? …. Yes, we need this time together more often.” “But God, I’m so busy, and yet, YOU manage the whole universe. You do all that and still have time for me? Amazing. To think, I’m the one telling You, ‘I’m too busy to spend time with the Master of all things, seen and unseen. What’s wrong with me? Please don’t answer that.” “But it is as though I hear You say, ‘Nothing is wrong with you. You are My child, a child of God the Father.’ Oh Father, You truly are amazing in so many ways.” When I think of all my sins, like Isaiah 1:18 says, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool,” I scarce can take that in. “I am so happy and so glad You are my loving Father. We need to have this alone time more often. I know, I know. Your schedule is always open. I’m the one that can’t seem to find the time.” “When I do come, will You again show me the dancing bears, provide the gentle breeze, and let me feel Your presence once again? I know You will. Thanks for this alone time together.” “Love You, Jesus…good talk!” Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 13, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius Here’s a regret in my life. I wish I had made more friends throughout my life. Now that I’m getting older, some of my friends are beginning to die off. It’s a fact of life I’ve been grappling with. So, the fact of the matter is, either get new replacement friends, or live with fewer friends. Mankind is a social animal and being part of the species, I need friends. Don’t get me wrong. I cherish my alone time, when my brain is in full neutral with no noise of interruption to distract my enjoyment of nothingness. (Is that a word?) But occasionally, a friend is good to have around to kick you once in a while. Just to make certain you’re alive. Here’s how I roll. You’re my friend until you prove otherwise. Don’t lecture me about forgiveness. I’m the most forgiving person I know. But if the donkey kicks me the first time, it’s the donkey’s fault. If he kicks me the second time, it’s my fault. I learned that in the cow barn, when Dad was milking cows. I always gave those big girls a wide berth when walking behind them. There were two reasons for the grace of the wide berth. Number one, so you didn’t get kicked. Number two, well, let’s just say it’s not wise to stand behind any animal, besides the fear of getting kicked. 😊 How do you make friends? First of all, know their name. People like to hear their name in a sentence. “Well, George, it’s so good to meet you…” Ask about their family. People like to tell others about their family. Pretty soon, you’ve got a good conversation going. Try it. You just might make a new friend. Sometimes, I’m a little more direct. Maybe it’s the evangelist in me. “Hi. What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?” “Where do you go to church?” Don’t be a stranger, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved October 6, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius Things I learned around the barn:
I learned a lot of things around the barn. Most of which are no longer useful. But this one thing I am still very cautious about. Walking under cottonwood trees in the dark. You can’t see them, but the tigers are there. Yes-sir-ree, there’s a LOT to learn in the barn! Wasn’t Jesus born in a barn? Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved September 29, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius So, tell me this. Just exactly when did human thinking go off the rails? What was once unacceptable is now considered to be normal. Isaiah 5:20 warns of times like these. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Doesn’t that describe the days in which we live? Here’s an example of how things are out of whack. It has been reported that thirty years ago, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cut the head off a dead whale. Well, the news is making a big deal of that action. Some are even wanting to charge him with a crime. No doubt, that was bizarre behavior, but come on people, get real, the whale was dead. Here’s a sad thought. There is more sympathy for that dead whale than for a baby who is killed. Where is the cry, the outrage when a baby is aborted? Is it humane behavior to pull a baby apart limb by limb, while it is yet alive? Where are the news people to report such an atrocity? They are silent. Why? Because such actions are now being disguised as “freedom.” They too have substituted a lie for truth. There’s more protection for whales, than for babies in the womb. Something is basically wrong with that. I know, I know that I should be silent. During World War II, in Germany as the death trains steamed by the churches, the congregations just sang louder. The Nazis had so intimidated the Christians, that they did not stand for truth. Consider this. Dietrich Bonhoffer was a famed pastor, author, and martyr who stood against the Nazi regime. He recorded this chilling scene during World War II. A certain country church was set next to the railroad track. Every Sunday morning the death train steamed by on the way to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The congregation heard the cries for help from the Jews jammed into the box cars. What did the congregation do? They sang a little louder to cover up the pleas for help. They sang a little louder and 6,000,000 Jews were killed. Who in America is willing to stand for what is right? Jesus stood up for truth and they killed Him. I stand with Him. But this is what I hear. The silent screams of babies being aborted as too many Christians just keep on singing. Standing for truth… Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved September 22, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius I like to think about the “good ol’ days.” Days when playing in the hay mow or on a pile of cobs was the best. Even taking time to pick a daisy, petal by petal, “She loves me, she loves me not.” Didn’t have a girlfriend, didn’t even care about girls, but that’s what you said when you picked a daisy. How about rescuing honeybees from the cow tank? Often, they buzz in for a drink and seem not to be able to get out of the water. If you pick them up gently, they become your lifelong friend. Then there was the score of mice in the silage silo. Take your pitchfork and become an Olympian javelin thrower as you fend them off from running up your pant leg. Do you remember the out-house? I do. I’m part of a dying generation that remembers those kinds of things. I truly believe I grew up as a baby-boomer, in the best of times. Politicians were honorable, at least more honorable than most today. Going to church on Sunday was a routine habit. Here’s a forgotten ritual. After church, all the men gathered outside to smoke a cigarette. O.K., that wasn’t such a good idea but, in those days, who knew? If it was a hot day, you went for an automobile ride to cool off. There was no air conditioning, not in your home and for sure, not in your car. Times have changed. Some say, for the better. I’m not so sure about that. Computers were supposed to give us more time. Instead, they eat up our time and keep us away from eye to eye interaction. Airplanes came to speed up our travel time. Instead, we just spend more time waiting in the airport. Neighbors used to sit on the front porch to visit passers-by. Now passers-by don’t see a soul. Everyone is in the backyard behind their privacy fences. Yes-sir-ee, times have changed. If you’re like me, you look for something constant, something that does not change, that stays the same. There’s only one thing that hasn’t changed since I was a boy. Jesus loved me then. He loves me now. He’s been my Companion, and my Champion all the days of my life! Has anyone smelled the scent of fresh cut hay lately? Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved September 15, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Recently, I watched a movie. One of the memorable lines that has stuck with me is what a mother said of her overly ambitious daughter, “I’m waiting for her to save the world.” That then, begs the question, “What have I done to save the world?” I try to be a good person to all I meet. I try to be a good father and husband. I preach and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But even with all that, my scorecard for saving the world comes up a little empty. Maybe if I were a politician, I could make a bigger difference in the world. But then again, maybe not. Most of the world doesn’t think like me. What I have to say, would probably just be rejected. Truth speakers are often booed off the stage. Jesus came to save the world. He is the light of the world, but people prefer the darkness. He came to save the lost, yet it was the lost who killed Him. So why would I think I could save the world? I’ve come to the realization that I can’t save the world, but I can try. We’ve all heard of “bloom where you’re planted.” So that’s what I do. If you’re in my orbit, I’m here to tell you this one fact, a truth you can rely on. “Jesus saves!” I may not be able to save the whole world, but I can do what I can do. The best thing I can do is tell you about the Lord and the peace and salvation that comes through Him. I need to start with someone, and it might as well be you. If each one would reach one, the impossible will be possible through God! Trying…… Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved September 8, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius Today is my son, Todd’s, birthday! Happy birthday, Son! Though fifty years have gone by like a flash, I remember the day you were born. In the waiting room (I was too chicken to go in with your Mom for your delivery) I heard your borning cry. Ever after that moment, my life changed. Suddenly, I was a Dad with no experience in raising a child. I know I failed on a lot of issues, but at this one thing, I never failed. It was love. I thought my love-o-meter was full to the brim, but somehow when you were born, I found more love to give. It’s called being a Dad, a Mom. One moment you are not—and then you are. Change diapers, hold a tiny baby, burp a baby, love a baby, were all new experiences. No training, just figure it out. Your Mom was and is better at all those things than me. So many memories over all this time---yes there were the bumps, as life is like that, but far more happy times. Your giggle as we zipped down the hill on the sled at break-neck speed. At the bottom, all we could hear, besides the crunch of snow under foot, was your Mom hollering. “What are you thinking?” Then there was the time your Mom and I brought your baby sister, Lisa, home from the hospital. After a few hours you said, “She’s nice….when do we take her back?” How about the time you opened your Christmas present to find tickets to the 1991 Rose Bowl? I remember you jumping for joy. Of course, after the game, we had to explain the agony of defeat. So many mile markers along the way. Son, you’ve had success in your life of which I am so proud. But the most memorable, the most treasured of all is this. You love Jesus! That love brings with it your witness and testimony to so many others about the blessing of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ! Teaching you about the Lord….your Mom and I got right! Stay the course, I love you! Dad ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved September 1, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius The hustle and bustle of “back to school” days, reminds me of a time long ago when I, actually my Mom, prepared me for going back to school. My only thought, of going back to school after summer vacation, was one of dread. The only thing I liked was going to the store to get new trousers and shirts. Maybe even then, what I liked most was the store in which she shopped. At the check-out, the checker put the money (there were no credit cards) in this little bank, hooked it on a wire, and clickety-clack, it zoomed off to a secret place upstairs. In a few minutes, clickety-clack, the change due Mom reappeared. Then, the first day of school was always an adventure. Sharp Crayola’s, new erasers (I needed a LOT of them 😊), a writing tablet with a picture of Gene Autrey or Roy Rogers on the cover, all were arranged in my new kingdom—my desk. Everything was good and then the not so good part of school started—learning. Come on teachers, life is supposed to be fun! I tried to have fun at school, but there was always a teacher to remind me that school was for learning. Maybe that’s why I got so many frowny faces in kindergarten. ☹ But give me a break---I was only four years old when I started school! One day, in third grade, I was “having fun” in the hall. I heard my teacher holler my name. Two syllable names are for teachers to put an emphasis on the second syllable when they are upset with you for misbehavior, “Al-lan!” Instead of facing her wrath, I bee-lined it to the safety of the “boys restroom.” “Whew…I’m safe here. She can’t come in.” Those were my thoughts. She must have had difficulty reading the “BOYS RESTROOM” sign because she came right in after me. Then there was the time, in high school, the chemistry teacher left the room. I locked the door behind her, all to the quiet cheers of my classmates. After a few minutes of pounding on the door, someone let the teacher back in. Immediately, in a huff, she walked up to my desk and gave me a tongue lashing. How did she know? Well, after a lifetime of education, this is what I’ve learned. There’s a lot more to learn, but at the same time, you can have fun learning. 😊 Just thinkin’ back….. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved August 25, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Often my brain lives in legendary Camelot. A place of peace and calm where I imagine unicorns roam freely and Winnie the Pooh often offers up logical wisdom such as, “Well,’ said Pooh, ‘what I like best,’ …..and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it, which was better than literally eating it, but he didn’t know what it was called.” Winnie, I know exactly what you’re thinking about. The time before, the looking forward to, is often better than whatever it is you are expecting. Once you experience it, you realize that, the “looking forward to,” was the better time. Winnie, I don’t really know what you call that time either. Maybe anticipation? Here’s something that the experience will far outweigh the looking forward to moments. That is heaven! Have you ever imagined what heaven will be like? I think the song, I Can Only Imagine puts into words what we cannot even imagine. Yes, there is a place called Camelot. It’s really called heaven…. Just thinking about what is to come. Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved August 18, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius Not one of us can walk in another’s shoes. When someone says, “I feel your pain,” they really don’t. Only you experience the hurt. No matter the emotion you might be experiencing, no one else truly understands. No one actually feels what you feel. They may be sympathetic, but that’s as far as it goes. If you’re away from the seashore and don’t experience the sound of the waves crashing upon the shore, they still do. Things still happen even when we don’t experience them. Kind of like the age-old question, “If a tree falls in the woods and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The fact is that even if there is no sound, the tree has fallen. In other words, life goes on without us. Think upon this. Things done a hundred years ago affect you today. Things you do today change the course of history for someone else a hundred years from now. For instance, a legend told long ago somehow grows legs and becomes truth today. Likewise, truth yesterday has a way of being manipulated to make people question what is truth today. But there is someone who really feels and knows your pain. Someone who can walk with you no matter how steep the road. Someone who is in charge of the waves of the ocean when you’re not there. Someone who is unchanging truth, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His name is Jesus! Here’s another thing each of us must face alone, eternity. No one can experience the joy of heaven for you. Only you can realize that joy. So too, no one but you can experience the anxiety and agony of eternal separation from God in hell. What’s the purpose of all this reflection? Only you can live your life. Live it with no eternal regrets! Thank you, Jesus for YOU are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved August 11, 2024
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius So, I’ve been thinking about the playground equipment I played upon in grade school. Compared to all the play equipment safety gizmos of today, I’m lucky to be alive! First of all, the merry-go-round was encircled by a perfect dirt path circle. If you fell off, you landed first on the packed dirt and then rolled into the grass. How about the jungle gym? Climb to the top of the world and if you fell, your head would bounce off the bars like a ball dropping down a plinko board. How about the tall slide with only a three inch side rail to keep you on track? What waited for you at the bottom was not wood chips or a spongy landing. Yes-sir-ee, more hard packed dirt. At one time or another, didn’t we all limp around with road rash on our hind ends from an ill-timed landing off the fast slide? Then there were the swing sets. What I’ve figured about swings is that the longer the chain, the higher you go. Where I grew up, the chairs must have been twenty feet long. With a push from a friend and a few good pumps, there were times you were in the clouds—without a parachute. There were no climbing walls back then. Only the old tree, with no safety harness to catch you if you fell. Part of the fun of the twenty minute recess was just to make it back to the classroom in one piece. Off the school playground, there were things to play with that were just as dangerous. For instance, I never wore a bicycle helmet. Helmets were for sissies. (Today, I wear a helmet when cycling. Not wearing one would mean I’m just plain dumb. No comments, please 😊) There was a time, whenever Dad rolled by on the tractor pulling a hayrack, I’d think to myself, “I bet if I stuck my foot under that tire, it wouldn’t hurt. Afterall, the tire is made out of rubber and rubber is soft. So it shouldn’t hurt.” I just thought of that one, and fortunately, never followed through. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus says this about guardian angels. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones (children). For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.” Thinking my guardian angel might be out of breath! Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved August 4, 2024
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius As a pastor, one of my responsibilities is to be a witness to the resurrection, at times of death. Even as a boy, I think God was preparing me, “….for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) My recollection is that many family members died, and we always went to the funerals. It was a family tradition. Most of the time, knowing that today I need to be an anchor in stormy seas, my emotions are pretty steady. On the outside, you might not see it, but on the inside, sometimes it’s a different story. Recently, a 16-year-old beautiful girl, a member of First Covenant Church died. She was involved in a tragic car accident that resulted in a severe brain injury. Earlier this year, she applied for her car license. One of the questions on the application asks, “Do you want to be an organ donor?” She didn’t quite understand, but her family that was with her explained what it meant. Her reply was, “Yes, I would want to do that.” So, she checked the box. On Tuesday, July 9th, 2024, her family and Armona and I, followed her on her last “Walk for Life.” Family, friends, hospital employees, and even strangers followed her to the place where she saved no less than six lives that night. No doubt about it, she is one of my heroes. The anchor slipped a little on that walk. I cried that night. I’m crying as I write this. While we waited for “last goodbyes” a man, his wife and daughter came up to me. The gentleman asked. “Are you her Grandpa?” To that I responded with, “No, I’m her pastor.” The man broke down and started to cry. “Our granddaughter will be here tomorrow night at 6:30. She too is an organ donor.” I put my arm around him and prayed with his family. I cried for him too. Why would God send that family and have them speak to me at just that moment? Because they were hurting too. Yes, Amyrra, you are a hero. Never goodbye. Only, “See you later.” Pastor Allan ©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved 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 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 |
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