From the Pastor
Let’s Hear it for Habakkuk!
When the new council took office in June I shared with them a few verses from a book of the Bible most of them had never heard of, let alone actually read. The Old Testament book is called Habakkuk (pronounced ‘hab-ah-cook’, and it is written by a so-called minor prophet about the troubled times in which he lived some twenty-five centuries ago.
We like to think of prophets as romantic figures, handsome, strong-faithed, powerful leader-types, who stand up to the injustices of their times. But Habakkuk is more like us; he was weary of the relentless power games and pressures of society. He looked around and saw nothing but bad news, and he told God that he’s sinking into despair pretty fast.
Sound familiar?
God’s response to Habakkuk’s world was astounding for those times and His response soothes today’s beleaguered souls: “Look around you at the nations of the world! Be astonished! Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you won’t believe.”
God seems to be telling our friend, and us, that when you live a life of faith, you’ll see the world with hope. Amid death and destruction and loss of every kind, faithful people see God working on the fringes and deep in the depths to restore the world and the people in it.
Maybe you’re feeling like you’ve had enough politics and unfulfilled promises. You might want to cancel your newspaper subscription that only seems to report bad news. You might want to run away from it all or medicate yourself into a joyful stupor, but instead, listen to what God said to our friend and what God says us today. “Look around you. Look deeper. Amid the chaos and madness of life, there are people at work for peace, people who speak for those who have no voice, people who give without recognition and serve without compensation. There is hope everywhere!”
This isn’t ‘blind’ hope. It isn’t naïve or simplistic. This is faith daring the world to do its worst and conquering it by refusing to bow to the false-gods of intimidation and lowered expectations. Amid the powerful forces of doom, the faithful see the world through different eyes.
Look around you! Hope is everywhere!
Pastor Dave
First Lutheran Church of Crystal is a member of the ELCA
Worship
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
Held during the 9:30 a.m. worship service.
Kid’s Church
The first Sunday of each month
(no Sunday school).
Children stay with their parents
through the children’s message.
First Lutheran Church of Crystal
7708 - 62nd Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
(763) 537-4576 (phone)
(763) 537-0372 (fax)
