Remember the Poor

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." - James 1:27

On Wednesday, November 12, Bethany members generously donated $330 worth of groceries and paper-products (purchased locally) to the Food Pantry of St. Bridget Church in Postville. Then, on Sunday, November 30, hard-working, faithful, and generous members of Bethany collected over $1,200 to be sent to the people in Postville who are without food. I hope that news encourages you and buoys your spirit.

Now it comes before us that the court-approved bankruptcy budget includes $50,000 a week for "Trustee Professional Fees" and $5000 a week for "Professional Travel." The court-approved budget also includes $15,000 a week for two "Operating Consultants" for a three-day week.

The money freely given at Bethany to feed the poor, the $1,200, is approximately what it costs for one-hour's operation of the Trustee's office.

Yes, a portion of the plant is supposedly reopened. But unemployed workers who have pay coming MAY only get paid once the $35,000,000 loan is paid, and the $10,000,000 fine is paid, and the other secured debts are paid. Oh, and the lawyer-fees are paid. Until those obligations are met, many workers remain unpaid and the wages of those who have fled will go back into the coffers of Agriprocessors.

The people of Postville are our neighbors. All of them. ALL of them! Most are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Like unstoppable and angry rivers, the twin monsters of Greed and More Greed have washed over that town destroying hopes, dreams, jobs, property, and families. The destructive waters have not receded much - and the clean-up of Postville will take decades. Now we pray for the many people in Postville and the surrounding area who labor in the spirit of the Gospel to help those in need.

There will be those, of course, who say that the $1,200 we raised last week is nothing compared to the need. That the gift is insignificant. Meaningless. But such self-appointed critics either don't know or have forgotten that we come from a people who have seen God work miracles through that which the world deems as paltry. And we can once again give thanks and praise to God for the faith of those at Bethany who have stepped up to help - putting their God-given faith into practice.

Remember the poor. Remember the poor. Remember the poor.
Thanks be to God for the riches God has given us.

God Moved Through That Town

Exodus 23:9 - "You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

For days I carried a mixture of feelings and thoughts about the rally. As I drove to Postville last Sunday, the mix of emotions continued. There was little way of knowing what to expect - and in my heart I knew that my reluctance was due to not knowing what might be at stake for me if I went. Still, in my deepest heart, I knew I needed to be there.

Now, having heard the prayers, having listened to the speakers, having seen the hope and joy and caring in the faces of a huge crowd whose diversity speaks well of God's amazing creative power, I'm so glad I went. In fact, I've told people that knowing what I know now I would be glad to drive 500 miles and pay $300 for the chance to "do it again."

I think we can all agree that something has been - and is - terribly wrong with the picture in Postville. But Postville is just one snap-shot in a huge album of troublesome pictures. Forgetting for a moment what's going on throughout the world, in this hemisphere alone countless people - most of whom want nothing more than to provide for their families - countless people are risking life and personal liberty to travel thousands of miles knowing only that there's a chance - a chance - they can make enough money to have a meaningful life.

Those of us who are rich don't have a clue what it's like to be poor in today's world. We really don't. Perhaps we were poor 50 years ago - but that was a long time ago. Now the world is more like it was when our ancestors fled their homelands in the hopes that they might have a more meaningful life in this part of Iowa. Whether we became rich because we undeservedly inherited wealth; because we were born into families that provided lots of private welfare for us in our youth; or because we've worked very hard and very long to make sure our grain-bins are filled to the brim, we find the thought of extending the opportunities we had to "aliens" to be something of a threat - and we may not even be sure why we feel that way. We're afraid that if we lose our wealth, our lives will slide into the abyss.

Those of us who are poor don't have a clue what it's like to be rich in today's world. Our vision of "prosperity" has been skewed by the media - as so much has been. Many of us have been so poor for so long that we've come to believe that poverty is normal; that sleeping with 8-10 people in a one-bedroom apartment is tolerable; that it's acceptable for our young daughters to work 16-17 hours a day so our sons can get educations. We'd probably be angry that we're working hard and long only to fall further behind - except we're too tired to be angry. And our families have been put-down for hundreds of years. Yes, hundreds of years. We've never learned about wealth. And we're way beyond angry and tired. All we have left is hope. We're afraid that if we lose our hope, our lives will slide into the abyss.

Long ago millions of people from Europe came to this continent, bringing with them hopes and dreams like you and I have known. Did they come here legally? Not according to the majority of people who were living here - the Native Americans. But they came anyway. They wanted better lives for their children. Many of our ancestors sent money back home - with news that this was a good place to live. So they kept on coming - and it didn't matter (to them) what the people who were here thought.

Now millions of people from Central and South America are coming to this continent bringing the same hopes and dreams. Millions of them. Are they coming here legally? Not according to the majority of people who are living here - the Recent Americans. But they're coming anyway. They want better lives for their children. Many of them send money back home - with news that this is a good place to live. So they keep on coming - and it doesn't matter (to them) what the people who are here think.

Something is terribly wrong with the picture in Postville. Good people have been trying to do what's right, and fair, and just. Yes, there are those who have exploited people. And there are those who think the answer is a simple one: just get rid of those who aren't like them and everything will be OK. But it's not that simple, and none of us know what The Answer will be.

We do know this, however: God has NEVER looked kindly on the rich exploiting the poor. What's more, God has ALWAYS looked kindly on the poor in their suffering, and provided help to them. It may not come overnight. It may not come in time for some of those who are oppressed. But when it comes, it comes with a vengeance against those who sit-on-their-hands while faithful people suffer.

Exodus 23:9 - "You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Faithful people who "know the heart of an alien" because they remember... those people were in abundance at Postville last Sunday.

I'm glad I marched. And prayed. And sang. I really am.

If you weren't there you missed a glimpse of God moving through that town.

 

Will Congregations Last?

I have no concerns for the Church. Scripture tells us that the Church is the body of Christ. The world tried to kill the body of Christ once and failed, and Scripture is clear - Christ (the Church) is forever.

Congregations, however, come and go.

My concerns for congregations are based on some observations that have been piling up - and it's time to list them for the members and friends of Bethany. I believe we have good reason to be concerned for the future of congregations because there are three heresies (false teachings) being touted as truths in our society and culture - and many are starting to believe these lies as being the truth. Our Lord tells us that the truth sets us free. Distortions of the truth, however, enslave us.

FALSE TEACHING # 1 - You can be a Christian without being a part of the Church. Many years ago Pr. Mark Johns said this notion was "the great American heresy." He was right. Since the Church is THE body of Christ in the world, and the Church is where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, if you aren't connected with the Church you aren't a Christian.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 1 - When you are a part of a community of faith where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, you are a part of the Body of Christ, the Church. And as Christ lives forever, so shall you.

FALSE TEACHING # 2 - You can believe what you want and there are no adverse consequences. The Constitution of the United States holds this to be a truth - but the Holy Bible does not. The Old Testament doesn't teach this, nor does the New. It's not a teaching of any major religion (Christianity, Judaism, or Islam). This false teaching is a teaching given to the world by humans who wanted their government to stay out of the business of faith. It's a nice teaching as far as it goes, but God would have us believe otherwise. God would have us believe that for those who don't believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, there are deadly and eternal implications.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 2 - Because God would be in a relationship of love with us, we have been given freedom to believe as we will. But also because God loves us, God tells us What the truth is, and Who the Truth is. When we believe otherwise, we do so at our peril. But thanks be to God for bringing the Truth to us, hoping that we'll listen, and believe, and obey.

FALSE TEACHING # 3 - Your salvation and your faith depend on choices you make.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 3 - The truth is that our salvation and faith depend on choices God makes. God brought us faith and salvation when God chose to baptize us. That's the truth. Any other teaching is false teaching. Living in the promises God made to us in our baptism, we find joy even in our times of suffering; and serenity knowing that we are loved so very much.
Indeed, there are temptations - profound temptations - to believe the lies of our society and culture; the false teachings of sects and cults. We are not saints, and to one degree or another any one of us may have subscribed to these or other false teachings along life's way. And insofar as the members of our congregations subscribe to these heresies, all our congregations are at peril.

The point is that in the Church we are willing to grow in our relationship with the Truth of God. In the Church (and in this congregation) we celebrate spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

I hope this helps you, as you have helped me on the journey of life.

- Pr. Jim Klosterboer

I have no concerns for the Church. Scripture tells us that the Church is the body of Christ. The world tried to kill the body of Christ once and failed, and Scripture is clear - Christ (the Church) is forever.

Congregations, however, come and go.

My concerns for congregations are based on some observations that have been piling up - and it's time to list them for the members and friends of Bethany. I believe we have good reason to be concerned for the future of congregations because there are three heresies (false teachings) being touted as truths in our society and culture - and many are starting to believe these lies as being the truth. Our Lord tells us that the truth sets us free. Distortions of the truth, however, enslave us.
FALSE TEACHING # 1 - You can be a Christian without being a part of the Church. Many years ago Pr. Mark Johns said this notion was "the great American heresy." He was right. Since the Church is THE body of Christ in the world, and the Church is where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, if you aren't connected with the Church you aren't a Christian.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 1 - When you are a part of a community of faith where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, you are a part of the Body of Christ, the Church. And as Christ lives forever, so shall you.

FALSE TEACHING # 2 - You can believe what you want and there are no adverse consequences. The Constitution of the United States holds this to be a truth - but the Holy Bible does not. The Old Testament doesn't teach this, nor does the New. It's not a teaching of any major religion (Christianity, Judaism, or Islam). This false teaching is a teaching given to the world by humans who wanted their government to stay out of the business of faith. It's a nice teaching as far as it goes, but God would have us believe otherwise. God would have us believe that for those who don't believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, there are deadly and eternal implications.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 2 - Because God would be in a relationship of love with us, we have been given freedom to believe as we will. But also because God loves us, God tells us What the truth is, and Who the Truth is. When we believe otherwise, we do so at our peril. But thanks be to God for bringing the Truth to us, hoping that we'll listen, and believe, and obey.

FALSE TEACHING # 3 - Your salvation and your faith depend on choices you make.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 3 - The truth is that our salvation and faith depend on choices God makes. God brought us faith and salvation when God chose to baptize us. That's the truth. Any other teaching is false teaching. Living in the promises God made to us in our baptism, we find joy even in our times of suffering; and serenity knowing that we are loved so very much.
Indeed, there are temptations - profound temptations - to believe the lies of our society and culture; the false teachings of sects and cults. We are not saints, and to one degree or another any one of us may have subscribed to these or other false teachings along life's way. And insofar as the members of our congregations subscribe to these heresies, all our congregations are at peril.

The point is, that in the Church we are willing to grow in our relationship with the Truth of God. In the Church (and in this congregation) we celebrate spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

I hope this helps you, as you have helped me on the journey of life.

- Pr. Jim Klosterboer

So... let's talk!

Maybe you're a member of Bethany. Maybe you're a friend of the congregation. Either way, we'd be interested in hearing how the fact that you have a Bethany connection has helped your journey of faith. Post a comment and let us... and the whole world... know!

Bishop Ullestad Offers Postville Ideas

In consultation with Pastor Steve Brackett, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Lutheran Disaster Response, Bp. Steve Ullestad of the Northeastern Iowa Synod makes these requests:

1. Continue to lift up the people of Postville in your prayers. Quite probably, hundreds of families will be relocated with the possibility of many people being imprisoned for an extended period of time. Families and friends are suffering tremendous loss and grief. The long term implications for these families as well as the impact on the schools and businesses of Postville are significant.

2. We are developing a list of Spanish speaking pastors to assist with communication. These pastors will be called on as needed.

3. We are inviting Bethany and other congregations to engage in a conversation on immigration. The following links may assist in your conversation. I am also attaching comments that I made at an immigration rally held in Dubuque in August of 2006.

ELCA message on immigration:
www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Messages/Immigration.aspx

Article by Bishop Mark S. Hanson
http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=7019

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services website
http://www.lirs.org/

4. Please make a gift to support the ministries of the church and the families who have been directly affected by this crisis. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), in consultation with Bp. Ullestad, has designated this crisis as a human disaster. LDR will be working with St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville and other community service organizations to provide immediate and long term support. You can help by making a gift to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, with a note or memo indicating your gift is designated to Postville. Gifts may be sent directly to Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago IL 60631-4101.

How to help folks in Postville

This afternoon Pastor Steve Brackett of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville sent out a short e-mail to area pastors regarding the situation in Postville. He reports that St. Bridget's Catholic Church has become a sanctuary for several people. St. Paul LC is helping to house, feed people, helping them find family members, and seeking legal aid. His suggestion is to send financial donations to St. Bridget's Hispanic Ministry Fund.

St. Bridget's Catholic Church
135 W. Williams
PO Box 369
Postville, IA 52162

Along with your prayers for people on all sides of this difficult situation, your gifts will be appreciated.