A Letter from the Pastor AUGUST 2026

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

We all desire a safe place, a place where we can go and feel no fear, a place where the struggles of daily life do not press heavily upon us, a place where death doesn’t terrify. Despite our best efforts, we can’t create such a place with any degree of certainty. The burden of the Law and the guilt of our conscience weigh upon us constantly. 

Thanks be to God that the Lord as created such a place for us. David, inspired by God to write many of the Psalms cried out: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.’” (Ps. 16:1-2)

Because of sin, there’s nothing good inside us. We have nothing to offer God but the sin of our heart, lips, & hands. The safe place that we desire comes only as a gracious gift from God. Only He can give what we so earnestly desire.

But such trust comes only from God. Our sinful nature is continually bent in on itself. Often we feel that God has abandoned us. Where is God to be found in the midst of suffering & pain? Why is He slow to answer my prayers for health & healing? Why is He not preserving me & making a refuge for me?

The truth is that Jesus is there with us in the midst of it all. He is listening, working, & sharing in our suffering together with us.  Instead of an immediate rescue from a difficult life He declares that in  ALL CIRCUMSTNACES: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) Yes, His ways & thoughts aren’t like ours for He is the eternal God who takes up our frail human flesh that He might bear our sin & be our Savior. The Lamb of God, who is without spot or blemish, becomes sin for us. His weakness is His glory! He transforms the tree of death into the tree of life. The seat of the cross has become His throne of glory. His death is the end of death & His resurrection is the vindication of all creation.

We now rejoice to suffer all things for His sake, knowing that He’s done all things for us & has now granted us the sure refuge of being joined to His death & resurrection. Death is dead! Life lives! He will never forsake or abandon His chosen ones, His children… the children of the heavenly Father.

David concludes his Psalm saying: “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let Your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps. 16:8-11)

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Dean Rudloff

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1