WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN HENDERSON, KENTUCKY!

From Pastor

Out of the Fog?

The water was calm. The boat slid off the trailer in a tranquil harbor. Even after leaving Burnham Harbor to enter Lake Michigan, any problem was a distant vapor of thought. Around Adler Planetarium, our trip still protected by the first break-wall, Dad said we were going into the Locks and enter the Chicago River. Entering the river, we went slowly to look and enjoy — The Marina Towers and the other high-rise buildings dotting the Chicago map. Around a half-hour into our river trip, Dad said in a not so relaxing tone, “We need to go back.” What happened? If you have ever been on the waters of the Great Lakes, you soon learn that the weather can change “on a dime.”

Up the river, back through the Locks, entering Lake Michigan to make our way back to the safety of Burnham Harbor, a thick cloud of fog enveloped us. What happened on the Chicago River? The barometer dropped quickly, indicating to my Dad that bad weather was soon to be upon us. As we left the Locks, he pushed the motor to go at top speed to make sure we entered the safety of Burnham Harbor as quickly as possible…. But the fog took out the sun…. The fog enveloped us…we were blind.

As a young lad, I was SCARED! The City of Chicago, which I knew was on our starboard (right) side, was impossible to see! It was gone! This little lad started crying. Yet Dad remained steeled and still. He called me to sit next to him. He had taught me about the barometer… but I was about to learn a new lesson. He pointed to the compass. “What does the compass say?” I said, “ ‘S’ — South.” He said, “South is in front of us. North is behind us. Where does the sun rise? Where does it set?” I answered correctly. So if we head East, we head away from Chicago. Chicago is to our West.” My tears started to dry. Dad was confident. My older brother was on the bow searching through the fog, I was next to Dad — Dad was watching the compass more than the fog… he estimated…. The fog was so thick that when we arrived at what he thought was the Planetarium, we almost ran aground! NOTHING could be seen! He made a quick and sudden correction and we were spared. Dad estimated the distance he had traveled many times before from the Planetarium and turned looking at the compass indicating West. And soon, the McCormick place grew out of the fog as a majestic structure to proclaim to us that we were safely back in Burnham Harbor.

Why such a story? Number One: It’s true. Number Two: That fog (the cloud obscuring the sun). We couldn’t see what we KNEW was there…. But the compass brought us home by a Captain who had traveled the way before. During that trip through the fog, Dad taught my older brother and me the hymn: “Jesus Savior, Pilot Me.”

We get lost in the fog of evil. It is descending upon this earth, shrouding it in horrifying doubt and question. The hate seems to grow. The violence is everywhere. The “cloud of evil” becomes so thick that for some, the “Sun of Righteousness” (Christ Jesus) is obscured — hard to see. Some want to hide. Some try to ignore what is going on in their own sphere of life… even in the church. Paul teaches us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ep. 5:15). And what is the Will of the Lord? The Lord answers, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40).

The “fog of evil” descends and will continue to descend upon the children of God — the forgiven children of Christ — YOU!! But when that fog makes it difficult to focus on Christ, He Himself sends His Word & Sacrament, a compass and Means to sustain you until you get home, and those sent to direct your travels according to His Word, that you might arrive in His Harbor safely. They both direct us to Christ Jesus. Where is His Harbor? Presently … the Holy Church…. Eternally… The New Jerusalem… There the Church Triumphant rests in the midst of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. No room for bravado or self-confidence here or there. Our confidence is and shall be forever in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus Who remains with us until He brings us safely home.

In Christ’s Holy Name,

Pr. Liese