The grass withers; the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 NRSVUV
Greetings! I am Pastor David Strommen, the new senior pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church. I am so happy to have this time to connect with you all in this manner. I moved here from Salina, Kansas, in mid-May with my wife of 32 years, Pr. Anita Strommen. She is serving churches in Astoria and Brandt. We both have been in ministry for 31 years serving in Iowa, Nebraska and in Kansas before heading north to South Dakota. We look forward to getting to know the communities better.
I find the verse above to be a wonderful reminder to me day to day. It reminds me of the transient nature of this life.
In my 30-plus years of ministry, each place is dear to me and still in my heart, but each had its beginning, middle and finally ending.
As I age, I also realize the withering and fading nature of who I am physically. This can be disconcerting. But this verse does not leave us in the throes of decay but points to Gods word. For me this then brings me to Jesus Christ, the word of God incarnate dwelling among us but also telling us we who believe dwell in him. (Johns gospel) Paul takes this truth and expands upon it by declaring to the Corinthians, if anyone is in Christ, they are new creation.
So, this life indeed has beginnings, middles, and endings, but we who believe are renewed not by our own power, intellect, status, or reputation, or shining/tarnished glory, but by the newness given us through Gods grace in Jesus Christ, the unfading Word of God. This keeps me going day by day. I look forward to my years to come here in Brookings (God willing) but I look forward to sharing this eternal word with you as we dwell together in Christ.
Amen.
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