February 2009

“Renewed in Christ”

Dear Congregation,

Whatever you do, don't let go of the ladder! The instructions were carefully reviewed before they headed out of the sauna and into the hole in the ice. Two weeks ago the youth came home from Adventurous Christians Winter Retreat on the Gunflint trail. The youth told about the good times and the good teaching that they enjoyed. I quickly asked if they had jumped through the hole in the ice during their sauna. They shared, that everyone of their group, adults included, had made the plunge and most had jumped in more than once.

It's been a few years since I took the plunge, but the experience is let's say, more than memorable. For tough Minnesotans there are bragging rights that go along with the plunge. But what is certainly involved in the sauna and polar plunge experience is the invigorating feeling of being totally clean and fully alive. Now some of you are saying, "If that's what it takes, I'll settle for dirty and sluggish." I toyed with the idea of a renewal demonstration worship service at Cedar Lake, but I thought you may be cool to the idea.
I know from experience that it is refreshing and renewing.

Our verses for the year direct us to ask for renewal. Both David and Paul would have had experience with refreshing and renewing cold water baths. The water temperature in the Sea of Galilee in January is a cool 54 degrees. When they wrote in Psalms and Romans about renewing our spirits and minds, I know, based on the Hebrew and Greek, that they are not talking about a polar plunge. My prayer for you is that you experience spiritual renewal, knowing that you are totally clean because of Christ's grace and forgiveness. Also understanding that Jesus came so that you may have life and have it to the full. Again this year there will be many opportunities for spiritual renewal. I hope you will join us as we ask God to renew our hearts, hands and voices.

--Pastor Craig