Friends of Immanuel,
With all the recent activity in the Middle East with the war between Israel and Iran, I feel compelled to share a bit from a theological standpoint. I’ve wrestled with whether or not I wanted to open this can of worms, but finally decided that I need to. Part of what prompted me to speak to this came on one of my early morning walks with Luther (our 4-year-old 85-pound Bernedoodle, for those who don’t know him – this is Luther with granddaughter Emmie) this past weekend.

Mike, a gentleman I regularly see on our walks, said to me as we were walking past each other, “Say, someone told me you’re a pastor. I have a question for you. Why do so many Christians so passionately defend Israel?” I think Luther understood where all this was going because he immediately laid down at my feet!

With an open and honest question, I responded openly and honestly myself. I’m not going to relay our entire conversation, but I want to speak to what I believe is important for me, as your pastor, to share with you. Coming off our 6-week Easter series on the book of Revelation, there are some connections to be made here, particularly with regard to some misinterpreted Scripture references.

The way I started with Mike was to go back to the Scofield Reference Bible. First published in 1909 and still very popular today, the Schofield Reference Bible included notes that popularized the teachings of dispensationalism, that is, a way of viewing the Bible that divides it into distinct periods or “dispensations.” These notes were a driving force behind an entirely new way of thinking about the End Times for the historic Christian Church. In addition, changes made in the 1967 edition about Israel in Genesis 12 and other places, changed the landscape.

In the 1967 edition of the Schofield Reference Bible, there are multiple references to the nation of Israel made in the notes written about Genesis 12, 15, or other chapters of Genesis along with God’s covenants with Abram/Abraham, notes that include an interpretation of the biblical text of unconditional support of Israel, that is, the modern nation of Israel. The modern nation of Israel, however, was formed in 1948. References to Israel in both the Old and New Testaments, including Jesus’ own words, are speaking of God’s people, not the “nation” of Israel. It is through faith in Jesus that we become heirs of the promise and children of Abraham (see Galatians 3:6-9, or all of Galatians 3, if you have time).

Notes like these in the 1967 edition of the Scofield Reference Bible are among several variables that opened the door to an entirely new way of thinking about theological topics of the End Times, Dispensationalism (which began in the mid-19^th century with John Nelson Darby), the Rapture, and more. At Immanuel, we believe the Bible teaches that Jesus ushered in the End Times with Good Friday, Easter, and His ascension into heaven. I did a quick Google search on the connection of Israel to the book of Revelation and this is part of what the AI Overview gave me, as an example of the very popular but theologically incorrect understanding of Israel: “The Book of Revelation contains significant prophecies related to the nation of Israel, often interpreted as part of a broader eschatological framework. These prophecies include the restoration of Israel, the final battle at Armageddon, and the establishment of God’s kingdom on Earth.”

When the book of Revelation is read in its proper context and with a proper understanding of who “Israel” is from a biblical standpoint (i.e. not the 1948 established nation), we see that the End Times does not depend on the restoration of Israel as a world power. As Jesus said over and over again, we don’t know when the end will come – and because of that, He calls on us to be vigilant, always watching, and ever-prepared for His return. That means that we stay faithful and faith-filled with our trust completely in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross and His victory over sin, death, and the devil on Easter morning. He is our reigning King who will return one more time at the end of time, a time which is unknown to us and not determined by any circumstantial matters that happen in our world.

That all being said, don’t put words into my mouth! The United States and Israel are allies and I believe we support the nation of Israel as opposed to those groups and nations with whom we are at ideological odds when it comes to the value of human life, women, and children, among other base values. I acknowledge that this is a very simplistic statement with regard to an extremely complex set of circumstances in the Middle East, but I share these theological points today to give some clarity as to what we stand for. Each Sunday we will continue to pray for peace in the Middle East and around the world – not to push forward some Jesus’-return-at-the-end-of-the-world agenda, but because this is what we as Christians have been commanded by our Savior to do. We grieve with those who experience death among their families and friends and we are saddened at the unsettledness of our world, so we pray for our world’s leaders and for the safety and protection of our country and others around the world.

We read Revelation and all of God’s Word as a message of our Savior’s love for us and the hope He holds out to all who believe and trust in Jesus as our Savior. Jesus’ words in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday are what I want to leave you with today. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me… ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:1-6, 27)

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

A very quick recap of my message yesterday about the prophet Elijah from 1 Kings 19. The touchpoints that I held up for us included:

1. There are times when all of us have felt, “I’ve had enough, Lord!” I appreciate all the heartfelt stories that you shared with me via email about those times that you’ve said those words. If you still want to send your story my way, please do! To say or feel this way doesn’t mean you don’t have enough faith or that you’re not a good Christian. In our brokenness and in the brokenness of this world, life is not perfect, even for Christians. To acknowledge that we’ve hit our “limits,” is a healthy first step of prayer to our Lord for His help and strength in the situations in which we find ourselves.
2. Related to that, the angel of the Lord’s message to Elijah, “The journey is too much for you,” is also something all of us need to hear and realize – this is a reality for all of us. And that’s why Jesus is here! This journey of life and of following Jesus is too much for us – we can’t do it on our own. Repeat that last phrase! But we have a Savior who has come and won the victory over our sin, over the devil, and over death. He has promised us that He IS with us always, to the very end of the age! As we journey together (yes, that is an important part of this, too – that God has put us in families, friend groups, churches, and communities), don’t go it alone. Lean into the Lord and into fellow believers for this amazing journey of life and faith.
3. Finally, where do we find God? He can be found exactly where He’s told us – not necessarily in the big, splashy ways, but more often He can be found in unexpected and simple ways, as with Elijah when God came to him in a gentle whisper. What are those gentle whispers? The splash of water in baptism; bread and wine at the Table; living and active words of Scripture; and when 2 or 3 of His people are gathered – in worship of Him. But, as we talked about, those gentle whispers can also be an invitation to a cup of coffee, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a hand up when we’ve fallen. God is not hiding – He is always here for us!

My final encouragement was this. When life gets rough, don’t hide in a cave. Isolation is a tool of the devil – he wants us to feel isolated and alone. The truth is, we’re not alone – not ever! So especially when life gets rough, come to the places where God has assured us He can be found; listen for His gentle whispers, wherever those might be found. Hear His promises of His love for you, the encouragement He wants you to hear, the help He offers, and the hope He holds out.

If you’ve got time, read 1 Kings 18 and the account of the “battle of the prophets” that preceded Elijah’s going on the run. It’s powerful and also hilarious – you’ll discover that Elijah was among the first smack-talkers in history!

Here is this week’s What Now? that I hope you can put into practice.

What Now?

When the journey seems too much for you and you find yourself thinking, “I’ve had enough, Lord!”, be still. As you rest, listen for that powerful yet gentle whisper from the Lord to sustain you – in His Word, in worship, at the Lord’s Supper – as you remember His many powerful promises to you.

Last item for today – this morning we began Vacation Bible School with 245 children here to sing, play, and learn more about Jesus. Please be praying for Miss Emma, for all of our middle school, high school, and adult helpers, and for the Good News of Jesus to be heard and received by many throughout this week! Here’s a picture of our full sanctuary – praise God!

Serving together in Christ alone!

Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,
As I mentioned Pastor Robin in last Sunday’s sermon and also in this current week’s What Now?, I thought it would be great to allow him the opportunity to follow-up on opportunities to read, study, and grow in God’s Word this summer with today’s lead article. So here is some further encouragement from Pastor Robin, Immanuel’s Director of Discipleship and Connecting Ministries:

For this Update, I’d like to continue to encourage you in your reading, growth, understanding and application of God’s Word to your day-to-day living. It’s important to be reading the Bible regularly. That spiritual habit not only gives us further opportunities to get to know more about our Savior and Lord Jesus, but also puts us in a place where the Holy Spirit continues to transform our minds and hearts, giving us more and more what the Apostle Paul calls a “renewed mind” (Romans 12:1-2), the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

In addition, the Word of God changes our way of thinking, processing, and navigating life. The Bible is the cradle of Christ. It generates life. It creates faith. It provides guidance. It makes the foolish wise. It makes the faltering strong. It makes the discouraged hopeful. It is so simple and yet so deep that the early church fathers used to say, “A gnat could swim in it, but an elephant could drown in it.” Reading the Bible honors God and worries the Devil. It reminds the lonely that there are reasons to love this life and gives them assurance that there is eternal life with the Lord still to come.

In God’s Word, we discover how the world got made, by Whom, for what, and where it is heading. From the Bible you will learn your identity, your family, your true enemy, and the awful calamity of sin. You will also discover the royal pedigree of your life as a child of the King and your eternal destiny as a citizen of His eternal Kingdom. No other book comes close to that.

Below are some great resources for discovering more about God’s Word. Start with understanding the storyline of the Bible...the consistent themes that cover all verses, chapters, and 66 books. The Bible Project (https://bibleproject.com) has a great video on that subject alone (https://bibleproject.com/videos/the-story-of-the-bible/). There are study notes and a transcript to read if you choose to do so. In addition, there are active links (especially this one – https://bibleproject.com/videos/collections/how-to-read-the-bible) to the entire series on HOW to read the Bible and its diverse literary styles, genres, etc. Each link gives you a deeper dive into understanding not just the Bible’s content (and main “character,” Jesus!) but also a more profound appreciation of how it was written.

Make this summer one that will be memorable in your walk with Jesus! Remember our Immanuel’s Marks of Discipleship include being intentional in our spiritual growth as well as being diligent in our reading and growing in God’s Word! Let’s grow this summer – together! —Pastor Robin.

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

We kicked off our summer series, God of the Unexpected, by thinking about Truth – not something we typically think about as surprising or unexpected. As I expressed in my message yesterday, there is so much that can be easy for us at Immanuel to take for granted – things that we’ve always done that feel very normal, but things that are not the norm for all churches. One of the more significant of those includes what we talked at length about yesterday, which is the gift of God’s Word and the Truth we stand on. This is one of the means by which the Holy Spirit “guides us in all truth” (John 16:13).

We know we can trust this Spirit-given Word of God to be our Truth, through and through! From the mysteries of the Trinity to Jesus and everything about Him—the prophecies about Him, His conception and birth, His teaching and preaching, His miracles, His healings, His confrontation of lies, deceit, corruption and more, and the completion of His mission of laying down His life on the cross and the miracle of His resurrection, ascension into heaven, and His many promises of which we can count on in our lives. God’s Word is also Truth for us when it comes to calling us out with regard to our sin and brokenness (yes, as Christians, too – we are NOT perfect!), and the important side-by-side with that of our Savior’s unconditional love for us and the complete and total forgiveness He offers us. These are but some of the beautiful and powerful unexpected truths that our God has promised us and with which He has gifted us.

We also know that God has designed life in a way that He knows is best and He lays out for us how to navigate this life in such a way that we can live and experience life to the fullest (John 10:10). Some of those matters are clearly laid out for us in His Word of Truth when it comes to issues of gender and sexuality, issues of life and abortion and end-of-life matters, and, as we celebrated Father’s Day yesterday, holding up healthy masculinity – not mocking or demeaning fathers or men but embracing who God has made us to be as men of God and the callings He’s given us to be leaders in our homes, our churches, and our communities. These are issues, if we take seriously the Truth of God’s Word, are expressed clearly and, unfortunately, are at odds with so much of what our culture today is “preaching.” But this is all part of God’s good and healthy design for life and life to the full.

Let’s together, unapologetically, stand firmly on this powerful Truth that can change lives, offer hope, and be a blessing beyond what we at times can even imagine. Take this week’s What Now? to heart as we live our lives – which in Jesus is real life – with joy, encouragement, and boldness, sharing His life-giving Truth with others.

What Now?

Let God’s Truth be your Truth. Stand firmly on and in God’s Word, which points us to Jesus, by being regularly in the Bible. Use the Bring It Home daily devotions; use the Bible Project resources Pastor Robin is holding up this summer; gather together with family or with friends in some Bible study or discussion groups. Let the Holy Spirit guide you daily in His Truth.

Serving together in Christ alone!

Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

This Saturday is our huge annual Sweetheart City Car Show – it is going to be amazing and I hope many of you are not only able to help with this event but that you’re also able to come and enjoy some of the fun!

Then on Sunday we are beginning our new summer series – God of the Unexpected. This summer series will be full of surprises! We’ll be moving around between the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings, looking at miracle stories, stories that defy belief, and stories that turn the unexpected into the expected. Over and over again, the Lord shows us who He is – a God of grace, a God of surprises, and a God of the unexpected. And because of that, as people of faith in our amazing Triune God, be prepared to expect the unexpected!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

I can’t believe I’m saying this in the first week of June – but hang on because the Lord is up to some amazing things and we all get to not only witness it all, but we get to be part of it all as His hands, His feet, and His voice! We’ve got the Sweetheart City Car Show coming in 9 days and Vacation Bible School in 18 days – both of which are truly “all-hands-on-deck” opportunities for everyone here at Immanuel. See the articles below in today’s update and, if you haven’t already, look for some of the many, many ways that you be part of these outreach, Radical Hospitality, sharing-Jesus-and-His-love events! Thank you in advance for giving of yourselves and your time to serve, for giving and donating some of the many needed supplies, and for praying for the Lord to work mightily in the hearts and lives of the people who will be here for the Car Show and for VBS.

Throughout the year we’ve been supporting and encouraging our youth who will be attending the National Youth Gathering in July. In today’s update you’ll read about two other simple and fun ways to support them with their final fundraisers (hint, hint – they’re both delicious!!). Be praying for Miss Emma, the other adult leaders, and our youth, that all the final details come together smoothly before they leave for New Orleans on July 19^th

The Finance Team and Executive Council have been working hard on the 2025-2026 budget and I hope you have both the Pre-Voting Assembly meeting as well as the Voting Assembly meeting dates on your calendar (June 25^th and July 16^th). The approach we have to take this year is not an easy one and the rationale and various nuances that come into play will be explained more in-depth at the Pre-Voting Assembly meeting to give everyone more time to digest and think and pray about this proposed budget.

Related to the budget, I have to say that I am blown away by the generosity and ministry-hearts of all of you here at Immanuel. There have been several extremely generous gifts given as of late. To look at the budget narrative that was in last week’s update, the significant rise of general offerings over the past year is a testimony to how the Lord is working in all of our lives – letting His grace and love abound, helping all of us to keep growing in gratitude and generosity, and experiencing more and more of the full and free life we can know as we trust in Jesus!

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) studies are underway. We have the school study which is helping us take a closer look at the demographics of northern Colorado, the school populations of our public, charter, private, and Christian schools, and at our own school ministry with what opportunities and ideas are before us. We have the Land-Use study, which is helping us prayerfully and thoughtfully consider how we might develop and utilize our land for specific ministry uses. And, because of the many questions and requests that have been raised in the process so far, we’ve just engaged LCEF with a third study, which will complement the other two, that will be looking specifically at our church ministry, including congregational leadership and governance, our mission and ministry programs, our financial systems, our facility and grounds, and assist with strategic planning. If you have not yet participated in the survey, please take 5 minutes to do that – the link is again in today’s update. And stay tuned for more information as to ways you can be involved in these studies. We are at an exciting juncture in ministry here at Immanuel!

Pastor Robin, Miss Emma, Kathy, and I had an initial meeting earlier this week to evaluate some ministries of this past year, and the wheels are already turning for some changes and even some new ministries for the next school year, including fun outreach events, intergenerational events, discipleship opportunities, ways for us to grow as individuals, as family units, and as a congregation and school. Much more to come on this front, so keep watching for more info.

Immanuel is an amazing place to be and I’m thankful for all of you. Ministry is about sharing the life-giving, life-changing, hope-infusing message of the Gospel – and that happens as we let Jesus take hold of our lives and lean into Him through faith and trust. It happens as we live the Gospel every day and impact the lives of the people all around us. I’m excited for what lies directly ahead as well as what’s coming in the next year. Thanks for calling Immanuel your home!

Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I personally enjoyed our 6-week journey through the book of Revelation this Easter season. It’s been helpful for me to dig deeper into what this amazing and powerful vision from the Lord entails. As those first century followers of Jesus were undergoing horrific persecution for their faith in Jesus, this vision was shared with them to give them hope. As this vision was obviously written for and intended not just for those early believers but for the entire Church throughout the ages, which includes you and me as God’s Church here in the 21^st century, my prayer throughout this series has been that it brings to each of us a word of hope.

We are all going through various challenges, struggles, and heartache in our lives. Living as broken people in this broken world, we were warned that there would be no lack of trouble. But our risen Savior invites us to “Come!” He stands every day with open arms, inviting us to come to Him with whatever is going on in our lives and in our world. He stands ready to speak His words of comfort, peace, strength, and hope into whatever our situation. Take Him up on that invitation – there’s nothing too small and nothing too big. He loves you and has promised us an eternity beyond our wildest imaginations. And until we get there, He’s assured us that He will be right by our side every step of the way.

Re-read the conclusion of Revelation (22:12-21) and let these words from Jesus Himself bring you hope in the victory that He has won for us.

What Now?

Let “Come, Lord Jesus” be on your lips all week long. Pray this short prayer when you first wake up, at mealtimes, when you go to bed, when you hear troubling news reports, etc. Let it be an ongoing prayer of hope and victory!

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!

Pastor Glen

Friends of Immanuel,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Now that we’re past Memorial Day weekend and we’ve hit the unofficial start to summer, let me offer a few words of encouragement as we head into these summer months.

One of the first things that comes to mind for me when summer is mentioned is “vacation.” I hope you are all able to take some time for yourselves or with family or friends to enjoy time together – whether it’s an actual vacation or perhaps a “stay-cation.” But don’t let these summer months be a time of vacation from your faith! Let worship continue to be part of your faith-walk, week-in and week-out, especially with Outdoor Worship beginning in July. Make sure and invite family and friends who visit you from out-of-town to join you for worship on Sunday mornings here at Immanuel.

Stay regularly in the Word. While we take a short break during the summer with our Sunday morning education opportunities (to let all of our teachers and Bible study leaders refresh themselves), stay connected with some of our many other small group options during the week – there are many to choose from, or you can gab a couple of friends and start a new small group or Bible study! If you need help, tap Pastor Robin (rdugall@ImmanuelLoveland.org) and he’d be happy to provide some ideas, resources, and support for you!

Keep up your own devotional life – as I mentioned in this week’s What Now?, try to spend time each day in God’s Word and let Him speak His love, His promises, and His hope into your life. If you’re not in the habit, take advantage of Immanuel’s Bring It Home devotions that are an insert each week in the Sunday bulletin. If you miss them, you can find them on our website (https://immanuelloveland.org/bring-it-home/). Did you know you can also receive them by email in your inbox every morning? If you’d like to get on that email group, send a request to ChurchOffice@ImmanuelLoveland.org and we’ll get you added! There are also many other wonderful daily devotional materials online, including devotional thoughts Pastor Robin writes on his Facebook page every day!

Let prayer be another part of your daily life of following Jesus. There will be something in this coming Sunday’s What Now? for you to consider along these very lines! You are also welcome to be part of my Prayer Warriors email group, as I send out prayer requests most every day. If you’d like to be part of this prayer group, just email me and I’ll get you added! But keep those lines of communication open with the Lord throughout the course of every day, with both formal and informal prayers.

Finally, stay involved. When you are in town, engage with the many opportunities to serve the Lord together here at Immanuel that are available. We’ve got the Car Show and Vacation Bible School as our two biggies for the summer. Coming up will be opportunities to serve our friends at Lago Vista with gathering school supplies for backpacks. And each week you’ll find more ways in these email updates that you can serve the Lord as we serve those around us. And of course you’re not limited to what happens at Immanuel. Opportunities to serve others with Christ’s love and hospitality are all around us – your neighbors, co-workers, sports teams, walking or workout buddies, friends, and so many others, as well as many other ministries throughout our community that serve others in need.

As we’ve been reminded throughout our Revelation series, we are part of something much bigger than ourselves – and what a blessing that can be as we realize that beautiful promise and live it out every day. Be assured that we are loved, we are never alone, we are forgiven, and we live under the grace of our risen Lord, Savior, and King!

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Serving together in Christ alone!
Pastor Glen