Smoky Mountain Reflection Dec 2012

            Greetings in Christ and happy Advent! as I ponder what pre Christmas reflections I should share with you in this, my final reflection of the year.  I find myself a bit excited and even eager to share with you about some of my recent travels.  Specifically a visit to All Saints Lutheran Church in Charlotte North Carolina and Kings point Resort in Storm Lake Iowa.  The purpose for both of these trips was a mixture of continuing education and resources and networking for our congregation.

            That being said lets jump into the first trip report.  The trip to All Saints Lutheran in Charlotte was about three and a half hours so I got up early on Saturday the 27th of October and headed over the mountains while catching up on my issues etc. programs.  The lecture series "How to Read the Old Testament: Jesus at the Center" started at 11 with Rev. Dr. Andrew Steinmann, Professor of Theology and Hebrew From Concordia University Chicago.  He is one of the worlds foremost scholars in Aramaic.  The title of His lecture was "The Messianic Promise in the Book of Genesis".  He walked us through many of the events in Genesis unpacking  the messianic overtones contained in them.  After a nice German lunch of brats and potato salad we went on to the next lecture titled "No More Peak-A-Boo Jesus" presented by Rev. Jeffery Pulse from Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) Fort Wayne.  The reason for the title is that most modern scholars look into the old testament to see if they can find hidden glimpses of Jesus in the text, when in reality all of the old testament points directly and indirectly to Jesus. I also gained some keen insights on motifs and thematic threads that run through out Gods word.  Next we heard from Rev. Dr. Paul Raabe From Concordia Seminary Saint Louis, on "Reading the Old Testament: Jesus as the fulfillment." In this lecture he walked us through the many typological similarities between the life of Christ and many of the Old Testament narratives. Finally the Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer of  CTS Fort Wayne tied it all together in His presentation "Jesus: The End, Fulfillment, and Continuation of the Old Testament" He focused on how Christ is a complete fulfillment of the Old testament and connected the dots in essence from the previous lectures touching on the Gospels but focusing primarily on Luke and Acts. This was 4 hours well spent even though I spent over 7 hours in transit there and back and I look forward to applying these insights to sermons and bible studied in the coming months.

            Then the following week on November first I got up early in the morning and flew to Omaha Nebraska followed by a drive up to Storm Lake about two and a half hours away. The purpose for this trip was participate in The "National Rural and Small Town Mission Conference" This confrence was organized by our Synod Office of National Mission (ONM).  After opening worship led by the president of Iowa District West Rev. Paul Sieveking we then went into a Bible Study led by Rev. Dr. Brian Saunders, President, LCMS Iowa District East this was the frist of four sessions that covered the book of Ephesians, focusing on St Pauls use of the phrase "In Christ". We then went into our first plenary session. "In Christ for Church" this session was to be led by Rev. J. Bart Day, Executive Director, LCMS (ONM). but he was responding to Hurrican Sandy as part of our synod disaster response team so the opening session was presented by Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan, Interim Director, Rural and Small Town Mission (RSTM) and he did a great job of helping us understand how the (ONM) is working to support the work of (RSTM) congregations as we witness to the Gospel and share mercy in our communities.  I then attend my first sectional where I met with the staff of the newly forme (ONM) and learnd how RSTM, Urban ministry, 72 Partners, and Registered Servic Organizations (RSO's) now all work together in the (OMN).  I then attend my second sectional Rural Ministry 101 presented by Rev. Ray Smith, where we discussed the cultural barriers for those moving from urban areas to small towns and rural settings? the uniqueness of rural culture. After an evening buffet we went on to an evening session which was a group discussion on focusing on the many blessings and challenges facing small congregations in rural and small-town communities and our hopes for the future. 

            Friday's first plenary session was "It’s Okay to Be Small" by Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan, Interim Director, (RSTM) He discussed how Small congregations have exactly what they need and more importantly what the world needs. this session provided inspiration and encouragement for seeing our congregations in terms of what they have, as provided from God, rather than in terms of what they lack. This Gospel-centered perspective provides great encouragement for corporate witness and acts of mercy in our communities.  My third sectional was Rural Resources led by Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan, and Amy Gerdts, RSTM Project Coordinator in this session we Meet with the (RSTM) team and learned more about the array of resources available to help support our

congregation.. The next Plenary session was "Asset Mapping: Energizing Congregations for Ministries that

Matter by Luther Snow, Author of “The Power of Asset Mapping” this session alone in my opinion was worth the trip and I plan on using this methond at our next anual planng meeting. He shared with us new ways to strengthen our congregation for ministry.  He taught us a procdess that helps identify physical, institutional, individual and community assets that are already in place. we came away with tools and skills to energize our congregation in the planing process. Snow is the creator of Asset Mapping, the in-person method for positive group collaboration that is very popular. Snow is a nationally recognized speaker in the field of rural development and has worked with numerous Lutheran agencies.  Our next plenary session was "Country Strong:Tapping Hidden Strengths for Rural Congregational Development" In this session Luther Snow,

shared how to discover what works for congregations in rural areas and small towns.  Models of congregational development are often devised in urban areas and then applied, with limited success, in rural settings. But there are unique advantages and opportunities in rural life that are often overlooked or underappreciated. Snow, a positive rural development pioneer, helped us learn how to recognize our unique local strengths and tap them for appropriate and powerful impact in our own communities. Sectional four was a session on congregational partnerships led by Luther Snow, in this session we built on what we learned in the asset-mapping process, we  looked at how congregations can use their individual strengths to collaborate with potential partners and engage the community in new ways. There is great potential for congregations to work together for the purpose of serving communities and reaching the lost. Sectional five The Community of Christ: It’s More Than Just Me!

led by Rev. Gene Ernst, LCMS Pastor Emeritus from Columbus Indiana. This session examined community within and outside the chruch.  That evening we had a Banquet with the featured Speaker: Rev. Dr. Matthew

C. Harrison, LCMS President.

            Saturday, our final Plenary "Witness, Mercy, Life Together in Rural America" by Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS President. President Harrison presented the emphasis for the church and demonstrated its unique relevance for rural and smalltown congregations. I howeve had to head bact to the Airport misson the last few minutes of this presentation.  Although I missed the closing panel discussion and the closing worship I feel this trio was well worth the time and resoruces used to get me there. I look forward to making use of some of these great insigts and practical processes in our future together.

Have a blessed advent

Pastor Portier

I you would like to see St. Paul's News Letter visit this link: http://tinyurl.com/cxjjr5b

SMR 11/12

Smoky Mountain Reflections

November 2012

            As we went through the budgetary & nominating process and we had our annual planning meeting on October 13^th, I mentioned in passing that many of us have often heard the phrase “90% of the work is done by 10% of the people.”  While I have observed some truth to that statement in my life experiences, it is an idiom that really does not apply to the family I serve here at Saint Paul.  So give me a moment of your time as I brag a little bit about the congregation of people which I have been blessed to serve.  As I pondered this question, I was convinced that almost half our congregation is actively involved in some sort of service that makes Saint Paul Lutheran Church a bright beacon of Gospel truth in our community.  I also considered that many of you may not know all the good that is done here and in our community on your behalf for the sake of the Gospel.

I have in the past pointed out the ministries and services we support. We regularly note them here in the newsletter and in our weekly announcements....take time to read them. 

            Now I know we are not supposed to brag, and I also know that all the work people do here is to the glory of God and not for themselves, but how can people say thank you for a job well done if you do not know who did it? …or even that it was done?  Besides, God tells us in His word to encourage one another.  So the list that follows is offered so you can thank each other for dedicated service to God.  This list is alphabetical and it is brief and certainly incomplete. Many are not on this list, but that does not mean they are not doing their part.  Quite to the contrary, some have served God’s church for decades and are in a different season of their life now, participating through prayer and encouragement. Others are new to the church and still discovering what it is God would have them do.  God has called some to praying and providing resources for God’s work.  And my final caveat…your very human pastor may have forgotten the great job you did for God’s church because so many are doing so much.  So here goes…..

            I would like at this point to depart from my monthly newsletter article and speak to my blog audience...all two or three of you :-).  If you would like to see the long list of names and tasks just go to our Church website @ splctn.com and you can read this article in its original form by going to the newsletter tab in a week or two.  What I would like my blog audience to do is take time to do a quick inventory of all the church related or charitable tasks that those in your congregation do....you may be surprised...go through your directory and find out what every body is doing for your Church or the community, and then take time to thank them for their service or give them a word of encouragement....now back to the original article...   

  If you do the math, that is over 40% of you who are actively doing things to serve here at Saint Paul.  And as I said, I am sure this list is incomplete.  This does not reflect our prayers, our financial supporters, all who are involved in our Bible studies, Scouting, Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry  Woman's Care Center, Food Bank and other activities that our church supports.  So take time this month to be thankful and find someone that you didn't know does something for the church, and thank him or her.

In Christ

Pastor Portier    

October 2012

Smoky Mountain Reflections

October 2012

            Fall greetings! The leaves will turn this month as our Lord puts on beautiful bursts of color, the last big hurrah for all the burgeoning growth that took place this past year. The four-month break from mowing the lawn is just around the corner...even though I enjoy mowing the lawn, I also like the break.  The two volunteer pumpkins that grew in my back yard this year will move to the front porch to join all the fall decorations I pulled down for Gerda just a few days ago.  So as nature goes asleep and we get into a new winter rhythm, longer nights, sunnier cooler days and all the tradition that comes with this time of year, I can’t help but feel upbeat.  Of course being the optimist that I am, it is an easy thing to feel upbeat...all is well in my universe and I hope and pray the same for you.

            Another significant thing that we celebrate along with Hallow'en (yes, the apostrophe belongs there as it is a word derived from Hallows Eve) the evening before All Saints Day or All Hallows Day.  In our Lutheran circles and in much of Protestantism, we also celebrate the 495^th anniversary of the Reformation—that fateful day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses or topics for debate on the church door in Wittenberg.  Luther was trying to get the church back to its biblical roots and to dispose of non-biblical practices.  While this is a debate within Trinitarian Christianity, one thing all Christians who are members of the invisible church on earth can acknowledge and agree on, is the fact that there are really only two religions on earth—those who are members of the body of Christ and those who are not.

            That may seem to be a bit over simplistic but it is the truth.  Christianity is the only religion in which the god comes to you, and gives His life for you in order for you to have the goal of the religion—faith in Him which leads to eternity in paradise with Him.  From this faith, works of love for God and neighbor flow as a natural response of gratitude for this great undeserved gift from God.  In all other religions you must go to the god seeking to appease, and garner favor through your good works.  This applies even to non-religious belief systems, the goal of which is pleasing the ultimate authority or god in order to earn that authority's approval or kindness. Let’s consider the following examples of other religions or belief systems that are all based on "works righteousness", that is you working to get right with your god, not Him making you righteous through Christ.

            Atheism and Agnosticism: these are only concerned with pleasing one god—self. If I say it is ok, then I am good enough to please my god....me. I am the ultimate authority so if I meet my standard, then I reach the ultimate goal of my belief system...self satisfaction.  Mormonism & Islam:  I cover these together because they are so similar. Both have no concept of hell, just levels of heaven.  Both teach that if you please God you will be rewarded either with your own planet to be god over and populate by having much sex, or a paradise with wine that does not inebriate and 70 virgins with swelling breast to have eternal sex with.  See how similar  they are—they must have the same author. Modern Judaism: It believes that by pleasing God you will be blessed by Him in this life and the next; however because they reject the fulfillment of God's promises in Christ, they end up relying on their own works which are as worthless as ours.  All forms of Eastern  Mysticism: Buddhism, Gnosticism, Hinduism, Kabbalah, Sufism, Taoism—all believe in various ways that all reality is an illusion and by being good (which is hard to define) you will eventually be good enough to reunite with the pure enlightenment or consciousness.  So as you can see, in all of these major belief systems you must be good to get to “god,” however you define “god,” be it yourself, a powerful yet fickle being, or a state of mind.

            Another thing that sets Christianity apart is its existence in time. It is the only faith that functions fully in all of history and has a plan for the salvation of "ALL" from the beginning to the end of time.  Those who lived before Christ are redeemed by Christ through their faith in God's promise and all afterward are saved through faith in fulfillment of that promise.  If anyone does not have access to this redeeming truth, it is a result of human sin, not God's indifference.  With the exception of  Judaism all other faith systems do not concern themselves with anyone who preexisted their religion.  Mormonism is less than 200 years old.  There are at least a half dozen or more belief systems that are less than 500 years old.  Islam is only about 1400 years old and a number of eastern systems are less than 1500 years old. Only paganism and Hinduism predate Christianity, but Hinduism, like all forms of Eastern Mysticism, does not concern itself with history. And what we know of ancient paganism is from the historical sciences, not any modern variations that have little or no root in any history that is not plagued with massive gaps.

            So the two basic faith groups are this: 1) Work to get to your god and if (when) you fall short ....too bad, or 2) God came to you; you will fall short, but He paid the price; work in response to this great gift.

Enjoy your fall season.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier

Smoky Mountain Reflections

September 2012

            A couple of weeks ago, the Scoutmaster of Troop 119 which meets here at St. Paul Lutheran Church sent me an e-mail. He was requesting the use of our Fellowship Hall for a scouting potluck on the 12^th of August.  This short notice request was unlike him.  He knows I need time to ask the Council about such things.  That should have been my first clue that something was afoot.  I decided that since we had nothing planned for the 12^th, I would just let the troop have their potluck and let the Council know at the meeting on the 21^st.

            On a separate occasion, Pastor Dettmer offered to do the liturgy if I was ever feeling tired.  He said later that I had a puzzled look on my face as I thanked him for the offer.  I was puzzled....did I look tired? ...I did not feel tired.  This was another clue that something was afoot.

            On August the 12^th, things got even stranger.  As we were finishing up the Bible study between services, someone arrived with a pot of hot beans.  As I started to put things together, I thought I may have to apologize after the service as we may have two potlucks scheduled for the same time in the same place!!!  I was sure to come out of this with egg on my face and better break out my "I am sorry…it is all my fault speech" which I am embarrassed to say, I am very experienced at making.

            As I was puzzling over this and making the pre-service announcements, all of my worries were about to come to an end.  Our head elder, Dave Roberts, came forward and started making a speech that was making my head very big as he said all kinds of nice things about me.  Then Pastor Dettmer entered all robed up and was ready to do the service liturgy, Then Pastor Derek Roberts from Praise Lutheran Church in Maryville entered, all robed up ready to preach.  Then our head elder told me that in appreciation for my service and in recognition of the 5^th anniversary of my ordination, I was welcome to have a seat in the pew next to my beautiful wife and enjoy the service as a parishioner.

             Not only was I very surprised, because they pulled this off very well and I was clueless, but now I was relieved that there was no potluck conflict following the service!  All of these things had been coordinated; there was no Boy Scout potluck.  The people I am blessed to serve decided to have a fellowship meal in gratitude for our time of service together.  All involved did a very good job of fooling me!  Thanks for the surprise.

            It has been a great pleasure to serve as your Pastor these past five years, and if it be God's will, I look forward to many more years of service in this place.  I cannot adequately express my gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve as your Pastor, and to you all for your kind cards and gifts in honor of this occasion.

            What follows is some of the information I sent to the paper to announce my ordination and it contains some interesting history.  Enjoy a brief walk down memory lane.  On 10 November 1483 Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany.  After being frightened by lightning in 1505, he vowed to become a monk and was ordained as a priest 500 (and five) years ago in 1507.  On 31 October 1517, he posted the famous 95 Theses that started the Reformation. 

            Fast forward to 3 November 1817.  On the very edge of what is now Sevier County, very close to what many of us know as the location of “Forbidden Cave”, there was a German settlement at Bird’s Crossroads.  Henry Jacob Eli and Jacob Bird acting as officers for the church, purchased an acre of land for $2.50 near Jacob Derrick’s grist mill, and on that land was a meeting house called Saint James Lutheran Church.  Very few Lutheran pastors made it to the East Tennessee frontier, so most of the German descendants start appearing on local Methodist church roles by the late 1840’s. 

            Fast forward another 100 years before another the Lutheran church would again establish itself in Sevier County.  In the late 1950’s, Our Savior Lutheran Church was started in Gatlinburg. In the 1980's, Holy Trinity (now Celebration) was established in Seymour.  Then in 1994, a small group of Lutherans started worshiping in the wedding chapel at the Holiday Inn in Pigeon Forge.  They later purchased and worshiped in a home just off McCarter Hollow Road for 5 years.  On Christmas of 1999, they celebrated Christmas in their new sanctuary at 1610 Pullen Road.  Then in July 2006, I was blessed to become part of the history of this family of believers as their Vicar.  On August the 12^th, 2007, only one week after the 500^th anniversary year of Martin Luther’s ordination, the first Lutheran ordination in the history of Sevier County took place at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Sevierville, Tennessee.  This was a wonderful day in my life and I am very pleased that you all took the time to make the 5^th anniversary of that event a wonderful day as well.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier  

Smoky Mountain Reflections

September 2012

            A couple of weeks ago, the Scoutmaster of Troop 119 which meets here at St. Paul Lutheran Church sent me an e-mail. He was requesting the use of our Fellowship Hall for a scouting potluck on the 12^th of August.  This short notice request was unlike him.  He knows I need time to ask the Council about such things.  That should have been my first clue that something was afoot.  I decided that since we had nothing planed for the 12^th, I would just let the troop have their potluck and let the Council know at the meeting on the 21^st.

            On a separate occasion, Pastor Dettmer offered to do the liturgy if I was ever feeling tired.  He said later that I had a puzzled look on my face as I thanked him for the offer.  I was puzzled....did I look tired? ...I did not feel tired.  This was another clue that something was afoot.

            On August the 12^th, things got even stranger.  As we were finishing up the Bible study between services, someone arrived with a pot of hot beans.  As I started to put things together, I thought I may have to apologize after the service as we may have two potlucks scheduled for the same time in the same place!!!  I was sure to come out of this with egg on my face and better break out my "I am sorry…it is all my fault speech" which I am embarrassed to say, I am very experienced at making.

            As I was puzzling over this and making the pre-service announcements, all of my worries were about to come to an end.  Our head elder, Dave Roberts, came forward and started making a speech that was making my head very big as he said all kinds of nice things about me.  Then Pastor Dettmer entered all robed up and was ready to do the service liturgy, Then Pastor Derek Roberts from Praise Lutheran Church in Maryville entered, all robed up ready to preach.  Then our head elder told me that in appreciation for my service and in recognition of the 5^th anniversary of my ordination, I was welcome to have a seat in the pew next to my beautiful wife and enjoy the service as a parishioner.

             Not only was I very surprised, because they pulled this off very well and I was clueless, but now I was relieved that there was no potluck conflict following the service!  All of these things had been coordinated; there was no Boy Scout potluck.  The people I am blessed to serve decided to have a fellowship meal in gratitude for our time of service together.  All involved did a very good job of fooling me!  Thanks for the surprise.

            It has been a great pleasure to serve as your Pastor these past five years, and if it be God's will, I look forward to many more years of service in this place.  I cannot adequately express my gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve as your Pastor, and to you all for your kind cards and gifts in honor of this occasion.

            What follows is some of the information I sent to the paper to announce my ordination and it contains some interesting history.  Enjoy a brief walk down memory lane.  On 10 November 1483 Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany.  After being frightened by lightning in 1505, he vowed to become a monk and was ordained as a priest 500 (and five) years ago in 1507.  On 31 October 1517, he posted the famous 95 Theses that started the Reformation. 

            Fast forward to 3 November 1817.  On the very edge of what is now Sevier County, very close to what many of us know as the location of “Forbidden Cave”, there was a German settlement at Bird’s Crossroads.  Henry Jacob Eli and Jacob Bird acting as officers for the church, purchased an acre of land for $2.50 near Jacob Derrick’s grist mill, and on that land was a meeting house called Saint James Lutheran Church.  Very few Lutheran pastors made it to the East Tennessee frontier, so most of the German descendants start appearing on local Methodist church roles by the late 1840’s. 

            Fast forward another 100 years before another the Lutheran church would again establish itself in Sevier County.  In the late 1950’s, Our Savior Lutheran Church was started in Gatlinburg. In the 1980's, Holy Trinity (now Celebration) was established in Seymour.  Then in 1994, a small group of Lutherans started worshiping in the wedding chapel at the Holiday Inn in Pigeon Forge.  They later purchased and worshiped in a home just off McCarter Hollow Road for 5 years.  On Christmas of 1999, they celebrated Christmas in their new sanctuary at 1610 Pullen Road.  Then in July 2006, I was blessed to become part of the history of this family of believers as their Vicar.  On August the 12^th, 2007, only one week after the 500^th anniversary year of Martin Luther’s ordination, the first Lutheran ordination in the history of Sevier County took place at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Sevierville, Tennessee.  This was a wonderful day in my life and I am very pleased that you all took the time to make the 5^th anniversary of that event a wonderful day as well.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier  

Smoky Mountain Reflections

August 2012

            "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." .......on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This excerpt from the 16^th chapter of Matthew's Gospel makes clear who will prevail in the end—God and his church. We however must live in the interim—the time between God’s promise to redeem mankind, His fulfillment of that promise in Christ, and His second coming.  So what are we as His church to do in this interim? What does God call us to do in this in-between time?  We can rest assured that the victory is ours, the battle won.....but what about today? That is a big question to be addressed in one little reflection, but let’s give it a go.

            We should clearly live our lives to glorify God in all that we say and do. Seek to love God and our neighbor by living out His law as best we can and regularly seeking His love and forgivness when we fall short. But what does that look like for us as individuals and for the body of Christ, his church? Well for us as individuals, it is clearer than we may think.  It is not easy to do, but God’s will in our lives is clear—make God #1 in all that we say and do. Make weekly use of His gifts in Word, Sacrament, and rest. Honor the authority He places in our lives. Love, respect, and protect the life, marriage, reputation, family and property of everyone in our lives. As long as we keep His design for a peaceful God-pleasing life together as the standard, then the vocation (in the broadest sense of the word) that we choose can and will be in accord with His will.

            But how that looks for the church, while also quite clear in scripture, has become quite clouded and confusing in past decades.  Not just within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, but in wealthy western Christianity.  God's word clearly tells us that His church will prevail as noted above, but what that looks like in how we function as His church in the meantime has become a point of great discord and schism within the body of Christ.  Much of this discord can be summed up with the words "Church Growth".  I once heard a pastor say if you are not for church growth, what are you for? 

            If by church growth you mean an increase in the body of Christ, everyone is on board with that definition.  We can all celebrate together in the growth of the church while being careful to avoid defining success as numerical increase.  If that is a measure of doing the right thing, then Muslims and Mormons are doing the right thing.  However we as Christians must define success as God defines success.  Being steadfast and uncompromising in speaking the truth in love about who He is and what He did for mankind—that  is successful.  It is being the church by boldly and confidently doing what He calls us to do—proclaiming His word, administering His sacraments, loving Him and loving and serving all by caring for their physical and spiritual needs (not felt needs, biblically defined needs, food shelter, eternal salvation).

            If however by "church growth" you mean a body of formulaic practices that have developed in the past few decades focusing on individuals and using marketing strategies to bait them into your church, down playing or dismissing the importance of  all the church’s history and tradition.  Then many are not onboard with that.  While the church in many ways can be run as a business, it most certainly is not a business.  While Pastors or shepherds can and should have, and make use of, some leadership skills, we are most certainly not and cannot function as CEO's of the church. There are things that a good CEO must do for the good of a company that a good pastor could not and should not ever do as a servant leader for the good of the church.  And when these "Church Growth" practices call into question the efficacy of the Gospel by saying how we deliver the message is more important than the Gospel itself, it leads to statements that I have made myself. "I just do not want to get in the way of the Gospel.  Who am I to think I can hinder the Holy Spirit?  Who am I to think that my method is so important that God cannot and will not work unless my method is used?”  Oh little worm that I am, please never think such thoughts again. Those who like to focus on numbers as a sign of success often go to Acts 6 verse 7.  They often miss that right after that verse, Stephen was seized for his good work.  They often ignore centuries of church history where the true church was persecuted.  We should always be suspicious if the world is very approving of what we say and do as His church on earth.  Being in but not of the world is no easy task, but it is ours all the same.    

            God continues to use broken redeemed people to proclaim His Gospel, administer His Sacraments, and live out and speak the Gospel in the presence of the lost. God be praised that His truth prevails as matter of biblical truth.  His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. (2 Cor 12:9)  We should all be thankful that we are blessed with the privilege to take part in the spreading of His good news.

In Christ,

 Pastor Portier

Smoky Mountain Reflections

July 2012

            Communication......an amazing way God has given us to relay information from one person to another. 

The giving or exchanging and/or receiving of information and ideas, which comes in many different forms, some trustworthy and some suspect. We advise, announce, articulate, assert, commune, commiserate, connect, contact, converse, correspond, declare, deliver, disclose, disseminate, elucidate, express, link, mention, notify, publish, read, receive, reveal, talk, tell, transfer, translate, transmit, utter, and write so many things...... that our world is full of information noise and we often end up filtering more than we receive, sometimes even filtering very important information while spending long periods of time on mindless empty information just to take a break from all that endless information.... 

            We have become so good at communicating that we have developed lots of ways to communicate without even ever having to see or talk to each other. This long list of things which are designed to connect us often ends up sending us farther apart.  I write this reflection and it appears in about 90 printed paper newsletters.  It is also available in color at our church website.  I also post it on my blog while e-mailing a link to this blog to over 300 people and posting a link on Facebook as well.  I am sure that one day you will be able to write something and have it call everyone you want it to, and have it read to them on the phone or some mobile device.  Many books these days are available in audio form, read aloud by the author or a professional and pleasing foreign voice.  By my estimation, the different methods I use to send out this article give at least 1500 to 2000 people the direct opportunity to ignore it. Not to mention the multiple thousands that can ignore it online or if it appears in our local newspaper.  I am of course not complaining because I am sure that at least a dozen or so people give of their time to read over the words I so carefully and humbly put together.  And if where two or more are gathered is good enough for God to be present, how can I complain when dozens take time to ponder my words.

            I once read a comparison that noted that in the late 1800's, a person would process in one year the same amount of information most Americans process in a single day.  How much we process and how well depends heavily on numbers.  They are a big part of how we communicate. We see them on our favorite sports player’s jersey or race car driver’s car.  This is so we will know who is being discussed in conversation about the sport.  Numbers streamline and manage our world of communication. Phone #s, Social Security #s, Zip #s, P.O. box #s, street #s, not to mention that all of our electronic communications are all just 1s and 0s.  You may have noticed some symbols there as well (#)—numbers, symbols, words, phones, computers, newspapers, books, letters—all an amazing list of complex tools God gave us to communicate.

            But with all these great ways to communicate...are we drifting farther apart?  Are all these great methods and processes bringing us closer together...or driving us farther apart?  We do not have time for or make time for sitting down over a cup of coffee (or your favorite beverage). We do not have time for or make time for actually being physically present to visit that sick or lonely friend or family member.  We do not have time for or make time for a brief note, card, letter, e-mail, text or post to remember a friend or family member on a day when they need to be remembered. We do not have time for or make time for the niceties of etiquette in e-mails or text...saying hello, or sincerely yours...take time that could be better spent shooting off a dozen other short encrypted messages.  Is it possible that this 50-year old man laments some of the things that our society once held very important and now does not have time to waste on?  Well yes, but I too benefit from all the conveniences that high-speed abbreviated communication gives me...more time to spend on mediocre articles that some people might read :-), more time to spend with my loved ones, being together, being family as best we can, with God's help in this fast-paced world.     

            The most important piece of communication that exists comes from God.  He gives it to us in clear expressions of truth in His word, in His word rightly proclaimed, and in His sacraments rightly administered.  The amazing clear and lucid nature of scripture shows just how much he loves communicating with us.  There is no debate on what God's word says, only on how we apply His truth, or in some circles, if it even is truth.  This much is sure—God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son for us. When this reality is communicated to us through the Holy Spirit, we crave communication with Him in worship, reading of His word and direct personal communication...prayer.

            Slow down and be selective in what you process. Take time to communicate with God today.  Lay on Him all your worries and concerns, thank Him for all that is good in your life, and ask Him for help to deal with all that is grievous or painful.  He is with you. He will answer. Trust the love He has communicated to you in word and deed.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier  

Smoky Mountain Reflections

June 2012

            This month I would like to share with you a few quotes of the past that are timeless in nature and very appropriate for our day and age.  These caught my attention in my daily devotions over the past few months.  As we seek to speak the truth in love to our society, we may feel this to be a hard task, but a task we are called to all the same as members of the body of Christ. That being said, I think these four quotes do a fine job of diagnosing the problem and acknowledging the one and only cure, as painful as it may be.  Even though these words are from around 100 and 500 years ago they ring with truth as if they had been written yesterday.

            The first is from an early 20th century Frenchman by the name of George Bernanos whose words I found in the Ministers Prayer Book on page 402:

            "Our heavenly Father said mankind was the salt of the earth, not the honey. And our poor world's rather like old man Job, stretched out in all his filth, covered with ulcers and sores. Salt stings an open wound, but saves you from gangrene." Georges Bernanos (20 February 1888 – 5 July 1948)   

            The other three are from one of my favorite writers, Martin Luther.  This past fall our adult Sunday School class went through the "Witness, Mercy, Life Together" Bible study, which was well received and highly recommended by those who attended.  One of the students, Gwen Cody, our volunteer church secretary, was particularly impressed by a quote of Martin Luther from our synod President.  He got this quote from "Luther's Breviary" a meditation for each day of the year.  Gwen was so impressed that it motivated her to obtain a copy for herself and in the process, she decided to bless me with a copy as well.  I have been enjoying the daily insights from Luther and share three with you here.

12 May: Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.               

            "I teach the truth! For this reason they should treat me better and support me.  And yet they fight against me and use spiteful words to make me into an enemy of the entire human race. What is to be done? They can not bear good deeds so all this must be offered up to God and I must remain steadfast in prayer.  Alas, what sort of devout child is the world? It does not want evil, but cannot cope with good. So let me guess: What does this child really want? Hellfire! and the Devil as well! the Child struggles for this, and this will be its reward. And even if no further misfortune came about, would you not say that it was misfortune enough to have a heart that is obdurate, blinded and hardened, a heart that is incapable of seeing and hearing? Obdurate, I had to look it up (stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.) Harsh words but true in light of our society’s stubborn determination to call good evil and evil good!

4 May: Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

            "There are many people who wait to show God their particular goal, stipulate the time and the scope, and they do not hesitate to tell Him exactly how they should be helped. And if everything does not go according to the plan, they despair and seek help elsewhere. They do not wait on the Lord. God is supposed to wait on them and be immediately ready to hand and to help them only in the exact way they had so carefully mapped out for themselves. On the other hand, those who do wait on the Lord, ask for His mercy. But they still leave it to the good will of God as to when, how and where and by what means God should help them. They have no doubts as to whether they will be helped or not; nor do they give a name to the kind of help they want. They leave everything to Him no matter how long they may have to wait on His help.

6 April Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.            "Oh, how uneven our treatment is of that poor crowd of boys who have been given to us to guide and to instruct. And we shall have to answer as to why we do not introduce them to the Word of God. My advice is that nobody should ever entrust their child to an institution where Holy Scripture does not hold sway. Any institution that does not preach God's Word incessantly is doomed. Our Schools should form people who are pure and learned, so that they will become bishops and pastors and take lead in the fight against heretics and devils and the whole world. But where can such an institution be found? My great worry is that our schools will become the great gates of Hell, unless Holy Scripture is diligently practiced in these places and communicated to our young people." Martin Luther (10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546). Wow! Try words like that in a school board meeting and you will be tarred and feathered.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed these hard-hitting words of truth from the past. Have a blessed summer.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier        

Smoky Mountain Reflections

May 2012

            Bees, flowers, graduations, brisk spring showers, cool sunny days, weddings, baby birds, and other furry baby critters…these are all images we associate with Easter and springtime.  A big part of the ceremony that usually accompanies spring, like at graduations or even weddings, is Pomp & Circumstance—what we called in the military "The whole Dog & Pony show".  So why do we do such things? Why do we put ourselves through getting all dressed up in clothes that are usually uncomfortable, spend long periods of time listening to long boring speeches or sermons usually given by someone we do not know and will probably never see again?  In my years as a military brat, a Boy Scout, as student & the parent of students, a sailor and now as a pastor, I have certainly spent much time in my life dressed in uncomfortable clothes, sitting on uncomfortable folding furniture while struggling to pay attention to another motivational speech on how to be a better _______. (Plug in the word that fits the ceremonial situation.) 

            Why do I find myself reflecting on weddings and graduations? Because I am conducting two weddings this spring and will be attending my third graduation this year, not to mention an Air Force officer commissioning.  It is certainly not out of the ordinary for a pastor to conduct weddings in the spring, however in one of these weddings, I will be both giving away the bride and conducting the service (pray for me).  It is also certainly not out of the ordinary for anyone to attend graduations in the springtime, however at the third  graduation, I will also be observing a young man graduate and later get commissioned, to whom I will be giving that bride that I mentioned earlier.  He is a young man whom I look forward to being able to call son.  So as I get teary-eyed even as I write this, I guess I have a love / hate relationship with ceremonies.

            I have a stack of certificates and a wall full of plaques from all the times in my life I have had a milestone marked by a ceremony of some kind, and I have attended dozens if not hundreds of similar occasions in the lives of friends and family members.  While I may lament getting dressed up or listening to longwinded speakers, I would also have to say I not only enjoyed but have only fond memories of most of the ceremonies I have been a part of or attended in the past five decades. (This is not to mention the celebrations that usually follow.)

            I think if we are honest with ourselves, we recognize the value of doing things right and doing them big.  We can all acknowledge that in most cases, the ceremony was not the point of whatever we achieved. However, it did serve to hold up hard work and success as a goal for ourselves and others to strive for.  We can also see that all societies, even primitive tribal ones, have ceremony and rites of passage to encourage and instill in the whole community the values that serve to keep a community safe, peaceful, secure, just and prosperous.  There is a strange parallel between healthy societies of the past and the efforts they took to uphold a code of ethics that in most cases looks and sounds a lot like the Ten Commandments.  I would suggest that God designed His creation to work well for those seeking to function in harmony with His will, so even when hard times come, they are able to push through difficulty using His precepts and the peace only He can provide.

            So even though I am often not excited about attending another ceremony (I got a lifetime’s worth of that in the US Navy), I am never disappointed when I go through the time and effort to adorn myself appropriately for the event because I appreciate what the whole process provides for societal values and stability.

            I must take a moment to differentiate between worship and ceremony. While all divine worship is ceremonial, not all ceremony is worship. I bring this up because we have civil ceremony and divine worship coming together in Christian weddings.  It is definitely good for a society to recognize and legally protect this divinely established building block for healthy communities and nations.  However, all non-worship ceremony is man-centered, while worship is and  necessarily must be Christ-centered.  This distinctly sets apart Christian weddings from all others.  Being legally married is a matter for the state and that is what the license is for.  In weddings conducted by other religions, the individuals are central, to the point of excluding the deity, giving him a wink, or prayer, or offering.  But a Christian wedding is two people acknowledging before God what He instituted in creation as a great gift. Those who are blessed to partake of this great gift get a small glimpse of what God’s pre-sin creation must have been like.  As in all divine worship, in a Christian wedding the congregation and the couple are served by God as His sweet Gospel is proclaimed, and all marital relationships are affirmed as a God-pleasing way to live our lives in accord with His will.

            So enjoy this spring’s weddings and ceremonies with a deeper understanding of their benefit and blessing in your life.

Smoky Mountain Reflections

April 2012

            Happy Easter!! As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I find myself reflecting on the wonder of Life.  What a sweet gift from God! He created it, He redeemed it, and He celebrates it with a burst of color every spring.  Buds transition to full bloom and all the bright colors burst into an full array of greens that will serve as our summer canopy, shielding us from the sun while wisping sweet sounds on the breeze. Sadly, while the beauty of this annual cycle of life plays out, we live in a time and place where life and the most fragile and vulnerable are unsafe, sacrificed on the altar of personal freedom.

            In this election year, you may find yourself saying, “Pastor—not another reflection on politics.....”  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please trouble yourselves to read the whole article. I would much prefer to wax eloquent on the virtues of a life lived in accord with God's will, but innocent life is under attack.  God’s Command to love our neighbor by not murdering is under attack by our government.  God’s Command to love our neighbor by keeping sex in marriage is under attack by our government. And during an election year, if we do not speak the truth in love, and we flip the lever in a way that doesn’t reflect God's love for life and marriage, then one could honestly ask who our God is.

            Eric Metaxas, the author of a recent book on Dietrich Bonheoffer and a previous book on William Wilberforce, pointed out at the national prayer breakfast that in Wilberforce's day, going with the flow meant to see Africans as less than human and expendable. In Bonheoffer's day, going with the flow meant seeing Jews as less than human. Today in the interest of personal freedom, we see the unborn and the infirmed as less than human and a drain on our resources. Today in the interest of personal freedom, we sacrifice the family unit while our loved ones suffer. 

            It does not matter if science supports the biblical view of marriage and life—the truth is sacrificed as easily as are families and other forms of inconvenient relationships and people. Here are just a few examples: Healthy marriages have been shown to be better for children, men, women, and society in study after study. Children are more likely to attend college, more likely to succeed academically, physically healthier,

emotionally healthier, less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, less likely to commit delinquent behaviors,

less likely to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse, have a better relationship with their parents which

decreases their chances of divorcing when they get married, less likely to become pregnant as a teenager, or impregnate someone, less likely to be sexually active as teenagers, less likely to contract STD's, and less likely to be raised in poverty.  Women and men are healthier, wealthier, less likely to be victims, less likely to attempt or commit suicide, have decreased risk of drug and alcohol abuse, less likely to contract STD's, less likely to remain or end up in poverty, have better relationships with their children, live longer, have an increase in the stability of employment and higher wages, less likely to commit violent crimes. Communities benefit as well: higher rates of healthy citizens, higher rates of educated citizens, lower domestic violence rates, lower crime statistics, lower teenage pregnancy rates, lower rates of juvenile delinquency, higher rates of home ownership, lower rates of migration, higher property values, and decreased need for social services.  That is what communities look like that have higher rates of in tact traditional families, no matter what the social engineers would have you believe. 

            Abortion does not just murder children—it also hurts all whom it touches. Women who have abortions are 81 percent more likely to experience subsequent mental health problems. Where is the media outrage on that information? That is not just true because I said it. This is from Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists—the result of a Meta-analysis of 22 studies between 1995 and 2009.  These 22 studies have data on 877,181 women in six countries, and every single one showed higher rates of mental health problems. They experience anxiety 34% higher, depression 37% higher, alcoholism 110% higher, drug abuse 230%  higher, and suicidal behavior 155% higher.  This is just the tip of the iceberg!  Pain and suffering abound when we murder the innocent and when we value our freedom over all else, making it our God.

            God does not care if you vote for a Democrat or a Republican in November, but He does care if the person you vote for will work to protect life and marriage.  Life and Marriage are a gift from God that we should cherish and protect.  Springtime can be a little brighter if we treat each other in accord with God’s will.

Smoky Mountain Reflections

March 2012

            There are times when I am more proud of my church body than others.  Not to boast or to be condescending, but because of our stand on biblical truth, and that was particularly evident when the president of our church body, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday, February 16.  Our president unapologetically took a strong stand defending the sanctity of human life.  He did this by discussing the recent U. S. Health and Human Services ruling regarding contraceptives. He explained in a very clear and concise manner how it violated citizens’ freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.  He did this alongside Catholic, Baptist, and Jewish leadership as they all strongly protested this violation of conscience and the first amendment, and a ruling which places in peril our right not to participate in the murder of unborn children.

            Our church body is not in the habit of taking positions on political issues, however with this HHS ruling, the line into the realm of moral truth has been crossed, and we cannot sit quietly by while our government makes laws that can and will force us and our churches to take part in the murder of innocent life.  The recent clause grandfathering and exempting religious groups is clearly a temporary step toward an eventual one-payer goal that has no regard for religious freedom or the rights of the unborn.

            The following is an excerpt from the official statement released by President Harrison on February 15^th:

            "In response to President Obama’s announcement Friday concerning an ‘accommodation’ to a previous mandate that health plans must cover all forms of birth control (even those that can kill the unborn), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod remains deeply concerned. We strongly object to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception. Drugs such as Plan B ® and Ella®, which are still included in the mandate, can work post-conception to cause the death of the developing child, so don’t be fooled by statements to the contrary. ......

..... the ‘accommodation’ did not expand the exemption for religious employers, nor did it restrict the mandate in any way. It simply described a temporary enforcement delay and a possible future change—a change that, unfortunately, would not adequately protect religious freedom or unborn lives. We remain opposed to this mandate because it runs counter to the biblical truth of the sanctity of human life. ....... Freedom of religion extends beyond the practice of our faith in houses of worship. We must be free to put our faith into action.......

 The government has overstepped its bounds. This controversy is not merely about birth control and the Catholic Church’s views about it. It’s about mandating that we provide medications which kill life in the womb. And moreover, and perhaps even more ominous, it is about an overzealous government forcing coercive provisions that violate the consciences and rights of its citizens."

            To read the whole statement, visit our synod website (www.lcms.org) or our church website (www.SPLCTN.com ).  One of the blessings of being a Christian is freedom to serve and love our neighbor. One of the things I have always loved about being an LCMS Lutheran is the strong apolitical stand our church body has always taken and continues to take on political issues. You can be Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green, or whatever your political pleasure, however when our Government crosses into the moral realm, we must as good citizens and as members of the body of Christ take a strong stand for the weak and defenseless.  The infirmed and the unborn deserve strong and unequivocal support from the whole body of Christ on earth.  We must pray for our President and our legislators that God would guide them to protect and preserve the rights of every human being.  LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness begin with LIFE.  We cannot have liberty or the pursuit of happiness if someone else takes our LIFE.  Sadly, one of the most dangerous places to live in America is inside the womb because it is the only place where you have no rights.  Pray for the safety of the unborn as part of your daily prayers. Pray for the health, healing and forgivness of all who suffer because of the abortion industry.  Pray that all of the resources of that industry would one day be used to protect and preserve life instead of snuffing it out.  Pray that our nation would vote wisely in November in favor of the sanctity of human life.

Enjoy your LIFE today—a precious gift from God!  He loves you because He loves all LIFE.

In Christ, Pastor Portier   

Smoky Mountain Reflections

February 2012

            Seasons greetings! I figured if that greeting works for Thanksgiving and Christmas, then it should work just as well for Presidents’ Day and Saint Valentine’s Day, but maybe it is just a lame greeting regardless of the time of year.  As we find ourselves already past the first month of this year, I am pondering some of the empty promises of our society, and how the American right for the pursuit of happiness has been transformed into a god to be worshiped, an entitlement to be fought for.  Those who "have" and have worked hard to get what they have, are increasingly seen as evil and greedy, while those who "have not" are portrayed as victims of an unfair system that favors the rich on the backs of the poor.  This is in no way an accurate reflection of reality, but it is the narrative that keeps many from admitting that maybe they have some culpability in their downtrodden status and the capability to get out of it.  Have many in our society been dealt a raw deal, an unfair share of sorrows?  Yes, but the only way to fix many of these problems is usually prayer, hard work, and persistence.  Blaming others and seeking to take from those who have just because they have, makes everybody poorer, while lining the pockets of litigators and legislators.

            Sadly, many in our society would rather blame some unseen evil and lament the woes of this existence, than simply do what it takes to get back on their feet.  Many of these notions come from misguided attempts to protect bruised egos which, instead of helping people, keep them in their beleaguered state.  There are some in our society that make a living by keeping a segment of our population in a victim status and claiming to champion their cause while keeping them in it.                      

            Here are some of the tools of these charlatans.  They are purveyors of class warfare, claiming to fight for the little man while actually working to keep him little.  This first flows from a complete denial of the fact that just punishment is a good thing for society.  You would expect children to say if they get caught doing something wrong and are punished, that punishment is a bad thing.  But there are many adults in our society that despise just authority.  There is no such thing as just punishment in their eyes.  If they are being punished, it is unjust regardless of what they may have done.  Unless, of course, someone they do not like is punished, not for violating the law but because no one needs all that money.  I do not like getting a speeding ticket but I can acknowledge that this form of punishment is a good thing.  It positively affects the way I drive. It makes the roads safer. It makes me safer.  It supplies needed funds to the local government.  The lie is that you are entitled to something in this life because you breathe.  The truth is that we are all blessed by God with the gift of breath and the opportunity to work hard, and make God-pleasing use of our God-given time, talents, and treasures. The only thing any of us deserve is eternal punishment, but Christ endured that so we do not have to.

            Another lie is that within you are seeds of greatness.  Each and every one of us has the opportunity to do God-pleasing things with whatever time we are blessed to be here.  But before the Holy Spirit plants saving faith in our hearts, we carry only seeds of destruction, and after I am blessed with faith, I still struggle with those self-centered destructive seeds.  I do not want to rain on anybody's parade here, but the way we define greatness and the way God defines it, are diametrically opposed. For us, greatness is self-centered, self-gratifying, full of fame, fortune and worship of self.  Greatness, biblically defined, is selfless—the last being first and vice versa, the servant of all, divine perfection, the greatest of all flesh...bleeding and dying a disgraceful death for an ungrateful multitude.          

            Another lie is that you can look to your emotions for affirmation of God's will in your life.  This is the height of modern day mysticism. If I look to my feelings for affirmation instead of to God's revealed truth in His word, then I am doing the same thing as any Buddhist, Hindu, or Freemason.  If I look to my emotions for affirmation, then I make myself god, seeking a self-defined nirvana, karma, enlightenment, or other state of special consciousness that I determine is valid or invalid. God reveals Himself in His word.  Any special revelation that contradicts that word in the smallest degree is a lie straight from the pit of Hell.    

            Another great lie is Pelagianism which denies original sin.  It is the belief that original sin is not part of our human nature and that our will is still capable of choosing good or evil.  The biggest problem with this is it leads to statements like, "They are basically good—it was just a mistake, so they do not deserve punishment. They deserve another chance."  I am not a big fan of punishment.  I have never enjoyed giving or receiving it, but it is a necessary part of a God-pleasing society in order to curb the harmful effects of our sin, helping us to behave, keeping us safe from ourselves and others, and giving us ways to love our neighbors as ourselves. Thank God that we are blessed to share His great Gospel through the fullness of our vocation as members of the body of Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Portier