UNIMAGINABLE, AMAZING GRACE

by Dennis D. Nelson

I had heard that the musical “Hamilton,” based upon the life of Alexander Hamilton, was good.  Until I went to see a movie version of it on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its opening on Broadway, I did not know how good.  The staging was stunning, the singing was energetic, the lyrics are brilliant, and the man who played King George was an absolute hoot. 

For me the most powerful part of the play was the song, “It’s Quiet Uptown,” in the latter part of the Second Act.  Alexander and his wife Eliza have moved to a quiet part of town as they seek to rebuild their lives after the severe double trauma of the death of their son Philip and Alexander’s marital infidelity.  Philip was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr as he tried to defend his father’s honor.

UNIMAGINABLE GRIEF

Angelica, the older sister of Hamilton’s wife Eliza, begins the song with these words –
“There are moments that the words don’t reach.
There is suffering too terrible to name.
You hold your child as tight as you can
And push away the unimaginable.”

Parents who have lost a child through death say that that pain is the absolutely worst possible.

The Ensemble then join with Angelica in noting that the Hamiltons have moved up town – to the quiet part of town – as they “learn to live with the unimaginable.”

Hamilton, who had been very active in the founding and early days of our country, describes what life is like for him now in the quiet part of town as he seeks to come to terms with what he has done and the loss he and his wife have suffered. 
“I spend hours in the garden.
I walk alone to the store and it’s quiet uptown.
I never liked the quiet before.
I take the children to church on Sunday.
A sign of the cross at the door and I pray.
That never used to happen before.”

I think of people I have known who surround themselves with constant busyness and noise so they do not have to deal with the painful parts of their lives.  They would never want to live in the quiet part of town.

UNIMAGINABLE GUILT 

But Alexander is suffering not only from the unimaginable grief that he shares with his wife over the death of their son.  He is also suffering from unimaginable guilt over his marital infidelity.  He continues –
“Look at where we are.  Look at where we started.
I know I don’t deserve you, Eliza, but hear me out.
That would be enough.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the musical and who plays the part of Hamilton, sings these words with a suffering and pain that tears your heart apart.
“If I could spare his life
If I could trade his life for mine
He’d be standing here right now
And you would smile, and that would be enough.
I don’t pretend to know the challenges we’re facing.
I know there’s no replacing what we’ve lost.
And you need time.”

First the company sing, “He is trying to do the unimaginable.”
Then they sing, “They are trying to do the unimaginable.”

UNIMAGINABLE GRACE 

We come to the turning point when Angelica, Eliza’s sister, repeats the same words as at the beginning of the song – “There are moments that the words don’t reach.”  But this time, instead of continuing with “There is suffering too terrible to name,” she sings, “There is a grace too powerful to name.”
“They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza’s side.
She takes his hand.”

That is the turning point.  She takes his hand.  In spite of all her unimaginable grief and Alexander’s unimaginable guilt, she offers him unimaginable grace.  She takes his hand.  What made her able to do that?  What made her able to offer what the company then sings about?

“Forgiveness.  Can you imagine?
Forgiveness.  Can you imagine?”

Every time I hear that song my heart is rung out and I have a deeply moving spiritual experience.

This is not easy, cheap grace – as Dietrich Bonhoeffer described.  This is no, “I’m sorry.  Please forgive me.  Now it should be all over, so why are you still upset, mad at me, and do not trust me?”  Rather this is an unimaginable forgiveness – an unimaginable grace – given by someone who has suffered unimaginable grief to someone who has fully accepted the seriousness and consequences and felt the pain of his unimaginable guilt.

What made her able to do that?  What made Hamilton think that he might have a chance?  The answer can be found in Hamilton’s words –
“I’m not afraid.
I know who I married.
Just let me stay here by your side.
That would be enough.” 

Alexander knew his wife.  He knew whom he had married.  He knew that his only chance lay not in the depth of his confession and/or in the amount of his sorrow but in the depth of her love, expressed in unimaginable grace.

Reminds me of the words of the song that is based on 2 Timothy 1: 12 –
“I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.
But ‘I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.’”

It also reminds me of the story of King David, who along with Bathsheba experienced unimaginable grief.  David bore an unimaginable guilt, but, as undeserving as he was, experienced God’s unimaginable mercy and grace.  David is a prime example of the truth of the statement that is attributed to Ravi Zecharias, American evangelical minister and Christian apologist who learned the full meaning of these words from his own life –

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

The Psalm for Ash Wednesday is Psalm 51.  In this Psalm David confesses his unimaginable guilt.  He knows that his only chance is to throw himself completely upon the mercy and grace of God.  The prophet Nathan, who had confronted him with his sin, tells him that – because of his confession – he will not die, but the child that will be born to Bathsheba will die and the sword will never depart from his house (2 Samuel 12: 10-14).

David is guilty of an unimaginable guilt.  He has taken the wife of another man (who happened to be not a stranger but a close comrade) and arranged for the death of that man.  David’s confession did not bring Uriah back to life.  The consequences of his sin remained, just as the consequences of our sin remain.  Uriah was still dead.  

David and Bathsheba are suffering an unimaginable grief.  Their first child died.  Son Amnon will rape his sister Tamar.  Son Absalom will kill his brother Amnon.  Son Absalom will be killed after leading a rebellion against the King and taking over the throne.  What the prophet Nathan said did come true.  The sword never departed from David’s house. 

But David also received unimaginable forgiveness, unimaginable mercy, and unimaginable grace.  From David and Bathsheba Solomon was born, whose descendants eventually included our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even when we humans are at our worst, God can still bring about His best. 

This Lenten season, as once again we bring all our sins and sorrows to the cross, may we again put our full trust in and receive the full blessings of God’s unimaginable, amazing grace. 

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PASTORAL CARE, POWER, AND THE PROPER WORK OF THE CHURCH

Many thanks to Paul Fleming for writing a theological analysis of the Consultation that Bishop Hagmeier of the ELCA’s South Dakota Synod had with the leaders and members of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.  This consultation was held on September 21 prior to their first vote on whether to disaffiliate from the ELCA. 

 Paul is a retired intelligence officer and confessional Lutheran layman who is currently working toward a Master’s degree in Lutheran Theology. His work reflects a deep concern for pastoral integrity, congregational life, and the centrality of the Gospel in the Church.

 My analysis was written more from a governance perspective.  His is from a theological perspective.  A link to my analysis can be found HERE.  

The Bishop’s Consultation was held one week prior to the first vote on September 28.  For that vote 360 out of the 530 ballots (67.9%) voted to terminate the church’s affiliation with the ELCA and 170 ballots voted to stay with the ELCA.  A two-thirds vote on two separate occasions is required to disaffiliate.  The second vote was held on January 25.  There was a total of 661 votes, so 441 were needed to disaffiliate. The total votes were: Yes to disaffiliate: 434 (65.66%)

 – No to disaffiliate: 227.  So the vote failed.  Please join with me in prayer for the pastors, lay leaders, and congregation of First Lutheran Church.   

Paul writes –

Inspired by and written in response to Pastor Dennis D. Nelson’s Lutheran CORE article,
“An Analysis of a Bishop’s Consultation.”

In recent years, many Lutheran congregations have experienced deep strain—not primarily from external persecution, but from internal processes intended to bring “clarity,” “truth,” or “renewal.” Pastor Dennis D. Nelson’s careful and documented article, An Analysis of a Bishop’s Consultation, names this reality with sobriety and pastoral concern. His work provides an important occasion to reflect more broadly on the nature of pastoral care, ecclesial authority, and the proper work of the Church according to the Lutheran confession.

The concern raised is not simply the size or composition of synodical consultations, resource teams, or institutional delegations. Rather, the deeper issue lies in the spiritual logic that governs these encounters. When gatherings described as pastoral immediately introduce loss-based leverage—threats involving funding, scholarships, institutional standing, or reputational harm—the Church risks substituting fear for faith. At that point, consciences are no longer being addressed solely by God’s Word, but are being pressed by consequences.

The Lutheran Confessions speak clearly here. The Church has been given a specific and limited mandate: to proclaim Christ crucified for sinners and to distribute His gifts through Word and Sacrament. Pastors are not authorized to manage outcomes, secure compliance, or curate narratives. They are called to bind and loose consciences only by the Word of God (Augsburg Confession XXVIII). When pressure or strategic silence enters the process, the pastoral office is quietly transformed into an instrument of control rather than care.

This tension becomes especially acute when former pastors are drawn into congregational conflicts. Even where policies permit such involvement, the pastoral office is not a political role that can be redeployed to influence internal governance disputes. Former shepherds retain spiritual authority in the eyes of the congregation. When they are positioned—intentionally or not—to shape outcomes, the appearance—and often the reality—of manipulation is difficult to avoid. For congregations already carrying heavy burdens, this compounds confusion and deepens wounds.

Lutheran theology insists that Christ alone governs His Church through His appointed means. The Church is not renewed by stronger management structures, clearer messaging, or enforced alignment. She is renewed when sinners are forgiven, consciences are comforted, and faith is created and sustained by the Gospel. Any process, however well intentioned, that displaces this center risks turning the Church inward upon herself.

This danger becomes particularly visible when institutional programs or compliance frameworks assume organizing authority over the Church’s life. When ideological accountability or mandated initiatives become functionally central, the Church subtly shifts from proclamation to performance. Good works, justice, and love of neighbor matter deeply—but they must remain the fruit of faith, not a new law that becomes the Church’s operating gospel. As Luther repeatedly warned, even well-intended law always accuses.

Unity in the Church cannot be coerced. Trust cannot be engineered. Renewal cannot be managed. These are gifts of the Holy Spirit, given through the Gospel. When leaders substitute institutional righteousness for sacramental life, they may achieve short-term compliance, but they inevitably lose credibility. Congregations recognize when truth is being managed rather than spoken plainly, and when pastoral language is used to serve non-pastoral ends.

None of this is written with joy in separation. Faithful Lutherans rightly grieve division. The recent vote outcome at First Lutheran, Sioux Falls, only underscores the pastoral weight of these matters and the continued need for prayerful, confessional clarity. Yet coercion must not be baptized as care, nor narrative control labeled “truth.” When leaders refuse to speak plainly or to respect congregational integrity, trust collapses, and consciences seek refuge elsewhere.

The way forward is neither reactionary nor despairing. It is confessional. The Church must return again and again to her true center: Christ crucified for sinners, given freely in Word and Sacrament. Where this center is preserved, even painful disagreement can be borne with patience and hope. Where it is displaced, no amount of institutional effort will suffice.

Faithful Lutherans are not called to win battles, but to confess Christ clearly, soberly, and without fear—entrusting the Church to her true Lord, who sustains His people not by pressure, but by grace.

In Christ,
Paul Flemming

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VIDEO MINISTRIES

HERE is a link to our YouTube channel, which contains 66 videos on books and topics of interest and importance. This month we would like to feature two videos.  First, to continue the themes of guilt, grief, and grace in the opening article in this letter, we have a video review by Daniel Ostercamp of Philip Yancey’s book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”  And then Cathy Ammlung continues her series of helpful information for worship planners, particularly in churches where there is no regular called pastor.

“WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?”
by Philip Yancey
A review by Daniel Ostercamp

Many thanks to LCMC pastor Daniel Ostercamp for his video review of Philip Yancey’s book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”  HERE is a link to his review.  Daniel writes – 

Philip Yancey calls his readers to trust deeply in grace and to proclaim it as powerfully in their lives as in their words. Grace is the specifically Christian treasure that needs to be shared recklessly with the people who judge themselves solely by their successes and failures within this broken world. 

First published in 1997, the book would eventually sell more than two million copies.  The more recent edition includes a preface with reflections about how our world thirsts for grace even more today.  We are not people of reward, retribution or karma, but receivers and givers of love and mercy. 

We walk as best as we can in this life, hoping that our Lord Jesus can use us to form nourishing families, congregations and communities of grace.  The thoughtful writing of Philip Yancey can help you in that endeavor.

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TOOLKIT FOR WORSHIP PLANNING – PART THREE
by Cathy Ammlung

Many thanks to NALC pastor Cathy Ammlung for this third in a series of videos intended to provide congregations – especially those with temporary and/or longer-term pastoral vacancies – with some tools for worship planning.  A link to her video can be found HERE.  A link to the full manuscript of her presentation can be found HERE.   

In this video, Cathy covers the lectionary: What is it?  Where is it?  Why is it?  Why are there more than one?  How do you use the lectionary in worship planning?  What are some pitfalls, and what are the most important things to know about lectionaries as a worship planning tool?

In her first video in this series (LINK) Cathy discussed the whole issue of why worship planning is important.  In her second video (LINK) Cathy talked about the church year, including festivals.

* * * * * * *

May the Lord draw you closer to Himself and the Cross as you begin your Lenten journey.

In Christ,

Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE

“And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him.  Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:22-23)

There are times when we do not trust Jesus for the everyday and ordinary things.  We want Him to touch us with the extraordinary things.  Why would Jesus ask if this man sees?  Why does Jesus do anything that He does?  Jesus often prayed out loud and then thanked the Father saying that He knew the Father hears.  He told us this was done for the sake of those who hear.  Jesus will bring all who believe to the place of trusting the Father in and through all things.

Lord, You are purposeful.  You have said that there is purpose for everything You do and that You will bring it all together for good for those who love You.  Help me so that I no longer try to figure all things out before believing, but trust Your leading at all times.  Although You may not do things in a way that I understand, I know that You are God and that all things are in Your hands.

Lead me Lord Jesus so that I do not stop at my ability to understand, but move through all of the things that would otherwise hinder me in this life.  You have called me to follow You now and forever.  Guide me in Your goodness and grace to look to You and no matter how You bring things to fruition, help me to have faith such that I trust You.  You are my Lord and Savior and it must be done in the way You know that fulfills the Father’s will.  Help me to trust the truth You have spoken.  Amen.  

“When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.”  And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:20-21)

Do you not yet understand?  Jesus has come to make us perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect.  What He is doing is completing us as He prepares us to be with Him forever.  The sin of the world is being taken away so that we may live with Him forever.  Do not be led by the things of this world, but by the One who created all worlds.  Jesus will accomplish your salvation and bring you to be with Him where He is.

Lord, I do not fully understand all that You are doing.  Help me to obey the First Commandment and love and trust You above all things.  Help me to trust that You are good and merciful and will accomplish all that You have promised.  You alone are able to save me and I do not understand all that is needed.  Through You I can know that You will do what You say.  Help me to always trust this simple and profound truth.

Jesus, You daily pour into me what is needed for the day.  You are growing in me Your likeness.  Help me to move beyond my limited understand to trust that You will accomplish all that is needed for the sake of those who believe.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy.  May Your grace grow in me what the Father desires.  Through all things, bring me to the place of understanding.  Amen.

“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember,  when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve” (Mark 8:18-19).

The Lord is telling us to connect the dots that He shows us.  How often do we go around saying we do not understand when He has placed before us all that we need to know so that we may understand.  The Holy Spirit grants wisdom to those who are willing to see and hear.  You do not have because you do not ask.  Ask the Lord and He will open your hearts and minds to see and understand.

Lord, You know where I am ignorant.  You know where I am naive.  You know where I have need.  Take away any pride that stands in the way of my humbly coming to You and asking for all that I need.  Guide me to learn how to faithfully trust You for all things.  In Your goodness and mercy, teach me so that I may see what You show me, hear what You say, and understand that You are the One who saves me.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the words of eternal life.  Often, I act as if I have not heard nor seen all that You have done for those who believe.  Mature me in faith so that I may humbly walk in Your ways all the days of my life.  Guide me to live according to the word You have given and not settle for the grumbling of my sinful body.  Lead me Lord to learn how to live from You and for You.  Amen.

“They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.  And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?” (Mark 8:16-17)

Too often, we live by the pattern in which we have been conditioned.  Being conditional, we do not trust that the Lord has already provided for all of our needs.  But we have the incessant wants that are driving us and seek to satisfy only our physical desires.  The Lord has come to break bad habits, lead us, and prepare us for eternal life.  We are called from being circumstantial into the reality that all things have always been in the Lord’s hands.

Lord, help me.  You know where I get off track and listen to my belly rather than listening to You.  You have called me out of myself in order to discover the true life which is found only in You.  You know that I need food, but You know where food takes over and I live for food rather than for You.  Break all bad habits so that in all things I may be conformed to what You are creating in me as You prepare me for eternity.

Thank You my Lord and Savior for saving me.  I need to be rescued from the bondage which sin has placed upon my life.  I need to be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Actually, I do not know all that I need, but You do.  Teach me to learn when I pray, “give us this day our daily bread.”  Guide me to understand more fully the truth of the promise that You have given me in faith.  Amen.

“And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.  And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:14-15).

Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very word of God.  He spoke all things into existence in the beginning.  Beware, lest you fall for the traps of this age which, like leaven, cause doubts and fears to grow inside you.  It is not blind faith, but faith that trust that the One who created all things will lead you forward toward the goal of being with Him forever.  All things are possible with the One who made all things.

Lord, help me to see those places where the poison of this age infects my mind.  Keep me from going deep into legalism, but also keep me from going the other way toward being skeptical.  The signs I need have been shown.  I see the fruit of living according to Your word.  Help me so that I remain on the narrow path and walk according to the word You have given me.  Guide me to live by faith.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way of living the new life that You give.  You know the places where there is leaven that has infected me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see that only in You is there hope and a future.  Teach me what it means to walk on the narrow path.  Help me through the obstacles that will come, for You know where the leaven is that would infect my soul.  Lead me Lord Jesus, my Savior.  Amen.

“The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.  Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side” (Mark 8:11-13).

No sign from heaven, only from earth.  The cross is lifted up and is the answer, but many do not want that answer.  Yes, Jesus conquers death, but we all must go through death.  The world thinks the death of the body is the final answer.  Jesus tells us otherwise.  Through, yes!  Through the cross we are given a new life and we have the promise that as He was raised from the dead, we too shall also be raised.

Almighty and merciful Lord, I have been hung up in wishful thinking.  People around me want proof.  Proof, which You have already given.  Ultimately, it boils down to whether or not I am going to trust You.  Help me learn the truth that You are the only One who is trustworthy.  All things are in Your hands and either I will trust the simple truth of this, or else continue in this generation’s wishful thinking.

Help me Holy Spirit to overcome the incessant desire to have proofs for my continued walk in faith.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Help me to dwell in faith, trusting in what I do not yet see, but know that You have promised.  Guide me to live by the truth You have revealed and walk each day toward the prize of becoming like Christ and living forever in eternity with You.  Amen.

“About four thousand were there; and He sent them away.  And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha” (Mark 8:9-10).

The crowds were satisfied and Jesus sent them on their way.  How many have gathered, been satisfied and then went on their way?  In many ways that describes the life of many who regularly go to church.  But we are not just to “go” to church, but be the church.  This new life we have been given in Christ is what we will become through who He is making us to be.  We are called to live the new life in Him.

Lord God, I do have a habit of setting things in their place and being content with routine.  I am satisfied and go my way.  Take me from simply being satisfied to the place where I long for Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life.  Lead me in the truth of the Gospel which You have given me so that I awake each morning to live the day with You; for in You alone is there true life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for walking with each one of us, even during our “satisfied with just enough for today” periods in life.  I may be satisfied, but You will continue to lead me toward the goal of being with You and being like You in eternity.  Continue to grow depth and breadth in my faith so that more and more I live this new life that You have given me.  Guide me to hold forever fast to the Good News of Your Gospel now and forever.  Amen.

“They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.  And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces” (Mark 8:7-8).

The Lord satisfies the hungry heart.  There is always more than enough.  No matter the privations of this world, our Lord can and does feed our souls.  From a little He grows His likeness and creates in all who believe a deep repository of His goodness.  He said that He was making all things new and that includes all who walk in faith.  Trust the author and finisher of our souls.

Almighty God, I stop at the place where I ask how is this possible.  I forget that You have told me that with You all things are possible.  Take me ever farther in faith so that I stop questioning Your ability, but learn how to trust that through all things, You will bring them together for good for those who love You.  Guide me in this faith You have given me and help me to learn how to faithfully walk trusting You above all things.

Come Holy Spirit and feed my soul.  Fill me to overflowing that the gifts You give may spill out to others.  Lead me so that I bear fruit befitting the kingdom.  Help me through all that will come my way this day to not lose sight of Your provision, granting me my daily bread.  Nourish me from Your bounty that I may live by faith in the grace You give and be satisfied with Your presence in me this day.  Amen.

“And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”  And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people” (Mark 8:5-6).

How many?  Seven.  In one week, seven days, the Lord created all that is around us.  Without becoming too literal, see the connection with seven.  It is a number that is often called the number of perfection or completion.  God will complete us according to His will.  We walk by faith trusting that the Lord will accomplish all that He has purposed.  He will give us all that we need.

Lord God, Creator of the universe, not from a little, but from nothing You have created all things.  From what we may call a little, You provide for all who are in need.  Though this story is about feeding a multitude, it also applies to my life of faith.  From the little I have received, grow in me what You intend.  Help me to understand that You are creating me to be a child of the Heavenly Father.  You will make of me what You will.

Lord Jesus, Savior of my soul, guide me in this new creation which You have brought to me through faith.  Lead me to gain wisdom on the journey and learn how to walk according to all of Your ways.  Amidst the daily struggles, remind me that You, through whom all things have their being, are more than able to accomplish what You have purposed through the circumstances in which You have placed me.  Amen.