Calvary Free Lutheran Church

Knowing the Savior and Making Him Known

From Pastor Wade Mobley at Free Lutheran Bible College

11/09/25 15:42
Twenty-four years ago today I was a Seminary student and staff member at the Free Lutheran Bible College. It was one of those “where were you when” days — and you remember where you were too. 
We gathered that day in the chapel and my friend and classmate Cal Willard, now an excellent pastor, and then a recently widowed retired Navy captain, led us through our shared shock and grief. I remember one sentence from that service: “This is not the last time you will feel this way.” I knew he was right. I wanted him to be wrong. And we have all felt that way many times since.  
And while I know the scale is certainly not the same, the impact may well be. Yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk feels the same. It FEELS like September 11 on our campus today, and (ironically) it is. On that September 11 all of us, together, felt targeted for being Americans. On yesterday’s September 10 we watched someone become a target for believing, teaching, and confessing more or less what we believe, teach, and confess. It’s chilling. 
I was a Turning Point fan from a distance. I am uncomfortable with any fusion between what we Lutherans call the kingdom of the left (the state) and the kingdom of the right (the gospel). Kirk, especially early on, embraced some parts of the Republican party that I am less enthusiastic about. But I always felt like we were on the same team. He stood for the true, good, and beautiful. The older he got the more specifically he proclaimed the gospel. People on the political right with whom I would disagree listened to him. In my opinion, he did civic engagement correctly.  
But what made me feel like we were on the same team was his manner. He was a kind man. He did not punch down. He demonstrated so much patience, urging people who disagree with them to step to the front of the line, that I lacked the patience to even watch the videos. I admired his characteristic, smug-free, calmness. 
And he was a hero— in the best way and for the right reasons— to the kind of student that tends to study on the campus of the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary. What makes this hit them hard is that they feel targeted— and somehow responsible— for what they believe to be true, good, and beautiful. This is far too common. A couple of weeks ago several Catholic school kids were shot and two killed by someone who very specifically opposed what those students were being taught to believe, teach, and confess. Some of the narratives around it made the victims feel like they were responsible for it. It all has a chilling effect that makes you feel dirty. 
But this is also the expected result of living in a fallen world between the creation of all good things and the making of all things new. We groan with the rest of Creation, and eagerly await the return of Christ, our Lord. And we call our fellow man to repentance in faith that they might wait with us in anticipation rather than fear.  
I am at the age in life and stage in parenting where my children change the settings on my phone. Recently, one of them changed the wallpaper to be a rotation of pictures, usually of them when they were young. I don’t appreciate all their setting changes, but I have enjoyed this one. They are young, and innocent looking, in the words of Lewis Carroll, “Children of unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder!”  
I remember those days silently praying that those eyes would never be clouded, and knowing that— through the loss of innocence— they would be. And I deeply regret the times and extent to which I have contributed to that loss of wonder. Such is life in a fallen world between the creation of all good things in the making of all things new. I don’t know how to explain or process these things any better than you do. And I can’t promise anyone, anywhere safety anymore— we were probably foolish to ever think we could.  
But I can tell you this: God is on his throne. Christ lives and loves, and in him we live and move and have our being. Be angry, but do not sin. Find the people you love and hug them. If your kids are on our campus right now, we will hug them for you. They are in good hands and in a good place.  
Pray for the young mother and two children – one and three years old – who do not have their husband and father present to give them the same comfort that you and I need today. And maybe, just maybe, honor the memory of a young, imperfect, gangly-looking advocate by taking time for a kind interaction with someone who very much disagrees with you.  
 
Christ, have mercy, 
Pastor Wade 
 
PS— If you are less familiar with Charlie Kirk and Turning Point, this blog post from economist David Bahnsen may be helpful, and tends to agree with my personal assessment. No FLBCS endorsements are implied herein: https://www.bahnsen.com/blog/charlie-kirk  
Dear Parents,

Archives

February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
© 2018 Realmac Software Contact Me
RapidWeaver Icon

Made in RapidWeaver