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A letter from Pastor Jeramie Rinne to the Sanibel Community Church

Dear Sanibel Church Family,

It’s Sunday morning, Oct 2, 4:30 am. I’m writing this from a hotel bathroom so as not to wake my wife. I couldn’t have imagined a week ago that this is where I would be today.

Normally on a Sunday morning, I would be waking up around 5:30 am or so and head out for a beach walk with my poodle to pray and think through the sermon I had spent all week preparing. This Sunday in particular would have been the beginning of a new sermon series in Daniel, followed by the Lord’s Supper in our last one-service gathering.

But instead, I’m sitting in a hotel bathroom.

I don’t have a house. My earthly possessions can now fit in my truck. I can’t go to my favorite beach. I have no idea when I will preach again in my pulpit on Sanibel to my beloved congregation. And no, I didn’t get around to studying Daniel much this week.

Where are you this morning?

Some of you are also in hotels on the east coast. Some are staying with family and friends, wondering how long the arrangement will work. Others are up north watching this disaster from a distance, filled with more questions than answers, and plagued by a vexing sense of helplessness. Some are in the Ft Myers area without power or internet or consistent cell service. They can’t even read this email. Some are stuck in shelters at Shell Point because the storm surge wiped out most of the cars there. Some . . . I don’t know where they are.

Is it sinking in yet or are you still in shock? The feelings and thoughts come in waves.

I haven’t had much time or capacity to reflect on the events of the past week.

Most of my mental energy has been spent on trying to coordinate efforts, solve problems and find people. But this morning, sitting in my bathroom office unable to sleep, I find myself in a rare moment of contemplation. I’m thinking about

Psalm 46:1 – 5

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.Therefore we will not be afraid though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depth of the sea, though the water roars and foams and the mountains quake with it turmoil.” Verses 1-3

The Psalmist meant the roaring sea as a metaphor for turmoil and danger, particularly the danger of hostile nations around Israel. But this week we saw the literal referent for that metaphor. We saw the sea rise up and swallow homes, cars, bridges and lives. The storm cut the causeway islands in half. The incredible power of the sea flung boats and cars all over Iona. Ft Myers beach is completely devastated.

The Psalm describes an earth-shattering ocean storm. These verses will never again be an abstraction for us.

Yet we must not forget how the Psalm begins. “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” God is our refuge. No storm touches God. God needs no insurance policy because he reigns above the flood. He is the only safe place. God is our strength. God never loses power or fuel. The Lord doesn’t feel anxious or perturbed and has no troubled thoughts about the future. Our heavenly Father is not passing through phases of shock, grief and despair. The Triune God dwells in perfect peace, joy and delight at all times.

He is not exhausted or depleted. A helper who is always found. Unlike us, our God is not helpless. He isn’t stuck watching the news, imagining himself renting a boat so he can sneak onto the island and do something. He is our helper who is always found in times of trouble. Trouble comes and goes. Hurricanes pass. But our helper never changes or leaves us. Even when our future is uncertain and our lives have been completely overturned, we know these things about God. He is almighty, he is eternal and he loves us.

No wonder the Psalmist can look into the tempest and say “Therefore we will not be afraid.” The psalmist is not in denial about the power of the storm. Rather he beholds the greatness and power and lovingkindness of our Lord toward us. God is infinitely willing and able to help his storm-tossed people. The fury of hurricane Ian is a gentle breeze compared to the might of our savior God.

And if the Psalmist knew these things about the Lord, how much more should we who live in light of the cross. Our Lord Jesus has rendered the ultimate aid. He bore the terrifying storm of God’s wrath to save us from our sins. The cross is our refuge. Jesus is our strength. He is risen and ever present to help us. Let us go to his throne boldly for mercy and grace.

This faith in the Lord as our refuge, strength, and help gives us an internal strength that stands in stark contrast to the chaos of the storm:

Now verses 4, 5, “There is a river—its streams delight the city of God,

the holy dwelling place of the Most High. God is within her, she will not be toppled, God will help her when the morning dawns.”

Yes, there is a raging ocean. But remember there is also a river. From our Lord flows peace and life. We have been shaken but because the Lord is within us, we will not topple.

Look to the Lord brothers and sisters. We won’t topple. We won’t collapse.

Sanibel Community Church still stands—and I’m not talking about the building on Periwinkle.

And this stream isn’t just for us. The Lord wants his living waters to flow out of our lives into the lives of others. I bet even in the pain and confusion of this past week, the thought has crossed your mind, “How will the Lord use this to advance the gospel and display his glory?” Keep asking that question. Turn it into a prayer.

God’s calling on his people to be salt and light and to bear witness to Jesus has not changed. Our mission remains intact. We are still here to multiply maturing disciples of Jesus and healthy churches for the glory of God and the good of the world. All that has changed are the circumstances and contexts where God is calling our congregation to execute that mission.

On Wednesday as the storm raged, I was sitting in a mall in Boca Raton trying to get internet. One of the stores had a TV with news coverage of the storm.

Starved for information I walked over to watch with a few others. We started talking and I told them I was a Sanibel refugee. The strangers around me stood in shock as I described what little I knew was happening on Sanibel, Captive and Ft Myers.

The conversation ended, and I returned to my computer. A few minutes later one of the store employees came over and said, “I’m sorry but I just have to ask. Why are you so calm? You’re losing everything and yet you seem so nonchalant.” It was a funny question because I didn’t feel calm or nonchalant. Yet that’s what he perceived.

So I started to explain, “Well, I’m a Christian, and I pastor a church…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence. His face lit up and he said, “Of course! You have God. I got it! It all makes sense.” And he walked away smiling.

I bet there are lots of conversations like that waiting for us in the coming weeks and months.

I pray today that wherever you are, you may take time to sit beside the river of God and be filled with his peace. And then take his Word, his gospel, and his love to a helpless and hopeless world that’s still sinking.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Jeramie

After reading Pastor Jeramie’s letter, I found one bit of interesting information about the famous Sanibel lighthouse and outbuildings that were constructed in the 1860s and completed in 1884.  As a result of Hurricane Ian’s furry on Sanibel Island, with barely visible remains of the lighthouse’s outbuildings, the lighthouse itself is still standing…even with one of its supporting legs gone. 

Real responders are people like Pastor Jeramie, responding correctly to setbacks, affliction, suffering, and challenges in life. 

After reading this letter from Pastor Jeramie, I saw a picture of Sanibel Island that looked as if it was scraped nearly clean like the top of a rock.

No matter what challenges we have or will face, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.”

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Do you know who your biggest enemy is?  It probably isn’t who you think it is.  It’s not the world around you, and it’s not Satan.  Your biggest enemy is you. Why?  Because you get to choose how you respond to Satan and the world me!

The battle inside us can destroy our ministries or professional lives if we let it.  Paul says this of himself, “For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7:15 NKJV).  Those who are honest will agree with that statement. 

Seven weapons of self-destruction that ruin more lives than anything else are shame, runaway thoughts, compulsions, fear, hopelessness, bitterness, and insecurity. 

Ministry or working in the business and professional communities don’t exempt us from these self-destructive behaviors.

But the answer isn’t found in our culture or in a book.  It is only found in a person—Jesus Christ.  Romans 7-8 gives us seven habits that will help set us free from these self-destructive tendencies. 

Let’s make this personal.  I MUST:

1.  Remind me daily of what Jesus did for me on the cross.

Even being a Christian doesn’t mean we act like one.  Instead, we’re filled with shame, runaway thoughts, and compulsions.  We’re not living like we’re genuinely set free.

Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (NKJV).  Paul isn’t saying we’ll never sin once we become Christians.

However, he does tell us God will not judge us when we sin because Jesus took our judgment on Himself when He died on the cross.  There is now no need to live in shame.  Jesus Christ already paid for the cause of our guilt and shame.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts.

God will answer this prayer.  He wants to give you better thoughts.  Paul writes in Romans 8:5: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, [set their mind on] things of the Spirit.”  (NKJV). 

There are two choices we have with how we think about ourselves.  We can think about our lives the way we usually do—or we can choose to think about it how God does.  I call this the principle of replacement.  Don’t resist negative thoughts if you’re serious about changing your thoughts.  It’s not just resisting negative thoughts but replacing them with positive thoughts from the Holy Spirit.

3. Realize that I have a new capacity just to say “no.”

Before you became a Christian, all you had was willpower.  But willpower doesn’t last.  Now you have something that does last—the Holy Spirit.  We need to learn how to use His power.  Galatians 5:16 says, “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.  Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (NLT) When you let the Holy Spirit guide and empower your life, you won’t live by your sinful nature.  You’ll still have the same urges, temptations, and impulses, but you’ll have the power now to say no to them.

4. Turn my thoughts to God when I’m afraid.

Recognizing we have a Heavenly Father stronger than anything threatening us challenges our fears.  Romans 8:15,16 tells us, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (NKJV). 

Whatever you fear is not out of God’s control.  Just like an earthly parent who loves to comfort their fearful children, God the Father is there, waiting for you to call and lean on Him whenever fear holds you back.  After all, when you’re thoughts are on God, you can’t think so much about your worries.

5. View the long-term rather than the short-term.

Rick Warren wrote about a study he read that showed how long-term thinking often leads to a more successful life.  As a Christian, this is vital.  Our long-term thinking isn’t 30 or more years down the line.  We’re thinking zillions of years ahead.  We call it eternity. 

Long-term thinking should be like this: “and [since we are His] children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:17,18 NKJV). 

The Christian life isn’t easy.  Your life in ministry or the business and professional world isn’t easy, either.  If you just see what it is today, you’ll get overwhelmed.  That’s why the Bible tells us to think about eternity, where our suffering will be less painful than the glory of worshiping Jesus forever. 

6. Remind me that God is good while being large and in charge while being near and dear!

The pain and suffering around us are just part of living in a damaged world.  This damage is described by Paul Romans 8:20: “For the creation was subjected to futility…” (NKJV). The Bible says this kind of brokenness leads to pain in our lives.

But Romans 8 also tells us four important truths to remember as we experience pain.

• • The Holy Spirit is praying for us (Romans 8:26,27).
  • God will use our pain for His good and our gain (Romans 8:28).
  • God wants us to succeed and thrive (Romans 8:31).
  • God will give us what we need, not just what we want (Romans 8:31,32).

7. Trust that God will never stop loving me.

Paul realized this, and it anchored his ministry.  He writes, “There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 GNT).  We may lose many things in this life—our loved ones, reputation, money, and so on—but we’ll never lose the love of God.  He will never let go of us, no matter how tough life gets.  Even if we want to let go of him, he will not let go of us.  We can depend upon that truth.

God has given us everything we need to overcome our self-destructive behaviors. Whatever you’re struggling with today doesn’t have to devour you.  Let God strengthen you through these seven habits.