Summer Newsletter:
Stressed Out...

We are stressed out. No matter what data you look at, that’s the unavoidable conclusion. 

What does the data show? For starters: three-quarters of all Americans are living with physical and/or psychological symptoms of stress. That means that 3 out of 4 people are dealing with stress that effects their ability to function from day-to-day. 

Where is the stress coming from? Stress can come from single events or from daily life. When it comes to single events, the following are among the most common stressful experiences: the death of a loved one, divorce and separation, injury or illness, and job loss. In addition to these extreme experiences, these are the top five causes of stress in daily life:
1) Future of our nation (63%)
2) Money (62%)
3) Work (61%)
4) Political climate (57%)
5) Violence/crime (51%)

We Americans are a stressed out bunch – and the medical and pharmaceutical data proves it. Depression diagnoses are up. Suicide rates are up. Unfortunately, the fastest growing population in both depression and suicide attempts is young people 18-25. And the opioid epidemic merely proves that an escape from the stress and pain is too great a temptation for many to resist.

Why share these statistics and observations? I think there are a few valuable reasons to do so:

1) Strength in numbers - When we realize how widespread the stress and hurt is, it can validate our own experiences of stress, depression, and more. If you are battling these challenges, you aren’t the only one… far from it. And help is available.

2) Care for others - It helps us to understand the world we occupy: we are surrounded by people who are stressed about life and about the future, who are concerned that things are not going to work out, who are afraid of danger and risk and uncertainty. But most importantly…

3) It drives us to Christ ¬- When we realize the hurt and pain and doubt that surround us and so often attack us, we are forced to admit: we don’t have it all worked out. We can’t fix everything. We can’t guarantee earthly outcomes. Not for ourselves, not for our loved ones, not for our nation or culture or world. We cannot change the past, we cannot fix the present, and we cannot control the future. But Christ can… and has… and still does. Our sin has stained our past, but He has changed the past – once and for all He died that we might be freed from sin and death. Our sin has limited us in the present, but He can fix the present – He is able to present us blameless and glorious before His Father. And our sin had sealed our future as one of punishment and pain, but He controls the future – all our hope is in his Ressurection, His Ascension, and His glorious return.

It reminds me of the old hymn: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

We are stressed-out people, in a stressed-out world. But Our Lord has come, has faced all this world could throw at Him, has died under the weight of it all, and has risen – victorious and free. And He shall call us to be with Him, to share in His victory and freedom. No matter how dark the road we must walk, He shall prepare a table for us, and truly goodness and love shall follow us all the days of our lives.


With thanks to God for the future He has promised,
Pastor Rob Morris

Pastor Rob Morris

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​Pastor Rob Morris is celebrating his eighth year of serving at Christ the King Lutheran Church. He was ordained into the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod after a colloquy process that involved one semester of classwork at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort  Wayne, Indiana and a supervised vicarage here at Christ the King.  His previous training included both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, MA, where he also served as a Teacher’s Assistant leading classwork for both the Greek and Hebrew departments.

Before his call to Christ the King, Pastor Morris served as a full-time staff member at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield, MA, focusing on both the youth and worship ministries. Going even further back, Pastor Rob’s background was in software sales and his undergraduate work was in business and organizational behavior.

Pastor Morris is joyfully married to his high school sweetheart, Christy, and July 2019 marks their 17th wedding anniversary. They have been entrusted with two wonderful boys: Elijah, 13, and Isaiah, 10.  As a family, they love to hike, bike, kayak, explore, read, and play music together. 

In his free time, Pastor Morris loves reading, playing music on a growing number of instruments, biking, camping, woodworking, and working on old trucks – currently an old Ford and an even older Studebaker. 

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