Dear Fellow Children of God,
You probably know the old proverb, “The only things sure in
life are death and taxes.” We have been
living that proverb at St. John the last couple of weeks. Last week we had a funeral for regular St.
John worshiper, Burton Fields, who passed away from lung cancer. Then this past Friday the funeral was held
for 18 year old Zach Sharlow, killed in a tragic car accident, and we grieved
with his family and friends as they said good-bye and took comfort from God’s
love. There have also been other deaths
which have touched our congregation and God’s ministry here.
And, if all that isn’t enough, our Promise Keepers’ Men’s
Group began a new Bible Study this week.
The title of the study is, “Death – Then What?” One of our attendees, Fred Voight, even said something
about the dark days of January being a time we often experience death in Alaska.
There are a lot of grieving and hurting people in our
community right now. While we cannot
take away the hurt of the loss, there is comfort to give in these times of grief. Surprisingly, some of that comfort comes from
another death of sorts.
Last Sunday we had a baptism in worship for 80 year old
Al McNiven. This Sunday 4 year old
Leland Nichols will be baptized. Baptism
is described in Romans 6:3-4 as death. God
tells us in Romans that in baptism we die with Jesus to rise with Him and walk
in newness of life. Baptism is also
described as new life in John 3:3-5. It
isn’t the water that turns death into life, but the relationship with Jesus
does this. God uses the Word and the
water of baptism to work faith and strengthen faith in Jesus. When we are joined to Jesus we are united
with the one who died in love for us to defeat sin and who rose to give eternal
life.
Death and taxes may be inevitable, but they do not have
the final word. God’s love speaks more
loudly than death, and God’s Word speaks more loudly than the sin that causes
death, because in love He took on our suffering Himself so that we might be
saved through Him.
So,
in two weeks time we will have experienced 2 funerals and 2 baptisms. We have encountered death, and the victory
over death that God gives in Jesus. No
wonder God causes Paul to write to the Christians in Rome, “If we
live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we
live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)
I am glad that Burton and Zach knew Jesus who overcomes death. I am glad the Al and Leland know Jesus and
are growing in His love and life. There
is reason to rejoice both at the victory over death and new life which God
gives to His people.
A
Child of God, Grieving and Rejoicing,
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. On top of all
this, I have an appointment to work on taxes this coming Tuesday!!!
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS
FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully
weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am
always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving
this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive
this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list
for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one
of these e-mails, please send me their
e-mail address.
****
No comments:
Post a Comment