Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
If you read the news these days there are stories of a
giant bomb being dropped on Afghanistan, and missles hitting Syia, and threats
from North Korea against the United States and others. Jesus said that to the end there would be
wars and rumors of wars. But the
tensions seem to be ramping up.
If you read the news in Alaska, the legislature is
talking about cutting teaching positions, and possibly getting rid of the
Pioneer Homes, doing away with the Permanent Fund, and adding an income
tax. I know oil prices are down and
times are tough, but these changes still could lead to real hardships for
Alaskans.
On our prayer list at St. John we have been praying for member,
David Grosz. (Please, David asks
everyone to pray.) I think you know
doctors have discovered an aggressive lymphoma and David is in the hospital for
chemo-therapy. At the same time members
of the church in Funny River asked us to pray for a very ill baby,
Arabella. But, Arabella died in
surgery. Maybe you have other serious
concerns for the prayers of God’s people.
All these troubles in our lives can seem overwhelming,
but . . . JESUS ROSE ON EASTER!!!
God speaks to all Christians facing trials through Paul’s
words in Romans 8. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or
sword? . . . 37 No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Because Jesus suffered and died
for the sins of the world, and because He rose again victorious over sin and
death, NOTHING can separate us from God’s love . . . “that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.”
I may personally feel overwhelmed by the trials in this
world. But, because Jesus rose, the
writer to the Hebrews could encourage Christians of all ages with God’s love,
saying. 5 . . . God has said, "Never
will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Jesus resurrection victory is REAL. Jesus’ rising guarantees eternal life for
those who live in God’s love. And, Jesus’
rising from the dead blesses our lives in this world, even in the middle of
life’s troubles and tragedies.
The
angels of God appeared at Christmas and sang to the shepherds. But, on Easter Sunday we hear the angels at
Jesus’ empty tomb tell the disciples, "Why do you look for the living among the
dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5 b – 6 a)
Easter is not just a nice story from 2000 years ago. The truth of Jesus’ righteous life, His
sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection have impact on our lives
today. We can face bombings, and
illness, and budget cuts, and whatever trial or tragedy life brings because of
Jesus’ victory!
Christians have shouted a proclamation of Jesus’ Easter
rising for ages. “He is risen!” “He is risen
indeed! Alleluia!!” May God’s Easter victory bless your life to
know real victory over the trials and sin of this life.
A Child of God, Living
in Jesus’ Easter Victory,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Confirmation
Day was a real blessing last Sunday. Here
are some pictures from Confirmation Day.
https://goo.gl/photos/CXSeps8UZ9VP9dv36
P.P.S. I did go fishing Monday. We still have about 40” of ice where I
fished, just not quite as hard as a month ago.
The lake where I fished has probably lost 10‘ or more of water, so the
fish are all in one place!! In an hour of fishing I caught about 20-25 fish,
and kept the bigger ones. Here are a
couple of pictures.
******
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 regularly
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.
******
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