Sharing What's Really Important

Friday, January 17, 2014

Finding Hope in Winter Darkness

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you have the winter blahs? Does the January darkness put you in slow motion? Are you experiencing cabin fever? Are you tired of shoveling the snow? This year, are you sick of the freezing rain?

It is January in Alaska. As I looked at Thursday’s paper it said the sun rose at 9:54 a.m., and set at 4:24 p.m. So, even though the solstice occurred almost a month ago and we are gaining 4 minutes and 14 seconds of daylight each day, it is still January. We wake up in the dark. We often go to school or work in the dark, and we return home the same way.

I personally enjoy winter. I actually enjoy the cold and the snow. I also believe that in these days of darkness it is healthy to get outdoors into the light. So I ice fish, or snow machine, or go downhill skiing. But even for someone who enjoys the winter I know that at this time of year I am a little slower to wake up in the morning. Even for someone who enjoys winter sports, there are times that I get tired of the wind or the extreme cold, and get tired of walking through snow drifts or walking through slush. And, I know that when the long hours of dark give way to a daytime of clouds, my energy is not there the way it is when there are clear skies and lots of sun. Just the other day when I asked someone how they were doing their answer was, “I’m waiting for the summer.” We all understand that answer.

Feeling down is not unheard of for God’s people, even though we are called to rejoice in the Lord. The Scriptures are full of references to people who are overwhelmed, or tired, or even depressed and weeping. Did you know that the prophet Elijah, after his victory over the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, was so overwhelmed by the opposition of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel that he wanted to die? Look at 1 Kings 19. Elijah’s lament and God’s answers are worth remembering. In Psalm 130 the Psalmist talks about his reaction to his sin, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” The book that describes the reaction of the Jews to the destruction of Jerusalem and their exile in Babylon is called, “Lamentations,” or songs of lament or weeping.

When I am down one of my favorite verses is Psalm 42:11 where the Psalmist bares his soul and cries, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

When life is difficult, when losses cause grief and weeping, when the world overwhelms us, it is good to know we are not alone. There are others who have faced the trials of life and sometimes been “downcast” or “in the depths.” I expect you have experienced such feelings, but it is good to know we are not alone. In fact, our Lord Jesus shared our suffering. (See Hebrews 2:17-18)

And, when life seems to offer only strong winds and slush and darkness, it is good to know there is hope. There is hope in the middle of winter because the days of light and summer are coming. But, there is hope in the middle of life’s winters because we can put our hope in God. When the world hurts us, God loves us. When we suffer, Jesus suffered too, unfairly, for us. When our trials overwhelm us, we know we have victory because Jesus rose and God gives eternal life to all who believe in the Savior.

I know some folks whose answer to the Alaska winter is a couple of weeks in Hawaii. I personally will be going on vacation soon with Kathy to visit my dad and my family in FL. But, even better than the warmth of the southern regions is the hope we have in God’s love. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

A Child of God, Hoping in THE Light of the World in the Middle of the Dark Alaska Winter,

Pastor Jonathan

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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.

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Friday, January 10, 2014

Learning Christian Maturity

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Have you ever had computer problems? How does you FEEL about dealing with problems your computer has? Do you feel frustrated? Confused? Angry? Discouraged?

Last week my primary e-mail account was suspended. To make matters worse, this was the second time in less than a month that this suspension has happened. Now, I’ve heard of and experienced computer viruses and computer worms. I’ve seen problems with the hardware of my computers. I’ve struggled to work with a web site. But, I’ve never before heard of an e-mail address being suspended, have you?

Both times in the last month that I dealt with this issue I was required to go through certain steps to reactivate my e-mail. I had to scan my computers for viruses; my work desktop, my home desktop, and my laptop computers. This scanning took quite a while because I have a lot of files, and because when I leave the office or home the computer went to sleep and stopped scanning. I have also had to change the password to my account twice now.

Also, as I worked on this problem with my provider I was not receiving e-mail for at least 3 days. Maybe you sent me a message that did not get through. And, while I use computers, I don’t necessarily know how they work. So, as you can imagine, for someone who uses e-mail as a regular tool of communication, this caused challenges for work, and, yes, some frustration and maybe even anger that this tool had stopped working.

That is a LONG explanation of the cause of a recent frustration, but I think you have probably experienced similar frustrations, if not with your computer. So, how do God’s children deal with these frustrations? Frustration and anger are part of life. Sometimes we get upset that our plans did not go as we hoped. Sometimes it seems that life is unfair. Sometimes we may bring some of these frustrations on ourselves. But, when we are frustrated, when we are angry, what do we do? Where do we go?

I served as volunteer chaplain at the hospital last week. As I visited patients, many faced a different kind of frustration, that of being ill and sometimes not even knowing the cause of the illness. As I visited I shared one of my favorite bible verses. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

When we have anxiety or frustration, frustration or discouragement, anger or confusion, God says to cast those feelings at Him. He basically says, “Throw it at me; lay it on Me.” And, this is not just some plan to ignore our problems and hope they go away. We can lean on the Lord because He loves us and has taken care of the problems. All the frustrations and anger of this world can trace their origin to our rebellion and sin against God and others. God didn’t just say He cared, He sent His son into this world of trouble. Jesus did the big job of living a righteous life for us. Jesus loved us enough to suffer for us, and to sacrifice His very life for us. Jesus rose and won victory over our sin and the source of our troubles. So, when God says to “Cast all your anxiety on him, we can do it, because He really does care and because He not only can help, He has already taken care of our troubles in the long run.

So, I worked with the host of my e-mail address. They were afraid my computer had a virus and was sending this virus out in messages I didn’t even know I was sending. I understand this fear. I have received those messages myself, even from friends, even today. (Isn’t technology wonderful?) However, even though my computers are now supposedly free from all viruses, it turns out it wasn’t even my computer that was the culprit. Someone else’s computer was reacting to my messages in such a way that the computer of my e-mail host thought I was sending spam, when it seems I was not. Imagine, all that frustration because of the response of computers, not people? But, the second time this happened was a little less frustrating. I knew what to do.

When we see God in His love help us with our troubles and problems, we can face life without anxiety. We know God doesn’t just say He cares about us, but in love for us God has really overcome the source of all problems. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

A Child of God, Hopefully learning Christian maturity,

Pastor Jonathan

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Friday, January 3, 2014

We Know the ONE Who Holds the Future

Dear Fellow Children of God,

What does 2014 have in store for us? I have seen some predictions for the coming year. The predictions I’ve seen include a better economy, unless there is unrest in economically sensitive areas of the world. Then, those predicting say, we could face more economic challenges. The predictions I’ve seen talk about continued political struggle in the United States during this coming election year. But no one claims to know the outcome of this struggle. The predictions I’ve seen for 2014 suggest there will be continuing confusion surround the new Affordable Health Care Act. But, no one really knows if there will be more delays, surprises, and challenges.

In other words, most of those making predictions are suggesting a time of uncertainty. No one really knows for sure what the future holds. We do know from our past experience that the future holds both challenges and blessings. Actually, even in the midst our present experiences, we don’t always understand what is happening until we have a chance to think on what has occurred. So, how can we know about the future?

However, I can tell you something that is sure in the coming year. In the midst of an unsure, confusing, and changing world, God does not change. In Malachi 3:6 God’s tells us, "I the LORD do not change.” In Hebrews 13:8 we are told, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

So, when God says that He created the world with order and wisdom, in power and love, and that He continues to watch over His creation, that does not change. God does continue to watch over His creation. When God says that loves us, even as sinners, so that He sent His only Son into the world, that sacrificial love of God does not change. When God says that Jesus cares for His people as a shepherd cares for his sheep, and that Jesus keeps His sheep in His loving hand in such a way that Jesus can say, “no one can snatch them out of my hands” (John 10:28), we do remain safe in the loving hands of our Lord, no matter what is happening in the world around us.

What does 2014 hold for us? God knows, but no one in this world is really sure of what will happen in the coming year. But, we do know that in the midst of this uncertain future, God is unchanging.

There is an old pithy saying, “I don’t know what the future holds, but . . . I know Who holds the future.” May the assurance of God’s love and presence bless you in 2014.

A Child of God, Depending on our Un-Changing Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Hunter Richards and Brittany Arlow are St. John members who grew up here in Palmer. Both went away to school to study to be church workers. Both are serving their internship this year. Hunter is studying to be a pastor and serving his internship year of “vicarage” in North Canton, OH. Brittany is studying to be a Director of Christian Education and serving her internship year in Plant City, Florida. Here is a picture of Hunter and Brittany with Jamie and me in church at St. John this past Sunday, December 29! https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/5964778360630192865?banner=pwa

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Friday, December 27, 2013

The Example of the Magi - Seeking Jesus and Worshiping Him

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Christmas Day has come and gone. Family celebrations are completed. Presents have been opened and some are already put away. At St. John we celebrated Jesus’ birth with festive Christmas Eve worship and quieter contemplation on Christmas morning. But, “Now what?”

If Christmas is just a holiday we will wait till next year and celebrate the holiday of winter solstice when December comes again. But, if Christmas really is the celebration of the arrival of God himself in human form into our world, if Christmas really is the celebration of the arrival of God himself into lives with love and forgiveness and life, then the Christmas event has continuing impact on our lives.

The last three weeks in these devotions we have considered Joseph and Mary and the shepherds as they experienced the birth of Jesus. Today please consider with me the journey and response of the magi. They can help us consider the question, “Now What?” These court advisors, or as we now call them wise men, arrived in Jerusalem after the actual birth of Jesus. By the time they arrived Jesus and his parents were living in a house (Matthew 2:11). When Herod wanted to make sure he eliminated any competition, using the magi’s explanation of the arrival of the star, he killed all baby boys 2 years old and under. The lives of the magi were impacted by the birth of Jesus after the miraculous birth was over.

In Matthew 2:2 God tells us what the magi did. They arrived in Jerusalem asking a question. "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." They sought Jesus and they worshipped Him.

Worship means to give honor and glory to someone who is worthy. But, worship is not just something that happens for a short period of time each week and is then completed. Because the one we worship is worthy, worshiping God is something Christians do with their whole heart, their whole mind, and with all their strength every day.

What do we do now that Christmas is over? Following the example of the magi we seek Jesus and we worship him. That may sound almost expected for Christians to say, but especially today, worship is radical. Worship is counter-cultural. In times when people are obsessed with “what do I want?”, “what is good for me?” “what can I gain?”, giving honor and service to someone else is contrary to what the rest of the world is doing.

But, the child born in Bethlehem is not just another person. The child born that first Christmas is Christ the Lord. He is the promised Messiah and God Himself, come to save us. He is worthy of worship, as the wise men showed. But that makes Christmas more than just a winter holiday.

The wise men arrived asking, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Seeking and worshiping Jesus is the proper response to Christmas, not only at the end of December, but with all our lives.

A Child of God, Following the Christ to Worship Him!

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures of our Christmas from the Rockey family. There is a picture of our family Christmas tree outing. There is a picture of all 14 of us together for our family celebration. Perhaps my favorite picture is the one of Henry looking at the manger scene on the Christmas tree. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/5962286320541287057?banner=pwa

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

God's Love for Common Shepherds

Dear Fellow Children of God,

A number of years ago I had trouble with service from a large national phone company. Now, I’m not sure that I personally felt I was an unimportant customer. But, my impression was that this company did not consider my business important. After all, I was just one individual account. I surely wasn’t their biggest customer either. I got the run around. When you phone someone for help and they put you on hold for over an hour, that behavior sends a message.

There are times all of us have felt ignored or unimportant to others. We may not be wealthy. We may not be a person of power or influence. So, when we get slighted, or forgotten, it is not a surprise.

At this point, however, I need to confess that even God’s church can act in ways that make people feel unimportant. The Lord sent His Son for all. God’s children are called by to love everyone. But sometimes it may seem that the church leaders or outgoing people get the attention. The quiet folks may seem ignored. The church is to be God’s loving family. When God’s church gives the impression that someone is unimportant we have failed at that point.

That is what makes the announcement of Jesus’ birth by the angels to the shepherds such a wonderful part of the Christmas story. There were few people more common in Jesus’ day than shepherds were. These men were not leaders of the temple. They weren’t political leaders or military leaders. Yet, other than Jesus’ mother and father, the only ones to get an angelic birth announcement were some night shift laborers doing a common job.

The shepherds may have seemed common and unimportant to others but, God obviously cared about the them. In fact, when Mary told her cousin Elizabeth that she was expecting, Mary praised God with a song we now call “The Magnificat.” (Luke 1: ) In that hymn of praise Mary says of the Lord, “52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” This truth is expressed throughout God’s Word. God cares for everyone and takes special care of the poor and lowly.

Do you ever feel like you are not important to God? Please, remember the shepherds. These common men heard singing like none of us have ever heard. What a wonderful gift from God to those considered common!

But, please also remember how important God has made each of us. God reached out to people who could not help themselves with their sinful condition, and He sent His Son, His Only Son, the very Son of God, to humble Himself so we could be lifted up in God’s love.

Phone companies and others in our world many not think we are important. God does. God cared about the humble and the lowly and the common people of Jesus’ day. God cares about all people today, no matter how seemingly unimportant. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

A Child of God, Thankful for God’s Unexpected Grace to the Shepherds, And to us!

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I had a number of positive comments about the link in last week’s message to the Christina Rosetti poem and Christmas carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter.” Here is another link to that same song. My classmate and friend Al, who teaches in Okinawa, sent me this version of this beautiful song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8WGlhJKlGo

So, I thought I would let you know that we will sing this carol, In the Bleak Mid-Winter” at the beginning of our candlelight worship on Christmas Eve at the 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. services.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

Faith Like Mary's

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you own a GPS (global positioning system device)? I have a GPS application on my phone and it has helped me a number of times find my way to the homes of people I have not previously visited. But I guess my GPS application is an old model. I am told there are now GPS devices that will warn you of traffic problems and re-route you so that you miss the problems. I don’t have one of those.

How would you like to have a GPS for life that would help you navigate around life’s problems and help you miss them? Many of us would probably like something that would help us miss the troubles of life. But, as I was reading in Luke 1, I found someone who purposely did just the opposite. Last week we considered Jesus’ father, Joseph. This week as I was reading about Jesus’ mother, Mary, I was again amazed by her reply to the angel Gabriel.

Gabriel appeared and told Mary she would become the mother of the promised Messiah, God’s Son, Jesus. This birth would happen miraculously and would cause challenges for Mary in her engagement, challenges in her faith, and challenges in her life. As Mary considered Gabriel’s words which promised problems, she did not look for a way out of this challenge. Her answer to Gabriel and her answer to God was, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) As I read this conversation I hear Gabriel saying, “God is sending you a wonderful blessing, which will also come with great troubles and problems.” Mary’s reply of faith was, “May God use those troubles in my life so that I serve Him.”

Many of us trust God to bring blessings. How many of us trust God enough so that we take on trouble to serve Him? Actually, we may not realize it, but we often step forward taking on the problems of life. Any time we reach out in love for another, we are accepting their problems as well as their blessings. Anytime we commit to work for and serve God, we are not only promising to live in the love of God, we are also committing ourselves to the rejection and persecution that God’s people face as His followers. Such willingness to bring faith and love to the problems of life makes this world a better place. But, are we always willing, like Mary, to accept the pain and grief that come with such challenges?

Mary did not know all the soul piercing pain and grief that lay ahead. But Mary trusted the Lord who had saved Israel through the Exodus. She trusted God who had promised the Messiah. Mary trusted the Shepherd of Israel who sent Gabriel to her with this message. And trusting God, Mary accepted the challenges and troubles of serving God as the mother of Jesus.

I pray for faith like that of Mary. And, I pray that as you marvel with me again this Christmas, I pray that as the love of God and the faith of Mary touch your heart, I pray that you grow in your trust for the Lord who loves us. After all, He came to take our troubles and our sin on Himself.

A Child of God, Praying for Faith Like Mary’s

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Our choir director, Sara Guhl, has tried over the years to teach me some things about Christian music. One song Sara taught me about 10 or 15 years ago has become one of my favorite Christmas Carols. Here is a link to the Christina Rosetti poem and carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ

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Saturday, December 7, 2013

"Joseph"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

What are your worries right now? Is there something that keeps you awake at night? Is there a hurt that causes your heart to ache? Does the future hold problems for which you don’t have solutions? Is peace more a hope than a reality?

The stores say we are in the Christmas season. During Christmas it seems everyone remembers the promise of the angels, “peace on earth.” We may hope for peace, but too often the regular problems of life only become even more worrisome with the high expectations and the frantic schedules of the Christmas season.

I have heard people long for the peace of that first Christmas. They think about a young married couple, and shepherds in the fields, and a baby born in a stable. Today that story seems peaceful. The Christmas carol even sings of heavenly peace. We wish or hope that this Christmas might bring us the peace of a trouble free life. Sometimes when work stops and family gathers and worship points us to Jesus we do experience a time of respite from our problems.

But, please think with me again about Joseph. That first Christmas was not trouble free for him. Even though Joseph was getting married, life was not necessarily all anticipation and joy. Instead Joseph’s world was full of problems bigger than Joseph himself. Matthew 1:18 says, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”

The people of Joseph’s day took God’s plan for sex and marriage seriously, even though the people couldn’t always live according to God’s standards. For Mary to be pregnant before she and Joseph were married was a public disgrace. Joseph tried to deal with this situation in an honorable way, but no matter what he did the results were less than what Joseph had hoped and planned for his family. Imagine trying to explain to others that the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit. But sending Mary away meant there would be no marriage and no family.

That first Christmas was not trouble free for Joseph, but actually added more problems to the troubles he already struggled with. In fact, even the birth of Jesus did not solve all of Joseph’s problems either. But, Jesus’ birth did help. And Jesus’ birth did bring promise and hope.

You see, the child Mary bore was Jesus, the Son of God. Matthew 1:21 tells us that an angel told Joseph about this child, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." You see, the child born to Mary was God who came to live in this world and take the sin and troubles of this world on Himself. Joseph may face danger and trouble, but God cared enough to share those problems in Jesus. Joseph may have struggled with life’s disappointments throughout his days on this earth, but Jesus, the son of Mary and the Son of God was not only born in a stable, but He also died and rose to win eternal life in heaven and final peace for Joseph, and for all who believe in Him.

Do you long for peace this Christmas? Do you hope for help with your worries, aches, and pains? Come to Jesus. He came to this world to take your pain and your sin on Himself. He has won eternal life in heaven for you when life here is over. Jesus came to save people from their sins, and their troubles. When we receive the gift of Jesus again this Christmas, God brings peace even in the midst of our worries, troubles, and disappointments.

A Child of God, waiting with Joseph, for Jesus!

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. One way to receive God’s Son and His peace this Christmas is in worship. We have many special worship opportunities offered along with our regular Sunday and Wednesday worship. Please look below to see some of the special worship and service opportunities available this holiday.

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