Sharing What's Really Important

Saturday, October 19, 2013

"The Price of Eternal Love"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This past summer our family has had a number of appliances malfunction. First we had trouble with our gas clothes dryer. We do have a big family and the dryer has been well used. In fact we had owned the dryer for about 10 years. When the dryer started having problems we called Stan’s Appliance Repair. The repairman had worked on this dryer before and been able to fix the problems. But this time the problems were bigger. The estimate was almost $500.00 to fix the various problems. On top of this, the repairman was not totally sure the repair would actually fix the dryer so that it worked the way it should.

You probably know that when repairing something costs more than buying a new one, it is financially wise to buy the new one. So we purchased a new dryer, trying to buy something that was simple and would last. But, will the new dryer last? In another store later this summer we heard a contractor say that most appliances don’t last more than 5 or 6 years any more. I hope he was wrong. However, it does seem that our world produces products that are expected to be replaced rather than repaired. My parents and grandparents experienced the Great Depression and my memory is they fixed everything. Engineering products to throw them away seems wasteful to me.

Recently my daughter ran into some appliance questions that made me realize that God acts in a different way. God created the world and the people in it for lives of obedience and an eternal relationship with Him. But, from the beginning human beings have been selfish, rebellious, proud, and lacking in love for others. We are sinful and broken.

The only way for God to act in righteousness while saving the people He created is for someone sinless to die and rise for sinners. No person could do this because we are born with selfishness and sin as part of our being. But, God could do this Himself. When people were hopelessly lost, God the Father sent His own Son to live a perfect life. As the Son of God and as a sinless human, born of Mary, Jesus could die to pay for the guilt of sinners like us. In His resurrection Jesus won victory over sin and death. God worked to save humans from their lost and hopeless state, but the price God paid was out of this world.

In Romans 5:8, we are told of the great price God paid to fix the broken, to save us from death. We are told, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Think, in today’s context, about the price God paid to save us. We throw away our appliances and possession when it costs more to fix them than it does to buy a new one. But, was it worth the suffering and death of the very Son of God, the Creator of all, to save His sinful creation? If God acted the way we do, he would have thrown this world and it’s inhabitants away and created a new world. But instead, God paid the unbelievable price of His Son, to fix us, to save us. Amazing! Unbelievable!

There are times we deny our brokenness. But, there are other times that our failure is only too obvious, even to ourselves. Because of our lack of obedience and our sin we are ashamed. We often feel unlovable and worthless. But, when we feel worthless, God assures us that we are precious and loved by Him. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I pray that when the trials of our world and our own failure oppress you, that God’s amazing love and the price He paid to save us will remind you how valuable you are to the Lord of the Universe. May God’s love give you strength and joy and peace to go on. If God loves you and me that much, then our lives are worth living, for Him!

A Child of God, Amazed by the Depth of God’s Love,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. After applying for a permit to hunt bison for about 20 years, I was blessed to be drawn for a bison permit in the Delta herd this year. I have saved two weeks of vacation for this hunt, and leave after worship this Sunday, October 20, to try to find a bison to harvest. I’ll be joined and helped by Gerry Zellar and Harvey Kolberg. I would appreciate your prayers for safety, and God’s blessings in the hunt.

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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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Planning to Grow in Jesus, 10-12-2013

Dear Fellow Children of God,

There is somewhat sad joke about two pastor friends who were talking with one another. The Baptist pastor in a small town had found bats in his church. He tried all sorts of remedies, including paying exterminators, but the bats remained. He shared his problem with his friend, the Lutheran pastor. This Lutheran pastor offered to take care of the bats. “Really?” the Baptist pastor wondered. “Sure,” assured the Lutheran pastor. A week later the bats were gone. The Baptist pastor asked his friend, “What did you do?” The Lutheran Pastor explained, “I confirmed them. You won’t see them again.” This joke is an overstatement. But, sometimes after a young person has attended confirmation classes for a number of years and goes through the confirmation ceremony they become somewhat scarce. The goal of confirmation classes is to encourage a lifetime of Christian growth. But sometimes goals are not fully realized.

I share this sad joke because of a source of joy I have right now. We have over 30 middle school students in 4 confirmation classes. The early teen years are a time when young people are full of life. These confirmation students are positive about learning about Jesus and working to become friends with other Christian young people. While 20-30 middle school students can turn up the volume, these students have truly been positive and eager to learn. To see young people who are full of life and excited about learning about Jesus brings joy to any Christian pastor.

So, thinking about the joke above, do you think that when a middle school student finishes confirmation classes they know everything they need to know for life? I think we all know that the need to learn and grow does not end with a certificate or a diploma. Christian learning is a lifetime need.

Most professions and trades include expectations of continuing education because there are always needs to remember what has been learned and to learn new information. That is not just true for professionals, or even for middle school confirmation students, this is true for all Christians. There is always room to grow.

God used St. Peter to share the need for growth with the Church. Writing to a church that had faced persecution and temptation, as a summary of his two letters Peter writes, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” ( 2 Peter 3:18)

This growth Christians need is more than growth in knowledge. We need to grow in maturity in facing the challenges of life with the assurance of God’s saving love in Jesus. We need to grow in wisdom to live as a child of God. We need to grow in mercy and forgiveness. All of these needs are helped with increased understanding of God’s Word, which shares His love and His direction for life. All of these needs for growth are helped by the work of God’s Spirit in the lives of people of faith.

But, when a professional person seeks to grow, they don’t just expect that they will learn without planned effort. They enroll in a class. When parents and young people seek to encourage growth at a vital time in the life of an adolescent, they take part in a planned confirmation class.

Do you ever recognize a need to understand the Scriptures better? Do you ever wish for a stronger faith? Do you see a need in yourself for godly wisdom in times of life’s challenges? What is your plan to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus?

A Child of God, Seeking to Grow in Christian Grace and Knowledge,

Pastor Jonathan

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Saturday, October 5, 2013

Love One Another - A Helping Hand

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Yesterday Harvey Kolberg and I drove to Delta Junction for the day. I know, that is a lot of driving for one day! We spent over 12 hours in the truck, driving there and back, just so Harvey could help me prepare to use my rare Bison Hunting permit. However, on the way back, in dark and the snow on the road north of Paxson, we saw something surprising and somewhat troubling. A car had stopped in the middle of the Richardson Highway. The head-lights were on. Someone was sitting in the drivers’ seat. But the car was stopped in the snow right in the middle of this major highway.

We turned around to ask the driver if he was ok. The young man from Switzerland had rented a vehicle in Anchorage, driven to Fairbanks through Denali Park, and was returning to Anchorage through Delta Junction and Glennallen. The car he had rented did not have 4 wheel drive and the tires were worn. So, he could not stay on the road in the snow unless he drove very slowly. On top of that, in this area of highway the side of the road drops off into Summit Lake and Paxson Lake. This young man faced some danger if he drove on, and danger if he stayed there.

After talking to the man, Harvey offered to drive slowly in front of or behind the man to get him out of this predicament. He accepted. So, we drove about 15-20 miles an hour until we reached Paxson. By then the snow was no longer sticking to the highway. But, there were still snow squalls. So, we continued to drive in front of the man to Glennallen. When we reached this town the man now had options and was safe.

Helping the man was not in our plans. It added time to our trip on a day that was already a marathon. But, with just a little time and concern, this man was helped from a place of danger to a place of safety. It just took a little helping hand. It may not always be in our schedule, but God calls us to offer a helping hand to those around us. In fact, Jesus calls us to do more than that. He tells His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

We would all like to think we can make our way through life by our own strength and ability. But in all honesty all of us have needed help at times. All of us have benefited from the kindness of others, even if we don’t want to remember that help. In fact, needing help is an ultimate truth of life. None of us can make it out of this world to the eternal welfare of heaven without Jesus. That is why Jesus left heaven for us and took on our suffering and death. That is why Jesus overcame our enemies by His resurrection so that we might have a way to eternal life through the love of God. As Jesus has reached out in love to help us he calls us to realize and believe in His love. He calls us to believe His love for us and to help others.

Who are those in your life who need a helping hand? Do you have friends or family in need? Have you volunteered at MY House, or a Food Bank, or Mat-Su Regional? Have you helped a person beside the road? Consider where we would be without the love and help of Jesus!

Thanks, Harvey, for a lesson in Christian kindness, and for reflecting Jesus’ love.

A Child of God, Blessed by the helping hand of my Lord and His people,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures from yesterday’s trip. Harvey’s friend, Scott, showed us around on his game farm! https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/5931396086457110945?banner=pwa

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

"Pray for Us"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

While I was hunting last week I received a number of comments by e-mail or text about me praying through our church directory, and praying for our members. I have a confession to make. While I have prayed on past hunting trips for all those in the church directory, I forgot to bring my church directory this year. However, I did have my prayer list. I did pray through that list a number of times.

You see, our method of hunting is to sit hidden by some meadows and ponds and call the moose to us. Usually we sit by the pond for 2-4 hours each morning and each evening. Many times we see no moose at all during our time of sitting. That leaves a lot of time to wait and listen. That also leaves time to quietly pray and to read.

I confess I didn’t pray through the directory this year. But, I did pray for all those on my prayer list, and for those whose messages I received, and I prayed for some others as well. The last time I counted there were over 150 entries of personal concerns on my prayer list of people and families of St. John and their friends. When people ask me to pray for them I put them on this prayer list. I don’t pray through the list each day, but I do pray through it regularly.

Why would someone spend so much time praying for others? First of all, I believe that God hears and answers our prayers. I care about the people for whom I pray and believe that God is the best answer for any concerns and reasons we have to pray.

But, I’ve also been taught through Scripture and through my education that pastors have a responsibility for those they shepherd. That is an awesome responsibility. I’m not sure everyone realizes the depth of that responsibility, but it overwhelms me at times.

The writer to the Hebrews expresses this pastoral responsibility and has a request for God’s children because of this responsibility. In Hebrews13:17-18 God speaks through this writer saying, “17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”

So, one of the reasons I pray for others is that God says here that pastors and leaders “must give an account.” In other words I hear God saying I have a responsibility to care for the spiritual welfare of others.

But, there is also a problem in this responsibility. My prayer list is divided into categories, like illness, or trouble, or church issues. I also have a category for my own personal concerns. You see, pastors are people and they struggle too trying to live as a child of God. I pray for my own wisdom, and faith, and righteousness, and love, and many other spiritual needs. The problem is this. If I have my own struggles, how can I realistically look after the spiritual welfare of so many others who have their own issues? I do know that in my own weakness I have made mistakes at times.

That is why the writer to the Hebrews asks God’s people to “Pray for us.” Pastors struggle too. So a pastor needs help to live a life that leads by example and He needs help to provide care for God’s people through prayer and the direction of Scripture.

Thankfully, pastors are not alone in caring for the lambs of God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the one who loved the sheep so much that He laid down His life for them. Pastors are called to shepherd Jesus’ sheep under His leadership and grace and forgiveness and love.

This devotional message doesn’t just go to members of St. John, but many others read this too. I personally covet your prayers so that I may have God’s help in my weakness to be faithful and effective in providing spiritual care and leadership to the people of God. I know I need it. If you attend another church, please pray for your pastor. God’s help is the best help we can get. I know other pastors would covet God’s help through your prayers too.

A Child of God, Seeking God’s help for an over-whelming responsibility,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I did see 7 or 8 moose this year, including 2 bulls. However, I could not be sure they were legal, so I did not shoot a moose. Here is a link, however, to scenery on the drive to moose camp, and scenery from the drive home. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/5928732352889346913

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Monday, September 16, 2013

The Blessing of Christian Friends

Dear Fellow Children of God,

When you read this devotion I will have left for my annual moose hunting trip. This is perhaps my favorite season of the year. I love autumn in the Alaskan woods. There are times that the yellow leaves on the birch trees seem to light up a dark evening. You can smell the rotting leaves and the pungent cranberries. The hills seem to be painted with the colors of gold and red. The warm days and cool nights bring a pleasant contrast. And the wildlife is active, preparing for the winter. The bleating of the sandhill cranes and the trumpeting of the swans are shouting that winter is on the way. The call of the raven seems to be telling every other animal what is happening in the woods. And we see porcupine and lynx and even bear sign. Usually I see many moose, mainly cows and calves, wandering about and eating. That list doesn’t even describe the grouse, the hare, the owls, the squirrels, and the other wildlife with which God populates the forests. No wonder so many Alaskans enjoy hunting. It is not only an opportunity to fill the freezer, but it is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

With all that said, do you know what I enjoy most about my hunting trips? I find real blessing in sitting around the fire and talking with fellow hunters. We discuss our hunting experiences, and politics. We discuss family and our faith. In fact, my experience in moose camp for 20 plus years has been that we enjoy a daily devotion which leads to more discussion. When I return from hunting I often tell my wife that we solved all the problems of the world in camp this year, if only the rest of the world would listen to us.

God intends for men and women of faith to be a blessing to one another. The Scriptures are full of references to friends. Perhaps the verse that best describes to me what happens in moose camp comes from Proverbs 27:9. There we are told, “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.” What a blessing to be able to talk earnestly, to talk honestly about topics that are important to our lives. And when we realize while talking that we share a best friend, Jesus, our talk encourage us through the trials of life with the help that faith in God gives. Around the campfire we can be talking about the present, but building for eternity, as we assure one another of God’s help and forgiveness and love.

Going into the wilderness to live in a tent may sound like roughing it to many. But, when you mix the glory of God’s creation with the blessing of Christian friends, this becomes one of my favorite times of the year.

A Child of God, Thankful for time in God’s beautiful Creation with friends.

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I leave today for 10 days of moose hunting. This is my “Thoughts from the Pastor” devotion for the week of September 15-21. After that, the next message you receive will be on September 27 or 28 after I have returned from hunting.

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God's Forgiveness helps us to e Honest

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I was recently driving toward Palmer across the hay-flats on the Glenn Highway. It had been raining, which seems to have been our weather pattern for the last month and a half. However, on this day there was a break in the clouds and I noticed some white on the top of the mountains. I told my wife there was new snow showing. Her response was, “I don’t want to hear it. Don’t you mention that ‘S’s word!” Maybe you have heard, or have even had, the same reaction.

My wife may not have wanted to hear about the snow, but you know and I know that whether she wanted to hear it or not the snow was on the mountain. Yes, winter is coming. The colder temperatures, the icy roads, and the long hours of dark are on the way. Denial may be a coping mechanism, but not very effective.

Snow is not the only thing people deny. Among other things, we do not like to hear about our failures, our selfishness, or our sin. This is one reason some people stay away from a relationship with God. Sometimes God is perceived as the great fault-finder, who punishes those he catches. This is not an accurate portrayal of God, but can lead to people denying they may have issues in their lives to deal with.

Even Christians who might have a better understanding of our Lord can and do have trouble facing our sin. We like to focus on the good we have done, not our failure. Such self-righteousness creates barriers between ourselves and others, and between ourselves and God. When we deny our sin, we don’t deal with issues we may have with others. When we deny our sin we don’t think we need a Savior, and we may not even want one.

God has something to say to us about denial. In 1 John 1:8 we are told, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” If we deny winter is coming we are unprepared when it arrives. If we deny our sin we don’t deal with our problems and failures. If we deny our sin we also miss the sacrificial love of our Savior. We don’t think we need one.

That is why it is so important to see who God really is. He is not primarily the great punisher. God is the one who primarily reaches out with Jesus, offering forgiveness those who have fallen and sinned. In the verse after 1 John 1:8, we are told, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” If you think about it, God’s grace and forgiveness can make us willing to confess our failure, because we know God is there to forgive. When we don’t deny, but admit our struggles, it also helps us to deal with our troubles in this life using the help of God.

I don’t mind snow. There are other things I don’t like to talk about, like car repairs. But, I enjoy skiing, and snow-machining and ice fishing. So I can admit and even anticipate that winter is approaching. When we know that God loves us enough to have sent His son to pay for our sins, and when we know that when we admit our sins God reaches out with His love and forgiveness, it can help us to face our failures. We can admit our sin because we receive His forgiveness, and we can deal with our issues in the love of God.

A Child of God, Thankful that God’s forgiveness helps me to be honest about my failures,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I leave for 10 days of moose hunting on Sunday afternoon or Monday. I will send out my next “Thoughts from the Pastor” for the week of September 15-21 soon. After that, the next message you receive will be on September 27 or 28 after I have returned from hunting.

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Saturday, September 7, 2013

He Knows My Name

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Have you ever been to a family reunion, or a high school reunion? It is good to re-connect with loved ones and friends. But, it is embarrassing if someone says, “Hi,” and we forget their name.

This past week I have had 3 people come up to me and greet me. I knew their faces but I did not remember their names. Some of these folks even asked about family members by name, and talked about recent events in the life of our family. So, these people knew me, and they knew my name, but I had forgotten theirs. This is embarrassing for me, in part because I have a ‘reputation’ of remembering people’s names. But, I didn’t remember these three times.

This Sunday is a “Family Reunion” of sorts. Sunday School starts with a full schedule of Adult Bible Classes. For those who have been occupied elsewhere with summer vacation, or with fishing, or even with the Alaska State Fair, we get to return through worship and Sunday School more fully to the presence of the Lord, our Heavenly Father - the one who loves us most.

And, while we may forget the names of others, God never forgets our names. In fact, He takes the personal relationship He has with each of us very seriously. Just consider what the following verses mean.

In Isaiah 43:1 God tells the Israelites, “But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” Your friends and acquaintances may forget your name, but God calls us, by name. He knows us and cares for us.

In Isaiah 49:1 God tells the Gentiles, the non-Jews, (that’s us by the way.) “Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.” God has called us before we were born, and known our name. He does not forget us. He knows us and cares for us!

And, in John 10:3, when talking about being the Good Shepherd, Jesus talks about how shepherds treat their sheep. “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” God knows us individually and calls us by name. What a blessing! The Lord of the Universe knows each of us personally.

The amazing thing is that God does know us. He knows who we are and the special people He made us to be. He also knows where we have failed to live up to our promise and have turned out backs on Him and others. But, God still cares. He cares so much He sent His Son to pay for our rebellion and to save us so we can have an eternal reunion with God in Heaven. In spite of our sin, God still keeps calling us to repentance and faith, and to His eternal love.

We may forget the names of others. Others may forget or ignore us. But God always remembers and cares and calls us to Himself. And, tomorrow we get to attend that reunion, to begin the process again of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May you find joy that God Himself knows you, and calls you by name back to Himself in Jesus.

A Child of God, Thankful for the Personal Love of God,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Fishing has been good this year. Here are some pictures from August Silver Salmon trips. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/5921001414319839281?banner=pwa

P.P.S. We have recently had some new challenges in our family. Thank you for everyone who has kept us in prayer.

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