New Life - Every Day!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Recently I barely escaped a serious auto accident and possibly even being killed.  On December 20 I was returning from a home visit to one of our homebound members who lives off Pittman Road.  Around 5:00 p.m. in the dark I was driving south on the Parks Highway.  There are no street lights on that stretch of road and a long line of lights came at me from the vehicles driving north out of Wasilla.  Suddenly, out of the glare of lights, I realized one of those vehicles was in my lane driving full speed straight at me.  I hit the brakes and swerved onto the shoulder.  The vehicle that was driving at me did not swerve, it did not blink its lights, it did not slow down.  But at 50-60 miles an hour that vehicle drove right through the area where I and the car behind me had been driving.  For about a mile, with my heart in my throat, I drove slowly along the shoulder glad I had missed a possibly fatal accident.

The blessing, however, of a close call like this is that the escape from harm and death gives a person the opportunity to be thankful to be alive.  Such an escape is an opportunity to count our blessings and to commit again to living each day as a child of God.

As we approach and begin a new year people often use the date on the calendar as an opportunity for a new beginning.  But such new beginnings don’t require a near death experience nor a change of years on a calendar.  For those who are in Christ every day, in fact many times each day, we have the blessing of new beginnings.  One place that Scripture tells us of such a new beginning is in Romans 6.  “ 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6;3-4)

Paul says that we die with Christ and rise with him to “live a new life.”  One way God gives this new beginning is in our baptism.  Every time we sin and repent of that sin, remembering our baptism, we have a new beginning as God forgives us.  God puts the past behind us through His forgiveness won through Jesus’ death on the cross. As a person faces the hurts and disappointments of life trusting in Jesus we can continue through the pain knowing that God is with us in the love that caused Him to send Jesus.  By faith in Jesus we have the promise of eternal life in heaven which gives us strength to face the challenges of each day. 

It is always a blessing to put the past behind us and begin new again.  For the Christian we have the blessing of those new beginnings every day through God’s love and forgiveness for us in Jesus.

A Child of God, thankful again for gift of new life found in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Last week I mentioned the blessing of family.  Here is a picture of of our “Grandchild Christmas” celebration on December 23.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/Christmas2011#5691837564137885058

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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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Home for Christmas?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Last week my two youngest children came home for Christmas.  My daughter, Mary, came home from teaching in Chevak, AK.  My son, Tim, returned home from his first semester of college at the University of Montana.  It can be a real joy for families to spend Christmas together.  In fact, we have so romanticized the original Christmas story of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus that we can come to believe that for a Christmas to be all that it should be a family must be together.

However, you and I know that families do not always get to spend Christmas together.  Some have no other family members with which to spend Christmas.  It is a fact of life today that many live in different states and simply cannot be in the same town at Christmas.  For some, a loved one may have passed away and there will never be Christmas together again.  In some families there are divisions so that even though the family could spend Christmas together they miss that opportunity.  Just because we like to think of Christmas as a time that everyone spends with family that is not always the case. In fact for those of us in Alaska the majority of people are probably separated from some family member at Christmas time.  So, if we think that Christmas is a family time, but we can’t spend it together, how do we celebrate Christmas?

But, did you ever think that the first Christmas was really an occasion where family was apart?  In order for our Heavenly Father to begin the work of saving a rebellious world from their own selfishness, hatred, rebellion, and sin, the Father sent His only Son away from home.  Jesus did not get to spend that first Christmas in heaven with His Father.  He spent it on a cold, painful, death-filled world beginning His saving work. 

So the Christmas message to us is that, even though we live in a world where things are not always perfect, even though we live in a world where we don’t always get to spend time with loved ones, even though we live in a world of sin and division, God has broken into our imperfect lives in love.  God loved us enough that first Christmas to send His Son away from home so that He might begin the work of overcoming our pain and sin with his love.

This Christmas may God’s Christmas love break into any of your trials and troubles and sin so that you may know the joy and peace of God’s gift of His Son.

A Child of God, thankful for the Love of God that came down at Christmas,

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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"Give My Heart"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Last Sunday a group of St. John members went Christmas caroling.  We visited the homes of folks who are mostly homebound and have trouble getting out.  We wanted to let them know they are not forgotten and still cared for.  We wanted to share with them the love that is bigger than our love, the love of God shown so wonderfully at Christmas in the birth of Jesus.

But, this year’s group of carolers was small.  Did you see the weather?  Instead of an idyllic winter scene the singers braved sheets of rain on a cold, dark day in which clouds shut out almost any light.  But, maybe that was an even more appropriate day to share the Christmas message.  No one knows the exact date that Jesus was born.  But, Jesus is the light of the world come into a dark world of sin.  “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”  (John 1:1, 4-5) On that dark, bleak, and rainy day we were able to share with people the light of God’s love that is not shut out by the weather, nor the pain and trials around us.

Do you know the words of the Christmas Carol, “In the Bleak Mid-Winter?”  This poem was written by Christina Rosetti in the 1800’s.  The words capture the depth of the troubles of our world, troubles which God overcomes by His love in Jesus.  However, the verse of this poem that strikes me most forcefully is the last verse which asks the question, “What shall I give Him?”  Rosetti’s answer, “Give my heart.”

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heav’n cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;

heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,

worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him:  give my heart.

Into our lives full of sin and pain God Himself has come in love.  In the beauty of Jesus’ Christmas birth, and in the victory of Jesus’ death and rising, He has overcome the bleak places in our lives.  How will you respond?  Will you give your heart?

A Child of God, Overwhelmed by the love of God,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  If you want to see a performance of this Christmas carol this You Tube video is a good one.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ

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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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ST. JOHN NEWS

ADVENT WORSHIP SERVICES – Mid week Advent Worship Services are held on Wednesday evenings, December 14 and 21 at 6:30 p.m.  This year’s services look at “The Surprises of Christmas.”  We will use short videos from Lutheran Hour Ministries to consider the surprise of God’s Son to the Shepherds, and the surprise of God’s Son to the Wise Men.  Come and use these short services to prepare for your Christmas celebration.

            Advent Fellowship Meals are provided at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall before the worship services.

Special Christmas Opportunity – We recently found we were behind in finances for the year.  Congregational President, Dave Nufer, has written a letter about finances and put it on the back table.  In this time that we receive God’s greatest gift please consider how you might join others in responding to God’s love for God’s work here at St. John.

Offering for the Needy WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEK –  This offering is used to help people in our congregation and in our community during life’s difficult times.

NEW CHURCH DIRECTORIES are available on the counter in the narthex. Those who had their pictures taken receive a free directory.  The names are written on the directories.  Please pick up your directories. 

(Unfortunately, we have found that some families who had their pictures taken did not get into the directory.  If you had your picture taken but are not in the directory you still get a directory.  In addition, please let the church office know.  We will be printing off a page with the missing pictures, and we will get extra directories for those who are not in the directory.

“LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS” –  The parish nurses of St. John are offering a class to St. John members and the Mat-Su Community, “Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions.”  This 6-part class is scheduled for Tuesday evenings beginning on January 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

            Three people have signed up for the class already.  However, we need at least 3 more to insure that the class meets.  There is a sign-up sheet on the wall in the narthex above the counter top.  Or you can call Judy in the church office at 745-3338 and let her know you would like to attend.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website?  On our web page you can find sermons, newsletters, and these weekly devotions.  The link is:  http://www.st-john-lutheran.org/ 

In fact, IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY CHURCH NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL please e-mail Judy Stahancyk and let her know.  You can call at 745-3338, or e-mail Judy at jstahancyk@st-john-lutheran.org. If you receive the newsletter by e-mail it saves printing, postage, and time compiling the newsletter.  Also, you receive the monthly newsletter more quickly!!

Preparing for . . . the Lord

THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR

“Preparing for . . . Christ”

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Last Thursday I was sitting in the dentist chair getting my teeth cleaned and my hygienist asked me, “Are you ready for Christmas yet?”  Well, I hadn’t done any shopping.  Our cards are not written, addressed, nor sent.  We have done no decorating yet.  I know of no special baking that has happened in our home.  But rather than saying we are not ready for Christmas I told my hygienist, “I think the best way to get ready for Christmas is to prepare our hearts.”  We talked about that idea for a moment.

Are you ready for Christmas?  How are you doing in your preparations?  Do you have your gifts purchased; your cards addressed and sent; your home decorated?  Do you have a tree yet?  Those are just some of the preparations that can make the holiday season seem overwhelming in lives that are already overly busy.  And don’t forget the parties, the trips, and the baking.  The busy-ness of traditional Christmas preparations can bring weariness rather than peace and joy to this time of year.

But Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Christmas is the celebration that the God of love and the God of life has broken into a world of sin and death.  For Christians preparing for Christmas is not so much preparing for an event or preparing for a celebration.  For Christians, preparing for Christmas is preparing for a person, preparing for Christ. 

The people of Jesus day were directed to prepare for His coming.  John the Baptist was God’s messenger to prepare people for the coming of Jesus.  Do you remember how John called people to prepare?  In Mark 1:3-4 we are told of John;

3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

John called people of his day to prepare for Jesus’ coming in their lives through baptism and repentance that led to forgiveness in Jesus.  What does this mean as we prepare for Christmas?  Since Christmas is the celebration of Jesus coming, here are some suggestions to prepare for Jesus in your life.  Preparation for Jesus’ coming might include

·         Worship – If you haven’t been worshiping do so.  If you have been worshiping use this as a special opportunity to let God come to you with His Christmas love.

·         Meditations and Devotions – Before decorating your home, why not decorate your heart with the Word of God?

·         Prayer time – Christmas is about God coming to us.  Amazingly, God lets us go to Him in prayer.  What is on your heart?  Let God know, and ‘listen’ to His response.

·         Christmas Music – There is much ‘holiday’ music.  But some of my favorite music of all time are the songs and carols that sing of Jesus’ birth.

Perhaps, focusing on preparing for Jesus rather than a holiday might bring peace and joy to your holiday.

A Child of God, seeking to focus on the Jesus this Christmas,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  With our wind, warm temperatures, and rain, the attendance was low last Sunday.  Please pardon me for sharing again some of the thoughts I shared in worship last Sunday.

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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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White As Snow

“White As Snow”

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Many of us host out of town family and visitors in the summer as they visit Alaska, but how many visitors do you have during the Alaskan winter?  (I do have one friend who especially likes to visit during Fur Rendezvous.)  Maybe even you make sure to travel outside during the winter yourself.  Winter is not as popular as summer is for many.  Yet, my experiences of the last week remind me that God can speak to us clearly and even more uniquely through the beauty seen in our Alaskan winter. 

Most of you know I like to fish and enjoy ice-fishing. But, because I had fished a number of times recently, this last Monday I drove to Alyeska Resort to ski.  With the temperature between 15-20 degrees and the skies above mostly clear, I stood on top of the mountain around 3:15 in the afternoon and watched the sun set over Turnagain Arm behind the Chugach Mountains to the south.   The snow was powdery.  Clouds drifted below those of us who were skiing.  Just being outdoors in this beauty fed my soul.

However, my favorite recent winter experience happened the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I went ice-fishing with my son Josh and his two oldest children, Jake and Emmalee.  I also invited 4 other families from church, but only Grace Miller was able to join us that day.  As we began our fishing outing walking across the Kepler – Bradley Lakes, snow fell gently on us from the clouds above.  My grandchildren, Jake and Emmalee, giggled as they threw snow on each other while we pulled them in a sled across the lake.  But, the clouds quickly cleared, the temperature dropped some, and the sun shone brightly out of the clear blue skies.  All around us new fallen snow hung on the trees.  Eagles watched us from the far edges of the lake.  Then, as the sun skirted the top of Twin Peaks, crystals of ice drifted out of the sky like diamonds falling through the rays of the sun.  The gently falling snow at the beginning of the day had changed into the sparkling frost falling out of the clear blue sky at the end of the day.  All the noise of the world seemed to hush as God covered the world in a white blanket . . . and we caught fish!  It was easy to remember the verse from Isaiah 1:18, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

God speaks to us most clearly from His Word found in the Scriptures.  But even Scripture tells us that God also speaks in other ways, such as through the beauty of His Creation.  On these two days God reminded me that, in spite of the noise of the world around us and the failure of my sin, God covers my sin with His love in Jesus.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

The Alaskan winters can be tough, but I pray you can also hear the voice of God’s love from the beauty of the Alaska winter.

A Child of God, reminded that my sins of scarlet have been made white as snow in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Here are a couple of pictures from Thanksgiving week. https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/ThanksgivingWeekWinterFun?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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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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Christian Thankfulness

THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR

“Christian Thankfulness”

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Recently my wife, Kathy, and I heard a story of Christian thankfulness from an unexpected source.  Last week some employees at Mat-Su Regional, where Kathy works, were discussing being thankful.  One of the doctors told Kathy he had a story to tell her.  On the previous Sunday this doctor’s daughter had an opportunity to share a thought on ‘thankfulness’ after worship.  She related that she had worked in a place where she took care of elderly people and there was one lady who was always thankful.  This lady, Alice, was thankful whether you were helping her do something pleasant, or helping her in a way that was not so pleasant.  The doctor told Kathy, “I chimed in and said, ‘I amputated that lady’s leg, and she thanked me.’”

Alice from the story was Kathy’s mom, Alice Tobin.  Many of you may remember Alice who lived here in Palmer with us from March of 1997 until her death in May of 2009.  She was known by many as a southern lady who always seemed gracious.  But, that was the first time we heard the story of her surgeon saying that she even thanked him when he amputated her leg.

Thanksgiving is actually a national holiday established by Presidential decree.  However, anyone can be thankful when things are going well and our blessings are abundant.  How many can say thanks even in times of trial, even when our leg might be amputated, or some other trial or tragedy strikes.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”  In Jesus we have God’s love in our lives in the good and bad times.  Christians can be joyful, we can give thanks, not so much because life is going well, but because God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus are eternal, no matter what the situation!

One of our bible classes on Sundays has been studying “Christian Relationships” using some Gary Smalley videos.  Kathy told me that a recent class suggested that anyone who goes through a time of trial should ask, “What can God be doing and teaching me in this trial?”  The suggestion is a call for thankfulness at all times.

As a fellow child of God, forgiven and loved by God, I am asking my Lord to help me to be thankful and to share my thankfulness even in life’s trials.  Perhaps you can pray the same prayer.  Anyone can be thankful when life is going well.  It is a real witness to God’s love in our lives when we give thanks in life’s difficulties because we know that in Jesus God’s love is eternal.  So, we can give thanks even when life seems to be full of trouble.

A Child of God, Thankful because of God’s Love in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  I am also thankful because yesterday I caught my first fish of the year ice-fishing.  Please don’t laugh!!  https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/IceFishingNovemberAndDecember2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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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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ST. JOHN NEWS

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP!!!!  - THANKSGIVING WORSHIP will be held at St. John this Wednesday evening, November 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  This service on the evening before Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to give thanks and praise to God.  It also gives families Thanksgiving Day for time together.  This year we have 2 baptisms on Thanksgiving evening.

            Come and join your brothers and sisters on this National Holiday in giving thanks to God for His abundant love and blessings.

OTHER WORTHWHILE HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP AND SERVICE

·         A NIGHT OF FELLOWSHIP AT THE VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS -  If you would like to go with other St. John members on Friday, December 2, to see the production of “A Christmas Carol” there is a sign-up sheet on the counter in the Narthex.  St. John members Dave Nufer and Greta Kopperud have parts in this play.  Before the play some of our St. John members will be eating at King’s Asian Buffet.

·         ST. JOHN COLONY CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND BAKE SALE – The Evangelism Board is sponsoring a table at the annual Colony Christmas on December 10.  This Craft and Bake Sale is intended to raise funds to help us send out our Christmas Postcard to invite our town to join us in worshiping our Lord at the birth of our Savior.  There is a signup sheet on the counter in the Narthex if you can donate crafts or food to help us raise funds to share Jesus love with others.

• Offering for the Needy - A SPECIAL OFFERING WILL BE TAKEN FOR THE NEEDY AT ST. JOHN after worship on December 4 and 11!  This offering is used to help people in our congregation and in our community during life’s difficult times.

·         THE COMMUNITY ADVENT SERVICE will be held on Wednesday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m.  Watch the bulletins for more details.  A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m., and the Worship Service will take place at 7:00 p.m.  Also, everyone is asked to bring ‘Christmas goodies’ to share after the worship service.

Offerings at this year’s service will go to Alaska Correctional Ministries.  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will match .50 to each dollar contributed up to a total possible Thrivent donation of $800.00.

• Christmas Baskets – St. John has encouraged members to make donations to the Palmer Food Bank to help provide holiday food baskets to the needy.  Please see the information on the information center / bulletin board in the east entry about this opportunity for sharing Jesus through Christmas love and service.

• Christmas Caroling - A Christmas Caroling Outing will be held on December 11,  beginning at 2:00 p.m.  Watch for more announcements.  These caroling events have been times of joy which have brought the Christmas joy of God’s love to people who are housebound.  We have many people to sing for this year.  Come and join us!

·         THE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM will be held in late worship on Sunday, December 11.  Practice for the program is happening during the Sunday School opening time.  Plan now to attend!

·         DIVORCE CARE -  Divorce Care meets on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Bev Dubos is leading the sessions.  If you are interested you can call Bev at 745-0514.  This Christian 13 week video based class and support group has helped Christians around the country, and was a blessing to many at St. John last school year.

·         TRIP TO GERMANY IN 2012?  Kathy and I thoroughly enjoyed a trip to Germany at Reformation time 10 years ago.  We are thinking of going again in 2012 with a group called Luther Tours. This trip is still in the discovery and planning stage, but, if anyone would be interested in joining us on such a trip, please let us know.  There is a sign up sheet on the counter in the narthex, or you can reply to this e-mail.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website?  On our web page you can find sermons, newsletters, and these weekly devotions.  The link is:  http://www.st-john-lutheran.org/ 

In fact, IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY CHURCH NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL please e-mail Judy Stahancyk and let her know.  You can call at 745-3338, or e-mail Judy at jstahancyk@st-john-lutheran.org. If you receive the newsletter by e-mail it saves printing, postage, and time compiling the newsletter.  Also, you receive the monthly newsletter more quickly!!

Sacrificial Love

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Love, real love, is easy to talk about but very difficult to actually live at times.  Or, maybe love is not so difficult, but it takes real sacrifice.  Jesus said, in John 13:34  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  We know how Jesus loved us – He died on the cross.  Are we prepared or able to love others in such a way?

I was touched recently by an on-going story of love told me by St. John member and AMC missionary, David Grosz.  We have been praying for David’s brother, Rod, for a couple of months now.  Rod was diagnosed with lymphoma which has grown and moved and is now mainly affecting his liver.  Rod lives in Oregon and has been diagnosed by the doctors to be terminal in his cancer.

However, Rod is being cared for in an amazing way.  Rod used to run a funeral home in Portland and while there became friends with one of the men who did the lawn work.  As they became friends Rod invited this Hispanic man and his family to move into his house.  This allowed the family to live in a nicer neighborhood and for the children to go to better schools.  This relationship grew for 10 years.  The family even named their 3^rd child after Rod.

But, after a while this family wanted to be closer to their blood relatives, so they left Oregon and moved to Texas telling Rod, “If you ever need anything let us know.”  When Rod was diagnosed with cancer last May and had to stop working his friends found out.  The husband and father flew to Oregon to check on Rod.  When he saw how sick Rod was the family closed up their house in Texas and moved back to Oregon.  They got jobs and put the kids in school so they could take care of Rod during the time of his terminal illness.  Imagine leaving your home and moving to the other side of the country to help a friend in this way!

Rod, who is a believer in Jesus, had told his family he wasn’t sure why he was helping the family the way he did, but he just needed to do it.  The family, who are devoted Christians, are doing this simply because they love Rod.  They have let it be known they want no payment or any kind.

Sometimes the lives of Christians shine in such a way that they really do point to the sacrificial love of Jesus.  I hope I can be as loving.

A Child of God, blessed to know God’s love, and blessed by the love of others

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  On this Veterans’ Day, it is good to remember those who have loved us in another way.  John 15:13 says, 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

P.P.S. I’m not sure if I shared this picture with you of our whole family taken in July.  As you see, our daughter in law Erin was expecting.  Family is such a blessing!!  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/RockeyFamilyJulyAndAugust2011#5642095221645304306

Now, here are some pictures of the newest addition to our family.  Henry Brooks Rockey was born to Josh and Erin on Monday, November 7, at 8:06 a.m., and weighed 7 lb. 15 oz.  https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/HenryBrooksRockeyBorn1172011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Thank you, Lord!

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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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Perseverance

Dear Fellow Children of God,

If you are a baseball fan, as I am, or even if you are not so much of a fan, you may have nevertheless been struck by the excitement and suspense of this year’s World Series.  The St. Louis Cardinals (yes I lived in St. Louis in the 1970’s and 1980’s) were not even supposed to be in the playoffs this year.  But, they won the World Series in 7 games, and game 6 was a game for the ages with the Cardinal coming from 2 runs behind both in the 9^th and 10^th innings to stay alive.  Twice in that game they were one strike from defeat.  But they kept fighting, and even won.  The hero for the Cardinal was their third baseman, David Freese, who had more RBI’s (runs batted in) and more total bases than anyone else ever before in baseball playoff history.

What many don’t know is that this somewhat unknown player had a difficult road to travel to arrive at this role of unlikely hero.  After high school he quit baseball because he was ‘burned out.’  After returning to baseball and ending up on his hometown team, the Cardinals, he suffered numerous serious ankle and wrist injuries.  Also lost in the excitement of his achievement is something he revealed in interviews that he does not drink alcohol . . . any more.  Freese was an unlikely hero who got to this point by perseverance.  And, oh yes, I also found out that he is a member of a St. Louis area Lutheran (LCMS) congregation.

Romans 5 says, 3 . . . we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  In listening to the story of David Freese it is obvious it took perseverance and character to make it through the many disappointments he faced.  Not everyone who perseveres succeeds so spectacularly.  But, if people give up the first time adversity is faced, there is little accomplished and little character grown.

Do you see how God can and does use even the trials of life to bless us?  Imagine Paul saying, we also rejoice in our sufferings.  But, when life overwhelms us there is something that never disappoints us, the love of God.  When life is going badly we can count on the fact that God is beside us loving us, forgiving us, and saving us.

When life overwhelms you, I pray that the Spirit of God reminds you that even when the good times leave, God’s love is constant.  We can persevere in life’s trials, because God continues in love for us.

A Child of God, Thankful that when trials come, God’s love never ends,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Here is one of many articles on David Freese’ World Series.  http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/World-Series-MVP-David-Freese-hometown-hero-leads-St-Louis-Cardinals-to-title-102811/?ocid=marketing_omtr_validation

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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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As a Father Loves his Children

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I remember this day 24 years ago.  Around 8:00 on the morning of October 27 Kathy had gone into labor.  Her mom was staying at our home with us.  Our young sons, Josh who was almost 7 and Andy who was almost 5, were waiting to walk across the street to school.  Around noon the doctor told us to come to the hospital.  We arrived at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville and then we waited and waited and waited.  Finally around 5:00 p.m. Kathy’s labor picked up, and at 6:00 p.m. the doctor held up our first daughter.  You could see right away she had red hair.  What a joy and blessing our daughter Mary has been to Kathy and to me!

Over the years Kathy and I have received God’s blessings through each of our children.  What a gift!  I think you can see we love our daughter.  We love our children, all 4 of them.

So, considering the love of a parent for their children, please hear what God says to us in Psalm 103: 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

 

Many of you are parents and you know how you love your children.  If you are not a parent most of us know the love our parents have had for us.  There is a passion deep in my soul that loves each of my children.  Do you know God loves you like a father?  With the passion and compassion of a father, God cares for each of us. 

Do you ever want to take your children, even your grown children, into your arms to hug and love them?  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

What a blessing to know and live in the love of our heavenly Father!!

A Child of God, thankful for the love of my Heavenly Father,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Mary, 24 today!  Happy Birthday, Mary!!

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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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Rejoicing in the Fruits of Faith

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This year while moose hunting I had a mostly sleepless night.  St. John member, Gerry Zellar, my friend and moose hunting partner realized I hadn’t slept much or well and asked me in the morning if I was alright.  I told him I was just thinking and worrying and praying about church.  Maybe there were other reasons I didn’t sleep well that night, but I was also thinking about our worship services. While membership has remained pretty stable, worship attendance had decreased in recent years.  I was thinking and praying most of the night.  If there is anything that causes worry for me, for any pastor or other church leaders, it is to share God’s word but not see the fruit of the seed that is planted.  Because we all struggle with temptation and sin there are times in all of our lives that we hear the word and love of God but we don’t always bear fruit for God.  That night I spent time wondering about how our congregation can more effectively share God’s Word so His people grow and live their faith.

However, since I have returned from hunting I have been encouraged by a number of examples of God’s word bearing fruit in the lives of His people.  Recently we had a baptism that was a special encouragement to me.  One little girl was baptized in September.  Before that baptism I had gone to her home to talk about what God does for us when someone is baptized.  A couple of weeks later I got a call saying another member of the family wanted to be baptized.  That young lady had heard our study of the Bible and had considered how God works through baptism to give His love.  The request to be baptized was the result of the word of God working in the life of this person.  The seed of God’s word was planted and bore fruit when the second family member asked to be baptized.  If there is anything that brings joy to me or any other pastor it is to see the fruit of God’s love showing in someone’s life.

In addition I recently rejoiced after a the blessing of a really good couple of days.  We have had good attendance in worship and great attendance in Sunday School.  In addition a number of people have contacted me on their own to share their hopes and plans to serve our Lord.  After writing down a list of all these instances of God’s word bearing fruit in the lives of His people I had to stop and offer a prayer of thanks.

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15: 5)  A sleepless night by itself bears no fruit, though God does answer prayer.  But, this verse says that when connected to Jesus then our lives bear fruit.  When we know God’s undeserved love for us, when we trust Him for forgiveness, when we love God because He loved us, Jesus changes our lives.

Do you need God’s blessings in your life?  Do you need changes in your life?  Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

A Child of God, Thankful to see God working in the lives of His people,

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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The GIFT of Love

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Today, I was witness to two small acts of kindness that perhaps were not really all that small.  The first actually came from my dog.  You see I ended up taking our cat to the vet with an infected foot.  The doctor actually did some extensive cleaning of the infection, gave the cat a shot of antibiotics, and sent him home with a fear of the doctor and a bleeding foot.  You see, it hurt the cat to get the wound cleaned.  When I brought the cat home he lay on the bed he shares with our Labrador retriever.  The dog saw the cat, came over and sniffed at the cat.  It noticed the foot and licked the wound.  Then our dog nudged the cat as it lay down.  The dog also laid down near the cat.  From observing that interaction I think the dog missed the cat and was, in its own animal way, trying to take care of the cat.  Obviously the scene impressed me.

The other act of kindness happened when I brought my grandson, Jacob, home from preschool.  I got Jacob out of the car seat and set him on the ground while I carried some other things inside his house.  As Jacob walked from the car by himself he started whining, as 3 year olds can.  But Jacob’s sister, Emmalee, was concerned.  Emmalee ran to her mom and said, “Jacob’s crying.”  She missed her brother, cared about the reason he was crying, and ran to tell mom to help Jacob.  When asked why he was crying Jacob told his mom, “It’s cold outside.”  It was about 35 degrees and there were some flurries in the air.  The cold may not seem like much, but Emmalee was genuinely concerned about her brother.

God calls us to “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)  Love is not just to care about someone, but to show that love, even to tell others we love them.

As I was thinking about these small acts of kindness, love flowing from the heart from one to another, I realized I haven’t told you recently that as a Christian I love you   Some of you receiving this devotion are actually family.  Many of you are members of St. John. Others are friends. I have not only spent time with you or worshipped with you, but I have also been in many of your homes.  I have often prayed for many of you in times of blessing or need.  These may seem like easy words to say.  Yet, I can honestly say as a family member, as a fellow Christian, as a friend, I care about each of you.  But, just caring in my heart keeps it only inside myself.  I need to share this.

Love is a powerful blessing.  You understand how even these seemingly small acts of kindness I saw today touched me.  Now consider the biggest act of love ever.  God didn’t just love you in words, but gave His only Son.  Jesus, the Son of God, gave His very life for us in love. 

I pray the great love of God for you touches you so that you are moved to share care and concern and Christian love with those in your life.

A Child of God, loved by Him and desiring to share that love,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Here are some pictures of what I expect will  be my last fishing trip of the summer.  https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/LastDayOfSummerFishing10102011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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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.

A Real GIFT!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

It just appeared in my bank account yesterday. . . sort of.  A deposit of $1174.00 was put into my savings account electronically in my name.  A similar deposit was made to our account in Kathy’s name.  Did anyone else have the same experience?

Alaskans all know what I’m writing about, it is the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend.  In fact, you may wonder why I should act surprised.  This has been happening now for about 30 years.  We almost take it for granted.  “What’s the big deal?”

Please consider this reaction.  This check that Alaskans get from oil profits because our constitution says that ‘the resources of Alaska belong to the people of Alaska’ is really a gift.  We did not work for this dividend.  We were not winners in a drawing.  People in other states do not have the same dividends.  Kathy and I did however submit an application for the Alaska Permanent Fund.  Five minutes or less on the computer last December and a deposit of $1170.40 was made in October. 

So, do we take this gift for granted?  When she was healthy enough to worship regularly St. John member June Liebing would stand up after worship in early service at Permanent Fund Dividend time and say.  “God made the earth.  The oil is in the earth.  My permanent fund dividend is a gift from God.”  Then she would also add, “I encourage you to give to the Lord from this gift from God.”  (June is now 90 years old and living in the Pioneer Home in Palmer.) It is good to remember what is written in James 1.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,  (James 1:17)

But, this is not just true of permanent fund dividends.  On an even greater level the joy and hope of eternal life we enjoy is a gift of God’s love because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  We did nothing to earn this.  Even if we tried we could not have earned this gift of God.  He gives it to us freely when we believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin and death.

So, how do you respond to a gift?  The Psalmist simply says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)  Thankfulness is like faith.  Thanks comes from the heart and shows in our actions. 

So, as you receive this gift of a permanent fund dividend, as you receive the greater gift of God’s love and eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus, do the actions of your life show thanks?

A Child of God, thankful for God’s undeserved love,

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.