Sharing What's Really Important: April 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Continuing to Live in Jesus' Easter Victory

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Sunday was a great celebration of Easter at St. John. After special Holy Week services on Thursday and Friday, we had 3 full worship services on Sunday. Sunday’s worship included special music from the adult choir, the children’s choir, the bell choir, and a brass ensemble from Bartlett High School. I am sure Christian churches around the country are also basking in the glow of such great celebrations of the power and love of God found in His Easter resurrection and victory.

But, this Sunday we go back to 2 Sunday services. Since all the choirs sang last week, they won’t be singing this week. History also tells us we won’t have 500 people in worship this week either. A visitor might ask, “Was Jesus’ Easter victory only for one week?”

God tells us in Romans 6 that Jesus’ Easter victory is not just a one Sunday celebration, it is the way God’s children live.

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.

One of the ways God has given us His Easter victory is our baptisms, where we die with Jesus to our sin, and rise with Him to new life. This new life is not just found in heaven after our death, it is lived every day as we live in Jesus victory over sin.

I pray that Jesus’ Easter victory brings you joy and peace as He lives in you, and you live your new life for Him every day.

A Child of God, living a new life because of Jesus’ Easter Victory,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. On Sunday, April 17, 10 young people shared their faith in Jesus and Jesus’ love for them at their confirmation. Here are pictures from that special day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/Confirmation2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLPr96LiJSFrgE&feat=directlink

On Saturday, April 23, 75 or more children, parents, and grand children ran around outside looking for Easter eggs, after spending time with games and decorations inside. Here are some pictures from the Easter Festival.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/EasterFestivalAndEggHunt2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCOSf0MLtq6Gh8gE&feat=directlink

It is GOOD to celebrate the love of God in our lives!

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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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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Remembering Holy Week

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you remember where you were when . . .

· Jet planes flew into the World Trade Towers, September 11, 2001?

· The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart on re-entry, January 28, 1986?

· President John Kennedy was shot and killed, November 22, 1963?

· Pearl Harbor was attacked, December 7, 1941?

Some events seem to change our lives so we remember them vividly.

How do you remember the events of Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life? We may not have been there personally, but the events in Jerusalem that Passover week about 2000 years ago have changed our lives and the world so much that they are actually the center of history. It is not without reason that the Old Testament points forward to Jesus’ life, and the New Testament points back to Jesus. Even the creators of our current calendar marked history as centering on Jesus’ life. The time before Jesus’ life is referred to as B.C. (before Christ). The time after Jesus’ birth is referred to as A.D. (anno domini – the year of our Lord).

The reason I ask these questions is that it has become my custom to think during the days of this week, “What was Jesus doing now?”

· On Monday Jesus taught in the temple.

· On Tuesday His teaching led to disputes with the religious leaders.

· Wednesday of Holy Week seems to be a day of silence for Jesus. One friend has pointed out, perhaps Wednesday was a day of quiet and prayer in preparation for what is coming.

· Thursday was the Passover meal in the upper room, instituting the Lord’s Supper, betrayal in Gethsemane and a trial before the Jewish Council.

· Friday was the day Jesus was crucified and died. He took on Himself the sin and punishment of the whole world to offer us forgiveness.

· Saturday Jesus spent in the tomb.

· Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming the source of all our woes. Jesus overcame sin and death and Satan.

There is one other very appropriate way to remember the events of Jesus’ life that changed and blessed our lives. In 1 Corinthians 11 we are told that when Jesus first gave His disciples the Lord’s Supper, he not only said, “This is my body which is for you,” Jesus also said, “Do this in remembrance of me." Intentional worship, including receiving the Lord’s Supper, is one of the best ways to remember the events of Jesus’ life during that week 2000 years ago that have changed our lives for the good forever and receive the blessings God intends.

What are your plans for this week?

A Child of God, Remembering the most important week in my life,

Pastor Jonathan

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Sunday, April 17, 2011

God's Presence in life's Wilderness

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Yesterday I was talking to St. John member, Linda Griese, about our Lenten observance. This past Wednesday was the last of 6 mid-week Lenten worship services this year. We talked about the fact that our Lenten observance has gone quite well this year. We have had good attendance at our meals and good attendance and good response to our worship.

But, as I was talking to Linda I shared with her a conversation concerning Lent I had many years ago with my wife, Kathy. After many weeks of extra services I told Kathy something like, “Lent is hard on a Pastor.” Her response was, “Lent is hard on the Pastor’s family.” In other words when the pastor works hard, the family experiences that too.

However, do you know that is exactly what Lent is supposed to be? Lent is a period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. Lent is not only a time to consider our sin and the amazing sacrificial love of God, but it is also a ‘wilderness time’ for God’s people. As the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness waiting to reach the Promised Land, as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, Lent reminds us that our life is full of ‘wilderness times.’ Our lives are full of times that we wander in this world, struggling with doubts and temptations to sin, waiting for God’s deliverance of the Promised Land.

It is easy to want our ‘wilderness time’ to be over. But there are blessings in the wilderness too. In our struggles we can forget that God is with us in the wilderness of life. But, even if we forget this truth, God is with always with us. Sometimes we learn more about God’s love when we experience Him in our struggles than when life is going well.

This week God called long-time St. John member, Charlie Fox, home. One of the Bible verses I read to Charlie during the weeks before he died was the well-beloved Psalm 23. In Psalm 23 God promises, “4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” God promises He is with us in the life’s wilderness, even in ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’

Lent can remind us that life in this world is full of struggles and temptations. But, God is with us during our times in the wilderness. And . . . at the end of Lent God blesses us with the victory of Jesus’ Easter resurrection!!!!

A Child of God, Thankful for God’s presence in life’s wilderness,

Pastor Jonathan

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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Least of These

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I’m sure you have seen the pictures from the Earthquake in Japan, and continue to read or hear the stories of the efforts to help the victims, the efforts to clean up the destruction, and the on-going efforts to deal with the damage to the nuclear power plants. So, last Wednesday we started a special offering at St. John for the victims of the Japanese earthquake. For 3 Wednesdays and 2 Sundays those attending worship at St. John can give special offerings to help our church body reach out in love to people in need through Lutheran World Relief. In many ways this is a response to the words of our Lord Jesus we will read in worship this coming Sunday.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' . . . 40 . . . 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:31-46)

But, have you ever noticed it can seem easier to help people who are far away? Sometimes it can seem easier to help people overseas in need, than to help the homeless in Anchorage, or the hungry person at the grocery store. Sometimes the closer the need is, the more difficult it is to help. Maybe that is because we can help the person overseas and feel like we are done. But, when we help the person close by perhaps we know that this help may be an on-going effort. And, what happens if the person in need is someone in our family? Loving others and helping others seems like it should be easy. But loving always takes giving, and giving can be difficult.

When we look at our resources we can be overwhelmed when it comes to helping others whose needs seem to have no end. But, think of what happens when we look at Jesus’ love for us. Jesus may have left heaven to be our Savior, but remember how near He is. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Even though helping us cost Jesus His life, He did so willingly. (John 10:17-18) And, Jesus is always there to love and help, no matter what the problem. (Romans 8:38-39) God’s love and help for us has no bounds. When we remember how Jesus has helped us, beyond reason, it can move us to want to help others, even when that love and help is difficult and our efforts are imperfect. A Christian is not just someone who believes God loves them. A Christian is also a person whose life is changed by the love of Jesus.

How are you helping ‘the least of these?’ Who do you know that needs the bottomless love God gives us in Jesus? Are you looking to your limited resources to help, or are you remembering the limitless love and power and help which God gives us in Jesus?

A Child of God, loved beyond reason by my Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sharing What's Really Important

Dear Fellow Children of God,

On Tuesday, I spent the afternoon at home, hoping to get some writing and relaxing done after a few very busy days. However, it turned out that home wasn’t a place for rest and work. Three grand children were running around the house,

· Playing and Eating,

· Chasing the dog,

· Jumping on the bed,

· Playing baseball in the living room (with Mimi and Poppy’s encouragement), and

· Playing with their grand mothers’ breakables.

· (That was in addition to two episodes of emptying much of a 25 lb. bag of flour on the floor of the pantry!!!)

As I watched my 3 grandchildren I could not help but be overwhelmed with love for my children’s children, and overwhelmed with thanks for God’s goodness.

I also experienced another desire. I want my grandchildren to have the “one thing necessary.” (Luke 10:42) I want them to know the eternal love of their Heavenly Father in Jesus which will see them through the trials they will experience in this life, and which will bring them to the eternal home for God’s children (and grandchildren) in heaven. So, I tried reading to my 3 year old grandson, Jacob, my 2 year old grandson, Jackson, and my 1 and ½ year old granddaughter, Emmalee. Hmmm. I sat to read once during the play time, and twice during supper. Somehow, I did not get their attention. But, I will keep trying, it is important to share the greatest love in the universe with my loved ones.

This Sunday is “Friendship Sunday” at St. John. If you have friends and loved ones who don’t know Jesus, or don’t know the joy of fellowship with God’s people, it is important to share this “one thing necessary.” One way to share Jesus is to bring your family and friends to worship. This Sunday is a good time to do so. However, as with my grandchildren, you may not be listened to the first or second time you share. And, while this Sunday is a good opportunity for such sharing, any time is a good time to share God’s love in Jesus with others. I am convinced there is no better way to care for someone else than to share Jesus’ love with them.

A Child of God, sharing God’s love with loved ones

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. The grand children were not only at our home because we love them, but also because God blessed our family with a new grand baby Monday night, and people are going to the hospital in shifts to visit the new Rockey. https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/KendallJeanRockey3282011?feat=directlink

P.P.S. Here is a moment of “somewhat calm” on the ‘jumping bed’ with the baseball bat!!!! https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/MimiAndPoppySGrandKidCrazyNess3292011?feat=directlink

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