A Christian Celebration of Reformation Day

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Today, October 31, Kathy and I are in Wittenberg with St. John members Carol Gustafson and Dwayne and Donita Odland.  On October 31, 1517, an obscure catholic monk and university professor posted a document on the church door for the purpose of encouraging a debate on the topic of “indulgences.” This document also touched on the related topics of Scripture, and God’s plan for forgiveness and salvation by His grace through faith.   The document Luther posted, “The Ninety-Five Theses” became the spark that led to the Reformation throughout Europe.

 

The reason Luther posted “The Ninety-Five Theses” is that the church of that time was spreading teachings that he considered contrary to God’s Word, and spreading teachings that caused people to look for salvation and eternal life in a hope that was different than the reason for hope which God has, the life and death and resurrection of Jesus.

 

I personally am thankful for my Lutheran Heritage.  I continue to find Luther’s Reformation principals of “By Grace Alone,” “By Faith Alone,” and “By Scripture Alone” to still guide my own faith and ministry.  I am thankful that the Lutheran Church as I have known it has been committed to learning the Scriptures and teaching the truth of God’s love in Jesus.

 

However, a danger in celebrating the Reformation is that Lutheran Christians, or any Christians, can point our finger at others, and ignore our own failings.  The truth is many churches seek to teach God’s word, not just the Lutheran Church.  We had best not mis-characterize what others teach.  And, the reason we need a Savior is that all of us stumble and sin and fail. 

 

The best way to celebrate the Reformation is to watch our own faith and lives. Jesus tells his disciples in John 8:34-36,  “34 . . . "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  In these words Jesus calls for a personal reformation in each of His followers. 

 

What kind of reformation might we work toward in our own lives?  First, knowing we are sinners we need to constantly repent.  It is important that we admit our selfishness, our greed, our doubt, our sin, and seek God’s help to live in faith and love.  This turning from sin is a constant fight in this life, because everyone who sins is a slave to that sin. 

 

Second, we turn from our sin to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  A personal reformation means we trust Jesus for forgiveness.  We trust in Jesus to strengthen us for the struggle by His Word and Spirit.  This is what Jesus means when He says, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

 

Finally, we can sustain this personal Reformation by growing in the knowledge, the grace, and the power of God’s Word.  In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  God’s Word found in Scripture can guide us in our own personal reformation.  It can teach us how to live.  God’s Word can show us our sin, and show us our Savior, and strengthen us in God’s love so we can continue the struggle of personal repentance and reformation.

 

It is exciting to be in Wittenberg on Reformation Day.  I pray that we all use the occasion and celebration of this historic date for the purpose of growing closer to our Savior, Jesus.

 

A Child of God, Seeking God’s Reformation in My Life,

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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ST. JOHN NEWS

 

Christian Citizenship

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I voted today, October 22.  Most of you know that Kathy and I leave Friday night, October 26, for a vacation in Germany to celebrate our 35^th anniversary. So we won’t be in Alaska on election day. 

 

One thing I try not to do as a pastor is to tell you for whom I believe you should vote.  One reason for this is that there is no perfect candidate.  God tells us in Scripture we are all sinners.  Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses.  Imagine if the church supported a candidate who was elected, and this office holder was then involved in a horrible scandal.  Did the church then approve of the scandalous behavior?  Obviously not.  However, it can seem to others that if the church supported a candidate, and the candidate mis-behaves, that children of God then accept that bad behavior.  We want to give a witness that honors our Lord, not one that dishonors Him.

 

However, while as pastor I won’t tell you which candidate you should support, I will seek to pastor and guide Christians to follow what God says about how we should live as God’s children.  God’s people are called to respond to His love and live lives of faith, honor, righteousness, and justice.  We are to love God and love others.   God has given us the Ten Commandments.  These commandments are the healthiest way for us to live, and when we live according to these commandments our lives then give honor and glory to God.

 

So, while as pastor I try not to tell you who to vote for, I will encourage you to act in an informed manner to honor our Lord who loves and saves us.  Before you vote, please ask yourself a few questions.

 

·        God calls his people to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8)  So, which vote will lead to policies and actions of justice and mercy, especially for the vulnerable in society?

 

·        Scripture tells us a purpose of government is to reward those who do good and punish those who do evil.  (Romans 13:4)  When I vote, which vote supports righteousness in our culture?

 

·        Scripture tells us the government is to work for an orderly society so the church can “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:2)  Which vote will provide the best opportunity for God’s church to live as God’s children, and to freely share the Gospel?

 

Please remember, no matter how we vote, we human beings are sinful and have failures.  Just like there is no perfect Christian, there is no perfect leader.  But, we can see directions that a politician endorses, and we can judge which candidate plans a course for our community that most closely follows the direction God gives us.  I firmly believe that when we live as children of God we bless those around us with our faith and love.

 

Christians need to do more than just vote.  God calls his children to work for the good of our communities (Jeremiah 29:4-7), to honor those who serve, (Romans 13:5), and to pray for our leaders. (Jeremiah 29, 1 Timothy 2:1-2) We work for the good of our community and our country when we vote informed by God’s love and direction.

 

The Christian life is a life of response to our loving Lord who has saved us in Jesus.  Jesus describes that Christian life of response with these words, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34) I am convinced that when we take our responsibility as citizens seriously, we then show God’s love to others.  I encourage you to vote this election, and I pray for God to bless our community and our country.

 

A Child of God, Seeking to live as a Christian Citizen,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Kathy and I leave this Friday night / Saturday morning to enjoy a trip to Germany to celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary.  Actually, we are leading a tour that will explore the history of Martin Luther and the Lutheran Church.  We will be in Wittenberg on Reformation Day, October 31.  St. John church members Dwayne and Donita Odland and Carol Gustafson will be traveling with this group.  We all ask for your prayers for safe travel and growth in knowledge and faith.  A booklet describing our trip has been posted outside the church office.

 

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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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Waiting on God

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Most of you know that I enjoy fishing.  Well, maybe that is an understatement.  My dad taught me to fish when I was a child, and my enjoyment of fishing has grown as I have.  I have grown to appreciate the time in the outdoors that fishing requires.  I have grown to appreciate the challenge of finding the fish and getting them to bite.  I have grown to find joy and satisfaction in actually catching a fish.  I do enjoy eating the salmon, or the trout, or the halibut, or whatever I catch.  I even like to share what I catch with others.  As you can see, the outdoor adventure we call fishing is a hobby that brings joy to my life.

 

I tell you this because we are currently in a time where fishing must wait.  Two Mondays ago I fished with friend, Gerry Zellar, in a canoe on a local lake.  We caught 6 nice trout.  However, this past Monday there was a film of ice on the lakes, and slush filled the rivers.  We can’t fish in the open waters anymore.  But at this time of year the ice is not safe to walk on.  It will probably take 2 to 3 weeks, or more, before the lakes are safe for ice fishing.  This is the time of year when fishermen just have to wait for the next opportunity to fish.

 

How are you when it comes to being patient, or waiting?  For many any waiting in life is difficult.  Faith in God often includes waiting in many ways.  We wait on answers to prayer.  Christians wait for God to keep His promises.  We are waiting for Jesus to come again when all who believe in Jesus will live with Him in heaven.  Waiting takes faith and trust to know God is faithful.

 

I share these thoughts with you because of my experience this week.  First, I had occasion in a time of worship to read Psalm 130, verses 5-6.  “5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”  Ultimately it is God for whom we wait.  But, God keeps His promises because  God Himself comes to help us.  This has happened when Jesus came to this earth, after much waiting, to pay for the sin of the whole world, and to offer eternal life in heaven to all who believe.  It happens every time God answers a prayer or keeps a promise.  Waiting for God teaches patience and hope.  But, we learn through our waiting that God is faithful, and the wait is worth it. 

 

My other experience this week was to see 2 fervent prayers answered.  One prayer I prayed for someone was answered in a matter of hours.  I was surprised and full of joy when I prayed for someone, and then saw them up and around.  The other prayer was a prayer I’ve been praying for 4-5 years at the request of good friends.  I learned this week that God is acting in the life of the person for whom I am praying and doing wonderful things.

 

There have been some years when the lakes have a safe cover of ice very quickly.  There have been other times when it seems like the opportunity to go ice fishing will never come.  But, in my 22 winters here in Alaska there has never been a winter that the ice fails to come.  When the ice comes, the fishing that occurs is worth the wait.

 

God is faithful.  God comes to help us when he answers our prayers, no matter how long we have waited.  Jesus will come again.  “5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

 

 

A Child of God, Learning Faith by Waiting on God,

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 Joy of PARTNERSHIP in the Gospel

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

This afternoon, after making hospital calls at Mat-Su Regional, I went to St. John because people were setting up tables and chairs for our Consecration Sunday meal.  I was surprised to find they were putting out the heavy wooden tables in addition to the lighter plastic tables.  But, there was a lot of setting up to do.  At the latest count we had between 175 and 185 reservations for people to join together as the family of God in a Sunday meal of roast beef with all the fixings.

 

I am excited with anticipation for our Consecration Celebration at St. John tomorrow.  It is not only the number of people who will be joining in the meal.  It is not only our guest preacher who will join us, Pastor Joe Baumgarten.  It is not only the opportunity we will all have to commit ourselves to sharing the Gospel of Jesus.  But, when this many people join together, trusting God’s love, and work together in sharing God’s love in Jesus, there is a joy that comes with the fellowship and celebration of this joint effort of faith.

 

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he tells the Christians of Philippi of the joy he finds in working together for the gospel, for the good news that Jesus is Savior.  “3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

Paul was thankful for his friends, his brothers and sisters in the faith.  Paul was joyful for the partnership they shared in doing God’s work.  And Paul found confidence in knowing that it is God himself who was working in and through the Philippian Christians to accomplish His own purposes. 

 

Please notice again the emotions in Paul’s words.  He speaks of thankfulness in verse 3.  He speaks of joy in verse 4.  He speaks of confidence in verse 6.

 

I understand what Paul is writing.  God has called us to receive the love of Jesus Christ in faith, and to work to share that love.  As we work together to grow in faith, as we work together to share Jesus with others, and as we work together to be a blessing in the community, I too experience some of the same emotions.

 

When I got to church this afternoon I stayed for a while and helped with the set up.  Putting up tables doesn’t necessarily seem like a joyful task.  But the truth is the 8-10 people setting up seemed to find joy in working together to serve the Lord.  This celebration and this meal will help our Christian family to join together in responding the God’s love. 

 

Partnership in sharing the Gospel of Jesus is a real blessing!

 

A Child of God, Blessed to work with God’s Children at St. John,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  I’m sorry this devotion is late this week.  I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow / today.

 

P.P.S.  This may have been our last fishing trip before the ice hits the lakes.  We caught 6 trout and kept 5.  ( One went over the side while taking it off the hook.)  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/FallFishingTripOctober82012?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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Joyfully Responding to God's Gift of Life

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

If you are like me your permanent fund check has arrived, or soon will.  Alaska is truly unique as the only state with such an “oil royalty check.”  Perhaps you have had the same experience I have had when people from other states bring up the topic of the Permanent Fund.  Some can’t believe the Permanent Fund is for real.  Others are willing to move to Alaska for that check, even though the amount of the dividend does not cover the difference in the cost of living in Alaska when compared to the cost of living “outside,” in the continental U.S. 

 

Nevertheless, Alaska’s constitution shows unique wisdom when it states that “the resources of Alaska belong to the people of Alaska.”  This dividend really is a gift, in more ways than one.  To paraphrase the wisdom of long time St. John member, June Liebing, “We didn’t work for the check.  We didn’t earn it.  The oil that provides the funds for the check was put in the ground at creation by our Lord.  So, the permanent fund is a gift from the Creator Himself.”  That is what June believed and shared.  I personally believe June is right.   

 

The Permanent Fund is quite a gift, this year $878.00.  But, let me share with you a greater gift from God.  In 2 Corinthians 8:9, we are told about the grace, or the ‘gift’ of God.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

 

God is talking about more than monetary riches in this verse.  The riches which Jesus left behind so that He could share them with us are the riches of heaven.  Jesus left behind the riches of life with His Father in heaven, to live in this world of sin and pain and death, so that you and I could receive heaven ourselves.  Because the Son of God took on our poverty, because He died for our sins and rose again, we are offered the greatest gift of all.  As we believe in Jesus God gives us the riches of eternal life in heaven in the presence of God Himself.  Such sacrificial love and generosity is beyond measure.  Who else has paid such a high price to give us so precious a gift? 

 

In the Lord’s Prayer we pray for the material blessings we need today, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  But, in Jesus God has given us everything we need for eternity.

 

How do you use your Permanent Fund?  I know people that use this extra cash as mad money, and buy four wheelers or TV’s.  Some use this money to catch up on bills.  My wife and I have tithed off our Permanent Fund from the beginning of our time in Alaska, and then put our kids money aside for college.  For the last 3 years we have also saved our own PFD’s so we can celebrate our 35^th anniversary with a trip to Germany.  The point is that no one I know throws the money away and doesn’t use it.  It seems to me that people take extra special care to use this gift wisely.

 

When we see our life as “the greatest gift,” hopefully we take special care to use it wisely.  In fact, at St. John we are now in a time of stewardship education emphasizing joyful giving.  When we know that Jesus gave up heaven so we can live this life in faith and hope and have eternal life in heaven, how can we choose to waste our lives.  Perhaps like me, you want to serve God and love others because you want to take special care to joyfully use the gift of life wisely.

 

A Child of God, Joyfully Living in God’s gift of Life,

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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