Denying Ourselves and Following Jesus

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

In the summer of 1979 my wife, Kathy, and I had just begun living in the big 2 story brick house that St. Paul Lutheran Church in St. Louis owned for their pastors.  I had graduated from seminary in May and started serving at St. Paul in June.  The side door of the parsonage might have been about 12 feet from the side door of the church.

 

One Saturday night in August we had gone to a movie, come home, and gone to bed.  About 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning I heard a noise and rolled over and turned on the light beside the bed.  As I turned on the light the sound of someone running down the stairs woke us both up.  Those stairs led right to our bedroom, but the intruder had turned around and run.  You see, our kitten had tried to get friendly with the burglar, so he tripped on the kitten.  Needless say we got little sleep the rest of that night, and I was a little tired as Sunday morning arrived and it was time for worship.

 

Kathy and I called the police and they arrived about the same time that Otis did.  Otis was a member of our congregation who worked with the poor in our neighborhood for Lutheran Social Services.  He lived about 3 blocks from us, and had a police scanner.  At 3:30 a.m. Otis left his home to come to our house and make sure his new pastor and family were safe. We were fine, just a little shaken.

 

Another time, Otis called me and told me, “Ozzie is coming.”  Ozzie was a local man who went from church to church seeking help.  Ozzie had already visited Otis’ place and received help.  But, about 10 minutes later Ozzie knocked on our door.  Ozzie asked me for help with his wife, whom he said had pneumonia.  The only problem is that about a month earlier Ozzie had told me his wife had died.  I caught the inconsistency in Ozzie’s request.  But, Otis’ alert had helped me be ready. 

 

Last April I was in St. Louis for Stephen Ministry training.  Otis came to the hotel where training was held and told us about his work.  He was still collecting help for the homeless in North St. Louis.  This 78 year old man was gathering donations of clothing, and food, and money, and arranging places they could sleep.  I had known Otis for over 35 years and that whole time Otis lived among the poor, trying to help them with gifts of love, as well as sharing the comfort of God’s Word. 

 

Otis did not have to live in the inner city.  And, because of his eccentricities Otis had many detractors.  But, Otis is one of those unforgettable characters I have personally encountered.  Otis believed his Lord died for him, and he wanted to share Jesus’ love with those who led difficult lives.

 

This Sunday in many churches, including St. John, we will hear Jesus tell His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)  In my mind and heart Otis denied himself for over 35 years to follow Jesus by helping the poor.

 

When Jesus called His disciples to this radical discipleship, it was not to earn God’s love.  It may be surprising when selfish humans willingly deny themselves.  It is even more astounding that the Lord of the universe would hand Himself over to corrupt rulers. Jesus let these corrupt leaders mistreat and kill Him.  Amazingly, that is exactly the self-denial and sacrifice Jesus gave to pay for our selfishness.  Mark 8 also tells us, “Jesus . . . then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31-32)

 

Television commercials today echo the thought pattern that has existed in the heart of people since the beginning of time.  The world around us tells us to live for ourselves.  So, Jesus confronted selfishness in His day, and He confronts it today.  Jesus has lived and died for us, and He calls us to follow Him.  Otis was not perfect, but, in my observation, Otis learned Jesus’ forgiving, sacrificial, love for him and Otis followed His Lord.

 

How about you?  Is the sacrificial love of Jesus changing your heart so that you are denying yourself and following Him? 

 

A Child of God, Seeking to follow my Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Clay Jenson and I went fishing on Monday.  We caught a lot of fish.  Here are some of them.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6120627084617513121?banner=pwa  Clay kept the 4 biggest fish, but we didn’t take those pictures.  

 

 

 

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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. . .

 

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"Do You Show Your Wonders to the Dead"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  That describes this past weekend.

 

As Kathy and I drove to Kenai to lead worship, she noticed that a friend in St. Louis had died.  Otis Woodard was a truly unique individual who had been part of our congregation 35 years ago.  Otis dressed differently and lived differently.  He spent his life working to help inner city people in St. Louis, MO, in the name of Jesus.  Otis’ unique personality pushed some people away, but his actions of faith in Jesus’ name drew many to him.  I had reconnected with Otis in recent years through Facebook and had taken time to visit with him in 2013 and 2014 when I was in St. Louis for work.  Otis was still helping people in need.  Kathy said, “He is going to be sorely missed.”  I agree.  It seems I had just seen him and now he’s gone!

 

Then, on Sunday evening I had just gotten home from Kenai, not even having sat down, when I got a call from Dwayne Jenson.  I didn’t totally understand what Dwayne was saying, but I did hear that his wife, Lisa, had stopped breathing.  She was at the hospital and they were talking stroke.  This did not make sense.  Lisa and family had all been in worship on Wednesday.  I had attended a Stephen Ministry class that Lisa and Cathy Grosz taught on Thursday.  They then taught another class at Dwayne and Lisa’s house on Saturday, working to conclude training for this new Stephen Ministry class.  Lisa was in worship on Sunday morning.  But, when we sat with the doctor at Providence Hospital he told us that Lisa had died.  She had suffered unexpected bleeding in her brain.  It could not be true that this faithful, active wife and mother and active member of St. John could have died.  We were all in shock and disbelief.

 

Then, as we sat in the waiting room at the hospital we learned that David Grosz’ brother, Rod, had passed away that very morning.  David had led worship at St. John while I was preaching in Kenai.  When David got home he had a call telling him that Rod had died.  David’s brother had been ill and we had been praying for him.  Cathy told us, “I just loved Rod.”  But, as we learned of David’s loss we felt hit with another painful blow.  

 

When life hits you between the eyes, do you ever want to shout at God?  I did.  Do you ever get angry with the Lord?  I was.  Do you wonder why he allows the pain and loss?  Well, if you have had questions in the face of the trials and losses of life, you are in good company. The Psalmists often questioned God, displaying anger even.  Listen to Psalm 88:8-13.

 

”8 You have taken from me my closest friends . . . 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.”

 

Actually, the surprising truth is that all these questions which we expect to be answered with a “no,” God answers with His “Yes”!  When faced with life’s tragedies God brings grace and love and salvation.

 

The Psalmist asks God, “10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?”  Actually, God does just that.  In Jesus’ death and resurrection God has defeated death.  God raises the dead and “every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father.”  (Philippians 2:11)

 

The Psalmist asks God, “11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?”  God’s love is declared as he raises the dead and brings all who believe in Jesus to everlasting life in heaven, where we are told, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)  The blessings we receive in heaven in the presence of God show love that cannot be fathomed.  God does show love to those who have been in the grave.

 

“12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?”  Yes, God’s wonders and righteousness give hope when facing death.  God forgives sinners, raises the dead, and gives life in heaven.  Those wonders are shouted to eternity.

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  But, when life seems to offer only tragedy, God gives hope and strength in His love and salvation.  When life seems to offer “No” through loss, God offers “Yes” through Jesus.  The death of loved ones hurts deeply.  But God is stronger than death.  Through Jesus God gives eternal life in heaven and hope in the midst of this world’s tragedies.

 

A Child of God, Full of Questions, Trusting in God,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Here are a couple of pictures of Lisa and Otis.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6118140821763314017?banner=pwa

 

P.P.S.  Monday afternoon with grandchildren, Jackson and Kendall.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6118142540856164337?banner=pwa

 

 

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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. . .

 

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"Do You Show Your Wonders to the Dead?"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  That describes this past weekend.

 

As Kathy and I drove to Kenai to lead worship, she noticed that a friend in St. Louis had died.  Otis Woodard was a truly unique individual who had been part of our congregation 35 years ago.  Otis dressed differently and lived differently.  He spent his life working to help inner city people in St. Louis, MO, in the name of Jesus.  Otis’ unique personality pushed some people away, but his actions of faith in Jesus’ name drew many to him.  I had reconnected with Otis in recent years through Facebook and had taken time to visit with him in 2013 and 2014 when I was in St. Louis for work.  Otis was still helping people in need.  Kathy said, “He is going to be sorely missed.”  I agree.  It seems I had just seen him and now he’s gone!

 

Then, on Sunday evening I had just gotten home from Kenai, not even having sat down, when I got a call from Dwayne Jenson.  I didn’t totally understand what Dwayne was saying, but I did hear that his wife, Lisa, had stopped breathing.  She was at the hospital and they were talking stroke.  This did not make sense.  Lisa and family had all be in worship on Wednesday.  I had attended a Stephen Ministry class that Lisa and Cathy Grosz taught on Thursday.  They then taught another class at Dwayne and Lisa’s house on Saturday, working to conclude training for this new Stephen Ministry class.  Lisa was in worship on Sunday morning.  But, when we sat with the doctor at Providence Hospital he told us that Lisa had died.  She had suffered unexpected bleeding in her brain.  It could not be true that this faithful, active wife and mother and active member of St. John could have died.  We were all in shock and disbelief.

 

Then, as we sat in the waiting room at the hospital we learned that David Grosz’ brother, Rod, had passed away that very morning.  David had led worship at St. John while I was preaching in Kenai.  When David got home he had a call telling him that Rod had died.  David’s brother had been ill and we had been praying for him.  Cathy told us, “I just loved Rod.”  But, at we learned of David’s loss we felt hit with another painful blow.  

 

When life hits you between the eyes, do you ever want to shout at God?  I did.  Do you ever get angry with the Lord?  I was.  Do you wonder why he allows the pain and loss?  Well, if you have had questions in the face of the trials and losses of life, you are in good company. The Psalmists often questioned God, displaying anger even.  Listen to Psalm 88:8-13.

 

”8 You have taken from me my closest friends . . . 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.”

 

Actually, the surprising truth is that all these questions which we expect to be answered with a “no,” God answers with His “Yes”!  When faced with life’s tragedies God brings grace and love and salvation.

 

The Psalmist asks God, “10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?”  Actually, God does just that.  In Jesus’ death and resurrection God has defeated death.  God raises the dead and “every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father.”  (Philippians 2:11)

 

The Psalmist asks God, “11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?”  God’s love is declared as he raises the dead and brings all who believe in Jesus to everlasting life in heaven, where we are told, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)  The blessings we receive in heaven in the presence of God show love that cannot be fathomed.  God does show love to those who have been in the grave.

 

“12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?”  Yes, God’s wonders and righteousness give hope when facing death.  God forgives sinners, raises the dead, and gives life in heaven.  Those wonders are shouted to eternity.

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  But, when life seems to offer only tragedy, God gives hope and strength in His love and salvation.  When life seems to offer “No” through loss, God offers “Yes” through Jesus.  The death of loved ones hurts deeply.  But God is stronger than death.  Through Jesus God gives eternal life in heaven and hope in the midst of this world’s tragedies.

 

A Child of God, Full of Questions, Trusting in God,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Here are a couple of pictures of Lisa and Otis.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6118140821763314017?banner=pwa

 

P.P.S.  Monday afternoon with grandchildren, Jackson and Kendall.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6118142540856164337?banner=pwa

 

 

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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. . .

 

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LISA JENSON’S MEMORIAL SERVICE – Saturday, 2:00 p.m. at St. John.  We don’t understand life, but we trust in God.  Lisa Jenson was in worship Wednesday, February 11 with her family, and again on February 15.  She taught Stephen Ministry classes on Thursday and Saturday.  And God called her home on Sunday afternoon as he experienced an unexpected bleeding in her brain.

            Lisa’s memorial service will be held at St. John on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

 

CONFIRMATION RETREAT – The Annual Confirmation Retreat is being held at Victory Bible Camp, this weekend, February 20-22.  THANK YOU, JAMIE, FOR TAKING SOLE LEADERSHIP!  Pastor Rockey is not attending in order to conduct the funeral on Saturday.

 

 

MID WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP  Lenten worship services are held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday from February 18 to March 25, preceded by a Lenten Meal.  This year’s Lenten Theme is “Nailed to the Cross.”  consider Jesus’ victory over our sins as He “nailed them to the cross.”  (Colossians 2:14).  We will consider Jesus victory as we examine Jesus’ words from the cross and the sins and struggles they address.  Our services will follow this schedule

 

February 18               Father Forgive Them (Luke 23:34)                         Denial

February 25               My God, My God      (Matthew 27:46)                    Despair and Doubt

March 4                      Today You’ll be with Me (Luke 23:43)                   Guilt

March 11                    “I Thirst”                   (John 19:28)                           Physical Pain

March 18                    “Woman Behold Your Son” (John 19:30)              Grief  

March 25                    “Into Your Hands”   (Luke 23:46)                          Death and Comfort

 

Plan now to grow in God’s grace and love this Lent with your fellow children of God at St. John.

 

MID WEEK LENTEN MEALS - Each Wednesday during Lent at 5:30 p.m. meals will be served before our mid-week Lenten worship.  These meals provide an opportunity for fellowship and make it easier for people to attend Wednesday Lenten Worship, since you don’t have to bring anything after work for a pot luck meal, and there is no cost.

            St. John members have signed up to prepare all the meals.  Come and enjoy a time of fellowship and Christian love. 

 

PLANNING PROCESS – ONE SERVICE ON MARCH 1 – We will continue the planning process on Sunday, March 1.  As with our worship on January 25, there will be one service at 10:00 a.m. on March 1 with a meal following the service.  At this meal we will look at the results of the Discovery and Dreaming Session on January 25, and we will look at the demographics of our area.  Then we will work toward a mission statement by responding to 3 questions. 

·         What is God’s plan for us as His people?  (Some of that is answered from our January 25 gathering.)

·         What are the opportunities and needs in our community? (The demographics will help with this answer.)

·         How can our unique blessings best serve God and the His people in our community?  (This will give us focus for our mission statement.)

After the meal and meeting a group will compile the responses and begin crafting a mission or vision statement.  The congregation will then respond to these efforts by e-mail and ultimately approve the mission statement. 

This mission statement will help us focus as we make plans on April 19 at our last Planning meeting.

 

SOUP COOK-OFF AND CONTEST – The meal after the March 1 service will be a “Soup Cook-off and Contest.”  The five people on the planning process committee will each make a soup.  Church members will taste the various soups and vote on their favorite.  Any congregational member who wants to join in the “Soup Cook-off and Contest” is also welcome to do so.

 

CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHED BY JAMIE WALTERS – “Wiggles’s Easter Journey” was written and published by St. John DCE, Jamie Walters.  Congratulations, Jamie!! You can find this Easter story for children on Amazon at the following link. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wiggles%E2%80%99s+Easter+Journey

 

STEPHEN MINISTRY – Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry of uniquely Christian care for people in time of stress or need.  A class of new Stephen Ministers is finishing their training near the end of February.  Those completing 50 hours of training include Dena Jeffers, Amy Peltier, Judy Stahancyk, and Jim and Kathy Summers.  With Lisa’s death Stephen Ministry has lost a gifted leader.  Please pray that God blesses these new Stephen Minister and blesses Christian caring given by our new Stephen Ministers. 

 

FRED MEYER REWARDS PROGRAM – The Fred Meyer Program gives cash credit to Rewards program members.  The Community Rewards Program matches those cash credits for various charities whom Rewards program members name.  A few St. John members have linked their cards to St. John and last month our congregation received $88.03 from the rewards program.

            If you would like to join this effort it is quite easy.  You can check this link to go to the Community Rewards Explanation page - https://www.fredmeyer.com/topic/community-rewards-4 

Once you get to this page

·         Click “Link your reward card now.” 

·         Then fill in information including your rewards card number. 

·         Find St. John Lutheran.  It lists our address PO Box 774.  Our organization number is 80567.

·         Then Click “Enroll.”

This will link your card to St. John.  You will still receive your rewards and so will St. John.  There is a total community limit to the Community Rewards Program.

 

JEREMY WEDGE BENEFIT DINNER AUCTION.  St. John Lutheran will help members of Trinity Lutheran Church with a dinner auction on Saturday, March 21, to benefit Jeremy Wedge.  This dinner auction will be held at the Palmer Moose Club beginning at 4:30 p.m. 

Jeremy is the 29 year old son of St. John member, Mike Wedge.  Jeremy is married.  He and Ashley have one child, Hannah, and are expecting another child in the next 2 months.  Jeremy and family have worshiped at St. John a number of times in the last month.

 Jeremy was diagnosed with re-occurrence of brain cancer last fall, and underwent surgery and treatment in November and December at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. 

St. John members have been asked to help in three ways.

·         We can donation items for auction. 

·         We can attend and donate to the auction.

·         There is help needed with setting up tables and chairs before the auction.

 

Diana Christensen is communicating with the team from Trinity Lutheran.  If you want more information you could call Diana and ask.

 

MARRIAGE RETREAT – A Marriage Retreat is planned for March 20-22 at the Alaska Sunset View Lodge in Big Lake.  Cost is $200.00 a couple for the weekend.  All those attending will help in preparing one of the 5 meals.  If you want to attend please talk to Kathy Rockey or call Judy Stahancyk in the church office.

 

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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.stjohnpalmer.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 judy@stjohnpalmer.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!!

 

  

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Nailed to the Cross

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Again this week we heard the revolting news that another person was executed in Syria.  American aid worker, Kayla Mueller, was beheaded by the terrorist group most often known as Isis.  Imagine, a woman who is helping others was brutally killed to a group wishing to express their religious and political views.  What a horrible crime!  I have sometimes heard people say they don’t believe in God because He cannot be proved.  However, I personally believe there is one spiritual truth which is easily verifiable.  Sin and Evil are all around us.  Just look at this act of terror!

 

The beheading of the American aid worker in Syria speaks of the truth of sin and evil.  But so do many other events in the world around us.  Bernie Madoff was discovered to have cheated Americans out of $18 billion in an illegal investment scheme.  He became rich and thousands of people lost their retirement funds.  The importation and dealing of illegal drugs may earn big dollars for those who import and sell the drugs.  But, the drug trade also causes addictions, leads to broken families, and even to untimely deaths.  And, the recent Florida tragedy of a father who killed his wife and children and then took his own life can only leave us shaking our heads. 

 

These are not natural disasters over which no one has control.  These are obviously evil actions where one person pursues their own wants and desires in a way that willingly and deeply hurts others.  These actions are contrary to God’s law and obviously evil to everyone else.

 

What we don’t always remember, however, and what we don’t like to admit is that there are evil desires active in each of our hearts.  Have you ever lashed out at another in anger?  Have you held a grudge?  Have you lied, or stolen, or acted on sexual desires in an ungodly way?  No, these are not heinous crimes like those I mentioned earlier.  But, we each struggle with selfish desires that put ourselves ahead of others and ahead of God.

 

We don’t like to admit evil, or that our “sin is crouching at the door.”  The problem is that the sin and evil in the world hurt and causes problems for others.  Think of the results of the actions of the terrorist, or the actions of drug dealers.  And, the trouble is that the sin and evil with which we struggle also causes troubles for others in our lives and hurts them.  Think of what happens when our anger flares, or our selfishness rears its ugly head.  And, no matter what we do we cannot undo the past.

 

But, when the reality of our sin convicts us and overwhelms us, there is a place to find triumph over our sin and the evil of the world.  Victory is found in the forgiveness found in the cross of Jesus.  Colossians 2 says, 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  Worship will include the imposition of Ashes.  The ashes do not in and of themselves do anything.  But, the ashes remind us of the sin and dirt with which we still fight.  And, this reminder then points us to our only hope, the cross of Jesus. 

 

We can’t make ourselves sinless.  But, Jesus forgives us our sins.  We can’t win victory over the evil of this world.  But, by His death on the cross Jesus triumphs over our sins, and over the evil in the world around us.  Our struggles point us to the need for a Savior.  Jesus is the Savior we need.

 

It is not pleasant to consider the evil in the world.  We don’t like to admit the sin with which we struggle.  It makes us feel dirty, like we are covered with . . . ashes.  But, God provides victory over the sin and over the evil in Jesus.  He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

 

A Child of God, Trusting in Jesus’ victory on the cross over my sin,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Ash Wednesday worship is held at 6:30 p.m. at St. John.  There is a Lenten meal beforehand at 5:30 p.m.  This year’s Lenten theme is “Nailed to the Cross.”

 

 

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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. . .

 

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Living our Faith Outside the Walls of the Church Building

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

When I was pastor in Florida, one of our faithful members made a comment in Bible Class one day.  There had been some trouble in the community and many were concerned.  This man worked for the Air National Guard and one of his fellow workers commented, “Why do you seem to have peace when everyone else is worried?”  This man explained that he trusted that God takes care of His children.  God would see him through the current trials.  This member and friend was not pushy about his faith or about God’s love in Jesus.  But, his life spoke loudly and gave him an opportunity to witness when asked.

 

Recently a number of St. John people have told to me that they have been asked about life issues as these issues relate to their faith.  I’ve heard of people being asked for advice on marriage issues, because their marriage seems to be healthy.  Others have been asked about parenting issues.  One person was sought out in times of illness because of their loving nature.

 

In each of these cases the person was approached by another rather than pushing their faith.  In each situation the St. John member’s life was the attraction.  It is not that those being asked had no troubles of their own, or even had all the answers.  However, their peace and hope in facing life’s challenges spoke louder than words.

 

Many times the most effective work of God’s church is done outside the walls of the church building.  God’s people share Jesus’ love when that sure love of God causes them to live in peace, or to live with joy, or to be patient and kind with others.

 

However, in each of these situations where people shared with me the opportunities they have had to share God’s love, these people are also regular in worship and in Bible study.  The sharing may have been done at work, or with friends.  But, each of these folks was having their faith in God fed in worship and Christian fellowship.

 

In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his disciples, 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16)

 

None of us is perfect.  We have often failed our Lord and hurt others.  Our own lives are not always lights.  One of the best witnesses a Christian can make is the honesty of our own struggles.  When God’s people live in His love, that love shines through our lives.  When God’s people let God’s love and forgiveness show in their peace, or in their joy, or in their compassion, then others may ask where we find our help and strength. 

 

My friend in Florida was regular in worship, but the living of his faith did not stop inside the church walls.  He was fed in worship and Bible class so God’s love could shine through him wherever he went.  When He lived in God’s love others were touched and helped.

 

A Child of God, Thankful That God Works outside the walls of the Church,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Here are pictures from a fishing trip with my grandson, Henry, last Monday.  I am thankful I am now allowed by my doctor to use the ice auger.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6111503615114970369?banner=pwa

 

 

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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. . .

 

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