Sharing What's Really Important: May 2015

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Please Pray for New Church Workers

Dear Fellow Children of God,

As you read this devotion I am making a request. Would you please take a moment and pray with me for Brittany Arlow, Sven Maakestad, and Hunter Richards? You might wonder, “Why, Pastor? I pray for many people and for loved ones. Why do you want me to pray for Brittany, Sven, and Hunter?”

Brittany is a member of St. John who graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, this month with a degree as a Director of Christian Education. Brittany will serve God’s church in a congregation in Lincoln, NE, working as DCE with young people.

Sven is a May 2015 graduate of Alaska Bible College. Sven would like to be a Lutheran pastor. So Sven will be working with young adults and music ministry at St. John in Palmer until going to seminary in September 2016.

Hunter is a member of St. John who is a May 2015 graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Hunter is coming home to Palmer to work as a Christian counselor. In addition, Hunter will serve at St. John by working with young adults. Hunter will also help out by preaching and teaching as needed.

But, you may still be wondering why I want you to pray for Brittany and Sven and Hunter.

All these young people are in their 20’s and will be working in God’s church, specifically with people their age or younger. Yet young people today are leaving the Christian church in ways never seen before in our culture. Look at the statistics quoted in recent articles.

In an article in Leadership Magazine from Winter, 2012, the following data is shared. “Six in 10 young people will leave the church permanently or for an extended period starting at age 15, according to new research by the Barna Group.”

In an August 6, 2013 article in Baptist Press the following trends are shared. “A LifeWay Christian Resources survey from 2007 indicated that 70 percent of 18–22-year-olds stop attending church for at least one year. Surveys by The Barna Group repeatedly have shown that a majority of 20-year-olds leave church, often never to return.”

In an article in from Christian Post, May 27, 2015, the following societal direction is noted. “When asked about the importance of church in their lives, 80% of 14-33 year olds reported that church was 'not important' to them.”

Do you see the progression in the statistics quoted in these articles? It seems that each year the trend is increasing! No wonder that, when over 100 people from St. John got together in January to begin a strategic planning process, the number one area of need identified for St. John was working with young adults! Most all Christian churches are struggling in ministry to and with young adults.

Yet, what a blessing from God that many young adults continue to rejoice in the love of Christ. What a blessing from God that Brittany and Sven and Hunter see the privilege of serving God, and that they are willing to embrace the challenge and the adventure of sharing the truth of God in a world that is in such need.

But, there is another reason to pray for Brittany and Sven and Hunter. Jesus Himself calls us to such prayer. Please consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38. “37 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’" Jesus knew the great need for His grace and He wants all people to know His saving love. So, Jesus calls us to pray for workers because people need to know His love, and because workers need the help of God in their efforts. Perhaps our workers need God’s help now more than ever, especially if they are working with young people in our culture.

Would you please take a moment now to pray for all workers in Jesus’ church? Would you please pray with me specifically for Brittany, and for Sven, and for Hunter?

A Child of God, Praying for workers, and praying for the youth in God’s Church,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures from Hunter Richards’ graduation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO on May 22. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6151944922894795633?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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Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Lessons of Spring

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Last Sunday as I walked out of my front door I saw one of my neighbors walking down to his car where his wife was waiting. Across the street another set of neighbors was working to spruce up their planter, and they were also planting some flowers. It had been a while since we all talked so I walked over to say “Hi.” As I approached, the neighbor climbing into his car replied and said, “Everyone’s coming out of hibernation.” Hmmm. Maybe so.

Two weeks ago the Elders brought a birthday gift by my house. The gift was some vegetable seeds and plants for my garden. So, on Saturday when my grandchildren, Jackson and Kendal, came to stay the night they found the seeds. Jackson said, “Poppy, I want to help you plant the carrot seeds. Then we can pick them next week and make carrot cake.” Hmmm. I have had Jackson and Kendall help me pick carrots before. But maybe I need to teach him more about seeds. So, we roto-tilled the garden, measured the distance for the rows and pounded in stakes. We ran some string to mark the rows and then we planted carrot seeds, radish seeds, beet seeds and lettuce seeds. We also planted swiss chard, brussell sprouts, and broccoli plants. It was more work than Jackson expected. But, maybe Jackson will learn some more about gardens.

Last weekend when Jackson and Kendall came to stay not only Saturday night, but Friday too, their cousins came over. The oldest three spent the night. So we had 6, then 5, grandkids at the house. Kathy had invited them all, but she came home from work pretty beat. So Kathy told me, “You take care of them.” Well, we went out to the garden and planted potatoes, and peas, and onions. Then Henry stayed around and helped me plant cabbage, red lettuce and cauliflower plants. ( Please see the pictures below.)

What all of these little life events have in common is that Spring has arrived in Alaska. The trees now carry my favorite color of green, that light green color of new growth. The promise of new life is before us. Soon our roadsides will be decorated with colorful flowers. And soon our gardens and berry patches will be giving food for our tables. In spring time we know that life has a future.

God speaks to us in many ways. Obviously God speaks through the Scriptures and the Sacraments. Most importantly, God speaks to us through The Word, His Son, Jesus. But, God also speaks to us through His creation. Scripture is full of teaching about God’s truths from creation for those who will listen. Scriptures tell us that the heavens speak of the glory of God. (Psalm 19), Jesus teaches lessons from animals, (Matthew 6:25-33), and from agriculture (Matthew 13). God also teaches us about the life of a disciple from the life cycle of grain and seeds. Jesus says in John 12:24-25, “24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Teaching may reach a head when it is taught in words. But, when we learn the truth of God from the experience of life, we more easily learn that truth in our hearts. I pray for many people. But, I especially pray for my family. So, as I speak to my loving Lord about my grandchildren, I especially pray that they may know and believe in God’s love in Jesus. I pray that they will someday receive God’s gracious gift of eternal life in heaven.

Maybe spending time in the garden with “Poppy” and learning about patience and life will help my grandchildren learn about our Lord and His plan for our lives. “24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

A Child of God, Thankful for Spring, praying for my grandchildren,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Gardening with the grandkids. After all, even if you have fish to eat, you need vegetables to go with the fish! https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6150979902030077889?banner=pwa

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Friday, May 15, 2015

The Gracious Gifts of God in Baptism

Dear Fellow Children of God,

What is the most important event that ever happened in your life? Some might think of graduations, or weddings, or births. But, I encourage you to think about the grace God gave you on the day of your baptism.

At the current time we have many baptisms scheduled at St. John from the middle of May to the middle of July. (See the links below to last week’s baptisms.) When you think of what God says about His promises and actions in our baptisms, it is hard to think that any graduation, or any wedding, or any birth even, is more important.

That is why I wrote a letter to my newborn son, Joshua, as he was about to be baptized in St. Louis in March of 1981. I put that letter along with the words of Romans 6:3-4-in the church newsletter, with the plan of sharing this letter with Josh later when he would understand the promises and actions of God’s grace in his life. Please read the Bible verse and letter below and consider again the question, “What is the most important event that ever happened in your life?”

“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.”

Dear Joshua,

You are not old enough to read this now, but someday soon you will be. At that time you and I will sit down and talk about the most important event of your life, your second birthday, the day you were born into the Kingdom of God, the day of your baptism.

You might ask, “Dad, why is this so important? After all, Mom washes me every day. You only poured some water over my head.” But, Joshua, I was not the one washing you. God was. He was working through the water and His promises to wash you clean from something all the soap and water in the world couldn’t get out; your sin.

Perhaps you also wonder, Joshua, why you were baptized so young in life. When we talk about your baptism you probably won’t remember it. Well, first of all, you didn’t wait until you were 5 or 6 to be sinful. You needed God’s forgiveness right then.

Also, God did some very special things for you when you were baptized. He began to create faith in you, or belief in God, on that day. That’s because He also gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit in your baptism. (Acts 2:38)

But, Joshua, your baptism isn’t something that is already over and done. It is one of the ways God helps you to be a Christian today. When you’re sorry for doing something wrong, God is working through your baptism. When you are happy because Jesus saved you, God is working through your baptism. It is indeed a wonderful gift which God has given you.

And, Joshua, that’s why we celebrate the day of your baptism like a birthday, one which is perhaps more important than your natural birthday. That was the day you were born into this life on earth. But you still have to die some day. In your baptism you were born into God’s kingdom as a forgiven child of your Father, God. This Christian life will last forever.

Love,

Dad

The rest of that story is that in 1981 a family in our congregation in St. Louis read that letter in the newsletter and decided to have their son baptized on the same day Josh was baptized, March 22. It was a day of joy for both families. Tragically, 3 months later that other little boy died of heart problems. Nevertheless, in the midst of this tragic loss the family had the assurance of God’s promises and God’s grace. God promises to give the Holy Spirit, and faith, and forgiveness, and salvation, in the water and His word in baptism. And God keeps His promises! This family knew the power and love of God’s promise for their son in his baptism. In the midst of their tears they could be sure of God’s grace.

Last week I wrote about the mysteries of God. Why do tragedies happen? How can God do what He promises? One of the mysterious ways God works is through His promises in the waters of baptism as people are joined to the dying and rising of Jesus. As we watch others be baptized, we can remember our own baptisms and the promises we hear in Romans 6,

A Child of God, Thankful for God’s powerful grace in my baptism,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Maybe it is time for Josh and Andy to read this to their children, my grandchildren.

P.P.S Here is a picture from Alexis Barfield’s baptism on May 10. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6105100932013912881/6148577265998823506?banner=pwa&pid=6148577265998823506&oid=114993745799525883148

P. P.P.S. Here is a picture from the baptism of Charlotte Whitehill on May 13. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6105100932013912881/6148577201332191026?banner=pwa&pid=6148577201332191026&oid=114993745799525883148

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Friday, May 8, 2015

I'm THANKFUL God is Wiser than I Am!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you ever have questions for God? Most Christians have questions. Even some who do not claim to be disciples of Jesus would like some answers. Some questions have crossed my mind. Other questions people ask me because I am a pastor. For example:

· How can there be one God and three persons?

· Who did Cain and Seth marry?

· Why is there evil in the world?

· How can Jesus be God and also be a man?

· How can Jesus give His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper?

· Why does God answer some prayers just as I hoped, and other prayers don’t receive my desired answer?

· How can the eternal Lord of all, die on a cross? I thought God was eternal.

There are many more questions that come to the mind of a person of faith. Sometimes, not knowing the answers to these intriguing and possibly troubling questions can be frustrating. However, I think I was more frustrated when I was younger, and now I am more accepting of the mysteries of God. (Look at 1 Corinthians 4:1 or Ephesians 5:32)

Actually, I find comfort in knowing that I don’t understand everything. The older I get and the more I have learned, I find out even more how much I do not know. The older I get, the more I realize how finite my mind and my wisdom are.

God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I find comfort in knowing that God is wiser than I am and that His ways are beyond mine!

Actually, the ultimate mystery of all is the cross of Christ. If God is all powerful and righteous why would he allow His Son, Jesus, to be falsely accused and brutally tortured and killed? In 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 we are told, 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Sometimes God’s ways don’t make sense to our sinful human minds. But God acts in ways that seem foolish to us to give us His love and to save us from ourselves and our sin. We may not always understand what God does or how He accomplishes what He does, but we do know that our Lord is reaching out to all people to give eternal life through faith in Jesus.

There are some difficult mysteries in Scripture. But, there are also simple truths. Martin Luther called John 3:16 the Gospel in a nutshell. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

There are some truths of God that are beyond our understanding. By believing we accept that God is working powerfully to save us through Jesus. This faith carries us through the frustrations of life and gives us peace even when we don’t understand.

A Child of God, THANKFUL God is wiser than I am!,

Pastor Jonathan

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