Seeking a 'Good Faith' To Honor My Savior

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I have been reading a book by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons called, “Good Faith.”  This is a follow-up to their book, “Un-Christian” written in 2007.  The premise of “Good Faith” is that our world and our culture are changing.  Faith in Jesus is no longer the main driving force in our culture.  In fact, Christians are seen by the world around us to be irrelevant and extreme.

 

While, I read any book that is not God’s word with a critical eye, I did find some important insights in this book with which I agree.  Among these insights are two lists that ring true in my experience.

 

Kinnaman and Lyons see six guiding principles for the new moral code in our culture.

1. To find yourself, look within yourself.
2. People should not criticize someone else’s choices.
3. To be fulfilled in life, pursue the things you desire most.
4. Enjoying yourself is the highest goal of life.
5. People can believe whatever they want as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.
6. Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is fine.

 

In contrast, when a child of God lives with “good faith,” faith that looks to God’s love in Jesus and is faithful and effective, Kinnaman and Lyons see six different principles, principles from God’s moral order.

1. To find yourself, discover the truth outside yourself, in Jesus.
2. Loving others does not always mean staying silent.
3. Joy is found, not in pursuing our own desires but in giving of ourselves to bless others.
4. The highest goal of life is giving glory to God.
5. God gives people the freedom to believe whatever they want, but those beliefs always affect society.
6. God designed boundaries for sex and sexuality in order for humans to flourish.

 

As I read this book I am struck with how the guiding principles of the moral code of today’s world can seem so logical.  It is like Satan speaking to Eve in the garden and twisting God’s words, again.  I am also struck with how today’s moral code elevates self over God.  But the moral code of “good faith” “sets apart Christ as the Lord” in our lives.

 

Matthew 5:16 says, “. . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  We are called to represent God with our lives in such a way that others see God’s righteousness and grace through us and praise Him for who He is.

 

But, this call to live a life of “good faith” that gives honor to God does something else.  It shows me how much we need more than just a moral code.  We need God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus!  We can and should try to live for the one who gave us life in creation, and to live for the one who gives us new life in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  But, on this world only Jesus is perfectly holy.  I don’t always follow the call of God.  Sometimes I have followed the selfish principles of this world instead of the principles of love and faith in God.  So I need forgiveness.  But, because God gives forgiveness in Jesus, I want to follow Him and live with a “good faith.”  I need more than moral principles, I need a Savior.  I need Jesus.

 

 

So, I especially agree with the first principle of “good faith” for God’s children.  To find yourself, discover the truth outside yourself, in Jesus.  That may not be the code of our world today.  But that is the way Jesus calls us to live.  I pray that I live for Jesus and in Jesus.

 

A Child of God, Seeking to Honor My Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures from this year’s VBS.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6298887896733577281

 

P.P.S.  Here are some pictures of a small king caught last Sunday, on Fathers’ Day.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6299282247200590161

 

P.P.S.  NEEDED – SOMEONE TO STAY ON Saturday night, June 25,  with our one Family Promise family who will be at St. John.

       If you can help please call Kirsten Nelson at 414-1688, or Melanie Kopperud at 232-8380, or Pastor Rockey at 841-4066.

 

 

****

 

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 regularly 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.

 

****

 

Thankful

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I recently helped a family with some problems.  (Actually, St. John has helped many families recently, but I am thinking now of just one family.)  Now, my helping this family does not reflect so much on me.  The job of a pastor is to help people see and grow in God’s love in Jesus.  Sharing that love takes many forms.  So, in a way, I was only doing the job I was called to do.

 

However, I want you to focus is on the response to this help.  The family I helped came back and thanked me with genuine, heart-felt, appreciation for the help given by St. John through my efforts as called pastor.   Honestly, a response of thanks is not totally uncommon.  The sincerity of this response was somewhat different.

 

But, on the other hand I have run across people who do not show thankfulness when helped.  They have told me, “Isn’t this the job of the church?”  I have had times that I helped people who were upset that I did not help in the way or as much as they wanted.  And their understanding of how God helps might be different than God’s understanding, or different from the understand of God’s people.

 

The bottom line is that when someone says “thank you” it touches the heart of those who have offered help.  Consider the account in the Gospel Luke of the one formerly leprous man who returned to give Jesus thanks for his healing.  Jesus had actually healed 10 men, but only one man returned.  Jesus’ response is instructive.  “15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:16-19)

 

The man who was healed and who returned showed that he knew the source of His healing.  God worked through Jesus to take away his illness.  And, Jesus indicates that, because of the man’s thanks and faith, the man who returned to give thanks is also blessed.

 

Paul shares his thankfulness for those who stood beside him in prayer and in faith and in effort to do the work of sharing the Good News of Jesus.  Paul tells the Christians in Philippi, 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.  (Philippians 1:3-6)  Paul gives thanks to his fellow Christians and to God for the partnership in this life changing work.

 

Today I want to thank God, and to thank God’s people.  Last week, as I shared, I went to God in prayer for some concerns for the St. John Colony Days’ Picnic.  I had concerns for volunteers, and concerns about the weather.  I believe you know that, while we had fewer people sign up to help, we had more people helping with the picnic.  Perhaps you also know that while we had the forecast of a 70% chance of rain on Saturday, the rain stopped around 8 a.m. as we started setting up, and that the rain came down hard again around 3:00 p.m. as we were picking up.  That is not a coincidence.  So . . .

• Thank you Lord that so many of your children turned out to share God’s love.
• Thank you Lord, that the weather gave us a window to serve.
• Thank you St. John members for donating food.
• Thank you to all who helped to organize and help with the parade entry!
• Thank you St. John members for giving of your precious time at the picnic to serve God and others by planning, organizing, setting up, cooking, serving, and taking down.
• Thank you to those in the community who have taken ownership in this event by bringing your resources, your publicity, your activities, and by bringing music.
• Thank you to all who supported our youth in their rummage sale that helped raise money to go on their mission trip.  The youth raised significantly more money this year than in the past.
• Finally, thank you again, Lord, for your grace in Jesus who calls all people to mercy and service, and thank you, Lord, for your blessing on our efforts to serve you.

 

I was moved by the thankfulness of the couple who returned to say, “Thank You.”  It is important to say “Thank You” to our Gracious Lord and to His people as we seek to live for the one who saves us in love.

 

A Child of God, Thankful to God and His People,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures from this year’s Colony Days Picnic.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6295157187330949681

 

 

 

 

****

 

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 regularly 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.

 

****

 

Finding Joy in Serving the One Who Gave His Life for Me

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I confess to having a little anxiety in recent days.  We have the St. John Colony Days’ Picnic coming this weekend (Saturday, June 11), and the number of volunteers looks to be down somewhat from last year.  In 2015 we fed 1500 people in this event which we offer the community in order serve them and invite them to experience the love of God.  The number of attendees at this event has increased steadily in the last 6-8 years.  So, when we plan a big event like this and invite the community, we don’t want to be unable to do what we promise.

 

St. John is not the only organization with this dilemma of having difficulty recruiting volunteers.  On May 17, Mike Alley, president of the Palmer Little League, spoke to our Kiwanis club.  He said, “A few years ago we had 270 youngsters playing baseball.  This year we have 430 playing.  But, we don’t have any more volunteers, and we’re having trouble finding them.”  We have had the same discussion in our Kiwanis Club about finding workers.  Other pastors have also shared similar struggles with me.

 

So, I asked one of our young adults about this issue, and I mentioned that we needed help for Vacation Bible School as well.  His reasonable reply was, “Pastor, my wife and I are both working at that time.”  It is understandably hard to volunteer if a person is working.  This work situation is a change from family dynamics in the past.  Fifty years ago, even twenty-five years ago, often only one person in a family worked full time outside the home.  But work is only one of the pressures leading to fewer volunteers.

 

So, how can God’s church deal with this growing need for volunteers?  There are some obvious answers, and there is also Scriptural guidance.

 

First, if the world changes, the church makes some changes.  We don’t change the truth of God’s word.  But, if the world around us changes, we can be sensitive to the need for different ways of doing God’s work.  Maybe we plan earlier, or focus more on one or two ministry projects.

 

Second, it helps to realize there is much volunteer giving of time and talents that happens outside the local congregation.  People also donate time at the Heartreach Crisis Pregnancy Center, or at MyHouse, or with the Boy Scouts, or other service organizations.  When a child of God serves others in the name of Jesus, that is still Christian service.  And, with decreasing funds and government cutbacks more organizations need volunteers.  Even if the work is done outside the local church, such service in Jesus’ name only expands the work of the local congregation. 

 

But finally, it is good to remember our calling as God’s children to servanthood and to service. It is also good to remember why we serve.  After Jesus disciples argued over who was the greatest, He spoke these words to them.  25 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   (Matthew 20:25-28)

 

God’s people are called to service in Jesus’ name.  Yes, our lives are busier today.  Yes, sometimes it takes sacrifice to give our time and efforts in time in serving.  But, we serve because Jesus served us.  In fact, Jesus gave “his life as a ransom for many."  If Jesus gave up His life for us, we can give up some of our time and energy to share His love with others.

 

My anxiety has lessened a little over the past few days as people who did not put their names on a sign-up sheet have nevertheless told me they will be at St. John on Saturday to serve.  My prayer is that this service is not a drudgery, but a joy.  Imagine, as we give of ourselves we are giving back to the one who gave Himself on the cross so that we can have eternal life.

 

A Child of God, Finding Joy in Serving the One Who Gave His Life For Me,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures from the Colony Days Picnic in 2015.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/ColonyDaysParadeAndStJohnThriventPicnic

 

P.P.S.  Even though I have not yet been salmon fishing, on the way home from the Workers’ Conference in Fairbanks I did stop in a stream and catch these grayling on dry flies.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6292904550341780689#6292904636833538930

 

 

****

 

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 regularly 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.

 

****

 

Seeking Rest, Finding Rest in Jesus

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I was hoping to go salmon fishing this past week or so, but . . . there has been too much going on.  From Church Workers’ Conferences and wonderful family opportunities, to the need to spend time with God’s people, and with getting ready for the St. John Community Picnic and for Vacation Bible School, I am still waiting for that first salmon fishing trip.  I’m waiting for that time outdoors, on the river, when the hand of God is evident and God speaks through His creation to bring peace and rest.

 

How about you?  Does it seem to you that life is getting faster and busier?  Is it hard in the busy-ness of life to slow down enough to enjoy the presence of God?  Our culture has patterned its seasons so that Summer is supposed to be a time when life slows down because school is out of session.  But it seems with school out there are so many activities that schedule in the summer because these events and activities cannot happen when school is meeting. So summer is also busy, just a different kind of busy.

 

While we tend to think that busy-ness is a modern phenomenon, actually some of the same stresses occurred in Jesus’ time too.  (See Matthew 9:35-36, Mark 6:31-32)  For people who were harassed and tired Jesus had a solution, an offer.  Jesus tells the people of His day, and also calls to us, “28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

Do you hear what Jesus says?  Rest is found in HIM!  For people who are sick with guilt, with regret and failure, Jesus gives rest through real forgiveness won by His sacrificial suffering and death.  For people who are overwhelmed by the troubles and pressures of life, Jesus assures us that He loves us.  For people who are harried and not even sure where they are going, Jesus not only calls us to Himself, He comes to us, and is with us through the busy-ness of the day.

 

I confess that at times I forget this rest that is available every day in Jesus.  But, sometimes Jesus catches my attention and I am blessed and refreshed.  On Monday I drove to Fairbanks for a Lutheran Workers Conference, driving back on Wednesday.  The beauty I saw on the drive, and the time alone in the car to think and pray, filled my soul with the presence and the love and the blessings of God. 

 

And, every morning I start the day with devotional Bible readings and prayer.  When I can focus enough, and that focus does happen regularly by the grace of God, God speaks to me and gives His direction, His wisdom, His love, and His strength as I start the day.  I go to Him, but, He comes to me in His Word.  He comes to me in these times of silent meditation, and He comes to me in His answers to prayer.  So, even when life may seem crazy busy, the love and strength of God are there to give rest and peace.

 

And, as I worship with the people of God, Jesus comes to us in His word, in the sacraments of baptism and communion.  Jesus gives us rest on the day of rest.  When I am weary from busy-ness, going to Jesus as He comes to us gives rest for our souls.

 

As summer approaches, as you seek for times of refreshment and rest, don’t forget the real source of rest for our lives.  The love and forgiveness and the presence of Jesus help us through the troubled and busy times of our lives, and help us to receive peace and joy found only in our Loving Lord.

 

A Child of God, Seeking Rest, Finding Rest in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  While I did not go salmon fishing last week, I did get to take some grandchildren out to test the boat on Friday.  I am told they went home and each ate their own fish.  Here are a few pictures.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6292094299322026097

 

 

****

 

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 regularly 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.

 

****