Sharing What's Really Important: February 2018

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Rejoicing to See God Work in the Lives of Middle School Students

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

Maybe you noticed that I missed worship at St. John last Sunday, February 25. Actually, I was at Victory Bible Camp as 28 of us (32 on Saturday) participated in the annual St. John Confirmation Retreat. This year’s theme was “Be Holy – Different from the World.” We considered many verses of Scripture surrounding this theme, especially Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

At the retreat we listened to God’s call in our lives to be holy. We talked about how God “transforms us” so that we are different than the world around us in our relationship with our Creator, our Savior, and our Comforter. We talked about how God “transforms us” so that we are different than the world in our relationships with others. We also talked about how God “transforms us” so that we are different than the world in our care for our bodies.

You will be glad to know that the retreat went very well. Often middle school students are distracted when it comes to studying. Sometimes they are worried about their image, or how others view them. There are times that middle school students, being self-conscious about themselves, can also pick on one another and be mean. Maybe some of you remember those days yourselves.

However, this weekend I watched new people fit in with the larger group and be accepted. I watched shy people speak and share. I observed our students showing care for one another, instead picking on one another. I saw young people express their faith and help lead worship. I watched learning which translated to faith in action. I returned from this year’s retreat encouraged, as I do most years.

You may wonder about why confirmation retreats can be so effective. Why do these students listen in a retreat setting, when often they have trouble listening in a classroom? I find some insight from Jesus’ parable of the sower or planter. Jesus teaches about a farmer who plants seed. Some of the seed grows and bears fruit, but some does not grow. Jesus explains why in Matthew 13. Verses 22-23, especially speak to me.

18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

One of the situations at a retreat that is different from a classroom has to do with distractions. First, those attending are in a beautiful setting, away from their everyday chores and worries. In regular classes we tell students to put away their electronics. But just last week I found one of my students looking at their phone during class. However, at Victory, there is no cell signal. Phones don’t work and “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” cannot so easily distract from the truth of the word of God. Over a weekend, the Word of God has a chance to sink in to hearts full of trouble and distractions. The students have an opportunity to encourage and care for one another. It is wonderful to see the Word of God work in the lives of His people and bear fruit.

You may hear me joke about going on a retreat with “middle school students. . . PRAY for me!” But, I confess, there is still a middle school student inside me. I personally enjoy these retreats. I love to see God work in the lives of these young people so that they know His love and His promises are real. I find joy in seeing God’s children act like brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps you want to rejoice and thank God with me.

A Child of God, Rejoicing to See God Work in the Lives of Middle School Students,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures from Lenten Fellowship meal served by the Berberichs, the Colbergs, and the Knuths on February 21. https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiRchAwpDos8pVJf2

P.P.S. As mentioned above, the Confirmation Retreat was held last weekend, February 23-25, at Victory Bible Camp. Here is a link to a few pictures. (If you would like a copy of the retreat program and Bible Studies I can share that with you.)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xRzj1LVafdwue8ZR2

P.P.P.S. Some of us went fishing at the confirmation retreat and we caught a couple of nice fish. Here are fish pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vTgIomtcBtG6DdP63

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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 regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you do not 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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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Seeking a Life of Continual Repentance and Faith in Jesus

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

In recent weeks my daily devotions have been leading me through the book of the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah was written as Jerusalem was being destroyed by the Babylonian army around 587 B.C. As Jeremiah was inspired to write his book, the people of Judah who weren’t killed were being taken into exile to the land of Babylon. It was one of the darkest times for God’s Jewish people. Jeremiah is not my favorite book to read.

Much of what God inspires Jeremiah to prophesy is a call to repentance. The people of Jeremiah’s time were constantly breaking God’s laws in regard to justice, in regard to sexual purity, and especially in regard to idolatry. Time and again God’s chosen people are called to turn away from worshiping idols that were not truly gods. They were called to turn back to worship of the only true God. Nevertheless, time and again the people of Judah, as all Israel before them, gave in to their temptations and their sinful desires, and damaged their relationship with God. God called His people to sorrow for their sin. He called for a new heart that would turn from sinful behavior and show itself in faithful behavior. But the people of Jeremiah’s day failed. They did not want to repent or to change.

As the horror of last week’s school shooting in Florida sinks in, a new set of behaviors rears its head. As I watch the fallout from this tragic act of evil, it seems everyone is seeking for someone else to blame for the tragedy. In the news I have heard blame placed on law enforcement, on the nation’s laws, on families, on school policies. But, while I have heard people blame others, I haven’t heard one voice of repentance, of someone admitting their own part in this societal problem that has led to so many school shootings. I have not heard a willingness of anyone to change themselves for the good of all. No one wants to repent.

This weekend the Confirmation classes and families will go on a retreat to Victory Bible Camp. We will focus on God’s call to live holy lives, lives that are set apart for God and different from the ways of the world around us. What we will find is that we have failed in this calling and need new hearts and new lives.

The words of Psalm 139 reflect an attitude that could help people of all times, especially in their relationship with God. The last two verse of this Psalm read, “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV) In this Psalm David is asking God’s help to do what the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time did not seem to want to do. David asks God’s help to do what most in America seem to shy away from. David asks God to help him see his own sins. David is praying that God would lead him to change his own life to “the way of life everlasting.”

The real God-inspired wisdom of David in this verse is that, instead of trusting himself, instead of trusting his heart, his feelings, his thoughts, David looks to God for guidance. David knows that his own heart and mind are damaged by his own sinfulness. But God does know our hearts. And, David knows that God desires eternal life for David and for all people.

In the New Testament God tells us that the way to life everlasting is found in a life of faith in Jesus. Paul writes about new life in 2 Corinthians 5. “15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. . . 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:15, 17)

How do we turn from selfish living for ourselves, to life that is lived for God? When we see the loving sacrifice of God, that Christ Himself died for sinners like us, then we want to live, not for ourselves, but FOR HIM. When we are in Christ, God makes us new. He cleanses us by forgiving our sins. He gives us new hearts to love him because He loved us. We can admit our own failings because we are forgiven. We can live for God, loving Him because He loved us.

Such new life of repentance and faith is not a one-time decision. All we need to do is look at the book of Jeremiah. Time and again the people tried and failed to live as God called them to live. We can also look at how people in our own country respond to tragic evil, and consider our own part in that problem. The same problems seem to keep happening. But, thankfully, the love of God continues to call us to repent and believe in God’s love for us in Jesus. The love of God in Jesus continues to forgive the sins of those who turn to Him in faith. The love of God continues to work to change our hearts.

I pray for my country on a regular basis, not so much for prosperity, as for hearts that repent of sinful attitudes and behaviors and turn to God. I pray for my fellow Christians daily, not so much for healing of their bodies, though I do pray for healing. But more so, I pray for a faith in Jesus that gives new life. “ . . .if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” May God work this new life in each of us.

A Child of God, Seeking a Life of Continual Repentance and Faith in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures from our Ash Wednesday Fellowship meal served by the Carlsons, the Christiansens, and the Martins. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9UJDpyxouCQxO8Bd2

P.P.S. I went fishing with granddaughter, Annabelle, and St. John member and friend, Kymberly Miller on Monday. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LsONap70UMOhWFNS2

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Lenten Observance - Thankful for the Patient Love of my Merciful Heavenly Father

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

The church season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, this year on February 14*. For a number of reasons Lent has become one of my favorite seasons of the church year. Some may be surprised at such a statement. Lent is the time before the Easter season that the Christian Church has traditionally focused on the opposition to the ministry of Jesus, opposition which led to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Bible readings during Lent portray the sinful behavior of the people of Jesus’ day, including His own followers and the religious leaders of His time. Such focus gives us a chance to consider our own failings in the face of God’s righteous love. Lent gives a time for humble confession, and for a heart of repentance. This time of repentance has become important for my relationship with God.

But, as I wrote above, some may be surprised that Lent would be a favorite season of mine. Who, after all, wants to spend time in repentance? But, a heart that admits our own failings, our sin, and our rebellion, can then see more clearly the patient love of God.

Let me see if I can illustrate this point. My wife and I had a chuckle recently, at my expense. Our son, Tim, has faced some vehicle frustrations and challenges in recent times. I confess to being frustrated along-side him. A recent trip to Hatcher Pass to ski caused another such problem. After a day of skiing, Tim could not find his keys. The keys were later turned in to his gym by someone who found them on the slopes. But, there were some anxious moments as he searched for his keys in my vehicle, and also in the dark up in Hatcher Pass.

I shared those moments of anxious frustration with Tim, but then I mentioned to my wife. “Who was it that lost his cell phone on the upper mountain of Alyeska years ago?” That wasn’t Tim, that was me. In order to find my phone Trenton Berberich skied with me back to the place I had fallen, and we called my phone. We could hear it ringing under the snow, so we found my phone.

“Who was it that drove the school bus of another church (only for one week of a youth event) until the bus stopped running on the way back to that church . . . because there was no oil in the engine?” That wasn’t Tim, that was me. Thankfully, the owner of the bus was very understanding.

”Who was it whose car broke down about 200 miles from home on a trip home from college for Christmas vacation?” That wasn’t Tim, that was me. The drive shaft in my 62 Volkswagon had broken. The car would not drive another mile.

“Who was it whose first 62 VW burnt up inside the garage of their home causing the fire department to rush to put out the fire?” That wasn’t Tim, that was me, when I was 16 years old.

I try to be patient with my children. I’m not sure I am always successful in my patience. But, as I recounted some of these events with my wife, I came to realize just how many times my own dad showed patience to me. Then, thinking of my own father’s patience, I began wondering just how many times my Heavenly Father has shaken his head wondering, “When will he learn that I love Him? When will he learn to trust me?” Our Heavenly Father is incredibly patient!

2 Peter 3 talks about the patience of God, “9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Lent has become a time that I intentionally take time to reflect on my failures, and on God’s patient love. It is easy to read the Scripture and see the failures of Jesus disciples or the religious leaders of His day. But, when I stop and reflect, I see my own failures too. I am thankful for God’s merciful saving love in Jesus. I am thankful for God’s patience with my rebellious sin. My heart is led to repentance, to admitting my failure to God again and led to turn to Him for forgiveness and love and strength. The season of Lent helps my attitude of repentance.

People observe the Lenten season in many ways including worship and fasting. All of these ways to observe Lent are intended to point us to our waywardness, and are intended to point us to the patient saving love of God in Jesus, so that we repent. The intent of Lent is that we turn from our sin and turn, in faith, to God’s patient love. I pray a blessed Lent for you.

A Child of God, Thankful for the Patient Love of My Merciful Heavenly Father,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I went skiing at Alyeska for the first time in a couple of years this past Monday. DCE Intern, Ethan Mirly, and St. John member Cameron Christiansen went with me. The visibility was not great because it was snowing. But we still got to ski. We all had a great time. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2z1S89IsmpjnRQrv1

*The date of Easter is moveable, so Ash Wednesday has a changeable date as well. Easter occurs the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Therefore, some years Easter is in March. Some years Easter is celebrated in April. This year western Christians celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 1.

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Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Seeking to Walk in the Light of the Life and Love Found in Jesus

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

On Tuesday evening, January 30, the St. John men’s group, the Promise Keepers, had an interesting gathering. First, the wind was blowing and gusting so that it was difficult to venture out. However, four of us did brave the elements and make it to our study. We began with prayer and talked a little. We were just about to go to the computer to look at Lesson Two in a Lutheran Hour Ministries video Bible study when “it” happened. A gust of wind must have hit a power line somewhere. The lights in the church went out around 7:45 p.m.

With the lights and the power out, we could not use the video for the Bible study. But, maybe the lights would come back on. So we waited, and discussed issues of life and faith in the darkness. And, we waited and we discussed. Finally, about 25 minutes later we decided we would not get to the Bible Study that night, so we discussed prayer needs, and we prayed. After a half an hour in the dark we headed for home.

As we left and locked up I mentioned some about our evening session without light, in darkness. Eric Wyatt corrected me. “The lights may have been out, but we had The Light.”

Eric’s statement got me to thinking about what the Bible says about light and darkness. Did you know there are 158 verse that talk about “darkness” in the New International Version translation of the Bible? As I read through these verses I found a common theme. Darkness is characteristic of sin, and judgement, and those who live and act in disobedience to God. Living in darkness is the result of a sin in our world. But, God brings light to those in darkness, especially through His Son, Jesus. Jesus, brings us righteousness before God through His own righteous life and His sacrificial, forgiving death. Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior, gives us life through His victorious rising from the dead. As we know and believe in Jesus, as we follow Him, we receive the light of God in place of the darkness in our lives.

I spent time studying the teaching of Scripture on light and darkness. I ask you to please consider with me just some of the truth God reveals through the contrast of light and darkness.

In Isaiah 9:2 we are told, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. In Matthew 4 God reveals that the light which dawns in the land of darkness is Jesus Himself.

In the first five verse of the Gospel of John, God contrasts the power and life and light we have in Jesus, with the darkness in which this rebellious world lives. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5) Like the flipping of a switch to turn on the lights in a dark room, Jesus burst on the world bringing light and life.

Jesus speaks about Himself to the leaders of His day, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 b ) If you read on in this section of Scripture, however, you see the leaders immediately challenged Jesus.

Finally, in the Epistle reading assigned for this Sunday, for Transfiguration Sunday, God inspired Paul to write in 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. In Jesus, light shines out of darkness. In Jesus we are given the knowledge of the glory of God.

I believe that, in a way he did not even realize, Eric was correct in his statement. No one likes to be in darkness. It is hard to see and maneuver in the dark. Alaskans know how continued darkness can create gloom and depression. But, our men’s group gladly sat in the darkness and discussed God’s love and God’s power. Even in the darkness of that evening, the light of Jesus was shining in our midst.

It is only early February in Alaska. The hours of light are beginning to lengthen so we know the time of long daylight is coming. But, for now we still experience many more hours of darkness than light. In many ways our spirits are anxiously waiting for that time of light. Perhaps Alaskans can understand even more what Jesus means when he tells us, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

A Child of God, Seeking to Walk in the Light of the Love and Life Found in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. At the end of today’s e-mail message I have chosen some more of these Scripture verses about darkness and light copied them so you can read and see some of what Scripture says.

P.P.S. The St. John Elders met with DCE intern Ethan Mirly on January 25 at the home of Ron and Ann Marie Svedin. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/SWyZ7CWonlbl4tEi2

P.P.P.S. I finally got to go ice fishing this year. St. John DCE Intern, Ethan Mirly, and Our Redeemer DCE intern, Alex Parker, also joined me. Here are a couple of pictures from that trip. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ETXD0lJtB7G7wW132

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