Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
My heart is full because of many joys and challenges in
life. But, a seemingly unimportant
question nags me: “Where has the summer gone?”
Every summer I have so much anticipation of opportunities with
grandchildren out of school, of fishing opportunities, of time spent getting my
hands and knees dirty planting a garden and some flowers. Kathy and I looked forward to a visit from family
this summer, and considered travel opportunities. I have accomplished some of my plans and
goals, but the summer is almost over and it seems there is so much more yet to
be done.
But, in addition to these personal hopes and goals there
have been other activities and jobs that have come along. In June we held the annual Colony Days Picnic
and I attended the District Convention of our church in Portland. In July six of us conducted Vacation Bible
School in Eek, we held VBS at St. John, and I attended a District Board of
Directors’ meeting in Lincoln City, OR. August
looks busy too.
I could resent the tasks that took me away from the
activities I had planned and hoped for.
But, the truth is that these opportunities to serve the Lord and His
Church are important too. I love working
on tasks that help our Lord’s church share the grace of God. I am happy to find a balance between work and
ministry opportunities on the one hand, and the other opportunities to enjoy
the blessings of life on the other hand.
Today I watch many struggle with
busy lives. Perhaps after 65 years I
understand that struggle more now than I used to understand it. Part of that understanding comes from the
Lord. God speaks to us in Scripture
about time and life. We are told in the book
of Ecclesiastes “To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven:”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV). (See also Psalm 90:10-12, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11,
2 Corinthians 6:1-2) In other words, God
intentionally gives us time for work and for family, for ministry and for
recreation.
But, perhaps the
words of Isaiah speak most clearly to me.
In chapter 40 we read, “A voice
says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All men are like grass, and
all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the
flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people
are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God
stands forever.’” (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Time passes quickly.
There never seems to be enough time for all the opportunities life has
to offer. Yes, “All men are like grass.” But, there is something that continues
forever – the word of our God. The Lord’s
Word points us beyond ourselves to God and His Creative Power, to His purpose
for our lives, to His love in this troubled world, and to the eternal life in
heaven to which He calls people through faith in the life and death and
resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
I have learned that
when focusing on what I miss, or what I don’t have, I can be stressed and
frustrated. I can feel like I don’t have
enough time. But, when I focus on what
is eternal, on the Lord and on His Word, I am thankful for what I do have. I am thankful for the presence of the Lord in
opportunities with family and fishing. I
am thankful for the loving presence of the Lord in church and ministry. I am
thankful for God and His grace in every moment of life. (By the way, the book of John tells us that
not only are Scriptures the Word of God, but Jesus is “The Word.” (e.g. John 1:1-3) “ . . . the word of our God stands forever.”
I did spend time with the grandchildren, and time
fishing, and time in the garden this summer.
I also spent time serving the Lord in His Church. Our lives may be like grass that blows
away. But, Isaiah says, “the word
of our God stands forever.’” I have learned that God’s grace is present in all the
times of our lives.
Thank you Lord for
today, and for your presence and your love in each moment of life!
A Child of God, Thankful for God’s Presence in Every
Moment of our Lives,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
more baptism pictures.
·
Wren Adelaide Robertson baptized Wednesday,
August 1, 2018. https://photos.app.goo.gl/GgEE1odDg8n4hqGJ6
P.P.S. Here are
some pictures from the concert by Dave Anderson and Roger Walck Sunday, August
5, at 6:00 p.m.celebrating the 25th anniversary of God’s rescue from
the Bering Sea. https://photos.app.goo.gl/kSri1etJQCdsZp6cA
P.P.S. Here are
some pictures from some fishing trips
·
Ethan caught his
first salmon on Friday, August 3. https://photos.app.goo.gl/DexAcUC426rhCjtd7
·
Sara Guhl,
daughter Ellen, and grand children Gaelen and Alana, went fishing with Pastor
Rockey on Monday, August 6.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sPoEa3dey8xUDSBs7
******
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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