Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Our Alaska Lutheran Church Workers’ Conference in
mid-October focused on “lament.” We
talked about areas in our lives personally, and in the life of God’s Church,
that we need to grieve the evils of the day.
We talked specifically about social justice issues in this
conference. The presenter led us to
consider, as we look at the evil in the world around us, where we fit in as
part of the problem or problems of our world?
We asked, “Where do we need to confess, repent, and seek to receive and
share the grace God gives in Jesus?”
I remember going to a Tuesday night men’s Bible Study in
April of 1999 and learning with shock of the shootings at Columbine High School
in Colorado. Those of us gathered for
this study were is disbelief that someone could perform such an act of violence
and evil in a high school. We were in
grief over the loss of lives. We were at
a loss for how to respond, other than to go to the Lord in prayer and ask His
mercy and His help.
I share these two random thoughts because, where this
shooting at Columbine seemed unbelievable, last week we had two incidents of domestic
terrorism and violence from individual citizens in our country. Just a week ago we were hearing on the news
about bombs being delivered to at least 10 leaders in the circles of the Democratic
Party. The man sending the bombs seems
to have been caught and arrested.
Thankfully no one was hurt in this specific incident. But, unfortunately such news is no longer a
shock – it seems commonplace.
Then, on Saturday, October 27, at Tree of Life Synagogue
in the Pittsburg, PA, area, a man attacked people during a worship service,
killing 11 and wounding seven others. Our
whole country grieves. And,
unfortunately, this is not the only recent shooting in a place of worship.
Have you asked yourself, “What is happening in our
country? Why are there so many deadly
acts of mass violence? How is it that
such horrible evil seem to have become commonplace in America?”
As I listen to those discussing these issues, I hear a
lot of blame being placed, usually on other people. I hear those people of a liberal political
persuasion blame conservatives and their leaders. I hear conservative people blame those whose
politics lean to the left, and also blame their leaders. I also hear people of faith involved in such
blaming. Unfortunately, there is enough
blame to go around for everyone, every one of us.
As I grow older in years, and as I realize more and more
how little I know personally, the book of Psalms has become a treasure to
me. The struggle, the prayers, the
confessions, and the hope I find in Psalms speak to my own journey of faith as
a child of God. In the midst of these
two national tragedies, and in this time of rampant mass violence, I share with
you Psalm 130, and hope that it may speak to you as you deal with the questions
above.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you,
O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be
attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore
you are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in
his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than
watchmen wait for the morning, more than
watchmen wait for the morning.
7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their
sins.
When we look at these national acts of shame, as people
are blaming each other, I personally know the truth of Psalm 130, verse 3, If you,
O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
I also know that our
only hope in this country is not found in our own wisdom, or the wisdom of a
particular political party. Our only hope
is in God’s grace and forgiveness, which the Psalmist proclaims in verse
4. But
with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
So, my first response
to these tragic crimes is to turn to my Lord.
I will trust in His wisdom, His grace, and His love. I will trust for His grace eternally, but
also His intervening grace in this life. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than
watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.7 O
Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with
him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
As I watch these tragedies unfold, I turn to my Lord, to
His forgiveness, to His redemption. I
don’t have the answers to why this is happening. I do believe that if people turned to the
Lord in repentance, seeking His love and grace so that we could love one
another, that our country and all of us would be much better off. Lord, have mercy!
A Child of God, Grieving over the Common-Place Violence
in our Country,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
pictures from the 2018 St. John Fall Festival Saturday, October 27. Do the
adults look like they’re having as much fun as the kids?????! - https://photos.app.goo.gl/oj26LkAHa3QpTXNM7
P.P.S. Here are
pictures from confirmation games and snacks, last Wednesday, 10-24-2018 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/gr5F1avn19eWieai9
P.P.P.S. Here are
some pictures of the snow we received Sunday and Monday as seen from my
house. https://photos.app.goo.gl/kjzWFVGtjEo5CV4j8
P.P.P.P.S. PERSONAL
DEVOTIONS FOR 2019-2020? I am
encouraging you to join me in studying God’s Word together by using the same
devotional Bible I plan to use in the next two years. I will use the “Today’s Light Devotional
Bible” from Concordia Publishing House (our church’s publishing house) in 2019
and 2020. If you want to buy one of
these Bibles and study with me starting in January here are links for the
Bible.
·
From CPH for $26.39 + $7.00 shipping - https://www.cph.org/p-22950-todays-light-devotional-bible.aspx
·
From Amazon for $32.99 + free shipping - https://www.amazon.com/Todays-Light-Devotional-Bible-Fryar/dp/0758643519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540403689&sr=8-1&keywords=Today%27s+Light+Devotional+Bible
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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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