Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
In confirmation class last Wednesday one of our students
was going through a tough time. But, even
in his distress, when discussion about the lesson started, he pitched right
in. One of the questions for students in
this lesson was, “Where do you find peace?”
We wanted our students to further consider how Jesus gives peace. This student opened his heart and talked
about how listening to music soothes him in time of trouble. I was able to share with him how the music of
the young shepherd, David, calmed the troubled heart of King Saul. (1 Samuel
16:23)
We then discussed in class the peace that Jesus
offers. When the rest of the world is
against us Jesus brings peace to our lives because God’s love in Jesus is sure
and is eternal. “38 For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
We also taught our class to see how
God’s forgiveness, through Jesus’ death on the cross and through His rising
again from the dead, brings peace to people troubled by their failures and
their sins. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not
be afraid.” (John 14:27) So, in confirmation class we discussed all
those ways that Jesus brings peace to our troubled lives.
But, let’s consider again the answer of that one
student. He found peace by turning to
music. Perhaps you have also experienced
that music can be a place where we not only hear words of peace-giving truth,
but where the tune of the music can also touch our heart, and enter our soul.
Actually, many of my favorite songs and musicians have
come as recommendations or gifts from others.
Pastor Corbie Cross once gave me an album from Keith and Kristyn Getty, “In
Christ Alone.” That music lifts my
spirit and points me to Jesus. St. John
member, Dave Ianson, once gifted me with an album from Emmy Lou Harris, “Angel
Band.” This simple country music shares
deep truths about the love of God for us.
Long time St. John member, Bill Weith, once suggested I listen to the British
boys choir, Libera, sing “Going Home.”
Boy, does that song feed faith in my heart. Kathy bought me an album of their music. (You
can listen to this song on YouTube.)
When Pastor David Boedecker was a fellow seminary student
with me, he shared his personal practice of listening to The Messiah each
Christmas season while eating a pomegranate.
I’ve learned to appreciate both.
I also like to listen to Handel’s Messiah during Holy Week, especially
on Good Friday! Andrew Bosela attended a
Kaleidoscope Christian youth camp I helped lead. This former student recommended the music of
Fernando Ortega. I often listen to Ortega’s
music in the morning while I clean the kitchen and prepare breakfast. I have Ortega’s albums “Hymns and Meditations”
and “The Shadow of Your Wings – Hymns.”
I have also discovered other peace-giving Christian music
on my own. Twenty years ago I bought
Twila Paris’ album “A Heart that Knows You.” This album is still one of my favorites. I like Alan Jackson’s country music. But his album of Christian hymns, “Precious
Memories” has been one I’ve shared with others.
And recently I bought music of Joey and Rory Feek. Their album “Hymns”
brings me the quiet peace of Jesus in a loud and troubling world. The Christmas album by the Valparaiso
University Chorus, “Behold What Wonder” helps me to truly enjoy the Christmas wonder
of the gift of God’s Son! And Johan
Sebastian Bach . . . Ah, Bach!
The world around us can bring a
lot of noise into our lives. That noise can come from commercials, or from
political rhetoric, or even from people who are angry, or hateful, but do not
know Jesus.
What is your favorite Christian music? Does the singing of Amazing Grace stir your
soul? It is true, the grace – the
undeserved love of God in Jesus, is AMAZING.
But, when put to music that truth seems to me to sink even deeper.
In Psalm 96 the Psalmist calls us to “1 Sing
to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” But then, inspired by God, the Psalmist tells us we are not alone as we
sing praise to God. All creation joins
in praising God through it’s songs. “11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12
let the fields be jubilant, and
everything in them. Then all the trees
of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.”
Our confirmation student was drowning out the noise in
his world with music. I encourage you,
not just to drown out the world’s noise.
I encourage you to bring the peace we have through God’s love and
forgiveness in Jesus into your lives. I
too have found that Christian music helps me to know God’s peace!
A Child of God, Thankful for God’s Peace Found in
Christian Music,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here is a picture
of closing prayer at confirmation last Wednesday. https://photos.app.goo.gl/iCPhvBt6KDu1P4ZR7
P.P.S. Here are
some pictures from a mid-October fishing and discovery trip. As you know, this is late in the year to be
able to be out on the rivers. https://photos.app.goo.gl/C5XkWaffRkHAYVAF6
******
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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