Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
This week, as I write my devotion, my thoughts are in a
little more difficult place. I attended the
Alaska Church Workers’ Conference for our portion of the Lutheran Church. We met in the seaside city of Seward from
Tuesday afternoon through Thursday noon.
The presentation was given by Dr. Steve Saunders of Marquette University. Dr. Saunders also works with a group called “Doxology”
which helps church workers deal with the challenges and stress of the call to
serve the Lord.
Our presenter pointed out that, for pastors and for other
church workers, the job has some built in stress. Being a church worker calls for serving an Almighty,
holy Lord. But pastors and church
workers try to lead God’s people, sheep who often wander and go astray. The job of church worker means leading God’s
people in doing the Lord’s life-changing work.
But there is often much criticism in this high calling from those people
whom church workers are called to lead.
Professional ministry in our denomination requires an advanced education,
but often comes with comparatively lower pay for the education. While church workers need to be healthy to
serve God’s people, the job can often be, as our speaker pointed out, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year – so living healthy is a challenge. The call of God for church workers to lead
His people is a holy call. But, workers
and pastors whom God calls are sinful people.
So, you can understand why there are stresses in the job
of leading the people of God. During the
readings scheduled for worship this June we will hear about Elijah and his
struggles. Elijah’s difficulties are
instructive for our lives. After an epic
battle with prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, Elijah faces opposition from the idolatrous
king and queen of Israel. Listen to the
struggle and emotions which Elijah expresses.
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed
all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to
say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time
tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." 3 Elijah was
afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his
servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came
to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have
had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (1 Kings 19:1-4)
Did you know that the king and queen of Israel (especially
the queen) wanted to kill Elijah? Did
you remember that Elijah was suicidal?
Doing God’s work can be difficult.
But, in spite of Elijah’s anxiety and fear, God had not abandoned Elijah. Elijah runs to Mt. Horeb and experiences the
presence of God in a surprising way.
11 The LORD said, "Go out and
stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to
pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and
shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After
the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after
the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak
over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice
said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
God came to Elijah and spoke to him in spite of the
struggles he faced. Even though Elijah
was full of doubt and fear, the Lord did not abandon him. Elijah experienced the presence of God,
listened to the Lord’s call, and continued to do God’s work. The Almighty Lord
of all worked through a weak and doubting man to do His holy work.
The truth of God’s grace is not just meant for prophets
and pastors and church workers. All God’s
children are called to do the holy work of following the Lord and spreading His
kingdom. But, God calls people who are weak
and sinful. I sometimes tell others that
when sinful people are called to do God’s holy work, this is a “recipe for
disaster.” No wonder Gods church has so many
problems.
In serving our Lord we do face many challenges and
stresses. But, God came to Elijah in spite of his weakness and doubt. God comes to His people today, in His Son,
Jesus, in spite of our sin and failure. What
a blessing to know that God knows our weakness, yet He loves us and forgives
us, and nonetheless calls us to serve Him.
We have the amazing blessing of serving the Lord of the universe, the
Savior of the world!
I had the privilege of sharing at this conference in a
devotion. We read from John 21:15-19. Jesus restores Peter after Peter had denied Jesus
three times. Then Jesus calls this sinful leader to continue. "Follow me!" (John 21:19)
Perhaps, surprisingly God continues to call weak and sinful people today
too.
A Child of God, Thankful and Amazed that God Even Work
through Sinners, like Me!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. The Youth held a pig roast on Saturday, May
25, to raise money for the youth for the National Youth Gathering. Here are pig roast pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xYTLSQ2Waiduuw7XA
P.P.S. Last winter we took offerings for a fire-suppression
vent hood in the kitchen. It is still being installed. Here are some MORE pictures from the new vent hood as
installation begins. https://photos.app.goo.gl/PTRFdAZvt8bAybceA
P.P.P.S. We did yard work on Memorial Day. We mowed the lawn (not on a riding mower), did
some weed eating in the yard, cleaned the front flower garden, cleaned the strawberry
patch, transplanted raspberries, roto-tilled the garden, and planted
veggies. I had planned to fish, but my
fitbit says I did over 34,400 steps! I
was tired. Here are some pictures of
Jackson and Kendall helping me plant the garden. https://photos.app.goo.gl/m3s6xc8RgZY5mjHu9
P.P.P.P.S. (I am in Seward at a Lutheran Workers’
Conference Tuesday-Thursday. Friday is
halibut fishing day! J)
******
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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