Sharing What's Really Important

Friday, October 28, 2011

As a Father Loves his Children

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I remember this day 24 years ago. Around 8:00 on the morning of October 27 Kathy had gone into labor. Her mom was staying at our home with us. Our young sons, Josh who was almost 7 and Andy who was almost 5, were waiting to walk across the street to school. Around noon the doctor told us to come to the hospital. We arrived at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville and then we waited and waited and waited. Finally around 5:00 p.m. Kathy’s labor picked up, and at 6:00 p.m. the doctor held up our first daughter. You could see right away she had red hair. What a joy and blessing our daughter Mary has been to Kathy and to me!

Over the years Kathy and I have received God’s blessings through each of our children. What a gift! I think you can see we love our daughter. We love our children, all 4 of them.

So, considering the love of a parent for their children, please hear what God says to us in Psalm 103: 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Many of you are parents and you know how you love your children. If you are not a parent most of us know the love our parents have had for us. There is a passion deep in my soul that loves each of my children. Do you know God loves you like a father? With the passion and compassion of a father, God cares for each of us.

Do you ever want to take your children, even your grown children, into your arms to hug and love them? As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

What a blessing to know and live in the love of our heavenly Father!!

A Child of God, thankful for the love of my Heavenly Father,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Mary, 24 today! Happy Birthday, Mary!!

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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 always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

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Rejoicing in the Fruits of Faith

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This year while moose hunting I had a mostly sleepless night. St. John member, Gerry Zellar, my friend and moose hunting partner realized I hadn’t slept much or well and asked me in the morning if I was alright. I told him I was just thinking and worrying and praying about church. Maybe there were other reasons I didn’t sleep well that night, but I was also thinking about our worship services. While membership has remained pretty stable, worship attendance had decreased in recent years. I was thinking and praying most of the night. If there is anything that causes worry for me, for any pastor or other church leaders, it is to share God’s word but not see the fruit of the seed that is planted. Because we all struggle with temptation and sin there are times in all of our lives that we hear the word and love of God but we don’t always bear fruit for God. That night I spent time wondering about how our congregation can more effectively share God’s Word so His people grow and live their faith.

However, since I have returned from hunting I have been encouraged by a number of examples of God’s word bearing fruit in the lives of His people. Recently we had a baptism that was a special encouragement to me. One little girl was baptized in September. Before that baptism I had gone to her home to talk about what God does for us when someone is baptized. A couple of weeks later I got a call saying another member of the family wanted to be baptized. That young lady had heard our study of the Bible and had considered how God works through baptism to give His love. The request to be baptized was the result of the word of God working in the life of this person. The seed of God’s word was planted and bore fruit when the second family member asked to be baptized. If there is anything that brings joy to me or any other pastor it is to see the fruit of God’s love showing in someone’s life.

In addition I recently rejoiced after a the blessing of a really good couple of days. We have had good attendance in worship and great attendance in Sunday School. In addition a number of people have contacted me on their own to share their hopes and plans to serve our Lord. After writing down a list of all these instances of God’s word bearing fruit in the lives of His people I had to stop and offer a prayer of thanks.

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15: 5) A sleepless night by itself bears no fruit, though God does answer prayer. But, this verse says that when connected to Jesus then our lives bear fruit. When we know God’s undeserved love for us, when we trust Him for forgiveness, when we love God because He loved us, Jesus changes our lives.

Do you need God’s blessings in your life? Do you need changes in your life? Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

A Child of God, Thankful to see God working in the lives of His people,

Pastor Jonathan

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Friday, October 14, 2011

The GIFT of Love

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Today, I was witness to two small acts of kindness that perhaps were not really all that small. The first actually came from my dog. You see I ended up taking our cat to the vet with an infected foot. The doctor actually did some extensive cleaning of the infection, gave the cat a shot of antibiotics, and sent him home with a fear of the doctor and a bleeding foot. You see, it hurt the cat to get the wound cleaned. When I brought the cat home he lay on the bed he shares with our Labrador retriever. The dog saw the cat, came over and sniffed at the cat. It noticed the foot and licked the wound. Then our dog nudged the cat as it lay down. The dog also laid down near the cat. From observing that interaction I think the dog missed the cat and was, in its own animal way, trying to take care of the cat. Obviously the scene impressed me.

The other act of kindness happened when I brought my grandson, Jacob, home from preschool. I got Jacob out of the car seat and set him on the ground while I carried some other things inside his house. As Jacob walked from the car by himself he started whining, as 3 year olds can. But Jacob’s sister, Emmalee, was concerned. Emmalee ran to her mom and said, “Jacob’s crying.” She missed her brother, cared about the reason he was crying, and ran to tell mom to help Jacob. When asked why he was crying Jacob told his mom, “It’s cold outside.” It was about 35 degrees and there were some flurries in the air. The cold may not seem like much, but Emmalee was genuinely concerned about her brother.

God calls us to “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) Love is not just to care about someone, but to show that love, even to tell others we love them.

As I was thinking about these small acts of kindness, love flowing from the heart from one to another, I realized I haven’t told you recently that as a Christian I love you Some of you receiving this devotion are actually family. Many of you are members of St. John. Others are friends. I have not only spent time with you or worshipped with you, but I have also been in many of your homes. I have often prayed for many of you in times of blessing or need. These may seem like easy words to say. Yet, I can honestly say as a family member, as a fellow Christian, as a friend, I care about each of you. But, just caring in my heart keeps it only inside myself. I need to share this.

Love is a powerful blessing. You understand how even these seemingly small acts of kindness I saw today touched me. Now consider the biggest act of love ever. God didn’t just love you in words, but gave His only Son. Jesus, the Son of God, gave His very life for us in love.

I pray the great love of God for you touches you so that you are moved to share care and concern and Christian love with those in your life.

A Child of God, loved by Him and desiring to share that love,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Here are some pictures of what I expect will be my last fishing trip of the summer. https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/LastDayOfSummerFishing10102011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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Sunday, October 9, 2011

A Real GIFT!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

It just appeared in my bank account yesterday. . . sort of. A deposit of $1174.00 was put into my savings account electronically in my name. A similar deposit was made to our account in Kathy’s name. Did anyone else have the same experience?

Alaskans all know what I’m writing about, it is the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. In fact, you may wonder why I should act surprised. This has been happening now for about 30 years. We almost take it for granted. “What’s the big deal?”

Please consider this reaction. This check that Alaskans get from oil profits because our constitution says that ‘the resources of Alaska belong to the people of Alaska’ is really a gift. We did not work for this dividend. We were not winners in a drawing. People in other states do not have the same dividends. Kathy and I did however submit an application for the Alaska Permanent Fund. Five minutes or less on the computer last December and a deposit of $1170.40 was made in October.

So, do we take this gift for granted? When she was healthy enough to worship regularly St. John member June Liebing would stand up after worship in early service at Permanent Fund Dividend time and say. “God made the earth. The oil is in the earth. My permanent fund dividend is a gift from God.” Then she would also add, “I encourage you to give to the Lord from this gift from God.” (June is now 90 years old and living in the Pioneer Home in Palmer.) It is good to remember what is written in James 1. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, (James 1:17)

But, this is not just true of permanent fund dividends. On an even greater level the joy and hope of eternal life we enjoy is a gift of God’s love because of the sacrifice of Jesus. We did nothing to earn this. Even if we tried we could not have earned this gift of God. He gives it to us freely when we believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin and death.

So, how do you respond to a gift? The Psalmist simply says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1) Thankfulness is like faith. Thanks comes from the heart and shows in our actions.

So, as you receive this gift of a permanent fund dividend, as you receive the greater gift of God’s love and eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus, do the actions of your life show thanks?

A Child of God, thankful for God’s undeserved love,

Pastor Jonathan

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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Rest in the Lord

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This week I’ll be leaving on vacation to go moose hunting. Yes, a busy fall schedule is upon us. There are also people and members about whom I am concerned. I will be praying for them. There are some ways in which it is always difficult to leave.

However, I also believe what God teaches about the Sabbath. Have you read the verses about Sabbath and rest?

· Exodus 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

· Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

· Mark 6: 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

God calls us to rest in Him. We can rest because we believe anything really important is accomplished, not by our work, but by God. We take a day each week to rest in the Lord because we need the Lord and His people in our lives. But we also take time to rest because we trust Him. We trust that even when we don’t work, it is God who accomplishes the good we need in life. Because rest comes from God, I’m not only going hunting, but I’ll also be spending time reading Scripture, and praying, and spending time talking about God’s Word with others in camp.

There is another way God gives rest. Has your heart ever been troubled because of something you regret? Did you ever have trouble sleeping? Did you ever groan with regret over something you should not have done or said? In Jesus God forgives our sins and guilt. He forgives the things that keep us awake. That is why Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

May you find rest in God’s love, and take time to rest and let the Lord bless you.

A Child of God, Taking Time to Rest in the Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

What is a Disciple?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I am back from my yearly moose hunting vacation. But while I was in the woods hunting a question kept rolling over in my mind. “Jesus calls us to ‘make disciples.’ But, what is a disciple?” Denny Langston and Pastor Denny Lorenz were at St. John the weekend before I left to go hunting presenting a workshop on Spiritual Gifts called “Tracking the Spirit.” While we were talking at our home about God’s Church they asked me this question, “What is a disciple?”

The easy answer is that a disciple is not just one of the 12 apostles. Any follower of Jesus is a disciple. But, what does Jesus mean when he says in Matthew 28, “Go make disciples?” Looking at the rest of Scripture we see that Jesus is not just talking about reaching those who don’t know Him, but helping those who do know Him grow in the relationship with Jesus. He does not want people following Him half-heartedly. Listen to some things Jesus says about disciples.

John 8:31-32 31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John 13:34-35 - 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:8-10 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

According to these verses being a disciple shows itself as we ‘continue in Jesus’ words,’ as we ‘love one another as Jesus loved us,’ as we ‘bear fruit’ and ‘obey his commands’ Being a disciple begins with going and baptizing, and continues through teaching. Being a disciple or a child of God is not simply having our name on a church roster, it is a life-long process of growing in the love of God and living out God’s love. Jesus’ words make it obvious that He wants His followers committed to Him and to His work.

So, as I was in hunting camp asking myself that question “What is a disciple?” I had to also ask, “How is my discipleship of the Lord?” We are not saved by our works. The disciples in Jesus’ day and we today are all sinful and unable to save ourselves. But, for the Almighty God to send His only Son to die and rise for sinners like us, when we hear and believe that God has loved us in such a sacrificial way, we should want to serve God as Jesus’ disciples with all our lives.

What does this mean for member of St. John as we seek to live for the one who died for us? How are you doing in living your discipleship?

A Child of God, seeking to live for the one who died and rose for me,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I did not see a legal moose this year. In fact, for a number of reasons nobody in camp got a moose this year. However, we spent time in devotions each day, we talked and solved the problems of the world (if only others would listen!), and we enjoyed the Lord’s creation. Here are some pictures from this year’s hunt: https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/MooseHUNTING2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

P.P.S. I had already begun work on a sermon series for October on discipleship, when I was asked that question on ‘What is a disciple?’ Please note below our sermon series for October.

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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Are You Ready?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I don’t know his name. I didn’t meet any friends. But on Thursday I prayed fervently for a man I never met and for those trying to help him. After a District meeting ended at noon in Portland, I played golf with some of the others who had attended the meeting. As we rounded the ninth hole to begin playing the back nine one of the men in our party noticed the party ahead of us running over to the edge of the fairway. Then it looked like one of the men was doing CPR. One of our party ran to the club house to inform them, and I took my cart down to see what was happening and if I could help. A group of men were performing CPR on an elderly gentleman who was down and not responsive. Another man arrived with the de-fibrilator from the club house. Those performing CPR continued until the ambulance arrived and the fire department arrived. I wasn’t needed, but I stayed around and prayed. I put my hand on the men doing CPR and prayed out loud for them, and for the man that was down. No other golfers seemed to be playing with him, he was alone. He never seemed to respond to the CPR, or to the ambulance paramedics or others. Later I was told he had not made it.

Needless to say our golf game was changed. After half an hour we skipped the 10^th hole and started playing on hole 11. Making a bad shot did not seem so important. We were a little quieter than normal during the next holes. Finally I said, “I’ve been thinking about what else could have been done. But, I guess the most important things had to be done ahead of time.” I’m grateful the other golfers had learned CPR ahead of time. Had the man who died been to the doctor and followed his advice? Did he know Jesus, ahead of time.?

The words of Jesus from Matthew 25 rang in my ear. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Are you ready if something unexpected were to happen to you? Do you know Jesus? Is He part of your life in such a way that you could face a situation like the man on the golf course, whether you were the one who was ill, or the one helping the sick man? These are important questions!

This week at St. John we have two opportunities to grow in knowing Jesus.

· Tracking the Spirit will help us begin to answer the question, “WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR MY LIFE?” This seminar will be held Friday evening from 7-9:00 p.m., and Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m.-noon. We will look at what Scripture says about God’s plan for our lives.

· SUNDAY SCHOOL AND ADULT BIBLE CLASSES start this Sunday at 9:45 a.m. There are classes for children aged 18 months through adults. This too is an opportunity to grow in knowing Jesus and His love for us.

“Are you ready?” That’s an important question. We have some opportunities at St. John to help you answer this question for your lives.

A Child of God, Glad to know Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

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ST. JOHN NEWS

TRACKING THE SPIRIT – What is GOD’S plan for your life?! Tracking the Spirit is a series of Presentations that help people see how God empowers us to live as His Children.

TRACKING THE SPIRIT 2 will be held at St. John, Friday, September 9, from 7-9 p.m., and Saturday, September 10, from 9-12:00 noon! (Tracking the Spirit 1 was held at St. John a number of years ago and helped create an awareness of opportunities for sharing God’s love with others.) Tracking the Spirit 2 will help us see how God has made us who we are and the blessings of living according to God’s plan! Part of this presentation will be to consider our spiritual gifts.

Please mark this time on your calendar for an opportunity of Christian growth!

SUNDAY SCHOOL starts the Sunday after Labor Day, September 11. I hope that you are planning to attend, and to bring your children!

SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASSES BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 11 AS WELL.

· WOMEN’S CLASS - Denise Larsen will be teaching a class on "The Lutheran Difference." This class looks at issues of current concern from the Lutheran Biblical perspective. They will meet in the Cry Room in the Sanctuary.

· SCRIPTURE CLASS - Randy Luffberry continues teaching the “A First Century Faith for the Twenty-First Century Church.” This book was written by Pastor Waldo Werning, the grandfather of member Aaron Werning. This class is taking an in-depth look at the teaching of God in Scripture, and practical ways God’s teachings impact how Christians can and do live in today’s world. It is helpful and practical direction for St. John as we seek to be God’s people in our community. They will meet in the church library.

· TOPICAL CLASS - Linda Griese will teach a class by Gary Smalley on “Relationships.” Gary Smalley is a well known and well-respected teacher who helps Christian families lives under the grace and direction of God. This Class with meet down stairs in the church.

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE FOR 9-11 – Sunday is the 10^th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Towers and other targets. Among those who died on that day at the Pentagon was a young man who was confirmed at St. John, Ronald Hemmenway. A time of remembrance is being held on Sunday, September 11, at Wasilla High School at 2:30 p.m., with special remembrance of Mr. Hemmenway If you would like to ask God’s prayers for our country, this would be a good opportunity. (St. John has lost two other members in that conflict, Shane Woods and Justin Gallegos.)

INSTALLATION OF NEW PASTOR AT ANCHORAGE LUTHERAN Sunday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m., Pastor Andrew Ritchie will be installed as pastor or Anchorage Lutheran Church, 1420 N Street. Come and join our brothers and sisters as they begin a new day of serving the Lord in Anchorage. A meal will be served after the installation.

THE BLESSINGS OF WEDNESDAY WORSHIP –Wednesday worship continues each week at 6:30 p.m. The goal for Wednesday worship is to provide an alternate opportunity for those who can’t make Sunday worship, and to provide extra opportunities for time with the Lord and His people for people who nevertheless can attend on Sundays. The services and sermons on Wednesday are different from the Sunday service and sermon. These Wednesday services are continuing during the school year.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website? On our web page you can find sermons, newsletters, and these weekly devotions. The link is: http://www.st-john-lutheran.org

In fact, IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY CHURCH NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL please e-mail Judy Stahancyk and let her know. You can call at 745-3338, or e-mail Judy at jstahancyk@st-john-lutheran.org. If you receive the newsletter by e-mail it saves printing, postage, and time compiling the newsletter. Also, you receive the monthly newsletter more quickly!!