The Wisdom of Humility

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Many of you know that while in Germany this past fall Kathy and I bought a cuckoo clock, something we regretted not doing 10 years ago.  So, recently I had finished my sermon and other work for Sunday worship early on a Saturday.  As Kathy was standing in the kitchen I walked up to her and said, “Well, my sermon is done.”  Then the Cuckoo went off.  Kathy looked me straight in the eye and said, “You see what the clock thinks of your sermon.”  We both laughed.  Maybe she laughed a little more than I did.  But there is a lesson here worth learning for all.  Humility is good. 

 

Scripture is full of teaching on the dangers of pride and the wisdom of humility.  Proverbs 11:2 is one of those verses.  “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  Or, maybe you know Jesus’ often repeated words, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

 

Pride is ultimately trust in ourselves.  Pride is trust in one’s own wisdom, or trust in one’s own strength, or trust even in one’s own righteousness.  No wonder there is danger in pride.  If we trust our wisdom, do we forget the wisdom of God?  If we trust our righteousness, do we forget our sin and the grace of God?  Unfortunately, even for Christians the answer to these questions is, “Yes.”

 

About 30 years ago a Christian scholar told me the number one response to the survey question, “How would you characterize Christians?”  The answer to that question 30 years ago was “arrogant.”  Christians were perceived as being proud and looking down on others.  Recent study tells me Christians still struggle with this public perception, sometimes for good reason.  We need to learn again and again the lessons of Scripture on pride and humility.

 

If we are honest with ourselves we do not have reason for personal pride.  God tells us through Paul, "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."  (Romans 3:10-12).  An appropriate attitude toward God and toward others truly is humility.  We are sinners who have been selfish, or hateful, and not loved God as we should.  We need the guidance of God for our lives.  We need forgiveness for our sinfulness just as others do.  We really don’t have reason to be proud, but do have reason for humility.

 

So, how can we overcome our pride and perceived arrogance?  Perhaps another verse from Romans can help. Paul writes,  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  When we deserved punishment and death, God gave love and sacrifice, forgiveness and life, in Jesus.  So, we willingly look to God for wisdom, because He loves us in spite of our sin.  We trust God’s strength knowing our weakness, because Jesus overcame sin and death when we could not.  We trust God for righteousness in thankful humility because of Jesus, rather than living in pride that separates us from God and others.

 

If I remember correctly the sermon went well the next day in worship.  Hopefully, that is because I was sharing God’s Word and His wisdom rather than my own.  God’s words through Solomon can give real direction for our lives.  “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  I also know my wife has a gift for keeping me humble.

 

A Child of God, Seeking Humility,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  If you are friends with ‘Kathy Tobin Rockey’ on Facebook, here is Kathy’s video of our new clock.  http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?v=10152325815655494&set=vb.721360493&type=3&theater

 

 

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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.

 

How Much Do You Love God?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

How much do you love the Lord God?  Actually, Scripture tells us that love does not begin with us, it begins with God, and is shown in love for others.  A somewhat surprising section of Scripture on love is found in 1 John 4:10-11.  There we read, “10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

 

You see, God tells us that love begins with His love for us, love that is so great that He sent His only Son as a sacrifice to save us from our sins and to save us for eternal life with Him in heaven.  We aren’t saved by loving God or loving others.  We are redeemed, or bought back from our rebellion, by the sacrifice and victory of Jesus. 

 

But, we are still called to love God, especially in response to His love for us.  So I ask the question again, “How much to you love the Lord God?”  I ask this because I read this week about a lady in Syria who believes in God’s love for her in Jesus and in response to God’s love has been sharing that good news with others.  This lady, whose name is hidden to protect her identity but called Zahra in the account I read, had come to faith in Jesus and was sharing Jesus with others. 

 

“Zahra lives in northeastern Syria and serves as a ministry volunteer for Lutheran Hour Ministries—Lebanon. Last summer she and a friend traveled west to Aleppo to reach out with God’s love to the people in a community of refugees. Not everyone welcomed their Christian witness. While Zahra and her friend were telling a Bible story to a group of children, several men burst in and beat both of them severely. One blow dislocated one of Zahra’s vertebrae, damaging her spinal cord, and she lost consciousness. Zahra’s friend was killed. Believing both to be dead, their attackers dragged them into the street and threw them down beside a trash barrel. But Zahra regained consciousness and was rushed to a medical center for treatment.”  Reports say that “Zahra is recovering. Her back healed quickly, but it might be some time before she regains full use of her right hand, which was also injured.”  Those who work with Lutheran Hour Ministries -  Lebanon now report that, Zahra, “‘never ceases to serve the Lord! Zahra has been visiting schools!’”

 

Some American Christians complain (I may be one of them) that our culture is turning away from the traditional Judeo-Christian values which were such a major part of the founding of our country.  It can be uncomfortable today to tell others of God’s love.  But, I don’t know anyone personally in our country who has been attacked for sharing Jesus’ love with children.  Could I put my life on the line to share with others the saving love of God which cost His Son His life?

 

This year I am asking people to keep track of God’s daily blessings for which they are thankful.  After reading about Zahra I am thankful for the freedom we have in our country to practice our Christian faith.  I am also thankful for people who risk their safety to share the saving love of God with others. 

 

I am also led to wonder about my commitment to God who gave everything for me.  How much do I love God?  It is a question worth asking, so that we can live faithful lives of faith and love in response to Jesus’ sacrificial love for us.

 

A Child of God, Seeking to love God with All my Life

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Please remember, I would love to have some of you share in announcements at the end of worship something for which you are thankful.  Please call me at 841-4066 or e-mail me to let me know you would like to share.

 

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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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Facing the Unknown Future in the Loving Hands of God

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Tonight, January 11, the Valley Performing Arts Play, “Sense and Sensibility” begins, and with the beginning of this play also continues my part in a new adventure.  Already I have been surprised by responsibilities I did not know would come my way by agreeing to be in the play.  I knew there would be memorization and practice, but did not realize how much there would be.  I knew there would be costumes, but did not know it would include dyed hair, a powdered wig, and my own makeup bag.  I knew I’d meet new people, but did not know how much I would enjoy working with people I did not previously know.  I knew I would learn from the experience, but I’ve already learned much more than I expected.  In other words, when a person takes on a new task or a responsibility we really don’t know all that the future holds.

 

This week at St. John many face a similar adventure.  In worship on Sunday we will commission or re-commission between 80 and 90 people who have agreed to serve as congregational officers or board members.  We don’t know the adventures, the challenges, the heartaches and the joys the future holds when we start something new.  But these folks are agreeing to face the unknown challenges of the coming year to help St. John serve our Lord, Jesus.

 

In Life-light Bible Class last Wednesday we were studying Ecclesiastes 8.  Part of the lesson that day included discussion about verse 16 and 17, “16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth-- his eyes not seeing sleep day or night-- 17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.” 

 

Life is full of surprises.  We don’t know what the future holds, and often we are left speechless as we think of what life brings and left with the question “Why?”

 

Since we don’t know the future, should we stay away from any commitments that might lead us into unknown territory?  I know people who feel that way about marriage.  But, if I had said no to the new opportunity of this play I would not have learned many new things, I would not have struggled with new responsibilities, and I would not have enjoyed some of these new experiences I am enjoying.  When faced with taking on responsibilities to serve the Lord and His Church, many fear the unknown.  Some simply say “No!” when asked to serve.  But, they also miss out on seeing God work through them in His Church.

 

A favorite pithy saying I learned a long time ago is, “We don’t know what the future holds.  But, we know Who holds the future!”  Or, as Jesus says in John 10, the Good Shepherd chapter, “27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.”  Following Jesus is an adventure into unknown territory.  But as people follow Jesus into all of life’s trials, adventures, challenges, and joys our Lord is holding His beloved sheep in His hands.  “We don’t know what the future holds.  But, we know Who holds the future!” 

 

THANK YOU to all who have taken on the challenge of facing the unknown future to take on challenges and opportunities to serve the Lord and do His work.  I am sure you will experience things you never expected.  Please know that in these experiences God has you in His hand, eternally.

 

A Child of God, Facing Life with Jesus by my Side,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here is a picture from dress rehearsal on Wednesday night before the play begins, Friday, January 11.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/January112013?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

 

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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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My Resolutions - Perseverance

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Did you make resolutions for 2013?  Have you kept them?  Over the years I have found that it is even easier to break my New Year’s resolutions than it is to make them.  I believe there is a reason for this truth.  Often we make promises to ourselves in areas of our life where we struggle.  Yes we can resolve to do better.  But, often past patterns and weakness take over, and for many of us it does not take long to break the resolutions we made about new ways we intend to live beginning January 1.

 

I made resolutions this year.  But, actually the resolutions I made are a continuation of personal goals I set in the middle of last October.  These goals were made specifically to help me do a better job living as a child of God, to help me do a better job as a husband and father, and to help me do a better job as pastor of St. John.  Why did I make the same resolutions, or set the same goals as last October?  First, the areas I hope to improve are important.  I do not want to be satisfied with less than full effort in living as a child of God, or in living as a husband and parent, or in serving as pastor of St. John.

 

But, secondly, there is another reason I made the same resolutions as the goals I set last October.   I still have room to grow in these areas and need to work on them.  No, I haven’t always been successful in doing what I planned to do.  Yes, there have been instances of failure.  But that doesn’t mean that because I failed once or more times I am going to give up.  I want to persevere in faithful living as a child of God.

 

So, maybe my goal for the New Year is perseverance.  In Hebrews 12:1-2, God tells us, “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  It takes character and faith to continue seeking to do the will of God, especially if we have failed.  But, persevering is a godly virtue that I hear little about these days.  (You might also want to look at what God says about perseverance in Romans 5:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, James 1:3-4, and 2 Peter 1:3-8.)  Perseverance is a mark of a child of God who is living a new life in Jesus.

 

The Hebrews verse gives us help in this life of perseverance.  God tells us, 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  When we fix our eyes on Jesus we can continue even after failure, because we know He endured the cross for us and forgives us.  So, if I slip up, that is not the end.  I can repent of my failure and live in the forgiveness God gives through the cross.  Fixing my eyes on Jesus helps me persevere!

 

And, when we fix our eyes on Jesus we can continue even after failure, because we see the perseverance, and sacrifice, and love Jesus has for us.  If Jesus can continue to love us even after we fail, we can continue to live for Him even in our struggles.

 

Have you kept your resolutions?  If your resolutions were worth making as a child of God, they are worth continuing to work toward, even if you haven’t been successful so far.  “Therefore,  . . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

 

 

A Child of God, Working to Persevere in Living for Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  Here is a picture from our Rockey Family Christmas celebration this year.  The first time we could all get together was January 1. 

https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/AKRockeyFamilyChristmasCelebration2012#5829793849510128962

 

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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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She Thinks We're Just Fishin

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

When is fishing not really fishing?  Maybe when you take your family.  But hopefully, when you take your family what happens is more important than fishing.

 

On Thursday I looked for family to go fishing with me.  The only one who could go was my 3 year old granddaughter, Emma.  Emma loves to go fishing with Poppy.  So, I went to put the fishing supplies in the truck.  But Mary and Tim are home.  We have 3 vehicles and 4 drivers.  The truck had been taken.  I could have gone to get the truck, but, I put the fishing stuff and the dog into my car and Emma and I went to a local lake.  So Emma and I  got to walk across the ice and snow.  She played with the dog.  We drilled holes in the ice. And Emma talked about “fish in the water.”  The “fish in the water” were especially exciting to Emma.  After about an hour Emma was getting cold, so we started to pull in the fishing lines.  But, then a fish bit, and Emma helped me pull it in.  Somehow Emma wasn’t cold any longer, and she wanted to stay and fish some more.  When we left she walked and I carried her across the lake.  Emma brought the fish home and talked about “the fish in the water” for a long time.

 

So, Friday, I was able to take my son, Josh, and both Emma and her brother, Jacob, fishing.  This time I had the truck so we took all the equipment.  We took the snow machine to pull the sled with the pop-up tent.  We took lots of snacks.  We took the dog.  We went back to the same lake.

 

When we got to the lake we pulled the sled with the pop-up tent across the ice.  It was heavy so Josh and I traded off pulling the sled.  We got the holes dug and the tent set up.  We got inside the tent and tried to fish.  There’s not a lot of room inside a small tent with 4 holes, two seats and 4 people.  But, Jake and Emma sat in our laps.  They held the poles and watched the bobbers, for a couple of minutes.  They ate snacks, took their gloves off, put them on, and took them off again.  They went outside to play in the snow with the dog.  They played with each other, and kicked ice into the fishing holes.  And Emma kept talk about the “fish in the water.”   

 

We did have one bite, but missed catching the fish.  Yet, I’m not sure that Jake and Emma were upset we didn’t catch any fish.  They got to spend time with Dad and with Poppy.  They spent time outside playing in the snow and playing with each other.  As we finally arrived at home and were unpacking both children came out and told me, “Thanks for taking us fishing, Poppy.”

 

No, we didn’t catch any fish.  In fact, we spent a lot more time doing chores other than fishing, but I’m not sure that catching fish was all that important.  What was important was time spent with family.

 

In Ephesians 6:4, God tells parents, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  I have 4 children, and now I have 5 grandchildren, with a sixth on the way.  I love to catch fish.  But, I have found that fishing gives me a chance to spend time with those I love.  Catching a fish is not as important as time spent fishing with those we love.  I have also learned that if Jesus’ love shows through my life to my children and grandchildren, those actions speak louder than my words.  My actions are not always what I want, but I do need to spend time with family to be able to share faith and love.

 

The Christmas message is that God did not just love us, but He came to us.  Jesus is Immanuel, “God With us.”  There is no greater job for a dad than to train and instruct children and grandchildren in the love that God has given us in Jesus.  But, in order to share that love we have to spend time with them.  What a great goal and resolution for 2013!

 

A Child of God, Praying my Life shares Jesus’ love with my family,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  Here are a couple of pictures to go with today’s devotion.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/FishingWithEmmaAndJakeDadAndPoppyDecember27And282012?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

 

P.P.S.  Here is a video that might be appropriate for today’s devotion.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IheODRwalEw

 

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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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A Story for Christmas

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

One of the most impressive experiences for our group from St. John as we recently traveled through Germany was the sharing of stories from our city guides about the times before The Iron Curtain came down in 1989.  We heard personal accounts of fear and faith from guides in Eisenach, Erfurt, Eisleben, Wittenberg, and Leipzig.  That part of the world is also the source of one of my favorite explanations of Christmas in recent years.  Please let me share someone else’s devotion this week.  I believe this story from that part of the world can help us understand God’s gift of His Son at Christmas.

 

“In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words: 

 

‘It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.  Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins  . . . for straw [and] small squares of flannel for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. 

 

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.  Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately -- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib.  He made up his own ending to the story as he said,  

 

"And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift." So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.' So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him -- for always." 

 

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him -- for always.’ 

 

The Americans? They had learned the lesson they had come there to teach -- that it is not what you have in your life, but Who you have in your life that really counts.  God’s Christmas gift to us is the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm and safe for always.”

 

“4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,  5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”  (Galatians 4:4-7)

 

A Child of God, Living in God’s eternal Love in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  I have attached the documents for the Gratitude Journal to this e-mail, with a cover page in MS Word, and the body of the document in Excel.

 

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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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White as Snow

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

About a week ago I saw what I thought was an interesting picture of Denali in a local newspaper.  Mt. McKinley was covered with snow as it always is, but the surrounding area was brown in the picture.  Lack of snow is somewhat unusual for December in Alaska.  But, at that time we hadn’t had much snow yet.  The lack of snow was getting reactions from people too.  We usually close Confirmation Worship each Wednesday with our youth in a circle, holding hands, and praying.  Two weeks ago, on December 5, one student prayed for snow, and then another prayed that God would not send snow.  Hmmm, dueling prayers!

 

Anyway, we know what has happened since that time.  It started snowing on Tuesday, December 11 and continued snowing for a couple of days.  Most people I know say they had about 12” of snow at their home.  That is a quick end to the lack of snow we’ve had so far this winter.

 

I actually enjoy winter.  I know some who dread the dark and the cold and the snow, but to me it is another opportunity to enjoy the variety and beauty of God’s creation.  I enjoy getting out doors in the winter to ice fish and to snow ski, and to spend time with my family.  But, there is another blessing that comes with snow, a reminder of God’s forgiveness.

 

Maybe you too faced challenges with the wind in recent weeks.  One day I put out my trash to be picked up but the wind was blowing.  The winds swept my hat off my head.  The wind blew over the trash can, and almost blew me over.  I picked up the trash can, and tried to pick up the trash, but the wind blew the trash can over 3 more times, and I found ravens and other animals helping to strew the trash around our yard and the neighborhood.  This Monday I picked up everything I could find, but I know there are still items out there that the wind distributed around.

 

But, when I look out my window today I find no trash, just a pure white blanket of snow covering the brown of the dead grass and the trash that had been scattered around. 

 

In Isaiah 1:18 we are told, "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  This was a picture the people of Israel could understand.  Their sins and idolatries had led to God’s coming judgment, but He was offering to cover the crimson of their sin with the white of His forgiveness.  Our lives are messy with selfishness, failures, and times we have rebelled against God.  There is no way we can pick up the mess of our own sins on our own.  But God sent His Son, Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  Jesus died to make our crimson sins white and to cover the mess in our lives with the white blanket of His love and forgiveness.

 

We can look at the winter landscape and see a visual example of God’s love for us, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;”

 

A Child of God, Thankful for the Forgiving Love of the Righteous Creator of the World,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures for a winter outing this past Monday.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/IceFishing12102012?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

 

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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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