Sharing What's Really Important

Saturday, October 17, 2015

How Are You Growing As a Child of God?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

How are you growing as a child of God?

I ask this question, in part, because I attended a church workers conference on discipling this week. Jesus, after all, did not say, “Go make members of all nations.” He said go make disciples. A disciple is a student who follows Jesus, who grows in their Christian faith and life, and who ultimately also shares the love of Jesus with others. A person can be a church member by simply having their name on a roster. It implies no personal growth. But a disciple is someone who grows. “How are you growing as a child of God?”

I say this in part also because this week is stewardship Sunday at St. John. People can think stewardship might be about money. We wonder, “Have I grown from 2% to 3%, or from 10% to 11% in my giving?” Actually, a Christian steward is a manager of all the gifts that God has given. And God’s gifts are so much more than material resources. God gives life and breath in this world. God gives talents and abilities. God gives family and friends, and Christian family in the church. And, God gives forgiveness, and peace, and joy, and eternal life in Jesus Christ. How do we manage the gifts of God? That is not a money question , but a heart question. But the question still remains. “How are you growing as a child of God?” Are we growing in our faith and love for God, or are we drifting away?

Scripture is full of the call of God to people, not just to receive His love, but to live and grow in His love. In the parable of the sower, or planter, Jesus talks about the seed of God’s word that is planted. On some soil God’s word grows and bears fruit, but on other soil, growth does not happen. (Matthew 13). “How are you growing as a child of God?”

Jesus also tells us that He is the vine, that His Father is the gardener, and that we are the branches. Jesus expects us to grow and bear fruit. (John 15) God calls for the fruit of the Spirit in His people which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) God also looks for fruit that grows as His people share His love and grace “to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). “How are you growing as a child of God?”

After writing two letters to churches that Peter was pastoring, he ends his letters with the following verse. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) So the question remains, “How are you growing as a child of God?”

When we meet our Lord on Judgment Day, we are not saved by what we have done, but by the saving death and victorious rising of Jesus. But, God will want to know what we did with the gift of His love. Did we bear fruit in His kingdom?

Gardening and planting can seem boring. You plant the seed, water and fertilize it, pull the weeds, and harvest the produce. If the weather is good and the moose are far away, a person can have food to eat for a winter. Likewise, there are certain, maybe even boring, things we can do to grow and produce fruit in God’s kingdom in our lives, and in our congregations.

We plant the seed of God’s Word. Regular worship is vital. Daily time in God’s word is strengthening. This may seem like an old fashioned way of living, but the word cannot grow if it has not been planted.

We water and fertilize the seed. The gifts of God’s sacraments are food and strength to a person of faith. Time with the Lord in prayer is vital to growth. When we face the trials of life with a prayer on our lips, and then see the answers of God, we grow.

We pull the weeds and harvest. This is done when we spend time with God’s people in God’s church. In worship we “teach and admonish.” We encourage one another through hard times and correct one another in love in times of drifting. And, as the family of God, we welcome new members into God’s family, praying they too will grow as disciples.

So, how do you answer the question, “How are you growing as a child of God?” I pray the love of God is taking root in your heart and bearing fruit in your life as a child and disciple of God.

A Child of God, Seeking to Grow in His Love,

Pastor Jonathan

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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.

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Friday, October 9, 2015

Hunting for . . . Truth

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Like many other Alaskans I spent time in the woods hunting this fall. Gerry Zellar and I hunted for a bull moose we could harvest to feed our families. I was in camp for 8 days. Gerry set up camp at the beginning of September, so he was there longer. We looked, we called, and we hunted. But, while we saw a lot of other hunters we did not find a bull moose to harvest.

People spend time and effort hunting and searching for more than just moose. People want happiness, or adventure, or security, so they expend their lives and resources seeking these goals. Others work hard to achieve health. But one of the basic things for which people seek is truth. What is true, so that truth can guide my life? When we find truth we can also find direction, meaning, and purpose. Over the ages many have written on the great search for truth.

I would categorize this past Wednesday as an “adventure” in the search of God’s people for truth. I had two formal sessions scheduled with adults on that day. First we had “Lifelight” Bible Class at noon. We had a lively discussion about the search for truth as we considered the questions, “Why does Jesus say that we need to listen?” and “What does listening look like?” (Let me invite any of you to our Wednesday noon sharing of leftovers and the study of Luke.)

I also spent time with adults on Wednesday evening in worship. We looked at Hebrews 2:1-13 and considered some difficult questions. Specifically we talked about family, especially God’s family. Using God’s Word we were led to ask the difficult questions, “Are you ever not part of the family, especially God’s family?” The answer we found to that question in Hebrews 2 is that God goes to extremes to keep you in His family. God went to the extreme of sending His Son to “seek and to save the lost”, even to the point of suffering and dying for God’s “drifting” people.

But, the real questions on that day came when I was with young people and children. Wednesday Confirmation classes began this week at St. John. As we were working through our first 2 lessons in our text books a student raised their hand and asked, “Why do we HAVE TO believe?” Wow! Talk about the search for truth!! I told this student that we don’t have to believe, but that what is true, is true. What we believe does not change reality. So, whether we choose to believe in God, or don’t choose to believe in God, God is real and God is true. So, I asked this student if they wanted to live as if the reality of God doesn’t actually exist, or if they wanted their life to reflect and deal with reality. Talk about deep discussion! It sort of put the discussion with the adults in the rear view mirror. By the way, this student later thanked me for considering their question and for my answer. This young person shared that they heard the answer they needed to hear. Thank you, Lord!

But, the toughest question of the day came from, of all people, a 4 year old! I read Bible stories to the preschool each month. So, at the beginning of their school year I read a story to one class entitled, “How God Made the World” from a children’s picture Bible. One young man was floored. “Wow! You mean God made the world?” “Yes”, I told this student, “and He made you and He made me too.” However, another 4 year old was sitting in the reading circle listening to this conversation and He asked the question of the day. “So, if God made the world, who made God?” Out of the mouths of babes and 4 year olds! I gave this young man a simple answer. “The Bible says God did not have a beginning. He is eternal. He always has been.” The young man was satisfied.

Some of these questions are questions we can seek to answer our whole lives. That is why people hunt and seek for the truth. If you want your life to reflect reality, if you want to live in such a way that you are finding real direction and meaning for your life and your efforts, I encourage you to seek for the truth. It is an adventure!

By the way, Jesus, the Son of God Himself, gives us clues on where to find truth. When speaking to the disciples near the end of His life Jesus responds to a question from Thomas with these words, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The truth of God is found in the sacrificial saving love of God in Jesus, THE ultimate truth of the universe.

And, where can we find that truth today? In His prayer for the church on the night of His betrayal, Jesus prays to His Father for His followers, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” We find the truth of Jesus in the Word of God. So, we continue to hunt and search.

Hunting moose is an adventure I truly enjoy. However, an even bigger adventure is discovering the truth of God in Jesus, and trying to live my life based on God’s truth. How about you?

A Child of God, Seeking to Learn and Share His Truth,

Pastor Jonathan

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Friday, October 2, 2015

"Oregon Shootings - Strengthened During Weariness by the Foolishness of the Cross"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Do you ever become weary of the evil and the sin that constantly assaults us in this life? I’m not talking now about personal temptation, though such temptations are a real part of life’s struggle. I am talking about the shooting at Umpqua Community College on Thursday in Oregon. We may be tempted to call it “another shooting spree” among so many others in the last 2 decades. But, the nine people killed were individual sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. This is not just another shooting, but a real assault on the efforts of people to build their lives and to work for the good of themselves and their families. I’m shocked . . . again! And, I am weary of the constant attack on the attempts of people to build our world with justice, with faith, and with love.

This reminds me of another “weary” man in Scripture, named Elijah. In my devotions this week I have been reading about Elijah in the book of 1 Kings. Elijah was called as a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel to share that The Lord is the only true God. The King of Israel at that time, Ahab, and his wife, Jezebel, led the people of Israel in forsaking the Lord, the Lord who had led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and who had saved the nation so many times. So, Elijah had a showdown, of sorts, on Mt Carmel with the prophets of Jezebel’s god, Baal. (1 Kings 18) When the Lord had powerfully shown himself to truly be the only God, Jezebel sought to kill Elijah. So Elijah ran away to the south. When he got to the land of Judah Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, LORD, take my life . . .” (1 Kings 19:4) Elijah was weary.

However, God strengthened Elijah, so Elijah continued his journey south to Mount Horeb (Sinai?). There God appeared to Elijah and spoke to him in one of the most intriguing and revealing sections of Scripture, “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.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) The NIV Bible translates, “a gentle whisper.” Many, myself included, remember the King James and RSV translation, “a still small voice.” In other words, God spoke, but not at this point with a 2 x 4 over Elijah’s head. God spoke in a way that required Elijah to listen. God spoke in a way that shows that His every word is important. God told Elijah he was not alone, and to go back to work.

What does all this have to do with the shootings in Oregon? God still speaks, often in a still small voice. While 1 Kings has been the Old Testament book of my devotions this week, 1 Corinthians was the Epistle reading in those devotions. People in Paul’s time were clamoring for God to speak in an unmistakable way. Paul says God still speaks in a way that some consider a whisper. “22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25) People in Paul’s times clamored for God to reveal himself in power. God revealed Himself in a humble sacrifice of saving love in the life and death of His Son, Jesus.

Our world is in a battle with the forces of evil which are stronger than we are (John 16:11). So, it is no surprise that we are weary. But, acting in humble love rather than violent power, God has defeated our enemy. God tells us we are not alone and to go about His work. We can do this because the true God of this world who gave His Son is with us to save us from our own sin and struggle, and He has conquered death and the forces of evil. Nothing in this world can take away God’s victory in Jesus.

I am still weary of the senseless evil acts of violence which seem to occur so regularly. But, God who strengthened Elijah strengthens us in His Son. Jesus received all the violence this world can give when He died. But, Jesus victoriously rose from the dead. Jesus offers that victory of forgiveness and eternal life to all as they trust in Him as God’s promised Savior. So, trusting the cross of Jesus, trusting the love of God, I go on sharing Jesus and His victory with others. God calls all His children to do the same.

A Child of God, Strengthened in Weariness by the Foolishness of the Cross,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. One of my friends, Dr. Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, writes a daily devotion, The Meyer Minute. At the end of today’s e-mail I am including Dale’s message on the Oregon shootings.

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Teddy Roosevelt on Church Attendance

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This week, while I am hunting moose, I am sharing something someone else shared with me. Actually, my wife Kathy was attending the Hebrews Sunday School Class taught by Jim Summers and he shared some thoughts by, or all people, President Teddy Roosevelt.

It seems that in 1917 Teddy Roosevelt wrote an article for the Ladies’ Home Journal entitled “Ten Reasons For Going To Church.” Jim and Kathy thought this was worthwhile. After I read this I agree.

Kathy, however, found the Roosevelt article on the internet in a blog by a Pastor Larry Pray from Minneapolis, MN. I will share part of his blog as an introduction to Roosevelt’s article.

“I know how to become a very rich man. All I have to do is to ask for a nickel, every time someone says, “I just don’t find God in church. I find “God” out there, so I’ll go hunting” If everyone paid up, I’d be a millionaire in about two seconds flat.

With those exact sentiments, Theodore Roosevelt might well agree. He came of age on the stunning western plains of North Dakota. Theodore Roosevelt National Monument has long been one of my most favorite national parks . . . I love the place. So did TR.

At my church of well over 100 members, only between 20 and 30 bothered to attend church this summer. The others had reasons. Good reasons. For all of us, TR has a word the Ladies Home Journal recorded in 1917.”

Ten Reasons For Going To Church, by Theodore Roosevelt

1. In this actual world a church-less community, a community where we have abandoned and scoffed or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade.

2. Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength which prevents a relaxation of one’s own moral fiber.

3. There are enough holidays for most of us which can quite properly be devoted to pure holiday making…Sunday’s differ from other holidays—among other ways—in the fact that there are fifty-two of them every year…On Sunday, go to church.

4. Yes, I know all the excuses. I know that one can worship the Creator and dedicate oneself to good living in a grove of trees, or by a running brook, or in one’s own house, just as well as in church. But I also know as a matter of cold fact the average person does not thus worship or thus dedicate him or herself. If we stay away from church we do not spend our time in good works or in lofty meditation. We look over colored supplement of the newspaper.

5. We may not hear a good sermon at church. But unless we are very unfortunate we will hear a sermon by a good person engaged all the week in a long series of wearing and humdrum and important tasks for making hard lives a little easier.

6. We will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the Bible. And if we are not familiar with the Bible, we have suffered a loss…

7. We will probably take part in singing some good hymns.

8. We will meet and nod to, or speak to, good, quiet neighbors…We will come away feeling a little more charitably toward all the world, even toward those excessively foolish young people who regard church going as rather a soft performance.

9. I advocate that we join in church works for the sake of showing our faith by our works.

10. The person who does not in some way, active or not, connect him or herself with some active, working church misses many opportunities for helping our neighbors, and therefore, incidentally, for helping ourselves.

“Across the country, pastors are invariably asked how many members they have, and how many attend church. The difference is daunting. Who would have thought Teddy Roosevelt might have something to say about that?”

Teddy Roosevelt was a very important and influential man. God, however, far outranks President Roosevelt. God also has some words on this subject of worship attendance.

Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I hope to see you in worship, and I pray our worship is a BLESSING to your faith and life in Jesus!

A Child of God, Blessed by Worship,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I was hunting myself last Sunday. Yes, we spend time in daily devotions in camp. God is good!

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

No Matther How the World Changes, We Still Need God

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This past week I attended a meeting of church leaders in Portland, OR. We talked about challenges and blessings faced today by Christian congregations and by workers. One of our speakers spoke on health for church workers and he began his presentation with an interesting question. He asked, “What is different in your congregation today than when you graduated from seminary?”

The pastors with whom I was sitting gave some interesting and somewhat expected answers to the question. Some talked about changing attitudes in the world around the church concerning Christian faith and the church. Others discussed church finances. Some of the pastors mentioned changes in commitment of church members and spoke of competing priorities. Other pastors talked about issues surrounding respect for workers and for fellow Christians.

The bottom line is that we live in a different world today than when I graduated from seminary over 36 years ago. We live in a world that is different than that in which Christian congregations ministered and served even ten or fifteen years ago. Two decades ago our culture was still said to have a “Judeo – Christian Ethic.” This meant that most people had a belief in God, or at least respected that belief in the lives of a majority of others. During past times in our culture people accepted shared social values like the Ten Commandments, believing the commandments carried authority for the society we lived in and gave direction for our individual lives.

Those attitudes in our society have changed. In fact, many in our culture not only don’t share the values which God gives to His people through Scripture, many in our world are offended if a Christian person even shares their God-given beliefs with others. So, what does God’s church do when the world around us changes?

In spite of the change mentioned, we continue to have personal needs that have not changed.

Everyone is healthier when they have a good relationship with their father. Likewise, everyone in this world is healthier when they have a good relationship with their Creator and our Heavenly Father. Perhaps Psalm 103 speaks to your heart as it does mine. “13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” What a blessing to know the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father who is also the Creator and Lord of the whole world, and who understands us better than we understand ourselves!

Everyone stumbles and fails at times. We don’t always accomplish what we work to do. We sometimes have acted in ways of which we are ashamed. Sometimes we even hurt those we love. And, try as we might, we often cannot undo the wrong or the harm we have done. Christians know this failure and stumbling to be sin. Everyone is healthier when we have someone to help us with our failures and our sin. The word of God found in John’s first letter to the church is, therefore, good news. “8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” What a blessing, then, to know the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who forgives our failure and our sin in His dying and rising.

Everyone can use encouragement as we go through life. Life is full of challenges and trials. We are often assaulted with hurt and loss. As we face the pain in life, a word of encouragement is such a blessing. No wonder God sends the Holy Spirit. “26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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 14:26-27) When Jesus left this world He sent the Holy Spirit, the Counselor. The Greek word translated as “Counselor” also means “Comforter” or, listen to this, “Encourager.” We need encouragement and help, and God gives us just what we need in Himself, in the Holy Spirit.

The message of God through the Church to the world in which we live may not be as readily received as it once was. But, the truth is that we all still need God and the grace He gives. Christians need a healthy relationship with our Father, with our Savior, and with our Counselor and Encourager. The rest of the world has the same needs, even if they do not know these needs.

The speaker at our meeting asked “What is different today?” However, the other side of this coin is that some things remain the same. We all need God. We need His Love and Forgiveness, His help and salvation. In a world that has changed, Christians still need to grow in the blessings and help of our loving God and Savior. We can also bless others when we gently and respectfully share with them the love of God they also need.

A Child of God, Seeking God’s help to live a healthy life as His child,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I will be moose hunting this coming week from September 17-25. Pastor George Rakos will lead worship on Sunday, September 20. Pastor Rakos knew the first pastor at St. John, Pastor Rudoph Frehling, who served beginning in 1935. Pastor Rakos was also confirmed by Pastor Ed Imme who served St. John in the 1950’s. (St. John’s September congregational newsletter had a letter of remembrance from Pastor Imme.) Please welcome Pastor Rakos, and his wife Carolyn, warmly.

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Friday, September 11, 2015

"The Protection of Sunday School"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Our family laughed recently after our grandson, Henry, received required vaccinations before entering preschool this year. Henry’s leg hurt after the shots, so he walked around without bending that leg. When the other children ran, Henry walked, very slowly. When climbing stairs, Henry pulled on the railing. He asked for help getting into chairs. In some ways Henry looked like an old cowboy who hobbled along after years on a horse. But, Henry did not stop being Henry. He just hobbled along slowly on the way to wherever he was going.

Why would parents (or grandparents for that matter) do that to a child? Why bring a child for immunizations if the shots can cause enough pain to a child so that child even changes the way they walk for a time? You and I both know the answer. The danger posed by the illnesses which the immunizations fight is much worse than a week of a sore leg. Immunizations are not 100% foolproof. But, the protection they provide is worth a little pain.

I say this because an “immunization” of sorts is offered to parents and families this week at St. John and in many Valley churches. This being the first Sunday after Labor Day, SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS IT’S REGULAR SCHEDULE AGAIN at 9:45 a.m.!!

You see, there are other dangers that threaten our children, and threaten each of us. In addition to the physical danger of disease which endangers the health and physical life of our children, there are dangers to their spiritual health and their eternal welfare in the world around us. Spiritual health is found when any of us, children included, have faith in God’s saving love for us in Jesus, and when we have love for one another. But, the world around us teaches greed, selfishness, indulgence, promiscuity, rebellion, and disobedience. These temptations not only endanger the lives of our children in this world, but also endanger their eternal welfare. So, how do we protect our children and grandchildren?

Inspired by God, St. Paul had the welfare of his young friend Timothy in mind when he gave him the following advice. “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Timothy’s grandmother and mother, Lois and Eunice, had taught Timothy about Jesus from the very beginning. Timothy had known the truth of Scripture “from infancy.” Paul encourages Timothy to continue in the knowledge of the Scriptures because this knowledge is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Paul encourages Timothy to continue in the knowledge of Scripture because such knowledge is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The desires of our flesh and the temptations of the world around us seem to be growing more intense and dangerous in our time. I fear for the spiritual health and the eternal welfare of my children and grandchildren. But, I am convinced that teaching them about our Lord, teaching about His laws and His plan for our lives, teaching them about His love, and teaching them about His help and strength, is the best thing I can do to protect them and give them health and life. Actually, I need that help too. So we will be in Sunday School this Sunday.

By the way, Henry was at our home the other night running around like the Henry of old. The sore leg is gone, but the protection of the inoculations remains. What is your plan to protect your children and grandchildren and give them spiritual health?

A Child of God, Seeking the Health and Life Found in Scripture, for my Family and Myself,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. Bjorn Neslund, infant son of David and Kristine Neslund, continues to fight and grow at Providence Hospital. Bjorn was born at 23 weeks and 2 days of gestation on August 31. Please keep Bjorn and family in prayers. There is a work day at the Neslund home on Seventeen Mile Lake this Saturday, September 12. (Follow the signs) If you want to help, come and assist in winterizing the home and cleaning to fight illness.

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Friday, September 4, 2015

Seeking Healthy Faith So I can Serve God and Others

Dear Fellow Children of God,

In worship on Wednesday night I shared with those worshiping that I was somewhat drained. This was not a physical weariness. Actually summer is a time I usually recharge. But, in the first 3 days of this week I had been called five times to situations of urgency or emergency. When a pastor cares about the people they serve, pastors can also grow weary as they share struggles with those they pastor. I confess to being somewhat emotional in worship on Wednesday night as my concern for church members and friends had mounted up.

I have often preached at the ordination or installation of new pastors. One of the verses I have often shared, because this verse speaks to me, is Acts 20:28. In this verse Paul is on his way to Jerusalem and stops in Ephesus. He meets on the beach with the leaders and elders of the Ephesian church. Paul warns them of coming trouble, and gives the leaders some advice that he himself has learned through experience. “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

In other words, in order to take care of others and help them with their lives of faith, a pastor needs to be healthy himself. Please notice, the elders are first told, “Keep watch over yourselves.” AFTER being encouraged to take care of themselves, THEN they are taught to “Keep watch over . . . all the flock.”

So, on Thursday morning, as I was spending time in devotions, the prayer in my devotions from Philip Melancthon touched my heart. Melanthon was a New Testament professor in Wittenberg, Germany in the 1500’s and a partner of Martin Luther in the Reformation. His prayer was a confession of sin and weakness, and also a prayer for personal health and growth.

O Almighty, Eternal God of Truth . . . I confess and I am deeply sorry that I am sinful and have so often sinned against Thee. I implore Thee to forgive me all my sins, be gracious unto me, and justify me for thy beloved Son’s sake, whom thou doest decree to be our Redeemer. With thy Holy Spirit purify my heart and guide my soul that I may truly know, love, and serve Thee. Amen.

Personally, I do pray that I grow in knowledge and love for Jesus so that I can serve Him faithfully. This is actually a good prescription for Christian faith and life. First, we want to know the amazing, undeserved, gracious and sacrificial love of Jesus. When we know our failure and sin, the sacrificial love of Jesus that caused Him to die for us is unexpected and surprisingly good news. Knowing I don’t deserve God’s love, but Jesus sacrifices for me, creates love in my heart for the one who has loved me so amazingly. Love in one’s heart leads to action in one’s lives, so I pray that my love for God leads to actions of serving Him willingly.

In other words, my prayer is that my faith is healthy so that I can serve my Savior. I pray that my faith and heart are healthy so that, as a Christian and a pastor, I can help others.

Pastors are not the only ones to need a healthy faith. All Christians need to KNOW the love of God, so that in return they LOVE our gracious Savior, so that they SERVE God and His people willingly from the heart. But, before we can serve others, we need a healthy faith ourselves.

Please pray with me. With thy Holy Spirit purify my heart and guide my soul that I may truly know, love, and serve Thee. Amen.

A Child of God, Seeking A Healthy Faith so that I May Serve My Lord and His People,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. One of those for whom my heart has been tender this week is Bjorn Richard David Neslund, infant son of David and Kristine Neslund. Bjorn was born on Monday at Providence Hospital at 23 weeks and 2 days of pregnancy. Actually, in response to the prayers of many, Bjorn is doing quite well at this time. Here is a picture from the baptism of Bjorn on Wednesday afternoon. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/BaptismsWinterSpring2015#6190563656442505618

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