GSLC Pastors

Introducing Romans

2011-07-29T12:19:00.001-07:00

We have all heard stories that begin with a messenger announcing, “I have some good news and some bad news...” God’s story had been around for thousands of years when Paul encouraged the congregations in Rome to continue to hope in God. He gave them both good news and bad news. The bad news is that we have failed to honor God and live well with one another. The really bad news is that some people are saying that God doesn’t even care. The good news is that God knows our failure and doubt. The really good news is that God is faithful. He loves us and provides the right relationships we are longing for. God’s provision allows us to act with hope for the future.

Pastor Jeff has challenged us to read Paul’s Letter to the Romans each week. You can think your way through Romans with this simple outline:

Romans 1-3: God's provision of right relationships.

Romans 4-8: God's establishment of right relationships.

Romans 9-11: God's right relationship with Israel. God is faithful to His promises!

Romans 12-15: How do we act as God’s people?

The outline can be expanded for deeper study:

Romans 1-3: God's provision of right relationships.

Paul’s Introduction: 1:1-17

Why non-Jews need God’s gift of right relationships: 1:18-31

Why Jews continue to need God’s gift of right relationships: 2:1-3:8

Why we all need God’s gift of right relationships: 3:9-20

God’s provision of right relationships in Jesus: 3:21-31

Romans 4-8: God's establishment of right relationships.

God gave the gift of right relationships to Abraham because of his faith: 4:1-25

God offers the gift of right relationships even to His enemies: 5:1-21

God’s gift of right relationships is meant to free us from slavery to sin: 6:1-23

God’s gift of right relationships gives us hope even when we continue to sin: 7:1-25

God’s gift of right relationship will finally bring our resurrection to real life: 8:1-39

Romans 9-11: God's right relationship with Israel. God is faithful to His promises!

Romans 12-15: How do we act as God’s people?

We are “living sacrifices” and we live for one another: 12:1-21

God’s love calls us to cooperate with proper authorities in our communities: 13:1-14

God’s love allows us to serve the weak among us: 14:1-23

God’s love allows us to bring glory to God as we accept each other: 15:1-13

Paul’s mission illustrates how God’s love can work through us: 15:14-33

Romans 16 encourages us to celebrate God’s faithfulness in many lives and to greet one another “with a holy kiss.”

Peak Performance Camp 2011 - Sun., June 19th

2011-06-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Adoration

Justin Henderson taught this morning on the meaning and nature of worship. He referred to one of my favorite verses, Colossians 3:23 -- "Whatever you do, do your work heartily as unto the Lord rather than men."

Worship can happen anywhere at anytime and is not contingent upon music. It is an attitude of the heart. You can worship while playing music, sports, working, etc. The word, "worship," is a derivative of "worth-ship." Who is worthy of our love, trust, thanks, and praise? Who alone but Jesus who died for us and gave his life for ours.

The Big Game was "Fox-tail." The game has undergone several evolutions. It orginally had the name of "whip-n-strip" when Mim and I learned it in Minnesota. You tuck a sock in the back of your pants and try to capture other items from your opposing team. The winner is the one who has collected all the items. You are out of the game when your sock is pulled, but can be "healed" back into the game by a medic on your team. It is a fun game and usually devolves into the utter chaos of a free-for-all, with no respect for the rules.

Jeff Stephenson taught the evening session accentuating the morning's theme. He illustrated the point with a famous hymn "It is well with my soul," which was penned by Horatio Spafford in 1873, who wrote the hymn on a return trip from Europe, having collected his wife after her survival of an ocean disaster in which their four children were lost at sea. Two years prior, they had lost their youngest child and all of their investments in the Chicago Fire. Broken-hearted, yet full of peace in the Lord, Horatio wrote this beloved hymn of faith.

We sang to worship CDs with words on the screen, even though we have a fully capable worship team/band, to illustrate that you can worship anywhere.

The evening ended with prayer.

More tomorrow.

Pastor Jeff

Peak Performance Camp 2011 - Sat., June 18th

2011-06-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

Peak Performance Camp - Lakeside, MT

We are at camp again located on the northern end of Flathead Lake, Montana, hosted by Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. We are able to run our own week of programming while hiring kitchen and waterfront staff to assist us.

I've never blogged this camp before, even though I have been attending every year since we first came here upon the recommendation of Kim Barton (now Iceman) who attended a Youth With a Mission discipleship training course in Lakeside. I think we've been coming here at least 12 years.

I rode the bus with our kids. The youth (Junior and Senior High) were filled with excitement the entire 11-hour trip up. We stopped at our traditional half-way point in Dillon, MT and invaded the local Safeway Store and McDonald's Restaurant.

The camp's theme this year is ACTS (adoration, community, truth, and service) and is based upon the history of the early church in Luke's book of Acts of the Apostles.

The schedule is fairly standardized:

7a - Staff Meeting
8a - Breakfast
9a - Rotation #1 (Teaching, Prayer & Devotion, or Group Initiatives)
10a - Rotation #2
11a - Rotation #3
12n - Lunch
2p - The Big Game (outdoors)
3p - Free Time
4p - Canteen is Open
5p - Small Groups
6p - Dinner
8p - Worship

I'll write more on each daily theme.

This year, I'm here with my daughter, Rebekah, who is a college-age student serving on the worship team. It is the first year, in a long time that I have attended without my wife, Mim.

I'll write more specifically each day. Suffice it to say, we are all pretty tired and sleep is inviting.

Pastor Jeff

Russia Mission 2011 - June 10

2011-06-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

As I said, I woke up at 06:54 completely disoriented. I set my cell phone last night, but I didn’t reset the location. Of course it is on Airport Mode, and so it couldn’t find a signal. The main screen on my phone said 8:54. This meant I had slept through my alarm, missed breakfast at 8:30, and morning training was about to begin. I rushed to the dining hall, the seminary… everything was abandoned. I couldn’t imagine what had happened. I finally checked my phone and the computer and discovered it was really 7:10 AM. I misread the 8:54 PM time on my phone in my sleep-deprived haze... Breathing a sigh of relief, I made coffee, and reset the phone AND location so that the screen and alarm will function at the right time. A couple of cups of coffee later I was ready to write the first part of this first blog. :)

We spent the day today in team training. This included a brief history of the Eastern European Mission’s involvement in Russia, a discussion about our curriculum, and an orientation to Russian culture. We gave brief testimonies about “How I got here” in Koltushi, Russia, as part of this English Bible camp. A lunch with some kind of “rice and meat” meatballs (think of a non-tomato base meat loaf made with rice, and served as two-inch ball shaped portions), cold borsch, and coleslaw made us sleepy. Seeing that we were falling asleep in the afternoon sessions, we finally walked to the village center and identified the bus stop so that team members could find their way back home if they ever got lost. “Smile and say ‘Koltushi.’ Follow the direction they point.” The hope is that eventually you would get to this bus stop and be able to walk back to the seminary. It works in theory. :) Thankfully, we haven’t ever lost anyone, so we’re not sure how it will work in real life. I hope we don’t find out!

I am completing this first blog at 4:45 during our afternoon free time. Dinner will be at 5:30. I think we will also have free time this evening so that we can get to bed early. The jet lag induced by a ten-hour time difference makes your whole body feel heavy...

Russia Mission 2011 - June 9

2011-06-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Frankfurt at about 9:30 AM (11:30 PM Salt Lake City time). Brooke said she slept a few hours. Jennifer, Wendy and I were didn’t get much sleep and we were pretty wiped out. Wendy and Jennifer both took photos of me sleeping on a double seat in the airport in Frankfurt. Oh joy. (You will have to ask Jennifer for that photo.) I didn’t think I had really slept. We had almost five hours before our flight to St Petersburg.

Our Lufthansa flight to St Petersburg was on an almost new Airbus A320-200. It was half full, and without incidence. We cleared Passport control and collected our baggage. All but one of our bags were present and undamaged. My personal bag had one outer pocket ripped open. I lost most of my gifts for my kids. :(

Bill Moberly met us at the airport and we had an interesting ride in a minivan to Koltushi. Our driver followed Russian rules for driving. It seems the basic rule is to keep two wheels on the pavement. We stopped at a small market, bought water, cheese and crackers, and arrived at the seminary about 9:15 PM. We had a brief meeting to thank God for our safe travels, and headed for bed about 10 PM.

Russia Mission 2011 - June 8

2011-06-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Eric Wollesen dropped his wife Jennifer, Wendy Jepsen, and myself (James) at the airport on Wednesday morning at 6 AM. Check-in, finding Brooke Gecsey (our accountant Debbie Turner’s daughter: actually Brooke found us!), our pass through security, and our first flight on Continental on a Boeing 737-800 to Houston Texas were all uneventful. We asked a barista at Starbucks in the SLC airport to snap our picture. [DENISE/FFEG: please add an instruction about where they can see the photo so you don’t have to email it to everyone].

We had a scheduled 4 hour wait in Houston before boarding our Lufthansa flight for Frankfurt, Germany. The Boeing 747-400 jet is one of the reason they coined the term “Jumbo-jet.” It seats over 300 people. There were no empty seats. We were in the very lowest class of service, at the back of economy section. I have never had a flight to Europe with so many children. All but one of their mothers had their heads covered, and I’m guessing they were Muslims from somewhere in the Middle East. For the most part, the children were well behaved. Brooke had a great window seat with lots of room. Although I confirmed aisle and window seats for Wendy and Jennifer, they wound up with non-reclining seats in the middle of a four-person center section, and just in front of the bathrooms. They listened to toilets flush the entire way to Germany!

I had an aisle seat eight rows from the back. I was seated next to one of the largest men I have ever seen. He wasn’t tall -- about 5’10” -- and he wasn’t fat. But he easily could have played line-backer on any college football team. His chest was wider than the seat so that his arms took about six extra inches on both sides. He had asked for an aisle, and got stuck between me and a woman in her 60’s from Sweden. We were all uncomfortable. I had to lean into the aisle to stay in my seat. For ten hours... Oye! Of course then I didn’t get to sleep on the plane...

But here is where it gets interesting: He is a petroleum engineer from Kazakhstan and specializes in “additional extraction methods.” I think this means that he specializes in getting even more oil and gas from otherwise exhausted wells. He had just finished an executive MBA at Texas A&M and was returning home. And he was a very talkative and inquisitive Muslim. I am the first pastor he has ever met and so we talked about God for almost an hour. He told me he was not a good Muslim, because he no longer prayed or kept Muslim customs. He asked a lot of questions! The focus of our conversation came down to this: We agreed Jesus was not God’s son conceived via a sexual union, for God doesn’t have a body. We agreed that one man could take the punishment for another man, but not for two or five. Since Jesus took the punishment for all people in the world, Jesus must be more than just a man, and so maybe there were other ways to understand him as God’s Son. He seemed satisfied with this logic, and so we talked about how one person can represent the character of another. Ambassadors do this. Sons represent their fathers in many Middle Easter countries. My fellow traveler was eager to agree that Jesus could represent as much of God as we humans could learn. It was as close as I could bring him to recognizing who Jesus is. He agreed that he needed to think more about Jesus.

Acts 17

2011-05-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

Our sermon considered trying to hear where people are in their lives. What do they really want? Can we speak to their need for meaning? To their need to be loved? To their need to have a hopeful future?

The Apostle Paul bridged across cultures to consider Athenian needs in Acts 17:22-31. Can we speak about our living hope in a way that connects to people’s wants and felt needs? This is the call in I Peter 3:15-16. Let us do it with gentleness and reverence. Amen.

"Only The Father Knows"

2011-05-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

We’re still hee-eere. It would have been fun to write, “We’re baa-ack.” But we didn’t go anywhere. And we are called to be faithful in a million little things while we await “the blessed hope” of Jesus’ return.

It would be really good for me if Jesus returned and raptured His church on May 21. We would all be in the presence of Jesus and celebrating His victory over sin and death from a very new and different perspective. We would know what it is to be more whole, more real, and more in love than we ever imagined.

There have been at least 7 predictions of the rapture since I started in ministry in 1979. Each one has been the occasion of ridicule for the body of Christ. What should we do? Ask for patience, keep a sense of humor, and invite people to learn what daily discipleship is all about.

If you asked me to say when the rapture is coming, I would have to say “Only the Father knows.” Jesus gave His disciples the task of being His witnesses until His return. Our orders haven’t changed. Carry on knowing we are one day closer. “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

Vietnam Report - March 22, 2011

2011-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Some 85 percent of all residents in Saigon own motorcycles. There are approximately 12 million people in Vietnam and 7 million of them live in Saigon. Can you imagine about 6 million motorcycles? The street traffic lights are on a 22 second cycle. With the countdown visible to the approaching motorcyclist. Most of the intersections are either 3-ways or circular roundabouts. At one red light, I looked down the street waiting for the light to change and there was an entire city block backed up with motorcycles -- 10 wide! Our bus passed by the old presidential palace where invading North Vietnamese tanks entered the compound and forced the surrender of the South Vietnamese government, ending the war between the south and north on April 30, 1975. We are staying at the Rex Hotel in the old section of the hotel (still very nice). P. Jim commented that everything has changed around the hotel in three years. He hardly recognizes the place. So much was torn down and there is new construction everywhere. Vietnam adopted a free market economy under socialist principles (much like China), realizing that a Marxist economy just does not work. Consequently, several western businesses, who are willing to make a long-term commitment to Vietnam are invited into the country and given tax breaks. The minimum wage remains very low ($1-$2 per day). We've recognized some big manufacturing names: Honda, Canon, North Face -- all made now in Vietnam. The Vietnamese economy is really booming. Times are changing for Vietnam. The TV and the internet has connected the world. More people are aware of how each other lives and their standard of living. Women have a more prominent role in society and are often the bread winners in the family through their entrepreneurial pursuits. Both husband and wife share in the domestic responsibilities of the family and raising children. More Later, P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 23, 2011

2011-04-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Unexpected Blessing at Thuan An Deaf School We started the morning with a devotion from Matthew 14:13f, the feeding of the 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish. As we are nearing the end of our trip, we are, of course, tired and a little exhausted. But, now is no time to stop giving. There are plenty of children yet to be served by the medical clinics. The Matthew 14 text opens with Jesus having compassion upon the crowds and healing their sick. After a long day of ministry, the disciples were ready to call its quits for the day and encouraged Jesus to disperse the crowds, but Jesus told them to give them something to eat. What they had amongst themeselves were five loaves of bread and two fish, but in the hands of Jesus it was more than enough. Today we we traveled to Thuan An Deaf School, which has a state administrator, but is run by the nuns. The school and children were obviously well-loved and clean. It did not matter what religious affiliation to which the children belonged, only that they had a need. This school served the hearing and speaking impaired. Almost all of the children wore hearing aids and all of them signed. I couldn't help but think of our own deaf ministry at the church spearheaded by Kim Russell. She would have really enjoyed herself. Some of the signs were easy enough to pick up, and, for the first time, I felt that I actually communicated more and better with the kids than all the previous clinics. They were well-educated and I found myself in a sign discussion about the English Premiere League and their favorate football (i.e., soccer) teams. Several of them are avid Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool fans.We served about 307 children and a few adults with basic hygiene, general medical exams and dental work. At the end, the children offered their thanks to us for coming through a sign interpreter. Then, spontaneously, without prompting, they all came up to us and gave us hugs and vigorous handshakes. It really warmed our hearts and there were quite a number of wet eyes on the team. Once again, a most valuable lesson was relearned about the power of love communicated not just through words but through tender and kind actions of compassion with eyes full of grace and mercy. The nuns were watching us and remarked later that they could see how much we truly loved the children. And, the children did feel loved. And, they did respond to that love. Today's experience somehow made the entire trip worth it. When we got back to the hotel, the rains came. I've never seen it rain that hard and long. It was a deluge -- and people were still riding their motorcycles in it! They bring out their ponchos which fit over the front handle bars and cover entirely a passenger in the back. It is really something watching the mass of humanity negotiate a four-way intersection. I still marvel that no one is killled. Somehow, the whole thing is like a dance which they all intuitively know. They make left-hand turns across the flow of traffic all the time. Tomorrow we travel to the Youth Shelter. Evidently every COPI trip has ended serving here. The youth shelter is really a shelter for abandoned children who served their purposes for prostitution in other countries, but now have contracted diseases and are considered worthless. All orphanages and shelters are officially state-run, but his one is also helped by the nuns. This is our last clinic -- eight in all. Altogether we should serve around 1800 children by the end. Thank you for your prayers. It has been a great encouragement knowing that people are reading the blogs and praying for us. Please pray for one more day of strength and energy so that we might pour our lives in to the children. P. Jeff

Vietnam Postscript - March 29, 2011

2011-03-29T04:51:00.000-07:00

Yes or No As time passes from the trip and my body slowly adjusts its internal clock to this time zone, I find myself at a juncture of needing to assimilate the good and present realities from the Vietnam trip into the present realities of life at home. God blessed me while serving his people in Vietnam, but he also blessed me to be a blessing to those whom I love at home, here in Utah. One of those blessings came from a teaching moment that surfaced in my memory in the dreamlike state between being fully awake and fully asleep this morning. The memory is of Binh interacting with our team members in the heat of the moment of scrambling to set up a clinic while 300 children were waiting in the cold. Binh's response to a team member's protest as to the lack of ideal conditions for their particular station was simply this: "Do you want to move here or there, yes or no?" The team member, at first, responded with a litany of what ideal conditions should look like, but Binh interrupted, "yes or no!" "Tell me what you want to do, move here or there." It was a call to action given the circumstances. Make a decision, choose a path, and make the best of it, regardless of circumstances, adapt where you can improve, forget about whining, just put your nose to the grindstone and get to work. There's a job to be done. The children are waiting. If you've ever experienced Binh in this way, you understand what I'm talking about. She is intense and definitely present in the moment. In that moment you are forced to make a decision and to get on with life, put your hand to the plough and don't look back. Just in the few days upon my return, I heard updates of how close our church is about to pay off its mortgage. People are wondering what to do with the excess money. Some are concerned that attendance at the church has been declining at a slow rate. I heard litanies as to what ideal conditions should be and the list of circumstantial woes: the economy hasn't helped, people are working more or distracted, etc. But, in the final assessment, we will simply be faced with a "yes or no" proposition. Will we go to the people in Jesus' name, proclaiming his gosple in word and deed? Yes or No? Will we do what needs to be done? Yes or No? Vietnam offered many decision points:

Will you serve children at risk in Vietnam? Yes or No?

Will you conduct a clinic in a locale even if permission was revoked? Yes or No?

Will you conduct a clinic in less than ideal weather conditions? Yes or No?

Will you serve until every child is seen, regardless of the time? Yes or No?

Will you personally serve when you are tired? Yes or No?

Can you conduct your particular role in the clinic with given resources? Yes or No? If no, want do you need? Can you make due? Yes or no. If not, who will go get what is needed?

Will you serve all children at risk or only certain ages? Yes or No?

Will you serve disabled children? Yes or No?

If you need some resource in able to serve the children, will you go get it? Yes or No?

In a similar way, Jesus offers us decision points:

Will you go and make disciples of all nations in my name? Yes or No?

Will you feed the hungry and thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, care for the least among us? Yes or No?

Will you love one another as I have loved you? Yes or No?

Will you do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God? Yes or No?

Will you care for the orphaned, the widowed, and oppressed? Yes or No?

Will you lay down your life for the sake of another? Yes or No?

Will you lose your life for my sake and the gospel, take up the cross and follow me? Yes or No?

Will you love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself? Yes or No?

Will you pray? Yes or No?

While in Vietnam I was reading the Capetown Commitment, a document produced from the recent worldwide meeting of church leaders to discuss world evangelism. I was amazed at the document, since it framed evangelism within the framework of love and community. It's call to action serves like a mandate and clear vision of how we are to serve Christ by serving those he came to save.

But direct mandates force decisions. I learned that my heart was often unwilling. Though with my lips I said "yes," in my heart I wanted to say "no." Ultimately it came down to behavior and my actions. Jesus said, by their fruit you will know them. I call it the Forrest Gump principle (from the movie starring Tom Hanks), "stupid is as stupid does." Lovers love. The kind are kind. The merciful show mercy. The compassionate show compassion. Those with servant's hearts serve. The ambassadors proclaim the message entrusted to them. Teachers teach. The thankful show gratitude.

In the near future, we will be exploring what it means to be the church of Christ. Don't be surprised if you are confronted in your own life with a yes or no proposition that tests the willingness of your heart.

Remember the rich, young ruler who asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus' response was not "believe in him as the Savior" and then live for yourself. Jesus loved him and challenged him, "go and sell all your possessions and give them to the poor, then follow me." It was a "yes or no" test of his heart. Would the young ruler love Jesus with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind? The first test was trust. The young ruler, sadly, was unwilling. His answer to Jesus' proposition was "no."

I'm looking forward to living the blessing of the Vietnam Medical Mission Trip among you. May our response to our Lord be "yes" as all of his promise to us find their "yes" in Christ.

Thanks again to all who prayed. Your prayers made the difference.

Pastor Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 27, 2011

2011-03-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

It's good to be home How do you put into the words of the impact of a mission trip upon your life? The changes are often subtle and initially too deep for words. Time with tell, especially through small changes in thinking and behavior the effect of the trip. I experienced, however, a surprising revelation today as I served communion in our worship service this morning. What I experienced was an awareness of muscle memory, also known as motor learning, which is a form of precedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repitition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems of the body. As a stooped down to look into people's eyes, who were kneeling at the communion rail, while I place into their hands the wafer that is received by faith as the body of Christ, I realized that his felt very familiar. It was the same posture, the same act of looking into the eyes, and the placing into the hands toothbrushes into the hands of Vietnamese children and aged adults, who had been forgotten, neglected, abandoned, or marginalized by society. The solemn and reverent act of handing out toothbrushes with love, kindness, and compassion was connected with the sacred and holy. My spiritual act of worship, loving the Lord whole-heartedly, was through performing the act of handing out toothbrushes in most loving way I could imagine to the glory of God. This is what the Apostle Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 4 when he writes: "We proclaim not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkeness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpasing power belongs to God and not to us." God often works in hidden ways to reveal himself and his glory. The ultimate expression of his love was the gift of his Son, Jesus, who also in a hidden way, through his death on the cross, reconciled the world to the Father, through his atoning sacrifice and resurrection. As God's children, marked and sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit, we show Christ to the world as he is hidden in our daily lives and common tasks. We are all ambassadors of God's love to the nations and peoples of the world through diverse means, whether it be teaching hygiene, giving medical exams, performing dental work, or fixing electrical problems. All human interaction is a profound moment to embody and reveal Christ's love in word and deed. What I realized today is that the act of handing out toothbrushes, in Christ's name (not spoken, but embodied through action) can be as profound and pleasing to God as distributing bread and wine as a pastor. Both are an act of spiritual worship and both are to God's glory. Thanks to all of you who prayed for us. Your steadfastness in prayer was a tremendous encouragement to us on the team, and, who knows the hidden effect and lasting impact of those prayers. P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 25, 2011

2011-03-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

A Banquet of Thanksgiving

Tonight we celebrated being together one last time before the team disperses tomorrow. It was a time of appreciation and picture taking.

There are some things that can only be understood once you have experienced them. I've heard the stories of returning teams from Vietnam since 1997 (the very first team). I've heard Binh speak many a time in our church and during the October COPI Banquet, but I understand things in a new way.

How do you explain serving some 2000 children, the long and humid days? How do you communicate the mixed emotions upon looking into the eyes of children, many of whom suffer from lack of love and basic medical care and daily provisions? How can I explain seeing children with hydrocephalus, yet being unable to pick them up for fear of breaking their necks? How can I explain the numerous times a doctor or a nurse had to take an emotional break just to cry in order to pull it together to continue serving? And, of course, how do you serve when you are dead tired on your feet without complaining with still 90 children yet to see?

One thing is clear, the Vietnamese team is top-notch. Binh has assembled some of the brightest and best dentists, nurses, logistical support, and interpreters of Vietnam. They are incredibly intelligent, patient, kind and tireless workers.

This year's American team bonded well. There was little whining or complaining. There was alot of encouragement and strenghtening of each other.

The word used tonight to describe our experience was "family." COPI has become more than a nonprofit, non-governmental organization. It has become a family. People who have met challenges together, stuck together, and accomplished something of value that will have impact in the local communities. This group has bonded and become friends.

We will never have this exact experience ever again. Even if we all returned next year and went to the same places and saw the same people, it would not be the same. This experience was truly unique and powerful. It was a gift. As such, it needs to be cherished and put to work for further good.

Now the task of the team is to reflect upon its experience and to be prepared to share their stories of what happened. It is my experience from previous short-term mission trips that most people are willing to politely inquire about the trip, "How was the trip?" Most, however, are willing to give only 1-2 minutes of their attention to listen. A few are willing to listen for 10-12 mimutes, and, precious rare individuals are willing to listen as long as it takes for the person to tell their story.

I'll write more about this tomorrow. But, for now, it is to bed, since it is almost 12 midnight so that we can get up early enough to pack for the long journey home.

Please keep the team in prayer as we travel. P. Jim, Raina, and Binh will be extending their trips a few days before they return home.

I have missed our family at Good Shepherd (and beyond) and look forward to being with you all.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 25, 2011

2011-03-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Went on a Pilgrimmage Today

Today I went to visit the sites that began it all for Good Shepherd. I went to the orphanage where Sister Hai and Sister Tan rescued 20 kids, then housed 200 children, mostly orphans. Both sisters passed away in 2008 and 2010, but the lives they touched, included Binh, were far-reaching and life-changing.

As we stood graveside, both buried side-by-side, I recited the 23rd Psalm, and offered a prayer of thanks for the these two faithful sisters. Originally, these two nuns started the Good Shepherd Home, which was expanded to include trade skill training, but when the state government took it over, the nuns started a daycare center in their own home.

Today this daycare center has about 60 children. These are children who otherwise cannot attend school, because they cannot afford lunch. The children are sent home from school for lunch a rest at noonday, but because these children are either orphans or both parents are working, they have no where to go.

So, the nuns open their home at 5:30a until 6:30p. They serve the children breakfast and lunch and dinner. When we arrived, the children put on a short, musical program for us. The nuns always begin the day with prayer with the children.

There were some babies upstairs, who are truly orphans. The babies were dropped off at their doorsteps. These the nuns care for full-time. I am amazed at the love of these four nuns and their 8 staff workers. It gives me hope and vision for what is possible for us in Salt Lake City with our own daycare center.

The Good Shepherd home (no longer call this) is operated by a loving staff from the state. They house disabled children and healthy children. Our ministry today was simply to touch, hold, and care.

We also were able to travel to the HIV/Aids Center that COPI helped to build. We had fun getting on the floor and playing with children who had tested positive for Aids at the tender age of 2 years old.

The trip ended with our focus -- do what is best for the children, especially those children at risk and in need. What a blessing!

Thanks again for your prayers. We begin the long trip home tomorrow. We heard that there was an earthquake in Hanoi (rated 4.0). We are looking forward to seeing you all.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 24, 2011

2011-03-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Entirely Spent (In every good way)

We finished our last clinic at the Youth Shelter in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), serving 212 children. We left the hotel at 7:15a and arrived back at the hotel at 8:30a.

The Youth Shelter is really a youth dentention center that includes runaways, street kids, and orphans. Most kids have either been sexually or physically abused (beaten) and most certainly emotionally abused through abandonment. The youngest we saw was a five year-old boy who had been sold by his family into thievery and was picked up for selling lottery tickets. The oldest I saw was 24 years old. Most of the 15 year-old boys were on average 5'6" tall and weighed 50 Kilos (ca. 105 pounds). They are very slender of slight build.

The greatest joy were the apparent changes in the facilities and among the children. COPI has been supporting this shelter the past five years at $10,000 per year. A library was built and stocked with anime books to teach the children how to read, since most of them were illiterate. This has now completely changed. The facilities were all upgraded: sleeping quarters and beds, laundry and food services all vastly improved. You could see the effect upon the children. Most were clean bright and intelligent. They had formed a community and were looking after each other, a tribute, I think to the manager whose tenure is over 15 years. She has impacted the entire staff and set the tone for the children. She is truly invested in the children and loves them.

The greatest sorrow were the stories of how they came to be at the shelter. Many of them have been abandoned by their parents for economic reasons, several were brutally beaten by family members and ran away, some were sold into sex slavery to pay off family debts. One young girl was prostituted for four years, she is only 13 years old. Do the math. Can you believe it?

At one point, the men in the immediate facility were asked to "take a walk." A girl (15 years old) had been so brutally raped and prostituted that she had totally emotionally shut down and was mutilating herself through cutting. The sight of men only further tramautized her.

By the end of the clinic, most of team simply felt exhausted. They had given everything they had.

A small group of us started the day with a devotion from Matthew 25, the theme for the entire trip. It tells the story of the Son of Man judging the nations gathered before him at the end of days. He will separate the sheep from the goats "for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes an dyou clohted me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

The righteous will answer, "Lord when did we wee you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

There is only one store in all of Vietnam that is licensed and authorized to sell religious material. It is affectionately called "the Jesus store." I guess you can even buy a glow in the dark Jesus figure. I was asked if I wanted to go to the store tonight. "No thanks," I replied. I've already seen Jesus 212 times today in the faces of the children.

On the ride home, Binh shared a email from one of the nuns with whom we served a clinic the day before. She was quite humble in describing how inspirational was the experience of working together with our team. Never before had she been with a team and worked through lunch in order to ensure that every child would be seen and not one left out. She confessed that this was not always her motivation to serve the children in like manner, day in and day out. I confess, too, that it is not mine either to serve in similar fashion, even in Utah, with such devotion.

I have, however, grown from this trip by bending over to present toothbrushes, wipe foamy faces, teach children how to brush teeth, and clean bloody spit buckets and resterilize cups with bleach, and fetch water from remote spigots, and to stand in the sun (or with little shade) for long hours on end, and feel grimy and sticky from all the humidity and sweat.

Thank you for all of you who have been praying. Your prayers have made a huge difference. Tomorrow we have a free day that will end with a team banquet. I hope to see the place where it all began for Good Shepherd, the very orphanage from which Thane and Nina (Zeeh) were housed and the blessed nuns, now passed on to glory, who gave their lives for the sake of the children tirelessly, day after day, by welcoming and caring for orphans.

I remember that phone call from binh to P. Jim on that day when she returned from Vietnam and reported that there were two nuns caring for 20 children. What could we do to help? The 20 quickly became 200. The 200 then 1000, then 5000. At each stage, we wondered how much we could do and whether we could sustain.

Our Lord is faithful, if we are willing.

God bless you all.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 23, 2011

2011-03-23T07:24:00.001-07:00

Her name is Tuyen

This is a sad story which we pray will have a happy ending.

Tuyen is 12 years old. She is an abandoned child - three times over. She was abandoned by her Vietnamese mother, who twice widowed is living with her deceased husband's family caring for her youngest child from that marriage. There is not enough room in the home for Tuyen.

So, Tuyen was adopted out to an American family. She left Vietnam and went to live in the United States. After a while, however, the American family decided they did not want her, so they offered her on the internet to another American family, who took her in (yes, there is human trafficking in our country). The other American family decided they didn't want her either, so they flew her back to Vietnam, burned her Vietnam passport, and left her with the nuns.

Tuyen has no family. She has no national identity. She is a child without family, home, or country.

Tuyen is obviously intelligent, but she has been hurt. Any abandoned child would feel the same. She deserves, however, to be loved. She deserves a family who will love her unconditionally and will care for her. In that kind of safe and protected environment, Tuyen will most certainly flourish. She is bright. She just needs a chance.

For the first time in my life, I am seriously thinking about adoption. As I enter my 50's with our children full-grown and almost successfully launched, I wonder if we have room for one more. It has made me think about the American Retirement Dream, which is to have enough money to travel in later years. But, seeing children who will have no hope for a future unless someone is willing to reach out and love them, makes me reconsider my later years.

Growing up, I knew a family in Parkdale, Oregon, who adopted a south-east Asian child (he may have been Vietnamese). This child was given a chance to find his way in the world, and, he is eternally grateful to his surrogate parents.

I'm sure glad that the Lord adopted us as his children. We are commanded to love others as he has loved us. It sure starts you thinking.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 21, 2011

2011-03-21T08:36:00.001-07:00

Day of Rest

Today we had a day of rest. No travel. No clinics. It was a welcome day to catch up on sleep. No one is sick, but a few throats are scratchy and there are sniffles and coughs. Thanks for all your prayers.

The USA team consists of 22 team members (16 doctors and nurses, 6 non-medical support). In addition, there are 3 COPI Leaders (Binh, Raina, and Shannon). The Vietnam team consists of 10 members (4 dentists, 5 translators, and 1 COPI Office Manager). The team is 35 people altogether.

Although the clinics are different from the last the basic clinic set up is essentially the same:

Check-in Station -- The Vietnamese team operates this station. Basic information is collected, nature of the ailments described, and a basic dental assessment.
Hygiene Training Station -- A combination American/Vietnamese team teaches personal hygiene habits such as brushing teeth and washing hands. Patients receive a personal hygiene kit to take home and they take a "de-worming" pill.
Medical Exam and Triage Station -- A combination American/Vietnamese team comprised of doctors and nurses conduct general exams and perform wound care and minor surgery.
Dental Station - A primarily Vietnamese station extracts teeth and fills cavities. Much of what they are able to do is dependent upon available electricity.
Pharmacy Station -- This is a combination Vietnamese/American station where prescribed medication is filled. All medicines are free to our patients.
Gift & Toy Station -- This is a combination Vietnamese/American station where at the end of their check-up each child receives a personal toy (hard toy or soft, stuffed animal).

There are other jobs involving trouble-shooting, keeping patients waiting in line happy and orderly, setup and takedown.

Today, P. Jim and I rode bicycles through the city and surrounding towns of Hoi An and An Hoi. You can imagine the irony as we laughed at the thought of two pastors from Utah riding bikes in a foreign country.

Many of our team rode 6 km to the coast and went swimming. Others hung around the resort to sleep and takes walks in town. Some of us checked in with the tailor who made our clothing orders. I asked for a black silk short-sleeve shirt to wear on Sundays. To my surprise and delight, they had embroidered a fire-breathing dragon on one side of the shirt. Can't wait to wear it at Good Shepherd.

Thanks again for all your prayers.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 20, 2011

2011-03-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Looking Down the Home Stretch

Today we served 252 children, aged 2 - 12, at Cam Thanh, some among the poorest of the poor. by now the team pretty much knows what to do and is working well together. Set up and take down time is less as the team becomes more efficient.

Today I had the priviledge of praying for a woman for healing. It did not matter what her religion was, nor did we share the gospel, we simply prayed that God the Father would heal her breast cancer and restore her uterus, which was damaged by radiation treatments, and grant her long life in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is something we do every Sunday at the altar prayer rail. It was a great extension of what we know to be true. God, the Father loves his children throughout all the world, and, we can come to him with all our problems, diseases, anxieties, and hopes.

The little kids are the same all around the world. Everyone is afraid of the dentist. The very young cry when anyone touches them beside their parents. Even a toothbrush can become a scary ordeal. Imagine what an ear exam feels like!

I was touched by the number of fathers who brought their young children to the clinic. Talking with our Vietnamese team members, times and roles are changing. Both husband and wife share family responsibilities together. More men are caring for the children. They are cooking, too.

I continue to be impressed with the calibre of talent among our Vietnamese doctors and interpreters. Many of them hold advanced degrees in education. All of them are volunteering their time, especially the dentists. There are two dentists we affectionately nicknamed Dr. Jackie Chan (Nguyen Huu Tri) and Dr. Jet Li (Le Dang Quang). Both of them have been dentists for about 6 years but are helping their people.

This is impressive and inspirational for me to consider how I volunteer my time in my local community to benefit the poorest of the poor.

Basic health concerns are a good starting point (general exams, immunizations, dental work). I would like to think more about how I, as an individual, can get more involved.

On the ride back to the hotel, I continue to be amazed as to the number of TV sets there are in poor homes. It seems like everyone has a TV in their home. Coca Cola is, of course, everywhere. How did this company achieve worldwide distribution? Even Aquafina is here. Most people park their motorcycles right in their living room.

Tomorrow is a very welcomed day off. I plan to sleep as long as I can and then enjoy the ancient city of Hoi An.

Thanks for all your prayers. There have been some nights that I can barely sleep because my back hurts so badly. After some pain reliever and once I get moving a bit, my back loosens up and I can function. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 19, 2011

2011-03-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Long Day

The high today was about 78 degrees Fahrenheit, overcast and partially cloudy.

We did not go to the intended school today, because of government denial. Instead, through a local party official we were able to attend to the elderly within the district, serving just over 250 patients.

Most of the elderly were aged 75 - 85 years old. They are the survivors of the war. In fact, they were American POWs (thought to be on the side of the Viet Con). Most of them had no teeth. A few of the older women chew Betelnut, which is a drupe instead of a nut (looked it up on Wikipedia). In Vietnamese culture it symbolizes the ideal marriage. Betelnut is often mixed with tobacco to form a mild stimulant, which is addictive and can result in oral cancer.

Many of the older women had intentionally stained their teeth black in order to avoid being raped by both the French and the Americans during the Vietnam Wars.

It was quite a sight encouraging them to brush their teeth. When they opened their mouth, their teeth were stained black. It was almost impossible to do any significant dental work other than to extract diseased teeth.

It was a very enjoyable experience engaging these elderly, many of whom returned home either riding bicycles or were given rides on back of motorcycles. A few even walked home. They are all very thin and small of height and frame.

It was a 14-hour day, and the team is pretty much exhausted, though it was a great day of serving.

Tomorrow we travel to serve a school of 350 elementary aged children. Keep us in prayer!

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 18, 2011 (PM)

2011-03-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Accomodations are Rough (Not Really)

We left Hanoi this afternoon and flew to Hoi An, an ancient city over 1000 years old that survived unscathed the Vietnam War. We arrived just in time to experience the lantern night-time celebration where they turn the old city into a walking zone only -- no cars, mopeds, or buses. It was a beautiful sight watching lit lanterns float on the river.

We checked into the Winh Hung Resort, which is supportive of Binh and COPI and has given us a significantly reduced rate. It is a four-start resort hotel. We definitely are not roughing it. And, we will be here four nights.

I always knew that the Vietnam team stayed in some pretty nice locations, but I really had no idea. My previous point of mission trip reference was Mexico and Russia. The last mission trip we slept on the unfinished floor of a wooden church in a village outside of Yoshkar-ola. Our present accomodations are very nice.

The city of Hanoi is not as modern as other cites further South. Hoi An is very quaint. It is like a Park City. It is a destination sight for tourists and is reknown for its clothing. I am having some clergy-type shirts made here out of silk custom tailored.

Tomorrow we have a full day serving hopefully about 300 children in a clinic in the town of Dai Loc. We leave on the bus at 7:00a. It should be a full day. We have four clinics left before we return home.

Thanks for all your prayers. There is always some background challenges with permission to conduct the clinics. It is a constant struggle. But great things are happening.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 18, 2011 (AM)

2011-03-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Why help another person in need?

I'm taking a day of rest. It is raining again and cold -- fourth consecutive day. It is time for reflection.

We've served nearly 1000 children with our mobile clinics, offering general medicine checkups, pharmaceuticals, dental (fillings & extractions), and hygiene kits. Most of the children served are among those who do not have easy access to medical care either because they leave in remote areas or are among the marginalized people of Vietnamese society (the Hmong, the Lepers, and the Disabled).

The children come to us shy and timid. The poorest of them come smelling like fire, barefooted, with dirty clothing that would several washing to clean. Some have never seen a toothbrush or used toothpaste before. Some have never seen a dentist or a stethoscope. The kids, however, respond to love. When they smile, they are some of the most beautiful children in all of the world.

Why serve these kids? The answer is simply: if not us, then who? We have seen the need and have the means to provide the care. Our efforts seem small in comparison to the overwhelming needs. Yet they do make a difference. Over time lives are indeed transformed. This is Matthew 25 mission work: a good investment of time, talent, and money and humble service to the least of these in a developing society. It motivates me, already, to consider who are the marginalized within our reach in Utah.

Though this is my first trip to Vietnam, I've heard from the other veterans how much the people have changed. My entry into the culture is through the sights, sounds, food, and people of Vietnam. I know it is no a full immersion into their culture. It is impossible for a foreigner like me on a short-term experience living in high quality hotels. But I have experienced something, which is better than nothing at all. Though, I cannot understand much of the language, I can understand a human countenance, a smile, a laugh, and a relaxed presence of a person at ease with us.

There is so much backstory to everything that happens on a trip like this. I know, I've led trips before to other places in the world. There are myriads of factors, logistics, relationships, timing to be negotiated and adapted. Our leaders Binh, Raina, Shannon, Donna, Jim, and Brick and other COPI staff are doing an excellent job. My experience as a first-time Vietnam medical team participant is wonderful. The work is long but rewarding. The food is nutritious and delicious. The sleeping accomodations are clean and comfortable. The children are delightful. My roommate (P. Jim) is great and the rest of the team excellent and interesting companions.

Today is a shopping and sightseeing day. It is a entry point deeper into Vietnamese culture, learning how to negotiate one's way through the flow of daily life in Vietnam. There are some tremendous bargins, but I am increasingly aware how the commodities sold are less foreign to me. I have seen them before. As a result of globalization, the goods and products of several cultures and nations have been exported worldwide. After the intense schedule of clinics this is a welcomed recovery day.

One of the discoveries of the trip is the bidet in the bathroom near the toilet that you use to rinse your undercarriage so that you don't clog up the smaller sewer pipes with toilet paper. I like it and plan on installing one at home. It looks just like that extendable plastic tube with sprayer that we use to rinse dishes in the sink.

Thanks to all back home who are supporting us through your prayers.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 17, 2011 (PM)

2011-03-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

Leper Colony @ Soc Son

The leper colony at Soc Son is being relocated to a location further away from Hanoi. For over 40 years some of these residents suffering from leprosy have lived together in community and raised their children and grandchildren. The government is relocating the entire community so that it can build a golf course.

It rained again all day. Temperatures are around 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius). The team set up clinic at Soc Son and served approximately 70 patients. Most of us have never seen a leper first-hand. Leprosy is a neurological, slow-acting bacterial disease that affects the nerves and rots the soft tissue. Several of the residents at Soc Son had lost legs, toes, and fingers to the disease.

Very touching, however, was the reunion of the residents with Binh and Shannon, her daughter-in-law, who held her wedding reception at the colony. The people are considered outcast by many of the surrounding communities, bearing the stigma of being a leper or related to one. As a result, many of the healthy family members have extremely low-paying, menial jobs to support the family.

The team sponsored 16 children to attend school, paying their $15 dollars per year tuition fee. Important to the children is that someone believes that they can achieve something great in their life. One 17-year old boy gave a very gracious thank you for all the support in the past. We are the only group that has visited them, otherwise, they are truly the forgotten people of Vietnam.

Paramount is service of these people is touch, laughing, and enjoying them. The doctors and dentists were particularly gracious and tender with the people.

At the end, we visited Grandma Tiny's room. She had died the previous year. It was a tearful and emotional scene when we lit incense in honor and memory of Grandma Tiny and had a moment of silence. Those who knew her, had witnessed a woman of courage who had endured great hardship under the disease of leprosy, yet overcame it with profound joy. In the final years of her life, she received cataract surgery which enabled her to see again and enjoy her friends. She was vibrant, hopeful, and a person of faith.

Tomorrow we have the morning off and then we fly south to Da Nang.

We have conducted four clinics in five days, so the team is a little tired. Please pray for renewed strength and grace.
P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 16, 2011

2011-03-16T02:57:00.001-07:00

I am the toothbrush man

My role on the team is the hygiene station. I work with two wonderful cousins, Magel and Margaret, both of whom are retired.

I hand out the toothbrushes, that is my job. I try to it whole-heartedly and lovingly as possible, wetting the toothbrush and dabbing it with just enough toothpaste to clean teeth but not to create too much foam. I rinse out bloody toothbrushes in water mixed with bleach to sterilize it, as well as the cups used to rinse out their mouths. I then dab their mouths as gentley and lovingly as possible, like a doting father, before giving them their hygiene kit comprised of a bar of soap, nail clippers, a comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, and handtowel, as if this kit were a most precious gift. Sometimes, I even demonstrate how to brush your teeth (and your tongue) with all the seriousness of a teacher communicating an important life-skill that would shape their future, using a plastic set of teeth with a tooth missing and an over-sized toothbrush. Mostly I smile alot to put the kids at ease -- and laugh, too -- since some have never brushed their teeth before in their lives and appear anxious.

On this trip, this is my role, and if the Apostle Paul was right in 1 Corinthians 12. then this, too, is very important in the eyes of the Father. It is my humble act of worship to serve and love the children that he loves and made.

I am the toothbrush man.

Vietnam Report - March 16, 2011 (Part 2)

2011-03-16T02:32:00.001-07:00

It Snowed!

We awoke to snow in the mountains this morning! According to the women in the village of Ta Phin, beautifully nestled in the mountains, this is only the second time in 11 years that it has snowed.

Ta Phin is situated approximately at the 7000 foot level, so the temperatures were abnormally cold today. Most of the Hmong children we saw today wore rubber boots, but a few were in plastic sandals and bare feet.

Most of them live on the slopes of the mountains, leaving the fertile valleys for farming rice in beautifully terraced terraforms throughout. The panorama was stunning with snow on the mountains and the glint of rice terraces catching the light.

Today we serve 159 patients, ranging in age for 6 to 12 years old. A good many of the younger ones had never brushed their teeth. Most of the families use fires within the small homes, most built about of wood and insulated with dirt, concrete, brick, and whatever was available.

The Hmong people are a beautiful-looking people. They are also very hard-working. One 10-year old's responsibility is to feed the pigs, take out the trash, cut fire wood, cook, and sweep the floor -- all before school. Some of the kids walk 2-6 kilometers to attend school -- up mountain slopes!

The women were wearing red scarves and red head-dresses with navy blue, hand-stiched embroidery with their tribal colors. Evidently, roles are changing even among the Hmong as the younger men help with the cooking and house chores. Everyone works. Everyone pitches in together.

Tonight we take the train overnight back to Hanoi where tomorrow we will visit the Soc Son leper colony.

- Pastor Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 16, 2011 (Part 1)

2011-03-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

There is Always a Back Story

Today we served 159 patients in a remote village in Ta Phin among the Hmong people, principally children aged 6 to 12 years old. Binh informed us afterwards that we had traveled to Sapa and Ta Phin against the expressed wishes of the political government in an email issued the week prior. The principals of both schools serving the indigenous Hmong children of the area; however, were willing to risk their positions in an effort to bring medical care and attention to the children.

As dramatic as this sounds, the team was in no physical danger. The worst case scenario would be that the clinic would be forceably shut down and team leaders detained for further questioning with the result of potential prohibition from future service within the country.

This, of course, would be a tremendous loss to the children.

The village of Ta Phin is beautifully situated in the mountains about 11 km from Sapa and is nestled in the valley of rising mountains.

Vietnam Report - March 15th (PM)

2011-03-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

It was a long, cold, wet and productive day

Today we hosted a clinic for 320 children at the Sa Pa Boarding School for Indigenous Children from 8a - 7p. The school is for the brightest and best from the surrounding tribes and villages. The children come for grades 6 - 9.

We awoke to a fog and light drizzle, which intensified as the day grew longer and colder. By noon, you could see your breath. Boy, did I pack wrong for this part of the trip. I should have brought all my Salt Lake winter gear. It was cold!

The kids were all in bare feet with sandals and a t-shirt and light wind jacket with slacks. I don't know how they do it. But, the kids were coughing, too. It was cold.

Today's clinic was the full deal -- 320 patients. I personally handed out toothbrushes to everyone of them. All the children were beautiful. Their facial features were so distinct and varied. The indigineous people have a rounder and more darkly complected face than most Vietnamese. You can see, however, influences in their family lines from China, Mongolia, and even Japan. There were a few that had freckles, and one girl had a hint of red hair. Most hair is dark and the eyes are dark brown.

The most common ailment among the children was homesickness. They miss their mothers and fathers.

Tomorrow we eat at 6:30a and leave for the village by 7:00a, so, I'm going to cut this blog short and go to bed. I've known through the accounts of previous Vietnam mission team participants that the food and hotels are great, but now I know, too, that the work is demanding yet rewarding.

While I handed a toothbrush to each person, I tried to practice communicating the love of Christ purely with my eyes and smile and I said a silent prayer. Thi has been the most I've prayed in one day.

Thank you for your prayers, they are appreciated and needed!

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 14, 2011 (PM Addendum)

2011-03-14T01:33:00.000-07:00

Regarding Mopeds

As the car is to an American, so is the moped to the Vietnamese. The road infrastructure in Vietnam is improving allowing for mass transportation on paved surfaces. Near as I can tell, most people own at least one moped per family (ca. 125 cc, 4-stroke engine). Most of the makes seem to be Honda or Suzuki. This moped or small motorcycle is used for everything. They haul produce to market, transport their purchases home on it. It is not unusual in the country to see a small motorcycle with bushel baskets on either side (like huge saddlebags) balance with a large burlap sag of something on the back. It's alot of weight. The top speed of these bikes is around 35-40 miles per hour, and, you would not want to go much faster than that on these roads!

It isn't that there are alot of potholes. On the contrary, I've seen very few. The road is divided into lanes by stripe painting (like the U.S.), but it serves more like a guideline. People are passing all the time, weaving and darting in an out. It looks like a well-choreographed dance. The rhythm of it all is amazing.

The trucks announce their presence constantly via the vehicle's horn. They are constantly on them. It is up to the motorcycle riders to move out of the way (usually to the right) to allow the truck to pass. The law of the bigger vehicle applies to all right-of-way confusion, i.e., if your vehicle is larger, others defer to you.

Every now and then, "the dance" is complicated (or augmented) by a water-buffalo drawing a cart laden to the hilt with produce or a pack of school children riding their bicycles in groups and the person walking. The people seem to anticipate all of this and are quite comfortable with the horn noise. To me, it is amazing that no one has been hurt.

Occasionally you will see someone on a motorcycle, while riding, talking on their cell phones with only one hand on the throttle -- even with a load on their bike. Everyone is required to wear a helmet, although, not all do. They are open-face helmets with a visor. The women wear face masks of different colors that look like modified surgical masks. This is both to protect against polllution exhaust and any debrie that may kick up from the road.

What really gets interesting are the mountain roads, which are curvy. Our bus driver would frequently pass on the left in a curve. If we met another truck coming the other way, there would be a crash. That said, however, there seems to be a prescient knowing as to when to pass. There hasn't been a real close call, yet.

I've been offered the opportunity to rent a small motorcycle and take it for a ride, but I declined. Riding the roads in Utah is enough of a thrill for me at the moment.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 14, 2011 (PM)

2011-03-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sapa Shopping Experience

I hate to shop anyway,but try shopping in an open market where bartering is the norm. I don't know what it is about my appearance or personality, but I am a magnet for street hawkers. At one point, I had 12 girls around me all hawking similar wares: "You buy from me?" Was the rhetorical phrase.

These women must have gone to some school in the art of selling because they are saavy. Get a potential customer talking with you in conversational exchange and you immediately increase the probability of a sale. "Hello! What your name?" and "Where you from?" are the standard opening lines. "How old you?" and "How many kids?" showed that they had some convesational depth beyond the initial exchange.

We went to the open-air market. The Vietnamese occupy the choice main-floor spots, whereas the indigenous people occupy the top floor. One portion of the upstairs is occupied by a tribe that binh knows well, so we try to do business with them. They have a type of coop and they share proceeds together. Alot of these women are too young to be walking the streets selling their wares, so they do all the sewing there, even custom made to order pieces.

The average shop owner makes about 100 USD per month while the farmer makes about 50 USD per month. Minimum wage has been raised to about 0.75 USD per hour. Whereas income is relative to the local economy and expenses, still inflation has hit the Vietnamese countryside hard. An average 30' x 30' space will fit 10 people and cost about 20 USD per month with a common kitchen.

Back to these ladies. I did learn to say "no" in Vietnamese ("vang") but evidently I don't say it forcefully enough with authority. Thanks to Brick Thompson, who has the knack of saying "no" in way that they understand as "no," I was able to escape and retreat back to the hotel. Comparatively speaking, as a man, the clinics with their long hours and steady stream of patients is preferred to the otherwise short, albeit traumatic experience of shopping in Vietnam.

Staff, don't worry, I'm still planning on bringing back some gifts for all of you, but they won't be open-air market purchased -- not after today's experience.

Love to all back home,

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report - March 14, 2011

2011-03-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

Rest Day in Sapa

We traveled 10 hours by train overnight from Hanoi to Lao Cai and arrived just in time to witness an international engagement between a man and woman on the bridge between Vietnam and China. Evidently, the bride price is negotiated, and once terms are agreed upon by representatives of the family, then the groom proceeds to meet the rest of the family.

The clinic in Viet Tri, the day before, was a good test run of about 100 patients. Tomorrow, we should see triple the amount of patients. The clinics are reserved primarily for the children, who otherwise, may not receive medical care.

The process includes an interview station, at which times names, addresses, and general nature of the problem are described. Binh usually handles this herself. From there the children move to the hygiene station where they brush their teeth and wash their hands and faces and receive an oral antibiotic for worms. From hygiene, the children proceed to the medical checkup station, where general vitals are taken and recorded (blood pressure, temperature, height and weight, listen by stethoscope to heart and lungs and abdomen). In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed. If dental work is needed, they proceed to the dental station for either tooth extraction or filling work. (There is not enough time for a thorough teeth cleaning). The last stop is with the pharmacy where they receive their antibiotics (if prescribed) and a 90-day supply of vitamins (chewable) for the children). And, at the last, they receive their choice of a toy or small stuffed animal. While they children are waiting to be seen by the doctor or dentist, a station is set up for arts and crafts.

In Viet Tri we started at 8a and were able to see 100 patients within three hours. Tomorrow, I am anticipating a 9-10 hour day.

My assignment is hygiene. So, I help the children wash hands and brush their teeth.

Before clinic days, we have a brief devotional (optional) to the team which includes a brief reading from the psalms and gospel and main thought for the day and prayers for the team and the children that we are serving.

The area of Sapa is mountainous. It feels a little like Salt Lake City, except the valley is not so wide and the mountains have no snow. Yet, they rise to staggering heights. As I write, our hotel window overlooks the clouds filling the valley. It is almost like a scene from the Alps in Europe.

Every farmable piece of land is transformed into rice paddies or vegetable gardens. So far, the Vietnam that I have scene is like one big rice paddy with subplots or gardens punctuated mountain ranges.

I was quite suprised how urban and modern-looking is Hanoi with its high-rises and European stores. You can find familiar name brands everywhere. We even stopped in a large warehouse store like a Target or Costco or Home Depot.

The pace of this trip is just right, a rhythm learned and established from the previous mission trips. The main challenge on the trip is to stay healthy. There is a rigor to the traveling, especially on the trains -- I just don't get up to the top bunk as easily as I did in years past.

The next two days will be challenging with back to back clinics.

Thanks for all your continued prayers. They are needed and appreciated.

Vietnam Report -- March 12, 2011 (PM)

2011-03-12T02:45:00.002-08:00

Emotional Day at the Orphanage

This afternoon we visited the orphanage where Jim and Barbara Munter, with their daughter Ellen, adopted their grandaughter, Katheryn Rose. It was a very emotional moment as Jim presented the director with a photo album of little Kate's life in America.

The good news is that the need for baby orphanages in Vietnam is decreasing. The economy has stabilized and is improving. In this orphanage we saw about six children, all aged under two years old, except for one who was four years old.

The place was clean and the caregivers were very loving and took turns holding each one of the children. This single act alone, holding the children, is so critical to a child's development and ability to form secure, healthy emotional bonds. The love this director showed to little Kate enabled her to form loving bonds with her mother, Ellen, and her grandparents, Jim and Barbara.

Truly, the language of love is universal and understood despite language barriers.

It has been humbling to see first hand how many lives the people of Good Shepherd have touched with grace and love through their humble financial gifts put into the right hands. P. Jim would always say, the light that shines the brightest overseas also shines the brightest at home. We have made a tremendous, positive impact in Vietnam.

I am thinking of similar ways, reaching out to neglected and forgotten children, that we have impact at home. I am thankful for Royal Family Kids Camp, the mentoring project, and the Milestone Project -- endeavors which have their roots in Vietnam.

P. Jeff

Vietnam Report – March 12, 2011 (AM)

2011-03-12T02:45:00.001-08:00

Vietnam – March 12, 2011 (AM Report)

We awoke before the dawn to the sounds of traffic (they love to honk their horns) and a cold, overcast day. Half way into our shower, the power for the entire hotel went out. So, grabbed our headlamps and completed dressing and went down for breakfast, which was fantastic!

They served sticky rice with smoked and shredded salted pork and pha (a kind of soup with meat and vegetables) with a bread that looked like French bread, but tasted sweet. They also had a fish dish that was a little rubbery (like lutefisk) but bland tasting served in a fish sauce. It was all very good. I'm sure the digestive system will have to adjust.

Food is usually the first entry-point into a new culture. You literally sample the sights, sounds, smells, and foods of a new country. The immersion is typically overwhelming at first with all the unfamiliarity, until, you are able to find points of contact. However, even the things that look similar to our own culture are nuanced differently. So, you learn to eat the local food and use the bathroom facilities and sleep on their beds. Once that is accomplished, you have a good start on enjoying yourself.

After breakfast it was to work with urgency. We brought in the 22-25 bins of medical and various supplies and formed sorting stations: pharmaceutical, toys & gifts, clothing, dental hygiene, basic medical supplies, etc. The whole process went extremely well and the bulk of the job was finished within 1 ½ hours, then the meticulous work of labeling and cataloging and rechecking took an extra hour. Everyone pitched in willing and the old adage held true: "many hands makes for light work."

I've been working on my language skills, but the task proves daunting. Vietnamese is a tonal language, the same word could have six completely different meanings depending on how the vowels are pronounced. Also, the forms of address are nuanced to include just about every possible relationship: older, younger, honored peer/elder, family member, etc. The word order is different, too. Vietnamese starts with the noun followed by the adjective, e.g., the house green, and the negative modifier precedes the verb, e.g., Tom no like bananas.

A friend of mine from Armenia, while in Russia, once told me to concentrate on learning only 5-10 key verbs (e.g., to drink, to eat, to sit, to go, etc.) and 2-3 adverbs, colors and simple adjectives (big, small, far, long), and learn key nouns (e.g., toilet), learn to count, and learn how to ask who, what, where, when, why questions, and a few greetings. We will see what I can accomplish in 2 weeks.

As a first-time, non-medical, Vietnam mission trip participant, my assignment on the team on clinic days is hygiene and gifts. We greet the children, have them wash their hands and faces, give them a small toy (beanie-baby stuffed toys look like great gifts). A small number of people on the team are non-medical.

My son, Jonathan, told me before the trip how excited he was for me to go on this particular trip. I have no medical skills other than love. It is my opportunity to simply embrace the children in my weakness and to freely offer what I do have to serve the children. I'm looking forward to the experience. The kids should be great teachers.

This afternoon, we hope to visit the orphanage from which Kate Rose (Jim and Barbara Munter's granddaughter) was adopted. I'll write more about that experience later.

Vietnam Update - March 11, 2011 (PM)

2011-03-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

1st Day in Vietnam

We arrived in Hanoi around 12 noon after 34 hours of travel (includes layovers in airports). The weather is hazy and 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

Our team is comprised of 18 team members from the United States (UT, CO, WI, ID, and TX), all arriving with one footlocker full of medical supplies. You can imagine the scene at baggage claim. To our delight and surprise, binh was waiting for us at baggage claim. She and Shannon (her daughter-in-law and local COPI Coordinator) prepared the way with the government officials so that we were promptly whisked through passport control and declarations.

Loading all the medical supplies on a truck was an artform in packing. It looked like a giant Tetris game. Once aboard the rented coach bus, we traveled to our hotel in Viet Tri. The hotel reminds me of Soviet-era hotels in Moscow -- pre-rennovation. The bathroom is all inclusive. You shower in the same space as your toilet.

While on the bus, I noticed that all land, if not used for building, is converted into farm land. The primary agricultural use is for rice, with each family being alloted a parcel or plot for rice farming. Along the way we saw several joint international ventures with German, Japanese, and American companies. We saw several water buffalo and people tending their rice crops, though the first harvest had already occured and most plots had already been planted with seedlings for the second harvest.

Pastor Jim pointed out the buildings, which are narrow and high. Families are taxed according to "foot-print" of the building; therefore, most buildings occupy little land space but are built to three to four stories high.

The cities or towns are built along the roadways, so they tend to be only be 2-3 blocks wide on either side and very long. Most businesses are family-owned and small. It reminded me of some scenes I have experienced in rural Mexico or Russia. If a business is larger, the government is more involved.

We had one hour to rest before we visited the School for the Deaf in Viet Tri. This is a project that Good Shepherd has helped to sponsor in making rennovations the past 15 years. It is exciting to be part of a ministry to the disabled community, who are often neglected in any country. The kids were happy to see us. In the playground they were playing badmitton (one of my wife's personal favorites) and they were quite good.

After the team meeting and introduction of U.S. and Vietnamese team members, we are preparing for early bed before we begin a long day tomorrow of sorting our medical bins .

I was able to catch up on some reading while on the plane. One of the documents I read was the Capetown Commitment from the Lausanne Conference. It is a good read, and I highly recommend it.

Well, we are all exhausted so off to bed. Binh promised in her introductory speech tonight that the days would be long and tiring, but that the children would make it all worth while.

-- Pastor Jeff

Vietnam Mission Trip - March 11, 2011

2011-03-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Vietnam - The flight over

What shall we say about the flight over from Los Angeles, CA to Tapei, Taiwan? It was long and uneventful. This is a good thing. Flying EVA Airlines (Taiwanese Airlines), on a Boeing 777, the flight took 14 hours from wheels up to wheels down. I was able to get about 5 hours of sleep total and the entire flight took place during the night.

I am amazed at the globalization of the world through technology. While in Los Angeles International Airport, I was able to connect with my family on a conference call using my Samsung Galaxy S smartphone. We had five people on the line: British Columbia, Canada; Kansas City, MO; Salt Lake City, UT, and Guatemala (our son's fiance) and we all prayed together. This is so unlike the trips that people took 200 years ago by ship, when people said their goodbyes not knowing if they would ever see each other again.

We took over 18 bins of medical supplies, all of which needed to be hand-transported from domestic terminal to international. It was a long walk and carry. Good thing the bins had rollers! We arrived at the ticket counter early, but the agents graciously checked us in as a group.

While in Salt Lake City, we saw a blessing unfold first-hand as we were able to check all bins without extra cost. Delta is no longer a partner airline with EVA, so we could not check through on international standards. Fortunately, there were enough DELTA medallion flyers who were able to put the bins on their ticket -- and some grace with the agent. Otherwise, it would have been a charge of $60 per bin.

This just illustrates a basic principle in missions: plan for all contingencies and then let go and allow God to work. Rarely, does anything go according to our plans, but it does go according to His plan.

We are all safe in Tapei. In three hours we will be heading toward Hanoi, Vietnam.

Love to all,

Pastor Jeff

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

“Let us go and see.” Could there have been wiser words spoken by shepherds? Like all of Israel, they were waiting for their Messiah to come and fulfill the prophecies found in Isaiah 9. Like all of Israel, they were praying for the Messiah who could judge all people with equity as in Psalm 96:10.

They spent a lifetime of looking and praying, and then one day, angels announced to them “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the lord!” They wisely encourage each other, “Let us go and see.”

Fast-forward 30 years, and wonder with me: Were they wise enough to “go and see” John the Baptist as he called for repentance?

Did they go and see Jesus announce the beginning of his ministry? Did their eyes see the lame healed, the blind receive their sight, and the captives set free?

Did their ears hear his great sermons, filled with hope for the poor and scolding for the rich?

Did they go and see his triumphal entry to Jerusalem? Did they see him clear the Temple, confound the authorities, and teach his disciples to serve one another—the greater gladly serving the least of all?

Did they see Jesus falsely accused, whipped, condemned and crucified? Did they know he was dying for them? For their sins? For their hopeless despair and broken relationships?

Did they see him raised from the dead and ascending into heaven?

Did they find a savior who is worth obeying? Worth living for? (Titus 2:11‑14)

What journey they begin that night? “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They began well. But how did they end? Did they also end well?

I pray we have the courage to follow them as we “Go and see.” I hope we will walk throught the seasons to Easter with a careful and joyous gaze. Let us see Jesus!

And may our final reckoning of all we see and hear bring us to our knees in joyful wonder: “O Come let us adore him for he is Christ, the Lord!”

Here is my challenge to you this evening: Sing this chorus at least once every morning. Begin your day by adoring your Lord. And let us see what he will do in us and through us. Amen.

4 Advent

2010-12-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

The Lord is Able

Throughout the month of December, I have been thinking alot about the lights of this season. The winter solstice brings longer days of light. Homes are decorated with Christmas lights, lawn ornaments, and Christmas trees. But, I have also noticed the increased activity of police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks responding to emergencies.

Where do you turn in a situation of trouble or adversity? The lessons for this 4th Sunday of Advent speak of a God who is willing and able to deliver his people.

Isaiah 7:10-6

The year is 735 BC. The Assyrian empire is expanding westward. Syria (King Rezin) and Israel (King Pekah) form an alliance against Assyria with intention to force Judah (King Ahaz) into the alliance, which King Ahaz refuses.

Ahaz is heir to God’s covenant with David his forefather (2 Sam 7:8-17; Psalm 89:3-4, 19-34) and has clear warrant for confidence in God’s protective care, but he is scared. Isaiah calls for Ahaz and all of Jerusalem to put their firm faith in the Lord himself (a far more reliable ally) who requests of Ahaz to ask Him for a sign to strengthen his faith. Ahaz, however, places his hope for salvation in human power rather than in the Lord.

Suffering attacks on all sides for refusing to join the alliance against Assyria, Ahaz calls upon Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) the King of Assyria for help, who requires Ahaz to pay tribute (large amount of gold from temple) and that Judah becomes a vassal kingdom of the empire. Assyria conquers Syria in 733 BC and then Israel in 722 BC.

This was like making a "pact with the devil." Ahaz in essence was spiritually blind and forsook “the king, the Lord of Hosts” for a dreaded earthly king, unable to discern between his true ally and this true enemy. This doomed the Davidic Dynasty to loss of sovereignty under foreign domination. Israel would be conquered in 586 BC by the Babylonians. Now only by divine intervention (by God) would the throne of David be restored and the world saved.

Text (7:10-17)

The Lord, through Isaiah, has a simple message for Ahaz: do not fear, ask me for deliverance. I will give it to you. Ask me for a sign.

The sign is this: "The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel."

Some scholars say this prophecy is only fulfilled in the Messiah (i.e., Jesus). In order to bring Israel’s mission to fulfillment, God uses miraculous means to accomplish 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-10 (virgin birth). Thus, this is a rebuke to the faithless and secular outlook of King Ahaz. Other scholars say this prophecy has double fulfillment. Prophecy is partially fulfilled in Hezekiahd (Isaiah’s wife, the prophetess – 8:3 – bears the sign-child, “Maher-shalalhash-baz”. Before he grows of age to discern right from wrong (see below), Syria and Israel will be conquered.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Background:

This is a community lament. The people (or a part of them) have received harsh treatment from the Gentile nations (e.g., breakup of northern kingdom?). The whole congregation owns the distress of the part (e.g., Rom. 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”).

Note the refrain (v. 3) “restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (“Restore” also means “turn”).

Israel is in trouble. As a tender vine out of Egypt (story of the Exodus), Israel is now a broken down, burned, and ravaged nation by her neighboring nations (verses 8-16). The people appeal to the Shepherd of Israel (God): Stir up your might and come and save us! Restore (turn) us; let your face shine upon us that we might be saved (Aaronic Blessings, Nu 6:25).

The people have not been faithful. As a result of their tears have been their food and drink all day long and they have become the mockery and derision of other nations. But even in the midst of such sorrow and hardship, the people cry out to the Lord.

The end of the psalm appeals to the Son of Man, Israel's Messiah, who is mighty in authority and power, chosen of God and set apart to accomplish the Lord's purposes for the world. He will give life and exercize true faithfulness and worship unto the Lord.

This psalm found its fulfilment in Jesus is the true Son of Man: the fulfillment of a faithful Israel, and the true Son of God: the embodiment and revelation of God himself.

Matthew 1:18-25

In this text, we find out the identity of Israel's (and the world's Messiah/Savior). His name is Jesus. He is of the house and lineage of David, but his conception is of the Holy Spirit and not by natural means. His mother is a young virgin, betrothed to Joseph, who upon discovering Mary's pregnancy is about to divorce (he was not the father of the child), but is convinced by an angelic vision in a dream that Mary is telling the truth about the child. She has not been unfaithful or committed the sin of adultery.

The angel tells Joseph the name of the child is Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew, i.e., "The Lord saves!"). This child is the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. He is "Immanuel, God with us."

Romans 1:1-7

Paul is called to be an apostle (sent one) for the gospel (good news) of God, a servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), by grace. He formerly persecuted the early church and opposed the advancement of the gospel, even approving of the killing of the early followers of Christ.

Now, he affirms that the Messianic prophecies have indeed found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the Savior, the Messiah of God. He is both Son of God and the Son of Man -- both are honorific titles of the Messiah and consummate worshipper of God.

He is descended from David, full of the Spirit of holiness in power, raised from the dead. Now his followers are called to spread the good news to all the world, even among the Gentile nations. This news belongs for all people.

- Pastor Jeff

Advent 2

2010-12-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Isaiah 11:1-10

This text foretells the coming of God's Messiah who will establish his kingdom of righteousness and justic upon the earth. He will come from the lineage of Jesse (i.e., the lineage of King David, cf. 1 Samuel 16) and will be uniquely anointed and qualified by the Holy Spirit to rule the nations. He will truly worship and reverence God Almighty in spirit and truth. He will discern rightly the motivations of people's hearts and judge correctly. His kingdom will be marked by peace and harmony. All the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

All nations and peoples will live together in peace and harmony with all of creation (even with the animal kingdom). All relationships will be marked by peace.

Psalm 72

Many psalms have double significance speaking of the "here and now" and also the "yet to come." Placed at the end of second book (or collection) of psalms and attributed to King Solomon, this is a prayer to God Almighty to establish the Lord's King with justice and righteousness. The Lord's royal son (king) will have complete dominion over the earth and will receive the homage and worship of all peoples and nations. His rule will be marked by compassion and redemption. The earth and the people will be blessed and prosper under his kingship.

Romans 15:4-13

The apostle Paul applies the hope, promises, and instruction offered from the Scriptures also to the encouragement and faith of the Gentiles -- not just to the Jews. This means that the hope of a coming Messiah who will deliver the people from their sins and establish his rule and justice and righteousness upon the earth is also for the Gentiles. These promises are for them, too. All who believe in the Lord's anointed (the Christ) will be blessed. Paul encourages his readers, both Jew and Gentile, to welcome one another and to live in harmony with one another, so that they might with one voice glorify God together to the praise and glory of God.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist is the last in the line of the great prophets. He is the immediate forerunner to the coming of the Lord's Messiah. His message is to prepare the people for the Messiah's coming, whose kingdom is near. His message calls people to prepare by repentance and confessing of sins. In this way, they are acknowledging their need for their Savior who will deliver them from their sins.

Summary

None of these texts directly mention the Messiah by name. They only speak of the nature of his rule and kingdom: peace, truth, justice, and righteousness. We know, however, that the Messiah's name is Jesus. He is the Christ -- the Lord's anointed. In Jesus we have forgiveness of sins and the promise of life everlasting because of his victory over sin, death, and the power of the Evil One through his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. He came once, born in Bethlehem, but he ascended into heaven, promising to come again, soon.

The Lord Jesus has already established his kingdom in the hearts of his followers, yet, the day is also coming of his physical return and kingly reign. O, Lord Jesus, the Spirit and the your Bride, say: "come!"

Pastor Jeff

1st Sunday of Advent 2010

2010-12-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

After a couple of more intense weeks dealing with judgment, it was nice this morning to take a more relaxed approach. We took a nickel tour of the coming church year and had a brief introduction to Matthew’s Gospel.

Our big focus was on being “clothed in Christ” (Romans 13:14). I asked people to imagine standing before Jesus. He is smiling and welcoming them to run into his arms. As we run into his arms, he wraps his robe around us and we are safe and loved by our Lord. Can we believe we are this loved? A number of thoughts follow from this:

Who do we need to compete with if we are this loved by God? No one!

Who do we need to cut down or hate? No one!

Who wants to plan on sinning if we are this loved by God? No one!

Who wants to share this good news? I hope we all do!

Our challenge this week is to live in anticipation of God’s loving embrace. Amen!

The Good News of Judgement (part 2)

2010-12-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Good News of Judgment, Part II

Jeremiah 23:1-6 • Psalm 88:1-12 • Luke 21:20-36 • Rev 21:1-5, 22:1-5

So many people have asked for the full text of this sermon, it seems best to post it here. Please continue to send us your comments and questions!

This is our second sermon on the good news of judgment. It is my hope that you spent this past week examining your motives and talking to our Lord about some of your false ideas about the end times. I want to ask: What does it mean for you to face judgment? But I want to ask this in context with God’s love.

God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit create the universe out of love. Their intent for us is seen in the early chapters of the Bible. Humans enjoy the friendship of God. They have good work to do as they image God to the rest of creation as they name other creatures and care for God’s garden. When humanity decides to try and become like God, they lose their place of privilege and are driven from the garden. It is not long before humanity is well practiced in every possible human sin. The rest of the Bible can be read as a love story in which God attempts to win us back into relationship with himself. God finally comes as a human and suffers our judgment and condemnation as Jesus dies on the cross for us (John 3:16). Our heavenly Father raises Jesus from the dead to demonstrate his justice, power, and love. As our living Savior—Jesus—gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we might be transformed into those who can love him and learn to live in his love.

What will it be like to live with the great characters of God’s story? Ask the question another way: What would it be like to live in the presence of a holy and loving God if we are not made ready? Could it be that God’s judgment will be good for you?

I. How do we fit in to God’s story? God forgives us and transforms us for his name’s sake!

Jeremiah 23:1-2: Could our human wickedness be more evident than when God’s pastors, priests, and shepherds are charged with destroying and scattering God’s flock?

Jeremiah 23:3-6: The promise of salvation comes as God himself gathers his flock.

Why does God do this? For his name’s sake (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 14:7 and 21; Ezekiel 20:44).

How does God do this? God comes as the good shepherd, incarnate in Jesus the righteous king. In Jesus, God submits to all the torments of this life, and he dies on a cross for us (Mark 10:45). Psalm 23:3 informs us that our Good Shepherd wants to restore our souls. He wants to lead us in the paths of righteousness – right relationships – for his name’s sake.

This is the big idea this morning: God forgives us and transforms us for his name’s sake! Listen to the witness of the psalms:

Psalm 25:11: For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Psalm 79:9: Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.

Psalm 109:21: But you, Sovereign LORD, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

Psalm 143:11: For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

We are forgiven and fit in to God’s plan for all creation for his name’s sake! Why should this matter to God? Remember, he made us in his image and he has work for us to do!

II. How are we made ready to be fit in? Get ready, because we will see that God judges us to help make us ready!

Psalm 88:1-12 show us the depths of our despair if God does not act for us and in us. We do not want to live here! IS there a away out? Yes, but we must go through GOd’s judgment! Isaiah 48:9‑11 brings two big ideas together:

⁹For my own name's sake I delay my wrath;

for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,

so as not to cut you off.

¹⁰See, I have refined you, though not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

¹¹For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.

How can I let myself be defamed?

I will not yield my glory to another.

God forgives us for his name’s sake and God refines us for his names sake.

The Apostle Paul picks up these ideas in I Corinthians 3:11-15 and applies them to church leaders. This is the text behind the fearsome place known as purgatory. We don’t believe in purgatory, but the idea of a refining fire in personal judgment can apply to all of us.

¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

I am not suggesting this is a place of suffering or punishment, because I believe Jesus died for our sins. But imagine with me what it would be like to live in his presence and still remember our rebellion and awfulness. I believe this refiner’s fire either removes or transforms all of our evil and selfishness. My entire life will pass through this fire, and in those few places where I responded with God’s love, I will find I am rewarded.

We have to think carefully about heavenly rewards, because most of our human reward systems are based on either greed or competition. Can we discover a reward that will help us keep our motives pure?

Money and wealth will be worth nothing – the streets are paved with gold (Revelation 21:21). We certainly won’t be tempted to boast about our success in the presence of the one who died for us!

I believe the only reward worth having will be an increased capacity to love: to experience God’s love and to respond with God’s love. Do you get it? The two great commands (to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves) are still with us! Only now they become an anticipation of our destiny! We will have the joy of loving God with our whole heart, with our whole mind, and with all of our strength. And it will be our joy to love our neighbors as ourselves.

III. How does it all end? The Apostles John & Paul give us complimentary pictures:

The Apostle John gives us an elaborate verbal picture of life with God after the creation of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21-22. I wish we had time to discuss both chapters. But here are the opening lines:

Revelation 21:1-5: ¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." ⁵He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 22:1-5: ¹Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

I want to emphasize just a couple of things. In 21:3-5 we be with God. God will wipe away our tears and renew all things. Our past—our mangled and broken past histories—will be transformed and made new! We will be free from it all and we will be free to love as we are loved in God’s new creation. In 22:3 and 5 we encounter another huge idea. The saints of God—that’s us!—we will serve God and reign with him for ever and ever.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t give us the same kind of verbal descriptions in his letters. But his thinking is just as profound and it compliments John’s ideas. Let me help you start to meditiate on this:

Ephesians1:7-10: ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-7: ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

We were dead, and God made us alive! He did it for his sake—as an expression of his great love! In Christ, we will experience the riches of his grace. Romans 8 tells us we are destined for glory!

Romans 8:18-23: ¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:29-30: ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

In Christ, we will participate in God’s nature (II Peter 1:4). We are made like him, conformed to his likeness (Romans 8:29) and even glorified (Romans 8:30). Because God will be all in all (I Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23), all creation will be glorified with us (Romans 8:21). And so the rocks will be alive and the Wasatch Mountians will sing bass even as the aspen trees sing soprano and clap their hands for joy! What will our role be? We will lead all creation in worship “for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12, 14; and Romans 1:5).

The Apostle John shows us the ethical call in such anticipations:

²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (I John 3:2-3)

Our Response: Returning to our Gospel text, we draw three imperatives for Luke 21:34-36:

Be careful so your hearts are not weighed down by the daily weight of life lived badly (34-35).

Watch so you will not be surprised. Live in expectation and ready (36).

Pray not to escape persecution, but to escape a loss of faith and apostasy (36).

Even so, let us be bold to pray “Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

In the name of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — Amen.

Luke 21: 20-36 • Rev 21:1-5 & 22:1-5

The Good News of Judgement (part 1)

2010-11-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Early Sunday morning (November 14^th) I was having a discussion with Jesus: Do I really have to preach this? Of course I lost the argument and I arrived at church with fear and trembling!

We began with Article 17 of the Augsburg Confession:

It is also taught that our Lord Jesus Christ will return on the last day to judge, to raise all the dead, to give eternal life and eternal joy to those who believe and are elect, but to condemn the ungodly and the devils to hell and eternal punishment.

Rejected therefore are the Anabaptists, who teach that the devils and condemned human beings will not suffer eternal torture and torment.

Likewise rejected are some Jewish teachings, which have also appeared in the present, that before the resurrection of the dead saints and righteous people alone will possess a secular kingdom and will annihilate the ungodly.

Read carefully, this article has only three sentences. One is a positive affirmation and the other two are rejections of popular but false ideas.

This set the tone for me, and I moved ahead to identify and reject the popular but false ideas of our own time.

Isaiah 65:17-25 ruins all our models of how things are supposed to end. None of our models can account for this combination of events and people. Theologians and popular writers need to stop trying to chart out the end so that we can check off the events of the last days. Jesus told us that no one will know the day or the hour except our Father in Heaven (Matthew 24:36).

Psalm 98 promises all the ends of the earth will see the victory of God. Verse 9 promises that God will judge the earth with his righteousness. This is good news if we trust God. It is very bad news if we insist on living our own selfish lives. True disciples of Jesus long for God’s righteous judgment. We hunger and thirst for it. Jesus calls us to seek this first and beyond anything and everything else (Matthew 6:33).

There will be no secret coming of Jesus (Luke 21:8 and 27). When Jesus returns, God wins, and we will all know it at the same time! Jesus warns us in Luke 21:12-19 that we will suffer terrible persecutions before he returns. Will the Jesus find faith when he returns? (Luke 18:8)

II Thessalonians reports that someone told the church in Thessalonika Jesus had already returned and they missed it (II Thes. 2:1-3). Because of this, some believers had fallen into idleness and had become busybodies. Paul warns them to get back to work (II Thes. 3:12-13).

Jesus has delayed his return for a very long time. This has allowed three false ideas to flourish. I think we need to ask: How are we doing? Pull your toes back, I am about to step on them!

Theologians and pastors have done badly as we have spent an amazing amount of time trying to know more than even Jesus knew about the timing of his return (Matthew 24:36). Our endless charts, end time schemes, and arguments are a tragic waste of time. We need to repent. We cannot explain God’s timing or delay. We don’t need to make excuses for God. We need to get busy and call people to obedience. When did our marching orders change? We are still under orders and we need to either take the lead in fulfilling the great commission or get out of the way.

Our popular Christian culture in American has completely lost hope in the return of Jesus our Lord and Savior. We live as though we no longer believe in eternal life. Rather than sacrificing for God’s future kingdom, we have fattened our pensions and our retirement plans. We hope, by our own efforts, to provide for years of happy idleness in our retirement. We settle for a false, secular, financial heaven of our own making. Some people even confuse their wealth with their claim to righteousness. Their net worth becomes their self-worth. Of course Scripture knows nothing of such a plan! Paul calls this greed and he labels it for what it is – Idolatry – in Colossians 3:5. But it gets worse.

Many seniors have chased this “American dream” only to see their pensions ruined by our current economic crisis. Others have health problems that have kept them from enjoying a happy idleness. Others realize one consequence of the American dream is that they are no longer relevant to society except as consumers. All of this leads to a complete loss of hope. But again, when did our marching orders change? They didn’t! Jesus is calling seniors today to get back to work. They don’t need to work for a salary, so they should offer their gifts and wisdom as mentors, counselors, and caregivers. God’s call to love and serve – God’s wonderful call to life giving mission – applies to seniors as much as everyone else.

Finally, most of our young people have given up on this “American dream.” They are not expecting to retire in abundance. They expect government programs like Social Security to fail. They dread an ecological disaster. We should not be surprised that they choose to live in this moment, choose to serve themselves, and ignore the promise of God’s promised kingdom and coming judgment. But we cannot let our future be wasted! Our young people need to see the tidal wave of problems as a flood of opportunities. God’s Holy Spirit is big enough to use us as part of the answer. The worse it gets for the world, the more persecution we endure, the more opportunities we will have to share our faith and give a faithful witness to Jesus.

I am not expecting the next several years to be easy. I am praying we can be faithful. We must continue as Paul said to “never tire of doing what is right.” Our orders are clear: Love God, love our neighbors, and live to fulfill the great commission!

This week I invite you to seek God’s call for your life in light of his coming judgment. I believe judgment is good news and we will see how this can be so in our next sermon. Amen.

Reformation Sunday 2010 - Part 1

2010-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

What is a Lutheran?

Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a German Augustinian monk whose writings helped to sparked (with other reformers) a substantial reformation within Christendom. Martin is best known for his translation of the Bible from Greek and Latin into a standard version of the German language. He wrote small and large catechisms to be used in homes by the untrained for instruction in the Christian faith. He also wrote several hymns, applying Scripture to popular drinking songs of his day, that led to the development of congregational singing in Christianity. His marriage, on June 13, 1525, to Katharina von Bora, a former nun, also began the tradition of clerical marriage within several Christian traditions.

So, then, what is a Lutheran?

A Lutheran is a follower of the teachings of Martin Luther. At this point, a VERY IMPORTANT caveat needs to be stated: Lutherans are first and foremost followers of Jesus Christ, i.e., Lutherans are Christians, first! Only Jesus Christ can save -- not Luther.

Luther, however, in a time when the church had wandered away from its most precious tenants of faith (to be discussed briefly in the following), brought about correction and reform. These tenants are:

Word Alone (Primary Authority; Law and Gospel)
Grace Alone (Bondage of the Will; Hereditary Sin)
Faith Alone (Justification by Faith)
Sacraments (Simul iustus et peccator; Real Presence)
Priesthood of All Believers (Freedom of the Christian)
Worship Reform (Hymnody, Liturgy)
Daily Prayer & Confession

Word Alone

All the know of God has been revealed to us through his prophets and apostles, who wrote the Bible. It is God's word and is therefore to be treasured, honored, and obeyed among his people. It is authoritative for faith, doctrine, and for how we live as God's people.

Luther introduced the principle: "Let Scripture interpret Scripture." When confronted with a question as to what a certain passage means, Luther, advocated that the inquirer search God's word for its meaning rather than rely upon the opinions of scholars and councils. The Holy Spirit is both the author and interpreter of Scripture for his people.

Although all Scripture is God-breathed, i.e., inspired (2 Timothy 3:16), not all Scripture is gospel, some is law. Law is that which God requires from us. It is the commands of God by which God expresses his good and perfect will of how his people should live as his children. The Law was given, however, not as a guide for living, since humanity since the fall (see Genesis 3) has lived with in perpetual inclination toward evil within their hearts. The Law, therefore serves as a curb against sinful desires using the threat of punishment to enforce proper behavior. Of course, though one may outwardly obey the dictates of the Law, this does not mean that one's heart is in full obedience. That is why Jesus said that these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me (Mark 7:6). The Law is powerless to change our sinful hearts; it can only force compliance under the treat of punishment. Therefore, the Law also serves to reveal the condition of our hearts: they are rebellious and willfully wicked beyond belief against the will of God.

The gospel is that which God has done for us. It is truly good news. It reveals our Savior, Jesus, who through his perfect obedience to God's will became the perfect atoning sacrifice that indeed takes away the sin of the world (1 John 2:2), and, through his resurrection from the dead has overcome the power of the Evil One and death (Romans 8). The gift of the Holy Spirit is God's transforming work within us so that we are spiritually made a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel has the power to change and transform the human heart!

For this reason, the word of God is to be revered and studied diligently and memorized because it points us to Jesus Christ (John 5:39), our hope and salvation, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). His word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and will produce fruits of righteousness within our lives.

A Lutheran, then, loves and studies the Bible, God's world, diligently and prayerfully.

Grace Alone

Luther taught that the actual transgressions of God's commandments is sin, but so is the hereditary sickness by which the entire human race is corrupted. This, too, is sin (Luther called this "nature sin" or "person sin"). Even if a person were able to not think, speak, or do anything evil, they would still be sinful by nature, corrupted by the first fall of Adam and therefore under God's wrath and condemnation. This hereditary sin is revealed in Scripture (Romans 5:12-14 and Ephesians 2:3).

This hereditary sin is so great and horrible that, only for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, can it be covered and forgiven before God by grace through faith. Human nature can only be healed by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), which is begun in this life and only brought to completion (Philippians 4:12-13) in the life to come.

We all by disposition and nature inherit from Adam a heart, feeling, and thought that are, according to their highest powers and light of reason, naturally inclined and disposed directly against God and his chief commandments (Matthew 22:36-40); they are hostile toward God, especially in divine and spiritual things (Romans 8:7); and, in respect to natural, outward things subject o reason, a person still has power, ability, and to a certain degree understanding -- although very much weakened.

In his explanation of the 3rd Article to the Apostle's Creed, Luther wrote:

"I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise up me and the all the dead and will give eternal life to me and to all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true."

A Lutheran, then, is amazed by God gracious love that He would save us from "this body of death" (Romans 8:1) through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord.

1 Timothy 6

2010-11-12T08:14:00.001-08:00

The Apostle Paul references once again the devastating effects of false teaching upon the Ephesian church. These teachers have forsaken the "sound words of Jesus" and have created controversy by quarreling over what Jesus said.

As a result of the behavior, the people are full of envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction amongst themselves, thinking that a form of godliness is now a means to material wealth.

It is the desire to be rich, not material things, that Paul cautions against. This desire for riches often leads to temptation and harmful desires that often lead to ruin and destruction, suffering and loss of faith.

Timothy, however, is to correct the Ephesian church by setting an example of pursuing righteousness, godliness, love, steadfastness, gentleness, in order to take hold of eternal life and to make a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. This is a vigorous pursuit of virtue and flight from sinful behavior.

Paul concludes his letter with an admonition to the rich believers that they are to put their faith, hope, and trust in God rather than upon their wealth. Those who are wealthy enough not to work should devote their time to good works (that build the kingdom of God) rather than pursuit of personal pleasures. Rather, they are to be generous and ready to share. This use of wealth is both an indication of whether one is a believer, but also carries with it the promise of reward in the coming kingdom.

Reflection

I have been part of churches who quarrel incessantly about doctrine. Paul is right. This type of environment only leads to factions and constant friction -- and it disables the church from completing its overall mission of glorifying Christ by making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to love one another as Christ has loved us, thus proving that we are his disciples (John 13:34-35). An contentious church body turned on itself is not loving each other well -- and it is ineffective for Christ.

As individuals and as a church body, we must make careful use of our money. This does not mean that we hoard or spend it upon ourselves. We are to be thankful and generous -- the hallmarks of a believer. God wants his people to be generous, as He is generous to us. We are to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-15). God is able to make all grace abound to his giving children so that hey will have sufficiency in all things at all things. That is why Paul writes that if we have food and clothing, we will be content, since we cannot take anything out of this world (1 Timothy 6:7-8).

This is a good reminder for me. Every time I take my eyes off the Lord (i.e., I quit pursuing righteousness), I misplace my faith, hope, and trust upon either my own efforts or upon material possessions. When will I learn? All these material things are temporary. God alone is enduring throughout the ages, and, God is the one who provides for his children out of the abundance of His heart.

Lord, thank you for sending Timothys into your churches who have wandered from the faith and have become embroiled in endless controversies and quarrels over words. Raise up your bride, the church, to be righteous, godly, full of faith and love, steadfast and gentle. May your bride fight the good fight of faith, making a good confession to the world, as it takes of eternal life to which you have called her to inherit. In Jesus' name, Amen.

- Pastor Jeff

1 Timothy (Chapter 5)

2010-10-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

1 Timothy 5

Paul's instructions to Timothy regarding the church in Ephesus become very specific and practical in this chapter.

Though Timothy is charged with correcting and rebuking false teaching, he must encourage, rather than rebuke, older men and women as fathers and mothers and younger men and women as brothers and sisters (5:1-2).

He is also to honor widows that are truly widows, i.e., those who have no family to help or support them. Paul considers family members, who do not help their relatives, as those who have denied the faith (5:8). Those can should help their relatives in need and not overburden the church with the responsibility.

The specific problem in the Ephesian church was the result of too many widowed women who had too much time on their hands, who has idlers were busy spreading false teaching and rumors (5:13). Those widowers under the age of 60 should seek to remarry, bear children, and manage a household (5:14).

Elders who can teach and preach well should be held in honor (5:17-18). Criticism directed against elders should not be entertained except upon the evidence of two to three witnesses (5:19).

Paul admonishes Timothy to publicy rebuke those who persist in sin (5:20) without partiality. Nothing will remain hidden -- both the sins and the good works a person commits will eventually be revealed.

Reflection

All churches have conflict between members. It is inevitable, since we are all in process of being sanctified by the Spirit, but have not been completed yet in Christ until the day we stand before him. We can, however, address conflict in a spirit of honoring each other in all purity (5:2).

Paul makes no mention of people, in his instructions to Timothy, who have been divorced or who are single and suffering economic hardship -- only widows. Nor does he mentioned men who have been widowed. So, then, we have a specific instruction given to a specific situation. The problem, as in the previous chapters, were particular women who were slandering, gossipping, and who were busybodies spreading false teaching and rumors.

As one who is the age of 50 and an "empty nester," it is most sobering to consider raising a family at the age of 60. I don't know if I would have the energy. The point, however, is well-taken. These specific and certain problem-causing widows have nothing meaningful to do. Paul counsels them, from a 1st century perspective, to get involved in honorable pursuits (marriage and family), i.e., they need to get their attention off themselves and onto serving others. This word is pertinent to our generation: get our attention off of ourselves and onto those who are in need.

This past year has been devastating for many with the poor economy. Nationwide, people struggle to keep their jobs and homes. We have two modest funds at the church, one to help our own people in financial need, and the other to help those in the community in need. These are funded by the generosity of specific gifts by donors to these funds. It is not "rocket science." If we have the money, we can help. If we don't, we cannot.

As a church, we want to help, like Paul, those without family. They are truly alone and need to belong somewhere. As pastors, we have turned people away, especially when those coming for help have extended family. Of course, it's not always easy to discern. Some people are estranged from their families and will not receive any help.

This portion of Paul's letter also addresses why we, as Lutheran, pay our pastors and teachers (cf. 5:17-18, "a laborer is due his wages"). It is a way that a congregation show that it honors the ministry of God's word among them.

- Pastor Jeff

1 Timothy 4

2010-10-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

I Timothy 4:7 commands young Timothy to train himself to be godly. What does this mean for us?

Paul believed the world was not getting better, but rather worse. People were drifting away from Christianity into all kinds of false doctrines and bizzare pratices. They were refusing to marry and refusing to eat certain things. They were failing to celebrate and enjoy God’s good creation as God’s creation. Under the influence of Greek philosophy, people were teaching that the world was evil and that our participation in the physical world should be as little as possible. What nonsense! Paul tells us plainly that these false doctrines come from demons (I Timothy 4:1).

We learn in Paul’s comments to Timothy that Christ-followers should:

1. Give thanks for all they receive and we should consecrate things with prayer (I Timothy 4:4-5);

2. Give ourselves to the study and reading of the Bible (I Timothy 4:13);

3. By following the teachings of the Bible, we can be an example of godly living in speech, life, love, faith, and purity (I Timothy 4:12);

4. Function in our spiritual gifts (I Timothy 4:14);

5. Show progress as we become more like Jesus (Ephesians 5:1-2 and I Timothy 4:15).

6. Remember that our hope and salvation are not in ourselves. We dare only place our hope in the living God (I Timothy 4:9).

IHOP Team - Sept. 24 - 26, 2010 at Good Shepherd

2010-09-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

This was an incredible event of prayer and worship hosted by Good Shepherd as we welcomed a team of young men from the International House of Prayer - Kanasas City to Good Shepherd.

The event featured Brandon Hammonds who was our teacher, awa well as Robert Monson, and Justin Rizzo who taught and lead singing with band members Joshua Hawkins, Joran Vanderplate, Nate Hunt, and Ross Bennet.

A praying church is the end-time strategy of God before Christ returns on this earth. As more people enter into the Father's heart of love and restore the 1st Commandment ("thou shalt have no other God's before Me") to first place in our lives, we become the resplendent bride of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 5 and 2 Corinthians 4, reflecting his character and glory, degree by degree.

These young men (all under 30 years old) have dedicated their lives to being prayer missionaries ministering to the heart of God along the lines of King David in 1 Chronicles 22-25 for day and night prayer and thanksgiving with musicians and priests.

You can visit IHOP's website www.ihop.org and click on "The Prayer Room" for a free live-stream video or visit their archives. Their primary hymnal is literally the Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) as they sing verses and the echo them with the choir and develop refrains for the congregation. All this is spontaneous and fresh as new songs emerge through the Spirit-led expression of praise and thanksgiving.

One of my favorite prayer exercises is what they call "rapid-fire prayer," during which a leader introduces a theme based on scripture (like Ephesians 1:17 - "that God may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him") and then invites 10-15 intercessors to come forward to give 10-15 second prayers on the topics in quick succession, interrupted only by the worship leader who may interject a chorus based on what is being prayed.

The effect of all this is a very real, authentic and fresh encounter with the presence of God. It is encouraging and strengthening. I am so glad that our people at the 11:15 a.m. service had an opportunity to experience a taste of it as we modified our service to accomodate the normal practice of the IHOP Prayer Room.

It is my hope that our Friday Night Service: "First Love" can develop more and more into this type of spontaneous prayer and worship service. And, who knows how we might be able to adapt this into our existing worship services on Sunday. It is very exciting.

- Pastor Jeff

1 Timothy (Chapter Three)

2010-09-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

In chapter three, Paul addresses the need for godly leadership within the church. The lists of the character qualities in verses 2-7 (elders) and 8-13 (deacons) should not be taken legalistically nor as being complete. You will notice that in the lists nothing is mentioned of prayer or of worship.

The point of the chapter is that the church needs godly shepherds to care for his people. You can see from the list of specific qualities what some of the issues were in the early church: they were quarrelsome and violent toward one another (1 Timothy 3:3), lovers of money, and drunkards.

The women were devilish in their talk (cf. 1 Timothy 3:11 - the greek word for slander is "diabolous') creating suspicion and sowing seeds of discontent and doubt through rumor, innuendo and outright malicious talk.

If the leaders were to come from within this people group, someone needed to change and become an example of the godly life in Christ!

The point of this chapter is really in verses 14-16. The church needs leaders that embody and manifest the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to its people. Just as God became incarnate in the flesh and dwelt among us, emptying himself and taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:1-11), so should the church manifest the living Christ in their behavior. This is the mystery of godliness (3:16).

This is a sobering word for all of us, since none of us are perfect. The Spirit of the living God dwells within us as a mark and seal of our salvation in Christ (Ephesians 1:13). We struggle daily against our sinful desires (Romans 7), yet we have the ability to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). This struggle alone drives us back to prayer and the heart of God asking for his strengthening and encouragement so that we might live for him.

1 Timothy (Chapter Two)

2010-09-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

The evidence of a changed life by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is love that issues from a pure heart and good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5). One vital aspect of the new life in Christ is prayer which touches the Father heart of God (1 Timothy 2:1-4). The purpose of prayer is that we may lead a godly life, dignified in every way, offering supplications, prayers, thanksgivings for all people, for God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

As we read the rest of chapter two we discover two primary issues within the church that Paul addresses: 1) the men were arguing and disputing with anger, and 2) the women were dressed inappropriately, drawing attention to themselves (1 Timothy 2:8-9).

In addition, too, the women were quarrelsome and disruptive and slanderous (1 Timothy 3:11). The greek word for slanderous is "diabolous," i.e., they were devilish in their talk sowing seeds of discord, doubt, and discontent.

Pay particular attention to verses 11-15. In verse 11 we read, "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness." The same word for "quietly" is used in verse 12 and is the same greek word, ησυχια, which means to listen or learn inwith quiet attentiveness. Evidently, there was quite a bit of quarreling going on during the teaching by the women. They were told that the proper attitude of a pupil is to listen and be attentive. It is for this reason, in verse 12, that we interpret "I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man" as being particular to the context of the Ephesian experience. The greek word for authority means "to dominate" and is not the normal greek word for authority (cf. Matthew 28:18).

Besides, Paul's comments in verse 15 that "a woman will be saved through childbearing" are contradictory to what he said in verse 5, "there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all." Since childbearing cannot save a woman, nor does the verse guarantee that all Chritian women will survive childbirth (some die during the process), we take this verse to refer to Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 3:15.

Adam and Eve both sin, and, therefore, are no longer able to stay in the presence of God without atonement. The promise is that, one day, her offspring (i.e., "seed" singular) will crush the serpent and the serpent will strike his heel. We now know this to refer to Jesus and his death of the cross, wherein he was nailed to the cross, yet through his death he won victory over sin, death, and the devil.

To summarize, the church in Ephesus is in chaos. People are not learning or worshipping. They are quarrelsome and contentious. Paul admonishes them to learn with quiet hearts and in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving. This is what the Apostle John refers to as "First Love" in his letter to the Ephesians (Revelation 2:1-7).

We have in our sanctuary the banner: "Prayer First, Prayer Always." May it be a constant reminder to us to enter his sanctuary with the right heart and attitude. I can't tell you how many times I have beeen "bushwacked" with criticism or negative comments just 2-5 minutes prior to a service. It is very difficult after such an incident to restore my soul to quietness, especially when I have feelings of deep hurt or even anger. This is Satan's plan, to distract his people from coming to Jesus to sit at his feet, instead, we gather in the kitchen, near the coffee pot and we gossip and malign each other with our criticism and talk.

If we were to experience the full presence of Jesus, we would definitely be changed and much of our "concerns" would be addressed with his love.

1 Timothy (Chapter One)

2010-09-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

The church in Ephesus is plagued with false teaching that results in vain discussions and speculations (1 Timothy 1:3-4)resulting in many wandering away from the truth which produces love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 timothy 1:5).

The law (of Moses, cf. Exodus 20) is being misused: 1) legalistically (one must be a Jew first to be saved by Christ, i.e., strict adherence to the dictates of the law) or 2) permissively (one can live lawlessly since we are saved by grace in Christ. Neither position is correct or true, according to Paul.

The law reveals to us the sinful condition of our hearts and our need for a Savior. the law also serves as a restraint to sinful desires under the threat of punishment to preserve society. The law is not for the just but for the lawless, disobedient, ungodly and sinners (1 Timothy 1:9).

Paul uses his own life as an example of a life that was profoundly and radically changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:12-17). Once Paul was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of God (1 Timothy 1:13 and Acts 7:54-58; 8:1-3; 9:1-19).

Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). This salvation changes hearts and souls and behavior. Christ has the power to change a lives that previously were living lawlessly in sin: the unholy and profane, murderers, those who struck their parents, the sexual immoral, those practicing homosexuality, those enslaving people into captivity, liars and perjurers, and whatever else was contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:10).

Today, in our modern culture, people are offended to hear these words of invitation to change. But there is a power and life in the gospel of Jesus Christ that invites all to come to the love of the Father. God's love will change you.

The correct use of the law is to show us our need for a Savior -- his name is Jesus.

1 Timothy (Introduction)

2010-09-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

The church in Ephesus figures prominantly in the movement of the gospel westward. A metroplis on the seacost of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), at a nexus of major trade routes, Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Province at the time of the Apostle Paul. The city was a melting pot of languages and cultures.

The church in Ephesus was founded by Paul, Aquila and Priscilla (husband and wife team) upon Paul's journey home toward Caesara during his second missionary journey (49 - 41 AD). Paual left Aquila and Priscilla there (Acts 18). Later Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came and preached in Ephesus in the synagogue, but explained to him privately the way of God "more accurately" (Acts 18). Paul arrived again in Ephesus and formed a congregation of believers in Christ Jesus, separating himself from the synagogue (Acts 19) and preached there 3 years. Paul's ministry was effective, turning a great many people to Christ (cf. Acts 18:26) and a riot ensued. After the riot, Paul left for Macedonia.

On his return from Greece, Paul revists the Ephesus church elders (Acts 20:17-38) from Miletus, where he tells them that they will never see him again, since he has been persecuted in everywhere and is now heading back to Jerusalem where he will most likely be arrested and executed. Paul does indeed return to Jerusalem and is arrested (Acts 21:27-27:12) during which he appeals to bring his case before Caesar as a citizen of Rome.

While under house arrest in Rome, Paul writes a letter to Timothy, a young disciple from Lystra that Paul took with him on his missionary journey to Macedonia (Acts 16:3; 17:15; 18:5) and is later sent to Ephesus to bring correction to the local church.

It should be noted that the churches were most likely house churches and very unlike the gatherings we associate today with property and buildings.

The context of the letter is that false teachers were troubling the church (1 Timothy 1:3-4, 20) most notably Hymenaeus and Alexander.

The Cost of Discipleship

2010-09-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

This Sunday’s Sermon looked at the theme of “The Cost of Discipleship.” Certainly our salvation is a pure gift of grace and not earned by any works we can do (see Eph. 2:8-9.) But Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Luke (Ch. 9 & 14) about taking up your cross and following Him. In Luke 9:23 Jesus is even more specific in saying we are to be taking up our crosses daily and following Him. (I hope you know I’m not talking about toting around pieces of lumber here.) Taking up your cross will cost you something. After my sermon, I was asked “Give me a better example of taking up our cross daily.” I told the gentleman it is when the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something that is out of our comfort zone, inconvenient, unpopular or may be difficult. I gave the example of a friend of mine who is faithfully caring for a relative who is dying. Taking care of them is time consuming, expensive and emotionally draining. This is their cross for this time in their life. Another example in my case would be public speaking. I don’t like it or feel comfortable getting up in front of groups and talking, but I do it and know God will meet me there when I do. The point is to be listening to the Holy Spirit through your day and being open to be obedient even when it costs you. That’s a disciple.

Sermon - Rahab the Prostitute, Aug 8, 2010

2010-08-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sermon Blog: August 10, 2010 Rahab the Prostitute
Luke 12:32-40; Joshua 2

The Gospel Lesson last Sunday was about watchfulness, it was found in Luke 12. We had to ask ourselves, “be ready and watching for what?” Jesus says for service, “Be dressed ready for service.” He says, “You also must be ready, because the Son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” If you believe in the resurrection of Christ, that his death on the cross was for your personal salvation, you are certain he will return but the time is anybody’s guess, then you also understand the rest of this story in Luke when Jesus says, “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in Heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This is how we are to live our lives, not running around trying to see how much money we can make or how noteworthy we can be. If this is hard for you to believe you are not the only one who thinks so. Scripture says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” This was written by Paul in the bustling, port city of Corinth where every other man on the street believed he had the solution to humanity’s problems.

Not much has changed and the story of Rahab the prostitute shows us what watchfulness looks like in a life otherwise unprepared to meet God. In a split second Rahab has to move into action putting her life at risk by hiding the Israelite spies because as she describes it, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in Heaven above and on earth below.” Sunday we looked at the story of Rahab the Prostitute and asked if we too were not at times in our own lives beggars and prostitutes. We asked if we are this day ready, watching for God in our lives …or is the plan for our lives OUR plan. Being ready to “let go and let God” requires watchfulness.

Children Leaving Home

2010-08-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

Empty Nest

I woke up today feeling that something was wrong. I felt no strive or ambition for the day. In fact, I feel a little lost. My emotions are a little "edgy," too. I finally realized today that I am grieving. We have become empty nesters.

My wife (Mim) and I sent our children off this summer to pursue life. Our son (Jon) is completing his master's degree in linguistics in Langely, British Columbia, Canada at the Canadian Institute of Linguistics. Our daughter (Rebekah) is enrolled in the Music Academy at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. We will not see either one until Christmas.

Our children have embarked on the great adventure of becoming independent adults, developing skills, and choosing careers. Their future is bright and hopeful. As a parent, I want to encourage and support them with the enthusiasm and assurance they deserve in order to launch successfully. So, I've been on best emotional behavior these past weeks. I feel a joy for them ... but, also, a little sorrow for myself. The house feels empty. I miss the cheerful "good mornings!" the hugs, and kisses on the cheek from my daughter.

Mim and I have been married 26 years, all of which we were expecting children and/or raising children. As a couple, since both of us work long hours, we fell into a predominant "survival mode" style of communication: short, intense bursts of dialogue meant to solve logistic problems (transportation, food, school activities, assignments, animals, etc.). The kids were the focus of our lives and buffer zone between us. Recognizing this, we began to work on our marriage all the previous year, preparing to be empty nesters.

I thought I was doing well negotiating this new terrain until we entered a CVS Pharmacy Store (like Rite Aid). It was the last full day before we would leave our youngest, Rebekah, in Kansas City. Time was running out. As I walked by the bandaids, thermometers, cold medicine, Advil/Tylenol, a surge of emotion hit me, like a tidal wave. Suddenly, I flashed back to my daughter as an infant, so vulnerable and reliant upon me, sleeping in my arms. I lost it and wept uncontrollably in Isle #2. Fortunately, the cashier was a 3rd year student at the same place my daughter is attending. She had seen this happen before. It took a while to regain the image of my daughter as the confidant and resource young adult that she is. I had so many last minute instructions for her: how to check the oil on the car, the fluid in the radiator, the washing fluid for the windows, how to change a flat tire, who to call in an emergency at night, where to find a doctor when sick, and how to handle medical insurance and billing. I'm sure it was just as overwhelming for her as it was for me.

Now is the time to brush off the dreams we have been promising ourselves to pursue "one day when the kids are out of the house." We don't have the same energy we did when we were 20-year olds, but we still have most of those early dreams and desires, shaped now with some wisdom and life experience. We are looking forward to our adventures. I'm learning more about Facebook etiquette as a parent and when are good times to call and or text and the appropriate frequency of communication. Some days are hard, but I firmly believe that because of our hope in Jesus Christ the best is still yet to come! Thank you, Lord!

Pastor Jeff

Colossians (Part 4)

2010-08-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

I want to make this Colossians series very practical with this last blog. Recognizing our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), we live in his peace. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the fullness of all good things. Here is a wonderful question: What does your Lord want for you? In Colossians 3:15 we learn he is the umpire calling the game of our life. The umpire is on our team! Of course it is really even better than this, because we are on HIS team. He wants us to win at life more than we can possibly imagine.

Colossians 3 lists several kinds of evil. Evil generally, and the evil things named in 3:5-9, are done at the expense of the good things God wants for you. Trying to resist evil with a grim, white-knuckled approach to life will fail. Paul commented in 2:23 that this approach is meaningless and has no value. There is a better way to live! Consider this: What good things are you not doing because you are addicted to sin? What good things are you not enjoying because you have settled for lies spoken by a defeated enemy? Jesus wants to take you firmly by the hand and lead you into a radical life change! He wants you to win on HIS team.

Colossians 3:17 sharpens our minds for living well in God’s kingdom: Can you do everything you do in the name of Jesus? If you can’t do it in Jesus’ name, ask for even your desires to do this evil be changed. With Jesus, supreme in all things, we will celebrate our greatest victories.

Colossians (Part 3)

2010-08-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

Jesus died and rose to reconcile all things to himself. In Colossians 1 Paul helped us understand some about who Jesus is. Paul circles back to this when he reminds us God was pleased to have all the fullness of Deity dwell in Christ in bodily form (1:19; 2:9). Because Jesus acts as one who is both fully God and fully human, peace comes through his blood, shed on the cross (1:20; 3:15).

Paul amplifies this idea in Colossians 2 in three ways:

In Christ, our old nature is put off, cut away and we are made alive (2:11, 13). ALL our sins are forgiven (2:13) and even the very accusations against us are nailed to the cross in Christ (2:14). Jesus disarmed our enemies and made a triumphal spectacle of them at the cross (2:15).

Can I put this last idea in the boldest way? At the cross, and through his resurrection, Jesus answers David’s prayer in Psalm 58:6. Jesus has pulled our enemy’s fangs! The devil may roar against us as in I Peter 5:8-9, but he roars through toothless gums. Luther warned us that Satan can lie to us and lead us into great evil through his deceptions. But the evil one cannot make even a weak person actually do anything when he or she knows the truth. Jesus is the victor! We tremble not at the “prince of darkness grim.” One little word brings him down: Call upon Jesus and claim his victory in your life. Amen!

Colossians (Part 2)

2010-07-21T13:44:00.001-07:00

Colossians 1:15-20 gives us one of most intense decriptions of who Jesus is and of what he is doing. Each phrase has been studied very closely, and we are very grateful for all we can learn from this text. Paul’s intensity should be understood against a very specific backdrop of false teaching. His answer becomes even more awesome when read as a correction to some very enticing heresy. We have to read between the lines in order to understand how tricky his opponents were.

It seems that false teachers were gaining an audience in Colosse by claiming authority from both Jewish tradition and Greek -- probably Stoic -- philosophy (2:8). They advocated a very rigorous lifestyle of fasting and bodily discipline combined with a careful observance of certain days and festivals (2:16, 20-23). They claimed that if you followed their advice, you could enter a new humility and so become worthy of receiving new revelations via angelic messengers (2:18). Apparently this severe discipline and the new revelations would free you from temptations to any sensual indulgence (2:23). Do you get it? They are offering a form of almost complete holiness! Most people would understand freedom from temptation as a very good thing, and so these false teachers were using an apparent good to lure people away from Christ.

Paul thus needed to sketch who Jesus was fully enough to show the Colossians that any claim to wisdom or victory beyond Christ was complete foolishness. In the sermon I briefly summarized the gist of each phrase in 1:15-20. Here I will only point to the last phrase of verse 18: Jesus must have supremacy in everything. Everything!

God reconciles us through Jesus’ physical death for a purpose: He wants us to be more than free from sensual temptation. Verse 22 tells us God wants to present us as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation in every area of our lives. Of course this means the Colossian heretics hoped for too little! Their promise of Jesus plus our severest efforts could only yield less than what God wants to give us. Their vision of holiness was too small.

God calls us to embrace so much more than mere freedom from sensuality. As in Galatians 5:13, God calls us to have freedom to serve one another in love. I hope we won’t settle for anything less!

Colossians (Part 1)

2010-07-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

This first of four sermons on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians introduces the letter and Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse (Colossian 1:1-14). On July 18 we will consider the great hymn of praise to Jesus (1:15-20) and its immediate effect on believers (1:21-27). On July 25 we will explore the consequences of what Jesus has done (1:28-2:23). And finally, on August 1, we will ask how we should live in response to all God has done for us (3:1-4:6).

Paul’s prayer includes two related and puzzling phrases in Colossians 1:10.

We hear discussion of “living a worthy life” very differently in Utah. Our local culture is obsessed with the idea of worthiness. Our local culture tries to make us believe we must be worthy of our blessings -- as if they come as a reward for our past faithfulness. Nothing could be more wrong. Verses 12-13 remind us that it is God who qualifies us to receive our inheritance. Our worthy lives are not a cause of our redemption, but result from our deliverance from darkness. God gets all the thanks and credit!

Paul names ways we please God in verses 10-11. Part of our worthy response includes our second puzzle: “bearing fruit in every good work.” But wait! Aren’t works considered good because they bear fruit for God’s kingdom? I wish I could affirm this without qualification. But the truth is, we can do all kinds of religious “good works” for the wrong reasons. And sometimes our good works prevent us from bearing fruit. This is certainly the case with the two religious men who pass by the needy and beaten man in the story in Luke 10:25-37. They were too busy with keeping the Law to stop and show compassion to the man who was beaten and left for dead. The Samaritan did the truly good work, the work of the kingdom in careing for the needy and broken. Let us remember his example, and with the Colossian Christians who were known for their love (1:4-5, 8), endure and give thanks as we grow in the knowledge of God’s love. Amen.

Final Russia Mission report from Pastor James - Thursday 6/17 and Friday 6/18

2010-06-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Summary: God answered our prayers and things were very smooth and sweet today.

Details: Shortly after I emailed my blog last evening, I was asked to leave the internet café. There was a party for high school graduates, and they didn’t want Americans around. I hiked back to my room and waited for dinner. Again, dinner tends to be slight and served on smaller plates. Sleep was a very welcome thing!

I woke again just after 5 AM and began my lesson plans. Today we will spend much of our time working on our drama of Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-12. The theme for the day is about the cross and our memory verse is I Peter 3:18.

We had a brief meeting with the bishop at 8 AM. He is a very humble man and I find it hard not to like him.

Xenya returned after one day’s absence. Nastya was not there because of a hairline fracture in her arm. Her aunt did not return. Then Ksenia left at noon to travel with her parents. I gave her a small gift and she hugged me. She is a very graceful young person. We have been watching clips of the Jesus movie for children. I need to check with Kelli to see if we have this in English. It is distributed by ChildrenforJesus.org.

We had a team meeting after the children left at 3:30 and agreed that something had shifted in the spiritual environment today. Teaching about the cross, I expected more resistance and for the children to pay less attention. It was just the opposite -- they paid very close attention and they were very tenderhearted. After I explained about Jesus paying for our sins and offering us the gift of new lives, I asked who wanted Jesus to keep his promise for them. Everyone raised their hands. We will talk more tomorrow about the resurrection and the new life we find with our risen Lord.

Tonight at 6 PM we had sashleek (marinated meats cooked over a fire) cooked at the home of a congregant. Wow! This was world-class grilled pork, marinated in mayonnaise, garlic, onions and a hint of dill. I couldn’t believe how much he was cooking. And then we ate almost all of it with fresh vegetables from his garden.

I was in bed again by 10 PM, and glad to have had my fill with dinner.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Summary: The camp ended well and we said some tearful good-byes.

Details: I was up at 6 AM, and prepared for a shortened day with a final program.

The English session and story were on the resurrection of Jesus: Why does it matter? Because of the resurrection, we have a relationship with God and not just a sad religion. Nastya was back with a cast on her arm, but Anton was missing with a fever. Our program went well and our skit about the birth of Jesus was well received. With Anton gone, I had to play Joseph.

It is fun to give presents on the last day, and so I had hats knitted by Brandy Pollick for all of the kids. I had bracelets for the girls, and chess sets for the boys. Each child also got a class photo and a few trinkets.

When it came time to say our goodbyes, my two 13 year olds were very emotional; Valya and Xenia both asked me if I was coming back next year. I didn’t know what to say except “I hope.” All of my other students are 11 years old. Misha wanted a hug and bowed to me. Yasha could not look me in the eye, but hugged me and said thank-you for coming. Nastya with the broken arm hugged me and asked me to come back again. The other Nastya hugged me and sobbed please come back. Dima, a man in his early thirties embraced me and said thank-you. I reminded him that in Christ, we will meet again. Heli (age 16) had done an excellent job translating for me. She is finishing high school and I told her to remember us if she needs to come to the USA for a year living abroad for her English degree.

After we picked up our things, we took two vans to a terrible place. We went to the Levashovo Memorial Cemetery -- a KGB secret until 1989. This was the mass grave for more than 40,000 people executed by secret police in 1937-1938. Their sentence? They were unfaithful to Mother Russia. Their crime? They were Christians and Jews, Finns, Poles, Germans, not true Russians by birth. This was Russia’s attempt at ethnic cleansing and there are many other known cemeteries like this, and very many more suspected but unknown. Executions and burials continued at a slowed pace through 1954, bringing the number of suspected victims in this cemetery to more than 46,000. We could only pray “Christ have mercy on the victims and the perpetrators.”

We visited another Ingrian Lutheran church on the return from the cemetery. We had dinner at the church, and I typed this last blog entry before returning home on Monday. Pray for us, we leave here at 3:30 AM, our first flight is at 5:50, and we get back to Salt Lake at 8 PM (5:30 AM Russia time).

Russia mission updates - Tues 6/15 and Wed 6/16

2010-06-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Pastor James writes -

Tuesday, June 14, 2010

Summary: Our second day of class was very smooth and I gained two adult students.

Details: I walked back after sending my blog last night and sat in the foyer trying to read. A young woman from our team -- Chelsey -- asked me if I played chess. I said yes, and it took me an hour to lose to her. I made one mistake. She clobbered me. I asked her where she learned to play and she said her brothers are always clobbering her. She was ruthless! It helped me stay awake until 11 PM, and I was glad to sleep for 6 hours.

I was up at 5:15 and had coffee while I planned my lessons. I made a copy of the lesson plan for my translator. Did I mention she is the bishop’s daughter?

Breakfast was at 8 AM – something close to cream of wheat, with salami cheese, and bread. Our lessons today are about Jesus calling his disciples to “come and follow me.” Our key verse is Mark 1:17. All of our students returned and we gained two new students. They are both adults! I saw them watching our class yesterday, and this morning they asked if they could sit with us. I gave them student books, colored pencils, and all things like our other students. I smiled when they did all of the assignments, including the coloring pages. I was able to ask later who they were. Tatiana is 50ish, and the mother of the 14 year old she is sitting next to. Dima is in his early thirties and he is the youth pastor for an Ingrian Lutheran congregation about 4 hours away. He has six teenage girls from his church at the language camp. Both adults participated as we read Luke 5:1-11, asked questions about the text, and played “Simon says” and “Bingo.”

After class we had two very interesting meetings. First, we met with the rector of the seminary. Fedor is perhaps 35 and serves also as the pastor of the congregation in Pushkin. He explained the half-dozen programs he coordinates. They have a traditional seminary program with students studying to be pastors. They have a youth worker program, a basic theology program, an altar guild program, a church musician program, and a church secretary and accounting program. They encourage as many people as possible to take the basic theology program and then ask gifted students to consider joining the pastor’s program.

After dinner we met with the director of the missionary committee. Alexei is also about 35 and he serves as the pastor of St. Mary’s Ingrian Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg. His committee oversees education about the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) for all 88 Ingrian congregations. With the Bishop, he also coordinates the activities of foreign missionaries who want to help rebuild the church in Russia.

We had a bonfire after this last meeting and made S’Mores with some of our translators. I was in the kitchen working on this blog when Diana came in. She is a remarkable woman and a great gift to our camp. Born and raised in Russia, she studied English in the university in the 1960's and became a teacher and translator. She taught English in the university for many years and worked for several multinational companies in Russia, England, Korea, and Japan translating technical manufacturing documents. Diana came to Christ while translating for an English Bible camp near Yoshkar-ola 3 years ago. I learned during our orientation sessions that she loves tango and ballroom. We sat and listened to tangos on my computer for more than an hour. She will email me the name of the Russian composer who has several famous tangos. I promised to find them and add them to my collection. She has seen so much of life, and her joy in Christ is contagious.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I slept for 6 hours and finished blogging about Tuesday with my morning coffee. Our theme today is “Jesus loves everyone.” Our key verse is John 15:12. It should be a good day.

Breakfast is in the church -- oatmeal again. And it is raining, again. I had a couple of unexpected experiences today. First, I met the bishop during the opening singing. I apologized I was in a T-shirt instead of more finely dressed. He was very unpretentious, and said it was okay because I am teaching a children’s camp. The rain continued, and so we could not play sports outside. Kelsey told them to ask me to teach a dance class. I have my laptop loaded with ballroom tracks, and so I picked 5 chachas I thought they might like and taught cha cha cha in the sanctuary. It was the only place we had with a hard floor.

During lunch, one of my students broke her wrist while fooling around in the narthex. One of the adults and her niece left because her grandson became ill in St. Petersburg. So my class was feeling a little disappointed and depleted. It is not uncommon on mission trips to have this kind of “static.” We will continue and hope all is well.

Most of the team is going on a church tour this evening. I am glad to simply finish my blog, send it from the internet café, and hike back home. Dinner will be at 8 PM.

Galatians -- Chapter Two

2010-06-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

Verses 1

After 14 years Paul travels again to Jerusalem. There is a debate as to whether this is an additional 14 years after the first visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18), or this includes the first visit, i.e., 17 years after Paul's conversion in Acts 9 or only 14 years. If the latter, then Paul visits Jerusalem around 47 A.D. prior to the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 and is more in keeping with Acts 11:29-30 when Barnabas and Saul (Paul) bring relief money to Christians living in Judea.

Verses 2-10

The church is in danger of being divided into a Jewish half and a Gentile half. There is a group (Peter, James, and John) who agree that Gentiles do not need to be circumcised to be saved and part of God's new covenant (cf. Acts 11:1-18; 15:6-11, 19). The other group, Pharisees, (cf. Acts 15:5) insisted that Gentiles believers be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.

Paul has primarily been preaching to the Gentiles, although we know that his custom was to preach in established synagogues throughout the Roman colonies (see Acts 13:14f; 17:10f). By affirming that Paul was sent primarily to the uncircumcised (i.e., Gentiles) and Peter to the circumcised (i.e., Jews), Paul establishes to the Galatian churches that his apostleship is as valid as Peter's, and, that the Galatians churches are no less inferior to any other group of believers (cf. Galatians 3:27-28).

Peter, James, and John (the pillars) offered Paul the "right hand of fellowship" to Barnabas and Paul, thus validating Paul's apostleship by putting him on equal footing with the other apostles in Jerusalem. Please note that there was no need to change the gospel to accommodate different cultures. The gospel is the same for all nations.

Verses 11-14

Paul recounts, in his letter, a time when he had to rebuke Peter in Antioch, who had been participating in meals share by Jews and Gentiles together. Only when "certain men" (i.e., probably members of the circumcision party) came to visit did Peter separate himself to eat only with Jewish Christians. By following kosher dietary laws, Peter was demonstrating by his example that the Gentile Christians were incomplete unless they followed Jewish ceremonial laws (e.g., regarding diet, circumcision, holidays, and festivals).

Paul viewed Peter's actions as threatening to the core essence of the gospel: justification by faith alone, because it implied one had to live like a Jew in order to be justified before God, instead of justified alone by faith. In less that 15 years, even the leaders of the early church were led astray from the truth and practice of the gospel.

Verses 15-21

Paul clearly states that one is justified (i.e., counted righteous or declared righteous) before God, not by personal works of the law, but by faith alone in Jesus Christ (verse 16). He is quite emphatic when he affirms: "No one will be justified by the works of the law!" (verse 17).

Even if while living under this free gift of grace and freedom in the gospel of Christ one should sin, this does not invalidate the gospel (verse 17). The truth is that God forgives sinners and justifies all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10).

Sermon Notes:

To emphasize the above point, we recalled this popularized parable:

A person dies and appears before Peter at the pearly gates of heaven. Peter asks: why should I let you in?

What would be your answer? If we rely on our works, then we will fall back under the curse of the law, which demands that we be perfect to be righteous. The law, the one given to Moses at Mt. Sinai (see Exodus 19-20), is God's perfect and holy will as to how his covenant people should live. The law, however, cannot save. It serves to set the moral standard and reveal our inability to attain it. It is like a mirror that reveals our sin and our desperate need for a Savior. If none can keep the law, then who can be saved?! The answer is no one -- unless you have a Savior.

In Christ Jesus we have forgiveness of sins, and, through faith, we receive his righteous standing with God through the Holy Spirit. It is kind of like having the ultimate Monopoly "Get Out of Jail Free" card.

Yet, we do not use this freedom to live for ourselves. Instead, we live for God out of love and gratitude for all that he has done for us in Christ Jesus. Why then, Paul argues, would you want to return to trying to keep the law (which you can't)? It doesn't make sense, nor are you able. You will just be re-enslaved into despair under the weight and conviction of your own sinfulness.

We will learn more about this freedom we have in Christ in chapter three.

Next Installment: Galatians - Chapter Three.

-- Pastor Jeff

Galatians -- Chapter One

2010-06-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Verses 1-5

Paul writes his letter to the churches of Galatia: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium Lystra, and Derbe, cf. Acts 16:6ff -- after his first missionary journey to them (47/48 A.D.).

False teachers had raised questions as to Paul's credentials: should Paul be identified as an apostle?

We read in Matthew 10:2 that Jesus appointed 12 disciples, whom he also named "apostles" (i.e., sent ones) so that they might be sent out to preach. After Judas Iscariot hangs himself, in Acts 1:21-26 we read that Peter called a meeting of the 120 person who followed Jesus to cast lots for a new apostle to complete their numbers again to twelve. The condition of qualification was that he needed to "have accompanied the 12 during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us" (Acts 1:21-22).

Of note is that Barnabas and Paul were both referred to as apostles (Acts 14:14). Paul often referred to himself as an "apostle to the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13). Paul reasserts his credentials in verses 11-24. Paul was not sent by the 12 or anyone else, but by the risen Lord Jesus Christ himself, who appeared to him on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9). The message that Paul proclaims was received directly from the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12). Paul offers, too, the evidence of his complete transformation from being a violent persecutor of the church of God, trying to destroy it, to becoming a preacher of Christ Jesus as additional evidence to his call and revelation.

From verses 6-10 we catch a glimpse of what the trouble is in the church. Visiting preachers are persuading the Galatians that they should require circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic law in order to be justified before God (see Galatians 4:17; 6:12-13). Such additions are a distortion of the gospel of Christ (verse 7) and really no gospel at all.

Additional thoughts:

Paul gives us some biographical information that is echoed in his letter to the Philippians (see chapter 3) and in the book of Acts (see chapter 22 and 26).

Saul, a Jew (tribe of Benjamin), was born in Tarsus in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) but raised and educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel.
Saul trained and lived as a Pharisee and surpassed most of his peers in both knowledge and zeal and adherence to the Law.
Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7) and began persecuting the believers of Jesus by having them arrested and brought to Jerusalem for trial and punishment (Acts 8)
Saul encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus (Acts 9) and changed.
Saul, immediately following his conversion, went away into Arabia and returned to Damascus. After three years he went to Jerusalem to visit Peter for 15 days. Then Saul traveled to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Next installment: Galatians - Chapter Two

- Pastor Jeff

Russia mission updates - Monday, June 14, 2010

2010-06-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 14, 2010

Summary: First day of class with 6, no make it 8 students.

Details: I was up again at 5 AM. I had coffee, wrote in my blog, had some quiet time, cleaned up and walked up to the church where we are teaching our English Bible Camp. We did large group introductions of the American team: “My name is Pastor James and I lead group 4.” We sang two songs and then went to our first English class.

Our first task was “introductions.” I introduced myself to my six students and my translator. It was fun to show them the banner in the sanctuary with “Jesus loves me” in Russian. Using a beach ball globe, I asked why would a Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, Utah have such a thing on our banner. It was fun to hear them guess why, and they were very quiet when I explained we have a long history of summer mission trips to Russia. (Denise, thanks again for helping with the photos and printing!) I showed photos of my family and hobbies. All of this was to help them relax and think of what they wanted to say. They introduced themselves, told us about their families, and talked about their hobbies.

They had crafts, a game time, and then lunch. We gained two more students at the start of the second English class. They introduced their names, and we were into the Bible story about the birth of Jesus. We reviewed vocabulary and then read the story together. We asked questions, did a maze about the birth of Jesus, and colored a picture of the manger. I awarded prizes for two of them.

This was followed with a planning session for our drama on Friday, a time singing in the larger group, and 15 minutes of the “Jesus for Children” video. We had tea and their parents picked them up. I felt our first day went very smoothly. I very much appreciate my translator. Her name is Heli, but said like our English “Haley.” She is only 16 years old, finishing high school, and hoping to go to the university to study English and become a professional translator.

We met as a large team from 4-5 PM and evaluated things. Little problems exist, but these should be easily solved. Dinner at 5:30 was followed by an American team meeting. I have hastily typed these lines so that I can hike back to the town center and send this email.

Russia mission updates - Sunday, June 13, 2010

2010-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Summary: Church in St. Petersburg, shopping, meetings and more meetings

Details: I am up at 5 AM. It is raining this morning. I am glad to have more coffee this morning while I write my blog. At 8 AM we hiked over to the bus stop and retraced our steps via public bus and subway to the center of St. Petersburg. Pastor Lief was our host for the morning. His wife prepared bilini for all of us -- 18 people and a homeless man he found outside on the street. It was delicious! We ate and then joined their English service at 10 AM.

The service used the 1941 Lutheran Hymnal and the liturgy seemed to be from close to the same era. Pastor Lief preached a refreshingly positive sermon about God’s call in our lives. I think there would have only been ten or so people without our group. He seemed glad to have a full house.

The Ingrian Lutheran Church is three blocks from the Church of the Spilt Blood. One of the largest souvenir markets is near that church, and so we walked over to shop. Pastor Lief warned us not to pay the first price because they will bargain as you walk away. Oy! There are maybe 80 stands and many of them have the same things. Much of it caters to American tourists. I watched as one of the Minnesota team members bought nesting dolls (matrioska) in Minnesota Viking uniforms. The inside dolls had Brett Farve, Peterson, etc. He paid 1,000 rubles ($33).

While I was shopping one, of the vendors asked me what I thought of Obama. I tried to give a noncommital answer, and he started an intense conversation about politics and corruption in Russia. He asked where I was from, and when I said Salt Lake City, he asked what I thought of Mormons. I told him I was Lutheran and he asked me what the difference was between the Mafia and the Mormon Church. I was quite surprised by this question and asked him why he asked it. He said he could see no difference. Both the Mafia and the Mormon Church take 10-15% to further their own empires. I asked how the Mafia functioned locally, and he replied they protected businesses for their fee and that the government also took their fees. He would like to open a store, but it would cost him $40,000 in fees total but paid to both groups. I asked how he was doing, and he said he had a wife and children and that he could not afford to put his little one in a preschool because there were more “enrollment fees.” Everyone has to pass on their expenses. He warned me that those who complain too loudly usually have an accident… I was glad for this long and heartfelt conversation. Pray against the corruption in Russia!

We had an incident while returning to Koltushe. Two of the women lost their focus for just a few seconds as we pushed through the crowded streets on the way to the subway. They walked past the subway entrance and got lost. Fourteen of us huddled in the entrance while Sally and Bill searched them out.

We returned to the seminary and began team meetings at 3 PM. We met with our Russian translators and began to talk about procedures for the camp. The big news for the day is that we now have 47 registered for classes. Dinner was at 5:30. We had two more meetings and I must confess others noticed I was nodding off. I’m still dealing with jetlag. Michael and I agreed we were still real men if we went to bed before 10.

Russia mission updates - Saturday, June 12, 2010

2010-06-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Summary: Bus tour, 3 hours in the Hermitage Museum, and an hour and a half team meeting

Details: I was awake again by 4 AM. It is hard to sleep when it is this light outside. I really wanted coffee this morning! Michael, my roommate, made it down for coffee and instant oatmeal for breakfast by 6 AM. Michael is an interesting fellow. He is 52 and serves as associate pastor in Modesto, California in an LCMC congregation. He has quite the story about how he was treated by his ELCA bishop, and about how this new congregation has loved and cared for he and his wife. It has been good to hear his story.

The rest of our team arrived by bus about 8 AM. Twenty or so folk have already taught two full weeks of camp at Petrozavodsk. It sounds like an amazing camp. With signed permission slips from parents, they teach released time English Bible in the public schools. EEMN has done this for 15 years with full approval from the district Minister of Education. Petrozavodsk is so far north that they get very few visitors with native English. The English Bible Camps provide an opportunity for their children to spend a week interacting with American English, and so the Minister of Education -- she is an atheist -- doesn’t care about the content of the curriculum as long as it is not anti-government. Many of the English faculty from the school help as translators, and so they also hear the Gospel. The team is free to share the gospel and love the kids. Many people are moving forward in lives of quiet discipleship. The Ingrian Church gains enormous social capital because they can bring these important guests in to serve their children year after year. Our presence is so much more important than just sending money!

We left at 9 AM for a brief bus tour of the city. Our tour guide was Pastor Lief Camp, an American who came to St. Petersburg as a Missouri Synod missionary. He transferred to the roster of the Ingrian Lutheran Church after marrying a woman from St. Petersburg. We drove past lots of important sites and stopped briefly to photograph a few. Our bus driver promised us a cheap souvenir shop and we agreed to go. The prices were not cheaper! The driver is getting an obvious kickback from their sales. This is how much business gets done in Russia! We arrived in the big square near the Hermitage at 11:30 and had an hour to find lunch on our own. The shops close to the museum have servers who speak English, and I didn’t hear of anyone having difficulties. Two small bilini (crêpes) and a carbonated water cost 300 rubles (about $10).

We met back in the square and waited in a long line to enter the museum. You have to pay a much higher entrance fee if you want to use your camera. They don’t allow any flash. The museum is housed in what was the Winter Palace. St. Petersburg was built originally on a swamp and was crisscrossed with canals as the “Venice of the north.” The czars intended the city to be Russia’s face for Europe and they spared no expense trying to impress their European neighbors. They hired the best European architects and spent lavish amounts of money on public buildings to show their strength and high level of culture. It is a beautiful and impressive place.

Michael and I stayed with the group for a while, and then moved off at a quicker pace. We saw less than ten percent of the collection. Wow! It would take days to appreciate the architecture and view the entire collection. We managed to see two paintings by Leonardo DaVinci, a huge number of sixteenth century religious paintings, and the armor hall. There were several suits of armor from sixteenth century Germany. (There is no way Luther could have fit in any of the ones we saw :) ).

We left the museum at 4 PM and found the square off-limits as they prepared for a concert in honor of their new national independence day. More than 100,000 people would attend, and many were already on their way. This meant that dinner on our own was especially adventurous. The restaurants were stuffed with concert goers, and we settled for anything we could get into. Michael and I ate Subway sandwiches. This feels really odd here! At 6 PM we gathered to take public transportation back to Koltushe. We went down a very long escalator, boarded our train, rode until the second stop, changed trains and rode again to the second stop. We took an equally long escalator to the surface, found our bus, and rode about 20 minutes to the stop near the seminary. We braved the mosquitoes in our shortcut through the woods and had a five-minute break before our team meeting at 8 PM. The meeting was mercifully brief, and we were free to find our beds. I stayed awake until 10:30 to push back against the jetlag. I was very glad to finally hit the sheets.

Russia mission updates - Friday, June 11, 2010

2010-06-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 11, 2010

Summary: Seven hours of class and a hike to the internet café

Details: I slept well for 7 hours. Although it was only 4:15 AM, it was already light outside. Fondly remembering Dan and Teri Nestel and our mission trip to Kiev in 2006, I was prepared with Folgers single serving coffee bags. There is filtered water in the kitchen, a Braun hot-pot, and I enjoyed a couple cups of coffee as I typed the first part of this blog. My MacBook loves the 240 volt current and recharges much quicker than at home. Thanks, Eric and Jennifer, for the adapter! Breakfast was at 8:30 and consisted of oatmeal and jam.

We spent the day in classes learning more about the Ingrian Lutheran Church, the history of EEMN, how our English language Bible camp fits in to serving the Ingrian Lutheran congregations, and about some of the difference between American and Russian cultures. We had three hours of class in the morning, and then mystery fish for lunch. We had two and a half hours of class in the afternoon. I walked one and a half miles during my afternoon break to send my first blog post from an internet café / billiard hall in the Koltushe town square. I got lots of funny looks because I did not fit in with the 20-something crowd hanging around shooting pool. Dinner was at 5:30, and it was served on smaller plates than lunch: It was a rice casserole with very small chunks of meat. We had an hour and a half of class on Friday evening. We still have some jetlag, and Bill says it helps to stay very busy. It was a long day and I was glad for bed again. I lasted until 10:15 PM.

Galatians Overview - Luther

2010-06-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

Paul's letter to the Galatians has been referred to as the "Magna Charta of Christian Liberty." Martin Luther declared that the Book of Galatians is "my epistle to which I am betrothed. It is my Katie von Bora (his wife)."

Luther's lectures on Galatians fills two volumes. He was very prolific in his exegesis. Below is an excerpt of his dedication (1535) to his lectures:

"We have taken it upon ourselves in the Lord's name to lecture on this Epistle of Paul to the Galatians once more. This is not because we want to teach something new or unknown, for by the grace of God Paul is now very well known to you. But it is because, as I often warn you, there is a clear and present danger that the devil may take away from us the pure doctrine of faith and may substitute for it the doctrines of works and of human traditions. It is very necessary, therefore, that this doctrine of faith be continually read and heard in public. No matter how well known it may be or how carefully learned, the devil, our adversary, who prowls around and seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), is not dead. Our flesh also goes on living. Besides, temptations of every sort attack and oppress us on every side. Therefore this doctrine can never be discussed and taught enough. If it is lost and perishes, the whole knowledge of truth, life, and salvation is lost and perishes at the same time. But if it flourishes, everything good flourishes -- religion, true worship, the glory of God, and the right knowledge of all things and of all social conditions. To keep from doing nothing, we shall begin again where we broke off, according to the saying (Ecclus. 18:7): 'When a man has finished, he is just beginning.'" (Luther's Works, vol. 26, Concordia Publishing House: 1963).

I'm looking forward to studying Paul's letter to the Galatians with you these next six weeks.

- Pastor Jeff

My Daughter's Graduation Letter

2010-05-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Today is my daughter's 19th birthday. It is also the eve of her graduation. We were asked, as parents, to write personal letters to our graduates, which they will read after tonight's rehearsal in preparation for tomorrow's ceremony. What to say?

I remember the small, fragile and precious life who was so dependent upon us for survival. She had pneumonia in both lungs as an infant, just 8-10 weeks after her birth. My wife and I spent many nights sleeping upright, in the rocker, holding her upright so she could breathe, praying fervently entrusting her to the Lord's care. Many tears were shed. I could feel her every heart beat, hear every slightest breath.

Now, I am in that similar place again, fervently entrusting my daughter to the Lord's care. She is much older now, a young woman of faith, grace, and beauty. She is a marvel in so many ways -- a real blessing. Many tears are privately shed -- most out of gratitude, some still in fear.

I've learned through the years that the Lord is good and trustworthy. There is no better place for my children to be than in the Lord's hands. It's hard to let go, though. It's like watching her learn to ride a bicycle for the first time: "I can do it, Dad, it's okay, you can let go, you don't have to hold on so tight." I am in that place again. Mostly proud, a little fearful as she enters the young adult world to explore the future, plans, hopes, and promises God has for her.

I think she is prepared. She has a secure sense of self, her heart, abilities, and desires. She knows she is deeply loved and she loves the Lord. She has a beautiful heart refined by wisdom and growing life experience. I know she has the personal fortitude to meet the challenges ahead.

When my parents dropped me off for my first day at college (they told me later), they waved and said goodbye with affirming, strong hugs, smiles and encouraging words only to drive around the corner, stop the car, and weep. I understand, now.

Sweetheart, my dear daughter, you are very precious to me. Your dad loves you. Thank you, Lord, for the precious gift of a beautiful daughter. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and faithfulness to her. She remains, as she was in the early days of her life, in your strong hands and close to my heart.

-- Pastor Jeff

Spiritual Formation -- A Primer with Tom Ashbrook

2010-05-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

Pastor Jeff's note: As a follow up to our "Discovery" workshop. I stumbled upon this PDF of the article below on the Imago Christi's website. I would like to share it with you, since we plan to host another "Discovery" either in the Fall 2010 or Winter 2011. Tom's book and a "mapping tool" are available from Amazon.com or by contacting the author directly (tom.ashbrook@crmleaders.org). Enjoy reading!

Conversations Journal, Spring 2007

“The Right Disciplines at the Right Time: Understanding the Journey with Teresa of Avila” by Tom Ashbrook

I was sitting at Holy Trinity Abbey in Huntsville, Utah, staring off toward the craggy snow-capped mountains, wondering what this turn of events in my life might mean. A year earlier, a Trappist Monastery would have been the last place I would have thought of going; now, I couldn‟t stay away. While I had once thought of myself as a mature Christian leader, I now realized that the God of the Bible was a huge mystery to me. What had once been a fairly satisfying spiritual walk, (as long as things were going well), had now become a deep longing, a restless dissatisfaction, and a foggy confusion about what God was up to in my life. I felt that there must be more, much more, to this life with God, but what?

I soon realized that I was not alone in my hunger and thirst or in my confusion. Like many others in the past few decades, I had begun to explore the ancient spiritual disciplines, discovering the wonderful truth that, when we make space for God to speak into our lives, He meets us and we are touched and blessed. For me, the disciplines of solitude, silence, and contemplation, learned at Holy Trinity Abbey, set me on the path of ongoing discovery of what God had in store for my relationship with Him. But why was I only just discovering this now? Shouldn‟t I have been practicing these disciplines all along? Teresa of Avila‟s writings were soon to provide the answer to that question.

The assumption behind my question was that the practice of spiritual disciplines must be a principle or program – a one-to-one equation of cause and affect. “If I do this, then God will do that. The more I work these disciplines, the more I will become holy or effective. The truth is, of course, that the Holy Spirit works the transformation of spiritual growth. We can cooperate, but we can‟t make it happen. Spiritual disciplines often need to be done in quite different ways as spiritual growth happens in us. So, despite a new emphasis on spiritual disciplines today, it may be that many of us have been doing “the right disciplines” but at the wrong time. How can we tell?

The difficulty is that we may be confused about the journey of faith. Many of us have no real understanding about the path of spiritual growth beyond the foundational practices of basic discipleship. Once we have committed our lives to Christ; studied and learned the fundamental truths of Scripture; developed a regular practice of prayer; discovered our spiritual gifts; joined a small group; and gotten to work in some program in the church, then what? That was just my condition as I sat at the Monastery in Utah. As I was to find out, there are a lot of “then whats” ahead of me, enough for a lifetime! For me, some clarity began in those years at the Monastery, when I was introduced to the amazingly simple but profound outline of our spiritual journey, the Seven Mansions described by Teresa of Avila. Once I understood the path of our journey and my place along the way, I began to realize why I was so hungry for the new disciplines of solitude and silence, and why they could be used to accomplish in me now that could not have happened before.

Teresa of Avila and the Seven Mansions of Spiritual Formation

You may be asking, “Who in the world is Teresa of Avila”? We‟ll just do a sketch here, but a good history can be found in the introduction to her collected works. Teresa was born on March 28, 1515, in Avila, Spain, in a well-to-do, noble family. Despite chronic health problems she entered the Carmelite order that focused on a life of prayer. At about forty years old, she underwent a “second conversion,” related to reading the Confessions of Augustine. Her faith was strengthened and a deep relationship with God in Christ flourished.

With her new zeal for Christ, Teresa became increasingly critical of the church and monastic communities of her time, feeling that they had yielded to the norms of secular society. So, in 1562 she founded the Convent of St. Joseph in Avila, which followed faithfully the values of simplicity, poverty, and charity to undergird the formation of a life that was truly given to loving God in prayer. Other similar monasteries were soon established. Teresa also founded convents of friars, having as her collaborator, John of the Cross. She became a prolific writer to communicate her insights about spiritual growth. Of particular interest to our topic is Teresa‟s Interior Castle, written at age sixty-two.

Teresa was known as an excellent manager and waged a long and ultimately successful struggle to have the “Discalced” (barefoot) Carmelites separated from the older order. The reawakening of religious fervor that she brought about in Spain was amazing! Soon after her death the movement spread beyond Spain and across Christendom, having a profound effect on the church of her time. She was canonized in 1622, becoming the first woman “Doctor of the Church.”

We see from Teresa‟s life that she was not an “ivory tower” mystic who was separated from the difficulties of life or the challenges of the world. Teresa might be considered a “church planter” in her own church culture, a gifted leader and organizer, and the spiritual director for hundreds of ordinary people. She faced the many of the same issues that we face today in our changing culture, and her insights were born out of her daily walk with God in the context of pain and struggle. While many of us may not be impressed with canonization or doctoral titles, they show that the church of her time deeply affirmed her faith and spiritual insights. These insights have been studied and explored by Christians of all walks ever since.

One day, Teresa was asked by her superiors to write an explanation about the progressive development of one‟s spiritual life. As she prayed about her assignment, she received a picture of the believer‟s as a beautiful castle. It was made of a single diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many concentric rooms, just as in heaven there are many mansions. In the center of the crystal castle is the “Sun” illuminating outward. Teresa envisioned that as we grow in our spiritual relationship with Christ, we are drawn closer to this divine Sun, being transformed into His likeness and a deep intimacy and cooperation with Him. In the Seventh Mansion, the center, the King of Glory lives in great splendor and illumines and adorns all the dwellings as far as the outer ring. So, closer we move toward the center, the more intense His light. Our journey is not linear, but we are like pilgrims who travel here and there, explore this region and that, but are drawn closer and closer in our relationship with God by the power of His love. Although Teresa does not directly quote the passage, it is obvious that Jesus‟ encouragements about eternal reality deeply informed both Teresa‟s image and her understanding of how God works in our present spiritual growth:

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3. NASU

There are subtle but important insights here that is foundational in understanding Teresa‟s description of our spiritual journey. First, it happens in our interior relationship with God. The Trinity indwells us and we experience Him “inside.” While most Christians would affirm God‟s presence in us, we often talk and think as if He were “up there,” or “out there.” We use phrases like “God showed up,” as if He weren't present all the time. We really mean to say that we experienced His presence, but the language betrays our tendency to look exteriorly for relationship and communication with God. Teresa says that we experience God, not only in outward circumstances, but mainly within. The second important truth in this passage is that it is Jesus who comes to us and takes us onward. It is not up to us to make our own way.

This description of the seven mansions of spiritual growth provides a framework in which to understand various stages of the work of the Spirit and of our cooperation with Him. Her paradigm is amazingly simple, paralleling the two main movements of human development in every culture: growing up into adulthood followed by falling in love and getting married. Teresa described these mansions as they are reflected in our prayer life, in our relationship to others, and in the physical, emotional and spiritual transformations that take place in each mansion. Deepening intimacy with the Trinity and the resulting fire of love produces our desire and the power that transforms and restores the image of God within us. Teresa agrees with many mystics of her time that the very goal of spiritual transformation is a love relationship with God. While holiness, service for God, and wholeness are certainly important aspects of spiritual maturity, Teresa sees them as byproducts which naturally flow out of an increasing and loving union with God.

Well, let‟s take a journey through the Teresian Mansions, describing the stages or phases of our spiritual growth as we go. As you imagine each mansion, try to recall times when you might have visited or even lived in that mansion. Remember that the journey is not as linear as it may sound; we explore and visit and return and then, visit again, and then move on a little deeper toward increased intimacy with God. While Teresa did not entitle the mansions, I find the following titles helpful to understand their progression.

FIRST MANSION - Saved Yet With a Worldly Focus

The First Mansion is where we hear and respond to the Gospel of God‟s love and forgiveness in Christ and become a Christian. We make our initial discoveries about the Kingdom of God, through Scripture and Christian relationships, and began to learn what it means to be in the world, but not of it. Our focus, however, is largely on getting God‟s help to obtain the things we haven‟t been able to get for ourselves and seeking God for deliverance from the addictions that have been causing us so much pain. Despite our growth in the First Mansion, the true light of Christ is hard to discern, and demonic and self-deception is great. But God continues to draw us to Himself by responding to our prayerful calls for help. Our faith deepens. The exhortations in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and James 4:1-4 reflect the issues we face in this First Mansion of our Christian journey.

SECOND MANSION - Divided Loyalties - The Battle Between the Kingdom of God and the World

In the Second Mansion, we have come to earnestly desire to live life God‟s way. But the pull of the world with its false pleasures and gratifications is still strong. The conflicts of loyalty become more intense, as we face our significantly mixed motives. We experience increased spiritual attack. The enemy hammers away with the deception that the world, rather than God, is the source of security, significance, and happiness. Hopefully, our struggles draw us more deeply into prayer where God touches our heart with His love and draws us onward into a deeper relationship of trust. The Second Mansion, however, usually doesn't feel much like spiritual growth. The struggles and conflicts feel more like back-sliding, and it is often a time of discouragement as we experience our share of failures. But God is relentless in His faithfulness and love and calls us closer. Galatians 5:16-25 and Ephesians 6:10-18 illustrate some of the issues we face in the Second Mansion.

THIRD MANSION – Discipleship - Life in Order

Teresa makes a huge jump from the Second Mansion to the Third because she wants to spend time on the later mansions of spiritual transformation. Now, we have developed a relatively balanced life of “discipleship.” Put in contemporary terms, our spiritual growth is marked by regular church attendance and ministry, consistent prayer, concerted effort to live the Christian life, and a genuine desire to please and honor God. While the temptations of the world are still real, the more subtle temptations of pride, jealously, envy, etc., are more threatening. God continues to meet us in our study of the Word, worship, sermons, and difficult events, calling us deeper into prayer. Our prayers are still dominated by requests for God‟s favors and thanks for His blessings. While major issues of sin and addiction may have been overcome, we are being enlightened at a deeper level regarding the depth of sin and the mixed motives that still lie within. Our life in the Third Mansion is focused on serving God faithfully and most of us spend many years here as our “home” mansion. It is interesting to note that the attributes of the Third Mansion are often all that we are taught in our discipling process. Salvation, assurance, godly living, and ministry can be seen as “all there is.” But Teresa says that we aren‟t even half-way to what God has for us. There is more, much more! Look at Ephesians 4:1-3 and Philippians 2:12-16 as examples of Third Mansion life.

FOURTH MANSION - Touched by Love

In the Fourth Mansion, God begins to reveal Himself to us through profound touches of His love and presence. We are given the beginnings of grace to “see” and “feel” God in prayer and in daily life. Our attention is shifted more toward the Giver than the gifts, and we find a longing for deeper intimacy with Him and a correspondingly greater desire to love others.

Supernatural experiences in prayer begin here, according to Teresa. At the same time, however, we see more clearly just how wounded we are and begin to realize and confront the difficulty we have in loving and being loved freely. It is in the Fourth Mansion where God begins to “set the agenda” for our prayer times, and our desire to listen increases. Teresa calls this new responsiveness in prayer “infused contemplation” because it is given to us by God. We begin to “taste the love of Jesus” in a way not experienced before. One of the troubling “symptoms” of journeying in the Fourth Mansion is an impatience with exhortations to work harder and do more. Worship songs and hymns of love speak to our hearts, while more Bible knowledge, “practical” sermons, or classes may feel dry and unfulfilling. The Fourth Mansion is an exciting time, but only a taste of what is ahead! Read over Philippians 3:7-11and John 21:15-17 to gain a better insight into our journey in the Fourth Mansion.

FIFTH MANSION - The Call to Union

The Fifth Mansion is a time of transition where our discipleship focus moves even further from “doing” to “being,” from serving to loving. God calls us to begin to experience the fulfillment the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17, the call to union with God. Listening prayer has become a regular part of our experience, with times of deep and adoring silence, times of just being with God. A hunger for God deepens and intensifies, and our motives are purified. In this mansion, Teresa says that our “Mary and Martha” have learned to work together as worship and work have become intertwined and balanced, both as an experience of God‟s love and as an act of loving Him in others. There is a growing awareness of God‟s holiness compared to our own sinfulness that increases our humility. Because of this new awareness, we often feel dissatisfied with our ability to really serve God fully enough to express our love for Him. While there may have been temptation to feel self-satisfied with the successes and growth in the earlier mansions, we are now more aware of how far there is to go. As we, the “beloved,” desire to love God more purely, we become more aware of our woundedness and yearn for healing that will give us freedom to love and to be loved more fully. Like the Second Mansion, the Fifth may not “feel” much like growth to us. Teresa believes that most Christians enter the Fifth Mansion to some extent, but may retreat back because they haven‟t been taught about this sometimes frightening dimension of life with God. Romans 8:38-39 and John 17:20-26 describe many of the experiences that become foundational in the Fifth Mansion.

SIXTH MANSION - Spiritual Betrothal - Falling in Love With God Alone

The Sixth Mansion is marked by even deeper experiences of God‟s transforming love with a corresponding passion to serve Him in love. This “falling-head-over-heel-in-love” phase in our relationship with God produces both great joy and great pain. There is now a desire to live with God alone, to sense His presence continually, and to serve Him in utter responsiveness and obedience. Times of prayer can become intense experiences of the fire and passion of God‟s love and our love for Him. In these last two mansions, the “dark nights,” described by John of the Cross, are also experienced, where God can seem totally absent or hidden. But even with the presence of the dark nights, the Sixth Mansion is characterized by a deep longing for God and a “counting as loss” those things that don‟t facilitate greater intimacy and devotion. Psalm 27:4-6 and Philippians 3:12-14 express the intensity of this phase of our spiritual formation.

SEVENTH MANSION - Mystical/Transforming Union

The Seventh Mansion represents the ultimate in intimacy with God that we can experience in this life. It is marked by a complete integration of mind, body, and spirit, in the life of Christ. Mary and Martha have become one. We can truly say with the Apostle Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Life in this mansion is a leveling time, with less pronounced highs and lows, where we live continually and transcendently in the present moment, in the fullness of Christ‟s love. Here we find a relative perfection, combined with a freedom to truly be ourselves. Strengths and weaknesses are all opportunities for the experience of the ongoing transformation that comes through union with Christ. As with the former mansions, the Seventh Mansion represents an ongoing process rather than a destination. We continue to journey more and more intimately into the depths of God‟s love and live out more fully His love for the world. Read Ephesians 3:14-19 and Galatians. 2:20 in light of what we have discussed about the Seventh Mansion and the goal of our life with God.3

Spiritual Disciplines and the Teresian Mansions

Let me tell you a story about the relationship between spiritual disciplines and our understanding of the spiritual formation process. Some years ago, my friend Wayne and I were driving to a dinner meeting. I‟ve known Wayne to be an experienced Christian leader having led many to a new life in Christ. As the drive continued, Wayne shared that he felt like his spiritual life had dried up. While he still had faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, Bible study had become boring, and his prayer life felt like talking to a brick wall. Wayne‟s voice cracked as he said, “I can lead others in discipleship, but it seems that personally, I am stuck.” After a time of silence and reflection for both of us, I asked him, “What are you doing about it?”

“I am memorizing the book of Philippians.”

“Oh, is that book of the Bible less familiar to you?”

“To the contrary, Philippians has been really meaningful for me. God has always spoken powerfully through it. I figure that if I memorize it, God can bring specific passages to mind when I really need that particular truth.”

“Is it working?”

“No.”

“What do you „feel‟ like doing, Wayne?” Another long pause.

“I am ashamed to admit it, but I feel like doing nothing.”

“Would you rather „do nothing‟ with God or without Him?”

“Oh, I‟ve tried the „without‟ part and know better. I guess the nothing would have to be with God.”

“Why don‟t you try it?”

Some months later, Wayne emailed me. “Tom, I am absolutely amazed! As I dropped all my efforts to fix my relationship with God, the dryness gradually lifted! God has shown Himself to me in the most unexpected ways! I‟m beginning to see how much He loves me! Where do I go from here?”

The problem for Wayne wasn't lack of faith or love for God, but a misunderstanding about use spiritual disciplines (which ones and how to use them) as his spiritual journey progressed and his faith matured. He had misinterpreted a deep work of God in his heart (probably in the 4th and 5th Mansions) as “back-sliding” and was miserable from beating himself up. Now, he needed to just listen to God, love Him for who He is, and learn the freedom of a beloved son rather than the “work ethic” of a servant.

You see, as we recognize the true depth of our transformational journey, as Teresa of Avila describes it, we realize that there is much more to being loved by God and loving Him back than simply practicing a set of tasks or disciplines. While we do need to be intentional at every phase of our spiritual growth to cooperate with God in His work in us, and our use of spiritual disciplines will depend upon where we are in process.

Let's use the disciplines of Scripture reading and prayer as examples. In the early Mansions, we need to study Scripture to learn who God is and how to live in His Kingdom. In later Mansions, we need to meditate upon Scripture, listening for God‟s still small voice as He leads us intimately in our walk together. Our prayer life rightly changes from just telling God what we need, to a more listening posture. But to jump into meditation and contemplation before we are ready can be fruitless and frustrating. Early on, issues of obedience are importance disciplines, while later, issues of love and trust become central to living life within the Trinity.

While Teresa of Avila has provided us a road map of sorts, she would be the first to caution us to never try to navigate it ourselves. Jesus says in the John 14 passage that He will come to us and take us to where He is. Growth is a matter of listening and responding, yielding and following, loving and being loved in the context of who we are and where we are in process. Wherever we are, no matter how far we have traveled, the most exciting part of our life with God still lies ahead! Maybe there are spiritual disciplines that we haven‟t even discovered yet!

Biographical Sketch about the Author:

Tom serves as Team Leader for Imago Christi, a spiritual formation ministry of Church Resources Ministries and is Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Spiritual Formation Partners, a community of pastors and spiritual directors, in the Denver, CO area. He received his doctorate in spiritual formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary (Portland, Oregon), after serving as a Lutheran pastor for 26 years. Tom and his team develop spiritual formation resources and provide coaching for Christian leaders around the world. See www.ImagoChristi.org.

May 23rd - Sermon Texts

2010-05-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Pentecost is 50 days after Passover. It is the second of the annual harvest festivals. It is the time, in the life of the church calendar that we celebrate the birth of the church and the entering of a new age ("final days") as we await the return of Christ.

In the life of Good Shepherd, we also celebrate our 9th graders who have completed a 3-year discipleship process and are ready to stand before the congregation and confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. These confirmands (i.e., confirmed in faith) will be celebrated during the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Worship Service.

Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit comes, as promised by Jesus (Acts 1:5, 8), with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, filling the house, and divided tongues of fire appeared to the disciples and rested upon them. The Holy Spirit is often likened, in the Bible, to wind or fire -- both conotate the holy and pure presence of God.

The Holy Spirit, of course, was active in the world from the beginning (Genesis 1:2), but now is coming to people in a new, more powerful way, as signifying the beginning of the new covenant age established in Jesus' death and resurrection until his return. No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3).

The disciples began to speak in other tongues "as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4) so that Jews, "devout men from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:6) heard them speaking in his own language.

Peter refers to the prophet Joel (chapter 2) as scriptural proof that what was happening was in fulfillment of the scriptures which prophesied the final days before Christ's return. "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). Thus, began the evangelism of the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 104

The Psalmist reminds his listeners that all creatures everywhere depend on the Lord's grace for daily provision of life's essentials. "When you send forth your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the ground" (Psalm 104:30). As the congregation of God's children, we are encouraged to admire and trust God, the Creator and Ruler of all, to praise Him from our whole heart.

Romans 8:18-30

The Apostle Paul writes that the Holy Spirit has revealed the glory of God's children, from bondage to freedom. This first adoption is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The redemption of our bodies will happen when Christ returns, at the End of Days, to judge the earth and gather the elect to dwell with him forever.

John 14

The Holy Spirit, one with Jesus and Father, is the helper sent in Jesus' name to teach the disciples of Jesus all things and bring to remembrance what Jesus said and did. The Spirit also brings peace.

Through the Spirit we have been grafted into the vine (John 15) and now abide in Christ, invited into the fellowship that is enjoyed with the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

-- Pastor Jeff

May 16th - Sermon Texts

2010-05-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

The practice of the public reading of Scripture using fixed or scheduled lessons from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament Epistles, and Gospels developed early in the life of the church as early as the 3rd century with extant documentation by the 8th century.

Our practice at Good Shepherd is to read from a fixed, 3-year lectionary of scheduled readings for different Sundays and festivals during the church calendar, sharing a common lectionary with Anglicans and Lutherans world-wide.

The texts for May 16th are:

Acts 16:16-34

Here we read of Paul and Silas in Philippi (a Roman colony in Macedonia) on their way to a place of prayer near the river. There is evidently no established synagogue within the city, only a handful of believers. They are encountered by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, i.e., a spirit who could tell people secrets about their lives. Paul commands the spirit to leave the girl "in the name of Jesus." The spirit departs. Jesus' authority in the spiritual realm is recognized and obeyed.

The girl's owners are incensed over their loss of future financial profit and unjustly charge Paul and Silas before local magistrates. What is notable is the injustice suffered. There is no instigation to confirm the accusation. They are simply judged and punished (stripped and beaten with rods) and imprisoned (their feet in stocks) on the spot.

During the night, Paul and Silas continued to pray and sing hymns to God. Other prisoners were listening to them. What did they speak and sing? No one knows. It is, however, evidence of the strong presence of the Holy Spirit filling their hearts with joy and praise even in such difficult circumstances. God's presence suddenly shakes the prison's foundations (like an earthquake) and unfastens everyone's bonds, opening every door.

The jailer and his entire family believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are baptized in the jail that very night. He washes Paul and Silas' wounds and brings them into his house to celebrate.

Psalm 97

The Psalm extols the power of God's presence and the universal sovereignty of his kingship. The Lord is lord of all and reigns over all -- in heaven and on earth. His power is imagined like a fierce and mighty lightning and thunder storm that shakes the foundations of the earth. God's righteousness will prevail in his world. His people will experience his care and protection in their lives; therefore, they can willingly rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to his holy name, as God fills their lives with light and joy.

We can see that Paul and Silas have experienced exactly this "light and joy" in their situation in a Philippian jail.

Revelation 22

John receives, in his vision, the promise that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon and will establish his righteousness and justice upon the earth, bringing his judgment and recompense to repay everyone for what they have done. The evil will not inherit the new kingdom, but will be left outside. Those who remain faithful will experience God's heavenly reward of life and joy. The readers of this vision are encouraged to consider their own spiritual hunger and thirst and to come to the Lord, the true Alpha and Omega (Beginning and End) for fulfillment.

We can see that the Philippian jailer and his family also recognized their own spiritual hunger and thirst in his question to Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul's answer was, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." Their joy was immediate in knowing that their salvation was both present and secure.

John 17:20-26

Jesus' prayer, to the Father, is that all who will believe in him (as the Son of God) will be one with him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. This is a profound request and statement. In Christ, we are recreated to be in full fellowship with the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus wants us to be one with him as he is with the Father. WOW!

I do not pretend to fully comprehend this mystery and great gift. The eternal, uncreated, infinite, almighty, majestic and glorious God wants to be one with me?! What the Father is, the Son is, the Holy Spirit is ... all in intimate relationship with each other ... and I am invited to be one with this God?!

Paul, himself, stated that he had a vision of the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). It was so sublime, it defied words. How is this type of profound, mystical union possible?

Well ... that is the story of Pentecost (May 23rd)!

- Pastor Jeff

Spiritual Formation Discovery Workshop

2010-05-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

On May 11-13, 2010 we hosted an Imago Christi spiritual formation retreat named "Discovery." Below is a description on the event taken from Imago Christi's website.

Spiritual Formation Discovery for Leaders:

Objective: We have learned personally and historically that the spiritual formation of church leaders must precede the spiritual formation of the church itself. We have also learned that the most effective way for leaders to make a paradigm shift in their leadership is through an intensive experiential group process resulting in a shift in understanding of one’s spiritual formation. We have therefore, developed (and are still perfecting) a group retreat process using a “spiritual timeline” and comparing it to the Teresian Paradigm and planning for ongoing personal spiritual formation. The Discovery process includes looking at one's view of God, personal blocks to spiritual formation, identifying one's longing for deeper intimacy with God, cooperation through abiding prayer and covenant community, and development of a spiritual formation plan.

Plan: Continue to refine the Discovery process, adapting it to various settings and audiences. Develop a Discovery 2, as a follow-up retreat/experience to further explore areas of insight and question identified in the Discovery process.

What I learned:

Spiritual Formation must be intentional -- The time-line is an exercise in identifying past people, events, and circumstances that the Lord has used to grow us, both joyful and painful experiences. Often times, themes emerge that form chapters in our life's spiritual formation. In these chapters of our lives, we often relate to God in certain ways, e.g., God as Redeemer, or God as Provider, or God as Healer, etc. It was in the painful experiences that I grew the most. At one point, in a surrender service, I felt compelled to rewrite all my negative and painful experiences into positives affirmations of how God was wooing me deeper into his heart, revealing his love for me and his trustworthy character.
Prayer is central to growth -- St. Theresa of Avila (16th century) lived in Spain as a contemporary of Martin Luther in Germany. While Luther was mapping orthodox theology, Theresa was mapping the interior of the soul. One first begins to learn to pray with petitions and request and then to develop a discipline of prayer. In the first stages of growth, our prayers involve more our speaking to God. In the later stages of growth, we transition to listening or abiding prayer, as we seek to be fully present to God in the moment to hear his voice through the Spirit. A helpful medium to enable this transition is lectio divina or sacred listening. We read a text from Scripture and either imagine ourselves in the story or allow the story to prompt emotional and image responses. The goal is to discern God's voice speaking to us a personal word. Ultimately the goal is complete communion with God where words are not necessary. One is content to simply dwell in the silent space present to God.
A mentor or listener can be helpful -- A good mentor is primarily a listener and is able to ask good, clarifying questions that help you discern what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. Sometimes, the mentor will help you look at a situation from a different perspective that creates space for the renewing work of the Holy Spirit to create something new in you. The Holy Spirit is the best mentor of all, but a person is helpful. We were created to live in community and, as relational creatures, we need each other.
We need to be "first order" leaders -- A first order calling is to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. It is out of this relationship that we experience and learn how to receive and give love. From this place of intimacy comes a deeply transformed life. Only then, are we able to live in community with each other. First love (God) is linked inextricably to a love of one another. We love as Christ has loved us. The second order calling is not to live in community, but rather, to serve in the world. Community is different from ministry or service. In community, we strengthen, encourage, edify, console, and hold each other accountable to our first love calling: Love the Lord first. A community that is formed along the lines of sacred communion (i.e., a covenant community) is rooted in deep spiritual transformation compared to a community that is formed around a goal or desire to achieve a particular ministry task. It is really out of a covenant community that ministers are effectively sent into the world to be witnesses of Christ's love in word and deed. We see this modeled by our Lord, Jesus Christ, who constantly went to solitary places to pray (commune) with His Father and then taught his disciples, who later were sent into the world.

Thanks to Tom, Larry, and Stella for your leadership, example, and teaching. We are blessed to have shared this experience together with you. We hope to have you return to Good Shepherd in January-February for a follow-up so that more people can join us in this exciting experience.

- Pastor Jeff

Bless the Nations

2010-05-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Psalm 67 calls us deeply into the theology of ancient Israel. Verse 1 invites God to show us his grace and bless us as he shines his face upon us. Nobody prays for a face-to-face encounter if they expect a frowny, grumpy, face of condemnaton. The psalmist expects God’s face to be filled with joy, as a Mother’s face looking tenderly and wonderously into the face of her smiling child. The psalm draws on Genesis 12 in connecting the blessings of God’s people with the blessings of the nations. This psalm is a good backdrop for the very offensive text we find in John 14.

John’s Gospel makes repeated powerful claims about knowing God through Jesus (see 1:18, 5:19, 8:28, 10:28-30, 12:44-45, 14:7). Because Jesus shows us what God is like, we can see God’s face turned towards us in him. Is he smiling or frowning? Is he loving or judging?

John’s Gospel helps us understand salvation can only be through Jesus because God will draw all people to him in and through the cross (12:32). John 14:6 allows no other way for people to be saved. We will and can be saved by Christ alone. The world wants to convince you there are many paths up God’s mountain. This is crapola. (Google the word. I’m not making it up!) If you can be saved by your self effort, good works, or by any other mediator, Jesus was a fool to die on the cross! Jesus himself speaks against such an idea. As did Peter in Acts 4:12. But the narrowness of the way does not define a narrowness of intent! God intends to bless the nations! Who is included when Jesus says he will draw all people to himself?

We see God pushing Paul into wider endeavors to reach the nations in Acts 16.

In Revelation 21:10, 21:22-22:5 we see God is still planning on blessing the nations through the healing leaves of the tree of life.

How are we part of this? We function in this world as Christ’s ambassadors. We represent him to the world. Are we showing God’s frowny face of judgment? Or God’s smiling face of joyful welcome?

May God make us wise as we represent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to our needy and broken world. Amen.

Pastor James

New Preaching Schedule for the Summer 2010!

2010-05-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

After Pentecost Sunday (May 23rd) and Holy Trinity Sunday (May 30th), we will shift to exposition and thematic preaching. We will revert back to lectionary-based preaching for Advent 2010. The schedule (subject to change) is as a follows:

Paul's Letter to the Galatians (Pastor Jeff)

June 6th -- Galatians 1:1 - 2:10
June 13th -- Galatians 2:11 - 4:7 (Part 1)
June 20th -- Galatians 2:11 - 4:7 (Part 2)
June 27th -- Galatians 5
July 4th -- Galatians 6

Paul's Letter to the Colossians (Pastor James)

July 11th -- Colossians 1:1-20
July 18th -- Colossians 1:21 - 2:5
July 25th -- Colossians 2:6-23
August 1st -- Colossians 3

"God's Care for His People" (Pastor Christine)

August 8th -- Rahab (Hebrews 11, Joshua 6, James 2)
August 15th -- Esther - (Book of Esther)
August 22nd --Ruth (Book of Ruth)
August 29th -- Deborah (Judges 4-5)

"The Cost of Discipleship" (Pastoral Intern Jen Cook)

September 5th -- Luke 14

Paul's First Letter to Timothy (All Three Pastors)

September 12th -- 1 Timothy 1 (Pastor Jeff)
September 19th -- 1 Timothy 2 (Pastor James)
September 26th -- 1 Timothy 3 (Pastor Jeff)
October 3rd -- 1 Timothy 4 (Pastor Christine)
October 10th -- VIETNAM / Children of Peace (binh Rybacki)
October 17th -- 1 Timothy 5 (Pastor Christine)
October 24th -- 1 Timothy 6 (Pastor Jeff)

Stand Alone Topics

October 31st -- The Priesthood of All Believers (Pastor Jeff)
November 7th -- Life after Death (Pastor Christine)
November 14th -- End Times, Part 1 (Pastor James)
November 21st -- End Times, Part 2 (Pastor James)

I hope you enjoy the series of sermons coming up. Bring your Bibles to church! Please note, the schedule may be subject to change.

Thanks,

Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE - Summary

2010-04-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

April 30, 2010 (Summary)

I have had a couple of days to digest and distill what I experienced into a few simple thoughts and action items. I find that if I can recall it from memory, it has been integrated into my heart and life.

The LCMC is growing! It has now 403 member congregations in its association, national and international. It has proven, so far, to be a viable and healthy option to mission-minded and orthodox Lutherans.
We need to be readers of God's word daily! Make it a practice to "eat the word" first before you eat your breakfast. This is our heritage as Lutherans: we are readers of the word of God.
As we minister in a now post-modern, post-Christian culture, we will grow through adult conversions. Evangelism must be our top priority. We at Good Shepherd had 11 adult baptisms this past 12 months. Praise God!
The Evangelical Renewal District, as a non-geographical district, is a place for congregations who want to plant new churches and attend to the Holy Spirit. It is a kindred spirit to the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC), which is also Lutheran, and there may be a closer relationship between the two in the near future.
A district functions like a small group for fellowship, accountability, growth, and partnered service. A congregation in the LCMC has the freedom to join all, none, or a few particular districts, both geographical and non-geographical.
About 30 Pastors per week are requesting information on the LCMC! Some are thinking of joining the LCMC roster and others are seeking information.
Many people in churches who failed in their vote to leave the ELCA as a united congregation are simply leaving behind the building and starting their own LCMC church plants, worshiping in homes. WOW! This is back to 1st century discipleship, the early years of the church. It is exciting and inspiring to be around people of such courage, vision, and strength. There is a lot joy and creative enthusiasm among the people. We are part of a life-giving organization of visionary people.
Pastor Christine Nelson is an amazing woman of faith, determination, and perseverance. I am honored to be her colleague and co-worker in the fields of our Lord. She embodies many of the values and qualities of the LCMC.

After the conference, I was able to meet with some other Senior Pastors of LCMC churches. I was greatly encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in their churches. Every church is different, yet all are reaching out to their communities. Here's a few tidbits of what I learned from them.

Few of them use the lectionary (assigned readings). Most have opted for expository preaching (preaching through a book of the Bible) or thematic issues relevant to the community.
All of them have contemporary worship services.
Most take Sunday afternoons to Tuesday mornings off -- their Sabbath's Day's rest. They are available when their people are available, like on Saturdays.
All are using social media: email, blogs, YouTube, Podcasts, websites, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to increase exposure to their ministry and communicate with people.
They are voracious learners and purveyors of best practices from any source it can be found (books, conferences, other churches, etc.).
They are all heavily involved in missions (local and international).
They all are available to help other churches and pastors. They are generous givers of their time.

I am thankful for this experience, for Good Shepherd who has a vision to release their pastors to attend these events for the greater good, and for those, like Pastor James and the staff, who are willing to stay at home and are more than competent to keep things moving toward life and health and joy.

- Pastor Jeff

The Good Shepherd

2010-04-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Our sermon this week connected the dots between Psalm 23, John 10, and the images of the Lamb who is the Shepherd in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 7:17 is the key that unlocks this inter-textuality: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Working back with this key, we understand Psalm 23 in a very different way.

The Good Shepherd chooses the best for us because he has been a Lamb. He makes us lie down in green pastures and with the quiet springs of living water! This truly restores our souls!

The Good Shepherd can lead us through the valley of the shadow of death because he has been there. He died for us!

He sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies. But who are our enemies? Jesus is facing his enemies in John 10:22-30. Like us, Christ died for them (Romans 5:8). Hanging on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34). Peter preached to the very Council that condemned Jesus and offered them salvation in Acts 4. Acts 6:7 tells us that many of the priests believed.

Revelation 19 moves us to celebration. Here we find a report about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Guess who is seated at his table? Us. Who else? Jesus’ enemies now made friends. Who else? Our enemies, now made disciples and our friends.

What is our call from this? We need to seek reconciliation with our enemies. Let’s work to turn wolves into sheep. Let’s work to turn biting sheep into lambs. Let’s learn to celebrate God’s vision for reconciliation. And let us move to seek peace with all people (I Peter 3:11).

Pastor James

Good Shepherd is ERD!

2010-04-27T20:24:00.001-07:00

The Evangelical Renewal District of the LCMC

In 2003, when Good Shepherd officially joined the then newly emerging Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), we joined the Evangelical Renewal District (ERD), which is a non-geographic district.

One of the freedoms within the LCMC is to partner and associate with any congregation on the basis of location (ex. Utah churches) or by values (ex. ERD).

The core values of the ERD are:

It's about Jesus -- The Great Commandment: Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, is the center and purpose of who we are and how we are to live.
Passion for the Lost -- The church (local congregations) is the only organization which exists for the sake of its non-members. Passion for the lost must be reflected in the congregation's budget, small groups, worship, Bible Studies, and every aspect of congregational life.
Renewal through the Holy Spirit -- The Holy Spirit brings people to faith, convicts people of sin, and restores the joy of salvation to convicted sinners. We acknowledge and desire both the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit to be manifest in our lives.
High view of Scripture -- All Scripture is inspired by God and without error and is a living word that is always relevant. Not all interpretation is without error, therefore, we uphold the interpretive function s of studying the original manuscripts, the original audiences, and purposes of a text, with a thorough comparison of the whole canon of Scripture.
Passionate Worship -- Worship involves the whole person (body, mind, and emotions). Forms of worship are optional and to be chosen to best enable those present to unreservedly show their love for their Lord and Savior, while experiencing God's presence through his Word and Sacraments.
People of Prayer -- God's plans for us will always exceed our plans for God, and the chief way for Jesus to function as the Head of the church, and for the Holy Spirit to renew His church, is through prayer, not as a means to an end, but as a means to an intimate and personal relationship with God.
Sanctity of Marriage and Life -- We affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman and affirm the sanctity of all human life, from conception to the grave. God's desire is to sanctify and conform us to His good, pleasing, and perfect will, and so we seek to live out these Scriptural values not only in our policies but in our teaching and lives.

The ERD is one of the largest districts within the LCMC.

- Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE Updates - April 27

2010-04-27T19:45:00.001-07:00

April 27, 2010

Professor Walt Sundberg (Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN) presented on the theme "The Congregation as the Agent of Mission."

"The natural order of the gospel is the congregation," said Sundberg, who stated that the radical gift of Martin Luther to Christendom was the reestablishing of the local congregation as the primary instrument of God to proclaim the good news of forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.

"The priesthood of all believers obligates the congregation to quicken itself through the preaching of the Word by earnest admonition and exhortation."
"The LCMC will ratify itself by growing through adult conversions. As Lutherans, we need to get back to the priesthood of all believers who are willing to go outside the walls of their churches to the people. It will get messy, but correct doctrine must be subsumed under evangelism. It was always those who walked the close line to heresy that were the most effective in making adult conversions throughout the world."

The center of Christianity has shifted to the African and Asian nations. Thousands are coming to Christ daily in these countries, stated Sundberg. They are the ones who are concerned about reaching the lost.

The church must be foremost about evangelism before anything else, even in its worship, said Sundberg, who quoted Luther (LW 53 63):
"The order of worship service should be arranged for the sake of the unlearned lay fold and with which we are now concerned.... It must be preached publicly to move them to believe and become Christians."

Pastor Dave Drum (Community of Hope, Tucson, AZ) closed the conference with a powerful admonition to "work together to fulfill Christ's great commission."

Pastor Drum noted that in Matthew 28:19-20 the only verb (as in the original Greek) is "make disciples." The "going" is assumed. The problem with many Lutheran churches, he noted, is that they are internally focused on important but not primary things. Yes, it is important to fellowship, pray, worship, and minister, but the chief command of Christ is to "make disciples."

Pastor Drum cited the example of Pastor Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church), who is radically committed to reaching out to those who are far away from God and coaching them to become fully devoted followers of Christ, compelled to unprecedented levels of acts of love and compassion.

"We need to learn from anyone, regardless of denomination, who are successful in reaching out to the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ," said Pastor Drum. "I realized that God was calling me to 'step up to the plate' in this regard or to get out of 'the game.' I knew that I needed to reorient my life and ministry to reaching the lost. It has become the driving force of my life -- GO!"

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE Updates

2010-04-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 26, 2010 (Part 2)

Pastor Larry Lindstrom (St. Andrews, Farmersville, FL)the current chairman of the LCMC Board of Trustees, gave a "State of the Association" address in which he recounted his story of joining the LCMC as a charter member in June 2001 and leaving the ELCA in September 2001. He was told then, by ELCA synodical leadership that he had made the biggest mistake of his entire life. "You are out of luck, your church is out of luck, and the LCMC is out of luck. You have no options to pastor elsewhere, your church will not be able to call another pastor, and this new association will implode within a couple of years because they are principally a group of complainers full of negative energy." At the time, Pastor Lindstrom confided, he wondered if this was not true.

Nine years later, however, Pastor Lindstrom reported that today:

The LCMC is an international association with member churches from Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia, and Vietnam. These churches sought out the LCMC.
The LCMC is an endorsing agent for chaplains in the military.
The LCMC is now an association of 403 congregations, and the numbers are growing weekly.

Pastor Lindstrom informed the conference attendees of the resignation of Bill Sullivan as the LCMC's National Service Coordinator, in order to take a call in Illinois as a mission pastor. Pastor Paul Spaulding is serving as the interim in this position until the Board of Trustees can reevaluate the position and its required skill sets before interviewing potential candidates.

- Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE Updates

2010-04-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 26, 2010

Barry Anderson: "Accountable to One Another"

"Accountable to One Another" was the theme discussed by Judge Barry Anderson, who currently serves on the Minnesota Supreme Justice Court, during the morning session of the 2010 LCMC Leadership Conference: "Mapping our DNA."

Judge Anderson is one of the original architects of the formation of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) from its origins from the Word Alone movement when it held its constituting convention in Arizona in 2001.

"Our experiences drive our future," said Judge Anderson as he commented upon the LCMC's intentional founding values to move away from a "command/control" hierarchy to a "congregational" model. A voluntary agreement to enter into such an association, like LCMC, demands certain commitments of one another, especially the need for open communication, clear concepts of leadership, and theological education to preserve founding principles and values. He describe the LCMC as a grand experiment in organization, which requires local leadership and initiative, learning how to network and partner together in shared resources and skill sets to move forward in mission for Christ.

Judge Anderson noted that the original design of the LCMC Constitution is under review to meet the needs of an association that now numbers over 400 plus congregations, national and international.

David Housholder - "Rooted in Scripture"

"One of the hallmarks of being a Lutheran is that we were, in our beginnings, a Bible movement. We need to get back to our roots and talk about using the Bible."

"Rooted in Scripture" was the topic of guest speaker David Housholder, who serves as pastor of Robinwood church in Huntington Beach, CA, a member of the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC), which is an association Lutheran Renewal churches.

Pastor Housholder talked about the "parking lot" test, which is to observe how many people are walking into church carrying their bibles. "The Bible needs to shape our worldview. We read the Bible like a guest who enters the living room of a host; you don't come in and start rearranging the furniture to your own tastes."

"The Bible is a pre-modern, pre-enlightenment, pre-scientific worldview which chronicles the coming of spiritual age of humanity. We have no other such record. Previously concepts were communicated through pictures, until the alphabet was invented (around King David's time) which allowed for the discussion of more abstract concepts such as fear, guilt, sin, righteousness, peace, and comfort. The Bible is built like a wikipedia from numerous writers."

Pastor Housholder challenged his listeners to choose one version of the Bible for the church and to stick with it for all preaching, teaching, and reading for consistency so that a Bible culture could emerge. He cited that most English-speaking people in the United States are using either the New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), or the New King James Version (NKJV) of the bible. He advocated churches to have plenty of Bibles in supply to give to visitors and to worshipers, so that the same page numbers can be referenced. He also strongly recommended expository preaching over the use of the use of the pericope. "Today's younger generation, though highly spiritual, are the least familiar with the Bible. They need to read the Bible, to learn, and study it." Pastor Housholder shared that his congregation studied the Gospel of Luke for two years and has currently studied the Psalms for eight months.

"In order for the LCMC to fulfill its mission, it will need to figure out adult conversion, otherwise, the church will die out within two generations."

Pastor Housholder highlighted three great missiological eras of the Lutheran church:

"Integration" (1880 - 1920) -- This was a movement to unite immigrants from the "old country" (ex. Swedes with Swedes) by organizing worship services in their own languages.
"Procreation" (1920 - 1963) -- The growth strategy was to procreate children, and lots of them, with the hope that at least half of them will stay in church. This worked until the invention of the birth control pill. The "pill" reduced the average family size down to 1.7 children, which is below the 2.21 birth rate needed to maintain population. It was then that the Lutheran church began to decline.
"Adult Conversion" (1965 - Present) -- Other evangelical and non-denominational churches have figured this out, except for the Lutherans. If we don't figure out adult conversion, we will die out in two generations. The churches who understand this will grow. For example, in Ethiopia, the Mekane Yesus Church has a goal of 163,000 adult conversions per year so that they can reach their entire country within 10 years.

Housholder ended his talk with a statistic that the average Lutheran church has one adult conversion per year. Imagine, an entire church budget dedicated to reach one person.

I'll write more later.

- Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE Updates

2010-04-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

April 25, 2010 -- Opening Worship Update

"Free in Christ" was the topic of Pastor Christine Nelson's (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, UT) opening address for the 2010 Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) annual leadership conference, held this year in Omaha, Nebraska. She shared details of from her personal life of how she found freedom in Christ, both spiritually and as a woman pastor.

By the age of 19, Pastor Nelson found herself divorced and the mother of two small girls, and a 10th grade, High School Drop-out. Her father had died and her life was adrift.

Raised in the religion of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (LDS), her ancestry tied to Brigham Young, she was told by her bishop not to ask spiritual questions, since she was only a girl. This, she said, prompted a life-long quest to find spiritual answers to life's questions.

Her second husband took her to worship in a Baptist church. In one service, a tall bearded, farmer stood up and declared that "Christ died for your sins to set you free." She said, "Before I knew it, I was on my feet, and moving forward to accept Christ as my Savior. It was as if he was speaking directly and only to me."

After the death of her second husband, she married a man, her husband, Bob, to whom she has been married 25 years, whose family had all died in a tragically in a car accident. For two years, she listened to this man as he shared his grief. Pastor Christine said, "Listening to his heart and his love for his family, I couldn't help but fall in love with this man."

Pastor Christine finished her high school education, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in college, and two Master's degrees in theological education.

While in seminary, Pastor Christine started worshiping at Good Shepherd Lutheran and helping Lynn Carlson to start a Saturday Morning prayer group. Both were involved in the St. Ignatius prayer exercises and felt led to start something new. "I came initially just to help make coffee for the group, then I got pulled in more deeply."

"I was asked to help teach and lead a Wednesday worship service by Pastor Jeff Nellermoe which later evolved being authorized to serve communion by the church leadership."

On May 1, 2005, Pastor Christine Nelson was called as a pastor of Good Shepherd together with Dr. James Wakefield. Both were initially called as part-time pastors, job sharing a full-time equivalent position through the contract call process of the LCMC. Christine was still in seminary at the time, and James was Professor of New Testament at Salt Lake Theological Seminary. Both serve full-time hours now as pastors with Pastor Jeff.

Since then, Pastor Christine has completed her Master's of Divinity degree and is nationally certified and rostered with the LCMC. She has spoken previously, in workshops, at both LCMC Annual Gatherings and Leadership Conferences.

Pastor Christine is an amazing and inspiring example of a life touched by God's grace and the impact one can make if given the opportunity.

Thank you, LCMC for such an opportunity!

- Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE Updates

2010-04-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

April 25, 2010

We arrived safely in Omaha, NE. The temperature is 53 degrees. The sky is overcast, and, it is windy and cold.

The opening worship is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the West Campus of Lutheran Church of the Master. Our own Pastor Christine Nelson is giving the opening address. Each theme is crafted around the basic mission statement of the LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ):

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is an association of congregations and individuals who are:

free in Christ;
accountable to one another;
rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions;
working together to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.

This is our DNA (so to speak) and with new churches being added to the association, it is important to revisit our core values, lest we reduplicate what we left, instead of fashion something new out of our heart's desires and what we have learned from the past.

Pastor Christine will be talking about the "freedoms in Christ" tonight. I'll blog later on the specifics of what she said. Pastor Christine is the perfect representative for which the LCMC stands.

She was called as a pastor under "contract call" while still in seminary to Good Shepherd.

I'll write more each day.

- Pastor Jeff

LCMC Leadership Conference - Omaha, NE

2010-04-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

Pastor Christine and I will be attending the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) Leadership Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, during July 25th - 27th with Pastor Jeff extending two days for a Senior Pastors meeting.

With many churches joining the LCMC (and new ones being planted), this conference is designed to review the DNA of the LCMC, its mission/vision, core values, structure, and guiding principles so as to maintain the integrity of the association.

I (Pastor Jeff) will be blogging updates from the conference so that you, too, can keep informed. Pastor Christine is the opening speaker for the event, as she tells her story, of being called to serve as a pastor of Good Shepherd, first under a "contract call," and, then, upon completing her Master's of Divinity degree with Salt Lake Theological Seminary, under "certified call" status, which is a national endorsement of her training and abilities. In many ways, Pastor Christine is a LCMC success story!

The blessing and genius of the LCMC is that it allows congregations to identify and call people as pastors, under "contract call" status, without necessarily requiring a M.Div. degree. Simply put, God can raise up spiritually qualified individuals, who may or may not have the educational degree, but who are quite capable and effective in a local congregation -- and without the often incurred debt-load or resultant family dislocation required of a seminary education. Contract pastors are still required, however, to complete a "Lutheran Theology" track course of study while under the mentoring relationship of another LCMC certified pastor.

The result is that local people are raised up and trained for ministry within their home areas. They understand the culture and the needs and nuances of the local people, and, they don't have the debt-load, which frees them to serve where needed, instead being limited to certain opportunities and salary schedules needed to service seminary debt.

Praise God for Pastor Christine and people like her, who are faithfully ministering in the name of Jesus in the places where they were raised.

- Pastor Jeff

50th Anniversary of GSLC - 2011

2010-04-21T23:42:00.000-07:00

The 50th Anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is coming up around November, 2011. It is only 17 - 19 months away. We will need to start thinking about forming a committee and gathering ideas for the celebration. We certainly need to start gathering pictures!

One thing you will noticed right away is how different the church building looks. The most noticeable item left of the original sanctuary is the cross that now hangs in our prayer chapel. Of course, when we refer to church, we are talking about people. Those who were part of the early beginnings of the church look different, too -- mostly a little more wiser. We surely want to record stories of the early life of our congregation, especially the vision of its people 50 years back. We might be surprised at how much God has accomplished when we remember. These stories need to be recorded visually (video), audibly (sound), and in print.

It would be great to consider a big reunion of members, leadership, staff, and pastors from previous years. It is time to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness as we look ahead to the future.

We could also be totally debt free by our 50th anniversary celebration. Currently, we are on-track to retire the mortgage by September 2011. Presently, 74 families are faithfully committed to this task, and, have been so for a long time. When we renovated the existing facilities in 2002, we incurred a $2.2 million debt. Now, eight years later, we have reduced the balance to $350,000 outstanding.

Now we need additional families to join in the task of retiring the mortgage, freeing up monies for ministry opportunities in the future (more on this later). Isn't it exciting?

May we always remember that the work of the Kingdom of God is always about people being transformed and reconciled to God and each other through his grace, mercy, power, and forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord, for the grace and call to be your people in this place. May we continue to bloom and blossom in the place you have planted us.

- Pastor Jeff

Musings on Leadership

2010-04-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

A leader is first and foremost a servant.

As we think of what God is doing in our midst, we must focus the question to IN WHOM is God working? God is always about the business of taking people firmly by the hand and leading them into a radical life-change (cf. Romans 2:4, The Message). God is creating a people unto himself, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, to live with him forever (1 Peter 2).

As you think of people, in whom God is working his power, who comes to mind? In what context, does God seem to encounter people? These are the people we want to identify and encourage and empower for ministry!

Next, as we look to the future, TO WHOM is God leading us to reach out? Ministry is always about people. Who, like Saul, does God want to change, call, and empower? This means we will need to become like Ananias and become willing instruments of grace and God's love.

As you think of people around us, in our neighborhoods, our relational networks, who comes to mind? In what context, are we called to go and encounter people? This is where we need to go and minister!

God sent his disciples out to be among the people. Don't be surprised if most of our effective ministry actually happens OUTSIDE the church building.

- Pastor Jeff

Easter 3 - Bold like Ananias!

2010-04-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

"There was a disciple named Ananias" (Acts 9:10).

I am really challenged by the faith and behavior of Ananias in Acts 9 (The story of Saul's conversion). The Lord appears to him in a vision and tells him: "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananais come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

Ananias knew of this "man from Tarsus named Saul." He was a fierce and relentless persecutor of the followers of Christ, removing men and women by force from their homes, under the charge of blasphemy, to have them bound, escorted to Jerusalem, imprisoned, and potentially tried under the sentence of death. Saul (later renamed Paul) says of himself that he was relentless in his pursuit of Christians to have them arrested and killed (cf. Galatians 1, Philippians 3, 1 Timothy 1, Acts 22, and Acts 26).

Ananias protested. I would have, too.

Isn't that the problem? Not even a the strength of a vision was enough to convince Ananias, initially, to do what he was commanded. He was fearful. His eyes were on the present and not on what God could and would do to radically transform a life, no matter how evil or notorious it was.

Thankfully God answered Ananias and revealed to him the plans he had for Saul. The Lord would change him and make him into a strong witness for his name's sake to the Gentile nations and to the kings of those nations.

So, Ananias went. He did as the Lord commanded, and, the Lord changed Saul through the power of the Holy Spirit. That's all we know about Ananias.

One man, obedient to God, became a vehicle of grace to another man, whom God radically transformed to deeply impact many lives. Indirectly, Ananias was a world-changer through his simple obedience.

There is a church in Redding, California (Bethel Church), which routinely practices this principle. They meet on Thursday evenings to pray, asking God to reveal people to them, like Saul, whom God has prepared to receive a type of Ananias ministry of grace. Like Ananias, they receive visions, some specific and some more vague, for example, "I'm sensing we should go to Starbucks and meet a man with a dog, he just lost a loved one, and we are to pray for him." Many lives are changed, and, there are reported healings! WOW!

I would love to be part of something like this at Good Shepherd. Nothing contrived, but a real God, who speaks to his children with instructions, so that other lives can experience the real presence, love, and grace of God in their lives, too.

Wouldn't it be something, with today's technology, if God would send us GPS coordinates and a text message with specific instructions: Go to the 1234 State Street, to a house owned by John Smith, knock on the door, inquire of a man named Saul from Lehi, he is blind and praying, lay hands on him to heal him. Meet him there at 6:00p.

One thing is for sure, text or not, we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us. We have a lot of loving to do. Let us love well.

- Pastor Jeff

He IS Risen!

2010-04-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Our Easter services were very wonderful for me because we had people in church from many nations: England, France, Spain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. And maybe there were other nationalities I did not know? It was very beautiful to me.
Jesus is risen! He is gathering a unique people to himself from all nations and people. Isn’t it amazing we are seeing some of this diversity at Good Shepherd?

Thanks be to God!

Sermon - April 11, 2010

2010-04-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Sermon on Sunday was about Easter and the man we have come to know as “Doubting Thomas.” Sunday was the Second Sunday of Easter. Easter will be with us as we gather for worship for another five Sundays but is our reality as Christians every day of the year. Everything we believe hinges on the resurrection, the promise of Easter. So what does Thomas have to do with it? Everything! We all experience doubt at one time or another and need the reminder that He Is Risen…He is Risen indeed! We all experience fear and lack of trust and for good reason; the same bullies, tyrants and power seekers exist today as did for Thomas and the other disciples. Caesar did not want Jesus to rise from the dead, he desired, as do many today, a Jesus who ultimately remains a wonderful idea inside the disciples’ minds and hearts. The world can’t cope with a Jesus who comes out of the tomb, who inaugurates God’s new creation right in the middle of the old one.

Whatever worldview you hold, what is at stake is the clash between a worldview that allows for a God of creation and justice and worldviews that don’t. The Biblical scholar N.T. Wright puts it beautifully in Surprised by Hope, “We need to think it through within a context of personal openness to the God of whom the Bible speaks – the creator of the world. Not simply a divine presence within it but opening the windows of our minds and hearts to see what might after all be possible in God’s world, God’s new creation.” Sunday I said that I had to go half way around the world to begin to understand this sentiment, this faith. I saw in Vietnam possibilities, God’s new creation in the dying children and those who love them, a faith that transcends the tyrants and the bullies, the governments and the powerful. God’s new creation exists everywhere. My prayer for us is that we never limit the possibilities God sets before us, that we trust him more each day, that we experience Easter every day.

Love and blessing to you and yours and all creation!
Pastor Christine