Pastor’s Notes

Notes from the Pastor, usually from the similarly titled section in the Newsletter

Pastor’s Notes, March 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We begin with what I consider an easy question:  Do bad things happen to Christians?  From the Scriptures and our life experiences we can answer with a resounding:  “Yes!”  We all quantify bad things differently, but it still does not change the answer.

For the believer in Christ, we know that our Lord is there.  No matter what might happen to us – sickness, accident, financial challenge, problems with spouse or children, job loss, or just the daily irritants that can really bug us – we are assured through the Holy Bible that God loves us.  That love was never more evident than in the sending of His Son to die in our place on a cross.  Our filthy, damning sin was paid for by Our Redeemer.  He rose again so that we can look forward to an eternity in heaven with Him.  The bad things will cease!

God is always by our side to help us and strengthen us.  Sometimes when things seem to be going along swimmingly, we lose sight of our gracious Savior.  We need Christ each and every day.  Each block of 24 hours has its own challenges.

The Psalmist wrote, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you.” (Ps. 50:15).  So we pray to Him and ask for His guidance and assistance.  He will answer our prayers.  He will never leave us.

 

In Christ,

Pastor

Pastor’s Notes February 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What a blessing it is that we are going to celebrate 20 years as a chartered congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  My family and I have been here for fifteen years of those twenty, and we are thankful for the Lord leading us to Good Shepherd.

One thing you know about our church’s short history is how God’s hand has led this congregation.  He has showered us with His love, grace, mercy, hope, and faithfulness.  We are the blessed recipients of His eternal work.  In our small groups, Bible studies, chatting over coffee and doughnuts or even when we are all together most of us are aware of the Lord and what He has done to get us to this place.  It is almost an unlimited list.  The actions of our Lord help to confirm what a small group of dedicated members envisioned years ago.  The signs are there and continue to be there.  Thanks be to God!

I would like to hear from you on this front.  During the months leading up to the Anniversary, which we will celebrate in July, I would like to include in the prayers on Sunday morning certain things you are thankful for from Good Shepherd’s history.  Please contact me through my e-mail:  revbci@yahoo.com or on my cell (838-0306).  As I compile a list we will lift them to the Lord for all His gracious work.

Another request:  We would like to invite former members of the congregation to this Anniversary Celebration.  We will be working on this in the church office, but we would like your help as well.  If you know the address of a former member or members who have moved away, please let the church office know.  As they come to me, I try to write them down, but if we work together, we have a better chance of not overlooking anyone.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is our theme for the Anniversary.  The Lord has been faithful, and the gift of Christ our Savior gives us an eternal hope.  An Anniversary ties together the past, the present, and the future.  The one constant in all three is the love of Christ for each one of us.  Let’s celebrate that.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor

December Pastor’s Notes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

 

During this month of December, we think a lot about gifts.  Giving gifts.   Receiving gifts.  Having to shop for gifts.  How elaborate do you get?  Over the years, what gifts do you most remember? 

 

Interestingly, it is not always the large purchases that bring back the best memories.  Oh sure, I remember the one Christmas where my whole Christmas from my mom and dad was a VCR.  Yes, kids, a VCR.  My parents were always very generous at Christmas, and they almost felt guilty that I only was getting the one gift.  But the gift was expensive and what I really wanted.  So that does stand out.  But many other years, it was the least expensive gifts that I got the most use out of.  I played a hand-held football game for years.  Books that were just stocking stuffers brought me great joy.  Our boys have enjoyed many great gifts over the years, but the one thing that we still have and use is 13-year-old Fisher-Price basketball hoop in our basement.  It was probably about $29.95 when purchased, but it has gotten a lot of play for the price. 

 

What gifts do you remember?  For many of us, it is the simple ones.  The ones that didn’t stand out while unwrapping but provided the most usefulness over the years.  You ever watch kids?  We think we need to shower them with the latest and the greatest.  Give them a cardboard box and they can have great fun.  I saved the box from our fridge when we moved 15 years ago.  The kids loved it.  When it would no longer stand up, we folded it down and used it for a sliding baseball game in our basement.  The boys are great sliders on the baseball field even today because of that simple piece of cardboard. 

 

The wonderful gift that we celebrate at this time of year is also very simple.  The wrapping was not glitter or gold but swaddling clothes.  While Jesus came inexpensively – no labor or hospital charges – what He brought was the most expensive gift the world has ever seen.  He laid down His life for the sins of the world.  That same baby in the swaddling clothes would someday be wrapped in linens and placed in a tomb.  The resurrection would signify an eternal gift that awaits all who believe in Jesus as Savior. 

 

This gift will be remembered for all time.  This gift lives on.  This gift is your gift.  Cherish it as you worship Him this month. 

 

In Christ,  

Pastor 

Pastor’s Notes November 2014

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A person traveling in England came across a sign on the desk of a Country Inn. The sign read: “Please introduce yourself to your fellow guests since we are one big happy family.” And then underneath were these words: “Do not leave valuables in your room.” That little sign says a lot about human INCONSISTENCY.

We live in an inconsistent world. If something doesn’t please us right away, or turn us on in an instant or if it means the smallest self-sacrifice – well, forget it. It’s no wonder relationships and children and hard work and loyalties and church attendance is being thrown to the wind.

We need consistency in our lives. Our children need consistency in their lives. God calls us to consistency in what we embrace and believe as revealed in His Holy Word, the Scripture. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) Thank God for the CONSISTENCY OF GOD that firmly holds us to the cross of His dear Son. Thank God that for Jesus’s sake we are consistently reassured: “I. even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isa. 43:25)

How could we possibly be convinced that the CONSISTENCY OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR US means that INCONSISTENCY IN OUR LIVES IN OK? Listen to this:

“A man who has a layover at an airport does not go into the bathroom and start redecorating. Why? Because he doesn’t live there. He has a home in another place. Why do we Christians work hard at trying to make our life in this world more comfortable? This is just the airport and we are in transit. We should spend our energy on enhancing our eternal reward, and not worry so much about the bare walls in the airport restroom.”

May the Lord bless your consistency in worship and Bible Class and Sunday School. Not hit and miss – here and there. Not giving the Lord our leftover time. We strive for consistency in many areas of life. Let’s do the same with our faith life.

In Christ,

Pastor

Pastor’s Notes, October 2014

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Young children like to pretend they are adults.  How many of you women – when you were young – used to dress up in your mother’s clothes or put on her makeup?  How many of you men would sit in the car and pretend you were driving?  I use to stand in the pulpit and pretend that I was preaching.  When we are young, we want to grow up so that we can do grown-up things. 

We are proud of our kids when they mature and learn to do new things.  We say things like, “Cammie can now ride her bike.”  “Donavan is really learning to treat people with respect.”  Parents know what their kids need to grow and mature. 

How about in the church?   

At Good Shepherd we have in our bulletin announcements every week this:  “We believe children belong in worship.”  And they do, you know?  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”  Isn’t it such a blessing to watch our kids mature in their faith?  They learn by our example to participate in the liturgy, to sing the hymns, to pray the Lord’s Prayer.  They see older siblings serve as acolytes or ushers and then they move into that role.  We nurture our children in the worship life of the church. 

I have always given my wife Toni a lot of credit for this with Karson and Holden.  She was the one in the pew with them.  I was leading worship.  I am proud of all of their accomplishments but to see them worship their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the greatest gift the Lord can give a parent.  I look forward to them being the spiritual leaders of their own household. 

Many times over the years it has been the children of the parish that point out something amiss in the liturgy or something not positioned right in the sanctuary.  They even like to point out when the Pastor speaks an incorrect word!  To me, that is a blessing because they are paying attention. 

We are all part of the church together – what a blessing!  May the Lord lead us to help one another to grow in our Christian faith. 

In Christ, 

Pastor 

Pastor’s Notes September 2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Who can ever forget the story of the 33 miners trapped in the Chilean mine back in 2010?  After the collapse they were buried under 700 feet of dirt and rock.  The entombment of these men lasted for 69 days.

The first thing a mining company will do after a collapse is to try to locate the miners.  Mining companies have learned that trapped miners can survive up to 5 times longer when they realize someone knows where they are.  It took 17 days but the miners were finally located and a message was sent to the miners.

Nothing much had changed.  They were still trapped and there was no certainty of rescue, but they knew that they had not been abandoned to their fate.  Someone was working on their behalf.

We can find ourselves trapped in our sin and guilt.  We get buried in a collapse of bad decisions and choices.  Are we relegated to our fate?  Does anyone hear our faint cry for help?  Can we be found?

Yes, someone hears us.  Yes, we can be found.  The Lord knows where we are at all of the time.  When we are entombed because of our sinful nature we are not left alone.  The Lord Jesus is working and has worked on our behalf.  His death and resurrection from an empty tomb has freed us.  Someday we will breath in the clean air of heaven.

Remember the weary smiles of those miners as they were brought to the surface one by one?  We have that unending joy each and every day because we have a Savior who knows us and rescued us.

                                                           In Christ,
Pastor