Pastor’s Notes August 2018

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Adult Bible Class recently concluded a study entitled, “A Matter of the Heart:  Comfort From God’s Word in Hard Times.”  I began the class by asking everyone what they equate with “hard times.”  Some of the answers were:  financial challenges or loss, marital problems, the misbehavior of children, job loss or job unhappiness, a faith crisis, physical ailments that don’t seem to get better, death of a loved one, and a family relationship that has gone sour.  What would you add to the list?  How would you define a “hard time” in your life?

Did Jesus have hard times?  Many people would say no because after all He is God and He knows and controls everything.  That misses who Jesus was.  Yes, he was divine, but he was also human.  He had friends die.  He was dismissed by his hometown.  His closest allies ran as fast as they could away from him when it looked like they would be associated with him.  His teachings were always being disputed.  He stated, “the Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head.”  Yes, Jesus had times when things did not go his way.  He can relate to you and I.

This Son of Man came “to seek and save the lost.”  This Son of Man came “to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus is there in all of our times not just our “hard times.”  He hears our prayers and answers according to His Will.  He is always there as a caring, loving Savior.

I pray that your “hard times” strengthen your faith and draw you closer to your Savior.

In Christ,

Pastor

Bulletin Announcements

July 29, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. . .”  We often shortchange God by failing to remember what Paul says here: God can do far more than what we can think or ask.  His power, and His love, are without bound and without measure.  So why do we fear to follow His Word?  Isn’t it in fact fear that keeps us back from a life of joyous generosity and open-handedness?  But God is able to do far more abundantly!  So let us not be afraid to take the Lord at his Word and live according to it.

NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available.  Please speak with Pastor who has the details.  Thank you.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 9:15 a.m.

TODAY:  Good Shepherd’s Group Outing to the Normal Cornbelters Baseball Game is this afternoon.  Game time is 6:05 p.m.  Details are available on the table in the narthex.  Please contact Randy Reinhardt at (309) 826-0448 or randyreinhardt1@gmail.com if you did not previously buy tickets and would like to go.

CORNBELTERS TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE:  Linda Lange has three CornBelters Tickets available for July 29th, when our church group is going.  We can’t use the tickets due to a prior engagement.  If interested please contact Linda at (309) 339-9930.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES will be held FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th at 6:30 p.m.  “GOD’S NOT DEAD 2” is the movie that will be shown.  “When high school history teacher, Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart) is asked a question about Jesus in class, her reasoned response lands her in deep trouble.  The ensuing epic court case could expel God from the classroom – and the public square – once and for all!  “GOD’S NOT DEAD 2″ is a powerful call to action: “WHERE WILL YOU STAND? Join us for a great entertaining movie, good food and wonderful fellowship.  See you Friday August 17th!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  The date for our Annual Church Picnic has been set!  It will be held on Sunday, August 19th.  More information to follow.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up is by the door by the north stairwell.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:   The July – September 2018 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack located in the narthex.

YOU ARE INVITED:  Christ Lutheran Church, 311 N Hershey in Normal is having a “Garage Sale/Bake Sale” on Friday, August 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and August 11th from 8:00 a.m. to noon.  It will be held in the Activity Building.  Proceeds to benefit Seminary Students, Missions and Projects of the LWML (Ladies Guild) of Christ Lutheran Church.

WELCOMING NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  You can make a big impact in the lives of International Students and they will make a big impact in your life.  We are looking for Christian individuals and families to welcome new International Students.  Students will begin arriving during the week of August 6th.  New Student Orientation will begin August 14th.  You could help in any of the following ways:  1) Hosting a student in your home for a few days when they first arrive.  2) Providing  transportation upon arrival in Bloomington/Normal to their residence hall or apartment.  If you are interested and would like more information, please contact John and Linda Berger, serving with International Students, Inc., at (309) 664-0377 or jberger@isionline.org.  Training is required for 1st time participants.  Training and resource information will be provided on several different dates (you only need attend one).

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “And the Pursuit of Happiness” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Exodus 16:2-15; John 6:22-35.  When the main goal in life is your happiness, you’ve turned in on yourself and away from others, especially God.  Turn from yourself to Jesus and you’ll know a peace that surpasses all understanding and that is the basis for true lasting happiness. The speaker will be Reverend Dale A. Meyer.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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Bulletin Announcements

July 15, 2018

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Amos 7:8 – “And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”  And I said, “A plumb line.”  Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.”  One of the sins for which the Lord condemned the people through Amos was a disregard for the call of kindness, charity, and generosity toward the weak and lowly.  We can see here how seriously the Lord sees this!  And that’s no surprise when we consider how God’s activity toward us is built on kindness, charity, and generosity.  To act otherwise is to act against the Lord’s own nature.

NEED A RIDE? If you are unable to drive to church, we have an option that is available.  Please speak with Pastor who has the details.  Thank you.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room which is located on the 2nd level (the west side).

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS meets in the basement at 10:15 a.m.

PASTOR’S SCHEDULE:  Pastor will be out of the office tomorrow (Monday).

NEXT SUNDAY is the deadline for items to be submitted for the AUGUST NEWSLETTER.  Janet Evans is our Editor for the church newsletter and any announcements you want to be published in the Newsletter should be submitted to her at goodshepherdblm@frontier.com or you may call her at (309) 838-1552.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S GROUP OUTING:  The Group Outing for the Normal Cornbelters Baseball Game has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 29th.  Details are available on the table in the narthex.  Please contact Randy Reinhardt at (309) 826-0448 or randyreinhardt1@gmail.com if you did not previously buy tickets and would like to go.

CORNBELTERS TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE:  Linda Lange has three CornBelters Tickets available for July 29th, when our church group is going.  We can’t use the tickets due to a prior engagement.  If interested please contact Linda at (309)339-9930.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES is in need of a new member.  If you are interested please speak with Mo Dale (309)830-6552 or Bob Love (309) 664-2716.  Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:  The date for our Annual Church Picnic has been set!  It will be held on Sunday, August 19th.  More information to follow.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  In order to get more people involved in our Coffee/Donut Fellowship for 2018 we have two separate sign-ups: Donut Pick-up and Coffee Set-up.  We would like to encourage you to sign-up for one or the other.  You may also sign-up for both if you wish.  The sign-up is by the door by the north stairwell.

FROM THE OFFICE:  The congregation received a letter from Reverend Jacob Hercamp and family.  Jacob was one of the seminarians that we have supported over the years.  The letter is on the bulletin board outside the church office.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:   The July – September 2018 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack located in the narthex.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “You Feed Them” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Mark 6:37.  Every job looks like it’s easy if you don’t have to do it.  That was certainly the case when Jesus told His disciples to feed the crowd.  With no McDonald’s in the area, they came back and asked Jesus to do what they couldn’t.  We would be wise if we did the same. The speaker will be Reverend Dr. Ken Klaus.  Hear his message on The Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:  If you miss church, please be reminded that copies of the previous week’s sermon are available on the table in the narthex.  Also, the sermon will be available on our web site at www.goodshepherdblm.org.  Thank you.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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Sermon Text for July 1, 2018.

July 1, 2018                                                                            Text:  2 Corinthians 8:1-9

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Larry Hurtado has written a book entitled, “Why On Earth Did Anyone Become A Christian In The First Three Centuries?”  These are some of the reasons he gives for not becoming a Christian back then.  Persecution.  St. Paul notes in our text, the churches of Macedonia underwent “a severe test of affliction.” We know of the martyrdoms of Stephen and James, Polycarp and Ignatius.  These weren’t just physical costs.  Early Christians encountered tensions with families and acquaintances and co-workers.  People paid a heavy price for their beliefs.

We must remember that pagan culture permeated every aspect of life from sports, social clubs, the arts, military membership, political groups, trade associations.  Hurtado writes, “Indeed, practically any formal dinner included ritual acknowledgement of deities.”  Christians were rarely asked to denounce Christ but they were expected to raise a cup to the god or gods of the day.  Failure to do so could result in social death, political banishing, and family discord.

What god or gods are we expected to raise a toast to in our day?  The god of political correctness?  You may be bad mouthed for a stand you take.  The god of money?  Who wouldn’t want the American dream?  The god of family?  What is wrong with you why don’t you have your kid in every activity known to man?  The god of celebrity?  Did you hear what so and so said on Twitter?  No, and I don’t care.  The god of “you can’t tell me what to do”?  “I can use whatever language I want.”  What other places are you expected to bow at the altar that may compromise your Christian faith?

It is enough for members of God’s family to start asking . . .

“WHY ON EARTH WOULD I WANT TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN?”

America has long been nominally Christian.  Even those who promote abortion and same-sex marriage tout their Christian credentials in doing so.  Most politicians don’t get in trouble by ending their speeches with, “God Bless you and God Bless America.”

But the landscape is changing rapidly.  Secularization has won the day, and the persecutions have begun.  Early Christians were tempted to offer a toast to the pagan deity.  If you did this you could expect upward mobility and a higher social status.  Are our own challenges any different?

In almost every profession and walk of life, Christians are being challenged on their biblical view of marriage and their truthful stand on the LGBT agenda.  Being a member of a certain orthodox church these days could carry a stigma.  The Christian gets labeled a “hater” if they don’t fall in line.  Christians already are being fined and even some are driven from their business.  Sportscasters have been taken off the air, judges off of their benches.  Day by day we are learning that Christianity comes with a cost, sometimes financial or social.

I was recently asked a similar question by someone outside our church who wanted to know if my position as Pastor ever had someone berating me for a biblical position when I am out in the community.  I said no.  But I also am aware, as some have stated in our Adult Bible Class that you are expected to toe the politically correct company line.  Certain freedoms you should have are being taken away.  We don’t live on either coast but how long before the vice grip entangles us?  “Why on earth would I want to become a Christian?”

Our text gives us the answer – verse 9.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

In the early church they became Christians because Christians preached a loving God.  They became Christians and remained Christian because the church spoke about eternal life.  These brothers and sisters had hope.  Indeed, the troubles of this present time pale in comparison to the joys of the life to come.

We find love in the person of Jesus Christ.  In the crucifixion of Jesus we find the deepest problems of humanity and sin and isolation.  He overcame all of these for us.  God sacrificed his Son so that we could be forgiven and have a future home in heaven that lasts forever.  The early Christians knew the persecutions were temporary.  We too know that we will be taken from this vale of tears and live in perfection for eternity.

Doesn’t that keep us going?  God is in control.  God as Creator sees our world and his plans and his timing for world events come to pass with his knowledge and foresight.  Satan has his victories no doubt, but our Lord has won the war between good and evil.  By becoming poor through Christ he has made you and I rich.  Rich in grace.  Rich in love.  Rich in Christian fellowship.  Rich in trust.  Rich in hope.  Rich in the Lord’s strength.  We can stand boldly because God’s Word is truth.  He promises that.

So, how will you respond?  Will your keep your mouth shut, or will you speak the truth?  How will we navigate these waters if the persecutions hit our pocketbooks, our social status, and our reputations?  Will we remain faithful, or offer that toast to the gods?

The early church grew exponentially as the Christians remained faithful.  We don’t know the future but we do know that our Lord holds the future.  “Why on earth would I want to become a Christian?”  Because God loves me through Jesus Christ.  I am forgiven and I have hope.  Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ Jesus my Lord.

Amen.