Pastor's Desk

What does it mean to have a god? Or, what is God? Martin Luther answers these questions in his large catechism by stating, “A god means that from which we are to expect all good and in which we are to take refuge in all distress. So, to have a God is nothing other than trusting and believing Him with the heart.” Luther goes on to add, “I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and idol.” This statement by Luther reveals the problem of the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 proclaims, “The heart is deceitful above all things,and desperately sick; who can understand it?” John Calvin famously said "the human heart is a perpetual idol factory." When we think about idolatry, Biblically speaking, we are talking about the human tendency to elevate any created thing above God, above the Creator in the hopes of finding meaning, purpose, security, satisfaction, or fulfillment of temporal heart felt desires. Idolatry is placing the temporal over the eternal. Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, this human tendency has become so embedded in the human heart that we see it woven throughout the Bible. We see it throughout the Biblical narrative, starting in Genesis all the way through to the final warnings in the book of Revelation.

The significance of this reality is brought to the light in the first commandment which says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This is the first commandment which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai and it applies to us as much today as it did back in the time in which it was given. Many people would say that they do not have “other gods” in their lives. This is because when people think of other gods they often think of idols, statues or figurines made out of wood or stone that are to represent known gods. These figurines are brought into the home to worship and pray to. Besides a Buddha statue, which is becoming rather common today, most people, especially self-proclaiming Christians would quickly proclaim that they do not have any “other gods” in their homes, nor do they pray to false gods, or participate in any pagan rituals or practices that would involve things like false gods or idols. Yet at the same time, in actuality there are many other gods vying for our time, attention, and devotion. This is why Martin Luther spends more time on the first commandment than any other portion of the catechism. He spends this time explaining how essential it is to know, trust, and believe in the true God letting nothing take His place as the God of our lives. Luther was convinced that where this commandment was kept, all other commandments would follow. A right relationship with God produces right relationships with fellow human beings.

This is why it is eternally important for all followers of Christ to repeatedly examine themselves to see if any “gods or idols” have found a home in their heart. Luther stresses, “Let everyone, then, see to it that he values this commandment great and high above all things. Do not regard it as a joke! Ask and examine your heart diligently, and you will find out whether it clings to God alone or not.” So examine yourself and see what is the object or objects of your hearts devotion. Examine yourself to see what is it that captures and holds your heart’s attention. I pray that it is God’s Word, truth and promises. I pray that it is an unquenchable desire to know and be known by our creating, redeeming, and sanctifying God. And if upon your examination you find “worthless things” have found a home in your heart, pray the words from Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Over the past several years, more and more people have expressed how we as a society no longer causally visit one another. I can remember as a child, my family, along with many other families we knew would routinely, at least once a week, visit one another. And at that time, that was not uncommon. Being part of a community, and having active relationships with those in that community was simply normal. Sadly, this has long since ceased being normal. Because of that, we as a society are suffering the consequences. Even though, we as a society are, technically speaking, the most connected society in the history of mankind, we are arguably the most lonely.

In the spring of 2023, U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murphy declared that the issue of loneliness in America was an epidemic. However, as the society drifted physically speaking, farther and farther apart, one of the major challenges that hindered any solution to this “epidemic” was that “people believe admitting they feel lonely will be perceived as a weakness or social failure.” In a study published by Forbes, they found that “people who felt lonely ‘always’ had a five-fold increase in depression risk.” This finding was supported in another four year study performed by researchers from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where it was found that 21% of adults were experiencing “serious feelings” of loneliness. And what was even more revealing was that 81% of those who identified as being lonely also suffered from anxiety or depression. This study also provided numerous solutions. However, even though one of the identified causes of loneliness was “no religious or spiritual life “, spirituality and faith in community was not one of their recommended solutions. Mankind can offer, and has offered many solutions to issues such as loneliness. But as time has revealed, most if not all of these solutions ended up being short-term, and often quite shallow being unable to reach the heart of the matter. And that is because true and lasting community that reaches beyond just spending time together, enjoying common experiences, or working on a common projects or community events, can only be found within the family of our Creator, i.e. God’s family, the body of Christ, and more specifically the local congregation. This is because, as children of the living God, our connection reaches beyond temporal relationships or membership. It connects us at the level of our soul, and reaches into eternity. The importance of Christian community at the congregational level is stressed in Hebrews 10:24-25 which says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

In like manner the apostle Paul wrote these words, not only encouraging the congregation in Thessalonica, but us today saying, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:1). God’s Word and history, teach us and reveal to us the significance of being an active part of the congregation of God. The church has always been a pivotal part of any community. Historically, the church was a place of refuge. A place where the lost and confused soul could find help, care, love, fellowship, and rest. For the lonely soul seeking community and fellowship, I pray that Our Savior’s is that kind of church. That we, as a congregation, continuously strive to be a place where God’s Word reigns supreme. Where Christian charity is sacrificially expressed. Where all who walk through our doors can come and find a place where their soul is fed, their hearts uplifted, and true Christian fellowship is lived out in the everyday life of the congregation. No precious and eternal soul should be lonely, why? Because as Ephesians 5:30 so clearly proclaims, “Because we are members of his body.” May we never lose sight of that!

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like you were at the end of your rope? A time where you were being challenged physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or any such way to such an extent that all hope was gone. And then out of nowhere something unexpected happened that provided a way out. As a Christian our hope is in the Lord, but sometimes it is hard for us to simply let God’s will be done; to let go and trust in God’s timing and provision understanding that He knows best. Do you believe and trust that "Nothing is too difficult for our God?" This simple statement is a beautiful summary of a believer's hope brought by faith in God. 

As Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonian forces, the prophet Jeremiah, who was known as the weeping prophet, prayed to God for understanding. We read in Jeremiah 32:26-27 that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Our great God can do anything to accomplish His will which is clearly shown to us over and over again in Scripture. And you can read more about how God did just that for Jeremiah and God’s people in the book of Jeremiah.

There is another even more amazing account of this truth that we all will soon be celebrating. And that truth is woven throughout the Christmas story when the angel Gabriel was sent from God to the virgin Mary, to announce to her that she had found favor with God, and that she would conceive a son in her womb, and he would be called the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:26-32). Mary questioned the angel "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And Gabriel answered her "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God." (Luke 1:35). Young Mary, the mother of our Savior Jesus, trusted that what seemed impossible to her human mind, would not be too difficult for God as she said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38). Her words demonstrated great humility and also that she had faith, and believed that God would do exactly as He said He would do. And that is exactly what He did out of the great love in which He loves us. The suffering servant entered into time and space through the willful obedience of a young virgin professing to be a servant of the Lord to fulfill all that God had promised as to the restoration and salvation of fallen mankind. While listening to Jesus’ interaction with the rich young man as recorded in Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus’ disciples asked “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” At the beginning of this short article I asked, “do you believe and trust that ‘nothing is too difficult for our God?’" Brothers, sisters and friends, whatever your struggles or challenges may be, whatever burdens may be weighing you down, Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). Remember, these are our Lord’s words, this is His promise. When life’s situations look to be impossible to our human understanding, remember that our Creator God not only sent His Son in that most wonderful and miraculous way, He also parted the Red Sea delivering His people from bondage, setting them free. Nothing is too difficult for our God.

Historically speaking, I believe that we are currently living in one of those pivotal moments in time. Those moments that serve as time-markers relating to significant cultural shifts in societies. As Christians, how are we to respond to those that are being greatly affected emotionally and spiritually by these moments? We must respond with much patience and grace, while being steadfast in the truths and promises of God. And as we “walk in love” we must do our best to reflect Christ, to “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1-2). This we can do, only when we remember, and embrace the grace that we, as children of God have so graciously received. While at the same time, remembering the promise so clearly proclaimed in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

 In Paul David Tripp’s book titled NEW MORNING MERCIES; A Daily Gospel Devotional he shares this devotion on grace. I would like to also share it with you for I believe that it beautifully speaks to the need for us as Christians to remember and share the grace we have so graciously received:

If you look into the mirror of God’s Word and see someone in need of grace, why would you be impatient with others who share that need?

      Maybe one of the biggest sins in our relationships with one another is the sin of forgetting, I wish I could say that this is not my problem, but it is. It is so easy to forget how profound your need of grace is, and it is equally easy to forget the amazing grace that has been freely showered upon you. And when you forget the grace that you’ve been given, it becomes very easy to respond to the people around you with no grace.

     It is very clear that grace toward others isn’t best born out of duty. Pretend with me that I plop down on the couch next to my dear wife, Luella, and say these words: “You know, Luella, I have come to the realization that it’s my duty to be gracious to you. So I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to give you grace, not because I really want to, but because I guess it’s what I have to do.” Do you think that Luella would be encouraged by that statement for a moment? I think not. A joyful life of grace toward others grows best in the soil of gratitude. When I really reflect on who I am, when I take time to consider the grace that I couldn’t have earned, achieved, or deserved but which has been lavished on me, and which I remember that grace came at the cost of the life of another, then I am joyfully motivated to give that grace to others.

     For the believer, harsh, critical, impatient, and irritated responses to others are always connected to forgetting or denying who we are and what we have been given in Jesus. It is very clear that no one gives grace better than a person who is deeply convinced of his own need of it and who is cogently aware of the grace he has been, and is being, given.

     Because we forget so quickly, because we fall into believing that we are deserving, and because we tend to think that we’re more righteous and capable than we actually are, we all need to be given grace right at the very moment when we are called to be a tool of grace in the life of another. The God of grace is working his grace into everyone in the room. First John 4:19 really is true: “We love because he first loved us.” Now, that’s worth remembering.

This summer’s FLY (Free Lutheran Youth) convention’s theme was “Behold”. This theme comes from John 1:29 which reads “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The word “Behold” means to look, to see, to open your eyes, to pay attention, to behold. When we see the word “Behold” we must open our eyes and pay attention to what comes next because it will be something extraordinarily significant. And John 1:29 is the pinnacle of this. As John the Baptist sees Jesus walking by, John being the one that God had called to prepare the way, he proclaims “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This event happened almost 2000 years ago, and yet we can not only know about it, we can be transformed by it, while coming to understand its eternal significance for each and everyone of us. This is the awesomeness behind God’s gift, the gift of His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Bible is not just another book that contains useful information, it is infinitely beyond that. The Holy Scriptures are inspired, that is “breathed out by God.” Since the Scriptures are God’s Word to us, and God is perfect in all that He is and does, they also must be inerrant and infallible. Inerrant means they are without error. Infallible means they cannot error. Since this Word is breathed out by the Creator, the Word of God is also efficacious. That means God’s Word is powerful, and has the ability to give life. The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word as a means of grace to create faith in the heart of the repentant soul. The Word of God is the main means by which God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind. However, it is only through studying the Scriptures by which we can be transformed coming to know who God is, who we are, and why knowing this eternally matters. This is why another attribute or characteristic of the Bible is that the Bible is AWESOME!

In relation to this, the focus of the Bible study topic for FLY was to help people realize that the living Word of God is a reality - not a phrase. And that the Bible is not only true and applicable, but also fun, engaging, and enjoyable. Reading the Bible should be a joy, and never a chore. I pray that each one of us will learn how to internalize God’s Word, not just memorize parts of it even though memorization is important in hiding God’s Word in our heart. I pray that you can come to know the Word, not just the words. To accomplish this you must be present as we read, reading not from obligation, but from enjoyment. You must learn to read relationally, and not just informationally. And as you read, you should read expectantly, expecting to meet God and be drawn closer to Him. It is through His Word by which you can come to know Him, by which you can come to know your Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. So, as you read, let Him reveal Himself to you. But know that as you read, there is an enemy. There is an enemy that does not want you to know and experience that which the author of this most amazing of books, the Bible desires for you to know. And that author is the Holy Spirit. I pray that each and everyone of you will “Behold” and know, in a personal way, that your Redeemer lives. And that Redeemer desires that you be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth. That you come to know that “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all”   (1 Timothy 2:4-6). So friends, Behold the Lamb and know Him.

If you were given the foreknowledge of your life, have you ever thought about how you may spend your final breathing hours? As followers of Jesus Christ, I pray that we all would do as He did. Jesus, as the Son of God, knew His mission. And He knew the exact timing for the events that must unfold in His life. And just what did Jesus do in the hours before He was taken to be crucified and ultimately die for our sins? Jesus chose to pray. He went to the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James and John (the two sons of Zebedee), and began to be grieved and distressed. (Matthew 26:37-38) He went a little beyond them and prayed to His Father; with a heavy heart and the weight of the worlds sins on His shoulders, "He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ (Matthew 26:39)

Soon, we will be walking through the season of Lent into Holy Week, so what important lessons can we learn from Jesus' final hours here on this earth and make them a priority in our own life? 

*Spending time alone with God in honest prayer: In Jesus' darkest moments, He went away from His disciples to be with His Father, and to pour His heart out to Him. It is essential for us as Christians to get away from the busyness and crowds of life to spend time praying to our God and Father. It is also good to be in prayer with other believers, but that can not take the place of the intimate time in prayer alone with Him. God is always present and He promises to hear our cries when the burdens of this life are pressing down upon us. We can pray for wisdom, for forgiveness, discernment, understanding, direction and for strength which He will supply. Jesus agonized in prayer before God and we too, can pour out our burdens and "cares" before Him. Through truthful dialogue, we build a relationship with Him that can stand the test of time, but that’s not enough. We have to be ready for however God chooses to respond which leads to the next point.  

*God will answer our prayers in His perfect way: Jesus made a request, but notice that He did not make a demand. He spoke His questions to God, and then He remained willing to be obedient to His Father's answer. Oftentimes, when we pray to God, we have our own ideas of how we want Him to answer them, but God will always answer them in His best and perfect way. Even if we do not understand His reasoning, we are to yield as Jesus did, and be content to allow God's will to be done and not our own.  

*Submission to God's will provides Peace: Jesus resigned to accepting His Fathers will and in doing so, He had calm peace in what God's will was. When we cease from doing our own works and trying to do things our own way, we too, will live in peace with God's perfect will. The peace that God provides as we pray, is truly an answer to our prayers from Him!    

*God provides us strength in troubling circumstances: Three times Jesus cried out to His father and God heard Him and strengthened Him. Imagine what a tremendous weight it would be, knowing you are about to be ridiculed, beaten, flogged, and crucified. What a physical and soul-crushing burden to bear! While Jesus would ultimately walk that path alone, God sent him an angel to strengthen him beforehand. God might not make the situation disappear when we’re in tough circumstances, but he’ll give us much-needed strength. When the "heaviness" of life’s circumstances is weighing us down, we can trust God to provide us with amazing strength as we plead to Him through heart-felt prayers. 

Always remember that prayer is a great blessing, and it is a beautiful gift from our Father God who desires that we seek Him first with an honest and open heart. “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him .” 1 John 5:14-15

“As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.” ~ Martin Luther

“Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a godly Christian weapon.” ~ Martin Luther 

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” ~ Oswald Chambers.”

I read an article that noted that since the 1960s, when examining the song lyrics from songs that were listed on the top-40, 67% of those songs were about love. I suspect this is the case, because the concept of love, the desire to love and be loved is universal. It reaches beyond cultures and people groups. While at the same time has the power to motivate people to action. The emotional responses that have been attributed to love range from murder motivated by jealous rage, to a soldier falling upon a grenade, sacrificing his life for his friends. Why is there such a wide range of responses that are motivated by love? It is because love is an inescapable emotion that produces an action that reflects a person's understanding as to the meaning of love.

You see, love is not just a verb, it is also a noun. And there are only two basic choices as to the meaning or definition of love. The first is the definition given to it by its Creator. And the other meaning or definition is anything else. With that being said then, it is clear to see that the only meaning or definition that matters is that which is given by the Creator of love. For 1 John 4:16 tells us, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Since “God is love”, in order to fully understand the meaning of true love, we must turn to God and His Word. John 3:16 reveals to us that God’s love is a sacrificial kind of love. It proclaims that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” And we know that this love was not something we earned or merited. For Romans 5:8 stresses that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The significance of this reality is made even more clear by the fact that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Because of sin, we are all lost and in need of a Savior. No one is exempt from this reality. This is what makes God’s love so incredible. But just as was noted in the last newsletter, where it rightly stressed that it is not God’s mercy that saves us, we must also be reminded that we are not saved just because God is a loving God. It is however because of God’s mercy and love by which He extends His saving grace that is only received through faith in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is what makes Christmas such an amazing holiday. A holiday where we celebrate and remember the moment in which the Father sent His Son, the Word, to take on human flesh in order to dwell among us (John 1:14). And to do so, so that He, Jesus could ultimately take our place on the Cross of Calvary to atone for our sins. He did so, so that all who believe could be set free. This is the kind of love that our God has for mankind, which includes you and me. As John 15:13 so beautifully reveals, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Christmas has been called the sufferer's holiday, because the Father sent His Son to bring hope to a hopeless world, to bring peace to chaos, to bring comfort to the broken-hearted. This is the meaning of Christmas. This is why Christ came. Jesus came to end suffering, pain, discouragement, by bringing peace to this earth. Christmas truly is the sufferer’s holiday. The day the angels rejoiced saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).

“And he cried out, saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Luke 18:38

The evangelist, Ray Comfort, has a tactic which he uses to evangelize where he goes through all of the Ten Commandments and shows people that they are liars, murderers, adulterers, and every sort of horrible sinner they could imagine. After he brings a person to recognize this about themselves, he says to them, “If you were to die right now, knowing all of these things about yourself, what do you think would happen?”

In one video I watched, a young man responded to this question by saying : “I hope God would be merciful to me.” Now, at first, this response sounds good. It appears that he is trusting in God’s mercy and that is a good thing, right? Well, not quite. As nice as it sounds, simply trusting in God’s mercy to save you from your sin will result in the exact opposite outcome that one would want. Instead of salvation, one would receive damnation. Which is exactly what Comfort told the young man.

You see, if you go about your life knowing that you have sinned yet trusting that as you stand before God that He will be merciful to you, you are leaving out one vital thing: Jesus. This is because, outside of Jesus, God’s mercy does not exist. Jesus IS God’s mercy. Every act of mercy that God ever had on a person was done in light of Jesus. Even in the Old Testament, when God had mercy on the Israelite’s when they brought their sacrifices, it was not because of the slaughtered animals and the smoke and incense that God had mercy upon them. It was because of what those actions pointed to: the ultimate sacrifice of our Passover Lamb, Jesus. Outside of Jesus, the only thing that man will see is God’s justice. Which, while God’s justice is very good, it is also a very scary thing for those who do not trust in Jesus. Because, if you were to stand on your own before God’s justice, you would be condemned.

This is why we cannot trust in God’s mercy to save us. But we CAN trust in Christ. As we look at our own sin, and see how miserably we fail, we can- - in fact, we MUST turn to Christ. He alone has paid the price for our sin. He alone has taken the just condemnation which God should have dealt to you. When you trust in Christ, Scripture says that you become clothed with Him. Now, when the Father looks upon you, He sees nothing but His perfect Son. It is wrapped in the loving arms of Christ that we find the mercy of God. It is there that we find salvation. It is there where we can be assured that we will not be condemned as we stand before God. We cannot make it safely out of judgement day by relying on God’s mercy, but we can when we rely on Jesus.

Being a follower of Christ is not a passive thing, it is an active thing. It is something that must be reflected in all parts of the believers life. And it also must be nurtured and fed in order to remain active, alive and growing. As we think about this, there are a couple teachings from Scripture we need to keep in mind. The first is 2 Peter 3:18 which reads “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” The second is Romans 12:2 which stresses “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” As you think about these truths, examine yourself to see if you are growing in “grace and knowledge”, and if you are being transformed instead of becoming conformed to the ways of this world. This examination is important because we live in a culture that has an “insatiable appetite” for things and experiences. We live in a culture where contentment is rare. We live in a culture that craves novelty, that craves excitement, that craves choice. And sadly, these cultural trends have had much influence in Christian life and in how the Christian worships.

When I was a child most stores and businesses were closed on Sunday. But then entered the convenience store. In my town it was Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb stayed open on Sunday and the culture approved. What a convenience it was to be able to get gas, and basic groceries on Sunday. Fast forward to today, and now for most, Sunday is just another day. Our Churches have also felt the influence of this consumer driven trend. A good example of this is the design, purpose and function of the church building. It was not long ago when the church building was designed specifically for corporate worship. A worshiper would enter the church building walking through the narhtex, and into a sanctuary specifically designed for worship. The sanctuary was a holy place, a sacred place set apart from all other places. The church building often included a place to have fellowship which included a kitchen. Some churches also had Sunday school class rooms.  However, through the influences of consumerism, and efforts to attract and serve the needs of new members this basic church design has become for many, “outdated” and no longer adequate to meet the demands of the masses.

I once went to a church to attend a conference on parenting. This church was basically a community center. It had a coffee shop, gymnasium, a two story kids area with a slide between floors, a youth area designed to look like a nightclub, a paintball course out back, and the sanctuary was a multi-purpose room. Almost everything in that church was a reflection of the world. A stranger walking into that building would have been hard pressed to identify that building as a place set-apart where God fearing people came to worship a holy God. I present this comparison between the old and new, only as an illustration to hopefully provide some food for thought. The influences of consumerism on the Christian church in America is undeniable, and this is why church hopping and shopping is so common in our culture today. Too many view that church as just another place to hopefully find the goods, services and experiences that they are craving.

With these thoughts in your mind I would like to ask this question; what does church and congregational life mean to you? Is it primarily a place where you can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”? Is it a place that assists you in your struggle not to “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”? God blesses us with temporal gifts, and this is good. However, I pray that your desire for the things of this world never surpass or even approach your desire for the things of God.

I served for ten years as a First Responder on the local fire department in a community in which I once lived. There were times when I would wait with eagerness for my pager to go off, so that I could go do something that I enjoyed doing. At times I would feel somewhat guilty having this drive or desire. Because, for me to go out and do what I enjoyed doing someone else would have to be having a very bad day. This having a bad day often included significant loss of property, or being in a life or death situation. Along with this, even though I enjoyed serving others, if I am to be completely transparent, my motivation to serve in this manner was in part self-serving.

Now, having said all this, this is not what I am referring to when I ask the question, “Are you a First Responder?” I am not asking if you are a member of one of the emergency response services, but rather in the context of how you live out your daily life as a follower of Christ. And more specifically, how you respond to the command given by Jesus to love your neighbor as you love yourself. The Bible provides for us a great example, or illustration as to how the follower of Christ is to respond to someone in need. This illustration was provided for us by Jesus Himself through the parable of the Good Samaritan. This parable is found in Luke 10:25-37, and I ask that you would take a moment and read this parable in light of this article. In this parable an expert in the law asks Jesus “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” In response to Jesus’ reply, this expert asked another question, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers this question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable there was a man that was attacked by robbers and left for dead along the side of the road. Three separate men happen to come along, one a priest, one a Levite, and the other a Samaritan. The first two saw the injured man but chose to pass by on the other side. The Samaritan also saw the man, but unlike the others took pity on him, and immediately cared and provided for this stranger.

In my time as an active member of God’s Church, and as a pastor I have noticed in myself and in others four general approaches to how we respond to the needs of our neighbor. The first is to pretend that we are not aware of any need. In other words we put on blinders and just go about our business. The second is that of a resource provider; being willing to provide financial help so that others can do the actual work. The third is to respond by immediately stepping back to view the situation from a place of discernment and/or skepticism. While oftentimes from this position, finding reasons to justify not providing assistance, or as the parable noted, “passing by on the other side”. The fourth is to first respond by entering into the situation to assess the need, and then determining what to do. As we can learn from the parable, it is clear that according to Jesus, the forth response is the true Christian response. As Christians, there is something we can learn from how our community first responders respond. When there is a recognized need, they first respond. They do not step back and second guess whether or not to respond, they simply respond. Once the need or emergency is identified, they assess the need, risk, and other possible factors. After that they ascertain how best to help, or not help. When there is someone in need, what is your first response? Is your first response out of love, out of caution, or out of indifference? It is important to note that there is no black and white answer to most of the situations that arise that will cause us to choose one of the four responses. The question that each one of us as Christians must ask is, what is my heartfelt motivation for responding to the needs of my neighbor in the manner in which I responded? As you ponder that question, please heed the words of Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

We live in a culture that is becoming more and more fragile. People are easily offended and lack the basic skills to resolve the everyday conflicts that we all experience because we live in a fallen and broken world. Truth is often suppressed in order to not hurt someone’s feelings. While at the same time all the world's ills, evils, and tragedies flood our media outlets 24/7. Then on top of all this, we see people and institutions that we once trusted falling into corruption. It is no wonder that so many are losing the ability to trust, even to the point of becoming cynical. It is no wonder we are seeing a rise in hopelessness.

One researcher who would call our current level of hopelessness an epidemic made this observation, “Over the last 30 years, we have witnessed regression with regard to the maturity of understanding and decision-making needed for times ahead—and not just in the U.S., but around the globe. Because we tend not to be very good at bringing big-picture perspective to our observations”. The reality is however this is not new. History teaches us that fallen mankind routinely ends up in a mess, struggling to find something solid on which to stand. This is why we are commanded in Scripture to be reminded, and to remember the things that God has done, and the things that He has promised He will do. This is the foundation on which God desires all of us to stand. And this foundation will never change, and will never fail. And thus, we can be resolute in those truths and promises. You can be resolute in your understanding, trust, and loyalty to the One that Created and died for you.

In relation to this it is important to note that there is a difference between being determined and being resolute. Being determined, is more of a situational, goal orientated state, e.g. “I am determined to pass this test!” Being resolute relates more to a state of being rather than a situation. A resolute person actively works to ensure that the competing desires and influences of their lives are filtered, and prioritized through their worldview. For the Christian that would be a Biblical worldview. So what does it mean to be resolute? Scripturally speaking, it means to be steadfast. In other words it means that something or someone is not subject to change or variation; especially in behavior. It implies a steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance, or conviction. And for the Christian, our steadfastness is in the Lord. Psalm 32:10 states, “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 adds this reminding us that our work is not in vain, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

It is because of these truths by which a resolute person can also have resilience. Being resilient is more than just having the capacity to cope with the challenges in our lives. Being resilient includes the ability to stand back up when you are knocked down, it includes the ability to straighten back up when you feel bent out of shape. A resolute, and resilient person knows that it is through our challenges by which we are made stronger. James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” A resolute and resilient person also knows that they are never alone. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Knowing this, the Christian can be steadfast in a living hope, trusting in the promises of God. Romans 15:13 declares to you, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” And what an amazing blessing this is, as James 1:12, proclaims, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

- They Knew Their God -

When was the last time, while you were in a moment of uncertainty, or you were in serious need of advice, and the one that came to your aid said something like “you are just going to have to trust me.” For many this can be quite challenging. I think it is safe to assume that we all have placed our trust in something or someone and then had that trust betrayed. Trust can be a complicated thing.

As we enter into the Christmas season, I would like to reflect on the incredible trust that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had in the God in which she worshiped. For the Christian, trust in the Lord is essential. And as we will see, Mary’s trust in her God was unwavering. We know this based on what God has chosen to reveal to us about her. Even though the Bible does not specifically tell how old Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus, the general consensus is that she would have been around 15 or 16 years old. With that being said let us put this miraculous event into perspective. Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph. At the time of the betrothal, the couple would have been considered married. Thus, any betrayal of trust, or infidelity during that time would have been very serious. It was during this time when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary informing her that God had chosen her to be the one that would bring forth the promised Messiah, and His name would be Jesus. Mary questioned how this would be because she was a virgin. Gabriel explained to Mary how all this would come to be as recorded in Luke 1:34-35. “But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.”

It was not long before Joseph realized that the woman that he was betrothed to was pregnant. To our human mind this could only mean one thing; Mary had been unfaithful. Being that he was a righteous man we read in Matthew 1:19 that “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” This is how we know that that betrothal was more than just being engaged. But God intervened, sending an angel to assist Joseph in understanding the truth behind this miraculous event. Joseph placed his trust in this truth. Proverbs 3:5-6, reminds all to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” We also know that Mary placed her trust in God as well. For we read in Luke 1:38, upon Gabriel's announcement Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

It is clear in Scripture that both Mary and Joseph knew their God. And based on that knowing they could place their absolute trust in what their God was about to do in their lives. Someone may say that if Gabriel, or another angel appeared to them with a message from God, then they would trust in whatever that message was as well. But I will argue that we have something greater. We have something Mary and Joseph didn’t have. We have the Bible. We have God’s Word. We have God’s special revelation, revealing to us all that we need in order to know Him, trust Him and receive the gifts of His promises. And the most precious gift of all, the gift of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus. As we all know it is hard sometimes to trust someone we do not know. Thanks be to God that in His ultimate wisdom, He has provided for all of us a means by which we can come to know Him, in that deep and relational way of knowing. Mary and Joseph placed their trust in God because they knew their God, do you?

As I mentioned in the annual report for 2022, the church, or more specifically the local congregation has a very special calling, a very special purpose.

As a congregation we are to be holy, we are to be set apart from the rest of the world. We are not to reflect the world, and its ways and culture. We are to reflect Christ in all that we do, say, and teach. We are to reflect Christ’s love as we as a congregation interact with one another, and the world around us. Our church should be a place of refuge. A place where the one seeking God, can come and find Him. A place where the soul can find the assurance and peace that is found only in the Body of Christ. A place where the follower of Jesus can grow in their faith while serving, supporting and encouraging their fellow believers. Paul helped the believers in Corinth understand this truth by writing in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” For many, it is easy to identify oneself as a member of a club, sports team, political party, interest specific group or organization, or earthly family. However, in many cases these same people even though they be a “member” of a congregation, find themselves with little attachment and contribution to that congregation. This is because as the author of the book I Am A Church Member so clearly states that for “members of churches who have an unbiblical view of membership, their view of membership is more aligned with country club membership.” Scripture teaches us that the congregation is intended to reflect the kingdom of God here on this earth. This is why the AFLC’s first fundamental principle states; “According to the Word of God, the congregation is the right form of the Kingdom of God on earth.” Ephesians 2:19-22 proclaims, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Scripture also teaches us that each member is valuable, and an essential part of the congregation, being uniquely gifted to serve as a part of not only the local congregation, but also as a member of the universal church. Romans 12:4-5 teaches us that “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” One of the functions of the congregation is to provide a means by which the Body of Christ can experience true Christian fellowship. Fellowship that connects the members in a more intimate way. In a way where a struggling soul can find counsel, heart felt correction, encouragement, and assurance of the saving grace of God.

Another function of the congregation is to walk alongside parents and grandparents in the raising up of God fearing children. Being an active participant in the Body of Christ is eternally important. Everyone has a place within this God designed institution. And God has provided the congregation as a means in which He not only blesses the individual members, but also uses the members to bless one another. This is why Hebrews 10:25, so insistently proclaims to “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

I pray that you will prayerfully ponder, to examine yourself to determine what being a part of the Body of Christ means to you.

 Have you ever asked yourself why you choose to start a Sunday morning by coming to church? I know that if we did a survey asking that question, and people answered that question honestly, their answers would vary greatly. I also believe that the motivation to attend would range from joyful anticipation, to reluctant obligation. With that being said, what the research has revealed is that for most self-professing Christians today Sunday worship is the only real form of worship a person is part of, whether as a spectator or participant. John 4:23-24 reads, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” For many, the fullness of this truth about worship is hard to grasp. That is because, to one degree or another our relationship with our Creator God is broken, and in need of restoration. This does not mean that a person is saved or not saved. What it means is that we live in a world that will do everything it can to destroy, replace, distract, or at the very least hinder our devotion, love, and obedience to the very One that died to save us.

The theme for this year’s FLY convention was “Restored”. All of Scripture speaks to how much our Creator God loves and desires to restore those in need of restoration. But, what we also see from Scripture is that restoration is hard. It is hard, because sin and our desires for the things of this world have literally rewired our brains. This is why we read in Jeremiah 19:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Thankfully Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” It is also important to know that in God’s eyes sin is sin, and that no one’s sin is beyond the restoring power of God. Jesus proclaimed these words, which were also part of the theme verses (Rev 21:5-7) for this year’s FLY convention, He said, “‘Behold, I am making all things new.’… ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.’” The restoration that God desires for us is a restoration from deadness in sin and unbelief, to that of a new life; a life anchored and rooted in Jesus Christ. It is through the living water that Jesus offers by which a person is washed clean, by which a person is restored, by which a person is born again being given new life. And, it is only with this new life by which anyone would be able to worship the One True God in spirit and truth. For as Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Scripture teaches that spiritual worship is more than an occasional Sunday service. It is a life dedicated to bring glory and honor to God in all that we do. It is living our lives based on the reality that we serve a God that loves us in such a manner, that He suffered and died so that we could be with Him in eternity. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). With this reality swelling up in your heart, how can you do anything else, but worship in spirit and truth, always presenting “your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.”