Vision Raising Result 01

Today we had our first Vision Raising event. Today we focused on what happens AT CHURCH. Next Sunday we look at our work as a church in the WORLD beyond our church family & building.

The clearest finding today is a desire among adult couples and singles for more consistent friendship and fellowship with others. There's a desire for people to get together as Christians, especially among adults with children.

Stay tuned for more.

Truth In Advertising

It's been about 3 years since my family and I moved to Cokato from Taylors Falls. When we moved, we became members of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato. Last weekend, and this coming weekend, I'm teaching classes for others who are moving to our church.

During the first hour we cover the main teachings of our church according to our church's constitution. "This congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe." We unpack that sentence and go through other aspects of what God does for us.

At the second class hour, to be held the day after tomorrow, we will look at the effect of God's love in our lives. During that hour, I teach and encourage the PoWeR SuRGe commitment to pray, worship, read scripture, serve, relate & give. By doing so, we admit our need and ask God to continue working in and among us. We'll share more about that this coming Sunday, 9:45-10:45 in our church's choir room.

Maybe you'll choose to come this Sunday! It's an important way to learn about what it is to be a "member" of our church. We video taped the first session last week so you can see that if you missed it.

One of the reasons I really want people to attend these sessions is to learn the truth. Sometimes we get the idea that church people should somehow be "better" than others. Inevitably, all of us, at one time or another, end up being disappointed or even angry when they don't live up to expectations. Being together with others who are learning about the faith helps us remember that we're all the same. We're all, always, sinners who are in need of God's grace. We never outgrow our need for forgiveness and unconditional love.

I once went to a seminar where the leader had us make up slogans that would truthfully fit the churches we were part of at the time. Someone came up with the following as a sign to be posted outside his church: TIRED OF YOUR DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY? TRY OURS!

If you come to our church, you will meet friendly and unfriendly people. You will find things to be somewhat organized and chaotic at the same time. If you become a member, at some point you will wonder why.

The only thing that sets us apart from any other dysfunctional organization is our Savior Jesus. The only thing different about the sinners who are part of the church is that they are constantly being pushed by God's Word. Hopefully, we church members will, every day, one day at a time, allow ourselves to be transformed. Hopefully we won't hide from the truth that we are always both saved and sinful at the same time.

So, come and learn about church membership, both the gifts we receive from God and the response that God stirs in us through his Holy Spirit. But don't expect us to be all cleaned up.

A Few Words About Prayer

The tile pictured at left can be found on the plaza outside the Cathedral in Vilnius, Lithuania. The word on it begins and ends with "s." It means "miracle" in the Lithuanian language.

I've set the picture of this tile as my computer desktop. It reminds me to pray.

The subject of prayer comes up every day. Just now I got off the phone with a woman asking prayer for a friend. In the afternoon I bicycled to Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center for worship and prayer. We pray at every family meal, every church meeting, every crisis. My favorite book about prayer (translated from the Norwegian) is by Ole Hallesby. He says "to pray is to let Jesus come into our hearts." When we pray we admit our weakness and explicitly rely on God's strength.

Becky and Diann from our church are attending a prayer school this week in Hutchinson. (You can learn more about the prayer school they are attending by downloading a brochure here.) Their hope is to grow a prayer ministry that will, among other things, focus on praying for our church's life and work. Many in our church and community, have been pray-ers for a long time. Experience has shown, however, that prayer seems to be more powerful as people gather together and agree together in regard to their intercessions. (See Matthew 18:19 and notice that the promise is for "two of you," that is, two who are believers and followers of Jesus.)

Prayer remains a mystery. We do not control God with our prayers. God will only answer as and when He sees best. Still, God has commanded us to pray, so we do.

Please pray for the future prayer ministry of our church.

Prey

Back in May I preached at the high school baccalaureate. It seems to have been an effective event (see Blessed By Absence for a note received afterward). My message that night was perhaps strange for a high school graduation event. I quoted First Peter 5:8 - Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour - and warned the graduates not to let the devil get them alone.

Like prey in the wild, it's the loner that gets picked off. The protection comes, however, not just by being with others, but by being with them AND Jesus Christ.

Christ followers are in danger when we become disconnected from one another. That's why we make commitments to worship together, to serve together, and to stay in Christian relationships. (See PoWeR SuRGe for more on that). Many years ago I thought I could be a Christian alone. My life was nearly destroyed as a result.

The church, therefore, works hard to help people see the value of being with other Christians in situations where Jesus' name is honored. Where two or three are gathered IN MY NAME, says Jesus, there I am with them. When we do not gather with others to honor Jesus and hear His Word, we put ourselves in danger.

Do you believe this? If not, let me know so we can talk! If so, do all you can to invite and bring others with you to events and gatherings where Jesus is honored. And please do not shy away from making public commitments to be a church together.
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Added late night: I'm thinking about this again as we near confirmation day. Tonight I pleaded with the 10th graders to stay connected with each other and to the church as a whole.

Christian Sub-Culture

A few of us are sitting in my office watching the last session of the Truth Project produced by Focus on the Family. It's a wonderful series and I highly recommend it with one caution. It's the same caution I would bring to church leaders who endorse candidates or political parties. (There was a movement among some to do that last Sunday in a push for "pulpit freedom.")

It seems to me that the call to transform the culture, espoused by the Truth Project, is dangerously close to the thought that we ought to reestablish "Christendom."

The term Christendom has been used to refer to the medieval and renaissance notion of the Christian world as a sort of social and political polity. In essence, the vision of Christendom is a vision of a Christian theocracy, a government devoted to the enforcement of Christian values, whose institutions are suffused with Christian doctrine. In this vision, members of the Christian clergy wield political authority. The specific relationship between the political leaders and the clergy can vary but, in theory, national or political divisions are subsumed under the leadership of a church institution. This vision would tempt Church leaders and political leaders alike throughout European history.

I believe God calls us, as a church body, to form a Christian sub-culture. God will call individuals to work in the political and secular world. We ought to use the values we understand to be from the heart of God to vote, campaign and even run for office. But politics, the government, the society or the CULTURE of the world (as the truth project talks about) will never be "Christian." It will always be dominated by sin.

Martin Luther made a helpful distinction between the kingdom on the left (where the law rules) and the kingdom on the right (where the gospel is king). We ought not confuse them. When we do, we try to enforce Christian values and end up, perhaps, with a mild form of the inquisition. Understanding Luther's teaching about the two kingdoms is helpful as Christians are tempted to control the culture around us.

So then, we do our best to build a Christian Sub-Culture in our church, in our families, and in the personal relationships we hold dear.

See you in church!

Fear, Faith, Prayer and Love

Franklin Roosevelt said "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Christians can claim this because Jesus Christ, God the Son, has won the victory. When we pray, we simply return to that promise and claim it for others. Ultimately, God is in control, through, for awhile, all of us on this battlefield called "earth" endure various trials. And we love one another, and help one another, along the way.

The Cornerstone

Early in the week, on an evening when I was feeling powerless to help someone in need, I was drawn to Psalm 118. I got there by means of the bulletin cover for next Sunday: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

"The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." Wikipedia

Psalm 118 is a wonderful testimony of Gods eternal love when enemies swarm "like bees." "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation!" "Give thanks to the Lord," it says "for he is good and his love endures forever." Because this Psalm was last one used at the Jewish Passover celebration, it may have been the last song sung by Jesus and his disciples. "I shall not die, but LIVE, and proclaim what the Lord has done!" It was also Martin Luther's favorite.

This was a very full week. Late this afternoon our youth director, three adult "guides" and I returned with a busload of sophomores from a confirmation retreat. The goal of the retreat was to help the youth appreciate what it means to be Lutheran. Pastors from Gethsemane and North Crow (Triune) Lutheran churches and I did some teaching, and the youth saw most of a movie about the life of Martin Luther. Preparing for the retreat and seeing the movie made me realize why "Brother Martin" needed the consolation of victorious Psalm 118.

What do you do when you feel down? Where do you turn? There is great power and comfort in God's Word. Start with the Gospels, and let them lead you to the rest.

In his commentary on Psalm 118, written while he was waiting for the "Augsburg Confession" to be presented to Emperor Charles V, Luther wrote:

The neglect of Scripture, even by spiritual leaders, is one of the greatest evils in the world. Everything else, arts or literature, is pursued and practiced day and night, and there is no end of labor and effort; but Holy Scripture is neglected as though there were no need of it. Those who condescend to read it want to absorb everything at once. There has never been an art or a book on earth that everyone has so quickly mastered as the Holy Scriptures. But its words are not, as some think, mere literature, they are words of life, intended not for speculation and fancy but for life and action. By why complain? No one pays any attention to our lament. May Christ our Lord help us by His Spirit to love and honor His holy Word with all our hearts. Amen

Taking time to watch the Luther movie isn't a bad idea either.

Equip and Support

Since the office opened yesterday morning we have had at least four phone calls from women seeking financial assistance. Our usual policy is to have them stop in the office and talk with them and have them fill out a "request for assistance" form. We help with financial needs on a one time basis by referring them to the Cokato Ministerial fund or by providing help from our church's "Pastor's Discretionary Fund."

We do not give cash or checks directly to the person. If, for example, a person needs gas to get to work, we arrange payment to a gas station for a certain amount. The person in need then goes to that gas station to get the $20 or $30 in gas.

We are thankful for those who donate to the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. This allows us to respond in a compassionate way. We are thankful to those who give generously so our office staff is here to respond. When an individual needs more than just a tank of gas, or if the person returns for financial help a second time, I spend more time with the person, trying to understand the situation and encouraging them to build a relationship with the church. Because you give generously, a pastor is here to help.

We do need to be accountable for the funds that are given to the mission and ministry of the local church. If you have other questions about your giving or our stewardship of those funds, please don't hesitate to ask.

Made for Work

The bulletin cover picture for this coming Sunday shows a man bringing in a harvest. It looks like hard work! But look at the results!

Example #1: Most of those who came to my my adult class yesterday were members of the MN Teen Challenge* choir. They are looking forward to how God will be working in their lives in the months and years to come. Are we looking forward to God's work in OUR lives?

Example #2: At an evangelism event in the afternoon a pastor from New London who had served in Iraq as a chaplain talked about how he had shared the good news of Jesus by smoking an occasional cigar. He would offer one to a soldier, visit awhile and then start talking about Jesus. Several were baptized and others returned to the Lord. Are we willing to risk health and reputation for God's work?

Example #3: This morning at our church staff meeting our office manager shared an Enterprise Dispatch piece written by by Dassel Pastor Steve Olson back in 2006. Jesus wasn't the "good little rabbi" he wrote, who "played it safe." Jesus sought out the crooks in the government, drunks on the street, gluttons and all manner of sinners. Wherever there was a heart broken by sin, he was there. Pastor Steve continued:

"Do we have the guts to be a friend of sinners, like Jesus? Are we willing to let people look down on us because we run with the wrong people?"

I do not know specifically how God is calling YOU. I don't even know who you are as you read this! But God knows you and God made you, not for a life of ease, but for his work. Part of that work is done in our homes, part in our employment, part in our civic life, and part in the church. Sometimes we're called as leaders, sometimes as helpers and followers. But, unless we're severely disabled or sick or oppressed, we're not called to stand idle.

As I consider the many people who are part of our church here in Cokato, it's my guess that some would be glad to serve more fully if they could only hear God's call more clearly and "picture" how they might serve with their unique identity. As in the assigned gospel reading for yesterday, some need to be specifically invited. And those who have said "no" in the past need to have a chance to change their minds (as in the gospel for next Sunday).

Therefore, I hope you will choose to participate in the upcoming "Vision Raising" process. You can start participating now by clicking here.
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*Here is the history of Teen Challenge, click the colored words to learn about it. God called David Wilkerson, Rich Scherber and others to lead and many others to participate in the work of rescuing lost souls.

Exodus = Freedom

The most important event in the New Testament is the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The most important event in the Old Testament is the exodus. Both set people free.

The Exodus (Hebrew: יציאת מצרים), is the term used for the escape, departure and emancipation of the enslaved Children of Israel freed from Ancient Egypt as described in the Hebrew Bible, mainly in the Book of Exodus.

The Israelites were led by Moses and Aaron, the goal was to return to the Land of Israel where their forefathers had lived and which they had been promised by God. The Exodus forms the basis of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The work of the church is to follow Jesus in announcing God's love and in working to bring the oppressed out of bondage. Whether that bondage is their own sin or the sin of others, we are called to do all we can to set people free.

Today at worship we will celebrate the exodus of people who have been in bondage to alcohol and drugs.

Who else needs to be set free?

The Real Challenge

On Sunday a 50 member Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir will be at our church. I've always treasured these opportunities to worship with my brothers and sisters in recovery. You can learn more about the program they are involved in by clicking here.

As we worship with these folks, and as we hear their testimonies, it's important that we not think of them as unlike us. We all stand "in the need of prayer" every day. No one better, no one worse.

Jerry Seehusen reminded me of that as I was reading one of his old blog posts this morning. Here it is from "Beef on the Grill," Sunday, August 13, 2006.

Friday I attended a memorial service for my 101 year old Uncle Francis who died in Arizona last winter.

The memorial service was not the great event I’m talking about. The great event was at the memorial service when a woman proclaimed an end to the wretchedness of man. No, she didn’t stride to the front of church and make a formal announcement; no, she just slid it in John Newton’s hymn “Amazing Grace”. She changed the line “Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me” to “Amazing grace that saved a soul like me.”

Now I realize John Newton’s Amazing Grace is not the inspired word of God but its timeless message is true. Oh, Old Beef here doesn’t like being called a wretch either. I mean, on the whole, I’m a good ol’ soul, not too threatening. Oh, I tell a lie now and then, and I lust after my neighbors wife, but at least I’m not a wretched drunk like Bubba and I have not had an abortion like that woman who lives on Highway 71 while all the time I denying I’m a glutton…

As she sang, we cows and bulls of Bashon (read Amos Chapter 4) didn’t even squirm in the pews. We didn’t even belch or much less chew our cud. No, we all just sat there and went on being our “good ol’ soul” selves.

God help us. God doesn’t grade on a curve. All sin is sin to a Holy God. Denying the truth doesn’t make it go away. We are all wretches at the foot of the cross. We should all be found face first in blood stained dust at the foot of the cross not changing words to timeless hymns to make ourselves feel better. The only way we will be found clean is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and that alone. God help us wretches. We need your help Lord now, more than ever. We hear the hoof beats on the horizon but we are not about to listen or change (Isaiah 66:4).

May we always allow the Lord to remind us who we are. Please pray for the choir and the rest of us who gather this Sunday. We won't be able to broadcast the choir, so you'll need to come at 8:30 or 11:00.

Worthy of the Call

In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul writes, "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Impatience is tempting, but not attractive. When I consider Jesus' life, his impatience was directed at the religious authorities, not at the common people. The Lord is so patient with us! Because God is patient with me, I hope I will always be patient with you.

A prayer attributed to Mother Teresa says: "Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience."

Whether I am exercising the high vocation of being a pastor or being a father, I pray that when I speak or act with impatience, that I will quickly repent. And if I have been impatient with you, I hope you will let me know. Sometimes I'm not even aware of my own actions and their effect on others. Please, speaking the truth in love, help keep me and others on track by confronting us when we are wrong.