WORKING TOGETHER IN 2017
* When I was at the seminary in the late 70’s one of my professors constantly told us that we should never expect perfection in the ministry. He gave a few reasons why, and here are three of them: 1. “You guys are not perfect. God knows you and I know you. I know you are all sinners… rotten ones for that matter.” Believe me… that was hard to take! 2. “The people in your future congregations are all sinners, exactly as you are.” That statement was easier to accept… it is always easier to see sins in someone else’s life. Besides, I have noticed that his statement is very much true in my 32 years of ministry… Oh, and I noticed that the members of St. John’s fit right into this condition… 3. “We live in a sinful world.” Today we would say, “We live in a broken world.” And then he concluded by saying that under these conditions the work of the church needs to go on.
* When I heard that it kind of took the wind out of my sail. But I have come to realize how true all of his statements are. He is now in heaven – what we in “church lingo” call “the Triumphant Church.” But we are still here in the “Militant Church” where things are not perfect and will not be. But what brought me hope and continues to give the energy to continue to try to improve my own life and help others to do the same as a pastor is that fact that we have a SAVIOR – His name is Jesus! And He came to our world exactly because we are broken and live in a broken world. Often times we do what we are not supposed to do, we say what we are not supposed to say, we have attitudes that do not harmonize with God’s will… and the nice and good things we are supposed to be involved in… we leave them undone and not said. That means we need to understand that reality of our lives, but cannot just say, “I can’t help it. It is just the way I am.” No! That is not true. We need to work each day, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to become better followers of Jesus Christ. We need to grow up and stop being childish from a spiritual perspective.
* We have been given a ministry with many tasks, and those tasks will only be accomplished if we work together, forgetting about ourselves. If we do not do that, we will be like a mighty army just marching in place… not getting anywhere. I don’t want that. You don’t want that… and above all JESUS DOES NOT WANT THAT.
* We all have a natural tendency to have a bit of what I call the “porcupine syndrome.” The German philosopher Schopenhauer compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter's night. He said, "The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth's winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness." That happens because of our self-centered egos. Christ has given us an alternative to forgive each other for the pokes we receive; to show love and put the Kingdom of God first. That allows us to stay together and stay warm.
* As we are starting another year we have the choice to follow God’s directives and be part of Jesus’ healing/saving ministry in the church and community, or decide that we will oppose His work. What will you do? How do you want St. John’s to look like? Loving, caring, working together & sharing Christ? That is the way I want to this community of faith.
* We have a new worship starting this coming Sunday at 11:15AM. We have other ministry challenges during this year. Let’s work in unity and do what the Lord has given us to do.
* The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men. "You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music," Domingo said. "You can't be rivals when you're together making music." That's also true in the church.
* Porcupines or making beautiful music together for the Lord… It is your choice how you will live.
* God bless us all.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag
* When I was at the seminary in the late 70’s one of my professors constantly told us that we should never expect perfection in the ministry. He gave a few reasons why, and here are three of them: 1. “You guys are not perfect. God knows you and I know you. I know you are all sinners… rotten ones for that matter.” Believe me… that was hard to take! 2. “The people in your future congregations are all sinners, exactly as you are.” That statement was easier to accept… it is always easier to see sins in someone else’s life. Besides, I have noticed that his statement is very much true in my 32 years of ministry… Oh, and I noticed that the members of St. John’s fit right into this condition… 3. “We live in a sinful world.” Today we would say, “We live in a broken world.” And then he concluded by saying that under these conditions the work of the church needs to go on.
* When I heard that it kind of took the wind out of my sail. But I have come to realize how true all of his statements are. He is now in heaven – what we in “church lingo” call “the Triumphant Church.” But we are still here in the “Militant Church” where things are not perfect and will not be. But what brought me hope and continues to give the energy to continue to try to improve my own life and help others to do the same as a pastor is that fact that we have a SAVIOR – His name is Jesus! And He came to our world exactly because we are broken and live in a broken world. Often times we do what we are not supposed to do, we say what we are not supposed to say, we have attitudes that do not harmonize with God’s will… and the nice and good things we are supposed to be involved in… we leave them undone and not said. That means we need to understand that reality of our lives, but cannot just say, “I can’t help it. It is just the way I am.” No! That is not true. We need to work each day, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to become better followers of Jesus Christ. We need to grow up and stop being childish from a spiritual perspective.
* We have been given a ministry with many tasks, and those tasks will only be accomplished if we work together, forgetting about ourselves. If we do not do that, we will be like a mighty army just marching in place… not getting anywhere. I don’t want that. You don’t want that… and above all JESUS DOES NOT WANT THAT.
* We all have a natural tendency to have a bit of what I call the “porcupine syndrome.” The German philosopher Schopenhauer compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter's night. He said, "The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth's winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness." That happens because of our self-centered egos. Christ has given us an alternative to forgive each other for the pokes we receive; to show love and put the Kingdom of God first. That allows us to stay together and stay warm.
* As we are starting another year we have the choice to follow God’s directives and be part of Jesus’ healing/saving ministry in the church and community, or decide that we will oppose His work. What will you do? How do you want St. John’s to look like? Loving, caring, working together & sharing Christ? That is the way I want to this community of faith.
* We have a new worship starting this coming Sunday at 11:15AM. We have other ministry challenges during this year. Let’s work in unity and do what the Lord has given us to do.
* The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men. "You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music," Domingo said. "You can't be rivals when you're together making music." That's also true in the church.
* Porcupines or making beautiful music together for the Lord… It is your choice how you will live.
* God bless us all.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag