Ezekiel 36 - For His Holy Name

“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:22-23 NIV)

I just returned from the LCMC Conference in Dearborn, MI. I am worn out and frankly quite ill. I was not feeling well when I left and was feeling worse upon my return. Still debating whether to see a doctor or just get some rest.

I do not particularly enjoy large crowds nor have I ever enjoyed conferences or meetings of any kind. They wear me out, rather than refresh me. I was uncomfortable being there and I could not figure out exactly why. But, when Pr. Enrique Estrada spoke the answer came to me. It's about family. It's about caring for the children of God and while I am far away at conferences, I am not with the children of God that I have been called to live among and to care for. I feel like a ship out of water; stranded, when I am not within the community I have been called to serve. Now, this community is actually quite a large community. It covers a few counties so it's not like I'm a recluse. I am most comfortable when I am doing what I have been called to do; when I am out amongst the people, sharing God's love, His message with them. I am more refreshed when I am giving. All this is done not to glorify myself or anyone else. It is done to glorify, for the sake, of His Holy Name.

Many parents have a difficult time leaving their children behind when they have to go out of town. They feel a bit empty - like a part of them is missing. That is how I feel when I have to leave the area for any reason. I worry about the children of God. I wonder if this one or that one is feeling better or worse; if one has received employment or how they might still be struggling to put food on the table. When I am away from the community that I have been called to serve, I feel like a mother who has left her children behind at home or a Shepherd who has left their flock in the field to fend for themselves.

The message I heard from Pr. Estrada was about caring for all of God's children - genuinely putting others before ourselves. All this so that all people might hear and receive and be reconciled to the family of God in Christ Jesus and this for the glory of God's Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 133 - How Good To Live In Unity

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm133:1 NIV)

Falls River, Baraga County, MI

Now, that is an understatement! It is great when people can live together in harmony and unity. Try it, you'll like it!

May the LORD, open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to a greater understanding of what living in peace with one another really would be like. If we could see the great pleasures in store for us maybe we would be more inclined to live together, with our neighbors, in peace. Like a river flowing, beautifully, over the rocky places, so would our lives be.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Nehemiah 2 - Building and Rebuilding

The city had been burned.  The people exiled from Jerusalem, the temple, their place of worship.  Years later, they return.  Nehemiah returns, with King Artaxerxes' blessing, they will rebuild.

I have just read the obituary of Rev. Antti Lepisto.  He lovingly and faithfully served as President of Suomi Conference, USA since 1993 (after retirement).  Our primary (but, not only) mission was/is, with the help of God, to help rebuild and grow the Ingrian Lutheran Church in Russia.  He had a deep love for the people and a great desire to see the Gospel proclaimed throughout the region, as well as here.  At least once a year he would include in his travels, a visit with me (and other members of the Sumi Conference board) for purposes of soul care.  He was about building and rebuilding the Body of Christ by sharing the Good News of the Kingdom.   

As a young Pastor, Antti, served at Wainola Lutheran Church, MI.  Very many things have changed over the years.  Attendance dwindled down to about a dozen or so as the population of the whole area declined.  The congregation felt that they needed to do something different in order to more fully proclaim the Gospel - to more fully do God's will.  They are now an Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ (LCMC) congregation.  I have volunteered as their interim.  At least that is what they call me.  I am more like a mentor as I am working with three lay men (Joe, Mike and Mark) from Wainola to train them to lead worship, preside at Communion, visit shut-ins, bury the dead....  The congregation is growing once again.  The building is there.  It is intact.  The rebuilding of the Church that is needed there includes much soul care.  Our goal is, with the help of God, to build up the Body of Christ in Wainola.

Please keep Antti's family in your prayers and say an extra prayer or two for one of his first congregation's, Wainola Lutheran Church, as they rebuild their church, their congregation, with the help of God.

1 Chronicles 9 - Faith

..."And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith."  (9:1)

The genealogy we read today lists those who first returned to Jerusalem so that they might be returned to the presence of God at/in the temple (tent).  A wonderful reminder that although we are faithless, God is faithful.  His intent is to restore us to a relationship with Him.  I pray often that the hearts and minds of people would be opened so that they would have a better understanding of God's will - His will for us to be restored in relationship to Him.  It is all about relationship.  It is no wonder that so many have such a hard time accepting Christ, when a huge segment of the church on earth, presents that Christianity is about not having to worry about where you're going after you die.  It is presented as an alternative for those who are afraid to die.  In reality, it's not about avoiding consequences or punishment.  It's about relationship.  It is about being restored to God's presence, about living in His presence and peace - now as well as for all eternity.  God was calling the exiles back to His presence which, at the time, was present in the tabernacle. 

I did run into a little bit of difficulty as I read verse 28.  So... the people are being returned to their land after they had been exiled because of their faithlessness.  Now... they have to have guards who count the untensils, apparently, to ensure that none had been stolen... from the tent of God!  Kind of amazes me, that there was the fear and probability that people would steal the untensils from the temple!  Exactly how much faith had been restored to these people?  Sounds to me like they are already on the downward slide to faithlessness. 

I remember as a young adult returning to my home town.  We had been living in California.  I went to the church in the very rural town (Paynesville, MI) I had grown up in, to pray.  It was locked!  I was aghast!  It still bothers me that there are no sanctuaries open 24 hours a day where someone can go just to sit (or kneel) and pray.  I was told the council had decided to lock the church up so no one would be tempted to steal anything.  No one had stolen anything that I heard about.  It was a "just in case" situation.  It's all a very sad reality.  But, I'm not sure which is sadder... the fact that someone might steal from a church or that congregations in small communities trust their neighbors so little that they lock their doors, keeping everyone from entering the sanctuary, except on Sunday mornings.  In many (my guess is most)congregations, it's only a select few who are allowed to have keys to the church and there even may be a designated "keeper of the keys."  :)

God's Peace and may He help us to be more faithful to Him and to all His children.