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From The Pastor's Desk
Jonah’s Journey
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I have been a believer that some bible stories get attached to us
because they have much to teach and guide us through life. One story
that I keep coming back to over and over through the last 40 years
is the story of Jonah. Now I am no fisherman- perhaps like Jonah.
I have been known to drown a fish before I get it reeled in, but
fishing with my father in Montana is one of the things I look forward
to each summer. You know the story as well as any in the Bible.
God asked Jonah to go to Ninevah (modern day Iraq) and preach repentance
to the residents. Jonah does just the opposite and books passage
to Tarshish (perhaps Spain), running away from God. Here is one
connection for me. As much as I like serving the Lord, sometimes
when it seems that the going will be rough, it is easier to book
passage to Tarshish to avoid it.
On board the cargo boat, Jonah is sleeping in his quarters while
a great storm pounds the boat. Sailors are panicking and thinking
at the same time that perhaps this storm is the result of someone’s
sin. The short stick falls to Jonah. While Jonah claimed responsibility,
since he was running away from God, he was a little too eager to
take the blame. Jonah turned his responsibility into an opportunity
to get out all together, just throw him overboard and the responsibility
for his death is the sailors and not his own. In Lent we focus on
sin, those we commit that are against God and others as well as
the things we do not do. Facing responsibility is important as we
look toward the cross and the resurrection. It is our sins that
put Jesus there and only his forgiveness can heal.
Surprise! A great fish swallows Jonah and he has a floating cavernous
tomb in which to meditate. He prays. In times of crisis, we seem
to pray our most earnest, and deepest prayers. Jonah did and it
seems as a result, the whale vomited Johan up on a beach. God’s
command was renewed. Jonah didn’t get off the hook, just because
he took a detour. He still had to go to Ninevah. So he did. He shortened
what the Lord had commanded him to say to barely: “Repent,
or else!” Guess what the people did and even from the greatest
to the least, even the animals put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes
over themselves in token of their remorse. Jonah didn’t like
his mission, but he did it anyway.
Finally, Jonah is pouting outside of Ninevah. When God comes the
question is “Can I not have mercy on those I wish to have
mercy on?” Jonah says, “Yes, but…” The story
ends. Jonah is all about the grace of God, that comes whether we
are in the mood or not. The three days in the whale are connected
to Jesus three days in the tomb. If this is a time of darkness for
you, don’t avoid it, and don’t go it alone. God goes
with you. Remember the third day! May God bless this time of reflection
as we near Easter and bring you through to experience the resurrection
with full joy.
God Bless!
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Pastor Gordon J Young
By the way, come to Mid-week Lenten Services where
Jonah Journey is the theme.
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Bits
and Pieces |
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 17. The theme for this
season is "The Sign of Jonah" There will be six clips
from the life of Jonah that will remind us that we are in the season
of Lent. Ash Wednesday will use the imposition of ashes traced as
a cross on our foreheads to remind us that we are dust and to dust
we shall return. We bear the mark of the cross reflecting our mortality.
Each of the six weeks in Lent you will receive a take home reminder
of that evening's drama. On February 24 and March 3, 10, 17, 24
there will be a soup and bread supper. Remember to sign up and bring
your favorite soup and/or bread.
With the events of the past week, this season of Epiphany has seemed
more like Lent. Dayle and I made a quick trip on January 19 to be
with our daughter Katie as she mourned the death of her fiancée
Tony. Tony had a rare form of muscular dystrophy. We met Tony's
parents and family, and in addition, lament that their wedding date
of April 17 will never take place. Thanks for your prayers during
this time.
The adult class will begin a new study using Max Lucado's book "Fearless"
beginning February 7. If you don't have a copy, we will place an
order on February 1st, so let me know. Books get here in two days.
"Fearless” raises the issue of fear and all kinds of
fears that we have.
This week, I am at the 2010 Theological Conference in Colorado Springs
with other pastors and leaders of our Rocky Mountain Synod. Our
speakers include Dr. David Lose whose topics include: The Power
of Story, A Competition of Stories, and Opening the Biblical Story.
Carrie Newcomer will speak on The Power of Transformative Story,
and Faith and Vocation: Authentic Work, and Deep Listening. Robin
Jensen will speak on Image as Exegesis: Narration and Interpretation
of Biblical Text in Visual Art, Image as Proclamation: The Communication
Dimension of Visual Art, and Image as Meditation: The Spiritual,
Pastoral and Liturgical Functions of Visual Art. It is a good time
to get together with others in our Synod. This year we will be at
the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.
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Peace
and Joy!
Pastor Gordon |
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A Year of Living
Generously |
2009 is quickly coming to an end. This has been a year marked
by the great recession. Hints of the widespread effect the downturn
in the economy will take came late last year. There have been a
number of families impacted in our congregation, who have lost jobs,
downsized in a job, or face other economic stresses related to unexpected
health issues. To respond, we usually tighten our belts and spend
less and put away more, just in case. The fear of terrorists seems
pale compared with the frightening economy. In fact, it has been
a fear-filled decade.
How do we live as people of faith, in the context of fear? I have
subscribed to a quarterly journal called “Word and World”
for a number of years and occasionally, they give a preview of an
upcoming issue. The January issue is on health, healing and wellness.
One article intrigues me in the issue to still be received is called”
How I Pray Is Breathe” by Mary Hinkle Shore. When I am fearful,
I tend to breath faster and shallower. When I notice that fear response
in others, I simply say: “Breathe!” Every breath is
a gift from God. My breathing helps me to remember that since God
gave me the breath of life, I need not worry, or be overcome with
fear. I breathe deeper, and slower, treasuring each breath.
My breathing reminds me that I cannot out-give God. It is very humbling
experience to be on the receiving end of such generosity. We mark
the birth of Jesus- God did not even hold back his own Son. We look
for the Epiphanies of Jesus, discovering where he chooses to reveal
himself to us. We are humbled when we journey to the cross, and
again overwhelmed when on Easter we experience the extraordinary
generosity of God again, who raised us Jesus from the dead.
What would it be like for us as the faith community of St. Matthew’s
Lutheran Church to dedicate 2010 as a year of living generously?
We would discover the great impact we have as a church on our community
and we would give generously to support those ministries. We would
dedicate a portion of our time to assist in those ministries, teaching,
worship, and serving in the community. We will discover that we
as individuals have gifts to offer and our God who is so generous,
will use us to demonstrate his generosity to those in need. When
we live generously, fear fades, community is strengthened, and hope
is renewed.
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Pledged
to Live Generously in 2010
Pastor
Gordon J Young
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