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8/8/2009

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

I’m sitting at my desk at work, and this is the first Saturday in 4 weeks I am not performing a wedding.  Do you ever think what a blessing our family is?  I know that many do, but God makes that blessing clear in a number of Bible verses.  The verse that comes to mind now is Psalm 68:6 where we are told, “God sets the lonely in families.”  (But, please also look at Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:24, Ecclesiastes 4:8-12. Colossians 3:18-21, Ephesians 6:1-4, and 1 Timothy 5:8 if you want to see more about this blessing.)

Perhaps I am thinking about families now because of the wedding last Saturday of our new daughter-in-law, Justine (Jandt) Rockey, to our son, Andrew.  What a celebration of love and family weddings can be . . . and this wedding was such a celebration.  There were family and friends from 13 different states.  I don’t remember any arguments.  (That doesn’t mean they didn’t happen.)  Our time together was a time of living in the love God intends for families.  What a blessing!

I know, however, that such love in families is a gift from God, and not always our doing.  It amazes and frustrates me every time I try to do something right and loving, but end up hurting someone.  But it happens to me, and I am sure it happens to you.

So, two more verses touch my heart this morning.  In Hebrews 2:11-13 (and many other verses) God assures us that He has made us His children and part of His family through Jesus.  11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."  We have a bigger family.  This family is there when we don’t have earthly family.  This family is there to help us live in our earthly families in God pleasing and loving ways.

So, in Ephesians 4:32 – 5:2 God tells us how family acts, in blood families and in the church family. 
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Today I am thankful for my family, my wife Kathy, our children Josh, Andy, Mary, and Tim, our daughters in law Erin and Justine, and our grandchildren, Jacob, Jackson, and Emmalee.  I know this family is God’s gift.  I want them to know I love them, and I am sorry when I have acted in ways that hurt them. 

I also want you to know that I am thankful that God has given us the bigger family of the church.  May you too know the blessings of God in family!

Thankful for God’s gift of family,
Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  Some Pictures from the wedding last Saturday can be viewed at the following link.  http://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/AndyAndJustineSWedding#

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

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ST. JOHN MEMBERS . . .