10/23/09

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

How often do we forget God’s gracious answers to our heartfelt prayers?  How often do we forget God’s answers to what are sometimes our desperate prayers?

I am again asking the students in my confirmation class to keep a Prayer Journal this year.  Each week the students are to write down one prayer request they pray with their family.  They are also to look at what they prayed about the previous week and indicate how God had answered those prayers.  My experience is we often pray to God for help, but when God answers we have forgotten the prayer, or even just take God’s answer for granted.

If you were in late worship at St. John on Sunday you saw God’s goodness in answer to specific prayers we have previously made in worship.

We have been praying by name for members and friends who have put their lives on the line to serve our country in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.  One of our members, Amanda Leonard, left Alaska around the first of September to serve in Afghanistan for six weeks with the National Guard.  This was a hardship for Amanda and her family.  Amanda is a wife of Tom Leonard and mother of 3 young girls, Elizabeth, Mattison, and Alexandra.  At St. John Amanda has also served on the Board of Education and is active with the LWML.  We prayed for Amanda’s safety and quick return.  Amanda was supposed to return on Sunday, October 18, but with the military one is never sure.  Tom and Amanda didn’t even tell the girls when mom was returning home because they didn’t want to disappoint them.  But, this past Sunday Amanda and the family were in worship AND Sunday School.  You see Amanda got in Saturday night - early.  We could have just noticed she got in early and told her we were glad she made it back home.  But, we have prayed for Amanda (and all our service people) by name, praying for her safety, for God’s blessings, and for her return.  Amanda’s safe return and her presence at St. John on Sunday was God’s answer to our prayers. . . Thank you Lord!  THANK YOU, Lord!!!

As we face life’s challenges and suffering, God is waiting to hear from us.  He has loved us and taken care of our eternity in Jesus.  He wants to bless us with His presence in this life too.  And He does bless us.

So, which prayer of yours has God answered for which you need to thank Him????  (I would actually love to hear from you.)

A Child of God Awed by His Grace,
Pastor Rockey

P.S.  On Sunday we also saw the answer to another specific prayer.  Did you see Kamerin Ewart at the communion rail out of his wheel chair on Sunday with his grandparents (John and Cathy Glaser)?  We prayed for Kamerin when his mom, member Amber Ewart, was in labor.  (Dad, Dale is one of the drivers of our wheel chair van.)  We prayed for Kamerin when he was flown to a children’s hospital in Denver right after birth.  We have prayed for Kamerin and his family through illness and challenge.  I don’t know about you, but it touched my heart to see him at the communion rail on Sunday out of the wheel chair.  God is good!
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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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 SPECIAL PRESENTATION NEAR CHRISTMAS!!  Rev. Dr. Paul Maier will visit St. John December 18 – 20 and make presentations to help us understand Scripture, and to help us understand Christmas!
            Dr. Maier is professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.  He is a pastor in our denomination, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), and is a Vice President of our church body. He has written numerous books about testimony in ancient history and evidence in archaeology which help us to understand God’s Word. 
            His books include:

The Real Story of The Creation (Children’s Book)

The Real Story of the Flood  (Children’s Book)

The Very First Easter (Children’s Book)

Martin Luther – A Man Who Changed the World  (Children’s Book)

The First Christmas

The First Easter

The First Christians (these 3 are all in the book In the Fullness of Time)

Josephus (translated)

Eusebius (translated)

Pontius Pilate (Documentary novel with historical footnotes)

The Flames of Rome (Documentary novel with historical footnotes)

A Skeleton in God’s Closet (Christian thriller)

More than a Skeleton (Christian thriller)

            Please note that December 18-20 is a new date.  We had originally thought that Dr. Maier would be visiting in January. 

THANK YOU to those who have given from their permanent funds to help with our financial deficit.  In September our receipts trailed our income by over $60,000.00.  That happened while we were spending less than budgeted.
In the first 3 weeks of October offerings exceeded budget by between $14-$15,000.00.  Obviously we still have great needs.  However, this is a start at addressing our shortfall. 
Thank you for helping us do the work of the Lord!