6/13/08

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

This morning I received a call from my son, Andrew.  He’s coming home from Air Traffic Control School Saturday night - Sunday morning.  He then starts work on Monday morning!  I can think of no better Fathers’ Day present than to have all my children home!  Praise the Lord!

 

Sunday in worship I will share God’s teaching on fathers.  (You may want to read Psalm 103:8-13, or Matthew 7:9-12 in preparation for worship.)  We hear much about abusive fathers these days.  But, God has a plan for fathers, and many of us had good and loving Christian fathers.  That is something for which we should be truly thankful.

 

However, God lets us know that His Fatherly love is much greater than the love of the best earthly Father.  This knowledge should give us comfort, security, peace and joy.  Imagine, we don’t just get to be children of God.  We are children of the Creator, the King, children of the best father, our Heavenly Father!

 

Another Of God’s Children,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

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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.  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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HE’S BAAACK! – I returned from my trip to my niece’s wedding on Tuesday evening, and have been in the office since Wednesday.  I plan to be in the state all summer.  Please feel free to call or drop by if you would like to do so.

 

SERMON THOUGHTS  - I have some suggestions for sermon thoughts.  This Sunday there will be an insert in the bulletin seeking your input on questions and ideas you would like to hear about.

 

 

Psalm 103:8-13

 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

 

Matthew 7:9-12

9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.