As you follow Jesus this week, so closely walking with Him to the upper room, to the bloody cross, and, praise God, to the empty tomb, please take time to really ponder His love for You!  Jesus went through it all for you.  Pretty amazing, huh?  Unbelievable really.  True nonetheless!

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Romans 5:6-8 – The Message

Here is a simple action item for today.
As you are going about your day – coming and going, attending to responsibilities, etc. – notice the people around you.  Notice the people you know and love of course.  But then look beyond them to the people you usually do not notice.  Look at the people you generally overlook.  Try to look into their faces.  Notice their eyes.  Notice their humanity.
While you are at it, take a moment to also look at the people you may notice often, but do not like.  Look into the faces of the people who irritate you… who have run-ins with you… who hurt you.
And as you are noticing these people, realize this: Jesus knows and loves each of these people so much He willingly gave up His life for them… for each of them… for each person you notice.
See that person who seems to go out of his way to contradict you?
See that person on the street corner waiting for someone to stop and offer a day job?
See that person who undermined your credibility to the boss?
See that person walking in front of the building talking to himself and clearly not connecting well with reality?
See that person behind the counter?
Notice them.
And realize this truth:  Jesus’ assessment of each of these people is that they are worthy of suffering for and dying in place of.  Each of these people has that much worth.  Each of them.
And so do you.
How would the world be different this Holy Week if everyone noticed and remembered this?

It is so great t just open His word and dive in, choc full of meaning and messages. Speaking of His book, and His love I just happened to have the book of 1 John ‘pop-up’ in my weekly readings, daily devotionals, etc. And what an amazing little book that is. Only 5 chapters, but it is a power house of verses that have timeless meaning and wise instruction beyond our knowledge.

Chapter 1 has a familiar refrain (for us Lutherans) v. 8-10:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

A familiar confession, that makes us look at ourselves and humbles ourselves before the Creator of the Universe. Chapter one also confers or confirms that Jesus IS the Word made flesh and that God IS light. Classic images of the Son and Father, but important and fundamental in understanding the fullness of scripture.

Chapter 2 continues on about Jesus’ Righteousness, and a reminder of one of the two great commandments the Jesus gave us ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ in v.10-11:

10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Chapter 2 continues with warnings not to love the world, and beware of ‘anti-Christ’-types. I have recently heard that ‘anti’ can mean ‘against’, as we usually know, but it can also mean ‘in place of’, which expands our scope of people that ‘supplant’ Christ in their seeming importance.

Chapter 3 talks about the Father’s love for us, and how he lavishes it on His children (v.1). And verse 10 gives us instruction to know who is a ‘child of God’ or a ‘child of the devil’. Another 3:16 (1 John 3:16) has an amazing parallel with John 3:16, summarizing the Gospel, that Jesus laid his life down for us. And what a gem v. 17-18 is:

17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Verses 20 and 22 go on to encourage us that God ‘is greater’ than our hearts and to ask for anything in His will and we can be confident to receive it.

Chapter 4 continues the theme of testing spirits and how to tell fakes and impostors from the real deal. Twice in chapter four we are told ‘God is love’ (v. 8 and 16), and might be one of the best depictions of what love is.

Finally Chapter 5 expounds on faith. I love verses 3 and 4:

‘And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world.’

That, subsequently this is what hope is…overcoming the world via God through Jesus…so here in this chapter we have ‘faith, hope and love’ being mentioned, shades of 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter).

And what a way to conclude this chapter with verses 14 and 15:

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If you want to read more amazing things about the book of 1 John please check out this web page:

http://biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tzaddi_Comma_Johanneum.asp

Oh, what treasure and depths you reveal to us in your word, God our Father in heaven!! You are the Alpha and the Omega, and we praise you for your love story you have sent us, the Living Bible!

Do fishermen catch a fish on their first try?  Not usually.  They need to study the lake for the best fishing holes, try different bait and lures, understand the weather to know the best conditions in which to fish.  Most importantly they spend time with the sport and that time requires patience.  They intimately learn the techniques to be successful at getting a catch. 

What then is our bait for catching fish for building God’s Kingdom and Connecting Groups?  Spirit filled friendships. A spirit filled friendship is a relationship that is built around being a Christ-like friend to someone.  The other person may not know that it’s a Christ-centered friendship. Spirit filled friendships are about conversation and relationships. It’s about influence, and companionship.  Brian McLaren, author of More Ready Than You Realize says, “In order to be someone’s spiritual friend you need to like, approach and serve them.” 

Building this type of relationship as a method to invitation works because for many reasons.  Perhaps, if we ask them to come check out a group they will more likely say yes because they trust our invitations and intentions.  Maybe our friend has gotten to know us, sees we have this light about us, and wants to learn more about our faith.  Or maybe this new friend may want to know where they can learn about God in a close knit setting.  All in all though when we ask a friend to try out a Connecting Group, s/he has greater investment in us and are more willing to say yes than a stranger would.  One thing to note however, unlike a fisherman who lures a fish out of water, we should not become a spirited friend with someone to lure them to Connecting Group.  We should form spirit filled friendships as a way to build God’s kingdom first and if our friend joins our group, count that as an extra blessing.  If our friend turns us down, still be friends with this person and let God do His work. 

Who then should we seek for spirit filled friends?  Take a look around you!  Your neighbors, co-workers, an in-law, your child’s friend’s parent.  It should be someone you see on a regular basis.  If no one comes to mind pray about it and ask God to place a person in your life.  When you think of a person assess the relationship you currently have with them.  Ask yourself:

• Do I know this person?
• Do I pray for them?
• Do I engage in activities with them?
• Do I have heartfelt discussions with them?
• Do I care and serve them?
• Do I share the Good News of Christ with them?
• Do I encourage them on their walk of faith?

If you find gaps to your answers to these questions, use this as your starting point for building a relationship.  For example if you know the person but don’t engage in activities with them, start with inviting them over to dinner, a walk, or coffee.  If you do things with the person but don’t serve them, start with finding opportunities to serve.  Work on one thing at a time but through it all pray for this person.

Like a fisherman works hard to catch fish and build up the food supply we are called to work hard and build relationships to build up the Kingdom of God.  We plant the bait, but remember God will work His will for our friends.  Spirit-filled friendships and Connecting Groups may just be the tool God uses to bring a rejuvenated faith or a brand new faith to someone.  Cultivating spiritual friendships is our challenge, our opportunity; it is something we are called to do.

Vince and Betsy shared this song with us during our Worship time at Connecting Group last week. Although I’ve heard the song numerous times I’m not sure I’ve ever sat and listened to the lyrics.  For those of you not familiar with the song I encourage you to watch the video above.  I’ve copied the song lyrics below:

“If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave

Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all up tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave

Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh-oh-oh

Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
Tonight could last forever
Ooh
Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
As family
We’re family
Oh Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
You and me
Ya, you and me
Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide
In a glorious display
Cuz its all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh oh oh
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh oh oh
If we gotta start somewhere why not here
If we gotta start sometime why not now”

This song calls us into action.  Calls us into service to our communities and each other.  How great would it be to see the Twin Cities, or even just St. Paul, or Frogtown to be that “City on our Knees.”  What ways can we as Connecting Groups go out into our city, our neighborhoods and share the Love of Christ?  What about within our own church? Spring is a great time for Connecting Groups to start new service projects, its a time of renewal and rebirth, or starting fresh. What type of things are your groups doing? Thinking about doing? Stay posted for some Spring related service project ideas.

As I read a blog on Samaritan’s Purse’s web-site about the relief efforts, I saw great beauty admidst the destruction.  Victims were learning about God’s love and saving power of Jesus Christ and were accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  What an awesome thing to see when people are in a state of destruction.  If you are feeling moved to help with Haitian Relief, there are many places to consider giving to.  All relief organizations are to be comended for their hard work.  However, Christian relief organizations provide the best relief to everyone they help, sharing the Good News and helping people come to faith as the heal wounds, help find shelter and distribute food.  Below is a list of some of those Christian Relief Organizations I found through crosswalk.com, which is a trusted sight.  If you do donate anywhere, please be mindful that the sight is a trusted source as there are many scam sights out there to.  If you are not feeling moved to give that is okay too, there are many other ways to help, like prayer.  Also there are a lot of inspirational stories and prayer requests that are worth reading on these sights too.  May God bless you!

Samaritans Purse

Cross International

Christian Relief Ministries

Here are some more places to donate with LCMS connnections:

Thrivant Financial for Lutherans: Million Dollar Challenge
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will add a maximum of $250 per member donation up to a total of 1 million dollars when our members donate to one of the following:
·Lutheran World Relief.
·ELCA Disaster Response.
·LCMS World Relief/Human Care.
·WELS Committee on Relief.

Lutheran World Relief -See Thrivant Fund Match above
Go to their website www.lwr.org
ckick on “Haiti Earthquake”
click on “click here to contribute now” OR mail your donation to: Lutheran World Relief – Haiti Earthquake/ P.O. Box 17061/ Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has committed an initial $1,000,000 to the relief effort, and we will reevaluate that commitment as new reports emerge. Lutheran World Relief s currently planning a two-phase relief and recovery response through our partners on the ground in Haiti. LWR is also responding through the Action by Churches Together (ACT) alliance to support immediate relief efforts of food, water, medicine and shelter.

Salvation Army (Donate online by clicking the link)
Donate by texting the word ‘Haiti’ to 52000 will make a $10 donation, added on to your cell phone credit card bill.
OR call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) to donate by phone.

A Hope for Haiti
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40

What is your first reaction to tragedy on the TV?

Fear?

Concern?

Shock?

How about your second reaction to tragedy on TV: Sadness? Turning away? Thankfulness that it’s not you?

Maybe even that learned apathy?

When those familiar images of death and destruction flash across the TV, I find my own self-centeredness blocking the picture. We live in a society that has brought close the deaths of those far away, while the LCD screen shields us from the pain behind the images. I want to know what faces those who are hurting, but on my own terms. I want to get back to whatever movie I rented from Netflix soon enough.

One of the most telling reactions to Haiti’s devastation came to me over the radio, when a reporter was trying to describe the scene before his eyes. This veteran journalist was watching a little girl whose lips were shivering from cold and trauma. Every other moment he would stop to take a deep breath and steady himself before going on. Finally, however, the sight before him was too much, and the reporter’s voice broke as he cut the interview short.

It’s so much easier to debate Haiti’s “curse” than it is to face thousands of hurting faces. To say the homeless guy on the corner will spend the $5 on drugs and alcohol than to acknowledge that he has no place to sleep tonight. To distract ourselves into self-absorption again.

Jesus’ own example encourages us to weep with those who weep, even though we know something better is on the other side (John 11:35). Part of redemption comes from acknowledging that “all creation groans” until Christ’s return (Romans 8:22). And isn’t part of denying ourselves looking to our brothers and sisters in need? The faces of Haiti show us who and where we could be but for God’s mysterious grace. That’s a grace that should humble us deeply, and shake us out of our distraction.

Intersecting Faith & Life: I don’t know how God is calling you to respond to last week’s earthquake in Haiti. Maybe it’s through giving, maybe through prayer, maybe through a long-term sponsorship of a child, maybe in weeping for a fellow human being. But I do know the mandate of “doing for the least of these” means I’m not allowed to insulate myself against human suffering. Join me this week in praying, supporting, and weeping for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. And let’s be ready to rejoice with them at the promise of resurrection.

Thank you again to Vince and Betsy for pulling all of this together. Please continue to keep the people of Haiti, and those around the world who are effected by this in your prayers.

Is God Mad at Haiti? By: David Burchett (Click the link to see the original posting)

I am blessed by the incredible response by churches and Christian ministries across America to the suffering souls in Haiti. But sadly a big part of the media coverage is focusing on some remarks by television commentator Pat Robertson. Mr. Robertson speculated on why Haiti has suffered so much over the years. He believes that the country sold their soul to gain freedom from the French and that their nation is cursed because of that pact with the devil.

I will not resort to the kind of comments I am reading elsewhere about Pat Robertson. I do think his timing was terrible. Our entire focus as followers of Christ should be aid and prayer for our brothers and sisters in that country. To be fair, Robertson said that he prayed that out of this disaster a spiritual renewal would take place in Haiti. Still, I wonder how anyone can say definitively why suffering takes place.

The Old Testament offers an interesting story about a place that was more degenerate than any place in ancient history. But God was willing to show compassion even to a city as overwhelmingly wicked as Sodom.

“For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.”  (Genesis 18, The Message)

I don’t know if Haiti can be mentioned in the same breath as Sodom and Gomorrah. And how about the prophet Jonah? He wanted judgment on Ninevah and ran away instead of taking the message of repentance and redemption to a city that he wanted judged. Jonah was ticked off that his personal revenge might be thwarted.

I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!  (Jonah 4, The Message)

So here is my unsought advice to all of us. Get out of the prophet business. In the Old Testament the prophets had a high standard.

“But any prophet who fakes it, who claims to speak in my name something I haven’t commanded him to say, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.”  (Deut 18, The Message)

Now that is a strong deterrent to shooting from the hip. You could not follow up a false prophecy with a big smile and a proclamation of “just kidding”!

Here is my concern when comments like this attract media attention. Pat Robertson becomes the face of Christianity to many people. I certainly hope he did not mean to have that happen. When I try to use my meager skills to point people toward Jesus things like this come up. What about that Pat Robertson guy? Do you believe the things that he says? Is that the God you are representing? Do you think God is punishing Haiti? My answer is that I simply don’t know and I don’t think Pat Robertson does either.

I don’t have a big agenda. I want to introduce people to Jesus. Trying to assign blame for a natural disaster does not help me model the saving grace of the Lord Jesus to people who are desperate for hope.

Unfortunately in our soundbite news cycle high profile “spokesmen” become the face of Christianity. I want the face of Christianity to be Jesus. And I want His followers to be the humble hands and feet of God to love, heal and restore the aching souls in Haiti.

Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good Peopleand Bring’em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church. You can reply by linking through daveburchett.com.

Guidance: follow the map

When people need directions to a place they have never been, they use a map. Too often when people have major life-forming decisions to make, they make them alone.

In every church there are people facing decisions about vocations, ministry involvement, finances, relocation, and relationships. How sad if they make these decisions without the benefit of community. Their decisions may be impulsive, emotional, based on too little information. The result is too many broken lives.

The small group is to be where we find guidance, where we help each other learn how to listen to God. Small groups who rely upon God’s Spirit serve as a map for us when making important decisions. In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster talks about guidance as a corporate discipline—something that groups should be doing together.

In the early church, the Spirit guided believers as a community. In Acts 13, for example, the church fasted, prayed, and listened to God. Then, in response to the Spirit’s guidance, they sent out Saul and Barnabas to minister.

In Acts 15 the church faced a major decision about the behavior of Gentiles, and they listened to the Spirit’s guidance so carefully that in the letter explaining their decision they were able to say, “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us … “

Small groups should be places where people gather to hear God through prayer and listening. Every small group meeting should include the question, “Is anybody facing a significant decision this week?” And in community the group should seek the Spirit’s voice for the person facing the decision.

Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., practices this discipline by what they term “sounding the call.” When someone has a significant decision to make, the community enters a time of prayer and listening to God. They speak openly with each other about their sense of what God is saying. They take seriously the leading of the Spirit while avoiding any sense of superiority or control.

Encouragement: embrace each other

A hug is a gesture of love and encouragement. An embrace represents what we all need from a community of transformation. We need to know that someone is committed to us and loves us. That cannot happen when we are alone, and it cannot happen in a large gathering. It’s going to happen through smaller communities.

Today small groups have the privilege of loving and accepting human beings for whom Christ gave his life. In these groups we can supply the love, encouragement, and embrace people need to continue their journey of transformation.

A long time ago I decided I wanted to talk to someone honestly about my temptations, where I had messed up. I wanted to practice the discipline of confession. So I asked my friend Rick if we could meet. By that time, I had known him for about ten years.

When we sat down together, I told him everything there was to tell about me—all of the darkest stuff and everything I felt the most embarrassed about.

When I got to the end my confession, I could barely look up at him. When I finally did, Rick looked me in the eyes and said, “John, I have never loved you more than I love you right now.”

Those words were so powerful; they felt so good that I wanted to make up more bad stuff to tell him. To have someone know everything about me and still love me was truly life giving.

That kind of love is what we ultimately need in small groups to transform lives. We can make small groups so complex and difficult, we can build the perfect small group strategy, but if we do not have the love of Christ present, we are not really engaged in transforming people into his likeness.

Spiritual formation in community is mostly about loving people, and that is something we can do.

He has erased a debt so big with his own blood, that we can not fathom, except when we look back at the shambles  our lives were in from sin. But now after the Good  News we have received that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sins we should read God’s word, live out God’s word, pray to God regularly (not just at the dinner table) and outwardly show everyone we meet that this has registered in our brain and on our heart, that what Jesus has done for us.

Go that extra mile, and hold a door open, give a compliment, share a story, send a call, live outside of what society does. So that when people look back and think about you they will say “What is different about them? Oh, they are devoted Christians.” Amen, for the witness your life can show others and HONOR God at the same time.

Turn that corner, and get into God’s word daily, and your ‘compartmentalization’ will go away, and beaming love shared from the Spirit will come and knock down those compartment walls and you will see the difference…and prayerfully so will others.

For Saint Stephanus, 2009 was also a year of losses as we said good-bye to your pastor.

It is easy to focus on what a difficult year 2009 may have been.  However, if we stop to take a closer look we can see there were blessings as well.

Jan. 2009 kicked-off with the birth of the Connecting Group ministry.  These groups have thrived during the past year which is quite an accomplishment seeing that there was not a pastor or trained small group coordinator to lead the way.  Facilitators stepped in, arranged, and lead weekly meetings.  Members volunteered to join and participate.  A new group birthed out of an existing group.  New facilitators were raised up.  Within each group friendships formed, faith was deepened, people were served.  God piloted this ministry and people rallied together to get Connecting Groups off the ground.

2009 was a year of self reflection for SSLC as we went through a self study.  The study served two purposes:  1.  Showed us our strengths and weaknesses.  2.   Helped the call committee formulate the qualifications needed in a pastor to ensure the next pastor was the right fit for SSLC.

Neighborhood outreach grew in 2009 as NOW formed and organized many outreach activitites in the neighborhood.  Seeing that it was a year when people needed to hear about Jesus’ saving power and love, the NOW group was an added blessing to the community.

Our congregation was blessed with many people who stepped up to the plate and served in new roles to help keep the church moving forward.  Disciples continued to work tirelessly in their leadership positions while others helped out where they could.  One of the most appreciated efforts was the call committee who spent many hours praying, attending meetings, going through the self-study, researching the list of candidates, interviewing, and making recommendations.  Through them we were blessed with the opportunity to close the year out by putting a call to a pastor.

Through the changes, losses, and searches, St. Stephanus was able to keep on going and received blessings in 2009 because God’s hand was on everything.  He kept us His palm hand throughout everything and to that we should give Him thanks and praise!

2010 is here and SSLC is once again filled with hope and anticipation as we look forward to Pastor Thompson joining and leading us.  There is hope that we can offer a Connecting Group every night of the week, continue to reach more people, raise more facilitators and look for ways to connect with one another and with people outside of St. Stephanus.

2009 was a year of blessings and 2010 can be too.  If we keep our prayers vibrant, praise God for how He works in our lives and draw close to Him, it will be amazing to see what He has in store for us!