"......for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God
presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood."
Romans 3:23-25a
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lent is a time when we focus ourselves all the more on the action God has taken on our behalf. The word "redemption" is used freely in the church, yet so often we have no idea of the depth of it's meaning. It means that we have been: rescued, delivered, released, liberated, emancipated, recovered, from a place that was filled with hopelessness. We humans now have "hope" because the God of all creation has "chosen" us. God has overlooked our deficits and paid the bill.
Imagine yourself so in debt financially that there is no way you will ever be able to get out from under the load. You have built up a debt because of your mishandling of money....buying what you don't need....spending in unhealthy ways....and you find yourself owing a million dollars! Now you begin to wonder how in the world you will ever be able to begin making the payments and not only that you are overwhelmed with the fact that your interest rate for one year is at 5%. The amount you now owe is $1,053,770 and the number is on the rise. The interest on the debt is beyond your comprehension. WOW! On top of this you begin to figure in your inability to make the payments and the 23% interest has kicked in and the interest for the year would jump to $271,317. UNBELIEVABLE! Your debt keeps growing out of control and you cannot even begin to see any end in sight. Who would put up with this?
Now imagine someone walking in and picking up the tab after you have been so outrageously careless. Who would want to pay the bill for your mishandling of the funds? Who would be willing to let you off with no ramifications? Would you do that for someone else? Of course not...none of us would be so brainless as to put ourselves at risk for someone else who has shown no sense whatsoever in their decisions, right?
WRONG! Maybe we wouldn't, but one who is much greater than us has. We build up our debts of wrongdoings and hurtful actions every single day, oftentimes without recognizing what we are doing. We wake up one morning and the realization of the sin and debt that has been accumulated is overwhelming. We don't know how to right things, in fact, it is impossible. That is when God kicks into action and cleans up our mess. Now what? How do we respond?
Lent is a time of figuring out how to respond to the God who picks up your debt. Lent is a time when you consider the journey to your redemption, only to find out that it isn't your journey, but Christ's. Lent should be a time when you spend even more time focusing on your need for Jesus. Take time. Be present. Re-evaluate your giving in return for Christ's action. Begin recommitting yourself to Christ and His ministry.
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
P.S. Join us on Wednesday evenings for soup and salad at 6 P.M. and worship at 7 P.M. as we journey on the road to redemption.
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" Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"
Luke 6:38
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to first thank those who served on the SLT over this last year. Our President, RicH Walker - Vice President, Ron Funk - Treasurer, Lark Eriksen - Secretary, Diane Fischer - Erin Baschal, James Orth and Reggie Usher, all members at large, have served well. Your commitment to Christ is appreciated.
This year your leadership is resting in the hands of the following:
President: Tiffany Brooks
Vice President: Rich Walker
Secretary: Willi Sanow
Treasurer: Lark Eriksen
At large members: Diane Fischer, James Orth & Reggie Usher
Please support and pray for the leadership of Bethel Lutheran Church and Christian School. You are part and parcel of the ministry here in this place and Christ needs all of us to pull together the ministry in such a way that others come to know Him.
I would ask that you take time, since it is the beginning of the year, to honestly evaluate how it is you support the ministry at Bethel. We, as the people of God, are to offer up to God our time, talent and treasures. This is our response to God, who has so graciously blessed us. However, there are many times that we, as the people of God, fail to consciously evaluate our lives. How is it that we spend our time, talent and treasures? How do we make decisions on returning our gifts to God? What is necessary financially for our congregation to do the ministry of Christ and are we committed to making the ministry happen?
I would venture to guess that the majority of people want to do for Christ, yet don't take the time to consciously think through what it takes and what it is they need to do to make things happen. Christ does need the people of Bethel to give their "time and talents" for the hands on ministry of the church! However, Christ also needs us to evaluate how we financially support the ministry and upkeep of the church.
In these next few months take moments to pray about how it is you can make the ministry more vibrant by your commitment. Pray about how to evaluate your giving of your offerings. Seriously look at what you have and pray about what God might lead you to do.
Remember, that all we do as individual Christians and as a congregation is to be in honor of Christ......for it is about HIM! Join in the ministry!
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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January
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We embark on a new year wondering what will come upon us, both as individuals and as a nation. Every year we make resolutions only to break them. Every year we gather together with our friends to "celebrate" the end of the year that has been and look forward to the year that is to come. Every year we are amazed at how quickly the last year passed by us. Are we ready for all the "every years" again? Maybe? Maybe not?
The question should be asked is, "Is the 'every year' stuff good enough?" I would guess that it isn't. We promise ourselves things that we get discouraged over and the year may have been good, but not good enough. Those things that truly can make a difference for us go by the wayside and we are still lacking. We work towards the things we hope will make a difference for us and........you fill in the line. Sometimes we feel great about what "we've" accomplished and yet, most of the time, we recognize that our "accomplishments' are not lasting.
Paul writes that we need to "stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord." As individuals and a congregation we need to follow Paul's admonishment to the Corinthians, however, we don't. Often it is one of those regrets when it comes to the "new year". But....this is a "new year" and we can all think about "giving ourselves to the work of the Lord' in many different ways. What can change? What needs to change? What will make the biggest impact?
Begin this year with a prayer of commitment. Make God your resolution and then evaluate your serving inside and outside the church. Ask yourself what God might need from you and not so much what it is you need from God. Look for new insights...new eyes...what does God want you to see? What does God want you to labor for?
On January 24th, we ask that you come to the Annual Meeting to help us look ahead to the "new year." Join in the potluck and hear what has happened and question with us what is next. You are vital to the mission and ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church, "because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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