From The Pastor - December 2018 Newsletter
Blessed Advent & Merry Christmas
from the staff of Emmanuel Lutheran
Pastor Mike, Ryan Luhrs, Mary Lassiter and Nancy Truitt
from the staff of Emmanuel Lutheran
Pastor Mike, Ryan Luhrs, Mary Lassiter and Nancy Truitt
From The Pastor - November 2018 Newsletter
Mission Impossibly Possible
One of my favorite shows growing up was “Mission Impossible,” starring Peter Graves. The fast paced opening music was gripping and full of intrigue. A tape recorder (I know, what’s that, right?) would begin to play, “Your mission should you choose to accept it is…” And then, after the “impossible mission” has been defined, the clincher: "As always, should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." This was dangerous stuff.
Over two thousand years ago a wealthy man came to Jesus asking about salvation. Jesus told him to follow the commandments, to which the man replied that he had done that since his youth. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” This perplexed the disciples, who were nearby, and they asked, “Then who can be saved?” And Jesus said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
Neither wealth, prestige, power, status, nor class can earn one’s place in the kingdom of God. As Jesus said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God.” No matter how hard we try, our place in the kingdom is not dependent upon us, but God. Salvation is a gift, bought through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words to the rich man came as such a shock because he believed, like so many in our culture today, that wealth was some kind of divine blessing, God’s favor shown to the righteous. Yet, what we see in this text is that a relationship of trust and grace draws us closer to God, not our wealth or earning power. The man had relied on the security of his wealth, not on his relationship to God, to seek salvation. Jesus offered him the security of eternal life, to free him from his bondage to his stuff, and in so doing bring hope to the poor. Mission is about reaching out beyond ourselves, our comfort zones for the sake of others. We are a missional Church. We are called to share our resources for the sake of the world.
Yet, sometimes our mission field is a lot closer to home than we realize. What if the mission field sits on the pew in front of you, with her impish little grin, chewing Cheerios? Can we support her faith development as she grows deeper in her relationship with God? Can we offer her parents the resources to keep her engaged in a faith that is being pulled at by a world we don’t even understand? Can we envelop our teens in God’s love, reassuring them that they will always have a home here, no matter what? Can we offer God’s presence to those who live alone and in need of companionship? Can we provide hope and a place of meaningful engagement for our seniors? Can we come together in service for the sake of the world? Is worshiping the eternal God here at Emmanuel worth our time and financial support?
I think the answer to all these questions is yes. As we begin our Annual Appeal will you venture in faith with us as we begin to realize our Mission is Impossibly Possible by God through you?
Peace,
Pastor Mike
One of my favorite shows growing up was “Mission Impossible,” starring Peter Graves. The fast paced opening music was gripping and full of intrigue. A tape recorder (I know, what’s that, right?) would begin to play, “Your mission should you choose to accept it is…” And then, after the “impossible mission” has been defined, the clincher: "As always, should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." This was dangerous stuff.
Over two thousand years ago a wealthy man came to Jesus asking about salvation. Jesus told him to follow the commandments, to which the man replied that he had done that since his youth. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” This perplexed the disciples, who were nearby, and they asked, “Then who can be saved?” And Jesus said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
Neither wealth, prestige, power, status, nor class can earn one’s place in the kingdom of God. As Jesus said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God.” No matter how hard we try, our place in the kingdom is not dependent upon us, but God. Salvation is a gift, bought through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words to the rich man came as such a shock because he believed, like so many in our culture today, that wealth was some kind of divine blessing, God’s favor shown to the righteous. Yet, what we see in this text is that a relationship of trust and grace draws us closer to God, not our wealth or earning power. The man had relied on the security of his wealth, not on his relationship to God, to seek salvation. Jesus offered him the security of eternal life, to free him from his bondage to his stuff, and in so doing bring hope to the poor. Mission is about reaching out beyond ourselves, our comfort zones for the sake of others. We are a missional Church. We are called to share our resources for the sake of the world.
Yet, sometimes our mission field is a lot closer to home than we realize. What if the mission field sits on the pew in front of you, with her impish little grin, chewing Cheerios? Can we support her faith development as she grows deeper in her relationship with God? Can we offer her parents the resources to keep her engaged in a faith that is being pulled at by a world we don’t even understand? Can we envelop our teens in God’s love, reassuring them that they will always have a home here, no matter what? Can we offer God’s presence to those who live alone and in need of companionship? Can we provide hope and a place of meaningful engagement for our seniors? Can we come together in service for the sake of the world? Is worshiping the eternal God here at Emmanuel worth our time and financial support?
I think the answer to all these questions is yes. As we begin our Annual Appeal will you venture in faith with us as we begin to realize our Mission is Impossibly Possible by God through you?
Peace,
Pastor Mike