St. John's of Mound - St. John’s Blog

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The Safety of Fear

February 21, 2013

-Pastor Jeff

I have always been a fan of Mike Yaconelli (affectionately known as Yak). He was a leader in youth ministry in the Christian church and founder of Youth Specialties Inc. He spoke around the world and wrote many articles for his magazine called “Youth Worker”. Mike died in 2003 and has left a void in youth ministry leadership in the church today. I wanted to share with you one of his moving articles he wrote in the late 90′s. It’s called “The Safety of Fear”:

The Safety of Fear

The tragedy of modern faith is that we no longer are capable of being terrified.

We aren’t afraid of God, we aren’t afraid of Jesus, we aren’t afraid of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we have ended up with a need-centered gospel that attracts thousands…but transforms no one.

What happened to the bone-chilling, earth-shattering, gut-wrenching, knee-knocking, heart-stopping, life-changing fear that left us speechless, paralyzed, and helpless?

What happened to those moments when you and I would open our Bibles and our hands started shaking because we were afraid of the Truth we might find there?

Barclay (a theologian from the 1900′s) tells us that the word used in the Bible for “Truth” has

three meanings—

#1) a word used to describe a wrestler grabbing an opponent by the throat;

#2) a word meaning to flay an animal;

#3) and a word used to describe the humiliation of a criminal who was paraded in front of a crowd with a dagger tied to his neck, its point under his chin so he could not put his head down.

That is what the Truth is really like! It grabs us by the throat, it flays us wide open, it forces us to look into the face of God. When is the last time you and I heard God’s Truth and were grabbed by the throat?

Unfortunately, those of us who have been entrusted with the terrifying, frightening, Good News have become obsessed with making Christianity safe.

We have defanged the tiger of Truth. We have tamed the Lion, and now Christianity is so sensible, so accepted, so palatable. Who is afraid of God anymore?

We are afraid of unemployment, we are afraid of our cities, we are afraid of the collapse of our government, we are afraid of not being fulfilled, we are afraid of AIDS, but we are not afraid of God.

I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; place where God continually has to tell us, “Fear not”; a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or doctrine or theology, it is God’s burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God’s presence except us. Nothing—including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs.

The two men on the road to Emmaus knew they had been with Jesus because their “hearts burned from within.” The impotence of today’s Church, the weakness of Christ’s followers, and the irrelevance of most parachurch organizaions is directly related to the lack of being in the presence of an awesome, holy God, who continually demands allegiance only to Him—not to our churches, our organizations, or our theology.

We believe in a God who wants all of us—every bit of us—and He wants us all the time. He wants our worship and our love, but most of all He wants us to trust Him. We have to be more in awe of God than we are of our government, more in awe of God than we are of our problems, more in awe of God than we are of our beliefs about abortion, more in awe of God than we are of our doctrines and agendas. Our God is perfectly capable of calming the storm or putting us into the middle of one. Either way, if it’s God, we will be speechless and trembling.

Our world is tired of people whose God is tame. It is longing to see people whose God is big and holy and frightening and gentle and tender…and ours; a God whose love frightens us into His strong and powerful arms where He longs to whisper those terrifying words, “I love you.” -Mike Yaconelli

What Does It Mean To Be Missional?

January 27, 2013

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21).

When you hear the word “Missional” what comes to mind for you? As I write this, I am in the final stages of completing my doctor of ministry degree in the area of Congregational Mission Leadership through Luther Seminary. These past six years I have been dwelling in the meaning of the word Missional. It is the buzz word right now in the Christian world. What does it mean to you to be missional? Is it something you do? Is it something you are?

In the words of South African missiologist David Bosch: “It is not the church which undertakes mission; it is the missio Dei (the mission of God) which constitutes the church.” Or stated in a slightly different manner; it is not so much that God has a MISSION for His church in the world, but that God has a CHURCH for His mission in the world. You see, we don’t have the mission, God does! And, therefore, God created the church for His mission. That’s right! We exist as a congregation in order to do God’s mission in the world.

The attraction model of ministry (the “build it and they will come model), which has dominated the church in America for the past several decades, seeks to reach out to the culture around us and draw people INTO the church so that they can become like us. This is not what God’s mission has been about….ever. Rather, missional churches see their primary function as one of actively moving OUT into a community to embody and enflesh the word, deed, and life of Jesus into every nook and cranny. This tends to be a challenge for churches who have been so used to expecting people to come into their building and to become like them.

Being missional people is all about identifying ourselves with the hurts, needs, and missio Dei in the world and then meeting it head on. It means that we will probably need to change in the process. It means not worrying about “the way things have always been done” but rather looking at how things “need to be done” in order to complete God’s mission in the world. This means that to be truly Christian people is to be flexible people.

As we look toward 2013 at St John’s Lutheran you will hear more and more about what it means to be missional people. This year we are very excited for ministry at St. John’s and especially the three Ministry Initiatives that you will hear about at the Annual Meeting and also read within this report. But, to simply have these initiatives and to celebrate the other ministries without considering what is means to be missional is missing the point. Everything that we do at St. John’s should be about engaging the world around us. That means we are going to have to change some old patterns of thinking. That means we are going to need to change, rather than expecting others in our community to change. That’s not easy, nor comfortable. But, as you know, Jesus never said that being a disciple was easy. In fact Jesus said that it would cost us something to take up our crosses and follow Him.

I want us to wrestle with what being a missional congregation means for us. And, I want you to wrestle with what this means for you and your family. Our winter Small Group Ministry focus will be to study Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?“ Sure seems to be a missional question! Friends, the work we do in fleshing out what this means for St John’s will have a profound impact on our community of Mound, the Westonka School district, and our greater world! Join me in helping St John’s claim our calling as missional people! And, commit to being open and wiling to see where God is leading St. John’s into the future. It’s a little scary and exciting all at the same time! That’s missional!

Blessings,

Pastor Jeff Heiderscheit

God…..Where Are You?

by: Pastor Jeff Heiderscheit … December 20, 2012

It is almost a week since the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and I have noticed heavy hearts remain among the people I encounter. A question I get over and over from people is, “Where is God in all of this?” That is a normal response when tragedy and terror strikes the innocence of our world, and especially true when the littlest and most vulnerable are prey to evil intentions.

Where is God in our hurting world?
Where is God when we hurt? Where is God when we have doubts? Where is God when we struggle? I’ll tell you where God is. God is with us…Emmanuel. That was the message of the very first Christmas so many centuries ago. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said that Joseph’s fiancé was to have a baby. Not just any baby – THE baby. The Son of God. And the angel said that he would be called Jesus. All this happened because of an 800-year-old prophecy that said that the Messiah would be called Emmanuel. Emmanuel is a combination of Hebrew words meaning, “God with us”. Jesus showing up on earth so long ago means that God is with us, even now.

Emmanuel means that God took pity on our weaknesses and came and dwelt among us, pitched His tent among us so that we might feel and know that He was near us and was one of us. Emmanuel means that God is with us in all situations: pain, unemployment, divorce, bankruptcy, poverty, illness, surgery, hurt, cancer, and yes, even death. Emmanuel means that even in such situations as these tragic murders God surrounds us with His love, His presence, and His Spirit. Emmanuel means that even in such situations we are not left on our own to brood in our pain, hate, anger, fear, or hurt.

After all, look at the testimony of the Bible. Psalm 23, such a comfort at times like this, says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” That’s Emmanuel!

Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s Emmanuel!

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s Emmanuel!

You see, the Christmas season shows us that God is no stranger to our sufferings. God understands our pain. Even if we were to have all the answers, even if we could figure out these sweeping questions like “why does this happen?” even if it could all be explained, I don’t think it would hurt any less.

And, my friends………it isn’t just that God is with us. If that was all there was to God, it would bring some comfort but it would not bring satisfaction…….God takes the incarnation all the way to the cross. God also does something about this condition of sin in the world. We cannot look at the manger without seeing the shadow of the cross. Jesus would go all the way to the cross to take the sin of the world, and would rise on the third day to open the way to heaven for all of God’s creation. Now, that is a promise we can put our trust in. God is with us…..Emmanuel! May you know the love of God this Christmas season. And, may it be made known in a very real and moving way to the victims of Newtown, Connecticut. -Pr. Jeff

St. John’s….A Baptismal Community

by: Pastor Jeff Heiderscheit … November 30, 2012

Each and every day, I take the beautiful, scenic drive along highway 15 as I travel between Mound and Plymouth. I cannot think of a more relaxing and beautiful commute each day. Why? Because of Lake Minnetonka that Highway 15 seems to stroll hand-and-hand with. What an amazing view! When I was boy, I grew up along the Mississippi River, in Bellevue, Iowa (Lock and Dam #12). It is a beautiful little river town nestled into the hills and valleys of eastern Iowa, just south of Dubuque. Bellevue is picturesque and quiet, following a slower pace to life. People would come from miles around to walk along our main street and watch the life unfold on the river. The benches on the banks would be filled will people watching the barges and boats pass through the locks. The river was also active with flat-bottom boats and fishermen jigging for catfish or northern pike. It was a town with a heartbeat that took her rhythm from the ever-changing waters of the Mississippi. To live in Bellevue meant that you lived with water…..lots of water.

As Christians, we know water! The image of water is a powerful reminder of our baptism. Water can do many things. Water gives life, cleanses, destroys, and even kills. In much the same way, through the waters of baptism, our old self dies, and from out of the water we emerge as a new creation. In the waters of baptism we are reborn children of God. Martin Luther would tell us that this is a daily dying and a daily renewal. As Lutherans, our baptism is a constant journey. It is far from a one-time event. To remember our baptism becomes a day-to-day dying of our sinfulness and a daily commitment as followers of Jesus Christ. In this process we become a new creation and an active follower of Jesus Christ.

On the wall in my office is a stunning panoramic aerial photo of Mound (taken by a local photographer from his ultra-light plane). What is so stunning is the sheer amount of water that surrounds Mound and St. John’s Lutheran Church! Stop by sometime and take in the photo. As I look at that photo, I keep getting this image of St. John’s being a community washed in God’s baptismal promise. We are water people! What would it mean for St. John’s to be a place that lives out fully our baptismal identity? How do you live out your baptism? Do you comprehend your “Child of God” status? What does a daily “dying of your sinfulness, and rebirth in Christ” mean to you? Those are some things to truly ponder! And…..the next time you take that beautiful meander along Highway 15, glance over at Lake Minnetonka. And remember……..remember your baptism. -Pr. Jeff

Love

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

-1st Corinthians 13:13

They say that if there’s one thing that we can count on in life it’s that things change. You buy a new cell phone with all the latest capabilities, and six months later there are a whole host of new options. You hear that job markets are looking for new skills, and about the time you complete the training things have shifted yet again. You work through an issue with someone important to you in your life, and just when there seems to be clear sailing there’s something new that catches you completely off-guard. Even in the church, change seems to be ever pressing in—the latest music replaces an age-old favorite hymn; the ministry patterns of yesterday seem to change with the culture. And you wonder, where can I count on something stable…unchanging?

“Even God says Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) And, what do God’s word say about change. It says that there are ultimately three things which we can count on to remain: faith, hope and love. That means that today, whatever else you may be needing to do, whatever change you may be facing, these three things are worthy of your energies and focus. They are eternal. And if you’re really pressed to focus on, as often we are, love should occupy the number one spot!

Friend, whatever is your situation today, “know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1st John 4:16) There is no better place to be, no more important act to perform, no greater gift to give than love!

Who has the final word in your life?

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

We’re all looking for the way forward. We’re faced with decisions to make, business contracts to enter into, children to raise, and judgments to make about all kinds of things. Often, we have well-meaning people who will give us advice. And quite certainly we have our own thoughts about such things. But as good as they are, sometimes we can try to step forward without fully trusting that God is on the move. Sure, we pray. But we can also perceive that God just hear or that our situation isn’t that important to God.

The Bible says that when Jesus spoke the Word, he did so as one having authority. And amazing things happened! We also need to speak the Word of God into our situations—declaring the power and promise of God to have ultimate authority and influence in our lives.

Take for instance the following story:

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground —-it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it:

You say: “It’s impossible”

God says: All things are possible with me (Luke 18:27)

You say: “Nobody really loves me”

God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: “I can’t go on”

God says: My grace is sufficient for you (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out”

God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it”

God says: But with me, you can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able”

God says: But I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it”

God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself”

God says: But, know that I forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage”

God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid”

God says: But I have not given you a spirit of fear; child, do not be afraid. (II Timothy1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated”

God says: So, cast all your cares on me (I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith”

God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough”

God says: I will give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone”

God says: But I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews13:5)

Friend, whatever is your circumstance, whatever decision you are faced with, trust the power and authority of God’s Word to lead you through it. For He loves you, is for you, knows everything about you, and will show you the way. More than that, He’s already at work!

Healing

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” -Luke 4

It has been said that these words of Jesus constituted his life’s mission, his focus. It is nothing less than a mission of healing. Why? Because He knows our brokenness, our pain, the things that keep us from experiencing life in its fullest. Just as this was true 2,000 years ago when he walked this earth, it is true today! (“For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8) In essence, Jesus healed then, and Jesus heals now.

It is also true that Jesus’ followers heal. The Bible says, “And He called the twelve to Him, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits … And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:7,13) I remember a close friend’s phone call many years ago who, at the age of 18, told about how her doctor’s visit had revealed a cancer tumor at the base of her sternum. It came on quickly; her first symptoms were a growing inability to breathe deeply. Being a part of a young adult group at our church, we gathered around her and prayed and believed God for healing. In fact, our whole church prayed; we had a special healing service, and she and her mother attended other such healing services wherever they could find one. Long and short of it was that five weeks later the tumor was completely gone, and today she is a healthy mother of two girls, one of them now 18 years old herself.

There were many of us in that young adult group who were pretty new to faith in God. And, admittedly, there was a certain naiveté about our faith—it was a simple, believing faith. Years have passed since then; I trust that I’ve grown in wisdom and knowledge of God’s Word, attended seminary and am now a pastor. But through it all, one thing has remained the same, and that is I’ve only grown in my conviction that simple faith in Jesus is still the way to go.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14 Jesus still heals, and the Church still has the ministry of healing. While it is a mystery why some seem to get better now and God has some wait until heaven to bring final and complete healing, you and I are called to believe in the One whom God anointed for this ministry of healing, and we’re called to be agents of healing ourselves, trusting in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Friend, trust and believe that God wants to heal you from whatever infirmity you suffer from. Whether that be depression, an addiction, a poor self-image, an ailment of the body, or a relationship that is struggling, remember that with God all things are possible! And remember that as you gather in faith with other believers within the Church, that miracles still happen!

Baptism

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

“… with you I am well pleased.”

- Mark 1:11

How many of you remember at some point in your growing up or in your adulthood being the object of someone else’s disappointment? Some failure, some shortcoming, some not-measuring-up occurred, and whether or not it was spoken aloud you knew that someone in your life was not well pleased with you.

Truth be known, we all have this in common. We fail to live as we ought, as we intend, and the reality is that others are not “well pleased” with us. Add to that the fact that we are our own worst critics and you’ve got a prescription for an identity crisis. In fact, for many, it is the voice of disappointment that seems to be replayed over and over again inside one’s mind that causes great consternation. We become depressed, self-loathing, fearful, apprehensive, and generally feel mindful that we simply “do not measure up.”

But for the Christian, this is a wrong mindset—it is an untruth. For you see, when God looks upon us, He sees us through the lens of Jesus. When we were baptized in Christ, we were baptized into his goodness, his purity, his favor and blessing. Our “old self” is drowned; our “new self” emerges. The exact same declaration that was made at Jesus’ baptism is the one that is made at ours—”with you I am well pleased.” That means that God sees you as treasured, blessed, gifted; and God is pleased!

You say, Pastor Tim, how can this be? God sees me for who I am and I just don’t measure up. Friend, that is to approach things from the wrong vantage point. God’s vantage point is one of grace. It is one of redemption, of forgiveness and of the power of extraordinary blessings. Baptism is precious because it washed away the old and it gives birth to the new. Jesus overcame incredible odds to bless and love others, in large part, I believe, because he knew that his Heavenly Father had declared a perfect blessing upon him. This is true for you, as well. God has declared that you are blessed, forgiven, and God’s pleasure rests upon you!

Take hold of this truth, let it reframe your orientation, and let it renew you in the waters of refreshing new life! “For behold, I make all things new,” says the Lord!

Perfect Love

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” 1st John 4:18

Perhaps there is simply too much that is said about love. “Love is a beautiful diamond ring.” “All is fair in love and war.” “There is only one happiness in life—to love and to be loved.” And yet, if we really want to know pure love—true love—we need to look to the One who is the source of it—God. In fact, the very essence of God is love. (1st John 4:8) Yet, so often we struggle to truly believe that we are loved just as we are—with all of our imperfections, failings, and anxieties. And so we live in fear—fear of not being accepted, treasured, forgiven…loved.

The Bible says that when we really accept that God’s love for us is unconditional, we will live without fear. We will not worry about our standing before God—because our Redeemer Jesus stands in for us; we will not worry about death—because our Savior Christ has saved us from eternal separation; we will not even worry about the day that is before us—because we are led by our Good Shepherd who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. In love—God’s pure and perfect love—this Life is now ours—a life that is lived without fear. This is God’s will for us.

Friends, Christmas is about God’s perfect love coming to ordinary folk like you and me. Christmas is about that perfect gift of love found in Jesus coming to take all of our fears away. For those shepherds in the field that night, God knew that fear would try to sneak in to take away their hopes. And so He sent an angel to them and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) And so those shepherds made their way to the manger to receive the perfect love that God had become. Indeed, perfect love had expelled their fear.

If you feel fear sneaking in, lean into God. And remember that there is no greater love for you than the mercy, grace and acceptance God has for you in our Lord Jesus. It is a love that is pure, unconditional, eternal, without limits, and filled with grace. And in the face of that great a love, fear has no chance!

Joy!

From Pastor Tim Johnson:

“Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

I love this scripture verse. In it, we not only hear that Jesus is the one who is the author and finisher, or perfecter, of our faith. But he willingly endured the cross. The cross is where every single sin you and I have or will ever commit was nailed to its death. Jesus rose victoriously not only over death, but also over sin—our sin. Mind you, we each know that sin has its consequences, not the least of them is shame. Shame for regretful acts, failures, omissions, and self-centered living. But take note of what Jesus did with that shame—he despised it. He didn’t and doesn’t despise us—only sin and its shame, which is our enemy. And he knows it. That’s why he saved us from it! And that gave Jesus joy! And it should for us too as we despise both sin and shame.

Earlier, as Jesus was speaking with his disciples, he commended them to remain in his love and to follow his commands. And he told them this, “…so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) This is Christ’s will and hope for you and me—a life filled with joy! And joy most certainly comes when we remain in Jesus’ love, follow his ways, and remember that he has conquered sin and death.

Friends, Christmas is near. Immanuel is God’s Son, Jesus—literally “God with us.” Receive the gift of your Savior and Giver of Joy! For, there is good reason we ring out with, “Joy to the World!”

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The Safety of Fear

What Does It Mean To Be Missional?

God…..Where Are You?

St. John’s….A Baptismal Community

Love

Who has the final word in your life?

Healing

Baptism

Perfect Love

Joy!