“Be content with what you have but not with who you are.” That statement has been on our lawn sign and every time I see it, it makes me think. The texts for the past few weeks really have revolved around that theme. In the gospel lesson, we have heard how to be rich in God but not in things. We truly are a blessed people and we do need to focus on what we need and not what we want.
Then as I read over the series of texts from Hebrews, I remember the heroes of faith where those who “pressed on.” Yes, we can learn from our past. Yes, there are things that need to be done now. But the writer of Hebrews encourages us to keep looking forward to the work God has called us to do.
So mark your calendars for some unique events:
On September 9, we will not only begin our schedule of two worship times and Sunday school but we are going to host a neighborhood party. We will feature the band Epiphany and have some special kid friendly activities. On Thursday, August 23, your church council will be walking through the neighborhood of our church buildings, inviting people to come.
What can you do? Invite a friend or relative to come with you to the music event at 3:00 pm. Then bring your lawn chairs and join us in the parking lot (in fellowship hall if it rains).
Watch for Faith In Action Sunday, October 14th!
See you in church,
Pastor Otto
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Applying Bible Principles
God's Word has more to say about money and material possessions than about heaven and hell combined. Obviously, how we as His children handle what God has entrusted to us is a very important subject to Him.
Money is also the only subject about which God says, in essence, "Prove Me. Trust Me. Try Me." He does not issue that challenge concerning any other aspect of our Christian walk of faith. Not about prayer; not about sharing our faith with others; not even about salvation. Just money.
God said to Malachi, the prophet, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test . . . See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing."
Some promises in the Bible are unconditional in nature. They are going to be fulfilled, regardless of what we might or might not do. Others could be described as "if . . . then" promises. If we will do our part, then God will do His part. This passage from Malachi 3:10 is one of the latter. If we will bring our tithes to God's storehouse, then He will open for us the windows of heaven and pour out for us such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
The question is whether we really believe God when He makes a promise like this. If we do, we will take Him at His Word. We will accept His challenge and "test" Him by giving to Him as He directs. And if we do that by faith, then we can be confident that God will meet that "test" by providing all we need and more.
Money is also the only subject about which God says, in essence, "Prove Me. Trust Me. Try Me." He does not issue that challenge concerning any other aspect of our Christian walk of faith. Not about prayer; not about sharing our faith with others; not even about salvation. Just money.
God said to Malachi, the prophet, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test . . . See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing."
Some promises in the Bible are unconditional in nature. They are going to be fulfilled, regardless of what we might or might not do. Others could be described as "if . . . then" promises. If we will do our part, then God will do His part. This passage from Malachi 3:10 is one of the latter. If we will bring our tithes to God's storehouse, then He will open for us the windows of heaven and pour out for us such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
The question is whether we really believe God when He makes a promise like this. If we do, we will take Him at His Word. We will accept His challenge and "test" Him by giving to Him as He directs. And if we do that by faith, then we can be confident that God will meet that "test" by providing all we need and more.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Applying Bible Principles
God uses money in a variety of ways in the lives of His children. One of the most important ways God uses money is to confirm direction. Simply stated, God uses the supply of money or the lack of it to confirm His direction for many of the decisions we must make in life.
If God gives us clear direction which is confirmed by His Word, then He will provide whatever is needed to carry out that direction. The only problem is that He expects us to step out in faith in obedience to His leading and His Word, usually without knowing in full the pathway that lies ahead.
Living that kind of life requires faith in God's person and His promises. It requires taking God at His Word and basing how we live on His Word. It requires trusting Him, even when circumstances appear to be contrary. It requires seeking first His kingdom, and then being confident that He will provide what we need. It requires as the writer of Hebrews observed, believing that God " . . . exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China who lived in the 19th century, summed it up beautifully this way: "God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supply." This means that if we are not experiencing God's supply, either we are not doing God's work (that is, we are not seeking first His kingdom) or we are not doing God's work in His way.
Make no mistake about it: God is not a God of disorder. He will not provide specific direction which He confirms by his Word if He does not intend to provide what is necessary for us to obey Him fully. But He looks to us to be willing to trust Him by taking the first step, and then another, and yet another.
By the way, has God been speaking to you lately? Has He confirmed that direction through His Word? If so, remember this: You can be confident that as God works in your life, He will use money or the lack of it to confirm His direction.
If God gives us clear direction which is confirmed by His Word, then He will provide whatever is needed to carry out that direction. The only problem is that He expects us to step out in faith in obedience to His leading and His Word, usually without knowing in full the pathway that lies ahead.
Living that kind of life requires faith in God's person and His promises. It requires taking God at His Word and basing how we live on His Word. It requires trusting Him, even when circumstances appear to be contrary. It requires seeking first His kingdom, and then being confident that He will provide what we need. It requires as the writer of Hebrews observed, believing that God " . . . exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China who lived in the 19th century, summed it up beautifully this way: "God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supply." This means that if we are not experiencing God's supply, either we are not doing God's work (that is, we are not seeking first His kingdom) or we are not doing God's work in His way.
Make no mistake about it: God is not a God of disorder. He will not provide specific direction which He confirms by his Word if He does not intend to provide what is necessary for us to obey Him fully. But He looks to us to be willing to trust Him by taking the first step, and then another, and yet another.
By the way, has God been speaking to you lately? Has He confirmed that direction through His Word? If so, remember this: You can be confident that as God works in your life, He will use money or the lack of it to confirm His direction.
From the Pastor
During the month of August, a small group of members are joining me in a book discussion. The book we are reading is called Giving to God by Mark Allan Powell. Dr. Powell asks an interesting set of questions about why we give to God.
Do you write a check to Zion Lutheran because you are worried about meeting the budget? Do you put money in the offering plate because it is a great way to empty your wallet?
I think not. We give because it is a way to offer our thanks to God for all that he has given us. The problem is that lots of us think giving $5 a week or less to God is an adequate way to say thanks.
Giving is an act of worship that is to take us beyond duty to delight. When we enjoy giving our money away, we may come close to an actual love offering. So when the plate comes by in worship remember, like the creed here is another way of saying “I love Jesus.”
My mother taught me a long time ago that the main reason for going to church is not getting my own needs met. The main reason, the most important reason for going to church, is to worship God.
See you at worship,
Pastor Otto
Do you write a check to Zion Lutheran because you are worried about meeting the budget? Do you put money in the offering plate because it is a great way to empty your wallet?
I think not. We give because it is a way to offer our thanks to God for all that he has given us. The problem is that lots of us think giving $5 a week or less to God is an adequate way to say thanks.
Giving is an act of worship that is to take us beyond duty to delight. When we enjoy giving our money away, we may come close to an actual love offering. So when the plate comes by in worship remember, like the creed here is another way of saying “I love Jesus.”
My mother taught me a long time ago that the main reason for going to church is not getting my own needs met. The main reason, the most important reason for going to church, is to worship God.
See you at worship,
Pastor Otto
Thursday, May 24, 2007
From the Pastor
I hope each one of you will take the time to thank Pastor Harder for his ministry with us. For the past five years, John has been an asset for us and we will miss him. John and Ruthe will still be in ministry helping at Messiah Lutheran in Elgin but as of June 9th, he will complete his work with us. One thing that immediately impacts on me is calling. I will need your help in calling on our sick and shut-ins. This is a great opportunity to expand our "Zion Care Givers" group. On my days off, I will be available for emergencies, but will need help with Pioneers and our worship ministry at Northwoods. Know that throughout the summer, I will be looking for a new pastor to assist me in visitation but it may take some time.
Walking the Neighborhoods
For the past seven years, I have really gotten to know the new neighborhoods of Belvidere by spending a few hours a week walking through them and sharing information about Zion to those who are interested. I invite you to join with me each Tuesday starting June 19. My purpose is to leave information about our congregation with these new residents and when possible, get to know them. I begin at 6:00 PM and end by 7:30 PM.
Mark your calendars for:
June 19 & June 26 at Landmark Crossings
July 10 & July 24 at Farmington Hills
July 31 at Riverbend
What a great opportunity to wear your "Z" shirt.
Pastor Otto
Walking the Neighborhoods
For the past seven years, I have really gotten to know the new neighborhoods of Belvidere by spending a few hours a week walking through them and sharing information about Zion to those who are interested. I invite you to join with me each Tuesday starting June 19. My purpose is to leave information about our congregation with these new residents and when possible, get to know them. I begin at 6:00 PM and end by 7:30 PM.
Mark your calendars for:
June 19 & June 26 at Landmark Crossings
July 10 & July 24 at Farmington Hills
July 31 at Riverbend
What a great opportunity to wear your "Z" shirt.
Pastor Otto
Thursday, May 10, 2007
From the Assistant pastor
TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AT ZION
It was not an easy decision for me to decide to leave my position as Assistant Pastor here at Zion. Ruthe and I will miss all of you, but especially our Pioneer Club friends. I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship as well as friendships with Pastor Otto, Kathy Martin, Dan Druckrey and the Church Council. I will remember our five years together fondly. I ask you to remember Pastor Otto in your prayers as, for a time at least, his duties with shut-ins, hospital and nursing home calling will increase. Also, I ask the excellent potential leaders in the Pioneer Club to step up and begin planning for future events.
As I write this, Ruthe and I are packing and planning to leave for Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Bali, to tour that part of the world with our son, our daughter-in-law and granddaughters, where they are teaching for one term before returning to Valparaiso Lutheran University for the fall term. Ruthe and I will return about May 15th. I will then work here through Pastor Otto's vacation and complete my duties on Saturday, June 9th.
Our prayer is that God would continue to bless the excellent staff here at Zion and grant this congregation a long and blessed future in a growing community.
Sincerely in Christ's Service,
John S. Harder,
Assistant Pastor
Zion Lutheran Church
It was not an easy decision for me to decide to leave my position as Assistant Pastor here at Zion. Ruthe and I will miss all of you, but especially our Pioneer Club friends. I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship as well as friendships with Pastor Otto, Kathy Martin, Dan Druckrey and the Church Council. I will remember our five years together fondly. I ask you to remember Pastor Otto in your prayers as, for a time at least, his duties with shut-ins, hospital and nursing home calling will increase. Also, I ask the excellent potential leaders in the Pioneer Club to step up and begin planning for future events.
As I write this, Ruthe and I are packing and planning to leave for Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Bali, to tour that part of the world with our son, our daughter-in-law and granddaughters, where they are teaching for one term before returning to Valparaiso Lutheran University for the fall term. Ruthe and I will return about May 15th. I will then work here through Pastor Otto's vacation and complete my duties on Saturday, June 9th.
Our prayer is that God would continue to bless the excellent staff here at Zion and grant this congregation a long and blessed future in a growing community.
Sincerely in Christ's Service,
John S. Harder,
Assistant Pastor
Zion Lutheran Church
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
From the Pastor
In Mark Chapter 2, there is a story about some men who wanted to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus but encountered problems. The conventional way of getting someone in the house was through the door but that was blocked and so were the windows. So wanting to accomplish their mission, they “stepped out of the box” and raised their friend up on the roof, dug up the roof and got their mission done.
The longer I serve here, I see lots of people who do not worship God and yet live within easy driving distance to Zion. We have done marvelous things in making our building accessible and being a hospitable people but still have people driving past us. Maybe we are still trying to get in the door when we need to “unroof the roof!” The families we are trying to reach have needs but we are not touching them. As Jesus went out to the homes and marketplaces to meet the people, so must we.
Right now we are primed to meet the needs of those who grew up in the 20th century. But what about those who cannot remember TV’s without remotes or phones you had to dial? We need to go out and ask them what they need. Oh, I am sure they still need the Christian faith and may even like much of what we Lutherans are about, but we must market in ways they can understand.
Early in May, our Dream Team will ask you to express your opinion on where we should go as a congregation in the next five years. But maybe first go ask your unchurched neighbor what would bring them to enter our building. Then share those results with us. Join your church council in reaching out to our “twenty somethings” who grew up in Zion. In August, join your leadership team as we survey the neighborhood around our church buildings. Then let us build together a mission plan that will not only serve Christ and those who live in our mission field.
Pastor Otto
The longer I serve here, I see lots of people who do not worship God and yet live within easy driving distance to Zion. We have done marvelous things in making our building accessible and being a hospitable people but still have people driving past us. Maybe we are still trying to get in the door when we need to “unroof the roof!” The families we are trying to reach have needs but we are not touching them. As Jesus went out to the homes and marketplaces to meet the people, so must we.
Right now we are primed to meet the needs of those who grew up in the 20th century. But what about those who cannot remember TV’s without remotes or phones you had to dial? We need to go out and ask them what they need. Oh, I am sure they still need the Christian faith and may even like much of what we Lutherans are about, but we must market in ways they can understand.
Early in May, our Dream Team will ask you to express your opinion on where we should go as a congregation in the next five years. But maybe first go ask your unchurched neighbor what would bring them to enter our building. Then share those results with us. Join your church council in reaching out to our “twenty somethings” who grew up in Zion. In August, join your leadership team as we survey the neighborhood around our church buildings. Then let us build together a mission plan that will not only serve Christ and those who live in our mission field.
Pastor Otto
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