Photo by Ricardo Cruz on Unsplash 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When we think of a Christian missionary, we probably think of someone doing God’s work in places where God’s word is needed in special ways. We might envision a dedicated, faithful servant of the Lord desiring to share God’s life-saving word with others - acting as the hands and feet of Christ through education, healthcare, construction, agriculture, or some other way. In short what could be more harmless than a Christian missionary showing others Christ’s love!?

The reality – depending on where missionaries serve, they might be viewed as dangerous weapons. I read of a young missionary crossing into an “unfriendly” country. The border guard asked, “Do you have any guns, drugs, or Bibles?” Guns – they’re used to mount insurrections and revolutions. Drugs – they can be used to raise money for criminal elements intent on causing trouble. But Bibles?

They are indeed dangerous. God knows it and tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible, God’s word, proclaims truth and exposes falsehood. It gives courage, strength, and hope to the oppressed. It shows those who think they’re powerful, the one who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and almighty! God’s word, that living and active two-edged sword, destroys even the most unspeakable evil.

As we go through life, we may not be oppressed by a ruthless dictatorship. But we can find ourselves oppressed by Satan and those he works through in the kingdoms of the world. In these times, let us break out the most powerful weapon of all, God’s word and lean on it to fight off the devil and those in league with him. Know that God is ultimately in control. Through Jesus He has already won the battle over our souls. In faith we know that one day, any oppression we’re under now will vanish as we enter eternal life in the kingdom of God.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There’s a lot of talk these days about “boosters.” In this case, it’s a “booster shot” to increase our effectiveness to ward off disease through vaccines. There are many kinds of boosters. For example, booster chairs lift children to eat at the “big people table.” Booster rockets give satellites the “oomph” to achieve orbit. Boosters increase others’ effectiveness by their efforts.

God’s word is filled with words of encouragement – “boosters” – for His people. We all face many challenges each day. The temptations laid before us by Satan, the world, and our own sinful nature can make a life of faith difficult. Without a booster, even faithful people can fall away from God. Therefore, the writer of Hebrews urges us, “Exhort (Boost) one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). God created us to live in community, not as separate, independent islands unto ourselves. This community He calls us into is “the Body of Christ.” Here we live together so we can “exhort one another every day!” 

This exhorting, or boosting, takes many forms. When you’re going through a challenging time and you make a prayer request to the church – the Prayer Circle, the Deacons, and I come together to boost you in prayer. When someone in the church falls on hard times and has difficulty making ends meet – the Food Pantry, the Benevolence Fund, and others boost them up with extra food or other provision. When a church member is grieving the death of a loved one – we pull together as the Body of Christ to boost them through meals, prayers, and often by our simple presence. You and I, we’re the eyes, ears, hands, and feet of the One who gives us all the ultimate boost – through Jesus, we’ll all be boosted to the place we can’t get to on our own, eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. So, let’s also boost one another for that glorious day to come.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Dear Faithful Followers,

This weekend we celebrated 45 years of “following Him in faith!” On October 3, 1976, a group of families committed themselves to serving God and each other in a congregation called First Lutheran Church of Calvert County. And ever since, First Lutheran Church has been on the move – serving God, His people, and Southern Maryland. From the Plusch family’s living room to various locations around Calvert County to our present location at the intersection of Routes 2 and 4, the Cross of Christ has shown brightly through those God has gathered in this place.

Over the years, God has blessed His church with many forward-looking leaders who shared His vision of the future. These faithful Christ followers shared their many gifts – time, talent, and treasure – praying for one another, guiding people of all ages in worship and the instruction of God’s word, starting school and other ministries, and sacrificially supporting the work and ministry God called them into by leading committees, boards, and other groups. Those who’ve gone before us have joined with Christ to be His hands and feet who “Joyfully proclaim God’s word and enthusiastically share Christ’s love” in the world.

It’s important to remember what those who’ve come before us have done in putting their full faith and trust in God to lead them in the work He called them to do – including those who sacrificed time, talent, treasure, and personal convenience to start new congregations. Looking to them for inspiration, God calls us, today’s church, to see the future with His eyes and heart. He calls us to keep shining the light of Christ by faithfully using the many gifts He’s given each of us. This weekend we rededicate ourselves God’s mission. We thank Him past blessings. We ask God to lead us into the future He has set before us. Please join me in trusting Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls that our lives become lives of worship, responding to His love for us as we glorify and praise Him by following Him in faith.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash 

Dear Children of God,

“We’re #1! We’re #1!” Everyone wants to be #1. With college football season upon us the “Top Twenty-Five” polls are a common sight. And many are excited to see their team jumping in the polls … others get crazy that their “arch-enemy” is ranked above them. I fall into the same trap with my teams. This year, they had a big win early on and looked to be flying up the polls, while their chief rival got upset – “YAY!” The next week my team got upset and fell out of the polls too.

This fascination with being #1 or on the winning team is nothing new. Even Jesus’ disciples fell into the “We’re #1” trap. They were beside themselves with jealousy because someone else, who wasn’t on their “team” was healing people in Jesus’ name. But Jesus reminded them, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40). There is one “Team Jesus” and whoever calls on His name in faith is on that team. Wherever His name is proclaimed in truth and light, the gospel is being spread.

I can see myself in the disciples’ sandals though. I have a pretty good idea on what I think is the correct interpretation of scripture in many areas. When I see others with different interpretations, it is tempting to join in with the disciples to call those others out too. But then I hear Jesus’ scolding of His disciples ringing in my own ears. While we may differ in certain areas of scriptural interpretation, it’s important to remember what Jesus says to us, “No one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40). We are saved by the works and name of Jesus and faith in Him alone (Romans 10:9-10).

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash 

Dear Servants of Christ,

“Busted!” … I remember driving home from college in the middle of the Arizona desert. I lost track of how fast I was going, but it didn’t seem to matter as nobody was on the road in the middle of the night on I-10 between “Quartzite and Tonopah”. And suddenly, “busted” … an Arizona Highway Patrol car lit up the night sky to remind me that the speed limit was 55 MPH. Apparently, I set off the radar gun when I came up over a rise as the patrolman sat below in a distant valley. We’ve all had similar situations where our hands got caught in the proverbial cookie jar despite our attempts to be sneaky.

The disciples got “busted” by Jesus a couple times I’d guess. We hear about one of these times in Mark’s ninth chapter. The disciples were uncertain on things as Jesus had just foretold His death. In their uncertainty, they simply stayed quiet. Instead, outside of Jesus’ earshot (or so they thought), they began to argue about who was the greatest. Jesus let them argue until they got to the daily stopping point. Then He asked, “What were you discussing on the way?” (Mark 9:33) “Busted!” – they knew the topic – they should’ve known Jesus would know too. Jesus sat the disciples down and said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). 

Jesus teaches all of us what this means when, as the King of kings, Lord of lords, He served you and me and all creation by suffering and dying a death reserved for the lowliest of criminals – crucifixion. He doesn’t ask us to die on a cross. But Jesus does ask us to think outside ourselves by giving from whatever God has given us – time, talent, and treasure – in service to others. In this way, though “last” in the eyes of the world, showing our trust and faith in God and His promises as His servants, we become first in the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                    Serving Him in Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash 

Dear Disciples of Christ,

“If” – in today’s world, when we say “if” it’s often a hopeful thought of what might’ve been. “Ifs” lead to a stream of “would’ve, should’ve, could’ve – but didn’t” thoughts. “If the referee would’ve made the right call, my team could’ve won.” “If I could’ve made more money, I’d be happier.” 

St. Mark’s gospel recounts another big “if”. It happens when a father who is beside himself with anguish over his son’s plight in life … violent, uncontrollable seizures that cause horrific injuries. He’s heard about Jesus and His disciples and the incredible miracles they’d done (e.g. Mark 5, Mark 6:7-13, Mark 8:1-10). So, he hoped they could heal his boy and bring him peace. But Jesus’ disciples couldn’t do it (Mark 9:17-18). He finally calls out to Jesus, in a form of prayer, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!” In New Testament Greek, there are three kinds of “ifs” – one that’s not likely to happen, one that could happen, and one that’s very likely to happen. The father’s “if” is one that’s very likely to happen. It’s as if he would’ve prayed, “Jesus, I know you can do anything … help us!” His faith-filled prayer to Jesus, the Son of God, was answered as Jesus healed his son.

The disciples, followers of Jesus, were amazed. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy. Jesus’ response, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29). 

God hears our faith-filled prayers, and He answers them. Faith-filled prayers trust God to hear and answer our prayers in accord with His good and perfect will. When it comes to God, our “if” isn’t an “if” of doubt, uncertainty, or might’ve been. It’s an “if” of certainty in knowing God will respond to our need in the way that’s best for us. His response might be, “Yes”, “No”, or “Wait.” But we know that however He answers, we’ll get what we truly need to persevere in faith. Let us approach God with the “If of Certainty”.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You’ve heard the saying, “That’s good enough for government work.” The idea behind this is that “details” aren’t important, as long as the job gets done. So, even if a detail here and there gets missed, it’s no big deal. We got through the task. Frankly, that line of reasoning has always rubbed me the wrong way as I think we should put forth our best efforts in all things. 

God’s word calls on us to pay attention to details, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace … in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11). When “everything” is used in scripture, it means 100% – not 99%. So, what does “everything” entail? James clarifies saying, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). With God, details matter. Miss one little thing and you might as well have missed them all. Looking at murder, Martin Luther explains that in addition to literally taking a life, we also violate this law with the seemingly small detail of not providing food, a basic necessity of life, to someone in need. On adultery, Jesus says that even if you think about committing adultery, you have sinned (Matthew 5:27-28). God is detail oriented – there’s no “good enough” with Him.

Except … with His Son. Jesus was good enough. Jesus obeyed every single detail, 100% of the law. And then He was executed on the cross. Because of His 100% obedience, all who believe in Him are forgiven for the details they miss. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize the details we miss. He helps us to confess our sins to receive God’s forgiveness. He helps us to grow in holiness throughout our lives – growing to miss fewer and fewer details while living our lives in faith, evidenced by our good works (James 2:14-18) in response to His love for us.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim