[Bslc-dist] Pastorgram

[Pete Luedemann]

Sunday was certainly a change of pace for many of us.  It was interesting to
be forced to have a day of rest.  I pray that it was restful and safe for
all of you.

 

On a more poignant note, there was one death in the Portland area attributed
to the ice storm.  This woman, Nancy Johnson, lived on Mt. Scott and had
recently begun attending Beautiful Savior.  Her memorial service will be
this Friday at 2 p.m. at Beautiful Savior.  I know that many of you never
had a chance to meet her.  If you are able to come and support her family
and non-Christian friends, that would be a great gift of an hour on Friday.
Even if you are not able to come please keep their grief in your prayers.

 

 

I continue to hear positive and excited reports about how well church (small
groups) are going in our homes.  I am overjoyed to hear about the leaders
who are stepping up and the relationships that are developing.  This is
church and it is confirmation that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our
members.

 

There is some confusion about missing the Sunday message with 40 Days.
We've decided not to push everything back a week.  Primarily because we have
plans in place for our 50th anniversary on February 20th and our unified
service on that day, but also because 40 Days does not rest on the worship
service.  It is supported by the worship but also by the daily readings and
memorization and the small groups.  In the same way that a ###### Christian
is fed not only by corporate worship but also by daily time spent with Jesus
and deep relationships with other Christians.

 

If you missed a small group due to the ice they will try to put two sessions
together in the next gathering.  And I will roll some of the message from
Sunday into the message on the 30th.  You will have to wait until then to
see how it fits together.  :-)

 

 

I've been personally challenged by memorizing Jeremiah 22.15-16.  I'm not
challenge by the memorizing (I can do that okay) but by applying it.  The
second half (verse 16) is the part that gets me.  "He defended the cause of
the poor and needy and so all went well.  Isn't that what it means to know
me?  declares the Lord."  I've tried for a few weeks to get out of the clear
implication of the verse.  "I don't actually have to do anything with the
poor and needy just feel for them."  Or "I lead a church that helps the poor
and needy isn't that a greater purpose?"  

 

That is the danger of memorization, you can't run away from the text.   I
come back to the words day after day and sooner or later the excuses seem
smaller or less valid and the clear question remains.  "In light of this
verse, can I ever fully know God if I am not actively engaged in meeting the
needs of the poor and needy?"

 

I won't pretend to answer that question for you (that would rob you of the
joy of struggling with the Word in your life).  But I can share with you the
answer God has impressed on me.  I need to get involved.  Somehow knowing
God is not just a matter of study and reading, it requires doing too.

 

You can hold me accountable to this.  Within the next three weeks I will
find a way and the time to be consistently involved in defending the cause
of the poor and needy.  I want to know Him.

 

Pastor Pete

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