February 2012

I

I greet you members and friends of Hope Lutheran Church in the name of our risen Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, the Son of man and the Son of God, who is, who was, and who is to come, amen.

This last month’s weather has really been unpredictable at times, hasn’t it? Yet when we look around us and see what is happening in other places in this country and around the world we can feel blessed. The colder temperatures, wind, and snowy days are nothing compared to what other people are facing and dealing with on a daily basis. Yet as humans, our natural tendencies are to dwell not on the positive but more on the negative things that happen in our lives.

The same can be said for a lot of people and even churches as they dwell not on the blessings that God has bestowed them, but instead they dwell on what God has not done for them or with them. Hope certainly is not excluded from this statement and neither am I. I confess that I am just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to finding fault or dwelling on the negative instead of the positive. I know that with the help of God I might eventually get to a point in my life where my positive comments and thoughts out number my negative ones. However, I can truthfully say I haven’t reached that point yet.

That point in my life as I said before is not here yet, but when I look toward the future and consider the people of Hope with whom I serve the Lord, I can see and feel only the positive amid a negative dwelling world. And I remind each of you, that you, the people, are the ministers of Hope Lutheran Church along with its many friends and supporters. I also know that together we have weathered several storms, and there certainly will be more as time goes on. The positive side as I see it, came not in a rush but over time as you pondered what each and every storm could do to the whole. Through prayer, study, meditation, careful preparation and consideration you were ready to act, and God through the work of the Holy Spirit spoke through your actions. I am not sure what the future holds for Hope or you and me but I am sure that God will never abandon us or His people, but will hold to the promise of being with us to the end of the ages.

I am very proud of the people of Hope for your faithfulness and your commitment to being faithful servants for God and ministers of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the community and the world. Of course I am not telling you something new. All those who served the Lord so faithfully before you weathered storms as well and they too took their stance when they stood together to form Hope, and to their credit I believe that Hope has not let them down nor has it strayed from its mission.

The God we serve together has not changed. The mission we are all called to do definitely has not changed. The people who serve God and work to complete His mission have not changed either. If anything the people of Hope have grown spiritually and physically stronger through the storms that you have faced in life. God is good and God is faithful to those who love and serve Him.

I know that I am truly blessed to be able to serve and be a part of your ministry here at Hope Lutheran Church in Hubbard lake Michigan.

I’ll leave you with some food for thought; if you have time please read 1^st Corinthians 6:9-20 and 1^st Corinthians 10:23-11:1.