United Lutheran Church in Waterville

Tomorrow morning is my last Sunday here at United Lutheran Church. 
Church congregations memberships decline mostly through older members dying. 
Fact of life! 
Newer members join mostly because someone invited them.  And the invitation has to be one of A) faith in God and His salvation plan  B) a desire to share God's love with others so that their eternal soul is also saved  C)  you are excited about the church you go to. 
Is your church perfect?  Not the point. 
Your pastor is a man of God, preaching the Word, and you are a sheep of his flock.  You follow shepherds who preach the truth of the Bible and DO NOT change it... and many pastors do... our culture no longer has a Biblical Foundation... society changes the Bible to fit their lusts. Please, pray for pastors, churches, and our governments. God's Blessings to you and your loved ones.   Rev. James Robinson

Albert Einstein said "The world is an evil place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."  Another Isaiah 7:9b God's word to the people: "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."  One more, "Whenever one person, stands up and says, 'Wait a minute, this is wrong!'... it helps other people to do the same."
   The point is Christians, are never, never-ever to just sit quietly sit about injustice.   Every Christian must be "street wise" in knowing and living the Gospel.  Yes, the Bible says to examine yourself... your faith.  II. Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!
P.S. Do not lie to yourself!

    It is, of course, with a sad and disappointed heart, and other feelings, that I am writing this, my last Pastor’s Letter for The United Lutheran Church. Suzanne and I have served ULC and the Waterville community for ten years.  We have enjoyed the small community that connects to my hometown via Hwy 2. For my hometown in Montana, Hwy 2 is our Main Street. A town of less than 4,000 people; farmers, ranchers, oil field workers, teachers and business persons.
     As for my future and Suzanne’s; we just do not know.  We want to stay here in Waterville but, well, we do have to go where the jobs are. We will retire most likely only when we expire. With about eight weeks left I look forward to our Sunday worship times together.

     Winter was a long time in coming... now we have lots of snow... great for skiing, sledding, and snowmobiles.  And, there is a wondrous beauty with all that glittering white covering the land and the trees and the homes and the barns. 
     With all that wondrous whiteness I am reminded of Revelation 7:13-14     13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
     Yes, our devotion of faith in Christ Jesus is to completely trust and obey for that is washing our badly stained robes of sin---in the blood of the Lamb --to become white as snow.  Go, be a blessing to others.

Reversing a Trend:  It has been said that if we have something bad happen to us such as a bad experience at a store, or doctor, or whatever, that we are apt to tell ten people.  Now, on the other hand when we have a great experience we are apt to tell only three people.   Humm.  Does that go for church experiences also. Yup, I think so. 
   So, in my way of thinking we better turn those numbers around.  If we have a bad experience and telling someone will never benefit them; why do they need to hear it!   Sharing it is okay so as to vent a bit and cool off.  Yet, when we hear, read, and have good experiences why not share that.  I like to hear good news over bad anytime. 
   I suggest you take a few notes during sermons, or when watching t-v, or listening to the radio, or reading a book.  Note the good things you encounter and share them!
   One last thing.  Share answered prayers.  It is a great testimony.  And, what I have learned it that in sharing answered prayers others will build up their trust in God too.
    Go, be a blessing to someone... okay to everyone.  

Attitude: how one thinks and feels and reacts with/to others.  This past week my wife and I were in several stores, one grocery store made us feel so welcomed we wanted to invite them all to our home for dinner… the problem was we were in a different city.  The next day we were at another store, a Walmart in fact, and we thought we were on the set of The Walking Dead.  Only one employee greeted us, and when asking for help one associate pointed to the isle we needed. For a second item we needed help finding the staff person just walked my wife to the section of the isle and just pointed in the general direction…and never said a word!  Days like these are great lessons for us to make sure we have our “Jesus Attitude” up and running…for the world sees everything we do… so does God!

This week, and other times of course, I see and I hear people not being friendly.  I see people walk past each other and not even say "hello".  I am sure I have done is this myself.  Yet, I truly try not too.  Saying 'hello' or some other greeting is the right thing to do... yes, even if you might not like that person.  What I also hear is, "Pastor, I was right there in the hallway and so-in-so looked right at me did not even say 'hi'.  I am really hurt!"   Point is stop ignoring each other, start being friendly to everyone... that's what Jesus did.

This week, as in many other times, a discussion came up about rural churches, small rural churches.  How these congregations are mostly "gray hair" folks.  Not many younger couples with or without children are attending these smaller churches.  And, as this happens it is ever so noticeable.  Big churches on the other hand (and I am grateful for the big-mega churches) have a larger draw for families with children as they are in areas with a larger population.  Which then is able to have large children's programs, which draw in the children and parents. 
     Back to the smaller rural congregations.  With fewer children to draw from, and the parents busy life styles, children's programs, such as Sunday School, suffer greatly.  They have inconsistent attendance which leaves the thoughts to the kids and parents, "why go no one else does". 
     A religious/faith upbringing is critical to all children... and to their parents.     Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.  God is not talking about sports or music or world ethics; He is talking about His ways--He is talking about Scriptures, church, and Christian fellowship.  Go be a blessing to others!

Read Matthew 14:13-21: Miracle of feeding the 5,000.
            Yes the people sought out Jesus, not because they had seen signs but because they ate their fill--they got worldly rewards*they had no spiritual sensitivity.  Jesus' miracle pointed beyond itself.  To use the language of the apostle Paul, they set their minds on the things of the flesh, not the things of the spirit. 
The lesson for us is this:
It is possible to seek Jesus and believe in his power, but be totally lost and worldly-minded.
            We do not simply come and trust a loving man. We pin all our hopes on the forgiveness that he purchased for us in laying down his life and taking it up again. We are to delight and satisfy our soul’s hunger so that we continue in His word forever. That spiritual feeding on Christ is the Lord’s Supper; a gift to us.  Go be a blessing to others.

Fall is here.  And soon Thanksgiving then Christmas.  My how time flies.  Think about time... think about eternity.  Eternity is for real folks!  So, how do you want to spend your eternity?  God say there are only one of two places you can be for all of eternity--yes, eternity!  In Heaven with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and God's other spirits--angels, arch-angles, Cherubim and Seraphim.  Or, in hell.  Which is to be totally without God.  A place describe as a place of fire.  A place of torment.  God does not want any to perish.  People will not be in hell because God wants them there... they will be in hell because they do not want God.  Go, be a blessing to others.