Mt. Pleasant Newsletter Pastor's Desktop article for April 2016

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. “

(Philippians 2:1-4 NIV)

               

            Life is hard.  That’s why it is so important to be a part of a local church body.  Anyone who has ever gone through a hard time, and has through that time felt the compassion and support of their local church can testify to the tremendous help and encouragement they’ve felt through that time.  In any given week, someone may be dealing with health issues of their own or of a close family member, there may be a job change/loss, there can be tensions in family relationships, death, divorce, misunderstandings, gossip, jealousy, and I’m sure anyone reading this could list twenty more things.  The church is not immune to problems like these because they are part of our human existence.  I say that not to minimize anything anyone is going through, just to say that, in general, life a various points along the way is hard.

            So what is the answer?  There is no simple or easy answer to the long list of things we will have to go through in our lifetime.  But when we know that there is someone who will let us spill our guts to them, and not be judged by them, or to commit to help pray for us through a difficult spot, or to just be there with us, is a great help.  Sometimes, it’s not something special that someone said along the way, it’s that they were there along the way, helping to bear our burden just by being there with us through it.

            That’s at least part of what Paul is writing about to the Philippian church in this passage.  If we are Christians, (united with Christ), if we are comforted by the love He has shown us, if we have the Holy Spirit living within us, if we have learned tenderness and compassion through our relationship with Christ, then live into that by being united in mind, in love, in spirit and in purpose.  Don’t just look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.

            Sometimes the best therapy for being lonely or down is to set our sights on helping someone else.  When we are extending genuine compassion to others because of what they are going through, sometimes our problems seem to fade into the background, and we are blessed by being a blessing to others.  I can’t tell you how often I’ve made a visit or had a conversation with someone that I hope to cheer up or encourage, and found myself leaving that occasion being encouraged and blessed myself.

            Life is hard.  If you’ve not found that true just yet, count yourself fortunate for now, and don’t be overwhelmed when it comes, because it is common to our existence here on earth.  The uncommon thing is how the church can be a source of support, encouragement, love and compassion when the church is truly extending the love they’ve received from their relationship with Christ, and passing it along to others who need that shoulder, that gentle hug, that kind word. 

            Paul is really just calling us to be an extension of Christ’s love in this world.  Not because someone deserves it, but because they need it.  One day you’ll need it, and you’ll be glad to know its there for you too.

                       

By His Grace Alone,

Pastor Bruce Jacobsen

Mt. Pleasant Newletter Pastor's Desktop Article for March 2016

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.  O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God, left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.  So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown. “

(The Old Rugged Cross, George Bernard)

               

            I’m not sure how often we consider the irony of the cross.  There was one of the most cruel forms of execution ever devised, and it has become a symbol of hope for so many for now more than 2000 years.  It is indeed a symbol of suffering and shame, but it is also, for those who trust in the Christ of that cross, the symbol of a sacrifice paid on our behalf that has purchased our salvation.

            In nearly every Christian church you will find a cross.  It may be on a steeple on the roof, it may have another prominent place on the outside of the building, and likely you’ll find it inside too, maybe as decorative pieces here and there, but always as reminders of what was done out of God’s incredible love for us.  You’ll see a cross on a necklace for many people, some who may have little understanding of what that symbol means, but it is there nonetheless.

            We’ve refined it, smoothed it out, covered it with brass or gold, and made it look beautiful.  There are stunning images of crosses that are incredible works of art, but they are still crosses—still what was once one of the most crude cruel forms of execution ever devised. 

            Since our narthex remodel project a year or so ago, we have had a rather crude, rough large wooden cross hanging on the wall at the top of the stairs of the main entrance.  As you look up the stairs, you can’t miss it.  It is a reminder of the price paid for us so that we don’t take that act for granted.  That’s the purpose of the cross today—to help us to remember.

            The first two verses are quoted above.  Here’s the third verse:  “In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.”  Jesus went to that cross, and His only apprehension that we find was when He prayed in the garden, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)  He went to the cross in obedience to the Father, knowing the love of His Father for we who would be His children who desperately needed someone to pay for our sins.

            There is great irony in the cross.  The cross, that old rugged, crude, horrible, blood stained, wonderful, sin pardoning, life-giving, life changing cross.  I hope when you see it, whenever or wherever you see it, that you remember, and take even just a second to whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to God for what it means,--for what it means to you individually.  One day, we will exchange it for a crown.  I look forward to that day.  I hope you do too.

                       

By His Grace Alone,

Pastor Bruce Jacobsen

Here is the Pastor's Desktop article for February 2016.

“I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.  Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.  The snares of death encompassed me,; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.  Then I called on the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul.’  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.  The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me.  Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. “

(Psalm 116:1-7 ESV)

               

            This was part of a passage of Scripture we looked into the other night with our Young Adult Group.  I asked something like, “what words could we use to describe this passage?”, and someone said, “Gratitude and dependence.”  Those words really resonated with me.  They are still resonating with me, and the more I re-read the passage, the more they resonate.

            The psalmist apparently found himself near death and cried out to God for help.  He suffered, and called and was delivered from the suffering.  The balance of the psalm is a testimony to God’s goodness, and the psalmists attempts to give praise back to God for the favor he has experienced.  He depended on God to save him, and now that he has known that salvation, he is grateful, and appreciative.

            Shouldn’t that be our story too?  Haven’t we been given hope when our case was hopeless, and spared from a death that was rightfully ours?  God is gracious, righteous and merciful.  He has dealt bountifully with us, so much more so than we deserve.

            He was under no obligation to save us.  It adds nothing to His glory and majesty to save a sinful soul, and yet He does.  He doesn’t need us to make Himself complete, it settles no owed debt to spare us, and yet He does.  We are more dependent on Him than we realize, and certainly more than we could ever begin to express proper appreciation for.

            The psalmist writes, and actually repeats the verse: ‘I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.’ (v.14 and 18)  While it was somewhat common for a person to take a vow for a period of time, and consecrate themselves to God for that period, I think because of the context of this, and what precedes and follows, I suspect this is more about offering unrestrained praise and glory to God in the place of worship, (tabernacle, temple, etc.).  For us, this would be to truly pour out our hearts in worship to God without restraint.

            Do we really reflect on our dependence on and gratitude to God as we offer back our praises to Him?  Do we really stop to consider what it is we are singing (the lyrics) as we sing, regardless of the style of music?  Does the degree of our gratitude affect the energy with which we express our worship to God?  Think about that while you are watching the game on Sunday, or whenever you next watch a sports team play, or a fine musician play.  Does the degree of your appreciation for the performance you just witnessed influence your response?

            I hope that worshipping with the kindred saints on Sunday morning isn’t just a habit you practice, or something you do because you think that you’re supposed to.  I hope that worship with the gathered body of Christ is a true expression of your worship to God, and that it brings richness and vitality to your life each week.

            “I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.  Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live….I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.  Praise the LORD!”  (Ps. 116:1, 18-19 ESV)

                       

By His Grace Alone,

Pastor Bruce Jacobsen

Desktop Article for January 2016

“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but he was asleep.  And they went and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?’ “

Matt. 8:23-27 (ESV)

               

            This is such an interesting passage of Scripture to me.  This passage was part of our Bible Reading Plan for this past week, and it always strikes me that Jesus was asleep in the boat while the storm was going on.  I’ve been on a boat on Lake Erie with moderately rough water, (1-3 foot waves, maybe some 4 footers), and the farthest thing from my mind was sleep.  Jesus, who by the way, created the lake He was on, had no fear of dying in this manner, because He knew who was in control of the storm.

            I have to believe that the storm happened as it did purely for the purpose of teaching these disciples this incredible lesson about who He was, and what power He did possess.  This was fairly early in their time with Him, and while He had performed several miracles prior to this, those were all pretty much dealing with one or two individuals at a time.  With this, He literally spoke to the wind and waves, and they obeyed Him!  No human had ever possessed that kind of authority before.  This was not just unusual but unheard of.

            Their question tells the lesson of the story.  They learned what sort of man this Jesus was.  He has authority over everything.  The word coming from His mouth carried with it the power to make it so and yet that power was more often in reserve.  He didn’t just go around telling the wind which way to blow and how hard, at least not audibly, but He could if He needed to.

            I find His response to them interesting as well.  “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”  What do you mean, “why are you afraid?”  This lake was known for this kind of storms.  Such a storm could quickly stir up, and cause even seasoned fishermen to be concerned.  His question goes deeper though than just the storm.  Perhaps He was asking, “If you believe that I am the Son of God, don’t you think God would take better care of me than allowing me to be killed in a storm, and you with me?”

            So, what kind of storms are you facing?  Are the winds of life beating hard against your boat, nearly ready to swamp it?  Does all that you see around you look as though you are going to be swallowed by your situation?  Take heart friend, and know that the One who stilled that storm is still in control of all of life’s storms, and they are there to teach us about the One who holds authority over them.  Take heart, and know that whether or not He calms your storm, He is with you in the midst of the storm, and will not let you be swamped by it, only call on Him, cry out to Him to help you get to the other side.

            Allow Him to build your faith as you look back across His faithfulness, not only to you but to so many others who have depended on Him.  Look to the pages of Scripture that are filled with His faithfulness, His power over situations and circumstances that seemed unsurmountable.  Because He is sovereign, or possesses power and authority over all things, there is nothing that is beyond His control.  Trust Him.  He is supremely able.

           

                       

By His Grace Alone,

Pastor Bruce Jacobsen