Using the SOAP method, I observed something that directly applies to my life today: I am amazed that continues to love me, giving me chance after chance to turn to Him, to trust Him again, even when I've strayed from following or trusting Him. Josiah, the leader of God's people, tore his clothes because he was so moved, so grieved by the peopole not turning to trust and follow God (2 Kings 22). I long to have that level of compassion for all people, that it would move me to tear my clothes in agony, instead of being so consumed by all the minutia of life.
Dear Jesus, in Your mercy, bring our hearts to be humble before You alone, and shape our prayers for each other to be full of compassion, that we would collectively worship You alone, even as You come to us in tangible ways, like through simple bread and wine, to forgive and strengthen us to keep following and trusting in You alone (1 Corinthians 11). Revive us and make us new each day, to be full of Your love and mercy (Matthew 9). Amen
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
hot off the 'press'...
Take a look at this website url (notice especially the "October-November 2009 Update Letter"): http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a23a8ab992885fc141446e35a78dc463e04e75f6e8ebb871
It's the latest release in what's happening in my life... and check out my Facebook page and see the chatter with my family and friends....
may you trust God's peace in your life today,
pj
It's the latest release in what's happening in my life... and check out my Facebook page and see the chatter with my family and friends....
may you trust God's peace in your life today,
pj
Friday, October 23, 2009
Rathje Partners Update - September, 2009
I pray that God’s peace is filling your minds and hearts these days.
It’s been awhile since I’ve written, and I want to bring you up to date with what’s happening in our lives lately.
God has been doing some changing in our lives again – mostly in the structure of Christ in the City Lutheran Church (C2), where I serve as Pastor. C2 has made the transition to a small group community! Every week we see changes in lives, as individuals are growing closer to Jesus by walking with Him and His people. This is really what we’ve been seeing for quite awhile, where people come for a short time and then go on to other places in their lives, empowered with God’s life-changing Gospel. (For more details, you can check out what’s happening at these two websites: www.cravestl.org and www.acts64.org.) With such change comes an alteration in structure, including finances. The funding of my pastoral position is also changing, to give God’s mission at C2 room to grow and expand. I believe God’s vision is for all the people in the St. Louis area to walk with Him in small group community! To make that happen, I’m willing to take a pay-cut, raising a percentage of my own salary with the hope that God’s work among us can grow as fast as possible. Every day students and people in St. Louis City come into contact with baristas in the coffee house, student leaders on multiple campuses, and many others whom I encourage, pray for, mentor, and serve in this much needed pastoral leadership role. As Pastor, I am transitioning into what is called a “worker priest”, where part of my salary comes from private donors, maybe like you. I have willingly committed to raising 20% of my own salary this year. That per cent may increase in the years ahead so that even more people can hear and be transformed by the Gospel.
Some of you have been in our hearts as family and dear friends, and have shown incredible generosity toward us over the years. For that I'm thankful, and hope to walk with you if I haven't met you yet. St. Paul once wrote about some people in his life who supported him, people with a similar heart to yours: (2 Corinthians 8) 2 out of the most severe trials, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. … 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. … He said that our lives and our support of each other all come from God’s grace in Jesus: 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
I recognize that this is not an easy time to ask for support, especially with difficult economic situations. So with humble hearts, we’re trusting God to provide – maybe through you. Your prayer and financial support are crucial because they allow me to proclaim God’s love in the finished work of Jesus Christ by developing leaders in and out of college, and talking with many students on-on-one, in multiple small groups, and at large group gatherings/worship. By God’s grace, lives are being transformed every day, like: a man who had some church background in his younger days but distant for years, is now asking great questions about Jesus’ love, actively serving our neighborhood, and performing a vital role in a small group that I’m guiding; and like a college woman who didn’t think she was loveable and clung to alcohol, is now clinging to Jesus’ love in a small group community that I lead. To continue all that God is doing takes pastoral leadership. Most of the people with whom I come into contact are at critical junctures in their lives, searching for love, acceptance, and truth. They’re longing for a hope that transforms them.
Without your support, this simply won’t happen, and our family will face multiple challenges. Please pray for us, and pray about becoming a partner with us in God’s mission here in St. Louis. You will join others who have witnessed God’s transforming love through C2, even if you send $50 a month, or a one time gift. You can donate through our www.cravestl.org website, under “Donate” or send it directly to: Christ in the City, 3500 Caroline St., St. Louis, MO 63104, and it will help fund my position at C2.
As always, keep me posted about your life and how I might pray for you in the days ahead.
May God bless you,
John
It’s been awhile since I’ve written, and I want to bring you up to date with what’s happening in our lives lately.
God has been doing some changing in our lives again – mostly in the structure of Christ in the City Lutheran Church (C2), where I serve as Pastor. C2 has made the transition to a small group community! Every week we see changes in lives, as individuals are growing closer to Jesus by walking with Him and His people. This is really what we’ve been seeing for quite awhile, where people come for a short time and then go on to other places in their lives, empowered with God’s life-changing Gospel. (For more details, you can check out what’s happening at these two websites: www.cravestl.org and www.acts64.org.) With such change comes an alteration in structure, including finances. The funding of my pastoral position is also changing, to give God’s mission at C2 room to grow and expand. I believe God’s vision is for all the people in the St. Louis area to walk with Him in small group community! To make that happen, I’m willing to take a pay-cut, raising a percentage of my own salary with the hope that God’s work among us can grow as fast as possible. Every day students and people in St. Louis City come into contact with baristas in the coffee house, student leaders on multiple campuses, and many others whom I encourage, pray for, mentor, and serve in this much needed pastoral leadership role. As Pastor, I am transitioning into what is called a “worker priest”, where part of my salary comes from private donors, maybe like you. I have willingly committed to raising 20% of my own salary this year. That per cent may increase in the years ahead so that even more people can hear and be transformed by the Gospel.
Some of you have been in our hearts as family and dear friends, and have shown incredible generosity toward us over the years. For that I'm thankful, and hope to walk with you if I haven't met you yet. St. Paul once wrote about some people in his life who supported him, people with a similar heart to yours: (2 Corinthians 8) 2 out of the most severe trials, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. … 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. … He said that our lives and our support of each other all come from God’s grace in Jesus: 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
I recognize that this is not an easy time to ask for support, especially with difficult economic situations. So with humble hearts, we’re trusting God to provide – maybe through you. Your prayer and financial support are crucial because they allow me to proclaim God’s love in the finished work of Jesus Christ by developing leaders in and out of college, and talking with many students on-on-one, in multiple small groups, and at large group gatherings/worship. By God’s grace, lives are being transformed every day, like: a man who had some church background in his younger days but distant for years, is now asking great questions about Jesus’ love, actively serving our neighborhood, and performing a vital role in a small group that I’m guiding; and like a college woman who didn’t think she was loveable and clung to alcohol, is now clinging to Jesus’ love in a small group community that I lead. To continue all that God is doing takes pastoral leadership. Most of the people with whom I come into contact are at critical junctures in their lives, searching for love, acceptance, and truth. They’re longing for a hope that transforms them.
Without your support, this simply won’t happen, and our family will face multiple challenges. Please pray for us, and pray about becoming a partner with us in God’s mission here in St. Louis. You will join others who have witnessed God’s transforming love through C2, even if you send $50 a month, or a one time gift. You can donate through our www.cravestl.org website, under “Donate” or send it directly to: Christ in the City, 3500 Caroline St., St. Louis, MO 63104, and it will help fund my position at C2.
As always, keep me posted about your life and how I might pray for you in the days ahead.
May God bless you,
John
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