Reflections...

too long in coming...

2010-03-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long since I've posted, but that's indicative of my life these days. Thank you for coming to my site, but know that this site is more of a 'connector' than an active site. I regularly contribute my thoughts on our Daily Journal site, and sometimes on the Facebook: Crave Coffeehouse site. I invite you to go there, as well as the others listed below. Please respond to anything you see there, and if you send me an e-mail, I can post that if you like on any of these sites:
+ www.cravestl.org
+www.acts64.org
+ www.concordiastl.com/daily journal
+Facebook: Crave Coffeehouse

"We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

cup of cold water

2009-11-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

My friend died suddenly during the night last Friday. I wonder, with unanswered questions (at least at this point) what 'demons' haunted him on Halloween - internal and exteral? I knew things about him that no one else had ever heard or known. Some of it was reality, and some, I'll never know. I miss his laughter and his insights, but especially, I miss his encouragement. I learned from him, not jsut facts, but what it truly means to care for others. He was a gift to me. I have felt pretty selfish over the past week, about what "I" will miss about him. Sure, grief is about learning to live with the absence of someone you care about. But his death isn't really about me. Yes, I tried to listen to him, care for him, encourage him. Yet I always knew that he really felt alone.
In reading Matthew 10 today, esp. v. 34-42, I'm faced with what a 'cup of cold water' really means. Not just offering a drink, although that's needed at times. But it strikes me that Jesus is saying that our life is not aobut working to get a reward, to get some glory from our service, but to offer ourselves, whatever that may be at any given moment, to the least, the 'child', the most needy person around us. I can console myself that I was there for my friend, that I gave him multiple cups of cold water when he was dry and thirsty for God's Word, Jesus' love, but there's more I could have done for him, with him.
I'm griving today. I buried my friend yesterday. I'm sad that he's not with us, sad that I can't talk with him, sad that his family can't live with him and love him now.
I believe I'll see him again, one day soon. In time, I'll give water to someone else near me, someone in need, maybe today.
I needed Jesus' words and presence, and experienced His cup of cold water, through them. In this moment, I'm the needy one. Thanks Jesus, for helping me find life in You again.

from the daily readings....

2009-10-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

hot off the 'press'...

2009-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

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

Rathje Partners Update - September, 2009

2009-10-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

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

brood of vipers

2009-08-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

As a faith community, Christ in the City is walking through Luke, a chapter a day, for the month of August, and journaling about our readings. Some of us are using the S.O.A.P. method.

One person (Denise) asked about Luke 3:7 "brood of vipers". It's a good question. John is referring to a family or collection of snakes. John is calling the crowds offspring of vipers, rather than Abraham's offspring, sharing the characteristics of snakes, not trusting faith in God's deliverance, and showing actions consistant with that faith. Their behavior deviates radically from Abraham's, and is evil, with conflict, and poisonous. In Rev. 12, we see a connection between the image of a snake and the devil. John is making that inference here, I think, having already portrayed the conflict of light and darkness, and will later as well.
I hope this helps....
Pastor john