Pastor's Ponderings: Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians 4:1-7 (February 10, 2025)

February 10, 2025:  Monday Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians 4:1-7

May the Blessings and Peace of Jesus Christ hold you throughout this day.

Good cloudy Monday Morning here in the desert southwest. We certainly can be thankful for a day without the intensity of the winter sun, especially when our members in the mid-west will experience single figure temperatures and lower tonight in a major snowstorm. This weekend I had the wonderful privilege of baptizing a family of three. Mom, a high school senior, and a sophomore. I am keeping them in my prayers that they will find a way to become active at church. You could join me in that too. This Saturday we have a new DC superhero character movie at 2PM. Snacks are provided, or, if you like, you can certainly bring your own snacks too. We will meet in the Sanctuary and use the big screen for the viewing. I hope that you will be able to join us. Sunday worship is at 10AM, with Sunday School hour at 9AM, and bell choir practice after worship at about 11:15.   For your planning: On the first Sunday of the month of March, which is the final Sunday after Epiphany, with Ash Wednesday to follow on March 5 with worship at Noon and 7PM.  On March 2nd we will share a carry-in meal after church. The theme is Spring Salads, Jello Salads, and any main course dish which you might like to bring. I hope that I will see you there. In much sadder news, our brother in Christ, Tony, who suffered from COPD, and was wracked with coughing, joined God's triumphant saints this past Sunday morning at his home. His daughter was able to be with him, as well as grandchildren. Please keep Tony's family in your prayers during this time of loss and grief. At this time celebration services for Tony's life are going to be scheduled in Minnesota in the spring.

Today we continue in our study of Paul's letter to the Galatians 4:1-7. Let’s begin by talking about how so many of the mysteries and romantic comedies that we watch carry stories which begin with characters whose lives are hopeful, yet there often seems to be some unresolved issue or problem which appears to be unapproachable, UNTIL some unexpected event takes all of the worry and lack of resolution out of the story for the characters.  Some new information solves the mystery, or a love interest finally comes forward to offer their devotion. Now the world of these characters is fulfilled and everything that was a problem has been taken care of. This is how it seems in this part of Paul's Galatian letter. The people who are coming to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Galatian community are going to have an unexpected solution to the final problem that they will face, the very same one that you and I face too. They have come to faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior, to what end? You and I know that end. We all face it! Our physical lives will end. Paul must have that answer to give to these new followers. When the Hebrews were enslaved, without a seeming out from their circumstances in Egypt, God delivered them. Then they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years with an unseen promise, and God delivered them. Gentiles had a kind of Exodus too. They wandered in their lives without knowing the One True God. They were slaves, servants, wealthy, poor, women, and men who had come from many different nations, all who journeyed to Spirit led faith in Jesus, God's Son. For Jews and Gentiles to come together they needed to realize how they had been connected to arrive through Paul's message of the sacrificed and resurrected LORD. Jews had come through the Passover, saved by God's action, and Gentiles too were faced with the reality of death and separation from this life, and for them (and the Jews too) Jesus literally becomes the only one who can successfully bring to all who believe, the gift of eternal life.  The journeys of all people come together in Jesus Christ. Finally, Paul Speaks about what finally comes for everyone through faith in Jesus Christ, freedom from the unknowns at the end of our lives, and freedom from the burden of sin, which is death itself. As you and I know, it is Christ who bears on Himself the burden of our sin and the death that it causes.

I will be back with you tomorrow as we continue our study of Galatians.

With love in Christ, Pastor Kim

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February 11, 2025:  Tuesday Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians

No study today. Pastor was ill.

Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 6 (February 6, 2025)

February 6, 2024:  Thursday Bible Study on Psalm 6

Grace and Peace be with you today. 

Though we need more rain, I hope that you are really enjoying this warm weather.  The Gem Show on Ajo Way is packed with cars every day, and we are only a few short weeks away from Rodeo and its 100th anniversary.  If you don't drive regularly down Toole from the east, you may not have seen the massive new mural celebrating Rodeo's anniversary.  It covers the entire east wall of the city court.  It is glorious in the morning sun.  I truly love living in a community where all this mural artwork is considered a treasure.  Another treasure that we get to see every Sunday is the faceted glass windows in American's sanctuary.  When you come to church take the time on Sunday mornings to enjoy the colorful story of the life of Christ, and once we have finished the Sundays after Epiphany, the DeGrazia stations of the cross will be back up, offering us yet another opportunity to take that last walk with Christ on His journey to the cross.

Today we continue our study of the book of Psalms, #6.  In our hymnal the Psalms are included in our hymns for the first time, and though we may not use the Psalm every Sunday, you can take the time to read it and consider how the author of the Psalm understands their relationship with the LORD. (Though YHWH is often pronounced by commentary writers today, it is truly considered disrespectful and offensive to speak these letters out loud.  No one knows for sure the certain way to speak YHWH.) In this Psalm this morning we see a person, the writer, who is terribly afraid, spending his days and nights in terror of the uncertainty in their life.  They appear to be persecuted for their faith, and they are surrounded by danger which causes night sweats and a host of the health issues that can be exhibited when a person's life is filled with anxiety.  What this Psalmist does have, is confidence in his relationship with the LORD, as well as the LORD'S willingness to intervene in the Psalmist's problems.   In fact, the writer of the Psalm, uses a rather wily approach to his problem with being assured that God will choose to answer.   If he is dead in Sheol how will he be able to stand and shout about his faith in the LORD, or to do any of the things which a living person is able to do in the worship of the LORD.  In Psalm 6 the writer is trying to convince the LORD that they are better for God alive instead of dead.  In verses 8,9,10 we run into a change in the Psalmist writing and topic.  In these verses the Psalmist is confidence already of God's answer.  Between the first section of the Psalm and these final verses something has happened.  Perhaps the writer has received encouragement for their faith by some caregiver, or person who gives them spiritual guidance in this time of grief.  A fairly normal pattern for Psalms is how they are often structured.

First part - The LORD hears the supplications of the Psalmist and then chooses to answer.

Second Part - The LORD acts in the Psalmist's life.

The issue that is in between these two parts is that time of uncertainty which simply means that a person must get through based on their faith.  All of this tells us that prayer makes a difference.  We must live in a dynamic relationship with God, keeping our prayers going constantly as we deal with the ins and outs of living our lives, knowing how much the LORD loves each and every one of us.

With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim

Pastor's Ponderings: Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians 3:23-29 (February 4, 2025)

February 4, 2025:  Tuesday Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians 3:23-29

Good morning, dear friends in Christ. May the Love of Christ sustain and keep us all in the days ahead, both the good ones, and the difficult ones.

Yesterday I reminded you about all of the activities around the congregation's 75th anniversary. This Sunday we continue our journey through the Sundays after Epiphany. The nativity scene remains on our altar, and now the wise men and their camels have arrived to bring their gifts in celebration of the new king. We also have kept the variety of angels which came from members of the congregation to adorn the chancel with their variety, and reminder that the hosts of heaven also celebrated Christ's birth, and our Moravian Star continues to shine over the altar until we reach the season of Lent in March.  The Moravian Star in our living room has been a light for our home 24/7 for the last four years.

In our passage for today Paul continues to speak to the reader of his letter about the nature of the law in the face of faith and grace, the very Spirit-led belief of Abraham, and our LORD'S desire to have His children trust in His promises. However, the law of Moses, presented to him on Sinai for the people as they journeyed in the wilderness remains a real factor for the new Jewish Christians in the Galatian church, and some interloper(s) who wanted the law to be the canon (measure) by which gentile converts must join, including circumcision.  Paul names the Law a babysitter for the Jewish people during the time between Abraham and the coming of God's Son, Jesus Christ. However, once again, Paul does not believe that the Law's measure, kept by any person, because of the nature of sin, is adequate for becoming righteous before God. There are two covenants between God and His children. 1. I will be your God, and you will be my people, if you are obedient to the law. This is the Old Testament covenant (agreement). 2.  The New Covenant (New Testament) is, I will be your God, and you will be my people if you are obedient to my law. They are the same except for the addition of the coming of the Messiah who fulfills the law for all who believe in Him. Now, Faith alone, Scripture alone, and Grace alone through Jesus Christ fulfills our part of the agreement between God and His children. We work to live lives of thanksgiving, which show compassion and love for all people, being the conveyors of peace and understanding, while forgiving others as we have been forgiven through Christ. Look at the Lord's Prayer for any further info that you need. Now why do the people of Israel need a babysitter? It is because between Abraham and the Messiah, the Hebrews (Jews) are really infants in the faith who need the guidance of the law and prophets in order to maintain their relationship with God. They become mature in their relationship with God when they come to accept in faith the Messiah of the LORD, and they are Baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is where the transition to maturity is completed, once again, all by God's action on their behalf. Now, in the face of the unity, which is accomplished, the promise of Abraham's one family is fulfilled through faith in Jesus Christ.

Thanks for welcoming me into your life today, or whenever you happen to read this part of our study. Today I am praying especially for Richard and Gary who are living on the streets of our city. Please hold them in your heart.

In Christ's love, Pastor Kim