Pastor's Ponderings: Tuesday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 9:10-18 (December 2, 2025)

December 2, 2025:  Tuesday Bible Study on Acts 9:10-18

Good morning my dear friends in Christ. This week brings us to the second Sunday of Advent, and we are reminded once again of the powerful gift that our Heavenly Father has prepared for every one of us. This week is Gospel Music Sunday at our 10AM worship, and we will gather for our traditional Chili Luncheon after the service. You may bring a dish to share. Please be reminded that our warming cabinet in the kitchen is not working, so any warm food you bring needs to be in an electric warming appliance of some kind. We do have two microwaves in the kitchen. I hope that you will be able to join us this week. It will be great to see you. May each of your days in the week ahead be filled with the joy of Heaven in our coming celebration of new life.

Yesterday, we considered a Pharisee, Saul, who was journeying to Damascus to search out, and arrest, the new Christians who were there, taking them back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Sanhedrin. They must have all felt just like the immigrants in our country who are being sought out by ICE and the Border Patrol to be arrested and sent out of the country without any opportunity to have standing and safety through the guarantees of the Constitution for all people who are here from other nations.  Saul's reputation certainly preceded him. He was known to be ruthless, at least until the humbling inbreaking Word of Christ, and that fierce storm during which Saul lost his vision. In a few minutes Saul became a needy and helpless person, who had no choice but to depend on the Word of Jesus to keep going, and later receive instruction for what was to come for him. Apparently, Saul was guided to the home of Judas. Evidently the rumors of Saul's coming to Damascus had reached deep into the hearts of the people who believed in Jesus. Fear of him was rampant in the new Church.

To one of those who feared Saul, Ananias, Jesus spoke giving him direction for caring for Saul. Ananias was filled with worry over Saul's power and hatred toward Christ's newest believers. But it wasn't just Saul Christ was calling to a new life, Ananias was called too, to serve in the face of danger and be bold in his newfound faith. It should be clear in this passage that it isn't just the big ones, in terms of power, who Christ is seeking to do His work in the world, it is everyday believers, who never dreamed that such faith challenges would be set before them, who are called too.  The Church would never have survived for 2000 years if it wasn't for the faithful living and serving of Her members. We already knew about Stephen serving, but here in this passage we encounter one of the everyday folks who never dreamed that their faith to serve might be severely tested. We must look into our own hearts of faith, knowing that often faith is no easy road of comfort and peace. Sometimes we too are called forward to serve in the world where the strength of what we believe may be challenged. I promise you that the faith we share in Jesus Christ will be sufficient for any circumstance which we encounter. By the Spirit, faith's adequacy will always be enough. Let's face it, Saul was humiliated in his loss of sight, and direction to do harm to the new Christian believers. When Ananias came to him, we can only imagine Saul's hesitation, but at this point he must have truly been ready for the news and vision release that Ananias we bringing to him. Of course, our Savior knew how Saul would respond. Saul's life of hostility was transformed to be filled with the grace of the Savior. Baptized, having received the Spirit, Saul was now a new man, who would take a new name to establish his new character. One thing we must take note of was the condition of Saul emotionally and physically. He obviously had not eaten and had spent several days trying to figure out how he might possibly move forward to live with no sight. Baptized and fed, Saul began entry into the new life which Christ had given him and planned for him to use showing the transformation in Christ that had taken place.

I will be with you on Thursday for the Psalm study. Joy in Christ be yours today and always.

Pastor Kim

Pastor's Ponderings: Monday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 9:1-9 (December 1, 2025)

December 1, 2025:  Monday Bible Study on Acts 9:1-9

I would say good morning to you; however, this Bible Study is coming to you on Sunday evening due to my schedule tomorrow which will not give me time to do the Bible Study in the morning. Today at worship we had wonderful Advent Season hymns, and an opportunity for laying on of hands for healing for anyone who wanted to take part.

"O Come, O Come, Emanuel” In this season of the church year, we can all take the time to pray for Christ to be in our hearts all the time. Today, Vince, a former foster child of Don and Sharyn came to ask for help setting up a go fund me page to help him with rent, groceries, and other expenses. Two weeks ago, he was in a bad car accident with friend who was driving. His friend continues in intensive care, and Vince has had three surgeries, and may require more treatment for his injuries. He is badly banged up with a broken cheek bone, broken ribs, and more, all with an airbag having deployed on the passenger side of the car. It probably saved his life.

The address for the GoFundMe page has been sent to all our members at American, and I suspect if you call on Wednesday if you are not a member, Debbie will give it to you after about noon that day.  Please also remember that we are receiving offerings to purchase a herd of six goats and if we receive more money than they cost, we will purchase a clutch of baby chicks to go with them. Our goal is $300.00.

Next Sunday is Gospel Music Sunday, and we will have a chili luncheon at about 11:15AM in our parish hall. Bring a dish to share.

In our study tonight we begin chapter 9 from the Acts of the Apostles. If you have any question about why we celebrate the birth of Jesus, this passage from the Acts should make it clear. Even the hearts of those who are evil in their intent, and in their very lives, can be, and are, transformed to good, mercy, and forgiveness in their new life with the Savior's presence surrounding them. Saul, and I would dare say, the crowd with whom he traveled, was bent on finding the people who believed in the risen Christ as the Messiah, arresting them, and bringing them back to trial before the religious authorities in Jerusalem.  I suspect that he needed letters of introduction, and cash, to carry off this horrible deed. He was a man to be feared, from his reputation and hatred. During Saul's journey Jesus struck him down with lightening and His Word. Fellow travelers heard the voice, but saw no one, and Saul was guided by Christ to continue his way to receive new direction at some time in the next couple of days. And in all of what happened Saul had been struck blind, which made him even more dependent on his fellow travelers. Later when we hear of Paul's (Saul's before his new name) health issues in his letters, it may well have been continuing issues with his vision and health from his exposure to the lightening. We certainly are aware of the long-term effects of a person being struck by lightning. Caught up in his hatred for the new Christian communities and their believers, Christ knew that a simple conversation would not bring about Saul's transformation of heart and mind. His conversion had to be much harsher and revealing for his change of heart to take place. (Metanoia in the Greek) One of the things which really surprises me is the long reach of the religious authorities with regards to distances they could travel and still be in positions of power! In Saul's time this journey would have been about 140 miles, perhaps 6-8 days on foot. In Damascus, there was a usual heavy time of storms. The city was in a deep valley and was filled with hot damp air, while the surrounding mountains carried much colder air, so when the two air masses collided, there were powerful thunderstorms as pilgrims approached this city. As Saul came into the Damascus valley, he was no longer the man bent on vengeance and hatred. Instead, in his blind state he had no choice but to enter the city in humility, being led by the members of the Sanhedrin who had gone with him on this journey. He walked alone because it was offensive for a Pharisee to depend on the Sanhedrin in any way. How was Saul (probably now Paul) to know where to go, or what to do, this was all new territory for this once powerfully angry man. Our next passage tomorrow on Tuesday will help us understand how that all came to be.

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the Prince of Peace to enter our world one more time as we celebrate His birth in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. May joy and love be with you in the days ahead. Pastor Kim

Pastor's Ponderings: Monday/Tuesday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40 (November 24/25, 2025)

November 24, 2025:  Monday Bible Study

There will be no Bible Study today. After a night of no sleep due to a painful back molar, I spent the morning with the dentist. The tooth has been extracted. However, I finally have no pain in my face like last night, so I will be with you tomorrow for the Tuesday Bible Study in the morning. Thanks for your understanding.

With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim

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November 25, 2025:  Tuesday Bible Study on Acts 8:26-40

Blessings and peace be with you this morning. Thank you so much for your prayers for healing. This morning, minus the molar that kept me awake all night on Sunday, I mostly have pain from anesthetic in my mouth. The dental work was quick and painless, and I am doing much better now that I have had a good night's sleep. I sure hope that I am able to eat solid food on Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

This year Jesse has asked that I teach him how to prepare, stuff, and bake the turkey. I will really enjoy getting the chance to share this with him. He is going to be a special partner whenever that happens in his life.

Today we are in chapter 8:26-40 in the Acts of the Apostle's. There should be several questions that we have about this passage. This road that Philip is on travels south from Jerusalem to Gaza and is connected with the road down into Egypt which would, of course, give the Ethiopian Eunuch a fairly direct route to his own country. Gaza had been destroyed several times and isn't it interesting that it appears once again to have happened there in our lifetime. In 93 Before the Common Era Gaza was destroyed in war, and again in 57 BCE. If you have seen any pictures of Gaza today, it borders on the waters of the Mediterranean. It is beautiful there. However, its value was always that it was on the main trade route. The Eunuch was in Jerusalem to worship, all the way from Ethiopia. It appears that in the years before the coming of Christ many people in that area of the world were in search of a religion that offered them greater reliance upon faith and provided guides for living one's life that respected the relationship between their god and themselves.  Many from Africa ended up coming to Jerusalem and discovered Judaism. That is the reason that Philip and this man from outside of his country could share in a common language, though it becomes clear that the Eunuch is still learning about the prophets of his new religion. So, Philip joins the party of travelers which includes the Eunuch who is thirsty for more information, especially for information about the person Isaiah is saying in his message. The opportunity is ripe for Philip, so he witnesses to the Eunuch about the Savior who has died on the cross for the sin of the world, and who brings to faith the promises of life, forgiveness, and Salvation. It is at this point in the passage when the two men arrive at water, perhaps the Mediterranean along the south bound Gaza road, and the Eunuch is Baptized by Philip. In his Baptism the Eunuch is filled with joy and excitement, and Philip slips away in another direction to go and share his own faith with even more people. This is an early example of Baptism in the period after the Resurrection of Christ in the new Christian Church, and from what we know, it was often adults who were Baptized into this new faith community. However, we will discover later that whole families were also Baptized, which obviously included children. The great joy which the Ethiopian Eunuch experienced came because he knew that he had been united with the Christ of God, and given a new life, entering into this relationship of freedom from the burden of sin and brokenness, discovering for the very first time the joy of this Holy relationship.

In our faith tradition in the Lutheran Church, we Baptize people of all ages, from infants to old age adults, bringing them into the redeeming relationship with Christ that we who have already been Baptized have known throughout our lives. We will come to more passages about Spirit gifted faith, and Baptism as we continue through the Acts of the Apostle's texts. It is a time of joy for us all when a newly Baptized individual, regardless of age, comes into this relationship of Holy, forgiving, life giving forgiveness, which is our new life through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for being with me today, and once again, I pray that you have a joyful day of giving thanks to God for the abundant blessings of our lives.

With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim

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November 27, 2025:  NO Thursday Bible Study

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!