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Dear
Partners in Ministry,
It was a great day to go sailing as
Jesus and his disciples set out on a cruise to the other side of the
lake. Mark tells us that there were other boats that joined them. Jesus,
tired from a day of teaching, falls asleep. A severe storm threatens to
swamp their boat and the disciples panic. “Teacher, don’t you care if
we drown?” (Mark 4:38)
With that much water, I wonder how
Jesus remained asleep. He must have been soaked. Have you ever wondered
if he was awake and was waiting to see what the disciples were going to
do? Well, we know what they did. They panicked and cried out for help.
Then Jesus spoke, “Quiet! Be still!” and it was all over. “Why are you
so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
It is hard to have faith when
you’re drowning or so Peter would learn a little later in his training.
It is hard to remain strong when the waves are overwhelming us in our
ministry. When we work so hard and it all seems to be crumbling around
us, we too panic and cry out, “Teacher, don’t you care?” As one pastor
shared with me recently, “we are just tired.”
From the Garden of Eden to
February 2010 it has always been the goal of Satan to sink the ship or
to distract the sailors. We are doing ministry in a Post Churched time
and spirituality takes on many different names and expressions. A
recent article in USA Today spoke of the large number of religious
movies currently being released with the explanation that religion
sells.
I heard another perspective
recently when visiting with a woman and we were discussing the various
crises happening economically, politically and naturally and her
comment was, “Some people believe there is a better life beyond this
one, but frankly I am having a pretty good time in this one.” My
response was, “I know there is a better life beyond this one.” End of conversation!
Into your life and mine the Christ
comes. To the wind and the waves which challenge our faith or discourage
us in ministry, Jesus says, “Quiet! Be Still!” When budgets flow red
and nothing we do seems to be working Jesus says to us, “Quiet! Be
Still!” When our family struggles and when a key family in the church
moves away because they have lost home and job hear the words again,
“Quiet! Be Still!”
Thank you for your faithfulness to
the Gospel and for your care for God’s people. May the peace of the
Lord be with you always.
Larry Stoterau, President
The mission of the Pacific Southwest District is to effectively
resource congregations and schools to fulfill the great commission.
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