<![CDATA[Peru First Baptist Church - Pastors' Blog]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 00:30:25 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Making Lent Count]]>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:24:12 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/making-lent-count.htmlI bumped into something really intriguing the other day.  While watching the news, a special report came on about a guy who tried a really radical experiment.  Here’s the story.

In the Fall of 2011, Jake Reilly was a student at the University of Wisconsin.  One evening, he and his five other roommates were sitting around watching a basketball game.  All of a sudden, it dawned on Jake that every person in the room was either on a lap top computer or a Blackberry doing something on-line.  They were all physically there but distracted and not really present to each other.  Jake spoke up and said, “Guys, what are we doing?!  We should be enjoying each other’s company.”  After this episode, Jake took a closer look at what his life had become.  He realized that he was spending 1 ½ hours a day on Facebook, following about 250 people on Twitter and living on the cell phone through texting and occasional calls.  This discovery made Jake realize it was “time to reconnect with real, live people.”  He decided to go “gadget free” for 90 days.  He “unplugged completely”- no TV, no social media, no texting, no cell phone.

Jake admitted the experiment was scary for the first few weeks.  He was pretty anxious about missing out on something.  But soon, his mind “fell into a state of freedom.”

He found it “freeing to not care and to not worry about the next best thing.”  He found his relationships deepened and improved because he was able to be fully present and focus on the people before him.  Jake managed to stay in touch with people in some creative ways.  He wrote over 100 letters and delivered messages on his bike during the experiment.  He even wrote messages to a friend with chalk on the sidewalk in front of his apartment.

All in all, Jake learned “social media has no end game.  All you’re going to be doing is just comparing your life to everyone else’s life.  There will always be someone with a better job or a better girlfriend.  It’s OK to be happy with what you have.  And unplugging is a great way to explore just being happy with each other.”

I can’t help but think that Jake’s story has some good things to show us in an increasingly connected, yet impersonal world.  Even more, Jake’s story leads me to think about the season upon us.  It’s Lent.

Lent has very ancient roots and was one of the Church’s earlier traditions. Like the Israelite’s 40 years in the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 days of temptation, Lent covers the 40 days leading up to Holy Week and Easter.  The key to understanding Lent is its nearness to the celebration of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.  Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has offered salvation to all who trust in Jesus’ work and give their lives back to God.  It is this great salvation that spills out upon Lent, giving it its meaning.  Lent isn’t so much about “giving something up” for 40 days.  Lent focuses upon conversion and discipleship.  It’s about leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to get free and to embrace new life in Christ.  Lent is about following Jesus.

During Lent, we double down on a particular known sin in our lives, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we seek to lessen that sin’s hold on us or to even set that sin aside.  Remember, the goal is freedom and new life in Christ.  This is no time to gut things out and move along by sheer will power.  This is a time of intentional cooperation with God, for only God’s power can truly set us free from sin.  That’s why fasting and prayer are so closely associated with Lent.  In a lot of ways, Lent is like boot camp: its 40 days of training that prepare us for the rest of the year.  For putting sin aside and following Jesus are the ways of the disciple.  

Most folks will have plans for Easter, but how about Lent?

Here’s my plan.  I like to surf the web to catch up on the news and the political scene.  One thing I’ve noticed, though, the more of the news I take in, the more cynical and depressed I get.  There seems to be an inverse relationship between the level of joy and peace I experience and the amount of news I encounter…..Less news, more joy and peace.  More news, less joy and peace.  I’m going to limit my exposure to the news to 15 minutes total each day.  I’m also going to read the Psalms for 15 minutes each day.  My prayer will be for God to establish peace and joy in my heart like I encounter in most of the psalms.

How about you? Do you have any plans for Lent?  I invite you to make Lent count.  Get a plan.  Invite God in.  Grow in Christ.

]]><![CDATA[The Manna Principle]]>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:01:44 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/11/the-manna-principle.htmlWell, it happened again.  I’m kind of a sucker when it comes to animals, especially when they are hungry and helpless.  The other night, I heard cats meowing below my bedroom window.  I thought it was another tom cat trying to woo a girlfriend.  The meowing continued until I finally drifted off to sleep.  In the morning as I headed out the door for the office, the source of the previous night’s racket was sitting on the stoop: two young cats, colored black and white like miniature Holstein cows, huddled together with their fur all puffed.  I addressed them, “So you guys made all that noise, huh?”  As soon as I acknowledged them, the young cats sprang toward me.  A few feet from me, they broke into a skittish, circling dance, meowing.  They wanted to rub up against my legs or to even be petted, but they weren’t sure about me, the new guy.  I got in the car and headed to the office.  At the end of the day as I pulled up the drive, I saw the little Holsteins sitting on the next door neighbor’s block wall.  I got out of the car and greeted the pair, “Hi, guys.”  They came running again, except this time they were meowing very loudly.  Then, it dawned on me: these young cats had been dumped, were half starved and were lonely.  I warmed some milk and fed the pair.  The rest is history…….    

That episode made me think of the stories we have been studying on Thursday nights in Bible Study.  The specific story I’m thinking of is the bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4).  After being freed from slavery in Egypt, God’s people lit out into the wilderness.  Without any provisions, God cared for His people by giving them a cracker-like bread called “manna.”  Every morning the people gathered the bread from the ground.  Prime rib it was not!  It was always there, though, and there was always enough for the day at hand.  God provided the manna day by day for over 40 years.  When they finally crossed the Jordan and took their first bite from the produce in the Promised Land, the manna ceased (Joshua 5:11-12).

God had been faithful, a day at a time.

It seems to me that one aspect of having a growing faith is having a shrinking faith.  By this I mean, a faith that’s anchored and grounded in the immediate, the here and now, today.  Certainly, the past is important.  Jesus died on the Cross for our sins 2000 years ago.  The future matters too.  Heaven is our destiny.  No doubt the past and the future affect our faith.  When it comes down to it, though, our faith is lived out and experienced TODAY.  Today we need forgiveness for our sins.  Today we need wisdom.  Today we need strength to do what is right.  Today we need our hearts changed.  Today we need to forgive.  Today we need the gifts of the Spirit.  Today we need to love better, more fully.  It all happens and is lived out TODAY.

I’m not sure what to call it, this shrinking faith.  Maybe the Manna Principle would do.  You see, God is faithful.  He’s faithful day by day.  He’s faithful TODAY.  When we walk with Him today and humbly ask Him for the needs of today, the manna starts falling.  Grace is given, not for yesterday, not for next year, but for today.  The old song had something profoundly right about it: “One day at a time, sweet Jesus. That’s all I’m asking from You.  Please help me today.  Help me to take one day at a time.”

God is always faithful…..TODAY.

I better wrap this up.  The little Holsteins are meowing.  I can’t replace the meals they have missed. I can’t stuff them with enough food to last them until next week.  I can give them some warm milk today.

That will be more than enough.

In Christ,

Bob Adelsperger

]]><![CDATA[Christmas Resources for Advent 2011]]>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:33:33 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/11/christmas-resources-for-advent-2011.htmlChristmas is coming!

Do you feel a sense of urgency when you read that?  Visions of to-do lists thus far un-done?  A reminder that your living room is still in not-ready-for-in-laws condition?  A dread at what your checking account read out is going to say, come December 26th? 

Most of us sense it.  And yet, each year, we struggle against the flow.  How are we to keep our heads in the frenzied pace of family obligations, school performances, shopping trips, decoration days, and church activities?  It isn’t easy.  In fact, it’s not something many (or any?) of us have figured out.  Each year, we take new stabs at finding deep meaning in the Advent season, and turning back the strong tides of hyperactivity and consumerism.

Here at Peru First Baptist, we’re trying to help.  This year we’re taking a “Christmas resource center” approach to Advent.  We’re going to offer resources to help you connect and grow in the church, to make a place for faith in your home, and to re-think the idea of Christmas giving.

Connecting at Church:

During the Advent season (Nov. 27 – Dec. 25) our Sunday morning classes and Bible studies will all be studying the birth of Christ.  Having the whole church studying God’s Word together helps to shape us as a people, and as people.  In other words, it shapes our church and it shapes us. 

We’ll be examining the events surrounding and preceding Christ’s birth.  Those engaged in the study will learn why Christ’s coming was such a monumental moment in human history.  We will spend advent encountering Christ in new and fresh ways.  As we read about the preparations made for Jesus’ first coming, we will reflect on our own preparation for Christmas.  This season of preparation will help you to keep focus on Christ in this Christmas season.

If you are not already in a group or class, all of the classes will be beginning this new study on November 27th.  That means you have a great opportunity to jump in with a group.  We always want to make sure to make room for people at PFBC to connect with God and others in a Sunday morning class or Bible study.

Our study of God’s Word this Advent has been chosen to help you navigate this season.  If you are in a class, prepare to jump in to the study with both feet.  If you are not plugged in yet, please pray about and consider joining up for this great study!

Bringing faith home:

I’ve talked in previous newsletter articles about how difficult it can be to make room for family spiritual life in our homes.  We struggle to find the time.  We’re unsure how to study the Bible.  We’re not sure that our children or spouses are interested.  It’s tough.  But it’s IMPORTANT.

During Advent, you will more than likely spend time with family preparing for Christmas.  Whether it’s in your home, or a relative’s home, you will spend time decorating, shopping, cooking, etc.  We want to give you a resource that can make the Bible and prayer part of that in-home preparation as well.

This year, like last year, we are providing Buckner International’s Advent reader to you free of cost.  This reader covers four advent themes – Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy – through 29 individual readings (one for each day of advent).  This simple guide could be something read with your family before a meal, before dinner, after waking in the morning, or any other time that works for your schedule.  Its colorful pages and thoughtful reflections will walk your family through a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you prepare spiritually for Christmas.

Pick up one of the Buckner Advent Guide’s at church any Sunday before Advent, and prepare your family for this incredible season.

Re-thinking Christmas Generosity:

Christmas is a time marked by giving.  And getting.  One of the greatest joys and greatest frustrations at Christmas is the tradition of gifts.  Whether it’s the rush to knock out the list, the dent shopping leaves in your bank account, or the wondering if your brother-in-law really needs another tie; we’ve all felt the frustration of Christmas generosity.

That’s why this year, we’d like to give you a low-hassle, no guilt, high impact Christmas gift option.  Buckner international offers a great service called their “gift catalog.”  This catalog (unlike any catalog most of us are familiar with) lists many, many ways that through giving, Christians can bless the less fortunate at home and abroad.

 The idea of the catalog is this – in the place of a normal Christmas gift for a relative, you buy something from the catalog.  Options include things like a $10 food package for the hungry, or a $10 scholarship for a student to receive literacy aid, or $15 to provide a small farm animal for a family in a developing nation.  After selecting the aid package you would like, you give the amount in honor of the relative you are Christmas shopping for. 

Imagine that kind of Christmas morning.  Instead of another Colts tie, your dad would get a note, or card, explaining that a child’s schooling for a year had been paid for in his honor.  Can you imagine the joy of opening that gift?

So we are encouraging the congregation at Peru First Baptist to consider the Buckner Gift Catalog this year.  You don’t have to stop your existing traditions, or totally stop buying gifts for loved ones.  But consider mixing some Buckner gifts in to your Christmas generosity.  The needy will be glad you did.  And we think you will be as well.

To see the catalog in full, go to: http://www.buckner.org/give/giftcatalog.shtml

 In Closing:          

Christmas is a powerful season.  It has the power to fulfill, and the power to disappoint.  It has the power to bring peace and the power to overwhelm.  It’s my prayer that this year, Advent is a powerfully good time for you, your family, and the spiritual life of Peru First Baptist church.  I want to again encourage you to make use of each of these great resources that are available to you.  May your Christmas season truly be blessed!

In Christ,

Pastor Aaron

]]><![CDATA[The Road to 2012, or The Messianic Quest.]]>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:59:08 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/10/the-road-to-2012-or-the-messianic-quest.html     Press conferences.  News releases.  Tweets.  Blogs.  Debates.  "I'm running."  "I'm not running."  Press conferences.  News releases.  Tweets.....And on.......And on.......And on.  Another presidential campaign season is off and running.  Maybe its just me, but I'm a little more comcerned this go round than I have been at other times.   There seems to be so much desperation, fear and a sense of helplessness on the part of so many.  It hasn't helped that the media,in all its forms, has to hype, spin and embellish everything just so we listen.  Frankly, there are a few important issues on the table as well: the economy, unemployment, state and national budget defic1ts, mounting national debt, two wars, etc. I'm no political wonk.  However, a lot appears to be at stake  this time, and there appears to be very little room for error.  I'm not mainly thinking of candidates here, although they do matter.  What mattersmost, at least to me, is we've been failing to address some critical issues in our country for a long time.  We've got some overdue businesss to take care of, and we cannot put it off any longer.
     I think most folks feel some of this, too.  Here's where my concern comes in.  When people feel desperate and the issues before them seem insurmountable, people, all people, go looking for a human messsiah.  History is filled with this happening over and over again.  As a matter of fact, this happens more often than not.  That's what happened in Germany between the two world wars, resulting in Hitler being democratically elected by the people.  Hitler promised to fix their problems.  Before Germany, the same scenario played out in ancient Israel.  The Israelites demanded a king so he could protect them and make them feel secure- see 1 Samuel 8.  The Israelites got their wish.  In neither case did things turn out well.  The Germans traded their souls and freedom and the lives of innocent millions for a sense of security and a false hope.  The Israelites floundered for decades, walked in sin and turned from God due to "their choice" of a weak and godless king. (1 Samuel 12:13)
     "Human messiahs"  almost never pan out.  You think we would learn that, but we forget.  As the presidential race heats up, it appears more and more that viable candidates must list "walking on water" on their resumes.  Because we're nervous about the future and want to feel secure, we're beginning to ask our candidates to write messianic sized checks.  Will they be able to cash those checks, though?  If not, the candidate will be discredited in our eyes, we'll become even more jaded with the political process and we'll be in the same worsening mess with interest thrown in.  Here's the worst case scenario: what if our messiah is able to cash the check, to come through on his/her promises, to save us?  What will that cost us by way of money, conscience, justice and freedom, etc?  What will it cost the poor or rich?  What will it cost the powerful and the weak?  What will it cost the environment?  What will it cost the innocents in other countries?  Messiahs never come cheap.  Are you willing to pay the price, or demand that others do so, for a sense of security?
     Something else happens when we go messiah hunting: we relieve ourselves of responsibility.  We want to hand off the tough choices to someone else.  We certainly want someone else to bear the brunt of the sacrifices that need to be made.  Enter the messiah.  He/she will miraculously carry the whole burden for us.  We need not miss a night's sleep or worry about losing any skin or coin in the fray.  The messiah will deliver us.  Not.  We live in a nation that depends upon the participation of its citizenry in the political process.  Our government, as we know it, would come to a grinding halt without our involvement.  No doubt, some form of governance would take place without the citizenry's participation, but it would not be government "of the people, by the people, for the people."  Tyranny is more like it.
      It seems a reasonable corollary to this is that we get the government we deserve.  Yah, I know, none of us directly caused the housing market collapse or directly added a trillion dollars to the national debt.  But then, neither did any one else.  The sea in which we are drowning has been filled to lethal levels one drop at a time.  We've let the government and politics descend to what it has become.  We've wanted our cake and to eat it, too.  Cut a corner here, over reach over there; spend a bunch now, pay for it later; withold from that group, bring home the pork to my district.  Add it all up over a few decades and you end up with.......our current state of affairs.
     Let me make a few suggestions for the upcoming presidential race:
1.  Stop looking for a messiah.  Ordinary flesh and blood will be running for office.  Sorry about that.  Getting this issue out of the way, though, just might help us to take a more honest look at the candidates and temper our expectations.  If any candidate promises utopia or heaven on earth, well, you've been warned.
2.  Nothing is going to get better without tough choices and some sacrifice.  The numbers are the numbers, promises have been made and the liabilities are what they are.  We'll have to carry this together.  Anyone who says different isn't being totally truthful.  The huge issues for us will be ones of justice, honesty, compassion and not shirking our responsibilities.  I invite you to read passages like Exodus 23:1-9, Matthew 6:24-34, Luke 10:30-37, Luke 12:13-34, Romans 13:1-7 and others to help inform your conscience.
3.  The Doxology says, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.."  No matter what, we have been and continue to be a blessed nation.  Gratitude to God is in order every day.  Pray for our leaders as we've been called to do.
4.  As followers of Jesus, our ultimate hope is not in or of this world.  Believers have to keep this straight.  Heaven is coming, but not through Washington DC.  Let's prepare for that Day, in part, by being good citizens here.

Bob           ]]><![CDATA[Inquiring After God, reflection (Bethany Colgrove)]]>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:21:14 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/07/inquiring-after-god-reflection-bethany-colgrove.htmlPicture
These are some thoughts I had while reading Ellen T. Charry's Inquiring After God.

God can be known exclusively through self-revelation; allowing others to notice His existence through means emanating solely from Him and Him alone (18). Such revelation may be manifest in the creative order (general revelation) or in God's interaction with His creation in particular instances, such as those instances recorded by Scripture (special revelation).

Knowledge that we learn, all from God, and our love that we learn, all from God, are within a continuum; or at least should be something like this:
Picture
Our knowledge of love about (to seek) God and our love of knowledge about (to seek) God should be "always grow[ing]" (18). As both knowledge and love of Him grow within us (only because of His Holy Spirit working in us, of course), both knowledge and love of Him are symbiotic, in that they constantly benefit one another. In this way, it seems to me that the symbiotic relationship between knowledge of God and love of God (as one person would seek Him) is similar to how we are called to serve one another.

Here are a few examples from Scripture...

Matthew 5:38-42
"You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow."

Eccelsiastes 4:9-12
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Ephesians 4:29
"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

All in all, our knowledge and love of and for God should never diminish, but with a willing eagerness in joy, both will grow for His glory.
]]><![CDATA[Summer time, Summer time, Sum, Sum, Summer time]]>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:36:58 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/06/summer-time-summer-time-sum-sum-summer-time.htmlSorry.  The title is from an old song- I think!?  Anyway, here we are.  We all got kind of numb from the drawn-out, rainy Spring.  Then, "BAM!": the sun starts shining and its July 4th.  Well, at least its not hot yet.  That's coming Saturday!  Although it seems like we've lost some time somewhere, we haven't been at a loss of things going on at FBC.

First, we just finished VBS.  The title of this year's program was "Under Construction."   A couple of gifted folks in our congregation actually wrote this program!  The program told the STORY: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Renewal, and Heaven.  This is the great STORY found in the Bible with Jesus Christ being the center of the story.  I know that all sounds like a lot to bite off in one week of VBS, but the program was outstanding.  It helped the young folks get a big picture about how the world works and what matters most.  Obviously, Jesus is the hero of the Story.  Each day, about 120 kids and 50 volunteers were present.  The daily schedule included a lesson, music time, a craft, activity time and, of course, a snack.  This year's VBS was a success because of the message we shared and all the folks who turned out to help share that message.  (Get this: a few folks even took vacation days from work in order to help out!)  That's why we're here: to glorify God by helping people find and follow Jesus.  To everyone who had a hand, large or small, in VBS, thank you!

Second, the Deacons have been busier than usual this year.  Our Deacons are charged with serving the congregation in ways that promote the spiritual health of the congregation.  You've probably seen them preparing and distributing communion, planning and carrying-out fellowship events and working with the Benevolence Offering.  A few of you might have even been visited by a Deacon.  These are some of the more obvious things  done by the Deacons.  The Deacons have been working hard in another way, though.  Since the beginning of the year, the Deacons have been praying, studying Scripture and carrying on a dialogue.  In each meeting this year, the Deacons have been looking at the issue of membership, specifically, membership in our congregation. 

Congregations have to periodically address the issue of membership, if for no other reason, to "clean up the roles."  The issue of membership has presented itself to our Deacons from a different angle, though.  We have visitors all the time, our congregation is growing, our congregation is increasingly diverse with regards to denominations folks have come from, we have two worship services, etc.  These factors have caused the Deacons to ask, "Now, what is membership all about again?"  Great question, and I commend the Deacons for asking it.  Every generation has to grab a hold of for itself and own the Gospel and what it means to be the Body of Christ.  

I'll let you in on some of the Deacons journey so you can follow along for yourself.  The Deacons have been considering Acts 2:41-47 where a snap shot of the church emerges "fresh from the box," so to speak.  They have also been searching the greetings of each of Paul's letters where he describes the nature of each church and what is right about them.  The "one another" passages sprinkled throughout the New Testament have also weighed in on the Deacons thoughts.  All in all, this has been a very thought provoking and challanging process.  Some of the discussions have been pretty deep.  Here are a couple preliminary conclusions the Deacons have come to so far.  One, if our congregation's purpose is "to glorify God by helping people find and follow Jesus,"  then membership must have something to do with discipleship.  Two, we hope the heart of all our members is something like, "I want to follow Jesus here, together, with all of you."   Want to join in the dialogue?  Check out the Bible passages above.  Look at our constitution and membership covenant.  Talk to a Deacon or me.  Leave a comment below.  This is a great dialogue to be having given all the good things going on at FBC.

Well, that's about it.  Apart from "Jesus is Lord,"  I don't know much else right at the moment.  

Bob Adelsperger     ]]><![CDATA[An Occasional Choir]]>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:50:05 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/06/an-occasional-choir.htmlThroughout this summer season, I will be preparing formatted information, music, rehearsal dates, and performance dates for a choir at PFBC.

If this piques your interest, feel free to read the following:

Essentials
  • believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior
  • ample experience singing in choir(s)
  • desire to share your love for God and musical gift
  • ability, or desire the ability, to blend with others vocally
  • strong desire to learn more about God 
I will be posting more information about choir at PFBC as the summer progresses. 

Please email me with any questions:  bethany.colgrove@gmail.com

blessings,
Bethany ]]><![CDATA[FORGIVE ME FOR NOT DANCING IN THE STREET.]]>Tue, 03 May 2011 18:39:09 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/05/forgive-me-for-not-dancing-in-the-street.html"We got him!" read the sign held high over the man's head.  It was dark and late, but that did not deter the crowd.  The tumult and noise and energy soon melded into the chant, "U-S-A...U-S-A....".  This scene was replicated in cities and public places across the nation and in front of the White House on Sunday evening after the President announced that Osama Ben Laden had been killed.

Where were you Sunday night when the news broke?  What did you do upon hearing the news?  To be honest with you, I didn't hear until early Monday morning.  I didn't pump my fist in the air, didn't hug my wife in celebration, didn't yell, "Now who's number #1, Osama!"  Actually, after the news sunk in, I felt a little sick to my stomach.

My response has kind of surprised me.  After 9-11, I would have joined anything, had I been called, in order to protect us from further harm and to fight back.  Now, with the shock and the adrenaline rush gone, it all seems a little different to me.  I'm not turning into a 60's peacenik or anything; it all just seems so complex.  Loathing the military or the action taken doesn't seem right; I don't.  Somehow, though, dancing in the streets doesn't seem appropriate either. Here's what is on my heart.  Although you might not agree with me, in part or in full, would you please consider these things.

The Scripture is clear that authorities and governments are ordained by God.  This does not mean that God endorses any one particular type of governing system or any one particular set of officials.  God has granted governments provisional power to make this world more livable.  One aspect of government's purpose is to project power and to use that power, even lethal force, to maintain order and to promote justice (see Romans 13:4 and 1 Peter 2:13-14).  This entails policemen, border guards, air line security and armies.  "Bearing the sword" gives leaders incredible power, but it also lays an immense burden of responsibility upon them to their people and, more importantly, to God.  

One of the things about America is that we have a really big "sword", the biggest the world has ever known.  We can project devastating, lethal, rock-splitting power to any point on the globe at virtually a moments notice.  I suppose that is good in one way.  America's vast power is obviously a deterrant (except for 9-11, the first World Trade Center bombing, the USS Cole, etc.  Hmm?).   However, we often forget that a bigger sword means bigger responsibility, and having the biggest sword means having the most responsibility.  Projecting our power is very different from others, with smaller capabilities, projecting their power.  The difference is like having your foot stepped on by a friend or by a cow: the one will annoy you, but the other will break bones, sever ligaments and give you a limp for the rest of your life.  We're the cow; we're so powerful, we never do just a little damage.  Our foot print is massive and always devastaing.  And remember, crushed under foot are cultures, cities and fellow human beings!

That brings me to another point: "bearing the sword" is for the purpose of extending and preserving justice.  The Bible talks endlessly about justice.  Often quoted in discussions about justice is the principle, lex talionis. This principle is derived from the famous passage in Exodus 21 which reads, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  In its context, this passage does two things.  First, it demands justice for everyone, and especially, those who were forgotten, overlooked or unsee, folks like slaves, women and the unborn.  All deserve justice, period.  Second, because justice is just a hair's breadth away from revenge, lex talionis put a cap on the amount of justice meted out.  In short, if an eye was damaged, then an eye was required of the offender, no more and no less, regardless of who was the victim. 

Given government's mandate to "bear the sword" for the sake of justice and given the principle of lex talionis, it seems Ben Laden's fate was a fair one.  However, the path to Ben Laden was long and brutal.  We left a wide swath of destruction and death in our wake.  With our power and our overwhelming force, it couldn't have been otherwise.  I think the technical term for this situation is "collateral damage."  However, our massive and devastating power always produces a lot of collateral damage, that is, crushed cultures, cities and innocent fellow human beings.  In justifiably claiming our right to extract lex talionis, it is entirely possible for us to far exceed the upper limit of lex talionis due to the unavoidable collateral damage caused by our massive and devastating power.  We got Ben Laden: justice!  The collateral damage far exceeds any damage done to us: justice?

I also can't seem to shake Jesus' words, "all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword."  Extending lethal force to settle justifiable claims seems to only invite similar lethal responses with their own versions of justifiable claims.  It seems like history is full of these tit for tat, back and forth, endless cycles of destruction.  In these cycles, justice is one of the first victims, yet each side feels totally justified in their retaliations.  The only way to end the cycle is to completely wipe-out the other side, or for one side to forgive.  Jesus invites us to follow Him and to do the later in our personal lives (see Matthew 5:38-42). I'm not sure how this works at an international level.  I know there are groups of people in this world who desire to destroy the West and who will show no mercy while working to that end.  I just hope we would be a people whose first instinct is to forgive even if we ultimately must fight.

Well, all of this is way above my pay grade.  I don't have all the information or the intelligence reports or the suffocating responsibilities of the President, generals, intelligence personel or solidiers.  I will keep praying for all of them.  

I guess, in a way, justice was done.  Perhaps this was the only way.  In any case, I'm torn between the ways of this world and the world I long for where "there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning or crying, or pain...." (Revelations 21:4).  I'm doing my best to "get in shape" for that world; I'm trying to live toward that world.  So.....please, forgive me if I'm not dancing in the streets.

Bob Adelsperger
    

]]><![CDATA["Ride On, Ride On, O Savior-King" (Bethany Colgrove)]]>Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:36:28 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/04/ride-on-ride-on-o-savior-king-bethany.htmlPicture
We sang this hymn today during 1st service to set the theme of this Sunday around The Triumphal Entry. I for one, had not heard the song before practicing it. But as I read the lyrics, I found it to be quite fitting to be telling the story of Christ's entry into Jerusalem just 4 days before His crucifixion.

The lyrics are:

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King
To set the prisoner free!
To sin-cursed souls salvation to bring
And peace eternally!
Ride on to dark Gethsemane, 
To untold agony,
And on the cross of Calvary
Procure our victory!

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King,
To claim the hearts of men!
Now death has lost its dreadful sting
And hope is born again.
O come, in human hearts to reign--
Suppress the pow'r of sin!
Our own endeavor is in vain--
Lord, Thou must help us win!

Ride on, ride on, O Savior-King!
Ride on o'er land and sea,
For Thou alone to men can bring
Eternal liberty.
Ride on to sin-bound nations, Lord
Until each hearts shall own
Thy saving, sanctifying word
And bow before Thy throne!

Written by a pastor, C.K. Solberg, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN back in 1932, is among one of the recorded 11 hymns he wrote during his lifetime. Rather than translating hymns, Carl Knutson Solberg was gifted as an original hymnist; composing hymns with his own lyrics.

Among the 11 recorded (meaning, written down & kept record of; not necessarily an audio/mp3 file), "Ride on, Ride on, O Savior-King" is one of the most unpopular of his writings. Because of this, it has been quite difficult to find details on this particular hymn. 

Since it is labeled in PFBC's hymnal as "Christ: The Triumphal Entry" we have reason to believe that C.K. Solberg wrote this hymn with Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem in mind.

Interestingly enough, this hymn ties together Jesus riding into Jerusalem with the real reason why He came; which was to teach us that Rome and other people are not the problem, but that the human heart is the problem. With each deceitful heart that seemingly welcomed Him into Jerusalem, betrayed Him just a few days later shouting out their desire to crucify Him. But Jesus died for every one of them who chose to crucify Him. Including us. 

I half-wonder if Solberg wrote these lyrics as what he would say to Jesus if he were at the entrance to Jerusalem on the day Jesus rode in on a colt.  

Whatever the case, I'm thankful God led me to this hymn. Its scarceness, yet with the lyrics having pure faith and trust in Jesus Christ to fulfill the true reason of why He came (to redeem us by dying for us on the cross to reconcile us back to God) makes it become a hymn to keep in my collection for years to come.

If you would like a copy of it, here are some hymnals that still have it in print:  
Revival Hymns and Choruses
and
Sing Joyfully

I pray this hymn blesses you as you advance on the journey that Holy Week has in store for you and your relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior King.
]]><![CDATA[10th Anniversary (Pastor Bob)]]>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:33:26 -0800http://perufirstbaptist.weebly.com/1/post/2011/04/10th-anniversary.htmlI need to say "Thank You!" to the whole church family for remembering my/our 10th anniversary of serving the Lord together here at the First Baptist Church of Peru.  Diane and I realized it had been 10 years on the day before the anniversary.  Our conversation went something like this:

     Di:    (Starting a conversation while two rooms away.) "Hey, Bob, know what?"

     Bob:  (Cringing in anticipation of receiving another "F" on a Read-My-Mind-Man-Quiz.)  "Huh? 
              What's that?"

     Di:     "Its our anniversary- ten years tomorrow!  Remember?"

     Bob:  (Upon hearing the words "anniversary" and "remember", Bob places one hand on his                          
              palpitating heart and the other hand over his mouth as a wave of nausea hits him while his  
              vision narrows and begins growing dark.  Speechless.)

     Di:     (Coming into the room where Bob is located.)  "Tomorrow, we will have been in Peru for
              ten years.  Remember?

     Bob:  (Wiping a drop of sweat from the end of his nose while breathing Lamaz style.) 
              "What?...Oh..Yah...Yah!...(Spoken in a slow confident tone)..... I knew that."

     Di:     (Wrinkled forehead; questioning look on face)  "Why are you sweating and breathing so
               hard?"

     Bob:  (Standing tall while simultaneously sucking in stomach, lifting chest and, ever sooooo
              slightly,tensing biceps.)  "Uh,just been working out.  Hit it pretty hard, big weights.  You  
              know, the usual."

     Di:  (Eyes crinkle while spining on heel and mercifully vacating room without
            justifiably extracting the called for pound of male ego.)  "Kay."

That was about it!  We really hadn't given our anniversary much thought.  Please don't misnderstand what I'm trying to say here.  My family and I have been blessed; it has been a great 10 years.  Its just that we are so encouraged and excited about the future at FBC that we hadn't really spent much thinking about the past.  The past has been good, but the future looks great.  God has been at work.  To me, that is the real thing to celebrate.  

Your concern and care for my family and me is amazing and humbling.  The gifts and pitch-in were wonderful.  Thank you. 
We continue to look forward to serving Jesus here with all of you.  

Bob, Diane, Andrew and Seth  

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