Letter 5/13

May 13, 2010
Pastor Steve Mathewson
  

Where is God when your life is such a struggle? We’re planning to take the final three Sundays in May to look to the Scriptures for an answer to this question. Whether the struggle is due to the economy, tension in the workplace, relationship problems, difficulty finding work, financial pressure, depression, or health issues, a lot of people are at wit’s end in their lives. They don’t know how they can cope with the pressure. Someone on our pastoral staff recently observed that “very few people are loving life right now.” It is not just the people facing major crises or tragedies who are struggling. All of us are struggling to some degree because life is so hard!

We will begin this Sunday, May 16, by working through the book of Esther. Yes, we’ll work through the entire book, even though this will require us to move quickly. The title of the sermon is “God is Still Sovereign.” On Sunday, May 23, we will consider the fact that “God is Still Powerful” from Isaiah 40:12-31. Then, on Sunday, May 30, we will learn from Lamentations 3:1-33 that “God is Still Loving.” Let’s pray that God will use his word to encourage us and help us as we face the struggles of life.

Today is the third and final day I am spending in Lake Geneva with thirty good friends! These friends are pastors and Christian leaders from all parts of the U.S. and Canada. All of us studied preaching in Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s doctoral program with Haddon Robinson. We get together annually to study a particular book of Scripture and think about how we might preach it. This year, Craig Blomberg, a professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, is meeting with us to help us work through the letter of 1 Corinthians. It has been a rich time.

I will return home late tonight, though, so I can be here tomorrow when a group from Libertyville High School uses our facility. We are hosting the Athletes Committed to Excellence (ACE) group since their speaker is not allowed to set foot on the LHS campus. Let me explain! Their speaker tomorrow is Pat Fitzgerald, the head football coach at Northwestern University. NCAA recruiting regulations prevent him from setting foot on high school campuses this time of year. So we will host 50-100 students for this event. The ACE organization is designed to encourage student-athletes to be good role models and stay drug and alcohol free. I am always glad for opportunities to help out our community and its schools. So even though this is a small way we can contribute, it is a tangible way to seek the well-being of the community in which we live (see Jeremiah 29:7).

I have been encouraged to hear some great stories about how people in our church family have had the opportunity to share the gospel with friends and co-workers.   A lady in our church invited a Japanese co-worker to her family’s home for dinner and then invited another couple from our church who happen to be fluent in Japanese. The gospel was presented that night in Japanese! A man in our church had the opportunity to share the gospel last week with three co-workers when the conversation turned to “religion.” Then, a little girl in our church shared the gospel with a friend of hers last week as well. This girl used a book that Kristin Swanson, our Children’s Ministry Director, had made available. This little girl continues to pray for her friend. Some of our high schoolers have been inviting friends to Gateway, our Tuesday night high school group so that these friends can hear the gospel. Let’s continue our efforts to build relationships and look for opportunities to share what Christ has done through his death and resurrection to bring us to God!

Finally, Trinity International University will hold its commencement exercises this Saturday, May 15. One of our part-time staff members, Ryan Johnson, will receive his Master of Arts degree. Congratulations, Ryan! He is graduating with an M.A. in Communication and Culture. I am excited for Ryan and Kryssia as they pursue what God has for them in the future. Thanks, as always, for taking time to read my weekly letter and the thoughts that are on my heart. I’ll see you on Sunday!