Monday, October 28, 2019

MISSIONARIES TO NEW GUINEA


        Ever since Paul and the Apostles first shared the Gospel of Jesus, there have been Christian men and women willing to travel to new lands with Jesus’ message of hope and forgiveness. Few of us will understand those who became missionaries, and fewer still will get an inside look at the life they endured. Yet, it is because of their efforts that 2.5 billion people in the world today know of their Lord and Savior Jesus.
        Several decades ago I became friends with Rev. Merlyn Wagner of Murray, Utah, and first learned he and his wife Jan had spent 8 years (1962-1970) as missionaries among a primitive tribe in Papua New Guinea, an area that now has many thousands of Christians worshipping Jesus as Lord and Savior. 
        About 3-4 years ago Merlyn asked if I might help him publish his writings about the years he and Jan spent among the people of the Maramuni Valley. Jan was an integral part of his work and had recently developed a medical condition that required Merlyn to serve as her care giver. These last years, they wrote their missionary memoirs. The Lord mercifully called Jan to her heavenly home this past spring. 
        Rev. Wagner has now published his interesting book, New Guinea Experiences: Living Among People Untouched By Time. It is now available on Amazon Books at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=merlyn+d.+wagner&crid=38WXZSD2JHX06. It’s neither long (100 pages) nor expensive ($5.50), but I think you will find its message and photos to be enlightening as you better understand the challenges and struggles they endured to bring the Gospel to a tribe of people hungering for the hope only Jesus can give.
        The book states on its cover, “A young Lutheran pastor and his wife, just out of seminary training, were sent to live and witness of Jesus Christ among the stone age people in the Maramuni Valley in Papua New Guinea during 1962-1970. This enlightening and entertaining book gives a brief overview of their experiences. As they state in their last chapter, ‘We went to change them, but they changed us’.” I urge you to purchase this interesting paperback.
        Just before returning to heaven, Jesus urged His disciples, Go therefore and make disciples and of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) Pastor Merlyn and Jan Wagner did just that, and their labors in God’s kingdom were blessed. 

Thank You, Jesus, for such dedicated workers in Your kingdom.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Monday, October 21, 2019

EARTH-RISE


Dear friends,
(Today’s Message is by President Dale Meyer, Concordia Seminary, St Louis, MO)
            “You and I are blessed to live in amazing times. This past July 20 we celebrated the liftoff that put man on the moon, the mission of Apollo 11 fifty years ago in 1969. There was another fiftieth anniversary, probably less noticed, that happened about six months before on December 24, 2018. The mission of Apollo 8 was to circle the Moon, not land, but just circle the Moon.
            “As Apollo 8 circled the Moon that Christmas Eve, the astronauts were awed to see planet Earth rising above the Moon. Earth rose above the Moon, much as we who are on Earth see the Sun rise over the Earth’s horizon. Earth rose above the Moon, a beautiful blue, green and white globe in the vastness of dark, cold space.
            “Astronaut William Anders moved as quickly as he could to take pictures. The result is the spectacular photo called, “Earthrise.” I know you have seen that photo and maybe now have it in your mind. Earth rising over the moon! With that photo in mind, consider this: mankind had never before seen from space the wondrous place that the Lord of Creation made for us and put us on to live. Everything else in the photo is gray and dark, foreboding, but not the beautiful home God made for us.
            “And now let’s think about the love of our Creator. When we sinned, we transgressed His ways of life because we thought we knew better how to order our lives than He who made us. As we creatures still sin and continue to fall short of the glory of our Creator, our Maker did not look at sinful planet Earth and decide to destroy it. Instead He sent His Son to die and bear our sins, and to rise from the dead, ascend into heaven, pour out His Spirit on us and give us new, re-created lives.
            Keep the image of “Earthrise” in mind and hear His Word: “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:66).
            “This Lord Jesus shines in our hearts through faith, and one day we will see our ascended Lord return visibly to Earth. He comes to judge all people and take all His followers, His “not-normal” people, into eternity with Him. And so we rejoice, because, “In Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)”
            Well said, Dr. Meyer! “Earthrise” is a special, one-of-a-kind photo image that Astronaut Anders has given us, and yet one that God and His elect see every day. May we all rejoice in the presence of Jesus as He shines His glorious light eternally forever in the Universe He has made.

Shine, Jesus, shine, that all people may see You!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Saturday, October 12, 2019

HOW CAN WE FORGIVE THEM?


        When evil or tragedy occur, how can we forgive? This past week Dallas policewoman, Tammy Guyger, was given a 10-year sentence for mistakenly killing her neighbor, a man she mistakenly thought was an intruder in her own apartment. It was a tragic misjudgment made by an exhausted Peace Officer whose actions caused a tragic death. No matter what the circumstances, she had caused an innocent man to die, and the law handed her its verdict.
        Surprisingly, a younger brother of the victim asked if he could embrace the tearful Guyger, to forgive her and tell her of God’s love. His request was not only granted, presiding judge Tammy Kemp even joined in embracing the tearful Officer and gave her a Bible to read. Both the District Attorney and the Dallas Mayor commended the brother and the Judge for their mercy in forgiving the Officer.
        But the emotional moment didn’t last long. That same day the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint with the Texas State Judicial Conduct Commission stating the judge overstepped her authority. The group’s letter stated the actions “violated a vital constitutional principle for a sitting judge to promote personal religious beliefs while acting in her official capacity.”
        As author Oscar Wilde reportedly wrote, “No good deed goes unpunished”. Yet what happened in that courtroom was a miracle. A guilty person was forgiven, and a tragedy became a lesson in the value of forgiveness. Regardless of the reactions of others, that precious gift of forgiveness  that was give will always remain.
        Jesus told His disciples, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) A part of God’s granting us forgiveness depends on whether we are willing to grant forgiveness to others. 
        In 2006, five Pennsylvania Amish schoolgirls were gunned down by a deranged man, and the Amish community chose to forgive him and show mercy to his family rather than curse and hold grudges that would only cause more harm. The Amish even attended the shooter’s funeral and set up a charitable fund for his widow and family. They, too, opted for mercy rather than curses.
        There is a time for Law and a time for Gospel, “A time to love and a time to hate.” (Ecclesiastes 3:8), a time to accept sin’s consequences and a time to forgive them. Jesus gave His life on the cross that we might all be forgiven, even those who kill His children and those who curse and deny His love.  

“Father forgive them, for the know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Rev. Robert L. Tasler, www.bobtasler.com