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401 E. Piankishaw, Paola, KS 66071 Phone: 913.294.3476 Fax: 913.294.0074
"Weekly worship, along with Bible study, is the spiritual food I need to get through my week. "
a "sixty something" man who grew up in the church but whose faith grows ever stronger.
"Even though I've gone to church all my life, my faith has kept growing and is now stronger than it was 30 yrs ago."
Jim's Story
Tell about how you came to faith as a boy?
I came to faith as a small child going to a Lutheran grade school for eight years. We did a lot of memorization and by the time we were confirmed in eighth grade, we knew Luther's Small Catechism cover to cover. Being confirmed was a big deal in our family and in the church.
I think the regularity of going to church every Sunday (whether I wanted to or not) was very important. There was never a question of "would you like to" or "do you think we ought to" - we just did. But everyone seemed to attend just as regularly - our neighbors and the rest of our extended family. That regularity, that routine, has stuck with me to this day. Being a Christian and attending church is habit forming.
Has your faith changed over the years?
I've gotten to know my Lord better and my faith has changed positively. The Lord has led me through a number of situations over the years that have all made my faith stronger. Even though I've gone to church all my life, my faith has kept growing and is now stronger than it was 30 yrs ago.
Going through adversity, watching one's wife lose a fight with cancer, certainly changes a person's thinking and changes one's life. Through all of this, the act of giving shows that you can't take it with you. I've learned over the years that we must share what we've been given from God and that ability to share comes through faith and trust in the Lord.
How does faith help with challenges in daily life?
My faith helps me every day. Doing work for the Lord takes a lot of faith and trust. The challenges aren't easy but faith helps in seeing them through. In daily life I take the Lord wherever I go. My confirmation verse was Psalm 37:5 "Commit commit thy way to the Lord. Trust him and it shall come to pass." This is one of many verses that stick with me. Another is from Phillipians - "I can do all things through God who gives me strength" and from Psalms - "Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good." He is a gracious God and His love and compassion endures forever. What a blessing and promise that is.
How does a church in general or First Lutheran in particular help you in living your faith? What benefit are there in being a member vs. going it alone?
There's no way I could go it alone. There are so many challenges in life but it's so much more than just being a member. I think a person needs to be involved to truly see the effects of God's love through the caring of other. We aren't saved by our works but I feel that you need to work for the Lord and serve the Lord to show love for Him.
It means giving time, talents, and treasures. Raising a family is also important work of the Lord. My wife and I tried to emulate what our parents did for us and carry that on for our kids and it appears that has stuck with them and that's been very gratifying.
Being a member of First Lutheran in particular has been a blessing for me. We have so many positive things going on such as "Building for the Future" and ABLAZE. I'm involved in Stephen Ministry and this has been a wonderful way to reach out to people who are hurting. We have touched 18 - 20 lives in one on one relationships. We are also blessed with a very fine Pastor and weekly worship, along with Bible study, is the spiritual food I need to get through my week.
Jim
"There's no way I could go it alone. There are so many challenges in life but it's so much more than just being a member."
