Para Vista Lutheran Church

Growing Together in Jesus

A connection brings two families together to share their lives and their faith in Jesus.

 

Return of the King (Audio)

An audio message by Pastor Rolly Stahl.  It is part 2 of our 3 week series "Infused with Hope".

If life is a journey, then our destiny will determine the direction of our lives.  As followers of  Jesus, we join in his restoration story for his world in the security of knowing that he has  brought us into eternal life.

According to tradition, most of Jesus' disciples were martyred.  The Apostle John may have been the exception.  Yet he spent time in exile – cut off from his community.  While stuck on the Island of Patmos, John received a revelation from God to encourage the Church through times of persecution. We can still read it today in the last book of the Bible.

This Sunday, we’ll unpack a little of what God revealed to John in the opening verses of Revelation.  Our attention will turn to the Lord who loves us, and to the return of our victorious King.

Come along and join us as we celebrate who and whose we are in Christ – and the hope that is ours in Him!

Return of the King (Video)

A video message by Pastor Rolly Stahl.  It is part 2 of our 3 week series "Infused with Hope".

If life is a journey, then our destiny will determine the direction of our lives.  As followers of  Jesus, we join in his restoration story for his world in the security of knowing that he has  brought us into eternal life.

According to tradition, most of Jesus' disciples were martyred.  The Apostle John may have been the exception.  Yet he spent time in exile – cut off from his community.  While stuck on the Island of Patmos, John received a revelation from God to encourage the Church through times of persecution. We can still read it today in the last book of the Bible.

This Sunday, we’ll unpack a little of what God revealed to John in the opening verses of Revelation.  Our attention will turn to the Lord who loves us, and to the return of our victorious King.

Come along and join us as we celebrate who and whose we are in Christ – and the hope that is ours in Him!

Whose Voice Do We Listen To? (VIDEO)

In the last Sundays of the Church year, we often consider the end-times and the return of Jesus. This Sunday we will commence a 3-week series: Infused with Hope.

In the Apostles’ Creed we say of Jesus: “He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.”

And in the Nicene Creed: “He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom will have no end.”

I wonder how often you and I reflected on these things? How about asking friends and/or family members what they think and feel about this? You might be surprised where the conversation leads.

History is not coming to a dead end, but with the return of Jesus as Lord and judge of all. For all believers, this is Good News indeed. At the return of Jesus, chaos and evil be vanquished, justice will be administered, and all believers will inherit eternal life in the glorious kingdom of God. I wonder: How do you picture that reality?

Between now and then, there is still much kingdom work to be done: listening to people’s stories, sharing the kindness of Jesus, praying for opportunities to share the difference Jesus has made in our lives, passing on the faith to the next generations, and bringing the presence of Jesus into each encounter.

Yes, at times we will carry burdens, reminding us that we are still caught up in the brokenness of this fallen world. Jesus knows how that feels from first-hand experience. He has entered the depths of our suffering so he can ultimately free us from it.

Where this is life there is hope. And where there is hope there is life. No matter what trials or suffering we experience, hope of “better things to come” enables us to endure.

I suspect that many loud voices in our culture rob us of hope and fill us with despair. If we keep listening to bad news stories in the world, along with the doomsday preppers and conspiracy theorists, we will end up paralysed with fear… and in dread of the future.

Whose voice do we listen to? Who can we trust to tell us the truth?

Whenever we are feeling hopeless or helpless, it’s helpful to ask: “What does Jesus say about this? What does he tell us about the end times?”

Believers keep listening to the words and promises of Jesus. Secure in his love and truth, we can avoid being deceived by human speculations; or by temptations of strategies of the evil one. Through God’s Spirit, Word, and Church, we can be infused with hope in Jesus.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly Stahl

Whose Voice Do We Listen To? (AUDIO)

In the last Sundays of the Church year, we often consider the end-times and the return of Jesus. This Sunday we will commence a 3-week series: Infused with Hope.

In the Apostles’ Creed we say of Jesus: “He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.”

And in the Nicene Creed: “He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom will have no end.”

I wonder how often you and I reflected on these things? How about asking friends and/or family members what they think and feel about this? You might be surprised where the conversation leads.

History is not coming to a dead end, but with the return of Jesus as Lord and judge of all. For all believers, this is Good News indeed. At the return of Jesus, chaos and evil be vanquished, justice will be administered, and all believers will inherit eternal life in the glorious kingdom of God. I wonder: How do you picture that reality?

Between now and then, there is still much kingdom work to be done: listening to people’s stories, sharing the kindness of Jesus, praying for opportunities to share the difference Jesus has made in our lives, passing on the faith to the next generations, and bringing the presence of Jesus into each encounter.

Yes, at times we will carry burdens, reminding us that we are still caught up in the brokenness of this fallen world. Jesus knows how that feels from first-hand experience. He has entered the depths of our suffering so he can ultimately free us from it.

Where this is life there is hope. And where there is hope there is life. No matter what trials or suffering we experience, hope of “better things to come” enables us to endure.

I suspect that many loud voices in our culture rob us of hope and fill us with despair. If we keep listening to bad news stories in the world, along with the doomsday preppers and conspiracy theorists, we will end up paralysed with fear… and in dread of the future.

Whose voice do we listen to? Who can we trust to tell us the truth?

Whenever we are feeling hopeless or helpless, it’s helpful to ask: “What does Jesus say about this? What does he tell us about the end times?”

Believers keep listening to the words and promises of Jesus. Secure in his love and truth, we can avoid being deceived by human speculations; or by temptations of strategies of the evil one. Through God’s Spirit, Word, and Church, we can be infused with hope in Jesus.

Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly Stahl

Fake Performance or True Worship? (Audio)

This Sunday is the final part of our series: How Then Shall We Live? We’ve been working through Mark’s account to see how Jesus responds to questions and issues of his day – and what this means for us. Our theme: Fake Performance or True Worship?

In our reading from Mark 12, Jesus exposes the teachers of the law as hypocrites. They give their religious performance to bring attention and honour to themselves – yet they exploit widows! In reality, they are fakes and fraudsters.

Then as Jesus sits and watches people contributing to the temple treasury, he points his disciples (including us) to a poor widow who gave her last two copper coins to God. I wonder: What does this tell us about her relationship with God? And: What might this mean for us?

Jesus came to bring us into a relationship with God, where we can freely come into his presence without fear, give him our praise and honour, share whatever is on our hearts with him, seek his guidance and help in all that we do, and join in his eternal plans by blessing others in Jesus’ name. Secure in his love for us in Jesus, we get to love God above all else; and love others as ourselves.

So why do we settle for religious performance, where we go through the motions to placate God or impress people? The problem with religion is the perpetual focus on self: seeking to impress God or others with my outward behaviour.

Jesus warns against religious performance or showing off to impress others. Our 24/7 life of worship is to be real, without pretence or pride, and focussed on bringing glory to God and his Son Jesus. As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come…Your will be done… Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory. Amen?

Joy in Jesus!

Pr Rolly Stahl

Fake Performance or True Worship? (Video)

This Sunday is the final part of our series: How Then Shall We Live? We’ve been working through Mark’s account to see how Jesus responds to questions and issues of his day – and what this means for us. Our theme: Fake Performance or True Worship?

In our reading from Mark 12, Jesus exposes the teachers of the law as hypocrites. They give their religious performance to bring attention and honour to themselves – yet they exploit widows! In reality, they are fakes and fraudsters.

Then as Jesus sits and watches people contributing to the temple treasury, he points his disciples (including us) to a poor widow who gave her last two copper coins to God. I wonder: What does this tell us about her relationship with God? And: What might this mean for us?

Jesus came to bring us into a relationship with God, where we can freely come into his presence without fear, give him our praise and honour, share whatever is on our hearts with him, seek his guidance and help in all that we do, and join in his eternal plans by blessing others in Jesus’ name. Secure in his love for us in Jesus, we get to love God above all else; and love others as ourselves.

So why do we settle for religious performance, where we go through the motions to placate God or impress people? The problem with religion is the perpetual focus on self: seeking to impress God or others with my outward behaviour.

Jesus warns against religious performance or showing off to impress others. Our 24/7 life of worship is to be real, without pretence or pride, and focussed on bringing glory to God and his Son Jesus. As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come…Your will be done… Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory. Amen?

Joy in Jesus!

Pr Rolly Stahl

Once was Blind (Video)

Dr Fred Hollows was a living legend who restored sight to thousands of blind people.  His work continues through the Fred Hollows Foundation: “An international development organisation working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and improving Indigenous Australian health.” https://www.hollows.org

If you’ve ever seen video footage of Fred Hollows taking the bandages off a person after eye surgery, the joy that erupts on that person’s face in being able to see again is priceless. It reminds me how much I take my sight for granted. And it moves me to think of how life for that person is changed for the better with restored vision.

According to t

Dr Fred Hollows was a living legend who restored sight to thousands of blind people.  His work continues through the Fred Hollows Foundation: “An international development organisation working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and improving Indigenous Australian health.” https://www.hollows.org

If you’ve ever seen video footage of Fred Hollows taking the bandages off a person after eye surgery, the joy that erupts on that person’s face in being able to see again is priceless. It reminds me how much I take my sight for granted. And it moves me to think of how life for that person is changed for the better with restored vision.

According to the eyewitness accounts, Jesus restored sight to many people – even a man born blind (John 9).  We meet another one in our Bible reading this Sunday: a roadside beggar by the name of Bartimaeus.

he eyewitness accounts, Jesus restored sight to many people – even a man born blind (John 9).  We meet another one in our Bible reading this Sunday: a roadside beggar by the name of Bartimaeus.

Pr Rolly Stahl

Once was Blind (Audio)

Dr Fred Hollows was a living legend who restored sight to thousands of blind people.  His work continues through the Fred Hollows Foundation: “An international development organisation working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and improving Indigenous Australian health.” https://www.hollows.org

If you’ve ever seen video footage of Fred Hollows taking the bandages off a person after eye surgery, the joy that erupts on that person’s face in being able to see again is priceless. It reminds me how much I take my sight for granted. And it moves me to think of how life for that person is changed for the better with restored vision.

According to t

Dr Fred Hollows was a living legend who restored sight to thousands of blind people.  His work continues through the Fred Hollows Foundation: “An international development organisation working towards eliminating avoidable blindness and improving Indigenous Australian health.” https://www.hollows.org

If you’ve ever seen video footage of Fred Hollows taking the bandages off a person after eye surgery, the joy that erupts on that person’s face in being able to see again is priceless. It reminds me how much I take my sight for granted. And it moves me to think of how life for that person is changed for the better with restored vision.

According to the eyewitness accounts, Jesus restored sight to many people – even a man born blind (John 9).  We meet another one in our Bible reading this Sunday: a roadside beggar by the name of Bartimaeus.

he eyewitness accounts, Jesus restored sight to many people – even a man born blind (John 9).  We meet another one in our Bible reading this Sunday: a roadside beggar by the name of Bartimaeus.

Pr Rolly Stahl

The Greatest (Video)

…whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be slave to all. ~Mark 10:43,44

When I first read this passage for our worship this week, I thought to myself, ‘Wow! This is really appropriate in the 21st century.’

Throughout the history of Christianity and the Church’s infatuation with power and prestige, we are reminded time and time again how important it is for the body of Christ to serve, not to be served. (Mark 10:45) In the book of Mark, time and time again, Jesus points out that egoism and self-absorption restricts both the Christian and the future Christian.

First, the disciples argue about who is the greatest. (Mark 9:34) Then, they are frustrated because others are not doing things the way that the disciples would have. (Mark 9:38) After that, they rebuke some adults who bring children to Jesus for a blessing. (Mark 10:13) Finally, James and John want to elevate themselves to a place of honour when Jesus comes into his kingdom. (Mark 10:37) Every time the disciples do this, Jesus brings them back down to earth and reminds them that those who want to be the greatest have the opportunity to do even more with humility – as servants.

There is another way to understand Mark 10:44. In our world that is inebriated by power, prestige, and pontificating, it is abundantly clear that the moment one wants to be great, they become a slave to popular opinion and social media. Some politicians constantly check their approval ratings. Some entertainers perpetually push the edge of what is good and correct so that they can continue to be in the public eye. Some churches and pastors are slaves to the approval of the congregation.

And yet, Jesus pushes that all out of the way. That slavery to public honour and opinion leads to nowhere. One private or public mistake and you are erased – cancelled, as is the contemporary terminology.

But rarely, if ever, do we hear of servants, or servant-hearted people, being cancelled. Why is this? Because power and prestige and popularity has not enticed them to do and say things that bring glory to themselves. They serve to bring glory to God the Father.

Thus, Jesus points to this way of life as one for which we strive.

In the next instalment of ‘How Then Shall We Live,’ we will dive into being a GOAT (the Greatest of All Time) as opposed to being a servant of the living king dedicated to help people shed their blankets of fear.

Pr Reid Matthias