Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for March 23-29, 2025
Good Warnings
(1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
One of my favorite TV shows as a youngster growing up was “Lost in Space.” The show depicts the adventures of an ordinary family being sent on a spaceship to inhabit an earth-like planet in a neighboring solar system once that spaceship veers off course and into the infinite depths of space. One of the members of the family is a young boy named Will, with whom I immediately identified. Will and his family benefitted from a robot on the show who becomes a kind of friend to Will. Throughout the Robinsons’ many adventures the robot would remain vigilant and bark out orders regarding potential risks: “Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!” the robot would often say, at just the right time. “This is not a good idea!” the robot would caution when unsafe activities of any sort were underway. And of course, “Warning, warning, alien approaching!” was our favorite line… we waited for it. It was always overheard just prior to some ridiculous other-worldly creature popping out from behind the corner along with a deafening crescendo in background music! How wonderful it would be to have a robot that would follow us around and always give us ample warning of risks, my brother and I thought. Warnings that alert you to a potential mess are never bad. Since those days I’ve come to understand that in the Scriptures, they are life-giving!
Our Epistle reading for today contains a good warning for the season of Lent or for any time of year: “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (10:12). Spiritual pride, the notion that we are somehow above succumbing to the temptations we may more readily see impacting the happiness of others, is toxic for the life of faith. Every day is a new day to be led by the Word of God to see our weakness in the face of temptation… every day brings another opportunity to be taught again by God to trust in His amazing grace for all.
The good news is that Jesus accomplished all that was needed for us to do just that. The cross of Christ is testimony to Jesus’ victory in the face of our defeats. Throughout these days of Lent, let us listen to the good warnings of our God. We hear His encouragement to turn away from trusting in our own strength. With eyes focused on the cross of Jesus… and the light of His love for us… we walk humbly with our Lord.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Jonathan
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.