Reflections on the Past: Middle School/Jr. High

     Today is the first day of Middle School for my son (and hundreds of other pre-pubescent children all over Rapid City).  From the looks of things at orientation the other night there is a whole lot of excitement and a whole lot of nervousness.  Ahh those were the days, but I can tell you one thing, I am soooo glad I don't have to go through that again.
     I can remember my first day at Hollenbeck Jr. High School in St. Charles, Mo.  Long time ago, but recently I found my yearbook and looked through it, recalling friends and experiences I had in 8th and 9th grade there, then telling my children about it all.
     I remember being so scared about who I might wind up with as a locker partner that I rode my bike over to a friend and soccer teammate's house to ask him if he wanted to be locker partners.  It worked out well for the year--Thanks Brian O'Dell for being a great locker partner.
     I remember being totally confused and overwhelmed with how big the school was compared to the little Lutheran School I went to prior to Jr. High.  Especially overwhelming was the going from class to class in such a large building, the chaos of the hallways, lunchtime, gym, and getting to the busses at the end of the day, and finding the right bus to take you home.  So many new faces for a shy kid like I was.       
    It was scary, interesting, anxitey-producing, adventurous, chaotic, fun, challenging, and new all at the same time.  But I know that even though there were many difficulties and it wasn't always a pleasant experience, I grew and learned and became a much stronger person from all the experiences, both good and bad.
     Here is to a wonderful year of growth and experience for you Jacob!  It won't be as hard as the first day always is!
     Thanks for reading and God bless!

Dissing God's Word

    Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35
         I was saddened (but not surprised) to see something posted on facebook this morning from an aquaintance of mine that was extremely disrespectful to the Word of God.  At first I was angry, but I knew that danger of that anger turning to me being judgmental toward that person.  Instead, I forgave them and feel sorry for them at the same time.  I was reminded of Jesus' compassion for the crowd, when He thought, They are like sheep without a shepherd. 
     It does disturb me, however, when those who probably do not even own a Bible take passages out of context, and mock it, and misuse God's Word to try to make their worldly point, or to try and turn God's Words around in an attempt to justify sin or sinful behavior.  This is what Satan did in deceiving Adam and Eve to sin.  Did God REALLY say?
     I would rather that people actually pick up the Bible and start reading it, FOR REAL, than to have them mock what they have absolutely no understanding of.  Better yet, read it and then come and ask a pastor, such as myself, what it means.
     Lest you read this and think I am still angry (it is hard to tell emotion in emails and blogs), I am not, but completely serious about all I am writing here.  As I already wrote, it really distubs me when I hear or see people being so disrespectful of something that God has given to  us to bless our lives.
     So pick up a Bible and start reading.  Don't have a Bible?  My policy has always been that if someone doesn't have a Bible, come see me, I will give you one.  I'll even teach you what it means!!!
The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me; I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!
    Thanks for reading and God bless! 

More on choices: God is the do-er!

John 15:16
    You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
   
     Some may be a bit confused by this verse, as there are many who think that it is WE who choose God, and not the other way around.  In Luther's Small Catechism, he brings a little bit of clarity to this in the explanation of the 3rd Article fo the Apostles' Creed...I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith...
By nature I am spiritually blind, dead, and an enemy of God, as the Scriptures teach; therefore, "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him."
     It is as I often say in Bible Studies, "God is the do-er!"  It is He who brings us to faith in Christ through His most powerful Word.  Not only that, but it is also He who, by His grace, sustains that faith through regular feeding with Word and Sacrament.
     The opportunity is there, and then the choice becomes ours what to do with those things that God provides for our faith.  Do we live the new life in Christ, or remain dead in our sins?  Do we exercise our faith by coming to worship, getting fed with His spiritual food, or do we develop a habit of skipping church and convince ourselves that we do not need it anymore?  Do we talk to God in prayer daily (pray without ceasing), or do we ignore Him and avoid Him?  You see, we do have choices every single day when it comes to our faith; but when it comes to how we initially even have a relationship with God, it is all the work of God through Jesus Christ His only Son, who reconciled us to God through His death and resurrection.
     I hope that you recognize the work that God has done/is doing in your life, and also the choices that you have in responding to Him in faith!
     Thank you for reading and God bless you!

Making Choices

    "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. [15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15

     Life is full of choices.  Every day we have to choose, from very simple choices to be made--like what to wear (ok so that may not be so simple for some)--to what school are we going to send our child to.  When it comes to parenting, I find that this is an area that many kids, and especially adolescents, and young adults are struggling with.  How to make good choices.  I don't know for sure, but I think that this is one of those things that may begin with parenting.  I guess as a parent I am of the opinion that we as parents should be helping our kids to learn how to make proper and good choices, by giving them choices regularly, and allowing them to see how the choices they make effect their lives and other people's lives.
     In the text above, Joshua is giving some choices to the Israelites about who they will serve, and telling them to choose on this day whom it will be, YHWH (the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), or the Egyptian gods, or the gods of the Amorites (the land where they were at that present time).  Interestingly enough, Joshua makes it well-known that he and his household would be serving the Lord-the one true God. 
     When it comes to this kind of a choice, there really isn't a choice other than serving the one true God, maker of heaven and earth.  But I see people making "choices" regarding "religion" sort of like this:  Well, I like this aspect of Buddhism, and I like this part of Islam, and oh the Hindu religion has some interesting things, Confucious has lots of cool things to say, as does Taoism, Judaism has some cool rituals and holidays and things, but I grew up Christian so I can't really give that up-but I don't like organized religion--so...I will take this and that from each and fashion my own.  It's my life and these are the  "choices" that I am going to make. 
     I kind of dis-affectionately call this "Smorgasbord Religion," because the desire is there to "be religious" but the person is all confused about who and whose they are, and how that should manifest itself in worshiping God.  I hear a whole lot about "We are all the same," and "Organized religion should just leave individuals alone to do what they want, it's not like there is just one way."
     Jesus said, "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE!  NO ONE comes to the Father, except through ME!" 
     So I think the one True God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) would have something to say about our "Choices" when it comes to who we worship.
Thank you for reading, and God bless!  Tomorrow I will have more on making choices.   

Feeling Overwhelmed

I am hearing and seeing a lot of comments lately about being overwhelmed.  I suppose it is because the summer is(or for some, already has) coming to a close, and schools, sports, and other activities have begun once again.
I got a taste of this myself this morning, as I began writing a newsletter article for our September Church letter.  In it, I listed all the things I could think of that will be starting again in September.  That list was quite long.  And as if it wasn't enough, it was not even including the non-church/work-related things that are all starting up again in our family.  I know that I am preachin to the choir on this, because all of you have busy lives, some even more saturated with places to go and things to do on a daily basis than my own.
So what is the remedy to all of this hustle and bustle and stress-inducing, schedule-filled, rat-race, fast-paced living that we are doing?  Perhaps the easy answer would be to downsize, or get rid of some things that may not be as necessary.  But that may not be the best answer.  And it may not get rid of your saturated and stressful schedules either....seems to me that many of the people I know had very busy summers this year too! I know mine has been out-of-the-ordinary crazy!
When you are feeling overwhelmed, (and we all do from time to time), the best thing to do is to slow down for a bit, take a few minutes, and give it all to God.  Pray about it, talk to God about it, ask HIM for the help that you need.  I think you might be surprised at where the help might manifest itself in your life.  I find prayer to be the ultimate relaxation technique.  And it helps to begin such prayer with the things you are thankful for.  It changes your thought process.  A GREAT stress reliever too!
Thank you for reading, slow down a bit and chat with your maker each day!!!

Using the gifts God has given!

Romans 12:5-6
    ...so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.   

     This happens to be from the Epistle lesson for this Sunday, and also the text for the message I will be preaching.  But as I think about a special person today, who died yesterday, I can't help but ponder this text again.
     Clara Wolff, a beloved woman and member of Peace Lutheran Church, serving in so many ways with the gifts God has given to her, and sharing His love and mercy with so many.  Clara understood what it meant to be part of the body of Christ and to use God's grace-given gifts to the fullest and best of her abilities.  She was always working--as a greeter, pulling weeds around the church and tending to the flowers here, working the greeting card table, changing the bulletin board for different seasons in the Church, or just trying to be helpful and encouraging.  She would bring apple chips that she made for Amy and Jacob every fall.  She is going to be greatly missed!
     But one thing that we can all learn from Clara-who at 84 yrs old looked very frail and to some probably like she couldn't do a whole lot-is that God can give us the ability and the strength to do anything, according to His good and gracious will.  And by His grace, He supplies us with the gifts that we need, and also with the Holy Spirit in order that we may have the ability and desire to bless others with those gifts of grace.
    I pray that I am half as giving and willing to serve as Clara was, and I pray the same for everyone. 
    I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philip. 4:13
Thanks for reading, and God bless you with His gifts of grace in all that you do!   

Man's struggle

One of my favorite paintings at the St Louis Art Musem (slam.com) is by John Martin, a British painter of the early 19th C.  The painting is titled: Sadak in Search of Oblivion. (1812).
The painting depicts a Persian nobleman clinging to a rock at the bottom of the painting and trying to climb upward on the cliffs.  The rest of the painting, moving upward, is dedicated to the rocky precipices that Sadak must surmount.  Most of the painting is quite dark, however, rays of light shine forth from the upper left of the painting, suggesting that Sadak will reach his goal on this perilous journey of finding the Waters of Oblivion.

Without knowing the background story from Tales of the Genii, the subject of this painting, the first time I saw the painting I was intrigued by it, and spent quite a bit of time that day in front of it, coming back to it again and again.  I wasn't sure what drew me to it, but the conclusion I came to after leaving the museum was that to me, it depicts the struggle of man.  Now that can have all kinds of meaning to it, but it got me to thinking about how we do struggle in this life.  The greatest of our struggles is with our sinfulness.  Now we cannot win this struggle, in fact we lose at it every single day.  But, like in the painting, there is light shining down into our lives.
 For us, it is the light of Christ that shines on us and the light of His Word that leads us to repentance and forgivness for our sins.  There is hope then for us that we too will reach our destination on our journey of faith, not the Waters of Oblivion, but the Water of life in heaven where an eternity with Christ Jesus awaits all who believe in Him as our Savior from sin.
Rev. 21:6 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment... Rev. 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
   
A little different today, but I hope you still enjoyed!
Thanks for reading and God bless you!
   
 

Temples of the Holy Spirit

    Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1

Recently I have had occasion to think about this text.  I won't go into details, but will just say that a loved one is struggling with substance abuse.  If you are reading this I want you to think about the statement above, and I will try to go into futher details of this verse's implications for our lives.
Please read the above verse from 2 Corinthians again.
The promises that St. Paul is referring to that we have are:  "bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."   

    "I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people...I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me..."

     There are so many things out there, temptations to defile our bodies and spirits.  Drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, and many many others.  For some, it is not just a temptation, they FILL themselves with these things regularly.  Except that they can never be filled with these things.  Their lives become about the next high, or that next rush, never finding anything lasting or of substance.  God offers us lives of substance in His Son Jesus Christ.  In Him, we can be FILLED with the Holy Spirit,
To that end, it is important for us to keep in mind that  your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Thanks for reading and God's blessings and peace to you all!
   

Lord Have Mercy: Part 3 in a series on MERCY

     Above the doors at the church I serve as pastor there is a sign on the inside which reads, "You are now entering the mission field."  How true this is, especially regarding mercy, as in mercy shown to others, out in the world. 
     When we come to worship God, too many fail to understand why we are really there.  Too many think that worship is what we are bringing to God, what we are doing FOR God, as if He needs something from us. 
     In our hymnals in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Lutheran Service Book, the introduction in the front reminds us of the following....Our Lord is the Lord who serves.  Jesus came into the flesh not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many...Our Lord serves us today through His holy Word and Sacraments.  Through these means, He comes among us to deliver His forgiveness and salvation, freeing us from our sins and strengthening us for service to one another and the world...The Lord's service calls forth our service--in sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to Him and in loving service to one another. 
     Mercy then, has a very real and meaningful place in our lives, as we, having been stregthened through God's Word and Sacrament, go out into the world to show Christ's mercy and love to others.  It is a meaningful and ESSENTIAL part of the Christian life, necessarily flowing from the faith we have been given. 
     A question for you all--If there is no mercy in us, is there Christ in us either?
Thank you for reading, and God bless you as you show mercy to the hurting world.

Lord Have Mercy: Part 2 in a series on MERCY

    Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Philip. 2:4-5
     Rev. Matthew Harrison, president of the LCMS, in his book entitled, Christ Have Mercy: How to put your faith in action, quotes the following from Luther regarding our own use of mercy toward others....

     Our Lord and Savior Jesus has left us a commandment which applies equally to all Christians, namely, that we are to render...the works of mercy[Luke6:36] to those who are afflicted and in a state of calamity, and that we are to visit the sick, try to free captives, and do similar things for our neighborr so that the evils of the present may be somewhat lessened.  Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave us the brightest example of this commandment when...He descended from the bosom of the Father into our misery and our prison, that is, into our flesh and our most wretched life, and took upon Himself the penalty for our sins so that we might be saved.

   By keeping ourselves open always to the needs of others, we become less selfish, less self-centered people, and less vulnerable to the rampant sin of entitlement.  Not only that, but we begin to have a greater compassion and love for other human beings and what they are going through.
   Quite often we immediately judge others who might be behaving in a less than desirable way, or even downright rudely toward others.  Instead of allowing for the possibility that they just might be going through something terribly difficult and trying to understand and help that person, we may be too quick to write them off as just being a jerk.
     When the Bible tells us that JEsus had COMPASSION on people, look at what happens next in each case.  He DOES something!  That's because compassion means doing something....it does NOT mean just feeling sorry for someone and moving along to something else because you don't want to be bothered with it.  Compassion necessarily means ACTION.  Jesus demonstrates that for us. 
     Perhaps it is time to put YOUR faith in action!
Thanks for reading, and God bless you with compassion and mercy for others!
    

Kyrie Eleison: Lord Have Mercy: Part one of a series on MERCY

Psalm 51:1        Have mercy on me, O God,
        according to your steadfast love;
    according to your abundant mercy
        blot out my transgressions.
         I think that we can relate to these words of David.  Of course, he wrote this Psalm in repentance of the sin(s) he committed with and regarding Bethsheba.  But we can relate.  Did you know, those of you who have worshiped God in a Divine Service, that when you are saying, or more probably singing Kyrie Elesion, you are saying/singing, "Lord have mercy?" 
      But the question is, why are we asking God for mercy?  Is it for sins committed?  Is it because we live in a sin-corrupted world?  Is it that we just need help with all the day to day challenges and difficulties we must endure?  I would venture to say that it is ALL the above.
     Here in Rapid City, we should be singing, if not shouting from the top of the Black Hills, the words: "KYRIE ELEISON!"  Recently, we have had multiple tragedies, some of which have affected me personally, and some indirectly by affecting others I know.  It seems that everywhere I turn lately there is tragedy upon tragedy.  It really could be quite depressing, and cause great anxiety.
     Except that we ought to know, like David knew, that even under the worst of circumstances, we can call on God for mercy.  The author of Hebrews reminds us:
  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Thanks for reading and don't be afraid to call on God for mercy!
   

Wisdom vs Knowledge Part II

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.... Proverbs 2:6

     First, it is important that wisdom comes from God.  True wisdom, in which are included: knowledge and understanding, comes from the mouth of God.
     This is kind of an important point.  If wisdom comes from the mouth of God, then it seems to me that it would be extremely important for one to be in God's Word, that is, if one wanted to become wise.
     Wisdom helps one to discen between right and wrong, between good and evil, between righteousness and unrighteousness.  Take Solomon for example--    And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. [9] Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
    [10] It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. [11] And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, [12] behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 1 Kings 3:8-12

     It was an understanding mind and discernment that Solomon asked for.  Basically, he was asking the Lord for wisdom in order to be able to rule the people.  And God was pleased with this request, because fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  This is what Solomon desired.  I wonder what the world would be like if we all desired and asked for true wisdom, which comes from being in the Word of God.  Something to ponder.
Thank you for reading and God bless you!   

For those who are grieving at the tragic shooting of 3 police officers in Rapid City Yesterday

PRAYER:  Dear Lord Jesus, in this fallen world, distinctive dangers await those whom You have called to be police officers and firefighters.  Wicked people challenge them, and evil circumstances await them; yet by Your call, they willingly serve and protect the public good and exercise Your providence among us.  Grant them safety and diligence in the performance of their duties.  Protect them from the various hazards and temptations particular to their vocations.  Create or sustain faith in You as their Savior among them, keeping them secure unto life everlasting.  AMEN.

WHERE WAS THE LORD?

A DEVOTION FROM PORTALS OF PRAYER-SPECIAL EDITION:WHERE IS GOD NOW?

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."-John 11:21

You can almost hear the accusing questions in Martha's words.  What she really was saying is, "Lord, why weren't You here?  What took You so long?  How could You let this happen?"  When we experience some sort of catastrophe or loss, those same questions can run through our minds too.  "Where were You, God?  Why didn't You stop this?" 

Jesus never answers Martha's questions.  Instead, He directs her to the truth of who He is.  "I AM the resurrection and the life".   Though we may not understand why things happen the way they do, the reality is that God is at work for us in Christ to rescue us and give us life and resurrection.  He labors for us, not simply to give temporary relief from earthly troubles, but to deliver us eternally from all evil.  Not even death can conquer the one who trusts Jesus. He says, "Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live."  Just as Jesus died and then rose again, so also will all who are baptized into Him.  First death, then resurrection--this is the Christian life.

Therefore, we live in hope and confidence, even in trying times.  Our Lord leads us through death into life!  Lord, help me to trust that in You there is life, even in the midst of death.  AMEN.

PRAYER:  LORD GOD, HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU HAVE SEARCHED US AND YOU KNOW US.  BEFORE A WORD IS ON OUR TONGUES, YOU KNOW IT COMPLETELY.  THANK YOU FOR GIVING US FAITH IN YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKING US YOUR BAPTIZED CHILDREN.  PRESERVE US IN FAITH EVEN THOUGH SIN, SATAN, AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO TEAR IT FROM US.  THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, ROOT US ALWAYS IN YOUR HOLY WORD, THAT BY YOUR GRACE WE MAY KNOW AND TRUST OUR SAVIOR'S MERCY AND BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORSAKE ME OR LEAVE ME;  THROUGH THE SAME JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.  AMEN.

Thank you for reading, and God bless those who protect and serve us!

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

Luther wrote:  "We are old fools!  The more educated and intelligent we become, the less we know and understand."

     When I read this quote it reminded me of a study that I did in a class on the subject of wisdom.  The question I pose to you today is this....Is there a difference between wisdom and knowledge?  When I was attending college at the Univ. of Missouri  (MIZZOU for short), I can honestly say that I did not know there was a difference.  In college, all is a quest for more knowledge.  As the saying goes, knowledge is power.  Perhaps in this world there is some truth to that.  Though I find myself saying again and again, it is not WHAT you know, but WHO you know that matters more.  Don't get me wrong,
I am not getting cynical about knowledge in my old(er) age.  But life experience, and more importantly God's Word, have taught me that wisdom is far, far superior to knowledge.  Having written that, I am truly very thankful for all the knowledge I have accumulated in school, college, and seminary--not to mention all the experience that has helped me learn!
     If college was a quest for more knowledge, then seminary taught me about true wisdom, and how much more important it is. 
I will leave you with this Scripture quote from Psalm 111, and will pick this topic up again tomorrow!
    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
        all those who practice it have a good understanding.
        His praise endures forever!
   

All the little things.

Sorry I have been away from posting for a while.  Things have been rather hectic!
Why is it that all the little things that drive us crazy all happen at once?  I'm talkin about all
those things that you would rather never happened, but by themselves aren't such a big deal really.
Unfortunately, they tend to all come at the same time.  We got a crack in our windshield of the van.  Then the "Service Engine" Light comes on in the car.  Then my watch battery goes out.  Then my sunglasses break when I pick them up.  Ok, I am not going to touch anything!  (I won't take credit for the van's winshield being cracked either, but sadly the other things I did touch).
Again, if these things each happened one at a time, separated by a little time (weeks, not days), none of them would be horrible, except maybe the two car things (a bit more expensive).  I guess today is a venting day.  It's hot, I have been running around doing errands I didn't expect to be doing, and I am tired. 
When life is dragging you down with all the "little things," Jesus has some divine intervention for you...some words of comfort and mercy for your life.....
    Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Thanks for reading and God Bless You!