Baptism is God's mark of ownership

While doing some research this morning on the possibility of studying Paul's letter to the Ephesians with our Thursday evening Bible class, I came across the following in Thomas Winger's commentary:

As Jesus was anointed with the Spirit at His Baptism to be the Christ ("the Anointed One"), so also the one who is baptized into Him is anointed with the same Spirit to be a Christian ("anointed one").  This Baptism is God's mark of ownership upon those whom He has chosen for eternal redemption.

You pruned my dying branches, That could produce no wine

 By grafting me to Jesus, Made me a living vine

In Your Baptismal flood, You drowned cruel death, that tyrant

 And made my spirit vibrant, Through Jesus and His blood

(Paul Gerhardt)

Thomas Winger, "Ephesians - Concordia Commentary," pages 232-33

Our Verse for today

 Is Psalm 80:19 - Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Restore us, O Lord God Almighty...To restore something is to return it to its former condition.  Israel prays that God Almighty will restore the nation and its land from the near total destruction of the land by the hands of their enemies.

Interestingly, this verb in the Hebrew language can also be translated "to restore to life."  The consequences of sin is, as Paul writes to the Romans, "death."  (Romans 6:23).  When Jesus came to atone for our sins, His death and resurrection restores life to you and me.

Make Your face shine upon us...  These words take us back to the Old Testament book of Numbers and the blessing that Moses gave to Aaron and, in turn, Aaron would give to the people of God.

We, too, cherish receiving the blessing and promise of God as it is usually spoken at the end of each service.  Through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection and clothed with Jesus' righteousness, we are certain that God looks upon us with grace and loves us just as a father loves his child.

That we may be saved...Asaph and all of Israel are looking for a king who will come and save them from their oppression.  The psalmist prays this petition three times, in part, because as he writes, there doesn't seem to be that leader in their midst and God's help is desperately needed.

God, in mercy, sent His Son to be our King (this is one part of Jesus' three-fold office of being our Prophet, Priest and King).  Our King governs us, His church, in grace and will one day lead us into the kingdom of heaven.

Why not commit this verse to memory? Let it be a refrain you pray again and again, confident in God's promises of forgiveness, new life and salvation: Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

One little Word can fell him

Though devils all the world should fill

 All eager to devour us

We tremble not, we fear no ill

 They shall not overpower us

This world's prince may sitll

 Scowl fierce as he will

He can harm us none

 He's judged; the deed is done

One little Word can fell him

Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," verse three, Lutheran Service Book

The heart of Christian doctrine

For the teaching of the Gospel that man is righteous before God and will be saved by the pure, unadulterated grace of God through the merits of Jesus Christ is the most important teaching of all, the heart and kernel of Christian doctrine.

CFW Walther, "Law and Gospel," (Tr. Herbert J.A. Bouman) page 25

Our works are never enough

...only when we get this right will wee have true and real peace with God and with our own condemning conscience.  For as long as we trust in the visible, in the outward, our works are never finished.  They are never perfect.  They are never enough.  What is finished? What is perfect? What is enough? Christ on the cross! There he did it all.  There he even said it all, when He declared it in triumph for us: It is finished!

Daniel Deutschlander, "The Theology of the Cross," page 135

The name the devil hates to hear

For that is the true honor of His name, to look to it and call upon it for all consolation (Psalm 66:2; 105:1).  Then - as we have heard in the First Commandment - the heart of faith gives God the honor due Him first.  Afterward, the lips give Him honor by confession.

This is also a useful habit and very effective against the devil.  He is ever around us and lies in wait to bring us into sin and shame, disaster and trouble (2 Timothy 2:26).  But he hates to hear God's name and cannot remain long where it is spoken and called upon from the heart.

"Concordia - The Lutheran Confessions," The Large Catechism, page 392

Absolutely!

This is the sermon I will deliver for my Mother-in-Law's service today.

Betty Landis Memorial Sermon

            Beloved family and dear friends – grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

            Last Thanksgiving was memorable for a special reason.  Betty spent the entire day with us.  Often her health left her confined to her home.  But not on that day.  She enjoyed the beautiful weather.  She visited with the grandkids and great grands.  She had an amazing appetite.  Not only did she dig into all the usual Thanksgiving Day fixings, but I also believe she had a piece of every pie that was baked.  We were all thrilled by the great time we had together. 

            Unfortunately, there were not too many more of those kinds of day in last five months or so.  More often were the days when Betty was unable to stay awake, unable to feed herself, unable to really engage in conversation.  But we did hear one constant request during that time, a plea that began when her beloved husband Bill passed away – “Lord, I want to go home to heaven.”

            Recently, Sherri and I wanted to find a time when Betty could celebrate Holy Communion and the opportunity came about on the afternoon of April 25.  And if you are wondering why I’ve listed the date, it’s because of what happened, something I will not soon forget.

            With Sherri on one side of the bed and I on the other, we read from the Bible and prayed together.  When it came time to say the Apostles’ Creed, I asked, “Grandma, do you believe in God the Father, that He created you and gave you life and has sustained you all your life?” 

Now, I must confess that I did not know what to expect.  Betty was laying there with her eyes closed.  I thought that she would silently nod her head in agreement.    Instead, we got the best surprise ever, a gift that we never imagined.

Betty opened her eyes and answered with one word, “Absolutely”

            Sherri and I sat there stunned.  We had not heard Betty speak that strongly since when? There was no hesitancy.  She spoke with confidence and conviction.  It was utterly astonishing.

            So, I went on, “Grandma, do you believe that Jesus Christ is Your Lord and Savior, the One who died on the cross to pay for your sins before God and open the door to heaven and eternal life for you?”  “Absolutely!”

            And finely, “Grandma, do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the gifts the Spirit gives through the Gospel – faith to believe, forgiveness of sins, peace with God, a resurrection from the dead and life everlasting?” Again, there was no doubt in her voice – “Absolutely!”

            I have had some truly happy moments in my life – my wedding day, the birth of my kids, catching my first fish! But I cannot remember the last time I felt such happiness as I listened to Betty’s confession of faith in God.  It was absolutely one of the best moments ever and I know Sherri would agree.

            In this context, absolutely is a faith word.  Betty trusted God absolutely.  The writer to the Hebrews tells us in chapter 11, verse one: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

            Faith is not something Betty conjured up on her own.  Faith is the work of God.  It is given to a person as a gift.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians that “it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  This faith is not subjective.  Faith must have an object, someone or something to embrace.  In faith, Betty embraced Jesus as her Brother, Savior and Friend.

            Betty discovered the church on her own.  Her Mom and Dad were not churchgoers so it was not a home where matters of faith were talked about and lived out.  Much worse was that her father was a troubled man and Betty and her mother were often the objects of his ire and abuse.

            So, try to imagine how Betty must have felt to have learned that she had a Heavenly Father, much different than her earthly one.  This was a Father who gave her life, saw her as a person of value and worth, who watched her coming and goings and promised to be with her throughout her life, especially during those sad, difficult times.

            Not only that but Betty, as an only child, had a brother in God’s Son, Jesus.  Here was One who was much more than just a brother.  She had a Savior who taught that “greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.” 

            Here was a brother and Savior and friend who taught Betty what real love looked like.  Jesus showed mercy to a Samaritan woman who marriage record made her an outcast in her village.  Jesus ate with a despised tax collector who life was changed one day over lunch.  Betty heard Jesus’ stories about Good Samaritans and Good Shepherds, about a love, a sacrificial love, that puts others and their needs first.  She learned that she had a brother and Savior and friend who did real miracles, not to show off or for personal acclaim, but always with a purpose.  St. John wrote in chapter 20 – “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

            “Life in His name.”  Like many believers, Betty could recite by heart John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

            Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Betty knew the full extent of the love of Jesus.  How Jesus allowed Himself to be unjustly accused, wrongly convicted, savagely beaten, and put to death by crucifixion.  All done to pay the penalty for Betty’s sins and the sins of the whole world.  She marveled at such a love who would give up their life just so others might have life, eternal life. 

            Jesus is the brother who obediently carries out His Father’s plan to reconcile the world to Himself.  Jesus is the Savior who gives up His own life so that we might have riches of heaven.  Jesus is the friend who not only speaks of love but demonstrates His love by willingly laying down His life for His friends.

It's no wonder that on Easter, the entire church joins together in one voice to give praise to the victorious Jesus with the words, “Alleluia! He is risen!”

            Or, as Betty might say it – absolutely!

These were the things that Betty absolutely believed in.  And along the way, God blessed her with her soulmate and true love of 68 years, Bill; two beautiful and talented daughters in Sherri and Carrie; three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, an extended family that she cherished, and a multitude of good friends.

Betty was the family photographer and her volumes of photo books tell the story of a blessed life with so many happy moments.  Betty and Bill lived a rich life and knew that what really matter was not the size of your wallet but the size of your heart and the love that resided there. 

Still, the past couple of years were so hard.  We prayed daily, “Lord, have mercy.  You know best.  Relieve Betty of her pain and suffering.  Hear her petition.  Grant her request.”  And God, answered Betty’s prayer a week ago today.  Now, Betty is in the presence of God.  Resting in Jesus.  Reunited with Bill.  No more suffering, no more pain and no more tears.

Our hearts are heavy but they are not empty.  They are filled with the joy of knowing God’s promise that one day we who embraced Jesus by grace through faith, will be gathered around a heavenly throne.  Seated there we shall see true love, sacrificial love, eternal love.  We will see Jesus and we will worship Him and give thank to Him for bringing us into His Kingdom.

We will be standing there with Betty and Bill and all the saints who have proceeded us and all who are still living out this life of faith.  When it happens? Who knows? Will it happen? Yes! Or, as Betty would say, absolutely!  Amen.

The Friday Funny on a Saturday

 A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.  The teachers said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.  The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.  Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.  The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."  The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"  The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

The Semaphore of Stress

 A prayer for Donald Deffner's book, "Prayers for People Under Pressure."

Lord, even as funeral sermons are not for the dead but for the living

 be for me a signpost of the transient nature of life

a semaphore to prepare me for my own death

 and that of my loved ones

a harbinger of the hope to come.  (page 43)

Have blessed weekend!

Lord, let at last Thine angels come

Lord, let at last Thine angels come

To Abraham's bosom bear me home

 That I may die unfearing

And in its narrow chamber sleep

My body safe in peaceful sleep

 Until Thy reappearing

And then from death awaken me

That these mine eyes with joy may see

 O Son of God, Thy glorious face

 My Savior and my fount of grace

Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend

And I will praise Thee without end

"Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart," Lutheran Service Book, #708, verse three

You think you've got a tough job?

You, my friends, should have tried to walk in Moses' sandals.  HIs job was to lead God's people, the Israelites, from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Working in a nitroglycerin factory would have been less stressful!

The people rejoiced when God miraculously delivered them from slavery.  They sang with Moses when God destroyed Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea.  They praised God when He promised to establish a covenant which would make them a people to be envied by all other tribes and nations.

But the Israelites could also be, as God described them, "a stiff-necked people."  You've heard the phrase, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going?" When things got a little difficult for God's people, they would moan and complain, with Moses as their whipping boy.  They accused their leader of having brought them out to the desert so they could die of thirst.  They whined of having no food to eat.  Even when God provided them with good food, they complained that they were tired of the same old menu.  How was it that Moses could put up with these people.

Moses got frustrated from time to time.  But soon he would calm down and get back to his job, leading God's people to the land that the Lord had given them.  Moses was able to do so because He had a personal relationship with God.  He communed with the Lord.  He spent time in God's presence.  Moses even reflected God radiance to the people.  When the going got tough, Moses got back to His ever-present God.  He trusted in the Lord.  The Lord was with him.

You are just as blessed as Moses.  Remember the great hymn of the church?

                         Jesus, priceless treasure, Source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me

Our greatest treasure in this life in the Lord Himself.  No matter how tough life becomes for us, we have a personal relationship with Jesus.  He is with us always.  He has sent the Spirit to guide us.  He is preparing a place for us and He will come again to take us to our home in heaven.  Don't despair, my friends, in these tough times.  Just as Moses communed with God, so you have fellowship with the Lord, now and forever! 

Our hearts are not empty

And I heard a voice from heaven saying “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.!”

At approximately 12:45 pm, Sherri’s mother, my mother-in-law, and our sister in the faith, Betty Landis, died in the Lord and was received to rest in the arms of Jesus until Resurrection Day.  Her passing was peaceful.  Sherri, who has spent the majority of the past week sitting at Betty’s bedside was there, stroking her hair and assuring her of the promises made to her by her Savior God, promises to forgive and to heal and to save.  And now, while our hearts are heavy, they are not empty, for they are filled with the joy of knowing that Betty no longer suffers but, instead, has received her “Yes” to her prayer, “I want to go to heaven.”

For me, I had the great honor of being her pastor.  She was certainly my champion and she affirmed me in ministry again and again.  She loved hearing God’s Word and receiving His supper.  Her connectedness to Jesus led her to love her husband Bill, Sherri and her sister Carrie, our kids and grandkids, and more friends that one could count, with love of Jesus that she had first received from her Savior.  Those fruits of faith our family won’t soon forget.

Gracious God, we give You thanks for calling Betty to Your side.  With Easter still so fresh in our lives, we give thanks that Your sent Your Son into death so that we will never be defeated by death.  Instead, we praise You for the rest You have granted Your servant.  Have mercy upon Sherri and our family and all those who mourn today.  Take away our sorrow and keep us in the peace that comes from knowing that in Christ we have life – life now and eternal, blessed life in heaven!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bonhoeffer - "Christ builds the church!"

It is not we who build.  Christ builds the church.  No man builds the church but Christ alone.  Whoever is minded to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it; for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it.  We must confess - He builds.  We must proclaim - He builds.  We must pray to Him - He builds.

We do not know His plan.  We cannot see whether He is building or pulling down.  It may be that the times by which human standards are times of collapse are for Him the great times of construction.  It may be that the times which from a human point of view are great times for the church are times when it is pulled down.

It is a great comfort which Christ gives to His church; you confess, preach, bear witness to Me and I alone will build where it pleases Me.  Do not meddle in what is my province.  Do what is given to you to do well and you have done enough.  But do it well.  Pay no heed to views and opinions.  Don't ask for judgments.  Don't always be calculating what will happen.  Don't always be on the lookout for another refuge.  Church, stay a church! But church, confess, confess, confess! Christ alone is your Lord; from His grace alone you can live as you are.  Christ builds.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as quoted in "The Harvest Raise," pages 329-30

The Friday Funny #499

An atheist scientist came to God and said, "We've figured out how to make a man with you."

God said, "OK, let me see you do it."

So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful.  But God stopped him and said, "Oh, no you don't.  Get your own dirt!"

Have a great day!

6 Weeks Post Surgery - What's Next?

What's next, I hope, I a round of golf!

Six weeks ago I underwent back surgery.  And the surgery was a success.  Pain that I had been living with was gone.  I can now stand easily and walk freely and generally feel a whole lot better.  A couple of folks tell me that they think I've grown two inches! I guess I didn't realize how stooped over I had been.

My rehab has consisted of walking - nothing more and nothing less.  I walk a mile or more in the morning with my dear sweet wife and our dog.  And most evenings the dog and I do another mile or so.  I want to increase the distance as I go along but have been warned "not to push it!" So, I won't.

The picture above was taken at Torrey Pines Golf Club outside San Diego.  That's the ocean behind me.  The view from the tee box was beautiful.  The tee shot was not.  Somehow, I found myself back in the fairway and am in the middle of hitting my approach shot to the green.  How did I do? I don't remember.  There were so many approach shots!

So, this Saturday, I'm going to the driving range and swing the clubs a few times.  Nice, easy swings.  Just to see if I remember how to do this.  At my age, golf is just about the only outdoor sport I can still play (yes, I know, there are some who refuse to believe that golf is a sport).  Hopefully, I will be able to get out of bed for church the next morning.

Leading up to surgery I've had more than one person ask, "Do you know how to avoid a second back surgery? Don't have the first back surgery!" But I feel very blessed by God.  The surgery went well.  I was relieved of the pain.  I feel hopeful that when retirement comes I'll be able to travel and pursue some of the things on my retirement to-do list.  One goal - eliminate so many of those approach shots!

How do we pray without ceasing?

Richard Foster says that when Paul instructs us to "pray without ceasing," he is reminding us to "seek to discover as many ways as possible to keep God constantly in mind.  This means keeping God in mind for others as well as for ourselves.  We do this by praying for our spouses and treating him or her the way we would like to be prayed for and treated; praying for and asking our pastor how we can serve him today; and praying and looking for opportunities to serve the co-worker who rubs us the wrong way.  Integrating our relationship with God into our daily tasks and relationships is a vital step as we seek to live a life of significance.

Kurt Senske, "The Calling - Living a Life of Significance," page 37

One reason to do good works

An interesting take on good works from the book, "A Lutheran Toolkit," by Ken Sundet Jones.  He writes on page 50:

The second reason to do good works is that the old person in me, the guy who's curved in on himself, hates doing good works.  The "The Freedom of a Christian," Luther put it this way: "The human creature cannot be idle because of the demands of its body, and because of the body, it attempts to do many good things to bring it under control."  Luther's assumption is that we're like addicts working a program of sobriety.  The first step in Alcoholics Anonymous is this: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable."  For Luther, we do good works in order to create the discipline the unmanageable sinner inside us.  We can't create the new person of faith (remember: the Spirit does that with the office of preaching).  But where faith exists, we'll see ever move clearly how we don't do what we should and in turn do what we shouldn't.  When faith arises we grab hold of opportunities to make the sinner in us do what it hates - that is, think about others and serve their needs before our own.