Mine is hanging up in my office. It marks perhaps the most important moment in my earthly life (yeah, that does sound like a pretty strong statement).
I don't remember what happened that day. I was too young. But that piece of paper points me back to the day that God called me by the Gospel...called me by my name...marked me with the sign of Jesus' cross...adopted me into His kingdom...gave me His Holy Spirit...washed me of all my unrighteousness...gave me the new life in Christ...opened heaven to me.
I've enjoyed other milestone events in my life since then. Being married to my dear, sweet wife...the birth of our kids...ordination as a pastor in the Lord's church...the birth of my grandkids. But all of that would be pretty meaningless without having received the rich grace of God in my life through my baptism.
Do you know where your baptismal certificate is? If you have to, dig it out of a storage box or retrieve it from underneath all the stuff in that drawer. If you can, frame it. Put it someplace where you can see it every day. Celebrate the anniversary of your baptism. Give thanks to God that He is truly your Heavenly Father and that you are His dear son or daughter. In baptism, you are with Christ Jesus. Praise be to God!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Failure is OK
At least that's what author John Kleinig writes in his book, "Grace Upon Grace."
God always wants us to start where we are, rather than where we would like to be, on our spiritual journey. We can therefore face up to our recurring failure to live as His holy people and people as prayer. In fact, our failure is meant to teach us to ask for what we lack and receive everything from Christ.
The more I ponder these sentences, the more I agree with them. When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He took them just as they were - fishermen, tax collector and the like. The Lord didn't give Peter a year's notice to get himself in spiritual shape and then report for service. He took Peter, with his big heart (and his big mouth) and taught and nurtured and guided him, while Jesus was taking the path that would lead to the cross.
When the Lord calls us through His Word of grace, He does just as He did with Peter. He calls us where we are at. His Law and Gospel calls us to repentance and faith. His Baptism removes the stain of sin from our lives. When we fail to "live as His holy people and people of prayer," His Word of forgiveness sets us back on the path that we follow, our new life in Christ. Our act of kneeling at the altar rail to receive the Lord's body and blood in the Holy Supper reminds us that God showers us in worship with what we lack and motivates us to be faithful in worshipping and serving the Lord.
Most of us fear failure. We hate to think of the consequences. Failure could bring shame and disappointment and loss. But our God of grace hears us when we confess our failures to Him. He doesn't give up on us but patiently continues to give us all we need for living as disciples of Christ Jesus.
Don't live your spiritual journey in your own strength. The Lord is ready to help you live as a disciple of Christ Jesus.
God always wants us to start where we are, rather than where we would like to be, on our spiritual journey. We can therefore face up to our recurring failure to live as His holy people and people as prayer. In fact, our failure is meant to teach us to ask for what we lack and receive everything from Christ.
The more I ponder these sentences, the more I agree with them. When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He took them just as they were - fishermen, tax collector and the like. The Lord didn't give Peter a year's notice to get himself in spiritual shape and then report for service. He took Peter, with his big heart (and his big mouth) and taught and nurtured and guided him, while Jesus was taking the path that would lead to the cross.
When the Lord calls us through His Word of grace, He does just as He did with Peter. He calls us where we are at. His Law and Gospel calls us to repentance and faith. His Baptism removes the stain of sin from our lives. When we fail to "live as His holy people and people of prayer," His Word of forgiveness sets us back on the path that we follow, our new life in Christ. Our act of kneeling at the altar rail to receive the Lord's body and blood in the Holy Supper reminds us that God showers us in worship with what we lack and motivates us to be faithful in worshipping and serving the Lord.
Most of us fear failure. We hate to think of the consequences. Failure could bring shame and disappointment and loss. But our God of grace hears us when we confess our failures to Him. He doesn't give up on us but patiently continues to give us all we need for living as disciples of Christ Jesus.
Don't live your spiritual journey in your own strength. The Lord is ready to help you live as a disciple of Christ Jesus.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Today's the day!
That we begin our new worship service at 4:32 pm each Saturday. If you're in our area, come and visit us. And we'll meet as usual this Sunday at 8 and 10:45 am. Christian LIFE Hour (Learn Is For Everyone) with class for all age groups begins at 9:15 am. Join us as we a Word that can truly give peace to our hearts and minds - the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Friday, January 4, 2013
God is our schoolmaster
We should ask that through the same Spirit and His grace, by means of the daily exercise of reading and doing God's Word, He would preserve in us faith and His heavenly gifts, strengthen us from day to day, and keep us to the end. For unless God Himself is our schoolmaster, we can study and learn nothing that is acceptable to Him and helpful to ourselves and others.
Book of Concord
Formula, Solid Declaration
Art. II - Free Will
found in "Concordia" from CPH - page 553, para 16
Book of Concord
Formula, Solid Declaration
Art. II - Free Will
found in "Concordia" from CPH - page 553, para 16
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Luther on why we pray the Lord's Prayer
Since this prayer has its source in the Lord, it has got to be undoubtedly the highest, noblest and best prayer, for were He to have known of a better one, this pious, faithful schoolmaster, He would have also taught it to us.
From "Lord's Prayer - Commentary on Luther's Catechisms" by Albrecht Peters, page 10.
From "Lord's Prayer - Commentary on Luther's Catechisms" by Albrecht Peters, page 10.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
What's Your Motivation?
As I was reading through Matthew 6 yesterday, I couldn't help but think, "Let it to Jesus to get right to the heart of the matter." He seems to be asking, "What is your motivation? When giving to the poor or needy, do you want center stage or back stage?"
That Jesus addresses the question of giving to the poor is no accident. Supporting those less fortunate than you was an important part of Jewish piety. As Jesus teaches, He assumes that His hearers will help the poor. The question is not "whether" but "how."
Unfortunately, there were some who gravitated toward center stage so that they could make a big show of their acts of righteousness. In case you weren't paying attention, a trumpet blast would signal when a person was offering a gift, drawing attention to the person's generosity - center stage!
Jesus calls such center stage people "hypocrites." From the Greek, the word means "play actor." Jesus can see right through such folks. "Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) A heart exam of such hypocrites shows that such giving is not to practice piety but to increase popularity.
Instead, the giving that pleases God comes from backstage, away from the spotlight. Those who give with sincere hearts do not do so in such public places as the synagogue or on the streets. Instead, giving is done in secrecy. Without trumpet or fanfare or show. This is what Jesus is getting at when He says, "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
What is our motivation for giving to the poor or helping the needy, both in our church and in the community?
Jesus shows us the way. Instead of setting up shop in Jerusalem, where He could have really been noticed, the Lord walked dusty trails while helping those He met in the villages of Galilee. He fed the hungry. He helped the hurting. He offered hope to the hopeless. Finally, He gave Himself as the payment of the sins of the world. Through faith we receive His gifts of forgiveness, peace and hope. We look forward to realizing that reward that the Father has for us - eternal life in heaven.
I found the first four verses of chapter 6 of Matthew to be good food for thought. This week, as I am able, I'll look to take my place...backstage. Out of the spotlight. Looking to help, for sure, but doing my best to make sure that God gets the glory and the praise.
That Jesus addresses the question of giving to the poor is no accident. Supporting those less fortunate than you was an important part of Jewish piety. As Jesus teaches, He assumes that His hearers will help the poor. The question is not "whether" but "how."
Unfortunately, there were some who gravitated toward center stage so that they could make a big show of their acts of righteousness. In case you weren't paying attention, a trumpet blast would signal when a person was offering a gift, drawing attention to the person's generosity - center stage!
Jesus calls such center stage people "hypocrites." From the Greek, the word means "play actor." Jesus can see right through such folks. "Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) A heart exam of such hypocrites shows that such giving is not to practice piety but to increase popularity.
Instead, the giving that pleases God comes from backstage, away from the spotlight. Those who give with sincere hearts do not do so in such public places as the synagogue or on the streets. Instead, giving is done in secrecy. Without trumpet or fanfare or show. This is what Jesus is getting at when He says, "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
What is our motivation for giving to the poor or helping the needy, both in our church and in the community?
Jesus shows us the way. Instead of setting up shop in Jerusalem, where He could have really been noticed, the Lord walked dusty trails while helping those He met in the villages of Galilee. He fed the hungry. He helped the hurting. He offered hope to the hopeless. Finally, He gave Himself as the payment of the sins of the world. Through faith we receive His gifts of forgiveness, peace and hope. We look forward to realizing that reward that the Father has for us - eternal life in heaven.
I found the first four verses of chapter 6 of Matthew to be good food for thought. This week, as I am able, I'll look to take my place...backstage. Out of the spotlight. Looking to help, for sure, but doing my best to make sure that God gets the glory and the praise.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2013 - Can You Top This?
I'm not very good at taking inventory. I'm not a details-kind-of-guy. But as I sip a cup of coffee from my favorite Beatles coffee mug, I'm thinking that this new year will have a challenge living up to what I experienced in 2012.
Personal: I began the year in pain - a ruptured disc in my back was pressing on a nerve which made even the shortest walk a painful effort. I had my third epidural on 1/2/2012 and began to feel some relief. Opting out of physical therapy, I did what a good friend (with a bad back) recommended: walking. Every lunch hour I slid on my walking shoes and took a stroll down Bampf Street (south of our church), walking from 75th Avenue to 83rd Avenue and back. It felt good to get out of the office. And because our church sits in the middle of a county island, most of the homes on Bampf have animals of some kind - horses, goats, cows, donkeys, and dogs, dogs and more dogs. With each day, the pain seemed to lessen. 12 months later, my back feels good, the leg pain is gone and I have a little numbness in my right foot to remind me where I was and how wonderful it is to be without pain. I praise God for the healing I have received.
2012 was a year of milestones. My dear, sweet wife and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. We first met in Home and Family class in High School (we called it "Senior Sex" class - because you were a Senior when you took the class and because it had nothing to do with sex). Somehow, Sherri saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. That she wanted to hang out with me was something of a surprise. When she said she'd marry me, well, that was a shock! I praise God for my dear, sweet wife.
We saw two more grandchildren added to our family. They are happy and healthy little wonders who have brought great joy to their parents and us all. We've been trying to imagine what future Christmas' will look like with four kids tearing into presents. Chaos is a word that comes to mind. Can't wait! I praise God for my kids and grandkids.
Professional: God blessed our church greatly in the past 12 months. Worship attendance grew by 10% over the previous year. That is meaningful to me because it is in worship where God distributes His gifts of grace and mercy. As Luther said, we come to church with an empty bag and God fills it with forgiveness, peace, love and every other blessing imaginable.
That growth carried over into our Adult Bible classes, Sunday school, Confirmation and High School classes on Sunday morning. We asked our members in 2012 to "Give God Two" (two hours of time on Sunday morning) and people responded. That was a great encouragement to me and to our leadership. I praise God for the opportunity to serve as pastor at Life in Christ.
What's exciting about today is that my day planner is clean. It reminds me that God has given me the gift of another year, full of exciting possibilities. Sure, there could be heartache and trouble along the way. Every day I'll be tempted to buy up my worried and own them and fret over them and, if I'm not careful, become consumed by them. And they'll drive my thinking and words and actions.
Looks like it's time to pray: Lord, save me! I give you ownership of my worries and fears. Help me to look back at 2012 and all my years. Let me see again your grace and mercy, your help and protection, your kindness and love. In this new year, I turn again to you to receive your gifts of forgiveness and peace. Thank You for making me your child in baptism. Thank You for fortifying my faith in Your holy supper. I want to walk with You throughout this coming year. I praise You for all I have. In the loving name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Personal: I began the year in pain - a ruptured disc in my back was pressing on a nerve which made even the shortest walk a painful effort. I had my third epidural on 1/2/2012 and began to feel some relief. Opting out of physical therapy, I did what a good friend (with a bad back) recommended: walking. Every lunch hour I slid on my walking shoes and took a stroll down Bampf Street (south of our church), walking from 75th Avenue to 83rd Avenue and back. It felt good to get out of the office. And because our church sits in the middle of a county island, most of the homes on Bampf have animals of some kind - horses, goats, cows, donkeys, and dogs, dogs and more dogs. With each day, the pain seemed to lessen. 12 months later, my back feels good, the leg pain is gone and I have a little numbness in my right foot to remind me where I was and how wonderful it is to be without pain. I praise God for the healing I have received.
2012 was a year of milestones. My dear, sweet wife and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. We first met in Home and Family class in High School (we called it "Senior Sex" class - because you were a Senior when you took the class and because it had nothing to do with sex). Somehow, Sherri saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. That she wanted to hang out with me was something of a surprise. When she said she'd marry me, well, that was a shock! I praise God for my dear, sweet wife.
We saw two more grandchildren added to our family. They are happy and healthy little wonders who have brought great joy to their parents and us all. We've been trying to imagine what future Christmas' will look like with four kids tearing into presents. Chaos is a word that comes to mind. Can't wait! I praise God for my kids and grandkids.
Professional: God blessed our church greatly in the past 12 months. Worship attendance grew by 10% over the previous year. That is meaningful to me because it is in worship where God distributes His gifts of grace and mercy. As Luther said, we come to church with an empty bag and God fills it with forgiveness, peace, love and every other blessing imaginable.
That growth carried over into our Adult Bible classes, Sunday school, Confirmation and High School classes on Sunday morning. We asked our members in 2012 to "Give God Two" (two hours of time on Sunday morning) and people responded. That was a great encouragement to me and to our leadership. I praise God for the opportunity to serve as pastor at Life in Christ.
What's exciting about today is that my day planner is clean. It reminds me that God has given me the gift of another year, full of exciting possibilities. Sure, there could be heartache and trouble along the way. Every day I'll be tempted to buy up my worried and own them and fret over them and, if I'm not careful, become consumed by them. And they'll drive my thinking and words and actions.
Looks like it's time to pray: Lord, save me! I give you ownership of my worries and fears. Help me to look back at 2012 and all my years. Let me see again your grace and mercy, your help and protection, your kindness and love. In this new year, I turn again to you to receive your gifts of forgiveness and peace. Thank You for making me your child in baptism. Thank You for fortifying my faith in Your holy supper. I want to walk with You throughout this coming year. I praise You for all I have. In the loving name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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