God's Hostage by Andrew Brunson

This is easily the best book I have read this year.

Andrew Brunson was a missionary who served in Turkey for 20 years.  He planted churches, discipled new believers and shared the good news about Jesus with those who wanted and needed to hear it.

Then, without warning, he was labeled a terrorist, taken into custody and throw into a variety of Turkish prisons.  He was basically cut off from his wife, his family, his church, everyone.

But not from God.

Brunson tells his story with transparency and candor.  He tells how through his two years of captivity, he often railed at God, questioned God's love, doubted God's grace.  But after each crisis of faith, the Holy Spirit, working through God's Holy Word, lifted Brunson's spirits, offered reassurance of God's faithfulness and impressed upon Brunson that God would see him through this awful trial.

I was impressed at the lengths the US Government went to secure Brunson's release.  Say what you will about President Trump.  But the fact that he put enormous pressure on the Turkish economy just for the release of one man could have only been a "God thing."

Brunson's story is only one example of how Christians all around the world are being persecuted for their confession of faith in Jesus.  If Andrew Brunson's book encourages us to be faithful in prayer for those have risked it all to be identified with Christ, "God's Hostage" has done its job.

It's White Friday!

No Black Friday around here.  Staying away from all the shopping establishments, the mad crowds, the crazy drivers, the picked over merchandise, the disgruntled cashiers, all of it!

It's White Friday at our house.  My dear, sweet wife has "White Christmas" and other classics playing on the stereo and four 500 pound boxes of Christmas decorations sit in the middle of the living room floor (OK, the boxes didn't weigh 500 pound each - but when you accumulate Christmas "stuff" for 46 years, those boxes are heavy!).  By the time I get home from work today, it will look a lot like Christmas.

Yesterday, we had a great family gathering and our friend, Michele Colla joined us too.  Sherri made arrangements to have her Mom celebrate with us, accompanied by her caregiver, Deb.  Sherri calls days like these, “Happy Chaos.”  The noise level reaches the sound of a jet taking off from the runway! But to see the grand kids having so much fun and playing so well together, well, you just don’t mind the noise.  We had a feast with lots of good food and we finished up the day with the best pie this side of Camelback Mountain.  It seems that Thanksgiving Day ends much too quickly.

Thursday is the day that I get most of my Sunday stuff done - write my sermon, prepare prayers, and so forth.  So, I'll do that today on White Friday.

But it's not such a happy, White Friday for some folks.  In the past two weeks we held Memorial Services for two men that God used to richly bless our church.  We took time to pray for their hurting families.  Our prayer is that, even in their grief, they are comforted by the words they confess in the Creed: "...the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting." 

If there is anything that can turn a dark day into a White Friday, it surely is God's Holy Word.  I am the resurrection and the life.  He that believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.  (John 11:25-26)  Because I live, you also will live.  (John 14:19)  Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Holding onto God's promises helps us through all our dark days.  If your White Friday is not so white or happy, turn to God's Word for the comfort and help you can use when your days are filled with darkness.  Let the "Light of the World" shine His light of love on you. 

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, Thou hast indeed been bountiful.  As we look back over the years, how gracious Thou has been, how tender Thy mercy, how warm and constant Thy love.

Create within us, our Father, that true gratitude that shall make this day of Thanksgiving one of rededication, when we shall think not of how much we can eat but of how thankful we ought to be.

So may we - all across this land today - act as recipients of God's richest mercy and bountiful blessings, as we share with others.  May we, in gratitude, get on with the job of creating not only a nation but a world in which all men shall have the right to seek happiness.

Help us to make that dream come true in our homes day by day, in street and office and school, and so to live that Thou shalt be able to bless us and bless the nation for which we pray.  In His name, who created us as a nation, we pray.  Amen.

"The Prayers of Peter Marshall," page 83

What heartfelt thanks is all about

Heartfelt thanks centers more on the giver than on the gift.  As Paul, referring to the offering for the needy he was gathering, once told the Christians in Corinth, "What I want is not your possessions but you" (2 Cor. 12;14), so a thankful believer tells his Father, "What I want is not Your gifts but You."  A faith that ties us to the heavenly Father for what He is and not merely for what He does is truly a divine gift and will be the most joyous.  Such a faith thanks God in plenty and in want, in green pastures or in the valley of the shadows - when it feels God's goodness and when it doesn't.  The sheer joy of knowing Him as our Father prompts thanksgiving.

Richard Lauersdorf, "As Luther Taught the Word of Truth - Devotions on the Small Catechism," page 31

Thankful for the promises

Not in any particular order...

Forgiveness - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

Deliverance - For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.  Psalm 30:5

God's Presence - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isaiah 43:2

Eternal Home - In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for  you.  John 14:2

Grace - My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

The Gospel - I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  Romans 1:16

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

My dear, sweet wife and I went to the movie theatre to see the new film that is based on the life of Fred Rogers, the beloved creator of "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."  The film is getting five star reviews all over the country (expect by our local newspaper which I just don't understand) and I wouldn't be surprised to see Tom Hanks picking up a Best Actor nomination for his superb portrayal of Mr. Rogers.

When we were raising our kids, we skipped Mr. Rogers for "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company."  The two programs mentioned above were fine shows.  But, looking back now, they lacked the charm of "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood," and probably shortened the attention span of millions of kids, what with the quick cuts and short segments the programs were built around.

While the film is not overtly Christian, "Won't You Be My Neighbor" doesn't shy away from showing how faith in Jesus was important in Fred Rogers life and how that faith provided motivation for treating people with kindness, especially children.

As we drove home, a couple of verses from St. Matthew 22 kept rolling around in my mind: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...Love your neighbor as yourself.

We see Mr. Rogers living out "The Greatest Commandment" as it is often called.  Obviously, it is no accident that Mr. Rogers began each program with the question, "Won't you be my neighbor?" And when you find someone so welcoming, so loving with a gentle voice and heart to match, well, wouldn't you want to be that person's neighbor?

I'm not going to get into the details of the film because I'd like you to see it for yourself.  But today I will ask the Lord to enkindle in me the kindness and neighborliness of Fred Rogers.  Better yet, I'll ask the Lord to enkindle in me the kindness, mercy and love of Jesus, the best "neighbor," friend and Savior any of us will ever need have.

Devotion. Pure and Simple.

You may have heard the story about Alvin Straight.  He was a 73 year old man who lived in Laurens, Iowa.  He became very concerned when he heard that his brother, 80 years old, had suffered a stroke. Alvin wanted to see his brother but faced a slight problem - his brother lived in Blue River, Wisconsin, a long way from Laurens.

This was a problem for Alvin because he had lost his drivers license due to poor eyesight.  And for some reason, Alvin wasn't keen to travel by plane, train or bus.

But Alvin came up with a plan.  He pulled out his 1996 John Deere tractor lawn mower from the gargage and started heading for Blue River.  He was going to see his brother - and he did!

Alvin's devotion for his brother reminds me of the devotion Jesus had for His heavenly Father.

It was the Father's will that Jesus come into the world to save sinners.  The Father's plan for our salvation called on Jesus to redeem us sinful people.  He would pay for us with His own shed blood on the cross, the only payment that would satisfy the Father for our disobedience, lack of faith and lack of love.

Nothing was going to stop Alvin from seeing his brother.  Nothing would stop Jesus from saving us.

He allowed Himself to be arrested while praying in the Garden. He did not defend Himself while being tried by the Sanhedrin.  He made no effort to convince Pontius Pilate of His innocence.

Blue River, Wisconsin sounds likes a nice place to visit.  Traveling to the cross was not.

Jesus was forced to take a route that took Him through the streets of Jerusalem, suffering the abuse of a bloodthirsty people.  He strained to carry His cross up the hill where He would be crucified.  Jesus was abused by the soldiers, mocked by the crowd, abandoned by His disciples.  And while all this was taking place, Jesus was fulfilling His Father's will.

Jesus' devotion to His Father - His suffering, death and resurrection - resulted in the blessings we needed the most - forgiveness of our sins, peace for our troubled hearts, the sure and certain promise of an eternity in heaven.  Blessings not earned but given by our beautiful Savior.

Isn't that enough reason to be devoted to Jesus? He won forgiveness of our sins.  Forgive others.  His heart went out to those in need of compassion.  Help others.  His sacrifice is the purest example of love we will ever know.  Love others.

Be devoted! Be devoted to Jesus!

Temporary!

The Bible never belittles disappointment...but it does add one key word: temporary.  What we feel now, we will not always feel.  Our disappointment is itself a sign, an aching, a hunger for something better.  And faith is, in the end, a kind of homesickness - a home we have never visited but have never once stopped longing for.

Phillip Yancey, as quoted in "A Place Called Heaven," page 13

Engraved On His Hands

One of my first confirmation students used to write a lot of notes to herself.  She would make note of assignments for school, telephone numbers of people to call, jobs her mother wanted her to do and so on.  But my young student didn't use a notepad or a notebook.  She'd take her ballpoint pen and make these notes on her hands and arms.  One day she came into class looking like she had visited a deranged tattoo artist! Her hands and arms were covered in black, blue and red ink.  I asked her, "Tell me, why do you write all over yourself like that?"  She smiled and replied, "All of these notes are important and I don't want to forget a single one of them.  This is the way I remember what I'm supposed to do."

In the same way, the Bible tells us over and over again of an important truth - you are important to God.  Your salvation was so important to the Father that He did not leave that up to you.  That would have been a no-win proposition.  Instead, the Father sent His Son to make payment for your sin and to deliver you up to the Father, robed in His righteousness and holiness.  Because you are so important to the Lord, He says to you: See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.  (Isaiah 49:16)

Think of it - you are remembered by God! Actually, the Lord has done much better than writing your name on His hand - you and all who belong to Him are engraved on His palms.  This engraving is permanent.  It matches the steadfast love that God has for each of His children.  So trust in God's promise.  Believe that He is with you and watches over you.  With eyes of faith, look at His hands!

The power of the story

This photo reminds me of the enjoyable evening Sherri and I had yesterday.  We were invited by Ron and Kathy Taylor for a hot dog roast around the fire.  Also there were Ron and Kathy's daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Tyler, and choir member, Marge Weigand and drummer extraordinaire, Dan Seabreeze.

The evening was cool so the fire felt just right.  I hadn't cooked a hot dog over an open fire in years.  It was fun getting the dog cooked just right.  Along with the meal we had hot chocolate, apple cider and made smores.  We couldn't have asked for a better or fun time.

As we sat around the fire Ron said, "Anyone have a campfire story - not a ghost story but a campfire story."  Mostly we talked about life experiences and I really enjoyed it because it gave me a chance to know everyone a little better.  I drove home feeling like God had given me a blessing - the blessing of time and friendship.

Our time with the Taylors reminded me of something I'd read a long time ago.  I didn't note where I found the quote but I think it's a proverb worth pondering:

Tell me a fact and I'll learn
 Tell me a truth and I'll believe
  But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.

Think about the stories in the Bible and how they have impacted and changed our lives.  We learn about the forgiving and unconditional love of God the Father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  We see how relentless Jesus is in searching for the lost in the Parable of the Lost Sheep.  We are reminded to be constantly watching for the return of Jesus in glory in the Parable of the Fig Tree.

You want Jesus stories? Spend some time in Matthew, chapter 13 or Luke, chapter 15.  These stories teach us how to live out our new life in Christ now while giving us glimpses of what the coming Kingdom of God will be like.

Jesus stories - they teach, they thrill, they comfort - told by the Master Storyteller Himself, our Lord Jesus.

Stories well suited for sharing around a campfire.

He drinks the cup

His perfect keeping of the Law for us is starkly demonstrated in Gethsemane: "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me,  Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done."  (Jesus) both kept the First Commandment and suffered the punishment we deserve for not keeping it.

Matthew Harrison, "Why I Am Joy:Fully Lutheran," page 14

Love your neighbor

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there might be are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:9-10

Who You Gonna Rely On?

                Imagine you’ve been sent to the Valley of Elah.  You find yourself confronted by the Philistine, Goliath.  He stands nearly seven feet tall.  He has muscles the likes you’ve only dreamed of.  He speaks and it seems that the ground shakes.  He is such an intimidating sight!  Your think to yourself, “There’s no way I could defeat him should he strike at me!”

            No, you couldn’t defeat Goliath.  Neither could the shepherd boy, David.  Surely not in his own strength. 

            David offered to go up against this giant who had filled Saul and his fighting men full of fear.  David told the King how he had protected his flock from very dangerous and ferocious beasts, like lions and bears.  The shepherd boy goes on to say, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.  (1 Sam. 17:37)

            David was not afraid; he relied on a greater power, a power that even the powerful Goliath could not stand against.

            The showdown between the hulking giant and the ruddy shepherd boy takes place.  Goliath makes threats.  David makes a promise: You (Goliath) come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…  (1 Sam. 17:45-46a).

            And you know the rest of the story!

            Do you have a Goliath in your life? What trouble do you face that seems too big to solve or too great to overcome? Out-of-control debt? Out-of-control teenagers? Out-of-control addiction? You’ve tried everything – cut up the credit cards, taken away cell phones and tablets, been to rehab more than once.  Nothing worked.

Maybe the problem is that you are trying to face your trouble in your own power or strength.  David could not have stood up to Goliath on his own.  You can’t stand on your own as you face your personal Goliath.

Remember David's words: The Lord who delivered me…  The word, “deliver,” in the Hebrew often means to “rescue” or “save.”  David was confident that the God who had rescued him from the threats of lions and bears, would also rescue him from the giant, Goliath.

If God was able to rescue David from Goliath, doesn’t it make sense that he will rescue you from the Goliath you face?

God has delivered you from the greatest Goliath you’ve ever faced – sin.  If it were left unchecked, sin would have its way until there was nothing left of you.

But you were delivered from sin through the rescuing effort of Jesus.  He came to your aid.  He removed you from harm’s way.  He took on the giant burden of your sin and carried it all the way to the cross.  It seemed that sin had crushed Him to death, a death that should have been yours.

Now think about Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the grand and glorious result of Jesus facing down your Goliath.  Sin – forgiven.  Death – overcome.  Devil – defeated.  New life today.  Eternal life in heaven.  This is yours through the delivering power of Jesus.

Don’t rely on your own power or strength or wisdom.  Rely on the Lord – His power, His strength, His wisdom.  As David took down the threatening Goliath, so Jesus will deliver you from the Goliaths you face in your life.  The battle is the Lord’s and He will not fail!

Mr. Irrelevant

Each spring the National Football League holds a draft of all college players eligible to play in the NFL.  255 players are chosen but the last player, number 255, receives a special designation.  He is called "Mr. Irrelevant."  Being chosen as the last player in the draft is only slightly better than not being picked at all.  Football experts figure that as the last player in the draft, you have only two chances of making an NFL team - slim and none.  Hence, the tag, "Mr. Irrelevant."

Maybe you've had the same experience as "Mr. Irrelevant."  Perhaps you were chosen last for the team, the last one asked to the dance, the last one picked for the assignment.  Maybe you've felt like your name was "Mr. Irrelevant" or "Ms. Afterthought."

The apostle John reminds believers that you also carry a special description - "Child of God."  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1)  And this is no honorary title - God has adopted you into His family through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  In fact, you might say that your baptismal certificate also serves as your adoption papers! You are neither irrelevant nor an afterthought to God.  You are important to the Father - important enough that He sent His only Son to be your Savior.  Rest securely in the knowledge that you are a child of God!

What God's grace does for you

God's grace opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my heart to hold my Savior.

"Together With Jesus" devotional, October 19

Norman Nagel on All Saints Day

When Jesus cries, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" have God and Lamb come apart, opposite each other? Yes, for the Lamb is where we are, opposite God, in our place as sinners.  He bears our punishment of sin, the forsakenness of God.  Anyone bearing his or her own sin is finally lost, but not Jesus.  He is bearing not His own sin, but ours; He is not opposite God, but doing the saving will of the Father.  He won't let us go, and He won't let me let go of God.  Out of the ultimate darkness of ultimate death comes the cry, "It is finished."  Jesus is through.  He has done it.  Then He goes through the little death also.  The one who was crucified, the Lamb who was slain, is the risen one who sits on "the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:3).  From that throne God is for us as the Lamb is for us, no other God for us but as He is for us as the Lamb.

"Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel," page 315

C.S. Lewis Wisdom

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

C.S. Lewis, from "Mere Christianity," as quoted in "Narrative Apologetics," page 85

Living Beyond Pain

It is impossible to live without hope.  Especially those who suffer from chronic pain.

For years doctors and psychiatrists have liberally prescribed opioids for those seriously hurting.  Many received the relief they were seeking.  But many of those became hooked on opioids.  Long after they were needed, the addicted did anything to get another prescription, to take another dose.

Those who find themselves hooked but want to those pills behind them will find hope in "Living Beyond Pain."  

Drs. Mintle and Kribs are experts in the field of helping people overcome opioide addiction.  Those reading this book will find Mintle and Kribs serving as cheerleaders, offering real and practical advice for dealing with pain by implementing techniques and provide hope to keep on living.

Are you living in chronic pain? Know someone who is suffering? Find this book and receive hope!

Why is suffering hard?

"Suffering is unbearable if you aren't certain that God is for you and with you."

Timothy Keller, as quoted in "Narrative Apologetics," by Alister McGrath (page not noted)