What kind of worker are you?

In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul writes about the importance of staying busy and not being overtaken by laziness and idleness.  Printed below is an unscientific survey designed to help you determine what kind of worker you might be.  

Initiative: Stronger than a locomotive...stronger than a bull elephant...strong as a bull...shoots the bull...smells like a bull

Timeliness: Faster than a speeding bullet...fast as a speeding bullet...not quite as fast as a speeding bullet...would you believe a slow bullet?...wounds self with bullet when attempting to fire

Communications: Talks with God directly...talks with angels...talk with yourself...argues with yourself...loses those arguments

How did you do? 

Have a great weekend!

God is with you!

"Though you have not seen Him (the Lord), you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  1 Peter 1:8-9

How is it that the apostle Peter can write with such confidence? How is it that he can be so sure that his readers are filled with a trusting faith in Christ Jesus?

The explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed in Luther's Catechism reminds us 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."

The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts and gives us the saving knowledge of Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  With this faith we can trust Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, rejoice in our new life of faith and find comfort in our Lord in all the seasons of our lives.  With the help of the Spirit, we believe in our Savior even though we don't see Him.

The psalmist Asaph, in Psalm 77, speaks of this same kind of faith.  In the psalm, Asaph complains about the difficulties of his life and the lives of his people.  He and they have suffered so much and without any relief so he is beginning to wonder if God has forgotten about him.

But then Asaph begins to meditate on God's Word.  He remembers God's mighty deeds.  He recalls God's gracious help and deliverance when the people were freed from bondage.  He writes in verse 19: "Your path led though the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen."

Faith enables us to know that God is with us even when our eyes can't see Him.  His Word assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Today, offer thanks to the Holy Spirit who empowers you to know and trust almighty God even when you can't see Him.  God is with you.is

Love, love going to church

For as long as I can remember, I have loved going to church.  Sitting quietly in a pew with my parents and sister, I watched as others came to ready themselves for worship.  Many would quietly come and sit, bow their heads and pray.  Some, like my Mom, would check the hymn boards in the front of the church and mark the hymns to be sung with the ribbons in the book.  And finally, as the pastor took his place in the chancel, the church would become still.  It was time for worship.  God was ready once again to bless His people.

Singing the hymns was fun.  Learning to participate in the liturgy was special; over time I came to realize that the liturgy was nothing more than hearing God's Word and repeating His Word back to Him.  I didn't always understand the sermon but I knew the pastor was teaching us about Jesus and that was good.  My parents taught me that I could put some of my allowance in the offering plate and I do so (when I remembered).  Bowing our heads and folding our hands to pray made it feel like I was praying to God Himself! And that's what I was doing! As the service ended, I noticed that people were happy.  Long faces now sported smiles.  People were greeted with firm handshakes and heartfelt hugs.  And off would go my sister and i to Sunday school to learn more about our Friend and Savior, Jesus.  There was no better place to be on Sunday than at church.

David, the writer of Psalm 61 would agree.  In verse three he wrote, "For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."  David cries out to God to express his longing to be in the Lord's house.  When overwhelmed by life's problems or pressured by wily adversaries, David knew that God's house offered a shelter where he could rest in the peace and comfort that God gives His children.

God will give that same peace and comfort to you.  Go and meet your Lord every Sunday at worship.

Reporting for duty

The story is told that during the early days of the Civil War a union soldier was arrested on charges of desertion.  He could not prove that the charges were unfounded and was declared guilty and condemned to die as a deserter.  A second appeal was made on the soldier's behalf and, as fate would have it, the paperwork ended up on President Abraham Lincoln's desk.  The President was moved by the appeal and signed a pardon, freeing the soldier.  Then the man did a most surprising thing.  He reenlisted, returned to service and fought the entirety of the war on the side of the North.  Tragically, he was killed just as the war was coming to its conclusion.  In looking for some identification, found within the breast pocket of the soldier was the signed pardon of the President.

Romans 5:1-2 read: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.  And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God."

In these verses, Paul describes the "not guilty" verdict we have received by being declared "justified by faith."  God's pardon of our sins has given us "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Jesus' victorious battle over sin, death and hell has brought peace for all who trust in the Lord.  We can live without fear of God's punishment.  We can enlist in the Lord's service as soldiers of the cross.  We can arm ourselves for battle with the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Holy Word.  We can share the Word with those whose hearts are troubled and confused.  May the rich grace of God move you to faithful service as a soldier of the cross of Jesus Christ!

Fix your thoughts on Jesus!

You've been asked the question a thousand times - "Whatcha thinkin?" It seems that where there is no better way to start a conversation, a question like, "What's on your mind," is a good way to get the discussion rolling.

There are lots of things upon which we can focus our attention.  A new Covid 19 threat.  Rising gas and food costs.  Whether or not the Suns will be able to sign Chris Paul to a new contract.

If there is any one thing you could focus your thoughts upon, the writer to the Hebrews would suggest this: "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."  (Hebrews 3:1)

A very good suggestion indeed.  But how does one go about thinking on Jesus? First, you could start by pondering the meaning of Jesus' name.  His name means Savior.  You could think and pray and give thanks that Jesus is your Savior from sin and death.  In 3:1, Jesus is called an "apostle."  This is a reference to Jesus' mission to carry out the will of the Father and bring reconciliation to the world.  You could think and pray and give thanks that you are now a child of the Father through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus is also called a "high priest."  This refers to the sacrifice that Jesus made, paying for all your sins on the cross.  You could think and pray and give thanks for the forgiveness and new life you've received through faith in your great "high priest."

Do you have a lot on your mind? You can clear your head! "Fix your thoughts on Jesus!"

The story of the waiting father

The parable of the prodigal son is really a story about the waiting father.  I know who the prodigal is.  It is I who so foolishly and so often have left the Father's house.  What I need to know is about the heavenly Father.  Does He write me out of HIs will or long for my return home? Will He slam the door of heaven in my face or open His arms to me? Will He treat me like some slave or take me back as a son or daughter? Here's the answer! Because of another Son, named Jesus, who left His Father's house on the task of salvation and returned with it completed, my Father will be waiting for me.

From "Together with Jesus," July 20 devotion

Simply to Thy cross I cling

A friend of mine once said, "George, do you know why so many lawsuits get settled on the steps of the courthouse? Because no one wants to appear before the judge!"

There is a righteous judge we will all stand before on the Last Day.  The Bible teaches that every person who has ever lived will have to give an account of their life.  Is there much of a case that we could present before Almighty God? Not really.  This is how the apostle Paul puts it in Romans 3:10 - "There is no one righteous, no, not one."

Discouraged? Keep reading Romans 3.  Think of Paul as your defense attorney.  Look at the case he presents on your behalf in Romans 3:21-26.  Paul presents the great doctrine of "Justification by Faith."  Paul teaches that a person is declared just or right in God's sight (justification) on the basis of God's grace.  This is through faith alone in Jesus Christ, apart from our good works or our trying to keep the Law perfectly.   Having been declared righteous by God, He hands down His verdict on you and me - Not Guilty!

Left to our own devices, none of us could ever satisfy God's demands for perfect holiness.  But what God demands, He also provides for us through the suffering, death and resurrection of our Savior.  Through faith in Christ alone, we are declared righteous in God's sight and we live in peace with our Heavenly Father.  Like the hymnwriter, we say: "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling."

Come, Lord Jesus!

Of all the prayers we teach our children and grandchildren, this one (next to the Lord's Prayer) may be the most beloved:

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.  And let these gifts to us be blessed.  Amen.

Not only does this little prayer invite Jesus to be our unseen guest as we give thanks and partake of the gifts He gives for our nourishment, "Come, Lord Jesus" also reminds us that:

* Jesus will come again on the Last Day with great power and glory

* Jesus will come to judge, as we confess in the Creed, "the living and the dead"

* Jesus will come again at a time when we least expect Him

* Jesus will come and we, His people, will be filled with much hope and joy

When we become adults, sometimes we set aside the prayers we prayed as a child.  Not so with this one.  Its words express the longing of every believing heart.  And so we pray Come, Lord Jesus!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What do we have in our baptism?

In Holy Baptism we have obtained the status of being children of God.  He is our Father and we are His children! He will sustain, preserve and provide for us.  He will never forsake us.  We have also received the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  All that Christ has obtained for us by His suffering and death has been given to us and made our own in Holy Baptism.  We have truly been united to Him.  He is our vine and we are the branches.  Through Him we obtain new strength for every good work, light, wisdom and grace.  There has been imparted to us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  He makes His home in us, sanctifies our hearts, governs our tongues and our lips, and enables us to order our lives according to the Word and will of God.  By this indwelling power of the Holy Spirit we are more and more drawn away from evil, and we begin to grow in faith, in godliness, and in the fear of God - just like a newborn baby grows in years and strength.  We also obtain everlasting salvation! When this life is over, we shall share eternal joy and glory.

"Starck's Prayer Book," pages 22-23

Seek His presence always

A favorite verse from the Psalms is "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."  (105:4)

Of this verse, theologian HC Leupold wrote: "For such seeking of God is nothing other than maintaining continual and fresh fellowship with Him, the unfailing source of all our strength, and so this means drawing ever closer to Him."

How does this "seeking" work? First, start in His House, listen to His Word, and respond by offering Your prayers.

Seek the Lord is worship each Sunday.  He's not hard to find.  God is present where His Word is, where His people gather.  He offers forgiveness for sins, His Gospel is worth hearing and obeying, His Body and Blood will fill you with peace.  But then continually "seek" the Lord by listening to Him as He speaks to You in His Word.  God's Spirit will enlighten you and help you deal with people and opportunities and problems.  God will surprise you with those "Ah-ha" moments when you open up Your Bible.  Then, offer up your praise, thanksgiving and petitions to the One who is glad to hear the voice of His dear child.

There is no magic to this "seeking" business.  Simply look for the Lord in the places where you know He will be found - in Word and Sacraments - and God will fill you with the faith and the strength you need for living out your new life in Christ!

Begin with thanksgiving

Have you ever begun your prayer time and couldn't think of a thing to pray about? Sometimes it happens.  You might be tired or fatigued.  Maybe you're puzzled by problems at home or work.  Occasionally we sit down to pray and our mind resembles an Arizona desert - dry, barren, lifeless.

The apostle Paul provides a tip for us who sometimes have trouble getting on with our prayers.  In verse three of chapter one of Philippians, Paul writes, "I thank my God every time I remember you."  

So, the next time you're stuck at "Dear Lord," think of the people in your life and give thanks for them.  Paul thanks God for the church at Philippi.  He gives thanks for their "partnership in the Gospel."  The Philippians gratefully received the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  This good news filled their hearts with great, great joy.  Not only did they hear God's Word but they also put it into practice.  The Holy Spirit, working through the Word of God, enabled the Philippians to stand firm in times of persecution while motivating them to help and encourage one another with their time and riches.  Seeing these people growing in Christian faith was a help to Paul, especially since he wrote Philippians while under house arrest in Rome.

Not only does Paul see the church growing in true faith, he has also been on the receiving end of their generosity.  When they learned of Paul's detention, they quickly gathered an offering to help the apostle with his needs.  You can see why every time Paul thought of the Philippians, he offered up to God a prayer of thanksgiving.

For whom can you give thanks? Who in your life has been such a blessing that they deserve a special petition of thanksgiving to the Lord? Your spouse...your child or grandchild...your best friend...a person you pray with or worship with?  If you're not sure where to begin when you pray, follow Paul's example - begin with thanksgiving!

The Red Sea Moments of Life

My dear, sweet wife follows "The Chosen" video series on Facebook.  If you've not watched, "The 
Chosen" retells the life of Jesus in a most captivating way.  There is no studio financing the series.  Average Joes and Joans, like you and me, have sent contributions to make this happen.  If you haven't watched a segment yet, please do so.  Given the garbage that is on the networks and streaming services, "The Chosen" is worthy of support.

Below is a post from the creator of the series.  Sherri was taken with the notion that life is made up of "Red Sea moments."  See what you think:

In this moment, I'm devastated.

This picture was taken by Shahar Isaar, who plays Simon Peter, during a day of filming some of Episode 7, which played last night. He's standing on the shore of our "Sea of Galilee" lake. I'm in the water with our on-set dresser, the incomparable Allen.

We're several hours into the day, and we haven't filmed a single frame. We, the entire cast and crew, are doing the absolute worst thing you can do on a film set where time costs lots and lots of money: nothing.

We can't film because there's too much fog. It doesn't match what we filmed the day before, and we can't see 20 yards out. What's worse? The radar is telling us this isn't going away today.

There's nothing I can do, which is very hard for me. I've done my part, and now it's out of my control, and I simply have to wait.

A picture can say a thousand words. In this case, to me, this picture says three words: Red. Sea. Moment.

In Exodus 14, the Israelites are escaping from the Egyptians, and Pharaoh's army is chasing them. Moses and the Israelites get stuck at the edge of the Red Sea, and there's no escape.

You know what happens next. A miracle. God parts the sea, the Israelites pass through, and then God returns it to normal as the Egyptians are in it, and they all drown. God told Moses he did it to show he is the Lord.

My wife Amanda has used this phrase for The Chosen a few times. When we're up against it, to the point where we're powerless and can't do anything, she calls it a "Red Sea moment." She's told me, "God's just getting you to the edge of the Red Sea so when the waters part, you know it's Him."

It's happened over and over, and yet I still struggle to be content in that moment before the waters part.

In this case, it happened at the last possible second.

With four hours left in the day, WAY too late for us to get all the scenes in before the sun went down, and the radar saying the fog wasn't lifting, we called it. Crew got in their cars, we started to push the boat to the dock, and we tabled discussions on when, if ever, we could shoot these scenes.

And then, as crew members still on the shore described it, "A gust of wind came and cleared the fog in less than five minutes." I was in a trailer at the time, and as I walked out, I said, "Is that the other side of the lake? I can see the other side of the lake."

Suddenly the entire cast and crew rushed to the shore, we unpacked all the gear again, and we decided to just shoot what we could and hopefully get at least one scene in.

But because of the overcast sky, the sun reflected off the clouds as it descended, which lengthened the daylight.

We kept shooting and shooting, and we ended up getting every shot and every angle we wanted for every scene we'd scheduled. What would have normally taken 12 hours took less than four. The scenes turned out great in Episode 7. I still don't know how it was possible.

Because it wasn't, really. It's not possible for me to part the Red Sea.

So that's why this picture means so much to me. My posture indicates that I didn't know it, but I was at the edge of the Red Sea...and that's a really awesome place to be.

The Lord cannot ignore us

There is much we can learn about prayer from Daniel.  Prayer takes hold of Christ's promises, and it find confidence in the name of the Lord given to us in Holy Baptism.  The Lord cannot ignore us, because we bear His name.  To ignore would be to deny His own name, something He cannot do.  Though He will not grant my requests that are contrary to His will, He will pay heed to prayer offered up by one who bears His name.

"Blessed Be His Name," Kevin S. Golden, page 56

What An Amazing Savior We Have!

This is the manuscript of the sermon I preached yesterday at Life in Christ.  The video was of one of our members and his family celebrating after the Phoenix Suns won their series against the LA Clippers and reached the NBA finals.  Sorry that I don't have the video for you to see but suffice it to say, the family was pretty amazed!

Such An Amazing Savior!

          Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “amaze” as to “fill with great surprise or sudden wonder.”  Watch this video for an example of what I am talking about.  (show Logan Hall video).

          According to the Concordia Self-Study Bible, “the Bible that studies itself,” there are only two instances in the Gospels where Jesus is described as “amazed.”  One of those moments you will recognize instantly.  It is the account of the faith of the Centurion as found in St. Luke, chapter seven.

          You might remember that the Centurion had a servant who had become seriously ill.  Even though he was a Gentile, the Centurion asked some of the Jewish elders to implore Jesus to come and heal the servant.  The elders sought out Jesus, explained the situation, and the Lord agreed to go with them.

          They were not far from reaching their destination when the Centurion sent some friends with a message for Jesus.  In so many words, the Centurion said that if the Lord would just “say the word,” his servant would be healed.  St. Luke then writes, “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel’.”

          The Centurion’s friends then returned home where, perhaps to their amazement; they found the servant healed.

          Now, today’s Gospel lesson describes for us a rather “amazing” incident – the rejection of Jesus by His family and friends in His hometown of Nazareth.

          One would think that the Lord would have received a hero’s welcome, the red-carpet treatment on His return.  Surely, the people should have been filled with pride.  They had no doubt heard of how Jesus raised the Synagogue ruler’s 12-year-old daughter from the dead.  They must have been told of the many sick people Jesus had healed.  Surely, they had learned about Jesus’ authority over evil spirits.  And they must have known of the parables Jesus taught to his disciples and others.

          But that is not how the Nazarenes, including His own family received Him.  To be sure, they were amazed at what they had heard about Jesus.  Astonished is probably a better word.  They asked themselves, “How is it that He does these great things?”

          Maybe you can understand how they feel.  After all, isn’t He the carpenter’s son, who made a living with His hands? He is Mary’s boy.  Mary’s nothing special.  And according to St. Luke’s account of this incident, when Jesus told the Nazarenes that He was the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding God’s promise of a Messiah, they became offended at Him.  Actually, they went bonkers and intended to throw Jesus over the edge of a cliff.  But since it was not yet His time to die, Jesus used His divine power to simply walk through the crowd, unharmed.

          Now, if we could turn the clock back about 2000 years and you had I had been in Nazareth that day, it would have been different, right? If we had been there, the Lord would have received the homecoming He rightfully deserved.  We would have given Jesus the honor and glory that was due Him.  Certainly, we would have been the Lord’s loyal and faithful disciples, ready to follow Him, wherever, regardless of the cost.

          Or would we? Would we have eagerly welcomed Jesus? Would we have taken His every word to heart? Would we have shown Him the devotion and worship He deserves from us?

          For example, Jesus comes to us in worship.  But do we always come to worship with great joy and excitement or do we sometimes see our time at church as an obligation to be fulfilled?

          How many of us take the time each day for a period of Bible study and prayer so that we can learn more about Jesus and continue to grow in faith in Him?

          Jesus comes to us in His Holy Supper.  But do we always take the time to examine ourselves, realize that we have fallen short of what God demands, and then come to the Lord’s Table seeking the forgiveness and assurance which we so desperately need?

          And what about our prayer life? Jesus commands us to pray.  He promises to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father.  But have we gotten lackadaisical about our prayer life?

          How about our witness? Do we take advantage of our opportunities to tell others about our Savior when they come our way? Or do we sit silently when others make outrageous or unfair statements about Jesus or the church?

          We probably do not want to admit it but there are times when our faith life is rather “Nazarene-like.”  And that is a fearsome thought, considering how Jesus’ own family and friends treated Him during His return to His hometown.  What happened next? St. Mark goes on to tell us: “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.”

          Did Jesus leave Nazareth in disgrace? Did He give up and quit because His family and friends rejected Him? The answer is NO! And that is good news for us all.

          It shows that Jesus never gives up in reaching out to us, never withholds His grace when we really need it, never stops calling us to be His when we feel so unworthy of His love.  What an amazing Savior we have!

          This Sunday, Jesus brings to us the same message He brought to the Nazarenes 2000 years ago.  He proclaims to us that He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of us all.  He is the only One who has kept all of God’s commands perfectly – for us.  He is the only One able to shoulder the burden of our sins and suffer the punishment on the cross that should have been ours.  He is the only One worthy of our complete honor and worship for no one else has loved us that way Jesus has loved us.

          This Jesus is no ordinary man, a carpenter masquerading as a Messiah.  No ordinary man could have paid the penalty for all our foolish acts and indifferent attitudes.  We are forgiven – forgiven of those times of uninspired worship, indifference to Bible study, complacency toward His Holy Supper, and listlessness in witnessing to others.

          And in His resurrection, Jesus shows us the full extent of His victory, giving us the reassurance that true peace and hope are really ours because of Him.  Could an ordinary man from Nazareth give up His life on our behalf and then take it up again, much to the dismay of the devil? What an amazing Savior we have!

          So amazing that the Father and the Son sent to us the Holy Spirit.  Through the Spirit’s motivating power, we receive the faith and desire to find joy in our worship, wisdom and understanding in our Bible study, power in our prayer life, and confidence to confess Jesus to others.  With the Spirit’s help, we see Jesus for who He really is – not as a worker of wood, not as a good man or wise teacher, but our Savior who proclaimed the message of salvation and peace with God and bids us to do the same.

          Perhaps, the saddest words in our Gospel lesson today are these: “And (Jesus) was amazed at their lack of faith.”  From the Scriptures we know that some of those in Nazareth that day ultimately came to a saving, vibrant faith in Jesus.  We know that at least two of the Lord’s brothers, James, and Jude, became leaders in the early church.

          But I wonder how many Nazarenes there were who never came to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah? I wonder how many there were who never saw Jesus for anything other than an ordinary man and nothing more.

          But for you and me, Jesus makes it possible for us to recognize Him and know who He really is.  He gives us an amazing faith which believes and trusts that His baptism is our baptism, His Word of forgiveness is our forgiveness, His Body and Blood in the Holy Supper our assurance that we are made right before God and that heaven’s gates are open wide to receive us.

          I understand that there were hundreds of people at the airport waiting for the Suns to arrive home after their amazing victory.  It is too bad the people of Nazareth did not do the same for Jesus.  We can be different.  Every time we gather in this place for worship, we can welcome the Savior who brings to us each Sunday His gifts of the forgiveness of sins, power of overcome temptation, answers to prayer, the promise of His presence in times of suffering and the certainty of heaven to us.  There really is only one way to describe the grace of Jesus – amazing!  Such an amazing Savior we have!  Amen.

It's Friday - Count Your Blessings!

In that wonderful book, "Little Women," Mrs, March tells this story to her daughters.

"Once upon a time there were four girls who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures...and yet they were not contented...These girls...made many excellent resolutions; but they...were constantly saying, 'If we only had this,' or 'If we could only do that.'...So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, "When you feel discontented, think over your blessings and be grateful."

In Ephesians 1:3-14, we find the apostle Paul thinking over his blessings.  And what a list it is:

* Being chosen for salvation

* Being adopted as God's dear child

* Receiving the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus

* Receiving Godly wisdom and insight

* Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit

* Receiving the power to do God's will

* Receiving the gift of eternal life

One of the best things about this list of blessings is that you and I can can this list as our own.  Through faith in Jesus alone, God gives us all these things and even more.  He generously blesses us with many and varied spiritual blessings and takes care of our earthly needs too.  We can always think of things we'd like to have.  Bur rarely do we ever lack the things we need.  In His mercy, God provides for us day after day.

Has it been awhile since you've "counted your blessings?"  Paul has given you a great list to start with.  And think of all that you can add - things like answers to prayer, healing of body or soul, broken relationships mended, new opportunities on the job front, bills paid with money still in the bank, and the list goes on and on.  Let's follow Paul's lead and take a little time every day to count our blessings in Christ Jesus!

Have a safe and blessed 4th of July holiday!