What does it mean not to trust God

Not trusting God for your daily needs is like having a wealthy father who is willing to lavish thousands of dollars on you, yet not being able to trust him for money in an emergency.

Martin Luther, "Faith Alone," September 13

Pastors - love your sheep and lambs

Bonhoeffer once wrote: A pastor should never complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people or to God.  A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God.

Wise words, indeed.  CFW Walther, the first president of the LCMS, said that a pastor should see his call to a Christian congregation as a call to paradise.

What to do when some in your congregation aren't very Christ-like?

Start by taking a look in a mirror? The pastor can start by asking himself, "Is there something I've done or failed to do to cause this person or people to behave in an ungodly way?" If so, repent and seek the Lord's forgiveness and restoration.

Secondly, communicate.  Speak to those who seem to be causing trouble.  Perhaps they are troubled but something you are unaware of and this trouble is impacting their life and how they treat others.

Thirdly, pray.  Ask the Lord for His help.  Seek His wisdom and strength.  And remember all the other times you went to the Lord with a problem and discovered that He already was at work in resolving the trouble - even before you asked Him.

May the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ, help all of us under-shepherds to love our flocks - His sheep and lambs!

Some good advice for preachers

What have I been doing all this time? If I'm going to take twenty or thirty minutes to say something I can say in ten minutes, maybe I'd better say it in ten minutes.

Musician John Coltrane, quoted in "Making Records," pages 35-36

Thoughts about My Master

While I sit at my Savior's feet, as the crowd did that day (see Mark 6:34), for what am I hungry? Do I think of Him the way the anonymous poet did who wrote:

My Master was so very poor, a manger was His cradling place.  So very rich my Master was, Kings came from away to gain His grace.

My Master was so very poor and with the poor He broke the bread.  So very rich my Master was that the multitudes by Him were fed.

My Master was so very poor they nailed Him naked to a cross.  So very rich my Master was, He gave His all and knew no loss.

But, oh, the gain when my soul is fed by Him!

From "Together with Jesus, " Richard E. Lauersdorf, from a devotion for February 25.

Jake - the Coyote's worst nightmare

We live in west Peoria.  Even though we're in the city our neighborhood has coyotes.  Once I wondered why the coyotes were still in the area.  One of my neighbors answered, "They were here first.  That's why."

After a good night's sleep, we let our dog, Jake, out so he can take care of business, if you know what I mean.  He no more than took a few steps out onto the porch when he stopped and stood very still.  He was in attack mode. I thought he'd seen a rabbit.  Jake likes chasing after them, I imagine, with the hope that some day he'll catch one (fat chance!).

I looked over and I didn't see a rabbit.  It was a coyote and a good sized one at that.  Before I could grab Jake and get him back in the house, he was off after the coyote.

I kept calling, "Jake! Come!" But he ignored me.  Fortunately, the coyote wanted no part of Jake.  Quickly it jumped over our four foot backyard fence.  If Jake were just a little bigger, I'm sure he would have jumped the fence as well.  Instead, all he could do is bark.  I can't really interpret what a dog's bark means but I'm fairly certain that Jake was saying something like, "Don't come into my backyard again.  No! No! No! I'm big and ferocious and I will make your life miserable.  No! No! No!"

Soon the excitement was over and we managed to get Jake back in the house.  We gave him several treats and commended him for his bravery.  

Jake is now taking one of his many naps.  I wonder if he'll dream about how he chased a whole pack of coyotes off our property with just a single ferocious bark?

Something to ponder this weekend

We are spiritually weakened by the pace of life, the lack of community, and the lack of time and energy to cultivate our relationships with God and our fellow man.

Dr. Richard Swensen, "Margin," as quoted in "Imagine 5:16" page 142

Have a blessed weekend!

What is faith?

Faith is willing to abandon all earthly guarantees and rely solely on God.

Paul Wendland, First Chronicles - The People's Bible Commentary, page 300 

Ash Wednesday - off to a good start

Last night I had the joy of leading worship and giving the message at Christ the Redeemer in Phoenix.

The service included a Baptismal Reaffirmation which included this beautiful prayer: Lord God, I am Your child.  You named me with Your own holy name before I could speak.  You made me Your own before I could move a hand to help or prevent You.  You insisted on having me even though You knew the end of my life as well as its beginning, its shame as well as its glory, its failures as well as its achievements, its bad as well as its good.  Forgive me, Father, for so often wandering away from You, Your forgiveness, Your joy, Your promises, and Your love in Jesus Christ.  Help me to live in the freedom of my baptism, and the faith You have given me. 

You have called me by my name.  I am baptized.  I belong to You.  Amen.

I especially appreciated the words, "I am baptized."  It is said that when Martin Luther was being tormented by the evil one, he would respond with words like, "Say what you will, devil.  But I am baptized!"  

Jane Fryer, who wrote the devotions for "Today's Light" Bible, penned these words regarding baptism, inspired by Romans 6:1-6: In God's ledger, your debt is wiped out.  The sinful person you once were died on Calvary with Christ.  That person was buried with Christ in Baptism.  Now you have been raised with Christ from the dead.  You have a whole new life, a fresh start.  In your Baptism, it's a new day - every day!

So, we all had the opportunity to walk up to the Baptismal Font, dip our fingers into the water and make the sign of the cross upon our foreheads that marked us as those redeemed by the crucified Christ.

Following Confession and Absolution, the inposition of ashes was a part of the service, followed immediately by Holy Communion.  We are reminded by the ashes that "dust you are and to dust you shall return."  But death is not the end for those who are in Christ Jesus.  The Holy Meal reminds us that we are forgiven of our sins for Christ's sake and that we have a place in heaven through faith in our Savior.

As the service ended, we prayed together this Sending Prayer: Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the Word which we have heard this day, may through Your grace, be so engrafted in my heart, that I may bring forth the Fruit of the Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

All in all, it was a fitting way to get Ash Wednesday and the observance of Lent off to a good start.  May you see your Savior in a brand new light as you journey with Him to cross and tomb this Lenten season.

What exactly is the church?

When Christian believers gather in churches, everything that can go wrong sooner or later does.  Outsiders, on observing this, conclude that there is nothing to the religion business except, perhaps, business - and dishonest business at that.  Insiders see it differently.  Just as a hospital collects the sick under one roof and labels them as such, the church collects sinners.  Many of the people on the outside the hospital are every bit as sick as the ones inside, but their illnesses are either undiagnosed or disguised.  It's similar with sinners outside the church.

So Christian churches are not, as a rule, model communities of good behavior.  They are, rather, places where human misbehavior is brought out in the open, faced and dealt with.

Eugene Peterson

A prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.  Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

From "The Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 26 

Nose of wax?

Here's truth expressed in a clever way by Lutheran pastor/teacher, John Jeske:

When a person, or a church, gives up on the teaching that the Scripture is the inspired Word of God, then the Bible becomes a wax nose, which anyone may twist to suit his or her particular perferance or prejudice.

Nose of wax: a pliant person or thing, one readily influenced or turned in any direction.

Rend your heart

 

    Tomorrow night I'll be preaching at the Ash Wednesday service at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church is Phoenix.  The service is at 6 pm.  Below is a portion of the sermon.    

    So we begin this penitential season tonight.  And it’s a good thing.  We can rend our hearts and be honest where we have failed to keep God’s commands.  But living in the promises of baptism, we repent and restart.  We receive our Lord’s forgiveness.  We feast on His body and blood.  And we remember that another Feast is coming, not the one that happens on the first and third Sundays of each month.  The one that is coming is different.  It’s the one that has no end. It takes place in the Kingdom of God.  And your invitation is waiting. 

Why use the liturgy?

Marva Dawn's book, "Reaching Out without Dumbing Down," offers a compelling study for why the church must continue to utilize the historic liturgy while allowing the freedom to add newer contemporary expressions of faith so long as they complement what has been passed down to today's church from previous generations.  I appreciate this quote from Jospeh D. Small and John P. Burgess: When various groups reshape the church's theology and worship according to their own viewpoints or purposes, they splinter the church's life...Without shared standards, the church has no common life of service and proclamation.

Jesus paid your ransom

"(Jesus) was sold for the price of a slave, but He doesn't buy you as one.  His purchase was not your price, but your ransom.  He would have you love Him and rejoice in Him, so He leaves you free."

David Petersen, "God With Us,"page 89

You might be a Lutheran if...

If you've seen Jeff Foxworthy on TV, you know he does a routine called, "You might be a redneck it..."  Some time ago a pastor in Louisiana did a take-off on Foxworthy and the results were pretty humorous.  Check out what he wrote:

You might be a Lutheran if...
You think that fine dining is attending a church pot-luck dinner
You do not have the word "change" in your vocabulary
You think personal evangelism means you need to have more children
You are upset that a visitor is sitting in "your pew"
You know who Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was
You love it when church meetings last longer than two hours

But you know you are a Lutheran if...
You confess you are a sinner
You know that Jesus died for you and forgave all your sins
You know that you are saved by grace through faith in Jesus
You rejoice daily that you are a baptized child of God
You believe Scripture is your only source of doctrine
You love the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God"
You desire to receive God's gift of Holy Communion at every opportunity
You know you will be in heaven forever because of faith in Jesus' life, death and resurrection

What a day at the thrift store!

In the last few years my go-to source for music has been stores like Savers and Goodwill Industries.  As more and more people donate their used albums and CD and turn to music streaming services, there are some great finds out there if you just look.

Today was one of those days.  I purchased well over $100 worth of CD's for $19.  I've spent all afternoon listening to new tunes from folks like:

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss released a new project called "Raise the Roof."  Produced again by T Bone Burnett, it is a pleasure to listen to two great voices work their way through original tunes along with songs from the Everly Brothers and Alain Toussaint.  This CD will go straight to the "favorites" stack.

A three CD/1 DVD collection of the great John Williams' music composed for films made for Steven Spielberg.  Spielberg once said that it's Williams who makes his films complete.  Theme songs from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," and others are included.

Four discs, still in the shrinkwrap, by the Country singer, Chris Stapleton, including "Traveller," a Grammy Album of the Year.  I don't know Stapleton's music well but I will in the coming days.

Other discs include: "The Very Best of the Highwaymen," "The John Michael Talbot Collection," "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" from Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, A Buddy Holly Tribute featuring Jackson Browne, Chris Isaak, Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr and others, a Japanese CD of Paul McCartney's "Unplugged," CD and "Mr. Buechner's Dream," from contemporary Christian group, Daniel Amos.

The biggest challenge for me is what to play next? Time to move over to the stereo and get on with the next disc!

Where has Nate Bargatze been all my life!

My friend, Renee, purchased for Sherri and me a year's subscription to World Magazine.  I call World Magazine the Christian "Time" magazine.  However, that's probably an insult to World Magazine so I won't make that analogy anymore.

Anyway, I happily read World Magazine from cover to cover each time I find it in my mailbox.  It does an amazing job of looking at current events from a Christian world view.  It offers viewpoints on the news that you won't find anywhere else.  It also covers the arts.  Books, video and music reviews are featured in each edition.

And that's how I found out about Nate Bargatze.  He is a stand-up comedian who is laugh-out-loud funny.  His observations about marriage, family, friendship and work are fresh and entertaining.  He's as funny as anybody I've heard recently.  And here's the best part...(wait for it) his stand-up has absolutely no profanity or sexual references!

A comedian that I enjoy is Ron White.  He's appeared in the "Blue Collar Comedy" movies.  He's funny.  He's sarcastic.  It's his deal and he makes me laugh.  So, I happened to find a CD of one of his shows at Savers.  I bought it.  Wow!

He drops F-bombs like our military drops balloons out of the sky.  There is nothing off limits to talk about or make fun of.  I couldn't believe I was hearing the same guy that was in those movies.  I was going to return the CD to Savers or Goodwill.  But then I thought that a better place for the CD was in my garbage can.

Bargatze told great stories about his family, the drawbacks of being a firstborn, and how awful the word "sucks" is.  His story about playing golf with his wife had me in stitches.  I won't give anything away but he does make it clear that his wife doesn't understand how the "tee time" is to be more strictly observed than speed limit signs.  He also wonders how medical offices keep losing the forms he fills out each time we're there for a visit.  I've wondered that too; it seems that every time I visit my doctor I'm filling out the same forms I filled out before.

Bargatze's latest show is on Prime Video and is entitled, "Hello World!"  If you are unfamiliar with him, I suggest you say "hello" to Nate Bargatze.  He is like finding a rare gem.  A clean comedian who is funny.  Now, that is a find!

Think Your Job Is Tough?

Think your job is tough? You should have walked 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 thing got a little difficult for God's people, they would moan and complain, with Moses being 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; then 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, even exasperated from time to time.  But he would soon calm down and get back to his job, leading God's people to the land 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 once even reflected God's radiance to the Israelites.  When the going got tough, Moses got back to His ever-present God.  He trusted the Lord.  The Lord was with him.

You are just as blessed as Moses.  Remember this great hymn of the church? Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me.

Our greatest treasure in this life is the Lord Himself.  No matter how tough life becomes for us, we too 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 in heaven and will come again to take us to be with Him forever.  Don't despair, my friends, in these tough times.  Just as Moses communed with God, so you have fellowship with God, now and forever.

Is God near to you? You bet!

God has given us Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, and absolution to bring Christ very close to us, so that we can have Him not only in our heart but also on our tongue, so that we can feel Him, grasp Him and touch Him...For He wants to come to you, plant Himself before your very eyes, press Himself into your hands and say, "Just listen to Me and take hold of Me, give Me eye and ear; there you have Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar.  Open your mouth, let Me place My hand upon your head.  I give you this water which I sprinkle over your head.

Martin Luther, from Treasury of Daily Prayer, CPH, page 301.

Though Your footprints were not seen

Do you have a favorite psalm? My guess is that most folks would choose the 23rd Psalm, the Good Shepherd psalm.  Others might pick Psalm 121 because of the assurance of the Lord's watchfulness over our lives.  Psalm 1 is a favorite - it speaks of how the Lord brings growth in our new life in Christ.  Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance, a psalm we can all relate to.

Psalm 77 has become a favorite of mine.  As I read along, I sometimes feel as though Asaph, who served as a temple choir director, was reading my mind.  The psalm is very personal.  Asaph asks the question that Jesus would later cry out from the cross: "Why, O God, have You forsaken me?" This is the most personal of questions.

Asaph doesn't offer specifics, only that he must be dealing with some very personal problems.  As he looks at his present circumstances, he wonders if God has abandoned him.  He simply can't believe that God would "reject forever...never show His favor...forgotten to be merciful...withheld His compassion?" (verses 7-9)

Then a beautiful shift in attitude and thinking takes place in 77:10.  Rather than continuing to dwell on his present problems, Asaph begins to think about and meditate upon the Lord's mighty deeds from the past.  As he does so he is comforted and his faith is strengthened.  He remembers that God is "holy...performs miracles...redeemed Your people."

Asaph realizes that God has not abandoned or forsaken him.  Notice 77:19: "Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen."  Asaph might not have seen God but He could trust in the Lord's promise that He is near to His people (see Deut. 31:6).

Does it seem that God has forgotten you? Are you wondering if God has withdrawn His grace from you? Read Psalm 77.  Read it again if you have to.  Asaph knows how you feel.  He knows something else - you can trust the holy God.  He has redeemed and saved you from sin, death and the devil.  He won't stop being your loving Lord and Savior. 

It's the Super Bowl!

Each Super Bowl Sunday I would ask the congregation about the game.  It went go something like this:

"Who wants the Eagles to win?" Light smattering of applause.

"Who wants the Chiefs to win?" Light smattering of applause.

"Who cares who wins the Super Bowl?" Strong applause.

What I will look for on Sunday?

    A good close game.  Nothing is more boring than watching one team blow the other off the field.  However, I am reminded that a few years ago Atlanta had a comfortable 28-3 lead and ending up losing to Tom Brady and the Patriots.  Maybe I won't be so quick to switch the channel to "Funniest Home Videos" or something like that.

    The commercials.  At the end of the game my family and I vote on the best and worst commercial. It's amazing how much we disagree with each other.  Who will be the best this year? Budwiser or Taco Bell or something else?

What I won't look for on Sunday?

    The halftime show.  These become more loud and garish every year and last year's show was definitely X-rated.  My grandkids will not be watching at halftime!

What I have noticed is that Super Bowl Sunday has almost become a national holiday.  It's an excuse for getting together with family and friends.  That works for me and is really more important than the game itself.

Except if our Arizona Cardinals could ever get to the Super Bowl.  Then it's "Don't bother me! The game is on!"

I can only hope.

The Word for the Day is Obedience

The documents of what Lutherans believe and confess are found in the Book of Concord.  As a good Lutheran should do, I've been doing some reading in the Confessions every week.  On Monday I began reading article three of the Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, regarding the righteousness of faith before God.  In paragraph four I came across this: Therefore, the righteousness of faith is the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and our adoption as God's children only on account of Christ's obedience.  Christ's obedience alone - out of pure grace - is credited for righteousness through faith alone to all true believers.  They are absolved from all their unrighteousness by this obedience.

This wasn't the last time I came across the word "obedience" in this article.  Again and again, Christ's obedience came up. 

Paragraph nine: His obedience is credited to us for righteousness.

Paragraph 11: We trust that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the Father, and are eternally saved.

Paragraph 22: It means that Christ covers all their sins...with His complete obedience.  But despite this they are declared and regarded godly and righteous by faith and for the sake of Christ's obedience...

OK, so why the emphasis on Christ's obedience? It's pretty simple.  The confessors wanted people to be certain that there is nothing that a person can do to make themselves righteous before God.  No amount of good thoughts or works can satisfy a holy God who expects complete perfection.

Does that mean that life is hopeless.  Not at all! What we learn in this article is that what we can't do for ourselves, Christ did for us.  He was obedient.  In his obedience Jesus suffered for and paid for the sins of the world.  He has satisfied God's wrath and has opened heaven to all who would believe.  Through faith, you and I have forgiveness, righteousness and the promise of heaven.  But it's not because of what we've done.  We have all these things because of Christ's obedience.

How many religions have a God who condescends and serves His people? Only one.  Jesus the Christ.  Because of Jesus we need never worry about where we stand before God.  We have every benefit and blessing God has to give.  All because of Christ's obedience!

Now that's good news, isn't it!

Dr. Seuss wisdom

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter won't mind.

The blood of love

"Therefore if consciousness of a great sin weighs you down, comfort yourself with this blood of love...it is solely in the blood of Christ that we have confidence on the Day of Judgment."

Martin Luther, from "Treasury of Daily Prayer"  page 330

God will hold us

 God is just and does not play favorites.  By His very nature, He must respond when the Law is disobeyed (Ps, 25:8-19).  But He can also see our hearts, and ultimately, He is rooted in love.

 God will hold us accountable.  But at the end of it all, He just hold us.

 Dan Hoppen, "Redeemed," page 101

Glorify Your Word in our hearts

Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit who writes the preached Word into our hearts so that we might be gladdened and comforted to all eternity.  Glorify Your Word in our hearts.  Make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, and through Your inspiration think what is right.  By Your power fulfill the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

Martin Luther - From the CPH publication, The Lord Will Answer, page 38.

Are you in need of a laugh?

Years ago when my family and I became members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL., we very quickly became acquainted with George Kottwitz.  We learned that George was the resident humorist of the church.  He always had a story to tell and the punch line never failed to deliver a good laugh.  George regularly submits and is published in the Lutheran Witness magazine.  Here's a couple of samples of his humor.

Two elders drove to a nearby restaurant and bar after an early evening meeting at church.  While waiting for a table, they sat in the bar drinking a beer.  When their pastor walked by, one quickly said, "Oh, I hope Pastor didn't see us."  Asked the other, "What difference does it make? God knows we're having a beer."  "Sure," replied the first, "but God won't tell my wife!"

Or there's this one...

The new vicar popped into the church office with a printed copy of his yet-to-be-delivered first sermon.  Standing in front of the office's new paper shredder, he stared at the machine, a bit perplexed.  The church secretary, sensing he needed help, walked over and asked if she could do something for him.  "Yes," said the vicar, "can you show me how this thing works?"  She said, "Gladly!" She took the pages from the vicar's hand and began feeding them into the shredder.  "Thanks," said the vicar politely.  "But where do the copies come out?"

True humility is...

True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

CS Lewis, "Mere Christianity"

Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens

Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens, Let Your Word to me come near;

Newborn life and spirit give me, Let each promise still my fear.

Death's dread power, its inward strife, Wars against Your Word of life;

Fill me, Lord, with love's strong fervor, That I cling to You forever!

Lord, Your Words are waters living, When my thirsting spirit pleads.

Lord, Your Words are bread life-giving; On Your words my spirit feeds.

Lord, Your Words will be my light, Through death's cold and dreary night;

Yes, they are my sword prevailing, And my cup of joy unfailing!

These words would make a fine prayer.  Try them.

(Stanzas one and three, hymn 589 - Lutheran Service Book)

Did you hear the one about the old lady stopped for speeding?

 An elderly lady was stopped for speeding.  She was going 70 in a 40 mile-per-hour zone.  The policeman asked her, "Why were you going so fast, ma'am?"

 She said, "Sir, the sign back there said seventy."

 "No ma'am," he replied, "That wasn't the speed limit sign.  That was the highway sign.  That's Highway 70."

 "Oh, my goodness," she exclaimed.  "I'm so glad you didn't see me on Highway 129!"

God's Word does what it says

His Word does what it was sent to do.  He calls us back.  He speaks us clean.  He forgives our sins and gives us faith and gives us eternity.

David Petersen, "God With Us" page 106

Luther - From Day to Day

Therefore our concern now must be to be grateful to the Father of all mercy and consolation and see to it that our faith henceforth does not consist in words but in power.  For St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "The kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power."  Our ability to speak or write eloquently about it is not sufficient; rather must our lives and our deeds testify to the truth, as we demonstrate our love and bestow our works of kindness on friend and foe.

Thus we must pray first of all that God may impart more and more strength to us and our friends and let His dear child Jesus grow in our hearts from day to day that we may praise, glorify and confess Him with a zealous and happy heart.

Martin Luther, from Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, page 238

A word for parents

As parents and grandparents we should never underestimate the influence we have upon our children and grandchildren.  They watch us carefully.  Our words soak deeply into their heads and hearts.  Studies indicate that even our teens watch and listen to us, yes, even when it seems that they have tuned us out.  Our example matters!

I don't know who penned the poetry below but the message is one worth pondering:

To hear my child at prayer, what a thrill it is to me!
There's a sweetness in the moment, as he speaks on bended knee.
And yet my heart is smitten, at this touching moment I see,
Has his faith and trust in prayer, depended much on me?

As I see him fold his hands, and bow his head to pray,
I trust he'll always love the Lord, the way he does today.
Then I hear a voice within me, speak in solemn words and true,
How he lives a life of prayer, depends a lot on you.

So I kneel next to my bed, and lay my hand upon him,
After he has voiced his prayer, I add my own petition
May my son recall one day, that his father daily raised,
His voice to thank the Lord, and make the sacrifice of praise!

Dads and Moms, do you think much about the example you are setting for your kids? Do they see you in prayer? Do they find you reading your Bible? The next time you are tempted to "veg out" in from of the TV, try something different.  Gather the kids together and tell stories.  Talk about a favorite family vacation.  Share the funny story you heard.  Read Bible stories to your kids.  Tell them what Jesus means to you.  Share your faith in God and encourage your kids in their walk of faith.  Most of all, ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and His love so that you might always be that Godly example that your kids and grandkids need to see.

What about us Lutherans?

While going through an old journal the other day I discovered a couple of quotes that I think really capture something about our Lutheran theology and practice. 

While Lutherans also confess that God is almighty, Lutheran theology does not begin with His majesty but with His mercy in Christ.
John Pless, "Handling the Word of Truth" page 101

Lutherans are about faith in Christ and deeds that show Christ's love and mercy.
Matt Harrison, "Christ Have Mercy" page 142

We have hope!

Years ago an S-4 submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts.  It sank immediately.  The entire crew was trapped in a prison house of death.  Every effort was made to rescue the crew, but ultimately all plans failed.  Near the end of the ordeal, a deep-sea diver, who was doing everything in his power to find a way for the crew's rescue, thought he heard a tapping on the steel wall of the vessel.  He placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he realized it was the Morse Code.  He attached himself to the side and he spelled out in his mind the message being tapped from within.  It was repeating the same question: Is...there...any...hope?

That's a question we've all asked at least once in our lives, isn't it? Is there any hope...for my marriage, for finding a job, for earning a college scholarship, for an early retirement? Someone has said, "We can live forty days without food, eight days without water, four minutes without air, but only a few seconds without hope."

In Psalm 39, David is faced with asking the question, "Is there any hope?" He had been trying to keep a stiff, upper lip, so to speak, by remaining silent during a very painful time in his life.  Then he pours out from his heart all the impatience and frustration he is feeling.  But by the time we get to verse seven, we learn that it has been helpful for David to have been very honest with the Lord.  He responds with what we might call a "trusting prayer" that is fueled by the hope he has in his Lord.

God has given you and me that same hope.  We don't worry about our standing with God because Jesus has made us right and acceptable to our Father.  We don't despair about our future because Jesus has prepared a place in heaven for us.  We don't allow present day problems to consume us because Jesus has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  (Romans 15:4)

We have hope!