Author: TechCommittee

March 30, 2022 – Lent                                     Text:  John 18:33-40

Dear Friends in Christ,

    William Jefferson was a congressman from Louisiana.  In 2002, he used resources of an organization that would encourage a vote for his daughter to the Statehouse.  He used this same organization to help get his sister elected as a city official in New Orleans.

    During Hurricane Katrina he used the National Guard to recover belongings from his home.  When their truck got stuck in mud he used one of their helicopters to get them out.  All the while this manpower was needed elsewhere.

    In March 2005 a company called iGate sent Representative Jefferson $400,000 so he would persuade the army to use their technology.  When the FBI raided his home they found $90,000 in the freezer.

    Innocent?  Hardly.  In 2007 he was found guilty and sentenced to the largest sentence ever given a congressman for bribery.  He was released a few years back for time served.

    The Witness for Christ series finds us looking tonight at Barabbas.  We have a trial going on.  There are three outcomes:  innocent, guilty, and free.  Here we go . . .

“INNOCENT, GUILTY, AND FREE”

    Innocent – that’s Jesus.  Pilate says so.  “I find no guilt in Him.” (v. 38). Pilate didn’t think Jesus deserved the cross.  Maybe a lecture or a lashing, but no cross.  Pilate is “the governor” which means he decides death-penalty cases.  You live or die according to him.  So Pilate declares Jesus innocent and does it again in John 19:4, 6.

    Guilty – that’s Barabbas.  Barabbas is a violent outlaw.  Our text says robber but he was so much more.  He plunders and steals and he may not just rob you, but kill you.

    So Pilate, the man with all the power, relinquishes the power, and instead goes to the court of public opinion.  “”Do you want me to release the King of the Jews?’  They cried out again, ‘Not this man, but Barabbas!’” (vs. 39, 40)

    Innocent – Jesus.  Guilty – Barabbas.  Guilty – you and me.  We are all born “dead in trespasses and sins.” (Eph. 2:1). We are blinded by the god of this world.  We are hopeless.  Our good works are unclean rags.  Just call you and I “Barabbas.”  Paul called himself a “wretch” and that is what we are – right now…this moment – we are wretches.

    The biblical word is sin.  This isn’t a momentary stumble and lapse in judgment.  This sin we all have is rebellion against God’s rule.  Our sin lays claims to God’s throne.  Our sin defies God’s authority.  Our sin let’s God know we are in charge.

    “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way.” (Isa. 53:6). We all have a way.  Her way may be flirtation and promiscuity.  His way may be intoxication and bad language.  Her way pride.  His way gossip.  What’s your way?  God has declared us all guilty and the sentence is death.

    Innocent – that’s Jesus.  Guilty – that’s Barabbas.  Guilty – that’s us.  Free – that’s Barabbas.  Listen.  Can you hear it?  The Roman guard with a key.  He unlocks the prison door and shouts, “Barabbas.  You are free.  They have chosen to let you go.”  Barabbas had to be shocked, right?  Shackles gone, crimes pardoned and he walks to the light of day.  Free!

    Free – we see it with Barabbas.  Free – you and I.  How so?  Christ endured not just the Roman nails, the mockery, and the spear, but also the gears of God’s grinding justice.  God doesn’t overlook sin.  He doesn’t poo-poo it as no big deal.  That is not how it works.  God must punish sin.  

    That is why all of sin was placed on Jesus.  My sin.  Your sin.  Barabbas’ sin.  Christ was in our place.  Our sins are many but Christ’s mercy is even more.  We are free.  Psalm 146:7 says, “The Lord sets the prisoners free.”  Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free.”  Think of all the way you could become a prisoner.  But there is only way to be free.  Jesus.

    He liberates us from the condemnation of sin.  He frees us from our past.  He opens doors to our worry.  This freedom cannot be taken away.  No power on earth or hell can destroy it.

    Innocent, guilty, and free.  Three important words in any trial.  Which one is the most life-changing?  Innocent?  Guilty?  Free?  Do you have it right?  Free!  “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).  By faith, forever free.

                                    Amen.   

March 27, 2022                                Text:  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Magicians are great at distracting us.  If they can get us to look intently in one direction at what they are doing, we will not see what they are doing elsewhere.  They then pull off their trick and we are stunned.  So . . .

“GET READY FOR SOME SLEIGHT OF HAND THIS MORNING”

    This is the third in a series of parables Jesus has been telling in response to the criticism he has been receiving from, of all people, the upstanding, churchgoing crowd.  This third illustration is designed to be the clincher.  Jesus does a great job of distracting his hearers.

    The younger son.  He wants his inheritance.  In implicit terms he would like his dad to die.  The father still very much alive gives him his share.  He gets away from his parents and spends his monies on prostitutes and other unsavory devices.  He is careless with his life because he has left home and church.  He runs out of money and with famine in this foreign land the only job he can get is with the pigs.  

    Let’s notice something for our ears.  The father enabled the son with the finances he gave.  But he didn’t keep enabling him.  The son had to hit bottom before he changed and repented.  He did this on his own.  His family was not chasing him.  The son came back.

    He gets on his feet and makes his way home.  On the way he practices his apology.  “Dad, I messed up.  I am not worthy to be your son.  Can I hire on as one of your servants?”  Aren’t you and I gloating a little bit?  We always like it when we think people get what they deserve.  He’s no big man.  He just another guy on dad’s payroll.  The magician has our attention.

    The magician pulls us in closer because we can’t wait to watch this spurned dad make this poor sack of a kid lick his boots.  While we wait for this Jesus creates a twist.  The dad greets him like a dignitary.  He throws filet mignon on the hibachi, gives him a ring, Johnston & Murphy shoes and a Brooks Brothers suit.  This isn’t fair!  But the magician smiles and continues.

    Now let’s introduce the character we can identify with:  the older son.  He’s indignant.  “I’ve slaved for and never disobeyed you.  I never even got a pizza party.  This is mockery.”  And the others standing around had to say, “Alright.  Someone thinking clearly.  A voice of justice.  His dad needs a wake-up call and this son has the guts to delivers the goods.”  And the magician smiles even more.

    Now we are really following the action.  How is Pops going to answer that?  Will he come to his senses?  Will he stop mollycoddling this younger son?  “Son,” he begins.  We usually miss this part because we are distracted by the story.  The son just insulted his dad but he still calls him “Son.”  Dad ignores the insults – dad as servant, brother as not part of the family.  He reassures him that the younger son coming home has done nothing to damage his relationship with him.  “All that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” (vs. 31b-32)

    Now we get it.  The sleight of hand story distracted us that that we missed our resentment and begrudging forgiveness.  Thanks to the Savior’s skillful storytelling, we didn’t even see it coming.  How does the story end?  How you finish it says a lot about you.

    If you want the older son to hold his ground and skip the party and begrudge his father’s grace, well, Jesus shakes his head in sorrow.  You don’t get that you are in God’s family by the same forgiving love that sent the Father’s Son to the cross for those sinners you think are worse than you.

    It is fitting that those who do not forgive as they have been forgiven remain outside the celebration, because that is where they will spend eternity.  They will not enjoy God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. But those who are rejoicing over this one sinner who repents will enter into the feast.  

    You and I enter by the same act of love by the Father – giving Christ Jesus into death on the cross.  There He welcomes and dies for what you have squandered.  He prepares a heavenly feast for you by which His Easter resurrection has made possible.  You are given the clothes of an endless paradise.  

    Hasn’t the greatest of magicians given you a new perspective this Sunday morning?  Some of you are living this story with your own children.  So how does the story end for you? 
The Lord knows.  Trust Him.  It is His grace and mercy that will make the difference.

                                                Amen.   

March 23, 2022 – Lent                                        Text:  John 18:12-27

Dear Friends in Christ,

    He was a professional thief who evoked fear throughout the Wild West.  He terrorized the Wells Fargo stagecoach line from 1875 to 1883 and stole thousands of dollars.  No victim ever saw him.  No artist ever sketched him.  No sheriff could ever track his trail.  His name?  Black Bart.

    John introduces another Black Bart.  If you’ve ever felt shame and disgrace, it was his whisper that crushed your heart.  If you’ve ever felt useless and no good, it was his accusing finger in your face.  He doesn’t just want your money.  This Black Bart comes to destroy everything.

    What’s his name?  Guilt.  What sucked you under?  A one-night stand?  A fight you shouldn’t have had?  Did you steal something?  Language you used on another?  Maybe it wasn’t a moment but a season.  You failed as a parent or spouse.  Your career was not what you thought it could be.  You squandered time and talent.  The result?  Guilt.

    We’re in a series called Witnesses to Christ.  Today we meet Peter.  In the courtyard we see guilt.  Beyond the courtyard – we see grace.

“GRACE FOR PETER AND GRACE FOR US”

    To get some context, let’s rewind the tape.  In John 13 Peter told Jesus he would lay down His life for the Savior.  Peter and Jesus had been through many life events together.  Calling this fisherman.  Peter walking on water.  Peter with Jesus on the mountain.  The disciple with the Lord in the Garden.  No wonder Peter makes the claim, “I will lay down my life for you.”

    We’ve all made that claim.  When we got confirmed, “Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed remain true to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to the point of death?”  We said, “I do!”  “Will you take this man to be your wedded husband?”  And you women said, “I do!”  “Will you take this woman to be your wedded wife?”  And we men said, “I do!”  The claim.  The claim?  That’s easy.

    As we read the events in the courtyard it is like watching a tall building slowly imploding.  A denial.  The building starts to shake.  Another denial.  The building is collapsing.  A third denial.  There it goes…dust and ashes and building on the ground.  Guilt.

    Our collapse may happen with, “Just one more drink.”  “Just one more fling.”  “Just one more lie.”  One more just cracks the building and then boom…guilt enters.

    After the rooster crowed Peter felt left out and rejected.  That is what guilt does.  It turns us into miserable, weary, angry, stressed-out people.  Who loves rejected people?  God does.  God gives grace.

    How does that happen?  In the case of Peter we fast forward the tape to John 21, where Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  Jesus asks the questions three times – once for every time Peter had denied his Lord.  Each time Peter confesses, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  Peter confessed his guilt.  How could this be?  Because while Peter was denying Jesus, Jesus was suffering for Peter.

    Jesus doesn’t wait until we get it all together.  Jesus doesn’t wait until we overcome temptation and conquer our sin.  “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Rom. 5:8). In our courtyard, we see guilt.  Beyond the courtyard – at the cross – we see grace.  And grace means what?

    The comeback.  Who preaches the sermon on Pentecost?  Peter.  Whose sermon converts 3,000 souls?  Peter’s.  Who writes two New Testament books?  Peter.  Listen closely.  Comebacks don’t depend on how much we love Jesus.  Comebacks depend on how much Jesus loves us.  Comebacks don’t depend on what we do for Jesus.  Comebacks depend on what Jesus does for us.  Comebacks don’t depend on us giving our life for Jesus.  Comebacks depend on Jesus giving His life for us.

    Remember Black Bart?  He was eventually found and nothing to be afraid of.  He was a mild-tempered businessman from Decatur, IL.  The man storming the Wild West was so afraid of horses he rode around in a horse-drawn buggy.  Black Bart was Charles Boles – the bandit who never once fired a bullet, because he never once loaded his gun.

    See guilt for who he really is.  A deadly monster?  Yes.  A painful feeling that can do great harm?  No doubt.  The tormentor of our souls?  Bet on it.  But know this – guilt is a defeated enemy who has no bullets left in his gun.

    What’s that mean for us?  Our story isn’t over when Jesus is in it.  We can all come back from guilt.  How?  The best G-word of all.  Grace.  Grace for Peter and Grace for us.

                                                Amen.    

March 20, 2022                              Text:  Ezekiel 33:7-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Ok.  You can’t fool me.  I know you didn’t maintain pure thoughts this week.  You’ve got a few fantasies floating around up there right now that we won’t mention.  By the way…did you take account of those harsh words you used this week to a family member or fellow driver or some talking head on your TV screen.  And what about that promise to God to stop doing . . . what you keep doing . . . but don’t want to do?  When are you going to do what’s right?

    You can’t fool me because I know you.  I know you because I know myself.  Despite our differences we are all the same before a holy God.  We can’t fool each other because God says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23)

    We are born in sin.  We are born without trust in our Lord.  We daily need to be repenting.  We also need to be concerned about one another.  We need to have love for one another.  Are you ready to be a watchman?

“WATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER”

    As many of you know I was the oldest sibling in my family.  I was also the oldest grandchild on both sides of the family.  It all starts to make sense why I am the way I am, right?  Anyway, being the oldest always put me in a position of responsibility.  “Watch your sister tonight, we have a PTA meeting.”  “You are going to watch your cousins because the adults are going out for dinner.”  In sports I was always getting voted a captain because they trusted that I would watch out for teammates and get the best out of them.

    This was great preparation for being a Pastor.  I have been the watchman over souls from Texas to Kansas to Illinois.  But God has not just called me to watch out for others, he has placed this wondrous work at your feet as well.  People around us our dying.  Family we love and cherish.  Lifelong friends.  Co-workers.  Teammates.  The issue is eternity.  Jesus said, “My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12,13)  So the question:  Are we – you and I – willing to lay down everything for the sake of someone’s soul? 

    What was Ezekiel suppose to do in our text?  Warn the house of Israel.  To speak to them about their iniquity.  To warn them to turn from their wicked ways.  And if he didn’t then the Lord would require his blood.  The Lord appointed him to watch over these souls.

    Those are some heavy, heavy words for us.  Not just words for Pastors but words for the Priesthood of believers.  I know many of you have that burden on your heart this day.  You are watching out for someone that just doesn’t seem to be listening.  Don’t give up.  You have a responsibility.  Listen to this.

    Back on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean.  The blame was on faulty O-rings that failed at cold temperatures.  The night before the launch, Allen McDonald, director of the project for Morton Thiokol, refused to sign off on the launch because the temperature dipped below freezing.  They went ahead with disastrous results.  For telling the truth, McDonald was demoted.  Later, he was vindicated by a presidential commission and given his job back.  He led the redesign of the boosters.  After 110 successful flights, the astronauts believe the solid rocket boosters to be the safest part of the shuttle.

    God calls you.  God calls me to issue that kind of warning for the eternal safety of those we know.  It may pain us.  We may get blowback.  We may even get demoted in the eyes of those we warn.  But our sharing of God’s Word saves lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Can’t you say someone watched over you?  A parent?  A Pastor?  A Sunday School teacher?  Grandma?  Grandpa?  Good friend?  Maybe the Lord even used a casual acquaintance.  

    Why do it?  Out of love.  Paul writes, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:1, 2)

    Gently…gently.  C.S. Lewis once pointed out, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.”  I draw your attention to Romans 5:8:  “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He didn’t die for me after I made improvements.  He died for you and me in our sin.  As enemies of the cross, God sent Jesus to forgive and love and restore us.  He is always watching out for us.

    You know how we offend our Lord in thought, word, and deed?  Here’s the best part:  Christ is always there to love and restore.  He pronounces love and assurance in absolution.  In Baptism we are buried with Christ and clothed in His righteousness.  He feeds me forgiveness in Holy Communion – given and shed for you. 

    This forgiveness is every day.  The Lord’s interest is to grant me eternal salvation.  He loves this wretch standing before you that much.  And He loves the wretches sitting in front of me the same way.  We couldn’t love each other or others differently.  Watching out for each other because Jesus is watching out for us.  Amen. 

March 16, 2022 – Lent                        Text:  John 18:1-11

    On January 17, 2004, a sixty-ton sperm whale died and was beached in Taiwan.  Two weeks later, authorities decided to truck the whale to a lab to perform an autopsy.  People gathered in the streets to watch the whale carcass being driven through their town.  Then it happened . . . as the truck crawled through the city, with crowds watching . . . the whale exploded.  The insides of this whale splattered cars and people and shops.  Traffic stopped for hours.  The smell was unbearable.  I think we can safely say no one saw that coming.

    Isn’t that our life?  Cruising the road of life and a whale explodes.  We are left hurt and a confused and a mess.  We ask why?  Why did she leave me?  Why did my son get arrested?  Why a cancer diagnosis?  Why did we lose so much?  Why?  Why?

    Our sermon series on the Witnesses of Christ continues tonight with John 18 and we meet Malchus.  He was just doing his job, minding his business and boom – a whale explodes.  A fisherman from Galilee cuts off his right ear.  No one saw that coming.  But that night and today daily in our lives . . . 

“JESUS ENTERS OUR MESS”

    Let’s set the scene.  Judas had with him a band of soldiers with lanterns and torches and weapons.  They have come to arrest Jesus.  These same soldiers the next day will mock Jesus, flog Jesus, and crucify Jesus.

    Who is leading this Jewish posse with so much firepower?  Judas.  What is Judas up to?  Betrayal.  You hear it every time we celebrate Holy Communion, “Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night when he was betrayed.”  This is the night.

    Then the chaos begins.  After some brief chatter . . . a whale explodes.  Peter draws a sword and cuts of the right ear of Malchus.  Ouch!

    You’ve had something similar, haven’t you?  A burn.  Ouch!  A turned ankle.  Ouch!  Bumping your head and having it bleed.  Ouch?  More than physical pain, you have had emotional pain.  A daughter that just can’t seem to get out of her own way.  A death that pervades your thoughts.  A conflict where you see no ending.  What are you doing about it?  Consulting an attorney.  Going to a counselor.  Crying at night.

You are trying to control it the best you know how.

    In our text it appears Judas is running things.  But is that true?  No.  Christ is really in control.  How so?  Verse 4, “Jesus, knowing all that would happen, came forward.”  The control is clear.  The enemies come and Jesus goes to meet them.  Jesus doesn’t run.  When the sword strike happens he tells Peter to put his sword away.  Jesus says in John 10:18:  “No one takes my life from Me, I lay it down of my own accord.”

    During World War II, psychologists compared ground troops with fighter pilots.  They determined that after 60 days of fighting, the anxiety of the ground troops was astronomical.  After those same 60 days, an incredible 93% of fighter pilots were happy and at peace.  Why the difference?  The fighter pilots had control.  Ground troops felt helpless, like they were targets in a shooting gallery.  The point?  Popular wisdom tells us, “Always seek control.”

    We don’t need war to tell us that.  Just sit in traffic on an interstate.  Or board an airplane.  So what’s the plan when the whale explodes?  An alternate route, please.  Or have a parachute on the plane.  We face the exploding whale by taking control.

    The problem is, it doesn’t work?  You can’t just hop off the interstate.  Security will never let you on with a parachute.  What does work?  Relinquish control.  Give it up.  Let go.  Resign as CEO of the universe.  Give your entire mess to Jesus.  His control is clear.

    Let’s read verse 9, “This was to fulfill the word that He had spoken:  ‘Of those whom You gave Me I have lost not one.’”  Christ is calm.  His calm is contagious.  He trusts the Scriptures. 

    “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  Christ is in control of sin and He takes it all away.  “I am the light of the world.”  Christ is in control of darkness.  He takes yours away through the light of His grace and mercy.

    Ever sign one of those pieces of paper for your child that you are the responsible party?  Christ signed His name for us – and He wrote it in His own blood.  When we were baptized, Jesus took full responsibility for us.  When the whale explodes, Jesus is the responsible party.  Not us.  It is His job to see us through the mess.  Christ the Shepherd, we the sheep.  Christ the Bridegroom, we the Bride.  Christ the Rabbi, we the disciples.

    One of these three is happening right now.  We are heading for a mess.  We are in a mess.  We just went through a mess.  No matter, we don’t become hopeless or anxious or faithless.  We can stay calm.  Why?  When whales explode, Jesus delivers perfect peace.  He reaches out his hand and heals.  Just ask a man named Malchus whom Jesus healed.               Amen.     

March 13, 2022                              Text:  Jeremiah 26:8-15

Dear Friends in Christ,

    A few years ago in Cape Jarvis, Australia there was a film clip of a tourist boat ferrying people to the site of a dead whale.  There they could stand on the whale and watch the sharks eat the carcass.  A local official was outraged and immediately sought legislation to, “protect people that were too stupid to protect themselves.”  

    We might agree with that official but we are foolish when God warns us of sin and we still go forward in spiritual danger.  In our text, God sends Jeremiah to warn the Lord’s people of their wickedness so they can repent and receive forgiveness.  They didn’t want to hear it and they want to kill Jeremiah.

    God always has a purpose and He does this morning as well.  What is it?  Let’s see together how God can find salvation in . . . 

“HOLY DESTRUCTION”

    God’s holy things are subject to destruction when his people ignore his Word.  Jeremiah speaks of this holy destruction to the Lord’s house.  It was going to be desolate and deserted like Shiloh one of the original places for Israel’s worship.  Shiloh was destroyed because they worshipped false gods.  So how does everyone react?  They want to kill the messenger.  They want Jeremiah to be destructed.

    Paul warns of holy destruction of people in our Epistle.  If you walk as an enemy of the cross your God is your stomach, your glory is in your shame and your thoughts are all on earthly things.  This is a path to destruction.

    In the Gospel Jesus speaks of the destruction of those who resist the Lord.  Jerusalem will be desolate by AD 70 after they kill Jesus who is just one in a long line of prophets who have been killed for teaching and preaching God’s Word.

    Today’s lessons are a warning for us, that even we are subject to destruction if we ignore His Word.  Whole church bodies are left desolate if they abandon the Lord’s Word.  Congregations can self-destruct if they fight among themselves.  As individual Christians we struggle constantly against sin.  We don’t always take God’s Word to heart if it challenges our beliefs.  If we don’t heed God’s warning, we can forfeit our holy status and be destroyed eternally.

    In 2017, Adidas, sent a promotional e-mail to the Boston Marathon participants.  It read, “Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!”  Adidas, could have a great crisis on their hands, thinking back to the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.  Adidas got a spokeswoman out front – Maria Culp – yes, her real name – and this company was smart enough to accept responsibility and issue a mea culpa:  “We are incredibly sorry.  There was no thought given to the insensitive e-mail we sent Tuesday.  We deeply apologize for the mistake.”  The apology was well received.  Besides, chuckling at the ironic humor of her name, her audience took the apology as heartfelt, straightforward, and, most important, immediate.  Adidas avoided a crisis.

    For us, we avoid a crisis, a holy destruction, when the Lord sends us His Word that brings us to repentance.  Out of the wreckage of our sin, the Lord can rebuild us in His image.  This is what Jeremiah was doing for the people.  He was warning them only to bring about repentance and prevent suffering.  

    The Lord has done the same thing for the New Testament Church.  He brought the Jews and Gentiles together as a holy nation, the New Israel, the Church of Jesus Christ after His Ascension.  He raised up a new visible church during the time of the Reformation after the church’s teachings deviated from the Word of God.  Even our individual destruction takes place when the Lord admonishes us into turning from our wicked ways and listening to His Word.  Our soul is saved.

    All of these “holy destructions” are able to bring blessings and restoration because of the destruction of God’s Holy One.  Jesus’ destruction on the cross was a holy destruction.  He was destroyed, but God raised Him up again, bringing something good out of the destruction.

    His destruction was a painful experience.  He had done nothing wrong and helped people His whole life.  By the scheming of wicked men he was destroyed, and, amazingly, this was according to God’s holy plan.  Out of the destruction, God brought the highest good.  After three days in the tomb – resurrection!  His resurrection is our resurrection.  Out of Christ’s Holy Destruction comes our salvation.

    Jeremiah showed his faith when he said, “But as for me, behold, I am in your hands.  Do with me as seems good and right to you.” (v. 14)  Because of Jesus’ holy destruction and resurrection, we can cling to the same faith.  Our sins are forgiven.  The Words of absolution are certain.  Our Baptism remains.  We will not be destroyed eternally.  We are saved.  Holy Destruction!

                                Amen.