Pastor’s Notes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4)

Following Sunday School and worship on Easter a family was on its way home in the car.  The son was looking at his Sunday School lesson, My Easter Faith.  As boys are apt to do sometimes, he folded the lesson into a paper airplane and rolled down the back window to test his creation.  There was a sudden gust of wind that snatched the paper from his hands.  He shouted, “Dad, My Easter Faith just went out the window.”

Where is your Easter faith as you read this?  The church was beautifully decorated, the hymns lifted our spirits and the sermon let us know that Our Redeemer lives.  But what about the days and weeks after Easter?  There are strong impulses to draw our Easter faith out the window.  We don’t want it just blowing away in the wind.

Through our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection we have died to the old life of our sin and we are made alive in Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit teaches us that resurrection power can be used in daily faithful living.  The Lord wants us to know Him and the power of His resurrection for all the days of our lives.

Ever faithful God and Father, let not Satan snatch our Easter faith from us.  Help us overcome the evil one with resurrection power.

In Christ,

Pastor

Back in June 2002, Orlando Bethel, a preacher from Loxley, Alabama was scheduled to sing at the funeral of his wife’s uncle.  Before he began singing hymns, however, Bethel wanted to say a few words about the departed – that he was a “drunkard” and a “fornicator,” and was now “burning in hell.” Bethel never sang – mourners attacked him, beat him up, and threw him out of the church. Bethel later claimed that “the Holy Ghost” instructed him to speak out, and added that the angry mourners were “whoremongers.”

When we were all little, we were instructed by parents, teachers, pastors, and coaches to “tell the truth.” Mr.  Bethel may have taken that to the extreme. Jesus’ accusers thought they were telling the truth as they brought Him before the officials and read the criminal charges against Him.  They said He was stirring up the people, claiming to be the Messiah, and inciting a rebellion against the government.

When Jesus spoke the truth, He was attacked, beat up, and thrown on a cross to pay for the lies that were being spoken against Him.  He was suffering for all the times we have lied about our past, our present, and our future.  At His burial, there would be no hymns sung, just a stone rolled before a tomb.

But thanks be to God, there was joy as “The Truth” emerged from His three-day prison.  “The Truth” won out over the lies and schemes that had put Him there.  He is Risen!  He lives!

We live with the truth of that glorious moment each day of our life.  We can speak about “The Truth” – the Lord our Savior, to a world and society that needs something solid to hang on to. “The Truth” cannot be denied.  See you in worship!

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do you ever think about the words we use that don’t go together?  Let me give you some examples:  boneless ribs, minor crisis, slumber party, deafening silence, educated guess, forgotten memories, instant classic, calculated risk, and vegetarian meatball.

In the church we use a phrase that at first glance doesn’t seem to go together either.  That phrase?  “Sinner/Saint.”  How can that be?  These are two words that mean the opposite thing.  For the Christian, though, it works.  We are always both sinner and saint.  This side of heaven, sin will always be a part of our lives.  Who knows what lurks inside of us?  But we are also saint.  Christ has assured us of that through His forgiveness, death and resurrection.  Eternity is already ours.

I recently finished a fascinating book entitled, “Mission at Nuremberg.”  It was the story of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor who ministered to the twenty-one men who were on trial at Nuremberg for “crimes against humanity” at the end of World War II.  Thirteen of these souls were Lutheran.  Names you would recognize like Goering, Speer, Hess, Keitel.  Some of these men would hang for their crimes.

This idea of sinner/saint was prevalent throughout the book.  As I read, I wondered how these men could get caught up in the atrocities that pervaded their watch over Germany.  As a sinner, I had to see myself in them.  I, too, am capable of some awful things.  If I miss this point, then I don’t quite understand the free will to do evil in all of us.

Now this next part might be harder to see, but some of these twenty-one repented of their sins, received Holy Communion, and even told Chaplain Gerecke they would see him in heaven one day as the noose was put around their neck.  How could this be?  Only a gracious, forgiving God can know.  Like the thief on the cross, the Lord is the One who saves.  The sinner is the saint.  The book was a wonderful read on this topic.  The Jesus we know died for these men just as surely as He died for us.

Sinner/saint is not an oxymoron in the Lord’s Book.  We are both.  Thank God for His love and compassion so that we are saved.

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today on my schedule I had the task of writing this devotion for the newsletter. As I awoke and made my way to the bathroom to shower, my schedule changed. As I turned on the light I noticed a note on the mirror that read in part, “__________________ ran into the mailbox this morning.” As I showered I wondered how much damage had been done. Was the mailbox bent? Was it knocked over? Did I have work to do so that we could receive our mail that day?

After getting myself ready, I peered out the window and the mailbox was . . . completely on the ground. This newsletter article was going to have to wait. I spent most of that morning working to get it into some semblance of shape for the catalogs, bills, and junk to be delivered.

Ever have a day or numerous days like that where your plans are changed? Now think of the Virgin Mary and the day she had when the angel told her she would be the mother of Jesus. What were her plans that day? Had she just gotten up, stepped out of the bath, eaten her breakfast? For me, a few hours of my day were changed. For Mary, a lifetime was altered. Imagine what it was like to know that she would be carrying within her the King of kings and Lord of lords! She knew the Lord was with her and she could confidently say, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.” (Luke1:38)

As we head into December we must be prepared for our plans to be changed or altered. It could be the weather. It could be sickness. It could be our job. It could be the mailbox knocked over. Whatever it is, be assured that you are not alone. That Child Mary was carrying was coming into the world to carry our burdens. Our Lord will sustain and comfort us. He will walk with us every step of the way. His death and resurrection are our entrance into the glory of heaven . . . where there will be no mailboxes on their sides or anything else to disturb our eternity.

In Christ,
Pastor