Pastor’s Notes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Why have You dealt ill with Your servant?  And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You lay the burden of all this people on me?’…’I am not able to carry on this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.’” (Numbers 11:11, 14)

After Sunday School, two boys discussed Elijah’s dramatic chariot ride when God took him home.  “Wouldn’t you be afraid to ride in a chariot of fire?”; one asked the other. “Naw,” replied the second, “not if God drove.”

Moses, while reluctant at first, had this same kind of faith.  As long as God was in control then he could cope with the problems of leadership.  Moses understood his limitations and knew that he needed God’s help and direction.

You and I like to think of ourselves as being pretty self-sufficient.  When people offer to help, we say things like, “Naw, I can take care of it.”  The wise person is the one who can recognize his or her limitations and depends on the presence of God and His strength for daily life.  Knowing God is driving takes the tension out of living.  When we learn to cast all our cares on Him, we move to a maturity in the Lord that gives peace and joy.

Many times we try to rip the steering wheel out of God’s hands so we can go our own way.  When we do this we get frustrated and lonely.  Like Moses did, leave the driving to God.  Let’s admit we cannot bear our own burdens, and then we receive the direction and rest that He has promised for us.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Anticipation.  As you are reading this what are you anticipating or looking forward to?  My immediate anticipation as I am typing this is for ballgames this afternoon and this evening for Karson and Holden.  Then I am anticipating the Church Anniversary weekend.  Then it is a trip Karson and I are taking to college to visit the LC-MS churches in the area, and then it will be our vacation.  Two days after vacation it is on to Olivet Nazarene and leaving our oldest on his own for the first time.  Do I really look forward to that?  Yes and no.  Yes, because he is ready to be on his own.  No, because I will miss him around the house, at church, just seeing him on a daily basis, which I have for over 18 years.

Life is like that.  We live for today but there is always something in the future to anticipate.  We have to live like that or when things happen we will not be ready.  Now granted some things cannot be anticipated.  The doctor with news of a disease when you had no symptoms.  A car crash that leads to months of therapy and recovery.  A spouse or child with news you never anticipated hearing.  I anticipate three games today, but it is raining.  The plans could change.

Some of you my age and older may recall the Heinz Ketchup commercial where Carly Simon sings “Anticipation” and the ketchup bottle slowly pours the ketchup onto the burger.  Heinz was selling the thickness of their product and how the taste was worth waiting for.

Do you ever think of your spiritual life in those terms?  Do you anticipate being in worship with your fellow believers?  Do you look forward to the return of Jesus?  Do you have a longing for eternity while still knowing the Lord has work for you here on earth?  Think of the anticipation of the Old Testament believers as they waited for a Savior.  It must have been slower than a bottle of ketchup!  But when Christ came humbly onto the world scene in the form of a human – what a change.  The anticipation was worth it.  Grace, and mercy, and forgiveness, and eternity, and eternal love, and a never- ending presence.  What a blessing for all those who anticipated.

Sometimes what we anticipate never measures up.  Sometimes it can exceed our expectations.  That is what Jesus did and continues to do.  Oh, the blessings.  What’s next?  Anticipate – because with the Lord in control it is going to wonderful.

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A new document sat awaiting some of the most prominent men in North America.  All it needed was John Hancock’s “John Hancock” and the signatures of the other delegates.  Imagine yourself in line, ready to grasp the quill pen and make your mark.  What are your thoughts?  The fighting that started over a year ago?  Are you worried about pledging your life and possessions plus your sacred honor to the cause of independence from Great Britain?  Are you excited?  Afraid?  Hold that thought as you consider this Bible verse:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1)

Let’s be honest; there are times when government decisions seem ludicrous, even sinful.  Strange projects are funded with taxes you paid.  Wars against people who never bothered you drain tax coffers that you filled.  Laws authorize or allow behavior we know is sinful.  Federal court decisions can even end the lives of unborn children in every state of the union.

If we all did as we pleased, the chaos would be unimaginable.  Either we would cower in our homes afraid to go out or we would be speeding past, cutting off, or crashing through others.  God’s servants for your good don’t want this to happen any more than you do.

Satan gave Jesus ample opportunity to rebel against authorities.  Jesus showed who ruled and it was His Father.  This loyalty of Jesus He displayed as a man, honoring earthly authority and obeying its laws.  This perfect citizen of heaven and earth now confers citizenship rights on us.  In Baptism, we have immigrated from the principality of Satan to the kingdom of Christ.  As Christ taught His followers so He teaches us: The Father reigns supreme through His beloved Son.

The line has shortened, and it’s almost your turn.  Weighing the Word of God, carefully considering His commands and His promises, you make a decision not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.  What is that decision?  No one can tell you.  You have been freed by Christ to be a responsible citizen of His earthly and heavenly kingdoms.  For whatever government you have, no matter how free or oppressed you seem to be, you know that in Christ you are free indeed.  Free to live, to love, to serve God, neighbor, and government.

In Christ,

Pastor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the joys of our congregation is the conversation that we have in Adult Bible Class.  We have been known to get through only one question in a study!  Here in the gathering of our fellow Christians we have junior high through senior citizens sharing experiences and gaining strength from their brothers and sisters in Christ.  We talk about the struggle of living in these times and the challenges that face us.

Frustrations can occur when we want others to have our same worldview.  We may have friends, family, or co-workers that see things differently than us.  I get dragged into many of these situations because I am a Pastor.  What I try to remind all of us is this: “We cannot change hearts; only God can.”  This does not mean we sit on the sidelines though.  We need to be in the arena, participating in the dialogue game.

I recently read in one of my theological journals an essay by a Lutheran clergyman in Norway.  It doesn’t paint a very good picture of what has happened to the church.  He writes, “The sad story of the downfall of the Lutheran churches in Scandinavia…is the story of what happens when false doctrine, un-Biblical teaching, is not refuted.  It is like gangrene:  if it is not cut off, it will spread and in the end lead to death.  The guarding of Biblical doctrine to the Christian Church is the same as the immune system is to our bodies.  It safeguards us from dangerous infections that might threaten life itself.  We all know what happens if the immune system fails.”

Lutherans in these countries are an endangered species.  He says that Lutherans are represented in name only, not in reality.

This Pastor’s message though is to be of good courage.  He says to build on God’s Word because through this foundation we have the strength no matter what the world throws our way.  He reminds us as I have heard over and over that “during times of adversity and trouble…the church of Christ has gained health and found her way back to her true identity.”

We “Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus” because Christ died and rose for us.  Be of good courage and we will see you in worship and Bible Class where we gain the Lord’s strength for battle through His Word and Sacraments.

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Something that I have always noticed in life is how you can be in an empty space and within an hour or less that space can be completely changed because it is filled with people.  On Easter Sunday, this was the case.  The Sanctuary was beautifully prepared for worship, but when I first arrived, no one was in there.  Within the hour, young and old, were belting out, “Christ has triumphed!  He is living!”  It was a blessing to once again worship together.

I have seen this in other areas of my life, especially as it involves sports.  Stadiums and gyms and ball fields are devoid of people during warm-ups, and before you know it, the place can be rocking with noise and excitement.  Then it’s over, and the space returns to its serene self.

The events of Jesus’ life took on a similar tone.  A courtyard and court that normally might be quiet was filled with people.  You had the followers of Jesus, but the ones wanting to crucify Him outnumbered them.  Then that area became silent again as they took the Savior to Golgotha.  This was now the place of activity.  Jeers and hissing as He hung on the cross.  Soldiers cursing and betting.  Family members wailing and crying.  Then the death of Jesus, the powerful noise of the earthquake and silence again.  The peace surrounding the tomb was interrupted by the appearance of the women and the exchange with the angels.  “He is not here.  He has risen.”  This is a noise that reverberated throughout the world.  Jesus coming back to life can be heard by every tribe and nation.

That is why we return to worship again and again.  To sing His praises.  To hear His Word.  To partake of His Sacraments.  The still, small voice of Christ our Savior speaks to us.  He speaks in the silence of our sin.  He counsels in the quietness of quest for worldly success.  He admonishes when the audio of our actions pushes us away from the Lord.  He pronounces loud and clear, “I love you, I forgive you, and I will never leave you.”

Hold on to this thought whether in a quiet place by yourself or surrounded by thousands.  Christ is there and that, my friend, makes an audible difference!

In Christ,

Pastor

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” (Luke 24:38)

We can have doubts when we rely more on our senses than we rely on God.  That’s the lesson of a story from the 1800’s.  A skeptic stood on a street corner spouting his contempt for Christ.  He said, “People tell me that God exists, but I can’t see Him.  People tell me there is a judgment to come, but I can’t see it.  People tell me that Jesus has died and risen for me, but I can’t see Him.”  He stepped down to a smattering of applause.  Then another man stepped to speak:  “People tell me there is green grass all around, but I can’t see it.  People tell me there is blue sky above, but I can’t see it.  People tell me there are trees nearby, but I can’t see them because I am blind.”  Actually, both men were blind.  One was blind physically.  The other was blind spiritually.

On Good Friday, there were many who stood before the cross blinded by their doubts.  The Pharisees and priests were blinded by their hatred for this new Messiah and their fear that this crucifixion might not silence His message of salvation by grace.  Jesus’ disciples might also have been blinded, believing that His death would be the end of the hope He had given.  Today we sometimes stand before the cross and cannot see the Lamb of God who has died so that we might live.  We are blinded by our doubts and troubles.  “Can God really help me?” we ask.  “Does He really have the answers that I need?”  How wonderful it would be if our eyes were always open to see that Jesus died for me!  For my sins.  For my troubles.  For my doubts.  For my fears.

Holy Spirit, open our eyes and hearts to proclaim with the centurion, “Surely He was the Son of God!”

In Christ,

Pastor