In Focus or Not?

This morning (Friday) the sunrise was spectacular. I know that we live in the middle of the country, the "flyover" part of this great country. There are some (and yes, I am generalizing) that think to get a truly spectacular sunrise, you need to go to the mountains or ocean or even Hawaii. When we went to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary, we did see some mighty spectacular sunrises (or at least I did). But I believe that we can get some really great Midwest sunrises as well. This morning was an example of that.

Here is the way it looked this morning. I don't feel that you could take a brush and canvass and make something so beautiful.

So there I was taking pictures of the sunrise, as you would expect if you know me. Then I saw our wind chime. We have several wind chimes but this one caught my eye. So I decided to take a picture of it.

I wanted to get the beauty of the sunrise in the background, so this is the outcome. As I looked at the picture, I felt uncomfortable. I wondered why. Then I realized it was because the cross was out of focus. I was focusing on the beauty of nature and not on the cross. So I took another one.

 I know that it isn't as good as the first one because the cross was spinning in the gentle morning breeze, I still liked it better. Why? Because the cross was in focus.

Then I thought, isn't that the problem we have in our world? We focus on the beauty of the world, and there is nothing wrong with that, but often, it is at the cost of the cross. Many people would take the 1st picture of just the sunrise with nothing in the way of it, and call it a day. That is the way of the world in general. Remove the cross, remove God, remove Christ from the picture and just focus on nature. In doing so, they forget the Creator and Sustainer. They have left out the One who made the heavens and the earth.

Others would take the 2nd picture figuring that at least they have Christ/the cross in the picture. Isn't it good enough to put Him in your life, even if you don't focus on Him. Isn't that how we are to live? Why do we need to focus on Christ anyway. Put Him somewhere just not at the center, not in focus, not that which guides your life. Good enough?  Yet, not everyone that says "Lord, Lord, will enter into heaven." To place Him on the side, in the back pocket, like a lucky charm, is not faith. That is just kidding yourself.

The last picture shows how we are to live our lives - seeing everything, doing everything, through the cross of Christ. Living as that redeemed child of God, a person of faith will have the cross in focus in all things of life. In many ways, that is what it means to live as a Christian steward. You live your life, focused on Christ, and letting everything run through Him, through faith in Him. All you say, all you do, all you think - focused on Christ.

And that, was the lesson I was taught by the sunrise this morning. I repented of those times I have removed Christ from the picture. I confessed those times that I had Christ out of focus, on the sidelines in my life. I thanked God for the times that the Holy Spirit, through Word and Sacrament, has guided me to keep Christ at the center of my life and in focus. Yes, I learned a lot from the beautiful Midwestern sunrise this morning.

Give the Gift of Life

 That is the slogan that is used by the Red Cross (at least I think it is the Red Cross) when it advertises a blood drive. Here at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Troy, there will be a blood drive this week. On Wednesday, August 24, from 3-6:30 p.m. you can come in and give the gift of life. You can donate blood. It is an important thing for you to do. That blood that you donate may help that person who hurt in a car accident or who is surgery or you name the situation. I have never had to have a blood transfusion but I know many different people who have, members of the congregations I have served. I visit them in the hospital and there is the bag of blood hanging on the pole, the little machine delivering the right amount of blood through the plastic tube that runs to their arms or to the port in their body. It is important. It is vital. It is giving the gift of life to that person.

I would encourage you to give blood on Wednesday. Sign up on line, call the church office, show up the day of the blood drive, whatever. If you are able, give blood. It is the gift of life.

There is another that gave blood as the gift of life as well. (Did you really think I was going to be done so easily?) That one gave blood as He hung upon a cross. By the shedding of His blood, Jesus Christ gave the gift of life. "In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7 ESV) Jesus went to the cross to shed His blood for you and me. He gave His blood as the price of paying our sins. Through His blood, we are given life. "...knowing that you were not ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV) Redeemed through the blood of the Lamb, through the blood of Christ - that truly is the gift of life.

Then we receive the gift of life each time that we receive the Lord's Supper. There in the supper is the body and blood of our Savior in, with and under the bread and wine. Jesus said to us, "Drink of it all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28 ESV) There is wonder in the Sacrament. There, each week, we are given the gift of life.

We cannot save another as Christ saved us. But we can take steps to do our part. That is why we have blood drives. Give the gift of life for someone else. And remember, as you do, Christ has already given you the gift of life.

What or Who Affects Your Life

I was sitting here this morning wondering to myself, "What affects my life?" Another question is "Who affects my life?" I know, I could ask those questions better but that is what I am thinking. What or who affects me?

The answer to that depends on the situation. I know that it shouldn't, but it is true. We often surround ourselves with people who think the same as we do. The reason? That way the answers we get to questions or the guidance we get in a certain situation will be what we want to hear. The last thing we want is for someone to tell us that we shouldn't go the direction we are going. After all, we can achieve or become who or what we want.

We often confuse ourselves with that statement. If we can dream it, we can do it. To a point, this is true. We see that at the Olympics. So many people with dreams seeing them come true. But then again, only the top 3 receive medals. The rest go home with the memories of what a great time it was and the realization that they didn't win. Do you actually think that anyone goes to the Olympics thinking, "It doesn't matter that I don't win. At least I get to go." Perhaps, but everyone dreams of that one event that they suddenly break through the barrier and are the underdog that wins the gold away from the superstar that was expected to win. But I digress.

I was thinking about daily life. The temptations that we have in our daily lives to do that which we know is not right. Those temptations to sin. Big sins, little sins, big lies, little white lies - doesn't matter, we are tempted to do them. (I can hear the argument that all sins are the same in God's eyes and you would be correct. But I am talking about the way we view the sins.) In those moments of temptations, who or what affects your decision? Do you surround yourself with the Word of God? Have you put on the whole armor of God? Or do you surround yourself with others who don't put the Word first? Are you listening to the Spirit of God or the spirit of the world? This truly makes a difference.

If it is a temptation you really like, you will listen to those who tell you to "go for it." Then you listen and do it. "It is only a little thing that no one will know about and doesn't change what goes on in the big scheme of things." Perhaps it is a really big temptation and yet you still want it. What happens when the Word of God steps up and says, "Nope. That is wrong." Do you listen?

My point is this: that with which you surround yourself will guide your decision. The person who is looking to purchase drugs will not stop and talk with a police officer to see if it is a good decision. The person looking to have an affair will not talk it over with the spouse or with someone who is content and happy in a marriage relationship. In both cases, that would really put a damper on the activity. No, you surround yourself with like minded people, hoping they will encourage you to continue down the path you are on.

This is why we find that the Lord tells us of the needs to worship, to be fed from Word and Sacrament. For the Spirit will guide our wayward hearts with the truth of the Lord's will. We may not like the guidance because it means we must give up our sinful behavior, but in the end, that is the best thing for us. Like a child who doesn't like listening to mom or dad, we don't always like to listen to the Word of God, but it is best for us.

Worship, Bible study, personal devotions, times of prayer, fellow Christians, people who are guided by the Spirit - I would encourage you to surround yourself in this way. It will help to guide you when you are facing those moments (which come often) when you are tempted. Instead of letting the sinful world guide you, let the Lord guide your decision. (And if you don't, remember to return to the Lord, confessing your sin, asking for forgiveness and guidance.)

Built on the Rock - School Year 2016-2017

Welcome back. That will be said over and over again today at St. Paul's school. The teachers will welcome back the students for another school year. It will be said at schools around the town of Troy and all the neighboring communities as they start up over the next few days.

Welcome. That will be said by teachers who have never had some students before. There are new students in the school - preschool 3 students who are scared to leave mom and dad, preschool 4 students who didn't attend preschool last year, new students in school who are starting fresh at a new school. Welcome.

Yet we say much more than "welcome" or "welcome back." At St. Paul's, we say to the students, "Jesus loves you." That is why the school is here, to proclaim the love of Christ in the classroom while teaching the students the wonders of this created world.

It is upon this Rock that we build our school year. "You are the Christ, the Son of God," Peter proclaims to Jesus. "Upon this rock (Jesus Christ), I will build my Church," Jesus responds. The Rock is none other than our Savior Jesus Christ. We build each day upon the Rock. We build the classroom on the Rock. We build our lives on the Rock.

This is going to be a great school year, not because we are so great, but because our Savior is so great. When we build upon Him, it will be great. There will be times of sorrow. There will be failures. There will be frustrations. AND there will be joys. There will be victories. There will those times when the student suddenly "gets it."

No matter what happens this year, we build on the Rock. We build on Christ. He forgives. He strengths. He blesses. He guides. It truly is all about Christ. Built on Him, the Rock. We move forward.

Built on the Rock - school year 2016-2017. There is no better place for us to build.

Running About? Settled Down - a sermon

On Thursday, June 16, 2016, I preached this sermon at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Here it is in it's entirely.

I have a chocolate lab who is 10 months old. That’s right, only 10 months old. Her name is Wrigley. For those of you who have been around a 10 month old lab, you will understand what is coming.

            I sat on my porch the other morning. It was early. I always like to sit on the porch as I devote and prepare for the day. The sky was beginning to brighten as the sun was peeking over the eastern horizon. The grass was wet with morning dew and the world all around me was beginning to wake up (at least the world as found in Troy, IL). People were starting to head out for the day – to work, to Dunkin’ Donuts, to where ever they might be going. Morning walkers passed by getting their morning exercise before it became too hot later in the day. Children were being dropped off at the daycare. I sat and watched, peacefully listening to the birds sing, the cars pass, the chatter of children and the encouragement of the parents to move along.

            And there was Wrigley, running from one side of the yard to the other, from the east side to the west, stopping at the south to see what was happening there. It wasn’t that she was barking at all that was going on. She was just trying to keep up with everything. She didn’t know if she should chase the bird, watch the car turn the corner or the child climb out of the car. Running, running from side to side, she would bound up the steps of the porch, look at me expectantly. I would scratch her head, speak a few words to her, encouraging her to settle down for a few moments only to find that she was off again. Something had caught her attention. Back and forth she went. She was wearing me out as I watched her.

            Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to the Bible sitting on my lap. I had a task at hand. I had this passage to study, one you just heard a moment ago. I had a sermon to write. Something needed to be preached. Colossians 2:6-15. I was making notes, reading, praying, asking for guidance, looking for direction.

            I noted these amazing words – walk in him

                                                            Rooted

                                                            Built up

                                                            Established…powerful words, yes, these are words to follow, to consider. They would preach well.

But wait….I continued to read – abounding in thanksgiving.

            Who doesn’t need to be thankful? Of course we need to be thankful. “Songs of thankfulness and praise…” ran through my head. Go for it. Preach it! Be thankful!

            Then again – captive to philosophy

                                    Deceit

                                                Human tradition

                                                            Elemental spirits – oooo, there, that is good stuff, powerful stuff. Beware! Don’t let these get you.

            Here comes Wrigley. Bounding across the yard, up the steps, right to my side, eyes bright, tongue hanging out, panting. Another scratch of the head, behind the ear, down the back. “Settle down, Wrigley,” slips from my lips and she is gone. “Crazy dog,” I think. When will she learn?

            “For in him the fullness of the deity dwells bodily…” The incarnation. Who wouldn’t want to preach on the incarnation? “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Alleluia! Praise the Lord. Preach it!

            Then there was the circumcision and uncircumcision – oh, better not go there. That is something that is filled with so much and there are those OT profs at the Sem who would just love to hear me destroy all they taught this last year in a few short minutes. Better not.

            “Buried with him in baptism,” What? Wrigley, don’t you see I am busy. So much good stuff in this text. All right, I will pet you again, reaching down, and she is gone, again, chasing the wind. Look at how silly she is – back and forth, here and there. Why would she be like that? Does she really think she will catch the bird? That truck pulls in every morning and she always barks at it. Wrigley, Wrigley, Wrigley, always running about.

            But wait, “You were raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God”

Powerful working of God – taking this sinner, lost, condemned, useless and worthless that I am, working in him through the Water and Word, giving life, forgiveness, faith, hope and a future. That is the powerful working of God.

            “You were dead in your trespasses.” There it is! See! I think I have found the direction of this text. I will settle there, right there, that is what we need to learn…

            Are you back Wrigley? What did you see now? Won’t you just settle down, quit racing about, chasing the wind, the birds, the walkers and the cars? Won’t one thing keep you occupied? Don’t you see I have a sermon to write? I have found a direction. Leave me alone for a few moments…and there she goes. Once again. Tongue hanging out, panting, gaining? Getting what she needs? Not really, but try stopping a 10 month old lab.

            God made alive with him – yes, alive in Christ. There is it. Wait, haven’t I said that before. I thought I found the direction. This is good. Maybe this is better, chasing again…tongue hanging out, I look further into the text.

            Forgiven – how? Off again. Nailed to the tree. There he goes again, always one more thing, one more direction, one more word or phrase. Can you not settle down? Must you always be running around? I look down, and she lays there, even as I run off again. Another direction. My lab lays quietly at my feet while I chase after the text, rushing here and there.

            “I am preaching at the Seminary on Thursday,” I say. “Give them Christ.” I am told.

What? Wait? What was that? Give them Christ?

            Isn’t that what Paul is doing? Giving Christ. He set aside the throne, and became a man, the fullness of the deity, nailed to the cross…

            My sin,

                        Your sin,

                                    Our chasing after the wind, the wisdom, the deep thoughts

                                                Our looking, seeking

When all along it was right there, in the text, just waiting for me to settle down. To be ready to listen, to sit quietly and wait for the Lord.

            Made alive in Christ, the fullness of the Godhead, given life

                                                                                                Giving forgiveness

                                                                                                            Peace…all through Christ.

Nailed to the cross, triumphing over the tomb, rising to life, ascending to heaven.

            Wrigley lays quietly, panting, tongue hanging out, looking at me as if to say, “Do you get it now?”

            Running after something, even if it is trying to find the purpose of the text, is a chasing after the wind. It is right there all along in the Word – Christ Jesus, God-man, nailed to the tree in order to give life to all.

            Stopping, I sit my Bible down, panting, tongue hanging out, finally settled down and say, “Thank You Lord for the new life, the hope, the forgiveness, the Word, the wonder, the power. It truly is all about you.”

Amen.

Seriously? When did sin become all right?

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 ESV) In our world today, we face the challenge that sin has become acceptable and calling sin a sin is not. It is offensive to people to say that homosexuality is a sin. It is offensive to people to say that a men's bathroom is for males and a women's bathroom is for females. It is offensive to say that to claim that you are no longer the sex that you were born because you feel like you are the opposite sex is an offense to God. It is offensive to say that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. It is offensive to say that which the Lord has said to us in the Bible, and not just your interpretation of the Bible but what it truly says. Everyone has become a Bible scholar and knows what it means, even if they don't follow the Lord, worship Him, be fed by Him in regular times of worship, or follow His will for their life. Then, when a Christian makes a statement, they are called hateful and terrible. They are told that their religion teaches them to hate.

Why? Satan has really pulled the wool over the eyes of our culture. In the U.S.A today we call evil good and good evil. We say that it is all right to sin and not all right to avoid sin. We claim to follow the God of the Bible when it suits our purpose and then claim that the same Bible is wrong when it suits us. We want to say "In God we trust" as long as it suits our lifestyle. When it doesn't, then we want to throw the trust in God out the window and then follow the ways of our sinful nature.

I guess that what the Lord said through Isaiah back in the mid to late 8th century B.C. (not B.C.E. which is also a way to say that we don't follow God in our history and world today). We call evil good and good evil. Homosexuality is good. Heterosexuality is just a way to condemn the homosexual and is a way of hiding our homophobia. Transgender is good. Wanting to keep our children (sons and daughters) and wives safe from having to wonder who is going to step into the same bathroom as them is bad.

The world today says, "You can believe what you want as a Christian, just keep it to yourself." Then it turns around and says, "I will believe that transgender and homosexual lifestyles are acceptable and you have to listen to me shout it from the mountaintop, say it on the TV, promote it on Facebook, and yell it at the top of my lungs from gay pride parades in cities across the nation." Good is evil, evil is good and you must accept it.

That is what the world says. I refuse to accept that. I will stand on that which God says. Evil is evil. Good is good. Right is right and wrong is wrong. How do we know the difference? Be real. We know what is right. That is what the world is trying to crush. That is what the Lord God almighty has said through the Holy Spirit in the Word. I do believe the time has come when "the court outside the temple (is left out), for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months." (Revelation 11:2) Even those who claim to be Christian are trampling the Word of God in their haste to be accepted by the world today.

"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for , but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say,'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us," and to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:28-31 ESV) My friends, that time has come.

A Nugget from Paul

I was reading in Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia. This is an amazing little letter. I know that I say that about each book of the Bible that I read. That is because each one is amazing. I am continually amazed how the Holy Spirit was able to inspire the writers of the books of the Bible, doing exactly what Jesus said He would do: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:16 ESV) He brings into the thoughts of those who He inspired to write the words of what we call the Holy Bible. I am fascinated that through the several thousand years it took for all these books to be written, there was one central focus - the coming of the Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. How amazing is that? (How many times can I use "amazing" in one paragraph?)

Anyway, I was reading in Galatians and read this little verse (along with many other verses), "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10 ESV) Whom am I, as a pastor, trying to please? Whom am I, as a Christian, trying to please? That really is a tough question that should challenge each one of us. The answer is actually quite simple. I am trying to please God.

Yet, as I give that answer, I find that I am challenged each day because it is so difficult to follow through with this thought. For if I am working to please God, there will be times when I do not please man. In today's world, it seems that the focus of each day is to make every person happy, to not offend anyone and to live in such a way that we do not cause anyone to be upset with us and our actions. People are so quickly offended. If you say one thing, people will be offended. Yet if you say the opposite, other people will be offended. How do I make each of them happy? I don't say anything.

Really? I am not to say anything at all? Then how can I be a Christian? How can I be a pastor? As a Christian, I am called to tell the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, even if I was not a pastor, I am still called in my life to tell the message of the Gospel. That Gospel is going to offend someone. To say that Jesus is the only way to salvation means that those who do not believe in Jesus will not be saved. That is offensive to those who don't believe in Jesus as their Savior. To say that God has called each one of us to a life of purity and morality based upon His Word, is to offend those who do not want to live a life based on God's Word. (Or they try to find some way to twist and turn God's Word to fit their corrupt and sinful lifestyles.)

What is the point here? The point is that in the end, we are called to live out our lives for God and not for man. We are to reach out to those around us with the message of the Gospel. We are to help those in need. We are to love all people with the love of Christ. We are to share with those who are less fortunate. Yet through it all, we are still be focused on living, acting and talking in a way that pleases God and not man. Is this easy? No it isn't. My heart wants to be liked by all people. As a person, I want all people to like me. As a pastor, I know that isn't going to be the case. If I point out a sinful action to someone, they may become offended. Does that mean I stop pointing out the sinful action? No. I must still do just that.

That is important in such debates as transgender bathrooms, homosexual lifestyles, alcohol abuse, emotional abuse, abortion and end-of-life issues and a whole host of other hot button topics in today's world. Is it easy? No it isn't. Is it welcome in the world today? No it isn't.

That didn't stop Paul. It didn't stop the early Christians in the 1st & 2nd centuries. It shouldn't stop Christians in the 21st century. Lord, guide me that I may live to please you and not man. I need the Spirit's help and guidance in this life. Forgive me when I am unloving and uncaring. Forgive me when I fail and seek to please man instead of You.