Jut some morning ramblings.

 I sit on the porch this morning, knowing that today will be an unbearably hot day. Tomorrow is going to be even worse. I sit and watch the sun rise and the birds sing. It truly is a lovely morning. Yet there are those things that are not so lovely. It is hot. It is dry. The grass is starting to turn brown, which is mighty early in the summer to have that happen. The crops in the fields are starting to be in distress for lack of water. 

Then I look off to the southwest. There is a large white cloud that continues to build. The sun shines off the cloud. The birghtness reminds me of the even of Jesus' transfiguration where we are told that Jesus garments shown like the sun, whiter than the whiteness made by bleaching them. That cloud was bright, white and amazing. Under that cloud, there would be rain. Rain that is watering the earth. Rain that is refreshing the earth, the plants, and the people. And while it might not be rain right here, at this place, where I want it, I give thanks to God. He is opening His hand and bringing relief to those who receive the refreshing rain.

Should I grumble that I do not get the rain here? My sinful, selfish nature would say, "Yes." After all, why should they receive rain when we need it over here? Why should their crops be refreshed when our crops over here need it? Why should I not see the rain, when I want it? Then I stop, think about it, and realize, I am only thinking of me. Instead of rejoicing that someone is getting rain, I am grumbling that I am not. How selfish of me. But what about...wait a moment, who are you thinking of? Me. Of course, me. Only me. How things affect me. How I want things. How I think it should be. How I want to be the one who receives. Me, me, me. 

We live very self-centered lives. Sin makes it that way. In most situations, we are looking out only for ourselves. Even when we try to say we are looking out for others, it often still comes back to "me." 

The Lord does not look at things that way. Instead, He looks out for "you." That is shown as He sends His Son into the world. Not for Himself but for you and me. He lives here on earth, not for Himself, but for you and me. He cares for those around Him. He watches over them. He loves them. Even when they are being self-centered, He still loves them. Thankfully it is that way. For I am so often self-centered and He still loves me.

He suffered and died for you and me. He went through that terrible agony of carrying the fullness of the Law, not because of anything He had done, but because of everything you and I have done. He took your place, my place and He was laid in the grave for you and me. He did it all, not for Himself, but for sinners who love only themselves. 

Then He rose! He rose from the dead! Imagine that. Why? Not for Himself. Not to help Himself. Not because He did not want to be dead. He rose for you and me. He rose and then said, "Because I rose from the grave, because I conquered death, you will too. Death shall not defeat you. Death shall not overcome you. He will rise and live with Me eternally." What amazing love. How unselfish of Him. 

Thank the Lord! that he was so unselfish. Thank the Lord for the new life and the new hope He gives. It might be raining over Rockport way, but I know, that is ok. That is what the Lord desired this day. Will He bring us rain? When it is time. I find that I wait patiently on the Lord. As I do, I rejoice in the whiteness of a storm cloud that reminds me of the purity of the Lord and the love He has for me. 

Then, as the heat builds, I will retreat into the air conditioned comfort and thank the Lord, that I can be comfortable. Now, let us go about our day, thinking of others, thanking the Lord and rejoicing in the air-cooled comfort. 

June begins

 It is June! Can you believe it? June is here, which means we are fast approaching the halfway point of 2021. After 2020, with all the shut downs, the covid things, and the like, it seemed like it was a slow year. Looking back it did go quickly, but during the year, it dragged. This year is not dragging. It is flying by. Thank You Lord that the shut down stuff of last year has been being lifted.

The lifting of the requirements of the covid shut down has made it possible for the LWML to have the national convention in Lexington, KY, during this month. At first it was going to be limited. There was a waiting list. Then it was lifted. Those on the waiting list were welcomed in. And we are going to have a "normal" convention. Perhaps by the time convention arrives, the mask mandate will be lifted. That would make me happy. I hated the mask. I know that there were those that needed them, to protect themselves because of their health issues. I did not always agree with the way masks were used. I am now thankful that it has become an option you have to decide for yourself rather than being told that you have to wear it no matter what. Now comes the vaccination issues. Will you be forced to show a vaccine card to fly, to go into a store, to buy concert tickets? Time will tell. I hope not. 

I look foward to this month. VBS starts today. The LWML convention is at the end of the month. Warm weather. Sitting on the porch. Enjoying the days. Summer time. I love summer time. This spring has been crazy, up and down, warm and cold, cold and warm, typical spring weather which I hope is now behind us. 

Foggy today. Very foggy. Dew point and temperature are the same. I think of the fog that people walk in as they don't have the Spirit leading them. Lost in the fog, they wander aimlessly, or they rush headlong into those things that will hurt or destroy them. I pray that the Fog will be lifted. And that folks will see the clear path and the Good Shepherd who is there to lead them.

Ascending on high. Were they listening?

 Standing on the hill outside of Bethany, the disciples were listening to Jesus. He was talking with them. They did not know it at the time, but that was the last time that they would hear the voice of Jesus. Were they listening? Were they looking around at the things going on in the world?  Were they checking their phone to see what was going on? Perhaps they were taking a selfie and tagging themselves so that other would know what they were doing. (All right, that last one is a modern application that would not have happened then.) But were they listening to Jesus?

Why do I ask that? Because it is easy for us to let our minds wander when we are in certain situations - at church when the Word is being read, at prayer time, during the sermon...How often does you mind wander at those times? Perhaps it was a long night and you are feeling tired. Perhaps you are thinking about the things that are going to be going on later that day.

The disciples with Jesus outside of Bethany. Listening to Jesus talk. "You are my witnesses in Jerusalem..." Jesus drones on. He is talking about things He has talked about before. Can't He say something new? Maybe He will, so I should begin listening again. Wait a moment, what is happening? Jesus is starting to rise up off the ground. He is rising into the air. Wait Jesus, where are you going? I should have listened closer to what He was saying. Could you repeat that? I didn't catch it all. Hey, Jesus, You are getting much higher. Wait! Don't go! I want to hear more. I was not listening close enough. I need You to... wait, where did You go? That cloud, hid You from my sight. Where are You? Looking around at the other disciples, they were doing the same thing, looking into the sky, where Jesus had gone. Looking up, He is gone. Gone! Where did He go? Perhaps if we stand here long enough, He will come back.

What? Leave me alone! Someone is tapping me on the shoulder. Turning around, there is a man in white. No, there are two men in white. Where did they come from? Who are they? Why do you stand looking up into the sky? they ask. Why? Jesus just went into the sky. We are waiting for Him to come back. Now, leave us alone.

No, He is not coming back now. He will come back again, but you won't know when. When He does, it will be on the clouds. He will come as King victorious. He will come and it will be the Day of the Lord. It will be the Last Day. Heaven and earth will come to an end. The resurrection will happen. 

But I want to hear His voice again. I was not paying close enough attention. Why can He not be here now?

Imagine being there on the hill outside of Bethany. If you knew it was the last time you would heart the Word, would you pay closer attention? Each day is that way. Who knows what today might bring? Live each day as though this was the last time you would have the opportunity to hear the Word of God, the last opportunity to join with fellow believers in hearing the Word and receiving the Sacrament. Take it in. Be like a sponge, soaking in as much of it as possible. I know, life gets in the way. We get distracted. We get busy. We think we will always have another chance. Maybe the disciples thought that too. But they did not. They no longer could hear the voice of Jesus. They probably wished they had listening closer. What about you?

The Good Shepherd

 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...many of ou probably know where that comes from and could probably continue on with it. It is Psalm 23. What a blessed Psalm it is (then again, each of the Psalms are a blessing for us in our lives). Psalm 23 is probably one of the best known passages of Scripture, ranking up there with John 3:16. 

I write this on Sunday, April 25. Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter. On this Sunday in the Church Year, we remember that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11) He is the Good Shepherd who watches over us each day. He is the One who is there for us, when the devil comes, seeking to devour us. He is there for us as the world around us seeks to lead us astray, onto the paths that do not lead to life eternal. He is the One who is with us day after day, night after night, every minute of the day.

Unfortunately, we often stray away from the Shepherd and the path of eternal life. We see that tuft of grass on the other side of the path (a temptation), and we wander off after it. We really don't even think about what that temptation might do to us in our lives. All we can think of is that we really think that temptation is going to be so wonderful that we just can't live without it. In truth, we cannot live with it. Wandering from the path into sin, leads only to death and damnation. 

That is why we need this Good Shepherd. He seeks us out. He comes to us in our sin. He finds where we have strayed to. He looks for us where we have willingly gone to because we wanted to sin instead of following Him. That is our Good Shepherd.

Not only does He seek us out in our sinfulness, He gives up His life for us. That is the most glorious thing about Good Shepherd Sunday in the middle of the season of Easter. The Good Shepherd faced the devil, the world and our sinful nature as He went to the cross, to suffer and die for us. He destroyed the power of the grave over us as He rose victorious from the dead. The Good Shepherd has laid down His life and took it up again for us, for our salvation. 

The Good Shepherd, crucified, died and risen, is there to lead us day after day. He is leading each one of us, as we are the sheep of His pasture. (I just want to be a sheep, baa, baa, baa - if you know the song, it will resonate through your thoughts at this point.) Following the Good Shepherd is the most wonderful thing that can happen in our lives. Listening to His voice, we find comfort in the midst of all this chaos in the world today. We hear Him speaking words of peace and comfort to us. And we follow Him.

I encourage you to read Psalm 23 again today. It is the Introit for this Sunday. I encourage you to read John 10 once again. Yes, a portion of that will be the Gospel reading today. And I encourage you to follow the Good Shepherd today and throughout this week. I will be right there with you. Baa!

Spring brings...so much

 Sunshine! Oh how it makes you feel so much better. Don't you just love seeing the sun rise each morning? As I sit here looking out the window, I see that it is going to be a nice day. At least it is starting out that way. It is cool out, true. But it is also going to be such sunny day. 

Sunshine and spring brings - grass cutting. Yes, it is that time again. Have you mowed your grass already? Or have you had someone else mow your grass? We have not. But it looks like it is going to be time to mow. After that first time of mowing, the season is on. Week after week, the lawn will need to be mowed. It won't stop growing. So with the first pull of that rope, the turn of the key, the sitting on the seat or pushing of that handle, it will be at least 6 more months of mowing. Keep that in mind! Over and over again, you will need to have the yard mowed. 

I am glad to see things getting green. I am happy to see the flowers blooming. I am thrilled to see the trees leafing out. The new life - wait, that makes me think of another new life - a new life that is given through my risen Lord Jesus Christ! As we celebrate Easter (celebrating day after day), the new life given through the living Lord Jesus Christ is a blessing. Rejoice! Jesus is alive! And because Jesus is alive, you live as well. Through faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the living Lord, you are assured that each day you are not alone. Christ is with you. He lives for you. He gives you forgiveness, strength in life, and peace in knowing that when this life comes to an end (which it will), you will live forever with Him in heaven. And the day will come when this frail body will rise from the dead and will no longer be frail and weak. It will be glorified and sinless. Living with the Lord forever! What a blessing that is for each one of us.

Step our onto your porch and listen to the birds. Look up into the sky, and see the beauty of the blue. Look at the bushes and trees and celebrate new life. And then, say a prayer of thanks to the Lord for the new day. Excuse me, I think I will step outside. Have a great day.

The Emotions of Easter

 "Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!"  On Easter Sunday, our congregation (and probably most Lutheran congregations across the country), sang that hymn. We began with darkness, "Go to Dark Gethsemane," and the reading from John 20. Then the lights came up, the bells rang, the Christ candle was lit, and the peace of Christ was shared among those present. And then, the brass began. Hearts swelled, and the organ joined with the brass and we began to sing. What a glorious moment it was!

As we began singing that first verse, the emotions of the day came rushing into my heart and mind. It became difficult to sing. Tears welled in my eyes (yes, as a guy, I am admitting that). My heart was overwhelmed with the message of the day. Jesus Christ is risen! He is alive! And at that moment, that message came to life. As the song continued, I was able to join in with singing. Praising God for the wonderful message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

Jesus is alive! He who was crucified, who died, and was buried, came back to life on that Sunday morning. In His resurrection, He said to us, "As I live, you shall live also." I know for sure that I am saved by grace through faith, faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ. I know that when I die, I will be with my Lord in heaven. I know that when Jesus returns on the last day, this body, which will be buried in the ground due to death (unless He returns before I die), will rise from the dead. It will be glorified. I will physically enter into heaven, body and soul, sinless, made whole, just as Jesus said that it will happen. 

I praise God for the assurance, the life, the hope that this message gives to me and all people. Believe in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, and you too shall be saved and shall live forever with Him in eternity. The message is sure. I can go through my day with an assurance that I have a living Lord guiding and strengthening me. I want everyone to know this good news. I want everyone to know that as terrible as things can get in this world and life, there is hope to be found in Jesus Christ. 

I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead, He lives my ever living Head. Thank You Jesus, for rising from the dead and giving to me and all who believe in You, hope, strength, comfort and peace. 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Waiting with anticipation

 Saturday is a day of waiting. A day of anticipation. A day of...

Let me step back for a moment. Today is Saturday, April 3, 2021. What does that mean? It means that for me as a Christian, it is Holy Saturday, the day that comes between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the day when Jesus Christ was handed over to the Romans by the rulers of the Jews, put on trial before Pilate, condemned to die and was crucified. He was hung upon that cursed cross. It was meant to cause Him to suffer. It was also meant to cause Him to die. You did not hang anyone on a cross and then take them down before they died. The cross was meant to kill. Period. So on Good Friday, Jesus died (no it wasn't called Good Friday then). He was then taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimethea and then laid in the tomb. He was left in that stone cold tomb, wrapped in cloths and spices, a corpse, with no life, left to decompose. That was Friday.

We know that on Sunday, the 1st day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead. He came back to life. He did not decompose like they thought He would. He did not remain in the tomb like they expected Him to. He rose. He came back to life. When He did, He kept His wounds as a way to show who He was (remember that it took Thomas seeing and touching those wounds for him to believe it was Jesus). Other than that, Jesus did not look like a person who had been dead and came back to life. What did He look like? Like Jesus, except with the scars in His hands and feet and the hole in His side. 

Good Friday and Easter Sunday - between them lies Holy Saturday. What happens the is day? It is a day of waiting and a day of anticipation. We wait for Easter, though we know it is coming. We anticipate the excitement of Easter morning. And yet, we must wait. 

Waiting with anticipation - that describes the life of the Christian. We wait in anticipation for the moment when we will pass from this life to that eternal life in heaven. We wait in anticipation for the resurrection that will take place when Jesus returns. We wait in anticipation for the return of Jesus. We wait in eager anticipation all through our lives. 

And as we wait, we have an assurance. That is that Jesus is alive. He is in heaven. He is interceding for us to the Father. He is with us. He is forgivening us. He is watching over us. We are never left alone with Jesus being right there with us. We are assured that of this. And it helps us each and every day. It lifts us up. It encourages us. It carries us. It fills us. A living Jesus gives to us the confidence to face each day - with all the ups and downs, goods and bads, health and sickness, joy and sorrow. 

All of that is because Jesus rose from the dead. In Him we have everything that we need. 

But today, we wait in eager anticipation. It is Holy Saturday. Good Friday happened. Easter is coming. And we wait in anticipation.