Monday, August 31, 2015

8-31-2015



 Good Morning All!!                       
         Amos 5:24; “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
    Have you ever used, or heard your parents use, the phrase “the proof is in the pudding?”  Did you ever stop and think what on earth this could possibly mean?  “The proof is in the pudding”; what proof and where is this pudding?  What are we proving and what kind of pudding?  Is it proof as in the photographs you get to see if you like them or proof as in what a mathematician would do?  Is it chocolate or bread pudding?
    The phrase is a contraction of the original phrase which was “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”  At least this makes some sense.  It starts at least in the 1600’s and meant that the goodness of the pudding is in the eating.  It is not so much what the pudding looks like or what the cook claims; what matters is what it tastes like.  In many ways our faith is the same way.  We can tell the world that we are Christian, we can dress like a Christian but the proof of our faith is in our actions.  The observable element of our faith is how we treat others especially those who are oppressed, poor or needy.
     We are to “do justice.”  Justice is a verb; it is something which we must actively seek and engage in.  We cannot have a true relationship with God if we continue to cheat or exploit our neighbor.  God’s Spirit, active in our heart, leads us to desire the good things, as in peace, joy, self-control, love, patience, etc.  God’s Spirit, active in our life, moves us to act.  God’s Spirit moves us to feel compassion on our fellow man and then to show that compassion and it is an active compassion.  It is not enough to say, I harmed no one” rather we must say “I helped someone.”  This is what it means to be committed to justice; this is what it means to be active. 
     Simple words are not enough, God calls us to action.  God calls us to be active in this world bringing the healing that Jesus began.  The underlying understanding of justice is that all humans possess basic rights and obligations given to us by God at creation.  It is not for us, as God’s creatures, to deny, renege or destroy these rights and obligations.  These fundamental rights include life, respect, honor and value.  The obligations are to see to it that all people are given these and that all of creation is protected and respected.  It is not ours to decide who receives respect or life and who does not; this is God’s decision.  We are to act; we are to do justice.  We are to have compassion on the weak and the needy, the lost and the hurting.  We are to bring healing and reconciliation to the broken and the downtrodden.  We are to be active agents of God’s mercy.
Father, we witness so much pain in this world.  We see the broken souls and the despondent spirits.  We see our hurting neighbor.  Move us by your mighty Spirit to bring about your healing.  Lead us to have the same compassion as Jesus.  Lead us to honor and cherish all life as a gift from you.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret    

Sunday, August 30, 2015

8-30-2015



 Good Morning All!!                       
          Genesis 1:26; “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
    How well do you prepare for a trip?  Most people put some effort into it.  They plan on where they are going.  They calculate what method of transportation they will use.  They calculate the type of clothing that they will need.  They calculate how they will obtain food.  They usually make plans for where they will sleep if the trip is longer than a day.  They make allowances for taking care of pets, plants and the mail.  They might even plot out a map or else make sure the GPS is working and the updates are current.  Sometimes they even include a timed itinerary of where they will be and when they will be at any given time.
    As we look at creation, we can see many different nuances to our human existence.  One that I hope we see is the significance of man being created last.  We can see it in a couple of ways.  First, man is God’s crowning creature.  We are created in God’s image, in God’s likeness and given dominion over creation.  We are entrusted with the honor and responsibility of caring for creation.  This is a truly awe inspiring task.  Yet as we contemplate the depth of this task, we should also notice something else.  By creating man last, God placed everything that man would need in place for his future journey.
    God placed it all there, prior to the creation of man.  He created the land and the day cycle.  He created the animals, the plants and the sea creatures and had everything in place and then created man, in his image, to care for the rest of creation.  God had everything in place as he breathed life into man.  Just as God laid out everything that Adam would need; he lays everything out for you as well.
    As we go through our journey, we can take comfort in the fact that God has prepared the journey for us to walk and placed on that path the many things that we will need.  As we go, we can know with all certainty that God accompanies us in the face.  We can take comfort in the fact that, even though we may not see the pathway clearly, God does and provides for us through all the ups and downs of the pathway ahead.  We can go forward both confident that our journey continues to always be in God’s loving hands and at peace that he has provided for us.
Gracious Father, thank you for providing for all my needs.  Thank you for sending Jesus to provide for my salvation and your Holy Spirit to be my companion on the journey.  Give me the boldness to speak your word and to trust your direction.  Bring those who are lost and unsure of their way under your benevolent care.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret     

Saturday, August 29, 2015

8-29-2015



Good Morning All!!                       
          Romans 16:25; “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages”
     As one of the requirements for being ordained, I had to have an interview or personal examination with one of the professors at the seminary.  We agreed on a time when I would be on campus.  The seminary at St. Louis is consists of some very old buildings along with some very modern buildings.  The offices of the instructors are in an old majestic building.  The instructor’s office was room 114.  That should be easy enough.  I walked in the door on the east side of the building and found a hallway with lots of doors.  I found room 101 and room 102 so I continued down the hall and came to room 108 and ran into wall and out of rooms.  I went out of the building and around to the other end and found a hallway and room 132 so I headed down the hall and came to room 120 and hit another (the same?) wall.
    At the end of the hall was a set of steps that went up so I went up and found a hallway and a bunch of rooms except these were 218, 216 and so on.  I looked at the directory and the instructor’s name was listed by room 114 but where that room was; was a total mystery to me.  As I was about to surrender, I met one of the instructors from a previous class.  He could see my perplexed look.  I told him I was looking for room 114.  He laughed and told me this was one of the tests at the seminary to find the rooms 109-119.  He told me to go through the door at the end of the hall.  There was a set of stairs that went down to rooms 109-119.  I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have looked there.
    The only way I could solve the mystery of finding this room was to have the answer revealed to me.  This is exactly how the word “mystery” is used in the Bible.  When the Bible speaks of the mystery, it is referring to a truth that can only be known because it was revealed to you.  The Gospel of Jesus, his death and resurrection, giving life to all who believe, has to be revealed to us.  Jesus revealed this truth to his disciples who revealed it to others who revealed it to someone else until it eventually was revealed to you.  It is no mystery to you for it has been revealed to you but to those around you, who do not know the story of the Gospel of Jesus; it is still hidden to them.  It is your chance to clear up the mystery to them.  It is your opportunity to reveal this great truth.
    So look for chances to reveal the mystery.  Reveal it to your family and friends, to your co-workers and neighbors.  Jesus invites you to share the meaning of the mystery; share it with someone today.
Gracious Father, you have revealed the mystery of faith to me through your saints here on earth.  Move me to reach out and reveal your great love to those I meet, especially to those who are in need of your words of comfort.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret     

Friday, August 28, 2015

8-28-2015

        Good Morning All!!                 
          2 Timothy 4:17; “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
    Most of us like a little help along the way.  Whenever we face something new, we like someone we know to be with us.  This is what many college freshmen experience.  They are almost always happier when there is someone they know present in the new dorm or the new class; someone to show them around the campus the first few days.  This just goes to show that in many ways we never grow up as mom or dad often times had to walk them through kindergarten the first couple of times and maybe middle school then high school if it is in different building.  We don’t like to face things by ourself.
     This is especially true as the event we are facing increases in stress level.  Going to the doctor for tests of an unknown complaint can be unnerving.  Facing an unruly crowd as a commissioner or school board member can be difficult; if you have someone beside you it can make the task a little easier.  Our verse is from Paul’s last letter and he is explaining how he faced the Roman tribunal all alone.  No one stood there with him.  He faced the heat alone.  Even when you are as strong as Paul was; standing all by yourself is hard to do. 
     Yet the Spirit moved Paul to remember; he remembered the words that Jesus told his disciples.  He remembered the phrase, “lo, I am with you always.”  He remembered the phrase, “do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”  Paul remembered he was never alone.  Even though he didn’t see his companion; his companion was actually his champion.  Jesus stood with him and this knowledge; this certainty gave him the peace and the confidence to face the challenge before him.    
     We can have that same peace.  We may never face a tribunal as Paul did but we might face the loss of a spouse or a child.  We might face the battle of depression or other emotional and mental stresses and, ultimately; we will face death alone.  Yet it is at this time that God has promised to give to us that greatest of great victories; life eternal in his presence.  All the joy and glory will be ours as we share in the peace of God’s eternal kingdom.  We receive the crown of righteousness and are forever joined with the Lord.
Gracious Lord and Savior, because of your mercy, I am never alone.  All that I face you are with me.  Keep me confident of this knowledge.  Keep me secure in your loving arms.  Guide my speech when I need to speak and still my heart so that fear will not overtake me.  Be with those who fear the coming events.  Calm their spirits that they may know your peace and hope.  In your precious name we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret

Thursday, August 27, 2015

8-27-2015



Good Morning All!!                       
     Job 23:3; “If only I knew where I could find God!  I would go where he lives.”
      This might not make a lot of sense to some of you but there was a time not too long ago when trying to find out where someone lived was a chore in rural America.  Most people’s mailing address was a box number and really gave you little idea of where the physical address was.  You could purchase a thing called a “plot book” that showed the ownership of the land but those were expensive.  Then we were given what was called an “E911” address.  Each road was numbered and each physical address had a number.  All of a sudden, you could drive right to anyone’s farm with only the address to find it.  Now when you call in a fire or need an ambulance, you have to tell them “55512 994 Street” and not “the old Smith place”.   Personally, I liked it when the only way to find me was for you to ask me.  Now, when you add in GPS; anybody can find anywhere.
    Sometimes finding people is easy but sometimes it is hard.  Sometimes people don’t want to be found so they do things to make it difficult to find them.  They might move often or they may only have a post office box so their actual location is hidden.  If they really want to hide; they change their name and do their best to hide their trail oftentimes using cash instead of credit cards or checks.  Of course sometimes the reason it is hard to find someone is because we are looking in the wrong place.
    Often times we read or hear of people speaking about “trying to find God.”  You almost get the impression that it is kind of like finding Waldo; somehow God is hidden in a picture that is difficult to see.  The truth is very different.  If you want to find God you need to look for him where he said he would be and that is in his Word and in his sacraments.  When you look for him there, you will find him.  When you approach him in the reverence of his Word and call upon him faithfully, he will be with you.  He has promised this in his Word, the Bible.  It is here that God is found.
    So if you can’t “find” God, first make sure you are looking in the right place.  You won’t find him in the butler closet waiting to bow to your every demand.  You won’t find him in the wishing well waiting for your shiny penny.  He is where he said he would be and that is speaking to us through his Word, calling us to repent of our sin and to be faithful to his Word.  That is where we will find God.  We may not find the answers that we want to find; our selfish desires and motives are not always the best for us and these desires may not follow God’s will.  Yet God invites us to be his family, to be his children.  God invites us to rest safely and securely in his arms.  This is where we find our peace and our hope.
Father of all mercy, lead me to find you.  Guide me to your Holy Scriptures.  Help me to listen to your Words that I might cling to your grace.  Lead me to find in you the peace that the world does not know.  Give to me your holy rest.  In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret