Fixing Problems (or at least trying to)

Someone contacted me a moment ago to let me know that they were unable to play the audio of last Sunday's sermon because they needed PERMISSION or something.  I hadn't intended there to be that problem.  It is fixed now.  I apologize and am GRATEFUL to the person who pointed out the problem!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Many times we can fix problems if someone mentions them.  Many times we don't know if there is a problem unless someone speaks up.  That is true in so many ways.  For example, as we have been dealing with "issues" in our church recently I haven't known that some people were feeling uncared for and even rejected.  We've found out that is true, now, and we can begin to take steps to correct it.  But that "fix" will probably take longer.  We human beings are much more complex than an internet access issue!

In any case, THANK YOU to all the brave souls who let us know when something is awry. 

www.equalsharing.com

When All Is Lost (audio)

Preliminary preaching notes for the Feb. 7 sermon "When All Is Lost" were already posted Saturday evening.

Here you can find links to the audio and, below that, the key Bible texts.  When we admit we are lost, then God can do great and wondrous things with us, lifting us and giving us new life, new purpose, and new love.

• Click HERE to listen to the 8:30 a.m. sermon.
  
  
• Click HERE for the 11:00 -- it includes the song "Here I Am, Lord" following the message.  It also includes a 30 second GAP about 1/3 of the way through... that's where the tape was flipped over... sorry about that. 

Before each I read the Gospel from Luke 5:1-11 where Jesus calls Peter, James and John to follow him so they can "catch people." In that story there's a point where Peter sees God's power at work and falls to the ground, saying "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

A similar sentiment is heard in the "second reading" for the day from First Corinthians 15:1-11--a passage of witness to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead where Paul calls himself "unfit" to be one of Jesus chosen apostles.

But the key text for the sermon is from Isaiah 6:

¹ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ² Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." ⁴ The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

⁵ And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

⁶ Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷ The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

⁹ And he said, "Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.' ¹⁰ Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed."

¹¹ Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; ¹² until the LORD sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land. ¹³ Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.

www.equalsharing.com

Carried Through the Waiting

As I'm preparing in my office this morning, I'm listening to KTIS radio.  I just heard two WONDERFUL songs...

One is "While I'm Waiting." as sung by John Waller.  It's from last year's excellent movie "Fireproof."  Here are the lyrics--you can listen to a music video of the song at this link.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

The other song I just listened to was "He Will Carry Me" by Mark Schultz.  You can listen to it once at this link -- couldn't find a video.

You’re strong

I’m weary

I’m holdin’ on

But I feel like givin’ in

But still You’re with me

Chorus

And even though I’m walkin’ through

The valley of the shadow

I will hold tight to the hand of Him

Whose love will comfort me

And when all hope is gone

And I’ve been wounded in the battle

He is all the strength that I will

Ever need

And He will carry me

I know I’m broken

But You alone

Can mend this heart of mine

You’re always with me

Chorus

And even though I feel so lonely

Like I’ve never been before

You never said it would be easy

But You said you’d see me through

The storm

Chorus

When times of trial and despair come, the music of Christian artists lift and carry me because those lyrics reflect God's Word and God's heart for me, and for you.

www.equalsharing.com 

When All Is Lost

Here are some snippets from scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Feb. 7, 2010.

"Woe is me," said Isaiah, "I am lost."
"I am the least... unfit..." Those are Paul's words.
And Peter said: "Go away from me... I am a sinful man."

WHAT FOLLOWS HERE ARE PRELIMINARY NOTES FOR TOMORROW'S PREACHING.

When have you felt all is lost?  Is there something you have done, or that someone else has done, something you said--has something happened that is so horrible that there is no possible happy ending?

If that is the case for you, God has brought you here today for one reason--God wants you to admit that there is no hope--no hope you can find on your own anyway.

• God has brought you here so you can be laid out before God as one slain by His Word and almighty power.  
• God has brought you here so you and I can be dead to ourselves--so that we will depend wholly, completely, totally on Him--and finally be raised up and sent out with HIS love and HIS power alone.

The Isaiah 6 reading (see Sweet or Bitter?) ends with God's words that bring hope only after all is lost--when cities lie waste, when the land is "utterly desolate," after the Lord has sent "everyone far away and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land."

Isaiah 6:13 says this, speaking symbolically of the people as if they were a forest:

"...Even if a tenth part remain in it it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.

Where we live now I don't get a chance to do a lot of work outdoors.  I shovel a bit and in the summer do some mowing.  But in other places I've certainly learned how plants and trees come back after you cut them down.  That's the sense here.

Another translation of Isaiah 6:13 says this:

The country will look like pine and oak forest with every tree cut down— Every tree a stump, a huge field of stumps. But there’s a holy seed in those stumps.

When all is lost, when there is no hope left, that's when God's good work really begins.

• First God's Law comes to us like an axe or like fire or like a chainsaw, cutting down any ability you or I might have to stand on our own.  
• Then, when we are laid out, charred and dead because of God's judgment on our sin--then the good news--the holy seed--new life--resurrection and purpose and joy--when all is lost the good news comes and we are wholly given to our Lord.

Today you are here to hear God's Word--God's HOLY Word which slays us!  You and I are here so we will give up on our own abilities and know the only hope we have is in a personal relationship with God--with Jesus--and receive that hope direct from God.

Today we are here, first of all, to let God examine us... Is there anything in me that is sinful or harmful or not given totally to God's purpose?  Is there anything in me that stands against my Lord? If so, God needs to cut me down so he can raise me up.

Psalm 139--the psalm after the one assigned for today--Psalm 139 ends like this:

Search me out, O God,
   and know my heart;
try me
   and know my restless thoughts.
Look well
   whether there be any wickedness in me,
and lead me in the way that is everlasting. (Psalm 139:22-23)

Are you willing to let him examine you?  Am I?

On Friday night Toni and I saw a movie where a family takes in a homeless African-American teenager.  There is a scene in the movie where an investigator comes to check on the family's motivations--whether they really have the best interests of the young man at heart or whether they are trying to manipulate the situation for other purposes.

Are we willing to let God examine and try us--to even examine the best of our intentions?

• Am I part of the church because I feel a dependence on God?  Or am I just trying to look good and be comfortable with my church friends?  
• Are my attitudes about issues in the church really motivated by God's love and God's truth--or am I just trying to use religion to make me feel good about my prejudices?

These are serious questions.  The Word of God comes to examine EVERY area of my life and yours..

During the upcoming season of Lent we'll be looking at the Seven Deadly Sins.  How have laziness, pride, envy, anger, lust, greed and gluttony infected even our good intentions?

One of the resources we're looking at for the Lent season is a book The Double Cross--it shows us that not only are our sins deadly, but so also are our virtues. Anything we do under our own power are hopelessly infected and useless.

The ONLY way to find hope and help is to let God examine us, judge us, and lift us up by his grace.

We find a word picture of this in Hebrews 4:13... the verse tells us that we are "naked" and "laid bare" to the eyes of God--to the eyes of the one who will judge us.  The English words "laid bare" in that verse are from the Greek verb trachēlizō.  You can hear the word "trachea" in that... and the word gives us a picture of God who takes us and bends us back so our necks are visible...  the College Press commentary says this:

"It is as though God either has us by the throat like a wrestler or has our neck bent back ready to slay us as an animal sacrifice. We may prance a little now in insolent arrogance, but there will be none of that in the judgment."

When all is lost--that's the when the SECOND part of God's Work can take hold in our lives! 

It's when we know we are lost that God's good news comes in the most convincing and powerful way.

• When we stop trying to protect or justify ourselves, then we, like Isaiah and Peter and Paul--then we can receive the amazing gift of God's grace.  
• When we say, with Peter, "Go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!"--
• When we, with Paul, know that we are unfit to do any part of God's work--
• When we, with Isaiah, in God's throne room, seeing the glory and majesty and perfection of God say "WOE IS ME! I AM LOST!" then our Lord can come, cleanse us, and give us new life.

When Isaiah heard the praises Holy, Holy, Holy... he knew he was NOT holy or praise worthy in the least... he wasn't full of praise.  He was full of sin. He could fake it no more.

But then, when all was lost, Isaiah received a gift.  

An angel came--a seraph--a messenger--and symbolically the seraph came and touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar of God.

It's like the gift we receive when we see our sin--when we see our anger, when I see my proud self-righteousness, greed and lust and fear--when God's Word comes through our defenses and when we are laid bare without one excuse and He gives us his sacrifice--his body--his blood--for our unclean lips--for our unclean hearts--for our filthy lives.

And that sacrifice, Jesus' sacrifice for us, it cleanses us like that coal from the altar of God cleansed Isaiah... and it sends Isaiah, and Peter, and Paul--and--believe it--you and me--to do God's Work in this world.

If we wonder why we might not have the joy and energy and peace of God that's needed to go out and bring more people to the Lord, it might be because we somehow are still trying to operate under our own power, because we're good people or something.  But we're not!  We are LOST in sin.

But that's okay somehow!  Because

• ONLY when we give up on ourselves can we come to know the ONE who has provided the way for us to be forgiven... 
• ONLY when we stop trying to impress anyone with what we have in ourselves--then we will come to know the POWER and JOY of the ONLY ONE who COMPLETELY FORGIVES and lets us start new and fresh and clean, every day, no matter what our sin has been.
• ONLY when we know God owes us NOTHING but gives us EVERYTHING--then we can be God's humble, bold, forgiving, fiercely loving workers in the LOST world God loves so much.

Martin Luther says it this way--this is in the Small Catechism section on baptism:

"...our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance; and... day after day a new self should arise to live with God..."

When we know it's ALL GOD and NOTHING OF OURSELVES, then we go out with power and joy and grace and mercy and love to the lost world we know so well.

The results of our work--that is left to God.  There are times when the work is mainly to let God's Word do its cutting work.  But when that is done, we get to do the best work--lifting and raising and forgiving and sharing the life that comes only and directly from God.

-------------------------

See When Hope Hurts for another take on why it is sometimes so hard to receive God's gift of forgiveness, new life and hope.

www.equalsharing.com

Sweet or Bitter?

One of the scriptures for next Sunday is Isaiah 6:1-13.  It's a fairly well known scripture--a vision of heaven and the call of "someone" to go and preach God's Word.  The "someone" is Isaiah.  He knows he is sinful--unworthy of being God's messenger.  But, as he humbles himself, God provides a way for his sin and guilt to be taken away!  Symbolically, a live coal is touched to his mouth.  Martin Luther says this in the "allegory" portion of his lectures on Isaiah:

"The conscience is terrified when it hears that everything is condemned and Christ alone is holy, and He alone enlightens every man coming into this world (John 1:9). The house was filled with smoke. In other places, such as Ex. 40:34 and 1 Kings 8:10, Scripture says that clouds filled the house and calls the cloud the glory of the Lord. And it denotes a “smoking” faith, one that knows that all our own things are defiled. Here Christ dwells, a light rising and justifying after the old man has been put to death. Confession then follows this hovering smoke, and the confession is: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” Then the severe judgment of God is felt, which forcibly elicits the confession. This is the first part of penitence, namely contrition, which shakes the thresholds and raises the smoke, namely, a feeling of the divine Word condemning the entire human righteousness. Then comes the seraph, that is, the preacher of the Gospel, which is the fiery coal, and promises the forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake and lifts one up to righteousness. Therefore “through the Law comes knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20), through the Gospel comes the knowledge and reception of grace and righteousness. The glowing coal is the Word kindled by the Holy Spirit in love, whereby those who have been put to death are revived by the cry of the seraphim. To touch the mouth is to strike the heart with the Gospel, which is sweet to the bitter heart. Then the heart is a fit vessel for honor, because it will go for the Lord, that is, it will be His instrument for teaching others, hearing and breaking through, even though with danger, the last comfort."

When Isaiah accepts God's call* he is sent to do something that no prophet or preacher would ever want to do. God sends him to preach with the full expectation that nothing good will happen.  Why won't anything good come out of Isaiah's preaching?  Because, unlike Isaiah, the people he preaches to will be unwilling to humble themselves and repent.  The preaching then is used to bring God's righteous judgment.

As long as we live, however, we can repent.  We can allow the Word of God to come at us with full force and bow before it.  Then we too can experience the sweetness of the Gospel of God.
--------------
* Isaiah 6:8 - "Whom shall I send...?" "Here am I; send me." 

www.equalsharing.com

Teaching Statement on Sexuality

The following will be distributed with the "Continuing Resolution Regarding Marriage, Gay and Lesbian Persons and Their Families, and Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Response to the Actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly" that was approved by our church council last week.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teaching Statement on Sexuality

for

Evangelical Lutheran Church

Cokato, Minnesota

In addition to our individual staff reports and in light of recent decisions in our wider church, Nate and Amy and I would like to be very clear to the congregation about what we, as your preaching and teaching staff are committed to teach here at ELC.

This congregation called me as your pastor, Nate Bendorf as Youth Ministry Director and Amy Thostenson to work in the area of Faith and Family Ministry. We accepted those calls based on knowing what this congregation has stated in its constitutional statement of faith--that "This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life."

We believe Scripture is very clear on the subject of human sexuality—that the appropriate place for sexual intimacy and intercourse is in a marriage between a man and a woman. In the past there was no need to specify that we would teach in that way because, until August 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church has been in agreement with all other orthodox Christian churches on this issue. The recent decisions to allow the blessing of gay unions and allowing practicing homosexuals to be ordained is a departure from traditional Lutheran theology and teaching. The ELCA has given congregations the difficult task of sorting this issue out on their own.

On January 19, 2010, our church council approved a “Continuing Resolution Regarding Marriage, Gay and Lesbian Persons and Their Families, and Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Response to the Actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.”

As the staff members of this congregation who are primarily responsible for our church’s educational ministry, we will teach children, youth and adults in harmony with that statement.

Specifically, the educational ministry of Evangelical Lutheran Church will teach that the appropriate place for sexual intimacy and intercourse is in a marriage between a man and a woman.

www.equalsharing.com

What to Preach

Last Sunday one of our youth wrote this question on the back of her worship note sheet: 

"How do you decide what to preach on each Sunday?"

Here's my answer... thank you to the young person who asked it!

Hi ________ -- you asked how I decide to what to preach on each week.  That is a great question.

I start by reading what is printed on the bulletin – the Bible verses come already printed on it. Many times as I read the verses an idea starts in my mind—an idea of something that I believe God might be wanting me to say. Because I believe that God speaks to us through the Bible, I then spend some time researching that idea and the Bible verses that we are going to read in connection with what is going on in my life and in our community and in our world and in our church.

For example, on January 31 we are going to read from Jeremiah 1 (verses 4-10), Psalm 71 (verses 1-6); First Corinthians 13; and Luke 4:21-30. Since I preached on Luke 4 last week, and since we’ve read from First Corinthians for two weeks already without me saying anything about it, I took a closer look at First Corinthians 13 which is known as the “love chapter” of the Bible. Because this “book” of the Bible (1st Cor.) is actually a letter written by Paul to the church in the city of Corinth, I did some research to find out what was happening in that church at the time the letter was written. One thing that was happening was that there were some divisions and troubles in that church. Because some people in our church are noticing divisions and troubles, I’ve decided to preach on that “love chapter” as it relates to church when people are feeling uncomfortable with each other.

There is a lot more to say, but hopefully that helps.

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God's Peace

The following devotion was shared by a staff member at our meeting this morning.  It comes from the book Daily Grace: Devotional Reflections to Nourish Your Soul (Bordon Books, 2005)

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways." (Second Thessalonians 3:16)

It Is Divine

by John MacArthur Jr.

To put it simply, peace is an attribute of God. If I asked you to list the attributes of God, these are the ones that would probably come most readily to mind: His love, grace, mercy, justice, holiness, wisdom, truth, omnipotence, immutability, and immortality. But do you ever think of God as being characterized by peace? In fact, He is peace. Whatever it is that He gives us, He has and He is. There is no lack of perfect peace in His being. God is never stressed. He never fears. God is never at cross—purposes with himself. He never has problems making up His mind.

God lives in perfect calm and contentment. Why? Because He’s in charge of everything and can operate everything perfectly according to His own will. Since He is omniscient, He is never surprised. There are no threats to His omnipotence. There is no possible sin that can stain His holiness. Even His wrath is clear, controlled, and confident.There is no regret in His mind, for He has never done, said, or thought anything that He would change in any way.

God enjoys perfect harmony within Himself. Our Bibles call Him “the Lord of peace,” but in the Greek text a definite article appears before the word translated “peace,” meaning He literally is ‘the Lord of the peace,” This is real peace— the divine kind—not the kind the world has. Paul’s prayer is that we might experience that kind of peace. Its source is God and God alone.

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HEAVENLY FATHER: I need your peace in my life. I need your calm, your serenity, your contentment. I want to experience perfect harmony. I ask you to pour out your grace on me, Lord — your grace and your peace. Amen

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This scriptural thought could not have come at a better time.  All praise to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  You do know what you are doing.  Though you allow us to exercise our free will, often in ways that are harmful, in the end, finally, ultimately, you are in control.

Today, I will rest in that peace.

www.equalsharing.com

Raw

These are my RAW notes from this morning's worship.  Later on I'll try to format them and take out things that are not needed.

Good morning, Welcome to worship. In today’s first scripture reading we hear these words: “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” No matter what may be happening, we have God’s promises—and those promises—promises of good news, recovery and freedom—good news for all the world’s suffering ones—those promises bring joy—and God’s joy brings strength.
Welcome to all listening on the radio today. We worship each week at 8:30 and 11:00—and this week we worship on Friday—10:00 at Brookridge Assisted Living.
Next week we have our church’s annual meeting. The annual meeting will begin at 9:45 after the first hour of worship—the 11:00 worship hour will begin whenever the annual meeting is done.
We rejoice with Amy and Ryan Anderson whose daughter Molly Grace was born Thursday morning! We’re praying for Shirley Smolinski who is home after falling and breaking her arm.
Are there other prayer requests or invitations?
Before our confession and forgiveness today, there is something I need to confess to you. Ever since the ELCA assembly August, some of our members have come to me with concerns that I have been insensitive and hurtful to some of the members of our church. I have expressed indecision and ambivalence toward our ELCA affiliation. At the same time, I have been outspoken about issues such as the authority of God’s Word and God’s plan for marriage and family. Because of this, I have hurt people who believe that the ELCA was correct in making the choices it did in August. Though I’ve known that I have disagreed with the ELCA decision and also with some people of our church, I have been insensitive and hurtful to many. I want to apologize to you if you have been hurt.
As to how to express myself in the future, I’m not sure what to do. Today again we have assigned scripture readings that seem to highlight the importance and clarity of God’s Word and its work in our lives. How can I preach on these without hurting you again?
All I can say is that I will do my best to be aware of how I may have hurt you, and I want you to know that I did not intend to hurt you or make you feel left out or excluded from our church.


FIRST READING… Nehemiah 8
Ezra Summons the People to Obey the Law
When the seventh month came—the people of Israel being settled in their towns— 8 1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.


Psalm 19
1
The heavens declare the glory of God, * and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2
One day tells its tale to another, * and one night imparts knowledge to another.
3
Although they have no words or language, and their voices are not heard,
4
Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world.
5
In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
7
The law of the LORD is perfect
and revives the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.
8
The statutes of the LORD are just
and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear
and gives light to the eyes.
9
The fear of the LORD is clean
and endures for ever; the judgments of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold,
more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey,
than honey in the comb.
11
By them also is your servant enlightened, and in keeping them there is great reward.
12
Who can tell how often he offends? cleanse me from my secret faults.
13
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound,
and innocent of a great offense.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.


SECOND READING 1st Corinthians 12:12-31a

GOSPEL
On the Luther Seminary website “working preacher dot org,” Roy Harrisville the third points out that the assigned reading leaves out an important part, so I’ll be reading from Luke 4 verses 14 through 30.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
…14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

SERMON
This time of preaching is by far the most difficult I have faced in a long time. I learned this week that I have hurt some of our church members by things I have said or – faced with assigned scripture passages that point to the power and truth of God’s Word—in Nehemiah and Psalm 19 and in Luke—and a scripture passage that speaks of Christian unity—a body with many parts—and here I get up to preach a week before our church’s annual meeting.
There is a part of me that just wants to sit down and be quiet. For what can I say that will keep us from wanting to push each other off a cliff.
I have a question. Did Jesus mean to make the people mad at him? It almost makes it look like he did. After Jesus interpreted Isaiah 61 by pointing to himself—all Jesus has to do is to speak God’s Word in order to make it come true… It’s by knowing Jesus that good news goes out to the poor and captives are freed and the blind see and the oppressed – do you know what it means to be oppressed? It means to be pushed down, to be controlled by someone who just wants to use you or keep you quiet. It’s by knowing Jesus that the oppressed leap up and throw off their chains and a new day begins! And I can imagine how angry the people got when they found out that Jesus was NOT going to do any miracles in his hometown but that all he was going to do was to read BIBLE VERSES about himself.
Jesus was not interested in making the people happy. He was, and he is interested in wanting to change their lives and set them free. But the way he does that is really annoying. He just reads BIBLE VERSES and applies them to himself. When you hear me read these verses, Jesus says, and when you understand that KNOWING ME is good news… then the power of the Holy Spirit will FLOOD your life and GIFTS will be given and people will be healed and released to love and serve and sacrifice right in the middle of a very oppressed world.
The fulfillment of God’s promise is given when Jesus connects those promises with himself in our hearing—and when we believe—for if we haven’t come to believe, then we really haven’t heard.
I want to go back for a minute to the Nehemiah reading… and to the Psalm… these passages celebrate the teachings and laws and words of God… yes, they celebrate what God says to them, even though—and if you read the TORAH—that’s the word translated LAW—if you read the TORAH you’ll find the COMMANDMENTS—and you will find RULES, INSTRUCTIONS and DIRECTIONS—both Nehemiah 8 and Psalm 19 celebrate God’s LAW. Nehemiah says that the people first wept when they heard the law of God read to them—but then Ezra the priest—this is on page 429 near the middle of the Bible—if you’re using one of the Bibles in your row you should find it there… page 429… Nehemiah 8—at the bottom of the first column…
And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly… you’ll see there’s a little footnote there… the word “clearly” can mean “with interpretations”… top of the second column… and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading…
Then verse 9… And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people… let’s read this part together… half way through verse 9… This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had wept when they heard the words of the law.”
What does it take for us to be GLAD when we hear the Word of God? There needs to be a certain amount of explaining, a certain amount of understanding… it doesn’t come automatically. Unless we have that understanding we’re going to be really sad when we hear God’s law because, for one reason, it’s going to feel like we’ve missed out on something… These people, some who had been far away from their country and some who had been there during long years of waiting—their first reaction to the reading of God’s Word is just to cry! Maybe they are thinking about all those years they were separated… maybe they were sorry for their sins… but Nehemiah and Ezra and others brought a GOOD word—not to take away the law—but to teach them that it is good… to teach them that the ways of God are JOYFUL!
It’s the same way in Psalm 19… The law of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent. The statutes of the LORD are just and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light to the eyes. Verse 10… More to be desired are they than gold… sweeter far than honey…
It’s not OBVIOUS from the beginning… we human beings want our OWN ways. We don’t want to be taught. Instead, we want God to DO SOMETHING for us.
But what we learn today is that believing and hearing and trusting and obeying God’s Word—that’s what really sets us free. And until we accept that we are going to be ready to push each other off the nearest cliff.
Some of our members here at this church have felt pushed off a cliff by me lately. I’ve been so ambivalent and ambiguous about what our church should do in connection with our ELCA denomination that some people feel pushed away. Every time I mention the Word of God or topics like sex or marriage or family people are reminded of this struggle that we’re having these days. I even thought about not preaching today at all as we are getting ready for our annual meeting next week.
But then I read the scriptures for today. And I see the celebration of God’s Law and God’s Word and I see Jesus reading scripture and saying it is FULFILLED and I just can’t not preach. And I can’t avoid saying things that hurt sometimes because it just seems that God’s Word pushes me to it.
I do not want to hurt anyone with my preaching or my writing or my teaching or my leading of Bible studies. But I feel just stuck—stuck with the Word of God—stuck with the Old Fashioned Lutheran interpretation of the Bible—and stuck in some ways, hopefully, with Jesus, who uses God’s Word to preach real freedom, and who doesn’t always do what the people want.
Did Jesus mean to make the people mad at him? I don’t think he intended to, but he wasn’t there to make them happy either. He was there to tell the truth. To use the Bible—that wonderful passage from Isaiah 61 that he reads in his hometown synagogue—Jesus uses the Bible to point to himself.
That’s what I need to do. Not point to myself, but to Jesus Christ. I hope we will always do that in the months and years to come.

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Teaching & Learning Commandments

Last night our Youth Discipleship Training teaching time almost didn't happen because I've misplaced the books I normally use to teach.  So I ended up teaching on the commandments straight out of the catechism book.

We opened up the first and second commandments last week.  Yesterday we talked through commandments 3, 4, 5 and 6.  (This, of course, in the way Lutherans usually number them.  See this link for an explanation.)

Here's the way our youth have learned the first six commandments:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
3. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
4. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lrod your God is giving you.
5. You shall not murder.
6. You shall not commit adultery.

Last night we talked about how God wants us to honor the Sabbath.  For Christians the Sabbath is celebrated on Sunday.  Sunday is the day when God begins his new creation in the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We honor the Sabbath by taking time to hear and learn God's Word and the preaching of it.

Commandments four through six honor God's gift of life.  We talked about how God gives the gift of life though the joining of a man and a woman.  Human life is sacred -- all people are created "in God's image" -- each individual of whatever age is a gift of God.  We are commanded to do our neighbor no bodily harm nor cause any suffering, but help and befriend our neighbor in every bodily need.*  When we think of sex, we should always think of family.  Sex is God's gift and is intended to bring a man and woman together for the good of the next generation.

In front of the room last night I placed a mirror and a cross.  The commandments are intended to help me honestly look at myself.  When I honestly look at my life as reflected in the commandments, I see how desperately I need of God's grace and mercy.  I am a sinful human being, bound for well-deserved death and hell.  But Jesus gave his life for my sin.  He rescued me from the consequences of my evil actions by dying for me on the cross.  Now that I know I am forgiven, I can live to reflect Jesus' self-giving love to the world.

How are the commandments of God at work in your life today?

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* Italics are from Martin Luther's explanations to the commandments, based, in turn, on Jesus' teachings and Jesus' amazing and sacrificial love for us sinners shown especially on the cross.

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The ELCA Helping Haiti

The following was found by Ian Graue (a facebook friend of mine) on a facebook page called "Lovin' the Lutheran Church."  It originated on the Lutheran CORE "News and Discussion" page and was posted today.

Support Haiti Relief: Give to the ELCA

I have been following the reporting on the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Like many, if not most of you, I have been praying for those who are caught in this terrible situation, as well as for those who are scrambling to bring aid and relief to the hundreds of thousands of survivors. And like many, I am proud of the reputation of Lutheran relief agencies in responding to this kind of disaster. We have "boots on the ground," through the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief, and the companion synod relationships of the ELCA with the Lutheran Church in Haiti. I am also learning about countless other ways in which members of the ELCA have been involved in mission work in Haiti, and will continue to be involved far into the future.

Lutherans are generous people, not as a work of the law but as a response to the generosity God has shown to us in his Gospel. We have been given much, and we give much, especially when the need is so great. Already the ELCA News is reporting that over a million dollars has been given by Lutherans for the earthquake response in Haiti. And that is why I am going to make a suggestion, request, perhaps plea is the best word for it, now.

Send an offering to the ELCA Vision for Mission Fund.

Why? Because the main reason the ELCA International Disaster Relief Fund can dedicate such a high percentage of the offerings it receives to those who are most in need is because the ELCA Churchwide budget covers the cost of offices, lights, office machines, and staffing expenses. That is part of the mission work of this denomination. The Disaster Relief folks don't have to pay for that stuff, so their money can go to places like Haiti. (And the flood victims in Iowa, and the hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast, and the tornado victims in Oklahoma, and you name the places where the ELCA has been in the past 10 years.)

I am going to go out on a limb and say that right now it is not about the current church disagreement, as important as that is to me and I know to you. Right now it is about supporting the work of those who know how to help, first and best and immediately and long-term. And the ELCA is a vital member of that response and that work. If the Churchwide office is weakened, then our response is weakened.

If you disagree with me, I do understand. This isn't meant to guilt anyone into contributing to the ELCA Churchwide level. But think about it. Pray about it. And please give to help Haiti, whether it is to the ELCA Disaster Relief folks or to Lutheran World Relief or to the Lutheran World Federation.

But if you want to send a message to Chicago, then send a check, by mail, and include a note that because of the emergency in Haiti, you want the ELCA to be able to support the work of those responding in mercy to the least of these. Here's the address:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Vision for Mission Fund
P. O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764

And tell them Lutheran CORE sent you.

In peace,
Pastor Erma Wolf
Lutheran CORE steering committee (but acting on my own)

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Continuing Resolution

Our local church council met last night.  We approved a "continuing resolution" that was prepared in conjunction with the Northwest Minnesota Synod of the ELCA and subsequently adopted by the Gethsemane Lutheran Church Council in our neighboring town of Dassel, MN.

The resolution reads as follows:

Regarding Marriage

1. We affirm that “marriage and the family [are] foundational structures that support human community.”
2. We affirm that “marriage is a covenant of mutual promises, commitment, and hope authorized legally by the state and blessed by God.”
3. We affirm “marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman…” (Mark 10:6-9, Genesis 1:27, 2:23-24).
4. We affirm that, “despite its awareness of the presence of sin and failure in marriage, the Christian tradition places great emphasis on the value of marriage for a husband and wife.” ¹

Therefore,

• we commend the institution of marriage to our members and friends;
• we encourage child-bearing and adoption within the context of marriage;
• we expect engaged couples to make use of the Means of Grace, pastoral care, counseling, prayer, and other ways of preparing themselves for marriage;
• we beseech married couples encountering difficulties in their relationship to receive pastoral care and counseling to preserve their marriages;
• we commit ourselves to strengthening marriages and families in our preaching, teaching and other faith formation activities; and
• we understand that the home/family is a primary arena for Christian faith formation for our children.

Regarding gay and lesbian persons and their families

1. We “welcome, care for, and support” gay and lesbian persons and their families who wish to participate in the life of our congregation.
2. We offer compassionate counsel and pastoral care to those who are same-gender in their orientation, as well as to those who “seek counsel about their sexual self-understanding.”
3. We oppose “all forms of verbal or physical harassment and assault based on sexual orientation.”²

Regarding Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church’s response

to the actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

• Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
• Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church declares that marriages, civil unions, or blessings of persons in same gender relationships will not be performed in this church building or authorized by this congregation. Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church, as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, understands that it has the right to call, or refuse to call, as a pastor or rostered lay leader any person who is on the roster of ordained ministers or lay rosters or any candidate approved for those rosters.
• Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church, in accordance with the 2009 Churchwide Assembly which resolved that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “make provision in its policies to recognize the conviction of members who believe that this church should not call or roster people in a publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship,” declares that this congregation will not call a pastor or lay rostered leader who is or intends to be in such a same-gender relationship

¹ Statements printed in bold are from Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, a social statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted at it’s 2009 Churchwide Assembly, pp. 9-10.
² Statements printed in bold italics are from Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, a social statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted at it’s 2009 Churchwide Assembly, p. 10.

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