Everyday Lutherans

Today, Jesus is confronted with a difficult and rather emotional topic.  This is a topic that is hard for people to talk about at the time of Jesus and also within our own time, it is still difficult.  Divorce is something that has and is a struggle for people. For some people, I am sure they would wish that I would not bring up such a difficult topic.  However, if we can not talk about difficult topics within our society in the church, in God’s presence, where do we hope to find guidance? Where do we hope to find unity if not in the Creator and Sustainer of all Creation? For many of us, we grow up and little girls are dreaming of their knight in shining armor, someone who will be with them, protect them and be there in their life.  Those little girls dream of their magical princess dress that they will wear, the flowers, the music, and so many other details. For many little boys, their focus may be, will they have to dress up?  In the midst of those hopes and dreams, they are both env

Watching a football game or sporting event, many of the people are standing and shouting that their team is #1.  Now keep in mind, every team does this. Even when they are not on top of the list. Even when they are the Cleveland Browns.  Declaring for everyone that will listen that they support their team and their team is the best. These competitions take place weekly, daily and in our lives on an ongoing basis.  Everyone strives to be the best. Now doing one's best is not a bad thing what is the problem is that is when we regard one another as competition and do not support one another. That people around us are to be feared, regarded as a threat and our focus becomes being over someone. Jesus delivers a message to his disciples.  While they are arguing who is the best among them, Jesus tells them to flip their idea of being the best upside down.  To be the best among you, you shall be last and servant of all. Now, this is an important lesson that we as disciples need to be remin

The words of the Prophet Isaiah this morning is a gift that I wish I had. “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.”  To be able to help someone in their times of heartache and hardship. To be able to bring comfort to the lost, worn down or the ones who feel that they have nowhere else to go.  However, in our modern times, this attribute is one that is not celebrated. It is needed but not celebrated. For many of us now judge the person to determine if they are worthy of a gift that we would offer.  We have a hard time discerning who is actually struggling because of outside forces and who is struggling because of self inflicted choices. It is something that as time goes by people can actually become calloused or simply ignore the cries of those who are in need.   What do I mean by this?  Within our society and in our cities here, we have a group of people who stand by the roadside and beg for spare change or any money that

As school has started, we have also returned back to the time of year in which people will be getting sick.  Now when you are sick, many of us want one person, MOM. Mom is the one who brings comfort and relief when we feel achey and just plain sick.  Mom is the one who makes us feel better, even with just her touch. But who does mom turn to when she does not know what to do? Typically people will turn to doctors, but when the doctors do not have an answer when you have done all the tests and you wonder: “How is my child going to get better?”  Parents often will say and mean that “they would gladly take the illness so that their child could feel better.” Today we hear of a woman who has gone to all the doctors, all the priests and no one is able to help her child.  In desperation, she is willing to do anything to save her daughter. When she hears of Jesus coming to the area and the miracles are performed for those who asked.  She is willing to do anything in order to get his attention a

Growing up, I was told over and over again.  Wash your hands! Clean your room! However especially the last one, I hated to do it.  I mean why clean up my toys when I am just going to pull them out and play with them again?  Mom, don’t worry about vacuuming my room, you are just going to suck up the legos and they I am going to wonder what happened to them.  Sometimes when I would find that my room had been cleaned I would get upset because my things were changed and it was not me who changed them.  Yes in the midst of my life, I was told to do something but I did not realize the benefit was truly for me. While thinking about this, I thought of this comic strip of Peanuts.   https://paramkour.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/2e3ad-peanuts-3.gif Yes, in life we expect people to know what to do and how to do it but when it is not done, we get upset, frustrated, or angry.  The expectations and outcomes that we were hoping for were not met. While in that midst, we struggle with what is wrong wit

What is your reaction when you hear something that sounds unbelievable?  For most of it, we express our doubts. “You are joking. That doesn’t make sense. How can this be?”  I am amazed sometimes when I talk to people about the reality and absurdness of this world. For example, I was talking to someone about the price of goods and the price of gas came up.  They told me, “I remember when gas was a quarter. I could fill up my tank for $4.” Then I reminded them that just a few years ago, we were paying over $4 for a gallon of gas. Now both of us were amazed and astounded by the reality, but also the absurdness of this world.  Something so simple as going and buying gas for a car also entered into the mindset of disbelief at the price. Now I realize that some of you today may hear that conversation and you are thinking, “Well that sounds like a dream.”  While others of you are sitting here thinking, “I remember growing up when gas was ten cents a gallon.” I share with you this conversation

Today is Rally Sunday, the start of the school year and the reminder for all of us, why is it we study our faith.  Faith is something that is very unique because there is so much history, so much to understand who God is and the ways in which God has been a part of our lives for so long. However, the main purpose of all this is to get you to understand who God is and how is God calling you on a daily basis to live your life. This history is something that some people love.  It is great to dive in and learn about people and how they lived their lives.  We can learn from their mistakes so that we do not repeat them. We can learn what has worked and what has not worked.  By studying history, we are able to see some of the big events and aspects that may repeat time and time again. For some things do change in life, the technology of electricity, phones, cell phones, and so much more. However, some things never change.  While aspects of life change, our human tendencies do not change. Yes,

Last week as were gathered, Jesus spoke to us about the difference between the bread that we seek in this world and how it will never fulfill us and the bread that God himself gives to us that fills us up so much that we are amazed.  I went on to talk about how the meal that we receive in Communion is the very body and blood and the full meal that we would ever need in our journey of life and faith. However, it begs the question for you and for me.  How close are you to Jesus and perhaps even more pointedly, how well are you living out the life that Jesus is calling us to live out.  Now the people in today’s Gospel, we find them complaining to Jesus. Now think about that for a moment, do you ever complain to God? If your answer is “NO”, I then wonder who is the lowercase g god you are worshiping.   For hear about this over and over again, to be in a relationship with God is to complain because we do not understand. It is this complain and question and wondering what the person is actua

Have you ever been hungry?  I don’t mean like you have missed a meal hungry, I mean you have not eaten in days and you are not really hungry anymore but you just don’t feel right.  When you finally get to eat, the food itself tastes sooo good. Like something you have not had in so long. It tastes like the food that your mom used to make for you. The people coming to see Jesus want more, they want to receive food that will nourish them and they want it placed directly into their hands. And we are so much alike. We want to see with our very own eyes, we want to touch with our own hands, we want to hear the words spoken directly to me, and we want to know that God is indeed fulfilling that promise. Here within this world, we hear people say something and we do not always believe them, we want to believe, we are supposed to believe them. But people have a way of falling short of our expectations, for we are sinful creatures. We try and do our best but our best is not always good enough. I

Can anyone here name a false prophet or preacher in today’s world?  Today within Jeremiah, we hear about a shepherd who would destroy and scatter a flock.  God is warning the people, to be cautious and to discern when they hear the Word of God and in a relationship with God.  But more importantly, asking the most important question of Where is this leader taking us? While in Seminary, we talked about what it means to be a prophet of God and preacher within the church.  We listed out qualities that we should strive to have but we also named the qualities that are terrible. Bad Qualities Good Qualities Easy to understand Agree because it is what I think It is what is written in black and white It makes me feel good Everyone else seems to flock to them Focuses on calling people to give money Focuses on the individual making a better life for themselves Does not mention sin Lives in a mansion Flies a jet Clear and direct Teachers to understand Challenges and comforts Focuses on a relations

What is the most valuable, precious aspect of your life?  What is it? Is it a person? An object? Have you had that in your life for a long time so you treasure it because of the message and people it connects you to?  Whatever you have in high regard in this world, can be taken away from you. The only thing that is certain is the Word of God. Today within our Scriptures, we are pointed to this understanding not just in one moment but over and over again.  Within the Old Testament reading, Amos is speaking with God. God declares to go and prophesy to the people in Israel.  At this time, Judah in the south and Israel in the north are two separate kingdoms. Amos leaves his home in Judah and travels to let the people know, that God is not pleased with what they are doing.  The wealthy have been not caring for the poor, the people are using sacrifices but not changing their behavior, they are taking the gift that God gave them of being His People for granted. They are expecting God’s blessi

John the Baptist is one of the people who gets overshadowed by Jesus.  Now granted Jesus is far more important but the work of John the Baptist should not be overlooked.  John had an important role and was one of the very few people in the Bible that it is noted the very reason and purpose of his life from before he was born into this world.   John the Baptist comes into the world for two purposes.  One is to declare for all to hear and for all to know and rejoice in this great understanding that the Messiah is coming.  The other is to Baptize and to prepare people to receive this Messiah that is to come. Yes, John, the John the Baptist, would take his loud booming voice and his long bony finger and declare to all who would listen.  But today, John the Baptist is talking to YOU! Yes, John the Baptist is preparing the way for the Messiah. And to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah, you must first understand something very simple and yet so hard to put into practice.  You are not God.

Planting a seed is something many of us have done.  Some of us can relate to going and checking in on the progress of the seed.  Even the next we want to see if maybe the stalk is already started. We know it is unrealistic but still, we do it. As the days and weeks unfold, as we water and remove the weeds around that plant.  We wait, hoping and longing for what we expect to come. However, for all of “our” work that we do. I am more amazed at what God is doing through that seed and in our own life. By planting that seed, God has allowed us to be part of the work of creation.  We are able to labor and see the fruits of the labor. LITERALLY. However, it still astounds me sometimes the way in which our society has organized itself.  Declaring that land is actually able to be owned even though God gave it to us. Deciding a price for the seeds, fruits, or the trees that God himself has grown.  And perhaps even more surprising to me is the way in which we withhold the gifts God has given to u

Relationship Sunday Looking at today’s Scripture readings, one thing stood out to me as the focus of all of them.  Relationships. However, in these Scriptures, we get the truth. We do not get an idealized relationship, something that we can dream about but never achieve.  Yet, we also realize the history of how relationships are hard, but partly because we make them hard. It is partly because we are now in a broken world, and there are factors that are outside of our control that we need to be aware of.   Let’s start with the Genesis account.  Adam and Eve have both eaten from one of the trees from which they should not have eaten.  They knew the rules. What they should not do and yet, what did they do? They went ahead and did it.  Not only that, but they ran away from God and the situation in fear. When they are confronted with their wrongdoing; they attempt to pass the buck, or explain how someone else is really to blame.  Even blaming God. They didn’t think they should be punished.

Today is the church’s celebration of the Day of Pentecost.  A day in which we recognize that God has blessed us with a Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us through our lives of faith and within this world. A day in which we are reminded that God is still at work and moving within this world. However, with the past week’s events, becoming aware of where God is at work in the world and in our lives can seem like a task of searching for a needle in a haystack.  Watching the evening news, we hear of more school shootings, we hear of war, or even the very Earth itself tearing apart, and we hear of people arguing about what should be done instead of actually making a difference for a solution. Yet even in these dark moments, God’s hope and love shine all the brighter.  For when a tragedy does strike a community. We bear witness to the outpour of love for the people.  And that love is the foundation of God’s Work in the world. For it is this love that moves within our own hearts.  It is this s

Today’s sermon is more directed at the Confirmands and the rest of you, simply get to listen in.  Many years ago, your parents brought you to church and had you Baptized. Now it is in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, that you are called and claimed as God’s Very Own Child. In doing so, your parents were acknowledging something.  YOU ARE A GIFT TO THEM FROM GOD. They wanted you to know God and enjoy the blessing of having a relationship and connection with God. So they made promises on your behalf to make sure that you would do just that. Thus for years, you have learned about God by coming to Sunday School, attending worship, going to camp and being part of this community.  You would then be able to learn how God has been a part of the lives of others and also how God could be part of your life. Today, you are here to make the promises, the very same ones that your parents made years ago but now you will fulfill them in your own life.   These promises are so very important and yet can se

Our readings today all have the common theme of Jesus being the Good Shepherd to God’s People.  Today we hear the texts that people typically cling to especially at the event of a funeral. It is here that we meet the very core for many that form their faith and their understanding of God. Psalm 23 and the image that Jesus is our Shepherd is one that is talked about and this brings great comfort to many. It provides an image in which Jesus will ensure that we get the food that we need, will give us water to drink, care for our injuries as we wander through those rocky parts of our lives and even protect us from the wolves that will try and wound us to devour us. So today, I would like us to stop and consider what it meant for Jesus and those who were listening to Jesus of, “What does a good shepherd look like?”  For most of you do not know what it means to be a shepherd at the time of Jesus. Even those of you who grew up on a farm with sheep had different duties than those of the time o

It is difficult for us to capture the same surprise, joy, and amazement that those women and men who were the disciples of Jesus Christ had.  We have gathered for this three-part worship service of Jesus’ final day on earth and his death. We gather together today for his joyous arrival back among us.  However, for many of us, we know the story. We know what it is going to happen, while the disciples did not. It is like reading a book and then watching the movie. However, it is Easter on which most people focus.  They focus on the joyous celebration, the triumph and victory.  We so often focus upon it that we can forget the details or reason for the celebration.  We can forget the days that led up to this. The days that we still experience in our daily life.  However, along with this journey of life and faith, we can so easily get caught up on the one instance.  An instance that holds our gaze. It holds all our attention, our time, and our energy, that our life becomes focused on it.  W

The account of Good Friday, the people, the hymns, and the emotions.  It takes us back to the graveside of a loved one in our own life. We remember the way the loved one treated us, taught us, and how we honor them in our daily life.  The loved ones who have meant so much for us. The loved ones who gave so much so that we could have the life that we are living. The loved ones who shared their faith with us so that we may be a part of this community today.  Yet it is in this dark hour, in our grief, we comfort each other. Yet in this service does not seem to comforting.  Many of us wonder why it is called good. For a funeral, or even bearing witness to a loved ones final breath on Earth does not seem good.  However, the moment itself does not seem good until we realize what is taking place. This does not happen until much later. Until our ears hear of the promise that is bestowed upon them from God. Now in the pit of despair and grief, darkness seems to overwhelm us and the world around

Tonight we gather together. The true and the faithful, those who take time out of our busy schedules to come to the Lord’s Table.  Yet we should also be reminded there are those who would betray Jesus because he does not live up to our expectations because we want Jesus to do so much more. We gather at the Lord's Table to be reminded of the feast and the many blessings that God has given to us and to be reminded of the times within our lives that God has interceded for us in places and events that seemed too large for us to take on by ourselves.  We receive the gift that we have longed for, but could not earn for ourselves. Tonight within the Exodus passages, we hear of the first time that God told the people to come to the table. To be saved from death and be released from the bondage of slavery within the land of Egypt. We hear that the people must gather together, sacrifice a lamb on the family’s behalf.  So God will bring judgment against those who do not realize the power and

The symbols of the church that are here can be powerful and meaningful, like many parts of our lives, when we do not stop to remind even ourselves, the meaning and purpose can get lost among the hustle and bustle of this world.  Tonight I want you to be reminded of the banners that surround us. The banners that surround us were made by a member of the church. Now stop and think about that, someone did the planning of what it was they were going to create.  Went to the time of gathering the material and then doing the work of putting it together so that you could look upon it for a moment to hopefully spark your thoughts, imagination and your heart to be reminded of a very important aspect of YOUR faith. As you look around the room there are a variety of banners throughout.  On the higher level, we have six. These remain here throughout the year. To my left, your right: We have three rings that represent the Trinity.  For many of us, we struggle to understand the relationship between Go

For many of us, we have a fear of snakes.  We wonder if they are dangerous if they are poisonous and worse… will we be the victim?   Now most of us have, rarely if ever, encountered a snake. More than likely we have only seen one in the zoo.  However, today in the Gospel, Jesus is giving the disciples and us as listeners an insight that we need to understand.  For Jesus is explaining the very reason and purpose that he must die and in the way in which he shall. Jesus uses history and explains that when the Hebrew People were cursed with snakes among them, they were bitten. They knew that they were going to die.  However, God intervened for them. God did not remove the snakes but rather did something that would seem to many as foolish. God had Moses put a bronze snake on top of a tall pole.  Anyone who looked upon the snake and believed God’s promise that they would be saved would actually be saved. Now think about that for a moment. You are actually bitten by a snake, the venom is in y

Today within our texts, I am reminded that God does not always show up the way we expect him to be within our lives.  For many of us, we think of God as someone who will bless us. But then when God does not give us what we ask for, then we get upset or wondering what we have done wrong.  However, God is not a genie for us to make a wish on. God is someone who controls many parts of our lives but also allows us to experience our own decisions and the consequences of our choices.  There are times that we are blessed in extraordinary ways that we are aware of but there are other times that we are blessed and no idea of the blessing that we have received. Take, for example, the Old Testament shares with the giving of the Ten Commandments.  We hear what the commandments are but do we have any idea WHY? God gave the Ten Commandments to the people??  When we study this scripture it is often for the Ten Commandments and what they mean for us today but we often do not take the time to realize w

  Matt 3:13-17 You are called, how shall you serve? Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” This Lenten season, our focus has been on the symbols of faith within the church.  One Ash Wednesday, our focus was on the ash cross that was placed upon our foreheads.  Last week, our focus was on this very building, the structure and the message the building itself conveys to us without saying a word.  This week however, I draw your attention to the Baptismal Font. For man