Everyday Lutherans

As we continue tonight, you may have noticed that we are continuing to go through the letter to the Galatians.  We are already in chapter two, and Paul is getting to the heart of the matter. Getting the people of Galatia to understand what they need, but also helping them and us identifying the constant distraction and path that we can so often feel that we are going down in our journey of faith.  For people sometimes assume that because of their birth, they are saved. Because I am Jewish, I am one of the chosen people of God. Because I was born into a Christian family and baptized, I am going to be saved. Just because you are or have done one of these things in your life, does not mean that you are saved and that salvation is secure.  No, it is not your doing that gives you salvation. It is the work of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of the other distraction for our faith journey, that it is the law.  The law is so often lifted up as what it is we should do so that we shall be a Christian. ...

Recently I was watching a movie in which a large congregation was gathering together. The pastor within the congregation was speaking about the great work that the people were doing within the church.  Instead of going on and on, the pastor turned the microphone over to the leader of the new group.  The leader began speaking to the congregation about the work they were doing and how simple it was but then turned and said you need to be a part of it too.  God is calling you to do the same thing.  More people needed to join this movement and enjoy the same success and glory that they have enjoyed.  The inspiring speech was great, motivating and yet was so very scripted for the movie it was in. At first, I thought that this movie was great.  The Pastor was encouraging and growing leaders within the congregation gathering everyone to Jesus Christ.  This is what the church should be doing and helping people live out within their life.  The people were ...

There are many conversations and understandings that relate to the Lord's Supper.  Even at the time in which Jesus was sharing the meal with the disciples, they did not fully understand what Jesus was doing and what it all meant.  Truly the meal that they were gathered was a Jewish Seder, a meal that helps the Jewish people remember and be within the history that God saved them from their time in Egypt from slavery and led them to the promised land.  The people wanted to remember the vast power and strength that God displayed to the Jewish people and the Egyptian people. It was this meal that Jesus was celebrating with his disciples.  Yet as Jesus was leading them in this meal of remembrance, when it came to certain parts, he changed the meanings.   When Jesus spoke of the unleavened bread, the bread that was prepared hurriedly to sustain the Jewish people on their journey from Egypt without yeast that would normally cause bread to rise.  Jesus said: "This ...

For some people, Baptism was something that happened when they were an infant.  They do not remember it.  They do not understand what was happening.  For others, they remember the day and event as it was something that they had a part in. Within Baptism, water is used upon the person's body.  Water is one of the most abundant resources upon the Earth and it is something that is vital to our very life.  With this resource that you use within your daily life, God combines God's own Word.  Then God commands us to share and give this gift. In Baptism, God calls us by name to be God's very own child.  As a beloved child of God, you are given forgiveness of sins, delivered from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation to all who believe in this promise of God.   It is not water that does this but God's promise and work on the cross that delivers all that is promised for you directly to you. You do not need to remember the day that the way was plac...

When you think of church, what do you think of? Honestly, write it down.  It all down.  Maybe even draw a picture, to help you capture all that you are thinking of. Now think of the church that you attend.  How are the same? How are they different? Now for the truth:  That ideal church that you first wrote about, can not happen.  For one thing, it is in your mind.  It would only happen if everyone did what you did.  You would be the god of that church. The church that you attend is not perfect.  Why?  The people who attend there are sinners and saints.  Yes even you.  Don't get me wrong you are not a bad person but within our lives, things happen, we make choices that we find out later, hurt someone else or even ourselves.  That's ok, you are human.  Along with that, when you get more than one person in a room, there are different ideas, concepts, and thoughts of what this church should be.  When that happens, there a...

Ever since the beginning when Adam was given the power to name the creation, we have continued to label, name and define.  Now a name is a powerful thing, it is our identity, it is how people recognize, call us, and remember us. I believe it was Shakespeare who said, "A rose by any other name is just as sweet." Which is true, I mean the name that we have does not really define our characteristics. If I would list the name of a person, you may have someone come to mind because you know a person by that name.  You can think of their hair color, their height, if they are a good friend, good in school or some other characteristic about that person.  Or even an item, if I say a chair, you may think of a flat surface with a back rest with four legs for support. Yet even when we think we know of what something is does not mean that it is always that way or can not be changed.  Let's talk about a chair. A chair does not need four legs. There are times that our definitions ne...

When I have a question about something, one of the first things that I do is go to a search engine to find an answer.  My preferred one as of late has been Google.  Yet I know that there are other places to search for answers.  Within our modern time, Google or other search engines (Bing, Yahoo and really the list could go on) are the gurus that people go to for answers.  Whether it is finding a definition, explaining how to do something or even finding out the latest news.  One of the main reasons that we turn to this is because it is quick and the answers are generally the most sorted through by experts and others who have done what we are searching for.  Most of the time, thousands of results are found in less than one second. Yet when I want an answer about faith or even my relationship with God.  When I pray to God, I do not get an instant answer.  Something that satisifies my longing, calms my spirits or even gives me guidance to what I shou...

When I was a kid, I grew up thinking that God was this old man with a long white beard.  He sat on a big throne and had a lot of people who were singing around him.  But I was always afraid, I thought that God was one who looking out for the things that I was doing wrong.  Yet then Jesus would come and tell me things were going to be ok.  That God had been sitting on the throne for a long time but really he meant well and loved me.  As time went on my understanding of God grew, as it should because my relationship with God grew as well. I began to realize how that understanding of God was so true.  God wanted what was best for me and wanted me to realize the LOVE that He truly shared for me. Yet in my teen years, while your whole body and world seem to be put into this blender of reality and nothing seems to work out right.  You can also begin to wonder, doubt, and be down right frustrated with God.  For these two voices of God looking out for wha...

I have talked to a lot of people who attend church every so often to not really a whole lot. In one of my most recent conversations, a person asked me, "So, what does a pastor do?" I started thinking of all the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly things that I do and I could have listed them all off , but that would take a very long time. Then there are the things that no one can plan for. How do you tell someone that you live a life of chaos and unknown, and help someone make sense of it??? Here is my attempt. A pastor does many, many things; largely depending on the congregation's size and whether or not there is more than one pastor. If the church is large and there are multiple pastors, then they are specialized into separate fields.  In a one pastor congregation, then he/she does most (if not all) of the following. Depending on where the congregation is located will also determine the work that the pastor will have as a focus or time for travel between p...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

Within the Bible, the beginning says that God created the heavens and the earth along with that, God parted light from darkness. In the beginning….Here we are brought to the very beginning to understand how and why God created this universe and even you.  Within recent years, many have declared that the Big Bang Theory is the most probable theory of how the universe came into being.  However, these two theories then are not in opposition with one another but these two understandings of creation. Couldn’t God create this universe through the means of the Big Bang? What if God started the Big Bang and also created the various life forms within the world?  (How much time determines which theory but then again does time really matter in understanding the world compared to ones lifetime.) So what does that creation have to do with us?  EVERYTHING!! The creation is still happening all around us. Each year, we bear witness to the birth, life, death, and even resurrection wi...

The sermon from Pope Francis was wonderful.  I had to share the good news that he delivered to all of Christianity.  It was a simply yet beautiful message about understanding the place in which our faith is found and founded upon.

I am sure many people wish a burning bush moment within their life.  A time in which things are clear and God is calling you to do something.  However, think about that, what God was calling Moses to do was to stand up against people whom he called family and release the new family that Moses just realized he was a part of.  Moses was able to do wonders within the world but through those wonders thousands of people suffered. Alright so let's try a different way, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Well then that would you mean that you have to take the time, read the stories, understand them and figure out how they can help you in your current situation. Not only that but make sure it is actually God's Will and not your own that is guiding you. There are many helpful resources to help you as a church figure out what it is God is calling you to do within the community.  It is also important for you as God's people to pray and reflect to unde...

For some people these words are something that are a reminder.  Something that they long for and should strive for.  They are words that stop them from saying something that they shouldn’t. They are words that stop them from doing something that they shouldn’t. For us, love is something that we hope will cover all things within your life.  Yet love is a feeling.  It is something that is not rational.  With love being our motive, we do things that do not make sense.   When we are a child, we reason like a child.  Those of you with children can attest to the many questions that a child will ask.  Why is the sky blue?  Why is the grass green?  Why can’t I have chocolate cake before I eat my carrots?  While a parent may be racking their brain with the scientific answer, an answer that would be far complex for a child to understand.  That the light from the sun shines through the atmosphere.  Contained within that...

This question was raised by a confirmation student. While I wrestle with this question, it is one that all people wrestle with. There are evil things that happen all around our life. A fire will destroy someone's home, a flood will destroy farm lands and the death of a loved one. These are all terrible things that happen within the world around us. Yet is God the one who causes these events? I would argue that God does not however, God has the power to stop them. This is quite the distinction. For the original cause did not come from God, such that we know. For God knew the difference between good and evil. This was something that God did not intend for us to know. Yes God created us, happy, healthy and enjoying the world around us. It was not until we disobeyed God and learned the difference between good and evil that suffering truly began. For the punishment for disobeying God is death. However, God had mercy on us. Instead of killing us out right, God allowed us to l...

Have you ever thought about Jesus looked like?  I have seen many paintings of Jesus.  Sometimes with flowing brown hair, like he had just had it shampoo and conditioned along with trimmed at a salon.  I have seen him in paintings with no dust or even a scratch on him.  These paintings were not of the actual person.  Let's be honest, Jesus was a peasant, a commoner who would not be worthy enough or have the wealth enough to actually afford an artist to do the work of painting him.  However, more importantly, painting of people was not something that they did during the life of Jesus   People were more likely to have their faces carved into coins, statues or other mediums in which actual likeness could be achieved.  So none of the paintings that we have of Christ are actually of him but that does not mean that they do not give us insight into the person of who Christ is and what he did look like. Jesus probably did have a beard, long hair ...

Growing up, I had always seen corn and soybeans.  While I spent the year in Wisconsin, I got to see the tobacco being harvested.  Well this year came another treat. I got to see the Beet Harvest.  These beets would be picked, piled and then taken to the factory so that they can be processed into sugar. So here is my experience.  I talked with one of the farmers in the congregation and he said I could see it.  I arrived out in the field when they had just loaded a semi.  That's right the semi drove right next to the tractor and was loaded up with the beets.  Since the tractor was at a stand still, I hopped into the cab of the semi and road along to see where the beets go after they are done in the field. Getting in to the cab, I started to talking to the driver.  He is also a member at the congregation.  So after catching up on what's new at his place, he started telling me about the process.  He takes his load over to a big pile.  E...

If you haven't noticed, I have not written for a while.  So there are a number of comics and even more thoughts that I have been thinking about for me to write on.  Yet this one has been on my mind and my heart, WORSHIP.  Now I am thinking of a particular God, the One God.  I am not thinking of money, football or success in academia.  Though I know that each one of these are at the focus of many in these days with rise and fall of the stock market, the start of a new football season, and the start of a new school year.  However, it is also the start of Sunday School, Confirmation, and so many other programs or ministries that happen within the church.  I have also seen a growing number of people returning to the church services.  Yet the question remains, why did they take three months off?  In talking with many people, I have found that worship simply did not fit within the schedule.  They used the weekend to go out to their cabins so t...