Category Archives: Lutheran Christianity

Tenemos que morir para vivir Marcos 8: 27-38 First St Johns 01 de marzo 2015

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[translations done on Google translate]

Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo, y todos aquellos que saben que la muerte en este mundo es sólo el comienzo de la vida en la Resurrección dicho … AMEN !!

Tengo noticias para youse, por si no lo sabías, el mundo se pone cada vez más raro. Shawn Kumm escribe sobre pequeños y agradables cenas que se están convirtiendo popular. Hay toda la parafernalia de porcelana, ropa, pequeños bocadillos, pasteles, cómodo ajuste cafetería, que se conocen como “Muerte Cafés”. Estos comenzaron en 2011 por un inglés llamado Jon Underwood. “El objetivo declarado es” aumentar la conciencia de la muerte para ayudar a las personas a aprovechar al máximo su (finito) vive “. Yo diría que para comprobar que funciona, que por supuesto tienen un sitio web deathcafe.com. “Los grupos se reúnen para hablar de la muerte sobre bebidas refrescantes y comida nutritiva – y pastel -.” Hey todos vamos a morir, también podríamos comer pastel. Pastor Kumm va a decir “, pero,” sin la intención de las personas que llevan a una conclusión … o curso de acción. “Bueno, por supuesto, porque los cielos, es la era post-moderna, cualquier cosa que digamos va, y estamos justo va a tener nuestro pequeño agradable eternidad diseñador, adaptarse a nuestras especificaciones. La gente, la gente realmente viven este tipo de vida engañados. Tenemos un mundo que realmente está fuera de control. Ni siquiera podemos detener a los radicales en el Medio Oriente que siguen a quemar vivo, decapitan, entierran vivo, hermano y hermanas cristianos. Sin embargo, tenemos los que viven, una vida degenerados auto-obsesionado ilusos, sentados alrededor y tienen pequeñas partes de café, hablando de la muerte y que llegan a ninguna conclusión, pero estar seguro de que las cosas después de la muerte el que estará bien.

En la lectura de hoy Jesús dice a sus discípulos, por tercera vez: “… el Hijo del hombre tiene que padecer mucho y ser rechazado por los ancianos, los sumos sacerdotes y los escribas, y ser matado …” Es como si los discípulos, como los de sus delirantes pequeñas charlas de café, simplemente permanecen en la negación. En la medida en que Pedro, y sí yo realmente amo a ese tipo, él es un hombre de pie y luego deja caer la pelota de nuevo. “. Tú eres el Cristo” Unas líneas antes, Peter está confesando exactamente quién es Jesús, en el Evangelio de Mateo Pedro continúa diciendo: “… el Hijo del Dios viviente.” Todo el mundo de aquellos discípulos que escucharon la confesión de Pedro, sabía exactamente lo que estaba diciendo. Este es el Mesías, Mesheach, ése es el que se ha prometido desde el principio de la revelación de Dios. Él no es otro profeta, que eran todos hombres. Este es Dios el Hijo, el Hijo del Dios viviente, el Hijo de David, el Señor de David, el que es la salvación del mundo. Jesús les ha dicho ya dos veces, que iba a morir. Por supuesto, él no llenaba exactamente los espacios en blanco de lo que Su muerte y resurrección significan para ellos, pero a pesar de su reacción fue una especie de … sí bien, pero es posible que usted podría estar exagerando un poco.

Hay Peter y él ha intensificado hasta, inspirado por el Espíritu Santo, pero seamos sinceros, muchas personas han sido inspiradas por el Espíritu Santo y se soltó el balón. No Peter! Me gustaría pensar que él sabía que la inspiración vino de y no iba a ser negado. Jesús le dice a Pedro en Mateo, “yup lo tienes, que haya sido bendecido para saber exactamente lo que soy.” Pero entonces Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, el Mesías, añade, por tercera vez, una vez dicho esto y ser reconocido como el Mesías prometido, los hombres se me va a llevar, me golpearon, me tortures y luego matarme. Bueno Peter le gusta la idea de Mesías, pero ya … no, la cosa de matar, así que simplemente no encaja en su, todavía, paradigma mundana. El Mesías va a llevar físicamente a todos sus seguidores, como David su padre sería, y expulsar a los odiados romanos y establecer el reino de Dios aquí en la tierra. Peter no es sólo en el punto en que puede entender cualquier cosa menos que Israel tiene que ser entregado en el aquí y ahora. Él no puede comprender la perspectiva eterna de Jesús. Oh, sí, el Reino de Dios está aquí, Jesús está diciendo que estoy aquí, pero el plan es que aún no se reconoce el Reino de Dios.

Mientras Peter se pone que es Jesús, que Él es el Hijo de Dios, Peter toma a sí mismo para dejar que Jesús conoce el ser parte matado simplemente no funciona para él. Que Jesús va a seguir con vida y ser el rey conquistador. Jesús ciertamente conquistará. Pero no de acuerdo con la agenda de Pedro y expulsar a los romanos. Jesús va a vencer a la muerte! Él va a superar el verdadero enemigo del hombre, Él será el agente del plan de Dios para reconciliar al hombre consigo mismo. Él será la propiciación, el pago, el Redentor de todos nuestros pecados. Los que están en Jesús todavía habrá en el mundo, pero ahora seremos salvos del mundo. Ahora vamos a ser librados del mundo de la muerte, la enfermedad, el sufrimiento, el mal y en nuestro bautismo en el Dios uno y trino, ser adoptados en la familia de Dios, renacer en el Espíritu. Aún en este mundo, pero ahora las nuevas creaciones en relación con Dios el Padre, redimido por el Hijo de Dios y guiados en este mundo por Dios el Espíritu Santo.

Jesús tuviera que empujar estas cosas en casa. Según el Evangelio de Marcos, en el capítulo 10, que estaban en el camino subiendo a Jerusalén. Pocos días será la entrada triunfal. Jesús entra en Jerusalén montado en un burro. Esto no es poca cosa, que será aclamado por la multitud, aplaudió la bienvenida al Mesías, pero no en el sentido de que Pedro espera. Ellos le dan la bienvenida a quien entregará de los romanos. En la lectura de hoy Peter toma a Jesús aparte de ponerlo recto; Él no va a ser asesinado, Peter no lo dice, pero cuando Peter critica Jesús, es para decirle, “no, lo tienes mal, esto va a ser el reino donde todo principado con usted.” El Concordia Auto-estudio de la Biblia de lee: “El intento de Pedro de disuadir a Jesús de ir a la cruz celebró la misma tentación Satanás dio desde el principio del ministerio de Jesús (Mateo 4: 8-10).” Jesús “40 días en el desierto, siendo tentado por Satanás: “Todo esto te daré, él [Satanás] dijo, ‘si va a inclinarse ante mí.'” Pedro está diciendo tanto como Satanás dijo: “Olvídate de todo eso de morir Jesús, no podemos hacer lo que es realmente importante, gobernar el mundo entero. No te preocupes por la salvación de toda esa gente. Lo que se está muriendo va a hacer? Lo importante está gobernando y el funcionamiento de su propia agenda “. Por supuesto ¿qué significaría para ellos, a nosotros, a la gente de todo a lo largo de la historia? Jesús no murió por nosotros, Él no nos redimió, Él no pagó por nuestros pecados? Lo único afectado es esta parte del mundo y no se guardan en la muerte de Jesús. Jesús vino para redimirnos de la muerte, de todo el mal del mundo, para redimir nuestros pecados y darnos la promesa de la salvación eterna. Él dejó muy claro a Satanás en el principio de su ministerio y ahora como ese ministerio llega a su final, Jesús deja muy claro a Pedro y, por extensión, nosotros. Ciertamente Satanás no estaba contento de ser despojado de su autoridad y seguramente Pedro no estaba feliz de que su visión del ministerio de Jesús no iba a ocurrir. Por supuesto Peter, todos los discípulos, estarían llenos del Espíritu Santo y que llegaran a conocer la forma en que se salvaron y ellos, como nosotros, sabrían la promesa y la esperanza de Jesús en la salvación eterna en la resurrección.

Triste, ¿no? Esa gente en los cafés, que se suscriben a deathcafe.com. Ellos no tienen esa esperanza y promesa. Ellos piensan que pueden hablar de la muerte a la muerte y que tendrán su propia eternidad diseñador, probablemente se sienta alrededor de una casa de café en su superficial, falsa inexistente, poco eternidad.

Siento decirlo, se perderán y condenados. Se niegan a ser guiados por el Espíritu Santo a la vida verdadera en la resurrección y piensan que es todo acerca de ellos. Así que sacar esa revista esta semana. Realmente orar sobre lo que ha dicho Jesús, recuerda que Él está resumiendo su ministerio terrenal y prepararse para su muerte. Él no quiere que soportar esto, pero a través de su amor por nosotros, que el ágape, el amor sacrificial que Él tiene para nosotros, para que su cuerpo y sangre van a sufrir y ser derramado como el sacrificio que conquistará todo y nos da la esperanza y la promesa de la vida eterna en el mundo resucitado. Escribe sobre lo que significa esperanza para usted y cómo le puede dar esperanza a las personas que conoces a través de Jesucristo.

La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Shalom y Amin.

Death Cafes Mark 8: 27 – 38 First St Johns, York, Pa March 1, 2015

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For the audio version please click on the link above.

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who know that death in this world is only the beginning of life in the Resurrection said … AMEN!!

I’ve got news for youse, in case you didn’t know it, the world just keeps getting weirder. Shawn Kumm writes about nice little dinner parties that are becoming popular. There’s all the trappings china, linen, small sandwiches, pastries, comfortable coffee house setting, these are known as “Death Cafes”. These started in 2011 by an Englishman named Jon Underwood. “The stated objective is ‘to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their (finite) lives”. I’d say to check it out, they of course have a website deathcafe.com. “Groups gather together to discuss death over refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake -.” Hey we’re all going to die, we might as well eat cake. Pastor Kumm goes on to say “but, ‘with no intention of leading people to any conclusion … or course of action.”[1] Well of course, because heavens, it’s the post-modern age, whatever we say goes, and we’re just going to have our nice little designer eternity, fit to our specifications. Folks, people really live these kind of deluded lives. We have a world that really is out of control. We can’t even stop the radicals in the Middle East who continue to burn alive, decapitate, bury alive, brother and sister Christians. Yet we have those who live deluded, self-obsessed, degenerate lives, sitting around and having little coffee parties, talking about death and coming to no conclusion, but being sure that things after death will be just fine.

In today’s reading Jesus tells His disciples, for the third time: “…the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed…” It’s as if the disciples, like those in their delusional little coffee klatches, simply remain in denial. To the extent that Peter, and yes I really do love that guy, he is a stand up guy and then drops the ball again. A few lines earlier, Peter is confessing exactly who Jesus is, “You are the Christ.” In Matthew’s Gospel Peter goes on to say: “…the Son of the Living God.” Everyone of those disciples that heard Peter’s confession, knew exactly what he was saying. This is Messiah, Mesheach, this is He who has been promised since the beginning of God’s revelation. He’s not another prophet, who were all men. This is God the Son, the Son of the Living God, David’s Son, David’s Lord, He who is the salvation of the world. Jesus has told them twice already, that He would die. Granted, He didn’t exactly fill in the blanks of what His death and resurrection meant to them, but regardless, their reaction was a sort of, … yea OK, but is it possible you might be overreacting just a little.

There’s Peter and he has stepped right up, inspired by the Holy Spirit, but let’s face it, many people have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and have fumbled the ball. Not Peter! I’d like to think that he knew where the inspiration came from and was not going to be denied. Jesus tells Peter in Matthew, “yup you got it, you have been blessed to know exactly who I AM.” But then Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, adds, for the third time, having said that and being recognized as the promised Messiah, men are going to take me, beat me, torture me and then kill me. Well Peter likes the Messiah idea, but ya … no, the killing thing, well that just doesn’t fit into his, still, worldly paradigm. The Messiah is going to physically lead all his followers, as His father David would, and drive out the hated Romans and establish God’s kingdom here on earth. Peter is just not at the point where he can understand anything but that Israel needs to be delivered in the here and now. He cannot grasp Jesus’ eternal perspective. Oh yes, the Kingdom of God is here, Jesus is saying I AM here, but the plan is that the Kingdom of God is not yet recognized.

While Peter gets who Jesus is, that He is the Son of God, Peter takes it upon himself to let Jesus know the being killed part just doesn’t work for him. That Jesus is going to stay alive and be the conqueror king. Jesus certainly will conquer. But not according to Peter’s agenda and drive out the Romans. Jesus will conquer death! He will overcome the true enemy of man, He will be the agent of God’s plan to reconcile man to Himself. He will be the propitiation, the payment, the Redeemer of all our sins. Those who are in Jesus will still be in the world, but now we will be saved from the world. We will now be delivered from the world of death, disease, suffering, evil and in our baptism in the Triune God, be adopted into the family of God, reborn into the Spirit. Still in this world, but now new creations in relationship with God the Father, redeemed by God the Son and guided in this world by God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has to drive these things home. According to Mark’s Gospel, in chapter 10, they were on the road going up to Jerusalem. In just a few days will be the triumphant entry. Jesus will enter into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This is no small thing, he will be hailed by the crowd, cheered welcoming the Messiah, but not in the sense that Peter expects. They are welcoming Him who will deliver them from the Romans. In today’s reading Peter takes Jesus aside to set Him straight; He’s not going to be killed, Peter doesn’t say it, but when Peter criticizes Jesus, it’s to tell Him, “no, you’ve got it wrong, this is going to be the Kingdom where we all rule with you.” The Concordia Self-study Bible’s reads: “Peter’s attempt to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross held the same temptation Satan gave at the outset of Jesus’ ministry (Matt 4: 8-10).”[2] Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, being tempted by Satan: “All this I will give you, he [Satan] said, ‘if you will bow down to me.’” Peter is saying as much as Satan said: “Forget all that dying stuff Jesus, we can do what’s really important, rule the whole world. Don’t worry about salvation for all those people. What’s dying going to do? What’s important is ruling and running Your own agenda.” Of course what would that mean to them, to us, to people all down through history? Jesus didn’t die for us, He didn’t redeem us, He didn’t pay for our sins? The only thing affected is this part of the world and we are not saved in Jesus’ death. Jesus came to redeem us from death, from all the evil of the world, to redeem our sins and give us the promise of eternal salvation. He made that very clear to Satan in the beginning of His ministry and now as that ministry comes to an end Jesus makes it very clear to Peter and by extension us. Certainly Satan was not happy being stripped of his authority and surely Peter wasn’t happy that his vision of Jesus’ ministry wasn’t going to occur. Of course Peter, all the disciples, would be filled with the Holy Spirit and they would come to know how they were saved and they, like us, would know the promise and hope of Jesus in eternal salvation in the resurrection.

Sad, isn’t it? Those people at the coffee houses, who subscribe to deathcafe.com. They don’t have that hope and promise. They think they can talk death to death and they will have their very own designer eternity, probably sitting around a coffee house in their superficial, phoney, non-existent, little eternity.

Sorry to say, they will be lost and condemned. They refuse to be guided by the Holy Spirit to true life in the resurrection and think it’s all about them. So take out that journal this week. Really pray over what Jesus has said, remember that He is summing up His earthly ministry and preparing for His death. He doesn’t want to endure this, but through His love for us, that agape, sacrificial love He has for us, that His Body and Blood will suffer and be spilled as the sacrifice that will conquer all and give us the hope and promise of eternal life in the resurrected world. Write about what that hope means to you and how you can give hope to those you know through Jesus Christ.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amin.

[1] Shawn L. Kumm  “Concordia Pulpit Resources” Vol 25, Part 2, Series B, p 6

[2] Concordia Self Study Bible p 1518

Tentación Ojos Primeros St Johns Santiago 1: 12-18 22 de febrero 2015

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Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo, y todos aquellos que han mantenido firmes en ensayo dijimos … AMEN!

A principios de 1970, una de las primeras canciones que recuerdo como un adolescente, irónicamente, fue por un grupo llamado los Grass Roots, titulada “Temptation Eyes”. Era una canción de rock duro de conducción, lo que, realmente caracteriza a la tentación. Para mí, la tentación es una especie de esta conducción duro, casi perforando en que este deseo, sólo hay que tenerlo. Las letras, para una canción secular, realmente te dan una sensación de la tentación. “Ella tiene algo que mueve mi alma …” Una canción secular hablando de algo que llega a la derecha abajo en el alma. Esta tentación que es tan convincente es mover este cantante con un ritmo de rock duro.

No tenga ninguna duda de que cuando Jesús fue tentado por Satanás, Jesús se sentía la tentación que fue perforando hacia abajo en él. El desierto no es un lugar acogedor, hace calor, es seco (a menos, claro está nevando y lluvia helada en York, entonces es casi acogedor.) Tentación para protegerse del sol, de agua fresca, refrigerante, para la comida, es convincente en el desierto. Pero a medida que el autor de Hebreos nos dice: “Pues en cuanto él mismo padeció cuando fue tentado, es poderoso para socorrer a los que son tentados. Este pasaje nos asegura que Jesús sufrió. Sintió la tentación en el fondo. Él sabe que somos tentados y Él sabe que la tentación nos puede dirigir a las cosas que no son buenas para nosotros, que tienen nuestros ojos de Aquel que es nuestra esperanza y promesa. Pero también debido a esto sabemos que podemos confiar en Él.

Con demasiada frecuencia nos ocupamos de las cosas en nuestras vidas que llegan hasta en nuestra alma. Otros tratan de darnos consuelo y seguridad, “oh no es nada”, que pueden mantenerse fuertes y hacer frente. Es una gran diferencia entre hombres y mujeres. Hay cosas que las mujeres compiten con, que se ven tentados por, que, como los hombres que no lo entiendo. Simplemente no podemos empatizar con la compulsión que sienten. Y ciertamente viceversa. Podemos decirnos cosas lindas, y pensamos que estamos ayudando, pero demasiado a menudo que realmente no somos y podemos estar agravando la situación. Sin embargo, con Jesús, basado en las palabras de Santiago y del escritor de Hebreos, se nos asegura que Jesús entiende. Con demasiada frecuencia nos hacemos una imagen de Dios como enojado y vengativo, a la espera de nosotros derribar cuando estamos siquiera tanto como la tentación. Ese es Dios para muchos, a los que no son salvos en Jesús. Pero nosotros, que somos salvos en Jesús, que han nacido de nuevo como hombres y mujeres nuevos, guardados en Cristo, tenemos un Salvador que entiende, que quiere ayudar a empujar hacia atrás contra la tentación antes de estar abrumado y cedemos. La tentación no es un pecado, Marcos nos dice que Jesús fue tentado (Marcos 1:13), sabemos con certeza que Jesús no pecó. Pero para nosotros, que son débiles en nosotros mismos, es demasiado fácil para que la tentación que nos impulsen a hacer algo que es pecado. Santiago escribe: “… cada uno es tentado cuando es atraído y seducido por su propia voluntad. Entonces el deseo, cuando se ha concebido, da a luz el pecado y el pecado, siendo consumado da a luz la muerte “(Santiago 1: 14-15). La tentación está a nuestro alrededor, el Ben y Jerry sabes es en el congelador, la ira, la venganza , hacer las cosas que usted y otra persona duelen. Encienda la televisión, la computadora, libros, revistas, es por todas partes. Cuando cedemos al pecado, nos encontramos con excusas y racionalizaciones que empujan a Jesús y hacen que el pecado un ídolo, y luego cruzamos la línea y cometemos pecado.

Nuestro Salvador entiende que, Él no está de pie junto a nosotros a la espera de que hagamos ese movimiento en falso, que te pillé. Él ha estado allí, en este tiempo de Cuaresma recordamos Su tiempo en el desierto. Desde que Jesús puede relacionarse con los que son suyos, porque, como el escritor de plumas Hebreos: “Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que en todos los aspectos ha sido tentado como nosotros , … “(Hebreos 4:15), pero luego se va a decir,” pero sin pecado. ”

Jesús sabe lo que nos enfrenta, él no se relacionan con nosotros. Aún más, si se lo permitimos, el Espíritu Santo llegará a abajo y fortalecernos. A menudo pensamos que el pecado como un regalo, que Pooh-Pooh cosas como más de caer en los alimentos. No es saludable para nosotros, es el debilitamiento de nuestro cuerpo, nos hace menos capaces de servir a Jesús ya nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Jesús. Claro que en la moderación, pero en este día y edad? No somos un pueblo moderados. ¿Has visto a Ben y brebaje de Jerry, formulado por Jimmy Fallon, me pone en un coma diabético con sólo mirarlo.

No haga usted se pregunta, ¿por qué Satanás incluso tratar con Jesús. Satanás sabe mejor que nadie cómo va a terminar. Pero él quiere que fracasemos. Él quiere que lo dejemos. Es evidente que Jesús había venido al mundo para estropear los planes y esquemas de Satanás. No se puede esperar que Satanás sólo juguetear con sus pulgares mientras Jesús deshace todo el mal y el pecado del mundo. No se puede esperar que él se dio por vencido, quiere descubrir el mundo, que ha sido condenado, él quiere que todos condenó. Así que tuvo que hacer retroceder contra Jesús. Pero Satanás no es normalmente en la parte superior, no es por lo general en la cara. Él es generalmente sutil, continuamente tratando de socavar. Él está poniendo la tentación delante de usted para que usted salga y ceder. Va a dejar de preocuparse acerca de lo que Jesús quiere y sólo se centran en el objeto de su deseo.

Escribir sobre nuestras vocaciones en la vida; trabajo, la familia, la iglesia, la comunidad; “Wingren dice que ‘Tentación en la vocación es el intento del diablo para conseguir al hombre de su vocación” (121) El Dr. Gen Veith continúa escribiendo: El diablo quiere que renuncies. Él quiere que renuncie a su trabajo. Él quiere que usted pueda obtener un divorcio. Él quiere que dejes de hacer las cosas para que el manojo ingrato en la iglesia. Él quiere que le digas a tus hijos a ‘hacer lo que quieras hacer. Me doy por vencido. “Él quiere que deje esa congregación porque es nada más que problemas.” ¿Eso es no es el mundo que vemos hoy? La izquierda y la derecha vemos esta dando en la tentación. No sólo las tentaciones obvias, la lujuria, la gula, la avaricia, la ira, etc. La tentación más sutil de darse por vencido. ¿Por qué tratar? El gobierno proporcionará para usted, algún familiar proporcionará para usted, la iglesia, debe, proporcionar para usted. ¿Por qué tratar en el trabajo? La gente está significan para usted allí. ¿Por qué tratar en su matrimonio? Si alguien no te hace feliz, volcar ’em. ¿Por qué tratar con sus hijos, sólo lo van a hacer lo que quieren. ¿Por qué tratar con su iglesia? El pastor no tiene remedio, nada bueno está pasando y por supuesto, sabemos que la iglesia sólo está lleno de hipócritas de todos modos.

Sí, la mentalidad cobarde que vemos en el mundo hoy en día. Usted puede dar al mundo, puede dejar que Satanás te llevan lejos y dar en la tentación de que olas en frente de usted para dejar de fumar, a darse por vencido. Jesús pudo haber dejar en el desierto, sólo lleno en ella, “hey, no es mi problema, van a tener que hacer frente a esta tentación cosas ellos mismos.” Él no lo hizo! Él fue fiel a usted, para asegurarse de que tenía esa esperanza y la promesa de que usted tiene un Salvador que no va a dejar de fumar por ti. Él nos da la fe para seguir confiando en él, pero sólo seguir adelante y Chuck se? Entonces, ¿qué? Apocalipsis capítulos 2 y 3, Jesús está diciendo a los lectores que se enfrentarán a terribles tribulaciones. Jesús promete el que vence: “Al vencedor y guarda mis obras hasta el fin, yo le daré autoridad sobre las naciones … Él será vestido de vestiduras blancas y no borraré su nombre del libro de vida. Y confesaré su nombre delante de mi Padre y delante de sus ángeles … Aférrate a fin de que nadie tome tu corona … le haré columna en el templo de mi Dios … “Leer los capítulos 2 y 3 en el Libro del Apocalipsis . Él nos advierte, pero las promesas que hace a los que son fieles, son eternos y abrumadora.

La gran cosa es, Jesús no nos deja a nuestra propia fuerza para vencer la tentación y el pecado. Sabemos que tenemos Su promesa para defendernos, para protegernos, para darnos la fe que necesitamos. Pero lo triste es que, cuando Él está de pie allí nos protege y nos acaba de huir, se trate sólo de nosotros mismos? Mandisa es un gran cantante de rock cristiano, estas letras son de una canción reciente:

“Todo el mundo ha sido golpeado por la parte inferior, golpeó el suelo, Ooh, usted no está solo

Basta con echar un aliento, no se olvide, aferrarse a sus promesas, Él quiere que usted sepa

Usted es un vencedor, estancia en la lucha “hasta la ronda final, No vas bajo

Porque Dios te está sosteniendo en este momento

Sea un vencedor, no se rinda a la tentación. La letra de la canción Roots hierba son instructivas: “Pero ella me decepciona cada vez, no puede hacer que su mente ella es amante de nadie …” La tentación siempre le fallará, te fallará. Pero Cristo siempre te fortalecerá y os salvará. Puede seguir para hacer frente a la tentación o ser un vencedor.

La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Shalom y Amin.

Temptation Eyes James 1: 12-18 First St Johns Feb 22, 2015

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We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who have remained steadfast under trial said … AMEN!

In the early 1970’s, one of the first songs that I remember as a teen, ironically, was by a group called the Grass Roots, titled “Temptation Eyes”. It was a hard driving rock song, which, really characterizes temptation. For me, temptation is sort of this hard driving, almost drilling into you this desire, you just have to have it. The lyrics, for a secular song, really do give you a sense of temptation. “She’s got something that moves my soul…”[1] A secular song talking about something that reaches right down into the soul. This temptation that is so compelling is moving this singer with a hard rock rhythm.

Have no doubt that when Jesus was being tempted by Satan, Jesus was feeling temptation that was drilling down into Him. The desert is not a welcoming place, it’s hot, it’s dry (unless of course it’s snowing and freezing rain in York, then it’s almost inviting.) temptation for shelter from the sun, for cool, refreshing water, for food, is compelling in the desert. But as the writer of Hebrews tells us: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. This passage assures us that Jesus did suffer. He felt temptation deep down. He knows that we are tempted and He knows that temptation can steer us to things that aren’t good for us, that take our eyes off of Him who is our hope and promise. But also because of this we know that we can trust Him.

Too often we deal with things in our lives that reach down into our soul. Others will try to give us comfort and assurance, “oh it’s nothing”, we can stay strong and cope. It’s a big difference between men and women. There are things women contend with, that they are tempted by, that as men we just don’t get. We just cannot empathize with the compulsion they feel. And certainly vice versa. We can tell each other nice things, and think that we are helping, but too often we really aren’t and may be aggravating the situation. However, with Jesus, based on James’ words and of the writer of Hebrews, we are assured that Jesus understands. Too often we get an image of God as angry and vengeful, just waiting to strike us down when we are even so much as tempted. That is God to many, to those who are not saved in Jesus. But we, who are saved in Jesus, who are born again as new men and women, saved in Christ, we have a Savior who understands, who wants to help us push back against temptation before we are overwhelmed and give in. Temptation is not a sin, Mark tells us that Jesus was tempted (Mark 1:13), we certainly know that Jesus did not sin. But for us, who are weak in ourselves, it is much too easy for that temptation to push us into something that is sin. James writes: “…each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (Jas 1:14-15) Temptation is all around us, the Ben and Jerry’s you know is in the freezer, anger, vengeance, doing things that hurt you and someone else. Turn on the television, computer, books, magazines, its everywhere. When we give in to sin, we come up with excuses and rationalizations that push Jesus away and make that sin an idol, and then we cross the line and commit sin.

Our Savior understands that, He’s not standing over us just waiting for us to make that wrong move, that gotcha. He has been there, in this time of Lent we remember His time in the desert. From that Jesus can relate to those who are His, because, as the writer of Hebrews pens: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,…” (Heb 4:15), but then goes on to say, “yet without sin.”

Jesus knows what confronts us, He does relate to us. Even more, if we let Him, the Holy Spirit will reach down and strengthen us. We often think of that sin as a treat, we pooh-pooh things like over indulging in food. It’s not healthy for us, it’s weakening our body, it makes us less able to serve Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Jesus. Sure in moderation, but in this day and age? We are not a moderate people. Have you seen Ben and Jerry’s concoction, formulated by Jimmy Fallon, it puts me into a diabetic coma just looking at it.

It does make you wonder, why Satan would even try with Jesus. Satan knows as well as anyone how this is going to end up. But he wants us to fail. He wants us to quit. Clearly Jesus had come into the world to mess up Satan’s plans and schemes. You can’t expect Satan to just twiddle his thumbs while Jesus undoes all the evil and sin of the world. You can’t expect him to give up, he wants to unravel the world, he’s condemned, he wants everyone condemned. So he had to push back against Jesus. But Satan isn’t normally over the top, he’s not usually in your face. He is usually subtle, continually trying to undermine us. He’s putting temptation in front of you so that you will quit and give in. You will stop caring about what Jesus wants and only focus on the object of your desire.

Writing about our vocations in life; work, family, church, community; “Wingren says that ‘Temptation in vocation is the devil’s attempt to get man out of his vocation” (121) Dr Gene Veith goes on to write: The devil wants you to quit. He wants you to quit your job. He wants you to get a divorce. He wants you to stop doing things for that ungrateful bunch at church. He wants you to tell your kids to ‘Do whatever you want to do. I give up.’ He wants you to leave that congregation because it’s nothing but trouble.”[2] Is that not the world we see today? Left and right we see this giving into temptation. Not just the obvious temptations, lust, gluttony, greed, anger etc. The more subtle temptation of giving up. Why try? The government will provide for you, some relative will provide for you, the church, should, provide for you. Why try at work? People are just mean to you there. Why try in your marriage? If someone doesn’t make you happy, dump ‘em. Why try with your kids, they’re just going to do what they want. Why try with your church? The pastor is hopeless, nothing good is happening and of course, we know that the church is just full of hypocrites anyway.

Yea, the quitter mentality we see in the world today. You can give into the world, you can let Satan lead you away and give into the temptation that he waves in front of you to quit, to give up. Jesus could have quit out in the desert, just packed it in, “hey, not my problem, they’re going to have to deal with this temptation stuff themselves.” He didn’t! He was faithful to you, to make sure you had that hope and promise that you have a Savior who will not quit on you. He gives us the faith to continue to trust in Him, but we just go ahead and chuck it? Then what? Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus is telling the readers that they will face terrible tribulation. Jesus promises the one who overcomes: “The one who conquers and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations… He will be clothed in white garments and I will never blot out his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels…Hold fast so that no one will seize your crown… I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God…” Read chapters 2 and 3 in the Book of Revelation. He warns us, but the promises He makes to those who are faithful, are eternal and overwhelming.

The great thing is, Jesus doesn’t leave us to our own strength to overcome temptation and sin. We know we have His promise to defend us, to protect us, to give us the faith we need. But how sad is it, when He is standing there protecting us and we just run away, concerned only about ourself? Mandisa is a great Christian rock singer, these lyrics are from a recent song:

“Everybody’s been down Hit the bottom, hit the ground, Ooh, you’re not alone
Just take a breath, don’t forget, Hang on to His promises, He wants You to know

You’re an overcomer, Stay in the fight ‘til the final round, You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now[3]

Be an overcomer, don’t give into temptation. The lyrics of the Grass Roots song are instructive: “But she lets me down everytime, can’t make her mind she’s no one’s lover…” Temptation will always let you down, will fail you. But Christ will always strengthen you and save you. You can continue to deal with temptation or be an overcomer.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amin.

[1] Grass Roots  “Temptation Eyes”

[2] Gene Veith “God at Work” quoting Wingren “Luther on Vocation”

[3] Mandisa “Overcomer”

El velo se levanta de Jesús First St Johns 15 de febrero 2015

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Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo y todos los que se les ha permitido una visión de Jesús como Dios como hijos suyos en el bautismo dijo … AMEN

Feliz día tras día ST de San Valentín! “Una hagiografía común describe San Valentín, ya que el ex obispo de Terni, Narnia y Amelia, una ciudad de la Umbría, en Italia central. Mientras que bajo arresto domiciliario de la jueza Asterio, y discutir su fe con él, Valentino (la versión latina de su nombre) estaba discutiendo la validez de Jesús. El juez puso Valentín a la prueba y le trajo hija ciega adoptado del juez. Si Valentino logró restaurar la vista de la niña, Asterio haría cualquier cosa, preguntó. Valentino puso las manos sobre los ojos y la visión del niño fue restaurada. El juez obedeció y, como resultado, liberó a todos los presos cristianos bajo su autoridad. El juez, su familia y su cuarenta y cuatro hogares miembro fueron bautizados. [20] Valentín fue más tarde arrestaron de nuevo para continuar con el proselitismo y fue enviado al prefecto de Roma, al emperador Claudio Gótico (Claudio II) a sí mismo. Claudio condenó Valentín a la muerte, al mando de que Valentino renunciar ni a su fe o que sería golpeado con palos, y decapitado. Valentino se negó. [21] Otra narración dice que fue detenido y encarcelado tras ser capturado casarse con parejas cristianas y de otra manera ayudar a los cristianos que se encontraban en el momento de ser perseguido por Claudio en Roma. Ayudar a los cristianos en este momento era considerado un crimen. Fue golpeado con palos y piedras; cuando esto falló matarlo, fue decapitado fuera de la Puerta Flaminia. [23] Los arqueólogos desenterraron una catacumba romana y una antigua iglesia dedicada a San Valentín. En 496 dC el Papa Gelasio marcó 14 de febrero como una celebración en honor de su martirio “.

San Valentín también parece ser otro de esos festivales que el mundo ha cooptado y francamente corruptos. Sí, hay un elemento de amor romántico, de Eros, en la historia de San Valentín, es mucho más sobre el amor ágape, lo que Valentine hizo con el fin de dar testimonio de Cristo. No hay duda en mi mente que Valentine sería avergonzado indescriptible para nosotros y para él mismo que se asocia con una fiesta que el mundo realmente ha corrompido.

De mucha más importancia, mucho más, al igual que más de infinitamente más importante, nos recuerda la Transfiguración de Jesús hoy. Festivales de diferentes santos son una gran cosa, especialmente cuando es alguien que como San Nicolás, San Valentín, Patrick que son fácilmente reconocidos por el mundo secular, y no hacemos hincapié en la importancia de estos santos, no para las vacaciones, pero a causa de cómo vivieron y murieron por Jesús. Pero también recordamos, que en Jesús todos somos santos, Nicholas, Patricio, San Valentín, grandes hombres, y se les debe recordar como ejemplos de una vida fiel y tal vez deberíamos ser más pro-activo sobre la observación de sus fiestas y festivales. Buscamos a los hombres por su ejemplo, oramos por la fuerza de Dios para emular sus vidas, pero nosotros también somos santos y todos somos sacerdotes y todo lo que se espera que entre en la presencia del Padre sobre la base de nuestra salvación en Jesús .

Jesús mismo ha mostrado durante la encarnación como un hombre, la Biblia dice que un hombre de aspecto más bien mediocre, no pensaría mucho sobre él en absoluto si usted caminó por él en la calle. Aquellos discípulos privilegiados y, por extensión, ahora, nosotros, la oportunidad de ver a Jesús como realmente es. Él es Dios, Él está apareciendo a sus discípulos, en, sin duda, una forma mucho más moderada. No podíamos soportar su esplendor como el Hijo de Dios, pero en la Transfiguración no hay duda de que Él está muy por encima de todo lo que somos y el Padre llega y confirma, este es mi Hijo! El velo se ha levantado. Hay un par de veces en la Biblia donde personas se han quedado con el fin de que se ha nubló encima, si no obstruido por completo. Moisés estuvo en la presencia real de Dios y tuvo que usar un velo entre la gente, ya que no fueron capaces de soportar incluso una especie de vista reflejada de Shekinah gloria de Dios. María Magdalena tenía un velo sobre sus ojos en la tumba. Los dos discípulos no vieron a Jesús en el camino a Emaús.

Dr. David Lewis observa: “Pablo discute la causa de la incredulidad con la imagen de” el velo Ciertamente sabemos aquellos que simplemente no va a ver a Jesús como Señor “, una imagen donde la fe se asemeja a ver y por lo que la incredulidad es la ceguera.”. No tengo ninguna duda, el Espíritu Santo ha presentado a Jesús, ha tratado de mover algunas personas y ellos no sólo se movieron, les gusta la ceguera.

Sin duda me resuenan con lo que el Dr. Lewis dice en términos de ministerio y el ministerio de hoy de Pablo. Ministerio cristiano, la proclamación del señorío de Jesús no es para la reducción de las violetas y la iglesia ha sido culpable de que por décadas y se está convirtiendo incluso menos de un testigo en la actualidad. Estamos más preocupados por otros infractores, mientras que para citar a Billy Graham, estamos ofendiendo a Dios.

Dr. Lewis señala: “Debido a esto [la incapacidad de ver bajo el velo] Pablo insiste en la importancia de llevar a cabo su ministerio con apertura / audacia. Lo que se proclamó abiertamente es que Jesús es el Señor. “¿Por qué le proclaman? “La esperanza [griega Elpida] en la gloria perdurable / restante … el nuevo pacto … Esta esperanza motiva Paul comportarse con audacia / francamente / abiertamente (marresia) en su ministerio …” A medida que deberíamos hacer.

Jesús ha ahora inequívocamente revelado a sí mismo en esa montaña y el Padre ha confirmado quién es Jesús: “Este es mi Hijo amado.” Nosotros somos hijos de Dios, somos nacidos de nuevo en el bautismo, somos de Él y somos fortalecidos a través de Su Palabra en la predicación y en la Escritura y somos salvos por el Cuerpo y la sangre de Jesús. Somos salvos por medio de su sacrificio, el pago de su vida perfecta como compensación, el pago justo por nuestros pecados. Esta es nuestra esperanza, esta es la única esperanza de la humanidad, el Señor Jesús! Y es por eso que debemos proclamar con valentía la esperanza y la promesa de Él, como lo hizo Pablo. Jerónimo escribe: “Ellos [Moisés, Elías, los discípulos, nos], también, de hecho, son queridos por Mí, sino que Él es mi amado; escucharlo, por lo tanto. Proclaman y le enseñan, sino que, lo oyen; Él es el Señor y el Maestro, que son compañeros de viaje en la servidumbre. Moisés y Elías hablan de Cristo; que son sus compañeros de servicio; Él es el Señor; escucharlo. No hacer el mismo honor a consiervos como para el Señor y Maestro. Escuchar sólo el Hijo de Dios “.

Para esta semana pasar algún tiempo en oración pidiendo orientación para ayudar a levantar el velo de las personas que conoces. ¿Cómo puede funcionar el Espíritu Santo a través de ti? ¿Quién quiere Él que usted ayude a levantar el velo de sus ojos para ver la única esperanza y promesa en el mundo? Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios y nuestro Salvador. El Espíritu Santo ha levantado el velo de la que hemos sido bautizados y nacer de nuevo en Jesús.

La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Shalom y Amin.

The Veil is lifted from Jesus First St Johns February 15, 2015

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We Make Our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who have been allowed a glimpse of Jesus as God as His children in baptism said … AMEN

Happy day after ST Valentine’s day! “A common hagiography describes Saint Valentine, as the former Bishop of Terni, Narnia and Amelia, a town of Umbria, in central Italy. While under house arrest of Judge Asterius, and discussing his faith with him, Valentinus (the Latin version of his name) was discussing the validity of Jesus. The judge put Valentinus to the test and brought to him the judge’s adopted blind daughter. If Valentinus succeeded in restoring the girl’s sight, Asterius would do anything he asked. Valentinus laid his hands on her eyes and the child’s vision was restored. The judge obeyed and as a result, freed all the Christian inmates under his authority. The judge, his family and his forty-four member household were baptized.[20] Valentinus was later arrested again for continuing to proselytize and was sent to the prefect of Rome, to the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) himself. Claudius condemned Valentinus to death, commanding that Valentinus either renounce his faith or he would be beaten with clubs, and beheaded. Valentinus refused.[21] Another narrative says he was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. He was beaten with clubs and stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. [23] Archaeologists unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.”[1]

Valentines also seems to be another of those festivals that the world has co-opted and frankly corrupted. Yes, there is an element of romantic love, of Eros, in the Valentine story, it is much more about the agape love, what Valentine did in order to witness to Christ. There is little doubt in my mind that Valentine would be embarrassed beyond description for us and for himself to be associated with a Feast that the world has really corrupted.

   Of much more importance, much more, like more than infinitely more important, we remember the Transfiguration of Jesus today. Festivals of different saints are a great thing, especially when it’s one who like St Nicholas, Valentine, Patrick who are readily recognized by the secular world, and we don’t emphasize enough the importance of these saints, not for holidays, but because of how they lived and died for Jesus. But we also remember, that in Jesus we are all saints, Nicholas, Patrick, Valentine, great men, and they should be remember as examples of faithful living and maybe we should be more pro-active about observing their feasts and festivals. We look to those men for their example, we pray for God’s strength to emulate their lives, but we too are saints and we all are priests and we are all expected to come into the presence of the Father on the basis of our salvation in Jesus.

Jesus has shown Himself during the incarnation as a man, the Bible says a rather unremarkable looking man, you wouldn’t think much about Him at all if you walked by Him on the street. Those privileged disciples and by extension, now, us, get to see Jesus as He truly is. He is God, He is appearing to His disciples, in, no doubt, a much more muted form. We could not endure His splendor as God the Son, but in the Transfiguration there is no doubt that He is far above anything we are and the Father comes along and confirms, this is My Son! The veil has been lifted. There are a few times in the Bible where people have been left with a view that’s been hazed over, if not outright obstructed. Moses was in the actual presence of God and had to wear a veil among the people because they weren’t able to bear even a sort of reflected view of God’s Shekinah glory. Mary Magdalene had a veil over her eyes at the tomb. The two disciples didn’t see Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Dr David Lewis observes: “Paul discusses the cause of unbelief with the image of “the veil” an image where faith is likened to seeing and so unbelief is blindness.” We certainly know those who just will not see Jesus as Lord. I have no doubt, the Holy Spirit has presented Jesus, has tried to move some people and they will just not be budged, they like the blindness.

I certainly resonate with what Dr Lewis says in terms of Paul’s ministry and ministry today. Christian ministry, proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus is not for shrinking violets and the church has been guilty of that for decades and is becoming even less of a witness today. We are more concerned about offending others, while to quote Billy Graham, we’re offending God.

Dr Lewis notes: “Because of this [inability to see under the veil] Paul stresses the importance of conducting his ministry with openness/boldness. What is openly proclaimed is that Jesus is Lord.” Why proclaim Him? “The hope [Greek elpida] in the enduring/remaining glory…the new covenant … This hope motivates Paul to behave boldly/frankly/openly (marresia) in his ministry …”[2] As we should do.

Jesus has now unambiguously revealed Himself on that mountain and the Father has confirmed who Jesus is: “This is my beloved Son.” We are God’s children, we are born again in baptism, we are His and we are strengthened through His Word in preaching and in Scripture and we are saved through the Body and Blood of Jesus. We are saved through His sacrifice, the payment of His perfect life as compensation, the just payment for our sins. This is our hope, this is the only hope of mankind, the Lord Jesus! And that is why we must boldly proclaim the hope and promise of Him, as Paul did. Jerome writes: “They [Moses, Elijah, the disciples, us], too, indeed are dear to Me, but He is My beloved; hear Him, therefore. They proclaim and teach Him, but you, hear Him; He is the Lord and Master, they are companions in servitude. Moses and Elias speak of Christ; they are your fellow servants; He is the Lord; hear Him. Do not render the same honor to fellow servants as to the Lord and Master. Hear only the Son of God.”

For this week spend some time in prayer asking for guidance to help you lift the veil from those you know. How can the Holy Spirit work through you? Who does He want you to help to lift the veil from their eyes to see the only hope and promise in the world? Jesus Christ, God the Son and our Savior. The Holy Spirit has lifted the veil from we who are baptized and born again in Jesus.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amin.

[1] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159

[2] Dr David Lewis  “Concordia Journal/Winter 2015) pp 60-61

Sure, how about a Big Bang wedding???

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As I’ve pointed out before, Lutherans treat a wedding as a matter of worship.

First yea, it really gets under my skin having five comedians (the Big Bang Wedding between Howard and Bernadette) claiming that they’re “ordained” ministers. The state designates those who can marry, such as county clerks, judges etc, they’re certainly not “ordained”, the state sets the requirements. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it’s not enough to be ordained, you have to be the pastor of an active church.

Yes, people can be designated by the state to perform a one-time marriage ceremony and I think there are states that can license you to regularly perform weddings. That does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that you’re “ordained”. The United States military requires chaplains to have a Masters of Divinity Degree, that chaplains are properly examined and ordained by a recognized religious organization and also requires further training. I would say that this is the best description of being “ordained”, you sure as heck don’t do it on line for one wedding ceremony.

Now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, what I’m really twisted about is the trivial, sentimental, “it’s all about me” wedding ceremony. As I said, Lutherans hold weddings to be a worship service. It is a serious, albeit joyous, occasion, and needs to be treated seriously. Why on earth would you want to start something as serious and sacred as marriage with something as trivial as what was on television?

We don’t treat marriage very seriously, it’s a convenience, it’s social convention, it’s a reason to have fun time. But it’s really not a commitment. Sorry ladies, but for too many of you it’s just a time where you’re the center of attention, and the fun and the party is all about you. Afterwards, well… I’ve had my own experiences. I try and I am going to be redoubling that effort, to insist that anyone I marry has a significant amount of counseling. I went to some time and expense to get trained in a comprehensive program to let people analyse a lot of their interpersonal relationships and to deal with them as we do counseling. I want them to start out in their marriage with as much as possible on the table between the two. I don’t want to hear 2, 3, 5 however many years down the road: “well we just couldn’t work it out…” I want it to get worked out before the marriage. My goal is to marry a man and a woman who go into marriage with their eyes wide open and to have that marriage last a life time. I’m going to do all that I can to make sure it doesn’t end in divorce.

ESV Mark 10:8 and they shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” … 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,”
Divorce is not acceptable to God. Yes it happens and He certainly provides in the cases when an unbelieving spouse wants a divorce or simply walks away. And divorce is not the unforgivable sin. But as a Christian pastor who only wants to marry two people who are in Christ, who are married in Christian worship, who take solemn vows before God to stay married “…so long as you both shall live?” You just made a solemn vow, for those who want to get married, you should seriously consider what you are doing when you are taking that vow before God.

Save all the sentimental, dancing around, food, decorations, trivial stuff etc for the reception. I promise I will, probably, show up. But I won’t stay long so you can do some of the crazy stuff. But in that sanctuary, before that altar and a minister of the Gospel, your family and friends, it is serious business. It is done in formal dress, in a formal environment, before God in order to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion. We all need to treat it that way and understand what we say and do. I’m sure the Big Bang stuff is all cute and fun, but marriage, from the start, should be about that relationship that Jesus lives before us. Jesus’ example is about His being the bridegroom and the church being the bride. He has sacrificed all for His bride and protected and served her, how could the bride, the church, not do as much as it can. We take that relationship of Christ and His Church as our example as husband and wife and live that in the strength and faith that the Holy Spirit gives us to live as one-flesh.

I know someone’s going to fuss, “oh it’s just television”, yea but. This is what people take seriously the absolute trivializing of marriage, and be honest, that’s where too many people are today. So let’s knock off the stupid stuff about being a “Reverend”, it’s a lot of hard work, time and education. Believe me. As much as you trivialize the Ministry of Christ’s Church and the institution of marriage, what really should we take seriously anymore?

Christian creeds, what we really vow to truly believe before God

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I did a post yesterday based on an article in Leadership Magazine about “Evangelcial Christian” churches who just dispense with Christian worship. They call it worship but is it? When you don’t even do the basics of Christian worship? Please feel free to check it out and let’s talk.

In the meantime, in my other reading I’m reading a book titled “The Catholicity of the Reformation”. That Dr Martin Luther really had no issue with Roman Catholic worship the liturgy, for the most part. What he had a problem with was the doctrine and traditions that had grown up in the church.

The book by Carl E Braaten and Robert W. Jenson discusses how much even liturgical churches have slid into American Evanglical Chritianity, as it were. It’s a regular issue in the Lutheran Church that some pastor is making worship too Catholic. I know what that means, but I don’t think the person(s) saying it really knows what it means. If worship is getting liturgical, that’s not a problem in the Lutheran church. Luther never proscribed the liturgy, he frankly encouraged it. But the American Lutheran Church has become so affected by American evangelicalism that it really has lost its identity. The liturgy in the Lutheran Church faithfully lifts up Scripture and true worship. It is what we should be doing and not getting into what was frontier/camp meeting “worship” led by, often, self- appointed “preachers”. Generally there were too many preachers that were uneducated, didn’t really understand the Bible, doctrine and the purpose of actual worship. They made a bunch of nice-sounding noises and played to the crowd, but did little real teaching and no one really knew to keep them accountable. Hence, today, we have all sorts of nice sounding stuff, that has little with actual Christian worship. Oh, I can hear it now,  “yada, yada, that’s your opinion, we can do what we want, yada, yada” which only illuminates the speakers lack of understanding of Christian worship.

One thing that particularly caused me agita (although I don’t think I can ever get over the idea that a “Christian” church doesn’t included the Lord’s prayer in worship!!!), was the lack of a creed, confession. In this day and age when all sorts of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies, huge government agencies, down to the smallest organizations, are told to develop mission statements and mottoes, to think that the Christian church shouldn’t be likewise focused is just stunning!

Braaten and Jensen write: ” The function of the creeds and confessions is to provide standards by which the church can judge and condemn false teaching contrary to the gospel.” (p 59) Would any knowledgeable Christian disagree with that? Really, how could you disagree? They go on to point out: ” …heresy has become virtually outmoded in the modern church…” Would any of the same people disagree with that? No! Yea, guess I’m going to be a little catty here, but when we join together as the Body of Christ and recite a creed (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian) we are making a vow, before God, in terms of what we genuinely believe. So my catty comment is; Why don’t so many churches (many flat-line, uhmmm, I mean main-line) say the creeds? Because they know their teachings are false, and they’re at least smart enough to not offend God any further, by making false promises. Do I give them credit for at least a little integrity?

The writers go on to say: “…the enlightenment brought the age of tolerance in which the rules that set limits to heresy were overthrown. Orthodoxy was put on the defensive. Heresy become a matter of religious freedom and human rights. The threat of heresy to personal salvation that prevailed in the ancient church was annulled…Dissent was permitted so long as it did not break the unity of the church. Not heresy but schism became the more serious concern. To prevent heresy from leading to schism, the churches today, maintaining their organization unity at almost all costs, have taken to promoting inclusivity and diversity at the expense of revealed truth and biblical morality, pushing back the limits to heresy, to the point where people are ‘tossed to and fro and blown by every wind of doctrine’ (Eph 4:14)

I know, maybe another cheap shot, but certainly Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill comes to mind. But certainly so many other “Christian churches” who become much more  about other things. The Mormon Church is much more about big business. Churches that are all about their pastor, their building, their… You name it. But are just not about real Christian doctrine. Why don’t they want to get into creeds, because genuine Christian worship is just not what they’re about.

Yea, I’ve singled some out, but this is so widespread that the actual orthodox Christian churches are the ones that are perceived as odd-ball and the rest of the churches are seen as “real” Christian churches. The result of that is a cynical perception of the church by the general population. If the big churches really don’t teach Christianity, and they must be representative because they have all the money and people. Well then the church is actually just a feel-good-rah-rah operation. To most people that translates into phoney and I’m certainly not going to disagree. But for those churches that are genuinely Christian, who do lift up the creeds, who do the things in worship that do turn us to God, who do lift up Jesus as the atonement of our sins and the Lord of our salvation, solely because of His works, they are lumped in with the phoney. That is not a desirable result for any church, or believer.

Maybe those “churches” and all who claim to be true Christian churches might start getting on track and we might be able to all make a true witness to the rest of the world of genuine Christianity, to our Savior Jesus Christ, by making it regular practice to profess a genuine/historical creed (Apostles, Nicaean, Athanasian) Come on, really impress everyone and take time once per month to do the Athanasian Creed. Look it up.

Evangelical, worship?

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For those who think that I’m being unreasonable in respect to “big-box, happy-clappy” “church”, I submit the following from John Stackhouse in Leadership Journal (Winter 2015 p 14). Leadership Journal is a great publication, all due respect to them and John Stackhouse, but neither are known for their support of “high-church/liturgical” worship.   

“As for reciting creeds, well, no: evangelicals normally do not recite creeds in our services. [help me out here, do you really believe that if you say Jesus a couple of times in a sermon and then make the rest of it about you, don’t do any of the things that Jesus told us to do or we do in order to strengthen ourselves in Jesus, that is being a Christian? Seriously how do you figure? We are told that we are supposed to take our relationships seriously and then we make the one with Jesus all about me? How does that work?] “Evangelicals that are not part of liturgical traditions – and that’s most of us – instead tend to worship in “hymn sandwich” [and what evangelicals sing are not hymns] services: lots of singing, with maybe a greeting and some announcements in the interstices, then a longish sermon, then more singing – with perhaps a collection and a closing prayer … No call to worship, no confession and absolution of sin, no series of Scripture readings (OT, Gospel, Epistles,) no congregational prayers, NO “OUR FATHER” [???], no Creed … And so on. It’s pretty bad – and it’s actually regressing…

…nowadays the trend-setting churches seem to have fallen back into two halves – singing and preaching – … that’s pretty much all there is to the service.” [pg 14 Leadership Journal]

Sorry folks that is not Christian worship! Throw Jesus’ Name around a couple of times and that’s Christian worship? Ya… No! Heavens, can’t mention sin! We have some sensitive souls here and anyway, we’re all basically good suburban-living people. None of that blood and gore stuff, the crucifixion? Just doesn’t work for us. There certainly won’t be a crucifix in any “Evangelical” sanctuary and ya, no cross either. Lord’s Supper? Body and Blood! Really? Confession? I refer you back to line 3 of this paragraph. And no Lord’s Prayer? What is the point? We were told to do these things, or at least we are honoring the Lord when we do this. The point of worship is to lift up and praise and worship God. One woman, from “evangelical” tradition, complained that I had my back to the audience most of the time. Ya, her words. No Creed? Really what do you believe? Ya, you, it’s all about you.

And gotta tell you, “sermons”? Pretty much Joel Osteen feel good, how can we have a better life, yada, yada. Hey there’s plenty of good Christian music out there. I have no problem with Christian music, I will sprinkle it into worship once in awhile to enhance the sermon. But, sorry, one reason why men do not get involved with Christian worship is because, when it’s singing, dancing around and a little gratuitous preaching, it’s hard to take it seriously. If guys really can’t see the point and have nothing to take seriously, they aren’t going to do it and this is alienating a lot of guys from Christ. The happy-clappy types will be called to account for the way that they don’t worship, that they make it too much about them and very little about Jesus.

This kind of worship is a travesty, it’s not worship. It’s self-gratification and mutual edification, but no room for God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sorry, but we continue to look ridiculous and irrelevant to the rest of the world. If we don’t take Christ seriously, why on earth would the world?

Running the race in faith in God’s standards, not ours. First St Johns Lutheran Church, York, Pa. February 8, 2015

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[The picture is of Pheidippides accouncing the victory of the Greek forces over the Persians to the Athenians Luc-Olivier Merson, 1869 ]

(For a audio version of this sermon, click on the above link or copy and paste it into your browser)

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who run the race of faith in Christ said …   AMEN!

I have done a marathon, I have done a century. A marathon is a 26.1 mile race, I did it in Falmouth, Ma. A century is a bike ride/race of 100 miles, I did that at the seminary. I’ve done 56 triathlons. Paul could have been talking about running a Marathon. The Battle of Marathon occurred in 490 BC and the Greeks may have included the marathon as a competition in their Olympics which would have made the marathon known to the entire Roman world, Israel and Paul included.

Paul is telling us that we have to do life, like these physical tests, with endurance. The problem is we have pasted over these with our own expectations. As Lutherans, too often, we think we don’t have to do anything. We’re saved by grace, we don’t have to do that. But let’s say you should do that. I still think you have to because I honestly believe God still pushes us to stretch in life. We are saved by grace, but that does not mean that we get to sit and just vegetate, especially when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. He gave His best, why on earth should we think that we don’t have to give our best.

Another issue that always seems to be, at least to me, an excuse with Lutherans and too many other people. “If we can’t run the race, if we can’t ride the bike, if we can’t entertain, or maintain or serve or witness … well then we just shouldn’t do it.” Heck, if that’s the issue what am I doing here? I’m sure not, no Billy Graham, or Dale Meyer, or Matt Harrison, or Jon Diefenthaler. If I’m really not that great as a pastor, as a preacher, the one charged with worship, what am I really doing here?

What I am doing, what you are doing is being led by what God wants us to do in our lives. No where in the Bible does it say, “well you have to do everything and anything with excellence, otherwise, just don’t bother doing it!” It doesn’t say that anywhere, no one demands it or expects it. None of us is perfect, none of us is going to do anything perfectly. We should strive to do our best, to serve as perfectly as possible, but it’s not going to happen all the time, we’re just not going to make it. Sometimes it does look perfect and that’s a great thing, and we should salute excellence, but we should never expect perfection, from ourselves or anyone else.

Recently, studies have shown that perfectionism is really just a form of procrastination. We seem to have always celebrated the “perfectionist”. This is the person who, “well I just won’t put this out into the world until it’s absolutely perfect”. We all think how marvelous that is, this kind of integrity. I’m certainly not saying be sloppy, but I’m also not saying that you use every little thing for an excuse to avoid doing the things that you need to do.

We are called to be disciples. That is a race, that is an endurance effort that makes the Hawaii Ironman look like a walk in the park. Are we called to be excellent disciples? No. Does it mean that we can throw God any old little effort that we want to whenever we want to? No! He doesn’t do that to use. God gives us His best everyday. He’s given us His best in Jesus. God’s not sitting up there grading us, not even on the curve, “well poor Jim, I know about him, I’ll cut him some slack”. It’s not about how great or how bad. It is about do we serve Father, Son, Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters in Jesus and the world to the best of our ability? Not in a one shot, here it is take it or leave it. We serve in the sense of the long-haul, making constant effort. We are always looking for the opportunities, always looking for where God leads us. We do it with the understanding that, Yes, we grow through this process. We also serve others through this process. Service isn’t often a one-shot deal, it’s a matter of endurance. Of continuous service.

I have no doubt in my mind that Paul was probably one crispy-critter by the time he got to Rome. Think of all that he had done, all that he endured, all that he sought to maintain and build. It’s staggering! I doubt that in what was maybe a ten-year period, no other person in Christian history did as much to spread Christianity as Paul. We have to remember that he really had no basis. Sure he had the local synagogues, but often they became as hostile as the pagan world, if not more so. So there’s a great excuse right there; “sorry, we can’t have worship because we can’t use the synagogue on Sunday, they kicked us out”. You know as well as I do that would be a ready made excuse for many people today. Paul could say I don’t have the right clothes, I can’t preach like this! No, he did what he could do with what he had. He could have said; “well, we just haven’t worked out the proper teaching, the proper doctrine here, so as soon as I get all that down perfectly I will get back to you.” Heck if I did that I’d never preach, I sincerely hope you don’t think that I am the fount of all Christian knowledge. But did that keep Paul from preaching and teaching? Would that keep me from preaching and teaching?

I’m not saying don’t prepare to the best of your ability. But I think one thing that military training, even athletics has taught me. At some point there is going to be a case, a mission. Probably the biggest case I had, a really bad situation that was my Damascus Road experience. Someone asked the boat coxswain afterwards and he replied, “I’ve never done that before, I was scared to death, I can’t believe I got through that”. He was as prepared as he could be for that storm, he  showed up and people needed help and he got to where people needed him. He didn’t wait until he was perfect, he didn’t have that luxury. He had trained to the best of his ability and likewise the rest of us in the crew, and when the call came we responded to the best of our ability. Despite very difficult circumstances, we got the best possible outcome and all of us that were involved in that case, got an education that we could never have paid for, never arranged, have never gotten under any circumstances other then we were there, we were called, we went out and put on our best effort and, the outcome was as good as it could have been expected.

As I said, yes I ran a marathon, yes I have done a century, yes I have done 53 triathlons. Having said that, I wouldn’t be too impressed if I were you. I did the marathon in 4 hours and 57 minutes. Most people finish under 4 hours and the winning times are almost under three hours. I finished the century in about 8 hours. I did finish before two other people, but otherwise the rest of my group had finished anywhere between 3 and 4 hours earlier than me. So does that mean I should just hang my head in shame, “oh how embarrassing, I’d never tell anyone that I did a marathon or century”… uhmmm no! I can tell anyone that I have finished either one, it’s called bragging rights. I did it and I’m entitled to put a little plate on my Road ID to say I did it. I may not camp on the fact that I took almost 2 to 4 hours longer than most, but I can say that I did it.

Yes I might be able to brag, a little, about what I’ve done and I have no doubt that everyone of you out there has done something that the average mortal never really does and you are entitled to bragging rights. Go ahead, yea Christian humility and we should be humble, but hey, in these cases be a little obnoxious. But when it comes to running and ultimately finishing the Christian race, we do that with humility. Why? Did we really run it in our strength? No! I have no doubt in my mind that my thirty years as a Christian and where the Holy Spirit has put me, that it was entirely through the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, not mine. How can I take credit for something that someone does through me? But does that make me any less saved? No! I am perfectly saved and if I faithfully follow that leading and do the things that I’m lead to do, in the time I’m lead to do them, then I am a faithful servant. I have been put into plenty of situations by the Holy Spirit, where I knew that a lot more preparation would have been good. I assure you and anyone at Concordia Seminary would agree, that new pastors have a lot to work out when they get to a parish. Frankly some more than others. But is that a valid excuse to avoid what you’re supposed to do and not run the race? No! Sometimes the trial is the teaching moment, the growth moment. That the Father knows that you will only grow through doing versus sitting around talking about it or reading about it. We should continually strive to be the best possible disciples we can be, our Savior is the best and most perfect and He gave us all that we have or ever will need. But we should be ready to run that race at any moment. Not when we decide that we are ready, but when the Holy Spirit hits that alarm and tells us we need to jump up and run out that door. Sometimes we may never even know to what we are running, but we run anyway instead of waiting until we’re perfect because the Father has given us the faith to trust in Him, not in our abilities.

I didn’t run/ride the races perfectly, but I did do them. We aren’t called to run/ride/fight the faith perfectly, we are called to serve the Lord in obedience. God says I am more interested in your obedience then your sacrifice. When we faithfully obey, even we don’t do it the best we can, we are doing God’s will and will be rewarded on that basis. Not on the basis of what we think is acceptable, what is up to our standards, but what we did when we responded to God’s call in faith.

May God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit bless and preserve you to all eternity. Shalom and Amin.