Hi, my name is Jim and I’m a sinner

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Gordon MacDonald in Leadership Journal (winter 2014 p 29) writes about his experience attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, I haven’t finished the article, but immediately I see so many parallels to what church should be:

“I was no sooner seated than the people on either side of me introduced themselves … and expressed gladness that I was there.” Shouldn’t that be what happens at church, a new person sits down and those around him/her make him feel welcome? “In fact, before the hour ended, four men, one after another handed me cards and said, ”I’m John, here’s my cell number. Call me anytime, and I’ll come and meet you if you need a friend.” What can I add to that? I also like that the meetings get right to it, no messing around, no one more quick word with your buddy. We are here for a reason, let’s get to it and do it.

MacDonald takes his turn to speak and tells them (since he’s not an alcoholic he doesn’t say “I’m an alcoholic”) but just says it’s my first time here. The response is “keep on coming, keep on coming”, he says that is said in the same way in church we might say “‘Praise the Lord”. He also notes as the others speak “change does not come easily, but it does come.” This is the same as church, as being a Christian, you do not automatically become right up to snuff, but God takes you, using the Body of Christ, the people there who make up Christ’s Body and begins to change you, begins the process of being more Christ-like. That is so great, everyone there encouraging the person “to keep coming, keep coming.” My take away is that we are all glad to be here, we are glad you are here, we look forward to knowing you better, and being good disciples. So don’t stop now, you’ve only begun!

No one feels they should somehow “chose”, AA , like the church, it is what it is and has stood the test of time. It’s not catering to the new generation or some secular fad, both have proven that when people become serious, about a serious form of worship (read liturgical) the church has been leading people to Christ and feeding them in this form of worship for centuries. Trying to make it into entertainment or buddy-buddy doesn’t move you closer to Christ doesn’t leave you in awe of a great, all knowing, all powerful God who can make real changes in your life, really can lead you into new life in Christ and will ultimately lead you into an eternal resurrection. When you have brothers and sisters in Christ they sometimes become closer to you then family. They are there to help you and guide you. They know that they are just beggars who know where the bread is and help others . They are excited to see you there and want to help you as much as possible. AA, like the church, isn’t there for your convenience or your comfort, it’s there to actually make you feel challenged, a little outside yourself, a feeling that there is so much more and I’m missing it and I’m also messing myself up more by not taking it in and growing in it. (After all the only alternative is the sinfulness, a lost, dead world)And it’s also there to make you very aware of what everyone else needs, for the Church everyone needs Jesus and we in the church have to understand that and look for what our individual role is in helping others to know Him as Savior and Lord.

When there’s someone new, go over and meet them, no pretense, no stuffiness, just simply an attitude of: “this is someone who the Holy Spirit has brought here to worship and since the Holy Spirit has put that person near me, then I have to greet that person as a brother or sister. Excited, enthusiastic (but not obnoxious), looking forward to what God has in store for us, and letting them know that just like any good brother or sister, I am there for them, that I look for what the Holy Spirit has for me to do in that person’s life. Isn’t that great? What an adventure!

Mystery of the liturgy

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The Study of Liturgy (editors: Cheslyn Jones, Geoffrey Wainwright, Edward Yarnold SJ and Paul Bradshaw)

OK, over the introductions,

I think one of the biggest beefs with “contemporary” Christianity (CC) and frankly I really don’t take it seriously as “Christianity”, but OK, let’s not fuss at this point. But CC has this obsession with making Jesus out to be our buddy, our friend, “Jesus my co-pilot”). Come on, it’s cheesey, it’s phoney, and it’s just not true.

Jesus loves us, He did an incredibly manly thing through His life, suffering and sacrifice, but He is God! Therein is one of the mysteries of Christianity. How can God be man and God? We want it to be familiar and buddy/buddy, but it simply isn’t, it just isn’t. The church is the Bride of Christ. I would compare being that bride with our worldly marriage. Done right, marriage is a mystery, we come together, pretty much strangers, God brings us together to make us one-flesh. How? We don’t know, but, again when done right, we are brought together with a mysterious person, and as we grow together that other person usually remains a mystery. In God’s leading, the marriage relationship will probably be the closest relationship we will ever have. There is no biological relationship, but in Christ we are brought together in a mystery, a relationship so close, but we can’t really say why it is that close.

Other mysteries are of course the Trinity, baptism, communion (Lutherans teach that we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus in communion), the redemption of mankind. We can go on and on, but true Christianity is very much wrapped in mystery: “…the NT term ‘mystery’ is not a cultic term and most modern exegetes do not see it as borrowing from the mystery religions. None the less, it has a long history in liturgy, especially in the Roman liturgy,..Keeping to purely NT (New Testament) sources we can see that the mystery exists on three levels:

1. There is the mystery that is God ‘dwelling in light inaccessible’ (1Tim 6:16) and in a plenitude of love that is always giving itself, always being communicated from Father to Son and Holy Spirit and back again. This love God freely communicated outside himself first in creation and then in the redemption so that all could share in it.

2. The mystery, as we have seen, exists in the historical order as we read in 1 Tim 3:16, Christ is the mystery of God: …

3. The third level at which the mystery exists is the liturgy . It is concerned with past events, the saving work of Christ, but it is not concerned with them as past. It seeks to bring about an encounter between the worshippers and the saving mystery. If an event is to be experienced, it has to be experienced as present. As Dom Odo Casel liked to say (and apparently Kierkegaard before him), Christ has to become each one’s contemporary. This is perhaps best expressed by Leo the Great, who in a sermon the Ascension said: Quod … redemptoris nostri conspicuum fuit, in sacramenta transivit (what our Redeemer did visibly has passed over into the sacraments). He is considering how, after the forty days of Christ’s resurrection-life, he was lifted up to remain at the right hand of his Father until he should come again Now all that he did in his earthly life is to be found in the sacraments, the liturgy that he and his hearers were celebrating.

Let us take two other examples from the Roman liturgy if only because the word ‘mystery’ is used. an ancient prayer for Holy Week asks that what we are doing in mysterio we may lay hold of in reality. The second is a collect for Good Friday, when the major part of the service consists of words (OT, a Pauline epistle and the singing of the passion according to St John). There is no Eucharist, simply the giving of Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament, and after it we pray: ‘Almighty and merciful God, you have renewed us by the blessed passion and death of your Christ preserve in us the work of your redemption (operis misericordias) that by our partaking of this mystery we may always live devoted to your service’. These texts and a hundred others that could be cited show the Church’s conviction that when Christians celebrate the liturgy they encounter Christ in his passion, death and resurrection and are renewed by it.

What, then, is the particular significance of the use of ‘mystery’ in this third sense? First, it is a link between the past and the present or, rather, it looks to the past to recover the power of the primordial event and makes its power present in the here and now so that the worshipper can encounter the redeeming Christ. What gives it a particular quality is that it does this through symbols which manifest the presence and activity of Christ and, because they are the sacraments to which he committed himself, he through them can convey the saving power of his passion and resurrection. The liturgical mystery can be seen as l’entre deux mondes, and that is part of the difficulty in understanding it. It is not simply an historical event (through its celebration takes place in time), and it certainly does not seek to reproduce historical events. It will have nothing to do with the allegorizing of the writers of the ninth and subsequent centuries,… nor is it sufficient to say that he mystery is a way of remembering the past, … By the liturgical mystery we are actualizing the past event, making it present so that the saving power of Christ can be made available to the worshipper in the here and now…(pp 13-15)

Christianity is in fact wrapped in mystery, it’s not an effort to be familiar with the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, it’s to glorify Him, to worship Him, be in fear and awe, not to be His buddy. This is the whole point of liturgical worship. Dr Martin Luther talks about the deus Absconditus “the hidden God”. We have revelation, what God intends us to know, and is there any doubt that what He revealed to us, is a tiny scintilla of what there is to know about Him. We worship in mystery, we worship according to the guiding of the Holy Spirit in a time honored way of ordered worship, intended to strengthen and fortify us for another week, to confront the world in Christ, an alien, secular, sinful, sick, depraved world. We do that in the mystery of faith, we do it in the mystery of being saved in Christ, His baptism, His Body and Blood. We don’t do it being happy and clappy “Jesus is just alright by me, Jesus is just alright”, as seen by those learned theologians the “Doobie Brothers”. But through another mystery of Christianity, through the liturgy, our omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God brings us into real time with the incarnation, the trials of Christ, the crucifixion and of course the resurrection. This is not a reenactment, the Roman practice of the sacrifice at every mass is incorrect. What Jesus did once in Jerusalem has power for all eternity, the sacrifice/redemption of Christ has power for all times, it is through that mystery of the liturgy that we are brought into the very act, once and for eternity.

This is through the liturgy, this is through the faithful serving of the sacraments, through confession and absolution. People gathered together being entertained, conducting discussions about “how to be better”, or some kind of intellectual dissection, or jumping around, can be inspiring, get you all pumped up for Jesus. But it is through the liturgy, time tested through the centuries that bring us into the presence of all the mysteries of being a Christian, a disciple, an adopted child of God the Father. Jesus isn’t my “buddy”, He is the all powerful Savior, Redeemer, Lord of my life, through Him all creation came into existence. I don’t need Him to be my “buddy”, as with any strong leader, father-figure there is an element of mystery, a degree of separation. With Jesus it is almost entirely wrapped in mystery, the mystery of Jesus is that we take His Body and Blood, but He is also so far above, and exponentially so much greater and powerful that me. That is a great thing, my Savior, my Lord is so much more powerful then anything in creation and yet He died for me, He knows everything about me, but only through the liturgy are we put back into that presence of time, place and familiarity.

Fake it ’til you make it, or turn it over to God?

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I’m trying hard to not make this condescending. I’m not trying to be condescending, I feel grief, I feel as if I’m too blame in some way. I ask “how does such tragedy happy?” But there’s no doubt, it is our sinful condition. Even people who should be at the top of their game in the corporate world, conquering new heights, or tilting at windmills, but still sinful, lost. How are they sinful, these are people who were so caught up in their work, in success, in wealth, fame, being first, who can say, but just not handling it according to God’s will and being so consumed with what they were doing.
You can deny it, but we can become so enamored with what we do for work, our entire life consumed by what we do for a living and becoming so consumed, it becomes our idol. That is sin, placing something, anything above God in our lives. Idolatry is not limited to some pagan worshiper bowing down before some statue, or carving or other representation, it’s simply making something in our life our God. We always think we have control over it, we don’t, just like any idol; drugs, sex, money, power, spouse, children, it controls us.
It’s certainly a forgivable sin, Jesus died for idolaters. It’s not “Blaspheming the Holy Spirit”,
The article in “Inc Magazine” describes Bradley Smith whose business grew 1,400 percent in three years and then hit the downside, using all his financial resources, business and personal, his world spiraling out of control.
I worked for a guy in the Coast Guard who used to say “fake it ’til you make it”, he usually said it sardonically, with a grin. The article uses the same expression. We understood what our senior meant, you just aren’t going to learn everything you need to know to go out and deal with weather, seas, people, wildlife, weapons, aggression who knows what and save lives and property, enforce laws, all the Coast Guard missions. You have to go out, project confidence, show ability, rely on your training and yes, God’s grace, and learn while you are doing it.
The big difference is that a Coast Guard coxswain completes the mission, fills out the paperwork, perhaps suffers through any subsequent inquiry, but then moves on. Entrepreneurs can’t move on, a coxswain at some point may have to let the fire burn, may have to let the boat sink. The entrepreneur? Probably thinks he/she doesn’t have that luxury, every waking moment has to be invested in their company.
The article describes two who recently committed suicide and others who dealt with severe mental disorders, all linked to stress, way too many hours, severe depression. The article describes how many coped with their situations: exercise, working out agreements, visualization, not taking it personally. Fine, all good suggestions, and of course, counseling, medication and don’t get me wrong, there are times when these are necessary. We can certainly put our body through such a grinding that we can distort our chemical composition. But have you noticed how temporary, how fleeting?
We were not made to work 12 – 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sure there are times when you have to step up and make extraordinary efforts, but no one can do that and maintain it and I defy anyone to prove to me that is what it takes on an extended basis. You can’t! God simply did not compose us to be able to do it. We end up making an idol to our efforts, all we have is sacrificed to the idol, our life is devoted to this idol and it and any idol other then God will relentlessly grind us down and take everything.
God created us to work six days, go ahead do it. But He required that we have a Sabbath, no it doesn’t have to be on Sunday, there were many times when I had to work on Sunday, but there has to be a Sabbath, a time of rest and to come before God to be strengthened in Him, to be refreshed in Him.
I know, you are thinking, “just another obligation, something else to do.” That’s not the way worship should be. Throughout this entire article I’m thinking “if only they would let God help them, if they would only stop putting themselves over God”. For some of them they lost, for many they ended up on the other side, but I have no doubt even they would say that they have to wonder if it was worth the price.
The article talks about people who become “hypomanic”, they have to run, they have to stay in motion. OK, fine, how about using some of that in service to God, Him using them to serve others? Would that give them some perspective, felt they were serving? After I have served someone else, I have often felt that I received more ministering than that person did. Or how about just spending some time basking in the presence of God who truly does love, you can be as rich as Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or as poor as a church mouse. Fabulously successful or miserable and wretched. He loves you just the same and He longs to touch you with that, to give you hope, to help you know that He wants what is truly best for you. If He wants you to be Warren Buffet and you follow His leading He will do things in life that will astound you. If it wasn’t in His plan for you to be Michael Zuckerberg, you may actually push hard enough to get there, but at a price that will eventually take you down and cost you everything.
Over and over again I heard myself while I was reading this article “what if they’d known Christ, what if they’d taken just a little time to be in the presence of God, to be with brothers and sisters in Jesus, how much would their life had changed?” Your Father in heaven wants what is best for you, grinding yourself to destruction is not His will and will only cost you.
What if some of these guys had a pastor who they could spend some time with, to unload some of their burden, maybe include spouse and children, just a little time, but a little time to be reminded of a loving God, a God that wants to restore and refresh. Working towards God’s glory, who knows maybe you will be the next Jack Welch, or maybe you will be quite content to be less than what you envisioned, but entirely in God’s will and His everlasting arms.
I know this is late, but join us. Feb 12, 10am, the GreenBean Coffee Co, corner of W King St and Beaver St in downtown York, Pa. It would be great to discuss this, or any issues you might be dealing with.

Will you fight?

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Really interesting question. Even if you will fight, do you really know how. The question is prompted by Kelly McCann writing in BlackBelt Magazine (Oct/Nov 2013 pp 28-29). Kelly is a former Marine officer and martial arts expert. He raises a great question he’s perfectly capable of fighting and he, undoubtedly, would do it ably.
I know, this isn’t a subject that most people want to answer and certainly not confront. I’m not asking this question to be somehow provocative, maybe I am asking you to take a hard look at yourself and maybe think about your courage, integrity and faithfulness. Ya, I know, not exactly polite, hey I’m a pastor, I’m not a politically correct pastor, and frankly I’m not always looking to be popular. One of the pastor’s creeds is “to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”, if I’m not challenging you, if I’m not pushing you to question and grow, especially in terms of being a Christian, then really I’m not doing my job. This isn’t to get up in your grill, it is intended to confront yourself.

I have had to take on fights, some of them actually physical, some of them emotional but it felt as traumatic as physical (with some of them frankly I would have preferred getting punched in the head. There are times when I’ve felt prepared for a fight, but as Vince Lombardi (and maybe General George Patton) once said, “fatigue makes cowards of us all”. Normally I would have “picked up the gauntlet, but weighing the importance of the issue to my physical condition, I have decided to punt on occasion and walk away. As someone who has been trained to fight, and instruct others, one of the first things I will tell people and I’ve heard this from professionals, such as MMA combatants, in a physical confrontation, if you have a way to escape, do it. There’s a lot of reasons why, but I want to talk about the times that are important and what is “important”. You might have to actually wade into physical danger, you might be the difference between death of serious injury, what would you do. Coast Guard training taught me, you’re always thinking about your options, you’re always considering what is going around you, what to take advantage of and what to avoid.

As a pastor, my main concern is whether you will stand and fight for what is ultimately important. Down through history Christians have confronted the choice of denying Christ or standing up for what is the best, what is eternal, what really matters. A very discomforting fact for most Christians is that there were more martyrs for Christ in the 20th century then in the first 19 centuries of Christendom, combined. Granted for most Americans that is not really an imminent threat, but the challenge to most Americans is ostracism, marginalization, disdain, ridicule. For most of us who are rather obsessed with our dignity and being respected, these are tough obstacles, as I said, we might prefer a good smack in the head. On the upside and much more importantly is the reassurance Jesus gives us when we do stand up for what is right, especially when we, as Christians, stand up for Him: ESV Matthew 5:11- 12 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” People who really matter, have gone through so much more, then you probably ever have or will have.

Captain McCann writes: “The biggest compliment I can give anyone is “He’ll fight” or “She’ll fight”. It may sound trite or one-dimensional, but it’s far from that. People too often say about others, “Of course they’d fight.” But it’s been my experience that a lot of people won’t fight. They may train but still won’t when attacked. My point is that knowing 1,000 techniques doesn’t replace the need to simply fight.” Many times a Christian will run away from a fight because they don’t feel prepared, or that the other person knows more, or frankly they just don’t have the faith. Jesus told us: “ESV Luke 12:11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12 ESV). I’ve had that experience, I genuinely felt that I was given the words. More then one occasion I found out, through the “discussion”, that the person really didn’t know what they were talking about. Perhaps the Holy Spirit used that “discussion” to convict the person. I didn’t have anyone come to Christ with what I said. But we never know how the Holy Spirit uses our words and actions. I’d love to be that person’s pastor, but if they come to Christ and go to another church because of the words the Holy Spirit gave me, well the ultimate outcome for anyone is to be led by God to salvation. I have never really had a negative experience jumping into the “fight”, witnessing for Christ. If anything I would say that much like taking on a physical challenge, the feeling was of some degree of exhilaration. I truly felt that I had been used by the Holy Spirit.

So why don’t we “fight”? Captain McCann notes: “Fighting can be scary because of the consequences: there’s pain involved, and you can be hurt or killed. But if you’ve inured yourself to those things through intense training and visualization, the act of fighting becomes much easier.” I’ve gotten some of my best whacks playing basketball, ironically. After I realized I survived the elbow to my face and to the top of my head, again there was an exhilaration, and of course just as importantly a great war story. I was involved in a case where the air temp was zero and the wind chill was 70 below. Didn’t enjoy it at the time, but it’s a great story now. Those “stories” that I get to share, ok, ya, there is more than element of bragadacio, which is not really where you want to be. But it’s also for the benefit of those listening. “Wow, I can fight, I can survive and not only that, but God will give me that exhilaration, that knowledge of knowing that I have served the Kingdom. That I may have been used by God for Him to lead someone else to salvation in our Lord Jesus.”

There is simply nothing better, being a servant of the Kingdom, we even have the promise of building treasure in heaven. (2 Corinthians 4: 6-7) Not just through our giving, but also serving “to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

What about preparation? In physical fighting? Yes, of course, as much as possible, but there could be times when you have to confront and you don’t feel prepared. You’re never going to be be prepared as well as you could be, you just may have to confront anyway. In physical confrontations you may have to back off, that’s a whole separate discussion, but in terms of Christ? “For such a time as this”, to quote Esther. She probably wasn’t as prepared as she could be, but in faith she went before the king. Do not doubt that the Holy Spirit has you in this time and place for a reason, He will guide you as Jesus promised. He will also guide your reaction, sometimes you do have to push back, sometimes you do have to be compassionate, sometimes you will have to challenge, lots of times you won’t be sufficiently prepared. We see Jesus in all these types of situations, He is faithful and will lead you where He wants you. Yes, it would be nice to be all correct and polite, but sometimes that’s not what the situations demands. If He’s leading you in a way He’s doing it for His purpose and glory, and He calls us to be faithful. So sure, seek out training, not just for yourself, but for you to train others, be a good disciple

So, will you fight? Is the Holy Spirit leading? You don’t have to look for fights, you don’t have to be pugnacious, usually, you don’t have to be obnoxious, but you do have to be faithful and sometimes being faithful means stepping up to the fight. To quote Nike, just do it.

A narrative worship on liturgy

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Narrative Service

First St Johns Sep 16, 2012

WELCOME

Today our worship has a special purpose. We focus not just on our Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are going to examine with our regular members and guests to better understand and appreciate what our gracious Lord gives us through this way of worship which we call, “liturgy” or “liturgical worship” or “the Divine Service”. Instead of a sermon in the middle of the service, there will be short explanations of the service throughout the service. We will hear how this Divine Service proclaims the central, essential message of the Bible: that we are forgiven sinners, redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ. This worship was conceived, designed and delivered by Rev Dr. Mark Smith who I would like to thank for passing this on to me for us to do here at First St Johns.

Many people think of worship as what WE do for God. But actually, what happens here is first about GOD doing for US. This liturgy that we’re about to do is the framework for GOD coming to us, to serve US with the gifts of His eternal life through His preached Word, His Absolution (or forgiveness), and the gift of His own forgiving and blessing Holy Supper, His Body and Blood. And even though God does not need our service, He does joyfully receive our responses of prayer, praise and adoration to Him through Jesus Christ. He strengthens us to live our daily lives as servants to one another. Let’s look at our “order of worship” and stand for the “Invocation” and then we will sing the Hymn of Invocation:

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19

People: Amen.

Pastor: Be strong and let Your heart take courage,

People: all who wait upon the Lord, Psalm 31:24, adapted

Pastor: I trust in You, O Lord,

People: You are my God.

Pastor: Make Your face shine upon Your servant.

People: Save me in Your steadfast love. Psalm 31:14, 16, adapted

All: Amen

Please be seated.

Our Hymn of Invocation is “Morning Has Broken” which is an insert in your bulletin.

Explanation: The invocation or the calling upon the name of our Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is what begins the service. When you look at the “Order of Worship”, right after something we say or do, you will see a biblical citation. This is telling you where in the Bible is the reason for what we are doing. These words would have been added to the baptismal water that first introduced you to the Triune God if and when you were first baptized. In fact at the beginning of each worship service these same words reintroduce you to the Holy Trinity and remind you of your baptism.

After the Trinitarian invocation, you responded with the Hebrew word “Amen” (!mEïa’) which means “yes, yes, it shall be so” or “this is most certainly true. Most certainly there is no other God than this One. He is the One who has called us, gathers us, and puts us here together”.

X CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION X

(Silence is kept for meditation and reflection.)

Pastor: Let us confess our sins to God our Father.

People: I, a poor sinner, plead guilty before God of all sins. I have lived as if God did not matter and as if I mattered most. I have not honored my Lord’s name as I should; my worship and prayers have faltered. I have not been thoroughly persuaded by His love for me, and so my love for others has failed. There are those whom I have hurt and those whom I have failed to help. My thoughts and desires are soiled with sin.

Pastor: Is this your sincere confession?

People: I am sorry for all my sins and I ask for grace that I may do better. Amen.

Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

SHARING THE PEACE

A Since we have received God’s forgiveness and peace let’s share his peace.

C The Peace of the Lord. R The peace of the Lord.

Please be seated:

Explanation: Being in the presence of the Holy God also makes us aware of our own lack of holiness. In Confession we are asked to pause for a moment of silence to reflect upon how we have sinned against the Ten Commandments either by wicked thoughts, words or even outward deeds. Granted, our old sinful nature wants us to deny how much damage our daily sins have really done, But, the liturgy teaches us to be honest with ourselves, to come clean and drop our lies. After silent self-examination, our faith admits our miserable, sinful condition that justly deserves death and hell. And, at the same time, our faith trusts only in the boundless mercy of God for the sake of the punishment Jesus received on your behalf.

Then comes what we call Absolution or the announcement of God’s forgiveness through the mouth of a called and ordained servant of the Word. God not only announces that we are absolved or forgiven, but God really and truly gives us that forgiveness on account of Jesus Christ. The Absolution is based on Christ’s Easter words from John 20: 19-23. The words of Absolution connect this full and free forgiveness already to the promise of our baptism.

We now stand and enter the next section of the liturgy entitled “The Service of the Word”.

We do so with praise and thanksgiving using God’s own words as the Pastor reads or chants what is called the “Introit”. That’s a Latin word that means, “He enters in”. Here the service starts blending some things that are different every week with certain parts that remain essentially the same. We conclude the introit with what is called the “Gloria Patria” which is also Latin for the words: ‘Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost…”

Then in what we call the “Kyrie” [Ker re ai] which means ‘Lord’, we come before the King of Mercy, singing the prayer of blind Bartimaeus. These words which we sing as a congregation reminds us of our Lord lovingly restoring his sight — which is also the Lord’s promise to help us today.

After singing the Kyrie, we go right into singing the ‘Gloria in Exclesis’ which echoes the song of the Christmas angels in the sky over Bethlehem. Gloria in Excelsis is Latin for what those angels sang on Christmas night — ‘Glory be to God on high and on earth, peace, good will to men.’ So we sing a little bit of Christmas each Sunday and we remember, too, that when our Lord Jesus comes to us in worship, he also brings His angels with Him. Our songs of praise and worship are united “with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven,’ as I would say later on in the Lord’s Supper.

Please stand and I will chant the Introit and then we will join together in the Kyrie and Gloria and I will proceed up to the altar:

INTROIT

Glory be to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

Explanation of Salutation and Collect: We now come to the “Salutation”. These are traditional greetings that are intended to reflect the love between the pastor and the people/the congregation. ‘The Lord be with you’ – Remember? That was the special greeting that angels would give just before they made important announcements. Remember how Gabriel, when he greeted Mary and told her that the Messiah would come into the world and be miraculously conceived in her virgin womb. This same greeting of Gabriel reminds us that the same Messiah, the same Savior Jesus, comes to bless us whenever His Word is read and preached.

The Salutation is followed by the “Collect of the Day” which is simply a short prayer that “collects” the themes of the Scripture passages about to be read, praying that God would use those readings to produce fruit in us. Because all the appointed Scripture lessons today have to do with how the Lord, our good and gracious Shepherd, takes care of us in body as well as in soul, the Collect for this reminds us to receive all these gifts and benefits with thanksgiving and seek to do His will.

SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY LSB 205

A The Lord be with you. C And also with you.

A Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue to preserve Your Church in safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace, for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. . C Amen.

Please be seated

Explanation of Scripture Readings:

Scripture is the Living God speaking His faith-creating Word to us. We should listen with that in mind. The first reading is ordinarily from a prophet of the Old Testament. Today we will read from the Book of Isaiah who teaches us that we are given ears to hear the Word of God and a voice to speak God’s Word and that we may suffer persecution for speaking God’s Word.

The second Scripture reading, which we call the Epistle, is a letter written by an apostle to either a Christian individual, or a church, or to a group of churches. Today we hear from James, we don’t know who James was writing to specifically, he teaches that we should be careful teaching God’s Word, whoever does will be held accountable by God for what they teach. That we all need to be careful of what we say, the words we say can cause great harm and we have a responsibility to be careful in what we teach and in what we say.

The third reading, the Holy Gospel, is from the Gospel or the Good-News of Mark and how Jesus had to deal with an unclean spirit, a demon. Jesus deals with a lot of demons in Scripture, by reading Scripture we know, that despite what the world tells us, Satan is very active in the world and causes great pain. The reading of the Gospel is the heart and center of the Service of the Word, so we give it special honor. We stand to hear Jesus speak, and we sing shouts of Alleluia and praise directly to Jesus: ‘Glory be to You O Lord” and “Praise to You, O Christ”.

OLD TESTAMENT (The Lord has given me ears to hear and a voice to speak.)

Isaiah 50:4-10

⁴The Lord GOD has given me

the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with a word

him who is weary.

Morning by morning he awakens;

he awakens my ear

to hear as those who are taught.

⁵The Lord GOD has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious;

I turned not backward.

⁶I gave my back to those who strike,

and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

from disgrace and spitting.

⁷But the Lord GOD helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like a flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

⁸He who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who is my adversary?

Let him come near to me.

⁹Behold, the Lord GOD helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;

the moth will eat them up.

¹⁰Who among you fears the LORD

and obeys the voice of his servant?

Let him who walks in darkness

and has no light

trust in the name of the LORD

and rely on his God.

L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE (The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.)

James 3:1-12

¹Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.²For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.³If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.⁴Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.⁷For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.⁹With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.¹¹Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?¹²Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Sing: Alleluila Alleluila Alleluila, these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Alleluila Alleluila Alleluila

HOLY GOSPEL (Jesus releases a youth from a demon that he might speak again.)

Mark 9:14-29

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the ninth chapter. C Glory to You, O Lord.

(The Gospel is read.)

¹⁴And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.¹⁵And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.¹⁶And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”¹⁷And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.¹⁸And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”¹⁹And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”²⁰And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.²¹And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.²²And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”²³And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”²⁴Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”²⁵And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”²⁶And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.²⁸And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”²⁹And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.

Please be seated:

The Creed is our saying back to God what His Word first says to us. We profess the truth of the Triune God and the work he has completed for our salvation. Some Sundays we use the Nicene Creed; other Sundays and during baptisms we use the Apostle’s Creed. On at least one Sunday each year, on Trinity Sunday, we use the Athanasian Creed, the longest of the three creeds.

After the Creed we’re usually seated for the hymn of the day, also called the Sermon Hymn. Hymn of the Day usually responds to the themes of the Scripture readings. Ordinarily, that theme would also be at the center of the sermon, as the pastor explains one or more of the readings in a way that is Christ-centered, always exposing our sin and proclaiming forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ.

APOSTLES CREED LSB 207

C I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

and the life T everlasting. Amen.

(Sit)

HYMN OF THE DAY “Thy Word is Like a Garden, Lord” INSERT

SERMON NARRATIVE SERVICE

Explanation of the Sermon: Pastors will put a lot of work in sermons, and hopefully we write our sermons under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Often sermons will be the result of study over years, that come together just for this one sermon. This is where I remind you, about God’s Law and how we have offended God by breaking His Law and how God has saved us in our offenses through the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. I try to explain the context of the stories so that you understand that these are very real people who are interacting with Jesus and are trusting in what Jesus does in their lives. I try to give you a lot of background as to who the people are we are talking about, the time in history that we are talking about the things that these people confront in their daily lives and how Jesus or God through one of His prophets affect people. I also try to make sure that I give you additional opportunities to expand even more on what I’ve discussed. That when you leave here, you will be strengthened in your faith and also equipped to help others in their faith and to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Explanation of Prayer of the Church

Following the Savior’s own prayerful example the pastor goes to God’s altar and offers up the PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. We pray with faith in all that Jesus has done for us and promises to do for us. We lay before God all of our concerns, requests and thanksgiving — for the church, for our parents, for our children, for family and friends, for our leaders. But not just our local concerns. As Jesus has given His love and support to us, we in turn give love and support to Christ’s needy ones around the world by praying for them. And we especially pray for those who refuse to belong to Christ, because Jesus died for their sins too.

We stand

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

VERSE “O Lord, Hear My Prayer” LSB 780

Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100013249.

A Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. Keep us, O Lord, from speaking words of anger, division, and hate and grant us every aid of Your Spirit that we may speak the good word of the Gospel, to build up one another in faith and to address the world with Your grace, Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

A Help us, O Lord, to see both the destructive power of our words and the healing power of Your Word, that we may rejoice to share with others the healing and sustaining word of the cross we have heard in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

A Build up Your Church, O Lord, in the power of Your gracious Word to heal every division, to unite the diverse, and to spread harmony and concord wherever Your people gather. Bless all pastors, missionaries, and all church workers in their vocations of service and bless their ministry for the fulfillment of Your bidding and the glory of Your holy name. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

A Spread, O Lord, the reign of peace within and among all nations. Bless all who make, administer, and judge our laws that everywhere the weak may be protected, virtue encouraged, and justice and freedom prosper for all. Bless especially those who guard our freedom here, and throughout the world. [specifically….David, Daniel, Charles, Caleb, Ashley, Josiah, Isaiah, David, Nicholas, Sarah, Eric,Donald, Charlie, Justin, Jose, Corey], Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

A Heal, O Lord, all those wounded by affliction, suffering the frailty of age, and sorrowing over the loss of those whom they love [especially….Pastor Devan, Pastor Biggs, Bonnie, Dawn, Jessica, Thelma, Trey, Daryl, Sam, Judy, Wil, Bob, Sam Jr, Mary, Bobbie, Cinda, Elijah, Jade, Kathy Steckel and children, Bill, Ed Jr., Delores, Sandy,Don, Angie, Ron] that all who cry to You in their need may know the full consolation of Your healing and sustaining love. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

A Bless, O Lord, all who receive the body and blood of Christ, that receiving this gift and grace they may serve You with all their heart, mind, body, and soul, both now, and even forevermore. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

A These and whatsoever other things we need or we should ask, we request in the name of Jesus, for into Your hands, O gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. C Amen.

(Sit) WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

EXPLANATION OF OFFERING: The Offering gives us a chance to respond to our heavenly Father in another way. As God does not give us leftovers, but gives all of Himself to us, we, too, return to Him not just whatever is left over, but we place on God’s altar a token of giving our whole lives to God. We offer Creation back to the Creator for the doing of His will. In the Gospel we hear about a young boy who provided the five loaves of bread and two small fish so that others could be fed, hear the Gospel and be saved. Likewise we support those who proclaim the life of Christ to us today, so that people would know His salvation. Let us now gather the offering. The stewards will now wait upon you for your tithes and offerings.

OFFERING { Please fill out the blue card and place it in the offering plate. }

VOLUNTARY “Meditation” R. Hughes

OFFERTORY HYMN “We Give Thee But Thine Own” (Vss. 1-2) LSB 781

After the offering, we normally would move into that part of the Divine Service which we call THE SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT. Since we won’t be having communion today, I will only discuss a little of it and save the rest for another time like this, but needless to say the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is very important, very precious part of our worship and ministry. Along with Holy Baptism, Absolution and the preaching of the Gospel, the Lord’s Supper is one of the specially appointed means of grace through which our Lord bestows forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation. We believe the consecrated bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper convey the very body and blood that our Lord gave up on the Cross, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. We do require that all who take the Lord’s Supper first be instructed so that they can properly prepare for this holy meal and know for certain what they are partaking/eating. We would welcome the opportunity to share more with you visitors about the Lord’s Supper, Holy Baptism or other aspects of the Lutheran faith – no cost or obligation – let me know when is a good time to meet and talk.

Explanation of Lord’s Prayer and Benediction: We come to the end of worship by first praying the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray in Matthew 6: 9-11. The Lord’s prayer is so unique in its simplicity, children can easily remember the Lord’s prayer, but it is so profound especially since it guides us right to our Father in heaven. It covers everything that we should cover with God, but in a simple and thoughtful way. WE stand and pray as Jesus taught us, saying:

LORD’S PRAYER LSB209

C Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

And then the BENEDICTION which is not just a fancy way of saying goodbye. In the Book of Numbers, chapter 6, God says this blessing marks the Lord’s people with His, God’s Name. The Lord gathered us together with His Name in Baptism. Now with that same name, He sends us back into the world to the places of our various callings. He sends us out to present ourselves as living sacrifices for the good of our neighbor to the praise of God’s glory by the mercy He has given to us. So now receive the BENEDICTION OF OUR LORD.

And the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all

We end worship with the Recessional Hymn “Just a closer walk with Thee” which is an insert in your bulletin.

P Go in peace and serve the Lord!

C Till all have heard! Thanks be to God!

You are in Christ or you’re not

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You are in Christ or you are just not

First St Johns Jaunary 26, 2014

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son … All those who know that salvation is only in the Name of Jesus Christ said … AMEN

We should be grateful to the Corinthian church, if there was a way to mess it up, the Corinthians were spot on finding the messiest way. Paul has certainly taken the example of the Corinthians and addressed their issues. I get the feeling that he had to do more then just write two epistles, and I’d be willing to bet he had to do it over and over again. Paul examined, and we have the benefit from his epistles, the discussion on communion. Paul very forthrightly, maybe even a little graphically, conducted the discussion with the Corinthians and from that we we are to understand and conduct the Lord’s Supper.

In today’s issue, Paul is taking the Corinthians to task on the issue of church division. That certainly is a timely discussion for us. I get the feeling from Paul’s letter that it borders almost on embarrassment. Guys come on, how can you be part of the church of Christ and have these kinds of divisions, I mean really “I follow Paul or I follow Apollos or I follow Cephas and then last, almost incidentally, I follow Christ?” Come on, you can’t put me in a position where you are more concerned about following me? If someone came up to me and said “hey Jim, you’re great! I’m following you brother!” I’m telling you here and now, I would probably come close to dropping dead from embarrassment and I almost get that sense from Paul, maybe for the same reason. Here I am, I’ve been preaching Christ, Him crucified for your sins, He whose perfect sacrifice made it possible for us to be righteous and sanctified before a perfect, holy God and what you got out of that is; “yea, you’re great man, I’m following you!”? Really ?! Paul asks the question, “woe there, was I crucified for you?” “Were you baptized in my name, or Apollos’ or Cephas’ names?” No! You were baptized, you were made clean, you were sanctified in the Name of Jesus, the only way you could be sanctified and made clean, the only way that you could be saved, the only way you could be assured that Jesus is your Lord, now, at your death and to eternity. I certainly don’t want to go to someone who is dying and hear them saying; “Pastor Jim, I am so grateful that you have helped me and did what was necessary, because I know where I am going.” If they add in there because you pointed me to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then praise God, thank you Lord that this person will soon be in your presence, but only because the Holy Spirit used me in order point this person to eternal life in Christ. I am only the instrument in the Lord’s hands. The only reason I am here before you is because of the power of Christ, there is no other power in creation that would have put me here. So please don’t ever say it’s because of this evangelist or that pastor that you know salvation in Christ unless you go on to say because they were used powerfully by Christ to save you.

This is a huge issue and has been since the Reformation. One thing that the leaders in the Roman church were right about is saying that because of what Dr Luther did, the church would be splintered all over creation. But that was never Luther’s intention, and the way it played out even in Luther’s time, was something that he regretted.

Sometimes division is necessary, the Reformation was necessary, but Dr Luther even regretted that this new church took on his name, his intention was to move people back to the revelation of Scripture, to move the church out of the secular and back into being the bride of Christ.

The church today is more splintered, more out of control, more out of touch with true revelation then ever. We see so-called Christian churches all over the place and that is on the momentum of what Christianity has been going back to the time of the Corinthian church. I’m sorry, but if people were really honest with themselves, they would not be saying “I follow Christ”, they would be saying “I follow Mary Baker Eddy, I follow Joseph Smith, I follow Jehovah’s Witnesses”. These are people who’ve taken one little part of Scripture and tried to make it the whole revelation. People have put entirely too much trust in so-called Christian leaders and have uncritically followed teachers who were telling them what they want to hear and not what they needed to hear. Too many people have convinced themselves that it is all about their works, what they do in order to be saved and so they hear this from Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, The prosperity churches, and even what seem to be orthodox Christian churches and that is where they fall. Problem is this and we see it all over the landscape, is that when, not if, but when, they figure out that what they’ve been taught is wrong, doesn’t save them, who do they blame? Rightly so, the church! But the problem is this, they won’t accept the fact that they are partly to blame themselves. Did they ever ask themselves, “woe, wait a minute, is this what God really wants from me? Is God powerful enough to save me without my works, and my jumping through hoops? Well, yes! But no, I just can’t trust Him enough to do that, so I need to do, this or that in order to help God out, in order to show Him how sincere I am, in order to prove that I really am worthy and then God will have to accept whatever I throw out in front of Him and He will have to save me”. Is that the way it works? Can any of you here, do enough, be worthy enough? Be sincere enough? Be pious enough, to make God sit back and say “wow, that Jim Driskell, boy, he is such an A-J squared away guy, well by-gum I’m just going to have to save him, because he just stacked right up? Is that ever going to happen, in a million-zillion years? I don’t care what you sincerely believe, people have sincerely believed a lot of bizarre things for centuries, I’m telling you right here and now, it doesn’t get them anywhere. Remember the Comet Kahouteck deal, people sincerely believed that if they committed suicide at just the right time, that they would be spiritually lifted up to this comet and whisked away to eternal bliss. Do you think that worked? Of course not and if that doesn’t have the stink of hell all over it, I just don’t know what does. Today, there are much subtler and still just as deadly beliefs out there. Now you can get all horrified and dignified and give me the “oh but my God wouldn’t condemn someone like that, my God would save all those sincere, worthy, hard-working people” and you fall in the same trap as the Comet Kahouteck or Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arminians, Modalists, Platonists, Pelagians on and on all through the centuries. Folks all this stuff you hear today has been pedaled going back to the very beginning, people love to tell you how they’ve found this new way and package it all up as if it’s just brand/spanky new and it simply isn’t. The same deadly poison has been pedaled for centuries, but because it’s wrapped in new shiney paper it’s supposed to be different and now it’s effective? Sorry, it’s still the same messed up message, it still separates you from God.

One of my beefs with the so-called “contemporary” church is this emphasis on making church so common, you get the guy who gets up front and he either has the $1,000 Armani suit, or the torn up jeans and t-shirt, oh yeah kumbya, it’s all about us and what makes us happy. I heard one of them, on the radio taking a shot at the other contemporary manifestations of the church. The churches that feel it’s all about happy talk, creating elaborate productions but never really talking about Jesus as Savior. Hey why bother, we’re all “good” people, what do we need to be saved from? Or the churches that promise that since you are here and we’re all on the same page, well Jesus will just bless you for that and make you wealthy, pretty, smart and successful. Or the churches that teach the Bible, but it’s because we’re just all regular people and we know the Bible. Or you have a church where Jesus is preached, where we all understand that we are here for a reason, that we all suffer from the same deadly malady, that we are all sinners, that we cannot do anything for ourselves, that we need God to be our Savior, right from birth we are sin filled and depraved. Do I tell you that to beat you down, because I get some jolly out of telling you that you are a lost sinner? Noooo! Because brother and sister, I’m right there with you. As Luther said, I am a beggar that is just showing other beggars where to find bread. By no virtue of my own, God put me in this pulpit to preach His Law, which condemns, all of us, and to preach His Gospel which saves, but only saves those who have been saved, by Him, in Christ Jesus. I’m not here to play to you, to tell you what you want to hear, I am a minister of Christ, He has told me what to do through His Word, the Father has given us a way to be in a saving relationship with Him, He gave His only Son in order to save us, and that is the only way we are saved. That same radio preacher took a shot at the liturgical church. Interestingly he noted that more and more young people are coming back to the style of worship of candles, incense, liturgy, his words, the intimation being that we somehow feel we are saved because of the ornamental, the processional. No! We are saved one way, through the strength and work of Jesus, why do we do the other stuff? Not to make it a parade or somehow be superficially pious, we do this to honor Him. We understand our worship isn’t about entertainment or deep thoughts or telling us what we want to hear or our works, we understand that we are saved. We come before God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit and do the things we do to honor Him, to show the world that we are serious about worshipping God. He gives to us over and over in worship, we do receive in worship, and because of that in our feeble ways, we do the things we do to be reminded of what He has done for us and to honor Him in worship and praise, to recognize that only through Him we are saved, we are truly sons and daughters of the living God. Paul says: “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” I hope no one leaves here today saying to the effect; “wow, Pastor Jim really preached great words and thoughts, boy I’m just so saved in everything he preached.” It’s not my words, it’s the words the Holy Spirit gave me and for one reason, to point you to the cross of Christ, to point you to the crucified and resurrected Savior, only through Him and His sacrifice we are saved. The Words you hear today are intended for only one reason, to focus on God’s Law, that we understand that we are all, everyone in the whole wide world, are condemned under His Law, we have all sinned, we have all broken the Law, following the Law cannot save you. Maybe you have been absolutely perfect, great for you, but that only means you didn’t break the rules. If you did it outside of Christ you are still an unsaved person who somehow managed not to break the rules. If Jesus doesn’t save you, you are still lost. Is there such a person out there? No, of course not, so please quit getting in my grill and telling me there is. There may be some people out there who have made up their own rules and didn’t break them and feel that God should honor that, but what matters is God’s Word and we have all fallen short, none are righteous, no not one.

The Father did not leave us crushed and condemned, He didn’t create a lot of hoops and rolls, a lot of barriers to hurdle, He gave us His Son, He showed us all that His Son died for us, that because of that sacrifice we are saved. What more convincing proof could you possibly have? He gave you His church so that in baptism, in His preached Word, in His Body and Blood, you would know week in and week out that you are saved, that you are in relationship with Him and that you will be in His presence when you die and you will be raised up like His Son, in the Resurrection in that new and perfect world, where there will be life and life more abundant, then anything we could ever begin to approach in this sin-filled, dead world that we are in now.

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

Excuses, excuses, excuses

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I don’t know, I guess I’ve been lucky, at least as far as I’m concerned. I have been a part of really successful organizations, been part of a lot of achievements. Been with very uplifting, positive, “can-do” types of people. Now let me make this very clear up-front, this is not aimed at the people in my congregation. I cannot commend these people enough. A lot of them came together and saved a grand-old church and maintained it as a genuine Lutheran church and have put in many years to do that. To that I say “well done”, these are a “can-do” people.

Having said that, there seems to be this common thread of giving people excuses to just not do anything except receive and be very passive and really just leave it to others, those who have kind of designated themselves as the best and brightest and they will fix everything and provide everything. They will of course take most everything too, and leave the scraps for those who just passively follow them, but they will provide a service. They will let most people kind of wallow around in their excuses, feeling sorry for themselves, expecting to be treated with pity, never trying, never striving, never dreaming and certainly never achieving while they live in their squalid little existence and let others take what they might have had if they only strove. You may think I’m being harsh, but let’s listen to Paul: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). That’s not harshness on his part, and he was more then active in helping those who genuinely needed help, but he saw too many around him who thought they were entitled to special treatment because of their excuses.

It is beginning to seem to me that every kid, especially if he’s a boy, has a “learning disability” and they are somehow entitled to special, and of course, expensive treatment. There has been a huge explosion of this in the last couple of decades. I submit that if there was the slightest amount of effort put forth by those who so facilely make these “diagnoses”, tell me honestly, you haven’t met one person who has received the psuedo-scientific “diagnoses” of ADHD. I mean it’s almost like the discount coupons at the entrance of the supermarket. Everyone gets a coupon on the way in and they’re expected to use it. Have any of these “professionals” made the slightest effort to determine what kind of diet this child is on, what kind of exercise, what kind of sleep schedule, what kind of focus there is in their home, before they just write them off quickly and easily. I know a bunch of children, as young as nine/ten years old who are routinely given coffee day in and day out. Let’s be honest, no one really needs coffee, any kind of caffeine. As an adult I needed a medical doctor to tell me I was abusing caffeine. As soon as I stopped, I slept better, I focused better, my entire behavior was much better. At the time I was in my twenties, very physically active and otherwise very healthy. I was physically an adult, if anyone could tolerate a little too much caffeine it would have been me. Adolescents should not be getting mega-doses of caffeine and then to have some “para- professional” tell you that you’re child is going to need “special classes”.

But this is only one part of the story, just a glaringly obvious part that is going to have more and more impact in the years to come. Too many people today just cannot function in a post-modern, hurry-hurry, time is of the essence world. They have grown up and lived in an environment where they could make excuses day in and day out, the irony being that they could never understand why they never got anywhere in life. It’s become a lifestyle for me as a pastor, ask someone to be somewhere or do something, you can see the file- cards flipping in their head. They aren’t thinking “how am I going to do this”, which is my normal means of handling these things. They are thinking “what’s a good enough excuse to not do this”. It’s not my imagination, it’s just not. Sure once in awhile, people genuinely can’t do, and that’s ok. But it’s gotten to the point where, depending on the person, I can predict whether I’m going to get a “can-do” or an excuse.

Being a Christian we have the ultimate example of the Lord as a “can-do”. Jesus didn’t accept excuses, wasn’t interested. He knew there were some people who do get the short-end and for them He did show mercy and kindness. But in twenty-first century northeast United States, we really don’t have any excuses. We are probably the most advantaged people in the history of the world. We have tools and support that weren’t dreamed of even 50 years ago. People have no reason whatsoever for excuses, except of those who abuse food, drugs, sleep, get no exercise, don’t take advantage of all the things around them and simply won’t do much of anything except what gives them their little thrill. We have the Biblical example of men and women like Paul, Peter, Mary, Joseph, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John et al, who did things that were probably far above their abilities and talents. As Christians we have no excuses, we have the strength and spirit of a loving Savior who moves us where He wants us. Hey He picked me up and moved me through seminary. Seminary is hard, learn two new languages, history, doctrine, preaching, counseling, writing, research, hermeneutics, so much more. Believe me the only reason I went, I passed and became a trained pastor was through the strength of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just make us pastors. God has a plan for each of us and when we are faithful to that plan and not letting the nonsense of the world enable us in our petty little wants and desires, we can do amazing things. I’m not saying that God is going to make everyone successful and rich and pretty and talented. I am saying He has a place for you in the world, He is going to move you in life and use your life to His glory. It may not always be the best, it may not always be what you think it should be, it may not do everything you think it should, but when we do what we do for God’s glory, we know it and we continue to trust and rely on Him. Not the excuses, not our petty little wants and (I love this one) “needs”, but what is truly best for us and what keeps us trusting in Him.

In the resurrection we will be in His presence for eternity, we will have, as Jesus promised, life and life more abundant. For now strive to be the best that you can be and trust God’s leading. Do not trust in those who simply want to drag you down and make you believe that you are either “entitled” or have excuses that somehow make you entitled. It’s easy to just passively sit back and whine, is that what you think God really wants for you?

God’s will is what drives us, not the timid little souls.

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One of the knocks against Christians, especially those in the workplace, in any kind of “competitive” environment is that they lack a “killer” instinct, they let scruples, principles somehow interfere with attaining the goal, achieving the ends. A Christian is, to the best of their ability, guided by the Holy Spirit, will do their best to strive as a Christian, to conduct their life as Christ would. Most people would find themselves much more successful and in a lot less trouble if they followed God’s leading and not their own misguided motivations.

But this goofy idea that Jesus was some kind of cream puff, almost some kind of masochist, rolling over and giving in to defeat is just silly. Jesus confronted the powerful leaders of His country to hold them accountable to God’s will, for them to stop abusing their position and truly follow God’s leading. He went to the Cross, but have no doubt if He in His divine providence decided to call down a legion of angels to absolutely destroy His enemies, He certainly could. But what was the ultimate goal here, to defeat Satan, to take away Satan’s power, undermine him in the world by the innocent suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus did the most manly thing any of us could do, sacrifice Himself so that we would live. How could Satan overcome that? He lost the world because of Jesus’ sacrifice, all he could do at this point, with his fangs effectively pulled, is to try and individually undermine our life, if we let him. We have no excuse to lose our eternal reward to Satan, except for ourselves, because of what Jesus did. So let’s get over this goofy idea that Jesus was some sort of weak, weenie, candy. He won the ultimate victory for us in the most manly way possible. Glory to you, oh Christ.

Chris McCormack has become one of the all-time greats of triathlon. Macca has won the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon twice, two world championships and other lesser Ironman’s, over 200 triathlon victories. Now Macca’s not arguing from a Christian point of view, but he wonders why others would undermine themselves: “This word ‘ego is tossed around nowadays with such a negative spin on it. It annoys me to think that by believing in yourself and pursuing your goals and ambitions with conviction you can be ridiculed.” (Triathlete Mag Aug 2013 p 42).

There are a lot of people in the world today who because of their own mediocrity make it a point to try and drag down others. If others around them excel, work hard to achieve great dreams, they are somehow pretentious, uppity, they don’t know their place, they are presumptuous. They would never say things like that, but there are many who just feel that those around them all have to maintain the same level of mediocrity. I think we see that way too much in the inner city, high schools are almost ruled by those mediocre students who have no intention to allow anyone to excel unscathed. The only exception to that is in athletics and even in that there seems to be an underlying current of mediocrity. But in academics even if you are gifted, you are expected to stay in your place and not let anyone know that you are academically gifted.

I think that Macca is incorrectly describing the argument, but I understand what he’s saying: “The issue with ego is it is up to that athlete to develop this self-belief. It is up to the athlete to accept his fears and weaknesses and implement strategies to strengthen his character in accepting them and holding true to his dream. This is difficult to do and for this reason it’s often neglected. Believing in something takes courage. And it’s not easy learning how to find new courage.”

Let me give you the Christian translation: God has put you where you are, He has given you the gifts that you have. Why would you undermine what God is leading you to do? Many have gone out and done the impossible led by God. Does it make sense to fail to do what God has gifted you with, the plan He has for your life? The Bible describes many situations where people have pushed back against God, have told God they are not capable, they cannot do what God has given them to do. They are right, it’s not going to be through their strength, it’s always going to be through the gifts God has given you, and the Holy Spirit working through you, absolutely, no doubt. But does that mean we should allow ourselves to fail, to simply give up when the Holy Spirit continues to push on us, continues to cut the path for you, gives you what you need to finish.\? Paul tells us in many ways to run the race, to win the prize, there is nothing arrogant about that, just acknowledge that it’s through God’s gifts and leadings. Not because you are somehow special and that is where humility certainly comes in, you readily acknowledge you are no more special then anyone else, but it is because in God’s divine wisdom, in the mystery of God’s sovereignty He chose you to achieve what you’ve achieved. You do it to His glory in the most principled and scrupulous manner possible.

“Stop hiding behind your fears. Embrace your ego – mold it, change it and utilize it to take you where you want to go. I have never said or done anything within the realm of this sport that I regret. I have been labeled brash, confident, cocky. At times I wondered if my desire to achieve my personal dreams was too much for people to accept, so labeling me was the easiest way to pigeonhole this drive.” Again let me give the Christian translation. Enhance your relationship with God, trust Him, trust what He’s leading you to do in your life in order to get where He’s leading you to go. Do so with humility, even meekness, but with the utmost confidence, trust and faith that God has given you. Don’t let other people who lead cold, frightened, mediocre little lives deter you from what God is doing in your life. You want a better world? Strive for what God is doing in your life, quit your fears, your pride, your dignity, your petty/weenie little scaries and be a true man or woman of God. Jim Elliot was told that he was crazy to do mission to the Auca Indians. There is no question that God was leading him to do it, and Elliot paid for it with his life. He strived to follow God’s leading, God gave Elliot the faith and courage to do what he did. The result was that the Auca were led to Christ that in heaven, in the New Jerusalem Jim Elliot’s reward would be great, 60 years later he is remembered and held in great esteem as a hero of the faith. I am not suggesting you be cocky and obnoxious and I’ve never really known Chris McCormack to be obnoxious, but no doubt there is ego, for a Christian that means faith, trust, following God’s leading. It’s difficult I’ve even seen fellow Christians try to tear down someone who feels the leading of the Holy Spirit, it might perceived as ego, as brash, but God does great things in all our lives, they may appear humble to others but to those we affect, they are great things and we trust God to do His will in our lives.

“[Macca] But what I’ve come to learn is that it is not who we think we are that holds us back; it is who we think we’re not . Remember, great things happen to those who make great things happen…” Christian translation, God is going to do great things through us. It’s not up to us to keep God from working His will. “I’m not worthy. I’m not strong enough. I’m not smart enough.” St Paul tells us: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 ESV) Stop listening to those timid, weak in faith, who are trying to douse the Father’s will in your life. They don’t know, they aren’t even trusting what God is trying to do in their life, why would you even give them the time of day in your life. Be an example to them, to those God has led you to disciple, to a world that likes to make Christians out to be powder puffs. Our Savior was the most courageous and sacrificing man in history, would those He gave His life for, His children, strive to live up to the example of their Lord and Savior?

Baptism, new life

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Walking in Newness of Life

First St Johns January 12, 2014

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 are baptized into the newness of life in Christ Jesus said …. AMEN!

I had to explain baptism to an 11 year old last week, the results were not positive, I have been humbled and now endeavor to make a much stronger case for your baptism. And what better time then the baptism of our Lord? In case you haven’t noticed, baptism in the Lutheran Church is a fundamental part of being a Christian, basic to all Christians, but we emphasize baptism and we encourage people to remember their baptism. You might have noticed that at some points of the liturgy it says, to the effect, “the sign of the cross is made in remembrance of your baptism”. The gesture seems to be commonly understood as something peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther encouraged us at many points of the catechism to make the sign of the cross in remembrance of our baptism. I believe Roman Catholics make it as a sign of the crucifixion of Jesus, if you want to do it in that respect, there’s nothing wrong with that, but we are encouraged to remember our baptism, our new life in Christ.

Why are we baptized? We are born as sinners, we need assurance, we need God’s promise that we are forgiven, why wouldn’t we want that assurance as soon as possible. When we are baptized, we are fundamentally having a little exorcism, sounds kind of weird, but let’s face it, we are born into the world, we are born in sin. Simply to say, by being baptized in the promises of God, the promises from Genesis to Revelation, part of those promises are forgiveness of sin, we are born into that sinful condition, there’s no way around it, our parents are sinners, we are born sinners. We need to be cleansed of that sin, we need to drive out of us the things of evil, it’s not because of some decision we make, as in everything it is God who leads us to be baptized, to be cleansed of sin, God does the heavy lifting in this, why would we not want to be cleansed of that sin and evil? Dr Luther tells us: “The anabaptists pretend that children, not as yet having reason, ought not to receive baptism. I answer that reason in no way contributes to faith. Nay, in that children are destitute of reason, they are all the more fit and proper recipients of baptism. For reason is the greatest enemy that faith has. It never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not, struggles against the Divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God. If God can communicate the Holy Ghost to grown persons, He can, a fortiori, communicate it to young children. Faith comes of the Word of God. Little children hear that Word when they receive baptism and therewith they receive also faith.” When he says a fortiori Dr Luther is saying through God’s strength, His Lordship over us, since we are His creation, that He forgives the sin of a baby as easily as an adult. We are not adding anything to our forgiveness by being baptized, we are simply following the leading of the Holy Spirit. I was baptized as an adult, but it wasn’t through any decision on my part, there is no question that God set up the circumstances for me to be baptized. In the same way, Christian parents are led to have their babies baptized. Now certainly there are circumstances, as there were in my case, but the point is that it’s about what God is leading us to do, not through our choice, but His guidance. Does that mean bang, it’s all over, straight to salvation? No… As people live their lives, there will be people who forget their baptism, forget their new life and follow the world, no question. But in baptism we are faithfully led to new life, spiritual life, Jesus tells us: ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3) We are reborn, we are adopted into God’s family through baptism, we can see, we are included in His Kingdom. We can certainly live our life in rejection of that, but it’s not because God didn’t give you the way, you made the choice to reject Him.

Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, what I’ve said, certainly begs the question, why would Jesus be baptized. Jesus is sinless, Jesus is God, He’s certainly seen the Kingdom of Heaven, why would He be baptized? Commentators on this passage, explain it extensively, going back to the Old Testament and the promises of God to send His Son, Messiah. One reason being: “Jesus’ solidarity with those who had responded positively to John’s message: by participating in the ritual act of baptism, we may recall, they (he) communicated their (his) fundamental orientation around God’s purpose.”¹ He is saying that Jesus wanted to show how much He intended to live the life that we live, if He commands that we should be baptized, then He is going to be faithful to that and be baptised Himself. But the commentary goes a little deeper. What’s different about Jesus’ baptism then mine, or any other baptism that you’ve ever seen? Since I was in my mid-twenties, I think I would remember Heaven opening up, a dove descending on me and God’s voice saying this is my beloved Son. To be sure, I did on that day become God’s Son, not just His creation, but through baptism being adopted as a son of God. Not a son like Jesus, Jesus is exactly the same as God the Father, He is God the Son. But God adopted me as His Son through baptism. We who are baptized become sons and daughters of God, and that is a great thing. Again not through any choice we made, but through the Father’s divine Lordship of bringing me to salvation. The commentary also goes on to say: “…the occasion of Jesus’ baptism is manifestly his anointing for divine service. This is the interpretation given by Jesus in [Luke] 4: 18-19 and repeated by Peter in Acts 10:37-38 …Thus, Jesus’ baptism as traditionally understood has been cast by [Luke] as Jesus’ anointing by the Spirit. This is a pivotal experience for Jesus that (1) sets in motion the sequence of events to follow and, by implication, sets the entire course of his mission… (2) is expounded as the event that determines his understanding of his divine mission and empowers him to perform accordingly … (3) anticipates the analogous empowering of Jesus’ followers in Acts.”² Joel Green is referring to the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples to empower them, Peter going out and preaching to and converting 5,000. So through baptism we are empowered to go and perform the mission that God has planned for us in the world, the life that He wants us to live in order to be His disciples. In order for us to truly live in the Spirit, we have to be baptized, none of what we do will be meaningful in our life until we are brought into the Kingdom, until we have the Holy Spirit in us, part of us, filling us.

Paul goes into detail in our reading today. “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” Paul asks. Until that point of baptism, when we are cleansed of that sin that became part of ourselves, our nature, when we came into the world, we continue in sin, that it even abounds in us. Of course the answer is no. Paul goes on to drive the point home even farther when he says that we “who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.” Dr Luther likes to say that baptism drowns the old man in us, the old man who was dead in His sins. Through Jesus’ death we are forgiven, so when that old Jim dies in baptism, then I am reborn, as Jesus told Nicodemus. Paul goes on to make this even more explicit, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” In baptism we are raised to the newness of life, before we were dead, dead in our sins, dead in a fallen, evil world. Baptism is the Father giving us a rebirth, a new life, life the only way it can happen, in Jesus. Everything else is death, decay and destruction. Paul compares baptism to crucifixion, death, leaving behind the old sin-filled life and when we are cleansed of that sin in baptism, only then can we be worthily united to Jesus. Jesus was sinless, completely holy, completely sanctified. Only through baptism can we be completely holy, completely sanctified and completely justified, because we are completely united with Him. We have the promise of the resurrection because just as He was resurrected and we are united with Him, then we will be resurrected in new life. Baptism is all about new life, not anything we did, but what God did in order for us to be His children, for Him to be our Lord, to live this earthly life out according to His plan for us and then to be resurrected to eternal life in the New Jerusalem.

So make it a point to start the day by making the sign of the cross and to remember all that baptism gives you, to make the sign of the cross when you pray to remember your baptism, to make the sign of the cross during worship to remind you how privileged you are to have been called to worship every week in the House of the Lord. It is also to remind us of how our baptism protects us and we should remember it in those times when we sin, we are challenged to stray from Christ.

Think about your baptism this week. Consider these words from Peter and again Paul, we often take our baptism for granted, yet without our baptism we can never be united to God and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

To cement this all in your heart, we remember Peter’s words when he said: “1 Peter 3:21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Through baptism we are saved and we become Christ’s disciples in the world.

One of the most powerful lines from Scripture “Ephesians 4:5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Paul reminding us that in baptism we are all of one faith, together in the Body of Christ and we have one Lord, Jesus Christ. He who was baptized with us, died with us and is resurrected, all as the promise that He is the Lord of our life in this world and in our resurrection in the body into eternity.

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

1Joel Green The NIV Commentary on the Gospel of Luke pp 185, 186

2Ibid

7 Personal Branding Lessons You learn by Falling in Love, by Dr Amit Nagpal

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This was an article from businessgrow.com from last St Valentines Day. So I thought I would share this Valentines. I couldn’t find the original email, so I’ve retyped.
“The first guideline I share with a new client is, ‘You don’t build a personal brand. People do, when they see excellence and have pride in associating with you.’ So you must, ‘Enlarge as a human being, Excel as a social media being and Evolve as a personal brand.’

Here are seven lessons, you learn by falling in love:

1. Great relationships and brand are built by sharing and caring

Love and personal branding, both are primarily about sharing and caring. There would be good and not so good phases for sure but you must keep making genuine attempt to fill the emotional and ego tanks of the other. Keep in mind, selfishness is our default setting but we have been ‘Empowered’ to change the settings.

2. Collaborative mindset

Collaboration and partnerships can never happen in the ‘I, Me, Mine’ mode, be it love or personal branding. It can only happen by shifting to, ‘You, We and Us’ mode. Personal branding starts with an honest attempt to find the needs of your community members and then looking for opportunities to collaborate. Human needs are always changing, so you must have a good understanding of human psychology to keep a track of changing needs.

3. Help people grow

You must help your beloved one/your audience in personal/professional growth. Enlarge and nurture your network and you will end up getting enlarged yourself over a period of time. Someone has rightly said, ‘Appreciation and encouragement are vitamins of the soul.’ I always emphasize, ‘People believe it when someone else is appreciating you and God comes to your rescue when someone else is praying for you.’ Remember to talk passionately about others and humbly about self.

4. Don’t let communication gaps creep in

Constant and consistent communication is a must for both love and branding. Even God communicated His message through epics, religious books and inspired messages. Personal Branding is not a substitute for quality, but is rather a tool to communicate your quality as a person – your knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA). So first develop your KSAs and then demonstrate them wisely.

5. Commitment must be complete

There is a huge difference between having an interest and having a commitment, be it passionate love or passionate branding. If a successful relationship demands two people who are completely committed to each other, a successful personal brand also demands complete commitment to each other, a successful personal brand also demands complete commitment to your profession. In simple words, ‘If there is a will, you will, if there is half-will, you never will.’

6. I change, Everything changes

Once I had posted on Facebook, ‘With a hammer and a chisel, he was busy sculpting the world, but a beautiful statue emerged, when he started sculpting himself.’ Blame game helps, neither in love nor in personal branding. Every time something goes wrong, look within, give people a benefit of doubt and stay focused on the positive side of people.

7. Passion is necessary

If Love and Personal Branding were books, then ‘Deepest Passion’ would be the Prologue and ‘Joy” would be the Epilogue. Love and branding can start with falling in love but the challenge is all about staying in love. Your friends/followers/connections must stay in love with you and your core values to support you in your journey. In fact, you can continue to offer value as a lover or brand, only if your passion is deep and inexhaustible.”

So this was my St Valentines Day gift to you, isn’t that sweet? I would probably share more the sentiment with your Valentine, then maybe the specific contents, probably not the most “romantic” way to share, but hey, I got the point!

Pastor Jim Driskell

If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write. – Dr Martin Luther

Hi, my name is Jim and I’m a sinner

Mystery of the liturgy

Fake it ’til you make it, or turn it over to God?

Will you fight?

A narrative worship on liturgy

You are in Christ or you’re not

Excuses, excuses, excuses

God’s will is what drives us, not the timid little souls.

Baptism, new life

7 Personal Branding Lessons You learn by Falling in Love, by Dr Amit Nagpal