Tag Archives: God

Thought for the Day April 14, to April 18, 2025

Monday April 14, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

This is Holy Week, Sunday was Palm Sunday, also Passion Sunday, both profoundly important points in our Christian faith. Palm Sunday where Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem. This is also uggghhh Tax Day, sorry to face reality. Palm Sunday wasn’t just a social thing this is very meaningful in a lot of senses. First, to further authenticate the prophecies of the Old Testament. Second that again as prophesied that Jesus would come to Jerusalem as the King, that the people would cry out to Him as the much – awaited Messiah of Israel, of the world.

Prophecy is very important, there are thought to be 322 prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus. Maybe not about Jesus per se, but about the Messiah and in every case Jesus fulfilled these prophecies which is pretty stunning, it makes Him the Messiah. You might say, not so great He just arranged to fulfill them. Really? Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2, born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14, die with the wicked buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9. How do you “arrange” to do these things. Jesus fulfilled them all. Dr Peter Stow did the math and he calculated that the odds of one man fulfilling all 322 prophecies, was 10 to the 28^th power. 10, with 28 zeros, i.e. statistical impossibility, yet Jesus did it. That is solid history, not myth, legend, wishful thinking way too much witness and personal attestation in and out of the Bible to what Jesus did. You can try and deny it or brush it away, but it happened, as solid historical fact as any part of history. Jesus is the most studied, written about man in the entire course of human history. Trying to dismiss Him as a myth or legend, is intellectually dishonest, you aren’t dealing with reality, with genuine history.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Tuesday April 15, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Confession is a very important part of our faith. James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power.” James is talking about not just bodily, mental healing, but also from the effects of sin. We need to share with someone we have great trust in our sins and that person is capable of absolving us of those sins. A Lutheran service starts with confession and absolution, especially if you will be receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood. You have to know you have been absolved of your sins. So spare me “that’s so Catholic blah-blah,” it has to be done and frankly you have to be concerned for those “Christians” that have never had that. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor was very convinced of the need for confession and absolution: “…confession serves the Christian community especially as a preparation for participation together in the Lord’s Supper. Reconciled to God and human beings, Christians desire to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is the command of Jesus that no one should come to the altar with a heart unreconciled to another Christian. If this command applies to all worship, indeed, to every prayer we offer, then it applies all the more to receiving the sacrament. The day before the Lord’s Supper together will find the members of a Christian community with one another, each asking of the other forgiveness for wrongs committed. Anyone who avoids this path to another believer cannot go to the table of the Lord will prepared. All anger, strife, envy, malicious gossip, and conduct to the detriment of one another must have done away with if all wish to receive together the grace of God in the sacrament.” -from Life Together pp 116-117 “A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer” Carla Barnhill

Wednesday April 16, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

This is Holy Week. Holy week begins on Palm Sunday, which is also referred to as Passion Sunday. Passion Sunday referring to the lead up from Thursday night, Maundy Thursday to when Jesus is buried in the tomb on Friday. Palm Sunday is when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. He knows this is the last time He will be in Jerusalem while all His followers look around and see this tumultuous welcome that Jesus is receiving. Zechariah wrote about Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem about 600 years before Jesus was born. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9. Have to admit that is talking about Jesus.

All four of the Gospel writers include the Palm Sunday narrative. Matthew 21:6-11 “⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[c]“Hosanna^[d]

Matthew 21:1-11 NIV – – Bible Gateway

in the highest heaven!” ¹⁰When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” ¹¹The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Somehow what was a triumphant entrance for Jesus comes crashing down on Friday. It may seem that way, but David Cole writes from the perspective of Celtic Christianity: “We mistakenly see Jesus as a victim led to the Cross, the sheep led to the slaughter. Jesus certainly knew what this was about and the Celtic view was that Jesus rushed eagerly to the Cross, knowing this would be the instrument of Satan’s destruction. He stopped before the cross, stripped off the armor of the cosmic battle, climbed up the cross for His love to hold Him to suffer and until He proclaimed, “Father into your hands I commend my Spirit” Luke 23:46. All was at Jesus’ discretion, exactly at the right time and what overcame death, man’s enemy. Death defeated by our hero, how CS Lewis portrayed Aslan giving his life, knowing it would be returned to him, to rescue those who trusted in him. Jesus died as a warrior and defeated death by rising from the dead on Sunday” This was all set before the beginning of time and this is how Jesus had to attack sin and death as that warrior, God the Son fighting for His people. Had to be that way.

Thursday April 17, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day we remember when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Of course we have those oh so smug smarmy bores of the sixteenth and seventh century and today, telling us poor little simple folk that of course this is silly, we’re not eating Jesus’ Body and drinking His Blood. His disciples were upset about this, those He had fed many simply picked up and left. This guy is crazy, He wants us to eat His Body and drink His blood. Everyone who heard Jesus say this, Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 understood exactly what He was saying. This is not a metaphor, if you understand the Greek, there should be no doubt in your mind and that is where the problem comes. Many want to simply deny this because it just doesn’t make sense in their rationalism. Jesus was not known for rationalism. Paul in 1 Corinthians even points out that many who received Jesus’ Body and Blood “unworthily” became sick and many died. I would attribute this to not understanding or accepting what Jesus said. Treating the Body and Blood of Jesus casually, disdainfully, hey ain’t no big thing. If you don’t understand and vow to accept what you receive in the Lord’s Supper, then you receive it unworthily and it could cause you a problem. That’s why as a Lutheran you have to be a member of the church to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. We want to make sure you know and accept what you are truly receiving. The Christian religion is very mystical, very profound. You would be advised to ignore the ones who are ignorant of this or worse trying to undermine your belief. Jesus sacrificed and continues to sacrifice His Body for our benefit. As I say as I finish each time I serve His Body and Blood “now may the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting amen. A little piece of bread and sip of wine, or worse, grape juice has no power to do that. I’m going with Jesus’ genuine version and ignore the silly folk who want to make this just a memorial.

Friday April 18, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Today is Good Friday, the soberest most reverent day on the Christian calendar. On Sunday we observe Easter. Both of these days are the most holy of days of the year. While most of Christianity seems to ignore Good Friday, oh it’s so primitive and gory and scary we are simply not saved. Romans 6:23 the wages of sin are death. There must be blood to wash away the sin in our life. That has been since the beginning but we are relieved of that burden because Jesus’ bloody death was all that was necessary for our sin to be washed away. Jesus suffered, died, was sacrificed for the sin of the world. But only those who are in Jesus are saved from their sin by the substitutionary atonement of Jesus, that He died for our sins. He is God the Son, He chose to live a human life, but that ultimately it would be the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins. Man has no way to pay the penalty of his sin. We simply cannot save ourself from our sin. Jesus has, but when we ignore what He did and decide it’s all about us, then we will die in those sins. Our works are not going to be sufficient for God the Father. Our sin has separated us from Him and only through Jesus have we been reestablished as His child. Unless we have been baptized in Jesus, received His Body and Blood, know that He died to make perfect atonement for our sin, then we are not saved. The silly little folk who try to talk you away from that, are putting you in eternal jeopardy, really eternal condemnation. They ignore Jesus His very words, try to make sense of them and instead distance themselves even further from Jesus and bring condemnation on themselves. I sincerely hope you make the effort to attend a genuine Good Friday worship service today. This most profound time cannot be ignored. It was not good for Jesus on this day, He suffered and died to make the perfect sacrifice for our sins. But that makes it a very “Good” day for us. We are now restored to the Father in the Son and saved to eternal life.

Christ’s Lordship, He is with us through our trials.

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The last few years have been tough. Six years ago my wife, two years younger than me, had a stroke that left her mostly incapacitated. For five years I provided care to her, run the house and perform my ministry duties. December of 2023 my wife died unexpectedly, which was a complete gut punch to me.

The following months that winter were very gray, I look back and yes, there was some real depression going on. The summer came and things looked brighter. I have only lived here for two years. We moved here because my sons live here and I got some help with my wife’s care. So reality was that I was pretty much alone. Summer came and I started seeing someone. Things were brightening up. Other people were giving me different kinds of care, it was nice that people were being so kind and the loneliness was passing.

Early March I had been having some uncomfortable symptoms for awhile and decided to have it checked out. Ya, I know, nothing good comes from it when someone starts writing this way. The night before the colonoscopy prep, pretty tough. It needs to be done, don’t avoid it, but it’s tough.

Had a colonoscopy and I expected to wake up and hear that I needed some pills, a regular procedure, get back to life. Ya, not so fast. Woke up having five people staring hard at me, you know no good can come from this! Then those words “you have cancer.” I have colon cancer and cancer on my liver, stage 4. So the process begins. Had a procedure to take some tissue out of the rectum to make sure it wasn’t cancer. It wasn’t, praise God. But have had a sore butt since. Had a PET scan, which for me, pretty claustrophobic, but again necessary and was determined that the cancer was limited to the colon and liver. Praise God again. This past week had an MRI. Mercifully I was given a sedative, but it was not easy. Still waiting for the results. Have started treatment with chemo-therapy.

The first Sunday after this all started to break was not good. I’m not sure it was all attributable to the cancer. But I was physically having problems and before worship that morning, I was confronted with five people in the office saying that I had to go home. If I passed out on the altar, it would be traumatizing for those in the congregation, we have a lot of children and others, further I would be taken to the hospital. None of which I wanted to happen. Now I know how Captain Queeg felt, just kidding.

So the last couple of weeks have been being very aware. Last Sunday I completed everything. Yesterday, mid-week Lenten service went according to script. Then this morning, regular Thursday morning Matins, went well. I got through this morning Praise be to God with none of the physical symptoms that I’ve been having for awhile, I won’t go into detail, but it’s been tough. I think I’ve scraped off the ocean bottom, at the bottom of the trough (to use more sea metaphors) and I’m starting to climb up the next wave. People have been very supportive here in getting me through this issue. I’m having some bad days, I’m also having good days. No question it is in God’s dominion and all of these are for a reason. At some point I will realize what God is doing and see how that is supposed to work in me. For right now, I have some wins under my belt going into Holy Week. No I’m not going to push it, but I will be there. I will be crossing that finish line. I am so grateful for the loving, caring attention of people in the congregation and those people in my personal life who have listened to my whining and given me comfort and encouragement. I have to trust God, it’s going to be His will. But He seems to have set this up that He will guide me to overcome this and I will move on in my life. All praise to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit amen.

There is more to come. I’m still kind of holding my breath for the MRI results. But everyone seems to feel that should not be a problem. A few weeks of treatment, trying to work to get my strength back, maybe some radiation and operation, then fight my way back up physically. So much thanks to those who have supported and encouraged me. Don’t tell my God doesn’t provide, that’s just dopey. Yes, He allowed the trials to come into my life. With my wife and now with cancer. But He’s also provided the support in so many ways to get me through and I am so grateful. It will surely make me a better more empathetic pastor. It also make you stronger.

There is obviously more to come. So this blog is a TBC, and trusting in God this will be a testament to Him and how He works in our life.

Thought for the Day March 3 -7 2025

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Monday March 3, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

In her book “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young has Jesus talking to us and telling us things that we need to keep in mind about Him. In this passage, she emphasizes how much we need to focus on Him, especially when we may be dealing with challenges, trials in our life. This is her idea of how Jesus would tell us to stay focused on Him: …you must be on guard against; self pity, self preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice – deep dependence on Me or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep On asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete”. P 55

She cites “Pray continually” 1 Thess 5:17, praying reminds us who we turn to who we trust, who we need in our life. Not always to “answer” our prayers, but to continually remind us that we turn to Jesus in our life, we turn our issues over to Him, we don’t trust it to ourselves. Jesus wants to deal with the times we doubt, we want to quit, we are in despair.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Tuesday March 4, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

One of the biggest problems I have with the big box churches is that they will tell anyone/everyone, well we’re all good, we don’t need forgiveness, we have it down, we just need to get better in our lives, moralistic, therapeutic, deism. It’s not Christianity, what Jesus tells us in Scripture is about what we tell Jesus so He really knows what it’s all about. The hubris is horribly stunning. Jesus is perfectly aware of where we are at and we are sunk in our sins. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply not a Christian, Jesus Himself says Matthew 7: 21-23 ²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ You say Jesus Jesus, but only for your purposes. David Rosage writes: “The words of absolution in the sacrament of penance can well be ‘the sounds of joy and gladness’ which we, as well as the psalmist, long to hear.

Jesus instituted the sacrament of penance when he said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. /if you forgive men’s sins, /if they are forgiven them; / if you hold them bound,/ they are held bound’Jn 20: 20, 22, 23. “ “Rejoice in Me” David Rosage p 80

You can certainly live in whatever delusion you chose but you are sunk in your sins, we all are. If we weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have had to suffer and die. We have so many people today who are so entitled, have been given so much in their life and are sure they don’t have anything to worry about, they are above it all. That’s why they get sucked in by phony big-box churches. We are all sinners and as Rosage writes, when we are given assurance of our forgiveness in Jesus and that we are saved to eternal life in Jesus, then we have joy and gladness. We know that we are saved in a way far above our ability, we trust in Him who is Lord of the universe, of all things we are completely saved in Him.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Wednesday March 5, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Meditation has been a practice that is historically been minimized in the Christian Church, I think that it has been somewhat conflated with prayer. I understand that and certainly both can take both forms. Prayer to me is more thought of in terms of these are the things that I really want to discuss with God. Meditation is this is what I understand, either from reading the Bible or other devotional, or from what God seems to be impressing into my conscience. Which for me leads to journaling, writing down what God seems to be teaching me in, guiding me in. My thoughts aren’t hard and fast, you could write a book on both but DIetrich Bonhoeffer had these insights which I think are very helpful: “In the interruption and fragmentation of our previous ordered life brings with it, in the danger of losing inner discipline through the host of events, the incessant claims of works and service, through doubt and temptation, struggle and disquiet of all kinds, meditation gives our life something like constancy, it keeps the link with our previous life, from baptism to confirmation, to ordination. It keeps us in the saving fellowship of the community, the brethren, our spiritual home. It is a spark from that hearth which the communities want to keep at home for you. It is a source of peace, of patience and of joy; it is like a magnet which attracts all the resources of discipline to its poles; it is like a pure, deep water in which the heaven, with its clouds and its sun is clearly reflected; but it also serves the Highest in showing us a place of discipline and of quietness, of saving order and peace. Have we not all a desire for such a gift? Unacknowledged perhaps, but still profound? Could it not again be a healing power for us leading to recovery?” Carla Barnhill “A year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer p 52 from a “A Testament to Freedom” p 457 I’ve talked a lot about the Christian “disciplines” and this is certainly another. As he wrote a place of discipline and of quietness, order and peace and I would add, to focus, really dig down on something else that will strengthen our maturity and strength in Christ.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thursday March 6, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

In John 14: 15 Jesus tells His disciples “…if you love me, you will obey me.” Now I can hear some little self-justifier whining; “…oh that’s so legalistic, that’s just not right!”. After I get over my what??? Jesus said that, not me. There are way too many people out there who call themselves “Christian” but have no idea what that really means. Most of them are stuck in the 1960’s flower children, and have decided that Jesus is some “guru”, who is all about “peace, love, drugs, sex etc”. That’s not the Jesus of the Bible, but people love to create their own Jesus and in denial of truth project that on to anyone who is listening. Again I don’t know how you’re going to explain that to Jesus when you have to step before His throne. 2 John 2:16 John writes: “And this is love that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” Any real Lutheran pastor and should be any genuine Christian pastor will tell you that God gave us the Law and He expects us to follow the Law. His Law is completely just and righteous as God is who is completely Holy and separate. He will not tolerate violations of His Law. How as very fallible, sinful human beings supposed to overcome that? Tune in tomorrow!

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Friday March 7, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Last week, we saw our caped crusaders preparing to… Oh sorry wrong intro. Anyway, yesterday we were saying that despite popular misconception, Jesus isn’t some 1960’s flower child, no free love, free drugs, free food, He did produce food, but that is not what He is about. God gave us the Law and He expects us to follow the Law. His Law is completely just and righteous as God is who is completely Holy and separate. He will not tolerate violations of His Law. How are very fallible, sinful human beings supposed to overcome that? Tune in tomorrow!This is tomorrow and the whole reason for the incarnation, the life of Jesus was to “redeem us”, the vicarious atonement is what it is called. In our own efforts, by our “good behavior”, that will not redeem us. If we violated the Law once, against God, we have violated His Law forever and cannot ever earn our way to “redemption”, forgiveness, because we are just not perfect, Jesus is. Michael Reeves in a podcast for Renewing your Mind”says: “it is the grace of God that trains us to renounce ungodliness. That is the gospel, God’s grace His forgiveness and all in Jesus. Law commands, stirs up sin, but there is no way to be forgiven. Law shows us our need for Gospel, what holy living looks like. The Law won’t change a sinners heart. The Gospel in Christ does change a sinners heart, it tells people they are loved. The Law says love the Lord your God, but it’s only by the Gospel as the Holy Spirit can change hearts.” All these “nice” things the culture tells you, won’t work, unless you are in Jesus. For our life to be in the ultimate eternal life of the resurrection we have to be in connection with God, sin destroys that connection. Jesus came to restore that connection and give us the promise of forgiveness and eternal life in Him in the resurrection. Jesus is the only way it can happen and only through Him. The Law condemns, but we need Law, the Gospel saves, but can only be in Jesus Christ.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, all are welcome with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thought for the Day Week of February 24 -28

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Monday February 24, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

I’ve talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer before, there was a full length feature movie in theatres about him a few months ago. He moved back from the United States to his home country of Germany during the second world war, became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler which failed and he was executed. Until then he was a very well known writer, Pastor and commentator one his books is “Life Together”. Carla Barnhill quotes from it in her book “A year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer” and I am quoting her: “The fact that we are brothers and sisters only through Jesus Christ is of immeasurable significance… My brother or sister is instead that other person who has been redeemed by Christ, absolved from sin and called to faith and eternal life. Our community consists solely in what Jesus has done to both of us. That not only is true at the beginning as if in the course of time something else were to be added to our community, but also remains so for all the future and into all eternity … The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more everything else between us will recede, and the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is alive between us. We have one another through Christ, but through Christ we really do have one another. We have one another completely and for all eternity.”

By “community” Dr Bonhoeffer refered to the Christian community which always means Jesus’ church, where we who are in Christ are together. Now that doesn’t mean we are all lumped together. Christians are the most heterogenous people in human history. But we are all family in Jesus, much more meaningful and eternal family than anything in our life. I have had four brothers, they are my physical siblings and also brothers in Jesus I am blessed. Our true siblings for eternity will be the ones in Jesus.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Tuesday Feb 25, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

David Rosage in his book “Rejoice in Me” quoting Psalm 103:10 p. 77: “Not according to our sins does he deal with us, not does he requite according to our crimes”. God’s mercy does not depend upon our deserving it, only on our willingness to receive his loving forgiveness.

The paradox is: God’s grace is greater than man’s sin.

St Paul reminds us also: “Despite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it, so that, as sin reigned through death, grace may reign by way of justice leading to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 5: 20-21) This is something that we need to be continually reminded of. Unless our sins are egregious and there is no repentance, than yes, God lets us go on in our repentance. He doesn’t give up on us. By the same token you aren’t saved either. You have rejected the forgiveness of Jesus. For those of us who are repentant, who are trying to work out their sinful situation, who are turning to Jesus for His forgiveness, yes, the sin does not matter, we are forgiven. God’s grace is always greater than any of our sin. We do need to be repentant, maybe even sorrowful over our sin, but trust that no matter the magnitude of our sin and we are all sinful, that God will forgive us in Jesus.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Wednesday Feb 26, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

King Solomon the wisest man in the world, ever, excepting Jesus obviously. He wrote three books in the Bible, as you might expect the wisest man in history to contribute to God’s Word. The books Solomon wrote are very earthy, very real world. Solomon had the advantage of seeing life in many ways compared to us who have been in comparably humble lives. Solomon seems to have certainly lived in the lives of his subjects, but he was also the greatest king, along with his father David in the history of Israel, and I would make the case that he was one of the greatest in the world. In his book Ecclesiastes, he seems to have come to the end of his life and was looking back at how he conducted his life. He was the most fabulously wealthy and powerful king, yet many would say that his wisdom in terms of God was not what it should be. He was responsible for the division of the kingdom, between Israel and Judah. It didn’t happen during his reign, but God promised it would happen and it did shortly after Solomon died. Israel went from one of the most fabulously wealthy, powerful nations in the world, on a downhill slide that left it wiped out in about 500 years. He probably would have been really wise if he had really followed his comment in Ecclesiates 12: 13: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” He forgot, Solomon got involved in foreign “gods”, he had almost 1,000 wives and concubines, about 999 too many. And instead of making God his highest principle, goal, he sort of forgot. Take Solomon’s advice. Fear God and keep His commandments. Fear in this sense is more about respecting God, that He is the most important part of our life. When you think you want to do something that will offend God, decide that you should fear Him rather than offend Him.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thursday Feb 27, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

We were talking about King Solomon yesterday. Solomon wrote three books of the Bible. Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. If you are a fan of the Byrds, the who you ask? No that was another 60’s band. The Byrds hit song Turn, Turn, Turn, was ripping off Solomon, Ecclsiastes 3:3-8. Wow! Lucky there were no copyright laws in Israel 1,000 BC. Anyway I was talking to my lady friend about “two are better than one”, that it’s always better to be with someone, have someone in your life. Certainly one should be a romantic partner, the other should be a same-gender besty friend. I’m blessed to have many stand up guy friends and through the years I can see so many people romantic or guys who fit Solomon’s words in Ecclessiastes 4: 9-12: “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” We have become so physically isolated, we think we have real friends in cyberspace. No! Think about the weather we’ve been having your computer won’t keep you warm like a real human being will and your computer won’t pull you out of a hole or help you fight off someone who is attacking you, etc, etc. God had always intended us to live in community. I don’t care who you are or who you think you are but you always need someone else in your life. That is part of what Christ’s church is all about, people who reach out to show people Jesus so that they will be led to eternal life by the Holy Spirit and to be there when you are cold, or trapped or attacked.
The church is a cord of three strands where we are strongest, able to stand against the attacks of Satan and the world when we pull together in the church of Christ. Otherwise we are vulnerable to so much of the hatred of the world. Find someone to be there for you and for you to be there for them.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Friday February 28, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Dr Heath Curtis in his book “Telling people what to think”, reminds us that we Christians are “People of the Book”, that is the Bible, Scripture. There are 40 men who wrote one of the 66 books of the Bible. We can certainly make the case that while these people wrote about what they saw, what they knew, that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit guided what they wrote. Dr Curtis writes: Having heard the Words of Christ in the Gospel we now speak back to Him what has been spoken to us. He has told us who He is, so we now confess that we believe His Word. We do so in the Creed of Nicaea. This is the great confess of the New Testament faith given in defiance of all the enemies of the Gospel, the statement draws a line between what is Christian and what is not.” I can hear the petty fussers now: “none of the creeds are in the Bible, they were made by man”. You have to wonder what their motivation is to talk such smack.

These are people who think they can deny the historic Word of God’s church and recombobulate it into their little happy place, where they can think and believe only nice things. More and more people are convinced that they are living in a world that they can make their little private place and dictate how it’s all going to end up. No, no, no. I know we have our happy clappy, big box churches that tell you it’s all about you. But people stood and died for the church so you can have your big house, car, trophy spouse, 2.8 perfect children. No on all counts. The Creeds; Apostle’s, Nicaean, Athanasian, were written by people who stood up for Christ in a world of great danger and animosity toward God. Despite what some silly little shoe salesman tells you it’s not about “Your Best Life Ever”, it’s about standing against the evil of Satan and the world in order for us to stay focused on Christ and the promise we have of an eternal life that will be magnificent beyond all imagination. Don’t listen to the phonys who aren’t Christian and just trying to separate you from your money. Trust that we know the genuine Words of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and those have been brought together by the universal Christian Church to say we believe in the Words of Scripture and will stand by them and defend them against all the attacks of the world and Satan.

Oh by the way, today is the last day of February!!! Yay to that!!! It has been a miserable month and sayanara baby to you, not soon enough. The only thing good about February, no not the Super Bowl, yikes! Baseball’s spring training started in Florida and Arizona, the much better promise of the return of spring than the bluebirds.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thought for the Day February 24-28, 2025

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Monday February 24, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

I’ve talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer before, there was a full length feature movie in theatres about him a few months ago. He moved back from the United States to his home country of Germany during the second world war, became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler which failed and he was executed. He was a very well known writer, Pastor and commentator one his books is “Life Together”. Carla Barnhill quotes from it in her book “A year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer” and I am quoting her: “The fact that we are brothers and sisters only through Jesus Christ is of immeasurable significance… My brother or sister is instead that other person who has been redeemed by Christ, absolved from sin and called to faith and eternal life. Our community consists solely in what Jesus has done to both of us. That not only is true at the beginning as if in the course of time something else were to be added to our community, but also remains so for all the future and into all eternity … The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more everything else between us will recede, and the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is alive between us. We have one another through Christ, but through Christ we really do have one another. We have one another completely and for all eternity.”

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Tuesday Feb 25, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

David Rosage in his book “Rejoice in Me” quoting Psalm 103:10 p. 77: “Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite according to our crimes”. God’s mercy does not depend upon our deserving it, only on our willingness to receive his loving forgiveness.

The paradox is: God’s grace is greater than man’s sin.

St Paul reminds us also: “Despite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it, so that, as sin reigned through death, grace may reign by way of justice leading to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 5: 20-21) This is something that we need to be continually reminded of. Unless our sins are egregious and there is no repentance, than yes, God lets us go on in our way. He doesn’t give up on us. By the same token you aren’t saved either. You have rejected the forgiveness of Jesus. For those of us who are repentant, who are trying to work out their sinful situation, who are turning to Jesus for His forgiveness, yes, the sin does not matter, we are forgiven. God’s grace is always greater than any of our sin. We do need to be repentant, maybe even sorrowful over our sin, but trust that no matter the magnitude of our sin and we are all sinful, that God will forgive us in Jesus.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Wednesday Feb 26, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

King Solomon the wisest man in the world, ever, excepting Jesus obviously. He wrote three books in the Bible, as you might expect the wisest man in history to contribute to God’s Word. The books Solomon wrote are very earthy, very real world. Solomon had the advantage of seeing life in many ways compared to us who have been in comparably humble lives. Solomon seems to have certainly lived in the lives of his subjects, but he was also the greatest king, along with his father David, in the history of Israel, and I would make the case that he was one of the greatest in the world. In his book Ecclesiastes, he seems to have come to the end of his life and was looking back at how he conducted his life. He was the most fabulously wealthy and powerful king, yet many would say that his wisdom in terms of God was not what it should be. He was responsible for the division of the kingdom, between Israel and Judah. It didn’t happen during his reign, but God promised it would happen and it did shortly after Solomon died. Israel went from one of the most fabulously wealthy, powerful nations in the world, on a downhill slide that left it wiped out in about 500 years. He probably would have been really wise if he had really followed his comment in Ecclesiates 12: 13: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” He forgot, Solomon got involved in foreign “gods”, he had almost 1,000 wives and concubines, about 999 too many. And instead of making God his highest principle, goal, he sort of forgot. Take Solomon’s advice. Fear God and keep His commandments. Fear in this sense is more about respecting God, that He is the most important part of our life. When you think you want to do something that will offend God, decide that you should fear Him rather than offend Him.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thursday Feb 27, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Friday February 28, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Dr Heath Curtis in his book “Telling people what to think”, reminds us that we Christians are “People of the Book”, that is the Bible, Scripture. There are 40 men who wrote one of the 66 books of the Bible. We can certainly make the case that while these people wrote about what they saw, what they knew, that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit guided what they wrote. Dr Curtis writes: Having heard the Words of Christ in the Gospel we now speak back to Him what has been spoken to us. He has told us who He is, so we now confess that we believe His Word. We do so in the Creed of Nicaea. This is the great confession of the New Testament faith given in defiance of all the enemies of the Gospel, the statement draws a line between what is Christian and what is not.” I can hear the petty fussers now: “none of the creeds are in the Bible, they were made by man”. You have to wonder what their motivation is to talk such smack.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thought for the Day February 10 – February 14, 2025

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Monday Feb 10, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Talking a lot about the trials of life this week, which interestingly ends on St Valentines Day, perhaps you want to think about the truth of that day, speaking of trials.

Often when someone is going through a trial, they will think that they are being punished, that God is not happy with them, that God may have even denied or renounced them. That is usually not the case. There certainly is Godly discipline. There are times when God imposes punishment on someone. The writer of Hebrews writes (12:6) “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child”. I was being a little sensitive at a football practice, I was getting yelled at. Another coach says they yell at you because they want you to be a good player. When they stop yelling they don’t care. Much could be said about that about God. He will yell at us, He will discipline His own. He wants those who are truly in Him to grow and mature, to be worthy of life in the eternal resurrection. This may all sound boring, first there’s no plan B, it’s God’s way through Jesus, second. Our eternal life in Jesus will be anything but boring in the physical resurrection, it will be everything you could hope for in Jesus, life and life more abundant. Before that, yes there will be trials. John MacArthur writes, “trials are given to us by God to show us the strength or weakness of our faith.” Clearly if your faith falters, our trust in God fails at the crucial point in a trial, we might not pass that trial, but we also know what we need to pay attention to. If we are lacking in faith, there is only one source of faith and that is God. When we are lacking faith and strength we pray that He will give us what we need to grow stronger in our spirit and strength.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Tuesday Feb 11, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

We have been talking about the trials of life that Christians often go through. John MacArthur points out, quoting Thomas Merton: “God had one Son without sin, but no son without trials.” Jesus was certainly subject to the trials that we who are sinners have experienced. We deserve the trials that we are subject to and yes, some of the trials we go through are “discipline”, getting taken out back of the wood shed. I don’t care who you think you are, at some point you deserve getting the board of education applied to the seat of knowledge as Dr J Vernon McGee used to say. “Well I certainly don’t deserve that, harrumph, harrumph,” as our pietistic self righteous brethren or sistern would huff about. Yes you do and remember despite your huffy little attitude, there is always plenty of room for learning. Let’s take Job, for example: “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]” From the Amplified Version of the Bible. At that point God permitted Satan to put Job to the test. Even though God just called Job blameless and upright, one of the few we see in the Bible honored by God that way, Job suffered a lot, he lost his immense wealth, his children, he had to put up with insufferable friends, he was still faithful. That is what really matters. Job faithfully says: Thou He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Sounds harsh, but there is no option B, we trust in God through everything and we will be glorified to eternity. Quoting MacArthur: “God gives us trials to wean us from material things, bankruptcy of human resources and concentrate us on our heavenly hope. Gives us great affection for the things above instead of what is perishable here. Trials teach us to value the blessing of God.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Wednesday Feb 12, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

We’ve been talking about trials in our lives. Certainly whenever something happens in our life that causes us distress, anxiety, loss, makes us wonder; why me? We certainly turn to God. When we turn to God that should give us some assurance that it is from God and God is allowing it for a good reason. Maybe it is punishment once in awhile but He allows it because sure, He wants you to know that you’ve stepped over the line and you defied God. He wants to make you aware that what you did isn’t acceptable and let Him help you get back in line. If you keep on that path and continue to defy God He will at some point let you go and let whatever besetting sin you’ve been experiencing define your life. The sin becomes more important and God less important. In order for you to grow and overcome these issues in your life God does push you to look hard at what you’re doing and not let it destroy you?

Dr Reed Lessing in his book “Overcoming Life’s Sorrows” describes the following: “Sometimes a storm’s fury looks like it might crush an eagle against a rocky cliff. But the eagle faces the storm and tilts its wings, and the whirlwind that might have crushed it begins to drive it upward until it rises above the storm. What’s true of eagles can be true of us. The fierce storm that looks to destroy us is the same power by which we rise to new heights. God sends tests to bring us to a greater Christian character.” You sure don’t build any character sitting on the couch watching weekday afternoon television. You build your strength through faith in Him which He gives to you when you turn to Him for faith and hope.

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Thursday Feb 13, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

We are talking about God testing us. Not punishing as much as a test, a trial, a way to help you to grow. To help you to build that relationship with God that makes us trust Him and look to Him for what happens in our life and stop trusting ourselves or the world around us. Dr Reed Lessing in his book “Overcoming Life’s Sorrows writes: “God uses test to save us from becoming self-absorbed, self-focused, self-centered and self-reliant. We trust God’s process. He will never forsake us. He will always remake us. Service when we use our pain for God’s glory. God wants to take our greatest pain and turn it into His glory. He wants to use our tests for a testimony. God wants to take the things we are most embarrassed about, the things we’re most ashamed of, the things we most regret happening, and He wants to use them for good in the lives of others. Paul blesses God, who ‘comforts us in all our afflictioin, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God’ (2 Corin 1:4)

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

Friday Feb 14, 2025

Hi this is Pastor Jim Driskell of Christ Lutheran Church with the NCTV 45 thought for the Day.

Today is Saint Valentines day. He is an obscure saint, he probably did actually live, his feast on February 14 when he is reported to have been executed by the Roman emperor. Seems every St Valentines I hear a different twist on Valentinus’ life. I have no doubt each version is true and different perspectives on the Saint’s life. But as in the rest of Christianity, the day we celebrate as love, eros, love between man and woman, is also about the genuine, agapeo love we know in Jesus. While we see the institution of marriage being undermined all around us, marriage between a man and a woman is certainly a fundamental precept of Christianity. Adam and Eve placed in the Garden, married by God the Father. Through the Bible until we see the wedding Feast of the Lamb to celebrate the marriage of Jesus to His Church, to us. The Roman emperor had forbade his soldiers to be married, he wanted them to be solely dedicated to fight and defeat the enemies of the empire: “St. Valentine was a physician and a member of the clergy during the time of the Roman Empire. He was best known for his ministry to persecuted Christian soldiers allowing them to marry in secret after Emperor Claudius banned marriages during wartime to encourage men to battle. But Valentine was also known as a healer and comforter to the sick. He was martyred, on February 14 in the year 270 at the age of 44.

One story about Valentinus had to do with healing an aristocrat’s daughter after his arrest. Father Valentinus told his jailor Asterius “how Christ leads pagans out of the shadow of darkness and into the light of truth and salvation”. Asterius told him, if he healed his daughter of blindness, he would convert. Father Valentinus covered the girl’s eyes with his hands and said, “Lord Jesus Christ, en-lighten your handmaid, because you are God, the True Light.” The child regained her sight. Asterius and his family were baptized, but when the Emperor heard the news, he ordered them all to be executed. Love has always been a two-edged sword, especially Christian love….”[1]

I’m Jim Driskell the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church 1302 E Washington St, New Castle, Pa check us on the web Christlutheran-new castle.org questions comments contact me on the website. For a transcript of today’s Thought go to: wordpress.com/view/revjamesdriskellmdiv.com Sunday worship is at 10:30am, with the NCTV 45 thought for the day, God bless your day

[1] https://sermons.com/home/illustrations/2021-02-14

The Blood of the Lamb saved the Israelites, The Blood of Jesus saves us Scott Murray A Year with the Church Fathers pp 114-115

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Maundy Thursday, the Doy of Commandment (Dies Mandate), most properly refers to the example of service given us by our Lord and the directive to love as we have been loved (John 13:34) Yet we must not forget the command given in the Words of Our Lord to “do this in remembrance of Me.” This day, with its commemoration of the institution of the Lord’s Supper, is set off from the rest of Holy Week as a day of festive joy.

The door posts and lintels of our hearts are smeared with the blood of the Passover Lamb, who was offered for us. The Passover in Egypt foreshadowed the complete salvation that was accomplished by the death of Jesus, the perfect Passover Lamb, who was able to be both victim and priest in one person (Heb 5: 1-10). Today we stand on the verge of the commemoration of the passing over of death, all wrapped up in the Triduum, the Three Days, which concludes with the Paschal Feast. The Passover’s sacrifice needs never again to be repeated (1 Pet 3:18). The sacrifice of Christ fulfilled what was promised in those old slaughters.

Our hearts have been set free from the fear of death because the blood of the Passover Lamb has been smeared upon the doorposts and lintels of our hearts. The blood that once was offered will be received this night when we drink of the cup of the testament. Our lips will by hyssop-spattered with the sign of His mercy toward us ( Ex 12:22). Death no longer appalls us. Its slavery no longer enthralls us. The Lamb who is “the firstborn of all creation” (Colo 1:15) offers Himself for every other so that His body might be received in the feast of His Supper. These signs are for our comfort God has no need of them. He knows those who are His. He gives them to us in the Supper so that we might know who we are, sprinkled and marked by the blood of the Lamb. The blood sets us free. ‘The blood of the Passover, sprinkled on each man’s doorposts and lintel, delivered those who were saved as Egypt, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were destroyed. For the Passover was Christ, who was afterwards sacrificed, as also Isaiah said, ‘Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter’ (Is 53:7). It is written that on the the day of the Passover you seized Him, and that also during the Passover you crucified Him (Jn 18:39). As the blood of the Passover saved those who were in Egypt, so also the blood of Christ will deliver from death those who have believed. Would God have been deceived if this sign had not been above the doors? Of course not, but I affirm that He announced in advance the future salvation for the human race through the blood of Christ.” (Justin Martyr, Dialogue, III )

Church, liturgical worship a new/old paradigm

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The church is not the world. Whether or not the world can be the church? Yeah, probably not, but for the world to try to force the church, or worse yet for the church to capitulate to the world is not acceptable. The more the church tries to conform to the world the more irrelevant the church becomes.

That simply cannot happen, the church is not the world’s, it’s not the pastor’s, it’s not the people’s who “built” it. They may have raised the money for the brick and mortar, the ornaments, the furnishings and they can take pride in what they’ve done. But a Lutheran will always say it’s not what I’ve done, it’s what the Holy Spirit has done through me. The church building is the outward symbol of the Christ, it should be the way it is to stick out in the world as that physical landmark, that bright light of Christ into a dark world. But as Luther points out, there is the “visible” church, it’s of the world, but it’s not necessarily the church that will be the be the Bride of Christ. It is a place where people can come to spend time in worship, by themselves or corporately. I love it when people come in, people I know and I don’t know and ask to spend time in the chapel. The church is where the pastor is, I welcome people who come in and say “I need to talk”. It’s a place where the pastor can be called out to tend to someone, a member of the church or not, any time. Where do you find a place like that in the world? You don’t! The motivation is serving God, by serving people. Glorifying God by serving people to the best of our ability. With a few exceptions, the world is not motivated that way. So the building is a highly visible symbol of God’s presence in the community, but the church, the Body of Christ is the people who know Jesus as Lord and Savior and come together to worship in that building.

The church is an entirely different paradigm. As the pastor of a old and glorious church I know what it’s like for a person to walk into the narthex and get a hint and then turn the corner into the sanctuary. It’s not a “oh, that’s nice” kind of coo. It’s more of an intake of air and “wow” in some form, getting that little hint of the Glory of God. The paradigm is this; it’s not about you, it’s not about what you “like” or what makes you comfortable. It’s about the glory of God, it’s about you realizing how insignificant you are, and how magnificent, all-encompassing, all-powerful God is. It’s not to assail your self-esteem or hurt your feelings, it’s to get you to realize it’s about far more then you. That’s a good thing. I don’t want the universe to be about me, to think that it revolves around me. Sorry, but truth be told, that is exactly what too many people think. There are people whose attitude is I don’t want to think about something far more powerful, far greater and glorious because that would make me feel bad about myself. When you really understand what you are in relation to God and how glorious He is and how that is to your benefit, being the creation of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, transcendant God, that the universe is under control, we should feel empowered through Him, not themselves. We have a God who has given us promises and an entire paradigm through His Word, Scripture, that should give us security and assurance that these things will play out the way He has promised. He created all things, He controls all things, He sustains all things. It’s going to happen the way He decides. Yes, we can get off the bus anytime, where does that leave you? Dead, cutoff, condemned. If you reject God, you condemn yourself. There isn’t a second choice.

The world’s paradigm tries to convince you that there’s just a whole multitude of choices, so long as that choice isn’t Jesus. Part of those choices is church “your way”, nice and comfy, happy/clappy, you leave church all bouncy/bouncy. But after awhile you realize how fleeting and phoney it is, that it’s work and not really worship. There’s no assurance, no real supernatural power, just you being entertained. Henry Blackby writes: “

If you find that Christianity exhausts you, draining you of your energy, then you are practicing religion rather than enjoying a relationship. Jesus said that a relationship with Him would bring rest to your soul. Your walk with the Lord will not make you weary, it will invigorate you, restore your strength and energize your life.”

All the “entertainment”, appealing to the world, that takes a lot of day in/day out effort, it becomes all about what you do, instead of what God does for you in worship. Will that wear you out, drain you? Of course, it’s not about coming to God, facing the altar, lifting our hands up to Him, it’s about your efforts, the pastor’s efforts, the musician’s efforts, the creative director … blah, blah. No wonder people don’t take the church seriously, it’s not about coming before God, it’s about a new production week after week. There’s little about God working on you and a lot about all the things we do for a new whiz-bang wahoo.

So the point is this, we cannot come into church and take the paradigm of the world in with us. Everything is different for a reason, it is to take you out of the world and point you to something timeless. Something that is valid and compelling today as much as it was 2,000 years ago and will be compelling and valid until Jesus returns. It connects us to Christians all around the world and for all time. The sanctuary should be something that evokes a “wow”, makes you draw in your breath makes you a little about the glory of God. The symbols around you are there to remind you that you are link, a part of the history the church, you are part of that visible church, in my case a building that’s been around 140 years and, God’s will, will be part of well into the future. There’s a cross, at First St Johns there are stain glass windows of the first disciples, of Martin Luther and, rather oddly, CFW Walther, the first president of the Lutheran church in the United States. There are timeless representations of “All Glory to God”. There are representations of bread and wine, the Body and Blood. There is Jesus the Lamb, Jesus crucified, Jesus’ ascension and Jesus ruling in glory. All of these are representations that would be known to the Acts Christians and will be known, again, until He returns. These are all intended to remind you that you are not in the world, that you have come into Jesus’ church, you are connected to the Body of Christ.

You see a man in a plain white robe, around his neck is a stole the color representing the season of the church, usually with different Biblical symbols and represents the “yolk of Jesus”. That he is there to be the voice and face of Jesus to the congregation. I’m not Jesus, but I’ve been ordained to be His minister, His representative. I am the one charged with maintaining the spoken Word, teaching about Scripture, administering the timeless sacraments. Baptism that actually washes away sin, the Lord’s Supper that is His actual Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. That plain white robe is intended to separate me, not to be more or less special, but different, separated.

We come to Him on terms that have guided worship through the ages. I and other men who are not concerned about our media presence, like others in their $600 suit or the other ridiculous extreme, t-shirts and holes in their blue jeans. There were and are men who were focused on worship on coming to the Father on His terms to honor, glorify and raise Him up. Coming to Him in our weakness, with nothing in our hands only raising to Him in prayer. Not trying to force my music on Him, but to take in everything around us and remember ‘be still and know that I am God.”

Church is not the world, stop trying to force the church into world’s mold. God is in control both in the world and in the church, but it is the church that saves to eternity. Anyone who thinks that there is any permanence about the world is just not dealing with reality. What we see today, even in ten years will be different. God’s kingdom has been and will always be, and that is the paradigm that we should encounter when we go into worship. It’s not about you, it’s about God, any other attitude is idolatry, that is you are putting yourself above God. It’s not about your likes, dislikes, tastes, your preferences. It is about coming in with a reverent spirit, what is the Holy Spirit going to bring to us. Can it seem repetitious? Yes, but again for a reason. When you encounter the trials, when you experience hardship, what do you want running in your mind, what is the background program in your soul? All happy-clappy, everything is beautiful? Or is it what you have heard in worship, “In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, Amen.” The Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s prayer. When, not if, you encounter tragedy in your life, do you want the background program in your soul being the latest staged production at the church of “it’s all about me”? Or do your want it to be “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy”?

God tells us in Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” (ESV) We keep trying to drag God down to us, to make Him answerable to us. Instead we need to aspire to ever higher worship, coming before Him with empty hands and open hearts. Ready to hear the true Gospel. Frankly I’m not really interested in people leaving worship happy, or feeling good, or entertained. Frankly, when I write a sermon, I usually feel convicted, sometimes I think I’m just writing to myself. There’s no doubt that the Holy Spirit is guiding my sermon. Thoughts, references, pop into my head seemingly out of no where. I want to preach God’s Word, I want to be guided by Him. No one wants to hear my thoughts, they come to church to hear God’s Word preached. “Our way” says that I should be there to please my listeners, to “tickle” their ears, make them like me. Which are things that God’s Word warns us/me, away from. I’m there to preach His Word. I welcome anyone to challenge my exegesis and how I present/preach on Scripture. If I am wrong, I sincerely want to know, sometimes I do miss the target. If people leave happy and have been truly spiritually fed, fine. If they feel comforted, that’s good, because God’s Word should comfort. But if I feel convicted after I finish a sermon, I have to believe that there are others who will feel convicted by the sermon. How about feeling compelled, or inspired? When people walk by me and shake my hand, I hope that I see a look of determination, that others may be as convicted as I am, a look of going back into the world with the Holy Spirit guiding me, that more and more I am His and less of me.

Too many times people buy in to this attitude that “God owes me”, because of what they did, or who they are. Essentially anyone who passes by me in that church will encounter trial or tragedy. If they are not prepared for that, if they can’t come to terms with the fact that the Christian life is challenging, that there will be trials, then anything that rocks their world could leave them bitter, disconnected and possibly rejecting God. If they have a great life, great! I hope all do. But Jesus promises us that the world hates Him and will hate us. A Christian in the world, in general, will often have a more difficult life. In order to cope with that, the Christian needs that different paradigm. It can’t be the world’s paradigm because frankly the world is just going carelessly on its way to destruction. The Bible promises that. If you don’t believe that, you should reassess your understanding of the Bible. The Christian paradigm has to be one of understanding that it is all to the glory of God, it’s not about us and our entertainment, it is to be strong in Christ in confronting life and the world and we need to worship that way, God’s paradigm, not the world’s.