How often is heard the cry from one who has received a word of Law, "Judge not, that you be not judged?" (Matthew 7:1) It says, "Don't tell me what to do... you have no right." It's a way of thinking that demands that the self is trump. If it is good for me, then it is good. Someone else's opinion about what I think is best is simply that... their opinion.
No, the self can't be trump. But Love is. Love says, "I must show you how you offend against your God while taking pleasure in the whims of Satan." Love that is motivated by the crucified and resurrected Christ will proclaim that sin offends against our God. Sin separates us from salvation. Love, proceeds from the Paraclete when He convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8) That is same Spirit whom the Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld." (John 20:23) Therefore, your pastor is called to convict in the stead of the One Who has called him to speak and act on God's behalf. It is love that expels the sexually immoral from among the Christian congregation, as St. Paul wrote, "You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of flesh, so that his spirit may be saved." (I Cor. 5:5) Love delivers wickedly erring Christian men over to Satan so that they might know what No-Love is, and knowing the horror of No-Love, might return to Love. "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you." (1 Cor. 5:12-13)
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." (Matthew 7:6) The pearls are the saints of the holy catholic church. (Matthew 13:45) Purge the wicked pearls, so that they might be saved. It is their best interest that they be purged. Salvation is the hoped blessing of purging wicked pearls. Purge, yes judge, with the cross ever before you. Purge in love, meaning that your brother in Christ might be driven to the well spring of the Gospel. Purge in love, so that repentance and forgiveness of sins abound. Purge in love, so that "his spirit might be saved."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Fathers of the Church
"No one can understand the 'comforting and highly necessary' article of faith regarding the church, as the Apology calls it, who does not know that the fellowship of the church is a fellowship with the saints of all the millennia. There is not only a spatial, but also a temporal, catholicity of the church. The Lutheran Confessions speaks of this where it confesses the faith and the doctrine of the church of the fathers, the faith of the apostolic church and the doctrinal decisions of the ancient councils. This consensus of the church not only binds together the living, but also the living generation of those who have believed and confessed before us."
Hermann Sasse
(Translated by Matthew C. Harrison and printed in Mysteria Dei - Essays in Honor of Kurt Marquart)
Hermann Sasse
(Translated by Matthew C. Harrison and printed in Mysteria Dei - Essays in Honor of Kurt Marquart)
Memory vs. Pondering
Several years ago, I found a delightful book in the dusty stacks of an airport used book store. The title, Education of the Founding Fathers of the Republic by Dr. James J. Walsh. It seems to hail ex libris of St. Francis Seminary's Salzmann Library.
One of Walsh's wanderings, while commenting on the Reverend Thomas Clap's tenure as president of Yale College, goes like this...
"What we are interested in particularly here is Clap's relation to the disputations and his intimate connection with the syllogistic training of mind which went with them. This same feature of college education is to be found... in all the colonial colleges. the departure from it represents that wandering off into the many featured course with a multitude and variety of all sorts of studies which gradually developed in the nineteenth century. This development brought with it many different reasons to complain that instruction has taken the place of education, that is that the cultivation of memory - the mere accumulation of facts - is replacing that study and pondering of principles, so valuable for bringing out powers of mind, which is represented by the etymology of the word education."
Hmmm.... the etymology of education from Webster, [L. educatus, past part. of educare to educate, fr. educere; see EDUCE.]
Now, the etymology of educe, [L. educere to lead forth, fr. e out + ducere to lead.] Meaning: to draw forth, as something not apparent; to elicit; evolve.
Instruction and cultivation of memory is pitted against the higher more noble endeavor of education which is the study and pondering of principles. And yet, there is nothing to ponder and study, nothing to "draw out" unless it is first put in. To "put in" means to be instructed in such a way that the mind orders information, ideas, facts, pictures, sayings, sounds, feelings, and even aromas. All of which is either thrown into the mind as a messy 3rd grader in his disheveled bedroom or orchestrated and premeditatingly designed as honeybees in an apiary.
Instruction serves education while not dictating. It courts, persuades; it is a means to education; a foundational stone; a piece that if lost then much, if not all, is lost. The one who memorizes her ABC's but cannot lift understanding of assembled letters off the page, has accomplished something but very little at the same time.
Even syllogisms are an art that needs discipline. But the rule is meant to serve the thought, and the thought the virtues of what is good and noble and beautiful.
One of Walsh's wanderings, while commenting on the Reverend Thomas Clap's tenure as president of Yale College, goes like this...
"What we are interested in particularly here is Clap's relation to the disputations and his intimate connection with the syllogistic training of mind which went with them. This same feature of college education is to be found... in all the colonial colleges. the departure from it represents that wandering off into the many featured course with a multitude and variety of all sorts of studies which gradually developed in the nineteenth century. This development brought with it many different reasons to complain that instruction has taken the place of education, that is that the cultivation of memory - the mere accumulation of facts - is replacing that study and pondering of principles, so valuable for bringing out powers of mind, which is represented by the etymology of the word education."
Hmmm.... the etymology of education from Webster, [L. educatus, past part. of educare to educate, fr. educere; see EDUCE.]
Now, the etymology of educe, [L. educere to lead forth, fr. e out + ducere to lead.] Meaning: to draw forth, as something not apparent; to elicit; evolve.
Instruction and cultivation of memory is pitted against the higher more noble endeavor of education which is the study and pondering of principles. And yet, there is nothing to ponder and study, nothing to "draw out" unless it is first put in. To "put in" means to be instructed in such a way that the mind orders information, ideas, facts, pictures, sayings, sounds, feelings, and even aromas. All of which is either thrown into the mind as a messy 3rd grader in his disheveled bedroom or orchestrated and premeditatingly designed as honeybees in an apiary.
Instruction serves education while not dictating. It courts, persuades; it is a means to education; a foundational stone; a piece that if lost then much, if not all, is lost. The one who memorizes her ABC's but cannot lift understanding of assembled letters off the page, has accomplished something but very little at the same time.
Even syllogisms are an art that needs discipline. But the rule is meant to serve the thought, and the thought the virtues of what is good and noble and beautiful.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Support Your Beekeeper
Pascal Candles made of bees wax are a must in every sanctuary! Checkout https://www.dadant.com/religious/paschal_001.htm
For Ya'all
"It is no accident that the rubrics of the liturgy for nearly two thousand years have led the pastor to say. 'The Lord be with you,' immediately before Holy Communion. The word you is plural, meaning 'you all,' and does not refer to the individual. Here the heavenly Bridegroom unites in love with His bride, the church. This pastoral greeting is in essence a blessing that speaks the foundational truth of the Divine Service: Christ comes for us in the words and actions that are taking place. And Christ's bride responds, 'And with your spirit.' The individual personality of the man standing before them is not important. The response 'And with your spirit' gives verbal recognition to the truth that the greeting is from the Lord Himself, spoken through His called servant. God's Word does what it says it does...."
Kenneth Weiting. The Blessings of Weekly Communion. CPH: 2006. pg. 22. Commenting on Grime and Herl, Hymn Supplement 98 Handbook
Kenneth Weiting. The Blessings of Weekly Communion. CPH: 2006. pg. 22. Commenting on Grime and Herl, Hymn Supplement 98 Handbook
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Nagging Spirit
Cantate 2008
TEXT: John 16:5-15
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Some of Jesus sermons were stories or parables, but others weren’t. There were times that Jesus stated the Truth in all its frankness. No clever plot. No cute sheep, valuable pearls, or Good Samaritan. It’s interesting that often when Jesus told stories, no one seemed to get them… that is, until He opened their mind to understand them. Jesus sermons were at times rough and burdensome. For Jesus said to His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
In John 16 Jesus stands in His Office as Prophet and gives a little lesson on the Third person of the Holy Trinity. No story illustration… just plain, uncensored Truth.
Jesus promised the disciples that He was going to send the Paraclete (advocatus or Helper or Comforter) … the Holy Spirit. What would be His job? To convict, convince, point out wrongdoing, expose, bring to light. You get the picture. Perhaps today we might put it this way: The Holy Spirit was going to be a nag.
For unbelieving sinners, the Holy Spirit would seem as a goody-two-shoe. He would (and still does) convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. And every sinner will find it a bore and a bother. They won’t want to hear it. “Quit bothering me! Leave me alone Holy Spirit! I’m tired of listening to your nagging!” Sinner don’t like to be told they’re wrong…. And neither do you. As soon as the message hits your ears, your mind begins churning and churning to find every reason why the Spirit is wrong and you are right.
In Confirmation you learned the answer to this question: What is the ultimate sin against the Holy Spirit? Answer: Unbelief. That is, a person’s refusing of the calling, gathering, enlightening and sanctifying of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “He who does not believe shall be condemned.” Unbelief is the chief of sins and it’s a sin that promises a one-way, eternal ticket to hell.
To unbelievers, the nagging of the Holy Spirit will be a message of hellfire and brimstone. “The Law is God’s [the Spirit’s] thunderbolt in which He strikes down both obvious sinners and false saints.” (SA III:3) He does not proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers… only Law. He doesn’t make unbelievers feel good about themselves. He’s not afraid to offend them or to speak plainly about their unbelief. No, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. The Gospel would only fall on deaf ears. Their deafness must be crushed by the conviction that sinners die without Jesus. No eternal life. No heaven. Only when they’re crushed can they be recreated by the soothing medicine of the Gospel.
The Spirit convicts the world concerning righteousness, Jesus says. In other words, the Spirit preaches against your own good works, your fake pretendy piety, and your faith in your own righteousness. What you do for morality’s sake… being pro-life, being against same-sex marriage, and campaigning for the right to display the 10 commandments in public places are worthless, filthy rags without faith. Faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ trumps everything. Without that faith, you’re convicted.
The Spirit also convicts and nags the world concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. And if Satan is condemned, then so are all of Satan’s children…. All demons and unbelievers.
Believers must also hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit will seem as a nag, the Devil will sound sweet and alluring. Satan would love nothing more than for you to become apathetic Christians. He loves to hear those who gladly and willingly set for hours upon hours in front of the TV complain about a 90 minute church service. The devil rejoices to see you despise the Body and Blood of Jesus. He gets a kick of Christian bickering and infighting. He loves to see you defend wickedness… His wickedness… while at the same time being ashamed of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who gave His life for you. When Christians live apathetic lives they are no different than those who are sexually immoral, thieves, greedy, haters, and grudge bearers. They’re pretenders, who are dying and falling asleep all cozy in Satan’s death trap.
You need the Holy Spirit’s nagging, dear friends. Rejoice that He loves you so much that He will not let you be fooled by Satan. The Words of God often seem as salt in the wound… And when Spirit’s Word of conviction is preached it should sting. And if the sermon doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable at times, then perhaps its a sermon that’s void of the Holy Spirit.
Consider the nagging Holy Spirit your good and faithful Friend when He turns you away from yourself and faces you toward the Cross of Jesus Christ. Rejoice when you are woken up from your apathy through chastisement and given the Spirit of love that is always in action. Consider it a blessing to mournfully confess your sins and receive Holy Absolution. Thank God that He chastens and drives you to the point of hunger and thirst ONLY so that He might feed you with His own Body and Blood. The nagging Spirit is FOR YOU!
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
TEXT: John 16:5-15
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Some of Jesus sermons were stories or parables, but others weren’t. There were times that Jesus stated the Truth in all its frankness. No clever plot. No cute sheep, valuable pearls, or Good Samaritan. It’s interesting that often when Jesus told stories, no one seemed to get them… that is, until He opened their mind to understand them. Jesus sermons were at times rough and burdensome. For Jesus said to His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
In John 16 Jesus stands in His Office as Prophet and gives a little lesson on the Third person of the Holy Trinity. No story illustration… just plain, uncensored Truth.
Jesus promised the disciples that He was going to send the Paraclete (advocatus or Helper or Comforter) … the Holy Spirit. What would be His job? To convict, convince, point out wrongdoing, expose, bring to light. You get the picture. Perhaps today we might put it this way: The Holy Spirit was going to be a nag.
For unbelieving sinners, the Holy Spirit would seem as a goody-two-shoe. He would (and still does) convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. And every sinner will find it a bore and a bother. They won’t want to hear it. “Quit bothering me! Leave me alone Holy Spirit! I’m tired of listening to your nagging!” Sinner don’t like to be told they’re wrong…. And neither do you. As soon as the message hits your ears, your mind begins churning and churning to find every reason why the Spirit is wrong and you are right.
In Confirmation you learned the answer to this question: What is the ultimate sin against the Holy Spirit? Answer: Unbelief. That is, a person’s refusing of the calling, gathering, enlightening and sanctifying of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “He who does not believe shall be condemned.” Unbelief is the chief of sins and it’s a sin that promises a one-way, eternal ticket to hell.
To unbelievers, the nagging of the Holy Spirit will be a message of hellfire and brimstone. “The Law is God’s [the Spirit’s] thunderbolt in which He strikes down both obvious sinners and false saints.” (SA III:3) He does not proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers… only Law. He doesn’t make unbelievers feel good about themselves. He’s not afraid to offend them or to speak plainly about their unbelief. No, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. The Gospel would only fall on deaf ears. Their deafness must be crushed by the conviction that sinners die without Jesus. No eternal life. No heaven. Only when they’re crushed can they be recreated by the soothing medicine of the Gospel.
The Spirit convicts the world concerning righteousness, Jesus says. In other words, the Spirit preaches against your own good works, your fake pretendy piety, and your faith in your own righteousness. What you do for morality’s sake… being pro-life, being against same-sex marriage, and campaigning for the right to display the 10 commandments in public places are worthless, filthy rags without faith. Faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ trumps everything. Without that faith, you’re convicted.
The Spirit also convicts and nags the world concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. And if Satan is condemned, then so are all of Satan’s children…. All demons and unbelievers.
Believers must also hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit will seem as a nag, the Devil will sound sweet and alluring. Satan would love nothing more than for you to become apathetic Christians. He loves to hear those who gladly and willingly set for hours upon hours in front of the TV complain about a 90 minute church service. The devil rejoices to see you despise the Body and Blood of Jesus. He gets a kick of Christian bickering and infighting. He loves to see you defend wickedness… His wickedness… while at the same time being ashamed of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who gave His life for you. When Christians live apathetic lives they are no different than those who are sexually immoral, thieves, greedy, haters, and grudge bearers. They’re pretenders, who are dying and falling asleep all cozy in Satan’s death trap.
You need the Holy Spirit’s nagging, dear friends. Rejoice that He loves you so much that He will not let you be fooled by Satan. The Words of God often seem as salt in the wound… And when Spirit’s Word of conviction is preached it should sting. And if the sermon doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable at times, then perhaps its a sermon that’s void of the Holy Spirit.
Consider the nagging Holy Spirit your good and faithful Friend when He turns you away from yourself and faces you toward the Cross of Jesus Christ. Rejoice when you are woken up from your apathy through chastisement and given the Spirit of love that is always in action. Consider it a blessing to mournfully confess your sins and receive Holy Absolution. Thank God that He chastens and drives you to the point of hunger and thirst ONLY so that He might feed you with His own Body and Blood. The nagging Spirit is FOR YOU!
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Bee update
From time to time you should know about the state of the bees in the United States (especially in Iowa!) SO, here goes...
Summarized mathematically: 50%
I began the winter months with two hives. One strong hive and another worn down by pesticide use when the local farmers sprayed the soy beans. One hive died sometime in February 2008. Which do you suppose died?
The strong hive died. My only guess is that the hive was so strong and the honey supply was too little to sustain them through the winter.
Makes one wonder.... Is it better that a few bees die in the Fall so that the many might be saved?
Summarized mathematically: 50%
I began the winter months with two hives. One strong hive and another worn down by pesticide use when the local farmers sprayed the soy beans. One hive died sometime in February 2008. Which do you suppose died?
The strong hive died. My only guess is that the hive was so strong and the honey supply was too little to sustain them through the winter.
Makes one wonder.... Is it better that a few bees die in the Fall so that the many might be saved?
Robert Preus Quote of the Day
"Our sins separate us from God. They cause us to think of Him as an enemy and to doubt His promises. We are often very slow to believe in the forgiveness of sins. Theref ore God in His grace comes to us troubled sinners and lavishes upon us words of pardon. And then, hearing God's verdict of acquittal over and over again and receiving His pardon continually in the Gospel, in the absolution, and in the Sacrament, it all begins to sink in, and we take comfort."
(Chapel Sermon, Oct. 6, 1959. Text: Rom. 5:1-10. Found in Preaching to Young Theologians: Sermons of Robert Preus)
(Chapel Sermon, Oct. 6, 1959. Text: Rom. 5:1-10. Found in Preaching to Young Theologians: Sermons of Robert Preus)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Johann Gerhard Quote of the Day
"There is a false delusion of believers that must also be convicted by the Holy Spirit. For you see, many hold the opinion that faith in Christ may indeed compatibly exist side by side with sins against conscience. [They think], just as long as they simply boast of their faith with their mouth it's not going to hurt, even though they simultaneously enter into deliberate sins. However, that is merely a false image of faith - a dead faith. So then, the Holy Spirit convicts and teaches that a true, upright, saving faith cleanses the heart. Such a faith brings forth fruits of the Spirit, while also subduing the lusts of the flesh. Such a faith brings forth fruits of the Spirit, while also subduing the lusts of the flesh. In this way, Christ says the Holy Spirit will teach the world in regard to righteousness...."
Cantate Sermon: John 16:5-15, Postilla
Cantate Sermon: John 16:5-15, Postilla
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jubilate 2008
Jubilate 2008
TEXT: John 16:12-22 16
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Mothers are amazing people. For 9 months they carry a little baby inside them. Nine months of one inconvenience after another. Morning Sickness. Swollen feet. Bladder issues. Varicose veins. Back aches. An extended waist line. Cravings. Hot flashes. Nausea. But the greater trial is yet to come.
When the first contraction hits there is a new pain for sure. But it’s the kind of pain that says, “I’ll all be over soon.” I’ve been there for the delivery of all six of my children. Each and every one of them was an event that I’ll never forget. Someone has said that delivering a child is like taking your bottom lip and pulling it over your head. It hurts. Its no fun. You cry. You holler. It’s agonizing. But them its over. And the cry of a little baby transforms your tears of labor into tears of joy.
Jesus knows. “When a woman is giving birth,” Jesus says, “she has sorrow because her hour is come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been brought into the world.” Yes, Jesus knows.
But He didn’t make reference to a mother in labor simply to let us know that he can relate to mothers. His sermon was a sermon of preparation. He was preparing His disciples for the crucifixion of the Son of God. Jesus was going to die. And the sight of it was going to make grown men cry. Crucifixion was going to make them sick with sorrow. They would cry and cry until their head was throbbing and no more tears would come out.
They would watch as He was bound and led out of the Garden while praying. They would see Him falsely accused in rigged courts of law. They would cower as Roman whips tore His flesh. And they would cry, and weep, and mourn as He was nailed to a tree and murdered. It would be a time of sorrow, weeping and lamenting.
And when the events of Good Friday had finished, the disciples would go into seclusion. They would hide for fear of the Jews. IN hiding they would not see Jesus. For a little while, for three days, Jesus would lie in death’s strong bands. For a little while, it was necessary for the disciples to mourn, to be sorrowful. For a little while the disciples would lack understanding. They wouldn’t get it.
It was all part of the plan… God’s plan. A plan that was designed in eternity but plotted in time. It was a plan that included a deliberate and premeditated time of sorrow and sadness. God knew that there would be great sorrow. He wanted it that way. Sorrow was necessary.
There are too many preachers today who would like to woo you with the false notion that if you really and truly have authentic and saving faith, that you will live a problem free and happy life. It’s not true. It’s absolutely not true. And this is why…. For sinners a time of sorrow and sadness is absolutely necessary.
Look at the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. These events were necessary. Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” The Father’s answer would come when Judas showed up with some soldiers. IN other words the Father’s answer would be, “My will is that you suffer for a time!” And that “little time” would come to about 18 hours: the time from His arrest to His last breath. Even the sinless Son of God must endure a time of sorrow and sadness.
Why was it necessary? … LOVE. The Father’s will was driven by His love for humanity. It was necessary that the God-man, Jesus, suffer and die so that humanities’ debt of sin might be completely and totally absolved.
And after Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” No one saw Him for a while, but after three days they saw Him again. “It is the Lord” they cried. “He is risen.” The little time of sorrow had ended and the eternal roar of rejoicing had begun.
IN a fallen world there will still be times of sorrow. You will miss loved ones who inherit eternal life before you… but only for a little while. You will suffer the ridicule of this world for Jesus sake… but only for a little while. You will endure hardships of every kind… but only for a little while. The cross of Jesus has already made certain that your suffering will only be for a little while… THEN, your sorrow will turn to joy and your hearts will rejoice.
"My God has all things in His keeping;
He is the ever faithful friend.
He gives me laughter after weeping,
And all His ways in blessings end.
His love endures eternally:
What pleases God, that pleases me." LSB 719:4
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Introduction
I'm 30-something. I'm married with 6 children. I live in rural America. I love to race homing pigeons, rob honey from apiaries, garden, and brew beer. I especially love to discuss theology, read theological books, listen to sermons, read sermons. I am a passive pastor... which invigorates activity.
My bee buddies are not my parishioners. My fellow pigeon fanciers are not the ones whose sermons I read. But, my wife and children tolerate all of it.
Cheers!
My bee buddies are not my parishioners. My fellow pigeon fanciers are not the ones whose sermons I read. But, my wife and children tolerate all of it.
Cheers!
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