Insightful

"A mood develops in which there is little respect for the past and even less knowledge of it. As the mood envelops pastoral work we are charmed into forgetting the very wisdom that we are called upon to share with others: the majestic reality of God and the immediate significance of each personal and local detail in the story of redemption. We are told that we must be au courant in the ways of looking at, studying, and working with persons, and that psychology and sociology will revolutionize our capabilities, putting us in the vanguard of those who will achieve a new human potential. But the whole work which has to do with the human's relation to God and God's will for the human does not come from knowing more about the times but from knowing humanity - and God. It has to do with continuities , not novelties; with what is essential in the human condition, not with what is accidental. that being the case, we are far more likely to get help from those whose experience has been tested in a variety of climates and cultures, and been demonstrated in the testing to be trustworthy." -- Eugene Peterson - Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work

I am still working through my summer reading list I had intended on completing - in the summer :-) I have read a few books that were not on that list in the meantime but now I am back to re-reading books that I read while in college and seminary that I felt were influential. the four books Peterson wrote on the pastoral ministry I recall being very influential when I read them 12-14 years ago. I am on volume 1. I think the above that Peterson writes is bang on. though I am uncomfortable with some of Peterson's approach to Scripture I think he has a lot of good things to say. I saw him give a presentation about 9 years ago and I was impressed. So - back to his books for the next little while.

The 6th Annual St. John Chrysostom Lutheran Preacher's Retreat

June 20-22, 2011

St. Michael's Retreat - Lumsden, SK

Speaker: The Rev. Warren Hamp - Faith Lutheran Church - Kitchener, ON

For more information visit: http://lutheranpreachers.worthyofpraise.org/

Free Speech in England - So shall it be in Canada

Here is a reasonable explanation of an important issue. Section 5 in England sounds eerily like our Human Rights Tribunals/Commissions here in Canada. See Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn for examples of the heinous abuse of their powers in our country. Anyway - take a look at this video clip - seems reasonable to me.

Reformation Day Sermon

Reformation Day/10.31.10/Fort Q & IH/Romans 3:28
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
The date today is October 31. For Lutherans this day is significant because it is Reformation Day. The day that we pause and reflect upon some of the core teachings of the Bible. The core teachings that the Lutheran Reformation brought back from the periphery and placed in the centre of the Christian Faith where it belongs. Often these are referred to as the “Sola’s” of the Reformation. Christ alone. Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone.
Reformation Day is not a day for pride. Reformation Day is not a day to look down upon those who are not Lutherans. Reformation Day is a day to be filled with humble thanksgiving. It is to be a day of thanksgiving for the undeserved, unmerited, gracious goodness of God to us poor sinners. We rejoice and give thanks for the gifts God gives us for the sake of Jesus Christ.
However we are bold to say that what we believe as Lutherans today, in the direct line of the Reformers of the 16th Century, is what the Christian Church has always believed, taught, and confessed. What we believe is not new. What we believe is not something Martin Luther came up with 500 years ago. No! What we believe is what the Bible teaches. What we believe is catholic in the truest sense of the word. It is universal. What Lutherans believe, teach, and confess is what the Bible teaches and confesses.
But who cares really? What difference does it make? Does it really matter if you go to this church or that? They are all pretty much the same aren’t they? I mean the Anglican church’s liturgy and the Roman Catholic church’s liturgy are pretty close to what we do. The Baptists and Alliance folk believe in Jesus don’t they? What is the big deal?
Today we will see little ones, and some not so little ones, running around all dressed up in various costumes. Princesses and pumpkins, cats and hockey players, firemen and barbies. But, there are also those who will dress up like monsters. Vampires, ghouls, ghosts, etc. Monsters. Of course we know that monsters aren’t real. It is all for pretend and fun. It’s a little spooky. But there is one monster that I want to tell you about on this October 31st that is very real. It is the scariest and most deadly monster that has ever been. This monster is alive and well today.
The Monster of Uncertainty. Luther knew this monster well. In fact, it was he who coined the term – the Monster of Uncertainty. This is not a monster I have made up. It is real. It lives today. This monster prowls about looking to terrify consciences. This monster prowls about looking to cause doubt and fear. This monster prowls about looking to destroy trust and hope and joy. This monster prowls about looking to destroy peace.
The Monster of Uncertainty roars: “Did God really say?” The Monster of Uncertainty takes Jesus out of view and places you as the only player on the field. The Monster of Uncertainty calls into question God’s promises.
How do you know God loves you? How do you know that you are not left alone by God? How do you know your sins are forgiven? How do you know that particularly dark sin in your past is forgiven? How do you know that when you die you will not be damned to hell? How do you know that the gates to heaven are open for you?
Well, how do you know? Are you absolutely certain that God loves you? Are you absolutely certain that your sins are forgiven? Are you certain that when you die you will be welcomed into heaven? Does the Monster of Uncertainty lurk in the background of your life? Is the Monster of Uncertainty growling in the dark corners of your life? Does the Monster of Uncertainty strike fear and terror in your heart?
If you seek to answer these questions by looking to yourself – the Monster will win. You will never have any peace – only uncertainty. You will never have any comfort – you will only hear the Monster of Uncertainty growling and striking doubt and fear in your heart.
If you look to yourself and the good things you have done hoping that you have earned God’s love and merit – ask yourself – how do you know if you have done enough? Are you sure? Are you certain?
If you look to yourself and base your faith upon your action of deciding and accepting Jesus – ask yourself – are you sure you gave all your heart to Jesus? Are you sure you really decided to accept Jesus? Maybe it was just an emotional thing? Did you really mean it?
The Monster of Uncertainty points you away from Jesus and has you look at yourself for your assurance and your certainty of God’s love and forgiveness. The Monster of Uncertainty wants you to find your certainty and assurance somewhere in you.
Lutherans reject all of this and this is why what you believe matters. This is why not all churches are the same. Not all churches have an answer to the Monster of Uncertainty. Many churches will have you look to something in yourself for your certainty of salvation. You see Lutheran theology – which is Christian theology – points you in the exact opposite direction as the Monster of Uncertainty. We look not to ourselves for our assurance and certainty of God’s love and forgiveness. We look to Jesus. We look not to what we have done to earn God’s merit – we look to Jesus and what He has done for us. We look not to our accepting of Jesus – but to His accepting of us by grace through faith.
How do you know what Jesus did 2000 years ago in His life, death on the cross, and His resurrection is for you? For you specifically? Individually?
Because Jesus says so.
He said so in your baptism. Through the blessed waters of Holy Baptism He claimed you as His own and promised to always be with you and to remove your sin. Notice – not what you do – but what Jesus has done and promised to you. Therefore – you can have certainty that it is true for you.
Jesus speaks His word of forgiveness in the Holy Absolution to you and by His doing He erases your guilt. Again – this is not something that you do –it is something that is given to you by the Lord’s promise. His forgiveness of your sins does not rely upon you but upon Jesus Word and faithfulness.
In the Sacrament of Holy Communion He gives Himself to you – personally and individually. He promises to be there in the Sacrament for you in His Body and Blood with the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. You don’t do anything to make this so. It is so because Jesus says it is so. It is sure and certain because it is not reliant upon you but upon Jesus.
Jesus provides you with these sure and certain places to find Him and His gifts for you. He does not want you to suffer through life with doubts and uncertainty regarding His love for you, His forgiveness of you, and His promises of eternal life for you.
For you. Specifically. Individually. For you. Jesus speaks it. Jesus promises it. Jesus gives it. For you. There is no doubt. There is no uncertainty. The One who rose from the dead and defeated sin, death, and the devil has spoken. This is most certainly true.
The Monster of Uncertainty is slain not by your efforts. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain not by your good works or merit. The Monster of Uncertainty is not slain by the strength of your faith. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain by Jesus. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain when we look to Jesus and Him alone for our life and salvation. The Monster of Uncertainty is slain when we by grace through faith trust Jesus’ Word and promises – the Word and promises that are given for you.
Dear friends, you can leave here this morning and go out into the scary world without doubt and fear. You can be fearless in the face of your sin and failure knowing that in Jesus you are forgiven. You can be fearless in the face of the trials and struggles of this life because you know that for Jesus’ sake you are beloved by God and are never left alone. You can be fearless when you face death itself because you know that in Jesus your death has been conquered – it no longer has dominion over you.
There is no doubt. There is no uncertainty. Jesus has accomplished it all for you. Jesus has given you all that He has done for you through His Word and Sacraments in the Church. On this Reformation Day let us rejoice in this Good News of Jesus Christ. Let us take comfort and have peace in our Lord Jesus’ work for us. Let us humbly acknowledge the great heritage of faithful biblical teaching that has handed down to us through the millennia. Let us seek to share this wonderful Good News with others who may be haunted by the Monster of Uncertainty. But above all else let us find peace in our Lord Jesus: For His sake - You are forgiven. You are loved by God. You have been given eternal life. This is most certainly true. Amen.

Funeral Sermon for John Craven

Funeral for John Craven/10.02.10/Fort Q/John 19:16-27

Today we gather to say goodbye to John. Though it has been two months since John died the pain and sadness remain. It is difficult when a loved one dies. The loss is felt for a long time. The hole that is left in our lives, in our hearts, remains. We gather this afternoon to say good bye. However we also gather to give thanks to God for the gift of life that He gave to John and our opportunity to share it with him.

It was my privilege to serve as John’s pastor for several years. He was the first person I talked to in Fort Qu’Appelle after I graduated from Seminary and was sent here by the Church. He helped organize the move from Edmonton and made sure all the arrangements that could be made for us when we got here were made. He was the first person who greeted me. He was the first person who took me for a tour of the church – then considerably smaller than it is now. He was the first President of a congregation I worked with as a rookie pastor. For my first few years in the Office of the Holy Ministry John was a constant companion. He would often stop into the church during the day to see what I was up to. Some might say he was making sure the new young pastor knew what he was doing. He would scold me because he saw the light on at the church too late into the night sometimes and tell me I ought to be home. He put many hours into this congregation both in his administrative role as President and also with the building project that began shortly after I arrived. I got to know John very well. And I know one thing: he would tell me to be quiet about all that now. No more talking about me. Talk to the people about Jesus.

We gather this afternoon so we might support one another, comfort one another, and encourage one another as we face this trial and struggle. Doris, all the family, and all who are gathered here this afternoon – it is OK to mourn. It is OK to be sad. There is no shame in it. There is no need for embarrassment. How else do we react when a loved one is gone? This is natural. This is normal. However, in the midst of your sadness and loss – hear Good News. Hear THE Good News. Here the Good News of Jesus Christ.

John 19:16-27: “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

In several instances throughout the Gospel of St. John there is a reference to “the disciple whom he loved.” This disciple is not named but is referred to as the “beloved disciple.” Who was this beloved disciple of Jesus? The beloved disciple was John the Evangelist. John who wrote the Gospel which bears his name was the disciple whom Jesus loved. Now why did he refer to himself in this way throughout the Gospel – never referring to himself by name? There are a few theories. One is that he was being modest, humble, he did to want to be identified. Another reason given is that perhaps John wanted all readers of the Gospel to be able to identify with this disciple – the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Just as John the Evangelist was loved by Jesus so was our brother John whom we say goodbye to this afternoon. John was loved by Jesus and is still loved by Jesus. But not because John was perfect. Jesus loves John not because John has somehow earned His love by all his service to the Church. No, Jesus loves John purely out of unmerited grace and mercy. I am sure, I know, John would agree. He knows he did not earn God’s love. But by grace through faith John has received it. It is a gift that God gives. You don’t earn a gift. You only receive a gift with thanksgiving.

Jesus loves John so much that He lived a perfectly sinless life, died on the cross paying the penalty for his sins, and rose again. In our Lord’s resurrection He has defeated death, He has defeated John’s death. Yes, John has been taken away from us, but death has not won. “Death where is thy victory? Death where is thy sting?” No, Jesus has conquered death. John is with Jesus who loves him. John is with Jesus and is at peace. John is with Jesus awaiting the Last Day when Jesus will return and there will be the resurrection of the body where soul and body in a miraculous way will be joined together again to live for eternity with God.

Jesus loves John. When John was baptized Jesus reached down and washed him of his sin. In the waters of Holy Baptism Jesus reached down and claimed John as his own – His precious and beloved child. He promised to always be with him. And from that day forward Jesus kept His promises to John and continued to love and care for him. Jesus loved and cared for John through His Word and Sacraments in the Church. Jesus continued to feed and nourish John in his trust and faith through hearing His Word regularly in Divine Service Sunday mornings and through regular attendance at Bible studies. Jesus continued to care and love John as He forgave him his sins as John came to Services and confessed his sin and received the Absolution, the forgiveness of his sins, from Jesus. Jesus continued to care and love John as He strengthened him in his faith and the forgiveness of his sins through the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the very Body and Blood of Jesus given and shed for him. Jesus was with John through his entire life – just as He had promised him in his baptism. And on July 12, 2010 Jesus was with John in his death. Jesus was with John and took him to be where He is – in peace – awaiting the Last Day and the resurrection of the body when sin and death will finally and totally be destroyed. Jesus loved John all through his life. Jesus loved John through his death. Jesus loves John this very day in heavenly peace.

I know John would want me to add one more thing to the sermon preached at his funeral. Well, first he would check his watch to see how long the sermon has been so far – he always timed me to the second and would tell me how long the sermon was on the way out the door Sunday mornings. But John would want you to know that just as he was and is loved by Jesus – so are you. All that Jesus did for John He has done for you. Jesus lived a perfect life in your place, Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins, and Jesus rose from the dead and has defeated your death. Not because you’ve earned it. Not because you are good enough or have done enough good things… but because out of His grace and mercy Jesus loves you and forgives you. It is a gift. You receive it by grace through faith.

All that Jesus did by loving and caring for John throughout his entire life Jesus offers to you as well. But you might be asking – where do I find this? Where do I find Jesus and His gifts? Well that is easy. You find Jesus and His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in His holy Word in the bible and in the Sacraments in the Church. Just as Jesus sustained John through life and death to eternal life through these means – so Jesus promises to do the same for you. Seek Jesus where He has promised to be for you - in His Word and Sacraments in the Church. There you will find forgiveness, life, and salvation. There you will find Jesus and all the treasures of heaven.

This day we say good bye to John. However we say good bye with the knowledge that he is safe and at peace with Jesus. We say good bye with the trust that because Jesus lives so shall we live. We say good bye with hope because of the forgiveness of sins and the life everlasting. Doris and all the family and all who mourn John’s death – as you go through the difficult times ahead without John know that you do not go alone. Your Lord and Saviour Jesus is with you. He will sustain you and strengthen you through His Word and Sacraments to face the tough times. And know that Jesus loved John. Jesus loves John now and into eternity. And know for certain as you leave this place - Jesus loves you. Thanks be to God. Amen.

What Books Would You Burn?

Let's forget about the silly pastor in Florida who wants to burn the Koran. He has had enough publicity for acting like an idiot.

I am not in favour of burning books. It brings to mind Farenheit 451 and all that. However this crazy thing with the burning Koran has me thinking. If we would want to burn the Koran because it is evil - what other books would you burn?

Here is a list for starters in no particular order*:

Purpose Driven Life
Your Best Life Now
The Prayer of Jabez


*I am not really going to burn these books. I just think they are terrible. Truly terrible. Really, really bad.

Lutheranism 101

Below is a link to the new Lutheranism 101 blog. Lutheranism 101 is new book being published by Concordia Publishing House and I was honoured to have been asked to contribute a chapter. The link below goes to the Lutheranism 101 blog which has information about the book as well as some helpful information about Lutheranism. It is a great place to go if you are curious about what Lutherans believe.

http://www.lutheranism101.com/

And if you are interested in ordering a copy:

http://www.cph.org/p-17404-lutheranism-101.aspx?SearchTerm=lutheranism%20101

Steyn Hits It Out of the Park...again....

Another must read by Steyn:

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/27/were-too-broke-to-be-this-stupid/

Must read

http://gottesdienstonline.blogspot.com/2010/05/piety-matters.html

Holy Week Services

Below is the schedule of Holy Week Services this week:

Maundy Thursday: 7:30pm @ Our Saviour - Fort Q

Good Friday: 10:30am @ St. Paul - Indian Head
Good Friday: 7:30pm @ Our Saviour - Fort Q

Easter Sunday: 9:30am @ Our Saviour - Fort Q
Easter Sunday: 11:30am @ St. Paul - Indian Head

Tiger Woods Commentary

Here is a link to a commentary I was asked to write for LCC InfoDigest:

http://infodigest.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/was-tiger-woods-apology-sincere/

Tell me what you think!

Great Promotional Video for Issues, etc.

Construction at the Parsonage

The good people I serve here at Our Saviour have decided to put in a bathroom and a bedroom in the basement of the parsonage. We are most thankful! Soon, Naomi and Abigail will not have to share a room... oh the joy!

I helped out Monday and Tuesday. I am useless - but I managed to hammer in a few nails and stay out of the way the best I could. Only two injuries to report. A sore thumb and a badly "stubbed" toe. I'll survive.

Yesterday and today the plumbing and electrical is being installed and tomorrow the drywall should go up.

St. John Chrysostom - January 27th

Today is the day the Church remember St. John Chrysostom. A brief biography can be found here:

http://lutheranpreachers.worthyofpraise.org/why.html

Temple Prostitution - a Modest Proposal

Follow the link and read this funny, sad, scary article...

http://www.alpb.org/forum/index.php?topic=2501.0

The 5th Annual St. John Chrysostom Lutheran Preacher's Retreat

The 5th Annual St. John Chrysostom Lutheran Preacher's Retreat will be held June 7-9, 2010 at St. Michael's Retreat in Lumsden, SK Canada (just north of Regina, SK). The speaker will be the Rev. Klemet Preus from Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN and the author of The Fire and the Staff. (http://www.cph.org/p-657-the-fire-and-the-staff.aspx)

More information will follow regarding the 2010 retreat. More information and audio files from previous retreats can be found at the retreat's website:

http://lutheranpreachers.worthyofpraise.org/

What do we call...

What do we call the tendency in the church to speak lots of words but ultimately say nothing?

In the realm of politics we call it "political correctness." There are other currents flowing under political correctness to be sure - but it does often lead to saying lots of words but in the end saying nothing and often being incomprehensible.

In the corporate world I have heard it referred to as "corporate speak" which is a mixture of political correctness and business. It is also rather incomprehensible.

But what do we call it in the church? The tendency to use lots of nice sounding words but to be so careful to say nothing that might be remotely offensive. The tendency to make statements that have words that are "fuzzy" and unclear and attempt to be profound?

I think I have coined a term. Ready?

Ecumenispeak. What do you think?

Let me tell you what I think clearly and perhaps even offensively.

I think it is brilliant. I think it is on the same level as Colbert's "truthiness." I think I should be interviewed on Issues, etc., because of the brilliance of coining this word.

Don't you?

Ecumenispeak. I think it sums it up. It sickens me.

Ecclesia Immunodeficiency Heresy (EIH)

Ecclesia Immunodeficiency Heresy (EIH)

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Bonhoeffer's Life Together

Interesting how some things work out sometimes. The day before we left for five days vacation after Christmas I was looking through my books for a short quick read while away. I came upon Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. This was a book I read while in first year seminary in Dr. Dean Hempelmann's class - Introduction to the Pastoral Ministry. I don't know if it was because of the adjustment to life at the seminary or if I was over burdened with work or what it was - but I didn't "get" it at that time. I read the book but was not overly impressed. I read it over the Christmas break. It is a great book and speaks to our contemporary situation very well.

What is interesting is that I have recently been playing around with iTunes and seeing what it is all about. I went to iTunes U and looked around and found Concordia Seminary - St. Louis had begun a campus wide study of Life Together this past Fall and there are two convocations to download. How interesting! I am curious to see what the convocations are all about!

Christmas 2 Sermon: “Do and Done”

 

Christmas 2C/01.03.10/Fort Q & IH/Ephesians 1:13-14

 

·       Do and done.

o   The difference between these two words is the difference between your salvation and your damnation.

§  Seems too simple doesn’t it?

·       Do and done.

o   One grants you entrance into heaven and one sends you to hell.

 

·       One is a verb and one is a past participle.

o   One of the words indicates action needed and one indicates action completed.

§  Do and done.

·       The difference between these two words is the difference between Christianity and all other religions of man.

o   Do and done.

 

·       One word calls you to action – the other word calls you to trust.

o   One word calls you to look to yourself – the other word calls you to look outside yourself.

§  Do and done.

 

·       We naturally tend to be people of action.

o   We are doers.

§  We don’t like to be told we can’t do something.

·       You tell me I can’t do something and I will show you I can.

o   Anything you can do I can do better.

§  The rebellious nature in us all rises up against the cant’s of life.

·       I can do that. I want to do that. I will do that. Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.

o   I will do what I want, where I want to do it, when I want to do it, and how I want to do it.

§  We are doers.

 

·       Every false religion of man is a religion for doers.

o   And that is why we find them so attractive, so seductive.

§  Every false religion is an attempt to bridge the gap between us and God.

·       In one way or another every false religion is an attempt to do something to appease God or earn His favour.

o   This plays to our pride. It gives us the false sense that we can do something.

§  Some Christians even get this wrong – they will say all you have to do is believe. All you have to do is make a decision.

·       Do, do, do.

o   All this doing will damn you.

 

·       You cannot do what is demanded.

o   You cannot do enough.

§  You can never bridge the gap.

·       You cannot do anything to appease God or earn God’s favour.

o   Even what you do “do” is tainted with sin.

§  The Buddhists have it wrong.

§  The Muslims have it wrong.

§  The Jehovah’s Witnesses have it wrong.

§  The Mormons have it wrong.

·       Some Christians have it wrong.

o   Some Lutherans have it wrong.

§  Do you?

 

·       If it is not done by Jesus it is left to you to do.

o   If it is left to you to do - you will fall short because of your sin.

§  This not a question. This is certain.

·       Your sin will damn you no matter what you do.

o   If the doing is left to you and not to Jesus you are damned.

§  That is what will be done with you if Jesus has not done it all for you.

·       Do and done.

 

·       Listen to what St. Paul writes in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus nearly 2000 years ago and hear it as if it were written to you:

o   “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (1:13-14)

§  Listen to what has been done by Jesus for you.

·       You were sealed with the Holy Spirit – this is baptism.

o   This is not something that you do.

§  This is something that is done to you.

·       This is something that has been done.

o   No “do” here. This is past tense.

§  Nothing left to do.

§  It is done.

 

·       The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News of the Christian Faith, is so foreign and so unnatural to us that we instinctively reject it

o   We are doers

§  And Jesus comes and says we can do nothing and He has done it all for us

·       Without the work of the Holy Spirit in us we spit in Jesus’ face

o   We become offended and angry at Jesus for telling us what we can and cannot do.

§  Without the work of the Holy Spirit we turn to the false religions of man and their false ways of “doing” to appease God and earn His favour.

·       Without the grace of God working through the Holy Spirit we are lost and dammed in our own doing.

 

·       But the Holy Spirit does come through the Word and Sacraments in the Church

o   Jesus does not leave you in your lost state of hopelessly doing. He sends the Holy Spirit, the comforter.

§  The Holy Spirit comes and does His gracious work in your heart

·       The Holy Spirit works in you to make you recognize your sin and your complete lack of ability to do anything for your salvation

o   The Holy Spirit works in you so you come to repent of your sin and seek forgiveness

§  The Holy Spirit turns you from looking at yourself and your “doing” to looking to Jesus and what He has done for you.

 

·       Do and done.

o   Take comfort dear Christian – it is done.

§  There has been nothing left undone.

·       There is nothing left to you to do.

o   It is done.

§  In Jesus all has been done.

·       You have been sealed and guaranteed it.

 

·       In Holy Baptism all that Jesus has done is given to you.

o   His perfectly lived life without sin or failure.

§  His death upon the cross for your disobedience.

·       His resurrection from the dead.

o   It is done.

§  Nothing for you to do.

·       It is something that is given to you – it is outside you.

o   It is done.

 

·       In the Words of Holy Absolution the removal of your guilt and sin is done to you by Jesus

o   There is no “doing” here.

§  It is based upon that which was done by Jesus.

·       Jesus grants you forgiveness because of His life, death, and resurrection.

o   It is done.

 

·       In the Sacrament of Holy Communion you come forward and receive the body and blood of Jesus

o   Nothing you do makes it so

§  It is done because Jesus promises to be here for you in His body and blood granting you strength and faith.

·       It is done.

 

·       This is the Christian Faith.

o   It is a “done” faith.

§  It is done by Jesus.

·       It is done to you.

o   It is done for you.

 

·       It is not something that is left “up in the air” as if we wonder how things will turn out in the end.

o   It is done.

§  The devil has been defeated. Death has been destroyed. Sin has been slain.

·       Jesus has done it.

o   He has done it for you.

§  It is done.

The Eighth Day of Christmas

Merry Christmas! I know many have moved on and think Christmas is over - but it is the eighth day of twelve.

A couple years ago I had the idea (stolen from someone else) that we should try and observe the twelve days of Christmas in our family. To aid us in doing this we would give a gift to our three kids each of the twelve days. In a sense - spreading out the present opening madness from one day to twelve. Sometimes the presents are not exciting toys (socks, soaps, etc) and sometimes they are exciting gifts like Lego and Cabbage Patch Dolls.

As is often the case with my ideas it means that my wife has to implement it. I didn't realize how much work it would be - but she does it. She finds a gift for each of the three kids for the twelve days of Christmas. Figures out which gifts to give on which day depending upon where we may be on that day. Also, to "equalize" the gifts so that one child does not receive a pair of socks and another an exciting race car. She does a lot of work in planning and shopping and I am thankful for it.

I enjoy waking up each of the twelve days and having the kids excited to open another gift. They probably don't get any more than they would normally - we just spread it out. They enjoy it and so do I.

And at the end of it all is the Epiphany of our Lord on January 6th. At our church I started a few years back the tradition of having a grand potluck supper where people bring a dish from their cultural background - a lot of German and Scandinavian dishes show up. I brought a haggis one year. This to represent that Jesus has come for all people of all nations as the Magi were the first non-Jews to worship the Lord. After the Potluck supper we have Epiphany Vespers. It is a wonderful evening.

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the twelve days and look forward to celebrating the Epiphany!