Advent 1 (St. Andrew)

Today's readings were Ezekiel 3:16-21, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, and John 1:35-42a (sermon text).

The best thing that ever happened to St. Peter was the event of Andrew, his brother, telling him about Christ. Andrew was a disciple of John (in fulfillment of Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3 and 4); John's purpose was to open the way for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

John's Gospel parallels Creation Week (in John, this ends at 2:1) to emphasize the fact of the new creation. John's disciples left him for Jesus because John had named Him the Lamb of God. This is our mission too: tell others about this Lamb, not just keep Him in your heart. All Jews were, since Abraham, anticipating the Messiah, especially at each Passover. Even though we don't pass on anticipations like this, we should still share the Messiah.

They had a different idea of what the Messiah should be, but at least Peter and Andrew had set their sights on the correct one. Christ enters our hearts likewise in the Sacraments and Word; then we pass Him on to others. Share the message of reconciliation that takes the place of judgment. The Gospel is a positive message, not just avoidance of hell (negation of negative). Therefore we look forward to being with our Abba - Daddy - forever. No matter how long it takes, Christ will come, fulfilling His Word. And we'll see Him face to face.

Spread the Gospel, telling of the Center of our lives, by word of mouth. We use our mouths to tell about other things - why not our most precious treasure, our Lord Jesus Christ? We have a sure eternity; spread it!

Happy New Year!

Three reasons not to abort

Reasons One and Two: These lovely twins in Britain, gestated and born under unhopeful circumstances.

Reason Three: Psychiatry, naturally.

Thanksgiving 2008: Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's words, the Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, are fitting here.

It is the duty of nations as well as of people to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sin and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord!

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens.

Amen.

Thanksgiving 2008: sermon notes

Today's readings were Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Philippians 4:4-13, and Luke 17:11-19 (sermon text).

What is it like to be near - but never with - your family? What's it like to be slowly dying? Is this prison? No; it's leprosy in first-century Israel. It's existence, not life. Therefore Christ, upon seeing the ten lepers, effectively says "Get a life!" He likewise gives life to all, including those afflicted by various hurts of body and spirit.

The world tells Christians to "get a life" in a different, hostile sense. But is this religion of ours really a crutch? Not if it relies on Jesus, the only Way, only Truth, only Life. We have life because He is life. The nine Jewish former lepers who didn't return to give thanks didn't realize this.

The blood of Christ crucified is the cure for the terminal disease, sin, of all people. Hence, by it we are cleansed to stand before God, as the lepers did, and to give thanks with our own Blood brothers and sisters in the whole Church! Rejoice and give thanks for all God's gifts today, including this most precious one. Be like the one Samaritan who came back: understand your terminal disease (in fact, it has already killed you if you haven't repented), come to Christ, and thank Him for the forgiveness He gives.

This service was at my home church, as will be Sunday's.

Tagged: 7 random facts about me

I've been tagged by Cheryl. Here goes...

1. I dream about organic chemistry in strange, mixed-up ways. For instance, a recent dream involved a milk cap that sprouted carbonyl groups as if it were cyclooctane.

2. I chew grain kernels as a snack, courtesy our 50-lb bags we purchase annually.

3. A good friend of mine is studying Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and theology; he also is in the process of putting the entire works of Mozart on his iPod. Talk about matching tastes!

4. In one of my classes this semester, I have a wonderful, grandfatherly professor. Said professor believes in teaching homeschool-style. As a result, we've been doing a lot of hands-on things, many food-related. Currently we have a mushroom farm going, as well as a batch of wine that's supposed to turn out dry and white...maybe a bit too much so at last inspection.

5. People still confuse me with my younger brother when we answer the phone. I like to think that he's my twin, only born three years after.

6. I get an endorphin surge before, during, and after exams. This comes in handy quite often.

7. Finally...I'm going home in about five hours!

Whom to tag? Or shall I have mercy? If you read this post, consider yourself tagged if you want.

Christ the King Sunday

...a.k.a. the last Sunday of the Church year! I'll be worshiping at my home church next Sunday to kick off Advent. Today's readings were Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; and Matthew 25:31-46 (sermon text).

Business - we sometimes use it as an excuse for self-time. Today's text puts time as a whole in perspective: when will Christ return? We see a picture of our glorious God, Judge, and King. He gathers all peoples of the world - all nations - who will then be separated like sheep and goats. Those who are His, on His right, are called "blessed of My Father." Wow! He has a place for each of those who are His.

Next, He commends the sheep (right) for their good deeds toward Him - rather, toward even the least of His brothers and sisters. They're dumbfounded. Likewise, He condemns the goats (left) for their lack of similar good deeds. The sheep and goats finally go in opposite directions.

Works-righteousness? No! Rather, what are we doing in anticipation of the end? Sure, He's coming soon. But He also comes often, unexpectedly, even daily or hourly. We don't "see" Him in this light too much. But the thing to remember is that Jesus, the Christ, entered time that He might empathize with us, for us, to forgive our misuses of time and ignorances of Him in the form of one of His brothers or sisters. Give of your time; don't use business as a club for self. Why? Because you are His sheep too.

Later this afternoon will be a concert. I'll try to find some links to well-performed versions of the pieces so you can enjoy it too.

Update:YouTube is notoriously deficient in this area. However, I did find this lovely recording (video) of SLANE (tune for "Be Thou My Vision"), which had a custom text written for my school's 2008-09 school year. Perhaps text later. My other favorite item of the evening was a setting of "Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain" that I've sung several times at my home church.

Pentecost 27

Today's readings were Zephaniah 1:7-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30, and Psalm 90 (sermon text).

Do we number our days aright? Do we strive for a heart of wisdom? Realize that everything around us is impermanent - jobs, money, stability, a sense of community. Decay and death surround us. But, Moses says, keeping the end in view is essential. You and I were created for an eternal home (Psalm 90:1).

Consider the life and "homes" of Moses. First he was brought up by Pharaoh, then became nomadic for years. At the end, he couldn't even enter Canaan. But this reminded him to walk by faith in God, for God was his true destination. Likewise it is with us - God, our home, goes with us. We will not be homeless, but will rather be welcome. We've been created for that home.

Life is filled with transitions. Remember, though, that Life is more. Return to God, your true home. There is no permanent dwelling place apart from Him. Sin separates us from Him; abundant dispensed and imputed grace reunites us to Him. Admit your sinfulness, therefore, and flee to God.

This brings back memories of Pentecost 22.

Pentecost 26

Today's readings were Amos 5:18-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (sermon text), and Matthew 25:1-13.

"We don't want you to be ignorant" about the dead in Christ. The first part of that sentence is for all teachers, the second for preachers in particular. The message: You are going to die. So is everyone you know, love, and everyone else. But what really happens when we die? Our perspective on death is decidedly limited.

Paul, though, does tell us what will happen on the Last Day. Some may doubt him - how do we know he's telling the truth and not a fantasy? What proof is there? Are we now misinformed instead of uninformed? Paul, in answer, gives two points: (1) Jesus Christ's resurrection guarantees ours. (2) He revealed this to Paul directly. Therefore we don't grieve hopelessly or need pity from unbelievers.

Pagans long ago viewed death, as many do today, with pure horror. We grieve as well - but we have a sure hope of resurrection and eternal life at the side of our Lord and Savior. Be encouraged by these words.

The Gospel reading adds: Stay awake. We don't know when He's coming back, only that He is. Be alert, ready, joyful in hope. Share your joy and hope with others so that they may be with us in heaven. Keep your attention fixed on the Bridegroom; rest in Him.

This sermon was particularly appropriate for me today, as I got the news this morning that my aunt, S, passed away late last night.

Pentecost 25

Today's readings were Micah 3:5-12, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, and Matthew 23:1-12 (sermon text).

"Posers." There are three main categories, all of which the Pharisees fit into quite well: pretending to be someone or something outwardly (e.g. a nurse) while not being thus at all inwardly; trying to resurrect a good past to pose in place of one's bad present; and trying to make rosy future promises pose in place of a poor present record. The Pharisees loved adulation and being seen by others, so of course they posed, especially in the areas of praying, fasting, and giving offerings. Posing tempts us sorely as well.

Stop posing, Christ tells us. He fills the needs that posing's vacancy leaves with something better and more satisfying: pointing. By pointing, our outward selves will come to match the Truth living inside of us. Baptism is like this - since through the Sacrament we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, we therefore walk in newness of life. Be fixed on this truth. The same is true with the Lord's Supper - the outward marks of bread and wine embody the inner truth of forgiveness and strengthening of faith, to which we should point.

Our past is Christ, who fought and won the fight that matters. We now live by faith, Christ in us, based on His past death and resurrection. That love was, is, and will always be true. Christ's promises for our future ought to be pointed to and lived as well. Children of God will see and be like Him; our future reality will be obvious: loved by God!

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Technology

It is increasingly, disturbingly used for snooping on things that ought not to be snooped upon, at least in Britain. (MK et al., you've been complaining vehemently about this for some time.) However, there's always the upside - check out this story about a brain-damaged girl given the power to communicate verbally. MK, again, caught the connection too.