Today's Chapel: Sub Contrarii

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the + Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us pray. Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit, who writes the preached Word into our hearts so that we may receive and believe it, and be gladdened and comforted by it in eternity. Glorify Your Word in our hearts. Make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, and through Your inspiration think what is right. By Your power fulfill the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A reading from 2 Corinthians 4:

It is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, “Let there be light shining out of darkness,” who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus too may be shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

This is the Word of the Lord. R.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Bible is a hard book, no two ways about it. On my daily commute, I’ve been listening on Audible to the Scriptures, and I’m up to 2 Chronicles now. As I listen I keep making mental notes along the way: “I need to check this out, and that, and the other.” The list so far will probably take me the rest of my life. And did I mention I’m only up to 2 Chronicles? Sigh. Yes, the Bible is a hard book.

But the conviction of St. Paul in today’s reading is that the God we meet in the pages of the Old Testament, the God who right there at the start spoke “Let there be light” is the God we meet in Jesus. You see, when Paul says we proclaim Jesus as Lord, you have to hear that like a Jew. He’s not talking what evangelicals refer to as Lordship theology, as in "He’s your Savior, but have you made Him your Lord." No, he is saying something far more radical. We proclaim Jesus as Lord means we proclaim Mary’s Son, this man who walked the earth, as Yahweh, as the Great I Am, as the very God we do meet in the perplexing pages of the Old Testament.

And that’s actually very helpful. Jesus is the light then that shines in the darkness, even in the darkness of our understanding, our minds, in the darkness of the darkest pages of Holy Scripture! He’s the light that illumines them. And isn’t there something quite symmetrical about the perplexing story of salvation that is enshrined in the Scriptures and the perplexing way He works in our lives? Luther once captured it: By putting to death, He makes alive. To bring you to heaven, He sends you to hell. Through death into life.

On Thy Strong Word, we just wrapped up Genesis and had plenty of perplexing moments, but what an ending! When God decides to save that wretched bunch of sinners known as the children of Jacob, He lets them betray their brother Joseph, sell him as slave, and then in Egypt, falsely accused of attempted rape, tossed into the prison, and then forgotten. And Joseph must have been right there with St. Paul wondering what on earth God was up to? Was this how He would fulfill the great promises He had made? Turns out the answer was yes, as you remember. Joseph exalted, made Pharaoh’s right hand man. And instead of getting even with his brothers, he forgives them. You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, for the saving of many lives alive!

And then we take the Gospel and hold it up to that story and we go: Wow! Jesus’s cross. His horrible suffering and death. His cry of abandonment from Psalm 2: Eli, eli lama sabachthani? And yet through the darkness, the suffering, the death, the perplexity, God was busy doing His life-giving job for the very ones who caused the suffering. Even for you and me!

Paul sees this wild way God has of working to be the literal pattern of our life in Christ. It’s not just how He worked in Joseph’s life. Not just how He wrought our salvation in Christ. It’s how He still chooses to work in us. Listen again: 

We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus too may be shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Yes, there’s a lot of perplexing things in Scripture, and a lot of perplexing things in how God governs your life. You who hold the treasure of Jesus in your earthenware jars, baptized into His name, see the Scriptures and your very life illumined by the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ: God puts to death in order to make alive. Under the bright light of the hope of the resurrection, you receive the hardships of your lives just like St. Paul received the hardships of the apostolic ministry. Even when there are no answers to your problems, you do not despair. You know the end of His work in you will be glorious! To our ever-living and reigning Lord Jesus, be all the glory, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn 538 “Praise Be to Christ”

Responsive Prayer I, p. 282

Joyous Feast of the Holy Trinity

It's the capstone of the semester Domini and the entrance to the semester Ecclesia, the Feast of the. Holy Trinity. We celebrated together at St. Paul's and then I got to play for the feast at Trinity in Worden.   There is something about the hymns, readings and prayers on this day. The entire liturgy's Trinitarian focus, which is always there, comes into sharp relief. Invocation, absolution, Gloria Patri, Kyrie, Gloria in Exclesis, termination to collects,  triple alleluia, Athanasian, triple Sanctus and Benedictus, triple form of Agnus, Gloria Patri again at the Nunc, and then triple form in Aaronic benediction answered with three Amens. Trinity from start to finish! Indeed, we cry out every Sunday but today explicitly so: Blessed be the holy Trinity and the undivided Unity! Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mercy to us! (Introit).

Like Christmas!!

New toy.  Blow money well spent, thank you Dave Ramsey. Can't wait to go for a long ride!

Love coming into the weekend

With lawn work DONE. I did our yard and trimmed the roses. Cindi's doing her dad's and has weed whacked.  We both enjoy doing it, but she usually finishes up everything while I'm at work. Today we got to share! Now for a nice pot of Irish Breakfast tea.  

New bike...

...well, almost. In consultation with Dean (the family's acknowledged Bike-meisterr), ordered a Giant Sedona hybrid. Maybe here tomorrow or Friday. Can't wait to hit the trails with Cindi again! I wish I could commute with it, but three hours on bike on either end may be a TAD too much. Still, have been thinking through all the stuff we could do without the cars (even shopping in Edwardsville isn't out of the question). Cindi picked up a nifty new basket today. I might pick one up too one of these days.

Aside from bike shopping, we went for another long walk in the sun (and it was all sun today). 

Then a couple hours in the pool, dinner, and some projects around the house. The sun is beginning to set while Pandora is cranking out stunningly gorgeous celtic harp music. Another great day, thanks be to God!

A restorative day

Slept in a bit, and then made breakfast for Cindi and me before she headed out to work. We finished praying Matins together as a storm rolled in. Cindi left, and I enjoyed some french press coffee. Then began work out. By the time all was done 333 push ups, 130 squats, 100 sit ups, and 50 pull ups, and about two hours of walking (yes, I'm obsesive about counting every little bit). The final hour and half or so was with Cindi when she came home. We walked up to the farm and back. The wind was howling on the prairie, and the sky was alternately cloudy or brightly sunny. Absolutely beautiful. We grabbed some left overs, put on Angelo's latest podcast (outstanding as usual!), and floated in the pool for a while. It was finally so cloudy and chilly, we ended up finishing the podcast sitting on the deck. Table is set and Cindi's fixing up a chicken dish for dinner. Hopefully some Liverpool this evening to cap out the day.

STRETCHED

That's what Carlo did with choir this year. When I think back on what he's pulled off, I'm amazed. The Rutter "What Sweeter Music," the Mozart Organ Solo Mass Kyrie and Gloria in Exclesis; K. Lee Scott's "Holy, Holy, Holy;" Franck's "Veni Creator;" and Mozart's "Panis Angelicus." All this with a little country church out in the cornfields of Southern Illinois. And it was fun beyond words! Still, I'm ready for a summer beak. If you're a member of St. Paul who can carry a tune in a bucket, you really do need to join us this fall. You'll be blown away by how much fun it is!

The Feast of Pentecost

What a joyous feast day! For preservice, Carlo gave us Durufle's Veni Creator. Choir sang a Gounod "Spirit of God" and then also the Franck Veni Creator in Latin. The congregation belted out "O Holy Spirit" (17th century), "Come, Holy Ghost" (16th century), "Holy Spirit, Light Divine" (19th century), "Creator Spirit by Whose Aid" (9th century), "Come Down, O Love Divine" (14th century) and the closing hymn was "O Day Full of Grace" (15th century).  A span of over a thousand years in the hymns!

The sermon began with pastor reminding us that if we think we need a little peace and quiet, we need to think with our God, who indeed wants to give us peace, but not through quiet; through speaking instead, through His Words!  

I confess, I still miss the whereat in the Preface. Whereat the whole world rejoiceth with exceeding joy! Still the whole day reminded me of the St. Seraphim of Sarov line: "The Holy Spirit turns to joy whatever He touches." He touched this day and gave it to us as a way of entering into His joy!

Today

Sofa arrived and Bekah is checking it out...

Despite the sad funeral (still having difficulty wrapping my mind around it), a wonderful day. Cindi and I grabbed a bite to eat. I used Tim's family's power washer to clean the siding and the fence. Cindi and I went for a long walk (up to Ray and Arline's and then all the way to where bike trail ends in Hamel and then on around home). We enjoyed a Nor Cal margarita on the deck and then spent some time in the pool (technically, on TOP of the pool!). Bird feeders filled (and humming bird feeders replenished). Burgers on the grill with tater salad and brussel sprouts for dinner. 

Tailor!

So, my son persuaded me to give it a shot. I took some of my clericals (which hang like bags around me!), a couple shirts, and a pair of pants I like but could no longer wear because they were way too big. Cost $124. And wow, was David ever right! They look a thousand times better. The tailor said that if you've never had clothes fitting to your body, you just grow used to that look. But once you SEE what the clothes look like that actually fit you, there's no going back. I'm already planning on another trip in a month or two to get some more fixed. Who'd a thunk?

AND...

...a glorious week of staycation beginning. We have a funeral for a dear friend tomorrow that we're singing for (truly, "in the midst of life, death has us surrounded"); new couch and table are supposed to arrive in the afternoon (kids have been after us for a long time about those...); choir sings Veni Creator for Pentecost and then later in the day we have a wedding (Melissa, Meaghan's sister); Monday we're visiting with friends for cards. And after that??? Absolutely nothing till next Monday.

That is, unless Lauren decides to go early. Grandbaby #4's birth is definitely impending.

Primal Progress...

...been almost six months since a return to strictly primal eating and exercising. (You might recall that it became really difficult to figure out how to do this when I took the job at Synod!) Am soooo glad to be back on track!

Beginning back in February, I started using the gizmo in the gym at work that lets you know your body fat. Started out at over 17 percent (and I'd have loved to know what it was back in November when I was weighing some twenty-five pounds more than I do now). Today was excited to note that I'm at 10.2 percent body fat, with BMI of 21. Not too shabby for a man who will turn 55 this fall!

Lately, I've been mostly just doing body weight exercises for strength. Today was the first time I was able to do 300 push ups, 120 squats, 36 pull ups and 60 sit ups. The body weight exercises I do only twice a week. I walk most days a minimum of 30 minutes, and I run the days I don't walk. Have faithfully kept up with sprints (on stationary bike) once a week. Also, I NEVER take the elevators at work, and run up and down the stairs a bit (iPhone says 20 floors today). I've pretty much given up lunch to have the time to do these workouts, and don't miss the chow (or the expense) one little bit.

I feel as though I've fought my way back to where I was when working on the goal of fabulously fit by fifty. But fought isn't the right word, really. It's been ridiculously simple. Not easy, but simple. I'd recommend anyone at all to give it a try!

And again

Earth, I think, will not be found by anyone to be in the end a very distinct place. I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been all along, only a region in Hell: and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself. —Lewis, The Business of Heaven, p. 134.

A reminder to go with the catechesis...

...a century out from the Reformation, Johann Gerhard taught seven distinct duties of the Office of the Holy Ministry. Preaching the Word, administering the Sacraments, diligent prayer for the flock, leading an honorable life, administering church discipline, preservation of church rites, and care of the poor and afflicted.

About that number six, he says:

In the exercise of divine worship, certain solemn, public rites should be preserved that aim at good order and decorum and were introduced by the pious consensus of the whole church. Therefore the protection of ecclesiastical rites, which were approved by serious consideration and which give useful instruction concerning many topics in public assemblies, also pertains to the ecclesiastical ministry. Nor should a minister change them, leading to scandal in the church, because of some private desire of his mind. Consequently, the sixth duty of ministers is the preservation of ecclesiastical rites.—Johann Gerhard, On the Ministry II, p. 101.

Chapel Homily

Catechesis: Summary of AC, Part 1

1 This then is nearly a complete summary of our teaching. As can be seen, there is nothing that varies from the Scriptures, or from the Church universal, or from the Church of Rome, as known from its writers. Since this is the case, those who insist that our teachers are to be regarded as heretics are judging harshly. 2 There is, however, disagreement on certain abuses that have crept into the Church without rightful authority. Even here, if there are some differences, the bishops should bear with us patiently because of the Confession we have just reviewed. Even the Church’s canon law is not so severe that it demands the same rites everywhere. 3 Nor, for that matter, have the rites of all churches ever been the same. 4 Although, in large part, the ancient rites are diligently observed among us. It is a false and hate-filled charge that our churches have abolished all the ceremonies instituted in ancient times. 5 But the abuses connected with the ordinary rites have been a common source of complaint. They have been corrected to some extent since they could not be approved with a good conscience.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Years ago, a friend of mine contemplated taking a summer class at Concordia Bronxville taught by Dr. Nagel. Now, he'd read much of Dr. Nagel's writings over the years, so he wrote him to ask if there's be anything new in this class. Neither he nor I ever forgot the good Dr.'s response: "No, nothing new. Same old catholic and apostolic faith." 

That is the very spirit in which the Augsburg Confession wraps up its basic layout of the doctrine taught in the Churches that had embraced the Reformation. Nothing new here. Same old catholic and apostolic faith. Check it out they say. It's what the Scriptures teach. It's what the Church catholic has always taught. It's even what the Church of Rome teaches if you bother to read the great fathers who served there. Nothing new! 

Yet they were charged by their opponents with teaching all sorts of novelties and not holding to the traditions of the Church. They own up that they've changed some things, but they characterize those items as abuses that crept into the Church's life without lawful authority. When we cover part two of the Confession, you'll hear a list of them: withholding the cup from the laity, forbidding priests to get married, buying and selling masses, and so on. Our churches fixed these things. And the Confessors note that part of the tradition of the Church is the exercise of freedom regarding humanly instituted ceremonies. They've never been the same everywhere, and they never will be. Nevertheless, say the Confessors, check out our churches and see if it's true or not. We diligently observe most of the ancient rites. That is, ceremonies that didn't conflict with the Word of God, that didn't obscure the Gospel, we cheerfully keep and diligently observe. Check out our Mass, our Divine Service. Check out the sermons and the topics of our preaching. Check out how we don't give the sacrament to anyone who hasn't been examined and absolved in private confession. Check out the kids being catechized and examined. Check out prayers in our homes and daily reading of the Word of God together. Check out how we baptize and teach its use. Check out how we ordain pastors and how only those who have been called and ordained publicly preach, teach or administer the sacraments in our churches. Check us out and you'll see, the Confessors told the emperor, that you've been fed a bunch of hooey about us!

Are we able to make such a claim today in honesty and truth? Is the doctrine taught in our parishes and schools nothing but the same old catholic and apostolic faith that the Church has ever lived from and that we've heard summarized in these weeks from the first 21 articles of the Augsburg Confession? Is it true that we reform anything that ends up obscuring the Gospel, but diligently retain for the most part the ancient rites? 

It seems to me that to be a confessional Church, we must allow our Confessions to challenge us, correct us, and point us in the direction we need to return. If that's not a description of who we are, why can it not be a description of who we mean to be and become again? Surely to be a catholic Christian standing in evangelical freedom and rejoicing in the good order of the Church across the ages is a blessed, blessed calling. I am convinced everyone wants to be such a Lutheran; they just don't know it yet! The Augsburg Confession points the way. Nothing new. Same old catholic and apostolic faith. Shall we not return? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A bit of Lewis for the day

The attempt is based on the belief that reality never presents us with an absolutely, unavoidable 'either-or'' that, granted skill and patience and (above all) time enough, some way of embracing both alternatives can always be found; that mere development or adjustment or refinement will somehow turn evil into good without our being called on for a final and total rejection of anything we should like to retain. This belief I take to be a disastrous error.—The Business of Heaven, p. 133.

My standard for Ascension day...

O. P. Kretzmann Joy on Ascension

Now He was going home... In seven words the years of labor and sorrow end: "While they beheld, He was taken up."... There were no bells and banners on earth, but surely all the trumpets on the other side sounded as they never sounded before... Surely the chiming golden bells of heaven sang their welcome, and angel choirs intoned the song of the throne: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdomand strength."... On the anvils of God the nails had been forged into the scepter of a king... "He was taken up"... The angel hosts sweep to either side, leaving the way clear to the Eternal Light that no longer blinds the eyes of us who stand gazing after Him... He leads a procession which comes from the ends of time and space, all the harvest of all the white fields the world has ever known, the pilgrims of the night who come at last to the dawn of an everlasting day... "He was taken up." The Child of the manger, the praying heart on the starlit lanes of Galilee, the hunger in the wilderness, the weariness of the Sychar Well, the tears of the Garden and the Hill, the thirst of the Cross - all over now... The robes of the Transfiguration once momentary, now clothe Him forever, and angels and archangels sound the great doxology of the Waiting Church: "Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever."...

An old story - perhaps too old for us to do more than glimpse its glory... And yet - we ought to remember it more clearly... It was the solemn moment in the story of God and man when the visible Christ became the invisible Christ... From that hour everything concerning Him became visible only to the eyes of faith... The final line of demarcation in the world - between those who believe and those who refuse to believe - was now clear... Men can say that all this is not true and use the mind of man to reject the mind of God, or they can know that God once walked among them and that they now have a Friend in heaven who knows all that earth and time and pain can do to man...

The Ascension did not take Jesus away... It brought heaven near... In the realm in which He now reigns time and space have no meaning... There is no up and down, no near and far, no darkness, and no distance in the world of faith... He is as near as yesterday's prayer, today's joy, tomorrow's sorrow... His homecoming has made heaven a home for us who still walk far from home... Wherefore stand we gazing into heaven?... Our momentary task is here, but through the slow dimming of the years we see the evening lamps of home tended by the pierced hands of Him who has gone to prepare a place for us... Is there a better way to live - or die? ... All that we have to do now is believe and follow:

The lapping of the sea of death before his feet
Crept near; the wind was wild;
But he, who knew the One he came to meet,
Saw it and smiled.

Stepping without a hesitating word
Into the icy tide,
As if he saw the footprints of his Lord
Gleam at his side,

Borne up by Love that gave as he had given,
He crossed the midnight foam
And laid his hand upon the door of heaven
Like one returning home.

What joy today on Thy Strong Word!

Dr. Scott Yakimow from Concordia, Portland unpacks Genesis 41:

http://www.kfuoam.org/2015/05/14/tsw-2015-05-14/

My question for you: who stammers more, the Yak or me?

And yet more Lewis...

"A car is made to run on petrol, and it won't run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There isn't any other. That's why it's just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God can't give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it isn't there. There's no such thing." Broadcast Talks, p. 49.

Lutheran Service Book in your pocket

Yup. CPH came out with this gem. You can have your Synod's Hymnal in your phone either as part of a Kindle app, or if you have an Apple product, as an iBooks download. I've worked a bit with both. In my opinion, iBooks wins.

All the contents of the pew edition are there plus all the Psalms. A little hard to see the notes on your iPhone 6 (haven't checked it out on a Plus), but clear enough on an iPad or even iPad mini.

Bookmarks are a breeze to set, and then you can quickly flip through your order of service and your hymns.

Yes, I confess. I have used it for leading Chapel at the IC. I did it to see if it could be done, but I confess I much prefer the physical books for that. And similarly, if I'm in the congregation. I want the physical book in my hand. But having the hymnal in my pocket for the radio show, for Bible classes, for my own devotions...well, wow!

The cost is just under $20 and it's worth every dime. What on earth will CPH come out with next?

More Lewis joy

Enemy-occupied territory—that's what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say, landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church, you're really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that's why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us going.—Broadcast Talks, p. 46.

Couple of Meaghan's Great Pics

from Confirmation this year at St. Paul's. First communion for these young folks!

Lewis the Lutheran

at least in this passage from Broadcast Talks (pp. 32, 33):

"My reason was that Christianity simply doesn't make sense until you've faced the sort of facts I've been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who don't know they've done anything to repent of and who don't feel that they need any forgiveness. It's after you've realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind that law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power—it's after all that that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you're sick, you'll listen to the doctor. When you have received that our position is nearly desperate you'll begin to understand what Christians are talking about. They offer an explanation of how we got into our present state of both hating goodness and loving it. They offer an explanation of how God can be this impersonal mind at the back of the Moral Law and yet also a Person. They tell you how the demands of this law, which you and I can't meet, have been met on our behalf, how God Himself becomes man to save man from the disapproval of God. It's an old story and if you want to go into it you will no doubt consult people who have more authority to talk about it than I have. All I'm doing is getting people to face the facts—to understand the questions which Christianity claims to answer. And they are very terrifying facts. I wish it was possible, speaking in war-time, to say something more agreeable. But I've got to say what I think is true. Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run, a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it doesn't begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I've been describing, and it's just no good trying to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay. In religion, as in war and in everything else, comfort is the one thing you can't get by looking for it. If you're looking for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you're looking for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair. Most of us have got over the pre-war wishful thinking about international politics. It is time we did the same about religion."

WOW!

Listening

On the commute, decided to spend some time listening to audio books. Naturally, downloaded the Scriptures (among other things). Today, something stood out that I'd not noticed before. The daily offering of the lamb, morning and evening, was always accompanied with the offering of bread and wine. Lamb, bread, wine. Hmm. Where have I encountered that before? Oh, yeah!

This morning's Treasury...

...contained the definition of repentance in the strict sense from the Solid Declaration. It embraces three things:

1. Acknowledging our sins
2. Being heartily sorry for them (same language is picked up in the Confession of Sins in DS III - sorry, Dr. Korby, but that's the language of our Symbols!)
3. Stopping them

That last bit reminds me very much of the discussion in, I think, the second story in Hammer of God, where the question is put to the pastor about how one knows one is truly repentant for sin, and the pastor answers without hesitation: when you're willing to quit them. If you're not, stop pretending you're sorry.

Hard law, indeed. And it remains true that until we die, this determination to "stop them" is always weak, fragile, fickle. But it is most certainly of the very essence of repentance and without it, there simply is no repentance.

Trinity Lutheran, Jefferson City, sing at the conclusion of IC Chapel

A Cantate Confirmation

It was a packed church today as twelve young people made their confirmation vows and received their first communion. It was not your typical confirmation class, I don't think. It was a group of young people who have borne already a significantly heavy load of sorrow and suffering. A set of triplets had lost their dear mom to breast cancer a couple years ago.  The image of the holy family, given in her loving remembrance, looked down upon them.  A young lad confirmed today has fought a tremendous battle against leukemia, bid farewell to numerous friends, and still soldiers on, with his twin brother beside him who has always shared the struggle as if it were his own. A young lady has also fought the cancer battle and came out the winner. And that young lady's mom has battled it twice. She also saw her uncle buried not two months ago.  The uncle of another young lady is battling brain cancer. These folks are all friends and suffering is no stranger to their company. 

Pastor dwelt upon the promise they would make by the grace of God to face death itself rather than deny the One who washed away their sin in Baptism. He reminded them that in 50 years our beautiful church may be bulldozed by evil men who will try to force them to deny their Savior. Images of the recent martyrdoms filled our minds. 

The great bell tolled once as each one's name was read and each stepped forward and knelt to receive the blessing. No question, this confirmation was different. The Savior has already seen them through so much. He will surely see them all the way home. And so despite the pain and the ominous clouds on the horizon, it was a bright day of overflowing joy. 

On a recent trip

up to Chicago, got to check out the lovely St. John's Lutheran Church in Forest Park.

One of those insane days...

Before I left last night, put out all the hymnals (from several rooms) in Wyneken to use for the opening devotion for Foundation's Gift Giving Counselors. Last night, sleep was scarce (but on the other hand, I did figure out what to do for devotion and what I was preaching for chapel). This morning, with signs warning of impending closing of yet another lane on the Poplar, I thought I'd see how bad the southern route is (swinging around to the IC on 270 to the south). MISTAKE. Devotions were supposed to start at 8:10 and I arrived at IC like at 7:56. Ran to building, ran up stairs, printed off my devotion, ran back downstairs, and Foundation folks are asking where are the song sheets? I explain I put hymnals in. But, of course, they were not there. They were put away by the building people last night, who were rather grumpy that someone left them stacked in Wyneken. Sigh. Run to the rooms to get hymnals together AGAIN. Lead devotion. Head upstairs to ready Chapel, for which I am to preach. Notice that someone is listed to play that I hadn't seen around. Double check. He never got word. Quickly finish up board report that is due on Thursday. Run downstairs to practice music. Lead chapel between the ambo and the piano, going back and forth. Chapel finishes and I cover up piano and head back upstairs to finish up prep for radio show. Print stuff off and run into a friend who invites me to check out their new banners. Downstairs again. Then back upstairs and into the radio studio, where the guest was NOT online. Sigh. They finally get him, and he does a fine job. Finish show and Henry lets me know my boarding pass for tomorrow's flight is on my backpack, and touches base very quickly with the music for the Ascension liturgy. Run back downstairs to locker room, change and head out the door to run for half an hour. Susan sees me running and tells me I had done enough running in the building today. I think she was right. Supplied stuff for Synod Facebook for Good Shepherd Sunday. Recorded the Chapel announcements for next week and got that down to front desk. Met with my boss for a bit. Printed out tomorrow's schedule of meetings in Chicago. Went back to Foundation meeting and grabbed the hymnals with help from Christine and put those all away. Packed up and headed out. Did I mention that I didn't sleep hardly at all last night? Can I go to bed NOW???? [Still not done: final editing for Prayers for June and two articles that are due to Adriane...GULP].

Homily from the 75th Anniversary of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, IL

A Stunning Lenten Sermon

offered by my dear fiend, Duane Peters, a pastor of Lutheran Church—Canada. Thanks to Trent Demarest for sending me a copy I can post on the blog!

The Third Sunday in Lent (3B)

Exodus 20:1-17 and John 2:13-25

March 8, 2015

Rev'd Duane E. Peters

In 1982 my Greek Drama professor invited me to attend a lecture given by Sir Kenneth Dover at the University of Toronto. My professor, Dr Robert Fowler, now Henry Overton Wills Professor of Greek at Bristol, had just completed his D. Phil. from Oxford, and Dover had been one of his examiners. Dover was considered the finest Greek scholar of his generation, and Fowler figured it would be good for me to hear one of the luminaries of ancient Greek studies. So I went with him and listened to the lecture. Afterward he introduced me to Dover, and I was duly impressed. He was learned, eloquent, and well-mannered, everything you would expect of an Oxford man of that age. 

Dover seemed to have led a life of almost oppressive decorum. He received a knighthood in 1977. He was past president of the British Academy when I met him, Chancellor of St. Andrews University, and President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford from 1976 to 1986. But it wasn't always smooth sailing. During his tenure as President of Corpus Christi College, Dover was engaged in a protracted dispute with the college librarian and a Fellow in History, Trevor Henry Aston, who suffered from manic depression. His mental illness coupled with bouts of heavy drinking led to inappropriate outbursts at meetings, quarrelling, abusive language, and drunken displays in the quad. In short, his erratic behaviour was an embarrassment to the College and to Dover. What does one do with a librarian and Fellow whose behaviour threatens the reputation of the College? One possibility is to kill him. In his autobiography Sir Kenneth wrote, “It was clear to me now that Trevor and the college must somehow be separated. My problem was one which I feel compelled to define with brutal candour: how to kill him without getting into trouble. I had no qualms about causing the death of a fellow from whose nonexistence the college would benefit, but I balked at the prospect of misleading a coroner's jury...[and]consulting a lawyer to see if [I] would be legally at risk if [I] ignored a suicide call.” Aston was found dead in his rooms on 17 October 1985 after an overdose. Prior to his death Dover had received a call from a mutual friend informing him that Aston sounded like he was contemplating suicide. After consulting his doctor, Dover and the physician decided to do nothing. Although Dover had consulted a lawyer and had put pressure on Aston, he later contended that Aston's suicide resulted from the fact that his wife had filed for divorce. In view of his penchant for honesty, I think we have to give Dover the benefit of the doubt. At this point, the most we can say is that he was contemplating assisting Aston with his suicide. At the very least his statements are chilling, and it is easy to understand why his relationship with many of his colleagues soured after the event.

I mention this because Dover was an atheist. That's why he had no qualms about causing the death of a Fellow. And it is important that we realize the seriousness of the situation we now find ourselves in. Thoughts and ideas have consequences. There are consequences for belief and unbelief, in this world and the next. And this example is not an isolated incident. In his book The End of Faith the popular atheist Sam Harris said, “Some propositions are so dangerous that it may even be ethical to kill people for believing them.” In other words, the Christian faith is so dangerous that it may even be ethical to kill people for believing it. Shades of Mao Tse-tung, Josef Stalin, and Pol Pot! Those three atheists together killed more people in the 20th century than had been killed in the previous 19 combined. It is no accident. If you remember, after Adam and Eve fell into sin, one of the first things that happened was Cain killed Abel. Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Their sin resulted in death and murder. Thus, it should not surprise us that atheists have such an easy relationship with death. They live in the kingdom of death, the kingdom of sin, death, and the devil. And we need to remember that this is a serious matter. As St. Paul says, “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” When you hear people espouse this stuff on the radio and TV, it is not just a case of boys will be boys, or people have silly ideas. There is evil at work in the world.

And it is getting worse, or at least, some people are starting to recognize evil for what it is. The philosopher Justin McBrayer said he was surprised to discover the public schools were teaching children that it is not true that it is wrong to kill people for fun or cheat on tests. As a professor of philosophy he knew that most university-aged students did not believe in moral facts, but he didn't know where that attitude came from until he entered his son's second grade classroom, and discovered that they were taught such things were just opinions. In other words, it is merely an opinion that it is wrong to kill people for fun. But this is nothing new. Allan Bloom had already pointed this out in 1987.

You may also be surprised to learn that the Education Act of Ontario, Chapter E.2, Part X, 264 (1)(c) says the duty of a teacher in Ontario is “to inculcate by precept and example respect for religion and the principles of Judaeo-Christian morality and the highest regard for truth, justice, loyalty, love of country, humanity, benevolence, sobriety, industry, frugality, purity, temperance, and all other virtues.” I hardly think the province's new sex education curriculum seeks to “inculcate respect for the principles of Judaeo-Christian morality and the highest regard for purity and all other virtues.” How is the poor teacher who is required to teach the curriculum supposed to inculcate by precept respect for Christian morality?

The Judaeo-Christian precepts the Education Act of Ontario speaks of are found in our Old Testament Reading, the Ten Commandments. But if you have no respect for God, then the Ten Commandments become nothing more than someone's opinion, which is exactly what people have told me over the years when I quoted the Word of God to them. But it is not God's opinion; it is God's Law. And if it is God's Law, you ignore it at your peril.

There are only two options in this life. Either you love God and hate evil, or you love evil and hate God. Either you are a Christian, or you are an unbeliever. Luther said when we keep the Ten Commandments, we show that we fear and love God. The Book of Proverbs says “To fear God is to hate evil.” Anyone who does not hate evil is vulnerable to evil. But we live in an age when evil is not only promoted, but praised. And if we do not put on the full armour of God, we will fall before the assaults of evil. We must hold on to Christ, then, and His Word and Sacraments, if we are to be saved.

The Fall into sin wrought havoc in God's creation. Men made in the image of God were now evil. That's why Jesus did not trust the men talking to Him in the Temple and in Jerusalem.

Jesus knows what is in the hearts of men. He told us. In Mark 7:21 Jesus said, “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.” That's what is going on in the hearts of human beings. In fact, in our day, it is no longer restricted to the heart. It has all come out, and it all defiles. Sin runs rampant. We sin because we are sinners. The fall into sin has left us with sinful and defiled hearts, hearts that would lead us to hell if God had not intervened.

Rebellious man cannot presume to appear before God, much less wrangle with Him (Roehrs). God must take the initiative. God must come to man. Just as God took the initiative and rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, and then spoke to His terrified people on Mount Sinai, so God took the initiative and became a man to rescue us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. It was all God's doing.

The Son of God became a man and made His body your temple. The Temple was the place where sacrifice was offered to atone for your sin. The body of Jesus, nailed to the cross, is the place where the sin of the world is atoned for, your sin and mine.

Jesus spoke of a new Temple, the Temple of His body. And this is the good news for us. In this Temple, the Temple of His body, Jesus made atonement for all sin. Jesus took what is in man and carried it to the cross. He took the evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness and made satisfaction for them there. He is the victim and the priest, the Temple and the sacrifice. In His own body He made satisfaction for your sins. And the body given into death on the cross for your sins and raised for your forgiveness on Easter Sunday, He gives to you now for your forgiveness in the Holy Supper. His sacrifice brings your forgiveness.

The temple authorities asked Jesus for a sign to justify His actions. Pretty nervy for sinners to demand a sign from God in the midst of their sin. But Jesus, who leaves no believing petition unanswered, refused as always the sign which will satisfy the demand of the unrepentant. He answered them with a riddle which was also a call to repentance. The sneer with which they answered His call to repentance makes it clear that Jesus knew what was in their hearts when He refused their demand for a sign. No sign would be given that evil generation except the sign of Jonah, the sign of the Temple of His body raised on the third day. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. His own people rejected Him. But as many as received Him, who believed in His 

name, He gave power to become the children of God.

The Psalmist says, “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (51:16). That is the language of repentance. Jesus came to the Temple to call His people to repentance. He showed them their sin and pointed them to His death and resurrection for forgiveness. In His death and resurrection, Jesus said, “I forgive you.” He is present here again today with His forgiveness for you to receive. He is here delivering the fruits of His sacrifice through the preached and sacramental Gospel. He offers His body and blood for your forgiveness. That is His sacrifice for us. It is all here as His gift for you.

Jesus is here with His gifts because He knows what you need for your salvation. You need His forgiveness. Knowing that, He died for you. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Now you know that because Jesus was put to death for your sins and raised for your forgiveness, because Jesus died and rose for you, when death destroys your body, Jesus will raise it up again on the Last Day. Amen.

Not the best of days...

...started off with having to say good bye to Lauren and Annabelle as they flew back to NC, but poor Lucy seems to have suffered a stroke.  Her back legs drag behind her.  Vet could find no sensation in them she was aware of. We took her back home.  We devised a sling to hold up her rear and as long as we're holding that, she's pretty happy and even explores some outside. But I'm not sure how long she will make it and if the stroke is progressive. She definitely is far worse today than yesterday.  Prayers appreciated for our little pooch.  If He cares for the cattle of Nineveh, surely He cares also for our little four footed companions.  

This!

Yes. Exactly.

Today's chapel homily

click here.

Homily for Easter Wednesday

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

(Acts 3:13-21 ESV)

It was heady times in the Apostolic community. What had Jesus promised? “And greater things than this shall you do because I go to the Father.” So after crucifixion, after resurrection, after ascension, He poured out His Spirit and things were hopping in Jerusalem. Peter and John headed up to the temple to pray and the man begging alms. Peter notices him, notices his faith. Says: “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

And he didn’t only get and walk, he was leaping and dancing and praising God for the unmerited, unlooked for gift of healing. Chrysostom says that this made manifest the resurrection, for it was an image of the resurrection. And everyone gathered around him and Peter and John and wondered. Quite evidently the same wonder working power that had been evidenced in Jesus was still in evidence. There’s a reason Luke begins Acts with the feisty words, in the first book, O Theopholis, I covered all that Jesus BEGAN to do and to teach.” Because His doing and teaching were still going on quite powerfully through the Apostles.

But the danger is that we forget that it’s Jesus doing the verbs. We can imagine that it was those who were only instruments. So Peter cries out: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” And so today’s text begins.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus and it’s Jesus who is behind all this hoopla. “Then shall the lame man leap like a deer!” Isaiah had foretold. And the man whooping and hollering it up in the temple was the doing of Him who alone can heal the sick, give sight to the blind, raise the dead.

Yesterday, Dr. Rast read the text later when Paul was preaching: “They killed...”
 and that’s fair because he wasn’t in Jersualem anymore. But here in our reading, with the memory of those historic days fresh in everyone’s mind, no “they” but “you.” You delivered him over, the One who went in your midst healing every disease and raising the dead, You denied him before Pilate (No king but Caesar for us!), even when Pilate was trying to release Him. You asked for a murderer instead. “Not this man but Barabbas!” And so YOU killed the Author of life. You killed Your own life. You killed the very life of this world. BUT God raised Him from the dead. We (John, Peter and the other apostles) are all witnesses of this. And He’s the one who’s still up to His old business. It’s by His name and faith in His name that this fellow stands before you in perfect health. Jesus did this, not we.

And I know you acted in ignorance, you and your leaders. But that’s how God worked it all so that everything His prophets said came true: that His Christ would suffer. Isaiah 53 looms large. And Psalm 22, among others. “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good for the saving alive of many lives.” So, repent, turn get a new mind. Your sins will be blotted out and times of refreshing will come to you from the Lord.

Here we stand, centuries removed, and yet we cannot but be stirred in heart when we hear of those amazing days, when the cowardly Peter stood bold and preached the Crucified and Risen One and did not deny anymore. When the men who at one point were so concerned about their own prestige and honor and seating plan in the Kingdom, now throw overboard all pride and stress to everyone that it’s them, their power, their piety, it’s Jesus and His name that does the miracle.

Beside a charcoal fire, Peter had denied. Besides a charcoal fire, Peter was restored (John 21). And what the Risen One did for Peter, blotting all His sins, He wanted to do for everyone who rejected, despised, mocked, and killed Him. He literally is Forgiveness of Sin risen from the dead. And so for you too, He rises to bring you times of refreshing. To be Your pardon. And His power goes on working in your life, as He pours out His Spirit into you and you too believe.

It wasn’t long before the Church began noticing the shifting of the Lord’s work. Those eye-popping miracles of the earliest days faded with the death of the Apostles. It is said that in a meeting between himself and St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Innocent IV noted with pride: “No longer can the Church say ‘silver and gold have I none’ to which Aquinas noted, “but neither can she say ‘rise, take up your bed and walk.’”

Which invites us to some self-reflection. Have the flood of miracles died down because of our worldiness. Something we need to ask. But I think that misses the mark a bit. Yet it is true, those kind of miracles still show up, now and again across the centuries. The Lord still works. But the flood of miracles that came with the Apostles was to prove to all the world that the Risen One was at work in them and that each one of us needs to hear the words they bring us about the Crucified and Risen Lord. And that's how the big miracle happens, the miracle that just keeps going on, the miracle of dead sinners being raised up to life, brought into a community of faith, formed by the Spirit, shaped by the Word, in which forgiveness continues to blot out every sin in the blood of Jesus, and where God’s most determined enemies continue to be forgiven and restored. Where the ministry continues to give out the Lord’s gifts not by its own power or piety, but simply done in the name and bidding of the Risen One, who will finally bring in the great miracle of resurrection for us all, and to whom be glory, now and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Please note

the grand prize for toddler. She MIGHT be familiar to followers of ye olde blog:  March of Dimes Cutest Baby Contest.

Easter 2015

What joy at the Divine Service! The liturgy began, as usual on this day, with the bells and organ leading "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today" as the procession entered the Church.

The choir sang the Introit antiphonally with the congregation and then immediately launched into the Kyrie and Gloria (in Greek and Latin, respectively) from Mozart's Organ Solo Mass in C. The Hallelujah Chorus was the alleluia before the Holy Gospel.

After a hearty singing of "Christ Jesus Lay," Pastor gave us a fabulous sermon that bundled together the oddness of pastors, the love of folks tending graves in the cemetery down the road, and the joy of Resurrection (of course!). During the offering and again at the Sanctus, the altar was censed. And then the Body and Blood of the Risen One was given us for forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Distribution took a long time. About 25 minutes. The congregation sang through "At the Lamb's High Feast," "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," "With High Delight," and "Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain." 

After being nourished by the Easter Gospel and the Sacrament, we departed singing "Now All the Vault."

And Carlo sent us off with some Widor. A glorious Easter feast from start to finish.

A random Good Friday thought

as we were adoring the Crucified:

The blood and the water. I've always run right away to Eucharist and Baptism. But also this: the blood by which He is one nature with us as child of Mary; the water by which He shares His nature with the Father, making us children of God. And both together flow forth from His side as He makes His new Eve.

Twas a glorious Vigil

We gathered in the courtyard and followed the Paschal Candle into the sanctuary as the Easter moon shone down upon us. "The Light of Christ!" Pastor Ball used all twelve readings, interspersed with the Song of Moses and Miriam, the Song of Jonah, and the Song of of the Three Children. Asperges with the Baptismal blessing. Ringing of the bell at the Gloria and the incensing of the altar. He chanted the Holy Gospel. A wonderful, wonderful homily. The God who refines His own in the fire, but brings them through in safety. The Son of Man who is with us and grants us the final victory. "The Strife is O'er." And then the joyous Eucharist. From start to finish, it was all overflowing joy. Vigil is truly one of the most beautiful and Scripture filled services of the whole year.

Walking...

Our God is a God who walks. We find that out right away in Genesis! And He invites us to walk with Him: "He hath shown thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God" (Amos). To walk humbly with God is to let Him take the lead. I think of the exact opposite as the way our silly beagle pulls and tugs this way and that. And when you walk with Him it's quite the trip. Think Enoch.

Indeed marvelous things happen when we walk with God. How the two on the road to Emmaus discovered that as they walked along and were sad and thought they'd lost Him! But He wasn't lost. He joined them as they walked and talked of the Scriptures (Deuteronomy six in action!) and taught them that His feet had been destined to walk right to the cross, to be transfixed, dead, and then to walk again. Alive, out of the tomb, with more life to give than a universe could ever hold. And their hearts burned as He walked and they walked and He spoke.

Take a walk this Easter weekend, people loved by God. Let your feet carry you to that assembly where the Risen One still comes to greet His own, to break the bread and open eyes and fill hearts with peace and joy. And then when you walk out in the country, you'll find you're walking in His world and He meets you everywhere along the way. In the beauty of His world, in the faces that you greet, in the needs you meet.

Oh, and when you go for the walk to the assembly or when you walk out in the country, put the danged phone away.

Prepping the Easter Feast

Cindi's menu for this year (mostly courtesy of The Art of Paleo Entertaining):

avocado cream eggs
grapefruit salad
honey-glazed ham
sweet potato souffle
roasted rainbow carrots
garlic red mashed taters
meyer lemon tart (topped with fresh berries)
assorted chocolates

Several cabernets to be served as well.

And when we get home from the Vigil tonight, some homemade crackers and wild-caught sockeye salmon, some aged cheddar by Kerrygold, some brie, and possibly a summer sausaage.

Yes, the fast is almost ended and the Church's "Queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor, with its royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render." (LSB 487:3, St. John of Damascus). And THAT feast will make the Easter feast we eat at home pale in comparison. CAN'T WAIT!!!

Chief Service

A liturgy whose beauty breaks the heart and fills it with peace at the same time. The service resumes with a collect, asking God to behold His family, and unlike any other liturgy of the year, a collect follows each reading. Isaiah 53 is read, a collect, 2 Corinthians 5 is read, a collect. Then the Passion of St. John introduced with "Jesus, I Will Ponder Now." The introduction was the same, I believe, as on the Heritage of the Reformation CD set. Viola et al. Amazing. Then the unfolding of the Passion, interspersed with "O Sacred Head" but first introduced in the most lovely setting with violin. Back and forth, the reading of the Passion and each of those wonderful sung prayers. We sat for most of the Passion, but stood at the very conclusion and then sang the final stanza of "O Sacred Head" and then silence. Pastor preached us a most comforting and beautiful sermon about how on the Cross God is exposed and His love for us is exposed and our sin is exposed. Following the sermon, "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth." The bidding prayer followed. NEVER has it seemed more fitting:  "Let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would defend her against all the assaults and temptations of the adversary... Let us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty... Let us pray for peace... Let us pray for our enemies, that God would remember them in mercy and graciously grant them such things as are needful for them and profitable for their salvation..." The adoration of the Cross was truly the highlight. Pastor carried the cross in from the rear of the Church: "Behold, the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the world." The crosses were unveiled and we heard the reproaches, chanted by pastor, answered by the school children, sweetly chanting the "Holy Lord God..." The congregation answered also with "Lamb of God, Pure and Holy." Staring at the image of our Lord unveiled, nailed to the tree, as these rang forth... wow. And then the school children sang the Canticle: "We adore You." The congregation concluded the adoration of the Crucified with a triumphant (even with tympani!) "Sing, My Tongue!" During this, Pastor vested in a black chasuble and prepared the altar. The simple order as suggested in Altar Book was used, save that Pastor reverted (YEAH) to the words of the old Lenten Preface. After the reception of the Eucharist in silence, a final collect was offered (the 13th collect offered in this particular liturgy!) and then we sang: "The Royal Banners" once again with triumphant registration on the organ, tympani and all kinds of musical embellishment underscoring the TRIUMPH that is celebrated on this most holy day. It was remarkable from start to finish, and took just under an hour and a half. Can't WAIT to go back tonight for the Tenebrae Vespers.

A little Monteverdi for Good Friday

Click here.

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You for by the wood of Your cross joy has come into all the world.

Thirty Years

When the phone rings that early on a Sunday morning, you know it's never a good thing. Mom on the line. Telling me my brother, Joseph, had been killed in a car accident early that morning. Lord, have mercy. I still remember saying: "You're kidding, right?" And her sharp rebuke: "Would I kid about something like that?"

I was a vicar at the time, serving in Garfield, New Jersey at Holy Trinity. I remember pulling myself together as much as I could and walking over to tell Pastor Plvan. I was scheduled to preach. "Do you think you can do it?" he asked. I said that I thought I could.

I asked him not to say anything. A friend once said of me: "He's the most intensely private person I know" and that's nowhere more evident than in dealing with grief. I just needed to process this on my own.

The liturgy was really hard. I've always loved the Palm Sunday hymns and I remember sobbing my way through the sermon hymn, and Bev (as acolyte that morning) looking across the chancel at me wondering what on earth was going on. I pulled myself together to get into the pulpit and a preach a homily on Zechariah 9. "Rejocie!" Made it through it and was fine for the rest of the liturgy.

During the Bible Class hour, I told my youth group and David (now long since gone too!), took charge as he always did. You see, we couldn't just pop in the car and head home because I was committed to playing at the Church's cantata that evening; Diane was singing "I know that my redeemer lives" and I was her accompanist. I needed to do that. So David arranged for us to get a flight. Right after I finished playing, he took Cindi and I to the airport and we flew one bumpy flight back to DC.

Cindi's grandparents met us at the airport and brought along their extra car for us to use while we were in town. Then the horror of facing my sister-in-law and those sweet little girls, and my mom. We all had gathered at their place and there were sobs a plenty.

It was thirty years ago, and yet I think I remember every single detail of that day and the days following, when so many other days have long since faded in memory. We had a connection, Joe and I, that was different. We loved arguing. Take any subject and we'd argue it. He was a thinker and he didn't allow for shoddy thinking to go unchallenged either!

I remember so well him attending my graduation from Bronxville, and some private conversations along the way. Nothing we couldn't say to each other, and that's a special gift for an older brother to give a younger one. Anyway, I miss you, Joseph. The years haven't made that any easier.

A Responsive Setting of the St. Mark Passion

can be downloaded here.

Who am I to turn down

money from Be Well, Serve Well? So this year, I went to the Dr. again so I could fill out my health profile and also get credit for the exam.

Now, mind you, I've been strictly living my primal way of life since last Advent. Sadly, by Thanksgiving, I'd crept back up to 165 or so, allowing myself way too many exceptions and never (since starting at the IC) getting back to regular exercise. But since then, it's been a different story. Every day, come rain or shine, 1/2 hour walk or run (thank you, Cindi, for getting us the treadmill for home—$25 used!). I've dumped eating lunch at work and spend the time walking on the treadmill or running outside and lifting once or twice a week. Have also been faithful with the sprints each Saturday. 

With food, I've really lowered (thank you, Angelo Coppela) fat by simply not ADDING any fat to my cooked food. No butter for the taters, and they STILL taste great! Most weeks, Cindi and I don't eat till Supper on Wednesdays and Fridays, allowing our bodies a full 24 hours to digest what we've been eating.

Anywho, results from the doc:

Blood pressure was 100/68

PSA was 1.2 (exactly where it was years ago, last time I did this)

HDL was 103

LDL was 92

Weight was 144 (I've hit as low as 141 this week!), with a height of 70 inches, waist of 30.

Percentage of body fat was 16

BMI was 20

Age: 54 (55 in October)

I've never felt better in my life. The only medicine I take is my Maxalt for migraines and that is not a daily medication by any stretch. 

Anywho, please consider all the above a commercial for Mark's Daily Apple and Angelo's Humans are Not Broken. Check them out! "It's not easy, but it is simple."

A custom

long since fallen into desuetude among us is the announcing of betrothals at the altar in the Divine Service for prayer. The old 1881 Church Liturgy has three wonderful prayers that the congregation may offer upon betrothal. Here is the third:

Holy God, Thou art the author of the marriage covenant, and hence Thou wilt have it kept holy by us. Graciously accept, we pray Thee, the intent of these betrothed persons, to have their betrothment sanctified by Thy word, and to seek for their union the blessing Thou hast pronounced upon all them that are united by Thee. Consecrate and sanctify them Thyself, O God, that they may begin their estate with Thee, and grant them Thy grace so that in future time also they may ever joyfully remember their having been united by Thee. Enter with Thy fear into their hearts, and with Thy blessing into their house. Hear us for Jesus' sake. Amen.

I think we have lost something very precious.

It's been several years

since I took that Meyers-Briggs test. Tonight I went back and reread the description of INFJ and once again I came away shocked at how it nailed me. I had missed before the comment about internalizing stress to the point of sickness. Migraines, anyone? I remember thinking when I first took the test: "Yeah, they're written like a horoscope so that everyone will see themselves in it." But that's really not true. I remember pondering Cindi's and Sandy Bower's descriptions and laughing at how right one they were (though Cin was borderline on a few), and how they are NOT me. But it irked (well, irks) me that answering some stupid questions can give that kind of insight into a person. Anyway, irked or not, it is good to look into the mirror every once in a while.

Treat yourself

to the joy of this Gospel proclamation. Note where the sermon begins. At least listen to that. But the rest is also beautiful and wonderful.

Dr. Feuerhahn's Funeral

Homily for Fourth Lenten Midweek

on the Passion according to St. Mark:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you for by your holy cross you have redeemed all the world.  Amen.

Jesus, what was it like for you?  To be dragged in by your own people and renounced and rejected.  To be handed over to the Romans.  To stand before Pilate while your own hurled accusation after accusation upon you.  What was it like for you?

They accused you of being a King, dear Jesus, and a King you owned up to being.  But beyond that, you would not say a word at all.  Pilate was confused by you.  He knew very well that you were not guilty.  He knew very well that you had been delivered up to him out of envy.  He made an effort to let you go, to let you off.  But in the end, he’d rather see an innocent man die than have a riot break out in his province.  Peace at all costs.

What was it like for you, Jesus, to stand there, loving them, and hear them say:  “Crucify!  Crucify Him!  Away with Him!”?  What does it feel like to give your heart so wholly and to have you love rejected?  What was it like for you to hear them set Barabbas free by killing you?  But that was the point, wasn’t it?  You came to set the Barabbases of this world free.  Those who are guilty of murder and rebellion.  We are Barabbas, aren’t we, Jesus?  We are the ones who have rebelled against the Sovereign of this world, we are the ones who handed an innocent man over to be crucified.  We did it.  No other.  We.  And so for us your innocent life is traded.

To Pilate it makes no sense at all.  You don’t even make an attempt to defend or save yourself.  You stand before him in silence.  To the soldiers, you just don’t make any sense either.  They mock you.  They cloth you in royal purple.  They cram that crown of thorns down on your head until your blood flowed free.  They beat you with sticks and spit at you.  They were in a fury to get some rise, some response out of you.  Something.  They wanted to see some sign of hatred and anger.  Something to justify what they were about to do to you.  But you stood still and silent.  You loved them.  You loved us.  You wouldn’t stop loving no matter how terrible the treatment, no matter how undignified the disgrace.

Pilate and the soldiers couldn’t understand.  Neither can we.  How on earth can you go on loving, go on forgiving, go on reaching out to us.  Yet it seems the harder we push you away, the closer you draw to us.  The further we try to get away from you, the nearer you come.

O King and Lover of us all, O Bleeding and Dying Redeemer, O Silent and Suffering Lamb of God, have mercy on us who deserve no mercy.  Grant peace to us who would give you no peace.  Transform us by the vision of Your silent, suffering love, O King of kings!  Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.  Amen.

In honor of the Commemoration of St. Patrick

....a goodie from Pr. Hans Fiene. Enjoy: Come on, Patrick!

This weekend...

...was the first since August of 1987 that Cindi and I have been empty nesters. Yup, Bekah moved into her apartment and it's just Cindi, Lucy and I wondering around the house. Dave still joins us for dinner, of course, but most of the time it's eerily quiet (Bekah has always been an explosion of energy - walking through the door and talking a hundred miles an hour!). Lucy was visibly upset when we moved out Bekah's bed; to be fair, it was always Lucy's bed too! She seems lost and sad, but she'll get ued to it again. Bekah moved out once before (when she was in school), but then David was here to keep her entertained and play with. 

So a new chapter really does begin for Cindi and me. Each previous one has held untold blessings and joys; I expect this new one will too. Still I can't help be a bit wistful and think of the line of Tolkein:

...and listen for returning feet

and voices at the door.

The world will little note...

...the passing today of a great man: Dr. Ronald Feuerhahn. Never did Cape Girardeau, Missouri provide so great a gift to the Church. A Sasse scholar, a gentleman, a constant student and therefore an apt teacher, Dr. Feuerhahn was a blessing to so very many. I am blessed that he was a reader for my STM thesis, and I always enjoyed classes with him (which we jokingly called Sasse on... whatever the topic was!). May the comfort of Christ's resurrection fill his beloved wife and family with the peace that no sorrow can touch. Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen! And yes, though Lent, ALLELUIA!

Tremble now, O gates of hell, for his tremors are ended.
Christ has crowned His confessor with glory and honor
And brought him into His eternal splendor.
Though you sought, Satan, to ravage his body
you could not still his witness to the Savior's cross and triumph.
Faithful unto death he wears now the crown of life unending.
Glory to You, Lord Jesus, for Your unfailing love and kindness to Your servant, Ron!

Missionary Orientation

week at the IC is more than insane, but it's also one of my favorite times. Why? Because I get to teach the CATECHISM. And there is simply not a whole lot on God's green earth that is better than teaching the Catechism.

Lenten Midweek Homily III

We have heard the Lenten call of the Church summoning us back to the font, reminding us as we confess in our Catechism that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die and that a new man daily should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.  Which is another way of saying that something in us needs to die and something God gives us need to take its place.  Today we see this in the matter of Confession.

Not the Confession of sin, but the Confession of the holy faith, the Confession of who Jesus is and what our relationship is to Him.  Jesus is mostly silent during his mockery of a trial, but when the high priest asks him point blank:  "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus confesses and does not deny:  "I am.  You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God's power and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Those were the words that sealed his fate.  "Do we still need any witnesses?" cried the High Priest.  "You have heard this blasphemy.  What is your opinion?"  And they all agreed He was deserving of death.  Deserving of death because He had told the truth about Himself - a truth they did not want to hear.

And then there's Peter.  He has the opportunity to confess Jesus too.  Remember, how boldly he had said:  "Lord, even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you."  There is no reason to doubt his sincerity.  He meant it.  But when the moment came, in the flicker of the light from the fire, he withdraws into the darkness and insists:  "I do not know what you mean."  And again:  "I do not know the man."  And again with a solemn oath, calling down curses upon himself, he lies and says:  "I do not know the man."

Why?  What was it that enabled our Lord to make the good confession to the High Priest, even though that Confession meant his death?  What was it that hindered Peter from confessing and owning up that yes, he knew Jesus and further was His disciple.  We understand Peter's response all too well.  We live by nature with what was eating at him:  fear.

When push came to shove, Peter's courage failed him because he was afraid.  Afraid of suffering and most of all, afraid of death.  And that made him a captive to the fear that he served.  That's exactly what the Apostle tells us in Hebrews:  that the devil, who has the power of death, keeps in life-long slavery those whom he locks up in the fear of death.

And here is the key to our Lord's boldness.  For though He hates death, despises it, scorns it, He does not fear it.  He came into this world to destroy it.  He came among us to let it devour Him so that by taking its stinking gullet Him over whom it had NO claim, it might be destroyed forever, and so His people set free from their slavery, free from their fear.

Jesus, standing before the High Priest, knows what is about to happen.  He knows that He will yield His life upon the cross - a fragrant offering and sacrifice to His Father, His blood blotting forever the guilt of our sin and the sin of the whole world.  And He also knows and rejoices that His Father will never abandon Him to the grave.  That though death takes Him, death's bands will be burst.  The way several early fathers put it, He was death's poison pill.  Having swallowed Him down - the utterly indigestible Divine - death began to wretch and ended up vomiting up all it had swallowed.  Jesus does not fear death, because Death will never be the end of Him - or of any who are joined in living faith to Him.

But Peter has only heard that Jesus will be raised from the dead; and now that he sees the Master in the hands of those who will turn Him over to crucifixion, his heart quails and he trembles and fears and rather than in peace confessing His Lord, in terror of death he denies Him.  Jesus calls Peter to repentance with a look, and Peter went out and wept bitterly.

He wept bitter tears for his own fear and sin and cowardice, but he did not despair.  Unlike Judas.  Did the look that Jesus gave him communicate to him:  Remember, I told you you would deny me, and I was right, so you have; but remember I also told you I would rise again, and I will be right about that too!  I have prayed for you, Peter, that you faith fail not!

Think of the man we meet here on the other side of the resurrection, on the day of Pentecost!  The man who cowered before the serving girl boldly tells the crowds that day:  "This Jesus whom YOU murdered by hanging on a tree God has raised from the dead and we are all His witnesses!"

What stands in between?  The resurrection of Christ and the coming of the Spirit.  And so with you and your Baptism.  For in the waters you are placed into the tomb with Christ and raised with Him as the guarantee of a life that will never end.  In the waters the Holy Spirit Himself descended upon you even as He descended on Peter and the other Apostles on Pentecost - transforming them from quavering cowards to bold confessors.  What changed was the conviction of faith that Jesus truly HAS destroyed death's power by enduring it.

Years later Peter was told:  Sacrifice to the Emperor and deny this Jesus or die!  And in the grace of God he refused.  He refused and he went the way of his Lord.  Even to being crucified, though upside down because he did not feel himself worthy to die the same as his Lord.  But in the end, Peter looked the fear of death in the face and laughed at it.  "You can't scare me this time!  I know Who lives forevermore and I know you have NO power over Him and I am in Him and His body and His blood are in me.  You lose, even as you take me.  I am not afraid of you."

Something has to die and something rises as a gift of God to us.  Slavery to fear of death gets left behind in the baptismal water, and courage to boldly confess the Master is poured out fresh each day.  Lent calls us to return to this gift of the water - to embrace the death of fear and the resurrection of bold confession in the Spirit's power.  O Lord, set us free and loose our tongues to confess!  Amen.

Vacation

It was a wonderful time with dear friends and enjoying the beauty of God's awesome creation. It was sunny (for the most part), warm, and the trade winds never stopped. Only ran a 5-K on board the boat, but that was a lot of fun. Ran barefoot. Sadly, forgot to look at the time. But I wasn't racing. I was basking. The sun and the wind were just what the doctor ordered. 

Came back to Missionary Orientation. Cannot even begin to describe how much energy it brings to the building to have these folks with us. The IC chapel filled with little ones. The singing loud and boisterous. And best of all (for me) teaching the catechism. My favorite! This Friday will be the sending service at 2 p.m. Join us, if you're in the area. Missionary kids will be singing, we'll have Kantor Gerike on the organ and trumpets and trombone, but best of all: we'll have our Lord's Body and Blood for the remission of our sins.

Also realized how very much I had missed the radio show while away. A treat to be back on air and with John Lukomski as the guest. We truly did romp through the goodies of Matthew 28. 

So, back in the saddle and raring to go. Good thing too, given the packed schedule for this week.