Sinner & Saint

I write to you this morning as a very broken man.

There is not much left of me emotionally physically, or spiritually.

On Saturday, I was asked to officiate and preach at the funeral of a 26-year-old young man who was a good friend.

For the past 13 years, Jonathan’s body was plagued and ravaged by Intracranial Hypertension, an illness that brought him through 70+ surgeries over those years.

Jonathan’s father, a pastor in Staten Island, asked me to let him rest during his time of loss, grieving, and mourning, by taking over his church and the pulpit as we remembered who his son was, but more importantly who Jesus is.

I first met Jonathan when I was a volunteer youth leader at our sister church in Staten Island. At that time his family had moved to the island because Jonathan’s father excepted a call to lead a congregation not far from the church that I serving. Upon arrival to the neighborhood, Jonathan’s parents sought out our congregation to care for and love their four children.

As the years went by and I parted ways with Jonathan and his family to accept a call out here to Huntington, our relationship remained strong because of our shared issues with illness–his Intracranial Hypertension and my cancer.

The geographical distance didn’t stop us from meeting and texting each other. Our relationship became a point of refuge where we could speak and share thoughts and words with each other that we would never share with our family or friends.

The Baldini family has given me permission to share the sermon I preached at Jonathan’s funeral with you today.

——————–

We are gathered this morning in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Amen.

Family and friends,

I am here with you on this day to share your loss as best as I can, but more than that, I am here with you to hear what Jesus has to say about life, and death, and resurrection.

In a recent conversation I had with Jonathan, talk of the latest superhero movies and what comedies we were currently watching and re-watching on Netflix eventually dissolved, as it always did, into talk about our shared hardships due to illness.

When we got to the place of discussing the specifics of pain, suffering, life and death, Jonathan questioned me saying,

“When you had cancer, did you ever think about dying?”

My response was a quick and easy, “Yes.”

Jonathan then proceeded to tell me that he wasn’t afraid to die because He knew God’s love would take care of him.

But, when he thought about his own death, the only thing he worried about was leaving his family behind because he knew they would experience great sadness and deep suffering once he left them.

In Jonathan’s last moments with us, he was deeply concerned for your welfare and he had a Christ like love for you.

The account of Jesus pain, suffering, and death is told to us by the Gospel writer John with these words:

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

 “They divided my garments among them,

and for my clothing they cast lots.”

 So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus was not afraid to die. He knew His death would forgive the sins of many.

But, one thing Jesus worried about from the cross was leaving his family and friends behind because they would experience great sadness and deep suffering once he left them.

The text tells us that

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, [he is now] your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “[Friend, she is now] your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19)

Deeply concerned for His mother’s welfare, Jesus entrusted Mary to a disciple’s care.

Even in the dark moments of pain, suffering, the light of the love of God shone brightly through Jesus onto Mary, His mother who was suffering from watching the brutal and humiliating death of her son.

Even while dying on the cross, Jesus has compassion on the ones who were grieving and mourning the loss of a loved one and makes sure they will be properly cared for after his death.

Jesus is deeply concerned for you.

In fact, he is so concerned for your eternal well being that he was crucified on a cross to provide the forgiveness of sins that you need in order to brought back into a right relationship with God.

From the cross, Jesus, God in the flesh, the Creator of all that exists, looks down and has compassion on you, who in this world are daily struggling to keep your life together in the face of challenges.

First, Jesus’ compassion has made sure you will be properly cared for through forgiving your sins and gifting you eternal life.

Secondly, just as Jesus’ compassion led him to take care of his mother and friends by entrusting them into the care of each other, Jesus will also continue to make sure you are properly cared for, here and now, through entrusting you into the care of your brothers and sisters in the church body.

This is a time of great sadness and deep suffering because Jonathan has left us.

In Jesus’s last moments with us, he was deeply concerned for your welfare and loved you with an eternal and never changing love.

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a song penned by the modern wordsmith and artist Wiz Kalifa. The lyrics to the chorus go like this:

It’s been a long day without you, my friend

And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

We’ve come a long way from where we began

Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

Because of Jesus, we will see Jonathan again.

“Have you thought about dying?”

I know your response is quick and easy, “Yes.”

Know that in the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s love has and will take care of you.

Go forth today and take care of one another, as Jonathan and you have already been taken care of by Jesus.

Amen.

Pastor Fred

September 11, 2017

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

–Romans 8.31–

“As if it weren’t enough that a monumental solar eclipse is one week away, the world is abuzz with ominous predictions of a looming nuclear war with North Korea. None of us might live to unwrap our Christmas presents this year. We might all be blown to smithereens. We might all die in nasty, horrible ways. The world might end in one gigantic kaboom.

What in God’s name are we to do?

Me—I’m gonna make breakfast.”

These words, shared yesterday, by one of my favorite current Christian authors, Chad Bird, offers a parallel statement to what was said many years ago by the British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis, when he gave this advice at the height of the Cold War,

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.” (“On Living in an Atomic Age”)

Who is against you?

Others are against you.

As we have been seeing on the news, there is a dictator that says, “Your life is worthless, and I have a missile with your name on it!”

How about a few examples of people often against you from a little closer to home?

• A husband that says, “You don’t meet my needs in this marriage!”
• A wife that says, “You don’t provide me with everything I want in this relationship!”
• A child that says, “I don’t like you and I am not going to do what you say!”
• A parent that says, “You have let me down with your lack of achievement.”
• A boss that says, “You have failed at the tasks I gave you and you have no value here!”
• A teacher that says, “You’re best work isn’t good enough!”
• A student that says, “You need to give me the grade that I want, I don’t care what I deserve!”
• A pastor that says, “You have no worth to God, me, or this church, unless you serve more, pray more, and give more.”

Who else is against you?

You are against you.

You are against you, with an inner and outer dialogue that speaks,

• “I am a failure as a husband and father.”
• “My roles as a wife and a mother leave much to be desired.”
• “I will never be successful.”
• “I will never look like those fashion models.”
• “I will never look like those guys working out at Muscle Beach.”
• “I will never make enough money.”
• “I can’t provide everything the people around me want.”
• “Life is meaningless and it is all going to end soon anyway.”

We live day-to-day in a world that seems to be easily against us, against all we think, against all we say, against all we do, and against all we believe.

Even though it is true that others are often against us, we are equally guilty of being against others in our daily life.

We are against our spouses when we act entitled and expect them to work for us, when we withhold the truth from them, and when we refuse to partner with them in the tasks related to family management.

We are against our kids when we ungraciously exasperate them with an abundance of rules, yelling, and strict punishment for the slightest misstep at home.

We are against our parents when we grumble against and disobey their rules that are set in place for our safety.

We are against our bosses when we do not do our best work every second of every day.

We are against our teachers when we do less than our best work but expect them to grade us as if we did our best work.

We are against our communities when we act entitled believing that one skin color is better than another.

We are against our churches when we expect to be treated with favoritism because of our last name, number of years attending, or amount of money donated.

When you examine the landscape of your life, including the lying, the cheating, the stealing, the sneaking, the hiding, the gossiping, the withholding of love from others, and the entitled attitudes, it is amazing to hear of a love so strong and focused that the Giver of that love will still say every moment of everyday, even in the midst of your failings, that He is for you!

We sing a song that says, “On the cross where Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” (In Christ Alone)

The cross of Jesus Christ clearly shows you that God is for you!

God’s love for you is so great that He gave His Son to die to forgive your sin of being against Him and against others.

By nature, you live against God and against others.

By grace, Jesus lived for God and for others, for you.

By faith, Jesus’ perfect life of obedience and love is credited to you before the throne of God in Heaven.

Even though others are against you and you are often against God and others, God, your Creator, is always for you who find yourself believing in Jesus Christ!

With God always acting for you, you do not have to fear ultimate destruction. The work that Jesus Christ did in life, on the cross, and at the tomb, secures for you an eternally safe place in the loving arms of your Creator in Heaven. You may face extreme circumstances in this world, but, right now, you have place being prepared for you in God’s Kingdom defined by the absence of tears, pain, and suffering.

One of the songs that the kids learned at our Fun Maker Factory Vacation Bible School this year, spoke the truth of God’s sovereignty, or in other words, God’s ultimate control of all things, with lyrics proclaiming, “He’s got the whole world in his hands….”

The love of God for you, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ life, in Jesus’ death, and in Jesus’ resurrection, is your confidence when the world seems to hang on the brink of self-destruction.

The truth is that a monumental solar eclipse is one week away, and the world is abuzz with ominous predictions of a looming nuclear war with North Korea.

Therefore, you might not live to unwrap your Christmas presents this year.

However, you will never see God, our Father in Heaven, break out in a cold sweat over Kim Jong-Un, solar eclipses, demanding spouses, disobedient children, unfair bosses, or unjust teachers.

Do not let fear dominate your mind.

Find rest with God who is for you!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.35-39)

God is for you.

Today, be for others as God is first for you!

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

August 13, 2017

For I am not aware of anything against myself,

but I am not thereby acquitted.

It is the Lord who judges me.

–1 Corinthians 4.4–

A few years ago, I read the testimony of a pastor and theologian, who, for the record, I am at odds with when it comes to her Biblical interpretation and practical theology. However, the one thing that struck me from this person’s testimony was how she found herself believing in Jesus Christ as her Savior.

The individual, now testifying to God’s grace and mercy, had a background of addiction and abuse. One Sunday, a friend invited her to attend the weekly service at a Lutheran church. After participating in the events of a regular church service (i.e. singing, confession, absolution, listening to a sermon, communion, etc.), she asked the friend who invited her, “If I come back next week, will I do those same things, say those same things, have those same things said to me?” When her friend responded, “Yes!” the newly believing woman proclaimed, “Great! Because I need to say and hear those same things every day!”

Throughout my many years of ministry, I have heard a wide range of comments pertaining to the liturgy used during the divine weekly Sunday morning service.

Some have said, “If we serve communion too often, it will just become a dead ritual and won’t mean anything anymore.”

While others have chimed in, “Confessing our sins together with the same words every week makes our confession dull and meaningless.”

Pastors are not some superhuman creation. So, I often find myself in the same place as those making such comments. I can end up doing and saying things week after week without having my heart fully involved in God’s gracious speaking and acting in both my life and the life of the congregation I serve.

Statements and thoughts such as these, that show a disdain for doing the same things over and over throughout a life of faith, also show us clearly the filth of the human heart. When we find ourselves producing such sentiments whether internally or externally, we are denying some of the means of grace that God has put in place in order to do His work in our lives and in the world.

The means of grace are the ways God offers, bestows, and seals to people forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. The means of grace are God’s Word and the Sacraments, namely, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Concordia Publishing House. Lutheranism 101: Second Edition, Kindle Locations 2082-2086).

When we think that communion can be done too often and that confession is useless when the same words are used to recognize sin and ask for forgiveness, we are tempted to replace truth with entertainment and gratitude with judgment.

It is the sinful heart that says there is such a thing as too much communion, too much of Jesus’ blood and body, or too much forgiveness. It is a sinful heart that puts us in a place of saying I don’t need this prayer anymore or I don’t need to confess again.

A heart that says I don’t want to do the same things week after week is a heart that is saying, “I no longer need Jesus.”

The moment when your heart becomes hard and you no longer recognize your need to be united to the body and blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins is actually the same exact moment you need to come to the table of communion and are be met by God’s amazing saving grace.

The moment when your heart has gone numb to your disobedience to God and you no longer recognize your need for confession is actually the same exact moment that you need to confess your sin of lying to and about God (1 John 1.8).

Communion and confession always have meaning. Our always-changing feelings about communion and confession cannot negate God’s unchangeable promises.

Jesus commands us to confess our sins and come to the table of communion (Luke 22.14-23; Mark 1.15) with God promising to actively work in the lives of those who obey Christ’s words (Matthew 11.28; 1 John 1.9).

I am a saint in God’s eyes because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that covers me and has become mine through faith.

But, I am still a sinner in the flesh and bones of this body here on earth.

That being said, confessing my sins, having my sins absolved in the name of Jesus, and receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, week after week after week, is an integral part of my Christian life.

There never comes a point in the body that you currently inhabit at which you are no longer a sinner/saint. Because of that, you need to continually confess your sins publicly, as God’s church, and privately, in prayer, to God. You also need to continually hear of the promised forgiveness that is yours through faith in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

The apostle Paul addresses all of this when he writes to the Christians in Rome saying,

“I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:21-24).”

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

August 11, 2017

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

–Ephesians 6.10-20–

When my oldest son gets ready for trick or treating on Halloween (Yes, we allow our children to dress up, have fun with their imaginations, and collect candy from neighbors, without fear that they will grow up to bow down to the evils forces of the world and sacrifice infants on an altar dedicated to Satan), something in his brain is triggered that makes his imagination run wild.

He becomes convinced that he is actually the character the costume depicts. One of his favorite outfits and constant go-tos over the years has been Iron Man.

With each piece of Iron Man’s armor that my son puts onto his body, he is truly believing that he is suiting up to join his teammates in the Avengers to participate in an intergalactic battle between the forces of good and evil.

When he is dressed up as Iron Man, wearing his full suit of armor, my son believes that he is unstoppable, that he is able to stand up to every and any bad guy or destructive force that he encounters while out in the world.

Most of us begin our day with the same excitement and gusto as a child on Halloween.

We get out of bed, grab a cup (or pot) of coffee, take a shower, pick out an outfit (costume) and get dressed, fully believing that we are unstoppable and able to stand strong against every thought, word, and deed from every person and place that we will encounter during our waking hours.

However, as the day goes on and we come up against,

• whiny, cranky, and always demanding kids
• whiny, cranky, and demanding spouses
• whiny, cranky, and demanding bosses
• images that tell you that you are not thin enough
• images that tell you that you are not muscular enough
• the lies that tell you to work harder, put in more hours, in order to collect more earthly possessions
• feelings and thoughts that tell you that you are not good enough
• feelings and thoughts that tell you that you are not lovable
• feelings and thought that tell you that you are not valuable

we come to a place of realizing that we are not as ready as we thought we were to face the day we have been given.

A new record that I have been listening to on repeat recently, has the following lyrical advice,

What are you waiting for?

You gotta get yourself alright!

(Rex Brown, Get Yourself Alright, 2017)

Sayings, such as those found melodically offered up here, are common advice that we will hear throughout our days on earth.

You are told that you are on your own and that in your power you have to get yourself ready to face the world and the challenges it will offer up.

However, the truth of the matter is that when left alone to get ready for the day, you are not properly dressed to face the many battles that will come your way during your waking hours.

The good news is that you are not alone.

The good news is that God, the Creator of all that exists, gives you the outfit you need to face the day and that He helps you put it on.

When God stepped into the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, He suited up to participate in a spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil.

When Jesus wore the armor of God and wielded the sword of truth, the Word of God, the Bible, He was unstoppable and He was able to stand up to every and any scheme of the evil one that he encountered while out and about in the physical world.

Being protected by God’s armor, Jesus stood firm in the face of danger and defeated the power of sin and death that could separate you from God forever.

Through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God puts His own armor on you, getting you ready for the day.

The same armor that Jesus Christ wore in life, in death, and in the resurrection, is the exact protective gear that God dresses you with on a daily basis.

With God’s armor on, you are unstoppable, you able to stand up to every and any scheme and destructive force that you encounter while out in the world.

That is God’s promise to you.

You will be comforted by God’s truth in the face of lies.

You will be discerning when it comes to right and wrong.

You will bend toward the will of God and not away from it.

You will never be destroyed.

In the end, on the last day, God will look at you and not judge you based on your own life, but God will look at you and judge you based on Jesus’ perfect life lived for you.

In Christ, you have the strength of God.

In Christ, you can stand up against the lies, the lies that you whisper to yourself internally and the lies that others speak at you and about you externally.

In Christ, you can be confident that God speaks to you through His Word, the Bible, and that God hears you and answers you when you pray.

In Christ, and only in Christ, can you live every second of everyday with hope—a hope that you are the recipient of God’s promise, to protect you and provide for you until your last breath on earth and then eternally after that.

Stand confident today.

No matter what comes your way.

No matter how you are treated.

No matter what is said about you.

No matter what is given to you or taken from you.

No matter what you are thinking about yourself.

Without Christ, you are not ready for the day.

In Christ, you are fully dressed for battle.

I want to leave you with the lyrics to another song, a song that reminds you of your weakness but of Jesus’ strength for you,

“The arm of flesh will fail you,

Ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armor;

Each piece put on with prayer.

Where duty calls or danger,

Be never wanting there.”

(Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, LSB 660: 3)

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

August 6, 2017

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler.

–Psalm 91.4—

Many years ago, when I was a wee little lad, probably around the age of 6 or 7, I went on a road trip with my Grandmother. We drove from New York down to South Carolina to visit an aunt who was living in that State at the time.

One of the only memories I have from that trip is the memory of hiding under a kitchen table.

I was outside riding a bike with my cousin when all of a sudden we heard an ear-piercingly loud siren that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Without hesitation, my cousin jumped off of his bike and started running to the house. I had no idea what was going on but it seemed important so I also left my bike in the middle of the street and ran into the house closely behind my cousin.

When we got in the house, we found my aunt and grandmother huddled under the kitchen table and frantically waving for us to come and join them. So, we got down, and wiggled our way under the table and into the comforting arms of the two women who were caring for us that week. The siren continued to fill the air the whole time this frantic search for a covering was going.

While under the shelter of the table, it was explained to me that this was a hurricane and tornado safety drill. In places like South Carolina, these sort of safety drills happen randomly at all times of the day and night. The purpose of the siren and mad dash to gather under the kitchen table was to provide protection from the forces of nature associated with extreme weather conditions.

The kitchen table above me, and the arms of my grandmother and aunt were all providing protection for me in the event of the house collapsing above me.

When the crowing, hissing, or growling of an animal predator is heard, when the crunching of leaves under the boot of a human hunter is getting louder, when the clapping of thunder and the flashing of lightning fill the sky, when strong winds start bending the trees above, when the smoke and heat of a brush fire approach, the mother spreads her body out and calls her babies to run under the pinions of her wings to find refuge and a shield.

The pinion is the outermost part of the bird’s wing. So, in order for the baby birds to be under the pinions of the mother’s wing, her wings have to be fully extended and completely stretched out. In this position, the mama bird ensures maximum and complete protection for her children. In this position the mother bird is making herself vulnerable to harm. This act of the mother shows her love for her children through her willingness to give up her own life to save theirs.

On the cross, Jesus fully extends and completely stretches out his arms. In this position, your Savior ensures maximum and complete protection for you. Jesus spreads out His body, making Himself vulnerable to harm and in that act He shows you His love for you through His willingness to give up His own life to save you.

Many years ago, the rock band Creed wrote and recorded a song that quickly became an international anthem. Without directly knowing it, people all around the globe connected with and sang in unison words that spoke the good news of Jesus Christ on the cross when they participated in repeating the following chorus (read from the perspective of God speaking to you):

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open

On the cross, the siren sounded because the wrath of God was coming to crush you who are sinful by nature.

At the cross, God, your Father in Heaven, calls you to stand under His Son so that you are shielded from the destruction and death that your sin deserves.

On the cross, Jesus spread out His arms and protects you from the wrath of God that should be fully poured out on you.

On the cross, Jesus paid the price for your sins in full.

You have been shielded from ultimate destruction and are continually shielded from ultimate destruction.

Today, know that God is alive and active and has his arms fully spread out, holding you close, and keeping you safe in the midst of trials and temptations that are attempting to destroy you by distracting you from loving God and loving one another.

Jesus has protected you and shielded you with His arms wide open on the cross.

Go into the world today with your arms wide open protecting and shielding others.

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

July 28, 2017

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and the LORD tests hearts.

–Proverbs 17.3–

This coming September, my wife and I will be celebrating our 11 year wedding anniversary. What most people don’t know is that I have cooked almost every dinner for us over that time period. That statement is not an exaggeration.

This arrangement works for us because I love to cook. As an artist, it is a creative outlet for me and therefore is very calming and relaxing.

One of my wife’s favorite meals is mussels.

The problem with mussels is that they need a lot of work done to them to clean them so that they can be cooked with.

Due to their natural state of living in sand and mud, the mussels have be soaked in a flour and water bath for 45 minutes which causes them to spit out any sand or dirt that is inside the shell. Next, they must be scrubbed with a wire brush to remove the caked on debris from the outside of the shell. And, finally the tough fibers that hold the mussel to the pier, rope or rock, must be pulled out.

The truth is that mussels are naturally impure and cannot clean themselves.

A chef needs to come to them and remove the impurity.

A crucible is a ceramic bowl. In that bowl, a metal smith will heat up silver that by nature is unclean and impure.

By heating the silver in the crucible, the dirt deeply imbedded in the silver separates out rises to the top of the crucible. At that point, the metal worker skims off the junk from the top and removes the debris that makes the silver impure. At that point the smith now has material that is useful for making products to help him support his family and work.

The truth is that sliver is naturally impure and cannot clean itself.

A metal smith needs to come to the silver and remove the impurity.

Romans 3.23 says, “for [you] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

And, Romans 7.18 says, “nothing good dwells in [you], that is, in [your] flesh. For [you] have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

Due to your natural state of being, born into and living in sin, you heart is impure and unclean when tested against God’s standards for life and love. Therefore, you need a lot of work done to you in order to make your heart clean you so that you can be acceptable to God in Heaven.

The truth is that you are naturally impure and cannot clean yourself.

You need someone to come to you and remove the impurity of sin.

The amazing thing is that the Bible also tells you exactly who it is that comes to you to remove impurity in your heart.

Romans 5.8-8 tells you that, “while [you] were still weak, at the right time Christ died for [your ungodliness]…God shows his love for [you] in that while [you] were still [a sinner], Christ died for [you].”

Through faith Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for you, Jesus has done the work of making you into one with a heart that is called clean and pure before the throne of God in Heaven.

As the days go on, the Lord will continue to test your heart, reveal your sin, and speak to you the forgiveness and purity given through faith in Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in your salvation!

Amen.

Pastor Fred

July 24, 2017

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

–Matthew 4:19–

On Sunday morning my oldest son came downstairs after dressing himself for church and proclaimed to the family, “This shirt is the perfect shirt! It says, ‘Follow My Lead!’ So, the other kids will follow me to Children’s Church!”

As a parent, it is amazing to see the boldness of my son as he joyfully walks in the faith that he received in baptism.

Despite my failures in parenting him (i.e. letting laziness take over and choosing many nights not to read the Bible with him), God, his Father in Heaven is faithful in parenting him.

Alongside his desire for sharing the love of Jesus with others, my son loves to pray. The one thing he WILL NOT let me forget to do is pray with him every night before bed.

One of my son’s nightly prayers that he prays without prompt from me is, “God, let more people come to church to hear about Jesus.”

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He gathered men and women to himself with the call to “Follow me,” (or, in order words, “Follow my lead!”) and gave them the promise that He would do all of the work in their lives to “make them fishers of men.”

What God, the Father in Heaven was saying through Jesus in that simple call and promise was that Jesus would forgive sins and change hearts to bend to the will of God. By following Jesus’ lead, they would first be loved and would love in response.

At the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, in the ultimate act of love, He put the cross on His back, on which He would die, gathered men and women to himself with the call to “Follow me,” and led them to the place of crucifixion where He received the wrath of God poured out on Him to point of death to pay the price for your sin.

Today, walk boldly and joyfully in the saving faith you have received.

Follow Jesus because He has first followed God, the Father in Heaven, all the way to the cross to save you from your sin.

Despite your failures this week, God is calling you and leading you with the gentle and comforting words, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Today, you are metaphorically dressed in a shirt that says “Christian.” In other words, your shirt says, “Follow My Lead!” People will follow you. Lead them to the cross of Jesus for forgiveness, rest, and peace.

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

July 21, 2017

“…you have given the command to save me…”

–Psalm 71.3–

My 5-year-old son recently received a backyard explorer’s kit. The kit includes a small, clear plastic, oval container with magnifying glasses built into the structure. The container is supposed to be used to capture insects and provide the chance to examine the creepy crawlers up close and personal.

With each insect caught and housed in the scientific study capsule comes the question, “Can we keep it in the house?”

As parents, we do not want to see the bug wither away and die (or maybe we don’t want them escaping into our residence and making themselves comfortable under our couches, in our cabinets, or in our beds), so we give the command to release the creature into the environment that provides for their needs, keeps them safe from death, and promotes life. Because of our child’s new found love of trapping bugs, we are continually speaking words that save life, “Let that insect go!”

We see the insect trapped and unable to help itself. So, we pour out compassion toward it.

In these words from Psalm 71, the psalmist is reminiscing about his life with God. In written form, the author reveals that the trials of his time on earth were always met by God’s goodness working to strengthen and rescue him. In moments where he felt trapped and was unable to help himself, God intervened. God had compassion on him and gave the command from His Heavenly Throne that saved him.

Caught without faith in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins, the magnifying glass used to examine the I ntricacies of your being, reveal that in the womb you were hostile to God (Psalm 51.5) and outside of the womb you continue to fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23). Upon further examination, it is shown that because of your sin, your brokenness, your corruption, your self-centered living, your lack of love for God and your lack of love for those around you, you are separated from God and deserve to die being separated from God forever (Romans 6.23).

As your Creator, God, the Father in Heaven, does not want to see you wither away or die. He does not want you escaping into the residence of the fallen world and making yourself comfortable, so He gives the command to release you from the burden of the Law that crushes you with it’s demands (Colossians 2.14) into His eternal environment where He provides for your needs (Matthew 6.8), keeps you safe from death (John 10.28-30), and promotes life (John 10.10). Because of your love for the momentary pleasure and gratification of sin, God is continually speaking words that save your life—“Let my people go!” (Exodus 9.1; Mark 1.15; 1 John 1.9; John 3.16-17).

God sees you trapped and unable to help yourself and pours out compassion toward you in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Amen.

Pastor Fred.

July 13, 2017

Grace and peace— these two words embrace the whole of Christianity. Grace forgives sin, and peace stills the conscience. The two devils who plague us are sin and conscience, the power of the Law and the sting of sin (1 Cor. 15: 56). But Christ has conquered these two monsters and trodden them underfoot, both in this age and in the age to come. The world does not know this; therefore it cannot teach anything sure about how to overcome sin, conscience, and death. Only Christians have this kind of teaching and are equipped and armed with it, so that they can overcome sin, despair, and eternal death. It is a teaching that is given only by God; it does not proceed from free will, nor was it invented by human reason or wisdom.

These two words, “grace” and “peace,” contain a summary of all of Christianity. Grace contains the forgiveness of sins, a joyful peace, and a quiet conscience. But peace is impossible unless sin has first been forgiven, for the Law accuses and terrifies the conscience on account of sin. And the sin that the conscience feels cannot be removed by pilgrimages, vigils, labors, efforts, vows, or any other works; in fact, sin is increased by works. The more we work and sweat to extricate ourselves from sin, the worse off we are. For there is no way to remove sin except by grace… Because the world does not understand this doctrine, it neither can nor will tolerate it. It brags about free will, about our powers, about our works— all these as means by which to earn and attain grace and peace, that is, the forgiveness of sins and a joyful conscience. But the conscience cannot be quiet and joyful unless it has peace through this grace, that is, through the forgiveness of sins promised in Christ… Therefore your bones and mine will know no rest until we hear the Word of grace and cling to it firmly and faithfully.

–Martin Luther–

Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, vol. 26: “Lectures on Galatians, 1535, Chapters 1-4;” J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, ed., Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis.

Preface:

These words are for you.

If you are currently married, these words provide understanding for your current situation.

If you are single, dating, or engaged, these words provide understanding for your future situation.

If you are divorced, first, I want to say that I am truly sorry for the pain, suffering, anger, bittiness, and hurt that you have experienced. Second, I want to comfort you with the good news that we all have, the good news that you are Jesus Christ’s bride, first and foremost, and that marriage is perfect in every way and will last forever. It is a marriage in which you will never be hurt, never suffer, and never be forsaken.

Whether you are young or old, married, engaged, dating, or single, male or female, God has been gracious to you and gives you these words about marriage.

[22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 [25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. [31] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

–Ephesians 5.22-33–

Theologians Andreas Köstenberger and David Jones sum up the West’s current situation well when they write,

“For the first time in its history, Western civilization is confronted with the need to define the meaning of the terms “marriage” and “family.” What until now has been considered a “normal” family, made up of a father, mother, and a number of children, has in recent years begun to be viewed as one among several options.” (God, Marriage, and Family, 25)

That being said, Biblical Scholar John Stott summarizes God’s definition of marriage for us.

“Marriage is an exclusive heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by the leaving of parents, consummated in sexual union, issuing in a permanent mutually supportive partnership, and normally crowned with the gift of children.” (Involvement, 163)

In response to God’s ordaining of marriage, Paul gives the Christians in the city of Ephesus instructions for their relationships.

Paul’s instructions are simple and he defines each gender role with one command.

To the woman he says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands.”

And, to the men he says, “Husbands, love your wives.”

In the sports of ultimate fighting and wrestling, there is something called a submission hold. When one fighter has his opponent held in a painful position where he can’t move or escape, this is a submission hold. Left without any other options, the opponent is forced to either submit (give up) or deal with the extreme pain of a dislocated joint,torn tendons or worse.

Our self-centered mindset causes us to get caught up in the commands present in this section of Paul’s letter as if these instructions for marriage were putting us into a submission hold where we either give in or suffer pain for the rest of our lives.

With this self-centered mindset, we only hear, “Wives, SUBMIT to your own husbands!” and “Husbands, LOVE your wives!”

When we only hear those two sentences and neglect the rest of the words surrounding them, we immediately react with an attitude that says, “Oh, no he didn’t just say that!”

We experience feelings of anxiety and anger believing that Paul’s commands demand us to be slaves to our spouses.

We believe that these commands hold us in a position where we can’t move or escape.

We believe that if we want to make it out of marriage alive, we have to give in, give up, and begrudingly do what the other desires for us to do.

We begin to feel like we are going to spend our lives as prisoners.

We huff and puff while thinking, “Nobody is going to tell me what to do” or “I make the money and that makes me king of this castle and everyone else in it is my servant!”

We also begin to justify our selfishness with thoughts such as, “I have a college degree and I am going to get exactly what I want out of life!,” “I have a job and I am entitled to get my way!,” “I spend my day busting my hump, I deserve to disappear into my man cave when I get home!,” and “Weekends are for sports and beer. Stop bothering me!”

When we ONLY hear, “Wives, SUBMIT to your own husbands!” and “Husbands, LOVE your wives!,” we are missing out on the good news found in the majority of these 12 verses.

These two commands that define the gender roles within a marriage relationship are beautifully tucked into a thick nest of good news.

All around the commands for a woman and a man bound together in marriage are words telling us who Jesus Christ is and what Jesus Christ has done for us.

You who find yourself having faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are included in the Church and are therefore part of Christ’ living and active body. As a member of Jesus’ Church, you have the grace of God poured out upon you and Ephesians 5 tells you that:

• Jesus is your Savior.
• Jesus gave Himself up for you.
• Jesus sanctified you.
• Jesus cleansed you.
• Jesus washes you through Baptism and His Word, the Bible.
• Jesus presents you to God the Father in Heaven without any wrinkle or blemish.
• Jesus makes you holy.
• Jesus nourishes you.
• And, Jesus cherishes you.

You are loved by Jesus.

Through Jesus’ submission to the will of God the Father, the will that sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again, Jesus holds you close, gently assuring you that you are loved, cared for, and provided for.

God’s grace has been poured out upon you and your sins have been forgiven and eternal life is yours.

God looks at you and calls you perfect and holy because of Jesus’ completed work for you.

When you believe in the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for you, a love that caused Him to die on the cross for you, you cannot help but want to submit to Him and His authority because you know that He will never harm you but will always love and accept you.

One thing becomes clear to you is that Jesus does not have you in a painful submission hold, forcing you to obey Him and love Him.

Through His Spirit placed in you, you now want to do those things!

Outside of Christ, you are resistant and you hate.

In Christ you are submissive and loving.

Charles Spurgeon, the 19^th century English preacher, said this about Jesus’ love:

“This love of Christ is the most amazing thing under Heaven, if not in Heaven itself. How often have I said to you that if I had heard that Christ pitied us, I could understand it. If I had heard that Christ had mercy upon us, I could comprehend it. But when it is written that he actually loves us, that is quite another and a much more extraordinary thing! Love between mortal and mortal is quite natural and comprehensible, but love between the Infinite God and us poor sinful finite creatures, though conceivable in one sense, is utterly inconceivable in another. Who can grasp such an idea? Who can fully understand it? Especially when it comes in this form—“ HE” (read it in large capitals) “loved me, and gave Himself for me”— this is the miracle of miracles!” (“ Christ’s Love to His Spouse,” emphasis in original)

If the starting point for marriage is me, then I am starting at the wrong place. Marriage exists for Jesus Christ’s glory. Let your marriage be an offering of worship as you love each other, forgive each other, and serve each other. Let your relationship serve as an aroma of Christ before a watching world.

Because Jesus submitted to God and loves you without limit, wives, submit to your own husbands as the Church submits to Christ.

Know that your husband loves you.

Know that your husband cares for you.

Know that your husband provides for you.

Know that your husband is willing to give Himself up for you.

Husbands, love your wives as Jesus loves the Church.

Care for her.

Provide for her.

Put your wife’s needs above your own.

And always be willing to give yourself up for her.

In all of this, prayerfully dwell on the love of Christ daily, as you seek to live out a Spirit-filled marriage.

Amen.

Pastor Fred

July 9, 2017