Good News at Noon at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, Las Vegas

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hello, I’m Pastor Jim Slater. I have been leading a Thursday morning Bible study that, during the season Lent, became a time of Lenten devotions and a short reflection on a chapter 3, verse 16 passage:

Matthew 3:16 – Baptism

I Corinthians 3:16 – Our bodies are the temple of the HS

Colossians 3:16 – singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that inspire and uplift

I John 3:16 – explored God’s agape, divine love, for us

Today, especially in light of the coronavirus and its worldwide and local effects, I would like to use an OT verse from prophet Zephaniah 3:16.

  On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

Yesterday, Pastor Don spoke about worry and relieving anxiety through our faith in Jesus. Likewise, I want to focus on the fear that seems to grow day by day. Worry, anxiety and fear are very real reactions that all of us are experiencing.

Today, the prophet Zephaniah speaks a word of comfort and assurance to us as he did of old to the people of Jerusalem, “Do not fear.” That message, in forms like “Fear not, and do not be afraid” occurs at least 116 X. Did I go through the entire Bible and count them! No, this info comes from a concordance. They are words that are spoken by God, by prophets of God (like Zephaniah), angels and especially by Jesus himself.

Chapter 3 of Zephaniah shares God’s promises of comfort and consolation to those who wait patiently for the Lord in the midst of their fears of destruction and exile, encouraging the people of Jerusalem and all Judea to rejoice that the Lord their King is and always will be with them to save and gather them back in peace, love and service to one another. This sounds like it can speak to our fears as well during this time of pandemic and confusion, of sickness and death, of job loss and personal restrictions.

It is important to be aware that the hopeful message of “Do not be afraid” does not mean “Do not take this seriously.” There are too many sad examples of this happening among us. But in fact, the prophet adds “do not let your hands grow weak.” We have been made very much aware to constantly wash our hands, to be diligent in not touching our face, eyes, nose, mouth. We are sanitizing our hands after touching door knobs, bathroom fixtures and Amazon packages. But the prophet tells us that God wants us to put our hands to work, that is to answer:

How can I help

What can I do

Who is my neighbor in need

And to never stop raising our hands in prayer.

In the 1950s, Marjorie Jillson wrote this poem “Little Flock” which, when set to music, became a hymn of trust, promise and hope.

1   Have no fear, little flock;

     have no fear, little flock,

     for the Father has chosen

     to give you the kingdom;

     have no fear, little flock!

2   Have good cheer, little flock;

     have good cheer, little flock,

     for the Father will keep you

     in his love forever;

     have good cheer, little flock!

3   Praise the Lord high above;

     praise the Lord high above,

     for he stoops down to heal you,

     uplift and restore you;

     praise the Lord high above!

4   Thankful hearts raise to God;

     thankful hearts raise to God,

     for he stays close beside you,

     in all things works with you;

     thankful hearts raise to God!

This hymn is based on the words of Jesus in Luke 12:32 as he encouraged his disciples to share the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness and to minister to the needs of their community. Good Samaritan, the parable and the church, are fitting examples of what it means to put our hands to work in service to our Lord and to our neighbors. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a motto: “God’s work; our hands.” Relieved of worry and fear, we can be the hands of God, reaching out to a world in turmoil and panic.

Fear not! How desperately we, and all those around us, need to hear that angelic message of comfort and hope today. Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58: 1-9a

Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

TREASURE IN THE DUST

            Ash Wednesday is the day in the calendar of the church year that we take the first step in our Lenten journey, a forty-day wandering in the wilderness of our own sin, as the Israelites of old did as they wandered through the Wilderness of Sin, until, waiting under the foot of the cross of Good Friday, we arrive at the empty tomb of Easter.  It is a time of confession and contrition, of repentance and self-denial that lasts for an entire season of the church year.  Today we will together confess our sins, but we will hear no words of absolution (forgiveness).  It is not a night of instant gratification.  It’s only the beginning of the journey.  And the first step in beginning a long journey is like the first note in a symphony played on the tympani. 

            On Ash Wednesday we are brought low, humbled to the basest of our human existence.  “Remember, O mortal, that you are nothing but dust, created out of the dust and to dust and ashes you shall return.”  But, later on in our service, while words similar to those are spoken, a cross of ashes will be thumbed upon your forehead.  In the very ashes of despair, in the dust of death, a precious treasure is given.  You were given that treasure of faith in Jesus Christ in your baptism when you were sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. That is why the ancient practice of the Church was to use the season of Lent as a time of preparation for the baptism of converts.

            Very few of us begin this Lenten journey without any knowledge of the gift of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Rather, we deliberately turn our hearts to confession, knowing that we indeed have been already given this treasure.  But all too often, we leave it on the roof of our car…  Here’s what I mean by that.

            I was reading an article written by a David Bartlett who told a story he had heard on PBS about the amazing recovery of a missing Stradivarius violin.  Now Stradivarius is the name for perfection when it comes to violins.  This particular violin had been owned by UCLA and placed in the care of a faculty member who was also the second violinist in the university string quartet.  He, it was, who had reported the priceless instrument as missing.  The authorities suspected him; that he had stolen the violin himself.  He claimed, however, that he thought he had put the violin on the top of his car when he was loading groceries bought on the way home from a concert.  Then he got in the car and drove off, completely forgetting about the treasured Stradivarius he had left on the roof of his car.

            Has that ever happened to you? I’ve heard stories, not only about groceries, but also wallets, purses, cell phones, and even a car seat (without the child in it!).

            This unfortunate event happened decades ago.  The recent PBS report came out because the hapless violinist’s story was confirmed when the instrument surfaced at a music shop for tuning.  The present owner said he had bought the violin from someone else, rather unaware of the treasure he had discovered lying on the edge of an entrance ramp onto a southern California freeway.

            Bartlett comments: “You’d think if you owned a Stradivarius you’d guard it day and night, never let it out of your sight, and certainly never leave it on the roof of your car (in a Vons or Smiths or Albertsons parking lot.) But of course, we all do get busy, and life intrudes even on the stewardship of our priceless treasures.  We’ve got to eat and we’ve got to shop and it’s just easier to put the Stradivarius out of the way just long enough to get the Wheaties into the truck or the kids to the basketball game, and then – oops!  So it wasn’t greed or treachery; it wasn’t ignorance or doubt, it was just carelessness that lost the treasure.” 

This article was written some 15 years ago but it expresses a feeling even more relevant today. Choose any present social issue and people will proclaim that the Church is pushing a liberal agenda; while others feel that moral values have been redefined in a conservative political platform. All of that is missing the point; looking elsewhere; being distracted. That’s just careless. 

So we place our treasure on the roof of our car to do verbal battle with whatever is the opposing view.  I believe it was Father Jack Molyn, the local RC priest in Valatie, NY where I served for 31 years who noticed a “Stradivarius on the roof of a car” when he commented at an ecumenical clergy meeting, “The Church isn’t called to be liberal or conservative.  We’re only called to proclaim the Gospel, to spread the good news of Jesus, and everything else will eventually fit into place.”  I remember thinking to myself, “How right he is! Let’s not be careless about the precious treasure with which we have been blessed.”

            But in a community like that, where there are so many small-membership congregations, there is an opposite concern as well. If it was careless to leave the violin on the roof of the car, so also would it be paralyzingly useless to keep it behind glass in a museum.  We’ve made our churches into museums to store and protect our treasured faith, never wanting anything to change, never taking it with us to be applied and used in our Monday to Saturday lives. To me, useless is even worse that careless.  The way to treasure a Stradivarius is to play it. 

            That is what my wife, Christa, and I have found so impressive about Good Samaritan, the way so many people play their violin in the orchestra of this church. It begins in worship, how dedicated pastors compose meaningful encounters with Jesus, how singers and musicians (sometimes even playing violins!) offer their talents, how greeters, ushers, readers, communion assistants, willingly serve; and how people faithfully gather to pray, praise and give thanksgiving. That is the beginning. Then it finds its harmony in service to the community: supporting youth in their growth and education in the academy, feeding the needy, building homes for the displaced, funding wells for clear water and sponsoring disadvantaged children in distant places of the world (to only mention a few).

But putting the treasure of faith into practice involves some degree of risk.  If it’s with me constantly, carrying it with me wherever I go, playing a beautiful sound when music is needed, I just may forget and I leave it on the car roof.  That’s certainly not useless. But it is careless, and it is also very human.  I can only hope and pray that when I lose it, someone else will find it and use it, and I will have enough music left inside to keep the music sounding, even without my violin.

            So tonight we confess our humanity.  As we do, we begin to realize that our worship and confession is about far more than that which we treasure.  We are reminded what it is that God treasures, rather who it is that God treasures.

            We are the treasured possessions of God.  God breathed the spirit of life into molded dust, creating humanity out of the ground of the earth, Adam out of Adamah, that we all might be Children of God.  In Jesus, God poured out divinity into human flesh that mortality might be conquered; and though ashes may return to ashes and dust may return to dust, the Spirit may return to its original source.

            You see, we were created to be Stradivarius violins, each one of us, each built to the perfect resonance and tone to be able to accomplish God’s intention for us when we are put to use in the orchestra of life.

            They say that in the tonal quality of a Stradivarius one can hear the voice of God.  God is not going to allow us to be hid away or to keep our talents hidden.  No, God is going to put us to use.  And when that happens it won’t be carelessly.  We won’t be forgotten on the top of the car because God doesn’t fiddle around. (sorry, I deliberately saved that until the end.)

           

            So let Lent begin.  It’s really about the concertmaster tuning us up for the concert of our lives. And you’re sounding great! Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

Rev. James H. Slater

Good Samaritan Lutheran Church – Las Vegas, NV

February 26, 2020

James Slater Let's also share discussion and questions. I'm participating, sometimes leading, a Bible study on Luke right now. Chapter 4: the Mount of Precipitation is just outside of Nazareth where they attempted to throw Jesus over the edge. What were his townfolk so upset about!

Deb Diamante That local brat who thinks he's too good for his hometown

James Slater Chapter 6: 1) Why don't Christians worship on the Sabbath Day. 2) Disciples - what about Levi, Thaddeus, Nathaniel.

Deb Diamante What about the women?

James Slater There were, of course, no women among "The Twelve," but women were certainly Followers of Jesus and some of the most influential apostles.

James Slater Chapter 6 cont.: 1) How are the Beatitudes from Luke's Sermon on the Plain different from Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. 2) Hey! Wait a minute! That's not an answer to the question! 3) "And so castles made of sand fall into the see; eventually" Jimi Hendrix. Comments!

Deb Diamante James Slater 6:3 reminds me of when you made change from the offering plate

Rosemarie Cronan ?1). Jesus is chastised for healing shriveled mans hand on Sabbath going against law & traditions. Jesus refuses to let tradition interfere with compassion for needy folk. 2. Beatitude difference. Jesus adds a woe to you. 3. Jimmy Hendrix: those…See More

James Slater Thanks for sharing, Rose!

James Slater Chapter 7: Jesus to Roman official, "Never even in Israel, have I seen such faith." Jesus to woman at Simon's house, "Your faith has made you well, go in peace." What does such faith mean to you. (Sorry, the question mark doesn't work on my keyboard)

Rosemarie Cronan James Slater Faith to me through the years is equal to the Truth of Gods faithfulness in my life.

Rosemarie Cronan Upon further reflection about the Sabbath, God instituted the Sabbath ( day of rest & worship) for humans. God doesn’t need to rest, that’s why Jesus/God performed healings & ministered in the Sabbath & Jewish leaders were furious about it. Sabbath was ingrained in Law not Grace.

James Slater A Sabbath day of rest and worship was a wonderful gift of God's grace. It however, became enshrined in prohibitive laws which wound up perverting the gift.

CHAPTER 8
1) Mary, Joanna, and Susanna - Yeah! They actually get named!
2) Is coconut cream pie the "just desserts" (St. Luke's Godspell) you deserve.
3) When Jesus called his disciples "ye of little faith" he wasn't criticising their faith, he was reminding them that  a little faith is all that you need.
4) verse 30: The demons were "Legion."  Good News Bible uses the word "Mob." Listen to "Demons" by Imagine Dragons.

CHAPTER 9
1) What are your thoughts on Jesus knowing that he was going to die. How about knowing that he would also be raised.
2) Verses 54 & 55: Jesus is not interested in retaliation or vengeance. How does that instruct us.
3) What do you Jesus means by "let the dead bury their own dead."

CHAPTER 10
1) What is your calling as a worker in the Lord's harvest.
2) Verse 15: I was very impressed by the ruins at Cafer Nahum, what we call Capernaum.
3) What joy in ministry do you have to share.
4) Good Samaritan is the name of our church in Las Vegas. It's mission is "to love God, love people, and make a difference."

CHAPTER 11
1) Compare Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer with Matthew's. How are they similar and how are they different.
2) Share something about the power of prayer in your faith life.
3) Are we a nation divided. Are we divided in the Kingdom of God. How can unity be restored.
4) In what do you find true happiness.
5) "I can't see!" "Why not. What's the matter." "I have my hands over my eyes." (St. Luke's GODSPELL) What prevents you from seeing the Light.

CHAPTER 12
1) "The Church is full of hypocrites." Does that truth drive you away from the institutional church or make even you feel welcome.
2) We all have worries. How do you deal with yours.
3) "For your heart will always be where your treasure is." Are you investing in what you love or loving what you invest in.
4) Keep awake and watch are Advent themes. What are you waiting for and are you alert enough to see it.
5) Is division sometimes necessary to reveal truth.

CHAPTER 13
1) Why do bad things happen to good people! Calamity is not a sign of one's sinfulness; nor is prosperity a sign of one's faithfulness. It rains on the just and the unjust. In Christ Jesus, we, like the fig tree, are always given another chance.
2) With what simile would you use to describe the Kingdom of God.
3) The books of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ "is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow." So the love Jesus once expressed for Jerusalem is the same love expressed for Las Vegas, Valatie, or your home town.  "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" are the words sung as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. So Jesus, today, can enter into your home and your heart.

CHAPTER 14
1) The old adage is that Lutherans always sit in the back pew. Now many Lutherans and Christians have moved completely out of their sanctuaries. To all, the invitation is extended to move up to the front pews. There is plenty of room for all to return from the highways and byways. The banquet of the Lord is open for all.

CHAPTER 15
1) "Lost & Found" parables: I see two points of emphasis. A) The effort expended by the one doing the searching (God) and B) the feasting and rejoicing of the community (Church).
2) As an oldest child, I have preferred to call the Parable of the Prodigal Son instead the Parable of the Prodigal Father. "Prodigal" = extravagant. The Father's love and forgiveness is extravagant to both the younger son and the older son.

CHAPTER 16
1) How do you use your worldly possessions to serve God.
2) One of the most powerful verses in the Gospels: "If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead."
3) Is that referring to Lazarus (John 11) or Jesus!

CHAPTER 17
1) Faith is a gift received undeserved at baptism. Faith as large as a mustard seed is all you need, but in what ways can your faith be increased even more.
2) Do we crave praise for that which is our duty and delight!
3) How can you make sure you are among the one out of ten who return to give thanks to Jesus.
4) "The Kingdom of God will come within you." That's a wonderful way to think about it!

CHAPTER 18
1) Persistence, with humility and a child-like faith are better tools for getting through the "needle" gate; rather than wealth and status.
2) "Sir, I want to see again," said the blind man. "Then see!" said Jesus, "You have all the faith you need to be well."  You do too!

CHAPTER 19
1) One of my favorite Biblical riddles: "Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus because he was so short." Who was the short one, Zacchaeus or Jesus!
2) "Well done, good and faithful servant." Words that apply to Jesus as God's beloved Son are words that also will apply to us no matter how many gold coins we've had or how we've used them.
3) Luke's version of Palm Sunday -
       - no palm branches, only cloaks
       - If the disciples of Jesus were quiet, the very stones would cry out
       - no overturned tables
4) People kept listening to Jesus because they didn't want to miss a single word. Are we listening this intently.

CHAPTER 20
1) Jesus confronts the religious leaders; not just the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, but also the Sadducees, who do not advocate a resurrection of the dead. Does all this sound confusing. Jesus came to bring hope and peace; not to those certain in their own self-righteousness, but to those of us who are confused and wondering, yet hopeful, of our salvation.

CHAPTER 21
1) As Pastor Scott Hove says, "God does not ask for 10%, God asks for everything." Like the woman who gave her last two coins, "mite" we live that faithfully too!
2) Signs of the times, over all the ages, lead not to fear, but to faith in the One about to give His life for All.
3) "Early each morning all the people went to the temple to listen to Jesus." He is still speaking to us today; let's meet at the "temple."

CHAPTER 22
Incarnation: The Word is made flesh.
   1) the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem's manger (Advent and Christmas)
   2) the flesh and blood of Jesus resides in us (Holy Communion)
Immanuel: God with us; God within us. 

CHAPTER 23
From birth to death, of Jesus and of each of us, God's purpose is fulfilled. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, and each baby born, with the knowledge of the finiteness of human life; but also with the promise that sins are forgiven, death is defeated and eternal life in Paradise with Jesus awaits us.

CHAPTER 24
In what ways has the risen Lord Jesus been made known to you. Do you see the Savior in the sweet, baby Jesus. In Old Testament scripture, we awaited the Messiah. In the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, God is with us in human form. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, God's promise of eternal life is fulfilled. Through our baptism into Jesus' birth, death and resurrection we are welcomed into a family relationship with God. Finally, we await his return when all of creation will be united in God's everlasting love.

Thanks for reading. May God bless you with the gift of Christmas Love.

A FIRM FOUNDATION

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 14, 2017

1 Peter 2: 2-10

                Well, it has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my home town, the gateway to central Minnesota.  It was particularly quiet on Friday evening.  There was no traffic on Main Street, no parties going on in any of the homes, and The Bijou, our $5 movie theater, was practically vacant.  It was the night of the Lake Wobegon High School prom and all the Juniors and Seniors, their chaperones, teachers and school administrators were at the Sons of Knute lodge in Bemidji for the big event.

                Pastor Liz of the Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church however didn’t think it was all that quiet.  Her phone at the parsonage kept ringing off the hook all night long with anxious parents, usually a Mom, complaining that they shouldn’t have held the prom so far away from home.  “Surely the fire hall in Lake Wobegon would have worked just as well.  If they had come up with a prom theme like “Hot Time in the City,” why then even the fire trucks could have served as realistic decorations.  But Bemidji!  How are we going to be able to spy on our daughters and sons and make sure they don’t get into any trouble if they’re so far away?”

                Pastor Liz would offer words of reassuring comfort to calm them down, “They’re your children.  You taught them well.  They’ll follow your example.”  Then she wondered whether she should have included that last line, knowing some of the parents she had spoken to.  Then the minute she would hang up, the phone would ring with another hysterical mom.

                But perhaps the loudest noise that evening may have come from the back porch of David and Judy Engquist’s home.  David, you might remember, has been retired now for three years from Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church where he served a lengthy pastorate.  He had taken up a hobby in retirement, much to his wife Judy’s chagrin, of collecting individually different beer cans.  The walls of his home office were already covered with shelves of cans and he had just told Judy that he was going to have to put up more shelves to display new cans on her dining room walls.

                That’s when Judy blew her top.  And I know for a fact from my parents who live next door to the Engquists that when Judy began yelling at her husband’s hair-brained idea, their dog started barking and woke all of the other sleeping dogs who, with the kids all gone to Bemidgi, had nothing better to do than to for a chorus of howling throughout the town.  After Judy calmed down, she conceded that if her husband wanted to continue collecting more cans, he would have to put up a shed in the backyard to hold them all.

                “A shed!” thought Pastor Engquist, “what a great idea.  I could build a shed.”  Well, no, he couldn’t.  David Engquist has always been a hard worker, but he doesn’t know his way around a lumber yard and he’s never used a power tool in his life.  He’s only sawed wood, drilled screws and hammered nails by hand.  So he gave Karl Krepsbach a call to see if he could give him some help on Saturday.

                David had bought a “Do-It-Yourself” kit from The Shed Man, kind of like IKEA, but no good Norwegian would ever buy anything from a Swedish company, dontcha know.  Karl arrived at the Engquist home at 9AM. And David was ready to tear into the box and get to work building a shed.

                “Whoa!  Hold on, David,” said Karl, “You can’t build the shed until we have a proper, level foundation to put it on.  The sure foundation is the most important part of the project.  Or else, your shed would be crooked, the door won’t close together, and within a few years, all your work would be in vain.”

                So, the first four and a half hours of the morning were spent in building a level foundation.  They went to Mabey’s Lumber and Gravel to get wood and screws.  Karl did all the figuring and ordering with the owner, Lars Mabey, himself.  David’s only contribution was to ask if the offered a guarantee policy.  Lars just stared at him and finally said, “At Mabey’s Lumber and Gravel we stand behind our good name.  Is it the best quality wood?  Will we replace anything that might be defective?  Mabey – that’s my name.

                Lars looked at Karl quizzically and asked, “Is he helping you?”  Karl admitted, “It’s actually his shed.”  “Good luck with that,” quipped Lars.

                Then Karl and David got to work framing the foundation to the exact dimensions of the shed, leveling its placement, digging out a little on one side and filling in a little on the other side, finally getting t in place and then putting a covering of plywood over the top.  Then foundation was finally done and it had taken all morning long.

                For lunch, Karla and David went to The Sidetrack Tap and ordered a burger and a Wendy’s Beer – the beer with your name on it.  Karl said, “That may have taken a while, David, but in the end you’ll be glad we put so much time and energy into such a fine foundation.  And six hours later, a well-constructed shed was sitting upon a firm and level foundation.

                Now Pastor Liz had heard about her predecessor’s work project and stopped by in the evening for a look-see.  Plus, she always appreciated having the wizened, retired pastor as a mentor.  So she would often visit for consultation and advice.  Today, I guess they call it “spiritual direction.”  But David Engquist just thought of it a good, common sense.

                “Nice shed,” she said, Looks like you and Karl did a fine job on it.”  David admitted, “I couldn’t have done it without him.  How do you like the foundation?”  “The what?” she asked.  And then he realized that, with the shed in place, no one could actually see the foundation.  The most important part would go unseen.

                Pastor Liz changed subjects, “The church is declining.  I’m afraid Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church may have to close under my pastorate.  There are fewer children in Sunday School.  Most of the regular members now attend once a month instead of every week.  We never know who is going to show up for the choir anthem.  Church just doesn’t seem to be a priority in the lives of people anymore.”

                Pastor Engquist didn’t know what to say, “I wish I knew how to help.  But it’s not you, Liz.  You’re a better pastor and a far better preacher than I ever was.  And it’s happening in every church and in every denomination.”  Then suddenly an inspiration hit him, “I think the problem is that families no longer that the time and energy and effort to provide a firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ for themselves and for their children.  It’s like they spend all their time on the walls of a shed – good grades in school, participating in sports, engaging in the arts, being good citizens – but provide no foundation of faith to hold it level and firm.  And then they’re surprised and angry when the whole thing seems to fall apart.  It’s like the apostle wrote in 1 Peter: Christ is the cornerstone, chosen and precious, and all the faithful will not be put to shame.”

                Pastor Liz was quite impressed,” OK, then help me with this one also.  I have a baptism at church tomorrow for a couple I’ve never heard of before.  They don’t even live around here.  They’re coming up from the Twin Cities just to have their baby baptized at Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church.  I just don’t get it!”

                “Oh, I do,” said the old pastor, “I know them.  I baptized and confirmed the mother here at Lake Wobegon Lutheran many years ago.  And I went down to the Twin Cities to marry the two of them.  They’re coming back to Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church because this is where her family put in the time and commitment to provide for her a firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.  And I’m confident that she’ll do the same for her child.”

                Pastor Liz returned to the parsonage thinking, “I don’t know how he does it, but he always seems to say just the right thing.”  The light was flashing on her answering machine.  She pressed the button to hear the voice of one of the distressed mothers from Friday night, “I wanted to call to thank you, Pastor Liz, for your comforting words when I was freaking out about my daughter being so far away at the prom.  It seems I was upset over nothing.  She had a great time and everything went smoothly.  I guess you were right about trusting in the foundation of faith we provided for her.  Somehow you always seem to say the right thing.  Thanks again, and God bless you.”

                Well, the next time I go back home to Lake Wobegon, I’ll have to check out Pastor Engquist’s shed, and his beer can collection, and thank God for my family and all the people of Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church who helped build for me a sure foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

                And that’s the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.   AMEN.

The Gift of a Grown Up Faith

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

February 12, 2017

Deuteronomy 30: 15-20

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9

Matthew 5: 21-37

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

                “You’ll understand it better when you’re all grown up.”  Have you heard that before?  Maybe you’ve even said it to a child yourself.  In your infancy, that was a phrase of acceptable reassurance because you knew there was so much more to learn about life and because you trusted your elders, your parents, your teachers, your leaders, who had so much ore life experience.  But as you grew older, more aware, more mature, and thinking for yourself, it became a phrase of intense irritation.  “How much more grown up do I have to get before it all begins to make sense?”  You ask that, hoping that your time of mature awareness was now at hand.

                But are we ever really ready for full awareness, for deeper understanding, for total revelation, for everything to make complete sense?  Often we can be frightened by the truth, and find its responsibility too hard to handle.

                The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy reviews the history of God’s chosen people after Moses had led the children of Israel, wandering through the wilderness for 40 years.  The key word in that sentence was the word “children,” the children of Israel.  In 40 years they hadn’t done much growing up.  They were still entirely dependent upon Moses, but questioned whether Moses knew where he was going.  They were grateful to the God who delivered them from bondage in Egypt, but were easily distracted by claims of false gods for momentary relief.

                Now they were about to cross the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land and become a responsible people, without having Moses any longer to guide them.  It was time for them to grow up.  So Moses sets before them a choice between life and prosperity or death and adversity.

                Sounds like a pretty easy choice!  But it wasn’t for them; just as it isn’t for us.  What choices did we make instead that have led to war and destruction in our world?  What choices have we made instead that have led us to drug addiction, obesity, anger and despair, meaninglessness and faithlessness?  Seeing the look of immature bewilderment again on their faces, Moses answers the question for them: “Choose life!  Choose life, love and faith!”

                It sounds like such a simple formula for success: 1) Love the Lord your God, 2) Obey all of God’s laws, 3) Live long and prosper.  Kind of a combination of Mr. Spock and Joel Osteen!  Many immature Christians still cling to that line of thinking.  It can be attractive when it seems to be supported by such well-defined absolutes.  That is, until, matured by human reality of day to day living and the complexities of life’s hard choices you realize that the only results can be either hypocrisy or impossibility.

                Jesus sat down on a hillside to teach immature hypocrites by focusing on the extreme of impossibility to reveal the gift of a grown up faith.

                “As children you were taught not to kill and you feel pretty smug thinking that you’ve never deliberately murdered anyone.  Well, that was easy!  But you know, don’t you, that every time you lash out in anger against your brother or sister you have killed a little bit of their soul each time.  For that, you should have been thrown into prison for life!

                “As children you were taught not to break your marriage vows.  Single people and faithful couples are breathing a sigh of relief.  But you know, don’t you, that this commandment has more to do with the purity of your soul than with the purity of the bed.  When Jimmy Carter was President of the United States, he confessed in an interview with Playboy magazine that he had broken this commandment because he, along with all the rest of us, can’t help but look at another with lust in our hearts.  For that you should have had your eyes plucked out and your wandering hands cut off!

                “As children you were taught not to bear false witness and to put the best construction on everything.  Oh, come on!  We lie like a rug all the time.  We are all masters of alternative facts.  For that you should all have your mouths washed out with soap!”

                The crowds surrounding Jesus are mystified at his teaching.  It all seems so hopeless.  What then can we do to be saved, to be healthy, to live in everlasting peace?

                Nothing.  You can do nothing to earn your salvation.  You have no choice in the matter.  God can’t let it be dependent upon us children.  The choice is God’s and it is all God’s doing.  Jesus, in his death on the cross, would fulfill the sentence of punishment that we, because of our sin, our bad choices and our disobedience, deserve.  And Jesus, in his resurrection from the grave, would win the victory over sin and death and open the gate to true peace, true prosperity, true love and true life, that we, because of our sin, our bad choices and our disobedience, could never possibly deserve.  Jesus used the alarmingly bad news of our inability to decide to obey and turned it into the good news of a free gift, the blessing of a God who loves all the children of humanity.

                St. Paul is still concerned about this.  He’s not certain that the children of human flesh can fully appreciate and incorporate such a Gospel message of God’s grace, love and forgiveness in their words and actions.  It’s so much safer to continue to treat them like little children.  But if he were to treat them like grown up Christians, would they act towards one another lie grown up Christians and leave behind their jealousies and their quarreling?  Having heard and received the gift of a grown up faith, would they then act and speak in the maturity of that faith?  Having been reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, would they then be reconciled to one another, sharing the peace of Christ which passes all human understanding?

                I would rather choose to treat us all as adults, as grown up Christians, acutely aware of our sins, but even more joyfully aware of God’s grace, striving to make better choices for ourselves and for our world, focused on being connected and in touch with God’s will for our lives, praising and giving thanks to God for all the blessings we have received and that we have to share with others, and embarking upon a Promised Land where all God’s children may know peace, prosperity and everlasting life.

                Maybe we’ll all understand it better when we’re all grown up.  AMEN.

THE LAZARUS/JUDAS CONNECTION

 

            Firstly, please understand that this is an off-the-wall hypothesis, with no intention to challenge or harm anyone’s faith.  Nor do I believe that it is in any way disrespectful to the authority of Scripture.  I believe that the Bible is quite dynamic and constantly revealing.  It is indeed appropriate for us to ask the far out questions and allow the Bible to speak to us afresh today.  As long as there are unanswered questions, then we must keep asking and searching.  Such is one point about why I engage in such speculation.

            I have long been intrigued by the story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-53).  It is surrounded by so many unanswered questions: Who was Lazarus?  Why is this story only told in the Gospel of John?  Is Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus (told only in Luke 16:19-31) about the same person?  Whatever happened to Lazarus?  If the Gospel of John is the first of the gospels written (as I suppose), did the other gospel writers deliberately exclude the story of Jesus’ miraculous and revelatory resuscitation of Lazarus?  And, if so, why?

            My hypothesis is that the raising of Lazarus became such a point of embarrassment in the early Christian Church that Mark and Matthew, writing gospels for the convincing and converting of Jews and Gentiles to Christianity, deliberately chose not to include this event from Jesus’ ministry.  It was difficult to explain why Jesus would chose to delay his visit to the ailing Lazarus (John 11:6) when he loved him so much.  It is difficult to explain why Jesus would raise someone from the dead, only for that person to die again.  The point is too difficult to explain in an evangelical treatise.  Luke, on the other hand, specifically tells us that he is making a scholarly attempt at reconciling all the evidence about Jesus (Luke 1:1-4).  How then can Luke ignore the raising of Lazarus?  Still being sensitive to the embarrassing nature of the incident, Luke includes Lazarus in the form of a parable told by Jesus about the great chasm between heaven and earth.

            How much more embarrassing does the raising of Lazarus appear if the person raised from the dead by someone who loves him so much becomes the person who later turns Jesus over to the Jewish authorities, leading to Jesus’ crucifixion!

            How did I ever get there?

            All the Biblical evidence supports the existence of a family unit in Bethany of two sisters and a brother: Mary, Martha and Lazarus ( John 11:1-3).  But when Luke tells the famous story about Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) there is no mention at all of Lazarus.  Lazarus has again been expunged from the story.

            Later in Chapter 12:1-11, Jesus again comes to Bethany, to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, where Mary anoints Jesus and wipes his feet with her hair.  Judas Iscariot, who seems to be a distinctly different person, objects at the apparent wastefulness.  He seems to be a corrupt Treasurer (John 12:6).  Is this the same Mary and the same story as Matthew 26:6-13?  We are told here that this anointing takes place in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper.  Is Simon the father of Mary, Martha and Lazarus?  How interesting that immediately following this we are told about Judas’ contract to betray Jesus!

            Now go to John 13.  This is John’s version of the Last Supper.  Notice in verse 2 and verse 26 how Judas is referred to as: “Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,” or “Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”  Is this the same Simon the leper who seems to be the father of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?

            The table seating is a bit curious at John’s version of the Last Supper.  By the table conversation and actions that take place it is apparent that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is on one side of Jesus (13:23) and that Judas is on the other (13:26).  The place on the right hand of Jesus would be a place of honor for the disciple whom Jesus loved, while the place on the left hand of Jesus would be for the host.  Is Judas the host? i.e. this last supper is taking place in the home of Judas, the son of Simon?  It is interesting to read in Psalm 41:9 this prophetic word: “Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”  The term “bosom friend” may not be one we associate with Judas, but it most certainly is one we would identify with Lazarus (John 11: 3, 5, 36).

            Finally, what about the name, Lazarus?  I propose that “Lazarus” was something of a nickname that Judas, son of Simon, and brother of Mary and Martha, received at his raising from the dead.  Only John retains that nickname stemming from that event.  It is derived from 11:43 when Jesus commands the exit of the dead from the tomb.  Lazarus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name/word, Eliezar, meaning, “God is my helper.”  Rather than a calling out by name, this could be something of an invocation preceding the miraculous event.  Roughly translated it would be: “As God is my helper, come out!”  See Psalm 54:4 as an example of such an invocation.  And from then on, Judas is known as Lazarus; at least until Judas betrays the one who raised him from the dead.

            I wonder if the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke - where the rich man, “Divas,” is in eternal torment and “Lazarus” rests in the bosom of Abraham - is meant to represent the two natures of Judas.

            That, in a nutshell, is my theory.  It’s meant to be as curious, interesting, and something to make you go, “Humm!”

 

 

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 30: 9-14
Colossians 1: 1-14
Luke 10: 25-37

            Well, it has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my hometown, out there at the gateway to Central Minnesota.  Just when you might have thought there would be no more news from Lake Wobegon, there are still stories to be told about my peaceful little village.

            Pastor Liz felt the need to get away from it all; and by that, I think she meant everything going on in our country and in our world.  So she had requested permission of the council of the Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church to attend a three day, silent retreat in Minneapolis.  Vic Tollefson, who had replaced his father, Val Tollefson, as council president after his dad had served in that capacity for over 50 years – all throughout the tenure of the previous pastor, David Engqvist (there were no term limit at Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church) – Vic had questioned why the pastor would have to leave Lake Wobegon and travel to the Twin Cities for a quiet retreat.  But Vic wasn’t as stubborn as his sainted father, who opposed female clergy and vowed that the only way there would be a woman in the pulpit of Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church was over his dead body.  And that’s what it took for Pastor Liz to be called to serve there.  So her request was granted.

            The retreat lasted late into Saturday evening, later than Pastor Liz expected and it was dark by the time the closing service ended; probably because, with no one speaking, it was hard to tell when the worship was actually over.

            Now, whenever Pastor Liz drove in the Twin Cities, she would deliberately avoid the black sections of town.  She never thought of herself as a racist – she grew up in New Jersey, dontcha know.  But she was careful and she was practical.  When you live in a quiet town of Norwegian Lutherans and German Catholics, black people (and any other color) were considered suspect.

            But the fastest way to the interstate that would take her north, back to home, was straight through the heart of the most dangerous part of the city.  It was late.  She was in a hurry.  She hadn’t yet written a sermon for the next morning’s worship.  Lutheran pragmatism won out over prejudicial fear.  She would just lock all the doors, roll up the windows, and pray that nothing goes wrong.

            Then the car began to swerve and bounce.  It wasn’t a pot hole on the poorly maintained streets; she had a flat tire.  What was she going to do now?  About to curse God under her breath for not answering her prayer, she noticed in the rearview mirror that the driver of the car behind her was the Bishop of Bemidgi, who also had attended the retreat.

            Not wanting to block traffic, she pulled off onto a side street.  Feeling great relief, she jumped out of her car in time to see the Bishop drive straight on through, pointing at his wrist watch and shaking his head.  “I suppose he does have farther to travel,” thought Pastor Liz.

            She hopped back in her car and locked the doors.  There would be no more help from fellow clergy.  No one would be able to see her now.  She returned to her prayers, praying for God’s protection and deliverance.

            Further down the street, red lights were flashing.  As they approached closer, she could hear the siren of a police car.  “Thank you, God!” she exclaimed.  But there must have been a situation far worse than hers way beyond, and the police car screamed right past her.  “May God bless and protect our dedicated public servants,” she whispered, “now more than ever.”

            Tears welled up in the Pastor’s eyes; tears of frustration, tears of fear, tears of regret.  “I could sit here and cry,” she thought, “or I can assess my situation and do something about it.”  Her father, a Jersey mechanic, would not let young Liz drive a car until she was able to change a tire.  So she knew how to, she had just never had to do it.  She steeled herself to change the tire on her own, quickly and efficiently, with the hope of avoiding any trouble.  One, two, three steps, just like her father taught her, and she would be back on the road to home.

            She popped open the trunk and got out of the car.  There was the spare tire donut.  The jack and crow bar were lodged underneath it.  Why did she park under a blown out street lamp?  It looked like it had been shot out, of course.  Changing a tire in the dark of night would add to the challenge.  She braced the jack under the left, front tire well, inserted the crow bar and began pumping.  It was just like blowing up a kiddie pool, as the car began to rise.

            The thought of blowing up only increased her fear.

            The hub cap came off without any trouble and she set to work on removing the lug nuts.  Four came off, after great effort on her part, but the fifth was locked.  Who locks lug nuts?  Not anybody in Lake Wobegon!  Why, she even leaves her keys in the car at night.  At least now, nobody would be able to steal her flat tire.

            Throwing the crow bar down in disgust, she hit the hub cap, scattering the lug nuts she had safely placed there (as her father has taught her).  “Oh, frick!” she yelled.  But that wasn’t really the word she used.  She turned to see the legs of a tall, stocky black man hovering over her.  She fell backwards against the car as he took one step closer.  “What’ a nice, white girl like you doing in a neighborhood like this?” he snarled; at least, that’s what it sounded like to her.

            “Oh, God, please don’t hurt me!” she pleaded, “I had a flat tire and I just want to fix it and be on my way.”  “I ain’t God,” he said, “and I ain’t here to hurt you.  I’m here to help you.  I was driving in front of you when I saw your car swerve and you pulled into this side street.  It really isn’t safe here at night.  So, I came back around to give you a hand.”

            “O, my God, thank you so much,” she cried with relief.  “Again, I’m not God,” he said.  “It just looked like you could use a Good Samaritan.  Now, I see you need a lug nut key.”

            “I never knew there was such a thing,” she confessed.  Checking the glove compartment, nothing was found.  “I could call AAA.”

            “Naw, they won’t come into this neighborhood at night.  You’ll have to wait until morning.”

            “But what can I do?  I have to work in the morning.”

            “What is it you do?” he asked.

            “I’m the pastor of the Lutheran Church in Lake Wobegon.”  She noticed a change in his expression.  A snide look crossed his face, or was it a smile? 

            “You’re a long way from our home, Pastor Liz.”

            “Our home, and how do you know my name?”

            “I live just down the block from you.  We’re actually neighbors.  Stanley Murphy’s the name.  Pleased to make your acquaintance.”  A black man she had never seen or met before is her neighbor?  In Lake Wobegon?  Who would have thunk it?  “Leave your car here.  At least nobody will steal your tire.”  He laughed, but she didn’t.  “I’ll take you home.  Then I’ll come to your church service in the morning and we’ll drive back down here and take care of all this.”

            The lawyer, seeking to exonerate himself when he heard Jesus say that loving one’s neighbor as one’s self was a sign of righteousness, asked, “And just who is my neighbor?”

            Now Pastor Liz had her sermon for today’s worship.  During the silent retreat she had been reading this quote from Dr. David Lose, the president of the seminary in Philadelphia, out there in Pennsylvania and she wanted to use it in her sermon: (This) is not simply a lesson (to be learned); it is also a promise.  God comes where we least expect God to be because God comes for all.  The self-justifying lawyer and the outcast Samaritan; the refugees and (the politicians); those in need, those who help them, and those who turn away.  No one is beyond the pale of God’s mercy, grace, and redemption.  And if we’re not sure, keep in mind that Jesus…set his face to go to Jerusalem, and there he will not only suffer and die on the cross to show us just how far God will go to demonstrate God’s love, but also forgive those who crucify him.  No one is beyond the reach of God’s love.  No one.  And so Jesus brings (us) home by choosing the most unlikely of characters to serve as the instrument of God’s mercy and grace and exemplify Christ-like behavior.  That’s what God does: God chooses people no one expects and does amazing things through them.  Even a Samaritan… Even me.  Even you.

            Maybe Stanley did attend worship at Lake Wobegon Lutheran today.  Maybe he was the messenger of God, sent to answer the prayers of Pastor Liz.  I guess you never know who your neighbors are, or who your neighbor might be.

            That’s the news from Lake Wobegon; where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.  AMEN.

July 10, 2016