Thursday, May 28, 2009

More riveting news from Decatur

From yesterday's local paper...
An unusual accident was investigated by the sheriff’s department Tuesday evening. The report said Nic Comment, 20, W Jackson Street, Monroe, was turning left off of County Road 400 N onto U.S. 27 when his car was struck in the rear quarter driver’s side by an Amish buggy. The buggy “fled the scene” according to the police report. Damage to the Comment vehicle was placed at between $1,000 - $2,500.

An Amish “hit skip”… yet another sign of the approaching apocalypse

Monday, May 25, 2009

Time in the Word - Pentecost

This coming Sunday is the Festival of Pentecost. It is obvious that the theme is on the Spirit. In the Gospel lesson the Spirit causes living water to flow from the heart. The dead are made alive by the Spirit in the preach Word (Old Testament lesson). The disciples are emboldened by the Spirit to speak in languages which foreigners could understand (Epistle lesson). In the Psalm there are references to the Spirit who creates and renews creation. The hymn of the Day is a prayer for the Spirit to come upon the church.

Collect for Pentecost: O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all tings and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 25 May 2009—Psalm104:24, 27-28, 30— The antiphon is a liturgical text, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Alleluia” The Psalmist refers back to the week of creation. When He had finished all that He had made not only was the Lord satisfied but it was very good indeed. All that the Lord commands, creates, and sustains is very good indeed. On the Feast Day of Pentecost we see that the Lord is serious concerning His Word going out throughout the whole creation. Persons are converted, believers are sustained and strengthened in the faith as the Lord uses His Word for these purposes.

Tuesday, 26 May 2009—Psalm 139:1-16; key verse v.17 — “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” This psalm verse reminds us that God’s words, thoughts, and actions are all connected and closely related. The Lord made a promise to send His Son and acted in time. He made a promise to redeem and save the world and so He did. He promises to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. The events of Pentecost affirm that the Lord is serious about the promises He makes and keeps. Everything concerning your salvation, witness and walk is linked to the Lord’s promises and the fulfillment of them. The Psalmist affirms what the Lord has done.

Wednesday, 27 May 2009—Ezekiel 37:1-14— The Spirit through the preached Word raises the dead. Ezekiel preaches the Word to the dry bones of Israel and they come to life. Ezekiel is a prophet to the exiles in Babylon. This lesson comes from the section of the book that predicts a restoration of Jerusalem and its temple. He sees the Hebrews in exile as dead in hope because they are separated from the holy city and temple. God commands Ezekiel to preach to the dead bones and the Spirit brings life to the bodies and then the Spirit to the bodies. Through the preached Word, the Spirit of God brings new life and hope to a defeated, e4xiled people.

Thursday, 28 May 2009—Acts 2:1-21— The Spirit gives power to witness in foreign languages. On Pentecost the disciples receive the Holy Spirit and Peter explains the happening. Luke gives an account of the Spirit’s coming upon the gathered disciples in Jerusalem on Pentecost accompanied by a mighty wind and tongues of fire. Then the reaction of the crowd is given – the disciples are accused of being drunk. Peter responds by explaining the experience as fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy that at the end of the era the Spirit would come to all. The overall purpose of the event is salvation for all who call upon God. The Spirit gave the disciples power to speak in the languages of the people assembled in Jerusalem, that all peoples might hear the Gospel. The prophecy of Acts 1:8 is beginning to be fulfilled.


Friday, 29 May 2009—John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15— The Spirit produces living water in believers in Christ. Believers in Christ are given the Spirit. On the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus is in Jerusalem disputing with religious leaders as He taught in the temple. At the end of the Feast, Jesus invited the thirsty to come to come to Him and drink. Out of the hearts of believers in Christ will come the living water of the Spirit.


Saturday, 30- May 2009— Luke 11:13 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:14- The hymn of the Day, “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord”– {LSB 497} In this much loved hymn we pray that the blessings of the Spirit would sustain the Christian in his walk and life.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing Lima, OH
Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, © WELS Permission to use this copyrighted item is limited to personal and congregational use.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Easter 7 Sermon

When we are about to leave for a trip or we know that we will be parted from family and friends for a period of time what do we say? We might simply say "good-by" and leave it at that.

But sometimes we want to make our true and genuine feelings known about that person so we might also say "GODSPEED!" or "God be with you" or "God keep you" or even "God bless you!" When we mention God we want to express the wish that God would watch over that friend and protect him. Jesus expresses something similar in what has been known as his high priestly prayer. In this prayer Jesus prays that His Father would keep His believers. This prayer says something about Jesus and it says something about you! Jesus is concerned that you be kept safe and secure. Let's see how Jesus prayed for the people He loves!

I. Jesus prays for your protection.
A. Gone is the security of Jesus' physical presence.
1. He had guarded His disciples while on the earth, but now He was leaving them.
2. They would have to remain in a world that hated them. "I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (vv.14-15)

B. The unbelieving world is the Christian's enemy.
1. The world's prince is known as "the evil one" Satan who intends to destroy Christians."… because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (v.15)
2. The world regards god's grace as foolishness.
3. The world calls evil good and good evil. That is what we are up against.
4. The world's priorities thus become different from that of the child of God.

We need protection because we live in a world that has not changed its attitude toward Christ and His followers. Did you ever notice that?

When was the last time you heard of a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding some of the lunatic fringe religion? Satan knows what he's doing. He's got those who are his all stowed away in his back pocket. Instead, he spends the majority of his time tempting and aiming his darts and arrows at those who follow Jesus who is "the way, the truth and the life". Thus we need Jesus now more then ever! We need Jesus to pray for us, "God keep you and bless you". God is able to keep us. But how?

II. Jesus has the means to protect us.
A. The revelation of the father that Jesus has given is that means by which He protects us.
1. The Father's love gives joyous security "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name; these that thou gave me I have kept and none of them is love except for the son of perdition; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled" (vv.12-13)
2. The Father's love makes it possible to respond with love even to the world's hatred.

B. The Word of the Father that Jesus has given us (v.14)
1. That Word, as it has come to us in Scripture, enables us to shun false teaching that would destroy of our faith.
2. The Scriptures guard our faith and thereby our unity in Christ " And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world…Holy Father keep through thine own name those whom thou hast give me that they may be one as we are one." (v.11). We know the Father's love and persevere in faith through the Word. God protects us by the means of Grace. In His Word we received the promises that we need.

When we cling to those promises we have the Savior's guarantee that we be preserved and kept. That is God's way of saying "God keep you!"

III. Jesus as He prayed is able to keep us. There is a divine purpose in His protection.
A. We Christians have a job to do in this world. "And thou has sent me into the world so have I also sent them into the world". (v.18)
1. We are sent to teach the Father's Word.
2. We are sent to hallow God's name by living a godly life.

B. We need to be renewed in consecration, "And for their sake I sanctify Myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (v.19)
1. So that we pursue our task with an single-mindedness of purpose.
2. So that while in this world, we would not be caught up in this world to be part of the world. We are kept in the world for a purpose. Jesus has a good reason to pray for you that the Father would keep you. You are to be about your Father's business being salt and light.

We you say to someone else "God keep you" you are not saying empty words. You are reinforcing Christ's own prayer for His own! That prayer relates to a real need, reminds us of divine power and protection, and directs us to our purpose in this world. May God keep you as you are His salt and light! In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Friday, May 22, 2009

In Memoriam

Richard Hileman
Born: October 16, 1931
Baptized: April 9, 1944
Confirmed: September 25, 1966
With Christ in Peace: May 22, 2009
Committal: May 26, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

Time in the Word - Easter 7

This coming Sunday will be the Sunday after the Ascension. Jesus has departed and the church is on its own. The disciples are left alone to confront the challenges of living in a fallen world. Before He departs, Jesus prays for His friends. The First lesson shows the infant church with the problem of a vacancy in leadership and prays to the ascended Lord for guidance in choosing a successor to Judas. Though Jesus has ascended, Christians are not alone in the world. This though is conveyed in the second lesson as well as in the Gospel. The suggested hymn deals with the church without the physical Jesus and urges the people not to fear, for God has chosen to give them the kingdom.

Collect for the Seventh Sunday in Easter O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom Y9ou promised from the Father, for You live and reigns with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 18 May 2009—Psalm 27:1a, 4-5, 10, 14; antiphon, Psalm 27:7— The antiphon, “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!” The cry of the Psalmist is a pray for deliverance from treacherous enemies. These remain unspecified, whether from inside or outside the kingdom or both. The chief weapon is a false charge intent on discrediting the king. When people say all manner of things falsely against us we need not retaliate. Rather we are take our burdens, concerns, and sorrows to the throne room of grace and be thankful as the Savior answers each petition according to His perfect and good will.


Tuesday, 19 May 2009—Psalm 1 key verse v.6 — “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” This psalm verse gives us both Law and Gospel. The ways of the wicked with be met with the full brunt of Law – ultimately judgment for unbelief and sin. The righteous, on the other hand; not by any merit on their behalf but completely by grace will be delivered on the last day. This of course is Gospel. The destinies of two lifestyles are the destinies of those who have chosen them.

Wednesday, 20 May 2009—Acts 1:12-26— The Post – Ascension church prays for guidance. The church is living b3etween Jesus’ departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The time has come to fill the vacancy caused by Judas’ suicide. The one to be chosen as a replacement is to be one who shared the experience with Jesus from the time of His baptism to His Ascension and one who can witness to the Resurrection. Two men met the qualifications: Joseph and Matthias. God and not the church elected Matthias. The church merely asked the ascended Lord which of the two He had chosen. After prayer, Matthias was chosen to be one of the Apostles. The church’s leadership ranks were now filled and ready for the Spirit’s coming.

Thursday, 21 May 2009—1 John 5:9-15— Everything we do in life all boils down to faith. Faith is simply another word for “trust.” Trust simply means to take God at His Word. Note and give special attention to Vs.10 which is critical. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony god has given about His Son. This is the same thing the Savior said to Nicodemus who came to visit the Savior at night. Read John 3:15-18. See how clearly that this universal truth is woven throughout the Scripture and that the Scriptures interpret themselves namely that each passage explains the other more clearly. Forty different men over a period of some 1,500 years wrote 66 books that in reality make up one book. These books have one doctrinal viewpoint, one moral standard, one plan of salvation, one program for the ages.


Friday, 22 May 2009—John 17:11b-19— The Post-Ascension church confronts the world. In this high priestly prayer, Jesus is aware that He is going to leave the world and His disciples will be left in a fallen world. Think of what the world did to Him! Will not the disciples face the same opposition? Naturally, the disciples would be afraid. Thus, Jesus prays for His followers, not that they should be taken out of the world as He is about to do, but that they should be protected from the Devil and the world. He prays that they may be one as He and the Father are one. They are to be made holy in His Word. As He was sent into the world, He sends them into the world for the same purpose He was sent.


Saturday, 23 May 2009— Luke 12:32, Matthew 25:34; Psalm 103:3-5; Matthew 28:20b- The hymn of the Day, “Have no fear, little flock”– {LSB 735} As the Easter season draws to a close we have no fear as our Lord and Savior lives and reigns through all eternity. He has promised to send us His Holy Spirit. Thus this new hymn reminds us that we are safe in His almighty hand.


Prayer for the 6th Sunday of EasterO God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore You, the work of farmers, grant them seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruit of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving. May we see by this noble vocation that with Your help they feed the world. And cause all those who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with both honor and respect; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Prayer for Ascension: Almighty God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord.

For blessing on the Word: Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing Lima, OH
Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, © WELS Permission to use this copyrighted item is limited to personal and congregational use.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

40th Anniversary of Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School

Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School opend on Tuesday, September 2, 1969. The student body included 108 boys and 87 girls, for a total of 193 students enrolled for its first year. This represented approximately 77% of the children eligible from the three congregations that formed Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School.

The original faculty and staff of Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School, 1969.

<>Mrs. Norvin Bultemeier, Mrs. Verlin Bultemeier, Mrs. Melwin Buuck, Mrs. Ludolph Scheumann, and Mrs. Marlys Hartman.

Richard Bultemeyer (Principal), Raymond Bachmann, Jeffery Burkart, Rev. E. A. H. Jacob, Mrs. Wilfred Rafert, Marvin Meyer, William Uffelman, Thelma Standiford, David Hartman, Ross Stueber, Rev. Norman Kuck, and Rev. O. A. Brillinger.

Easter 6 sermon

We are accustomed to thinking of Jesus as our friend, and we express this thought with such wonderful hymns as we have sung this morning such as “What a Friend We Have In Jesus, All our sins and grief’s to bear.” Yet, friendship is a two-way street.

Not only is Jesus our friend, but we are the friends of Jesus! Let’s look at what it means to be a friend of Jesus!
I. We have the privilege of friends.

A. Christ has chosen us "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.” (V.16)


1. We are not able to choose Him Paul would remind us in his letter to the Ephesians.2: 3 where he reminds us “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”
And again, in his letter to the Corinthians Paul simply tells: But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” 1 Corinthians 2:14


2. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son {to be} the propitiation for our sins.”


B. Christ opened Himself to us verse. 15 of our text tells us "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
1. He shares with us the truths regarding His redemptive work.

2. Our regeneration in Baptism, and the blessings of His body in Holy Communion.

3. He has divulged to us the precious truths of His Word.

TRANSITION: Christ promises to give us what we ask in His name. (v.16). Don’t we need patience, love perseverance? Aren’t there fellow Christians whose needs we can bring to Jesus? Don’t our home and church have needs?

II. We have the responsibilities of friends.

A. We are to do what He commands. Listen again to verse 14 of our lesson for this morning: "You are My friends, if you do what I command you.”

1. We bind ourselves to the sound doctrine of His Word.

2. We practice what accords with sound doctrine no matter how the world reviles us (John 15:18-20) "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before {it hated} you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”


B. We are to love one another (v.17) "This I command you, that you love one another.”
1. As Christ loved us (v.13) “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.


2. Carrying each other’s burdens, overlooking each other’s weaknesses, forgiving them as God in Christ has forgiven us.

3. We are to bear abiding fruit (v.16) no matter what the circumstances or how we feel. Thus it is Christ abiding in us that lifts us higher to bear fruit that endures in His name. By ourselves we can not do it. But by His abiding presence in our lives we are able to accomplish much for Him in His name.


CONCLUSION: There will be abiding fruit when we support the faithful preaching of the Word and the right administration of the Sacrament. For that is what the Church is all about. That’s what we as believers are all about. We come to hear Jesus and His Word.

Holy sheep gathering to hear the voice of the Shepherd; that’s what you are all about! Through both Word and Sacrament Christ has assured us that we will abide in Him to the end.

You are My Friends” Jesus said. Are you enjoying your great privileges? Are you carrying out your holy responsibilities? Blessed are you, the friend of Jesus!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Riveting News from Decatur

Above the fold in tonight's edition of the Decatur Daily Democrat...
Burrito urge closes chase

A Ft. Wayne man being chased by police at speeds up to 90 mph in Allen and Adams counties on Tuesday brought the pursuit to a halt suddenly when he drove into the Taco Bell lot on N 13trh St. to buy a burrito. Jermine A Cooper, 36, was quickly secured by Ft. Wayne police, who had several cars on his tail as he fled through Ft. Wayne, down Minnich Rd. onto US 27, and into Decatur. The chase lasted about 16 minutes and ended shortly before 11:30 a.m.

A Fort Wayne police report stated that Cooper told officers he knew he was headed for prison and wanted to get one final burrito. During the chase, while still in Ft. Wayne, Cooper allegedly threw a .45-caliber handgun into a yard. Upon searching Cooper’s car, police reportedly found a nine-millimeter pistol, a .40-caliber handgun, some crack cocaine, what is believed to be marijuana, Ecstacy pills, Oxycondone pills, and more than $1,800 in cash.

Raccoon causes outage

The score was Indiana – Michigan Power 1, raccoon O late Tuesday night, but the real losers were 1,400 customers of the power company.

An inquisitive coon entered a fenced-in substation on the north side of Decatur and caused the outage at 11:09 pm. No damage was done, but repair personnel took two hours to check everything and to remove the dead raccoon before service was restored at 1:01 a.m.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Time in the Word - Easter 6


The theme for the Sixth Sunday of Easter is found in the Gospel. Jesus commands us to love one another. As usual the Gospel lesson gives the key to the theme of the week. Jesus commands us to love each other. Peter in the first lesson thanks God for His love for all men both Jews and Gentiles. John in the Epistle reminds us that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. The Psalm of the Day calls for a new song to the Lord because of His steadfast love to His people. The Hymn of the Day asks that we might be filled with Jesus’ love and pity.

Collect for the Sixth Sunday in Easter O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 11 May 2009Psalm 66:1-,8-9, 20; antiphon, Psalm 66:16— The antiphon calls for us to listen to the voice of Him who has saved us, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” Worship here defined is the proclamation of what god has done in praise of God within the context of the worshiping congregation. As we prepare for next Sunday this is our central purpose in gathering together.


Tuesday, 12 May 2009Psalm 98 key verse v.1 — “Sing to the Lord a new song.” This psalm is a call to celebrate with joy the righteous reign of the Lord.


Wednesday, 13 May 2009Acts 10:34-48— Peter’s Vision in which all kinds of food which would include both clean and unclean animals (according to Leviticus 11) is depicted in the woodcut on this week’s cover. The Word of the Lord has now come to both Jewish and Gentile believers. Gentiles had received the same gift as the Jewish believers. This was unavoidable evidence that the invitation to the kingdom was open to Gentiles as well as to Jews. The early Jewish Christians failed to understand that the gospel was for Gentiles as well as for the Jews, and that they would share alike in the benefits of redemption.

The mention of Gentiles “speaking in tongues” is a fulfillment of Acts 1:8. The prophecy was given that the Holy Spirit would come and the disciples would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and into the Gentile world. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost the disciples spoke in other languages. (Acts 2:5-12) Acts 8:14-18 reports of an incident occurring in Samaria. The Holy Spirit had come upon people in some noticeable way.

There is no mention of tongues but Peter and John are summoned. What had happened in Samaria was to be verified by those who had given testimony in Jerusalem.

Christianity continued to expand to new geographic regions and include more people. The third and final time tongues is mentioned in the book of Acts occurred in the city of Ephesus. Paul found some disciples who followed the teachings of John the Baptist. They didn't know about the Holy Spirit, so Paul informed them more fully, and taught them that John told people to believe in Jesus (Acts 19:1-4). "On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied" (verses 5-6). Now that the Spirit was poured out in a remote place like Ephesus there is no further mention of believers who would speak in tongues in the book of Acts. The prophecy of Acts 1 has been fulfilled.


Thursday, 14 May 20091 John 5:1-8— John begins by telling us “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Faith in Jesus as the Christ is a sign of being born again just as love is. John wrote at a time when members of a family were closely associated as a unit under the headship of the father. He could therefore use the family as an illustration to show that anyone who loves God the Father will naturally love God’s children.


Friday, 15 May 2009John 15:9-17— This is a continuation of Jesus’ last discourse with His disciples. It is appropriate that one of His last messages was one of love. His disciples are to love as the Father loved Jesus and as He loved His disciples. This love is expressed in keeping the commandments and in the sacrifice of self for a friend. Because we are His friends, Jesus shares all. By His choice we are His friends. One privilege of this friendship is having prayers answered. If we are disciples and true friends of Jesus, we will love as He loved us.


Saturday, 16 May 2009Psalm 145:15-16; Revelation 19:1; Titus 3:4-7- The hymn of the Day, “Alleluia! Let Praises Ring”– {LSB 822} The kindness of God, His undeserved mercy and His grace is the reason why God did not simply banish fallen man but acted to save Him. When using the word love Titus will use the Greek word philanthrapia the love for mankind. God so loved the world that He sent His son Jesus. Thus this hymn will fit in nicely with the theme for the Day.

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, © WELS

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Congratulations Henry!

Henry's been at Indiana State the past four years
He will go through commencment at the Hulman Center this afternoon

Here is the fountain at the center of campus


Shot of the moon taken at the Indiana State v Indiana game in Bloomington his Junior year



The Hoosiers scored over the Sycamores that night

Hank's freshman year they shocked the world beating IU as the students storm the floor


In four years State managed to win only one game but Henry attended every home game!








Wednesday, May 6, 2009

In Memoriam

Donna Hileman
February 16, 1935 - May 06, 2009
Baptized into Christ: March 1, 1935
Confirmed in the Faith: June 5, 1949
Committal: May 11, 2009

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Ready to go...not yet

According to the local paper April 2009 was the wettest April in the past 45 years. No one from the neighborhood has been able to get out in the fields. May 10 seems to be the cutoff for corn. After that farmers can expect to loose a bushel per acre however with some hybrid seeds they can go into June.

Almighty God You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore You, the work of farmers, grant to them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruit of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving. May we see by this noble vocation that with Your help they feed the world. Cause all people who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with both honor and respect.


photo taken by J Swygart of the Decatur Daily Democrat
Prayer for Agricultgure from Lutheran Worship with one petition added

Monday, May 4, 2009

Wyneken

The church commemorates Pr. Wyneken today. He served our Synod as president from our parish during the Civil War. He is remembered as the Father of American Home Missions. Next year will be his 200th birthday.

Time in the Word - Easter 5

The theme for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is Life in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus described Himself as the Vine and the believers as the branches which bring forth fruit. How one becomes a person in Christ is demonstrated by the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in the first lesson. To be in Christ means to obey the commandments of God, to love not only in word but in deed.

Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Easter O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed what true joys are found through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Monday, 04 May 2009—Psalm 145:1-2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon, John 16:16— The antiphon is taken from the Lord’s promise to His followers, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” Few doubt that the first phrase refers to the interval before the crucifixion. But interpretations differ as to whether the second refers to the interval preceding the resurrection or the coming of the Spirit, or the return of Christ on the Last Great Day. It seems that the language here best fits the resurrection.

Tuesday, 05 May 2009—Psalm 150 key verse v.6 —Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Who should praise the Lord? All who come to Him in faith. We celebrate the Savior’s great and mighty acts.

Wednesday, 06 May 2009—Acts 8:26-40— Philip is sent to bring an Ethiopian eunuch to faith in Christ. The treasures of an Ethiopian queen was on his way home after worshiping in Jerusalem. His chariot was on a main road from Jerusalem to Egypt. The Spirit directed Philip, one of the seven deacons (See Acts 6:1-5), to meet the chariot at Gaza. The eunuch was probably a proselyte or God-fearer of Judaism. Philip found him reading Isaiah 53 but not understanding it. After Philip’s explanation the Ethiopian asked to be baptized. He accepted Christ and according to tradition he introduced Christianity into Ethiopia. It should be noted that verse 37 (“If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”) is omitted in the older manuscripts and some modern versions will place the verse only in the margin.

Thursday, 07 May 2009—1 John 4:1-11— The word “Love” in its various forms is used 43 times in John’s letter. The word is used 32 times from 4:7-5:3 In His essential nature and in all His actions God is loving. John similarly affirms that God is spirit (John 4:24) and light (John 1:5), as well as holy, powerful, faithful, true and just. If we love in deed, we know we have the truth.

Friday, 08 May 2009—John 15:1-8— Jesus is the vine and we are the branches who are expected to bear fruit. Sunday’s Gospel lesson is a part of Jesus’ final discourse (chapters 13-17) with His disciples in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday. Jesus uses allegory: He is the vine, God is the vinedresser, the branches are the believers, and the fruit constitutes good works. The vine is the source of life. To be connected with the Source is to have life and produce fruit. To be separated from the Vine is to die and be destroyed. People in the Vine have their prayers answered. Bearing fruit glorifies God and proves discipleship.

John referred to adult Christians as “little children.” Is this talking down to adults? Is it an insult to even add “little” to children? Jesus referred to His disciples as “these little ones.” It is no insult because if God is our Father, we are His true children. Since when? We were adopted as His children at Baptism, and we live in Christ as branches in the vine. And we are “little” too. We are often little in faith, in love and in our words. How little we are when compared with the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ.

In these lessons we hear repeatedly the word “abide”. A fruitful Christian is one who produces good works because that person abides in Christ. How do we know we abide in Christ? One answer may be that our fruits prove it. This verse gives another answer. We are in Christ when we have the Spirit. It we have the Holy Spirit, it is the same as being in Christ. The Holy Spirit is at the same time the spirit of Christ.

Saturday, 09 Ma 2009— Psalm 98:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Romans 3:28 - The hymn of the Day, Dear Christians One and All, Rejoice – {LSB 556} When Luther translated the phrase “by faith” in Romans 3:28 he added the word “alone” which though not in the Greek, accurately reflect the meaning of the passage. The Hymn is one of Luther’s classic hymns which explain to us the heart of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, © WELS

Confirmation

Introduction: The Christian life can be one of awe and wonder with great satisfaction or it can be a life filled with a lot of questions and periods of uneasiness and even insecurity. There are three most important factors in the Christian life and if lived in the wrong order, it won't be the wonderful life that it should be. Those three important factors are: Fact, Faith, and Feelings.

Some want to put "feelings" first in their Christian life, but feelings come and go, sometimes there is joy and other times the "feelings" are not there, thus questions come.

Some want to put "faith" first without even considering the "facts" upon which they rest their "faith."

"Facts" should come first as they are permanent. "Faith" accepts and rests on God's "Facts."

One's "Feelings" come and go, but "Feelings" don't change the "facts" one's "faith" rests upon.

FACTS ARE FIRST IN THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE
In crossing a little stream, one can see the tops of rocks here and there and with careful planning and stepping one can step on first one rock top and then another and another until across without getting wet. "Fact" sees the rocks, "Faith" takes the step to the first rock, then "Feelings" is satisfied that the other rocks will work and the stream is crossed.

1. It is a fact that God loves each person with a tender and particular love. One may or may not believe or feel it or even care about it, but that doesn't change it.

2. It is a fact that in Jesus every obstacle has been removed between a person and God and that forgiveness and acceptance is waiting. One may not believe it or feel the joy of it, but that does not change the "fact" that it is so. Not knowing or not caring does not change facts.

3. It is a fact that the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ, that person is born into God's family and becomes a child of God. One may remember his/her failures, feel unworthy, feel like God's worst child, but that doesn't change the "fact" that once a child of God, His hand will continue to shape and lead you.

4. It is a fact that in Jesus Christ one already has a seat in the heavenly places. One may not believe it or enjoy the blessings of being near Jesus, but that doesn't change the "fact" that the believer already has an assigned place in God's Kingdom.

5. It is a fact that each believer is an heir to all that God is and has. God's Holy Spirit indwells each believer but many believers haven't received very much else of what God wants to give because they simply haven't accepted the "fact" that they are already heirs and don't have to wait till they die to get anything else.

SECOND IN THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE IS FAITH
Strange that most people have little or no trouble in trusting other people and have complete "faith" in them and don't even give a thought as to whether there's a risk or not. Why do some have difficulty in having "faith" in Jesus? Is there more than one kind of "Faith?"

1. Christian Faith is not just a Creed or Statement that one "trusts."

2. Christian Faith is about a Person. One is saved and blessed by the "faith" that recognizes and accepts the "facts" about God and His Son, Jesus.

3. Faith that is turned toward Jesus is the only right "Christian" faith. Whether that "faith" is weak as a tiny touch or as small as a tiny seed, if it's focused on Jesus then it's the right kind of faith.

4. Christian Faith relies on God's Faith. Whatever one may feel or think or may be taught, God is faithful and He cannot change and will not remove anybody He has brought into His Family.

5. Christian Faith reaches out to others also. Sometimes one gives, sometimes one carries, sometimes one speaks, sometimes one is silent, but Christian Faith is active in helping others.

THIRD IN THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE IS FEELINGS

1. Feelings change for the slightest reasons. Health, weather, family, job, attitude can all cause feeling changes.

2. Feelings are temporary. One moment it can be joy or sadness or self pity or excitement or hunger or thirst, etc.

3. Feelings do not always indicate one's standing with God. God allows or with holds things sometimes to teach His children.

4. Feelings are not to be lived by. Christians are not to build or live their lives by their "feelings." Today one may "feel" saved but tomorrow not "feel" saved. However one defines "feeling saved."

CONCLUSION:
1. God never changes, neither does His Word –it’s a FACT

2. The believer places his/her FAITH into the FACT of God's FAITHFULNESS.

3. FEELINGS can lift or bring down, bring assurance or bring doubts.

4. FACT, FAITH, FEELINGS is the order for living the Christian life successfully

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Bach Collegium to perform tomorrow!


The final concert of the season will be performed @ First Presbyterian Church 300 W Wayne St. in Ft. Wayne, IN
The Collegium will offer Bach's Easter Oratorio "Now Come Let us Hasten" the Ascension Oratorio "Praise Our God in Highest Heaven" and the Overture Suite #2 in B minor.
Lydia sang with the Collegium when she was a junior at Bellmont her voice teacher had sung with them earlier. The director is a retired professor at the Ft. Wayne seminary. The photo was taken when they sang at the Allen County Court House in 2005. These people are simply amazing - a group of geniuses.