Proper 12 - Romans 8:28

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Friedheim

10653 N – 550 W
Decatur, IN 46733
260-547-4248

www.zionfriedheim.org

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Celebrating our 170th Year
Chartered February 25, 1838

July 27, 2006
Proper 12
Romans 8:28
“Everything will work to the Father’s Good will”

In our prayers the Spirit intercedes for us and God our heavenly Father then works for our good in everything. As the whole creation groans awaiting redemption, the individual Christian also groans inwardly in prayer. Since we do not know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. In spite of this travail, God works for our good in everything because He predestined, called, justified, and glorified His own. Thus, let us pray to the Lord…

“O God, your ears are open always to the prayers of your servants. Open our hearts and minds to You, that we may live in harmony with Your will and receive the gifts of Your Spirit.”

Verse 28 of our text is one of the golden texts of the Bible, often quoted and unfortunately, sometimes - misunderstood. St. Paul would remind us “God works for good in all things for those who love Him. It is not that everything works for good automatically. Rather, it is God who uses everything; every circumstance, every trial, every blessing, every tragedy –everything - for your good; both now and ultimately into the future.

This Word is a verse of hope to those who endure hardship, suffering, and tragedy. It is a word of promise that the Savior is shaping and forming your life. We can not always see the hand of God at work. We sometimes can not understand it. Thus, faith is necessary for we can not always see the purposes that He has for us at times. If we know that our Lord has promised that He will bring some good out of our misfortunes, then we can take it cheerfully.

Introduction: Everything’s going to work out fine, because —

“God works for good” — a good God works for our good. Our God is good. This is His essence. He only works for our good. The Psalmist reminds us; “Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good – His mercy endures forever.” [1] The mercy of God flows from His goodness.

Your heavenly Father desires your welfare at all times. There has never been a moment in your life where God has not been concerned for you. Remember His promise to you. “His mercy endures forever.” You need not worry about any concern – your welfare is His chief concern.

Your heavenly Father is the one who knows your condition and who cares what happens to you. He knows your needs. He knows and understands your condition. He cares for what is happening to you.

Temptation however would suggest something much different. The tempter would suggest that God simply doesn’t mind, that He is unconcerned, that He is unimpressed, that He could care less. This is how the Devil works. He sows the seeds of doubt so we question the Father’s goodness. That is why we must pray. For when we stop talking to God then the devil speaks. Luther in his explanation to the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayers would remind us, “God would by these words tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.[2]

Transition: God works for your good. He does this in all things.

“In everything.” These words speak of the overruling providence of God. In every situation, in every circumstance, God your heavenly Father is working for your good - in all things.

A. Again, the Lord your God knows and understands your current situation. Says the Psalmist, O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. [3] Notice how well the Father knows your circumstances as we read in verses 15-16: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Even before your parents knew you were to enter the family your Lord had His hand upon you. Talk about divine destiny! Each day of your life has already been written for you before it is written out.

Have you ever attended a Bellmont High School wrestling meet? Have you ever looked at what takes place off to the side, away from all of the action? There is a lone wrestler – he seems almost in a trance. Quite often his eyes are closed.

Some might think he’s learning trying yoga some new dance move or, possibly he’s having some sort of fit. But no, there’s a plausible explanation to it all. He’s scripting his match. He anticipating what move he will use once he’s in the ring. He’s imagining how his match will play out. He’s picturing in his mind what he will do in the neutral, top and bottom positions. Will his match go as he dreams in his head? No; not always. He could find himself flat on his back within seconds. All the moves he though he might use might not work. Each match must be played out.

So it goes with these words of the Psalmist. He says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” We should never abuse these words, saying to ourselves, “Well, the Lord’s already planed my life so it doesn’t matter what I do…it’s already been determined. Nor should we think to ourselves, “It doesn’t matter what I do – God will figure it out once we get there. We should never see the Father’s hand of providence as one of fatalism, nor should we look at it as an excuse to sin thinking that God will somehow change things around at the eleventh hour. Such thoughts and actions attempt to force the will of God into our ways of thinking. In a real sense this turns us into playing “God”

These words especially as they speak of the Father ordering our days and directing our path are words spoken for our hope and comfort. What they say to us is this eternal truth – your present circumstance is not the Lord’s final word. The Lord’s has mapped out your entire life’s journey – He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. We only know of our present situation and what’s happened in the past. The Lord sees your life in its entirety. He sees the big picture. He has the perspective of eternity. We only know of yesterday and today.

B. He is the only one who is able to turn our failures, sorrows, and disappointments into our good. As we are directed to pray we take our needs concerns burdens joys and sorrows to the Father’s throne room of grace and we are thankful as the Father answers each petition according to His perfect will for your life.

C. The Lord’s guiding in your life guarantees your salvation and your entrance into glory. These words are read at many Christian funerals. They have comforted many troubled hearts. They have soothed and given encouragement to so many who are troubled. In short, these words are for you. In a similar way, Christ’s body and blood in Communion is given ‘for you’.

“With those who love him.” This is not the experience of all people

A. Those who do not love God, resist His love, and go their own way. These agents are constantly tempting us to join them. We must not go there. Their end is destruction.

B. The slogan says; “You’re in good hands…with All State” as long as you pay your premium, so long as you don’t have your rates increased. So long as you follow their instructions. There are limits as to what man can do. For those who love God and are directed by Him our future is secure. The Father spared not His own Son but gave Him up for us all. St. Paul’s words are sure. No charge can be brought against the Christian because the Father has already pronounced a verdict! Not guilty! How so? No one can condemn God’s elect. Christ has died for you. He is alive at the right hand of the Father. He is interceding for you.

Conclusion: There’s nothing else to be said except for what St. Paul has said so clearly; “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[1]
[2] Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer Luther’s Small Catechism © 1940 Concordia Publishing House
[3] Psalm 139:1-4

John Wurst Ordination

25 years in ministry and what do I have to show for it? As a circuit counselor I've had the awesome privilege of supervising three Vicars - three honorable men.

John Wurst was ordained this past Sunday. I was unable to attend due to Lydia's recital. Gotta be Dad first! I've also supervised at least twenty field workers while at Zion. There is a father and son who are now pastors who I possibly had some influence in directing them to the seminary whlie pastor at Trinity Lansing - possibly the Lord's purpose in sending me there?

Some have asked "does your son want to be a pastor like his father"? I don't know. My father and grandfather were both family physicians. Two generations of Lutheran clergy might be next in line. It would be an honor. Henry has seen the satisfaction, sacrifice and sadness. I know wherever he is directed he will impact others. I am grateful for those who have influenced me, awed by the work others have continued. I am humbled that the Lord would use me to direct others into full time kingdom work.

Lydia's Recital Sunday

Violinist Caleb Mossburg and daughter Lydia will be presenting a recital Sunday, at 4 p.m. at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne Street in Ft. Wayne. They will perform a wide spectrum of music, including works by J. S. Bach, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Cesar Frank, Samuel Barber, and Leonard Bernstein. Caleb and Lydia are students at the Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington where both will be sophomores this fall.

Here is Lydia with Dmitri Hvorostovsky when he sang in Chicago over her spring break.

Of course, Violinist Joshua Bell is on the faculty at the Jacobs School of Music so she was able to hear him in concert this past February. Should be a great weekend!

Cat pic Friday..Salem thinks he's a lion in the African wild... stalking some exotic prey. Little does he know it's only a bean field in rural Indiana. He's looking for mice. Unfortunately we think he suffers from kitty ADD. He'll catch a mouse, a bird will fly by, he'll be distracted by the bird and the mouse will slip away.

Time in the Word - Proper 12 - July 21-26, 2008

What God will do to Provide Himself Faithful

Three parables of the nature of the kingdom of God are told by the Savior in the Gospel for this coming week. Three parables are directed to the disciples concerning the kingdom. The first two deal with the kingdom as being of top value worthy of any sacrifice to gain it. The third parable concerns are similar to wheat and the weeds parable, the separation of the good and the wicked on judgment day. Jesus asks the disciples if they understand these parables. They claimed that they understood. Consequently, they were to be scribes trained for the kingdom who bring out of the treasure the old and the new. The old truths are to be applied to the new conditions in the world. These are addressed in our Epistle and Old Testament lessons for the coming week.

Collect for Proper 12 – Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love that, receiving what You have promised, we may love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, July 21, 2008 – Psalm 105:2-6 - This is the Psalm portion from which the Introit for next Sunday is taken. The antiphon is taken from verse 1, “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” The psalmist exhorts us to worship the Lord. Thus we are called upon to give thanks to God through our worship and praise. When we call upon God and as we give thanks our worship shall be blessed. Praise and prayer are the two expressions of our worship. As we recall the many acts of kindness the Lord has given to us we will trust in Him and share with others what He has done. We will make know among the people His many deeds.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 – Deuteronomy 7:6-9 –The Lord is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love. We are loved and blessed because the Lord first loved us. Yet this love must be reciprocated by His people to others. Thus in the New Testament we are reminded “we love because He first loved us.” {1 John 4:19}

Wednesday, July 23, 2008– Romans 8: 28-39 – The Father spared not His own Son but gave Him up for us all. These words are read at many Christian funerals. They have comforted many troubled hearts. They have soothed and given encouragement to many who are troubled. St. Paul’s words are sure. No charge can be brought against the Christian because the Father has already pronounced a verdict! Not guilty! How so? No one can condemn God’s elect. Christ has died for you. He is alive at the right hand of God. He is interceding for you.

Thursday, July 24, 2008 – Matthew 13:44-52 – Christ treasures the world, and so He redeems it. Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a treasure, something of supreme worth. It is a treasure of infinite worth because it is the kingdom of God. This includes Jesus, the priceless treasure, the riches of grace, and the wealth of God’s love. This treasure is discovered by accident. It is always found where no one expected it. The kingdom of God can be a surprise. It may come in unexpected ways and places. Must we ask whether the average Christian considers Christianity the top treasure?

Both the farmer and the merchant sold all their goods to get the treasure. This implies that the two men considered all their possessions to be inferior to the treasure or the pearl. It was a matter of establishing priorities. Because the treasure and pearl were evaluated as the best, the price of total sell-out, or exchanging all other possessions, was considered worth the price.

When a person finds a treasure, how can he help but be overjoyed? If a merchant has been looking for the perfect pearl for years and then finds it, is there any wonder that he would be as happy as can be? Many church members lack the joy of being Christians. They are not happy about their religion. Could this be the reason? They have not found the treasure or the pearl of Christ?

Friday, July 25, 2008 – Psalm 125 – This Psalm is suggested for next Sunday. This psalm speaks of Israel’s peace in testimony, prayer and benediction. Bible scholars believe it was written after the exile when those held in Babylonian captivity were allowed to return to the Jewish homeland. This psalm was most likely prayed as part of the liturgy in the Jewish worship service. Thus the Psalms we pray in worship reach back into the Old Testament. Through the centuries our prayers have remained constant.

Saturday, July 26, 2008 – Joshua 24:16 – This passage is the inspiration for the hymn “From God can nothing move me.” {LSB 524} The people react to Joshua’s commitment to serve the Lord. The people respond, we will not serve other gods. If we say of the Lord “He is our God” we can not serve any other.

Sources:
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

25th Anniversary Celebration

Pr Dan, Tammy, Lydia, Henry Dahling

Pr. Timothy Sims and Pr. Robert Armeo

Our Friedheim Family

Got a $1,000 shower last night...

...which turned a decent corn crop into a fantastic one! Our farmers could finally catch a break and they got one yesterday with about an inch of rain which fell. We had to run for cover during the parish picnic but the people didn't mind it one bit. A resilient bunch of people they are!

For the third year in a row we have added square dancing to our parish picnic. Here is a group of our college age kids who made it home for the weekend to spend time with the members of their Friedheim family. It wasn't all that long ago that I had them in confirmation class at Wyneken. Where has the time gone?

These two girls will witness the "rite of passage" into adult responsibility as they will get their drivers licence upon completion of the driving test. Once they get that card in their hand they will swing by, pick me up, and take me for a drive. They can always say "the first person I took for a drive after I got my licence was...my pastor..."

We rented a giant slide for the kids to use...thing is I think the adults had as much fun as the little ones.



This is a view of the tent from my garden. Day lilies are coming to an end while the glads are starting to open up. Ah, butterfly heaven.

To see more parish pics go to the link to the Friedheim web site at the bottom of the page.

Big Weekend on tap

Saturday our Friedheim family will gather for the annual parish picnic. We've held this the last three years so now it's become somewhat of a tradition. We try to schedule it so it does not conflict with the 4-H fair, the local fireman's tractor pull, local festivals, etc.

It's a time of great fellowship for folks of all ages and we usually get a good representation of the congregation - around 200-300. The last two year's we've had square dancing from 6-9 pm with everyone having a pretty good time...except for Sunday morning when I get at least a request or two "Pastor can we just sit through service this morning..."

Of course, the guest of honor is the pig which will be consumed! We have a local farmer donate him, a butcher process him, and one of our neighbors prepare him. Our college kids usually volunteer to watch him cook throughout the night. They love hanging out at one of our neighbor's barns playing cards and video games and will occasionally check on the pig.

On Sunday we will gather thanking the Lord for 170 years of mission and ministry here and my 25 years in ministry. Pr. Tim Sims the man who confirmed me, ordained me, installed me, served as my district president, and square danced at Tammy and my wedding will be the guest preacher. This is a picture of the nave on Easter Sunday.

Cat Pic Friday, oh my...Tacy our tabby has learned some bad behaviors since her brother returned from hospital three weeks ago. She has issues I guess and has been acting out lately. {dogs apparently are not the only ones who can do this...} She's learned to splash and drink from the water closet. Gross!