Ah, weddings

Yesterday I had an outdoor wedding at the Lakeside Rose Garden in Ft. Wayne. As I left for the wedding it was raining buckets thinking that we would have to do the wedding at the reception hall. But the rain stopped, the sun came out and the wedding went off without any problems except for one. The start of the 3 Rivers Parade in Ft. Wayne was delayed because of the rain so when the vows were being spoken four F-16 jets came streaking across the sky. I had to stop the vows until the rumble of the jets subsided. The wedding continued. No sooner had I spoken the benediction whereupon the jets returned giving the happy couple a tip of the wing with another fly-by! Perfect timing...I guess there's always a first for everything. Congratulations Hanna and David!

News from Urbania, Italy

Here is a view of Urbania, Italy where Lydia is studying for the next month. She is learning so much.

Pentecost 6 - Proper 10

We live in uncertain times and as a result, many people are living their lives in fear – what will tomorrow bring? What is our future? What will happen next? Is there one thing of which can be certain? St. Paul would say to us this day there is one thing of which we can be certain and that is the guarantee of our salvation in Christ. By these words St. Paul would say to us this day you are the children of God. You are a part of the family and as such you true Christians chosen and destined for heaven. While many fret and worry of one thing we can be certain – your eternity is secure for it is signed, sealed and delivered.

1. It is signed – by the blood of the cross – (vs. 7) Christ the Son brings us redemption “according to the riches of His grace”
A. Grace is blood-bought, involving His Cross. (1 Peter 1:19-20; Matthew 20:28; Romans 3:24-25)
B. Grace results in the forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 9:2; Psalm 103:12)
C. “Grace” spelled as an acrostic is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”


2. It is sealed – by the Spirit – (vs.13)
A. The Holy Spirit implements the plan of salvation in time by calling sinners to faith in Christ by the Gospel.

B. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our future inheritance of glory (vs. 14) Faith by the presence of the Holy Spirit is the “down payment, the guarantee” that God will carry through on His plan of salvation and finally get us to glory (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:4-5)


3. It is delivered – by the Church – (vs. 13)

A. What is the Church? It is holy sheep listening to the voice of their shepherd.

B. As you listen to Him you abide in Him, and in Him you are secure.

Your salvation centers in Jesus Christ. In Him it was signed – by the blood of the cross; sealed by the working of the Spirit; and delivered through the work of those called the people of God His body, His bride the Church.

Wheat Harvest 2009

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

Time in the Word - Pentecost 6 Proper 10

The theme for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10) is sent to serve. Christians are people who are sent by God to serve Him and His people. Jesus sent His disciples to preach and heal. John the Baptist is beaded for his refusal to stand down to wicked King Herod. Faithfulness to God was far more important then obeying the dictates of a mad king. As John dies innocently so must the Christ. Amos claimed that the Lord chose him as a shepherd to go to Israel to preach in the Old Testament lesson. In the Epistle lesson we gain the impression that we are destined to be God’s people through Christ and appointed to glorify Him. We are a people with a mission and on a mission given to us by God. Occasionally we might be opposed. This need not be our chief concern. One thing is needed and that is faithfulness.

Collect for Proper 10 – Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Time in the Word06-11 July 2009Preparation for next week – Sent to Serve

Monday, 06 July 2009—Psalm 143:1-2, 8a; Antiphon, Psalm 143:1— O Lord hear my prayer listen to my cry for mercy in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. In each of our readings for this coming week the righteous find themselves confronted by evil forces. There are those who would want the Christian to cease and desist. Thus we must pray to the Lord for deliverance from all our enemies. Psalm 143 is such a prayer. As we make our appeals known to God not only will He hear us but He will act, in His own time to rescue and defend us.

Tuesday, 07 July 2009—Psalm 85(1-7) 8-13; key verse v.7— Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. This is how God chooses to act on behalf of His people. He has every right to punish, condemn and destroy. In love He will offer forgiveness, life, and salvation. How could He? The cross of Calvary shows us how deep and profound the Father’s love is for His people.

Wednesday, 08 July 2009—Amos 7:7-15—Amaziah orders Amos to stop preaching and go home to Judah. Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is sent by the lord to Israel to preach. It is at the time of King Jeroboam that Amos preached at Bethel, the site of the royal sanctuary. Amaziah is the high priests who warms the king of Amos’ treason and who commands Amos to go back to Judah to preach there. Amos replies that he is not a professional prophet, just a layman, who was called by God to preach to Israel. He is not preaching for a living, but in obedience to God’s call.

Amos was preaching in the holy place of Bethel, the royal seat and place of worship. Amaziah tells Amos to go home to the South to preach, for the temple is the “king’s sanctuary.” Since Amos’ message was against the king and nation, Amos had no right to speak there; it was the king’s chapel and not God’s house. If it is the king’s then speak in support of the king’s policies and practices. If it is God’s house, God speaks in His house through His called spokesperson. It was a matter of civil religion v. true religion. It was a religious service head in a “White House” where you would expect sermons supporting the nation.


The high priest of Israel accuses Amos of treason. His preaching does not support the nation. The king is to be killed and the people are to go into captivity. This spells the end of the nation. This is a hard message. Amaziah reports this to the king. The truth often hurts. It does not always approve what we do.

Thursday, 09 July 2009—Ephesians 1:3-14— God’s chose and destined us to be His children through Christ. For the next few weeks the Epistle lesson will come from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This lesson is difficult to relate to the other two lessons. The central theme of the letter to the Ephesians is the church. This lesson is on praise to God who in Christ has poured out His love for us, who calls us to be His children, redeemed us through the blood of Christ, and revealed His will to us. He has given us His Spirit who is a guarantee of our salvation and eternal life.

Friday, 10 July 2009—Mark 6:14-29 —Mad king Herod had John the Baptist killed to honor an oath, to save face in front of his dinner guests, to quiet a man who firmly told him that his illicit affair with his sister-in-law was sinful and shameful and to honor Herodias’ request. Verse 20 is the key verse. Although Herod knew he was doing wrong and his conscious bothered him and John’s words condemned him Herod was still drawn to listen to John. When we are overcome by the fear of confronting someone we can be comforted in the fact that the Law does convict. God through the preaching of the Law prepares us to hear, understand and savor the Gospel. John the forerunner of Christ will preach, baptize and die all like Christ. But first he must die. With the death of John now the cross becomes the focus of Christ’s destiny.

Saturday, 11 July 2009— Luke 10:2 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Spread the Reign of God the Lord (LSB 830). Who will work for the Lord and His cause? There is plenty of work to be done. May we pray the Lord would use each of us to be doing His will in our daily vocations. The opportunity to serve Him is rewarding enough. As we can find work to be done may we do it joyfully and willingly.

Collect for Pentecost 6—O God, because You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding, pour into our hearts such love towards You that we, loving You above all things, may obtain Your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Home and Family: Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer the Unemployed: Heavenly Father, we remember before You, those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Lead us so to use the wealth and resources of this rich land that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 5 - Proper 9

Grant, Lord, that the course of this world may be so governed by Your direction that Your Church may rejoice in serving You in godly peace and quietness.

In Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth the people take offense at Him. The religious community had already written Him off. Now His friends and relative – the people from His own hometown will reject Him too. These people were astonished at His teaching and His words. They could not explain His greatness. They referred to Him as they knew Him as a carpenter, the son of Mary along with his brothers and sisters. Unable to explain Him, they took offense or were scandalized by Him. A prophet is without honor among His own people.

That was then, this is now. What sort of reception does Jesus receive today? Those who can’t figure Jesus out, who are unable to get the explanation they want take offense of Jesus and His followers. It was a sad day for the people of Nazareth; it remains a sad day whenever someone rejects the Savior and His message of grace.

1. The Source of the scandal, of course is sin.
A. The result of our own pride: we can not take credit for Jesus’ gifts.
B. Our self-centered desires: we demand that God conform to our expectations of Him.
C. How often have we heard statements such as “I would believe in a god who…” I would not choose a god who is not damming or judgmental”?

The best way to describe the people’s reaction of Jesus’ words Mark uses the word “astonished”. It wasn’t that these folks were amazed, one way or the other. There was a spontaneous mixture of emotions. Not purely positive but not necessarily negative either. They were, astonished. But then they got to thinking. Who is this? Where did He get this knowledge? What kind of wisdom is given to this one? They were filled with “surprised consternation”. They did not know what to make of Him. They had known Jesus their entire life. They could not accept Jesus doing and saying these things in His own right. Knowing that they could not take credit of the success of this native son, they would not even consider God as the obvious source. Unbelief, suspicion, pride, and arrogance are all taking up room in this house of prayer in Nazareth.

2. The Object of this scandal: the marvelous commonness of God’s gracious ways in which He is found.
A. Jesus Christ, the carpenter, the son of Mary.
B. His choices of visitation:
1. Bethlehem to town of his birth
2. Nazareth the place he was raised, where everyone knew Him.
3. For us today: “the Four W’s”
a. Word
b. Water
c. Wafer
d. Wine
C. His choice of you and me, our witnessing, our living in the community, “prophets in our own country.”

3. The Effects of this scandal: amazement leading to:
A. Rejection of grace resulting in judgment.
B. Faith in and wonder at the mystery of this man Jesus of Nazareth and of His cross (INRI), resulting in your salvation.

Have courage then to proclaim the undiluted scandal of the uncommonly common God-man Jesus Christ, the source of salvation, faith, and continued blessings.

Urbania

Lydia's off to study in Italy!

Aspiring opera singers can enjoy a summer in the beautiful town of Urbania in Italy's Marche Region. Two programs are offered, the Vocal Participants and the Vocal Apprentice. Both programs include Italian language classes and musical coaching. At the end of the season, students will participate in opera performances.

The Italian Operatic Experience is dedicated to the task of preparing the young opera singer for the rigors of the operatic world. In addition to the valuable experience with artist-level teachers, conductors, and coaches, young singers will develop important contacts with working opera directors and conductors, and develop life-long friendships with their peers.

This is a great chance to spend the summer living in a small Italian town and experiencing Italian opera first hand.