Day 40 – Some Final Thoughts

So we come to the end of our journey. Easter morning is on the horizon. Our words proclaim today, Amen! So let it be here and now O God. How can this prayer serve then as a guidance for our church? Is it a summary of Jesus' ministry? Indeed in this prayer we have a wealth of mercy and an opportunity to find God's plan for the human race. Hint – it won't be easy. We may get what we don't expect. But that is the God we believe and confess.

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. We have the assurance to know that we can call on our God as we would an earthly Father, that we have a relationship and an intimate connection with the Creator of this world. That out of His divine and fatherly goodness we are blessed by his love, his forgiveness, and the ability to have a relationship to God.

Hallowed by thy name. God name is holy and precious not to be taken in vain.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. As Luther suggests God's will is done without our doing or work but we ask in this prayer that God would include us in this work. That we yield ourselves to God's work – not my will be done but your will be done O God.

Give us this day our daily bread. God gives us everything we need from day to day – food and clothing, shelter, family and friends – everything. We ought to then thank God for these blessings and see life itself as a gift.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Going hand in hand forgiveness of our sins rides on our ability to forgive.

Lead us not into temptation. Help me O God because I do what I ought not to do and need your guidance and loving hand to show me the way to walk.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

Day 39 – The Doxology

The "Doxology" as I learned it became a part of the liturgy of the church early in my memory. The tune (Old 100^th) became a prayer and a mode for giving praise back to God where it belongs. When we pray, "For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours – now and forever, Amen" we are giving are all and all to God. It is to say my allegiances lie not in my own greatness, not in the conquests I make happen, nor in the relationships that I have. Rather my allegiances lie in the realms of God's power, mercy, and grace. As a Boy Scout I remember the pledges toward God and country – the allegiances to insuring we are doing are absolute best to better all around us. For you O God are the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Day 38 – And deliver us from evil…

"There is a yearning for God to put things right, to replace human sorrow with joy, human tears with laughter, human fear with peace." (Henry French, 118) I am afraid now more than ever when I pray these final words. Why? After all I am the hired holy man, the pastor who is supposed to have all the answers, the cleric, the man who has his stuff together. Beloved I am terrified. If I pray for deliverance to happen and to be real in my life what happens then when I fall back into sin, when I fail to be that stellar super disciple, when I tarnish the office of pastor and fail to complete what people would hope me to be? Deliverance takes me stepping aside and asking for God to intervene and make things right again. To go from sorrow to joy, from tears to laughter, and from fear to peace. This is good news and the longing of this fumbling disciple.

Day 37 – And deliver us from evil…

What is our struggle against in this world? I struggle with how many cups of coffee I can truly stomach without the feeling of it gurgling like a rusty tea kettle all day. I struggle with the temptations of greed, power, self importance, and the reality of my humanness. I fight the urge to flee when the going gets tough – because the tough get going right? If 2 Timothy 4:18 is true can I hold fast to such words – that "the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom" then truly I have nothing to fear, nothing to dread, and certainly could cut back on the coffee. The apparent evil in our world is ever around us – we don't have to look far. It is the evil that declares keeping ones distance to our neighbors valuing private distance rather than finding community with those around us. The evil of greed which speaks against holding things in common and giving to all according to their need. We would have a very hard time existing in this modern age as an Acts 2 type of religious community. We would be called fanatics, people who have fallen off the hay rack, and those who take it too far. But perhaps our Lord is saying that we haven't been radical enough. We need to as Christians be able to define evil for what it is and be prepared to deal with it in a way which mirrors how our Savior Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

Day 36 – Save us from the time of trial

We Christians can receive much flack for our faith. Of course here in the United States it comes in more tame fashion than what our brothers and sisters in Christ might face in other parts of the world. Yet have we tasted the bitterness of indifference? It can be frustrating lately in the church. The world around us just doesn't seem to notice that we even exist as many find other things to do on Sunday mornings – like for one sleep in. Or maybe it's the "only time I have to spend with family day". Or the ever popular "I can do laundry on Sunday and get ready for the week day". Either way we have to find a way to break into this world view with the hope and promise of what God offers when faced with trials. No amount of laundry nor sleep helps me get through the trials that come. It is my faith in the Lord Jesus and the assurances of his word.

Day 35 – Save us from the time of trial

I can't tell you how many people have come to me and shared their fears about the end times. We are living in a very violent and emotionally turbulent time. But yet is it any different than ages past? Or is it the fact that we have become more sensitive to the difficulties around us? Jesus talked about the calamities that would come. Jesus was real with his followers about the suffering that would come and be a part of living as people of the Way. We may be living in a moment of pain free existence while another Christian suffers extreme persecution. While we may experience suffering because of the collapse of the American ideal for a perfect life another bears the pain of a natural disaster. Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias offers some insight into human suffering and evil. Hope the clip below offers some insight.

Day 34 – Save us from the time of trial

I am often tempted by the bread this world offers. Flip through a Best Buy ad and it sparks that internal lust for things that I cannot nor should have. It sparks the inequality and old Adam in me that yearns for a nice 42 inch decoration on my wall that comes with the power to captivate my hunger for more stuff. I may drive past Pladsens in Waukon and look on with intense hunger at the new cars that shimmer in the spring sunshine. The trouble with this kind of bread is that it leaves me hungering for even more. In likeness Jesus also was tempted by bread in the wilderness. Why then hunger for the things which will never satisfy? What about power? I am thankful to God for his ways of humbling me and reminding me of my place in this world. As a servant I am no greater than my master Jesus nor am I any greater than my neighbor. The allure of earthly greatness and power only follows certain downfalls. To the church leaders who have surcumed to the temptation of power they usually started off innocently enough being attracted to the attention greatness brings. The old saying rings true in this respect. Never forget where you have come from. Take away all the successes that God has granted me, leave out the degrees and accomplishments. What I am left with is the nakedness of being a child of God and a father, a husband, a friend, and a servant to the cause of the Gospel. Rabbi Harold Kuschner wrote a widely popular book examining human suffering and how one could grasp the concept of bad things happening to seemingly righteous people. Faced with a child who would never see past his teenage years they were faced with the reality of their very concept of faith being turned upside down. If you love me God why let suffering happen to me? Jesus was tempted by this as well in the wilderness. Our prayer must be that we would have the courage to entrust the unknown, the pain of suffering in the here and now, and all that we are to God.

Day 33 – Save us from the time of trial

The Lord's Prayer is for ordinary people like you or me. It realizes human sinfulness and shortfalls, my inabilities to do what I am supposed to do. It sees me for who I am and what God hopes me to be. Life is not always within our control. Often times we find ourselves desperately trying to save face and keep our families, our lives, and our churches together. A few years ago there was a powerful movie entitled, "Ordinary People". I recommend putting this on your Net Flix list. Staring Mary Tyler Moore this movie looks at the ordinary lives of an American family knee deep in the complexities of mental illness, and particularly their inability to handle the crisis within. The Lord's Prayer in likeness understands our moments of crisis because it calls us to return to what grounds us – Our Father who art in heaven. It guides us in how we should strive to live out our lives. Finally it gives voice to the hope of what lies ahead for us all. This hope captivated Paul and it captivates us now in this day as well.

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Day 31 – Save us from the time of trial...

God will not test us beyond our ability to endure – but do we believe that? I worry at times at my ability to withstand the temptations that lure around me – waiting for the time that I am weak. Jesus himself was tempted but did not fall – but I am human. I have fallen and fallen hard at times. What brings me to the point of picking up the pieces? Is it my own ability or is the same God who declares that he will not test me beyond my ability to withstand. This is the same God who declares abundant grace for all who have fallen to sin and temptation. When Luther calls forth the word despair in his explanation of this part of the Lord's prayer he correctly defines a great temptation of mine. Call me mister gloom and doom here. It is an easy temptation to fall prey to. Beyond despair though is hope – abundant grace filled hope. The same hope prized by the prodigal son and the countless ones who found the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Why be full of despair, regret, and hopelessness? As the hymn suggests – "Have we trails and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?" We should then take it to the Lord in prayer. Find safety in his grace and embrace. Find the love of God in His church. Often I believe we miss the opportunity of making our places of worship a place of refuge from temptation, from the perils of this world, and the sin that surrounds us. Do we see the church as this safe place and the embrace of God? What can we do to make this happen?

Day 32 – Save us from the time of trial

"We are reminded that Christian faith is not a solitary faith, it is not individualistic faith – it is always faith in community." (French, 102) Whether or not we like it or love it when are in this together. It may be appealing to hear about this individualistic faith often expressed in modern evangelical Christianity – what I call the "me and Jesus" movement. I can pray really hard against temptation. I can surround myself with a pile of self help books each giving me the exact advice that never really seems to cause my problems to go away. Yet it is all for not if I do not live out my faith in the practice of community. When one suffers we all suffer. When one finds happiness we all share in that. I look at the example of what Jesus calls the Holy Spirit – the "walk-alongside" one. Likewise when it comes to temptation we are called to do the same for each other. Take it to the Lord in prayer indeed – take it as well to your brother or sister whom you hold an accountable relationship with.

Video from Wednesday Evening Worship - "Oh the Temptation"

Scripture Readings for Wednesday Evening Worship @ Waterville Lutheran

Isaiah 43:1-4

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Matthew 11:28-29

28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Day 30 – Forgive us our sins as we forgive

I forgive you but…. What is like to receive the gift of forgiveness without even asking for it? To be greeted with the kiss of grace and the embrace of God's love when we like the thief on the cross merely asked to be with Christ. Jesus offered forgiveness to those who mocked him, those who beat him, and those who sent him to die in the way he did. This to me rings of the words – while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Even before we can contemplate the need to be given forgiveness God is at work prompting this to happen through the work of others. But yet we need to be willing to join in this process and extend the same gift to others. I forgive you but leads us into the land of conditional language. To a place where we hang our frustrations, our hurt, and our attempts at putting limits on what God so freely grants. Indeed forgiveness is a challenge – yet we have the example of Jesus declaring entrance into the kingdom of God, even for one condemned a criminals death. This is good news.

Day 29 – For give us as we forgive others

The Upside and Downside of Freedom:

The trouble with freedom is well, it brings trouble. We are free all day to make choices whether good or bad. Our decisions bring harm or happiness to others. We live in a nation prized by its freedoms. The Prodigal Son was given the freedom to depart with all he was given, his inheritance, and leave for what he thought was what he wanted. That was freedom. The father could of said no but didn't. God could of said no to our demands for freedom but being thick and hard headed we often have to learn the hard way – at least I do. Must be that determined German in me. But then when the shoe drops and freedom leaves us naked in our fears we fear the wrath of God. We fear having to deal with our failures and the disappointment of God. But as a loving parent embraces their children even in their greatest of sins and offers forgiveness so God grants grace and abundant forgiveness. The upside then of freedom is that we are given the ability to shape decisions based on knowledge and reason, faith and practice. God loves us so much that even in our sinful nature we are given the task of making decision. The down side comes when we have to live with the impacts of our decisions. The problems that come when we have failed ourselves, others, and God. Perhaps Mel Brooks offers some understanding in this – as we look at our humanness and its effect on others, our relationships with God, and our ability to live out our faith daily.

Day 28 – Forgive us our sins as we forgive

"Forgiveness is dynamic, always happening, always needing to happen…" (French, Day 28)

Through forgiveness we are given new life and held accountable for our actions. They go hand in hand. To say that forgiveness is granted and yet the sinner does not seek accountability we are only setting up that person for certain failure. Accountability is essential and often missed in the church. We would rather not get into the details of your sins or mine. Why – because it calls us to be transparent and to reveal too much about ourselves that we would much rather keep in the dark. Scripture speaks to this that Jesus comes to shed light on even the most darkest points. If it is always happening and dynamic it means that we cannot allow forgiveness to be rigid, static, and failing because of our inability to be a part of the process. Forgiveness is tough as love must and often is tough. It is to say that we speak to boundaries, reminding those we love about boundaries, and seek to rebuild relationships with new levels of accountability. Forgive as Christ has forgiven – a challenge but something that deserves our utmost consideration.

Day 27 - Forgive us our sins as we forgive

Relationships matter to God – our relationship to him and our relationship to others. So much do our relationships matter than God gives us a fool proof pattern to follow – forgive as I have forgiven you. But can it be just that easy? We are called to turn the world upside down and fool them with our radical ways of forgiving others. Unlike the example below rather than seeking revenge with the greatest of planning and plotting we seek ways to bring back our relationship with others and with God. How our Heavenly Father longs to be in relationship with us – and how our brothers and sisters in Christ so desire to return to a whole relationship with us. Forgiven then as you yourself is forgiven – tough stuff there Jesus but may you give us the courage to live boldly this calling.

Day 26 – Forgive us our sins as we forgive

Debt forgiveness seems to be an absent or even foreign concept in this age of massive amount of debt. Take it even further to say that debt is big money. In the past 20 years the number of collection companies has grown from a few small firms to a national network of inter related companies that feed off each other. In my days before and during seminary I worked for Target Stores in the Financial Services Department. Basically I was the jerk that declined your check, investigated check fraud, and towards the end of my career with Target I was involved with one of the biggest money making endeavors for Target – their own branded Visa card. We were told (not breaking any company secrets here) that debt was big business. If we could get customers over their heads in debt we would have them for at least 10-15 years of revolving debt that perhaps may even go into default. Truth was Target made more money in credit card and default debt than in store sales. Sad but very true as we pull the veil off and see that debt runs this country. Indebtedness though comes with certain weights. Consider how much in prison we feel when consumed by debt. Owing money to others is as part of life as is getting a cup of coffee. I often wonder if we could move past such a system – be debt free as Dave Ramsey suggests. Seems very tempting but unrealistic, but here today the Gospel proclaims that we are free from our debts – so now go and do likewise to our neighbors. Take out that big PAID stamp and go to town on the sins that have broken down relationships in your life. Give freedom to those in captivity from sin, brokenness, and lacking in hope. Be that forgiving person that people just can't figure out.

Day 25 – Forgive us our sins as we forgive

Growing up Lutheran I was raised on the "Brief Order of Confession and Forgiveness of Sins" from the Lutheran Book of Worship. What is this radical thing called forgiveness? Forgiveness is a connected thing. As we forgive so God forgive us. Because God sets the standard when it comes to forgiveness we follow in step. Some would say forgiveness is not as important as justice, as kindness – but I don't see it that way. Forgiveness becomes a way of life. Living with grace and acknowledging our limited abilities to forgive unless we ask for God's help. Forgiveness impacts our relationships – it shapes our day to day life. Debt is cancelled. Life is new. Can we be so bold to set the example for others – to live as forgiving people? It is a challenge. I added a video which I thought speaks to this.

Scripture Readings for Wednesday Worship @ St. John

Isaiah 6:1-8

6In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ²Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." ⁴The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

⁵And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" ⁶Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

Psalm 51

¹Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

⁴Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

⁵Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

⁶You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

⁹Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

¹¹Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Ephesians 4:30-5:1

³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. ³¹Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, ³²and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

5Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,

Matthew 18:21-22

²¹Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

Day 24 – Our Daily Bread

"We pray for the bread of Christ's presence to sustain our spirits." What satisfies our deepest hunger? There are many things available in this world of fast food and convenience stores to satisfy our longings – at least for awhile. I can remember growing up in a world of full service stations when gas stations were not the place to buy milk, bread, coffee, eggs, cheese, etc. You couldn't get a large pizza and a bag of chips on your way over to a friend's house. Planning would cause you to call Pizza Hut, drive over to the Pizza Hut, and then over to destination. Life has changed things – maybe not for the better.

Chuck Wagon dog food tried to get at this with the ability to recreate a "real" meal for dogs. Frankly I was just freaked out by the commercial.

Day 22 – Our Daily Bread

It is a sad place to be – to be completely restless. We have much to be restless about. Food prices continue to climb, gas prices have snuck there way back up, and news seems to swell with fear. In this how can we ever see a God that provides? It is easy to see and understand why our hearts are so restless. I wonder at times if we ever do find peace and fulfillment in this life. I remember last year meeting a Lutheran pastor at an intensive counseling retreat in the mountains of Arizona. He was to be our pastor for the week. Pastor Art had this spirit around him, a quiet restful spirit that would suggest he was at peace and centered in his life. What you would never tell is that recently his wife of many years had passed away leaving a huge void in his life. Sitting next to him was Katie, his partner in ministry, and someone you had to meet. Katie was a German Shepherd mix with a huge heart and kindred spirit to Pastor Art. To think of someone who has found satisfaction in what God provides would be to see Pastor Art. I was admittedly jealous because of his calm peaceful presence. It is easy for me to be caught up in the stress and restlessness around me considering the many challenges that now face my family.

Day 21 – Our Daily Bread

Many of you are fully aware that I just LOVE church potlucks. Maybe it's the fact that potlucks are a test of faith – will you all bring a meat dish? Will everyone bring a salad? How do you all know what to bring? Perhaps you have some secret form of communication which will always remain a mystery to us pastors. Anyway – it happens. The food is placed out in a wonderful quilt like pattern and all eat and are satisfied. Bread is broken, food is shared, fellowship happens – all are welcome to this feast. How is this like what our Lord does in sharing His bread? As one who ate freely with tax collectors, sinners, and those deemed by society not having the coat and tie to sit at the table Jesus set a new order for life. A table set were all were welcome to come and feast. The Lord has indeed prepare a rich feast for us all. Do we however fall into the exclusive patterns of this world which limit entrance to the table?

Day 20 – Our Daily Bread

What truly is meant by daily bread? Our dear brother in the faith Rev. Martin Luther offers these words of guidance when we think about daily bread:

What is meant by daily bread?--Answer.

Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

But beyond this can we truly grasp all that God does provide? We do get a taste for this when we gather for potlucks and sing the table grace together. At camp we strived to teach the kids prayers that were easy to commit to memory – in some ways that were unorthodox – for example using certain music or characters such as Superman. We would of course use traditional words such as "Be present at our table Lord, be here and everywhere adored, these mercies bless and grant that we may strengthen for thy service be." Maybe it was the words of the Norwegian table grace as offered in the video below. However we say it it is essential that we remember, reflect, and most assuredly give thanks to God for daily bread as it comes to us in so many forms.

Day 19 – Our daily bread

"It's never only about me." What are you kidding? It's you and me God right? I think we have lost something in the shuffle, or as I see it the great tension between the individualistic charismatic theology of most non-denominational churches and the churches that only see the collective we. What we hear today is a correction much needed in our conversation when it comes to religion and living out our faith. We have a very personal God – the kind of God who walks with Adam and Eve in the garden. The God who appeared to Abram and Sari blowing away their disappointment with words of promise and hope. The abstract far off deity concept does not fit. But what we see in this and throughout the bible is that the collective faith of the community is held in balance with the personal faith of the individual. Others heard the story of Abram and his faith. It wasn't just a secretive event that we have no idea what really happened. Think of the Lord's Supper – we do this together. Cutting potatoes for the church supper, cleaning up after church events, celebrating milestones such as baptism and funerals – we do this as a community of faith. So in this light when we pray "give us this day our daily bread" we are asking that God provide for the needs of the sinners and the saints. Those whom I have great difficulty with and those whom are my closest friends. God provides – can I share this reality with others so they too can see how God does this?

Scripture Readings for Wednesday: March 11, 2010

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe. 15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Psalm 104:10-15

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, 11 giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, 15 and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Matthew 4:1-4

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Day 18 – Thy Will Be Done

What do we hunger for? On my recent Sabbath in Dubuque attending the Rural Life conference at the Best Western I was hungry, really hungry. I had the meal plan to eat on the campus of Wartburg Seminary but I was well aware that this was Dubuque and there would be several food choices to wet my palate. There was Chinese food galore, Mexican food, lots of a greasy bar and grill options, Mom and Pop places, and even if I dared to eat it something exotic. But tonight a cool beverage and a good hamburger was my deepest longing. I was craving a good burger not made with rehydrated bacon – REAL bacon and cheese that actually had flavor. After messing with the crazy traffic on Highway 20 I decided just to park the car and stay onsite and eat oat Champs Bar and Grill. The food was good. It satisfied my hunger – at least for awhile until I got a craving for a good donut. We are a culture driven by lusting after food which does not satisfy and longings which leave us bankrupt in the end. The world is my vessel and I am the one in charge – who is this God you talk about? My will and my desires are the route I take – that is the voice of the current trend in America. We are stating something that turns the world upside down and inside out. We are resistant to clothing ourselves with patience, meekness, and kindness. Why? Because it just doesn't seem like the thing to do in a society driven by instant everything and lack of true human connection. I am guilty of this beloved in the Lord. I have seen in the past 6 years of parish ministry experience God at work in powerful ways. His will living out in the church. It happens – open our eyes and ears O God.

Day 17 – Thy Will Be Done

They will know us that we are Christians by our love, by our love. Not by our doctrine, our rantings and disagreements, our theology, but by love.

I love this quote from our reading because I believe with all my heart it summarizes the soul of ministry as I see it in the church.

"If God's will is that we should all walk humbly with our God, then God's will must be that those of us who are doing just that help others get to the same place." (French, 61)

Well said Henry. At least as I see it we have been so consumed by division, who we are not, how one group of us Lutherans in our church may or may not understand scripture that we have completely and ultimately missed the whole point. It isn't about playing capture the flag and taking the other team out. It isn't about declaring a winner or a looser, about breaking ties and finding new expressions of the church. It is about how I can effectively encourage a brother or sister in Christ to walk with God whether or not I may agree with their position in life, their social structure, their lack of knowledge of sin and redemption, beloved this comes through a relationship not beating someone into submission. I am tired of the battle lines that have been painted brightly on our church walls, in our colleges, in the synod, and in God's church. I know the teachings of scripture and as a pastor held to the confessional expression of scripture and the Lutheran confessions I am held to these guiding points. I understand that. I also understand and hold a pastoral conviction that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That I believe in a God who has found the lost sinner in me and enabled me to find grace. This is the church that I love and serve

Day 16 – Thy Will Be Done

What Is it to walk with God humbly each day? We hear it in our liturgy that we may walk in God's way and delight in God's will. In walking humbly with God we do so with someone who knows us intimately as we hear in Isaiah 40, "Fear not for I have redeemed you and I have called you by name." In the beautiful words of the hymn, "And he walks with me and he talks with me…" Yet do we believe this and hold fast to a God who asks of us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God? We believe in a close personal God who connects to us with the Word and the Sacraments and seeks us out to grant grace beyond measure and love beyond all limitations. How does this God connect with us in the here and now? In walking humbly with God we are not to be passive but actively using our hands and our hearts. Over the past year the ELCA worked on a video project entitled, "God's Work, Our Hands". Congregations were asked to submit how they are walking with God and using their hands to do the work of God.

Watching the video below I can see how God is active in the humble walk – will I be a partner in this humble walk? To be guided by the spirit means that I am open to God's leading. That He will lead me and guide me. To be involved in such a holy task is life giving and renewing.

Day 15 - Thy Will Be Done

Kindness? What happened with genuine kindness in our world? I have experienced in so many ways while living here in Iowa. It comes in little unexpected ways – something I am not use to growing up the cities. People smile, maybe say hello, ask how your day is going – and if you are lucky go the extra mile to do something you would never expect. So is kindness a part of God’s will? Most assuredly it is. Think about the women facing stones hurling directly at her for being caught in the very act of adultery. She deserved death because the law demanded it. But Jesus showed loving kindness. Grace.

Day 14 - Thy Will Be Done

Day 14

Thanks to the guys of Dakota Road for the following lyrics. It is a great song entitled, “Lord of Justice”. This song grabs right at the thrust of the will of God – to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with the Lord.

"LORD OF JUSTICE"
Chorus:
Lord of justice, Lord of life
help us to do what you know is right, oh, oh, oh
Lord of justice, Lord of life
guide us through the day and night

To the stranger may we give welcome
To the hungry may we give bread
To the naked may we give clothing
To the homeless, a place to lay their head (Chorus)

To the wounded may we give healing
To the voiceless may we give words
To the captives may we give freedom
To the tortured, release from all the hurt (Chorus)

http://www.dakotaroadmusic.com/index.php?p=product&id=140&parent=1

If God is a God working in this world for justice what is he asking of us? It is not enough to be religious, to attend church, to obey all the rules. To this end we can do all this and still miss the mark of what it means to truly follow Jesus. To have all the world can give us and gain such a great abundance can cost our neighbor his or her well being. There is indeed a fine line between having enough and having too much. As I look around my house I feel overwhelmed knowing how others live without the comforts that I daily enjoy. To go without because you have no other choice yet I have the choice. What does it mean that God’s will is lived out here on earth? It means that regardless of my efforts or lack of efforts his will is done. But I pray in this prayer that God would use me to bring his kingdom closer to the world. God wills us to have what we need to live – anything beyond that is used to bring justice to others.

Day 13 - Thy Will Be Done

What is it the Lord asks of us? "But do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God" According to Micah 6:8 this sounds easy enough - or is it even possible? Martin Luther offers this:

"When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let his kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthen and keep us steadfast in his word and in faith unto our end. That is His gracious and good will."

To walk with God humbly in this reality is to know that regardless of my sin, my inabilities, God's will comes and continues to be lived out on this earth as it is in heaven. God's holy intention, His will is that we not be conformed to this world but transformed to live as people called to a new life. To do justice, love kindness and to walk with God means that I realize my shortcomings but even so I know that will use me to bring about justice and peace. That I am called to love completely and wholly as God loves me. It is my prayer that this Lent becomes a time to reflective consider the ways to draw close to God through spiritual discipline, wise discernment, and ways to live out loud God's will - on earth as in heaven.

Wednesday Texts 3/3/2010

Isaiah 1:16-19

¹⁶Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, ¹⁷learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. ¹⁸Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ¹⁹If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

Galatians 5:13-25

¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. ¹⁶Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Mark 3:31-34

³¹Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. ³²A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” ³³And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

Day 12 - Thy Kingdom Come

“It is terribly important that we recognize that the kingdom has broken into (and continues to break into) human reality - first in the life of Jesus and second in the lives of those who follow Jesus.” (French, 47)

The now and not yet reality of God’s kingdom brings with it certain tension. Through the life of Jesus the world stands as a witness to the kingdom of God. The power of God to enact change, to complete that which is broken, to clean up the mess we have made of this world. To say this work is complete would be to not grasp the concept of the kingdom come fully. God is still at work, still bringing change, still cleaning up the mess we have made because we still pray this powerful prayer.

We long for the day when on the mountain God will wipe away all tears and take the shroud away from our eyes. The darkness of sin will be taken away and we can fully stand in the presence of God without fear because God has created clean hearts and new lives are fully in the glow of God’s glory.

To be accomplished on something is to say we are done giving it our attention, our effort, and our hearts. God is certainly not finished and neither should we. Much like there will always be some kind of cleaning and organizing to do in our home God is whispering in our ears the story of change throughout the generations and that change will continue to happen until we stand firm on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. On that day all will be accomplished.

May your kingdom come O Lord,
In the here and now and in the future to come.
That I may be a part of this breaking in
Of grace and glory
healing and renewal
Hope and promise.
You are the king of love and the ruler of peace
The promise of hope and the reality of possibility.
Come with your kingdom to reign in my heart.

Peace
Pastor Kris

Day 11 - Thy Kingdom Come

Do I fully understand what the kingdom of God is or more frankly what it is not? Am I a part of that kingdom or a servant in that kingdom? Luke 4:43 - "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God...for I was sent for this purpose." Like I mentioned on Wednesday evening we are praying that God would bring about a clean sweep, that his kingdom would come and he would be the Lord of all.

The fact that Jesus would use ordinary things to speak a plain message should turn our ears on and perk up our souls. I remember having to tweak my preaching not because rural folks are small minded and cannot bear the thick muck of complex preaching. Rather the opposite. I would do the Gospel a huge disservice if I failed to connect to the farmers and day laborers in their langauge and context. Jesus may use mustard seeds, I use Ole and Lena, stories about combining corn, and an occasional humility lesson.

The kingdom of God is truly a treasure hidden in the field. It is a pearl of great worth. The unexpected check in the mail. We can be surprised by God's grace again - really.

What would it be like to live with great joy and single minded devotion in my life? Sometimes I am a master of the Lutheran drudge - smiling so loud my neighbor can see - walking with my head down running into the wall because I am too busy looking at my shoes. Mr. Gloom and doom here.

If the kingdom of God has come and is all around us - that God is active in his coming to clean up the mess we humans have caused and he does this through his children. This is God's grace, amazing isn't it?

Happy journey beloved in the Lord.

Pastor Kris