Reformation Day -- Restoration of the Saving Truth

          Today marks the date when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, questioning that people are forgiven through the sale of indulgences.  He sought to debate whether such sales were based on Scripture.  In truth, the 95 Theses were not terribly Lutheran.  Luther was fairly conservative in his criticism of indulgences.

          But these Theses mark the beginning of the Reformation because Luther was bold enough to raise a question.  While Luther never did get his debate among the leaders of the church, there were many who also began to question where Truth was founded.  Was it founded by a Church Council passing resolutions?  Was it found in the Pope who claimed the sole right to interpret the Scriptures, meaning that the entire world must look to the Pope for truth and salvation?  (Theological faculties of various universities also claimed that right.)  Or was God capable of speaking for himself in Scripture?

          There were a number of sources which claimed to have the right to interpret Scripture, denying that the Bible could speak for itself.  Someone always had to interpret what it "really" means.  Luther found this to be intolerable.  It had led to rites and ceremonies which turned people away from Jesus.  It left man in a perpetual state of doubt, especially since those who claimed to be the interpreters of Scripture often contradicted each other.

          Luther recognized that, if we are to know divine truth, He who is divine must tell us that truth.  And therefore, Luther developed his motto of sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone. 

          The Scriptures can be mishandled, badly quoted, or mangled in the hands of man, but the Scriptures cannot be changed.  God has spoken for himself.  Man can know--with certainty!--exactly what God has to say, what God thinks, what God does, and what God wills.  Granted, there are areas in which God remains silent, choosing not to tell us his will or why he does what he does, but when it comes to right and wrong, forgiveness and cursing, salvation and condemnation, God has not left us in doubt.

          Our forgiveness comes through Jesus Christ who has lived and died and risen for us.  The Law has been kept.  The curse has been lifted.  Death has been overcome and the gates of heaven have been opened.  The gifts Jesus won for us are delivered wherever his word is rightly preached and his sacraments are rightly administered.  There is no other way in which God gives these gifts.  Since God has not directed us to look for any other means of grace or salvation, we don't look for any other.  But we flee to where our Lord reveals and bestows his truth, his mercy, and his salvation.  Nothing is in doubt any longer, nor is it hidden, nor limited to a few, nor sold for cash.  In the Lutheran Reformation, God's truth is renewed.  God's mercy is poured out.  God's love is made evident.  And God's grace is free. 

          Lutherans, rejoice in what God has given you.  The best way to celebrate the Reformation and the best way to celebrate being Lutheran is to come to the font, to the altar, and to the pulpit to partake in God's saving truth.  This honors your Lord, and it saves you.  (And if it matters, Luther would smile, too.)

Local Tourist -- Autumn at Maybury State Park

This segment of the Local Tourist takes us to Maybury State Park.  If the leaves survive the rain and winds we are supposed to get in the next few days, the undergrowth and the maple trees should all be a vibrant yellow this weekend.  It will be spectacular if the leaves are still on the trees.

I also got to see two deer, a buck and a doe, run about 30 feet in front of me across the path, but I was not able to take a photo of them in time.  I guess that was just for me.

Here are some photos from Maybury.

 

Sermon -- 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (October 27, 2013)

LUKE 18:18-27

SALVATION IS POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH JESUS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Lot was a good business man.  The Lord had blessed both Abraham and his nephew, Lot, with so many flocks and herds that they could not graze the same land together.  So Abraham gave Lot his choice of land, and Lot chose the choicest of the land.  Lot continued to prosper on the outskirts of Sodom.  But soon, Lot moved into town.  By this move, Lot and his family got to enjoy the protection of the city and the perks of commerce in the community.  A bit later, the Lord had decreed that Sodom and several other cities would be destroyed because they were so wicked.  In his mercy, God saw to it that Lot would not be destroyed with the city.  He sent angels to deliver Lot and his family.  The angels found Lot sitting in his place at the city gate, which meant that Lot had become quite influential in his city.  Business had apparently been very good, and Lot had become a rich, young ruler.  

     Rather than flee from Sodom, Lot tried to make deals.  He did not leave as he was told.  When the angels began to drag Lot and his family out of town, he bargained some more.  He asked that God would spare one small town so that he would not have to flee as far as the mountains.  Lot bargained, “Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one.  Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved.” (Genesis 19:20)  God granted Lot his request.  But Lot’s wife could not part from the city and the life she loved.  She turned and gazed upon the city marked for destruction, and she was destroyed with it.  Lot had been a good business man, but he was not a very devout believer.  And his wife, swept away by the affluence and influence their family enjoyed, was not a believer at all.
     Now, Lot’s business decisions and actions did not guarantee that he would stray from God’s promises.  But they certainly did not help.  Lot’s decisions were based on what was best for his wallet, not for his faith.  Lot was a good business man.  Lot had become a rich, young ruler.  And he proves the point of our Gospel lesson today: “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24-25)
     A rich man came to Jesus to ask what he had to do to gain eternal life.  Don’t presume that he was some slimy, conniving business man.  He claimed that he had kept the Commandments, so he was likely a decent, honorable man.  But even so, something was gnawing at him.  He knew that he lacked what he needed for eternal salvation.  But what could it be?  He was obedient.  He was respectable.  He was helpful.  What else did he have to do to seal the deal and secure his salvation?
     “One thing you still lack,” Jesus answered.  “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Luke 18:22-23)  Jesus showed this rich, young ruler that he was not as good a judge as he thought; for, he had misjudged himself.  None of us is as good as we judge ourselves to be.  As honorable as this man may have appeared to others, he was an idolater.  He boasted that he had kept the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Commandments, but he had not even kept the 1^st! He harbored in his heart a deep love for power and wealth, and he was not willing to part from them.  He had yearned to know what he had to do to enter the kingdom of God.  But he would not enter at that cost.  The rich man would not give up his affluence.  The young ruler would not give up his influence.
     These are hard words—scary words!—for people living in and near the city of Novi.  Whoever has gained wealth and goods is always in danger of being ensnared by them.  You know what purchasing power resides in your wealth.  You know the pleasure of enjoying newer gadgets, bigger toys, and fancier amenities.  They are nice.  And they aren’t inherently evil.  But how easy it is to love and cherish these things!  Do you equate creature comforts with true comfort?  Do you feel secure because of your wealth and goods?  Are you afraid of losing them?  Beware: They can be lost, and quickly.  And they will perish one day.  If your security goes as your wealth goes, you are not secure at all.  And your trust is wholly misplaced.
     The rich, young ruler walked away sad.  The people who remained stood there alarmed; for, they envied the rich, young ruler.  They wanted to be like him.  They hoped their children would grow up to be like him.  Rather than feel smug, the people were scared: “Then who can be saved?” (Luke 18:26) 
     Understand the lesson: Salvation is possible only through Jesus.  You cannot gain your place in the kingdom of God.  It cannot be attained by accumulating wealth or by sacrificing wealth.  It could be earned by keeping the Commandments, if only you could keep the Commandments.  But just like the rich, young ruler, you are idolaters.  You love and trust earthly wealth and support systems.  You are terrified that your money may fail you.  You do not fear and love and trust in God above all things.  God does not honor idolaters.  Repent!
     The rich, young ruler who came to Jesus recognized that he could not do what it takes to gain the kingdom of God.  You do well to take that lesson to heart too.  But do not walk away sad.  And do not wonder: “Then who can be saved?” (Luke 18:26)  For, you have a Savior.  Salvation is possible only through Jesus.  And with God it is not only possible, it is certain. 
     Jesus is the rich, young ruler who saves you.  Though he reigns on high, this supreme ruler of the universe gave up all things to deliver you from your sins.  He subjected himself to the same Commandments which you must obey.  He submitted to his Lord and rendered humble and perfect obedience.  Though he is true God, Jesus did not boss his way around.  Though he possesses all power, he lived in weakness.  Though he is the judge of all mankind, he submitted himself to the mockery of liars, schemers, and connivers who made themselves his judge.  They condemned Jesus for saying he is the Son of God, and they crucified the Lord of Glory and the King of the universe. 
     Salvation is possible only through Jesus.  You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)  Jesus possesses all things, yet was born in poverty and died in poverty.  But Jesus’ death means that the riches of salvation and of heaven are yours.  His holy precious blood has paid the price for sins and has purchased your salvation.  In your baptism, Jesus poured upon you the everlasting riches of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion.  He has made you heirs of a kingdom whose glory does not fade, whose benefits cannot be taken away, whose worth is never devalued, and whose riches are beyond measure.
     While God grants you wealth to employ and to enjoy in this world, he urges you not to fear, love, or trust these things.  The one who gives them is far more trustworthy.  Unlike your wealth, the Lord loves you.  Unlike your wealth, Jesus has paid the price to redeem you.  Unlike your wealth, Jesus gives you better gifts with everlasting benefits.  Salvation is possible only through Jesus.  God is your Savior; and therefore, you lack nothing for your salvation.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Floor Hockey Tournament

Saturday, November 25 saw the St. Peter's Eagles go to a floor hockey tournament at St. John's Lutheran School in Westland.  St. John's has a neat, home-made floor hockey area.  Three sides uses the gym walls, but they have designed a Plexiglas frame for the remaining side.  This allows the kids to play floor hockey and the people in the stands to see everything that is going on.

It was a lot of fun, and the St. Peter's Eagles had a very successful outing, taking the championship.  Caleb had nine goals on the day, and Philip added one himself.

Here are some picks......

St. Peter's (Plymouth) Eagles -- 2013 Floor Hockey Tournament Champs!

MLS Football vs. Bay City All Saints

The JV travelled to Bay City for their final game of the year against All Saints Catholic High School in Bay City.  The result was very familiar, as the Michigan Lutheran Seminary JV team completed an undefeated season.  The final score of this contest was 47-12.  (All Saints scored the final TD, and a scoreboard glitch had the final score reading 47-72.  But to my knowledge no single play in football is good for 66 points, so I am confident that MLS won.)

Below is a photo of Andrew getting ready to throw a pass.

On Friday night, the MLS Varsity team took the field for what is presumably their last home game of the year.  (Playoff match ups get announced Sunday night.)  MLS poured on their points in the first half, and a continuous clock ran the entire second half to the delight of many parents who found the weather quite cold.  The final score was 42-0.  There are a few extra pictures of Nathanael, as this may have been his (and the seniors') last game at Cardinal Field.  We managed to make every game of his this year, and we had a lot of fun watching.  The Cardinals and Nathanael had a very good year.  Can't wait to see how the playoff run goes!

The first two photos, by the way, are a catch that was marked one yard short of a TD.  The other was a TD.  (Sorry that they are a bit blurry.)

 

A DVD worth looking into

It was a few years ago that the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod produced a DVD entitled, Road to Emmaus.  To be honest, I feared that it was going to be pretty cheesy.  It turned out to be a quality work that I was pleased to distribute to all of our prospects, as well as to members.

There was word of a follow up, and now it is ready for release.  This time, my optimism is high that it will be another quality work worthy of wide distribution.  You can check out the trailer here.

If you want to know more about ordering the DVD, you can go here:  http://www.comefollowmemovie.com/

Good Shepherd plans to order 100 copies for distribution to prospects and members.  It would be nice to order more, but that means people from Good Shepherd would have to contribute toward making that happen.  Your generosity would be appreciated, even by prospective members whom we have not even met yet.

MLS Football vs. Breckenridge

This past week, MLS battled Breckenridge.  MLS' JV team played their final home game of the year and enjoyed a convincing 48-22 win.  

The varsity traveled to Breckenridge and enjoyed a 52-14 win.  Nathanael had a very good game, hauling in three TD passes.  You can read a bit about it here: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/school/saginaw-saginaw-michigan-lutheran-seminary/football/

I think our camera is just about ready to die.  It was either a faulty camera, a darker football field, or a combination of the two.  In any case, most pictures came out very blurry.  So, here are a few photos that are not really action shots.

Also exciting was Faith's surprise visit from New Ulm, MN.  She had suggested she was going to stay in New Ulm for her October break, but she made the 12-14 hour trip home.  I'm glad that Faith got to see some good wins.  We were able to get a nice photo of Faith with Nathanael after his game.

Here are a few photos.