MLS Graduation for Philip

This weekend, Philip graduated from Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw.  Philip is the fifth graduate among the Schroeders from MLS in the past seven years.  And for the first time since 2009, we will not be making trips to MLS to watch our children play sports, sing in the choirs, etc....

Philip, like all other seniors in 2020, ended his senior year in disappointing quarantine status with online classes since March 13.  The worst of it, at least for Philip, was being robbed of these final months with his classmates.  He did not even really get to say goodbye to them.  When you live with these people in dormitories for four years, this abrupt end is particularly hard.  All in all, Philip has handled it exceptionally well.  And if there is good news to be had, many of his classmates are expecting to be in New Ulm, Minnesota next fall at Martin Luther College.  God willing, he will move into the dorms and attend classes live and in person next fall.

Philip was awarded a few scholarships.  Most noteworthy is that Philip is the first recipient of the Hannah M. Kieta Memorial Scholarship.  Hannah was a classmate of Faith and was killed in a car accident last August.  Hannah excelled in German, and the scholarship was awarded to Philip who intends to continue studying German at MLC next year.

Because of the COVID-19 lockdown, we had to watch Philip's graduation in virtual fashion.  We met in our church and watched it projected on the big screen.  You can watch the virtual graduation here:

We are quite proud of Philip and his accomplishments, even though his senior year was certainly a strange year with unexpected challenges--beginning with a football season that lasted 15 minutes because of an injury on the first day of practice to ending with a stay-at-home quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In any case, here are some photos related to Philip's graduation.  (Hat tip to Vanessa Hose for taking the family photo.  Thanks!)

Philip with the MLS Class of 2020.

The classic "A boy loves his mother" photo, a graduation tradition of each Schroeder boy.

MLS alumni -- Classes of 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013, and 1988.

Sermon -- Chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (October 16, 2019)

This sermon was preached at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw.  I was also privileged to have the chapel reader for the day by my son, Philip.  That was cool.

You can see a podcast here, but you may have to scroll or do a search to find it in the archives (depending on how far you are removed from today's date).

Thanks to Prof. Karl Schmugge for taking this photo.

PHILIPPIANS 1:18b-27

TO LIVE IS CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The apostle Paul wrote these words while he was imprisoned.  Although he was reasonably sure that he would be released, he also recognized that his trial could go badly and that he could be martyred.  He was torn between the two options.  If he was spared and released, he could resume his work as an apostle.  This would be particularly beneficial for the Christians in Philippi, allowing Paul to return there, to strengthen them, and to encourage them with God's word.  But what if he were martyred?  What if the authorities deemed it best to silence Paul's preaching of the Gospel by putting him to death?  If that happened, Paul's life in this world would be over, but his life in the kingdom of God would not.  He would be with Jesus where he would live in peace and glory forevermore.  Even if the enemies of Christ destroyed Paul's body, Jesus would raise it up at the resurrection of the dead—to live perfected and purified and permanently with Jesus.  So, if Paul should be freed, he would serve the Church on earth, which is good.  If Paul should be executed, he would rest with the saints in heaven, which is also good.  That is why Paul declared, “Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two.” (Philippians 1:22-23)  
     Paul is not the only person to long for the better future and the everlasting glories of heaven.  Our Lord has told us with many images what the heavenly kingdom will be—a refuge from enemies and struggles, a wedding banquet where we feast with our Lord, the end of labors, still waters, green pastures, unending peace, and so on.  Who wouldn't want to receive these things?  We long for them.  We pray for them.  And we are confident that the glory which will be revealed in us will far surpass our pains and struggles here.  No wonder Paul declared: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  ...To die is gain.” (Philippians 1:23,21)
    Unfortunately, Satan twists even these wonderful promises to deceive God's people into a destructive course.  “To live is Christ and to die is gain” does not mean “My life stinks and I'm better off dead.”  Satan tries to convince you that your life is useless, meaningless, and hopeless.  Maybe it is because your grades are not where you think they should be, or because you are not dating someone, or because your friends don't really seem like friends, or because you don't have your life figured out yet.  Or perhaps you carry around some secret shame that plagues you.  Satan uses these dark and bitter thoughts to lead you to an even darker place.  Satan would have you consider, “What does it matter?  Would anyone notice if I am gone?  Why not end it all?  After all, the Bible says, 'To depart and be with Christ is far better!'”  If you've ever gone down that path, you are not unique.
     Dear Christians, beware.  The devil is a liar.  He hates you and wants to harm you and will even warp God's word to do it.  It is true that to be with Christ is better than to dwell in a sinful world.  But God does not give any of us the liberty to put an end to our own lives.  And he certainly does not call suicide a good and noble thing.  It is sinful, causes great harm to family and friends, and destroys what God gives you as good.  It surely is not God who tells you that your life is worthless.  How could he?  He gave you your life as a gift, and it is good!
     St. Paul was not torn between living versus killing himself.  Paul knew that if someone else put an end to his life, he would be with Jesus—which is good.  But if the Lord was pleased to have Paul live for more years, then this is good too.  Paul would be able to go forth and preach the Gospel.  As he confessed, “For me to live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21)
     Now, it is true, life does have its share of hardships.  And maybe you don't have it all figured out yet.  That's okay; you're not supposed to have it all figured out by the time you are 18.  And your worth is not determined by a grade point average, a girlfriend, or whether you had a good practice or not.  Your worth has been determined by our Lord Jesus Christ.
     First of all, our Lord deemed it worthy to give you your body, soul, and all your members, your mind, and all your abilities.  If you are here, it is because God wants you here, and he calls it good.  But more than that!  God has given your life immensely more value by taking upon himself your very nature and uniting himself to you.  He took into himself all of your sin.  He bore all of your shame.  In exchange he has marked you with his name and covered you in his innocence.  He surrendered his body to God's wrath to gain you God's favor.  He submitted his body into death in order to win eternal life for you.  The holy, precious blood of Jesus was shed so that the Lord would have you as his own now and forever.  Do you see what you are worth?  The body which the Lord gave into death is risen and lives forever.  And since you are now Christ's, so will yours.  Our Lord deems it worthy to have you in his heavenly kingdom forever.  Eternal life is yours through Christ.
     But you and I are not in this heavenly glory yet.  Sure, “To depart and be with Christ … is far better” (Philippians 1:23), but that does not mean your life here and now is useless, meaningless, or hopeless.  As St. Paul said, “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.” (Philippians 1:22)  And so it is with you.  Christ has given you your life to honor him and to serve your neighbor.  For St. Paul that meant preaching the Gospel to the Philippians and to others.  And our Lord can also use you to preach the Gospel.  If it does not happen from a pulpit or a classroom, it certainly can happen when you encourage your classmates, comfort your relatives, or teach your children to pray.
     To live is Christ—but it is not limited to preaching the Gospel.  It is also for using your talents, studying algebra, cleaning your room, listening to a friend, showing kindness, taking a nap, or reading a book.  To live is Christ, and that does not mean you need to change the world in order to matter.  It means you get to serve God in joy and in the knowledge that he is delighted in you.  You matter to the Lord who declares your life of tremendous value.  He has give up everything to redeem you, and he is eager to bring you into his glory.  To live is Christ—whether you live here on earth or Jesus takes you to live in heavenly glory.  Either way, it is good.  To live is Christ—for you are Christ's, and he is yours.

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

MLS Cardinals Football vs. Nouvel Catholic Central

I have not done much to mention the football season for Michigan Lutheran Seminary this season.  Part of the reason is that Philip's senior year lasted only about 15 minutes due to a hip flexor injury.

The good news is that MLS' playoff odds continue to improve with convincing wins.  The last win was against Nouvel Catholic Central (Saginaw) who had been ranked No. 5 in the state for Division 8.  You can read about the detail in this M-Live article.

If MLS manages to make a deep playoff run, Philip may be able to join his team on the field.  We are hoping so.

MLS Football -- The 2019 season begins!

MLS Football season is beginning.  Football camp began last night, and the first game is only 2 1/2 weeks away.  This will be Philip's senior year, and the last Schroeder on the MLS football team for a few years.

Here is an article from M-Live about the MLS football team and their hype song.  It actually is as much about MLS's music emphasis as it is about their athletic program.

https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2019/08/weird-michigan-lutheran-seminary-seniors-pitch-perfect-to-start-2019-football-season.html?fbclid=IwAR15FwNDOJVAqvOyuyZlz6JKkzG6r77-gbai5V6n-KAPGMVAlrAJi9M8qc0

Go Cardinals!

Sermon -- Chapel at MLS (June 26, 2019)

This was preached at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw for the Pastors' Summer Quarter on Wednesday, June 26.

LUKE 7:18-23

EXPECT WHAT IS PROMISED.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Immediately after Jesus raised up from the dead the young man from Nain, St. Luke recorded how John the Baptist was languishing in Herod's prison.  John's disciples reported to him the miracles that Jesus was doing, and how his popularity was surging.  Jesus was receiving praise for the works of God which he performed, and John the Baptist was suffering for the word of God which he proclaimed.  You can understand why John had questions for Jesus.  More to the point, John had questions about Jesus.  John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)

     You and I have not had to face jail time for preaching.  If that should change, so be it.  But we do face some level of wrath and ridicule for preaching the word of the Lord.  Even faithful members will get angry with us when our preaching calls them or their children to repent of their sins.  To make matters worse, we see other churches who pervert the gospel.  They proclaim some form of the message “Love wins,” preaching a Jesus who is cuddly, but not crucified.  These churches are bursting at the seams. We even lose members to them.  It is easy to wonder, “Lord, I am trying to be faithful.  Is this the reward for it?”

     Repent.  A servant is not above his master.  Although the people praised Jesus for giving sight to the blind, giving strength to lame legs, and even raising the dead, they turned on Jesus when he told them that the kingdom of God is more than healing what ails you at the moment.  The works they liked because they benefited from them.  The words they hated because it exposed their wickedness and need for a Savior.  If this is how they treated Jesus and John for their preaching, should you expect any different?  Expect what is promised so that you will not be deceived or despair.

     The people we serve have their share of doubts, too.  They expect that life will be easier and happier.  They are dismayed when it is full of hardship, sorrow, and pain.  They expected that life in the Church would not see problems or pettiness.  Then they see their fellow Christians commit sins, and they are sinned against by their fellow Christians.  They expected that the Christian faith would give them all the answers.  Then their faith gets challenged by arguments based on science, politics, and emotions.  They find themselves stumped.  They fear that they’ve been duped.  They may be reluctant to say it out loud, but they wonder, “Is this all the Christian faith is, or should I expect something better?”

     You are not unique with your doubts and fears.  We confess that God is our merciful Father in heaven.  We teach our children to sing, “Jesus loves me.”  But it does not often feel like it.  We want answers.  So did John the Baptist.  And John rightly sent his disciples to Jesus for answers.

     And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord...  And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luke 7:19-20)  You might have expected Jesus to answer differently.  Jesus could have uttered a direct, “Yes.  Tell John: I am the one.”  But that would have not settled John's doubts and fears.  After all, wouldn’t a conman have answered that question the same way?  Instead, Jesus urged John to expect what was promised.  

     (Jesus) answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:21-23)  The Lord urged John the Baptist to expect what had been promised.  Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would do exactly what Jesus was doing.  God had made a promise, and Jesus was fulfilling God's word to the letter.  Therefore, Jesus is the Christ and the Savior.  John should not trust what he was feeling or enduring.  Herod's sentence on him was not the word which mattered.  Even if John would be faithful to the point of death, he did not need to doubt.  He had not been duped.  God had told him what to expect.  Jesus urged him to expect what was promised.  Blessed is he who believes what is promised rather than be offended by what he experiences.  Blessed is the one who is not offended by the way the Lord reigns over his Church.

     And so it is with you.  Expect what is promised.  Cling to his word.  Trust with your ears rather than with your eyes or your emotions.  The Lord Jesus never promised you that life would be easy, but he did promise that he would be with you.  Jesus never promised that people would love you and be faithful to you, but he did promise that he would be.  And though you are not told that you will be happy, you are told that you are blessed.  No matter what anyone thinks of you, God's favor rests upon you; for, Jesus has paid the price for your sins.  No matter who despises you, God's love is yours; for it has been declared through holy, innocent blood of Jesus.  His blood covers you, cleanses you, and nourishes you through this harsh life until heavenly glory.  No matter what you feel about yourself, God's verdict upon you is “innocent,” beloved, redeemed.  That verdict was proclaimed by Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  Jesus lives and reigns to enforce it.  It is applied to you in baptism and at the Lord’s Supper.  It is repeated to you in every absolution and benediction.  

     Doubts, fears, and frustrations will come, even to the likes of John the Baptist.  But God's words are the only words that matter.  Flee to God's promises of mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and faithfulness.  Then, expect what is promised and hold God to his word.  For, the word of God stands firm.  The one whom God promised has come and has delivered you from sin.  He promises that he will come again to deliver you to glory.  Blessed is the one who believes and expects what he has promised.

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

Sermon -- Chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (April 3, 2019)

This was delivered for the chapel at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan.  As an added bonus, Philip was the chapel reader for the service.  He did a fine job.  He said he was nervous, but I would not have guessed it.

LAMENTATIONS 3:19-24

ALL THINGS NEW: GOD CARES FOR YOU.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The prophet Jeremiah wrote Lamentations among the ruins of Jerusalem.  He had warned the people to repent and even to surrender to the Babylonian army or they would be destroyed.  They did not listen.  Instead, they mocked Jeremiah and plotted to take his life.  Not only did Jeremiah have to suffer abuse for preaching the word of the Lord, he also had to witness the starvation of the people during the siege, and the slaughter of those who had not starved.  Finally, he saw his beloved Jerusalem destroyed.  Jeremiah was spared, but I am sure he wondered, “For what?”
     I don't think your problems rise to the level of Jeremiah's, but that does not mean your struggles aren't real, that your problems aren't painful, or that your guilt is insignificant.  Sometimes life can become bitter.  The Lord taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” for good reason.  But even when such hardships come to you, God uses them for his own good purpose.  Consider: When are you more likely to pray to the Lord—when things are going great, or when you are being weighed down with problems?  Even when you are afflicted by evils, God uses them for good.  God did not forget Jeremiah during the siege against Jerusalem or in the aftermath.  God does not forget you, either.
     That is why Jeremiah cried out as he did.  “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!  My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.  But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:19-23)  The Lord's patience may have reached its limit with the city of Jerusalem, but God did not abandon his faithful people like Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was not perfect.  He even lashed out at God for what he had to suffer.  But God was patient with Jeremiah.  Rather than blast him with a rebuke, God spoke tenderly to him, sustained him, and kept him in the one true faith.  In the same way, you may have to deal with friends who turn on you, with death that claims loved ones from you, or with the consequences of your own foolish choices.  At such times, you may lash out at God in anger, “Remember my affliction!”  But you are not hopeless.  God does not abandon you or withdraw his promises from you.  You may cry out to the Lord in anger, frustration, or in bitterness, but you are calling to the right place when you do. 
     Jeremiah declared: “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23)  The mercy of the Lord endures forever.  His mercies are new every morning.  You may end up dealing with the same struggles, the same heartache, the same sorrows and pains day after day.  They get old, and they make you tired.  These highlight that you are a sinner living in a sinful world.  But God does not grow weary of comforting, encouraging, and blessing.  He is not only patient with you in your sins, he is compassionate to you in your afflictions and frustrations.
     The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases.  That is because the steadfast love of the Lord does not depend on how much you love Jesus or on how well you serve him.  And it is certainly not measured by how well your life is going.  The steadfast love of the Lord is revealed by the Savior who was a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.  He was nailed to the wormwood and was given bitter gall to drink.  He was forsaken by his friends, endured the lies and cruelty of enemies, suffered the pain of scourging and crucifixion, and even afflicted with the rejection and wrath of his heavenly Father.  And Jesus accepted all these afflictions willingly.  For sinners.  For you.  This is the payment Jesus made to spare you. 
     When life gets hard, you may wonder, “For what?”  It is for this: For Jesus to rejoice over you and your salvation.  For Jesus to deliver you out of the guilt of sin and the fear of death.  For God's blessing and mercy.  For God to use even the evils you endure for your good.  Eventually for freedom from every form of evil.  For, Jesus has marked you for the glories of heaven where you will never again know bitterness or sadness.  You will never be the victim of anyone's sins, bear the shame of your own, or be bothered by anything.
     For, the Lord Jesus Christ shall make all things new, just as his mercies are new every morning.  He does not get angry with you because you are weak, grow weary of you because you struggle, or disown you when you fail.  He is patient with you.  He doesn't merely put up with you; he loves you.  You are not his enemy; you are his redeemed.  Therefore, he is patient, kind, and tender.  He feeds you, cares for you, and guides you heavenward.  He defends you from anything that would truly bring harm to your souls.  So, put your hope in him.  For those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed.  He remains faithful to you, and he patiently and persistently works in you to keep you faithful to him.

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

Basketball -- 2018-2019

This is a long overdue post about the basketball season.  Philip enjoyed a year on the varsity of Michigan Lutheran Seminary's Cardinals team.  He did not get much playing time, but he likes being a part of the team.  I am sure more time in the driveway over the summer working on his shot and some other techniques will help him next year.  The team finished with a 10-11 record, losing their first game in the playoffs.  They showed flashes of excellence throughout the season, but that was countered by too many mistakes and breakdowns.  Cleaning up some turnovers and questionable decisions will go a long way in making that record more impressive.  Fortunately, the team was mostly juniors, and there is another opportunity next season to make that improvement.

Peter played for St. Paul's Lutheran School's B team this season.  They dipped down to 4th grade, so Peter got an extra year of experience to learn the game.  He still needs to grow into the game, learning some basics and especially how to position himself and his game will improve tremendously.  He can share the driveway with Philip this summer.  (In fact, I will chase them out there!)  I am not positive on St. Paul's record, but it was below .500, but that is with a lot of 4th graders on the team.  They will improve a lot over the next two seasons.

Here are some photos throughout the season.

Peter drew a pretty tough assignment for his first game.  Height difference, anyone?

Philip was always an eager cheerleader for his team.

Parents' Night

The Last of Basketball

The senior year of high school guarantees that we will come across a whole series of lasts.  This Friday (March 9) proved to have several lasts, although it turns out that we missed a few other lasts on Wednesday too.

We had hoped to see Caleb's last regular season game at Nouvel on Friday, March 3.  But a heavy snow made that impossible.  MLS lost a closely contested game, 69-64.

But then playoffs started this past week.  The Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals faced the Vulcans of Vassar and won 50-41.  Laura got to see that one, but Catechism Class kept me at home.  That victory set up a Wednesday game.  Mid-week Lenten Vespers had me going in the opposite direction, to St. Paul's in Belleville.  Laura was at church in Good Shepherd, so we both missed the Wednesday contest against Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy.  MLS won handily, 78-35.

Philip told us that Caleb played quite a bit against SASA, scoring in double digits.  Philip suggested 14 points.  That victory set up a rematch against Nouvel Catholic Central of Saginaw on Friday, March 9.  Finally, we could get to a game!

But then we found out that Caleb sprained his ankle at the practice on Thursday night.  He attended the game on crutches.  MLS lost to Nouvel in the District Championship game, 54-48.  MLS was what they were all season--a decent defensive team who turned the ball over way too often on offense and missed too many free throws.  Had they cleaned up those errors, they would have likely won.

As it turns out, Caleb's last game was on crutches.  The last game in which he participated was the victory over SASA in which he scored quite a few points.  I have always tried to mark the last shot, but little did we know Caleb's last shot would be Wednesday.  I did not get the photo, but I would like to think he made it.

Meanwhile, his last trip off the floor for his high school career was sadly on cruchtes.  He has finished his hgh school basketball career, and we were there to give him hugs after it was over.

The lasts are hard, especially when you did not realize the last time happened and you were not aware of it.  We had fun watching Caleb and his teammates for years.  Thankfully, the memories will last.

The last game:

Pre-game prayer.

Caleb was still able to offer encouragement to his team during introductions.

The last walk off.

Basketball, at last

I have been negligent in posting anything about the basketball season this year.  I don't feel like we have gotten to many games this year for various reasons.  (Maybe not including a JV schedule makes a difference there.)  Still, it has been a season where we have enjoyed watching the MLS Cardinals play, though at times it has also been frustrating.  Perhaps that perfectly explains the near-.500 record.

On the upside, MLS has entered the post-season and has already won the first game of Districts against Vassar, 50-41.  On Wednesday, they will face Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy (aka, SASA).  Unfortunately, I was not able to be there on Monday and will not be there on Wednesday due to my schedule.  I hope they win so that Friday's game for the District Championship will happen.  That one I can see.  Go Cardinals!

Anyway, you can check out the scores throughout the season yourself at M-Live (though some are missing).  Here are a few photos of Caleb and teammates throughout the season.

MLS Football vs. New Lothrop

This past weekend wrapped up a number of lasts for the Schroeder family.  It was the last games of the season for both JV and varsity.  It was Philip's last football game on the JV level.  It was Caleb's last home game, and it was his last game of high school football ever.  In the photos below, you will see his last catch which ended up completing a 2-point conversion.

Unfortunately, both games were heart-breakers.  On Thursday, October 19, the Michigan Lutheran Seminary JV Cardinals traveled to New Lothrop.  Laura and I could not make this last game because we were sitting in the Secretary of State for three hours.  Grandpa Schmidt got to represent the family.  His updates let us know that MLS was down 14-0, then came back to grab a 21-14 lead, only to lose in the final seconds 26-21.

The MLS Cardinals welcomed the Hornets of New Lothrop for the varsity contest on Friday, October 20.  It was Parents' Night, but Laura could not make this one either.  Peter had a living history presentation he had to make for St. Paul's. 

New Lothrop was a big team who ran their offense well.  MLS went into the locker room at halftime down, 14-7, but grabbed a lead in the 3rd quarter, 16-14.  Unfortunately, MLS could not put together any long drives, and New Lothrop continued to make theirs.  The final score was 35-24.

There are no photos from the JV game since I wasn't there, but here are some from the varsity game.

The last pre-game speech, delivered by Coach Karl Schmugge.

The last run under the banner.

Caleb on punt coverage.  If memory serves, he ended up making the tackle.

Halftime. One last chance to make adjustments.

The last catch, for a 2 point conversion.

Caleb walks off the field for the last time.

The last team huddle.

It has become a tradition for the seniors to walk the field after their final home game.  It is one of the most bitter-sweet moments of high school football.  So much work, so much dedication, so much camaraderie, so much sweat, and finally so many tears.  And now, it is delegated to memories.  It was so much fun to watch, and I will miss it as much as Caleb.

Teammates.  Seniors.

Grandpa Schmidt with Philip and Caleb