MLS Football vs. Carrollton (JV)

Last night, the Michigan Lutheran Seminary JV Cardinals had their first home game, hosting the Carrollton Cavaliers.  The game was delayed by a storm that passed through shortly before game time.  Nevertheless, the game started only about 15 minutes late.

MLS got right to work, driving the ball down the field.  On the first play of scrimmage, QB Adam Arrowsmith threw a deep corner route to Caleb.  It hit him in the hands, but Caleb could not hang on.  Despite all of the good things he did later in the game, that is the play he remembers.  The Cardinals still drove down the field for a TD.

Later in the 1st quarter, with Carrollton creeping into MLS territory, a pass got tipped and Caleb DID catch this one for the interception.  He returned it for 20-30 yards before being tripped up from behind.  That drive resulted in an MLS TD as well.

MLS put up a 3rd TD before Carrollton responded with a long run for a TD.  Both added one more score, going into halftime, 28-14.

The 3rd quarter was all MLS, including a long TD pass to Caleb.  Caleb kept his body between the defender and the ball, and after he hauled it in, he turned up field to see only grass and the end zone.  The end of the 3rd quarter was 41-14.

It was nice to see a lot of the second string players get some decent playing time.  They played quite a bit of the 4th quarter.  So did Carrollton's speedy back, #18 (last name was Rodriguez, and we heard his name a lot!).  #18 broke two long TD runs in the 4th quarter to make things a bit closer.  The first string went back in to make sure we had a handle on the game.  But we failed to secure the onside kick, and Carrollton scored immediately on a long TD.  I remember thinking, "I'm afraid I saw this game last January in Seattle."

In any case, the first team got the next kickoff and ran out the clock.  But the final score went from a very comfortable 41-14 to a more nervous 41-32 win.  But a win is a win, and the boys will not have to be convinced that they still have work to do.

Photos below.

This is Caleb's return run after his interception.

This catch came shortly after his interception.

Nice block to open a lane for the running back!

Caleb gets in on a tackle.

This is the catch that went for the long TD.

All the brothers at the end of the game.  Faith is just outside the frame, by about 6oo miles.

Local Tourist -- The Fisher Building, Detroit

The Local Tourist had visited the Fisher Building a year ago, but here is a nice article about the Fisher Building from the Detroit Free Press.

It is a beautiful building and is worth a look if you are in town.

The article is here.

Lutheran Reformation -- HOURS of Education! -- UPDATE:The Search

WOW!

Do you want an education of the Lutheran Reformation and its relevance today?  How many hours do you have to spare????

If you take a look at Issues, Etc. right now in their On Demand Archives, you will discover dozens of interviews with scholars about various aspects of the Lutheran Reformation -- Luther's opinions on various topics, Lutheran hymns, Lutheran confessors through the years, Lutheran theology, myths about Lutheran teachings, why the Lutheran Reformation still matters today, etc.....  There are perhaps several DAYS' worth of interviews to listen to!

Issues, Etc. has often produced quality programs and is worthy of you checking them out.

NOTE:  This does NOT replace Bible class!
In the flesh is always better than on the web.

UPDATE:  For a few glorious moments yesterday afternoon, all the Reformation topics were lined up nicely on the archives page.  Apparently, Issues Etc had not intended that and replaced it with current programing (still worth a listen).  To find the Reformation topics, type "Reformation" in the search bar and scroll through the options.  All the interviews are there.  It just takes a little more hunting.

Sermon -- 14th Sunday after Pentecost (August 30, 2015)

HEBREWS 12:18-24

YOU HAVE COME TO A NEW COVENANT.

  

In the name + of Jesus. 

     Even Moses was afraid.  So terrifying was the sight at Mt. Sinai that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”  (Hebrews 12:21)  The Lord had appeared to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai.  Even though his glory was hidden with a thick, black cloud, thunder, and lightning, the people trembled before him.  Since the Lord was on the mountain, no one was allowed to touch it; for it had become holy ground.  Nothing sinful or mortal was allowed to defile it.  Even if a sheep had strayed onto the mountain, it would have to be stoned to death.  The people of Israel heard it and saw it, and trembled because of it.  The Lord himself spoke the Ten Commandments.  No one dared to speak back to God about his commands.  Rather, they pleaded that God say no more to them lest they perish in his presence.  Even Moses, to whom God had appeared before, was afraid.
     Perhaps you have thought that God would do the world a favor if he appeared again in such glorious fashion.  If God could make the whole world cower, they would listen to him.  They would believe what he says.  They would get in line and behave.  It sounds like a good plan.  But the people who stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai were not pagans who were being corralled into the kingdom of God.  These people had been claimed as God's holy nation.  They did not become a holy nation because God filled them with terror.  It was because they were graciously redeemed by a loving God.
     The Bible says: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10)  It is right to humble yourself in reverent fear before God.  He is holy; we are corrupt.  He is eternal; we will die.  He is omnipotent; we are frail.  He can do as he pleases; we are victims of circumstance.  But the fear of the Lord is only the beginning of wisdom.  You have not come to church to cower and tremble by God's holiness; you have come to be comforted by God's promises, mercy, and grace.  You have come to a new covenant.
     You have come to a covenant in which God redeems sinners and reconciles you to himself.  You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering... (Hebrews 12:22)   Mount Zion is where the Lord revealed the full measure of his love for sinners.  God did not come to you in his bare glory.  Rather, he hid his glory in humility.  He hid his power in weakness.  Jesus revealed both the love of God and the wrath of God in his sufferings and death.  Jesus was brutally beaten, utterly rejected, and divinely cursed for every sin ever committed.  He consumed the full cup of God's wrath for every sinner on earth.  If you want to know what God thinks of sins, look to the crucified Christ—for he bears your curse.
     On the other hand, if you want to know what God thinks of sinners, look to the crucified Christ—for he bears the curse for you.  God did not desire the death of sinners.  And since sins must be paid for, God sent his Son to make the payment for you.  Forsaking and damning his own Son is the extent that God would go to in order to deliver you out of your sin and guilt, to spare you the agony of death and judgment, and to bring you into an everlasting kingdom of peace.
     You have come to a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)  The blood of Abel was spilled by his brother, Cain.  Cain despised Abel because Abel was considered righteous by God and Cain was not.  Rather than repent, Cain resolved to get rid of the one who reminded him of his sin.  So Cain killed his brother.  When God confronted Cain for his murder, the Lord said to him, “What have you done?  The voice of your brother's blood is crying to the me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10)  Abel's blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies.  It demanded that justice be done because of Cain's blatant disregard for God's word.  That would be fair.  One who breaks God's word should pay the price for his sins.
     Should it be any different for us?  We have also sinned against God and have shown disregard for his word.  Perhaps our greatest sin is how little we are bothered by our sins.  We can go through each day dismissive of our sins.  We may even think that since we think little of them, God thinks little of them.  But God takes his word very seriously.  And God does not think it is little when we turn away from his word.  God is not the one with the problem when we are the lawbreakers.  We are right to fear the Lord and his wrath.  Repent, recognizing that taking God seriously is the beginning of wisdom.
     And now, you have come to a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)  God's justice was doled out at the cross.  His wrath was poured out on Jesus so that his mercy can be poured out upon you.  Justice has been done.  Jesus bore your guilt and, therefore, took your punishment.  For that reason, the blood of Jesus does not call for revenge.  Quite the contrary, it proclaims pardon.  The blood of Jesus purifies you of all sin.  You have been cleansed by the holy blood of Jesus in your baptism.  You are nurtured and consoled by the blood of Jesus at the Lord's Supper where we come together with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven for the festal gathering.
     You have come to a new covenant in which God does not pile upon demands that you were never able to meet to begin with.  Jesus is not a new law-giver.  He does not bestow new or more difficult commandments for you to keep.  This new covenant is the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is God's grace by which God bestows his gifts and you receive good things from him.  You have come to the new covenant which includes you in the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven … and (among) the spirits of the righteous made perfect... (Hebrews 12:23)
     When the epistle to the Hebrews was first written, it was not an easy time to be a Christian.  For confessing their faith in Jesus, for gathering for worship, and for living godly lives which honored God and served their neighbors, these believers faced persecution, imprisonment, exile, and potentially even martyrdom.  There was great temptation to turn from Jesus in order to live an easier, happier life.  The writer to the Hebrews encouraged them to continue in what they had been given.  Whatever deals they thought they could make with the world would never forgive their sins, deliver them from the grave, or open the gates of heaven.  God's judgment of them was better than any opinions their fellowman would ever have of them.  Though the world might despise them, God assured them that they were his holy people, children of a new covenant.
     Like these ancient Christians, you also have come to a new covenant.  Perhaps the world has not been as hostile to us as it was to them, but neither do we find it particularly welcoming.  The worst we have had to endure has been mockery and maybe the loss of friends.  Perhaps our greatest battle is against our own sinful flesh which is not bothered by our sins but rather is enthralled by them.  The flesh will always insist a happier, easier life is to give in to sins and to not be bothered by God's commands.  But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It is wise to fear the Lord and repent at his word now so that we will not be destroyed by him later.
     But God's wisdom is fully revealed not in his holy Law, not at Mt. Sinai.  God's wisdom is fully revealed at Mt. Zion, where the Lord has provided forgiveness for your sins and entry to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.  You have come to the new covenant where the Lord does not scare or threaten you into obedience.  Rather, he pardons you of all your disobedience and makes you a holy nation—eager to do what is good, willing to suffer for it, and determined to remain faithful at all times and through all trials.  For you are the Lord's people.  Just as the Lord was eager to redeem you, so also he is zealous for preserving you both now and forevermore.

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

MLS Football vs. Bath (Varsity) UPDATE: Video footage now available!

Michigan Lutheran Seminary began their varsity season hosting the Bath Fighting Bees.  Bath got a new head coach and a new offense, and MLS lost a lot of players from last year, so we did not know what to expect from them or from us.

As it turns out, the MLS offense was clicking pretty well for the evening.  Most drives in the first half resulted in TD's.  And while Bath had some nice plays and some longer drives, they never managed to get it into the end zone.

The Bath defense certainly knew who Casey Williams was.  They made sure that the defense swarmed to him every time.  And they had pretty good success bottling up Casey except for one deep pass in the 1st quarter.  Andrew tossed a nice pass down the middle (I thought it would be too deep) and Casey ran it down for the TD.

Andrew also had a nice run (50 yards?) for a TD.  The hole the line gave him was enormous, and Andrew won the footrace to the endzone.

In the end, MLS came up with an impressive 42-8 win, and Andrew came out pretty much unscathed.

It took a while, but thankfully someone found the link to the TV highlights of the MLS game against Bath.  You can find the link here.  MLS highlights are first.  Incidentally, Andrew told me that the screen pass for the TD (featured on the news) was a screw up on his part.  He ran the wrong way.  He should screw up like that more often!

Some photos below.

Although this photo might not suggest it, this was the pretty TD pass that Andrew threw to Casey.

Andrew completed this pass to Caleb Heyn to convert on 3rd down.  Caleb had some nice runs, too.

This was Andrew's long TD run in the 2nd quarter.  I think even I could have squeezed through that hole!

Andrew with his proud mother.

MLS Football at Bath (JV)

Football officially began last night at the home of the Bath Bees.  Michigan Lutheran Seminary took the field, and the MLS fans stared into the sun for 3 quarters of football.  By the 4th quarter the sun had set and we got to watch without squinting, shading our eyes, or going blind.

Both sides exchanged TD's in the first half with Bath's coming on the final play of the half.  MLS had driven the ball pretty well but managed to sputter out a few times as they neared the end zone.  The story was pretty much the same for Bath.  Both teams gave up turnovers deep in their opponent's territory.

MLS finally grabbed the lead and scored the 2 point conversion for teh 14-6 lead.  Bath heave-hoed a long pass in response and scored their own 2 point conversion for the 14-14 tie.  That lasted late into the 4th quarter.

Bath was driving the field, and we were all watching the clock tick down.  On 4th and short in the red zone, Bath ran the ball and got stuffed.  MLS had a long way to go and under 2 minutes to go the length of the field.  We did not expect the final drive to go as it did.

QB Adam Arrowsmith threw a long pass into double coverage.  Caleb, who had outgrown his defenders, also outjumped the defenders and came down with the ball, getting us to roughly mid-field.  Later, another pass to a wide open Caleb added about 15 more yards.  The late hit out of bounds should have added more yards, but apparently tackling someone 5 yards out of bounds was conisdered fair play by the men in stripes.  Just a few plays later,

Arrowsmith threw to the back of the end zone where Caleb, again in double coverage, outjumped and out wrestled the defenders for the game winning TD with :14 left on the clock.  MLS wins, 20-14!

I would hate to think Caleb's sophomore season has already peaked, but it sure was a nice way to start the year.  Photos below.

Caleb is the kicker this year.  Sadly, his first (and only) attempt at Bath was wide left.  Had the distance, though!

4th quarter, second reception, with a lot of green in front of him for a long gain.

This was the game winner!  Great job, Caleb!!!

Family photos are always better after a win.

Football is back!

The Michigan Lutheran Seminary football season is getting underway.  A scrimmage at Caro High School last evening got things going.  The official season begins next week.

Football is back.  You can follow MLS' Varsity team on M-Live here.

Caleb, are you ready for some football?????