Author: The Pastor

Text study – Luke 17:11-19

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

The Gospel text for this Sunday (20th Sunday after Pentecost) comes from Luke 17:11-19.  This is the story of the ten healed of leprosy. 

Jesus is traveling along, on his way to Jerusalem, along the Galilee/Samaria boarder, when he comes across 10 individuals suffering with leprosy.  Unlike Naaman in 2 Kings 5, these lepers had to keep their distance and shout out to get Jesus’ attention – "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" (Lk 17:13)  Being a leper, you were an out cast.  If anyone came close by you had to shout out, in warning, that you were a leper.  To come in contact with a leper would make one "unclean" whether you contracted the disease or not.  So people kept their distance.

Upon hearing these ten lepers call out to him, Jesus says (maybe from a distance – we don’t know) to "Go, show yourselves to the priests."  This was to be in compliance to the Jewish law.  If you were unclean, and were healed or made clean in someway, you had to show yourself to the priest and "officially" be declared clean.  So…the lepers did what they were told…or least 9 of them did.

One of the healed lepers came back.

Upon coming back, this healed leper (who had not been "officially" declared clean) threw himself at Jesus feet.  [I like that phrase, "threw himself" — I picture Jim Carey grabbing himself and throwing himself to the ground in a comical, Gumby-like style :)]  Anyway…the leper threw himself at the feet of Jesus to thank him (praising God in a loud voice while on his way to Jesus).  At this display Jesus wonders where the other 9 are.  "Were not all 10 cleansed?" (Lk. 17:17)  After Jesus finishes pondering he says to the healed leper, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Lk 17:19)

Thoughts from my pondering brain:
(1) Didn’t the other 9 do exactly what they were told?  Yet Jesus is saddened by the fact they did not come back to praise God.

(2) In Matthew 8, Mark 1 and Luke 5 Jesus came across a leper but this time he touched him in order to heal him.  In this text there is no indication that Jesus came close to the leper, but rather gave an instruction (Naaman was healed in a similar way).  This seems to indicate something significant to ponder…hmmm…

(3) The healed leper who returned to praise God and thank Jesus received an additional healing: "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."  I think this healing took place as soon as his physical infirmity was healed; as soon as he realized that it was God who healed him.  Jesus just affirmed that fact and sent him off as a disciple (I say disciple because I am willing to bet this healed leper went out to tell people about this Jesus).

(4) I think Luke is going after the Jews of the time.  Of the ten lepers that were healed, a Samaritan (foreigner) come back to praise God and thank Jesus.  In Luke 10 it is a Samaritan that shows mercy to the beaten traveler.  In Luke 4 Jesus says that during Elisha’s time there were many people who had leprosy, but only Naaman, a foreigner, was healed.  I see this as Luke’s way of saying that God’s gift of faith is for ALL people – not just for a select few.

What are some of your ponderings?  What did YOU hear in this text? 

Common threads (Between 2 Kings 5 and Luke 17:11-19)
(1) Naaman and the 10 lepers were healed through a word and obedience.
(2) The gift of healing came to two people who "should not have been healed" – "foreigners".  God’s grace is for all.

These two texts give us a lot to think about.  But what ever you come away with, know this:  God’s grace is sufficient FOR YOU.  Have a joyous and blessed day.  Amen!

-edh-

Text study – 2 Kings 5:1-3 & 7-15c

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Wow…two weeks in a row that I am starting with the Old Testament text.  Hopefully this is something I will do more often.  After all, in the three year Revised Common Lectionary, the Old Testament text and the Gospel text often have a common thread running through them.  I am not sure what text the sermon will come from this week, but I will start here and continue with the Gospel text later this week.  With that…let’s spend some time with good ole Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5.

Naaman is a powerful and successful military commander for the king of Aram.  But Naaman had a little problem…he had leprosy…normally a death sentence (depending on the kind).  Obviously Naaman is not an outcast as we often see in the New Testament.  Naaman is still commanding his troops and is allowed to go and speak with his master.  Whatever the strain of leprosy that Naaman had, it was serious enough to go into enemy territory to seek healing.

After making the appropriate preparations, Naaman heads out to find this prophet, Elisha, who resides in Samaria.  Upon arriving at Elisha’s house, Naaman is greeted by one of Elisha’s servants who is carrying an important message, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."  Wow…this sounds like good news.  Jump in the river and all will be well.  But Naaman doesn’t see it that way.

Naaman is offended and angry and leaves in a huff.  "How dare he, Elisha, to not even come out and heal me himself."  But one of Naaman’s servants sets him straight and Naaman eventually does as he is commanded.  Naaman returns to Elisha to offer his appreciation and thanks for being healed.

What is at the root of Naaman’s problem early on?
(1)  He feels deserving.  After all, he ventured into enemy territory to seek this healing.  Granted, he came under the banner of peace, but nothing is guaranteed.  Naaman went hoping and expecting this man of God to do something incredible.  If he didn’t feel deserving, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble.

(2) He expects a "light show".  When Elisha does not come out, Naaman is angry.  He wanted (and expected) Elisha to come out and wave his hand, and do something impressive to conjure up a healing spirit (Naaman had no idea about this God of Elisha’s).  Once again, Naaman felt deserving and wanted to see Elisha "do his thing".

(3) He doesn’t trust the power of the promise.  When he is commanded to wash in the Jordan he is offended because the rivers back home are much cleaner and more appealing.  "Certainly those rivers would be better."  But it has nothing to do with the water.  Maybe there is a baptismal connection here.  I know of people how bring water back from the Jordan River to use in a family member’s baptism; thinking that the water is somehow more special or holy.  But it is not the water that does the work, but the promise with the water.  If the pastor decided to baptize a baby with Coke (though not advised) I believe God would still "do HIS thing".  It’s the promise.  Naaman missed this.

(4) (On the lighter side — Naaman is not Lutheran) — He does not believe in the Priesthood of all Believers.  Once again he is angry that a SERVANT came out to deliver this message of healing.  He felt Elisha should do it, after all ELISHA is the prophet.  The power of the promise and the Good News does not come from us…it comes from God.  Elisha did not heal Naaman, God did.  Something Naaman figures out after he is healed.

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So…what are some possible preaching/teaching points:
(1) Connection with baptism.  The power of the promise is in the Word that comes from God.  It is not who does it or what is used or how it is done — it is the promise – the Good News.  God can not be limited.

(2) If a servant can carry a "healing message" then you can too.  God has a healing message for all His children and we are the servants who are to deliver it.  We have the power and authority to do so through Jesus Christ — the priesthood of all believers.

(3) The gift of healing is free.  Following this text, Naaman tries to offer Elisha some gifts, but Elisha does not accept.  The message of Good News, through Jesus Christ is offered to ALL people.  This is AMAZING GRACE "…how sweet the sound…".

(4) A healing service would be very fitting this Sunday (as it would anytime).  Anointing with oil and praying with people for healing in anyway God sees that the person needs.  For healing comes in a variety of ways.

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Stay tuned for thoughts on the Gospel text coming up later this week.  In the mean time (and in all times), seek the Lord and know the healing power of the Good News — Jesus Christ has risen that we may have New Life.  Amen!

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 10-07-07

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

The prayer this morning is based on the Old Testament text for today (19th Sunday after Pentecost) from Habakkuk.  It is also the text I am preaching on this morning. 

Reading through the entire book of Habakkuk (all 3 chapters) I discovered a richness of faith that was inspiring and encouraging.  Habakkuk lived in a time where the people had turned away from God and it seemed that God had turned His eyes from the depravity.  I look around in the world today and see all kinds of "crap" as well and sometimes wonder why God doesn’t just end it all and take home his faithful (placing my trust in Jesus and hoping that I am among the faithful).  But "hearing" God’s response to Habakkuk, I am reminded that God is up to something special in the world.  I need to be patient and trust in God’s faithfulness.  God has not let me down and God never will.

Let us pray…
Gracious God…we look all around us and see nothing but "Violence!"  We cry out to you to take control and "fix" our ailing world.  We wonder why fighting, conflict and chaos still exist.  We ponder, to no avail, why sin, evil and Satan are still having their days.  In the words of Habakkuk we cry, "O Lord how long shall we cry for help, and you will not listen?"  But you have not abandoned us to this world.  Rather you are doing something special in this world that we cannot comprehend.  Through Jesus Christ you are reconciling this creation to yourself.  Thank you God for hearing us and loving us.  Thank you God for showing us mercy and forgiveness.  O God, we give you thanks through Jesus Christ your dear Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever, Amen!

Remember that God is faithful…always and forever.  Look around and be reminded of that faithfulness through creation.  Praise God and Amen!

-edh-

Box elder bugs

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

I just want to go on record by saying:  I REALLY, REALLY DISLIKE BOX ELDER BUGS (I would use the word "hate", but that is such a strong word…O.K….I HATE BOX ELDER BUGS!)!

Whenever I walk outside I can just hear them: "Look a free taxi ride.  Quick…jump on he will never know it".  Then I get inside and lo and behold, there they are…flying around in my house or office.

We also have Asian Beatles that attack town when the farmers start harvesting the soy beans in the fall.  I had the house and church sprayed, but they are still thick, flying around outside and dive bombing me.

Stupid bugs!

O.K….I am done ranting.

Have a nice day 🙂

-edh-

Text study – Habakkuk

/ The Pastor / 7 Comments

I have decided that I shouldn’t be prejudiced against the Old Testament.

Actually…I am not really prejudiced against the Old Testament, I just don’t preach on it all that often.
You pastors/preachers out there…how often do you preach on the Old Testament? 

Looking through the scripture I have preached on over the last 3+ years I have been here (yes…I actually keep track of all the texts I preach on) I figured that I preach on the Old Testament about 12.1% of the time.  I preach on the Gospel text about 68% of the time.  I have only preached on the Old Testament text three times this year so far.  Maybe this week Habakkuk will make an appearance as the preaching text.  Perhaps…

Anyway…I thought I would jot down some thoughts about the Habakkuk text assigned this week by the "almighty" lectionary.  It’s a book we don’t open too often and I am willing to bet, a book that many people have not heard of or are not familiar with at all.  So here it goes.

Habakkuk was a prophet in the nation of Judah around the year 607 b.c.  The people were a wicked and perverse people.  They had long forgotten the God who brought them out of Egypt; lead them to the Promised Land; gave them years of prosperity and blessed them with His presence.  Now they were doing what pleased them and them alone.  Habakkuk, seeing the depravity around him, calls out to God wondering how long God is going to let this perversion last – "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?" (1:2)  Habakkuk has had it up to here (picture my hand at my forehead).

[Now this is where I need to interject something.  The lectionary assigns 1:1-4 and 2:1-4 and that is it.  But if that is all you read, you miss a lot.  Habakkuk is a short book — 3 chapters — so read the whole thing.  The ending is beautiful.  I am not sure what I will do on Sunday, but context needs to be set up.]

Now back to our program…

In verses 5-11 of chapter 1, God responds to Habakkuk by telling him that He is well aware of the perversion and is preparing something big — the Babylonians are going to come in and kick some butt and haul the people off into exile.  Well…this doesn’t sit well with Habakkuk because the Babylonians are even more perverse than the people of Judah.  Why would God even turn His eyes in the direction of the Babylonians? 

God once again responds (chapter 2).  God understands the sins of the Babylonians and they will certainly not escape judgment, but the people of Judah are guilty of greater sins.  God then goes into a diatribe of a series of "Woes" after a great verse (4) where God says, "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous will live by his faith…"

Habakkuk follows this up with one of scripture’s most beautiful psalms and the verse (19), "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer. he enables me to go on the heights."  Habakkuk’s faith shines through even though he does not fully understand what God is doing.

The Gospel text (Luke 17:5-10) speaks of faith to move a mullberry tree.  Here we see an example of faith in the midst of trials.  We struggle with understanding why God does the things God does (or does not do).  We wrestle with what God’s will is.  We pace across the floor of our faith and wonder how long we can last.  But God calls us to be patient and in due time our reward will be here.  We don’t understand God (that’s not our job)…all we need to do is trust God; trust that since God is indeed Almighty, that God has everything under control – Remembering: "The Sovereign Lord is my (our) strength; he makes my (our) feet like the feet of a deer. he enables me (us) to go on the heights."

Hmmm…I think I am liking this book more and more.

Peace be with you and Amen!

-edh-

Text study – Luke 17:5-10

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

The 19th Sunday after Pentecost brings with it the scripture texts from:  Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 37:1-9; 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and Luke 17:5-10.  I am not sure what text I will be preaching on but a number of questions and thoughts came to mind this morning in reading (and discussing) Luke 17 at text study.  I am sure others will pop up during the week but for now this is what I am pondering.  Please leave a comment and let me (and everyone else who stops) know what you are pondering in relation to Luke 17 or the others listed above.

First let’s read the text from Luke 17:5-10:
"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’" "  (Citation: Luke 17:5-10; NRSV)

(1) "Increase our faith" — This is a curious request by the disciples.  Right before this request Jesus is talking about forgiveness.  Jesus says, "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent’, forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4)  I wonder if the disciples were thinking, "Forgive him?  I don’t know if I can do that.  Hey Jesus…help us out and increase our faith".  I mean…an increase in faith would definitely help in forgiving a person who sins against you seven times in ONE DAY.  Right? 

I wonder though…do we really want Jesus to "increase our faith"?  On the Crossmarks Christian Resources website, Brian Stoffregen comments on this request from the disciples (page to the bottom of the page).  What would happen if Jesus were to "increase our faith"? We would be more dutiful servants; more dutiful in attending worship; more generous in giving, etc.  Do we really want that?  Do we really want our lives to change that drastically?  Its an intriguing thought.

(2) Jesus response to the disciple’s request.  Jesus said that if they had the faith the size of a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds) then they could uproot a mulberry tree (a tree with strong roots and nearly impossible to uproot) and toss it out in the sea.  So I am wondering:  If we had even a little faith, does that mean we could easily forgive our neighbor if they sin against us seven times in a day?  Does this indicate that our faith is not big enough; that our only hope is to rely on the grace of God in Jesus Christ?  Maybe if we had faith the size of a mustard seed we would not need to rely on Jesus – we would be able to handle the requirements of the Law on our own.  Hmmm…any thoughts on this?

(3) So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’"  The question that was asked this morning is this — What do we really expect for being faithful to Christ?  This got me thinking:  Are there people around us (maybe even ourselves) that serve Christ expecting a reward of some sort?  This would imply that discipleship is a choice of some sort and if you choose to "do it" then a reward will be given to you (eternal life, maybe a corner room in God’s mansion, or a life time membership at the Holy Heaven Links and Country Club).  But Jesus says, "Do what you are commanded to do. You are unworthy, but guess what, that’s fine because I have done the hard work for you already.  I have died and risen from the grave so you can have eternal life.  Now…go out there and "Just do it".

Maybe it is not a matter of wishing we had more faith but just doing what we have been commanded to do; living in the knowledge that nothing we do will ever be good enough to merit salvation.  But that is fine because we live with a God of grace.  Our faith does not need to increase to the size of a mustard seed because we have Jesus.  We will slip and fall.  We will make mistakes.  We will hold grudges.  And we will turn away from Christ.  But in the end…God still loves us and offers us forgiveness.  God’s grace is indeed sufficient for us.

So…maybe the phrase for the day is:  Just do it and place your hope in Jesus.  Hmmm…

Those are just my initial ponderings.  What are yours?

-edh-

Bible Sunday

/ The Pastor / 5 Comments

Bible Sunday went great yesterday (Sunday, Sept. 30).

For those who are wondering "Bible Sunday?"; yesterday Salem Lutheran Church presented Bibles to two 3rd graders.  Along with that presentation, pew Bibles were presented, dedicated and used for the first time at Salem.  It was a Sunday I was looking forward to for the last couple years.  I get excited about young people getting a new Bible (and for some their first).  These 3rd graders, for the past few weeks, had been bugging me and asking me when they were getting their Bibles.  One could tell they were excited and this made me even more happy and excited.  When the moment came to give the parents the Bibles to present to their children, my heart was racing.  It was a powerful moment for me (and hopefully for the families and children involved).  And for one family, especially, I knew this was very important.  The dad had a chance to go to the Vikings/Packers game to watch history in the making (Brett Favre breaking the touchdown record), but instead decided that her daughter receiving her Bible was more important.  Way to go dad!

Following the presentation I asked the parents to sit down but I kept my two 3rd graders up front with me.  Now was the time to reverse roles.  Salem Lutheran Church presented Bibles to these two 3rd graders now in turn these 3rd graders unveiled and handed out the new pew Bibles to the congregation.  Some knew what was coming, but others were totally surprised and seemed pleased (judging from their reaction).  As the kids handed out the Bibles I explained how worship would work now with these Bibles but people were more interested in checking them out.  Which was fine.

After the Bibles were handed out I told the congregation to make sure everyone was touching a Bible so we could offer up a prayer and dedicate these Bibles to the glory of God to be used in worship.  After the prayer we continued with the worship service by reading reading of scripture.  Even though we had forgotten to include page numbers in the bulletin most people still used the new Bibles for the scripture reading (we had included the "Celebrate" inserts in the bulletin).

Following the service I got a few comments from people indicating that they thought this was a great idea.  Over all people seemed very pleased with our new Bibles.

My hope and prayer now is that people will get more excited about scripture.  Maybe people, when they come to worship early, will spend time finding the texts for the day and start reading the text around it.  Maybe, just maybe, they will see, hear and experience something they hadn’t before.  Maybe, just maybe, they will go home and get their Bibles out and finishing reading the chapter/book we started in worship.  Maybe, just maybe this will be a spring board for families to engage in family devotions (each week we will be including the daily lectionary readings in the bulletin leading up to next Sunday’s texts).

Over all, Bible Sunday was a good day for me and hopefully for everyone else.  Of course time will tell what the reaction will be but when scripture is involved, how can it be anything but positive.  After all, we are reading the greatest love letter of all time. 

Let’s make every day "Bible Sunday". 
-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 9/30/07

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Today (Sept. 30) is Bible Sunday at Salem and Belmont Lutheran Churches.  We are presenting Bibles to two 3rd graders at Salem and one 3rd grader at Belmont.  In addition to these presentations we are presenting and dedicating new pew Bibles at Salem.  I have been looking forward to this day for some time now.  Hopefully people will receive them joyfully but I am sure there will be some reservations at first – we will see.  I will write more about this presentation later. 

In the mean time let us join together in a word of prayer.  I wrote this prayer with the Gospel text from Luke 16:19-31 in mind.  I also make reference to "the great divide".  That reference is from a song by one of my favorite contemporary Christian groups, Point of Grace.  The song is called, "The Great Divide".

Let us pray…
Loving, forgiving, healing and merciful God…through the cross of Jesus Christ you carry us from this life to the next.  You created a "bridge" that spans the "great divide"; destroying the power of sin, death and the devil.  You love the "unlovable"; you forgive the greatest of sins; you heal all hurts; and you show mercy though we do not deserve it.  Though we create "chasms" that separate us from the fullness of communion with you; continue to: open our hearts to experience love through the proclamation of forgiveness; heal our hurts and show us mercy.  And through this proclamation may we see that "bridge" that crosses the "great divide" – the love of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom we pray.  Amen.

God bless your day and guide your comings and goings.

-edh-

Blog roll update

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

I have added a couple new blogs, recently, to my blog roll that I want to highlight for you:

(1) Freedom is a blog by Joseph McGarry. He is a student at LTSP (Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia).  Joseph has good theological postings plus a couple links related to a weight loss program he is on.  I find that intriguing.

(2) Christ In My Life is a blog by John Ganger from southern Minnesota.  When you stop by to visit John make sure you check out his video post from Sept. 26 ("Baby Got Book").  I don’t laugh out loud too often when I read blogs, but with that post I did.  John also has a bunch of other good theological writings and personal insights.

One of the things that helps draw traffic to Christian websites is linking to them and highlighting them for others to see.  There is a lot of crap out there so it is nice to highlight the "good" stuff and try to have an overwhelming positive influence out there in the blogosphere.

God bless and have a wonderful weekend.

-edh-

Text study – Psalm 146

/ The Pastor

Psalm 146 is the Psalm assigned for this Sunday (18th Sunday after Pentecost).  It is a Psalm praising God for being in control.  And I for one am glad GOD is in control because as we all know things hardly ever go as we plan.  The Psalms reads as follows:

Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
   I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help. (emphasis mine)
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
   on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God, (emphasis mine)
who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them;
   who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
   who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
   the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The LORD will reign forever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the LORD!
(Citation: Psalm 146, NIV)

Maybe you have hear this phrase: "We make plans and God laughs".  I think there is a lot of truth in that statement.  Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans in life?  No way!  Making plans is fine…the troubles comes when we put our faith in such plans and them alone – when we put our faith in this world alone.

How many times have we made grand plans for something and have things "fall apart".  We stress and worry.  We fret and maybe blow up at someone.  We say something we regret and why?  All because OUR plans did not work out.  We get angry because we have lost control.

But then…in the end…everything works out…and sometimes for the better…and…in a way you never thought possible. 

GOD is in control!

In those moments I think back and hear a chuckle coming from God’s direction.  "If only they knew.  If only they would trust me".

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.

But…

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God…

There is a great song by contemporary Christian artist, Twila Paris, and currently re-recorded by Avalon titled, God is in Control.  I more than really enjoy that song but I love that title.  God IS in control.  And when our trust is put in God, then we can rejoice in no matter how our best laid plans work out.  Because when God is involved, then it HAS to be great, awesome and perfect.  And I for one am all for that.

So go ahead…make plans…prepare for the future.  But remember…GOD is in control!

Praise the Lord!

-edh-