Author: The Pastor

Text study – Luke 16:19-31

/ The Pastor / 12 Comments

It has been way too long since I wrote a "text study" post.  It is not because I have not been doing text study each week it’s because…well…I don’t know why.  Oh well…I guess I won’t try to explain.

The Gospel text for this coming Sunday (18th Sunday after Pentecost) is from Luke 16:19-31.  Here Jesus tells the story (parable) of a rich man and Lazarus (not to be confused with the Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead in the Gospel of John).  Actually the name "Lazarus" means "Helped by God".  Maybe this is something that helps…I don’t know.  In any case, there is a rich man (Notice:  The rich man here and in other parables of Jesus are not given names, but the poor are given names.  I wonder if this is significant) and Lazarus (a poor man).  The rich man treats Lazarus with contempt during their lives and refuses to show any kind of mercy and love.  Upon their deaths, Lazarus is "…carried away by the angels to be with Abraham." (Luke 16:22) and the rich man was buried and ends up in Hades. 

The rich man sees his predicament and Lazarus across the way with Abraham on the other side of a great chasm.  All of a sudden roles are reversed as Abraham points out verse 25 in response to the rich man’s plea for mercy.  After Abraham points out the great chasm the rich man then pleads for his brothers to be warned.  Abraham indicates that they have Moses and the prophets but the rich man pleads for Lazarus to be sent to warn them.  Abraham then replies "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (Luke 16:31)

This story gives me a few things to ponder and I offer them to you:
(1) "Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed…" — What are the "great chasms" of today?  What separates people from the Kingdom?  a) Despair over sins/past life that people feel can not be forgiven; b) Pride — notice how the rich man continues to look down on Lazarus expecting Lazarus to serve him. Being corrupted by wealth; c) Unbelief — People simply do not believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior; d) Intellectual faith — People try to rationalize and reason their way to heaven, but get tripped up.

What are your thoughts on this "great chasm"?

(2) Throughout the Gospel of Luke, money and wealth is a very popular topic for Jesus.  Maybe this needs to be addressed.  During text study this morning, someone asked the question "How do you minister to the wealthy" and then answered by saying, "Give them opportunities to give/serve".  Obviously the rich man in this story knew Lazarus; he had to step over him almost daily.  The rich man had many chances to give and show mercy but did not.  How many chances have we missed — because after all, we are among the wealthy?

(3) The name Lazarus means "Helped by God".  Is that significant?  Jesus could have used any name or not even used a name for the poor man.

Now if we go back to the other texts for Sunday – Amos 6:1a, 4-7 & 1 Timothy 6:6-19 – we get more talk about the misuse of wealth.  The 1 timothy text has the popular verse (10) that says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…"  Paul does not condemn the rich; saying that wealth is "bad", but rather the misuse of it gets people in trouble.  He warns the rich not to fall into temptation; thinking their wealth will save them (just ask the rich man in Luke 16).  Amos also goes after "those who are at ease" (Amos 6:1)

There is plenty of food for thought in our texts for Sunday.  Does any one have any other thoughts to throw into the mix? (Not that I need to be confused even more – but I guess that doesn’t take much)

Update
This Sunday is "Bible Sunday" at Salem and Belmont Lutheran Churches.  Third graders will be presented their Bible along with the Salem congregation receiving their pew Bibles (but don’t tell Salem for I have told them that the pew Bibles are a "surprise" — which I probably totally ruined by typing this 🙂  Oh well… if people have read the council minutes, they know this is coming.

Anyway…thanks for "listening".  Take care and God bless!

-edh-

Cell phone vs. Bible

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

I got this as an email forward from the church secretary here at Salem.  I normally don’t send forwards but considering Salem is celebrating "Bible Sunday" next Sunday I thought this was appropriate.  I think I will include this in the bulletin on Sunday as well. 

CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE
I wonder what would happen
if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell
phones? What if we carried it around in our
purses or pockets? What if we flipped through
it several times a day? What if we turned back
to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used
it to receive messages from the text? What if
we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
What if we gave them to kids as gifts? What if
we used it when we traveled? What if we used it
in case of emergency? This is something to make
you go….hmm…where is my Bible? Oh, and one
more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t
have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected, because Jesus already paid the
bill. Makes you stop and think, ‘Where are my
priorities?" And…no dropped calls!
(Source unknown)

I hope you enjoyed that.  Take care and God bless!

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer — 9/23/07

/ The Pastor

Good morning (or good afternoon/evening — depending on when you are reading this) — before we pray together allow me to give you a short explanation.  In my sermon this morning I am using a story I found about St. Francis of Assisi (before he was a saint).  You can read the full story on my sermons blog when I post the sermon on Monday or Tuesday. 

Basically, Francis was traveling down a road, during a time he was struggling with a call from God, when he came a across a leper (someone deemed unlovable).  In a tremendous show of compassion (and love) he gets off his horse and gives this person some "charity" and kisses him.  The "unlovable" are also children of God.  Let us pray…

Lord of heaven and earth, you lead us down a road that is winding and difficult.  It’s a path where we encounter people that scare us; for they exist outside our comfort zones.  But then we see you stop.  You love them and tell us its O.K….these are also children of God.  Grant us courage and strength, O God, to continue on this path; loving those who have been called unlovable.  Give us understanding to see that there is more to this life than earthly pursuits of wealth and pleasure; and gently nudge us in the right direction when we stray.  O God, Lord of heaven and earth, we give you thanks for saving us through the cross.  Strengthen us in that love so we can live for others…through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

God bless your day in hope and love.  Take care.

-edh-

Never walking alone

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

Two weeks ago my wife, Connie (who also serves as Salem’s parish nurse) began a program called "Walking and the Word".  At 6:30am on Wednesday mornings you meet at the church (with Connie) and go for a 1/2 hour walk.  Upon your return you head to the church fellowship hall for b-fast (coffee, juice and something healthy to eat) and devotions with me — hence "Walking and the Word".  After three weeks we have 3 faithful walkers.  But whether anyone shows up or not, Connie and I will be there — exercising, enjoying breakfast and devotions.

Today, Connie was out of town for a meeting so that meant I was in charge of everything — including the walking — which was (and is) fine.  I got up at 5:30am and got b-fast ready and the coffee maker set.  At 6am I went outside to prepare for a short run before the walkers arrived.  As I was stretching out a Suburban pulled into the parking lot.  It was W.  W is a sweet man.  He always spoils Connie and I at Christmas with a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant.  This morning W got out of his vehicle and said, "No one should walk alone or walk alone in life.  So I will walk with you."  I couldn’t help but smile.  I explained to him the walkers arrive in a 1/2 hour and that I was going for a run before we walk.  I invited him to come back at 6:30 but he said he is not much of a walker…he just didn’t want me to walk alone.  We chatted for a while and then he left to have coffee with the guys.

What a great thing to say, "No one should ever walk alone".  How true…how true.  No one should EVER walk alone and no one does when it come to Christ.  But here on this earth many people still "walk alone".  They grieve alone, deal with problems alone, celebrate alone, cry alone. 

"No one should ever walk alone"

Most if not all of us know people who "walk alone".  We know people who feel isolated because of choice or because of life circumstances.  They may feel lost and don’t know what to do.  But whether it is a choice or life circumstance…

…"No one should ever walk alone"…

…so go and "walk" with them.  Remind them that with Christ they never truly walk alone.  They never truly grieve alone or deal with problems alone or…you get the picture. 

"No one should ever walk alone" is a nice thing to say but an even better thing to put into practice. W does it literally and figuratively.  So pull a W…pull off the "road"…step outside your comfort zone…and "walk" or walk with someone.  Because…"No one should ever walk alone".  Thanks W…and…happy "walking" to all.

-edh-

Question: School referendum

/ The Pastor / 11 Comments

I am seeking your help and advise on something.  I have always struggled with a pastor’s place when it comes to supporting referendums.  Living in a parsonage, I am not directly effected by tax increases since pastor’s do not pay property taxes if they live in a parsonage.  So here’s my question (with an explanation first):

Coming up in November the school district I live in (Jackson County Central — JCC) will be asking the community for an increase in school funding.  The referendum would increase the current per pupil funding from $50 to $1000.  Jackson County Central school district is currently the lowest funded school district around (if not in the state).  Last year the referendum failed.  A number of teachers were cut along with a couple programs (of course sports were barely touched at all, but don’t get me going on that).  Classes sizes are increasing and if this referendum fails again, JCC is in a lot of trouble.  I fear for the future.

Schools are extremely important for any community and I definitely support our schools, but (and here’s my question) how do pastor’s speak about something like this when we don’t have to pay for it.  On Sunday I was given a button that says, "Vote Yes for Education" and asked if they could count on my vote.  I said "Yes" because schools are important but part of me feels…<and I am not sure how to word this…maybe you know>.  Should I wear a button like that and visually support this?  It sounds like a strange question but it is something I struggle internally with.

Then again, maybe this does effect me.  If our school receives less funding then that will mean more teachers will be cut.  Classes sizes will then increase.  Maybe with all of that that will cause people to leave the community for a better school district and that right there would effect the church.  Does that make sense?

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?  I am curious what your experiences have been with things like this.  This is definitely a fine line that needs to be walked.  Thanks for "listening".

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 9/16/07

/ The Pastor / 5 Comments

This prayer is an attempt to get a little creative today.  I have tried my hand at poetry a couple times but I am sure they haven’t been anything worthy of wide spread attention.  So here it goes; knowing that I probably violated a number of poetry "rules".  Let us pray…

Loving, gracious and forgiving God…
we bask in your glow as you love us so;
and wonder why you died so long ago.

But you didn’t stay dead; for you rose from your bed;
destroying Satan’s strong grip as from your life we now sip.
But we still run and hide and we still scoff and chide.
We turn and run from you; we search for life anew.

But we fail and fail and we see our efforts are to no avail.

So I thank you Lord Jesus for not turning from us;
for seeking and searching without putting up a fuss.
So as you carry us home to see life everlasting,
may I always in your love be forever basking.
Amen!

May the love of God shine so brightly on your day that the darkness of the world seems as a distant memory.  God bless and take care.
-edh-

The joy of September

/ The Pastor / 11 Comments

Well…the joy of September is here.  As always, the second Wednesday of the month from September through May is always the busiest for me.  Thankfully I did a ton of prep work yesterday so I am ready to go.  At 12noon we have our ministerial meeting.  I am beginning my second term as president and third term as treasurer and second term as secretary.  Basically I am the "king" of the Jackson County ministerial.  Scary I know, but no one else will do it…so I am it.  The other part of the reason I continue serving the ministerial in this capacity is because the other pastors have told me that the community now knows who the contact person is and it is easier to keep the same person instead of changing every year.  As long as they want me to serve in this way I will continue and if someone else steps forward I will gladly turn over the reigns.  Until then I wonder if I should have people call me, "Your Majesty" 🙂

Anyway…allow me to continue if you are done laughing at me…at 2pm Release Time begins.  On Wednesdays the schools "release" the 3rd through 5th graders (who have registered) to go to their respective churches for an hour of Bible class.  This year I have 3 third graders and 2 fourth graders (these two kids are not from Salem).  It should be a lot of fun.

Starting in 2 weeks (but not today) I will have confirmation at 3:30pm until 4:30.  So I will have a 1/2 hour break between Release Time and confirmation.  Today at 6:30 I have an Endowment committee meeting and then at 7pm the Deacons meet with the church council meeting at 7:30pm.  I should be ready plop down on my couch at around 9:30pm (if all goes well).

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER, ERIC!!!

A request
On Sept. 30 Salem is planning on giving our 3rd graders Bibles.  This has been a tradition for us for some time now (as it is for many congregations I know).  We haven’t done this for three years because we haven’t had any 3rd graders for a while.  Also on that day I am planning on introducing the congregation to the new pew Bible we have purchased.  This will be a big change for people; moving from a printed insert to a Bible.  Ooooh…this may cause some controversy…I will keep you updated on this.

Anyway…my request is this:  Do you have a Bible Sunday for your 3rd graders?  And if so, what do you do?  How to you present the Bibles?  What Bibles do you give?  Do you have an inscription inside the Bible? etc.  I am looking for ideas here to help make this a memorable day for our kids.  Also…one thing I am thinking about is after we present the Bibles to the 3rd graders I will ask the 3rd graders in turn to present the pew Bibles to the congregation.  I thought this would be a neat experience for everyone.  What do you think?  Any ideas for me?

Thank you for "listening" and stopping by.  May the joy of the Lord kick you in the butt today to be a light to someone who sees only darkness.  Take care and God bless.
-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 9/9/07

/ The Pastor / 5 Comments

The Gospel text for this Sunday (15th Sunday after Pentecost) is from Luke 14:25-33.  Jesus is teaching the people about the cost of discipleship.  This is something I have been thinking a lot about recently and it is the very thing I will be preaching on today (the sermon will be posted tomorrow at my sermons blog — see the "sermons" link on the left).  In the mean time, let’s join in a word of prayer as we contemplate the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Loving and merciful God, you call us to follow you; to be your disciples; to love all people through loving you more than this world.  But we struggle with that.  We like this life, our friends and family, and our stuff, so much so, that we often turn our backs on others and therefore we turn our backs on you.  Please forgive us.  Teach us to love as you love.  Teach us to serve as you serve.  Teach us to show humility and hospitality as you do.  Dear God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you love us so much that you endured the cross that we may live.  Help us to show that love to others so a new person may arise knowing they are loved and valued.  Thank you for loving us the way you do.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

May the joy, love and peace of Jesus Christ fill your hearts to over flowing, so much so, that people will point and say, "I want what they are having".  Peace be with you!
-edh-

Tid bits from a busy September week

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

September is here
It seems like an eternity since I have been around.  Actually it has only been Tuesday since my last post, but I usually don’t go that long.  I think what happened is that September snuck up on me.  Does anyone else feel that way?  I mean…I remember looking at my September calendar back in August and thinking, "Wow…this September doesn’t look as bad as past years."  I guess I brought it upon myself.  Why couldn’t I keep my big mouth shut?  Now I look at my September calendar and think, "Now that is more like it."  But, in all seriousness, I would have been worried if it were not busy in September…so I guess I should say, "Thanks God?" 😐

Scary envelop
I went to get the mail on Friday and a certain envelop got my heart beating a little faster than normal.  The return address said, "Court Administrator".  I remember thinking, "Oh crap!…what did I do."  Then I really got nervous thinking maybe I was being summoned for jury duty.  So I hesitantly opened the envelop and held the single piece on paper in my hands.  I almost didn’t want to open it.  Eventually I did and found out that somehow, someway I got put on the Jackson County Domestic Violence Awareness Council.  The first meeting is coming up on Sept. 10.  The letter was signed by the judge of the district court here in Jackson.  I guess maybe I should go.  At least it is not a parking ticket or jury duty.

Ray
This past Sunday I asked you to pray for Ray and his family.  Ray suffered a stroke two weeks ago this Sunday.  On Tuesday Sept. 4 Ray died.  Without a feeding tube I expected Ray to hang on a lot longer than 5 days, but I guess Ray was ready to go and God was ready to receive him.  Ray was 89 years old and had lived a long, fruitful, fulfilling and busy life.  When I read his obituary last night I was blown away by how much Ray was involved in the community and the church.  The years I knew Ray his health had declined to such a place where he could not really communicate with me.  I have learned more about Ray this past week than I have in the three years I knew him.  I am going to miss Ray.
P.S.  The Celebration of New Life service (funeral) is today, Saturday, Sept. 8 at 1pm.

LaMar
On Tuesday of this week I wrote a post titled Kicked in the butt by God where I told the story of a man name LaMar.  Well…LaMar called me yesterday.  He told me that he contacted the Catholic church in town, where he left his dead car, and told them he was coming to get it fix today.  LaMar was then told by the church secretary that his car had already been towed.  He was blown away.  Now…I am not exactly sure what happened.  LaMar claims he had something worked out with the church and the police, but apparently there has been some miscommunication.  If it is not one thing it is another.  I feel for LaMar.  I hope he figures something out.  And I hope that if God needs me to help in someway that I will respond.

Scripture
The scripture verse I have taped to my computer is this: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.  Discipline yourselves, keep alert.  Like a roaring lion your adversary, the devil, prowls around, looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:6-9)

Somehow those verses seem fitting this week.  Take care and God bless.
-edh-

Kicked in the butt by God

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

I got kicked in the butt by God on Monday and let me tell you…God kicked me hard.

On Sunday I preached a sermon about humility and hospitality.  In my discussing of hospitality I mentioned that the definition of hospitality is "welcoming strangers".  If we are only welcoming people we know and/or like, we are not practicing hospitality.  When I said that…I saw a lot of eye brows raise in unison.  We were all being convicted at the same moment.  And it was quite a moment to experience.  Anyway, I encouraged people to be more welcoming to people we would normally not welcome whether it is a stranger off the street or a person that makes your blood boil.

Here comes the kick in the butt…

…On Monday evening my wife and I were grilling.  I was making some breaded chicken on the grill with green beans and broccoli all wrapped in aluminum foil.  The breading is my own creation and I was really looking forward to trying it.  I threw the food on the grill and went inside.  After about 5 minutes the door bell rang.  It was the tall African/American man, LaMar, that I (through the ministerial) gave a night of lodging to the night before.  He told me that his car was dead and could not find anyone (on Labor Day) to fix it.  He asked if he could get another night of lodging.  At this I was a little put out but tried not to show it.  I said "let’s got to my office" (we live right next door to the church).  I called the hotel in town and arranged for another night of lodging and sent him on his way…to walk up the steep hwy 71 hill to the hotel.  I then went back home to check on the food.

After checking the grill I sat outside on the bench with my wife.  Both of us were quiet and I just knew that she was thinking the exact same thing I was thinking…KICK–IN–THE–BUTT…I should have invited LaMar to stay for supper.  After all, that would have been the hospitable thing to do; to "welcome a stranger".  After Connie reminded me of my sermon on Sunday and after I nodded in agreement I drove up to the hotel.  I asked him if would join my wife and I for supper.  He decline because he was washing his shirt and didn’t have anything else to wear. I then offered to bring him something to eat.  He said that would be great.  I got home and cooked him a couple small steaks that I had, some grilled green beans and broccoli, homemade apple pie and some ice cream.

I brought LaMar his food and went home feeling a little better but still felt like a pile of you know what.  I preached a sermon on hospitality and I failed to practice what I preached.  I am not sure if I redeemed myself or not…it didn’t feel like.  But God did convicted me yesterday and rightly so and all I can say is "thank you God…I needed that".

Today (Tuesday) LaMar asked me to drive him 30 miles to Worthington so he could find a job.  On the way we got into a good theological discussion.  He said that he believes that only 20% of people believe in God.  Most of the 80% go to church but do not live it out.  I think LaMar is on to something.  Many Christians talk a "good game" but many more fail to deliver.  It is no wonder that there are people like LaMar out there with a bad view of Christians. 

Today, God taught me a painful lesson but one I will never forget.  We are called to action not just talk.  We are called to welcome "strangers" because that is the essence of the Gospel.  We are called to love all people, not just the ones we know and like.  We are called to leave out comfort zones; "to hate our life" (see Gospel text for this coming Sunday from Luke 15) and serve. 

Thank you God for the swift kick in the butt.  Please forgive me and strengthen my faith to be more obedient.  Please watch over LaMar and bless him.  He has had a hard life so help him find a job and if I am presented another opportunity to help…I will be there with your help.  God…you ARE faithful and you are awesome.  In Christ’s name I pray…Amen!
-edh-