Theology

Smart knowledge and wisdom

/ The Pastor
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2     turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3     and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4     and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5     then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6     For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7     He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8     for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
[Proverbs 2:1-8]
Technology has made it possible to access knowledge, facts, trivia and data in the blink of an eye.  Simply ask Siri (iPhone) or go to Google and they will tell you what you need to know.  If my wife and I are out and about and we come up against a question we don’t have an answer for my wife says to me, “quick, poke your phone“; like I am the keeper of all knowledge and information. Sometimes I get a big head about this until I realize that I am really not that smart…just my phone is.
But even though I may not be the keeper of all knowledge and information I do have access to it.  No…not my trustworthy smart phone but rather scripture (which I happen to have on my smart phone).  Anyway….the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Granted…the Bible is not going to tell me how much the world weighs or how much plankton a whale eats (like I really need to know that), but the Bible will tell me what I truly need to know:
The Bible tells me I am a sinner and how God has redeemed me through Jesus.
The Bible tells me how I am forgiven when I confess my sins.
The Bible tells me how I am to treat others.
The Bible tells me that I can have hope in the midst of trials.
The Bible tells me…
If we are not seeking God for information and wisdom we are missing the boat.  Knowledge and wisdom gained through this world is fleeting but that which comes from God is eternal.  That’s why I love going through the Proverbs often.  There is so much in there that is very practical; advice that is timeless.  One would think that some wise sage from this time and place wrote them., but that is not the case.  This is wisdom that comes from God.
“Poke your phone” if you need some information but go to God for true wisdom and knowledge.  Be fed through scripture and prayer.  Be nourished by the Gospel.  Find life through Jesus.
Seek the Lord and live!
edh -|—

Life through the cross

/ The Pastor / 13 Comments

Life through the cross

This is the wind break wall on the ramp leading to the sanctuary at Salem Lutheran Church.  You will notice that a robin has built a nest on right cross arm.  When my wife noticed this she said to me, “There’s got to be a sermon illustration in there somewhere.”  I think she may be right.  My first thought was “Life through the cross“. Corny…maybe…but leave it to a pastor to do theology with a picture like this.  I guess one could say that I am a theologian of the cross 🙂

So…

What would you call this picture?

What scripture comes to mind when you see this?

-edh-

2012 – The end of the world?

/ The Pastor / 8 Comments

If you spend any amount of time watching TV you have probably seen an advertisement or two about a new movie coming out called 2012.  It ‘s a movie about the end of the world that the Mayan calendar predicts.  These 2012; end of the world beliefs are starting to become very widespread in our culture and as Christians we need to be informed about what this is all about and how, as Christians, we are to respond to this.  Recently I listened to a podcast about this topic at a website called Breaking Unbelief at:  http://www.breakingunbelief.org.  The podcast is called What is the hype about 2012 and the end of the world.  I found it very informative and interesting.  It is about 30 minutes long.  One of the guys asking the questions in this podcast is Tim Chaffey (a college friend of my wife’s).  He spoke at Salem this past Sunday about God and suffering.  It was a great talk.  He is also a writer/contributor for the website Midwest Apologetics.  I haven’t thoroughly gone through this site yet, but I know Tim to be a very passionate and intelligent person.  I think he is worth a look.

The reason I am mentioning all of this is that the Gospel text for this Sunday from Mark 13:1-8 got me thinking.  I am not exactly sure how or if I will incorporate any of this on Sunday…but it still has me thinking.  Whether I include this 2012 stuff in the sermon or not I plan to do some more research so I can be better informed about this; so I can address this issue when it comes up with people.

Personally, as a Christian, the end of the world is not a scary thing.  Whether it happens on Dec. 21, 2012 or not should not be an issue.  But the more important thing to consider is that the Bible does not support such a belief (meaning an exact date…see Mark 13:32-37).  Maybe the Mayans were good with calendars and time, but predicting the future?  The Bible has about 500 some prophesies that have come true, but the most important future predictions that the Bible makes is that: (1) Jesus will come again, (2) there will be a resurrection, and (3) a final judgment.  The Bible talks about this and Jesus says “Stay Awake!”  As Christians we have an amazing opportunity here, but we need to be prepared and informed.

So with that…what resources, websites, etc have you found helpful in speaking about this 2012; end of the world belief that is out there?

I am going to continue my reading and will share insights as they come.

Praise be to God!

-edh-

A decision

/ The Pastor / 8 Comments

I have made a decision today.  Part of me thinks it is an impulsive decision without a lot of thought of what I am getting myself into.  Another part of me wonders if I can actually do it, but when I think about that I am reminded of my bold goal last year of running a marathon (which I completed).  But another part of me wonders if I am smart enough to comprehend what I am going to read.  And another part of me wonders if this will be worth my time.

So…with all my parts at odds with one another…I am going to do it…

Do what you may ask?  I have decided that it is time to tackle some more challenging reading; something I regrettably haven’t done since seminary (5 years ago).  Some may not think this will be challenging but what I am going to start reading is “Christian Dogmatics, vol. 2” edited by Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson.  Some of the topics covered in this volume are intriguing to me: The Work of Christ; The Holy Spirit; The Church; The Means of Grace; Christian Life; and Eschatology.  Basically it is nearly 600 pages of theology…WHEW!  My brain is starting to hurt already.

I am telling you this because I am hoping that people will help me and hold me accountable.  I don’t expect to finish this book next week or next month (or next year for the matter) but I do expect to finish the book…in a somewhat timely fashion.  Hopefully along the way I can post some thoughts from my reading for all of you to enjoy.

So with that being said I am diving in…first up…The Work of Christ.

-edh-