The Lutheran Review

The Working of the Holy Spirit

 

Last week Pres. Mirly of the Mo Dist. Included the news in his weekly message to pastors that a candidate who needed a call in the St. Louis area was available.  He had a full time job at Boeing, but could work about 15 hours a week and preach once a month.

When these sorts of things come ones way we ought not to leave them slide by.  I contacted the elders and congregation President that I would like to meet with them after the service on Sunday (Pentecost) I had also contacted the District President.

The elders were wondering if I planned to go away.  No, I wasn’t but I thought we ought to explore this situation given my health and 72^nd birthday coming at the end of the week.

However, while drying off from my Sunday morning shower, it dawned on me (I think it was the Holy Spirit) that we could engage Chris our field worker for three months this summer to do some outreach into the community around the church.  Dr. Luom, at Concordia Seminary is also helpful in West African outreach.

Yesterday afternoon Chris called.  He had been in Dr. Luom’s office when the person heading the Mission Shift program in St. Louis was in Dr. Luom’s office.  He invited Chris to participate in the program.  Two members of the congregation could also be involved.  Mission Shift is an ecumenical program spearheaded by Concordia Seminary to equip the church for ministry in a world that is looking very different from the Germanic origins of the LCMS.  I invited him to attend the Church Council meeting and briefly give a report.  I had a sense that there was a convergence of opportunities in the Spirit.

When the treasurer gave his report, among the funds of the church was one from the Lutheran Foundation.  No one quite knew when the congregation had received this grant.  But I said that it would have been intended for some new ministry of the congregation.  It can’t used to fix the roof etc.  Charlie, didn’t know why but the amount in this fund came out printed larger than the rest.  After I got home, again, it dawned on me that this was not an accident; this was part of the convergence of the Holy Spirit acting.

I made my proposal to the Council, but had to leave before they made a decision.  I haven’t heard anything yet.

I’m not going to wait to find out what was decided. My hope is that the Church Council saw the Spirit’s work in all this too. 

Look around you.  How is the Spirit working in your midst?  Remember, the Spirit is like the wind and acts as it wills, not as will.  Be alert, because you never know.           

Emperor Constantine and His mother Helena

 

Constantine I was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337.  In 313, persecution of Christians was forbidden by the Edict of Milan.  He also called the Council of Nicea in 325 at which the first version of the Nicene Creed was written.

  Constantine reported that his conversion to Christ happened just prior to a battle that would give him sole possession of the emperor’s throne.  At about noon he and the soldiers with him saw a cross composed of light in the sun.  the words, “By this sign conquer” encircled the vision.  That night Christ appeared with the sign that he had seen in heaven.  Christ commanded him to construct a representation of the symbol and use it in battle.  He called together the Christian priests and asked them questions.  They explained to him how the prophets had predicted the coming of Christ.  The next day, October 28, 312, carrying the banner of the cross, he won the battle at  the Milvian Bridge which crossed the Tiber River north of Rome.

Helena

His mother Helena,( ca.255-329) influenced Constantine.  She had a great interest in locating the holy sites of the Christian faith..  This led her to become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the holy Land.   She initiated the building of churches on several of the site, such as Bethlehem, Calvary, Christ’s tomb etc.  These locations which she identified are still maintained as places of worship today.

Called to Be a Servant

I posted what turned out to be the introduction to the sermon on Friday.  The text is from the Old Testament reading for Year D.  For decades I loved the account of Moses call to be God's servant.

Pentecost 2013, Exodus 4:1-17

A Crumpled Colorful Cardboard Camel

A colorful cardboard camel was a center point for VBS in 2012. 

We stored it safe and dry in our shed all winter,

 because who can tell?

 Last Wednesday, Becky inquired, with VBS again in mind,

 into the well being of the colorful cardboard camel.

“It’s looking quite well, leaning against the wall,” said I.

I hauled it out from its yearlong repose.

We settled it into the back of the Honda Element.

“It will call attention to VBS,” Becky opined.

  But she left it in the car.

It was that day, Wednesday last, that on the way to Illinois,

 while crossing the Mississippi she tangled with two semis.

 Though now a crumpled colorful cardboard camel,

Its time of service was not complete.

The men who pulled Becky out of the back of the car

used the camel to protect her from glass

 and to slide her through the broken rear window.

Now the colorful cardboard camel,

lies crumpled in the crushed Element.

We never know how we might be used,

 to serve the needs of another.

Thanks to the men and thanks to the colorful cardboard camel.

And thanks to God and his Holy Angels

Pentecost, the Day of Fire

Today is Pentecost, the Day of Fire and the Spirit.  The day of which John the Baptizer predicted, “He who is coming… will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”  Today is the day when tongues as of fire burned on the heads of Jesus’ followers, but did not burn their heads.  They spoke in many tongues the Spirit- given-word.  “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 3,000 asked, “What shall we do?”   Peter instructed, “Repent, be baptized… in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The life of those who followed Jesus had been changed forever, in an instant, when they left off minding their own business and answered the call to be about the Lord’s business.  Now, in service to Him and with words powered by the Spirit, Christ used them to commute the sentence many from the penalty of death to freedom on the path of life.

We never know how we might be used to serve the needs of another.  Thanks to the Spirit and the men and women who were fired by the Spirit to speak God’s word of life.

While serving in Marshfield, Wisconsin, I had asked Dave, a tall, quiet, red haired young man, to serve on the church’s board of education.  Years later, I was in Collinsville when he called one evening.  He had a question of how they handled my temporary disability while I recovered from my first heart by-pass surgery.  They had a staff member who had a similar need.  At the end of our conversation, Dave said, “I want to thank you for asking me to serve on the Board of Education.”

Now we turn to another servant of the Lord.  His name isn’t Dave or Peter or John or Mary.  His name is Moses.

Moses, the Reluctant Servant

“Moses, Moses,” God called from the burning bush, which would not burn.  “Here I am,” said Moses.  “Come,” said the Lord, “I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”  But Moses was reluctant to go and by the time he offered his five excuses the fire of the Lord’s anger was kindled.  It’s not a good thing to set God’s ire afire.  And yet, like the tongues as of fire which did not burn the scalp of Jesus followers on Pentecost and the burning bush which did not burn when God called to Moses, the Lord’s anger did not set Moses ablaze.  The Lord dampered his burning anger and continued to act in grace toward Moses.  The grace was that the Lord who is forever changeless continued to adjust himself to the needs of his reluctant servant.

“Who am I, that I should go?  I’m a nobody,” Moses protests.  Let me ask you a question, “What is the name of our congregation?”  Yes, Immanuel.  And Immanuel means?  Yes, God with us.  That’s what God tells Moses, “I will be with you.”  Then God adds, “You will know that I have sent you when you bring the people of Israel back here to the mountain of God.”  Wait a minute.  Moses has to gather hundreds of thousands of slaves and convince them to leave Egypt for the freedom of the wilderness and when he has them all back at the mountain of God, then he will know he has been about the Lord’s business.  And if you know anything about Israel’s forty years in the wilderness you know what a cooperative and trusting bunch THEY were.  My response would have been “Lord, that’s a crazy idea.”  That would be like me saying that by September 1, we will have a 1,000 people worshipping with us.  That’s a crazy idea.  Look how many of us are over 80 years old.  But then how old do you think Moses was?  That’s right, over 80 years old.   

 But then the Lord is Immanuel, God with us.  It was the same “God with us” who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried and the third day rose from the dead.  And it’s the same “God with us” who enveloped us in the word and water of baptism, the same baptism received by the 3,000 on Pentecost.  Shouldn’t Moses have simply took off at a dead run for Egypt?  Shouldn’t we?  What are we waiting for?

Moses wasn’t quite ready to shed his sandals for a pair of Nikes.  He remembers that there are a lot of gods in Egypt already, Ra, Isis, Amon, Horus to name a few.  “Who are you?  I need a name.”  The voice from the burning bush answers, “I am who I am.  Tell them I am sent you.  I’m the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  That’s my name and who I am forever.”  Then “I am” laid out his strategy for freeing his people enslaved in Egypt.

Well Moses still isn’t quite convinced about the whole enterprise.  He really is like us, isn’t he?  “They won’t believe me.  They won’t listen to my voice.  They will say, ‘You’ve been out in the sun too long and spent too much time with sheep.’” In his grace, God gives him three signs.  One is his staff which turns into a snake when he throws it on the ground.  This sign means he will be victorious over both the religion and political power of Egypt.  The Cobra was a symbol of both their god and their Pharaoh.  Second, Moses hand turns white with leprosy and then is restored to health.  God would restore Israel to freedom and health in the wilderness. Third, at God’s direction he is to take water from the Nile and pour it on the ground where it will turn to blood.  The Nile was the life source of Egypt, but among the plagues, God turn the life source of Egypt into blood.

Looking far into the future, Jesus, God’s good shepherd would crush the power of Satan, that ancient serpent.  Jesus would fulfill the promise in Isaiah that though our sins be like scarlet they shall be as white as snow, for Jesus is the great Physician who comes to restore to health those who are sick in sin.  It is Jesus whose life blood will flow that we might be saved by the shedding of his blood.

Signs or no signs, Moses digs in his heals.   He eloquently pleads that he is not an eloquent speaker.  Well God isn’t giving up either.  “Who made man’s mouth...Is it not I?  Therefore I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”  Isn’t that what Jesus said in regard to the Holy Spirit? “Don’t be anxious about what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”  “When the Spirit comes he will guide you into the truth.  He will bring to remembrance all things.”

But it’s still not good enough for Moses.  Moses offers his fifth and last protest.  Most translations have, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone one else.”  However, it’s possible to translate it, “Alright, whatever, have it your way.”  Now the ire of the Lord is set afire.  And yet there is mercy.  In fact God has already set the plan in motion.  Aaron, Moses brother is already on his way out to meet him.  “I will be with your mouth and with his.  He shall be your mouth and you shall be as God to him.”

You see, being a servant of the Lord does not depend on our inadequacies, but on the Lord’s adequacies.  We like to look at ourselves, but God bids us look at him.  In ourselves we find only weakness.  In him we find the strength to overcome our weaknesses.  Even though the ways of the Lord are not our ways, he does not send us to our servant task without his presence and without the power of the Holy Spirit.  We have Immanuel.  God is with us. Let us trust him and his promise.  We never know how we might be used.        

 

 

 

 

A Colorful Cardboard Camel

 

The colorful cardboard camel was a center point for VBS in 2012. 

We stored it safe and dry in the shed all winter, because who can tell?

After turning down an appearance at Christmas,

 Becky asked, with VBS 2013 in mind,

 about the well being of the colorful cardboard camel.

“It’s in the shed and looking very well,” said I.

I hauled it out its nearly year repose.

We settled it into the back of the Honda Element.

“It will call attention to VBS 2013,” Becky opined.

But she left it in the car.

It was that day, on the way to Illinois,

 crossing the Mississippi that she tangled with two semi’s.

But time of service for the colorful cardboard camel

 was not complete.

The men who pulled Becky out of the back of the car

used the camel to slide her through the back window.

But now the colorful cardboard camel,

Lies crumpled and crushed in the rear of the Element.

We never know how we might be used,

 to serve the needs of another

Thanks to the men and thanks to the colorful cardboard camel.

 

Praying with Outstretched Hands

 

Seminarians are trained to pray with outstretched arms.  However, when I recently tried it, I developed pressure in my chest.  My cardiologist says I am not to clean off the car windshield in the winter.  I suspect she would also prohibit praying with outstretched hands.

 I found some commentary on the practice written by Balthasar Fischer.

On praying with open, outstretched hands: On one occasion I gained new insight into this ancient gesture, when I read somewhere that the Assyrians had a word for prayer which meant “to open the fist.”  The fist, and especially a fist raised threateningly, is the sign of a high handed, even violent person.  People grasp things in closed hands when they are unwilling to let go of them; they use clenched fists to assault and hurt, and even worse, to beat others down so that they cannot get up.

Those who pray, however, are saying before God that they are renouncing all highhandedness, all pride in their own sufficiency, all violence.  They open their fists.  The hold up their em.pty hands to God: “I have nothing that I have not received from you, nothing that you have not placed in my empty hands.  Therefore I do not keep. A frantic hold on anything you have given me; therefore, too, I desire not to strike and hurt but only to give and to spread happiness and joy.  For I myself am dependent on him who fills my empty hands with his gifts.” 

Signs, Words and Gestures, 1981, Pueblo  Publishing Company

Becky, Still Alive, no small matter

 

“Did you get a new car?” the person at Culver’s asked Becky this afternoon. She was driving the GMC instead of the Honda Element. First of all, if a person at a fast food place recognizes your car, maybe one is going there too often.  However, Becky was driving the GMC because the Element is sitting at Mick’s garage in Mitchell, IL.  The box like auto did not go to Mick’s of its own volition. 

Yesterday, Becky had participated in the “Walkercize” class at Immanuel.  She then was intent on heading East on I-270 to Collinsville.  However, IDOT, has been doing bridge inspection of the “Canal Bridge” across the Mississippi River.  The narrow two lane road heading east is closed to one lane.  Only the right lane was open.

She came upon a line of vehicles and stopped behind a small truck.  A fuel tanker came up behind her and stopped.  She had an urgent sense of wanting to go into the vacant left lane.  So she turned her wheels in that direction.  Seconds later she heard a crunching crash behind her and was pushed into the left lane.

As the tanker driver described it, he saw a semi coming up behind him at a good speed.  He could see in his mirrors that the driver was looking at the flooded river and hit the tanker.  That pushed the tanker into Becky which pushed her into the left lane.  The tanker continued on to the small truck which was pushed into a car.  Becky then felt a hit on the passenger side, apparently by the speeding semi.

After she stopped she opened her eyes she found the doors wouldn’t open, but the back window was out.  So she grabbed her purse and crawled in back, but couldn’t get out, so two men came running up and using a cardboard camel, which was intended for VBS they slid her out.

Everyone marvels that she is alive. Getting involved with one semi is not good, but two is very bad for life.

I drove up to church and eventually the state trooper delivered her to the church.  We then went to her doctor to get the scrapes, sore ankle etc checked out.  X-rays showed no brakes.  Today she is sore, but alive.

The German Lutheran immigrants often sang “Now Thank we all our God,” when having come through a harrowing experience.  Seems like a good thing to sing in Becky’s case.

For the presence and protection of God’s Holy Angels, we sing our thanksgiving.

A week ago we were decorating our yard and garage for our daughter, Sarah’s wedding.  That seems like a month ago now.         

Holy Things, Holy People

 

I  have wondered at the origin of the phrase, “Holy things for holy people,” which is quoted most often by pastors who have a more restricted view than I do of who are “holy people.”

The phrase comes from the Apostolic Constitutions of the fourth century:

When everyone has answered “Amen,” the deacon says, “Attend.”  The bishop addresses the people with these words: “Holy things to the holy!”  The people answer:

“One only Holy One, one only Lord,

Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever,

To the glory of the Father. Amen.”

I found the quote in An Easter Sourcebook by Liturgy Training Publications.

Immediately following the above is a quote from Holy the Firm by one of my favorite authors, Annie Dillard.

The higher Christian churches-where, if anywhere, I belong-come at God with an unwarranted air of professionalism, with authority and pomp, as though they knew what they were doing, as though people in themselves were an appropriate set of creatures to have dealing with God.  I often think of the set pieces of liturgy as certain words which people have successfully addressed to God without their getting killed.  In the high churches they saunter through the liturgy like Mohawks along a strand of scaffolding who have long since forgotten their danger.  If God were to blast such a service to bits, the congregation would be, I believe, genuinely shocked.  But in the low churches you expect it any minute.  This is the beginning of wisdom.      

Mother's Day, a day late

Happy Mother’s Day

Once again I’m a day late.

Eve, who attracted Adam’s approval of what God had done, partner in sin with Adam and the serpent, the first to endure the pain and joy of childbirth, mourned the murder of Abel and the loss of Cain.  Eve enjoyed the joys and the deep sorrows of motherhood.

The unnamed wife of Noah who put up with her crazy husband spending a century building a boat because God gave him a private forecast rain. 

Sarai, Sarah, not so patient mother, who gave birth to Isaac at about age 90.  She didn’t even get a chance to name her son.  God named him “Laughter” to remind her and Abraham that both had laughed at Him.

Leah and Rachel, sisters, who married and bore 12 children for Jacob.  Jacob was probably the only man who was able to outwit their father, Laban.

The list of mothers in the bible continues with Ruth, great grandmother of David, Bathsheba, and mother of Solomon.

In the New Testament we think of Elizabeth who in her old age gave birth to John, the Baptizer, while Mary was growing “great with child.”

Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine who identified many of the biblical sites.  Monica, mother of Augustine, who prayed for her son to be turned to Christ.

Katherine von Bora wife of Martin Luther.

Of course your mother and mine. 

Finally, Becky, my wife, mother of our four children.

Who would be on your list?

Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs

 

Ever wonder where the Cyrillic alphabet originated?  No?  Well I’m going to tell you anyway.

Today we remember two brothers, Cyril, his actual name was Constantine, (827-868) and Methodius (825 – 885).  They were born to a noble family in Thessalonica in northeastern Greece.  Cyril became a priest and undertook a mission to the Arabs.  He then was a professor and the librarian at the cathedral of St. Sophia in Constantinople.  Methodius became a governor in a district settled by Slavs.  Both then retired to a monastery.  In 861 the Byzantine emperor sent them to work among the Khazars northeast of the Black Sea.  In 863 the ruler of Greater Moravia asked for missionaries.  He wanted someone who would work in the local language rather than Latin.  They translated the liturgy and much of the Scriptures into Slavonic.

However, Slavonic had no written form.  They invented an alphabet using Greek letters as the basis.  When two similar sounds in Slavonic each needed a letter they would use a plain letter followed by a fancy letter. Thus in Russia a “plain a” is written “A”.  A “fancy a” is written like a backward “R”.  When no Greek letter sufficed, they used a Hebrew letter.  (Perhaps someone who actually knew what they were writing about could do a better job here.)

When they encountered German missionaries representing the Holy Roman Empire founded by Charlemagne who insisted on uniformity in language and culture they went to Rome to plead their case.  Charlemagne was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo II on Christmas Day in 800.  The brothers brought with them some purported relics of Clement the bishop of Rome in about 100.

They were received with honor.  Constantine entered a monastery and took the name Cyril, by which he is now remembered.  Thus the Cyrillic alphabet is named after Cyril.  He died a few days later.  Methodius was sent back to Moravia with full authorization to use the Slavonic language in worship.  However, he ran into trouble with those who now ruled the area.  He was deposed and thrown in prison for two years.  Pope John VIII secured his release and instructed him not to use the Slavonic liturgy.  He was summoned to Rome in 878 to face charges of heresy.  He was cleared and given permission to use Slavonic.  He died April 6, 885.

When I read the actions and politics of the church such as we have with Cyril and Methodius, I’m amazed that the church has lasted 2,000 years.  We need ever to pray,

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the power of the Holy Spirit moved your servants Cyril and Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.     

 

Ascension Day, a day late

 

I had started this yesterday, but then got pulled away and spent the rest of the day preparing the yard for our daughter Sarah’s wedding this evening. A tent spans the driveway.  The secretaries at St. Lucas UCC church have given us permission to use their parking lot. The day ended with granddaughter Abby’s piano recital, along with 15 other students, at Holy Cross in Collinsville.

 Now we are in the lull before the storm, so to speak.  I’ve found my agenda book with the wedding service.  I swept the oak blossoms off the patio, which will need to be done again before evening. Becky said that places have been cleaned which haven’t been cleaned in ages.    Now we await the coming of the bride to complete last minute preps. 

 Ascension Day was spent very much earthbound.  This morning I did discover that an acorn which Abby planted in our yard last fall has sprouted and it starting its ascension toward the sky.  Hopefully, it will replace an evergreen that was dying and we took down this spring.

Here is some of what I intended to write, yesterday.

I will give you the crown of life.

In the Eastern Church a garland of flowers was placed on heads of the newly baptized.  Like the images in the New Testament, this one also was borrowed from secular life.  It was widespread already in the fourth century, so it probably originated much earlier.  Garlands were a sign of victory, triumph and joy.  They were associated with sports events.  In the spiritual realm the garland signified the heavenly crown of glory, abiding faith, and strength given through baptism

However, before Rev. 2:10 promises the crown of life, it also urges us to “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  We claim to be followers of Jesus, therefore, we are able to lay claim to the crown of life.  But we follow Him who also bore the crown of thorns.  Thus before we are awarded the garland of life we ought not to be surprised when the crown of thorns also settles on our head.

John writes his message according to the word given him by the Holy Spirit.  The letter to the Church of Smyrna concludes, “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”  That is because we trust, believe and follow the words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”