Reformation - F - 2013 - The Good News of the Reformation

The Festival of the Reformation (Observed)

October 27, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Revelation 14:6-7        Romans 3:19-28          John 8:31-36

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the first reading, especially these words, “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Today’s another Reformation Day, it’s another Pot Luck and special service with both congregations together.  Services are a bit longer, but atleast there is free food afterward.  But why do we celebrate this day?  Why the pomp and circumstance?  What is so special about the last Day of October, besides Halloween?

Some would say it’s a day to brag about being Lutheran, about telling everyone else how our theology is right, and theirs is wrong.  Some would say it’s a day to put down other faiths and religions for not being as smart and doctrinally correct as we are.  Some would say it’s a day to remember our German heritage, if we’ve got it, and some would say it’s a celebration of the great reformer himself, Martin Luther. 

But in reality, none of these are quite right.  None of them s the reason we celebrate today. As good as our doctrine is, in this sinful world, who are we to say we’ve got everything perfectly right?  Today shouldn’t be about putting down other faiths, as the members of those churches who believe in Christ alone will be saved as well.  And for certain none of our Bible lessons for the day mentioned Martin Luther in them at all. 

Rather, today is about something even more precious than our Lutheran heritage – The Gospel.  The message of Good News about Jesus Christ.  The message that says, we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ our Lord or come to him, but that the Holy Spirit has feely called us to believe in the death and resurrection of our Lord. 

That’s what our first reading is all about – an angel flying about in the sky with an etneral Gospel to proclaim.  A Gospel that tells us how we are saved, “By Grace through faith you have been saved, not by works.  A Gospel that says you, yes you dear Hankinsonian, are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Youre saved by Christ.  And that’s the bottom line.

This idea is not one that is popular in our world.  It is an idea that is often trod on and despised by the people of the world.  There are countless religions that say to be saved, you must do xyz.  Islam says, you must confess the creed, you must visit Mecca, you must give 10% of your money to the mosque, and more if you desire to be saved.  Judaism says you must obey God’s law completely and perfectly, or you will not be saved.  Buddhism says you must meditate  and discover reality to be released from this world.  Mormonism says you must be good, and know the secret tokens to enter heaven.  Works, work work.  Requirement after requirement.

And in the face of all these things, Christ tells us the truth.  He has already done everything necessary for your salvation, and you cannot add or subtract from it.  No matter how hard you work, he’s accomplished it all.  It’s what He said isn’t it, from the cross, with his last breath – “It is finished.”  Not mostly done, not started, but that everything required to get you into heaven for ever is done.  Jesus has died for you.

And not only was that Good News accomplished for you by Jesus on the cross. It is also delivered to you, here in this church building week after week.  God’s word that creates faith In Jesus is spoken to you in the scripture readings, and in the word preached.  God’s forgiveness, the very blood of Jesus, was poured over you to wash away all your sins, even your most secret and dark, in the waters of Holy Baptism.  That blood still covers your guilt, and even today, you are a baptized Child of God. 

And finally, today, we are united together in a common belief in the work of Christ on our behalf, and sharing our faith together as one body of Christ, we partake in the true body and blood of Jesus, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.  We eat Jesus in with and under the bread and wine, so that we might have life, and life to the full. 

Today is Reformation Day.  It means that no matter what, the world cannot take the goodnews of Jesus away from us.  It means no matter how its hidden or clouded, Christ is still ours.  And even should the world take our lives, our goods, fame child or wives.  Those these all be gone, the victory has been won.  And that at the last, the kingdom of God ours remaineth. 

Dear friends, A most blessed and Happy Reformation Day to you all, and may we be united together in the free and clear Gospel, even forever more.  Amen.  

Good Stuff

Proper 24 - E - 2013 - The God' Breathed Word of Salvation

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

October 20, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Genesis 32:22-30        2 Timothy 3:14-4:5     Luke 18:1-8

Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the epistle lesson, especially this verse, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”  Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ.  It’s been in the news over and over and over again since October began.  The Federal Government has been shut down.  And on every news story, the Republicans are out there, telling their constituents exactly what their itching ears want to hear – that it’s all the Democrat’s fault.  And the Democrats come on next, and tell their constituents what they want to hear – it’s all the Republican’s fault.  Both of them are telling their lies, louder and louder hoping someone will believe them.  Their only goal is to tell their party exactly what their party wants to hear so that they themselves will be reelected next term.  And it’s become a huge mess. 

Our text today tells us that in this world, we too will be bombarded with different messages, and many of them will be exactly what we want to hear with our itching ears.  But in the midst of all these differing false messages, we also hear another message,

THE WORDS OF GOD’S OWN BREATH, THE MESSAGE OF JESUS FOR YOU.

But often times that message is lost in all of the competing messages of the world.  Often we hear other messages instead.  And as our text says, often these messages are really “exactly what we want to hear.”  And often what we want to hear does not agree with what God says.

God’s word says “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” But that isn’t what we like to hear about ourselves.  We don’t want to hear about how we have sinned against God in our thoughts, words and deeds, by what we have done and what we have left undone.  Instead our itching ears like to hear about our own accomplishments.  We like to hear how good we are, and how many good things we have done.  We like to pat ourselves on our back, and ignore those times where we fall short.  Our itching ears want to hear, “You’re not that bad, it’ll be fine,”  when God’s word clearly says “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”  (James 2:10)  Thus we are all guilty.

God’s word says “You shall not bear false testimony.”  This means God’s word tells us we shouldn’t speak poorly of anyone, or speak of them behind their back.  But our itching ears like to hear the gossip that floats around town.  They like to hear about other people’s dirty laundry, and to spread it around.  We like to know others problems because it makes us feel better about our own selves.  “Sure I may have sinned this way, but it isn’t even close to as bad as that person.”  But in opposition to what our itching ears wish to hear, God says in the book of Proverbs (10:32), “The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”  And we are often wicked in what we say and hear. 

What else does God’s word say?  “You shall remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”  God says, “Be in church.  Be in Bible study.”  But that’s not what our itching ears want to hear.  Instead they want to hear the Vikings game as it comes on.  Instead our ears want to hear the sound of pheasants flying away on an early Sunday morning, or the sound of a trolling motor.  We would rather be somewhere else than to spend time receiving God’s gifts here at church.  We would rather please ourselves than receive from God.  But God’s word is clear about these idols we make, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”  (Exodus 20)

God’s word says “You shall not commit adultery.”  But we hear on TV countless couples living together in our favorite shows, casually going from sexual relationship to sexual relationship.  In addition in our own midst we have couples who are living together out side of marriage.  And we hear how we should ignore it.  We hear of homosexual marriage being pushed all around us.  How it is ok, how we should accept it for what it is, and live and let live.  But God’s word says, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”  (Hebrews 13:4)

Dear friends in Christ, we are guilty.  In each one of these things we truly are guilty if we are honest with ourselves.  But that is part of the problem, we are not honest with ourselves.  We do not pay attention to our sin.  We do not pay attention to what God’s word’s clearly says about our own horrible condition.  Instead we often listen to what our itching ears want to hear, the very words of Satan, “Did God really say.”  Did God really say we are guilty?  Did God really say we have to live this way or that way?  Did God really say obey these rules?  Or can we just do what we want.  Can we just live how we want?  Which is the word of God, and which is our itching ears listening to other voices? 

On our own, we cannot control our itching ears.  For our entire life here on earth, we will struggle with the competing messages, as our text says, “The time is coming,” and I would say is now here, “When people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”  This is our world today, this is our society today.  But our text also says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  All scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”  God’s word speaks a better word to you here today, than those other voices we hear.

God’s word speaks to you of forgiveness, forgiveness given to you through Jesus Christ.  Forgiveness that is earned by Jesus’ death and resurrection.   For God’s word is clear about that gift to you.  Isaiah tells us, “Surely he has born our iniquities…  he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”  His stripes, made as he was brutally beaten within inches of his life for you.  All four Gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified, that his hands and his feet were pierced through with nails, and that he was left there to hang until dead, for you.  His blood poured out from his hands and feet and sides, to make you whole. 

God’s word tell us that he then rose again from the dead, having laid in the tomb for 3 days.  And God’s word tell us that because of this miracle, you too have promises, promises that are better than any your itching ears want to hear.  Promises that in Jesus Christ you have life and salvation.  Promises that in Jesus your sins, every one of them are taken away.  Promises that God loves you, and that he will surely be with you always, even to the very end of the age.  God makes these promises as a blood pact, in the blood of Jesus, you can be certain of them.

And in fact, today, we come to this altar to receive the very body and blood of Jesus, the Word made flesh, for our very mouths to eat. 

Yes, God’s word condemns us for all of our sin and for our short comings.  But God’s word also says to us poor sinners, “You are set free, you are mine, you are forgiven.”  Often today we do hear other voices, and they try to entice us, but they are not match for the eternal promises of God.  God’s word says to you, that because of Jesus you have this promise, “no longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus) will be in it, and his servants will worship him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (in baptism).  This is your promise, here in the scripture breathed out from the very mouth of Jesus, given to you.  Peace to you, promised in God’s very words.  Amen.  

Buckhouse/Grohnke Wedding Sermon

1 Corinthians 13 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;^[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Matthew 19 - He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

Grace, mercy and peace to you two, from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Bev, and Paul.  Love is what brings us here today.  The last few months you two have been like a couple of high schoolers, giddy and smiley and gushy.  It’s been obvious that you’ve loved spending time with each other, and that you are in love.  I can still remember the day many months ago now, when you Bev first introduced me to Paul.  It was your dad’s birthday party.  And you had a smile from ear to ear on your face.  Bev, your dad said that next week, he hoped today would come, and I believe my response was, “It’s only a matter of time, because they’re in love.

And yet you both know that lovey-dovey feeling you have can only get you so far in your years ahead.  In days to come, there’ll be times when you’re frustrated and angry at each other.  There’ll be frustrations, and growing pains as you learn more and more about each other through the years.  Perhaps there’ll be disappointment when you have to cancel your honeymoon because your grumpy pastor is making you play the organ at church – again!

And its in times like these that our texts for today come into play.  Its these times when your marriage is stressed that you need a greater love – the love of Christ.  It’s a love that’s described in our text.  It’s patient, even when we are not.  It’s kind, when we are at wits end.  It doesn’t envy or boast.  It isn’t arrogant or rude, even when you two know each other well enough to push all the right buttons in a fight.  It’s a love that Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.  Its Jesus that gives us the picture of what love really is. 

That love was shown to you both, as Christ died for your sins, shedding his blood for every last one of them.  It’s a love that has carried you both through the loss of a beloved spouse just a few years ago.  And now, today, it’s a love that will carry you onward into a new marriage until, as we say in the pastoring business, “Till death do you part.”

And its with that love in mind that in just a few moments, we’ll hear God’s word, and the two of you will become “One flesh.”  You will be joined, for all the lovey-dovey days ahead, and for all the difficult and trying days ahead.  You’ll be joined by God’s Word and by God’s love – a love shown in the person of Jesus for you both.  And what God joins together, let not man separate. 

Bev, you’ve said dozens of times, you just wanted a short sweet sermon, and so while I’ve prepared about 30 more pages for my sermon, I’ve decided I’d rather keep my church organist happy, especially on her wedding day.  Paul, Bev, may God bless you with many happy years ahead.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

+ Woodrow Heinrich Medenwaldt + Funeral Sermon

Woody's Obituary

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18 - Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Matthew 7:24-27 - “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our texts for today are those just read, especially Woody’s confirmation verse, “God is our refuge and strength.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, especially Family and Friends.  74 years ago, Woody Medenwaldt knelt here at this rail, and the pastor spoke these words, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.”  This verse is one very near and dear to us Lutherans, it’s the words Martin Luther took and turned into our beloved hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” a hymn  we’ll sing a week from tomorrow at our church Reformation Day service. 

And there really is no better time than now, today, here at the loss of a dear one to remember these words of God, because today we really do need a refuge.  Because today, more than any other day, we feel tossed and terrorized by the pain and sorrow of this sinful world.  We’ve watched as a beloved husband, father and grandfather slowly succumbed to small strokes.  We’ve watched as his memory has slowly gotten worse, and as dementia set in.  We knew this day was coming, and we dreaded it and its consequences. 

It’s the sin of the world that brings these things about in our lives.  Sin that infects us through and through, sin that also infected Woody.  We are guilty of sin, and God clearly says in scripture that the one who sins must surely die.  Outwardly, our bodies waste away.  We all are slowly dying because of sin.  And so too are many of our loved ones, and we understand that terrible reality clearly today. 

And yet, in the face of this, our scripture lessons make several promises to us.  First – that even as our outer selves are wasting away and dying, our innerself is being renewed daily.  How?  In the waters of baptism, that wash away our sins, by connecting us to the death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.  St. Paul tells us that the struggles we face in our own health and in the health of loved ones is just a “Light momentary affliction” when compared with the glorious promise of heaven with Jesus.

Furthermore, we know that as we face the challenges and struggles of this world, that we are safe and secure in the arms of our God.  And the very same thing could be said for Woody.  Even as he had his first stroke, God was caring for and providing for him through the hands of doctors, nurses and family members who cared for him.  Even as his outward self was wasting away, God was his refuge from the terrors of this sinful world, keeping him safe in the ark of the holy church.  God was his strength, allowing him to face each day. 

And now, that Woody is no longer with us here, he is forever in the arms of Christ.  He is kept safe in the refuge of Heaven, in God’s presence day and night.  No longer does Woody face sorrow or pain, no longer does he hunger or thirst, no longer is his mind clouded, but it is forever more clear.  No longer does he struggle, but he is comforted by the God who created and sustained him throughout all his days. 

It is the same God who wanted to be with you and with Woody forever.  So much so that he took your sin, your shame, and your guilt upon himself, and suffered and died on the cross that it might be forgiven, and that we might hide in the shelter of his wings forever. 

Dear friends.  God is a Mighty Fortress.  He has been a refuge and strength for Woody, and even forevermore will continue to be.  He is a present help in times of trouble, a help that even death itself cannot over come.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Issues Etc. Confessors Week - for Reformation Sunday

+ Marlys Anne Minar + Funeral Sermon

Marlys Minar Obituary is Here

Isaiah 49:8-16

Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
    in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
    as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
    to apportion the desolate heritages,
⁹ saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
    to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
    on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
¹⁰ they shall not hunger or thirst,
    neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
    and by springs of water will guide them.
¹¹ And I will make all my mountains a road,
    and my highways shall be raised up.
¹² Behold, these shall come from afar,
    and behold, these from the north and from the west,^[a]
    and these from the land of Syene.”^[b]

¹³ Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
    break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted.

¹⁴ But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
    my Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵ “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶ Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:32-33

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our text today is from the readings just read, especially these words from the Old Testament lesson, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands .”  Dear friends in Christ, especially friends and family of Marlys. 

It’s a hard thing that brings us together here today.  A mother, grandmother and friend has left us behind, and entered her eternal rest.  She’s gone to be with Christ, even forevermore.  And so today we weep, we cry, and we mourn at our loss, because Marlys is gone forever.

But for us in some ways, she’s been gone for awhile.  She’s had trouble remembering much of anything these last years.  She didn’t recognize family.  She didn’t recognize friends.  She was unable to remember many of the most important people in her life.  It was painful as we went to visit her, and she either loved us or was angry at us, all without knowing who we really were. 

This forgetfulness was a result of Alzheimer’s, which itself was a result of the terrible sin of this world.  Marlys was full of sin, and as a result, her body and mind slowly were destroyed throughout these last years.  Scripture is clear – those who sin die.  The bodies of guilty sinners wear out.  The minds of sinful people become less clear.  And that’s what happened to dear Marlys, sin took its toll. 

And perhaps that’s what is most worrisome – that we ourselves too are sinful, we too are guilty and wrong, and so one day our bodies too will die, and our minds will become clouded because of our own sin and guilt.  I will suffer and die because of my sin.  You will suffer and die because of sin.  It will happen to us, as it does to all people. 

And so today we remember and realize the cost of sin.  Death.  Suffering.  Forgetfulness.  Pain and sorrow.  These are the wages of sin.  These are the things we face every day, most especially today as it hits us so closely and personally. 

But even as we face the terrible price for sin, we have a great promise.  “Death is swallowed up by death.”  St. Paul writes about it in our Epistle lesson.  “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” 

The promise is this, even as we forget things, as our memory fades, Christ has not forgotten us, and He will not ever forget us.  We are engraved in the palms of his hand.  Engraved with iron nails, which held our Lord to the cross on our behalf.  Engraved to show us vividly where His blood was poured out for our salvation.  Engraved with the marks of our forgiveness. 

He gave that promise of forgiveness to Marlys many years ago, right here in this sanctuary as she was baptized.  He made her His child, and promised in Water and the Word that He would never leave or forsake her, that even if she forgot the simple things, that He would remember her and care for her.  That promise was for Marlys also when she was confirmed here at this rail, and the pastor spoke these words on her, “everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”  And even the last time I saw Marlys, she was able to speak some of the words of the Apostle’s Creed, acknowledging her savior outwardly, as her savior remembered and acknowledged her as well.  

Dear friends the same promise is yours as well.  God remembers you as well.  He remembers you as you mourn today.  He remembers you as you weep, as your body wears out, and as you one day face death.  You too are engraved in the palms of his hand.  He will not leave nor forsake you. 

He reminds you of all his promises as you regularly go and hear His Word.  And one day, he will take you home as well.  To be in heaven, where Marlys is now.  To be at peace.  To be in eternal joyful life.  He will remember you, even as he has remembered Marlys.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Proper 23 - 2013 - G - Ten Lepers

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

October 13, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Ruth 1:1-19a               2 Timothy 2:1-13                    Luke 17:11-19

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.  Thus far our text for today. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Ten men wandering in the wilderness between Samaria and Judea, all sick with leprosy.  A terrible debilitating disease, ripe with suffering.  These men were festering with skin lesions and open wounds.  They no longer were welcome in their homes or villages, instead cast out to live together as lepers in a separate place out of fear.  People truly feared them, fearing they would spread their disease, fearing they would transmit it to whoever they were in contact with. 

Moses had received very special laws from God about leprosy.  According to the book of Leviticus chapter 13, lepers were to tear their clothes, and keep their hair unkempt.  They had to shout out, “Unclean, unclean” if anyone tried approaching them.  They were to live outside the camp.  They were to clearly identify themselves as unclean. Their lives were truly a living hell on earth.

But this day would be different for them.  They were going to see Jesus.  They had heard of Jesus.  They had heard rumors about this great healer – who made the blind to see, the deaf to hear.  They’d heard he had even raised the dead.  Surely this Jesus character could help a few lowly lepers.  And he was near.  So the ten lepers went to see The One hoping beyond hope that he could help them. 

They saw him from a distance, as they were so used to seeing people.  They shouted out, “Jesus Master, have mercy on us.”  And mercy is exactly what Christ has in mind.  The Lord sends them to the High Priest – exactly what the book of Leviticus says for the one healed of Leprosy.  They were to show themselves to the priest, along with a blood sacrifice from two lambs.  The blood was to be placed on the ear, thumb and toe of the one who was healed, to mark them as clean once again. 

The ten lepers go on their way to the priest to show themselves to the priest, and as they are on their way, they realize that they are clean – that their leprosy is gone!  It happened just as the Word of Jesus had spoken to them.  Now they really could see the priest, and through blood sacrifices be returned to their homes and families!  All ten were happy!  All ten celebrated.  And yet one of them turned around and went back towards Jesus. 

This one was a Samaritan.  Samaritans were descended from the Assyrians who had conquered Israel hundreds of years earlier, but had converted to Jerusalem.  They were essentially Jewish believing Gentiles, despised by the Jews.  He returns the same path again to Jesus.  Why?  Because he knows the truth about himself.  There was much more wrong than just a skin disease.  There was a war going on within his flesh, where he desired to do that which God commanded him not to.  He was full of sin.  He was full of wrong and guilt.  There was more wrong.  Perhaps the same Jesus who showed mercy upon his disease of leprosy could show mercy upon his disease of sin. 

He wants more of what Christ gives.  He wants more healing, he wants more mercy.  He wants more than a cleanliness offered by some priest and a lambs blood.  He wants the forgiveness offered by God and the Lamb of God’s blood.  So he returns to Jesus.  And Jesus gives him just that. 

“Go!” Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you.”

Your faith has saved you.  Dear friends in Christ.  As far as I can tell, not a one of us here has leprosy.  Not a one of us has a debilitating disease that sets us apart from society.  Yes, we may get sick, sick with cancer and alzheimners disease, sick with old and broken joins and achy muscles.  But we are blessed to live in a day and age where most have atleast a fighting chance against disease. 

But there is an illness we cannot overcome no matter how hard we try, no matter what we do not matter which doctor we see.  We too have sin.  It infects us as it infected the leprous man of our text.  And as that leprous man knew, it is a disease far worse than any other we face.  Sin is worse than cancer, than AIDS or Parkinson’s or even brain eating amoebas.  We cannot by our own reason or strength overcome it.  It is there, slowly leading us to death. 

And yet, Christ speaks these words to the man in our text – Your faith has saved you.  And Christ speaks those words to us also.  Your faith has saved you.  It’s a faith that clings to Christ and his blood bought gift of salvation.  It’s a faith that looks outside of ourselves for salvation. 

Christ gives us that faith here, in His holy precious Word.  In his promises.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  How can you hear unless it is proclaimed to you?  Christ speaks the same words to you, Words of healing, words of grace and mercy.  Words that bring you eternal life.  Christ also attaches his Word to water, washing away your sins in holy baptism, clothing you instead with the holy perfect robe of Christ’s righteousness.  And when that water and word are put upon you, you are connected to the blood of Jesus for forgiveness.  And the blood of Jesus covers more than the blood of a lamb on your ear, thumb and toe.  IT covers all sin, all guilt, all shame.  Dear friends, your sin is no longer yours.  It is gone, even forevermore. 

And through all of these things, we are made well.  And because we are well, because our God has given us faith that saves us, we can’t help but praise God the way the healed leper did.  We can’t help but pray, praise and give thanks that we will live forever in peace and joy in heaven.  We can’t help but shout in a loud voice about the wonderous things that God has done for me, a poor lost, and now forgiven sinner. 

Christ can heal the leper.  Christ can save him with his Word.  Christ can take away his sin.  And Christ can do the same for you.  In fact, he promises to.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

October Newsletter Article

Dear Friends, 

There is much that I love in this world.  I love fall – it’s one of my favorite times of the year.  I love football, especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers!  I love hunting.  I love Thanksgiving, especially with pumpkin pie.  I love watching the leaves changing colors.  I love my family, and much more.

There are all sorts of things that I love in this world, and yet I know, even as I love the world, that this world is a terrible and sinful place.  There are countless things not to love.  There is pain and suffering, there is loss and sorrow.  There is sickness and death.  There is poverty and a long list of other things that I do not love, in fact, that I hate.  Because I am a Christian, the world hates me back. 

Take, for example, the following letter that Bob Wurl and I received from a young man we met in Kenya last year.  He is studying to be a diplomat, and is your average, kind, young Christian man.  He has stayed in fairly regular contact with us since our trip.  I’ve removed his name from the following narrative so that he and his family do not become targets in future persecution.  As a forewarning, his letter is rather graphic. 

“This is about the terror attack in Kenya at Westgate shopping mall carried out by Al-Shabaab terrorists. The siege that lasted for three days saw 61 recorded civilians' death. The attackers held several hostages.  Both parties have been giving contradictory figures:  the government saying only 63 were held hostage and have been rescued, Al-Shabaab insists their mujaheddin held 137 hostages who they claim were killed.

Hostages who could have lived to tell their stories seemingly lost their lives in what as you are about to learn was the greatest level of brutality one human being would instill on the other.

The aftermath at the Westgate Mall is horrific and (at this time the) body retrieval at the scene continues.

Bodies recovered were found chopped into pieces, probably by the terrorists. Bodies were found hanged on the walls, elevators and stuffed into fridges inside the supermarket, and in the basement where they held the hostages.

CCTV received footage and, because of the highly graphic and gruesome nature, can't be posted, tells a horrific ordeal that the hostages were subjected to. Hostages had their arms chopped off and were given a tag to write their names on with their own blood, the tag would then be hung on your neck (when you were) killed. Women got raped as their children looked on.  The most gruesome (thing) was pushing screw drivers into young kids' chest as their mothers helplessly watched. 

The terrorists kept referring to the hostages as kaffir (an Arabic racial term equivalent in Africa to the “N” word used for non-Muslims) and that no mercy would be shown to them.  They showed no signs of remorse and if anything, instilling pain into the hostages made them feel better.

All these actions they ensured were captured on camera and relayed to their headquarters as well as bits to the government.  Men had their private parts chopped off, they grabbed noses with pliers and pulled them out.  Women had their breasts chopped off by the merciless attackers who were out to cause the greatest damage. The held hostages never lived to tell their stories but these attackers subjected them to a painful death. 

Piles of bodies have been discovered stuffed in fridges, with body parts chopped and dismantled, hanging on walls, elevators.

This is the most horrible terror attack Kenya has ever seen since 1998 when the U.S embassy in Kenya was bombed. Several other people are still missing, about 67 of them, however, yesterday a few of them were recovered, 7 dead and 12 alive.

We thank God (that no) family or relative of ours were involved, however it's very painful (that) we lost all those innocent people, including children!  Please pray for Kenya, pray for us. The terrorists have terrorized our mentality and even when we go to church, we find heavy security at the entrance, with that we can't pray in peace!”

It’s difficult to read, and even more difficult when you realize this happened to real people in a place that we in our congregations are seeking to aid and help.  We continue our effort to build orphan rescue centers in Kenya, and to help their Lutheran Church in the proclamation of the Gospel to the people of Kenya.

Why share this with you?  To show you what happens to Christians in our world.  The word does not love Christians; it does not seek to bless Christians or to give them lots of money or a big house.  The world is under the influence of sin and Satan, and thus hates Christians.  It has been that way since the beginning of our faith. 

St. Stephen was stoned.  St. James was executed by the sword.  St. Peter was crucified upside down and St. Paul was beheaded.  Tradition holds that St. Thomas was pierced with pine spears, tortured with hot iron plates, and then burned alive.  Tradition also holds that St. Andrew was flayed alive and that St. John was thrown into boiling oil, but not killed, living the rest of his life with the terrible scars. 

What about us?  We are no different.  We face the same world that hates our Christian confession as much today as it did in the years past.  The same event that happened recently in Kenya could happen here in the United States.  The world we love, does not love us back. 

St. John, mentioned above, quoted Christ for us, saying, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master…’”  “Whoever hates me hates my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’”  (John 15)

If the world hates you, it’s because it hated Jesus first.  If you face persecution, so too did Jesus first.  Yet, Christ overcame the world.  He set us free from the world.  

John also writes in his First Epistle, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Dear friends, we love this world too much.  We love the seasons, money, family, and football too much.  We love the world.  But the world hates us for our faith and confession.  It cannot love us, and will not love us. 

In the midst of all this hate, pain, and worldly sorrow, God loved the world, and sent his Son into the world that He might save it from sin.  He died a gruesome death, that we might have eternal life.  He suffered at the hands of sinful men, who tortured him, so that we might leave torture behind forever and belong to God. 

In the end, even if, God forbid, you are tortured and killed, even if they gouge out your eyes and pierce your body, they cannot destroy your soul.  You belong to Jesus, who rose from the dead, and one day you too will as well.  You belong not to suffering and torture, but to heaven and peace.  Do not fear the ones who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Why?  Because your Savior Jesus has overcome them in His own death and resurrection.  He has promised your soul will live with him forever, no matter what happens to your body.  Fear not, Christ is with you.  Be not afraid, He is our God.  Nothing can overcome him.  Not even the tortures of this sinful world.