Preachrblog

2nd Sunday after Pentecost – May 29th, 2005 Matthew 7:15-29 “Working Around the Garden,Working Around the House" I. Introduction – Memorial Day Weekend… time off work, time to relax, maybe have a cookout. Also time to get some of those chores done. You know, those annual jobs many people do – gardening, or maybe fixing something, doing some spring cleaning. Working around the garden, working around the house. That of reminds me of our Gospel reading. Here in today’s reading from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses two pictures to show us what the kingdom of heaven is like. The first is a picture of a fruit-bearing tree. The other a picture of two houses with very different foundations. In both cases there is a contrast between the one that is bad, and the one that is good. In both cases, what makes the thing good is Christ himself, and his Good work. Take a look at the pictures Jesus is painting, and see the tree with good fruit, and the house with the good foundation. ...

Here is the prayer I will use Monday at the Memorial Day "event" at the local cemetery. It is a "tweaked" version of a prayer for Armed Forces Sunday from the LCMS Commission on Worship: With grateful hearts on this Memorial Day, we thank you, Lord, for the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. They died honorably, protecting the life and liberty of so many others. Lord, make us appreciative of the blessings we enjoy as Americans, and of the lives which were given that we might live in peace in this land. Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER. Our Lord Jesus once said, “Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends”. May we seen in the soldier who lays down his life in battle, a reminder of our Savior who laid down his life at the cross. Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER. We also thank you this day for our men and women in uniform who so selflessly serve God and country. Be with them deployed overseas, in arme...

O Lord, Our Great Physician Tune: Munich (“I Lay My sins on Jesus”, LW Hymn # 366) Based on Matthew 9:9-13 O Lord, our Great Physician, O Healer of our race, You call men to contrition, To save them by your grace. You came to bring your healing, To those diseased by sin, Your blood the balm of blessing, The sin-sick soul to win. You called the tax collector, A publican by trade, A Jew but a defector, Now your disciple made. He sought to gain taxation, To earn his earthly fee. You brought your medication, Your riches set him free. The Pharisees offended, That sinners you received, Your grace not comprehended, Your mercy not believed. But Healing God of Heaven, Our only sacrifice, To us true health you’ve given, Your death and life suffice. O Lord, our Great Physician, O Healer of our race, You call men to contrition, To save them by your grace. You ate with sinners lowly, Now bless us with your Meal, Your blood and body holy, Our suffering souls to heal. © Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

A Righteousness from God Tune: Darwall’s 148th (“Rejoice, the Lord Is King” – LW Hymn # 179) Based on Romans 3:21-28 A righteousness from God, His people have been shown, Apart from Law, and its dread rod, He has made known, That all who trust, in Him who died, By His free grace are Justified. A righteousness through faith, Though tainted by the fall, In Jesus Christ, God saves, Redeeming one and all, For all who trust, in Him who died, By His free grace are Justified. Now boasting we exclude, No merit can we claim, Instead we must conclude, We’re saved in Jesus’ name, So let us trust, in Him who died, And by His grace be Justified. © Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

The Associated Press Sunday, May 15, 2005; 10:48 PM ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Roman Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 people Sunday, saying they could not receive the sacrament because they wore rainbow-colored sashes to church to show support for gay Catholics. Before offering communion, the Rev. Michael Sklucazek told the congregation at the Cathedral of St. Paul that anyone wearing a sash could come forward for a blessing but would not receive wine and bread. Read More… __________________________________________________ What an interesting story. I believe it serves to illustrate an important aspect of the Lord’s Supper. That is the fact that partaking of the sacrament is not only about “me and Jesus”, but also a statement of confession – a profession of doctrinal unity. It seems that on some level, Rome understands this. Traditionally, we Lutherans also practice “close(d) communion”. It has been the standard practice of the church until only recently, from a historica...

A nice review from our LCMS member and World Magazine Guru, Gene Veith. Check it out.

The following story from boingboing.net , a crazy compliation of news-ish sorts of things: Raiding the lost ark Eccentric Texan archaeologist Vendyl Jones--often incorrectly named as the inspiration for Indiana Jones--claims that this summer he will finally excavate the real Ark of the Covenant from its hiding place in the Judean Desert. From Arutz Sheva: Throughout the many years of his quest, Jones has been in close contact and under the tutelage of numerous Rabbis and Kabbalists. Extremely knowledgeable in Torah, Talmud and Kabbalah sources dealing with Holy Temple issues, Jones has now received permission from both known and secret Kabbalists to finally uncover the lost ark... He believes the ark will be discovered by Tisha B'Av (Aug. 14), a day of repeated tragedy in Jewish history. Most notably, it is the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Holy Temples.

Warning: Star Wars post. Yes, I saw "Revenge of the Sith". I liked it. But of course, the eyes of a preacher see movies a little differently. So here are my observations/comments: This was perhaps the most interesting Star Wars from a philosophical perspective (I hesitate to say "theological"). But nonetheless the tension between good and evil, the internal conflict of Anakin, and the contrast of Jedi and Sith all got me thinking. Certainly the movie makes no claim to be Christian, but it still hinges on the question of "what makes someone evil". What I liked about the treatment here was that it showed how evil often begins with "good intentions". That is, Anakin wanted to save his wife from death, and this is, after all, a good intention. It's just twisted. Sort of like the good intention to "be like God", which the serpent twisted into temptation for our first parents, Adam and Eve. Another interesting piece of the puzzl...

A Grace member, Richard Fritz, recently had this letter printed in the opinion section of our local paper . A fine analogy: Oppose abortion Recently the paper and other news media had published the horrifying store of the two young children in Zion, Ill., who lost their life by the hands of one of the fathers. Another story that doesn't get much attention is one of a young woman with child that goes to Planned Parenthood for counseling. Her child has a body, legs, arms, a brain that was formed 18 days into her pregnancy and a heart that was formed 22 days into her pregnancy with it's own separate heart beat. She now is counseled into having an abortion. The question is, what is the difference in these two stories? Answer: Murder in both cases. Life is a precious gift that we should honor as such. Richard R. Fritz

Results of a recent Gallup poll regarding moral issues from Abortion to Polygamy to Divorce to everything in between. Interesting. Thanks to Watersblogged for pointing out the story.

Whew... a Lutheran after all! I took this test , here are my results. Worked for me, I guess! Rank Item Percent 1: Lutheran (100%) 2: Eastern Orthodox (85%) 3: Roman Catholic (78%) 4: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (75%) 5: Presbyterian/Reformed (70%) 6: Congregational/United Church of Christ (67%) 7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (50%) 8: Church of Christ/Campbellite (50%) 9: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (34%) 10: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (21%) 11: Seventh-Day Adventist (21%) 12: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (18%) 13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (12%)

Introducing the Lutheran Blog Directory: A free service with which you can submit your Lutheran Blog listing. Guidelines: Lutheran Blog Directory will list blogs pertaining to Lutheranism. Personal blogs are welcome from clergy and lay alike, but content should reflect a Lutheran perspective. Sites listed should be blogs. Church websites, and other site formats will not be listed. All blogs submitted must be approved by the webmaster. I reserve the right to refuse listing for any reason. Please feel free to link to us, and tell your Lutheran blogging friends! If you have questions, comments, or complaints, contact me: Rev. Tom Chryst, Owner: tomchryst@yahoo.com

Pentecost Sunday (Youth Confirmation) May 15th, 2005 Joel 2:28-29 “It’s Pouring!” I. Introduction – It is the day of Pentecost. Perhaps the third most important Sunday in the Church Year. Though Christmas and Easter both have quite a secular following, I doubt anyone outside of Christendom will wish you a happy Pentecost – if they even know it is today. If they’ve even heard of it! But Pentecost is important. It’s right up there behind Easter and Christmas. Some have even argued that these three Christian Holy Days correlate with the three persons of the Trinity. God the Father showed his love by sending his Son - Christmas. God the Son showed his love by dying on Good Friday and rising on Easter. And on the Day of Pentecost, God the Holy Spirit showed his love by empowering the saints in a special way. Today is also a special occasion for you 12 confirmands. As you have completed your instruction in the faith, and here before God and this congregation you will speak your vow...

Triune God, Your Holy Nature Tune: Stephanos (“I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus” Hymn # 408 from Lutheran Worship) Trinity Sunday Triune God, your holy nature, One and also three, In your word, I know you truly, Grace I see. Father God, Creator mighty, Source of all that is, You have sent your Son to save me; I am his. Son of God, my dear Lord Jesus, You have died for me - Paid your precious blood, and from sin Set me free. Holy Spirit, Guide and Comfort, Sent to sanctify, When you raise me, I will live with Christ on high. Triune God, your holy nature, Three and also one, Hear my praise and thanks you for all that You have done. &#169 Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

An online chum of mine, Jim Roemke, happens to be a Concordia Seminary student in St. Louis (about to go on vicarage). Jim has an appreciation for iconography. While shopping online at an Eastern Orthodox bookstore , he ran across some morning and evening prayers which he found intruiging, and passed along to me. Many of these prayers are un-prayable for a Lutheran, because they address saints, Mary, or someone (or something) other than God. But in the Lutheran tradition of saving the baby while throwing out the bathwater, I found some of these prayers actually worthwhile (with some minor editing). In the "spirit" of Pentecost (pardon the pun), take a look at this evening "Prayer to the Holy Spirit": O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, show compassion and have mercy on me Thy sinful servant, and loose me from mine unworthiness, and forgive all wherein I have sinned against Thee today as a man, and not only as a man, but even worse than a beast, my ...

The "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) has a PR problem, it seems. Their problems don't stop there. But this is an amusing development. Times Square Billboard Declares: “PETA Kills Animals” My General thoughts on PETA: As a Christian, our approach to animals is formed by scripture. God clearly places them, and all creation, in our care. We are to use animals for clothing, food, etc... But like all of God's gifts, we should treat them as such. They do not belong to us, ultimately, but to the Lord. Nevertheless, they are not human beings created in the image of God. Christ didn't die for lions, tigers and bears - but for humans. The Fifth Commandment does not apply to Fluffy. Still, we look forward to the "New Heaven and Earth" when this broken creation is restored. Will that include the animals? I think so! Does that mean your dog goes to heaven? That's a little tougher to say. I think the scriptural, Christian approach i...

Well once again the ACLU jumps into bed with a cause that seems to contradict Christian values. So many news items nowadays seem to touch on church-state issues, and here is another. While the Bible clearly teaches the immorality of fornication, a sin against God's law, how does a society reflect this in its civil law? Certainly not every law of God should be a law of the state. But it does seem that a just society will largely reflect the second table of the 10 commandments in its laws. Marriage has been under assault from so many angles - homosexual "marriage", divorce, and the general acceptance of cohabitation. So is it really a surprise when the legal system seeks to bring current law in line with current practice? The following is part of an article by Libertarian Ralph Bristol . While he too is against the law in question, he wants it dealt with via legislature, rather than judicial means. Either way, it's an interesting (and not too surprising) commentary...

With Sound of Violent Wind Tune: St. Thomas (Hymn # 296 from Lutheran Worship, “I Love Your Kingdom, Lord”) Based on Acts 2:1-21 (Joel 2:28-32) With sound of violent wind, The Spirit came from heavn’ And fifty days from Easter bright The message would be givn’. As tongues of fire came down, A-lighting on their heads, To pilgrims from both far and wide, The Gospel message spread. They spoke of Jesus’ death, His rising and his word, As each in his own native tongue The blessed message heard. Then scoffers sought to claim, “They’re drinking too much wine”, But Peter testified that day - The message was divine. “They are not drunk,” he said, “Joel’s prophecy of old, Showed how God’s Spirit would be giv’n, The message was foretold.” Pour out your Spirit Lord, This day of Pentecost, To point to Jesus Christ your Son, Whose message saves the lost. &#169 Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

No, not a type-o in the title. The following are some LCMS Lutheran perspectives on the best-selling book by Rick Warren. The first one listed, by Scott Diekmann, is a more detailed, 23 page critique, which points to some flaws in "PDL" I had never heard of (i.e. the whole issue of Bible translations). Nice work, Scott! Mr. Diekmann sent me his article recently, which prompted me to post the other critiques I have read. So here are those that I know about: “The Purpose-Driven Life - A Lutheran’s Perspective” by Scott Diekmann (LCMS Layman) “A Critique of ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ By Rick Warren” by Pastor Joe Fisher “Reflections on The Purpose Driven Life in Light of the Doctrine of Vocation” by Professor John T.Pless The Lutheran Witness (online), April 2004 (pages 8 and 9 of the .pdf file) Pastor Paul R. Naumann – (With a “friendlier” take on Warren) Professor John T. Pless – (Sidebar with an “alternative suggestion”) Issues, Etc. Broadcast Transcript With Radio Host T...

Bill Gates Gives Lutherans $539,000 for Sudan Relief Work Bill Gates, arguably the most powerful atheist in the world, has donated a large sum of money to Lutheran World Relief (which is based in my home town of Baltimore). Jeremiah 27:8 (New International Version) 8 "If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I destroy it by his hand. If the Lord could use mean old Nebuchadnezzer as his instrument, why not the "Overlord of Microsoft"? The proceeds will fund humanitarian work in southern Sudan.

Am I the only one who has thought about this connection? Probably not. Here's the story of a brain-damaged man, a fire-fighter by the name of Donald Herbert. He recently awoke from a 10 year coma : http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=725541 The story mentions another person who was "under" for 19 years. Now, I am sure that the cases aren't exactly the same, but it sort of makes you think about Teri Schaivo, doesn't it?

Well, people, I am a shameless plagiarist. Maybe that's too strong a word. But I have no compunctions about stealing a good idea when I see it. So just to give credit where due, here's a word of thanks to Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer, of Burr in the Burgh for the several blog mod ideas I have officially ganked off him. Thanks, Scott! By the way, I highly recommend his blog, full of insightful and wise, bold yet not overwhelming, apprehendable yet digestion-worthy, both pithy and profound Lutheran... uh... stuff. And cool bells and whistles too!

Easter 6 – May 1st, 2005 1 Peter 3:15-22 “Hell, Flood and Baptism” I. Introduction – Today’s Epistle reading is from 1 Peter 3:15-22. It’s a little bit of an odd passage- but that’s part of what attracted me to it this week. It’s also a very “busy” reading. There is a lot going on – much for the preacher to choose from. It starts out with some words of encouragement about giving answer for our faith, in gentleness and respect. It speaks of enduring suffering and of doing good, keeping a clear conscience. But it’s also an Easter passage. Peter tells again and a Christ’s death and resurrection. But there is more here. The shape of the passage takes us on a journey – following the work of the resurrected Christ and all he has done for us. For the sake of time, let’s pick up these three destinations today – Hell, Flood, and Baptism. II. Christ’s Descent into Hell – The Victory Lap “he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed long ago…” This passage is forms the ba...