Preachrblog

New Year’s Eve December 31st, 2005 Isaiah 51:1-6 (Matthew 1:18-21) “A Chip Off the Old Block” I. Introduction – As another year draws to a close, we naturally think of the events of the past 12 months, and reflect, and evaluate the year now closing. Has 2005 been a good year? In the news, there have been, as always are, major stories. Hurricanes, Supreme Court Nominations, and a new Pope. History books years from now may well recall the many events of 2005. But what are the top stories in your life? A new job? A new relationship? A graduation or some other major turning point? Maybe this year was, well, just another year. Historical, or forgettable? In any case it’s a good time to look back, and also to look forward. And so here, as we gather around God’s word, we do the same. Tonight I want to touch on both our reading from Isaiah and also part of Matthew’s Christmas account – both of which you just heard. II. “Look to the rock from which you were cut” We Americans, many h...

A maker of designer Jeans in Sweeden is raking it in by using anti-Christian symbols in his designs. The Lutheran Church of Sweeden's spokesman offers a tepid reaction: "I don't think it's much to be horrified about," said Bo Larsson, director of the Church of Sweden's department of Education, Research and Culture. Read the full story from FoxNews here.

Who doesn't want their church to grow? Not only spiritually, but numerically? Most Christians, most pastors, would love to have more bodies in the pew. So when some of us pitch a fit about the dangers of "Church Growth" I think the uninformed scratch their heads a little. "Don't you want the church to grow?" Of course we do. But the right way. God's way. "Church Growth" has become a moniker for a certain approach - which is not God's way. I surfed into the Lutheran Evangelism Association (LCMS?) web page, and found on their links this listing: The Church Doctor. So I surfed on over there, and read the following: Silly Putty Who shapes your life? When you were a kid, did you ever play with Silly Putty? You could mold and shape it to do just about anything you wanted. What’s the power that shapes your life? The Bible says you’re to be like clay. And God wants to shape you. The world has a different set of values. Shaped by the things o...

Did you know that Ian McKellen (Gandalf) (and Magneto) once played Martin Luther? Check it out here!

Well, it's another game of tag . So here's my five: 1. I just won a 12 player fantasy football league, finished 3rd in the one that I run, and 2nd in the fledgling Higher Things league. Not bad, eh? 2. As a 10 year old (or so) I "officiated" at a "Tom Thumb Wedding". The bride/groom and wedding party were kindgergartners, and I was the "preacher" in this mock ceremony. I'm not sure what the point of it was, but it was a strange foreshadowing of my future anyway. Here's some pics: 3. I use a Tracfone (disposable cell phone). But not that much. 4. I drive a Geo Prizm. When I first got the car, I once mis-typed it, "Getto". Since then I have called it my "Ghetto Prison". It looks like this (sort of): 5. Though I don't get to it often, I enjoy photographing cemetery monuments. Here is one of my favorites: Guess I tag: St. James the Hoosier

For some fun reading, try this little paperback I received as a Christmas gift: The Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse by Jason Boyett . Funny, and yet, informative in a strange sort of way. Includes a chapter of candidates for Antichrist. Also a timeline of wrong predictions for the end times. Boyett does a good job of poking fun without going TOO far. One reviewer on Amazon called it a "Dave Barry's Travel guide to the End Times". Sounds good to me!

The Nativity of Our Lord – Christmas Day 2005 Luke 2:1-20 “Christmas’ed Out” I. Introduction – A blessed Christmas day to you. As we celebrate the second highest holiday of the Christian calendar, I pray that your day, that this season, is filled with all the joy, and love, and happiness, and warmth and hope and peace… well, maybe that’s not so realistic. For many people, and perhaps for you too, by this time we are “Christmas’ed out”. Like a vacation that looks great in the brochure, but once you get there you can’t wait to come home. For many of us this time of year, the stress, the hassle, the shopping, cooking, hurrying, the visiting, and all the other stuff we HAVE to do… might not seem worth it. For most, there’s at least a part of us that is glad Christmas is here, so we can get on with other things. II. Bah Humbug Perhaps Mary and Joseph had the first case of “Bah Humbug” Christmas stress. You can imagine the difficulty of the journey – and Mary “great with child”. Some...

I married a third-generation Slovak, and have learned a number of Slovak words and traditions over the years. It's pretty interesting for someone like me, who has no strong ethnic heritage (being an American "mutt"). My wife sent me on a mission yesterday to acquire a traditional Slovak Christmas food, "Oplatky". I called over to our local SELC church (also Missouri Synod Lutheran, but with a Slovak heritage). They make a certain amount of the stuff each year, and sure enough they had just one order left! Check it out - I think it's a nice tradition. In my wife's family, they eat the oplatky drizzled with honey. I understand Pentecost also uses the oplatky as communion wafer throughout the year.

In the apparently terminal illness of the ELCA, another symptom has appeared. Living up to her name, Bishop Payne, of the New England Synod of the ELCA, gives her blessing to same-sex blessings. (Let it be noted that this is the same Bp. Payne who chaired the "sexuality studies task force" - read , "homosexuality task force") In an post from the ALPB site : At the New England Synod Bishop's Convocation held in Nashua, N.H. on November 7-9, 2005, Bishop Margaret Payne in her bishop's address announced to those in attendance that she interprets Resolution 2 of the three resolutions regarding sexuality adopted in Orlando at the ELCA 2005 Church-wide Assembly to allow for the blessings of unions of same gender couples in committed relationships. These may take place in the churches [that is, the church buildings] provided that pastors, couples, congregations, etc. understand that there is not an official rite of the Church for such blessings. The bishop requ...

For the last two days, our local paper has run front page stories on Mr. Robert Wortock. He is about to sue the city. He is threatening legal action if the city of Racine doesn't put up a nativity scene and signs that say, "Merry Christmas". You can read the articles here and here . Here is his opinion piece which appeared on the editorial page (the first one, "Afraid to speak up") And here is a weblog entry on the topic, by one of our local reporters (Dustin Block - a Buddhist, by the way). There are many comments... In the "War on Christmas", is the best defense a strong offense?

That's what the upcoming NBC show "The Book of Daniel" sounds like. I received a comminque' from one "American Family Association", which keeps up on things like this. AFA seems very concerned that the main writer for the show is homosexual. While that doesn't make a show worth watching or not, the show's premise is a little disturbing: (from AFA): The main character is Daniel Webster, a drug-addicted Episcopal priest whose wife depends heavily on her mid-day martinis. Webster regularly sees and talks with a very unconventional white-robed, bearded Jesus. The Webster family is rounded out by a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a 16-year-old daughter who is a drug dealer, and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, his lesbian secretary is sleeping with his sister-in-law. I have to confess, when I saw the previews on TV, with Jesus telling the priest to "read his book", it sounded mayb...

Lutheran Carnival 13 is up at Aardvark Alley While there, I also stole a couple of those nifty little blog badges. Thanks, Aardie!

4th Sunday of Advent – December 18th 2005 2 Samuel 7:[1-7] 8-11,16 “David’s House” I. Introduction – So with Christmas one week away, are you done with all your shopping? I have found in the past that some people are easier to shop for, and I get those done early. But then there are the more difficult cases. And the question that plagues many a Christmas gift-giver. “What do you get for the person who has everything?” In today’s Old Testament reading, King David tries to answer that question. Not for a Christmas gift, but he wanted to give something to God, or do something nice for God. What do you get for the person who has REALLY has everything? God had made David a king, had given him victory over all his enemies, and made him prosperous. David had enjoyed that prosperity, and after making Jerusalem his capital city had a fine palace built for himself. But he got to thinking – the ark of God, the dwelling place of the Lord – was still in a tabernacle, a tent. A temporary dw...

Fun original quote from one of my members as we discsussed the war on Christmas in this Sunday's Bible Class. Thanks, Gloria!

Dr. Veith on the Cranach blog has some good observations about sheltering children from "negative emotions" one might find in a movie like the recent Narnia film. In my comments to his post, I said: This reminds me of the shift I have seen in the bedtime prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." Instead of "If I shall die before I wake, I pray thee Lord my soul to take" we now hear, "May angels watch me through the night until I wake in morning light". I refuse to use the newer version with my daughter, and teach her the one I learned as a child. I also have a little statuette my father-in-law gave me, in which a boy is kneeling to pray, and it reads, " 'Now I lay me down to sleep,' a little boy once said, 'If I should die before I wake, how will I know I'm dead?" Children need to know about death. They also need to know about the one who rescues us from death. How do you teach children about the cross without teaching the...

Well, As I mentioned, my wife is the more "anti-santa" in our home, and when she went to the local Christian book store came home with a book about the "real Saint Nicholas". She had been looking for something on the real story of Santa. As I sat down to read it with my four year old, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the author's unmistakable last name of "Stiegemeyer". Small LCMS World, eh? Anyway, nice book, Julie! And to everyone else, I recommend it: Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend If you buy it online, you can do so through Rev. Stiegemeyer's blog, Burr in the Burgh , and I think they get an extra 20 cents or something.

Just announced, the 1st annual "Confessional Lutheran Bloggers Conference" When: January 16, 2006 7:30 to 9PM (The day before Symposia) Where: Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft Wayne, IN Who: Lutheran Bloggers and Friends. Speakers will include Rev. Snyder of Ask the Pastor , and possibly Dr. Veith of Cranach . The topic will be the effect that Lutheran Bloggers are having on the church body. To receive more info and updates, go to the Lutheran Blog Directory and sign up in the google group box near the top.

3rd Sunday in Advent – December 11th, 2005 Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11 “Good News” I. Introduction – How many different ways can you say the same thing? How many ways to say “I love you”? How many ways to say “yes” or “no” or “thanks”? How many different ways can we express the content of our faith? Jesus loves me this I know. Jesus died for us on the cross. He forgives my sins. He saves me, reconciles me to God, renews my life, makes me his child, promises an inheritance, makes us holy, righteous, blameless. He redeems us, he defeats the devil, he rescues us, restores us…. Well, I could go on. While sometimes it’s a challenge for the preacher to express the truth of the Gospel in a fresh way, in reality, there are so many ways it can be said. Just ask Isaiah. Today’s reading, a messianic prophecy, bubbles over with a multitude of expressions – all telling the same good news that Christ brings. II. …Good News to the Poor… A young child was working feverishly to draw a picture. Breaki...

I don't usually stay up late enough on Saturday to watch "Saturday Night Live", but for some reason this week I caught the opening skit, and it was a fun piece of satire. I share Doug Howe's post about it from Beliefnet.com "Saturday Night Live" at its finest is satire, not just comedy. At its satirical and relevant best, it offered some neutered and politically unoffensive versions of "holiday" carols on this week's show. In so doing, one of the most traditionally irreligious shows on television succeeded in displaying the limited value of a neutered holiday. Among the lyrics: "Silent Night, Regular Night..." "Away in barn box..." "The stars in the sky shine down cuz its night, the lamb and a donkey just got in a fight..." "Oh Tuesday Night, the starts are brightly shining / It is the night to watch tv and play cards... Fall on your knees, and do a jigsaw puzzle /Just stay inside, tonight (big finish here!) ...

Conservative Jewish moral philosopher (and radio talk show host) Dennis Prager has an interesting article, "In Defense of Santa Claus" In our house, my wife is the big anti-santa. Her objection seems two-fold. One is the honesty factor. Two is the emphasis (Santa vs. Christ). I'm with Prager more on the honesty factor (we let her watch Barney without the caveat that it's a guy in a purple dinosaur suit). I'm with my wife on the emphasis factor. Cute story though: Our four year old heard "Here Comes Santa Claus" on the radio, and spontaneously started singing "Here Comes Jesus" instead. Cute story two: She said to her mom, "I wish Santa was real. I'm going to talk to God and ask him to make Santa real". Kids. Gotta love 'em! You can read more Lutheran reflections on Santa Claus at these blogs: Burr in the Burgh Cyberstones Incarnatus Est

Today, my older daughter turns 4 years old. As most parents, I am amazed at how quickly the years have gone by. I also wonder whether I learned more in my four years of college, four years of seminary, or four years of parenthood. It could be a close call. Anway, reflections and insights from these 4 years: - Children can push you to the limits of human emotion, both good and bad, and cause you to react in ways you never thought such a small creature could. - The stupidest words I ever said (out loud), "Having kids won't change our lives THAT much". - Having "up close and personal" experience with a child brings new levels of meaning to scriptural ideas and teachings - that God is "our Father", that Jesus commends the faith of Children, even the idea of laying down one's life for another. - There was some Luther quote I read about Fathers changing diapers because it was a Christ-like thing. I wish I had a quarter for every dirty diaper I changed....

Just read a fascinating paper by Dr. Adams of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis . In it, he outlines a theory that the LCMS today is divided in 3 distinct factions: Traditional Missouri Moderate Missouri Neo-Evangelical Missouri It's a great read - and to me, it rings true!

2nd Sunday of Advent – December 4th, 2005 Mark 1:1-8 “The Voice of John” I. Introduction – Last week I mentioned how the Church celebrates this time before Christmas differently than our secular culture. The culture “jumps the gun” on Christmas in a way, while the church, in the season of Advent, continues wait, anticipate, look forward to the coming Christ. Likewise, very different visitors appear at this time in the church, and the world. In the “world”, you have the ever-present character of Santa Claus. A jolly old man, obviously well-fed, who wears a tell-tale kind of clothing and knows whether you’ve been naughty or nice. In the church, a different man appears in Advent, John the Baptist. Would we call him jolly? Probably not. Well fed? If you like eating locusts and wild honey. He does wear a tell-tale kind of clothing – camel hair and a leather belt. And John’s call for repentance shows that he knows – you’ve been naughty, not nice. So today, the sermon isn’t about Santa Claus,...

The latest edition of "The Lark" is up. Check it out.

Advent - New Year - Out with the old, in with the new. Over the weekend I hope to have the site rebuilt. Burr in the Burgh turned me on to the 3-column thing. As always, the best ideas are the ones I steal from others!