May 21, 2016

As Lutherans, we believe certain things, and here are some of the things we believe. We believe in a Triune G-d – G-d the Father, G-d the Son, and G-d the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge one G-d in these three persons. We believe that G-d the Father created all things, and G-d is loving, compassionate, just and kind.  And G-d’s deepest desire is to live in an intimate relationship with all people.

We believe that, because of G-d’s desire to live in a relationship with us, G-d the Son became fully human.  We believe that Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is fully G-d and fully man.  Through  death and resurrection, Jesus made it possible for all people to live in a relationship with G-d now, have their sins forgiven, and rise from death to live eternally with G-d. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him we can enter into a relationship with G-d.  We believe that G-d the Holy Spirit is the presence of the Risen Christ among us. Through the Spirit, G-d loves us, empowers us and lives in us. The Spirit gives gifts to all believers, and as such we should use all the gifts of the Spirit each and every day.

Of course, I do not know everything – you can most likely discern that from reading a lot of my writings. But I am always reading and therefore I am always learning a lot. For example, I did not know there was a drink called a “Doppio”. Now, we have learned that the espresso is the foundation of all lattes, mochas, and macchiatos. A “Doppio” is simply two shots combined – but the two shots need to be pulled within a five-second window — and each must have three distinct layers: the crema, the body, and the heart. Did you know there are three parts or layers to a shot of espresso? The crema is the top thin layer and sweetest part of an espresso shot. The body makes up the middle and “umph” of the shot and should be a caramel-brown color. The heart is the very bottom of an espresso shot and is the bitter balance to the crema’s sweetness. It should be a deep, rich brown color!

As mysterious as the Doppio may sound to me, the same can be said about our G-d whom we know in the three persons of the Trinity. Tomorrow, on Trinity Sunday, many churches will read one of the three Creeds (I believe statements) accepted by the Church Universal – the Athanasian Creed (the other two being the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed). The Athanasian Creed is only read one time a year because of its length and its convoluted expression of the Trinity. It attempts to explain the Trinity, but in the process also tries to refute many different heresies of the time. Therefore, instead of being informative, I believe it just clouds the issue. But let me just say this, like the Doppio has three parts that make up one whole drink, we have One G-d that expresses G-d’s self in three ways: Father (the top or the Crema), the Son (the Body and the “umph”), and the Holy Spirit (the Heart). I will spend more time in tomorrow’s devotion explaining the Trinity. Today, I will simply drink my coffee – and drink in this G-d who is both fully mysterious and fully loving.

Pastor Dave

May 20, 2016

“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” Mark 11

My wife will occasionally order a drink called a Chai Tea Latte – and usually she will order it on ice. I have tried it a few times, and I think it tastes awful. But, we all do not have to like the same things. The Chai Tea Latte is “Spiced black tea blended with steamed milk.” Chai (pronounced as a single syllable and rhymes with ‘pie’) is the word for tea in many parts of the world. It is an “old” beverage which has played an important role in many cultures. Chai from India is a spiced milk tea – which sounds so similar to the beverage you might get in America.

People always have a hard time trying to harmonize an angry response from Jesus – even to consider whether Jesus did get angry. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Jesus got angry as much as I might say Jesus could get “spicy” at times. I believe the two experiences we see of Jesus in our reading today, the fig tree and the money changers in the Temple as the perfect examples. But Jesus was not trying to get people to cry, as much as he was trying to get people to think – and think out of the box – which often is the most difficult thinking we all have to do.

If we say nothing else about Jesus, we can say that he had a passion about his relationship with his Father – and as such, he had a passion about calling people into that same relationship. Where there was misuse of religious time and space, Jesus was quick to call out their sin. Where there was barrenness in people, he was interested in bringing out their fruit and their passions – fruits of the Spirit and passions for G-d.

So, if you are feeling barren with your faith, don’t “Chai” us a river, get connected to G-d – look for the Holy Spirit in your life to spice up your faith.

Pastor Dave