January 15, 2017
Epiphany 2A

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” John 1:29-42

“If you really want to understand why the church is declining in North America, you need to recognize how frightened most of our people are by the word “evangelism.” For some, it comes from being on the receiving end of someone else’s evangelism. Whether asked “Have you accepted Jesus?” by a domineering brother-in-law or “Do you know where you’re going when you die?” by a well-meaning but intense co-worker, too many folks have experienced evangelism as coercive, even threatening.

For others, the explanation isn’t nearly as sinister. It may be a conviction that religion isn’t something polite people talk about; or that one’s faith is private; or simply the desire not to be perceived as one of those people (you know, the kind we just described). Whatever the reason, most of our people not only have little experience in evangelism but are downright frightened of it. And that, of course, cripples our ability to reach out with the good news.” (David Lose, working preacher website, January 13, 2014)

Abraham Lincoln was truly a “John the Baptist” figure. Why would I say that? Well, let’s see – Abe Lincoln was a relative unknown, coming out of the wilderness of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois to become President of the United States, and whose elocution truly raised him up as a political figure. John the Baptist, too, came out of the wilderness, living off locusts, dressing in camel’s hair, and was known for his fiery rhetoric. Abe Lincoln was, at times, a tortured man – it was believed that he struggled with depression most of his life, often called “melancholia” at that time – besides having to deal with the immensity of the Civil War. John the Baptist, it seems, must also have been tortured with his own “demons”, preaching and struggling with religious leaders, like Herod who eventually put him into prison and had him killed. And, Abraham Lincoln and John the Baptist were both men pointing to something bigger than themselves – Lincoln to a country without slavery (a house divided against itself cannot stand…this government cannot endure…half slave and half free), and John the Baptist to the arrival of the Messiah (Look, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world).

Abe Lincoln and John the Baptist both are remembered for their words as well as their actions. Both, though driven by fears, were not afraid to say the things the world needed to hear in great times of distress. No, you and I are not Abe Lincoln, or John the Baptist, but you and I do have a voice – a voice that needs to proclaim what Jesus has done for us, even when we are afraid to speak. The word never spoken is the opportunity that never happened for one more person to hear of the love of Jesus. We may not change the world with our voice, but we may change the world-view of one person to whom we do share our voice.

Pastor Dave

January 14, 2017
Martin Luther, Reformer, Priest,

On this date, January 14, 1501, Martin Luther enters the University of Erfurt at the age of 17.

In 1501, Martin Luther entered the University of Erfurt, where he received a Master of Arts degree (in grammar, logic, rhetoric and metaphysics). His goal, at least according to his father’s wishes, was to become a lawyer. However, in July 1505, Luther had a life-changing experience that set him on a new course. Caught in a horrific thunderstorm where he feared for his life, Luther cried out to St. Anne, the patron saint of miners, “Save me, St. Anne, and I’ll become a monk!” The storm subsided and he was saved. Most historians believe this was not a spontaneous act, but an idea already formulated in Luther’s mind. The decision to become a monk was difficult and greatly disappointed his father, but he felt he must keep a promise. Luther was also driven by fears of hell and G-d’s wrath, and felt that life in a monastery would help him find salvation.

October 31, 2017 being the 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses document being nailed to the church door in Wittenberg, thus sparking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, it is only fitting that we intersperse different events in the life of Martin Luther in my devotions throughout 2017. The act of nailing the 95 Theses is not so much earth shattering in and of themselves, but the idea that discussion within the structures and teachings of the church may produce such backlash and condemnation is worth noting and remembering. We are, as Lutherans, people of faith borne out of questioning, out of discernment, and out of disagreement. But that is not necessarily what it is we should remember about the Reformation. What we remember is the “new” understandings that can come from questioning, discernment and disagreement. And in those discussions we can find ourselves being renewed and reborn in our faith.

When Luther entered the school in Erfurt, he could not have foreseen the direction his life was about to take. That is the way of the Spirit, and it is in the Spirit of Reformation and remembrance that we approach 2017.

Pastor Dave