“In 1505, Martin Luther was in Erfurt. He had received his master’s degree in January, and had spent a few months studying law. He thought he’d go home and pay a visit to his family, so he traveled about 90 kilometers to the north to the town of Mansfeld. On the way back, Luther was caught in a violent thunderstorm, in fact, he thought God had unleashed the very heavens to take his life. So Luther tried to get shelter, and he found this big granite rock, and he grasped it, and he cried out, “Help me, Saint Anne, and I will become a monk.” As Luther’s biographer Roland Bainton puts it, ‘God kept his vows, and Luther kept his.’ Luther survived the thunderstorm. He made his way back here to Erfurt, and he threw a party for his friends. He gave away his law books, he gave away his law cap, and he entered the monastery here in Erfurt.” (Nathan W. Bingham Oct 15, 2019 Category: Ligonier Resources)

“Out of the Blue”

The meaning of the phrase “Out of the Blue” is related to a longer (but much less common) versions of the idiom: “Out of a Clear Blue Sky”, and “A Bolt Out of the Blue.” “The blue” refers to the blue sky. It is possible to say that something unexpected is a bolt from the blue. It seems to make the most. sense that this “bolt” refers to a thunderbolt, i.e. lightning accompanied by thunder—as in “Who would expect a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky?”

Lutherans know the story of Martin Luther and his “lightening bolt” moment. We have a hard time getting into the mind of someone from the 15th and 16th centuries — the superstitions and myths that were prevalent in their thinking. It is no surprise a lightening bolt that strikes close to Luther would be seen as an indication from the heavens that all is not right. We understand weather much differently than they did. And yet, if we have a near miss today, we too may think G-d is trying to tell us something.

I must admit that I believe G-d will use all kinds of devices to get our attention in this life — mostly because we are so distracted by all kinds of events and worries. If it takes a lightening bolt from the blue to get us to pay attention, well, perhaps G-d has something to say. And often it takes a near miss to get us back on track with our faith.

Don’t make G-d send you a lightening bolt today — why don’t you give G-d some attention and then listen for his instructions.

Pastor Dave

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity. At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room. Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.” Acts 9:36-43

“Dead as a Doornail”

Dead as a doornail is a phrase which means that someone is really dead — they are not alive — they are deceased. The term goes back to the 1300s where the phrase is found in poems of the time. The term dead as a doornail was used in the 1500s by William Shakespeare, and in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843. It is thought that the phrase dead as a doornail comes from the manner of securing doornails that were hammered into a door by “clenching” them. Clenching is the practice of bending over the protruding end of the nail and hammering it into the wood. When a nail has been clenched, it has been “dead nailed”, and is not easily resurrected to use again. An alternative wording of the phrase dead as a doornail is deader than a doornail.

Tabitha was loved by her friends and neighbors — and so when she died they were terribly distraught. But let us be certain of one thing — Tabitha was not just a little dead, she was “dead as a door nail”. When Peter came to see her, he must have had some understanding that the Lord has something great in mind. Peter doesn’t even speak except to tell the people to leave him alone with Tabitha. He prays to Jesus and then says “Tabitha, get up”. It is clear from this story that the power of the Holy Spirit continues through the disciples — the same Holy Spirit they received in Acts 2.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful force — and is waiting to empower us to do works of ministry and acts of love. Sometimes the Holy Spirit sneaks up on us — other times it hits us like a lightening bolt from a clear blue sky. There is no way to know when the spirit works, or how it works, or in what way it will hit us. We just need to know and to trust that the Spirit is looking for open hearts and willing faith to do its magic.

Pastor Dave