Listen to Jesus

This week's "Words to Live By", entitled "Listen to Jesus" were written from Pastor Paul's hospital room. He is hoping to be going home today. We extend our thanks to him for his good words and our prayers for continued recuperation. God bless you Paul and Diane.

Read Luke 8:4—15

Hearing is a gift. Listening is an art. There is a difference between them that is essential to faith development. Jesus points to that difference in the Parable of the Sower and the Seeds. It seems to depend on what happens to the words we hear.
When a farmer sows seed it is broadcast across the land falling on or into various kinds of soil. Jesus proclaims his good news to a variety of people who hear the same words. Yet, depending on what happens to those words in our minds and hearts determines the various results that follow. It is like the difference in how seed grows and produces in the kind of soil on or into which if falls.

Jesus uses parables to share the “secrets of the Kingdom of God” with his followers. Not everyone who hears the good news understands what Jesus says. Each person interprets what is heard based on his or her experiences, beliefs and convictions.

Therefore when good news is proclaimed people respond to it differently. Some hear but don’t listen. Their thoughts are focused on other things. It‘s like seeds that fall on the path which the birds carry away. Others hear, yet as they listen, other things distract them from understanding. They are like those seeds falling on rocky soil that cannot take root and the good news, like the young plant, withers.

Another group listening to the good news begins to see and understand God’s truth. However, they are deeply committed to other ideas in conflict with what God says and can’t quite make the connection. They are like those seeds that fall among thorns and weeds that grow up and choke the developing plant and it dies. Often the religious leaders of Jesus’ day heard Jesus but had a difficult time listening and understanding because of their self-righteous understanding that they alone were the experts on God’s truth contained in the law and the prophets.

Jesus seems to be wasting his words on people who don’t listen. The good news that he shares is for everyone to hear. Many people listen and allow God to nurture the message of reconciling love, forgiveness of sins and salvation in their hearts and minds. They are like the seeds that fall into the good soil and produce fruit. It changes their lives. It grows into a living faith. It results in becoming a disciple.

God’s gift of hearing allows everyone to hear the good news. The art of listening helps the hearer to understand this good news is intended for their benefit. Understanding the good news of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ, is salvation and eternal life for all who believe. It is a blessing for everyone who believes.

Even disciples have difficulty understanding parables. Like seeds, faith takes time to grow, develop and bear fruit. Each and every time you and I open the Book of Faith and hear the good news of God’s love that faith gets fertilized and nourished. A growing faith is the result of hearing, listening and understanding over a life time.

During the last week my body has been fighting off infections with the help of antibiotic and required my being hospitalized. My mind and heart have been nourished with God’s good news Jesus Christ. My faith has been strengthened by the gift of God’s Holy Spirit transforming what I heard from God’s Word into an increasing confidence in God’s love for you, for me and for everyone.

When I was a young boy and my mother asked me to do something she would often have to say, “Did you hear me?” If my response was too slow she would say, “Are you listening to me?” When I needed a third reminder, her words were, “Did you understand what I said?” Now that I’m no longer a young boy, I find those same questions guiding me as a child of God growing in the faith that brings salvation to those who believe.

In John’s Gospel, chapter 2, Mary, the mother of Jesus, tell the servants at a wedding, listen! “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” That’s good advice for every believer who wants to grow and live in the faith.

Open my ears, Lord, and teach me to listen.
See Hymn # 516 (Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Almighty God, your word is cast like seed into the ground;

now let the dew of heav'n descend and righteous fruits abound.
Let not the sly satanic foe this holy seed remove, but give it root in ev'ry heart to bring forth fruits of love.
Let not the world's deceitful cares the rising plant destroy, but let it yield a hundredfold the fruits of peace and joy.
So when the precious seed is sown, life giving grace bestow, that all whose souls the truth receive its saving pow'r may know.

Foundations for Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a very powerful act of reconciliation. Sin breaks down the trust in our relationships with God and with each other. The words, “you are forgiven” have transformational power to repair the broken relationships and to restore the trust that is the basis of the relationship.

In your relationships with God and with others you are constantly seeking forgiveness, offering forgiveness and at times wrestling with the request that someone makes of you to receive the assurance of your forgiveness. Forgiveness is critical to maintaining our relationships with others and with God.

There are times when it can dominate our prayer life as we seek forgiveness or as we search for the graciousness to offer forgiveness to others.

We are sometimes troubled by our sense of guilt and even after seeking God’s forgiveness and hearing the words of absolution; there remains a question about the reality of the forgiveness that we cannot seem to put behind us.

God forgives us, others forgive us and yet the act of forgiving ourselves seems to be a stumbling block to our experience of that forgiveness.

Another aspect of forgiveness sometimes disables the action we take in forgiving others. There are times when it is difficult to offer forgiveness. It may be because of the weight that the sin seems to carry or the number of times we have been offended by the same person or in the same way by others.

We become aware of the words of Jesus, “for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father for give your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15). It is when we seek forgiveness that we are overcome with the weight of those trespasses by others that we have not yet forgiven want to forgive but we cannot forget. Sin has left a scar that won’t go away and reminds us over and over again of the offense and the offender.

How do you develop the ability to live as God’s forgiven sinners and at the same time live as sinners who are forgiving of the sins against them? For me it begins with the realization that our sins are already forgiven. Scripture tells us that Jesus died once for all sins. (1 Peter 3:18) “Because Christ also once for all died for sins, the innocent One for the guilty many, in order to bring us to God….” God offers forgiveness to everyone for all their sins. This gift is bestowed upon us at baptism. The scriptures also tell us, “if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Martin Luther urges us to live in out our baptism daily. We do that by renewing the covenant of grace that God initiated in the sacrament. In the Small Catechism Luther as the question, “What does baptism mean for daily living?” His answer is a call to repentance and therefore to forgiveness. He says, “It means that our sinful self with all its evil deeds and desires should be drowned though daily repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.” Luther points us to Paul’s letter to the Romans 6:4 “ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father , we too might walk in the newness of life.”

Daily reminders of Baptism help us become aware of God’s gracious forgiveness that renews us in our relationships with him and with others—the splashing of water on our faces or with water making the sign of the cross on our foreheads are signs that bring baptism and God’s forgiveness into our everyday lives. We are reminded that we have been forgiven and that we live in the newness of life provided by God’s gracious forgiveness. That encourages us to let Godâi™s forgiveness flow through us to others. God forgives sins, we are only the instruments used by this gracious God to extend his love and grace to others.

God’s forgiven people grow in his grace as they allow the words of forgiveness to renew the relationships broken by sin to sustain them in the newness of life. Jesus has spoken the words clearly, “Your sins are forgiven.” That empowers the forgiven to share this good news with others as they declare forgiveness to those who sin against them. Forgiven people are forgiving people who live in the newness of the restored relationship with God and with all those who have been likewise forgiven.

Forgiving becomes a part of our daily living when we realize that it is God who forgives and he has spoken the words “Your sins are forgiven” to everyone. As that forgiveness is shared with others relationships are restored and life is new again.

Lord, Jesus, forgive my sins and help me to forgive those who sin against me. Amen.
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray; But you alone can grant us grace To live the words we say. Lord, cleans the depths within our souls And bid resentment cease; Then, by your mercy reconciled our lives will spread your peace.” (Lutheran Book of Worship Hymn 307)

KNOWLEDGE IS UNDERSTANDING

This weeks "Words to Live By" are fitting on this Ash Wednesday, as we begin our Lenten journey. A part of the Lenten discipline is to grow in faith and knowledge, and Pastor Paul Hauenstein's words today are a reflection on Caitlyn Miller's confirmation verse. Our thanks to you both.
(For past "Words to Live By" and other information about Our Savior, go to http://www.oursaviorelca.com/.)

KNOWLEDGE IS UNDERSTANDING

Read Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Education is the foundation of civilization. Learning about history, science, mathematics, languages, economics and government prepares us for meaningful participation in community with others. Caitlyn Miller sees Martin Luther as an example of using his knowledge to understand truth.

Luther was a good student. He studied law to please his Father but he expanded his learning to include an understanding of God and faith. While riding through the woods in a thunderstorm he was startled by a bolt of lightning. He prayed to St. Anne and promised to become a monk if his life were spared. It led Luther to the monastery and to the study of Scripture.

His knowledge grew and his understanding of God’s love and salvation developed a solid faith. He became so convinced of the Bible’s truth that he challenged the teaching and authority of Pope Leo X. Rather than back down he was excommunicated for his beliefs.

The fear of the Lord that led Luther to devote his life to the study of Scripture changed with world. The understanding that we are saved by grace through faith led to the Reformation of the Church. He used his knowledge to translate the Latin Scriptures into the language of his people—German. It made it possible for every person to read the Bible for themselves. The invention of the movable type printing press put the scriptures into the hands of common people. Over the years the Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages and mass produced to be the bestselling book of all time.

The wisdom that comes from understanding God’s Word leads to the gift of faith given by God to those who seek the truth. Imagine a world without books, schools, education, and knowledge. The resulting lack of understanding would leave civilization much weaker and less progressive. We have an awesome God. It is our holy fear or our respect for this God that leads to wisdom, knowledge and understanding of his love and salvation. The Word of God is the beginning of the wisdom and our understanding of faith.

“Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above, With wisdom, power and love, Our God is an awesome God.” (Lyrics by Rich Mullins)

Thank you Caitlyn, your Confirmation Bible verse and your memories about Martin Luther inspire us.

THE AUDACITY OF GRACE

As our country struggles with how to fix some long term, serious problems, Pastor Paul's words this week help us get to the root of where some of the fixing needs to take place.

Ephesians 2:8—10 "For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."

Visions, dreams, expectations, and hopes have been expressed by the leaders of nations, of the business world, of industry, of religion, and leaders of organizations to motivate their people, employees, followers and members. Those people who have been captured by these visions, dreams, expectations, and hopes have often ridden on the coattails of those leaders who put them forth, as if one person could indeed bring about the end result of the visions and images they have uttered.

Our nation has experienced the inauguration of a new president who has put forth a doctrine of hope for America during a time of economic depression, historic unemployment, an age of terrorism, anguish over the war in Iraq, turmoil in the Middle East, and a lack of confidence in government. American democracy is on trial. Not only Americans wait to see how the new leaders of this administration will guide the country, but the world has its eye on how we will proceed.

Our democracy is a government of, by and for the people. The success of the nation is determined by the participation of every citizen in remaking the nation by doing his or her part. It is the same principle that makes business, industry, organizations and religion successful. Whenever people sit back and allow things to proceed without their participation, contribution and sacrifice they are disappointed, and become critical of the failure of the vision, dream, expectation, and hope that they have trusted others to bring about and then blame the failure on others.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church about using the spiritual gifts God has given to the church (people) to fulfill its purpose. Read chapter 12 of 1st Corinthians. It takes all the parts of a body working together to function as it is intended by the creator for the church to be the church. It is simple. Everyone must do their part. That is not the whole story however. Everyone must do their part together. It is good for us to vision, dream and hope. At the same time visions, dreams and hopes depend not only on us to become realities.

God dares to boldly declare that it is not by our works but by his grace that we are saved. Ephesians 2:8—10. The audacity of Most High God to gift his people with the love that will bring success to their endeavors speaks loudly in the midst of our times. Without God’s gifts we cannot do our work, contribute to the hopes, dreams and visions of our leaders who are likewise the servants of the Almighty. The trust that we place in the grace of God opens the way to success in every aspect of human life. Without God’s grace our efforts are doomed to disappointment and failure.

This is not a time to wait and see what our new leaders will give us or how they will help us. The change that we seek begins with the change we make in ourselves, using our gifts to contribute to the hope set before us. It relies on the participation of every citizen in the enterprise of remaking America. It demands the sacrifice of each person for the sake of each other and the world. Our hope for our future and the realization of our visions and dreams are dependent upon our participation, contribution, and sacrifice. And that is possible only with God’s amazing grace moving us to be what the Creator intended for us to do, give, and yield for the sake the world. It is not about what our nation will do for us it is what we will do by God’s grace for the sake of our neighbors, the nation and the world.

This is the time for the people of God to step up and become the church in the world. It is the time to bear witness with the gifts God has given to each of us using them together to bring the ministry of reconciliation and forgiveness to make our communities, our nation and our world a better place. The church exits for the sake of the world. The people of God are called to be the servants of world following the example of Christ.

There is one way to make the visions, dreams and hopes of our leaders become reality—pray. Pray for the leaders of the city, state, nation, and the nations. Pray for the leaders of business and industry. Pray for the pastors and bishops of the church and the leaders of all religions. Pray for yourself and every other citizen and believer to use the gifts God has given the people to realize his plan for the world. Pray every day for his blessings to be poured out for the sake of the world. That is the audacity of Grace.

Lord, God lead our nation and the world by your amazing grace to become what you have made us to be. Bless our mayor, governor, legislators and president with vision, perseverance and strength to lead us. Bestow your grace of the leaders of the nations to seek a world of peace and justice for all. Empower our pastors and bishops with wisdom and understanding of your Word in Jesus Christ to lead us into the way of truth. Give each citizen the motivation to use your gifts for the good of the world. Enable me to be willing to participate, contribute and sacrifice to establish your kingdom of peace among us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me;

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appeared the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me; his Word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymn #779)

IMAGINATION

February 4, 2009

John 8:31—38; John 17:6—19 "Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth , and the truth will make you free.' They answered him, 'We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?' Jesus answered them, 'Very truly , I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanetnt place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportuniuty to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.'

"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave, me because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."


In his inaugural address Barak Obama said, “Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.”

John Lennon wrote a song the title of which is Imagine. The lyrics suggest that if we imagine a world in which there is no heaven or hell, no religion, no countries, and no possessions then there would be no wars, nothing to kill or die for, no hunger and no greed. Imagine all the people living in peace. It is a radical approach to but I don’t believe it is a godless one.

Imagination is the God given ability to perceive the divine plan that every person is a child of the Creator and entitled to live freely in the community of God’s people without prejudice, persecution and hunger. Imagine such a world. Imagine such a community. Imagine such a family. Imagine a person who sees God’s way as the way to live. Imagine you are that person. Imagine your task is to convert your family your friends, neighbors and the world to that understanding. Unless you and I can imagine what it is like there is no possibility of taking the steps to share the vision and convert others to participate in the enterprise of becoming the people, the community, and the family God intends for us to be.

Another line from the inaugural address challenges us, “The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.” The time has come to set aside the differences that divide us: the partisanship, the gridlock, the greed, the lust for power, privilege, wealth, race, envy, pride and every other means of dividing people that exists.
God sends his Son Jesus into the world corrupted by sin to help us imagine the divine intention of creation. He teaches us to imagine a world of justice and peace, of love, respect, and compassion. Jesus describes the true disciples of the divine will of God in John 8:31—38. “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I declare to you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”
Jesus prays in John 17:20—21, “I ask…that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” The differences that we allow to separate and divide us are human creations and aberrations of the divine intention. Imagine what God created you and the people around you and the world we live in to be. Then with all your heart, mind, and strength do all you can to realize that vision so that the world may live as one. It begins with your imagination and your dedication to the task.

It is an exciting time to be the church in the world. The challenges are great and our God is almighty. Everything is possible with Him. Our future is dependent on our understanding of the divine vision of the church. Pastor Jerry Wahl, Mission Director for the Florida Bahamas Synod in the recent workshop helped us define the purpose of the church. There are four elements: worship, education, koinonia, and service. The worship must be inspiring. The education is life-long. Koinonia is the fellowship of believers; and the church exits for the sake of the world—serving others. Imagine how the world would look if we began to live together as God’s people for the sake of the world.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream must be imagined to become a reality.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal...I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.”

BRING IT ON!

January 21, 2009

Read Matthew 5:11-12 ("Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.")

Everyone who claims the name of Christ will at sometime endure insult and sometimes injury. Faith becomes a source of blessing for such times. Marisa Ward says, “God made me comfortable with myself. He will always love me.” This is a great assurance for a Christian.

Reverend Ruben Duran, Director for Development of New congregations for the ELCA reported to a Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly that there were communities in the U.S. where land developers were resistant to selling land to the church for new buildings; governments that were using high impact fees, assessments, and building codes to discourage churches from building; some community organizations opposing new congregations from being developed in their cities. The devil, said Rev. Duran, uses every possible way to keep the good news from the people. But he said, “Satan and those who oppose the church don’t know who they are dealing with. They don’t know that with God anything is possible. So, bring it on. We are ready for anything.”

You have to know whose you are and who you are in Christ to face the insults and rejection of the world. You have to believe in God’s love for you to continue doing his will in spite of the obstacles and resistance you will meet. You have to believe your faith is worth the insults, being made fun of, and even persecuted by those who don’t believe.

We are encouraged by the Word of God that tells us how people treated God’s prophets and even his own Son in the past. Our assurance is that God rewards the faithful. Jesus tells us about the banquet where all God’s children will gather together in the Kingdom to rejoice and celebrate the victory. The feast awaits and those who are comfortable with what God has made them. They are ready for everything. So bring it on. Faith makes us ready for anything.

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; O what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymn # 638)

Thank your Marisa for helping us remember the assurance and importance of faith with your expression of faith and the Bible verse you chose for your confirmation.