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WEEKLY DEVOTION JULY 23

Tuesday, JULY 23, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“The Damage We Do to Ourselves”

READING: Daniel 5:22-28 – But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praise the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

My brother has become the very good friend of our old varsity football coach, “The Bear”. He is about 6’3” and a big man. He played football for four seasons for IU, then was drafted by the Steelers, but blew out a knee in rookie camp. He’s 87 now but still formidable. His wife told Larry that Coach bought himself a Water-pik thinking that it would do a better job on his teeth than a brush. The first time he used the thing he had water all over the bathroom and managed to squirt himself in the face several times. The picture of Coach squirting himself in the face just cracks me up! He thanked his wife for sharing that information with Larry. I think it’s priceless.

I also heard about a young man who attended a Fourth-of-July party at a friend’s house. Everyone had a good time, and after most of the guests had gone home, he was helping his friend clean up. They were standing by the pool when without a word or warning, the young man dove into the pool. He failed to note the depth which was only three feet. He crashed his head into the bottom of the pool, his feet arced over his head, and he broke his neck. He died at the scene. What a sad and terrible loss.

People often do terrible damage to themselves, sometimes by accident, sometimes by negligence, and sometimes with full knowledge of what they are doing. Sometimes the results are comical as in the case of my old coach. Sometimes the results are tragic as in the case of the young man and the pool. We don’t always know all that we need to know. We don’t always heed the warning signs. We don’t always think things through and make informed decisions. We hurt ourselves all too often.

In our reading for today we have a man in his prime years who is king of a great empire. His father, Nebuchadnezzar, had built up the empire to unknown heights. When he died, Belshazzar inherited everything except his father’s acknowledgement of the God of the Hebrews. He was full of unfounded pride and arrogance. He disrespected Yahweh both by worshipping idols and by misusing the sacred vessels taken from the Temple. By his attitude and behaviors he set himself against the God of the Universe. He did this to himself, and the results would be tragic for him. His empire would pass into history, and he has gone down in history as a fool.

So it goes for the ones who count on their own abilities and take all the credit for their successes. Those who have no need for, thought of, or thanksgiving to the One True God stand themselves opposed to him. Sooner or later it ends tragically for them. If not in this world, then someday before the judgment seat of God. They will do the damage to themselves with no one to blame. “With my own strong right arm I have won the victory!” they seem to say. That is so often the precursor to a terrible fall.

Now, it’s not just the titans of business, sports, entertainment, or politics who are prone to this kind of damage. Just plain folks like you and me are also tempted to take the credit for our successes and pat ourselves on the back. One doesn’t need to be a king to swell up with pride and ignore “the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” Thanksgiving to God is a powerful deterrent to pride and arrogance. Being frequently reminded that all we have and all we do are gifts that start with our Lord and his grace helps us avoid the damage we can do to ourselves by setting ourselves against God.

Now if we could just be more aware and wiser in conducting our labors, our entertainments, and our travels. Just this week we had two broken legs, surgery to repair a broken arm, an MRI after a fall, and a hernia surgery amongst the members here at Grace. Yes, we do damage to ourselves on a regular basis. But we need not fall short of God’s blessings if remember the One who has called us by name, made us his children, and given us the promise of eternal life in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Under that name the damage stops. Under that name joy is given, and it is joy to the full. So, please be careful! Watch yourself! Keep your eyes open and your mind on what you’re doing. And above all remember our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May God bless and keep you to all eternity. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. About 6-8 seats available.

2) BARDSTOWN BUS TRIP – This trip is full with a waiting list. Join us next time.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/vghZRBKg04Y

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly23.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JULY 22

Monday, JULY 22, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Written On Our Hearts”

Last Saturday, July 13th a terrible thing happened with the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The country has reacted with relief for President Trump and to horror over security and especially over the death of one husband and father who simply attended the rally, sitting in the stands with his family behind the Former President.

The reaction, however, that I would like to underscore today is the response put out by Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis. I was sent a link that I have included here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmO8q4svuak Knut, thanks for sending it to me. Ham asks simply how do we know that this was a terrible act? How do we know that this act of violence is, in the words of President Biden, “Unacceptable?” Evolution after all teaches, “a survival of the fittest.” Who then gets to decide who is fittest or what evil looks like? Ham points out that in his visit with Bill Nye at the Ark Encounter, that Nye says good and evil are decided by “the will of the tribe.” It’s subjective and therefore, interpretative. We know that doesn’t work. Judges often says, “the people did what was right in their own eyes.” That only got the Israelites into lots of trouble. It doesn’t work. As Christians this not consistent with the scriptures on what good and evil looks like and who gets to determine good and evil and what to do about good and evil. At one time George Washington was a hero of the revolution. To the English he was an insurrectionist. Right now, we are calling an attempted assassination evil and wrong but how do we know this?

Romans 2:12-16 gives us the answer. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Two things; first no one who hears the Law is righteous. There are absolutes. God is absolute. His Law is absolute. Jesus’ death is also absolute. The last one is huge because it means our salvation in Jesus is absolute. However, with these absolutes one must obey the Law for righteousness, not merely know the Law. This is not a salvation by works thing. It is a “by their fruits” they display their faith thing. Romans 2 convicts too many Christians who only hear the Law but then do not obey it. For example, Christians know they are to Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy but don’t go to worship.
Disobedience of the Lord’s will in the eyes of the Lord is called evil. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul becomes the poster child of disobedience for not obeying the Lord. In verse 22-23 Samuel equates disobedience to the evils of divination and arrogance to idolatry. Between Romans 2 and 1 Samuel 15 it is important to be honest about ourselves and with the Lord and realize that we should do better than we do and not simply know better. One doesn’t have to know a lot. One simple is called to do what they know is right in the Lord.

Back to our point on this. What is good or evil is not for us to decide. It is God alone through His Law that has determined right and wrong. This is an absolute. He has also defined righteousness as doing His will over our own. Jesus, routinely expressed being about the Father’s will in his public ministry. Jesus was the strongest defender of the Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane for example. Our call in Philippians 2 is to be as humble as Jesus who was obedient even unto the cross.

The second part of this is closely connected to what we have already said. The Law is written even on the hearts of the Gentiles or the unbeliever. The Law is known at some level even to the unsaved. How else would it be said by secularists that we cannot tolerate violence of any kind. On the conscience of many there is still a knowledge that violence is at least a negative thing and should not be tolerated.

Let’s go a bit further then. How about hatred? There is a lot of talk about hatred toward this group or that group. Hatred is a political weapon these days. For at least one twenty year old man there was enough hatred in his heart to act with careful planning and determination to attempt an assassination of Trump. Hatred has as its logical end such a goal. Jesus Himself in Matthew 5 teaches that if we are angry or worse, hate our brother in our hearts we are in fact a murderer and subject to judgement. It is not a healthy thing to harbor bitterness toward others. At its least it results in belittling someone with our words and at its worst it seeks harm. Hatred is never positive and is in fact evil.

Jesus was abused worse than any other. If anyone had a reason to harbor anger toward others it was Him. But His words were, “Father forgive them” and “Today you will be with me in paradise.” What was written on Jesus’ heart was a love for humanity expressed in His sacrifice on the cross. There are plenty of evil things in our world to be disgusted with. That doesn’t mean we have to let that disgust become a houseguest in our hearts. It is also important that our conscience remains free of those lingering things that can sour our spirit toward others, even someone we deem politically unfavorable.
Let me conclude with something we should be doing that I hope we can all agree on. Please pray for the candidates. Pray for safety for the Trumps and the Bidens. Pray for our election process to be fair and safe as well.

Pray for our government that a wave of repentance might return us to the absolutes of God’s Word. Pray that we as a country move from a Romans 1 nation to a Romans 8 nation. Pray for hearts and minds to turn to the Lord more fully. Lord knows personal ambitions have spoiled our country and moved us far from the Lord. Let us check our own selves carefully before the Lord as well. I would even suggest a prayer for how we may feel toward one or the other candidate so that our own attitudes may be godly. Neither candidate for president is a saint. God in His judgement can handle both just fine without any of us. Our job is to keep our attitudes godly toward each of them.

Please pray for the health of the candidates. President Biden is clearly struggling with something big and life altering. If he were merely a member of our congregation, he would probably be on our prayer list.

Pray finally that God’s absolute will would be accomplished for the good of our nation and for His people who live here. And may the Absolute Gospel of Jesus be our ultimate answer above our politics.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly22.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/dGGFvGuNlWA

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JULY 16

Tuesday, JULY 16, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“ROADBLOCKS”

READING: Psalm 16:8-11 – I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let you Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

NOTE: Pastor K. did this Weekly Devotion video extemporaneously, so the following is a synopsis of the video and not word-for-word. For the complete text, listen to the video.

Have often told you that I despise the color orange in the summer! I hate orange signs, orange cones, orange barrels, orange vests, and everything that has to do with construction zone, utility work, tree trimming and the like if it is going to hold me up. Worst thing is I never know WHERE those zones will pop up. One day here, tomorrow there. If I knew WHERE they would jump up, I would do my best to reroute and avoid them.

Just today as I was coming to church along Slate Run Road there appeared the dreaded orange hoard. They were not there yesterday, but here they were doing utility “work” although I saw no one working at the time I went through the roadblock (except of course the two flaggers).

Roadblocks come in our lives much the same way. Everything is going along okay…then the phone rings with bad news. All is well…then someone runs a red light. It’s just a normal day…then a pain starts to radiate from your chest and your arm hurts. Roadblocks appear often when we least expect them.

We’re in hurricane season. We hear a week or more ahead that there is a “tropical depression” just off the Azore Islands. Then as it moves west it becomes a tropical storm with a name, like “Beryl”. Soon it’s a Category One or Two or Three hurricane that threatens various land masses. We get lots of warning that it may be heading our way. Tornado weather gets close attention. If the weather seems “iffy”, the meteorologists get out their Doppler Radar and show us “hooks” and “debris signatures” and warn us to get to our “safe places”. But there is one natural phenomena for which, so far, there is no early warning: earthquakes. One minute you are eating your soup…the next moment the ceiling falls on your head.

There are Roadblocks the catch us unawares in our living as well. The unexpected loss of a loved one, an accident out of the blue, an illness or condition that gave no warning sign. These things come. But the Psalmist reminds us that if we keep “the Lord ever before us” – that is right in the middle of our lives, we are NEVER alone whatever comes. With the Lord at our right hand, we will not be “shaken to pieces” – destroyed and brought into eternal loss. We have his promises that by trusting in God’s grace through Jesus Christ, we are his children and he will always hold us safe in his almighty hand. Roadblocks will appear. Troubles will come. But with God on our side, who can be against us? Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 14 seats available.

2) BARDSTOWN BUS TRIP – On Wednesday, July 24, we leave Grace at 9:00 bound for Bardstown, KY, and Museum Row. For one $10.00 fee you have access to all or some of: the Museum of Civil War Women, the Gen. Hal Moore Museum of Military History, The Museum of the Civil War’s Western Theater, and Old Bardstown Village. At 1:00 we will have lunch at the historic Talbot Tavern, oldest existing tavern in Kentucky. Sign up at the office.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/USqtYBpMonU

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly16.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JULY 15

Monday, JULY 15, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“The Long View”

Are you one the keeps the long view? What I mean to say is are you one who keeps an eye on the eternal reality that is found only in Jesus. Is your life one that is framed by your faith?

Our Lord keeps the long view always out front. From Genesis 3 all the way through the Old Testamen God laid out a plan with one goal in mind, the most important goal, the salvation of fallen humanity through Jesus.

We have many examples. Consider Joseph for starters. From Genesis 37-45 Joseph goes through a lot. He is sold into slavery by his brothers out of Jealousy. He was hired out to Potiphar who put everything in his charge. Potiphar’s wife puts the moves on Joseph regularly and finally corners him and then she claims that he tried to rape her. He is thrown into prison because of it. In prison Joseph meets the pharaoh’s cup bearer and his baker and interprets their dreams. Later pharaoh has a dream about seven years of plenty and seven years of famine and this dream is interpreted by Joseph. Pharaoh puts him in charge of the nation second only to Pharaoh. Eventually, the famine comes forcing his long-lost brothers to show up in Egypt hoping to buy grain. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers after a numbers of tests. In the end he forgives his brothers. Why? Because Joseph held on to the long view. He believed that God was working out something good in placing Joseph in such a position to save his family. And that is the point of Joseph’s story. His purpose was to preserve the line of Abaham. Through his work the promise was secured. The Israelites multiplied and eventually Moses would come on the scene. It’s not just about Joseph. It’s about the plan that God maintains through the twists and turns of Joseph’s life.

Consider Jonah. He had one job; preach to Nineveh. He didn’t want to because he hated the Ninevites. So, he tries to sail another direction only to be thrown overboard and swallowed up by the whale. In the end its not about Jonah, about how he feels, what he wants to do or not do, but its about the long view. It’s about the grace of God on display. It’s about the Lord demonstrating forgiveness for the worst kind of people. Ultimately, its about us standing with the Apostle Paul and reminding ourselves we are no better and deserve nothing but wrath. Yet instead we are forgiven in Jesus’ cross and resurrection.

Everything that is worthwhile takes time to develop. There is a long view in finances such as saving for retirement or preparing for college. That requires deliberate and consistent regular contributions over many years of time. This takes great planning and care. If one is just blowing the whole paycheck each month carelessly then the long view is lost.

There is a long view in health and aging. Many go to the gym with this in mind or make it a point to have a physical at least once a year. However, if one smokes heavy, drinks heavy, and doesn’t watch what they eat many problems may develop. The usual conclusion for many is regret when unhealthy things come.

The long view is essential for things like marriages which are meant to be life-long. The long-view is in raising our children in the Lord. The long view is a life of discipleship and example to those around us. The long view is a life shaped by faith.

The long view for salvation is greater than all and that’s why we want a life shaped by our faith. After all what good is it to gain the whole world while forfeiting our soul in the process. Like Joseph our lives are part of a bigger picture that impacts our children, our spouse, our church family, and our community. Like Jonah, it’s not just about how we feel or just what we want. Keeping the long view requires time with the Lord on a consistent and deliberate basis, keeping a time for the Lord keeps the Lord on our minds. It means that we are keeping the Lord as a priority. Sometimes it requires sacrificing what we want to do for what we need to be doing. Sometimes it means sticking with the Lord, as Joseph did—meaning that he never let his circumstances become his focus over his Lord no matter how much he was devasted by them. Joseph gave his best self under every condition. When he went to prison, he became such a model prisoner that the warden of the prison made him a number two man just like Potiphar had done with Joseph on his estate.

Keeping the long view is what Jesus continues to emphasize for the disciples who kept wanting to be the most important disciple. Jesus however, taught humility, washing the disciples’ feet. Humility is perhaps one of the most major ingredients for keeping the long view because humility attaches itself to Jesus’ humility on the cross (Philippians 2). Humility takes the focus off of ourselves and towards others first. Humility integrates the Lord through regular prayer, worship, Bible time, and listening to the Lord. Humility keeps a lot of things under the care of the God’s grace and in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Are we keeping the long view? It’s not always easy to do because we all have so much going on. It’s easy to get lost in the school schedule or in all the doctoring that many have to do. It’s easy to get focused on ourselves when so much is going on; how tired we are, “how long is this going to take,” how much we enjoy it or tolerate it only; so many things. In the end, however the long view focused on eternity is all that matters.

No one who faces their end in this world wishes for more overtime or more worldly treasures. At the moment of death, one is often hyper-focused on what comes next. What comes next lasts forever so we should be paying attention to it. That alone makes it a big deal. But even bigger, the long view remembers that we get to be with Jesus for eternity. You being with Jesus is the whole thing—the reason we shape our lives around faith. May the Lord help us all to frame a life around faith so that the long-view, our hope in Jesus Christ strengthens and propels us through all the nitty gritty stuff in between.

Pastor Matt Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly15.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/LotgeogLxzs

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JULY 9

Tuesday, JULY 9, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“Good Habits, Bad Habits”

READING: Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

NOTE: Pastor Kischnick did this video devotion extemporaneously, so here you have a synopsis of that video. For the full text, listen to the video presentation.

The Elders have decided to begin making home visits to members we have not seen at church for some length of time. They had suspended this during the Pandemic and for some time since because everyone seemed a bit squeamish about entertaining visitors. But the time has come to recommit to this task.

Sociologists have long known that behaviors repeated 3 or 4 times in succession can become new habits. Many families developed new habits during the time of the Pandemic. Got used to watching online or omitting worship altogether. New habits can easily be bad habits.

Our text was written about 30-40 years after Jesus’ Ascension. Already then the writer to the Hebrews has to encourage attendance at worship. How ready we are to cut ourselves off from the spiritual resources God has given us in worship, resources that we cannot obtain anywhere else. The Word, the Sacraments, the Fellowship of Believers, and the love of God shared with one another in the Lord’s house has no substitute.

If we can encourage our missing members to return to worship three or four times consecutively, they can make a new habit, a good habit. We ourselves want to be vigilant in our own worship attendance so our habits treat us to good and keep us in God’s hand. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) VBS! Thanks to everyone who made our VBS the special experience that it was. Special thanks to Pastor Woods, Helen Bohannon, Mitzi Lyon-Schmelz, Joan Longest, Amy Meyer, Ben Wehmiller, Kathy Scheibelhut, the Kitchen Crew, and everyone else who helped bless the children for whom all the work brought joy.

2) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 14 seats available.

3) BARDSTOWN BUS TRIP – On Wednesday, July 24, we leave Grace at 9:00 bound for Bardstown, KY, and Museum Row. For one $10.00 fee you have access to all or some of: the Museum of Civil War Women, the Gen. Hal Moore Museum of Military History, The Museum of the Civil War’s Western Theater, and Old Bardstown Village. At 1:00 we will have lunch at the historic Talbot Tavern, oldest existing tavern in Kentucky. Sign up at the office.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/zBkRrGpsRgs

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly9.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JULY 8

Monday, JULY 8, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Draw Near to God”

If one is to get more familiar with anything or anyone one must get close to it. Let me illustrate. I drive a Chevy Equinox. The first time one of my headlights went out I had to look on YouTube to figure it out. On my old Dodge Aries, I would loosen easy to find screws in the front. It was easy. Then I would have to pull out the whole headlight assembly, and finally replace the old bulb with the new one. In newer cars it’s like a game where you guess how to replace the headlight. Turns out on my Equinox, one has to enter through the front wheel-wells, loosen a sealed plastic fitting that gives me access to the light bulbs and viola, I can see again. The point is that I need to get familiar with the car in order to even change a light bulb.

It’s a bit more complicated with people, of course. It takes time together, conversation, working through times of distress, practicing forgiveness, sharing experiences etc. I know my wife, for example, because we have drawn near to one another. I know my children because I have been near to them. Near means more than simple proximity. Being with them is perhaps the biggest part but it is also investing in their talents, strengths, weaknesses, how they might react when they’ve been happy or sad, etc. A level of intimacy or familiarity is gained in the nearness. They also come to know me and all my idiosyncrasies, my habits, and the way I think, my mannerisms, the way I handle situations and so on.

This does, however, work somewhat differently when it comes to our Lord. James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded.” First, God is always near. Psalm 139 is clear that God knows our thinking and our doing and is familiar with all of our ways. Jesus has promised that He is with us always. The question of nearness is in His people not in our Savior.

Sin causes distance with God as it does with each other. Marriages are often left in tatters over disagreements about money and communication. Friendships are lost over things like one being too needy or controlling. Sin puts distance between us and the Lord as it does with one another.

I don’t know why but the AM station in my car barely gets a signal where I live. However, as I drive into the city the signal gets stronger and the voices get clearer. Coming home the voices on the radio get harder to make out and the message gets completely lost. Drawing near to God brings clarity to hearing God. And when one finally gets close enough for the static too clear we find Him to be the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, standing there waiting for us the whole time.

To draw near is eggizo. It is a word of proximity. In the Old Testament it is a word expected of priests who come to the Tabernacle with their sacrifices to God (Lev 10:3; 21:21, 22) and as one approaches worship (Isaiah 29:13) with more than just lip service. It is about communing with God. The word also implies more than just taking a couple of steps. God is not a seasoning that one puts on a dish. God is the main course, the centerpiece, the reason we gather. Eggizo is an all-in word. Eggizo is a word that requires genuine humility so that there is sinful static. It’s an invitation word to approach Him with all of our sins when we come into worship. “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

When Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18 Jesus lays a strong emphasis on the Tax Collector’s genuine humility and repentance. Then says, “I tell you, this man rather than the showy religious looking one went home justified before God.” Jesus is demonstrating what Eggizo looks like.

Coming near to God as we look at it in James 4 leads us to a few realities. First, being near does in fact imply coming into God’s presence in worship. The whole goal of the 3rd Commandment, to “remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy” is at its heart drawing near to God. When Israel camped in the wilderness the Tabernacle was kept in the center of all the tribes. Keep God the center of our lives keeps a lot of other things out that shouldn’t be there. The practice of physically going to church is part of the intention of this word.

As second half of this first thought is that our hearts are not divided. It’s not good to be in the same place with a spouse but thinking about another person. Neither is it healthy to be in church where we are meant to be communing with the Almighty but instead, we are thinking about our personal idols. That is the double minded stuff that got Israel in trouble. Where our hearts are that’s where our treasure actually is. The Lord always prefers true faith over just being around for show.

In speaking to the rebellious Israelites about to go into captivity Jeremiah 29:12-14 offers a promise. “12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Whatever has us captive we can be rescued from it by the Lord. It all starts with realizing the Lord never leaves His people. His people leave Him. And yet Jesus stands eager and ready for us to come near to Him and He to us.

Finally, I say again that nearness implies familiarity and a deeper level of knowing the Lord. Like any relationship it will be as deep and as abiding as you aim for. The only reason many Christians do not know the Lord like they could is because they really aren’t aiming for that. They are aiming being too worldly and immediate. On the other hand, when we listen to His Word without static so much of His Word is telling us how much the Lord wants us to be with Him. This the biggest point: Jesus wants us to draw near to Him and know Him fully. He wants an eternity with us. May the Lord bless us to know the fullest measure of His presence. In Jesus.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly8.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/kdI393Q6pz0

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JULY 2

Tuesday, JULY 2, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“What’s Wrong with Those People?”

READING: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

I mentioned in last week’s devotion that I am still a runner – not fast, not stylish, but I get the mileage done. I keep telling myself that this is good for me – even as my muscles and joints complain. As I run I am often assailed by and offended by something I see too much of: litter.

Once a week I run back into the industrial park along Barack Obama Way. It is a beautiful parkway that has woods all along its northern and western edge. It has a broad bike and running path that runs alongside the road. It’s a lovely, quiet place to run. But…last week what did I see? A Chik-fil-a dinner box lying in the grass along with napkins, forks, wrappers, and assorted trash. I see this kind of thing all the time, and every time I wonder to myself, “What’s wrong with these people?”

Now, I sort of understand their logic when it comes to alcohol cans and bottles. If they happen to get pulled over for a traffic violation, and the officer sees those bottles, or smells their contents, that’s a serious offense. So if they down a can of beer, there is some incentive to get it out of the car as fast as possible. Out the window it goes. Not right, not good, but there’s some logic to it. But why throw the Chik-fil-a box out the window? Why throw a Burger King sack or a candy wrapper or a Coke bottle out the window? Surely those things can ride along until you get home or to some place where trash cans are available. I just don’t get it. What’s wrong with those people?

St. Paul prophesied it in our reading for today. He makes a “Rogue’s List” of offenses, attitudes, and behaviors he says will be prominent “in the last days.” We are in the last days. We’ve been in them since the day the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. The final countdown has been in effect since that day. And what St. Paul predicted has come true again and again in every age since that day. Honestly, his prophecy was not all that hard to make, right? People do these things because they are sinners – unrepentant, ungodly, uncaring, selfish, self-centered, ornery, mean-spirited, ignorant sinners.

The people who through all manner of litter out their car windows DON’T CARE. They feel entitled, or they feel oppressed by their daily grind, or they despise authority, or they figure “someone” will clean up after them. Whatever is their reasoning, they just DON’T CARE. No one cares about them. No one will know. None of it matters anyhow. The littering is often just a symptom of a deeper issue. They do not honor creation because they do not honor or know the Creator. They do whatever they wish, whatever they feel, and don’t feel beholden to anyone, least of all the God of the Universe.

Now that’s not to say that Christians never litter, or despise authority, or feel entitled, or just don’t care. That’s really the whole point: we are like that sometimes simply because WE TOO ARE SINNERS. We have to be on constant guard against falling into the old patterns of the world. We, who know the Gospel, who love and praise and worship the Lord, we, too, are susceptible to sin and its effects. That’s why self-inspection, confession, and God‘s absolution are so important in our lives. “If we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us.” It’s when we see the sin in “those people”, but fail to see the sin in ourselves, that we are vulnerable to the devil, the world, and, especially, our flesh.

Littering is just a microcosm of the greater sins and failings of humanity. We pollute our rivers, our oceans, our lands. We abuse our bodies, our families, our neighbors. We ignore the poor, the broken people, the helpless. We abort our babies, warehouse our elderly, exploit the needy. We abuse our offices, feather our own nests, accuse our opponents of the very things we ourselves are doing. This world is plagued by sin as it was before Jesus, during his life, and since his resurrection and ascension. In these “last times” things continue to be as they were before. Except…

You and I, the Christians of our day, can do our part to make things different, even in small ways. Imagine what this old world would be like if there were NO CHRISTIANS in it! Imagine what WE WOULD BE LIKE without Christ in our lives! Repent of your sins. Receive his forgiveness. And by the Holy Spirit’s prompting find ways to share his love, his Word, his blessings with others today. Don’t just show those things to other Christians, but to those who are decidedly not Christians. Heap burning coals on their heads. Let them see your Heavenly Father in you. And, please, put the trash in approved receptacles! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) BARDSTOWN VISIT: Wednesday, July 24, we’ll go by church bus to “Museum Row” in Bardstown, KY. There are several museums to visit including: The Women’s Museum of the Civil War and Col. Moore’s Military Museum. We’ll eat lunch at the famous Talbert Tavern. Sign up at the office. Room for 25 only.

2) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 53 seats available.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/Hr6yiMtblPg

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly2.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JULY 1

Monday, JULY 1, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Do The Good That Needs to Be Done”
Galatians 6:1-10

Many of us have heard of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware on Christmas 1776. Many of us have seen the painting by Emanuel Leutze, a German-born painter in 1850. It’s a big painting at 12.4 by 21.3 feet and it is probably not historically inaccurate for a number of reasons, the size of the boat, George standing up heroically while rowing was done by the soldiers sitting down. But accuracy was not his purpose in painting it. It was to create inspiration for a revolution in Europe that eventually would never come to fruition.

The Painting captures perhaps the most pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War. 1776 was cold and miserable. Washington had many defeats and men were abandoning the cause. Disease and starvation were also claiming lives and morale had bottomed out. George needed a win. So, Washington attacked the Hessian military base in Trenton, New Jersey. Hessians were hired guns from Germany who fought for the British. Christmas day 1776 Washington and his army quietly crossed the icy Delaware River unbeknownst to Hessians who were celebrating Christmas. The cargo boats they crossed in were probably more like 50 feet long and able to carry horses, artillery, and lots of soldiers. With less then ten losses Washington captured over a thousand Hessians. It was a much-needed win. It was a huge morale boast and provided a strong motivator for recruiting and for carrying on the cause of liberty. It provided the motivation to carry on the war.

248 years later motivation is still one of the greatest battles we face. Being motivated to do anything is internal. Somewhere inside of ourselves a conversation happens. And depending on what needs to be done motivation becomes the right mixture of attitude, emotion, and energy.

2000 years ago in Galatians 6:9-10 Paul says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Let’s face it to be motivated we have to believe that something good is worth our time and effort.

There are actually two words of good being used here. The first is Kalos. “Let us not become weary in doing good…” This is a praiseworthy goodness, something beautiful and inspirational helping a neighbor with his lawn while he was sick. On the other hand, “Let us do good to all people…” is agathos. This word is more intrinsic, “be the good that happens to people.”

The greatest goodness we know is Jesus. Jesus is the personification of goodness and what He does on Good Friday on the cross is the good produced. And we know what motivated Jesus. A non-stop love for humanity. Jesus never gives up on us. We are made good by Jesus’ forgiveness on the cross. The good works we do reveal who we are on the inside. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). This goodness was the mark of the church in the earliest days. In a pagan culture Christians stood out because they cared for the sick, the orphans, and outcasts. It was inspirational and because of their witness the church exploded and spread far and wide.

A distinction of what is good and what is not is something learned. Lord knows, we need more good in our country right now. But the lines between what is good and what is evil has blurred tremendously. For example, vs. 1 says, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” Being spiritual is distinguished from being of the flesh.

Paul goes on to talk about the sarx or flesh in 11ff in terms of circumcision. Pressure was being put upon Christians by others to be circumcised first. Christians were giving into this in order to be accepted by other Jews rather than be persecuted by them. Christians give into a lot of things that are not good in order to fit in. Rather than argue we just don’t say anything. And then we make excuses for it, and even participate. But often it is just easier to go along to get along. And for some unfortunately, we buy into the modern secularist philosophies believing them to be good things.

We learn what is good from scripture. For example, consider what we actually learn about love. Love is good but love without obedience to the Word is not good. Love without forgiveness or compassion is not good. Love is only the mortar that connects the patience and kindness, forgiveness, faithfulness, the goodness, the self-control. Love without gentleness or respect is still just a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. People toss around love pretty casually. But love has a specific look in scripture. We learn what love really is in Jesus. For Jesus love was doing the Father’s will on the cross. Jesus’ love was demonstrated. It was sacrifice and hope too. Being Spiritual means learning and practicing spiritual things defined by God’s Word as the standard.

In spite of all that is bad Galatians 6 says “don’t give up on Good.” To give up on something is easy. The hard work, as we know, is finding motivation to press on. It’s hard work because inside of you and me is this conversation I mentioned before. Inside we are evaluating whether something or someone is worthy of my time. Inside we torture ourselves with what we know we should do and what else we might do and think about what we’d rather do. In the end the hard work is a contest within ourselves. Unfortunately, that is usually a battle with our sinful nature. We are sinners so we generally aim for what is selfish or easy. So, note this point: You are not the only one that struggles with motivation at times. So, allow me to offer some observations.

The motivation to do good requires humility—to put something good before oneself. Paul says restore someone gently. But he also says watch out so that you aren’t tempted either; tempted to anger, or impatience, or saying something that breaks the spirit. Paul also says, Test your own actions without comparing yourself to anyone else. Notice that Paul is saying that restoring another person isn’t about you. Paul is warning us against pride. If our focus is self-fulfillment, or some gossip material, or winning an argument, or looking important you are missing the point. The point is to restore your brother, not compare yourself to your brother. Remember the Pharisee and the Tax Collector who went to church in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9-14? The Pharisee went to the front few and reminded God how awesome he was. The tax collector stayed in the back begging for forgiveness. Jesus concluded the parable by saying, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

When the disciples were arguing over who among them was the greatest disciple Jesus took a towel and wrapped it around his waist and washed the disciple’s feet. In an act of humility Jesus demonstrated how to take the focus off of self. “Love one another as I have loved You”, Jesus taught. Jesus was humility incarnate. He was meek, meaning he had the power to do anything but chose instead to die for sinners. Humility brings more good than pride does. Good has the power to offer more motivation because humility will experience gratitude more often, giving thanks for what one has—which then brings a peace. There is a greater fulfillment in accomplishing something good and with that is a greater peace. Peace leads to generosity–generosity leads to motivation driven by godly love. And one who is humble is more likely to take responsibility for oneself rather than blame others for our plans getting all messed up. And again, one only need look at Jesus to understand the depths of true humility.

Finally, consider the company you keep. If you are hanging out with Mr. Downer or Mrs. Miserable, the indifferent, or apathetic, you may want to change who your friends are. We generally absorb the emotions and personalities of the company we keep. If you are having trouble with motivation this is not the crowd for you. Such company puts a load onto us.

248 years ago, our country set out with revolution. However, the real revolution is happening inside of ourselves when we find the motivation to do good. The world can use a lot more goodness. By God’s grace we are it—made good by God’s grace, able to do good by God’s grace. Our families, our faith, our neighbors, and ourselves are more blessed when we find the motivation to carry it out. In Jesus’ name.

Pastor Matt Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly1.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/4Z6-gaI2p6I

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JUNE 25

Tuesday, JUNE 25, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“Finders-Keepers”

READING: Matthew 13:44 – Jesus told this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

As I’ve told you before it is my habit to run three days a week. I run 4 miles on Tuesday, then 3 miles on both Thursday and Friday, so ten for the week. As I run I see all manner of items lying alongside and on the road. You’d be appalled at how many nails, screws, and broken glass I see there. No wonder we get flat tires on occasion.

From time to time I find more valuable items. I have a small pile of change I’ve picked up in the last six months or so. The coins are usually scarred and misshapen from being repeatedly run over. When I have enough of them to make it worth my while, I will take them to the bank and exchange them for useful coinage. I’ve found useful wire, bungie cords and tie-down straps, boards, and other assorted odds-and-ends.

I use those items in conformation class when we talk about the seventh commandment and Luther’s injunction that we are to “help our neighbor keep his property and business.” I ask the kids if the following statement has a place in this: “Finders keepers – losers weepers.” If I find an item along the road, may I keep it even though it doesn’t belong to me? They always hesitate to answer because they sense I might be setting a trap! While they’re chewing on this I tell them about one of my youth group girls in Royal Oak who, while we were swimming up to our necks in a lake, suddenly dove underwater and came back up holding a $20 bill she had stepped on and retrieved. I ask them, “May she keep that twenty?”

And the answer is “yes”. Unless there is a way to identify the owner of such items, it is good stewardship to take and make use of them. I tell them to give God thanks for the extra gift and use them wisely. In our brief reading for today, Jesus does not indicate a moral lapse in the man who finds the buried treasure. He has no idea who originally buried it there, but having found it, he hides it once more and then buys the field. Obviously the owner of that field does not know about the treasure, or he would not readily sell that field. It isn’t his, so the man who found it and now owns the field it is in can claim it and joyfully use it as his own.

Now, I also tell them another story. I went out early one morning to put an envelope in our mailbox. When I opened the mailbox, there lay a wallet. When I examined it, I found it contained almost $200 in cash and an ID card for one of my son Dan’s neighborhood friends. Turns out that friend had come by the evening before on his bike, told Dan he was leaving with his family the following day for a vacation, and must have had the wallet (with all of his vacation money) in his back pocket. As he rode away, the seat pushed the wallet out of his pocket, and he didn’t miss it. Someone, I have no idea who, must have come by after that or in the morning before I came out of the house and put the wallet in our mailbox, assuming someone in our household would know who it belonged to. Now that person followed Luther’s injunction to the “T”. That person could have taken the wallet or just the cash, but seeing the ID card was for a youngster and seeing the basketball hoop in our yard, that person assumed someone in our home had lost it and put it where we would find it. Well done, whoever you were.

So “Finders Keeper – Losers Weepers” is a thing. We do our best to secure someone’s possessions for them, but in cases where no owner can reasonably be found, the treasure, small or large, becomes a gift we can thank God for and use for good purposes.

Oh, and by the way, that little parable is often misinterpreted, I think. The usual explanation is that the Kingdom of God is so precious that we should be prepared to give up anything to gain it. The problem with that is that we don’t earn, buy, deserve, or “find” that Kingdom. It is given to us by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, the gracious work of the Holy Spirit. I think Jesus is the One who finds what he treasures, you and I, and “in his joy he went and sold all he had” to buy the field and with it the treasure. In Jesus’ kingdom he gave all that he had to pay for our sins and to claim us as his own, scarred and bent as we are by sin. He loved us with a love we can never fathom, bought us at a price we can never estimate, and gives us a Kingdom beyond our knowledge. We were the losers and weepers but through Jesus we are found and kept…and THAT is our joy! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) VBS! Thanks to everyone who made our VBS the special experience that it was. Special thanks to Pastor Woods, Helen Bohannon, Mitzi Lyon-Schmelz, Joan Longest, Amy Meyer, Ben Wehmiller, Kathy Scheibelhut, the Kitchen Crew, and everyone else who helped bless the children for whom all the work brought joy.

2) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 53 seats available.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/1cey1gpg-ac
THE FIRST PART OF THIS DEVOTION IS NOT HERE!

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune25.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JUNE 24

Monday, JUNE 24, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Cleaned Up In Christ”

Are you a mess? A while back while in Michigan I had the privilege of baptizing my nieces little ones and their dad. My niece and her family are always a joy to be around. The plan at the Baptism was to have family and friends over to their house to celebrate the baptisms. That meant that the house needed to be cleaned up. According to her mother, my sister, my niece is a stay-at-home mom who is wonderful with her kids, but she is not a housekeeper.

My niece admits that her house is often messy. We had dinner the night before the Baptism with her family. It was there that she told us that she had apparently been trying to clean up the house for two weeks. She and her husband looked around the room and just started laughing at themselves. We laughed with them because she also said, and it still looks like a tornado came rushing through the place. I didn’t think it looked all that bad. Any house that has two busy little ones three years and 18 months is going to look like a huge toy box; furniture is going to be displaced, and the kitchen will have lots going that isn’t about cooking food. Her devotion to her children is without question as good as it comes.

There is a truth in scripture. No matter how good we think we are we are still a mess because of our sin. Sin kills everything it touches from marriages, to friendships, between parents and their children, even to our bodies. Romans 5:12 tells us that we are all ruined by Adam’s sin.

This week at VBS we are talking about what a mess humanity has become in sin. The first reality is that we are sinners. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world. The following chapters illustrated how quickly things got messy. In Genesis 3—There are curses–Pain in childbearing and thorns and weeds from the cursed ground. In Chapter 4 disfunction finds the first family as Cain kills Abel. In the end Adam and Eve lose both of their sons, Abel to murder and Cain to exile. And already by chapter 7 (just seven chapters) the whole world is so messy that the Lord floods the world while Noah is preserved in the ark. Family disfunction, drama at work, bullies at school, and an infinite number of things give us plenty of evidence that life in this world is exactly as Revelation 7:14 calls it, a “great tribulation.” The tribulation is as big a problem as it gets.

Tribulation is life in this world. However, we also learn quickly that Jesus is the way out. God’s people are seen in Revelation 7:14 as those who have come out of the great tribulation because they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. That brings me to our theme verse for this year’s VBS, Romans 5:8. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this…While were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Our mess is literally cleaned up in Christ.

“While were yet sinners” communicates that Jesus brings salvation to us. We cannot rescue ourselves. We cannot outsmart tribulation. We cannot problem solve our way out. We cannot do enough good to earn our way out of tribulation. None of those things work because our sin continues to plague and skew our emotions, our thinking, and our behavior.

Two examples of people that we are looking at this year are Samson and the prodigal son. They are in essence very similar. Samson with given great strength as a Judge of Israel in Judges 16. God called him to lead Israel. But he was a poor example, disrespecting his calling, his parents, and his God given authority. He was a mess acting more like a spoiled brat rather than a godly leader. He was prone to sexual temptations, rash behavior, rudeness, violence, and down-right stupidity. I mean how thick does one have to be to not see how he was being deceived by a Philistine prostitute, named Delilah. He tells her and suddenly by some miracle of coincidence Philistine soldiers just show up. But she finally gets it out of him, she cuts his hair, and he is hauled off. Interesting Samson’s one and only recorded prayer was after he had been blinded, imprisoned, and mocked. It was on this last day of his life when he asks the Lord to grant him strength to bring the Philistine Temple of Dagon down. The Lord grants it and in a single move Samson kills more Philistines in that one moment that during his who life.

The prodigal son is no different. We probably know this story by heart. He wants nothing of the farm nor of dad. Well, he gets what he wants, and it leads him right to the pig pen. Talk about a mess. Finally, in the mess he realizes how dumb he has been. He returns home and is welcomed with a homecoming celebration.

Both men were huge messes. Both took their parents for granted and their blessings for granted. Both were given great opportunities. Both had intrinsic authority that they misused or forsook because they were selfish in their desires. Both heap all kinds of trouble upon themselves with bad decisions to the point that they lose everything. Eventually, they return to their senses. Samson prays to His Father in Heaven and is given the strength to destroy the enemies of God along with their temple—finally honoring God more than himself. The prodigal returns to a loving Father.

Likewise, we or someone we probably know have taken much for granted; smarts, opportunities, gifts, family, and have traded it for a selfish or misguided fulfillment. With it is drama and trouble that costs them much. By God’s grace some prodigals return home. Some don’t. But the Good News is while Samson and while the prodigal were still sinning God was always ready offering them grace to come out of their great tribulations. Jesus is more ready to forgive us then we are to ask, even on our worst day.

We are cleaned up in Christ. Ultimately, we are brought out of the great tribulation, life in this world, which Jesus says in John 16:33 is full of trouble. Of course, the other side of this verse is that Jesus has overcome the world and therefore, all the trouble that goes with it. No where is this truer than in our own resurrections. In Jesus resurrection we literally come out of the tomb and out of this world and into a new one that will not spoil, fade, or disappoint. In the resurrection we are totally cleaned up in Christ, washed in the blood of the lamb. And because of it we are part of the family photo in Revelation 7. Imagine a family without drama, living in the Father’s House which is always clean, never having to worry about any tribulation. No more messes. That’s the reality given in Jesus.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune24.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/ftwrXj9fKwU

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JUNE 18

Tuesday, JUNE 18, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“Maximum Forgiveness”

READING: I John 1:8-2:2 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

The other morning I was watching some sports on ESPN when they went to a commercial break. The third ad was for a company that makes and sells high-end golf clubs. One of their pitches caught my ear. It was for a new driver with a great big club head on it. The announcer breathlessly hawked its virtues and one was prominent: that club head would give the golfer “maximum forgiveness”. Now he meant that with the wide head and the weighted heel, you could make a straight drive even if you didn’t quite hit the ball square as you swung through it. To the serious golfer that equates to better, straighter drives and better scores. To the Christian with a tuned ear if means something quite different.

I have lately had discussions with several people who carry a terrible burden around with them. They worry a lot about their sins and their Christian shortcomings. They fear that their sins are so grievous and so plentiful that God will not forgive them, and they will fall short of heaven. They related to me past sins, some from years ago. They have tried hard to make amends for their sins. They have tried hard not to commit more sins. They were filled with contrition, and they were almost sick with the sorrow they felt over their faults. They loathed themselves to some degree because they kept failing to be “good Christians.”

Oh, folks! How ready we are to fall back into the world’s religion! That religion is “Works Righteousness”! Every religious system save for Biblical Christianity follows the same pattern: a sense of moral failure, a desire to make things right, real effort at doing good works in payment, and a constant fear of failure and falling short. You must earn it. You must pick yourself up and get right with the gods. You, you, you! And that is precisely the problem and the terrible dilemma people find themselves in. YOU can’t make it work!

And by the way a second trap lies there as well: self-righteousness. This is a feeling that I am doing pretty good at being good. Maybe not perfect, but certainly a lot better than most of the people I see around me. I’ve got this figured out. I go to Temple or the Mosque or the Church; I make the right offerings and sacrifices; I study Torah or the Koran or the Bible, and I try to be good to people. Surely Allah or Buddha or God can see my goodness.

Either way, when a person depends on their own efforts to earn forgiveness or salvation, the results will be ineffective. The folks I talked to were weighed down with guilt, exhausted by their constant self-examination, and fearful of God and his wrath. Others will never talk to me about their sins because they don’t really think they’ve done all that many. They feel they’re doing all right.

The only good path to tread is the path that walks in Jesus’ way. St. John in our text lays it out in straightforward fashion. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Then again, “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Anyone who needs and desires “Maximum Forgiveness” does not depend upon their own efforts – positive or negative. We will never find the truth there inside ourselves. No, the ONLY place to look is to the perfect Son of God who gave himself for ALL our sins there on that cross. When he said, “It is finished!” – he meant it. “Maximum forgiveness” was bought for us by the blood and judgment of Jesus.

To those troubled children of God I could only speak the Gospel and point them to Jesus. There is no other rest for the weary. I assured them that Jesus had taken every and all of their sins with him to the Cross. Now their only comfort should be in God’s grace announced in book after book of the Scriptures. Faith in Jesus brings “Maximum forgiveness” for all who believe. But don’t take my word for it. Take His. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) VBS! VBS! VBS! Yes, it’s almost here! Sunday, June 23-Wednesday, June 26. Spread the word to any family you know with young children. This is for them! Pastor Woods can use you help if you are able. He’ll be there every Tuesday and Wednesday evening until it’s here.

2) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 53 seats available.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/2xAA42XUdLE

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune18.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JUNE 17

Monday, JUNE 17, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Clothes Make the Soul”

I do not like shopping for clothes. I am not fond of trying stuff on. I do not care to waste time worrying about Kohls points. I would gladly wear work wear all day every day if I could get away with it. However, most of us know well that what we wear to church is not always what we wear at nighttime before going to bed. I once saw a woman at Kroger’s on a Saturday morning, pushing a shopping cart in a pair of slippers, a bath robe, hair in rollers, like she was walking through her kitchen trying to decide what to have for breakfast. It was so out of place that I did a double take. I thought that kind of stuff was reserved for Walmart late at night.

Any rational person knows that being appropriately dressed matters.

Something revealing is given to us in Genesis 2 and 3 that shows us how important it is that one is clothed with the right clothing. Genesis 2:25 says, Adam and Eve were both naked (arommim) and felt no shame. The root of naked is aram. Note that Adam and Eve felt no shame.

As we quickly discover in Genesis 3 aram means not only naked but also crafty or shrewd. Genesis 3:3 says, “Now the serpent was more crafty (aram) than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The serpent knew how to play on the naivete of the man and the woman. It has been observed here that serpents shed their skin. The serpent is naked deceiver. His craftiness is motivated by a hatred for God’s creation and for God. He is a contrast to God. It’s an interesting play on words. Craftiness nor nakedness are the problem. What does matter is what or who the shrewdness is attached to.

Once Adam and Eve realize they were naked aram their first instinct was to hide because of their shame. Their nakedness was not just an absence of clothes at this point but a shedding of innocence. Now they were no longer the perfect image of God but now they were like the serpent, having shed the perfect image they once had. The nakedness exposed them to God’s wrath as God’s curses are pronounced in the second half of Genesis 3:14ff

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock

and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly

and you will eat dust

all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.”

Afterward the woman was cursed with pains in childbearing. For Adam the ground was cursed so that gardening would take a lot of work with lots of sweat from his brow. And most profound is the introduction of death—a return to the dust from which he was made. (Interesting in verse 20 that Eve is finally named, because she would become mother of all the living.) Each of us are bound by this curse as descendants of Adam, the Father of us all, and Eve, the mother of us all. We are therefore all naked before the Lord and exposed to God’s wrath.

Jesus reveals our desperate state in John 3:18 when He tells Nicodemus, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” We are not born neutral but born in sin and exposed to God’s wrath. Romans 5:12 further confirms this when it says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—.” In sin we too are naked to God’s wrath unless we are covered with His righteousness.
The solution to nakedness is the right clothing. In Genesi 3:21 we hear, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” God clothed them. He clothes us too.

We are clothed in the same way as the Prodigal son in Luke 15:22 where the Father puts the best robe on His son—presumably from His own closet. The Father provides the clothes through Jesus. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us: “‘Jesus himself bore our sins’” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”

Our Baptism is where we first receive this new clothing. Galatians 3:26-27, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Children of God are clothed with Christ. It is a clothing that remains into eternal life. Finally, Revelation 7 identifies the believers of uncountable multitude each wearing white robes; people who have been made righteous in the blood of the lamb.
The nakedness of Eden is forgotten in heaven. The nakedness of our sin is covered in the blood and righteousness of Jesus. Unfortunately, our sin still curses us with age, sickness, bad days, lost opportunities, and eventually death. But this curse is met with a promise just as it was in Eden. Jesus has crushed the head of the serpent and we will finally be allowed to participate in the tree of life. The clothes truly make the soul. Wear them well in Jesus.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune17.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/MJE44m6AD8o

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JUNE 11

Tuesday, JUNE 11, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“The Sundays after Pentecost”

READING: Acts 2:42-47 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Last Sunday we entered into the season that we generally refer to as “The Sundays after Pentecost”. Easter, the Ascension, and Pentecost are behind us. The paraments are now green and will probably stay green until sometime in November save for Reformation Sunday. This season used to be called “Trinity Season” back when our hymnal was TLH (the old red one). The “Festival” portion of the church year is over. We’re now in the “Non-festival” portion of the year. The emphasis for the next six months is teaching and learning. We’ll hear Jesus’ parables, sail with St. Paul on his missionary journeys, and be taught by Jesus and the apostles the essentials of the Kingdom. Sometimes we even learn a little about the Church and its traditions.

For instance, have you ever wondered what the story is with the candles in the chancel? The acolytes are always very concerned that they are lighting the right ones and in the right order. It’s sort of funny because the Scriptures say nothing about these candles. We just have some traditions that we try to observe but there’s no command from the Lord about how many we light or in what order.

Let’s start with the Christ Candle. That’s the stubby one the altar with the red “Chi-Ro” on it. The Chi-Ro looks like a capital “P” with an “X” over it. Those are actually the first two letters in the Greek word “Xristos” or Christ. As you might guess that candle represents the presence of Jesus at our worship. That candle ALWAYS gets lit first and put out last because Jesus is the “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” During the Advent season the Christ Candle sits in the middle of the Advent Wreathe, but it does not get lit until the Christmas Eve service, announcing that the Christ has come to us. During Advent we light one blue candle on the First Sunday of Advent, two on the Second Sunday, and so on. Then the Christ Candle holds its place the rest of the year.

Next let’s talk about the “Paschal Candle” or the baptismal candle (or as the kids call it, “The Tall One”). During the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter the Paschal Candle is lit for every service. During Advent, Lent, and the Sundays after Pentecost the Paschal Candle is lit ONLY if there is a baptism taking place that particular weekend in any of the three services. So if during the summer and early fall you see the acolyte light the Paschal Candle, you know right away someone has been or will be baptized in one or more of the services.

The two Altar Candles are lit for every service with the possible exceptions of the Ash Wednesday service and/or Good Friday. Sometimes we don’t light them on those two days because they are so penitential, so somber, and so dark. Otherwise those two candles always signify the presence of the Almighty and our prayers ascending to his throne of grace. If we really want to light up the place, say for Christmas Eve or Easter, we’ll replace (or even add to) the single Altar Candles and bring in the Candelabra! Those are the stands that have seven candles each. They are modeled after the candelabras that were placed in the Lord’s tabernacle and later in the Temple.

It’s always a little comical to me that before pretty much every service the elder on duty will at some point ask Pastor Woods or myself, “How many candles do we light tonight or today?” They in turn tell the acolytes how many to light. Once in a great while, the signals get garbled and the Paschal Candle is burning when it’s not supposed to be, or it’s not burning when it should be. Someone’s usually embarrassed once they realize their mistake. Often none of us realize it. That’s okay. We do our best to do things in an orderly and meaningful way, but what’s most important in any service is God’s Word, his Sacraments, and “the peace that passes all understanding.” The candles play their part in our services, but their number and order of lighting are small potatoes in the greater scheme of things.

The Early Church developed traditions in their worship gatherings, too. Some they carried over from the Jewish customs. Some developed of their own accord. What was important to them was learning from the apostles, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the fellowship they shared together, and the love the exhibited to each other and the folks around them. Those are still the joys and strengths of our worship. Those are the real gifts. Candles, artwork, stained glass windows, wood carvings, and even pew pads add to our experiences but it will always be the Word of God and the grace he gives us there that will bless us and carry us forward. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) VBS! VBS! VBS! Yes, it’s almost here! Sunday, June 23-Wednesday, June 26. Spread the word to any family you know with young children. This is for them! Pastor Woods can use you help if you are able. He’ll be there every Tuesday and Wednesday evening until it’s here.

2) FRANKENMUTH BUS TRIP – September 29-October 2. Registration is now open. Find information and forms in “News & Tidbits”, online, and in the Narthex. 53 seats available.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/4PO1Nuovlpc

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune11.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JUNE 10

Monday, JUNE 10, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Passing the Baton”

We know the phrase ‘passing the Baton.’ It likely, comes from relay races in track where a baton is passed from runner to another—one baton carried by four runners. In our case the baton of Senior pastor will soon pass from Pastor Kischnick to the next guy—presumably myself. The baton in this case is the ministry of the Word and Sacrament here at grace. Many other pastors before us have carried this baton since 1927. One day it will pass again from me to another and Lord willing to many after that. It’s the Lord’s Church and it is for Him to determine the best course for His people.

In about a year Pastor Kischnick, our Senior pastor of 34 years will retire. He admits that he is a lot more senior than he used to be and is ready to step out. So, about one year from now he will retire. I thought on this one-year mark we might consider a few things. The main thought for this day is that I can’t help but think of the baton being handed off from Elijah to Elisha. I would suggest that you open your Bible to 2 Kings 2. I’ll be bouncing around in that chapter today.

First, notice that the time had come for Elijah to go up to the Lord and twice Elisha is reminded about it in vs 3 and 5. “And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel (and later in Jericho in verse 5) came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” Translation, “Yes I know, you don’t have to remind me.” Like Elisha, one is never ready to see a friend or a mentor go, especially one as faithful as Elijah.

Notice how Elisha handles the news. The Lord sends Elijah to Bethal but Elisha goes with him even though Elijah told him to stay behind. Then the Lord sends Elijah to Jericho and Elisha sticks with him again. Finally, as Elijah crosses the Jordan Elisha stubbornly stays right with Elijah while all the other prophets remain on the others side. Since Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side the Lord sent a chariot of fire to separate the two prophets. Once finally separated the Lord sent a whirlwind (a tornado) to scoop up Elijah to the Lord. Elisha reacts by tearing all his clothes as he mourns the absence of Elijah.

Well, I don’t expect any whirlwinds for PK nor do I expect to start tearing my shirt in mourning. I wouldn’t mind a double portion of the Holy Spirit though. Who of us couldn’t benefit from having more of the Holy Spirit. But I, like many of you, will miss having PK as pastor at Grace. We have become friends over the years and have enjoyed serving the Lord as a team. For many at Grace here in New Albany, he’s been the only senior pastor they have known. Of course, he will be around, but it will be different.

Moving forward. In the rest of chapter 2 Elisha settles in as a chief prophet. At first his fellow prophets talked Elisha into allowing them to send a search party for Elijah’s body—thinking the tornado dropped him somewhere. Perhaps this request was a form of mourning by the other prophets. Notice how affected the others were here. Elisha knew it was an unnecessary task but patiently allowed them to search. Perhaps the activity would allow them some closer and help them move forward.

We at Grace will often look back to the last 34 years with PK even as we know we must move forward. Sometimes that might mean we don’t want anything to change. The next pastor may even feel unsettling. The lesson from Elisha here is patience. The baton remains. It’s still the Lord’s church. I might be different from PK. The next pastor will be different from both of us. I think we can breathe easy on this. The Lord has blessed Grace with many faithful pastors for the last hundred years. God can bless us with the next one too.

Finally, we see Elisha act as the Senior prophet for the first time in vs 19-22. 19 Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.”

This bowl of salt is the baton. The healing water of the Word spoken by the new prophet. We know how saline purifies water. That’s the point of the salt in the water—it is purified. Note, however, that it was placed in a new bowl. The new bowl is very symbolic of the new Senior prophet. The Lord purifies the land, “according the Word that Elisha spoke.” I would expect the same results here at Grace. A new bowl but the same water just like many runners with the same baton. If the baton doesn’t cross the finish line no one wins. However, if the baton remains the race is won. Likewise, if the Word is in Grace Lutheran we will run well and win our race. The goal of a good pastor is to keep that Word front and center—to be the UPS driver for God’s stuff and not the center of attention. That place belongs only to Jesus.

I too wonder what God will bring next year with a new pastor and a new music director too for that matter. I wonder whom I will be working with as much as anyone. But remember, at one time Pastor Kischnick was new and so was Helen, and so was I.

Will everything go perfectly in the future. We know that answer. I hope it goes better than Elisha’s initial trip back home. At the end of chapter 2, Elisha, on his way from Jericho to Bethel, is being harassed and teased by a bunch of kids. He must have walked through the playground of a school for so many kids to be harassing him. “Go up, You Bald head!” Maybe Elisha was sensitive to his loss of hair—not sure. Apparently, this pushed Elisah too far though. When he had had enough, he turned around and cursed the little runts. How did the curse play out? Right after the pronouncement two female bears came from the woods and tore-forty-two boys. Try that one at Confirmation class! Yikes.

Hopefully, we at Grace won’t have to wrestle any bears but we may have some problem solving that feels unbearable. (See what I did there.) No point worrying. Worrying isn’t problem solving. Instead, we will work our way through future challenges as we have done already many times at Grace. We didn’t get to a hundred years as a congregation by how much hair or lack of hair the pastor has but only by the grace of God.

As we enter the final year of Pastor Kischnick’s tenure as a Senior Pastor at Grace we certainly want to savor the time we have left. We also want to pray and prepare ourselves for what is next. The new pastor will be different and new to us, but we certainly look forward to seeing what the Lord may accomplish next at Grace because of it. In the meantime, we will keep carrying our baton and run our race that the Lord has marked out for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune10.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/uuZVNQbo_f4

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JUNE 4

Tuesday, JUNE 4, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“St. Boniface of Mainz”

READING: Psalm 16:1-4 – Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

My “Pastor’s Desk Calendar” comes from Concordia Publishing House and it is designed specifically for Missouri Synod Pastors. I have every calendar I have used dating from 1991. They haven’t changed a whole lot, and I am glad, for that calendar is one of my most important tools. I would literally be lost without it. It keeps all my appointments and engagements before my eyes and uppermost in my mind.

So I looked at my calendar to see what was on tap for today. While I was looking, I also took a peek at tomorrow. Guess what I found? Tomorrow, June 5, is the Saint’s day for St. Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans! Imagine that! That’s the guy who ventured into the wilds of northern Europe and had the courage to evangelize the barbarians feared by the Romans as well as the Goths and Huns and the Franks.

He was born and raised in Britania, joined the Benedictine order as a monk. In the year 716, he sailed across to what was later Belgium, never to return to his homeland. He spent a year working with a missionary there. From there he went to the Germanic lands of Frisia. The story goes that there he found the local people worshipping pagan gods at the “Donar Oak” (sometimes Latinized to the “Jupiter Oak”). He took an axe, began to chop it down, and the wind came up and finished the job. The locals saw that he was not struck down by their gods and converted to Christianity. He made a total of three trips to Rome. On the second trip Pope Gregory III ordained him archbishop of all the Germanic lands. On a journey through Frisia in 754 AD, he and 53 companions were surrounded by a large company of bandits who killed all of them for what they supposed were chests full of valuables. After the killing stopped, they discovered only clothes and books in the chests. Boniface was interred in a monastery chapel and remains there to this day.

What struck me about this story is the thought that by the courage and faithfulness of this one man, Christianity came to the Germanic lands. It is quite possible that one or several of my direct forebearers was converted to the Faith by Boniface, and that Faith was passed down generation to generation until it came to rest with me. Who alone but God knows?

Now, we Lutherans don’t get quite as excited about “The Saints” as our Roman Catholic friends do. They have hundreds and hundreds of canonized people, and they continue to canonize saints to this very day. It is good for us to hear and know the stories of the heroes of the Faith. They can energize and encourage us to lift high the cross in our day. But our definition of “saint” is less “superhero” and more “faithful disciple”. When the Psalmist in our reading for today says, “As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight,” he is talking not about those few who dare great things for God, but about those who faithfully and diligently serve, worship, and love the Lord day after day in the vocation to which they have been called.

Not everyone finds themselves prepared and inclined to sail to exotic locales and distant shores to serve as a missionary. Not all of us are called to be evangelists, pastors, or teachers. But when you and I put in a good word for Jesus to our friends, neighbors, and workmates, when we help and serve others without thought of repayment or reward, when we regularly read, study, and hear the Word of God and then do our best to put it into practice, we are “…the saints who are in the land…”, and we are among those in whom the Lord takes great delight.

Remember the Latin phrase I have encouraged you to memorize? “Simul justus et peccator.” – “We are at the same time saint and sinner.” “Justus” is the Latin word for “saint”. Can you see or hear the connection there? Saints are those who are “justified” before God, and your basic catechism instruction reminds you that we are “justified by faith in Christ alone.” So, the saints in the land are those who put their whole trust in Christ Jesus and are justified before the Heavenly Father for Jesus’ sake.

I am glad to have learned a little about St. Boniface, “Missionary to the Germans”. Since I know a lot of German-Americans, and even a few German Germans, I am gratified to know that the faith I learned at St. Michael’s Lutheran School, Frankenhilf, Michigan, may very well have gotten its start in the 8th Century when an English monk dared to go where many feared to tread. Those Germans were a scary, violent, superstitious lot. Boniface had his work cut out for him, that’s a fact. But the Word of God is a living, powerful, life-changing word that points to one man, Son of God, who faced all things, endured all things, so that we might have life in his name. Thanks be to Jesus! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) Pastor Woods is back from his vacation and eager to make preparations for V.B.S. and so can use our help. He will be in the gym most Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Come give him your help in whatever time you are able.

2) GOLDEN SAINTS LUNCHEON: This Thursday, June 6, there will be a luncheon after the Thursday Saints Bible Class. You are invited to sign up at the office, then bring a dish to pass. I will provide the meat, the table service, and the beverages. Come, have a good meal and enjoy the fellowship of others of a “Golden Hue”!

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/pTAh2L7zj90

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune4.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
JUNE 3

Monday, JUNE 3, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Why Don’t We Have Better Government?”

Election cycles come and go but the results always feel the same. A lot of money spent. A lot of lobbying is exercised. A lot of campaign promises end up like the palm branches of Palm Sunday, laying in the dirt, trampled by personal ambition and the insatiable need to be in power. A lot of ads and debates turn into as interruptions and gotchas during every Presidential season especially. We say we are tired of it all, but we, the voters, keep ending up with the same results.

The daily flush of news wears me out. I can’t hardly watch it on most days. We know just how much elected officials can quickly mess things up for us but we continue to vote hoping for a better outcome, but it’s only getting worse—farther from the Lord, more corrosive, cynical, and bias towards a secular state. The worst part about it are all the Christians in office who see themselves as champions of godly principles. Sadly, they too end up serving themselves and serving their own agendas to stay in power at the expense of Truth and morality. Even more troubling is the slippery slope that is deliberately and actively putting the crosshairs on any church who still champions the Word of God. So, why don’t we have better government?

I think the answer is revealed to us in the character of King Saul. Oh, like any who enter office, Saul began strong, and with very godly intentions. 1 Samuel 10 mentions how Saul received the Holy Spirit and prophesied with other prophets. At First, Saul looks the part just like a fresh and exciting candidate in a campaign add. In verse 23-24 the people are very taken by his outward appearance. Saul is described as “a head taller than the rest.” Well, he looks the part of a great king, prophesying and tall. “That’s good enough for me!” say the Israelites.

But let’s remind ourselves that asking for a king in the first place was a rejection of God as their king. Yet, all the tribes present themselves and subject themselves to this Saul as king. 1 Sameul 13:1 tells us that Saul would be 30 years old when he became king and reign for forty-two years. In time we the reader of 1 Samuel would soon discover Saul as typical of any other in office holder. He is arrogant and cowardly going which ever way the wind blows; according to the polling of the people instead of following the Word of God.

1 Samuel 13 everything begins to reveal itself. The Lord commands Saul to destroy the Philistines in 1 Samuel 13. If we keep reading, we discover that Saul was told by Samuel to wait for the prophet to arrive first before offering sacrifices to God and before initiating a battle with the Philistines. He didn’t listen. He became impatient with Samuel’s timing (The Lord’s timing) and plowed ahead with the sacrifice without Samuel. When Samuel shows up Saul gives a lame explanation for why he didn’t wait.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering (in fear of the Philistines), and that you did not come at the set time (It’s your fault Samuel for taking too long), and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash (I was becoming afraid and thought my way was better), 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal (I was afraid of losing the battle), and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering (I took the matter into my own hands and on a time I am comfortable with. I am king after all.)”

Vs 13 Samuel responds. 13 “You have done a foolish thing (a very short sighted),” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you (Justify your actions all you want. Your actions are not in alignment with the Word of the Lord that was given to you); if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure (Someone else will become king instead of your son); the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command (because you were a coward and did not trust the Lord).” Saul you blew it!

Chapter 15 isn’t much better. The Lord gives the command to wipe out the Amalekites. The instructions were clear. However, Saul stopped short of finishing the job because the soldiers wanted the spoils. Saul gave in to the polls. The public opinion of the soldiers was that God was being too hasty and wasteful of all the spoils. When Samuel confronts him, Saul sort of confesses but half-heartedly. “The people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to make a sacrifice to the Yahweh” (1 Samuel 15:15). That’s a lie of course. In truth everyone wanted to go home with the loot.

Saul’s actions are called “evil” in the eyes of the Lord in vs. 19.

Vs 22-23 are even worse.

But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

David would eventually come along. Jealousy would enter into Saul’s heart and an evil spirit would occupy the place that once held the Holy Spirit. Saul would try many times to kill David jealous of David’s popularity over his own and because Saul didn’t want to lose his position as king. Saul didn’t like the opinion polls that would eventually praise David and cast a shadow over Saul. Saul would eventually die on the battlefield and in so doing he would destroy his own family in the process.

Why don’t we have better government? Because as we learn from Saul eventually offices are eroded by the character of the ungodly. Selfishness gets it the way. The best of intentions are covered in excuses. Jesus says, by their fruits all people are known. A grape vine will not produce figs. The fruits always reveal what’s really commanding a person’s heart. And when the things are done in disobedience to the Word of the Lord evil things result. This is why we have national debt at the levels we have them. Officials fill bills full of “pork” that favors donors and ultimately to gain support for more time in office. And when the goal is reelection the best interest of the people they represent are held hostage to personal ambitions held by the office holder. Long-term stability of our nation is sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition as well. We all know this. And one or two decent people that are faithful and honest don’t get much done because the evil fruits of others smother them.

The answer is a genuine repentance by we the voters. Undoing the policies for example that cause harm to preborn life and the aged, policies that actually cut spending, or even putting term limits on officials will be a good place to start. Repentance would require humility even of the highest offices. Repentance would require a recognition that even kings and presidents will ultimately answer to the Lord. Philippians 2 reminds us that all will bow before Jesus and acknowledge Jesus as Lord to the glory of God. For those of us who feel that we are not represented, take heart because we are firmly represented by our Lord Jesus.

The answer is also in actually listening to and following the Word. Voting is good but even more significant is obedience to the Lord. Take the lesson from Samuel. This means not just loving what serves our own interest but seeking the interest of others. Again, from Philippians 2:3 we hear, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Obedience means loving Jesus first. It means trusting the Lord’s timing and way of doing things, something Saul never really understood.

Finally, it means standing up for what is important in our own lives and being a godly example to the next generation. Since the culture is shaped by who influences it most, it only seems right to be that influence to our children, to our neighbors, and to coworkers. If we expect someone else to seek the Lord, we need to be seeking the Lord in our own behavior and action. The Lord always considers such discipling to be worthwhile because of whom we serve. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says as much when it says, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” If we want to make a difference in our country we will do well to make a difference in the circles we live in first. God’s grace by example is never wasted. The goal is to influence a heart for Christ and thereby influence a vote for godly government.

May the Lord bless us to be godly examples. May the Lord build trust in Jesus. May the Lord bless us to be wise in His Holy Spirit, repentant, and fruit bearers for the sake of our nation.

Pastor Matt Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJune3.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/IbP6hxkmswY

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION MAY 28

Tuesday, MAY 28, 2024

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“The Faith and Theology”

READING: I Timothy 6:11-14, 20-21 – But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which your were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ…Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.

Last week I spoke to you about my philosophy of preaching. I talked about “The Faith” as the main course of a meal and “Theology” as the hefty dessert to top it off. It is my firm understanding that doing things the other way around results in preaching that leaves most lay people without something to hang on to as they exit the church on Sunday. Today I’m going to make a statement about which some pastors might argue with me. Nevertheless, this is my statement: “The Faith and Theology are not the same.”

I understand “The Faith” to be the application of our knowledge of Jesus and his Gospel and the trust we put in him in our everyday walk as Christians. It is our desire to serve his kingdom and to love others as Jesus loved us. It is our daily struggle to live as He would want us to in a broken, messy, fallen world. It is his grace and the Holy Spirit’s urging that we rely on to proclaim Jesus’ lordship in our lives and in our living.

I look at it this way: “The Faith” is the muscle, the sinew, the blood and guts of Christian life lived in the midst of an increasingly godless, non-Christian society. Our Faith does the daily heavy lifting and work of being (to paraphrase St. Paul in our lesson) “righteous, godly, faithful, loving, enduring, and gentle men and women of God.”

Our “Theology” is the skeleton, the framework on which hangs all of “The Faith”. It supports, shapes, and articulates the work of “The Faith”. It provides the basis for and the impetus to our faithful living. It helps us stand up against the “outrageous winds of fortune” and the slings and arrows of the ungodly. It helps us to stand firm in “The Faith” even as “The Faith” does the work our Lord has called us to. As is true in nature, if a part of our “Theology” is broken, the Christian’s walk is hampered, and if enough of it is broken, “The Faith” itself becomes ineffective and crippled.

St. Paul warns Timothy (and us) to hold on to his “good confession” and to “guard what has been entrusted to your care”. “The Faith” will not achieve God’s calling if the “Theology” is false or misdirected. The “Theology” is of little use if “The Faith” is allowed to atrophy and be fruitless. Both are essential, just as our body requires both our skeleton and our soft tissues to work in harmony. It’s an interesting fact of physiology: the more the muscles and sinews are used and exercised, the stronger the bones of the skeleton are. The stronger the skeleton, the more work the muscles and sinews can perform. Each strengthens the other.

One more observation: our “Theology” is meant to be an “endoskeleton” – an internal skeleton like our own. It’s not meant to me an “exoskeleton” – an external skeleton like that of a lobster or beetle. There are church groups and sects that use their theology to shield them and ward of contact with other people. The Amish are an example. They have turned inward and use their Theology to shun others and “protect” themselves from contact with the world. That appears to me to fail in Jesus’ Great Commission to “Go, make disciples of all nations…” Their exoskeleton protects them from the thorns out there in the world, but you can’t find the lost if you don’t get into the brambles. Jesus did not avoid the scratches and the thorns. On the contrary…

St. Paul’s charge to Timothy also speaks to us. We need sound doctrine and godly understanding of the Scriptures to undergird what we, “believe, teach, and confess.” We also need “The Faith” to put those doctrines and understanding to work for the Kingdom. Both are essential. Both are gifts from God. If you and I are going to “fight the good fight” then we want to build up our “Theology” by increasing our knowledge of the Scriptures and their meaning. At the same time we want to build up “Our Faith” by putting it into practice by pursuing a Christ-like life. May the grace of God be with you as together we serve the Lord with gladness! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) Pastor Woods will be on a much needed and well-deserved vacation this week, May 27-June 3. He has begun preparations for V.B.S. and so can use our help. He will be in the gym most Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Come give him your help in whatever time you are able.

2) GOLDEN SAINTS LUNCHEON: Next Thursday, June 6, there will be a luncheon after the Thursday Saints Bible Class. You are invited to sign up at the office, then bring a dish to pass. I will provide the meat, the table service, and the beverages. Come, have a good meal and enjoy the fellowship of others of a “Golden Hue”!

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/Nxaguh6Q2Vk

PRINTABLE PDF: WDMay28.PDF

[email protected] — (502) 797-7407

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WEEKLY DEVOTION MAY 27

Monday, MAY 27, 2024

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“Remembering the Risen”

Memorial Day is a day where we remember the fallen, those who gave their full measure sacrificing themselves in service to our Country. Back in 2005 I attended a Memorial Day service held outside at the War Memorial in Charlestown. Many soldiers were dressed in their uniforms and many just wore their hats all decorated with various pins and awards. It was your typical service; a keynote speaker, prayer, raising the flag, an honor guard, and the playing of Taps.

I remember it so vividly because of how embarrassed and horrified I felt by the rude surroundings that kept trying to interrupt the solemn service. First, it seemed that anyone with a large, roaring diesel truck decided to drive through during the service. When they accelerated, I could hardly hear the uniformed MC speaking at the microphone. Then it got bad. A young man on a professional lawn mower decided he was going to cut grass right across the street from where we had gathered for the keynote speech. Thankfully, he was shooed away by several citizens. Just when we thought things were under control another pickup pulling a trailer full of lawn mowing equipment raced by. It was dragging the trailer’s tailgate that someone forgot to put up, sparks flying about accompanied by loud grinding metal sounds. Once again, the voice and message of the keynote speaker was drowned out. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance raced by sirens blaring. To his credit the keynote speaker didn’t miss a beat. Along with those standing next to me I would occasionally catch a sentence or a word. The whole thing was like a National Lampoon movie. As we were trying to remember the fallen the community seemed to forget.

This whole scene reminded me our faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 3-9 are wonderful chapters that describe the early church. The disciples go to the Temple and preach Jesus’ resurrection. Crowds gather to listen but with great regularity and with great hostility the religious leaders and the Captain of the Temple try to stop the message. The disciples are saying, “Remember the risen” while the Religious leaders are saying, “Remember who you are dealing with. This is our turf.”

Acts 3-9 are incredible chapters and in these chapters, we can see how the Lord grows His church even as the Religious Leaders keep trying to stop it. Acts 3 kicks things off with the healing of a Lame man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate at the Temple. As he is dancing about praising God people notice him. Peter and John are quick to tell people that the man is healed by the Risen Jesus. Acts 4 the disciples are hauled off to jail and brought before the Sanhedrin who threaten the disciples, beat them, and release them with the command to stop preaching Jesus. Upon their release the church praises God and is emboldened. Acts 3-4 are really a unit.

In Acts 5 the disciples heal many more and once again are arrested. Somewhere in the night an angel frees them without anyone realizing it. When the guards are told to bring them before the Sanhedrin they discover their cells empty. Looking for them they eventually find them preaching at the temple again. “Pesky Disciples!” This time, because of their popularity with the crowds the guards are careful to politely but firmly ask for the disciples to go with them to stand before the Religious Leaders who desperately want to kill them. They were beaten and let go, grateful to have been counted worthy to suffer for the Gospel.

Chapter 6 there is more distraction when the non-Hebrew speaking widows were being left out of the food distribution. The disciples are quick to correct the oversight and assign seven men (all with Greek names by the way) including Stephen to care for the widows. Amazingly Stephen, who was full of the Holy Spirit did many signs and wonders like the disciples. Some didn’t like this so once again another follower, this time Stephen, is hauled before the Religious Leaders for another trial. In Acts 7 Stephen gives a very different speech then Peter does on Pentecost and Acts 4. This time Stephen presents an indictment of the Israelite nation. His listeners as being as guilty as their forefathers. He speaks of God’s gracious acts and Israel’s continued rebellion which culminates in the sinful rejection of Jesus and now Stephen. Instead of many coming to faith in repentance this time the speaker is stoned to death thus proving the guilt Stephen refers to. Stephen’s martyrdom emboldens a young Saul of Tarsus to turn on the church with great zeal. In turn persecution causes the church to spread out from Jerusalem with one example being the Ethiopian Eunuch that met with Philip.

Finally, we meet Saul who became the Apostle Paul. Once a man who rejoiced in Stephen’s death he Himself in Acts 9 became a champion for the Christian faith. And guess what? He too was constantly interrupted, beaten, threatened, and was even stoned like Stephen twice and survived. These first 9 chapters of Acts have one message, “Remember the Risen.”

The true irony is that these were the same disciples who had forgotten the rest of the plan in their sorrow over Good Friday. Several times Jesus told his disciples that He would suffer, die on a cross and then rise on the third day. Yet, they didn’t remember on the third day. In Luke 24 the angel had to remind them. “Remember how he told you when He was still with you…” Then in verse 8 we hear, “Then they remembered Jesus’ words.” These same followers of Jesus never waiver in Acts no matter how many times the world tried to interrupt their message.

The world is a loud place, full of distractions that sound and feel more comfortable. The world’s distractions have done a good job of making us believe that sacrifice is for someone else; that commitment is only necessary if our lifestyle is not interrupted. This is especially true when we make a deliberate effort to remember Jesus’ words and put them into practice. Yet when we do, rude distractions and interruptions of our faith are not far away. Just reading the Bible is challenged by getting the kids up, getting to work on time, spending time on the tread mill, preparing for upcoming deadlines, making bills, planning for the week ahead, by staying busy with sports events, or just taking a nap with the rare spare time that pops up. And that’s just in trying to read a Psalm once a day.

Memorial Day is a great illustration of how important things are being crowded out with distractions. Memorial Day is all but drowned out by deafening sounds of appliance sales, boating trips, baseball games, the Indi 500, bar-b-ques, and so on. Now none of these things are bad in and of themselves, but together they have effectively crowded out a day meant for remembering the fallen soldiers that have defended the very things that we enjoy.
I know that life is loud. I know that remembering doesn’t come naturally. But like the keynote speaker at that Memorial Day service years ago, Jesus’ message is still offered. We might have to work to hear it. We might have to sacrifice our pride, a desire, a thought, time, money, or something harder, in order to keep the faith. Yet, when our battles rage, we will not fall. So, remember the Risen. Let us honor Jesus with our faith and let us honor our fallen soldiers with our patriotism. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDMAY27.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/pG2cen2Q-HY

[email protected] — (502) 523-9327