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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 19

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

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

“Now That’s a Party!”

READING: John 2:1-11 – On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

When Becky and I were married on the 16th of June 1973, we had about 200 guests at our reception. Now, as you may already be aware, I come from a VERY Germanic area around Frankenmuth, Michigan, where to this day many German traditions and customs are kept and celebrated. True to that heritage, our wedding reception was not a “dry” affair. We had beer; lots of beer. Those 200 people danced to a live polka band in the summer heat and made numerous trips to the bar for refreshment and rejuvenation. At the end of the evening (which ended about 1:30 A.M.) seven half-barrels of beer had been consumed. A half-barrel of beer is 15.5 U.S. gallons, so we collectively put down about 108 gallons of beer! Now, that was a party!

In our text for today, Jesus is attending a wedding reception in Cana. His mother and his newly acquired disciples are with him. Suddenly, Mary comes to Jesus and whispers in his ear, “They have no more wine.” Mary here shows her character and social sensibility. She realizes that running out of food or drink for one’s wedding guests is a “faux pas” that would mean embarrassment for the family hosting the reception. She comes to Jesus with the unspoken request that he spare their friends from such an embarrassment.

On the other hand, Jesus seems a little nonplused at Mary’s bringing to him this assignment. It’s not really his problem, and his miraculous powers have yet to be displayed. At first blush this situation might seem a trivial use of Jesus’ abilities, but Mary doesn’t explain or plead with Jesus. She simply assumes he’ll take care of it and tells the servants to follow his instructions to the letter. After all, what son can resist his mother’s desires?

Now those six stone water jars used in this miracle held 20-30 gallons each. That means that when all was said and done, Jesus produced 120-180 GALLONS of primo vino for that wedding reception. And, keep in mind that these folks have already drunk all the wine that the hosts had started with. They’re probably three sheets to the wind already. (Of course, in those days the weddings often went two or three days, and no one riding a donkey home while under the influence was likely to have a major collision!) Now, that was a party!

What do we learn from this, the “first of his miraculous signs”? First, Jesus as the Son of God, one with the Father, is the Creator, the only one who has the power to turn plain old water into the finest of wines. Secondly, the disciples having witnessed this miracle, begin to trust that in Jesus they have found the One, the Messiah. Thirdly, that the enjoyment of an alcoholic beverage is not in and of itself a sin. (Scripture says drunkenness is a sin, but wine and other fermented drinks are a blessing the bring “joy to the heart”, in moderation of course.) And, finally, in his use of the term “signs” St. John uses for the first time a word he will repeat often in his Gospel. The miracles that Jesus does, starting with this one, are all signs of who he is: the Christ and the Son of God. Jesus will give many more of these signs throughout his ministry, the greatest one being his Resurrection. Each one points to his authority, his divinity, and his compassionate heart. Each one says, “This is the ONE!”

In Isaiah 25:6-8a the Prophet declares, “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever…” When Jesus produces an over-abundance of the finest of wines, he is showing himself to be the One who will “swallow up death forever” by giving himself into death. By his death and his resurrection he invites us to a heavenly banquet, the marriage feast of the Lamb in his Kingdom. Now, that’s a party! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

1) A NEW “GRIEFSHARE CLASS”: Pastor Woods will conduct a new “GriefShare Class” for anyone, member or not, who are struggling with grief over the loss of a loved one, recently or not so recent. This class has helped a lot of folks find healthy and effective ways to work through their grief and find peace under God’s promises. Tell friends who may benefit, too.

3) VOTERS ASSEMBLY on Sunday, January 24, immediately following the late service. Lunch provided.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/hOE6TZWhD4Y

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJan19.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 18

Monday, January 18, 2021

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

“A Different Spirit Than the Rest”

If I were to say the names, Shammua, Gaddiel, Sethur would they ring any bells? Probably not. No, these are not names of killer whales at Seaworld. How about Caleb or Joshua? All of these fellows were some of the twelve spies that Moses sent to do some reconnaissance in the Promised Land. When they returned to report to Moses all twelve of them reported that the land “flowed with milk and honey” (Exodus 13:27). However, ten of them, including Shammua, Gaddiel, and Sethur added the word, “but”. “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Exodus 13:28) “The people are huge and we are just grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we look the same to them” (Exodus 13:33). They gave a bad report and the spirit of their words dispirited an entire community of Israelites. Not even Caleb and Joshua, who saw the same things could dissuade them. “Come on they said, God promised it to us. Let’s go take it. Ten spies said the that the people are too big to beat. Caleb and Joshua thought they were too big to miss.

The whole picture is very reminiscent of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). For 40 days the armies of Israel and the Philistines stared each other down across the valley between them. The Israelites were paralyzed in fear as each day the giant, Goliath threw out the challenge for some brave Israelite to fight him. It wouldn’t be until a young David would come along and accept the challenge that this picture changed.

Getting back to the wilderness Exodus 14:1-4 tell us of the damage the ten spies had done. “That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Of course, we know what happened next. The people of Israel were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years in repentance. At the same time they learned to trust the Lord for everything. The Lord supplied food and water and their sandals never wore out. It also meant that none of those who left Egypt ever saw the Promised Land, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua who are described as men of a “different spirit and followed God wholeheartedly” (Exodus 14:24). And when a new generation had been raised up the people entered into the Promised Land as God had originally promised Abraham that they would. This next generation all had a different spirit then the previous generation and trusted God to take possession of the Promised Land as Promised.

And we see the same thing in you David in 1 Samuel 17. All the trained soldiers, including some of his older brothers, and King Saul (Who himself was a big man—a head taller than most) did not face the giant because of fear. David however had a different spirit then the rest of the Israelites. He told the Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…This day the Lord will hand you over to me…” (1 Samuel 17:45-46). And just like the giants who lived in the Promised Land, Goliath fell and heads rolled, literally. What’s more as soon as David defeated the giant the fear of the Israelites melted away and the Israelites defeated a very shocked Philistine army.

What separated Caleb, Joshua, and David was that they all had a spirit was different than the majority. This different spirit is wonderfully simple in its trust and obedience to the Lord. “The Lord promised. Let’s got get it.” The spirit of deep faithfulness is rare because it is wrapped in courage to act. When all the rest of the community cries out against the Lord these guys defended the Lord’s honor. We saw the same thing in Martin Luther in the Reformation and in those like Dietrich Bonhoeffer who spoke out against Hitler and the against the church of that day which had allowed itself to be sucked in to his hysteria. This courage is rare, but it is also right.

Can we be this kind of person? We can. We can be the person who stands out simply by having the courage to trust in the Lord. I remember a former member who told me how amazed he was at his wife. When they were close on their money, she always just told her husband that the Lord would make it okay and that somehow, they would be fine. She had learned how to get by on next to nothing but somehow it turned into enough. She was also so grateful to the Lord for somehow making ends meet—often without explanation. She made up her mind to trust in the Lord and acted in that fashion. It was an inspiration to her husband who was used to having lots of toys and cash available as a single man. He transitioned from nervously not understanding to sharing his wife’s peace of mind. And like her he learned to trust in the Lord regardless of the picture of things.

Likewise, none of us knows what may come this year. We are facing giants and we hear all kinds of chatter. This chatter sounds a lot like the Israelites, ready to go back to something familiar even if it is destructive. And people remain afraid because there seems to be so many big things outside of their control. And so, like the Israelites who faced off with the Philistines many today seem to be nervously standing by waiting to see what comes next. And those who have led are ridiculed and railed against.

And yet in all of this the Lord promises us, “Greater is He who is in you than the one who is in the world.” You are designed to have a different spirit from all of that the chatter would have us believe. We are literally made for the Promised Land, an eternal Land in the Father’s house and nothing is giant enough to separate us from His love. And so, all I’m suggesting today is that we lay claim to it. I pray that we maintain a grace-filled courage to believe and actively trust in the Lord. And when we do, we may inspire one more to do the same. We may encourage those whom we know best. Perhaps the best way to be that different spirit is with Jesus own words in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Let us trust in the Lord and see what happens.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJan18.PDF

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

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 12

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

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

“Do You Know Me?”

READING: John 1:43-46 – The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Most every time that I have had the privilege and opportunity to preach at my home church of St. Michael’s in Richville, Michigan, the same thing repeats itself. As I stand at the back of the sanctuary and greet the folks as they are leaving after the service, someone will shake my hand and then say to me, “Kenndst mi?” In our local German dialect that means, “Do you know me?” Of course, in many cases I don’t know them anymore. I’ve been mostly away from that congregation nearing 50 years. People have aged. I may recognize their faces, but I can’t recall their names. Usually I respond, “You look very familiar to me, but help me with your name.” And, of course, when they say their name, I know who they are and who they belong to. They may be Bierleins or Bauers, Hubers or Hechts, Kerns or Webers. I remember them or their parents or their grandparents. I know something about them.

When Philip comes running to his friend Nathaniel with the incredible statement, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about whom the prophets also wrote…” Nathaniel’s ears most of perked up like a terrier’s ears when he hears a squirrel bark. He knows Philip is talking about Messiah. He knows the prophecies Philip is talking about. He likely has prayed often for that One to come into the world so that Israel could be redeemed. He knows all about it, but then Philip lays an egg, “…Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nazareth? Nazareth! That can’t be right! No way!

You see, Nathaniel knew the prophecy from Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” So, he knew that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, not Nazareth. Not only that, but Nazareth was in Galilee, not Judah. And, it appears that the boys from Bethsaida didn’t have a very good opinion of Nazareth. So Nathaniel’s response is, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

When Jesus came into the world at Christmas, who knew it? Who had any idea of his birth’s significance? They didn’t KNOW him? Aside from Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, a handful of shepherds and three wise guys, who had a clue about that baby? And, when he’s growing up in Nazareth, how many of the people who saw him nearly every day had any real inkling as to his identity as the Messiah and true Son of God? They probably knew him to be a devout, honest, compassionate, and Godly carpenter and neighbor. They probably noticed his intense interest in Torah and his knowledge of the Scriptures. But they didn’t KNOW him as you and I now know him. They didn’t realize his true identity. They hadn’t put the pieces together yet, and many of them, sadly, never would.

Philip’s response to Nathaniel’s skepticism is an instructive one, “Come and see.” We have entered into the Epiphany season, and its whole emphasis is about the revelation of this Jesus of Nazareth as THE Messiah to more and more people. They’ll come to KNOW him by his words, by his teachings, by his miracles, and by his ministry. More and more of them will come to believe in him and to trust in his Word. And, still, there are multitudes of people around us who don’t yet KNOW Jesus. Oh, they may know of him. They may even know the story of Jesus. But they don’t yet KNOW him as their Lord and Savior. To them we can say as Philip did, “Come and see. Come to church or listen to the online services. Check out our website or listen to the Weekly Devotions. Come and see! This is the One!”

When I preach to the home congregation, they never have to ask, “Who are you?” There’s only one of me, and they all know and recognize me. I’ve been there in worship often enough over the years that they’ve watched me age, slowly but surely. They KNOW me and who I am and what I do. They have an advantage over me in that way.

There’s only one Jesus, and you and I KNOW him. We know he is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord. We know he died for our sins, and that he rose again on Easter for our vindication. We know he’ll come again to take us home eternally. We know all that, but so many do not. Our calling is to be ready to give an account of our faith when an opportunity arises. To be ready to say, “Come and see!” Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

1) DRIVE THROUGH COMMUNION: This Sunday, January 17, at 1:00 and at 2:00 PM. Tune your radio to 87.9. Not a whole worship service, but Greetings, Opening Prayer, Confession and Absolution, then the Communion liturgy, the Distribution, and a Blessing. Shouldn’t take long, but if it’s been a while since you received the Sacrament, come!

2) A NEW “GRIEFSHARE CLASS”: Pastor Woods will conduct a new “GriefShare Class” for anyone, member or not, who are struggling with grief over the loss of a loved one, recently or not so recent. This class has helped a lot of folks find healthy and effective ways to work through their grief and find peace under God’s promises. Tell friends who may benefit, too.

3) VOTERS ASSEMBLY on Sunday, January 24, immediately following the late service. Lunch provided.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/kjM91v36fis

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJan12.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 11

Monday, January 11, 2021

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

“The Spirit of Words”

Many years ago I worked in Yosemite National Park for a summer. I went there as part of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks program. I would conduct services on Sunday mornings at the local campground within the park and occasionally conduct a second service with the whole team at another campground located down in the Valley.

While waiting for one of our afternoon services to start I sat with others who where part of this ministry. One was a woman who had been married to man who struggled with his faith. I would later learn that this was a delicate topic in their marriage. While we waited for service time, sitting on worn bleacher seats in a wooded amphitheater, another woman none of us knew sat down with us in front. She struck up a conversation about faith. It started off talking about mutually appreciated things like our hope in Jesus. But somewhere within this conversation it was revealed to all of us that this woman’s husband struggled to believe in Jesus.

This lady, who was very fired up about the Lord, launched into a sermon directed at our friend’s husband. With no regard to whom he was sitting with—(we were all friends and believers), this over-zealous woman felt that it was her job to “save” the man. For at least ten minutes she talked of the urgency of salvation and how endangered the poor man was of going to hell. We tried to temper this woman but she just kept on coming. She came at that poor man so hard and without any balance of compassion or tact or grace. This man’s wife just broke down in tears knowing that great damage was being done to her husband’s faith. Eventually, she and her husband simply got up and left without a word. Once we and the other five on our team got past being stunned by such a terrible witness, we rallied together to get her to finally stop talking. While many things that she said may have been true there was no love in her words. The spirit in which she witnessed had undone in a matter of minutes what took a long time to build—meaning that trust was built up enough that he was willing to show up to services again.

The spirit in which we use our words can have a profound impact on our effectiveness. God forbid we become an obstacle to the very message that we are trying to communicate. James 1:26 says, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 is also instructive. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

That experience in Yosemite was a good lesson for me. First, know your audience. When we share our witness, it works so much better if we take the time to see who we are talking with as a person to be befriended not conquered. Paul did this routinely on his missionary journeys. He made the time to work alongside and get to know each person in each community that he stopped in. He knew the context in which they lived. He took the time to witness with grace and humility, with kindness and compassion. Secondly, Paul never made his conversation about a “win” to put on his resume. He trusted in the Gospel to do its work. He planted the seeds of faith and then got out of the way of the Holy Spirit. Finally, Paul was good at acknowledging the faith of family members who were believers--like Timothy. Paul praised his mother, Eunice and his grandmother, Lois for instilling faith in Tim. Likewise, I would imagine Paul acknowledging and giving thanks for the faith of this man’s wife and five friends represented there. I imagine Paul encouraging us to love the man, urging the man on in the faith, and to trust in the Lord to be the author and finisher of this man’s faith walk. Sometimes the hardest to thing to do is to pray and be patient. The zealous woman who came on too strong in her witness at the same time disrespected this man’s wife, her faith, and ours. The spirit in which Paul approached his fellow Christians, even the wayward ones like the church in Galatia was always with grace—even when he had to be firm with the foolishness of the Galatians. Yes, that day in Yosemite taught me much and frankly I am still embarrassed when I think of that day.

A spirit of grace and tact in our words will always have a greater chance of being heard even when we are being firm in a rebuke as with Galatia. The Law should always be applied in love as much as the Gospel. Jesus was the master of this; using parables, welcoming children, and even asking for a drink of water from a lonely woman at a well in Samaria. His way of doing things never left people the same. I encourage you to look at Jesus in the Gospels and see the wonderful way in which He engaged people. And finally remember Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” What good are words that witness if it loses its saltiness? I saw firsthand. Nothing good. And so, I encourage you to fill the spirit of your words, with grace and salt and as grandma taught us, “think before you speak.” May God bless your next conversation.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus for the new year.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF WDJan11.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/jTFD4xkuL0U

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 5

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

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

“Das G’fallt Mea”

READING: Matthew 3:13-17 – Then Jesus came to Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

A couple of weeks before Christmas I was tasked with taking one of Becky’s preschoolers shopping for her siblings at Meijer. Her list was simple, and I knew where each of the items was in the store, so in no time at all, we were finished. I called Becky to tell her, and she was surprised we were already done. She said, “Give her a little tour of the store until the rest of us are finished.” Great! How to occupy a four-year-old? We cut through the toy section, turned a corner, and there it was! Three shelves filled with animated Christmas toys: Santas and Snowmen and Christmas trees and squirrels and even a Nutcracker – and every one of them danced and made music! So, my little charge went right to work. At one point she had 6 or 7 of them dancing and singing all at the same time. I had to be super vigilant to keep them from wiggling right off the shelf! She was fascinated, and I must admit that I was well entertained, as well. In fact, there was one toy I rather fancied for myself, but that was not our purpose on that day.

The following week I went to Meijer to buy groceries, but I remembered we needed some more gift tags at church for the gift wrappers working away in my office. So I had reason to go back into the Christmas section, and while I was there, I thought I’d take a peek at those animated toys once more. And, there he was! He was still available, and he was marked 20% off on top of everything. He’s a cool and swinging Santa Claus with sunglasses on his face and a brass trombone on his shoulder. When you press his left foot, he plays a jazzy rendition of “Jingle Bells” followed immediately by a hot take on “O, When the Saints Go Marching In”! So cool! I bought him, and now he’s part of our permanent Christmas collection.

Of course, when Becky saw him, she said, “Why did you buy that thing?” And my answer was swift and to the point,“Das G’fallt Mea” That’s German for “It pleases me!” I like him. I like his music. I like the brass. He pleases me!

Tomorrow is the Day of Epiphany. Christmas will be officially over on the church calendar. We’ll be into the Season of Epiphany, the season that shows Jesus being introduced to his disciples, to the Jewish people, and to the world. What was “hidden” will now be revealed. His ministry will commence, and his journey to the cross will have started. What we celebrated at Christmas – his Coming – now will take shape and direction. His work of salvation is begun.

But, first, there’s the Jordan and John the Baptist and his baptism. John of course tries to deter Jesus, asking rather that Jesus would baptize him. But Jesus says that all righteousness must be fulfilled. What he means is that since he has come to save sinners, he must first give sign of that by receiving John’s baptism of repentance. Not that Jesus has sins of which to repent, but rather he shows his willingness to take upon himself all OUR sins. He steps into the water that, symbolically, is made filthy by the sins of all those baptized before him. He’s willing to get into OUR mess and to cover OUR sins with HIS righteousness.

And when he does that, when he accepts his calling and his place as our substitute, God the Father appears. He’s moved with compassion and a Godly pride by the sight of his perfect Son showing perfect obedience. He proclaims him to be his Son, the beloved of God, and then announces, “With Him I am well pleased.” Jesus is the perfect Son who is wholly and completely in tune with the Father’s will and determined to achieve the Father’s purpose.

So, it begins. That long, winding walk to the cross: First the temptations, then calling disciples, then miracles and parables and sermons, then a whip, a crown, and a cross. It all begins right here, at the Jordan, with his Father’s pronouncement, “He pleases Me!” We’ll walk along with Jesus, and at each stop we’ll proclaim, “He pleases us because he loves us so.” God be with you. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/pse-xNKpp-Y

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJan5.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION JANUARY 4

Monday, January 4, 2021

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

“Into the Unknown”

Well, here we are. The first devotion of 2021. I hope you had a blessed Christmas with your loved ones. I can imagine many of us are ready for the lingering things of 2020 to go away. And eventually they will. The vaccines for Covid are being distributed. Infection rates will drop. We will carry on into a new year that will be full of new unknowns. We don’t always know how things will turn out in this next year but we charge in with fireworks, ball-drops, and new hope. And why not? We never know what kinds of blessings God will bring each year.

This is sort of how the Israelites left Egypt—excited, victorious, and happy. But once they are confronted with the unfamiliar and difficult life of the desert they are having second thoughts. I’ve picked a reading from Exodus 16:6-8 for today. The Israelites are only into their second month after leaving Egypt; the excitement has waned, the food they brought with them has run out and they are beginning to wonder what they have gotten themselves into.

Vs 6—So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”

The desert did not grow food. Most did not dwell there for obvious reasons and yet Moses was leading the Israelites straight into it via Mt. Sinai. By this point Parents are anxious for the well-being of their children just like many parents have been last year. The people’s stomachs are grumbling and so are they… against God and Moses. They have no idea what’s coming next but they are beginning to wonder if they might die from hunger. And they are getting angry.

Truth is we never know what’s coming next. Mom has said more than once that if she knew back when the treatments started what she knows now she may not have chosen the treatments. “Maybe we can just skip the chemo and go right to the recovery.” Wouldn’t that be nice. Likewise, I’ve heard from another good friend who had major heart surgery last year say that he wouldn’t have done it now that he knows what he’s been through. Sometimes its better to not know what’s next. Especially when the recovery is slow or the outcome is not what we imagined. All we have are the skills and experience of doctors to help us through it.

On the other hand, the unknown holds a fascination to it. It is a mystery to be solved. Historically, when people traveled the oceans in sailing vessels the “new world” was discovered and American came to be. The unknown was a cause for adventure. The unknown is also a course for learning. The moon was unknown but along the way to getting there we expanded our learning in a multitude of things by pushing our limits. We are doing so again as humanity strives to get to Mars. The unknown has magnetism.

The unknown for the Israelites was all of the above. They imagined the Promised Land to be a walk in the park rather than a walk in the desert. If they would have known how hard life in the desert would be, they might not have left Egypt. They didn’t know what was ahead but the Lord would patiently show them the way and along the way remind the Israelites who He was. He supplied the manna and the quail each day in the wilderness and He never left them day or night. It was also an adventure where something new was learned, namely that they could depend on Yahweh each day for food and protection. Slowly, and yes painfully, they traveled 40 years in the wilderness unlearning what they had in Egypt and discovering what it meant to be a people of God.

I would submit to you that each year works very similarly with us. We often have to unlearn some bad habits from the previous year and be reminded that we are God’s people. We make our resolutions and think about how we could do better. That’s all good. It’s also good that some familiar things give way to new things, new surprises, new ways to grow, new experiences that reshape us and make us who we are. And with each one an opportunity to know the Lord more fully. And let us also remember, that the same Lord who led the Israelites in the wilderness remains with us day and night in this new year too. For the Israelites it was about the journey to the Promised Land that made the nation strong enough to enter the Promised Land.

There are lots of unknowns ahead frankly. And yet we always begin in hope for something better. Will we see them as an adventure or with fear? Will we find new joys or old anxieties? Will we gain wisdom or do something foolish? Who knows? All I invite you to do in the beginning of this year is to trust in the One who has made Himself known to us. We know Him from His Word and by coming into the flesh and dying for our sins. And remember “He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow” (Heb 13:8) which means Jesus is the one constant thing in a world of unknowns. I encourage to take the time to get to know the One traveling with you this year.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus for the new year.

Pastor Matthew Woods

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJan4.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/th6YwPXTF-s

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 29

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

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

“The All-Inclusive Gift”

READING: I John 1:1-4 – That which was from, the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

I hope and pray that your Christmas celebration was a blessed one whatever your circumstances. As I said last week, some of the merriment of Christmases past was bound to be missing this year for many of us. COVID restrictions and other factors made it harder for us to be merry, but no less able to rejoice in the blessedness, grace, and promise the coming of the Christ child gives to each of us.

I was doing some reminiscing about Christmases past. When I was about 6, my Uncle Rudy gave me an Old West town – complete with cowboys and Indians, horses, saddles, corral fencing, a spittoon, swinging doors on the saloon, wagons, horse troughs…well, you get the picture. It was an all-inclusive set. I spent hours having big gun battles with that gift.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Tonka firetruck he gave me. It had hoses and a hydrant, ladders, a siren and lights. It was all-inclusive. Aunt Elsie one year gave me a “Johnny Eagle” for Christmas. The Johnny Eagle was a play gun that fired plastic bullets, had a grenade launcher, a bayonet, a compass, the trigger assembly would detach revealing a pistol! It had EVERYTHING! It was all-inclusive. That’s the same reason I love my Swiss Army knife. It has every tool I might need, all in one handy all-inclusive package!

Two Christmases ago I received a “Lead Sled”. A Lead Sled is an implement to use on a shooting stand for zeroing in rifles on a target range. It has a rest on which to put the rifle and then clamps that hold it firmly so when you fire it, it doesn’t kick against your shoulder and you can fine tune the sights without moving the weapon. Back in November I took it to the range with me, intending to use it for the first time. When I opened the box, I discovered that the Lead Sled has “some assembly required.” It was all in pieces! I have to put it together before it will do me any good. All the pieces are there. It will do just what it’s intended to do when I put all the pieces together. Its all-inclusive.

St. John is giving us a similar message in our text for today. When he talks about Jesus, he speaks of all the ways he and the other apostles experienced him. They SAW him with their eyes – he was no vision nor hallucination. They HEARD him speak and teach and preach for he did not teach as others did, but he spoke with authority. They TOUCHED him – in the Upper Room on Easter Sunday. He was not a ghost or a group hallucination or a fever dream. Jesus was and is a truly human man who was born in Bethlehem, journeyed to Egypt, grew up in Nazareth, and was obedient to his parents. He had to learn to walk and to talk, to read and do his cyphers. He did his chores, ate, slept, bathed, worshipped, and did all the things you and I do. He was a real person, who lived at a real time in history and lived amongst real historical people. He was born in the time of Caesar Augustus, died on the cross in the reign of Tiberius Caesar. He was hunted as a baby by King Herod the Great and ridiculed by his son, King Herod Antipas. He was condemned to death by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

St. John wants his hearers, including us, to know that the Jesus he proclaims is not a figment of someone’s imagination. He wants us to know that he and others were eyewitnesses of his ministry, his miracles, his passion, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and of his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. We just celebrated his Nativity, and in spite of the world’s attempts to hijack Christmas or to minimize it or to ignore it altogether, we can be certain and sure that it took place exactly as Scripture describes it and for the very purposes it sets forth. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He was an all-inclusive Savior who came for everyone, came to everyone, and died “…that everyone who believes in him should not die but have eternal life.” He was the God/man who did it all for all of us. He was all-inclusive! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

NEW YEAR’s EVE Service: Thursday evening, 5:00 with Communion.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/7zpmOlfv7lE

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDDec29.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 28

Monday, December 28, 2020

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

“The Power of a Loyal Friend”

A commercial has been running this last month from an online dating company. It’s clever. It depicts the devil finding a perfect date, named two zero, two zero, otherwise known as Twenty-Twenty. And they hit it off. Twenty-Twenty romantically feeds the devil hot peppers, having picnics in an empty football stadium, stealing toilet paper, and taking selfies in front of a dumpster fire. At the end of the commercial the two are sitting on a park bench next to a river overlooking a bridge. The devil says, “I just don’t want this year to end” as the end of the world begins with comets streaming to the earth. In a humorous way it captures how many may look at the year we just finished.

The commercial is certainly Superbowl worthy but by then it would be irrelevant. Of course, I’m not sure that the dating site in the long run wants us to believe that finding a date on their site would be a short run ending in disaster. Nor do I believe they want us to associate their dating site with a relationship made in hell.
No one I know of deliberately enters into something hoping to be hurt, ruined, or fail. 2020 was started much like 2021 did. It started in hope and celebrating. Each new year’ eve people gather to celebrate the end of the previous year and the beginning of the next with great anticipation.

Hope is a powerful thing. And sometimes we need someone to help us find it again. We need an encourager to be with us. Enter Ruth. Ruth 1 introduces us to Naomi and Ruth, both widows. Naomi moved to Moab with husband and her two sons. Her husband and two sons died in Moab leaving Naomi with only she and her two daughters-in-law; no children and no grandchildren. Naomi goes back to Bethlehem and sends away one of her daughters-in-law and then attempts to push Ruth away too but Ruth remains loyal to Naomi.

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

When Naomi went to Moab with her family she was full of hope—“she went away full”. And then we can hear the anger of a woman with a broken heart—“But the Lord has brought me back empty.” And notice when she returns to Bethlehem she is noticeable different; “This be Naomi?” And finally Noami herself says, “Don’t call me Naomi, which means “pleasant” call me Mara which means “bitter.” Naomi however travels with a faithful daughter-in-law who feels the same hurt and pain. She is faithful to her; “where you go, I go; your God will be my God.” What Naomi doesn’t yet realize is that this goes both ways. Where Ruth goes so does Naomi. And this is where the hope begins.

In time Ruth will meet Boaz who takes a shine to Ruth and by the end of the book they are married. And eventually they have children; grandchildren for Naomi. In time Mara is put aside and Naomi, “Pleasant” returns to hold her grandchild in her arms. In chapter 4 something new is happening far from where we meet these two women—new life. 14 The women in town said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Naomi became the great, great, great grandmother of King David.

We can never under estimate the power of a loyal friend. They understand us and willingly put up with our bitterness, and our pleasantness. They remain even when we try to push them away. They are as stubborn as we are. Most importantly they are loyal encouragers. Even in conditions far outside of their control; even when they have no idea what they are doing or how it is going to turn out they are encouraging us simply by hanging in with us. Hope is a powerful thing. Often that hope is instilled in us by one or more special people around us who love us and make sure we are not alone.

As the new year comes to us, we should be reminded that we are not alone. Jesus is with us, loves us, and often works through the very people closest to us to renew our spirits to hope. Just mattering to one person is a powerful way God’s grace can be felt. One person can remind us that we more than matter to Jesus. We are His favorite part of creation. Jesus literally went through hell on His cross to make sure that we have more than a new year to look forward to. And like a good friend He still puts up with a lot from us but has never abandoned us even when sometimes we may have pushed Him away. And so, we hope in His resurrection. His resurrection is timeless and no level of hell can touch it. And the people around us can be a powerful agent of grace. We can never underestimate the power of a loyal friend and what role they may play in God’s direction. I pray that this new year we have good friends who are stubborn enough not to be pushed away; who understand us; love us; patient with us, wise with us, and encourage us to hope in the Lord above all. May the Lord bless you in his next year.

I’m Pastor Woods

And thanks to all of you for being a loyal friend to others.

Blessings on your new year.

John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDDec28.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/rZ81NyMB7Oc

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 22

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

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

“What a Mess!”

READING: Matthew 1:18-25 – This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

First of all I want to wish each of you a Blessed Christmas for you and for your family. I prefer to say “blessed” rather than “merry”. Not everyone’s Christmas is going to be merry this year. Some have lost precious loved ones whose absence will be noted with sorrow. Some have been battling serious ailments that rob them of merriment. And, all of us have been affected in various ways by the COVID pandemic. In our house our son, Andy, and his family will be staying in Wisconsin this year rather than coming home for the holidays. It’ll be the first time our three grandchildren, Lilly, Matthew, and Lucas, will not be with us for Christmas. In fact it’s the first time in his 43 years that Andy himself won’t be celebrating in our house. So “merry” just doesn’t cut it.

On the other hand, “blessed” covers all of us who celebrate the true meaning and promise of Christmas. Since Jesus came into the world with the expressed purpose of saving sinners, each and every one of us who believe he is our Savior and Redeemer are blessed. And, whatever our circumstances this Christmas, we will have a Blessed Christmas because Jesus gives us reason to thank God, praise his name, and to rejoice in his grace.

Our text today is the same one I used last week when I railed against the pagan/commercial interests who delight in bringing us characters, decorations, and tales that have little or nothing to do with the true story of Christmas. (Don’t get me started!) Today I want to point out something quite different in this familiar reading. In the first 2 sentences we have word of an unwanted/unexpected pregnancy, a teenage mother, a husband who thinks he’s been jilted, talk of public disgrace, and thoughts of divorce. Wow! What a mess!

That sounds like OUR times, doesn’t it? We have all seen or even experienced some or all of those circumstances in the lives of our family and friends. Sad things, hard things, scary things that real people meet all too often. That’s the mess that Jesus came into. Consider: The sinless Son of God, all-powerful Creator who holds the universe in his hands, comes into our messy world to bring light and hope to our messy lives and does it by allowing himself to be born a baby in a messy family situation. As St. John says in his first epistle, “How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us…!”

Then let me point you to Matthew’s use of Isaiah’s prophecy: “…and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is ‘God with us.’” Did you catch that? It isn’t “God above us”, or “God watching us”, or “God next to us”, or “God thinking of us”, but God WITH us. Yup! Right here in our messy lives, in our messy world, he is WITH us. He came as one of us to love us and to save us and to give us hope. He did that by stepping into our sandals and experiencing life in this world, and all of it he did without sin. Amazing!

And, one last thing. When Jesus was about to ascend to his Father’s throne, what last message did he leave with his disciples, and through them, to us? “And, lo, I am WITH you always, to the end of the age.” At his start he is “God with us” and at his leaving he is “God with us”. He is and always will be our God who is WITH us in every and all circumstances. THAT’S WHY I will say to you again, have a “BLESSED CHRISTMAS” because Jesus is Immanuel, “God WITH us”. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who helped us gift children in needy home again this year. For the money and toys and games you donated, for the shoppers who spent time and energy finding just the right stuff, for the wrappers who have wrapped dozens and dozens of gifts, and for Karen in the office who took and made dozens and dozens of phone calls, to all of you I say thank you and God bless you. We provided gifts to 67 children, as well as teenagers and a few mothers, with the last count standing at 86! We made Christmas a little less stressful for single moms and families who could not afford much this year. We made a difference. Thanks. Couldn’t begin to do that without you!

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Christmas Eve at 5:00 and 11:00. Both of these will be live online. Communion in both services as well. Christmas morning at 10:00. Not online. Communion.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/VW7mlixsuqI

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDDec22.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 21

Monday, December 21, 2020

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

“Christmas Is Associated with…”

Hello again and Merry Christmas to you and to your family. This week we celebrate one of the biggest day’s of the Church Calendar because it marks the day that our Lord entered into humanity as a babe in Bethlehem.

I have always been fond of Christmas. Our Christmas growing up in Michigan were a lot like the depiction in the movie, “A Christmas Story”. We opened gifts at the crack of seven in the morning; after waiting and eagerly anticipating for a least an hour. It was the one day of the year when we got to wake mom and dad up to start the day. On the other hand, Christmas meant we were going to have family over. When I was little, my great grandparents were always with us at Christmas as we opened our gifts. It was one of my favorite parts; knowing that they were going to be there. In the afternoon everyone else would come, Nana and her husband, Tom; My Aunt Diane, and my cousins. I loved it. Even now as an adult, I love Christmas, because it means that I am going to see our family; mom and dad, Josh and Daniel, Kyle and Makayla, Diane and others. I always associate Christmas with family and with very fond memories because of those long-standing traditions.

Of course, not everyone thinks Christmas in the same way. A first Christmas after the loss of a loved one can quickly associate Christmas with a sense of that loss. This is especially true for anyone whom we lost at or close to Christmas time. For others, like Helen Bohannon who have their birthday within the week of Christmas, well guess what? You just know that Christmas is going to trump your Birthday every year. And if you do want to throw a theme party…well… you may be stuck with a Christmas theme anyway. Sometimes I hear that someone has gotten a new dog at Christmas. I guess you could name a dog like that, “Christmas” if that happens. “Here, Christmas…good dog.” Christmas might mean a good tummy scratch and a new dog toy.

Of course, we know about regular things too, colorful lights, chess-nuts playing next to an open fire, a Christmas tree, stockings hanging, wreaths, poinsettias, and ugly sweaters. But we also associate Christmas with certain hymns too; O come, O come, Immanuel, Angels We Heard on High, and Pastor Kischnick’s favorite, O Holy Night. He says he doesn’t like that one I think because he can’t hit the high notes. Too bad, he’ll get over it--its one of my favorites for sure. For most we probably associate a wide variety of things with Christmas, multiple things; never just one thing. But whatever we associate with Christmas chances are those associations may evoke strong emotions of some kind, even some negative ones unfortunately. What things do you associate with Christmas? What stands out for you as we get close to Christmas? Maybe, drop me a note at my email: matt.woods@glcna.com.

Naturally, Christmas is more than a feeling, or a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Christmas is nothing without Jesus taking on flesh and coming into the world. So, this week I am laying a heavy emphasis on this very thing. And so today, I invite you to hear from Matthew 1:18-25. 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

This week I will be looking at this text on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. I will be looking at Isaiah 7 along with this text this week as Isaiah prophecies about the virgin conceiving and giving birth to Immanuel. This coming Sunday I also will be looking at Psalm 2 which is very strongly related to this passage as it talks of the Messiah coming to us as King descended in the line of David (See also 2 Samuel 7, Jeremiah 33:14-17). But in each case, I am captivated by the simplicity of the text and the many promises it brings together besides Jesus being the eternal king descended from David. The fact is, in scripture, Christmas is associated with well-known prophecies being fulfilled. All of OT prophecy settles in on Jesus; being born of Virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and born in Bethlehem, the city of David (Micah 5:2). The scriptures declare Jesus to be Christ the Lord (Luke 2).

Christmas is also associated with Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They come as a set much like a nativity set. A nativity set is centered around Jesus but a complete set always includes Mary and Joseph, shepherds, wisemen and an angel. Likewise, Christmas only makes sense and is complete when it connected to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

We hear this in prophecy as well. “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. – Isaiah 53:10.

The New Testament writers all believed this. Paul for example says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” For the earliest believers Christmas is the birth of the Messiah who died for our sins on the cross and rose again. And the New Testament writers believed in Jesus as God in the flesh; They confessed it as we do-- “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Crucified, died and was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead.” Jesus is Christmas.

And this is the good news. Christmas brings to us more than nostalgia; and something else besides loneliness, or another birthday cake. It brings us Jesus who loves the misfits, the misguided, and the miss Americas alike. We don’t have to have it altogether to fit into His kingdom. He will meet you wherever you are. Because what He associates with you is His image. You are His favorite part about Christmas—you are His favorite part about Creation. And by his grace and invitation He wants you over to His House for eternity where we get to gather around the Tree of Life; in a place that will never stop celebrating. We will be well-fed and most welcome. This is just a little bit of what we hope that you will associate with Jesus. So, I say Merry Christmas and May God bless you this week as we worship the Lord, the Babe of Bethlehem.

Reminder of services this week— Thanks for Gifts for Kids

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDDec21.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/LqSY3azxX9E

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 15

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

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

“God with Us”

READING: Matthew 1:18-25 – This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Well, I saw something new while I was out jogging last week: a new addition to the pagan pantheon of Christmas characters that decorates the front yards, Christmas cards, and children’s books of America. Okay, prepare yourselves. It’s time for my annual rant against the commercial/pagan alliance that is ever ready to usurp the true and beautiful meaning of Christian Christmas. What engenders this particular rant is a llama! A llama wearing striped Christmas socks and a lovely red bow around his neck. A freaking llama! What does a llama have to do with Christmas? About as much as the vast majority of lawn decorations I see every year as I run through the various subdivisions in my neighborhood.

This year it’s a llama that offends me, but there are so many more. It pretty much started with old Santa Claus himself, a right jolly old elf. Oh, and let’s not forget his eight tiny reindeer! If I saw a fraction of the deer on opening day that I see gracing people’s yards, I’d need ten freezers to hold all the venison. Next, I believe, came Frosty the Snowman. You see him quite a bit. And then came Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his buddies: The Abominable Snowman, the Dentist, and Yukon Sam, or Mike, or Whatever. They’re all classics, of course. But now we can add to the pantheon, thanks to Coca-Cola, polar bears and penguins, who of course do not even live on the same continent with one another. You see penguins EVERYWHERE. And a new phenomenon that showed itself about 4 or 5 years ago: moose (or is it “mooses” or “moosi”?). I’m not at all sure where they came from, except they possibly felt slighted by all the attention the reindeer were getting.

Not to be outdone, some folks decided to eschew Christmas and winter themes all together. There’s a house on Klerner near Grant Line that has a large, animated dragon in their yard. A dragon! The very symbol used in Revelation for the devil is now a Christmas decoration! Oh, and let us not forget other notables who have made their appearances: Winnie the Pooh, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Santa’s train, nutcrackers of all sizes, Santa in a biplane (I kid you not!), Snoopy and most of his friends, and…a giraffe! A giraffe! What in the world?

So, let me say right now, if you have one or more of these figurines standing out in front of your house at this very moment, please don’t go outside and smash it up! You are not sinning or causing “one of these little ones” to sin. That is not my point. (Well, maybe the dragon should be gutted and burned!) My point this morning is to show just how hard it can be to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas. Along with the shopping and gift-giving, the cookies, the wrappings, the Christmas specials and children’s pageants (in a normal year), the UPS, FedEx, and Prime delivery trucks, and all the other window dressings of the season, Jesus can be lost in the ground clutter.

Our reading for today is the most important, the most beautiful story ever written. It is full of grace and hope and promise and wonder. God’s own Son sets aside his glory to become a human baby born of a young virgin, to a family of the most meager means. There’s an unexpected pregnancy, a husband who feels jilted, an unconsummated marriage, the threat of a divorce, and complications out the Wazoo! But in all of it, through all of it, because of all of it, an ages-old prophecy is about to be fulfilled: Immanuel, “God with us!” This is what you and I don’t want to overlook or minimize in our Christmas observances. This is the story we need our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to hear and learn and celebrate. All the other stuff is truly just STUFF. At the heart and center of this season MUST be Jesus, always and only Jesus.

So celebrate the season with all the trimmings but be sure to contemplate and linger over the announcement, the circumstances, the struggles, the birth, the angels, the shepherds, the star, the Magi, and, most importantly, the MEANING of it all. “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” He comes, not on a sleigh with “Ho, Ho, Ho’s”. He brings gifts of forgiveness and salvation. He fights someone more abominable than a snowman. He comes to a world of misfits, lost in sin and darkness, and restores them to the image of his Father. He takes the slurs and the mistreatment of those who should have welcomed his coming, and then he saves them, not with a bright red nose, but with his own bright red blood. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord and our God, and we do well to welcome him into our hearts once again. Enjoy the wrappings, but don’t overlook the Gift! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

ADVENT SERIES: “Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” (Micah 6:8)
Wednesday, tomorrow, 7:00 P.M. – December 16. Tomorrow I’ll be
speaking about “Walk Humbly with Your God”.

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who helped us gift children in needy home again this year. For the money and toys and games you donated, for the shoppers who spent time and energy finding just the right stuff, for the wrappers who have wrapped dozens and dozens of gifts, and for Karen in the office who took and made dozens and dozens of phone calls, to all of you I say thank you and God bless you. We provides gifts to 67 children and a dozen or so teenagers. We made Christmas a little less stressful for single moms and families who could not afford much this year. We made a difference. Thanks.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Christmas Eve at 5:00 and 11:00. Both of these will be live online. Communion in both services as well. Christmas morning at 10:00. Not online. Communion.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/J7g4og0zyWE

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDDec15.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 14

Monday, December 14, 2020

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

“Christmas Time-A Reason to Come out of Hiding from Jesus”

Our reading for this morning takes us to 2 Samuel 9 where David invites Mephibosheth to have a place at the king’s table. It’s one of my favorite places in the OT because it illustrates in so many ways the mercy of God. This passage parallels so much of why Christmas is important to us. It is a picture of grace and it also has something important to say about those of us who regularly hide behind the words “I’m fine” when we may not be.

Starting with verse 3. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

Mephibosheth was the last living son of Jonathon, David’s best friend who also happened to be the grandson of King Saul, David’s predecessor. Usually during this era when a new King from a new family took the throne all remaining family members from the previous dynasty were killed off to avoid any possibility of a challenge to the new king. So, in 2 Samuel 4:4 we are told that Mephibosheth was five years old when Saul died. When news of Saul’s death got back to the family little Mephibosheth was swept up by his nanny to go into hiding. But she picked him up in a panic. As she ran, she tripped and fell with the little kindergartener breaking something in his legs—leaving Mephibosheth crippled from the rest of his life.

Many years later Mephibosheth was still hiding in the sticks, in a nowhere town far from David. Once royalty Mephibosheth was homeless, living in a fear that one day the king will try to execute him, and orphaned. Except for one son, he had no one except his loyal friends.

And then the day that he dreaded came. He stood in his ragged clothes, dragging himself in with some help in a magnificent king’s hall, a misfit and completely out of place even though he once played in the very throne room he now stood in. But instead of an execution David invites Mephibosheth to his table. Jesus does the same for us. He seeks us out not to drop the hammer on we who are hobbled by sin and death. Jesus comes in the flesh to give us a place at the king’s table. Turns out Mephibosheth didn’t need to hide. Nor do we. Jesus seeks us out to raise our status; homeless to a place in the father’s house; sinner to saved; tatters sinners rags to robes of righteousness. Jesus Himself illustrates this in the Parable of the Prodigal Son who runs out to His son, hugs and kisses him, and then celebrates him being home safe and sound.

I think the most unfortunate words sometimes are, “I’m fine.” It’s like Adam and Eve hiding themselves after the fall to sin. The only two people in the wide world—are you kidding me. “I’m fine” may be covering a storm of emotions, worries, concerns, and stuff swirling in our hearts in minds. Sometimes I can sense it in some of our members I’ve known for twenty years. I’ve been at this long enough to realize that many people are not always fine and Christians are not immune to this. “I’m fine” acts like a deer blind, camouflage.

As Christmas fast approaches so does an amplification of feelings that percolate within so many Christians. Mourning feels harder. Guilt stings more. Unsaid apologies plague our minds. Worrying about Covid turns into a deep fear. Feelings of being loveable at all creep in. Loneliness feels all the lonelier. There are so many different feelings that make someone want burst. It would be so good to unload them but we don’t dare because of this fear of feeling exposed, or more vulnerable than we already do. We may tell ourselves, “What if they see my sin, my deepest problems, my personal worst….? I can’t handle what may come on top of what I am feeling right now.”

If this describes you, or someone you care about I would invite you to hear from the King of Kings, Jesus. Those wonderful words, “Do not be afraid…” are shared when God is doing something good for His people. We’ve heard them before at the coming of Jesus when he was announced to the shepherds, themselves outcasts, men who worked outside with the dirty sheep; ragged, rugged, and dirty. In Luke 2 we hear, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you and He is Christ the Lord.” In Matthew 28 the angel at the tomb tells the women the same thing. “Do not be afraid, He is risen.” When fear seems to intensify God is inviting us not to fear.

Christmas is still good news even when it is clouded by deep internal emotions. “Do not be afraid…” The King has brought you a place at His table. You are no longer a stranger to Him. You are welcomed as a child of God. No longer will you hunger or thirst or be in want. You do not have to live in hiding but in safety. Your sin will no longer hold a bounty on your life but you have been set free from sin and death.

There is an old illustration that fits our idea today. In 1981, California police staged an intensive search for a stolen car and its driver. They even placed announcements on radio stations in their attempt to contact the thief. On the front seat of the car sat a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, were laced with poison. The car owner had intended to use them as rat killer. But now the police and car owner were more interested in apprehending the thief to save his life than to recover the car.

Psalm 23 tells us that “Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Like the thief that stole the car God is after you so that He can show you His grace and kindness. Like the thief on the cross Jesus came to bring a rescue; to pursue the sinner to save his life, to save the one lost sheep, and to welcome home the prodigals, not perfect people who have no problems. No one I know lives without problems. No one can truly say, “I’m fine.” But Jesus’ goodness and mercy are following us. There is no place that the Lord will not be with you.

Look, I’m not suggesting that you should suddenly come out of hiding; that you are going to be suddenly all right if you just talk to your pastors. Not at all. It’s not about fixing you. It’s about identifying your assets when it is hardest to look for them. Your greatest asset is your greatest advocate and friend, Jesus. Jesus is always inviting you to come to Him in prayer. I am also here reminding you in this Advent season that you are invited to have a seat at His table. You have people that care about you and how you are doing. I would suggest that hang around with them so that your only company isn’t just your thoughts and emotions.

When David welcomed Mephibosheth, he invited him to his table without condemnation and without judgement. Mephibosheth only had to show up. In Jesus we have mercy and welcome just like this. “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You may not necessarily come out of hiding from whatever may be secretly wrestling with your soul but my goal today isn’t to cure you of that. I can’t do that anyway. My hope today is that you are reminded that you are still Jesus’ favorite part of Creation, no matter how messy you think your life is. The King is still inviting you to sit at His table.

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDDec14.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/dOYJE089eVg

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 8

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

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

“How Long?”

READING: Rev.6:9-11 – When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

Uncle Rudy was my sponsor and Godfather. He was Mom’s younger brother, and in our family the tradition was that sponsors gave a Christmas gift to their “doudlas” (the German word we used for Godchildren) until they were confirmed. So, Uncle Rudy had inquired through his wife, Aunt Esther, as to what I might want for Christmas. My response had been, “A firetruck!” I had, of course, closely studied the Sears and Penney’s catalogs when they arrived. After hours of study and calculation, I had decided upon a Tonka firetruck that had hoses and ladders and a fire hydrant, bells, whistles, and bows! And, now Uncle Rudy was coming over to deliver my Christmas present, but he was late!

Aunt Esther had talked to Mom at church that morning to see if they could come by that evening at 7:00. Mom had said that would be fine, and then she had told me about it. So, at twenty minutes to seven, I was already parked at the westside kitchen window watching for Uncle Rudy’s lights. We lived in a flat-as-a-pancake area, so I would see his lights coming over two miles away. At seven there were no lights. At seven-oh-five there were no lights. At seven-ten there were still no lights, and now I began to worry. I ran to Mom with the question, “How long before he gets here?” She told me to be patient. They were coming; not to worry.

Well, easy for her to say! She wasn’t expecting a Tonka firetruck! I was! I went back to the window, and I alternated between staring into the dark distance to the west and eye-balling the clock on the other side of the kitchen. Seven-fifteen, seven-twenty, seven-twenty-five – they all crept by and my dread only increased. How long must I wait? When would he come? When would my hopes and dreams find fulfillment? Oh, the minutes dragged by!

In our text today, we hear the martyrs ask the same question I did, “How long, O Lord? How long must we wait for our deaths to be avenged?” Advent is a season of dual purpose. On the one hand, it is the season of preparation to receive the Good News and to celebrate the birth of the Savior at Bethlehem. But it also has a secondary purpose of reminding us to be prepared for his second coming as well. The Church has often lifted up the question, “How long, O Lord? How long?” In times of persecution, in times of war, in times of pestilence, the Faithful have asked for Jesus to come and bring an end to her suffering. But, like the martyrs, the answer has always been, “Wait a little longer.” The Lord has his own timeline to fulfill – a plan that he will reveal at “just the right time.”

Jesus came to the earth, as St. Paul says in Romans 5, “…at just the right time, when we were still powerless…” That first coming had been prophesied for centuries, and there must have been countless faithful Hebrews who had longed and pleaded for the Messiah’s coming only to realize that they must, “Wait a little longer.” Today, in the midst of a pandemic, surrounded by confusion, discord, isolation, and unhappiness, the Faithful may well pray with added fervor, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” And, maybe he will. But, until that day he calls on us to be faithful, to be patient, to be active servants, and to speak the Good News to the multitudes who yet do not know or acknowledge Jesus as their Savior. “How long, O Lord?” And he answers, “Wait a little longer.”

I finally saw Uncle Rudy’s lights turn off or Reese Road and onto Weaver. I watched with growing anticipation as those lights came ever closer. When the car started to slow down as it neared our house, I knew he had finally arrived. Within minutes, I had my present in my hands. The wrapping paper flew off, and there it was: my Tonka firetruck in all of its glory! It turned out that one of my cousin’s sponsors had shown up unexpectedly, and they had been delayed for about 40 minutes. Oh, I remember those 40 minutes stretching into eternity! “How long?” I must have asked by Mom a dozen times. “How long, O Lord?” says the Church. “Wait a little longer.” He’ll be here at “just the right time!” Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

ADVENT SERIES: “Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” (Micah 6:8)
Wednesdays, 7:00 P.M. – December 9, and 16. Tomorrow Pastor Woods
will speak to us about “Loving Mercy”.

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – We intend to gift 45-60 children and teens again this Christmas by the purchase, wrapping, and distribution of toys, games, and clothing needs for children in needy families – both within the congregation and in our community. I’ll need shoppers and wrappers. If you can do one or both, write a little note and get it to me, or call Karen and ask her to put a note on my desk. You’ll hear from me. And, you can make donations for this worthy cause by envelope or internet. Simply indicate “Gifts for Kids” on the envelope or on the website. We’ll use every dollar to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

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

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDDec8.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 7

Monday, December 7, 2020

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

“A Gift Exchange”

Every year about this time… (usually), families and office groups have a gift exchange. In our family everyone is old enough to be married and have jobs and there are more of us. So, to keep things reasonably inexpensive each member of the family draws a name and takes care of one other member of the family for Christmas. Each of us makes out a Christmas list of things we would like including sizes, favorite colors, and other things to get as much information as possible. And then we set a limit on the spending amount and this way everyone gets a nice Christmas without going broke. Until grandkids comes along, then all bets may be off.

On other occasions we have had goofy gift exchanges with family and with work Christmas parties. My wife’s office does one each year…(Usually). This year it’s all virtual. The idea in this case is not get a nice gift but find a ridiculous thing to “give” away. It’s fun because people bring in tasteless things like an old painting of Elvis or silly things like bear claw slippers or something. Last year the Jr. High class loved the goofy gift exchange so much that the game dominated most of the party. Everyone takes turns and occasionally if someone sees something they like they might have opportunity to nab it from someone else. It’s really more of a game than a true gift exchange. I like because you never know what you might get stuck with. The surprise is half the fun. I also like it because it just about having some fun. Lord knows we can all use a little of that.

Today I would like to talk about the gift exchange that makes Christmas what it is. And so, I ask you to consider the passage from Isaiah 53.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;

and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53 is an intense passage but I offer it not to be a downer but to highlight the gift that Jesus has given to all of us. The tender shoot that refers to Jesus grew out of dry ground which refers to the lifeless nature of our sinful world. Jesus came to make a grand exchange. Jesus was numbered with the transgressor, sinners like you and me. He bore our sins and made intercession for the transgressors. When Jesus died on the cross, He made an exchange. He gifted us His righteousness, His sinlessness, and eternal life, and then took our sin, God’s wrath for that sin, and its punishment for that sin. Jesus took on human form to make this great exchange.

Christmas is only Christmas in the context of the cross and the resurrection. What greater gift is there then Jesus? He is the gift that will not wear out nor wither because of time. It is given at His cost. It is given freely to all who want it.

This brings me to our last thought. Jesus’ gift gives daily. Isaiah 40:30-31 says,

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint." (40:30-31)

Those who hope in the Lord. Hope is regenerative. It is waiting with anticipation that something is definitely coming. Waiting with perseverance expresses our faith that God will save us in spite of all the weariness and bad news. Our strength is renewed. To "Renew" is ḥālap, which in the Hiphil stem has the idea of "change, exchange, replace.” There is a sense in which we exchange our weakness for his strength as we wait expectantly for him to act. Jesus Himself invites us to be renewed. This is a gift exchange as well. Our weakness for His strength, something Paul “boasted” about. It is also something Jesus invited us to have. "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Christmas is a time of lots of gift exchanges. But the one that brings rest and joy is the gift at the center of Christmas, the gift of Jesus. In Him we have our salvation, our hope, and our strength. That’s why we celebrate Christmas.

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDDec7.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/VNT7GeA3EyE

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION DECEMBER 1

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

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

“He’s Coming!”

READING: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-10 – Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken…You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him, and his recompense accompanies him.

On my trip home from deer hunting in English, Indiana, a couple of weeks ago, I was driving on I-64 when once again I marveled at the engineering that produced that road. You drive along on a wonderfully smooth road through hill and dale, with gentle upsweeps and gentle downhills, hardly aware of the topography that had to be overcome in order to make an expressway on a fairly level plane. There were hills that had to be cut through, sometimes forty or fifty feet deep or more. Those were followed by valleys that had to be raised up forty or fifty feet or more. There were creek bottoms that had to be bridged. There were twists and turns that had to be straightened out. When the hills were dynamited and excavated, all the overburden was moved into the valleys as fill. Pay attention the next time you have reason to drive out that way. It’s truly amazing, and it always reminds me of our text for today.

Isaiah declares, “Make straight…a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low, the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” In his prophetic utterance he presages the great building projects of the 20th century. In his day the people couldn’t have imagined a highway like I-64. Their road building was limited to animal and manpower. But, it’s not the building project that’s the focus of his prophecy – it’s the LORD GOD COMING TO HIS PEOPLE! “Here is your God!” Isaiah is prophesying the coming of the Messiah to the aid and comfort of his people.

John the Baptist, as he preaches and baptizes along the Jordon, is recognized by St. Luke to be the very voice of the one calling in desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord!” John says the time is at hand. John says Isaiah’s prophecy is about to be fulfilled. “HE’S COMING!” Get ready! Prepare yourselves! Cut down the hills of your arrogance and pride. Fill in the low places of unrighteousness in your lives. Repent of your sins and watch for his appearance. And, REJOICE! Because when the Lord comes in the little town of Bethlehem, he comes with one purpose, one intent. He comes to save his people from their sins.

Advent starts tomorrow. And, boy, can we use some Advent! After the year we have endured with all its noise, confusion, fear, and rancor; after riots, demonstrations, debates, polls, lockdowns, cancellations; after charges and countercharges, daily death tallies, mail-in ballots and e-learning, we need Good News! We need to hear the Baptist say again, “…One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” We need to hear Isaiah whisper to us, “Comfort, comfort, ye my people!” We want to watch again for his coming as a babe in Bethlehem, God veiled in flesh. We need to hear the angels say to us again, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men!”

He's coming! So lift up your hearts. Rejoice once again that the God of all Creation, the God of power and might, deigns to join his sinful, fallen creatures as one of them. He puts his glory aside, he lays down his power, he leaves behind the majesty of heaven in order that he might show the great riches of his love, the depth of his mercy, and the sacrifice beyond all knowing. He’s coming to save us. He’s coming to give us hope. He’s coming! Thanks be to God!

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

ADVENT SERIES: “Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” (Micah 6:8)
Wednesdays, 7:00 P.M. – December 2, 9, and 16

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – We intend to gift 45-60 children and teens again this Christmas by the purchase, wrapping, and distribution of toys, games, and clothing needs for children in needy families – both within the congregation and in our community. I’ll need shoppers and wrappers. If you can one or both, write a little note and get it to me, or call Karen and ask her to put a note on my desk. You’ll hear from me. And, you can make donations for this worthy cause by envelope or internet. Simply indicate “Gifts for Kids” on the envelope or on the website. We’ll use every dollar to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/kMMPcGFJm0Q

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDDec1.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 30

Monday, November 30, 2020

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

“The Greatest Find”

I have always been captivated by hidden treasure stories. I love any movie that has to solved the clues to find the treasure. I sincerely enjoy movies like The National Treasure movies where they find the hidden treasure of the Knights Templar for example. The main character played by Nicolas Cage along with his friends solve centuries old riddles and clues left behind by people of history. They overcome booby-traps and uncover secret places until finally the find the treasure.

Currently, I am hooked on a show called the “Curse of Oak Island.” Oak Island, in Nova Scotia, Canada, for 220 years has held secrets buried within it. Speculations have ranged from items from Solomon’s Temple to the original writings of William Shakespeare, to many other things. Supposedly buried deep within the island are secret tunnels that treasure searchers have been looking for over two centuries. Numerous theories mostly surrounding the Knights Templar have been presented. And much has been found that has captured the interest of a team that originated from Traverse City, Michigan.

A couple of Michigan boys lead the search—already off to a good start in my book. Two brothers, Rick and Marty Lagina banded together a team of experts to try and solve the Island’s mysteries. What strikes me is that they are men of science who have expressed a sincere and deep faith, believing something significant happened on this island. I’ve been watching the show since it started eight years ago and I’ve yet to see any sense of religious or especially a Christian faith. But they do express a faith that has called them to go to Oak Island; a faith that considers the theories and stories, and invest millions of dollars each year digging in the ground.

The Oak Island team are very methodical and sometimes frustratingly slow in their efforts to us who are fans. Each season I keep saying to myself, “Find some treasure already!” They have found plenty of evidence to believe historically significant things converged on Oak Island and I am convinced they are right. The most significant perhaps were a Templar Coin embedded with a Templar cross and a Lead Templar cross found on Smith’s Cove on the Island. It is believed that historically this Island was an active place long before the America’s were thought to have been discovered. They have found many items that keep the Laginas coming back with an ever-stronger belief that some kind of important find, a treasure perhaps, is still waiting to be discovered deep underground. How, after all, can there be so many pieces of evidence and then all the stories not be true? Right? Exactly.

Dr. Paul L. Maier a retired professor of Ancient History and chaplain at Western Michigan University-Kalamazoo, MI. has been saying the same thing for his entire career about the accuracy of the Scriptures. He regularly called attention to the accuracy of Locations and finds in Archeology that are consistent with Scripture. I would encourage anyone researching Jesus to consider anything he says on the subject. The evidence is in history, geography, archeology, and more. If a genuine searcher for the truth is to be seriously considered one must consider at least the possibility of Jesus as the Lord and Savior of the World. The Bottom line is simple for us today. We invest in what we believe. Believing in Jesus is an investment in a treasure that really is not so hidden. This treasure has no traps. Jesus has had more impact on history than any other figure, even upon the Knights Templar who in theory hid religious artifacts on Oak Island.

In Acts 17:16 and following Paul is in Athens waiting for his team to catch up to him. He tours Athens which is a hotbed of idolatry, literally an altar on every corner. Beginning with verse 22 Paul makes a case for Jesus. 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else….

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Paul calls on creation itself as a witness. As Paul Maier has said on numerous visits to our congregation about the historical and Archeological evidence, “The very stones cry out.” Romans 1:20 also says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

But Paul’s greatest piece of evidence?... Paul says, “God has given proof to everyone by raising Jesus from the dead.” By the time Paul was done he had convinced a handful of people including Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris. The greatest treasure is not hidden in the ground. The Tomb is empty. Jesus is a living Savior. Those who truly followed Jesus gave everything for Jesus. No one does this if they believe the resurrection was made up or a lie.

How ironic that Oak Island’s greatest theory for any hidden treasure resides in the idea of Knight’s Templars who were an organization of the Christian Church, albeit a very controversial one. Still, these knights were no doubt made up of devout believers in Christ. How ironic that a lead cross, the greatest and most defining Christian symbol in history, found on the Island’s beach would be evidence of something historically significant happening on that island. How ironic that this is the evidence that has led two brothers to have such a deep faith in the island treasure that something happened of great importance. This faith has led to their team spending a fortune on that island as many had done before them. How ironic that these men would rely on a stream of historical witnesses “a great cloud of witnesses” who have been documented that something real is on that Island.

As we begin this Advent season, I just encourage you to remember that your greatest treasure is your faith itself in Jesus. We always see a cross overshadowing the manger. Jesus was born to be our sacrifice for sins. And yes, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is historically significant and his church has shaped history for 2000 years. Galatians 4:4 tells us that He came in the fullness of time. But time will run on and run out. He is coming back for His people. His promise is that we who believe will also be resurrected. The two single most challenged facts about Jesus are His incarnation and resurrection. Many have tried to strip Jesus of His divinity but none will succeed. And so, advent begins with anticipation of finding treasure once more in Jesus. I encourage you to place your hope in Jesus once more and by the grace of God boldly Invest in the faith you have in Him.

Announcements: Advent Services Dec 2, 9, 16 Based on Micah 6:8 “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Christmas Services will be in person and broadcast 5PM 11PM Christmas Eve/Christmas Day 10AM. Gifts for Kids

And now the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDNov30.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/COA2KrCwNyA

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 24

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

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

“O Give Thanks!”

READING: Psalm 100 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness to all generations. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Growing up in a farm community, I always looked forward to Thanksgiving. It was one of the most important holidays we celebrated, preceded only by Easter and Christmas. Farmers understand Thanksgiving in a way that city-dwellers would find difficult to duplicate. Every spring they till the land, almost literally bury thousands and tens of thousands of dollars in the ground in the form of fertilizers and seed, equipment costs and fuel. Tåhen, they trust that the Lord will provide for them a harvest in the fall. If they get too much rain in the spring, the planting comes late. If it gets dry early, the plants suffer and get stunted, decreasing their åyield. If the summer heat is too intense and the rains don’t come, the crop can quite literally burn up in the fields. And, even if a bumper crop has come with wonderfully timed rains and clement weather, the harvest time can still cause trouble if the autumn rains come early. So, when Thanksgiving comes, the harvesting is usually completed, the crops are sold or stored, and the farmers have a pretty good idea of the return they’ve received on their springtime investments. They usually have good reason to “Sing to the Lord of Harvest” and to belt out “Now Thank We All Our God”.

In Judaism, the faithful also had a thanksgiving celebration. It was called Pentecost, or The Feast of Weeks, or The Harvest Festival. It took place at the end of May or in early June after the barley and wheat had been gathered in. They brought burnt offerings and grain offerings in thanksgiving for the produce God had provided them, the produce that would see them through the coming year with bread for the hungry and seed for the sower during the rainy season to come.

Fitting then, don’t you think that Pentecost for the Christians became a celebration of the ingathering that took place on the day that the Holy Spirit came to rest upon twelve confused, reluctant, and hard-scrabble disciples of the Master who was slain but rose again. They preached the Gospel in multiple languages, sowing the seed of the Good News of Jesus, then watched in wonder as a harvest of righteousness and faith came to fruition right before their eyes. “First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest, grant that we, wholesome grain and pure may be.”

How “meet, right, and salutary” it is for us as God’s family to thank and praise him for all that he has provided for us in this year fast coming to its end. I know, I know! I’ve groused about 2020 just like everyone else. It has been a bitter year in too many ways. We lost loved ones, struggled with COVID-19 and all its attendant hassles, fears, and unknowns. We had riots in our cities, division in our streets, isolation in our homes, separation from friends and families, a fractious election, and scores of other disappoints and sorrows. But through it all, the Lord has been with us. He’s provided resources, led us to new understandings, and continues to strengthen us with his word and his sacraments. God is still God. The King still reigns. Advent starts next week, and Christmas is close behind. We will sing his praises and trust in his goodness. So with our brothers and sisters across the fruited plain, let us give thanks to the Lord our God, for his mercy endures forever and ever. A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to each and every one of you! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: Wednesday, November 25, 7:00 P.M. This service will also be shown online live at glcna.com.

ADVENT SERIES: “Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” (Micah 6:8)
Wednesdays, 7:00 P.M. – December 2, 9, and 16

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – Watch for announcements soon regarding the purchase, wrapping, and distribution of toys, games, and clothing needs for children in needy families – both within the congregation and in our community. I’ll need shoppers and wrappers. If you can one or both, write a little note and get it to me, or call Karen and ask her to put a note on my desk. You’ll hear from me.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/v8JGX63pMbE

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDNov24.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 23

Monday, November 23, 2020

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

“Giving Thanks in All Circumstances”

Happy Thanksgiving to you. Thanksgiving remains one of my favorite holidays. I love the simplicity of Thanksgiving: get together with family and friends, eat yourself into a turkey coma, watch the Detroit Lions snatch defeat out of the hands of victory, and enjoy the people you’re with. It’s wonderfully basic. No tree. No presents to buy. No eggs to hide. No costume to wear. No valentine’s flowers to bring. Thanksgiving is wonderfully without all the obligations that are associate with most other times of the year. And it focuses not on what we do not have but on what we do.

Today we turn to a passage from Luke 17:11-19 which talks about a thankful Samaritan. It seems that there are “Good Samaritans” and thankful ones.

“While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” (KJV) Luke 17:11-19

Leperousy had brought together Samarians and Galileans but as soon as they were healed they went their different ways. What was different about this tenth victim of leprosy? Its subtle but the difference is in two words “cleansed” katharizo (no longer having the disease of leprosy) and “healed” sesoken, (meaning to be “whole” or “well”). It carries overtones of “to rescue, save, or heal.” In other words, faith in Jesus resulted from the healing. The other nine ran to the priest so they could return to their families as soon as possible. Who could blame them? To be indefinitely separated or socially distant from the people we love has proven itself to be detrimental to our families during Covid. Isolation has bred loneliness and fear. Reports from families of our shut-ins report a high level of depression and sadness. These lepers probably felt this way in their isolation. Short of a miracle, none of them probably expected to hug their spouse or children ever again. But before going back to his family one man who comes to faith in Jesus makes it a point to thank the Lord before going home to his family. That’s the spirit of thanksgiving.

Nothing brings focused to what we have until it is gone. For this reason, I routinely encourage Confirmands to give thanks for their eyes, ears, and senses, good backs, strong legs and flexibility, hand strong enough to unscrew the Jiffy Peanut Butter, strong lungs, a healthy heart, a digestive system that works like it should.

My first, hospital call was to a 17 year old girl who had leukemia. She was laying in a bed powerless to move, bonnet on her bald head, with her mom on the side of the bed journaling for her because she was too weak to write that day. “Pastor”, she said, “I look forward to being able to take a shower and brush my teeth.” I thought, “I do that every day without a single thought but this young lady would love to have that simple little thing.” She gives thanks for it today. Thankfully she went on to marry and have kids of her own, a miracle.

This week I turn 51 already. Seems like I just celebrated my 50th. Half of a century of life I have lived. Some say, “It’s just another day.” Others say, “it’s a threshold of sorts.” AARP magically finds you and stalks you with invitations to the old-people’s club. Jokes are made about going over the hill. Doctors boldly go where no one has been before introducing a torture chamber of ways that would get normal people in other professions serious jail time. And they use strange tools that would otherwise be outlawed by the Geneva convention. Others who have crossed the threshold long ago speak of the golden years with a sinister smile as though some ominous thing is about to strike. They say that I get to look forward to new prescriptions and wondrous side-effects; aches and pains, along with specialists whose names I will not be able to pronounce. Many are the woes of aging and the humiliation that widdles away the dignity and strength of far too many. Time after fifty they say goes so much faster. Someone once said, “Getting older is like a roll of toilet paper—the closer one gets to the end the faster it goes.” The floor gets farther down, ladders get taller, and everything gets heavier from this point. It is a time of forgetting things and life getting faster than one can keep up.

On the day that I turned 50 however I found myself mostly grateful. Glad that my youth didn’t get me killed or overrun by the stupidity of my youth. I am grateful for just how far I have come and how rich my life feels. I am Grateful for Tricia and I am grateful for my boys becoming fine, hardworking, young men.

I am grateful that this year I now have two wonderful daughter-in-laws that I am proud to have as part of our family. I am grateful for this congregation, the people I work with, and the many I have known over the years—many of whom I miss terribly. The biggest lesson at fifty was that I am learning better to savor the moment whatever that moment may be. I encourage you to do the same.

Enjoy what you have. When you start listing your blessings you will find you already have a lot. This year even little things that were once taken for granted are worth noticing; like toilet paper. For the Leper that thanked Jesus, I will bet that he took stock of every detail of his life while he was separated with Leprosy. And if I was in his shoes, I would thank the good Lord for my life, and would make it a point never to waste another minute complaining about what I didn’t have.

That’s the beauty of thanksgiving. Giving thanks is the greatest antidote to complaining, envy, and discontentment. In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” What Paul realizes is how much he has in any and every situation, well fed or hungry, in plenty or in want. He’s been healed in Jesus—made whole and therefore no longer limited by things he doesn’t have. He has what is needed most. And so do we.

So, let us say Happy Thanksgiving this week. Let us give thanks for all that good God has given in Jesus. Let us give thanks for the family we love, the car that gets us places, the home that keeps us warm, the table that keeps us fed, and for the humble basics of our lives that are often so subtle they may get overlooked. Hug your kids and take a breath. Enjoy and give thanks.

Announcements and Blessing

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDNov23.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/WKos3Vdb0Mg

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 17

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

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

“Time Out!”

READING: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

On the first weekend of this month it was time to turn back the clock and to shed ourselves of “Daylight Savings Time”, at least until the spring when we “spring ahead” again. It’s always during that task that I am reminded just how many clocks we have in our house: two in the kitchen, one in the living room, one in the dining room, three in the master bedroom, two in the master bath, one in the half-bath, four in the basement, one in the den, two in the upstairs bath, one in each of the bedrooms upstairs, and three watches! Thank goodness, the cell phones update automatically! Oh, and there’s also a clock to change back in each of the cars, and I always have trouble figuring out the one in Becky’s car. By my count that’s 24 timepieces plus the cell phones! What in the world are we doing with all those clocks?!!

Well, we are temporal beings. That means we are bound by time. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time to be born and a time to die.” We have a definite beginning and a well-defined end. Between those two events, “we have places to be and people to see.” And, many of those activities have an appointed time, a time requirement that we subdivide into days, hours, and minutes. We all have calendars and appointment books that do the same with the larger units of weeks, months, and years. We can’t help it; we are temporal beings.

The Writer begins the passage with, “There is a time for everything…” I wish! I can scarcely believe that I have arrived at a point in my life where I have more money than time. Time is my most precious commodity. I value it, try not to waste it, and never seem to have enough of it. We celebrated my 30 years at Grace a couple of months ago, and I couldn’t help but reflect upon how amazingly fast those years have flown by. When I think about it, with my 67th birthday the next one coming, 30 more years would put me at the ripe old age of 97! It could happen; probably won’t. But if the next 30 go by as fast as the last 30, old age is just a few breaths away!

I think the older we get the more we think about time passing and try to hold it back. My Grandpa Kischnick often said to me, “Wait until you get older! The years go by like months, the months go by like weeks, and weeks go by like days!” I would consider his words, but I had trouble with the whole concept. After all, when we were children the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to take FOREVER! We thought Christmas would NEVER get here. Now, Thanksgiving and Christmas nearly touch each other in my usual seasonal frenzy!

But here’s the Good News: Our God is eternal, immortal, imperishable; the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! God is the inventor of time. He stands above and beyond it. And, he has promised us in the coming of our Savior, that we, too, shall be eternal beings. Death will probably come for each one of us, unless Jesus comes back soon. (“Come, Lord Jesus, come soon!”) But Jesus has already shown us that death cannot and will not hold us. The day will come when “…the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God” will wake us from our slumber and the voice of Jesus will say, “Come out!” And we will come out of death into life, and that life will be immortal, eternal, imperishable. And we will find no clocks in heaven, no calendars, no date books! Time will be eternal time – no Daylight Savings Time needed. And we will have the time to adore, to praise, to marvel at, to utterly and thoroughly enjoy the company of our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And what a time that will be!

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: Wednesday, November 25, 7:00 P.M.

ADVENT SERIES: “Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” (Micah 6:8)
Wednesdays, 7:00 P.M. – December 2, 9, and 16

“GIFTS FOR KIDS” – Watch for announcements soon regarding the purchase, wrapping, and distribution of toys, games, and clothing needs for children in needy families – both within the congregation and in our community. I’ll need shoppers and wrappers. If you can one or both, write a little note and get it to me, or call Karen and ask her to put a note on my desk. You’ll hear from me.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/UrLOB2VzBFw

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDNov17.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 16

Monday, November 16, 2020

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

“When Facing Uncertainty? Part 2: Using the Strength Within You.”

Last week we talked about the uncertainty that many are feeling in 2020. We also talked about the importance to lean on what is certain when uncertainty strikes. Our only true certainty in an unstable, sinful world, is an eternal Jesus who remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This week to begin our thoughts I would ask you to highlight Judges 4:14: “The LORD turned to him (Gideon) and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

What strength did Gideon have? First, we must realize that the Lord always sees potential before we see it in ourselves. The Lord saw potential in young David who was the youngest, the one with the least standing in the Jesse’s family. God looked at David’s heart and not at the outward strength of David’s brothers and eventually made David, a king. St. Paul was an enemy of the church but Jesus made him into an apostle to the Gentiles. Little children looked unimportant to the disciples who initially tried to prevent them from coming to Jesus but Jesus called them the greatest in the kingdom.

God saw potential in Gideon that he didn’t see in himself. Gideon knew the Lord and welcomed the visit from the Angel of the Lord. Gideon was also ready to humble himself before the Lord.

The Lord knew that Gideon also had courage as well as humility but that courage needed a chance to breath and to be let out to stretch its legs. The Lord broke the chains of fear by waking up that courage with the command to sacrifice to the Lord. In doing so Gideon first would to learn how to stand up to his own relatives and community for what was right in the eyes of the Lord. They were practicing idolatry. In the later verses of Judges 6 the Lord tells Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to idols and built an altar to the Lord. Still, instinctively cautious because his life had been lived in caution for so long, Gideon makes the sacrifice at night because we are told in verse 27 hat Gideon was afraid of his family’s reaction and the community.

Gideon sacrifices his father’s seven-year old bull (somehow, they had kept from the Midianites) to the Lord. In the morning many within his family want to condemn Gideon to death for destroying the altars to the idols. But his father steps up to defend Gideon, “’If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.’” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, ‘Let Baal contend with him.’” Gideon’s father loved his son and defended Gideon. So, another of Gideon’s strengths was his father who stood behind him in complete support. Perhaps a friend or family member stands behind us like this too. God was building within Gideon a courage in and through his father and especially through a successful sacrifice to the Lord.

Courage in truth is very rare. Very few have real courage. Like most of us, Gideon was always a work in progress. For example, the courage to confront family for the truth of the Gospel is a touchy one. Often it gets passed over to maintain peace. And usually the unbelieving, or non-practicing Christian acts “offended” and “put out” often to intimidate and avoid or skew the conversation away from the Bible. But courage that is mixed with shrewd wisdom, tact, and an ability to listen is very hard to match. Gideon was fearful but he had other gifts; love for God, putting his actions where his mouth was, and wisdom to apply the information at the right time. We all have some gifts. Many simply misuse them or misplace them. Gideon had gifts that God wanted to use at that precise moment and time. Courage is rare but when applied with God-given gifts can bring courage to others.

And so, one night the Lord promised Gideon victory over the Midianites. The Midianite army was intimidating because of its size and reputation. But again, the Lord gave reason to believe in victory that was promised. So, he instructed Gideon to sneak down among the Midianite camp and listen. Gideon heard his own name mentioned with a tone of fear. We learn quickly that the truly courageous are the ones who are feared most; they are the most inspiring, and the most effective. God was shaping Gideon to be a courageous leader of Israel who would by his actions teach others to trust in God. Gideon was routinely afraid but acted anyway in faithfulness to God’s call. Gideon’s courage took action in his obedience to God’s instructions and his trust in God. And when he heard the fear of his enemies his courage solidified. Gideon that very night went immediately to work while the fear was still fresh in the minds of the soldiers. Uncertainty was now certain. God was already fighting for Gideon and Israel. Likewise, long before courage or wisdom we remember that God is already fighting for you and me. God is waking up places/gifts deep within us that we may not even know we have.
So, Gideon divided his men into three companies (100 each). Armed with torches, clay jars, and trumpets they shouted at the edge of the Midianite camp, blew their horns and raised their torches. The thousands of enemies turned on each other; the fear had turned them against one another in confusion. Eventually those that were left retreated and were later slaughtered by the Israelites. The battle belonged to the Lord and Gideon was the agent to play it out. The greatest strength Gideon had was the Lord. He is our strength too. And like Gideon Jesus is already preparing the path ahead.

Isaiah 65:42 reminds us; “Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And Ephesians 2:10 says, " For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And in John 14:1-7 Jesus says, “I am going to the Father’s House to prepare a place for you. I will come back to get you so that you will be with me where I am.” All of these passages remind us our God and Lord, Jesus is always ahead of our enemies and in His wisdom far exceeds any of their schemes or strengths. He is always the reason for us to have courage and the reason eventually, all enemies, including death, are defeated.

Imagine, for argument’s sake alone; if the resurrection of Jesus is real (and it is) what enemy can stand up against the truth of the Gospel. None. Finally, Jesus gives opportunities for good works to wake up those deep places within us in a way that fortifies our own courage and trust in Him—which is the goal.

Like fear, courage is contagious. But unlike fear, courage is transformational too. Courage that acts will find strengths that we have, perhaps didn’t know we have. When we put to action what we say we believe it inspires and encourages others to have courage in the Lord and come out of hiding as it did when Gideon called Israel to arms. The gifts within Gideon shaped Israel for a generation. We too shape the next generation either by our courage or in our hiding. By grace may we therefore be courageous and bold to trust in Jesus. Speak and someone may listen. Act and someone may believe and follow. Do not underestimate the strength you have in Jesus’. Amen.

Announcements and Blessing

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDNov16.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/Vh4j6nIkj2g

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 10

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

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

“Veterans of the Cross”

READING: Revelation 7:9, 13-17 – After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands…Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes – who are they and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and I want to commend all our military veterans with a “well done” and a “thanks for your service!” My dad was a Korean vet and proud of his service. He was, thankfully, never in combat (although he did get shot “just once” from long range), but he spent a long, cold winter in South Korea, not far from the DMZ. As a medic, he saved the life of a soldier who managed to accidently shoot himself in the arm pit with his carbine. The whole experience was one that was formative in his life, but also one he wouldn’t have taken a million dollars to repeat.

Last Monday we pulled bread for the Turkey Supper, and I was seeing “ghosts”. That was my 31st time pulling bread, and when I do that I think back and remember the faces of all those saints with whom I pulled bread in the years gone by. I see Chuck Osburn in the kitchen with a frilly apron on, wearing a tie, and sharpening knives. I see Roxie Minter and Joyce Appleby arguing about how best to do some task in that same kitchen. I see Frances Anderson, Frances Borkenheim, and Frances Conrad (“Frances’s A, B, and C”) sitting at the tables pulling bread and sharing the latest intelligence they had gathered from their network of friends. I see Irene and Chet Norton, Grace Martin, Mildred Lewellen, Esther Hilton, Pearl Croxall, Delphine Dunlap, and others who pop in and out of my mind. And, of course, I could hear the echoes of Ron Jenkins’ voice giving orders and teasing nearly everyone there!

On All Saints Day, when we commemorated those of our congregation whom the Lord called home to glory in this past year, I could picture each one in my mind. I’ve been here so long that when someone dies, I don’t mourn a parishioner, but a family member. Each death makes me sad; each passing causes me to mourn. If it were not for the promise of eternal life and reunion in heaven that the Father has given us through his Son, Jesus Christ, this would be a miserable calling. So many faces; so many memories; so many “Veterans of the Cross”. And that is what they are.

When we live our lives connected to Christ Jesus, we are connected as well to his cross. Life has its ups and downs; it has its hurts and joys and sorrows. But always we see them all through the cross and the Resurrection, supported and comforted by the promise that connected to Jesus, we are connected to each other and to all those who have already received their crown ahead of us. Those folks I was remembering are not lost to us, nor are they far from us. We will see them again. We will embrace them again. And we will worship our God and King together with them in glory.

So, a blessed Veterans Day to those of you who served our nation when she called. And, a blessed remembrance of all the Veterans of the Cross who touched our lives and our hearts. They live with Christ as will we, and we will see them again before the Throne and in front of the Lamb, wearing the white robes of Jesus’ righteousness, waving the Victor’s palm branches, and rejoicing to be in His presence forever. Amen.

Will you prayer with me…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1) BLOOD DRIVE: Thursday, 3-7 in the gym.

2) THANKS: to all who made the Turkey Supper possible and successful. Special thanks to Joan Longest, Rick Fetz, and the Elders.

3) THANKSGIVING BASKETS and LOVE OFFERING: We intend to gift about 30 families with turkeys and the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal. We need the usual food items and/or financial donations with which to buy those things. You can earmark your gifts on the website or Push/Pay or mail in a check written to Grace and noted with “Thanksgiving Baskets”.

4) VOTERS ASSEMBLY: Sunday, November 22, right after the Late Service. Lunch provided.

5) THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: Wednesday, November 25, 7:00 PM.

6) ADVENT SERVICE SERIES: ”Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God” Based on Micah 6:8 – Dec. 2, 9, & 16, 7:00 PM

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/sQ_fWCOHTA0

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: .PDFWeeklyDNov10.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 9

Monday, November 9, 2020

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

“When Facing Uncertainty? Part 1: Confidence in Who is With Us.”

Well, here we are. It’s a week or so after the election and we have seen angst and division unlike any other time. As razor thin margins in controversial states are litigated and debated any result now will result in half the country feeling cheated. 2020 it seems continues to bring more uncertainty to an already difficult time. It’s this uncertainty that have endured all year I would like to address in these next two devotions.

A feeling of uncertainty often hits hardest in difficult times. For example, when we have lost a spouse, or when we lose our job, or when a divorce takes hold or a number of other things happen, familiar territory suddenly feels very foreign. On the other hand, when times are good, we are confident often in things that take us from the Lord more than draw us to Him. This is our sinful nature. Judges 6:1-10 reminds us that this was a problem for Gideon’s community. They trusted in idols over the Lord but blamed the Lord for the Midianites who bullied, abused, and dispirited the Israelites. The Midianites were allowed to raid the community and take all their food and livestock. People lived in caves because caves couldn’t be destroyed like homes. It was a desperate scene brought about because the Israelites did not listen to the Lord but allowed each person to do what right in their own eyes. And when we meet Gideon, he is secretly threshing wheat in a wine press. This was a job usually done outside so the wind could blow away the chaff. Gideon had learned to protect what little food he had so he meticulously separated the wheat and chaff by hand. But God is merciful.

For Part 1 this this week consider the conversation in Judges 6:11-16. The Angel of the Lord comes to Gideon, 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” (Here the tone of blame in Gideon’s voice—no doubt echoed by his family.)

14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (The strength you have. Gideon was hiding, fearful, doubting God but he is exactly the perfect candidate for God’s purpose to be accomplished. It would have been easy to underestimate Gideon. But that’s the way of our Lord. “Whoever is the least will be the greatest” (Luke 9:48).

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Exactly, just like David would be just a rugged shepherd boy who brought down a giant.)

16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

Up to this point we learn a lot about the nature of our Gideon’s humanity. Midian seeks power over Israel and exercises that power to destroy the spirit of those like Gideon. Midian is using starvation as a tool to control Israel. And Then there is Gideon. Fear of Midian has him working hard to protect what he has left. In upcoming verses God patiently gives Gideon a sign to help him overcome his doubts. But up to this point Gideon is not living up to his full potential. He is living as if Midian is against him rather than with the fact that God is with him.

How about us are we living more like something is against us more than God is for us? Something we need to realize and remember is that there is always something against us. The Devil’s goal is to use any means to make us desperate and stupid enough to give up our faith. Our sin has built within it a strange and powerful capacity for self-destruction. And our natural reaction is to hide, in order to avoid becoming a target. Israel hid and Midian came. Israel hid again and Midian took more. And so, it went. This was the wisdom; “Don’t fight back, just hide and complain”. But for Gideon and God’s people hiding only provoke the Midianite’s to keep taking things from them.

We always have something working against us but we have with us is greater that the world that is for us. The disciples once hid like Gideon, disillusioned and facing deep uncertainty. He hid for fear of the Jews behind a locked door. But when they met the resurrected Jesus they went before those very same religious leaders they once feared and preached Jesus openly. Their fearless preaching changed the world. Twice the Lord told Gideon, “The Lord is with you.” That’s something we need to be reminded of as well.

We live in a time where faith must be real. It is not a time to hide even when every instinct tends toward self-preservation. It is a time to listen to God’s Word, read it and follow it. It is a time to believe what we say we believe. The best way to meet uncertainty is to turn to that which is certain as Gideon eventually did. It is Jesus who promises, “I will not abandon you but will give you another counselor” (John 14:15-21). And in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:20 the whole book of Matthew ends with this phrase. “I will be with you always for all days.” Jesus is a certainty. God took a nobody in Gideon and made him into the very instrument who would inspire others, strengthen the weak, and defend the honor of His God. So, if God can raise you from the dead in and through Jesus’ resurrection as He promised, we will do well to remember to place our confidence in Him, who is with us rather than be afraid of what is against us. So, I encourage you to take courage in who is with you in these uncertain times. In Jesus. Amen.

Announcements and Blessing

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDNov9.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/HYCvQr3_zoA

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 3

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

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

“We Don’t Want You to be Ignorant”

READING: I Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead In Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

So, I went running in the rain this morning. I have a firm rule for myself that unless there is thunder and lightning close by or moving in quickly, I run: rain or sunshine, snow or cold, windy or still. So, I went out there this morning in a steady downpour with gusting winds and all. And, I saw something foolish!

The Church on the Rock sits on the corner of Grant Line and Mel Smith. This summer they did some fresh landscaping in front of their main entrance, and in the course of that they had sprinklers installed to water the plants and flowers they’ve planted. Evidently those sprinklers are on an automatic timer because as I ran through their parking lot this morning in a steady rain, their sprinklers were merrily sprinkling away! In the midst of all that rain they were watering their landscaping. I thought to myself, “How foolish that is! They’re paying for water (and New Albany sewage charges based on their water use) that’s totally unneeded and unnecessary.”

This past Sunday was All Saints Day. We celebrated the victory of the saints who ran their race, kept the Faith, and have already received their crown of life. In Luther’s day it was the second most important and observed holiday in the Church, surpassed only by Easter. It’s a little less celebrated in many churches today, but we observe it because of the witness it makes and the comfort it brings to those who mourn.

St. Paul in our text above didn’t want the people of Thessalonica to be foolish in their grief. The unbelieving world makes a mess of funerals and mourning. St. Paul says it’s because they have no hope. Not so for the Christian! We have God’s word that assures us that when our loved ones die, that’s not the end of them or our life with them. St. Paul (and other New Testament writers) assure us that those who fall asleep in Jesus are not lost, not gone forever. He assures us that the day will come when Jesus in great power and full authority will call the dead out of their graves and will bring them to us for a glorious and joyous reunion.

So, while we certainly grieve, we do not grieve like the rest of men. We miss our loved ones, surely. We sorrow for our loss and are lonely for them. But we don’t grieve for THEM. They already are safe with the Lord. No more pain, sickness, sorrow, or death – those things are past for them. And, we are comforted by God’s words and promises that falling asleep in Jesus is a sweet homecoming and temporary state. We will rise again to joy and to life.

So, we don’t need to weep and wail for thirty days. We don’t starve ourselves, wear sack cloth and ashes, and make a big show of our grief. We trust in the name of Jesus. We celebrate the victory of the saints. And we believe God is in charge whatever the polls, pundits, politicians, and the rest of men say. “Therefore, encourage each other with these words.” God reigns, Jesus lives, and our loved ones in Christ we’ll see and embrace again. This is most certainly true! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

TURKEY SUPPER is coming! A week from Saturday, NOVEMBER 7, from 4-7:00 PM. Drive-through only! $10 for adults, $5.00 for kids ten and under. White meat, dark meat, or ham – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

With the Turkey Supper we also need help: Thursday, November 5, from 9:00 on – baking all the turkeys and breasts. Friday, November 6, from 9:30 on – slicing all the meat and making all the broth. And, the Elders can use help on Saturday to pull and fill orders starting about 3:30. Come work! Come eat! But, come!

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

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDNov3.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION NOVEMBER 2

Monday, November 2, 2020

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

“Safe and Secure”

Today I would like to draw your attention to Ephesians 1:13-14. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Have you ever forgotten your password? Everything online these days requires a password from back accounts to emails. Even ordering a silly pizza requires a password anymore. Everything online requires you to “create an account” which means you have to give your email and a password. The whole point of having a password is to make my account secure. I can’t remember my password for half of the things I have passwords for which is why I started writing them down over ten years ago. So, I spend a lot of time resetting my password all for the sake of security and safety.

But how safe are passwords anyway? It seems that there is always a breach of some big company where millions of costumers’ information have been stolen. Maybe you didn’t know this but there is actually an annual convention in Los Vegas that focuses on hacking called Defcon. They teach and promote the hacking of everything from computers, to high tech cars, thermostats, and anything that has a computer in it along with non-technical things like losing a police tail. Crazy thing is…Federal law enforcement agents from various intelligence agencies regularly attend this event and even lead some of the break-out sessions.

Security is a big problem especially when there are so many ‘roaring lions looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). The little country church back in Illinois were told by their insurance company that for the first time the church will be required to lock its doors if they want to remain insured. Locally, the dealership in Greenville, had to start locking all of their cars. Up until recently they were allowed to leave the keys in them and let people look inside. But their insurance company said the same thing as the little church in Illinois, “Lock it up.”
People look for security in relationships, in money, in social media, and elections. This week we are voting again for President. One or the other makes us feel safer. Generally, one or the other feels threatening when the topic comes up so people seem to want to vote for which every candidate makes them feel more secure.

Deep down however we know that security is not something this world can guarantee because there are too many little devils trying to dismantle our security. It’s a fall world. Ephesians 1:13-14 does however remind us one place that is so secure that nothing can hack it, undo it, block it, nor destroy it. It says, “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession…

The Roman soldiers put a seal over Jesus’ tomb, most likely Pilate’s seal. Often those like Pilate would have a signet ring that would be stamped into wax, like the wax seal over Jesus’ tomb. The seal was a sign of authority. But Pilate had no authority over Jesus. The seal of the Holy Spirit marks us as God’s people by the highest of authorities. Not even death has authority to keep us.

What’s more the Holy Spirit is only a deposit, a pledge that Jesus will keep His promise in the resurrection to take with Him all who believe. And what a deposit! The Holy Spirit is the presence of God making us into His temples. And where God is present so is all of heaven. In Romans 8:16, Paul says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” And what do children of God get? An eternal inheritance to be in the Father’s House. 1 John 3:2 says this, “2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

So, take stock in this. Heaven is already unlocked for you in Jesus’ cross and resurrection because you already hold the key, which is faith in Jesus. Heaven doesn’t need a secret password to keep out the bad stuff because nothing that can hurt us can touch what Jesus offers. Not even the devil in all of his scheming and tempting can break heaven’s security. God has given us the greatest security in the presence of His Holy Spirit as a deposit. And that’s my favorite part. A deposit was not something we had to give but something we receive by God’s grace. It’s coming and not even death has any authority over us because of it. This is our greatest security—Jesus has overcome the world and in Jesus we have too, therefore we do not have to be afraid.

Announcements

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His Peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDNov2.PDF

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

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 27

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

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

“Where Is Your Sting?”

READING: I Corinthians 15:51-57 – Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I love Halloween! I love it for my grandkids. I love it for my neighborhood kids. I love it for all that’s best about it. When else can our children go to complete strangers’ homes and get gifts of candy, smiles, and fake fear? I love to open my door and hear, “Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!” And while there are always a few kids, especially middle schoolers and a few high schoolers, who dress up in ghoulish and grizzly costumes with lots of fake blood and horrible wounds, most of the kids I see come as princesses, cowboys, superheroes, athletes, police officers, and the like. They love to dress up and pretend they are someone cool, unusual, or scary, and what’s wrong with that? We open the doors, recoil in “horror”, and hand out candy to them. It’s all about the kids and their enjoyment.

Now, when it comes to Halloween movies and “Haunted Houses” and occult behaviors – well, that’s a different thing altogether. There will always be people who will revel in darkness and the things of Satan. They’ll go too far. They allow themselves to act in foolish, sinful, even criminal ways because they have no sense of Godliness and what’s right. They celebrate what is sick and twisted, but that’s no reason to condemn Halloween as some churches and some pastors are wont to do.

Halloween gets its name from “Hallowed Eve”, the night before November 1, which is “All Saints Day” in the church calendar. It was that way in Luther’s day, too. In fact, that was the reason he nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the church door. He knew that the next day all the professors and learned men of Wittenberg would be coming to the church to celebrate what was then the second most important church holy day after Easter. He wanted them all to see and read the Theses, so a debate could be scheduled to consider what he was thinking.

Now in some towns in Europe, on Hallowed Eve young men would dress up like skeletons and ghouls (today they’re called “Zombies”) and run through the streets scaring children and adults alike. But they did this to make fun of death and the devil. Why? Because on the morrow they were going to celebrate the Eternal Life of the Saints, and on November 2, “All Souls Day”, they would celebrate the promise of the Resurrection and Everlasting Life for all of God’s people. So, they dressed up and ran through the streets, laughing and making jest of the very things Jesus has overcome in his death and resurrection. They weren’t celebrating the things of evil. On the contrary, they were celebrating Christ’s victory over those things.

In our text above, St. Paul does the same. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” He might just as well have said, “Ha! You can’t have me for long! And, your days are numbered! Jesus has already overcome you all, and at that last trumpet call, I WILL, TOO!” Paul assures the Corinthians and us that the day will come when those “who sleep” in death AND those living in that moment will be changed, “…in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye…”, and we will ALL be “imperishable” and “immortal”, never to die again.

So, I say buy lots of candy, keep the porch light on, recoil in “horror”, and then give those kids each a handful and tell them, “Happy Halloween!” For the great majority of them, it’s just an excuse to dress up, pretend, and keep the dentists in business! For those of us “in the know” it’s a night to reflect on the indisputable fact that Jesus lives, and because he lives, we shall live also, forever with him. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

TURKEY SUPPER is coming! A week from Saturday, NOVEMBER 7, from 4-7:00 PM. Drive-through only! $10 for adults, $5.00 for kids ten and under. White meat, dark meat, or ham – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

With the Turkey Supper we also need help: Monday, November 2, 9:00 AM – pulling bread, cutting vegetables. Thursday, November 5, from 9:00 on – baking all the turkeys and breasts. Friday, November 6, from 9:30 on – slicing all the meat and making all the broth. I’m somehow in charge of this job, so I need, yea! I DEMAND help! (Please?) And, the Elders can use help on Saturday to pull and fill orders starting about 3:30. Come work! Come eat! But, come!

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/yZ4peKZHRgs

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDOct27.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 26

Monday, October 26, 2020

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

“Getting Good Advice”

Well, good morning all. Hope that this finds you well as you tune in. Some of you are asking how the Newlyweds are doing. They are well, and enjoying married life. Thanks be to God. And thanks to all you who have been praying and wishing them well.

And some of you have asked about mom. She is holding her own, sporting knitted caps, and working hard to keep her strength up. So far so good. She is half-way through her chemo and eager to have it behind her. Thank you to all who continue to pray for our family and send cards to mom. Special shout out to Jackie for the great hats.

So, lets talk about advice. By the time you view this I will have undergone my first colonoscopy. I was ready to go back in March but that’s when Covid moved in to kick our butt. So, I am finally checking that one off my bucket list. The mere mention of the procedure has strangely evoked a lot of reaction.

It all starts with the question: “Is this your first one?” I answer “yes” because I hit the Five-O last November. Lucky me. Then comes the smiles, an occasional chuckle, and then a story about that person’s experience, and finally the advice. And its been a riot hearing all the takes on such a glamorous procedure. For example: one person said, “You should really fast two days before” while another said, “You should eat a lot so that you have something to actually pass besides water” --to make it worth it, I guess. How about the fluids? One experienced voice said to me, “When it comes to that really sweet solution you have to drink--just drink the solution down rather than sip it so that you get it over with quickly.” Another experienced voice also suggested that I mix the go-juice that you have to drink with lemonade. I had numerous other stories and with each story I got another little piece of advice. I started having a lot of fun with it. Thank you to all who have enough concern for me to offer their advice. The best part is that when you summarize what was said it is clear that it all comes out all right in the end.

Scripture has a lot to say about getting good advice from reliable people. Proverbs 24:6 for instance says, “For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” But I think the Proverbs 2 makes a very important distinction about getting advice and discernment; learning and applying what you have learned.

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

Let me premise my next thoughts with a word of warning to those of us who are quick to give advice. I remember reading somewhere—wish I could remember where: “A need is not necessarily an invitation and a problem doesn’t always have a solution. Not everything is meant to get fixed by you.” Instead remember to listen more than speak. Weigh the matter carefully, before you speak as an expert on something. And remember that helping others is not about you.

The proverb is telling us however to seek wisdom when it can be found. I still enjoy learning from those who have much to teach me, especially from the ninety somethings that have lived a lot longer than me. My favorite professors are the little old ladies who read and reread their Bible. That Word saturates their experience and at their age the speak their minds freely which makes them a lot of fun.

But Proverbs 2 is not just advice, it is God teaching us about wisdom. Seek the Lord where He may be found we are told. Sometimes that is found in people that have lived long enough or been through enough to know something who are experiencing something they know a lot about because they have lived it. For instance, how many of us parents try to teach our children about mistakes in life we wish we could have avoided when we were younger. We do this because we have lived it. We know what direction something might go because we’ve been there and done that.

Ultimately good advice takes us in the direction of Godly advice. When the proverb says, “Store up God’s Commands”, it advises that godly advice works best when it is integrated into our life, when faith turns into action. In the end wisdom that comes from experience, when combined and tempered with God’s Word we will be better equipped to be discerning; knowing how and where to apply the advice we are given. Literally to take someone else’s experience and integrate it into our own for the purpose of deeper faith is the ultimate goal.

So, it says, “seek it as silver or a treasure hidden.” “Then you will be able to know what is right and fair.” “Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.” When you put this altogether wisdom will keep your backside out of trouble. From buying the right car to learning how to care for a sick member of the family to experiencing a first colonoscopy. Wisdom will benefit where ever life may take you. So, seek the advice of godly people, and certainly of God knowing that path has been walked before. And on that path we will find our way.

Announcements

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His Peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDOct25.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/1nGGZWXJ86A

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 20

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

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

“The Pizza Miracle”

READING: Mark 8:1-9a – During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present.

Some many years ago, when Mitzi Lyon Schmelz was about in the middle of her tenure with us, she arranged for BOB LENZ to come visit us for several days. Bob, you might remember, was a very good motivational and evangelical youth speaker. Mitzi managed to get him invited to talk to the entire student body of New Albany High School. That was quite a coup! Bob addressed all those kids in a one-hour assembly. Because it’s a public school, he of course could not speak about Christ and faith then. But he issued an open invitation to all the kids to come back that evening for a session in which he would talk about those very things.

Now, Bob also promised that every person who attended the evening session would also be treated to a pizza party immediately following. Pizza soft drinks for everyone would be provided. Bob had told Mitzi that it had been his experience that the evening session would usually draw 200-250 kids, so she ordered enough pizzas from Papa John’s to feed 250 people two pieces of pizza each. When Bob opened his evening program, we had nearly 700 kids in the gym! How wonderful! How horrible! Mitzi was freaking out! It was too late to order more pizzas, and if all those kids came for the snack afterward, they were likely to be disappointed and feel lied to! What to do?

Mitzi got some knives from the kitchen and had her Leadership Team cut every piece of pizza into two pieces! Now they would get two pieces, only smaller ones. But that still would only feed maybe five hundred. She was pretty sure the last ones in line were going to be disappointed. So, she made another command decision: everyone got one piece on the first pass, and then they would be invited back for seconds.

When Bob dismissed the crowd, they came in their hundreds for pizza and pop. Everyone got a piece with the promise of seconds when everyone had received their first one. So, everyone went through the line, then Mitzi announced seconds, and a bunch of the kids lined up again. Then the most amazing thing became clear: Even though she had fed all those kids and offered seconds, we still had FIVE WHOLE PIZZAS left! I was there that evening. I saw Mitzi’s consternation when she realized we had so many more kids than we’d planned on. I saw the long lines for the first piece and the long lines for seconds. I saw the kids laughing, talking, eating and drinking. I saw not one who seemed to feel cheated or hungry. And, I saw with my own eyes those FIVE WHOLE PIZZAS left over! We can’t say for sure, but Mitzi and I and her Leadership Team will always think of that event as some sort of miracle. How we managed to satisfy all those kids and still have pizza left will always be amazing to us. All we could do was thank God for his mercies!

Imagine the amazement of the disciples when those 7 little loaves and a couple of sardines fed every single one of those 4000 people; fed them until they were satisfied, and then left them with 7 baskets of broken pieces, to boot! “Who is this man?” they must have wondered. “How did this happen?” they must have asked each other. They knew what they had started with. They knew what they ended up with. And, they watched those hungry people wolf down bread and fish with gusto because some of them had been without eats for a couple of days. They had to come to the only conclusion they could: Jesus did a miracle. And, remembering their Torah, they had to ponder on the One who fed the children of Israel in the Wilderness for all those years. He feed them bread and meat every day for 40 years. Who can do such an amazing thing? Yes, only Yahweh, the God of Israel, the Creator of all things, and the very one who fed 4000 people with 7 little loaves and a couple of little fish.

I don’t know that God produced extra pizza that night all those years ago. But he blessed us that evening. He took care of a potential problem and embarrassment for us and for Bob. Those kids went home feeling good about Bob, the Jesus he told them about, and the folks from Grace Lutheran who brought Bob, Jesus, and a pizza party to New Albany High School. That was a miracle in and of itself! Thanks be to God! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

We’ll be celebrating REFORMATION SUNDAY this weekend. The annual Circuit Reformation Service was scheduled to be held at Grace this Sunday, but the COVID considerations moved us to hold off this year. A lot of Old Lutherans usually like to attend that service, and we just didn’t want to lure them into something that could potentially be serious for them. So come to church this weekend or tune us in at glcna.com.

TURKEY SUPPER is coming! A week from Saturday, NOVEMBER 7, from 4-7:00 PM. Drive-through only! $10 for adults, $5.00 for kids ten and under. White meat, dark meat, or ham – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
With the Turkey Supper we also need help: Monday, November 2, 9:00 AM – pulling bread, cutting vegetables. Thursday, November 5, from 9:00 on – baking all the turkeys and breasts. Friday, November 6, from 9:30 on – slicing all the meat and making all the broth. I’m somehow in charge of this job, so I need, yea! I DEMAND help! (Please?) And, the Elders can use help on Saturday to pull and fill orders starting about 3:30. Come work! Come eat! But, come!

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/en3OPlMOrXQ

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDOct20.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 19

Monday, October 19, 2020

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

“The Greatest Fear”

It’s Halloween season again. About this time of year, old slasher movies, ghost stories, haunted houses, and other things try make us afraid. I’ve always thought it strange that people would celebrate a holiday that centers itself on fear. Cute little kids dressing up and getting candy is one thing but normally being afraid is not what people like feeling.

Back in my trick-or-treat days we would drive to town for trick-or-treating. One house always stood out from the others. The owner always went all out. He dressed up his porch with lightening flashes and decorations. He would even disguise himself as part of the decorations by dressing himself up like a scarecrow or something. He would sit perfectly still. But when the kids would come up on the porch and yell, “trick-or-treat” he would “surprise” them. It was always memorable. However, everyone understood that this was all in fun and not real.
It’s a different thing altogether when real life makes us afraid. This kind of fear is not what people like f

eeling. Fear of losing a job. Health fears. Fear of being alone. Fear of catching the Corona Virus. Some introverts I have known can be so afraid to step out that they refuse to join a sport or a group for fear of messing up. So, they just don’t even try. But we are not meant to live in this kind of fear.

Martin Luther’s summary of the first commandment simply states, “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” Fear by itself is not what God wants from us in this commandment. I would submit to you that fear is a good thing as long as it is coupled with love and trust in the Lord.

Psalm 111:10 says to us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have a rich understanding. His praise endures forever!” The pattern of arrogant people is that they have no fear of the Lord and they should. They also live in fear of being pretty enough, of losing power, of wealth, of getting enough likes, and of becoming irrelevant. Jesus will be the judge of all people in the end.

For our benefit here today, I invite you to reconsider Jesus’ approach toward humanity. He came to seek and save. He came as a human being to be Savior. He came as a Good Shepherd who calls us by name and lays down His life for the sheep only to take it up again. And then He promises us a resurrection so that we don’t even have to fear death but can welcome it when it comes to us knowing we will be with Jesus in paradise afterward. When we spend time in the Gospels, we discover that Jesus is seeking a saving relationship with us in His cross and resurrection. He is not striving to motivate us in fear. Nor does Jesus want us to live in fear of the world. Remember John 16:33? Jesus tells His disciples; "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Fear of the Lord is not a fear meant to destroy a person’s spirit. On the contrary it is filial fear, a family fear. It is a fear of respect of awe and wonder because in fact there is a relationship. “Like the Psalmist says, “who am I that you should think of me?” But He does.

Galatians 3 emphasizes the relationship that we have with our Heavenly Father. “26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Fear of the Lord is coupled with love and trust. The Love of the Lord is expressed in His cross. It is the greatest kind of love to have the love of Christ. And because Jesus keeps every promise, we also know He can be trusted over all other things that are temporal and limited.

Consider the contrast in Exodus 1. On the one hand we find a fear of God in the Hebrew midwives that actually propels them to courage, to life, and peace. On the hand we see in Pharaoh a tyrant afraid of losing his temporal power in the world. So, he instills a fear meant to oppress the Israelites and break their will. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”

20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

These were woman who loved the Lord, trusted in the Lord, putting their lives on the line to save the Hebrew baby boy’s. Their fear of the Lord, a deep profound respect for God above all other things, including what Pharaoh wanted, moved them to great courage and saved many lives. It can save lives when we are afraid to witness to Jesus. This is what faithfulness looks like. This is what it means to take the first commandment to love God above all things looks like.

See, fear that is meant to oppress and seeks to suppress courage. The fear of the Lord, because it is coupled with love and trust, will by its very nature propel us to great courage, and to even greater things then we can imagine. And when the fear of the Lord is our greatest fear the world can literally not stop what God can do, has done, and will do through each of us who believe. So, take courage in the Lord.

Announcements

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His Peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WDOct19.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/jNlzp0TkncM

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 13

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

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

“Let the Fields Be Jubilant”

READING: Psalm 96:1-6, 11-12; Psalm 98:1, 7-9 – Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary…Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy…Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him…Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

I love this time of year! And, what’s not to love? The temperatures are most pleasant: cool at night, sunshine and warmth in the daytime. The air is crisp and fairly dry. The skies are high and blue and often without a cloud. The sun is bright but not hot. You might need a sweater or light jacket in the morning, but by mid-morning shirt sleeves are all you need. I love it!

While I was going about composing this devotion, I looked out the window of our home office from where I have a lovely view of the Knobs. I can look up to Skyline Drive and see the forested slopes leading up to it. And here and there within all that green I already see patches of orange and yellow and crimson. In another week, those hillsides will be a riot of color. The change of seasons is one of the most wonderful things about living in northern latitudes. Those living in Florida don’t get to witness this much. Folks at the equator have pretty much the same weather year-round. Hawaiians languish with the same sun and breezes and weather nearly 365 days a year. But here we get to see nature with its paint brushes and its changing landscapes.

David and the other Psalmists often call on nature itself to declare the glory of our God. They recognized the Lord as the Creator, the one who made all things, set all things in motion, and provided a world that could reproduce and sustain itself with the cycles and systems the Lord had decreed and created. They saw in the thunder of the ocean’s surf, the clapping of its “hands”. They saw in the majesty of the mountain heights the awesomeness of God. They recognized in the vastness of the heavens God’s far-reaching providence. They realized in the fields of ripening grain and the blush of their vineyards that God was blessing them with sustenance and security. Even as they worshipped and praised their Maker, they called upon nature to do the same.

We live in a world and time that more and more seems to have devolved into the worship of nature. Rather than recognizing the Creator, they praise and laud the creation. When we set aside God, something has to fill the void in the heart that this causes. In order to have purpose in life, a reason for being, a sense that one’s life has value and meaning, something bigger than us has to have a claim on our time and talents. If that “something bigger” is not the God who made and redeemed us, a natural substitute is nature with all its grandeur. It was so in the Old Testament times, when every other nation and culture around Israel worshipped nature gods like the sun, the rivers, and the mountains. They looked askance at Israel, who worshipped only one God and declared him to be the One who had made everything and set all things in motion. How strange that modern, “sophisticated, scientific, enlightened” people would whole-heartedly return to the worship of nature! How sad!

We rejoice in nature and its beauty. We marvel at the colors in the sunset, the waving fields of grain, the incredible palette of hues in the autumn woods, and in the swirling snowflakes in our first winter storm. But we don’t worship nature for nature’s sake. We, like the Psalmists, call on nature to join us in worshipping and praising the One who made all of these things. We praise God for his awesome powers of creation and his wisdom in devising all the mechanisms of nature. So, let the rivers clap their hands, the birds sing for joy, the mountains declare His glory, and “let the fields be jubilant!” We will join them and worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the God who made them all and is ever worthy of our praise. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

There will be another DRIVE-IN worship service WITH COMMUNION on SATURDAY, October 17, 5:00 P.M. Come in the safety of your vehicle, tune in to 87.9 FM, and worship the Lord with us. The service will conclude with Communion and the Dismissal Blessing to send you on your way. If it’s been a while since you last had opportunity to receive the Sacrament, come.

Emily and Eric Wenning’s daughter, Louisa, is going to undergo a corrective surgery soon. They are going to need some help with babysitting their younger son and daughter. They could also us some light housekeeping help while Eric is at work and Emily runs doctors’ appointments and attends to Louisa. If you could spare a few hours in either one or both of those tasks, they would be most appreciative. To talk to Emily, call (567-644-2545). You could be such a blessing to this family. Thank you.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/OFU-RaR2t60

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDOct13.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 12

Monday, October 12, 2020

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

“Post Wedding Gratitude”

Well, it is official. I now have a new daughter-in-law. After a year and a half of planning Kyle and Makayla finally had their big night over the weekend. It was so much fun to finally see it all come together. Oh, we had a couple of little hitches. In all the excitement Kyle got a little faint at the altar and had to sit down for a minute or two. The photo booth kept misspelling Makayla’s name with Makaya; leaving off the “L”. But let me say, the company was wonderful. The food was terrifi,c the cake was delicious, all the decorations worked like it was supposed to, and most of all, my youngest son, Kyle is married to a young lady who is absolutely good for Kyle, a true compliment to my son. In a year of Social distancing it was really nice to celebrate bringing two people together in marriage.

Ironically, this weekend’s Gospel was the Parable of the Wedding Banquet from Matthew 22:1-14. I’d like to read just the first 9 verses. Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

I can really appreciate this parable. 2020 has been especially troubling for wedding planning. Just ask any bride who planned to get married in 2020. In our case, we had booked a venue a year and a half ago. The owners decided in January of this year, before we even knew about Covid, to retire and sell the place. They did so thinking the new owners would pick up where they left off and take on current contracts but that didn’t happen. So, we went in search of a new place to celebrate our wedding. We looked at other places but ultimately settled on having it all at the church. But then we thought, “Who’s going to cater the thing? But the team we originally hired came through on that one and the food was great. We didn’t have to kill the fattened calf but I know they cooked up a mountain of food. I noticed in the parable that the King goes all out with the caterers. Not just a fatten calf (which we all remember is already enough for a feast for celebrating in the Parable of the Prodigal in Luke 15) but this king also serves up more than one. It’s “oxen and cattle” he serves. Its going to be a huge party.

And then there were the logistics of Covid. A few folks that were invited simply did not come out of caution. But most did. We were especially grateful for all those who made the journey from Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois, family who made a quick trip for the weekend and then had to get back to work on Monday. And we were thankful for all of our local friends that participated. The hardest thing about my son’s wedding was stepping back and leaving it to Kyle and Makayla to make the list of invitations. I wouldn’t have been able to draw a line. I would have liked everyone to be there but the Gym just isn’t big enough for that and besides, only one Turkey Supper sized event a year is enough.

In the parable the invited guests, which represented the people of Israel, made excuses not to come the King goes out into the neighborhoods and invites everybody. This party was going forward no matter what. He’s going to celebrate with those who will come. And who wouldn’t want to go to such a huge event. This king is going to celebrate regardless of Covid. We had people of all kinds at our wedding, even some I couldn’t even tell you who they were—I assume from Makayla’s work. I knew most of the folks but even if we only had Kyle and Makayla this wedding was going to be celebrated this weekend. And we did. Thankfully in our case I think most of the folks were ready to do something fun and celebrate.

But that’s the good news in our parable. The wedding is coming, nothing can stop it from happening, and we are invited. It has been advertised and made possible in the cross. Heaven’s gates opened up in the resurrection for all who believe to enter. The invitations have been sent out and your name is on it. We are welcome guests. And in spite of all the trouble of this year. Even though some of us are people who are barely keeping ourselves together we are considered welcome guests. This wedding is going to happen and its going to be a blow out. The Creator of the universe wants you to be there and not miss it. And I love the fact that eternal life is thought about in the light of a wedding party. Weddings are a lot of fun. And in heaven I might even finally learn how to do the electric slide on the dance floor. In thirty years of going to weddings I just can’t seem to get that thing figured out. It’s probably going to take another miracle from Jesus to make that happen. But with God all things are possible.

Congratulations to Kyle and Makayla. We love you and may God bless you with a long life filled with joy and faith in Jesus.

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His Peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDOct12.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/PvkDH5s9wH4

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 6

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

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

“Every Tongue Confess”

READING: Philippians 2:5-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Right from the start I want you to notice that St. Paul says, “…that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow…and EVERY tongue confess…” EVERY knee and EVERY tongue – all of them, every single one of them in heaven, on earth, and in hell – they will ALL “…confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of the Father.”

When Jesus comes in glory at that last day, when the trumpet call of the Archangel is sounded and the dead are raised to life, when all eyes see Jesus coming in the clouds, Paul says EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess. Believer and unbeliever, saint and demon, the Redeemed and the lost, ALL of them will bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord.

Lord here is the Greek word “kurios” – the same word that was used when the Hebrew Bible (our Old Testament) was translated from Hebrew and Aramaic into Greek. God’s holy name, the name he gave to Moses at the Burning Bush, was “YHWH” (“I Am”). When the translators needed to translate God’s Hebrew name into the Greek, they chose the Greek word “Kurios”. Therefore, when Paul says every tongue will confess that Jesus is “Lord”, he is saying all of them will confess that Jesus is “YHWH”, the Almighty, Triune God.

When Paul says EVERY tongue will make this confession, he’s not exaggerating! He means that every single human being will make that confession, but, oh my, will they make that confession with a different intonation! They will all say the same words, but the way they say them will make all the difference. See, you and I, when we realize what we are witnessing and realize that it is Jesus coming to take us home, we will make that confession as, “Jesus IS Lord! (I knew it!)” We will declare that with joy and elation, our hopes realized, and God’s promises fulfilled.

For the unbeliever, especially those who heard of Jesus, maybe learned about Jesus, those who rejected Jesus, they will speak the same words, but they will say them very differently. When they realize what they are witnessing and who it is they see coming, they will fall to their knees and with their tongue confess, (“O, God!) Jesus is LORD!” They will realize in that moment that what Christians had said about Jesus, believed about Jesus, hoped for in Jesus was true and real and binding. They will realize that they have no standing before Him, and the things they had put their trust and hopes in were all just dust and falsehoods. They will despair even as they make their confession. It was all true, and they did not believe it. Too late!

To know Jesus NOW as our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer means that we ALREADY have eternal life in his name. It’s not just our future hope, but the reality in which we now stand. Having been purchased by his blood, baptized into his name, and living our lives in faith, we already know that at the moment of the final trumpet call, we will see Jesus and rejoice. We will see him as he is, and our joy will be made complete. “JESUS IS LORD!” Thanks be to God! Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

There will be NO Saturday service on OCTOBER 10. Pastor Woods’ son, Kyle will marry Makayla Robinson that evening, so the Sanctuary and both pastors will be unavailable.

There will be another DRIVE-IN worship service WITH COMMUNION on SATURDAY, October 17, 5:00 P.M. Come in the safety of your vehicle, tune in to 87.9 FM, and worship the Lord with us. The service will conclude with Communion and the Dismissal Blessing to send you on your way. If it’s been a while since you last had opportunity to receive the Sacrament, come.

Emily and Eric Wenning’s daughter, Louisa, is going to undergo a corrective surgery soon. They are going to need some help with babysitting their younger son and daughter. They could also us some light housekeeping help while Eric is at work and Emily runs doctors’ appointments and attends to Louisa. If you could spare a few hours in either one or both of those tasks, they would be most appreciative. To talk to Emily, call (567-644-2545). You could be such a blessing to this family. Thank you.

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/o8yT7kPDXik

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDOct6.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION OCTOBER 5

Monday, October 5, 2020

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

“Pushing Back on Cynicism”

Weekly Devotion for October 5, 2020
Pastor Matt Woods, Grace Lutheran Church

Are you cynical? 2020 among other things may be the year of the cynic. Who could blame us? This year has given us many reasons to become cynical. We have faced more question marks than answers.

Say the word, “Covid” today and I hear lots of cynicism over the motives of the President, the agendas of congress, schemes of China. Parents are tired of being scared of it and many are very concerned that the online learning is not working for their child. Some doubt any vaccine that may come out. Some have voiced feeling manipulated by all of it while others have heightened their awareness of exposure to Covid. It’s the hospitals and nursing homes that have shut out family members from visiting, wedding venues that have cancelled at the last minute, and on and on and on it goes. Most are simply tired of all of it.
What is cynicism exactly? Back in 2012 a picture went viral showing Officer Lawrence DePrimo of New York City giving a homeless man a pair of boots to put on his bare feet. DePrimo saw that the man had no shoes on and simply decided to go buy the man a pair of boots; a purely humane gesture.

The Guardian did a story on the homeless man about a week later. The recipient of the boots, Jeffrey Hillman was a military veteran and worked in kitchens before living on the streets and told the New York Times that he had hidden the boots so that he wouldn’t become a target. He was scared someone would hurt him just to get the boots. So, he hid them and continued to walk barefooted.

The article asks, “Did Hillman even want the boots?” The picture that seemed so simple could not communicate all the complexities behind a man without shoes. Turns out the man isn’t necessarily homeless. It seems that he had an apartment in the Bronx paid by social security and veteran’s benefits and walks the streets barefooted by choice. Hillman as it turns out is what Jonathan Jones, the author of the article labels, “a willful eccentric”. Cynically, the article in the end questions the sincerity of the officer and the picture was argued to be terrible and cruel to Hillman who did not ask for the public attention. The author labels it all an illusion, “A warm tale that turns cold.”

The article is a good example of what cynicism looks like. It questions the motives of a police officer who felt compassion towards a man who had no shoes. We can all use a little more compassion, right? After all the compassion of Jesus brought Him to humanity to be our Savior, healed the sick, fed the 5000, and died on a cross for our sins. Jesus never said anything close to “Why bother, they’re just going to sin and hate me anyway.” Instead, we hear Jesus saying words of compassion from the cross—“Father forgive them.” And “today you will be with me in paradise.” Cynicism is by its nature a lack of trust—Jesus shows us what trust looks like, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane. Cynicism expects promises to be broken whereas Jesus excels in promise keeping. It is by nature pessimistic, sarcastic, and snarky. It generally shows a distain toward other people whereas in Jesus we encounter a Savior who leans into grace. Cynicism feeds division and cannot see others outside of the subjective framework of a group, a classification, or political agenda. It is the result of years of secularism that has pushed aside the compassion of scripture.

Why should cynicism be avoided? Consider the ministry of Jonah. None were as cynical. Listen to chapter 4, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee toPP==X Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah didn’t think there was anyone worthy of God’s grace in Nineveh because of the terrible things they were known for. Jonah did not trust them to repent or to change. These were enemies of God and in Jonah’s mind should have been treated like Sodom and Gomorrah. He thought God was wasting his grace and compassion on such people. And perhaps there are people in our lives that we treat as a “waste” of time and resources at least in small measure. We may thing they will never change and they don’t deserve our compassion or help. In the end cynicism should be avoided because it leads to a sinful attitude. It makes us negative people. It divides a church. It can lead to doubt. But most of all it causes us to look at others negatively. That’s why cynicism should be avoided.

So, when we become cynical what should we do? First, remember that the cross and the resurrection are real. Romans 5:7-9 says, “……7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!…” Heaven and earth may pass away but not God’s Word and therefore neither does the promise of eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. That’s a strong reason to have joy in a cynical world.

Secondly, if someone has wronged you consider forgiveness. Forgiveness totally messes up a world of cynicism and holds the power to bring unity, save marriage, and restore friendships. 2 Corinthians 11:16ff says, 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view….18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Grace shatters the devil’s hold when regard others from God’s point of view.

Finally, be in the Word and pray. I put the two together because The Word of God is a conversation. Hebrews 11:11-12 tells us, 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Take it to the Lord in prayer—that is the hymn that we sing after all. Ask for help with those things we are cynical over. Pray for the Lord to help put your attention on good works and putting your energy toward loving people. It’s a lot more fun than be cynicism, a lot more encouraging, uplifting, and joyful. Prayer takes us to the person of Christ and opens our ears to hear His Word. Put such things into practice and you will be more able to endure the negativity that continues to flood our culture.

Today, we pray for the hold that Covid has had on us to be broken. We pray for our kids to overcome a difficult time to learn. We pray for you and your families to remain healthy and especially healthy and strong in the Lord so that the plague of cynicism doesn’t get any kind of foothold on our hearts.

And now the Lord bless you and Keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His Peace in Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Woods -- John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDOct5

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

matt.woods@glcna.com -- (502) 523-9327

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DUE TO SPACE CONCERNS WE HAVE REDUCE THE DEVOTIONS TO A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE AND THE PDF.

SEPTEMBER 29

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PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDSept29.PDF

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Monday, September 28, 2020

“What Can Be Done When I Have No Control”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDSept28.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/QD8Pp67UrCE

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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

“He Heard Me”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/0Yd9c-OmwrY

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDSept22.PDF

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Monday, September 21, 2020

“When the Body Gets to Work”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDSept21

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

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Tuesday, September 15, 2020

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

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDSept15.PDF

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Monday, September 14, 2020

“Moving Day”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDSepT14

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/2GAGlHW0c0Q

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

“SIGNS TO BE SPOKEN AGAINST”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/ZmEPKygMC9k

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDSept8.PDF

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Monday, September 7, 2020

“Being Completely Honest About Ourselves”

PRINTABLE PDF: weeklysept7

Youtube Video. https://youtu.be/dgh8ZfirAW0

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Tuesday, September 1, 2020

“TOPPLE-GANGERS”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/tdT3ML0uKxw

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDSept1.PDF

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Monday, August 31, 2020

“The Blessings of Disappointment”
align: center;">PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDAug31.PDF

Youtube Video. https://youtu.be/PEjRNP6-IMY

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Tuesday, August 25, 2020

“The Perfect Picture of Grace”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/IYurAJO_R7Q

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDAug25

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Monday, August 24, 2020

“Taking Aim”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDAug24

Youtube Videohttps://youtu.be/spCth-19srU

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

“I’m the ‘Old Man’ Now”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/__MvvbYOs4s

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDAug18.PDF

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Monday, August 17, 2020

“Remembering and Forgetting”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDAug17

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/7EroQAtw9K8

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Tuesday, August 11, 2020

“Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble!”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/uVxIGZV0X5w

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDAug11.PDF

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Monday, August 10, 2020

“With Friends Like These”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDAug10.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/a3xAyADLwzI

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Tuesday, August 4, 2020

“Earthquakes”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/c3aV1yjnSiw

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDAug4.PDF

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Monday, August 3, 2020

“Trust is the Hardest Part”

PRINTABLE PDF: weeklydAug3.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/PbOsbms1O1c

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Tuesday, July 28, 2020

“Military Honors”

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

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Monday, July 27, 2020

“When Nothing Changes No Matter How Hard I Try…”

PRINTABLE PDF: DevotionJuly27.PDF

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

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Tuesday, July 21, 2020

“Bitter Roots”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/sIYB-lrWDd8

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJuly 21.PDF

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Monday, July 20, 2020

“The Scent of the Saved—Do You Pass the Smell Test?”

PRINTABLE PDF: WDJuly20.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/EyshTwppif0

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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

“The Verse for Bob”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/RZ9m-hHtSrg

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJuly14

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Monday, July 13, 2020

“A Life With Definition”

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDJuly13

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/9RLHRqOjX8k

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Tuesday, July 7, 2020

“Noodle Soup from Krysiak’s”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/3hlgDMTkA3Y

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYJuly7.PDF

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Monday, July 6, 2020

“Can’t Win Without Rules”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDJuly6.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/GxVGgH7T7E8

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Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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

“The Windmill Farm”

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/9cT8PG0uiuw

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYJune30.PDF

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Monday, June 29, 2020

“A Welcome Worthy of Our Savior”

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyJune29.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/PokLKtb1n3E