“Road Work Ahead” and “Construction Ahead,” are, it seems, frequently seen summer-time signs around Kansas – whether on city streets, the K96 Bypass or on the Kansas Turnpike! The joke in South Dakota (my “home state”) is that there are only have two seasons throughout the entire year – one is “Winter” and the other is “Road Construction!” Dealing with road construction is hard, but at some level, we all know that it is absolutely necessary!

Both the Old Testament reading for today (Isaiah 40) and the Gospel lesson (Mark 1) tell us to “…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.” (Isaiah 40: 3-4)

Through the prophet Isaiah, God promises that “I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way – [someone who would be] a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” (Mark 1: 2-3) Each of the Gospels (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; and John 1) reveal that John the Baptist is the long-awaited messenger sent by God the Father to prepare the Royal Highway for the Messiah who is coming – Jesus Christ the Savior of the world!

John was a “colorful character” to say the least! He “wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” (Mark 1: 6) His message, filled with the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, brought people from “the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” (Mark 1: 5) Under the inspiration of God, he baptized those who came to him and he preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. His personality and his preaching drew the multitudes to come and see and listen, but the focus of his message was squarely on Jesus! “And this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” (Mark 1: 7-8)

John came bearing witness to Jesus. John, the Evangelist, tells us Jesus is “the Light of men” and that John the Baptist, “came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him (Jesus) all men might believe. He (John) was not the light; he came only as a witness to the Light (Jesus). The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1: 7-9) And Jesus is that true Light whose earthly life, physical death on the cross and triumphant resurrection from the dead gives light, life and eternal salvation to all who believe in Him as their only Savior and Lord!

We who have received and believed the same message proclaimed by John the Baptizer have now also become God’s messengers. “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again…All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5: 14-20)

During this season of Advent, the roadwork God is doing is in our hearts. He is preparing the Royal Highways of our hearts – making them straight, level and “ready” – for His triumphal Second Coming. This “road work” is absolutely necessary! Come Lord Jesus – Come Quickly! Amen!

See you in church this weekend!

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Snow

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“Be on guard, be alert! You do not know when that time will come… keep watch… What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” (Mark 13:33, 35, 37)

Do you have earthquake insurance? We’ve been hearing about the earthquakes in Oklahoma and even in Kansas – the one on November 12^th registered 4.8 – I heard we had another one this Saturday, which registered 4.1! How “watchful” and “ready” are you for a large earthquake?

Do you have a weather alert radio? What about health insurance / car insurance / house insurance

Do you have smoke and fire detectors…maybe also CO2 detectors in your home?

Do you wear a seat belt when you are in a car? What about an alarm system for your home and business?

There are many ways that we are “watchful and ready” for things in this life – that we hope and pray will never happen. But what about our eternal life – our spiritual life with Jesus – that we KNOW WILL HAPPEN? (Why is it that so many in our world do so much about this temporary physical world and so little with the spiritual, eternal world?)

This weekend we begin the church season of Advent with the three-fold reminder that Jesus came (Christmas), He comes (Word & Sacraments), and He is coming again (as Savior or Judge).

We hear this Advent message as Jesus says: “It is like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back… If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.” (v.34-35)

“Sleeping” here doesn’t just mean physical sleep, (although Jesus said to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing but the body is weak.” And three times Jesus found His disciples sleeping!) In this parable, “sleep” refers to the very common indifference to the orders of the master; a flippant attitude acting as if we have the right to do whatever we want, regardless of what God says; living according to the sinful flesh, with no regard or obedience / even defiant to God’s Word and will.

This Law message of our text speaks to those today who are living according to their sinful nature; in open, unrepentant sin. This is a very serious matter. In Hebrews 10, God’s Word warns: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God… It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)

What Good News – “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17) Jesus knows us so well! Jesus knows our weakness – how “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things.” (Mark 4:19) become the focus of our lives.

We Need God’s constant triple Advent reminders:

1. Jesus CAME – we celebrate this at Christmas, as we sing: “Once He came in blessing, All our sins redressing, Came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy; Bore the cross to save us, Hope and freedom gave us.”
2. Jesus COMES – Jesus knows our sinful nature and constant failures and so He graciously provides His renewing forgiveness by the Holy Spirit who gives us New Life through the daily reading and hearing of His Word; the daily contrition and repentance on account of His grace through our Baptism and the strengthening and keeping us in the true faith through regularly receiving Jesus body and blood in Holy Communion. “Still He comes within us; Still His voice would win us, From the sins that hurt us; Would to truth convert us, From our foolish error, Ere He comes in terror.;” and
3. Jesus IS COMING AGAIN (the very necessary reminder of how near Judgment Day is – it might be today – are we ready?) Yes, we can be ready because He COMES to us daily (Word and Sacraments); we Eagerly Await Jesus Coming Again – not to punish us for our sins (He already took the full punishment for us) but in fulfillment of His promise, “(after) I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)

With the hymn writer we sing: “Those who then are loyal (kept faithful by God’s grace) Find a welcome royal. Come, then, O Lord Jesus, From our sins release us; Let us here confess You, Till in heaven we bless You.”

Our “watchful and waiting” for Jesus’ second coming is totally different from our getting ready for Christmas. Some people literally wear themselves out rushing here and there. But God grants peace and joy to His children for He has already done all of the preparations. The apostle Paul writes: “I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way… Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, (through the regular use of His Means of Grace – Word and Sacraments) so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:4, 7-9)

Remaining “watchful and waiting” with you; joyfully and eagerly expecting Jesus’ second coming! “Amen, come Lord Jesus!”

Pastor Myers

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This weekend, we welcome Pastor Mark Frith as our guest preacher. Pastor Frith is with Lutheran Hour Ministries.

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We are a very possessive people: we talk about my car, my house, my clothing, my paycheck, even “my body – my life”. We learn as little children that “you can’t play with those toys because they belong to someone else;” and we “must share our toys with others.” As we grow older, we look forward to the day when we make that final payment and the car (house, property, business, etc.) no longer “belongs” to the bank, but now we “own” it. But this is worldly thinking!

Over and over again God’s Word clearly tells us: “All the earth is Mine” (Exodus 19:5); “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:8) “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7); “You are not your own, you were bought at a price therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We must constantly be reminded that “It’s not my body, my time, my money… my anything! – It all belongs to the LORD who gives it to us, to use in His service.

The Gospel reading begins with Jesus’ words: “Again, it will be like…” (v.14) telling us another parable about “life in the Kingdom of heaven” – especially, how we are to live our lives RIGHT NOW so we are ALWAYS READY for the end of our life, to “settle accounts with our Master.” (v.19)

Jesus says: “Again, (the Kingdom of heaven) is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.” Everything belongs to the master, the servants as well as all of the property. The master thought a lot of his servants, for “To one he gave 5 talents of money, to another 2 talents, and to another 1 talent, each according to his ability.” (v.15)

A “talent” in Jesus’ day was the largest unit of money at the time! Some have estimated 1 talent = 20 years of wages for the common laborer! Therefore, 5 talents = 100 years wages! 2 talents = 40 years of wages! and 1 talent = 20 years of wages! This was a VERY generous and trusting master!

As we hear this parable, don’t just think of money, but of ALL the VERY generous gifts that our Master, God the Father, has entrusted to us – even more valuable than money: health / mentally and physically, abilities (talents); family and friends, time, etc.: everything that we can’t take with us when we die.

When the master returned, the two who had “used their talents” and doubled them heard the wonderful words from the master: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (v.21, 23) But the one who had “buried his talent” heard the HARSHEST WORDS that will ever be spoken: “You wicked and lazy servant!… Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the 10 talents… And throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (v.26, 28, 30)

This is quite shocking to the world today who would say that this servant “really wasn’t that bad” – after all, he wasn’t like the prodigal son who squandered his father’s money; he wasn’t like Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit; he wasn’t like the rich man who “feasted sumptuously” while Lazarus begged at his gate. This servant SIMPLY DID NOTHING!

This servant was “wicked and lazy” because he had great opportunities, but he “buried his talent” – he refused to use the great wealth (time, abilities, treasures) entrusted to him by his master. This parable focuses on the worthless servant so that we might honestly ask ourselves: “Is it I, Lord?” And when we are honest, we must answer, “Yes, Lord, many times I do not faithfully use the vast amount of blessings You give me. Although You “own” me, there are times that I do not want You to “possess” me; although You have “purchased and won me” with Your holy, precious blood; I’m not “always at Your service.” We “bury” the gracious gifts – using them only selfishly for ourselves rather in service to God and others.

How tragic and unnecessary was that final fate of the worthless servant. He was really a pathetic man; fearful, self-centered and totally disillusioned! He viewed His Master as he knew himself to be; hard-hearted, grasping for things he had no right to have. He accused his Master of being “one-sided” – and this servant was half right – but tragically he believed the wrong half! He accused his Master of greedily taking what was not his, but, as the parable shows, the Master was one-sided – giving his wealth entirely in favor of His servants, and promising: “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness!” (v.21, 23)

Therefore, my life, my house, my education, my bank account, my family, friends, health, time, talents, etc. – including and especially my faith are all given to me by the Master, entrusted to me to use for the glory of God and serving our neighbor. We confess is in Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed: “Jesus purchased and won me from sin, death and the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death; that I might be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.” WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE in God’s kingdom through our first-fruit offerings, our time and talents, joyfully serving within the church, in our families and communities. And knowing that when our Master, Jesus, “returns and settles accounts” (v.19), it will not be a fearful meeting but as He is NOW empowering and blessing us in our service to Him, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness.” (v.21)

May God strengthen and preserve us in our lives of service, using the many talents / gifts that God has entrusted to us in service to our Master, until life everlasting. Amen.

Pastor Myers

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Reformation Day – October 25 & 26, 2014

How important is the truth? In our court system, all the witnesses are required to swear that they will “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” This is important – just ask someone like Tammy Marquardt who was falsely accused of murdering her 2-year-old son.  After spending 14 years in prison, it was finally proven that the pathologist had not told the truth; her son died from an epileptic seizure. Now she works hard trying to find her other two sons who were put up for adoption while she was imprisoned.

Living “outside” the truth can be very “enslaving.” Jesus says: “I tell you the truth. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:34, 36)  Therefore: 9 times in Luke; 13 times in Mark; 27 times in Matthew; 30 times in John – (almost 80 times in the Gospels!)  Jesus says, “I tell you the truth.” We most certainly should KNOW the truth!  But with all the “mixed messages” from commercials, newspapers, magazines, billboards, especially on our computers; with numerous politicians running for office; different interest groups; and even the hundreds of Christian groups, as well as the non-Christian cults and sects – NO WONDER THAT MOST OF THE WORLD TODAY STILL ASKS THE QUESTION (along with Pontius Pilate) – “What is truth?” (John 18:38)

God clearly warns us / commands us / in His Word: “Stop conforming to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s Will is – (know the truth!) His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:3)

We read in the Gospel reading: “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31b-32)   (modern paraphrase)  “To the American Christians Jesus says: ‘If you don’t stop at Confirmation, but continue throughout your entire lifetime to read, learn and live according to My Word; you remain My disciples. Then you will know the truth (yes, fellow Americans, there IS absolute truth – it centers and circles around Me, The Way, The Truth and The Life), and this truth that I reveal to you through My Word will set you free.’”

The American Christians answered Jesus, ‘We are Americans – of the land of the free and the home of the brave – even the African Americans who were enslaved in our early history have been freed for decades – and WE have never been slaves of anyone.  How can you say that we shall be set free?’

How “free” are we today?  Schools are having “safety drills” – not for tornado or fire, but for bomb threats and students or others with guns. (The recent shooting in the High School in Washington state!) Our tax money and many resources are being spent / lives are continuing to be in jeopardy in the many areas throughout the world where wars continue. Extreme radicals shoot and kill Canadians – we are certainly NOT “free!”

A number of years ago, Peter Marshal, the U.S. appointed Chaplain, said, “The choice before us is plain:  Christ or chaos; conviction or compromise; discipline or disintegration.”  Former president Ronald Reagan said, “Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience… without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure… If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

There is a great difference between “freedom” and “license to do whatever I please.”  For example:

• How much “freedom” would there be driving through Wichita with no traffic signs, no traffic lights, no speed limits, no traffic officers?
• How much “freedom” would there be in a math class with no right or wrong answers; or a spelling class that allows the students to spell “creatively?”
• How much “freedom” would there be in a society with no “limits” but the “strongest” rule over the “weakest ones?”

True freedom must always be lived within limits!  God’s Word tells us in Galatians 5: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  In 1 Peter 2:16, we read: “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”

We are living in a world of “relativism” where many deny that there is a set standard of TRUTH, of right and wrong.  The world in which we live has been tricked into believing the falsehood: “Truth is relative,” it always depends on the person and the situation.  Many have gone along with the lie that “what is true for you might not be true for me.” In our lifetime we have seen a MARKED EFFORT to totally disregard God’s 10 Commandments and His Word.

Martin Luther grew up “tricked” into the “slavery” that comes with not knowing the TRUTH.  He grew up AFRAID of God, thinking that he had to do something to please God by his own actions. The Church of Luther’s day had certainly strayed far away from the Truth, with many man-made rules and practices based on laws with little or no teaching of the glorious Gospel! They HAD God’s Word, but they certainly weren’t “holding to it.”

As Martin Luther was preparing lectures to teach the book of Romans, it was through the study of God’s Word, that the TRUTH of God’s Word, really SET him FREE!  He studied the words from Romans 1: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is from faith to faith, just as it is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17)  And as we read in today’s Epistle: “No one will be declared righteous in (God’s) sight by observing the Law; rather through the Law we become conscious of sin.  But now a righteousness from God, apart from Law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24)  Oh, how “freeing” this truth from God’s Word was for Martin Luther!

But there are so many churches and viewpoints today!  How can a person KNOW the truth?  I have read that bankers are taught how to spot a counterfeit bill, not by studying the counterfeits, but by spending a majority of time “living with the real money” – handling, seeing, feeling it.  Then if a counterfeit comes along, it is discovered for what it is – counterfeit!  In much the same way, Jesus would have us “living in His Word;” spending so much time with the truth of His Word, making it such a part of our lives, that error is easily recognized because it does not fit with the known truth of God’s Word.  Jesus says: “hold to My teaching / continue in My Word … then you will know the truth and the truth will make you free” – free FROM sin because of Jesus’ death and resurrection / free TO serve – FREELY teaching and living according to the TRUTH of God’s Word.

Pastor Myers

“Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done.” For many of us, these words have been etched into our minds and are among some of our earliest memories. Our parents and others helped us to fold our hands, bow our hearts and speak to our Heavenly Father by using these words taught by Jesus. Like little children, we come humbly to the throne of God – the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! God’s kingdom comes and His will is done as He works through individuals, nations and earthly governments.

The prophet Isaiah astounded his hearers when he revealed that God called King Cyrus the “shepherd” who will accomplish everything God chooses. (Isaiah 44: 28). God also calls him His “anointed.” (Isaiah 45:1) This is the same wicked king who founded and ruled over the ungodly empire of the Medes and Persians! He was a godless king ruling over a pagan nation! But God knew His own plan to rescue His chosen people. God’s kingdom comes and His will is done even when He works through unbelievers. God establishes government and uses earthly leaders to fulfill His divine plan. (Romans 13) The history of Israel shows how God used the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians and even the Romans, in Jesus’ time, to benefit His plan of salvation.

In the gospel reading Jesus urged His followers to be obedient to both their earthly and their religious leaders. He completely baffled them by telling them to “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22: 21) In effect, Jesus was telling them to be obedient to BOTH their civil and their spiritual responsibilities!

Some 500 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther wrote on a similar subject. He called this teaching the theology of the “Left Hand and the Right Hand Kingdoms.” The Kingdom of the Left represents the authority of the civil government. It involves the laws of the land in which we live and the responsibilities we have as citizens of our country. The Kingdom of the Right is the Kingdom of God and includes our spiritual lives, the authority of the Church and our responsibilities as citizens of Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are citizens of BOTH Kingdoms only through the Grace of God. Most of us did nothing to earn or merit the freedoms and privileges which we enjoy as citizens of the United States. In the same way, none of us – in ourselves – has earned or won the right to be citizens in the Kingdom of God. It is only by the grace of God through the merits of Christ, through His death and resurrection for us, that we have a place with Him in Heaven!

As citizens of both Kingdoms, we have responsibilities and opportunities to serve. In the Kingdom of the Left, we vote; pay taxes; serve in the military and in political offices; and act as good neighbors to those around us. As citizens in the Kingdom of the Right, we worship faithfully and regularly; receive the sacraments for our forgiveness and spiritual strength; pray; spend time in in His Word and give God our talents and financial gifts.

Today, as we look at the back of a One Dollar bill, we are reminded that we are citizens of this country and, at the same time, it is “In God We Trust.” Our Heavenly Father, ultimately, has it ALL in His almighty hands – this world and the world to come!

God Bless your faithful citizenship and service in Christ – here in this Kingdom and in the Kingdom to come!

Blessings in Christ, Pastor Snow

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Everyone (at some level or another) desires to be wanted, welcomed, included, loved and accepted. Dances and celebrations; Birthday, dinner and anniversary parties are all wonderful events to welcome and invite others, or to be invited and welcomed by others, in order to share joy and gladness. They are opportunities to include, and show loving care to those who accept the invitation and attend the event.

In the gospel reading, Jesus tells the story of an incredibly gracious invitation to a fabulous banquet. The banquet host is not “just anyone,” but rather, a King who prepared a wedding banquet for his son! He sent out his servants to tell the invited guests to come because everything was prepared and ready for them, but they refused. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared… and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.” (Matthew 22: 4-7)

Then the king sent yet more servants to all the “highways and byways” to invite anyone they could find so that the banquet hall would be filled. But then as the king looked over those who had come, “He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22: 11-14)

Jesus’ parable spoke harshly against the scribes and Pharisees, against the People of Israel, who were repeatedly invited by God (the King) to join in the celebration of the Son (Jesus). Throughout the centuries they rejected, mistreated and even killed his servants (the prophets) who came bringing the invitation to an eternal banquet in honor of Jesus, the Son who is the Savior of the World.

God’s incredibly gracious invitation to the fabulous heavenly banquet in honor of His Son, is open to everyone! He takes “no pleasure in the death of anyone.” (Ezekiel 18: 32) Rather, He welcomes, invites and includes all people, everywhere, to this eternal celebration. But there are many today who are looking for other banquets and feasts. The Hindu, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and others are looking for “banquets” which will never come. How about the crowds that surround you every day? Many are completely unaware or unconcerned about their invitation to faith and eternal life! There are even those, members of Holy Cross, who are more concerned about “their fields and businesses” than they are about living as faithful disciples of the Savior!

“Many are invited (welcomed), but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22: 14) Only those who wear the robe of Christ’s forgiveness, mercy and grace are counted as righteous -“worthy and well prepared” to feast eternally at the Father’s heavenly banquet. May we be among the multitudes, who by God’s grace hear, receive and accept God’s gracious invitation to feast at the eternal banquet table! What a joy to live for Him now and with Him in eternity!

See you in church this next weekend!

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Snow

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