COVID UPDATE

Lois & Brianna both tested negative this morning, much to their relief & mine as well. I've been taking paxlovid since FRI evening. My symptoms seems to be fatigue, light-headedness, & mental fog. Based on guidelines issued by the CDC--& we know it's all about their science--I should be able to return to the Orphan Grain Train office before the end of the week. Sadly, not only did we miss one grandchild's birthday party on FRI night, we're missing another grandchild's Grandparent Day this FRI. 

SING & REJOICE

Zechariah 2:10, 13. “’Sing, Jerusalem, & rejoice! For I have come to live among you,’ says the Lord . . . Be silent, all mankind, before the Lord, for He has come to earth from heaven, from His holy home.” The Living Bible

SAVED FROM GOD'S WRATH

"Jesus did not die just to give us peace & a purpose in life; He died to save us from the wrath of God. He died to reconcile us to a holy God who was alienated from us because of our sin. He died to ransom us from the penalty of sin--the punishment of everlasting destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord. He died that we, the just objects of God's wrath, should become, by His grace, heirs of God & co-heirs with Him." Jerry Bridges, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS

"Do we ignore the ruin around us  because abortion seems 'too political' & assisted suicide feels 'too personal'? Only woes await those who do (Amos 6:1,4). But our Heavenly Father obsesses over the victims, & heaven finds inexhaustible joy embracing the vulnerable. In speaking & showing the sanctity of all humankind, we also can take hold of that which is truly life' (1 Tim. 6:19)!" Life Thoughts in the Church Year

SPEAKING TO THE STATE IN A TIME OF WAR

"Does the church have anything to say to the state about war? Martin Luther certainly thought so. On the one hand, he clearly distinguished the church from the state. God had established both but for far different purposes. By the Gospel, the church brought people into a right relationship with God & prepared them for eternity. By the law, the state punished evil & promoted good for this life here on earth.

"On the other hand, Christians belonged to both & had responsibilities for each. In the state, a Christian obeyed the law & could with a free conscience participate in government as a ruler, judge, policeman & so on--even as a soldier. For God had given 'the sword' to government to restrain wickedness, even if that meant waging war.

"Ideally, the state should maintain a society in which the church can carry out its work freely. But not even Christian rulers always got it right. Sometimes rulers did their duties badly; sometimes they failed to carry them out at all. Occasionally, they initiated unjust wars.

"In such times, what were Christians supposed to do then? At the very least, disobey. As the apostles told the authorities who arrested them for preaching the Gospel, 'We must obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29). In the apostles' case, disobedience meant to continue preaching. It did not mean taking up arms & starting a rebellion. Luther followed their example. If government authorities unjustly threatened one's situation in this life--property, liberty or physical life--a Christian should submit. But if they demanded participation in something wicked, like fighting an unjust war or denying Christ, a Christian must refuse & suffer consequences. Rebellion was never an option.

"But neither was silence. The church had something to say, especially pastors. Their obligation to preach God's Word meant preaching it to real people in real-life situations, including to government officials. After all, God had given them their authority to enforce the law for the sake of the people they ruled. When they did not know what their responsibilities were or failed to carry them out, the clergy had to show the authorities just what God demanded of them in His Word." Cameron MacKenzie, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2022

A HYMN OF VOCATION

How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord (LSB #853)

How clear is our vocation, Lord, When once we heed Your call:  To live according to Your Word And daily learn, refreshed, restored, That You are Lord of all And will not let us fall.

But if, forgetful, we should find Your yoke is hard to bear; If worldly pressures fray the mind, And love itself cannot unwind Its tangled skein of care; Our inward life repair.

We marvel how Your saints become In hindrances more sure; Whose joyful virtues put to shame The casual way we wear Your name And by our faults obscure Your pow'r to cleanse & cure.

In what You give us, Lord, to do, Together or alone, In old routines or ventures new, May we not cease to look to You, The cross You hung upon--All You endeavored done.

TODAY'S VERSE

Habakkuk 3:2.  “O Lord, now I have heard Your report, & I worship You in awe for the fearful things You are going to do. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us as You did in years gone by. Show us Your power to save us. In Your wrath, remember mercy.” The Living Bible

MATURITY

"Calmness comes from within us when we are confident in God's Word. Painful trials produce maturity, which leads to love." Gary Smalley & John Trent, Men's Devotional Bible 

SPEAKING TO DEAD PEOPLE

"Young man, I say to you, arise." (Luke 7:14) "Whether it is the dead son at Nain or your loved one who passed away or you yourself someday--the voice of Jesus will call forth. When Jesus calls forth to you, you will hear His voice & come out of your grave alive, resurrected with a renewed body unto everlasting life." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

CLINGING TO CHRIST

Nevertheless, no matter how weak you are, if you only remain clinging to Christ, you will find the comfort, power, & strength that overcomes all fright, death, & hell-which the power, works, & merit of all people cannot do." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Habakkuk 2:14.  “The time will come when all the earth is filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.” The Living Bible

CALMNESS FROM CONFIDENCE

"Calmness comes from within us when we are confident in God's Word. Painful trials produce maturity, which leads to love!" Gary Smalley & John Trent, Men's Devotional Bible

A DIVIDED MIND

"Do not be anxious about your life." (Matt. 6:25) "When your mind is divided by many things, you may be mentally & sometimes physically pulled apart with worry. It is easy to fix your thoughts on food, shelter, money, cars, toys, pensions, health, friends, family, jobs, status, & so forth. These thoughts often cause you to be stretched apart & paralyzed with worry.

"Instead, Jesus is telling you to relax, to take a deep breath. He is telling you to stop looking at the chaos of the world that tries to divide you into a thousand pieces. He says, 'Do not worry about your life,' because God the Father cares for you . . . The Lord who created & sustains this world has snatched you from death unto life & will keep you today & forevermore." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

LUTHER SPEAKS TO WAR IN THREE WAYS

"First, serving in the military is a good & honorable vocation. Luther calls us to be honorable in our vocations. A wife, husband, mom & dad are all good callings, & we are to be good & decent at it, not abusive & lazy. So also for the warrior in his duty:  He should not harm beyond what is necessary, he should care for the wounded & so on. That is, he is to serve honorably in his vocation.

"Second, Luther wants the warrior to know where his strength resides. It is not in the justness of a nation's cause, but rather all his trust, strength & hope is in Jesus. The Christian warrior is not justified in his work because the rulers of the nation went to war for a just reason; rather, he is justified because Christ suffered & died for his sins & bestowed on him forgiveness. He is, therefore, just because he serves as a Christian warrior.

"Third, Luther addresses the question of whether warriors can wage combat against their own people. This was a recent issue for Luther. Germany had just concluded The Peasants' War (1524-1525). The peasants had rebelled against the godly authority placed over them, & rulers had the right--even the responsibility--of putting down this rebellion for the sake of bringing peace, fairness & righteousness within the realm.

"Finally, Luther entreats the solder to trust in God, both for his daily provision & to protect him in battle. He spoke against 'good luck charms,' which as the time might have taken the form of relics (often pieces of bone or other items purportedly being from a saint). In a clear pastoral tone, Luther tells warriors not to trust in saints or amulets but in Christ alone. Even warriors today struggle with this.

"The doctrine of the two kingdoms helps us understand how Christians can serve as warriors. In the left-hand kingdom, God rules through the government, which cares for its citizens & enforces the law of the land. In the right-hand-kingdom, God bestows His grace through the proclamation of His Word in the church. Christian soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, & coastguardsmen live at the intersection of these two kingdoms. Christian warriors go to battle both as agents of the state& as Christians, forgiven in the blood of Christ." Rev. Steven Hokana, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2022

A COMMUNION HYMN

Jesus Comes Today with Healing (LSB #620, Sts. 1, 6)

Jesus comes today with healing, Knocking at my door, appealing, Off'ring pardon, grace & peace. He Himself makes preparation, And I hear His invitation:  "Come & taste the blessed feast."

Now have I found consolation, Comfort in my tribulation, Balm to heal the troubled soul. God, my shield from ev'ry terror, Cleanses me from sin & error, Makes my wounded spirit whole.