For the past few weeks, I have been reading the Old Testament for my daily devotions. I realize that passages such as the text I highlighted above were directed to a nomadic people struggling to create a society amid hostile people. God, through Moses, was developing a nation that would ultimately bear the Savior of us all. He made clear that he was a “jealous” God and he would not tolerate his people betraying his deliverance and watering down their holy mission.

Like many of you, I have been listening to the rhetoric of the Republican candidates for president. Over and over you hear that America is a “City set on a hill”, and implied, through our society we shall fulfill a holy destiny. From President Obama to any of these candidates we hear the concluding theme,”May God bless America.”

Many times we hear people say that they are “spiritual” but they do not believe in identifying with any denomination or congregation. Do they ever remember those words of St. Paul to husbands,”Husbands, love yourwives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it”  (Eph. 5:25)?  

Others excuse themselves from worship and sacraments because of all the sins and failures of those who lead the church and the membership that they claim are hyprocrites. I would never argue that the church isn’t filled with sinners–most know they are in need of a Savior and the grace of a loving God. However, it does not excuse the  failures of  the church and we are paying a severe price for our failures.

We, as a nation, are the richest people in the history of the world.  In spite of the poor economy, unemployment, loss of homes and jobs, few of us would change places with any people in the world. My fear is that in our affluence, we are drifting away from the foundations of our traditional faith and, many are exchanging it for gods that will never satisfy the hunger in their souls.

Lest we forget all that God has given us in this wonderful land, let us take time to ponder the values that have made this country great. Where we see defects, let us use our time, talent  and energy to correct those problems and fulfill the mission and destiny God has assigned each of us.   And, yes, may GOD BLESS AMERICA!

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

Today, January 6th, is observed by the Church as the Day of the Epiphany. It commemorates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus and his mother Mary. It indicates that gentile believers worshipped the Christ at the very beginning for these kings came from territories outside the Holy Land. Orthodox Christians throughout the world observe this as their Christmas.

Although legend desribes them as three wise men, we have no way of knowing how few or how many were in that company. Three has been chosen because they offer three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I would like to suggest a fourth gift which I believe is the greatest gift of all and that is their homage and worship of this newborn King.

Worship is a difficult action for most of us. We find our minds wondering when we sit in the sanctuary on Sunday and listen to a sermon, sing a hymn or bow our heads in prayer. I think about the disappointment that has to be in the mind of God when he looks down at our worship and sees how pitiful is our offerings of gratitude. We could learn a great deal from these Wise Men.

 Jesus once answered a lawyer who asked him what was the greatest commandment of all. Our Lord answered that the first and greatest commandment was to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. He added that a second was like it and said that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. I don’t know about you but I find these commandments to be the most difficult of all. Each morning I read my devotions and pray, but I am off to do whatever tasks I have designed for the day and  often I don’t think of God until I say a prayer at meals or lay my head down on a pillow for sleep. It is so easy to neglect our relationship with God and  we get ourselves caught up in the busyness of life.

Brother Lawrence comes to mind when I think of these things. He was a monk who practiced the presence of God in his daily tasks. Even when he did the dishes and the pots and pans in the monestery, he did everything as an offering to Christ, his Lord and Savior. I wish I had the same dedication and devotion.

This is why Paul Gerhardt’s hymn is one of my favorities.

                   “Oh, how shall I receive thee, how meet thee on the way,

                     Blest hope of every nation, my soul’s delight and stay?

                     O Jesus, Jesus give me now by thy own pure light.

                     to know whate’er please thee and welcome in thy sight.”

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

    “And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger,  because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2: 7

   “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. ” John 1: 11-12 

Isn’t it fascinating that at the very beginning, God’s entry into our world has this sorry note. There is no room for him to be born in our world and Mary, Joseph and the babe are sent to a cave so that the birth of this Jesus could take place. In my mind it symbolizes the way he is still being crowded out of people’s lives even in our celebration of his birth.

We are now attending “holiday concerts” where it isn’t politically correct to sing or play Christmas carols. To many people, greeting them with “Merry Christmas” is offensive and impolite. The rush to get ready for Christmas is so hectic that people are exhausted and there just isn’t room to sit and meditate on what  it means to have God enter this world and bring his salvation to our lives. Many people feel what the old christmas jingle used to proclaim, “thank God, christmas only comes once a year.”

Many of you have heard the story of little Tommy who played the role of the Inn Keeper in the Sunday School Christmas play. He practiced his line several times and when Mary and Joseph came to his establishment during the performance, he blurted out with gusto, “There is no room for you in the Inn!” But as he watched the sad couple go back  up the aisle, he surprised the congregation by shouting, “But you can come to my house. We have room !”

Christmas has a sad component for a lot of people. Busyness addressing cards, decorating the home and buying gifts, baking and preparing for the feast may leave you exhausted. Remembrance of Christmas in the past where loved ones, who are no longer with us, leaves an empty void, and economic troubles puts added stress on your celebration. These and so many other things can crowd out Christ so that there is no room for him in our lives and in our home.

Now is a very good time to sit back and meditate on the Christ who loves you so much that he came into this hostile world to redeem you from your sins and to assure you of your eternal salvation. He promises that those who will make room for him in their lives will never be disappointed and he will come as he has promised.

                                         “O how shall I receive thee, How greet thee, Lord, aright?

                                           All nations long to see thee, My hope, my heart’s delight!

                                           O kindle, Lord most holy, Thy lamp within my breast.

                                           To do in spirit lowly, All that may please thee best.

                                           Rejoice then, ye sad-hearted, who sit in deepest gloom,         Path: p » strong » em

                                           Who mourn o’er joys departed and tremble at your doom,

                                            He who  alone can cheer you is standing at the door;

                                            He brings his pity near you, and bids you weep no more.”

                                                                                                                                       Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

Merry Christmas,

Paul Werger

It is pretty easy to make the case that we live in a world that is filled with darkness. The media is so skilled at reporting sensational news that any problem in our world gets instant coverage and often the bad news gets repeated over and over again: A troubled economy that has left many unemployed, the European debt crises, a polarized government that is unable to solve the needs of the nation and the war on terror documentss the darkness and depression that many experience and feel.

The shepherds in the Christmas story experienced some very dark emotions. They were on the lowest rung of their economic ladder and they were poorly compensated for what they did. They slept out in caves in the open fields watching over their flocks. No one seemed to care about them or pay attention  to them—except God who sends an angel to  them to harold the good news of the birth of the Savior of the world.

Christmas can be a troubling time for many people. It reminds some of loved ones who are no longer with us. Others can recall joyous times in the past when the joy of this season filled their lives,but now things are different. For some, their anticipations and expectations are not fulfilled and they are despondent and depressed. If you find yourself in any of those categories, look again and allow the angel of the Lord to penetrate your emotions and life. Your Savior has come and if you will allow him into your life, he will bring you a joy that surpasses all understanding. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself glorifing and praising God like those shepherds in the field on that holy night.

Remember the words of the carol, ”ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY”

                 Angels from the realms of glory, wind your flight o’er all the earth; once you sang creations story now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born king.

                Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born king.

               Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar, seek the great desire of nations, you have seen his natal star. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born king.

             All creation, join in praising God, the Father, Spirit, Son, ever-more your voices raising to the eternal three in one.  Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born king.”

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

   ”When they saw the star,they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.”        Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10

During these weeks of Advent, my blog will look at those central figure in the Christmas drama and attempt to gain whatever insight I can share from my musing and meditation. I hope it will have some meaning to you and do something to help us prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

One thing that strikes me about these wise men is the fact that they were not afraid to follow the signs that they read in the heavens to worship this new King of the Jews.  If we can believe what the legends that surround them say, most authorities  speculate that they came from a long distance and paid a terrific price to follow their dream and vision. One lesson that pops out to me is the fact that following that star came at great effort and expense to these wise men.

I read an illustration attributed to Martin Marty, an outstanding Lutheran thologian and historian, the other day that spoke to me.

          He tells about a critic of the church who had gone to many churches and heard preachers saying, “Don’t try to impress God with your works,” and “Don’t attempt to please God with your merits.” “Don’t try to keep the rules and regulations and thus win your way.”  He looked around at the nearly slumbering  collection of casual Christians and wondered.  “Who’s trying!”

I am not the first preacher to sound the alarm about “cheap grace.” Things are happening in our world that need our attention. Even Christmas has become so secular and materialistic in our day and all of us are all caught up in it. We find it difficult to find the time to discover this Christ in our lives. If we learn anything from those first wisemen, we must learn that following the star that leads to our Lord comes with some struggle and at a price.

The other thing that stands out to me is the great joy they found when they entered that house and experienced the presence of Jesus in their lives. They were overcome with awe and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

This is what  Christmas is all about: experiencing our Lord’s presence and the opportunity to fall down and worship him. I know that cynics will say that this is some “pie in the sky” baloney and you can’t find this Jesus. But I remember what the mature Jesus told his disciples in John 6: 37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out.” Is it too childlike and naive to believe this?

Storm clouds are gathering in our world. Following the star that leads to Jesus can be costly and a struggle. But for the Wise Men/Women of our day who follow that dream, know that the Holy Spirit will guide your journey and you, too, will be among those who enter his presence and worship Him.

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

   “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or  house divided against itself will stand.”

                     Matthew 12: 25

Normally,  I do not use this column to discuss politics.  We have  enough bad news in our lives and we need the good news of the Gospel. However, this recent announcement by “The Supercommittee” of congress  on their inability to come to any agreement on how to reduce the budget gets my ire.

Abraham Lincoln quoted Jesus’ words that are above during the great Civil War. He knew that a divided house and a divided nation could not endure. Thousands of brave Union and Confederate soldiers paid the ultimate price to insure that we would survive as a nation. Those we have elected to congress can’t seem to have the same vision and they appear willing to let this country flounder on the shoals of destruction rather than do the right thing. I am ready to join the uprising that says, “If they can not find a solution to our overspending, then let us elect representatives who are courageous enough to make the necessary decisions for the welfare of this country.” We must see that “kicking the can down the road” won’t get the job done. There have to be lessons learned by the fiasco of overspending that has taken place in Greece, Italy and  Spain.

I am no expert but it appears to me that both sides are correct. We need to cut spending and we need to raise taxes. Overspending on entitlements and the military will cause all of us to suffer. No one likes to pay more taxes but it is time for all of us to step up to the plate and pay a little more. Oh, I have heard the lament that if we give congress more money they will just waste it. They will build their bridges to nowhere and keep up their profligate ways. I know that we can enact legislation that will curb such behavior. The sins of past management can’t control our future.

One of the prophets of our day is Warren Buffett. I heard him give a speech the other day and then watched as the press asked questions. One said, “Mr. Buffett, have you ever made bad investments?” He assured them that he had and most of them were failures to act when he knew there was great opportunity. But then he added, “My partner, Charlie Munger, and I never look back. We try to seize the next opportunity that comes our way. We try to forget the past mistakes and look to the future. It is all about the future.”

Martin Marty, a respected Lutheran theologian, has raised the question in his “Sightings”, “Where are the voices of  the church and that of religious leaders during this struggle that divides our nation?” It is a superb question and one that must be addressed. Many of us have been too timid to step up to the plate and to allow our feelings to be known . We say we don’t have all the knowledge that we need and we hear the shouts, “Keep the religious out of politics.” Lincoln wasn’t afraid to quote the Scriptures because the stakes were too high to be intimidated with those voices. I think it is time for all of us to raise our voices and to allow our thinking be known. For this is “A Divided House and a Divided Kingdom” and it is a time to act.

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

      I will lift up the cup of  salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”

           Psalm 116:12-13

Thursday, November 24th, 2011 has been set aside by our nation as a day of national thanksgiving. Technically, it isn’t assigned as a religious holiday, I find it very difficult to separate it from my faith and worship.  Of course, I am not alone in my feelings; countless Americans will pause on this occasion to assess all that God has done for us. Even those who are going through rough times during this recession can find countless reasons to be thankful.

Can’t you see the Psalmist of this 116th psalm sitting by his desk and meditating on all the blessing he had received over his lifetime? He takes his pen and raises his voice and asks the question that is on all our minds, “What can I possibly give back to God for all his benefits to me? I can lift up the cup of my salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”

Most of us are acquainted with the story in Luke’s gospel of the ten lepers who are cleansed and only one returned to give thanks to Jesus. It causes Jesus to inquire, “Were not ten lepers cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17). When you read that story and discover that the one who returned to give thanks was a  Samaritan and an outsider, it feels like someone has hit you in the stomach. We take God’s blessings for granted and fail to stop and give God thanks. In my mind, it is a wonderful idea to have a Thanksgiving Day. But how do we properly give God thanks for his many blessings to us? There are as many answers to that question as there are people.

Many years ago I read the story of an old Jewish taylor whose wife had died and he was very lonely. He discovered that there was an orphan living in the neighborhood who was homeless. He was often in trouble with the police. The old taylor decided to take the boy in and give him a bed to sleep in and food to eat.

It wasn’t an easy experience for the old taylor. The lad was often in difficulty and he would run away for days; but then he would return to this home. The old man loved him and to demonstrate his love, he adopted him as his son.

Now the old man was on his death bed and the son returns to his father. He kneels at his bedside and weeps. He says to his father, “How will I eve repay you for all of your love to me?” With his dying breath, the father says, “You can’t repay me for my love. You can only pass it on!”

Maybe the wisdom of the Jewish father is the answer to our question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” We know we cannot repay God for life, this good earth, our beloved nation and our friends and family who surround us with love. All we can do is pass it along.

These are my thoughts as I celebrate another Thanksgiving Day.

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

    ”Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”         

                                                                                                                                   Psalm 119: 105

Most of us have heard Yogi Berra’s famous statement, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” We often find ourselves in that position in our pilgrimage here on earth.  We come to a crossroad and we don’t know how to make the correct decision.

This morning in my devotions, I read a sermon by F. Eppling Remartz, the former secretary of the United Lutheran Church in America.In a sermon entitled, “If I Only Knew,” he tells  about overhearing two young men at the Union Station in Washington, D.C.. One of the young men was very troubled and said to his companion, “Oh, if I only knew how to make up my mind.” He was paralzed at one of life’s crossroads.”

Reinartz goes on to say, “ Christians don’t find it easier to reach vital decisions than do others. Oh, no! But our religion does give us insight and guidance which help us when, lacking them, we would find our thinking at a dead end.”  I imagine that is what the Psalmist had in mind when he stated, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

If the truth is known, many of those moments of indecision are difficult because there are no clear answers. Martin Luther has the famous advice to his followers that there are times when “we sin boldly.” Plunging ahead, doing our do diligence and then making the best decision that you can make seems risky. But I find it necessary.

Whether to move, take a new job or a responsibilty in a new office, select a candidate from a slate, etc. may seem mundane and unworthy of mentioning by some. I find myself turning more and more of these things over to our Lord in prayer. I know we make many mistakes and one finds it very difficult to discern the Lord’s will in these matters. However, you must be satisfied that you did your best. The only time for regret is when you haven’t taken the effort to read, think and do the hard work that is necessary for making a sound decision.

St. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5: 7-8, “We walk by faith and not by sight, so be of good courage.”ike many of you, I am thankful that I serve a God whose word can be trusted and who assists in the difficult matters of life.

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger

  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10: 23-35 

Some one suggested the other day that the church has seen better times. Aging and declining memberships, income shrinking for missions and growth, and a very poor image in the press and media have led to the church ‘s diminished influence in our society. I was ordained in 1957 and the church had prominence. Nearly all the families in the community  where I served were related to some church body even though many did not attend.

Recent surveys show that fewer people make the effort to get out of bed and go to worship. Sunday is no longer the Lord’s Day but it is a day for football and sports, shopping and family fun and a time to get away from the drudgery of our work-a-day world.

A host of things have caused the diminution of the church. Scandels  of sex abuse among the clergy has given credence to many people to say that the church leaders can’t be trusted. Hedonism, materialism and secularism have all played their parts  in this condition. Church bodies have struggled over social issues such as homosexuality, abortion and the role of marriage and the family. As Martin  Luther states in his EXPOSITION OF JOHN 14, “Where God builds a church the devil builds a chapel beside it.” 

 By and large when we fail to worship, the things of God seem to disappear and we become indifferent to spiritual matters. There are some people who are sick, elderly and located far from a congregation who maintain an active spiritual life. They are the exceptions and most of us need a steady diet of word and sacraments to keep our faith alive. I am certain that this is what the author of Hebrews had in mine when he said, “Don’t neglect meeting together.”

Many years ago I read the story of a church elder who became very disenchanted with his pastor. He withdrew from the church and from worship. On a cold and wintry day, the pastor made a visit. The old man gave him an icy welcome and invited him to sit by the fire that blazed in the fireplace. They sat in silence and then the pastor stood, took a poker and knocked off one of the logs on the fire. “Why did you do that?” said the former elder. “Just wait and see!,” replied the pastor. Soon the fire went out of that log and it emitted a disturbing smoke and odor. “You see,” remarked the pastor,”we  are like that log and the fire will die in us unless we are kindled together with our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

We need the church and the church is less when we are not part of it. The Gospel of Christ’s salvation and the blessed sacraments give us the strength and courage to fight the good fight of faith. Timothy Dwight sums it up for me:

               I love your kingdom, Lord, the Place of your abode

               The Church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious blood.

               I love your Church, O God! Its walls before you stand,

               Dear as the apple of your eye and graven on your hand.

               Sure as your truth shall last, To Zion shall be giv’n

               The brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.

I will see you in Church,

Paul Werger

   “Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me.”  2 Timothy 4: 9-11

  A friend of mine, and a reader of this blog, suggested that I observe some of the days set aside by the Church to celebrate the lives of the saints. I think it is a very good suggestion and St. Luke, The Evangelist, is observed on October 18th.

St. Luke has always been a favorite of the Church. According to the tradition, he is the author of the 3rd Gospel and The Acts of the Apostles. Most authorities believe that he was a physician and his Gospel includes many healing miracles along with parables like the Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan. His wonderful depiction of the birth of Jesus is known to all Christians. He was a remarkable historian, scholar and friend of the Gentiles and we do well to celebrate his day.

One facet of his life is often overlooked. It is his loyalty and faithfulness to St. Paul when the chips were down. Other traveling companions had taken off and forsaken Paul. “Luke alone is with me,” St. Paul tells Timothy. “Come to me soon” for I need your support and friendship.

Some sage has said that if you have one true friend in this world, your are very rich. Others have added that you know who your friends truly are when the chips are down. One of the biggest disappointment in life is to discover that a person, you counted on as a friend, betrayed you. One of the highest joys you experience is the wonderful surprise of a person standing by your side when things fall apart.

God has blessed Dianne and me with some wonderful friends in our pilgrimage. We served a congregation named St. Luke’s for 17 years. The people of that congregation were apply named and we still keep in contact with some of them after being gone 33 years. They were patient with me, endured my blunders and helped form me into the pastor I became.

How blessed we were to come to Iowa. The number of “Lukes” in these past 33 years are countless. This was revealed so dramatically when we suffered the loss of our home in the flood of 2008.The people of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church became the faithful friends we needed and we shall always thank God for them and what they did for us.

Maybe the way to observe St. Luke’s Day is to sit back and reflect on the many “Luke’s” God has sent into your life. We so often seem to forget to count our blessings. How many times have you heard a person who has suffered misfortune say, “I didn’t realize that so many people cared?”

Luke was a true friend of the Apostle Paul and he did not forsake him when the times we tough. God sends many a Luke into our lives and what a precious gift  they are.

From another pilgrim,

Paul Werger