The Three Cs

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:9-14 ESV The past couple days, I have had some interesting Facebook exchanges with mutual friends of a leader of a Messianic group -- God-fearing people who proclaim a belief that Jesus was the Messiah described by the Old Testament ...

    For you formed my inward parts;         you knitted me together in my mother's womb.     I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.     Wonderful are your works;         my soul knows it very well.     My frame was not hidden from you,     when I was being made in secret,         intricately woven in the depths of the earth.     Your eyes saw my unformed substance;     in your book were written, every one of them,         the days that were formed for me,         when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV)

This is truly sad news and it's all the more reason to end abortion rights. Empirical evidence clearly shows that forty years of legal abortion have not helped our society. Contrary to the bold claims of abortion advocates, there is no proof that legal abortion has reduced either the out-of-wedlock birthrate or the incidence of child abuse. In fact, both the out-of-wedlock birthrate and the rate of child abuse have increased since the onset of widespread legal abortion. And research claiming to show that legal abortion has reduced the crime rate has been proven flawed. Since their empirical arguments for abortion’s benefits are weak, abortion advocates today generally focus on arguments for the autonomy and liberty of women. However, as we observe the fortieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade and consider the impact of forty years of legal abortion, it is certainly worth noting that abortion advocates’ many promises for society remain unfulfilled.

Hat tip to the Rev. Paul McClain for posting this on his website so I could watch it. As he said ... this is an incredibly powerful video by the Rev. Matthew Harrison, president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But who what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:18-20 I have asked this question many times, much to my wife's grief early in our relationship and marriage -- too many times. Our conversation frequently went like this: "But why do you believe, Valerie," I asked too often. "Because I do," she always said. "But why?" "I don't know. I just do." God bless her, after a lifetime of her parents setting her in a confessional Lutheran pew every Sunday at 7:45 a.m., she still does. But for whatever reason, try as I might in my late 20s, I struggled to reconcile my faith that  the "man" named Jesus, the one desc...

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled  among us,  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. As I sat in my Environmental Biology class on Thursday, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, bite my tongue and hold my breath. The professor was talking about evolution in context with the meaning of theories in science. "Oh, great," I thought to myself. "I know where this is going." I did, but I didn't. During her lecture, she shared a story about why she went into biology instead of something like physics. She described how she had been asked to measure the speed of the ball falling down a track, and how she said ...

Why Your Reformed/Calvinist/Evangelical/Baptist Friends Disagree with the Lutheran Doctrine of Baptism (And Why It Makes Them Cranky When You Assert It!) When you get down to it, I don't understand (any longer) how people could argue with Martin Luther on this one. But I will confess, I let some of my brief Baptist upbringing delay the baptism of my oldest daughter by a year and a half. The Rev. Paul McClain does a good job explaining differences.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. I have forgotten the day and the year, but not so much the hour. Nonetheless, I will never forget the place where the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me with God's power. I was standing in the gymnasium at First English Lutheran Church in Peoria, Ill. There were about 200 people there that day eating lunch with us when I looked across the room and saw our associate pastor. I couldn't help but think I need to go say thank you, thank you for coming to my home -- weeks, months, I don't remember, before -- and witnessing to me and my wife. Pastor sat on the couch and listened to me go on about my worldly view of this and that, quietly and patiently. It must have been difficult, because I am going to be honest, I was way out there. Pastor sat there and listened. When the time had come to leave, pastor sa...

What About Those Lutherans? Things You May Not Know About Lutherans Some people compare Lutherans to Catholic-light. We prefer to say we a pure catholic. Either way, Paul McClain does has a light, yet terrific, post on the difference between Lutherans, Catholics and Calvinists, in particular.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the  Lord  your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. Some people call work a four-letter word. Of course, it actually is, but you know what they mean when they refer to it that way. For most of my life, I didn't view it that way; Dad and Mom taught me that work is important. But like most people, there have been times when work was, well, work, the four-letter word. I am here, I have sometimes said when colleagues see me walk into the office and ask me how I am doing. My response was not necessarily meant to be derogatory, but it certainly could be construed that way. Unfortunately, I am not like many people. For many, work is, well, work, the derogatory four-letter word. They don't want to be at work. They don't want to enjoy their work. They just want to p...

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Why do so many people have such a negative view of what it means to be a Christian? Or maybe I should rephrase that, why do so many people get hung up on the "don't do" lists of the Bible? I spent more time today swallowing the amazing richness of Colossians Chapter 1, where Paul spells out the incomparable greatness of our Lord: He is the creator, the sustainer, the alpha, the omega, the judge, the savior. But as I searched for a verse to post on Facebook this morning, I couldn't get past the classic memory verse from Colossians 3:12. As I reflected on it, I kept thinking about something a friend said to me yesterday, "you don't bog yourself down, which I dig." Too often, people zoom in on those "don't do" lists of the Scripture. Take, for example, Colossians 3:5: Put to death, therefore, whateve...

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Terrific post by Paul McClain on 7 ways to stop gossip Don’t repeat something you don’t know is true firsthand…secondhand knowledge is not enough to justify repeating. You will get something wrong and it will hurt others. Don’t repeat unless its helpful to do so and you have a vested interest in the situation, the people involved, and permission to share…doing so in the name of a prayer request is not a good excuse ... Don’t “confess” other people’s sins. Even if the wrong included you and you feel the need to confess, share your story, but not someone else’s. If you must tell, and have passed the test on the first three suggestions, tell only what happened and not your commentary or “I think this is probably what happened” or why you think it happened… Choose to pray for others every time you are tempted to tell their story…instead of telling their story… When someone tells you something you don’t need to know, don’t allow curiosity to be your guide…follow your heart. ...

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. How many times have I read over chapter 3 and failed to see the beauty in it, failed to understand? Paul has just laid out -- again -- one of the most important doctrines of Christianity: It is by grace you have been saved, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God (Eph 2:8). Why do we fail to see the gift? Paul, like all Jews, like all those who think they can find favor with God; who think they are living a righteous life; who think their virtue is important; who think that God will use human scales to weigh their rights and wrongs and declare them better than "murderers," and "thieves," and "child molesters," and the other "dregs of society;" who think they can free themselves from hatred; who think they can meditate their way to heaven, has just personally illustrated that you are doomed unless you believe the real truth. If someone else thinks they h...

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? It was only one hour. Maybe to a 4-year-old an hour is a long time, but for most of us, an hour is but a blip of time. Our Sunday afternoon football games take three hours. Some of our baseball games run four hours. A round of golf, including a trip to the clubhouse? It strikes me today that Jesus' urging to Peter to wake up is yet another call to be faithful, another call that not only will Peter fail but one that we fail. Remember, this is Peter, too ... Peter, a disciple who has been walking with Jesus for three years. Peter, a man who has witnessed countless miracles. Peter, the man on whom God will build the church (Matt 16:18). Peter, who has given up everything to be with the Lord. But Peter is just like you and me: he not only falls asleep in unfaithfulness, he turns around the next day and denies he even knows Jesus. "The spirit is willing, ...

Here is a terrific argument that Mary, not Paul or Adam, is the first Christian, based off Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. Father Hollywood: "Better late than never" and a Lesson from the Magnificat

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?  Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,  Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.  He was just a regular dude. He walked with us. He talked with us. He cried. He smiled. He had brothers and sisters. So, I guess it's no wonder that so many people, especially near the area around Capernaum where Jesus grew up, had trouble believing that he was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God who would save them, rescue them from tyranny, without a fight. But why? Weren't the miracles enough? Can you imagine seeing Jesus casting out demons, healing the blind, the lame, those with leprosy, the crippled? Can you imagine seeing Jesus walk on stormy seas? Can you...

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Clearly, I haven't got this daily journaling thing down pat yet. With any luck, I will have it within a month. This morning, I should have been writing about the second half of 2 Corinthians. Then tonight I read Paul McClain 's post called " Stop the killing ." McClain was noting the recent debates on gun control in the wake of horrific massacres and how the mankind's old nature longs for bloodlust. And he made passing reference to violence in movies, television and video games. He had my full attention. Then he noted this Scrip...

Love is patient , love is kind , it is not envious . Love does not brag , it is not puffed up . It is not rude , it is not self-serving , it is not easily angered or resentful . It is not glad about injustice , but rejoices in the truth . It bears all things , believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13 doesn't say it, but but love is semper fidelis, too. I wish I could say the same about myself. I wish I could say I had perfect love as described here, my favorite chapter in the New Testament. Even though I was a Marine, who was trained to be semper fidelis, I failed. In fact, I failed a lot. I was far from semper fidelis. So today, I am thankful that God is. OK, you didn't hear that part in chapter 13. But God clearly is semper fidelis. We hear it in Psalm 25: The Lord always proves faithful and reliable ... and in Psalm 100, he is faithful through all generations. I am thankful God is always fa...

I don't think there is anything that can prepare a parent for the day their son, or daughter, leaves home. But it is at least comforting to know that there isn't any one thing Aaron, my youngest son, has wanted to do more than enlist in the Marine Corps. He started talking about it when he was only a little boy, which seems like only yesterday. He talked about it endlessly through high school. He pleaded with his mom and me when he turned 17 to sign the papers allowing him to join the delayed entry program so he could go as soon as he graduated, which just happened to be his 18th birthday. We said no -- not because we didn't want him to join; we said no because we wanted him to make the choice -- as his own man. When he was ready, almost six months after his 18th birthday, Aaron enlisted. He announced the news in October. Actually, he announced it by telling me and his mom, Valerie, that he was leaving for boot camp in three weeks. Our hearts fell to the floor. Thre...

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. This verse jumped off the page at me, probably for all the wrong reasons. When I read 1:17, I could think only of one particular TV preacher. I am not sure what his name is, but I can clearly see his face. I have tried to listen to him from time to time, but I am always struck by his incessant rambling about things other than either the law or the gospel. Actually, he normally is talking about the law. So when I see his show, I sometimes try to listen for the gospel -- that is, the good news. You caught that last phrase, didn't you? The good news? It's why I attend a Lutheran church. Lutheran pastors are trained to deliver the law with a heavy dose of gospel, in fact, more gospel than law. Clearly, as Scripture reminded me, quarreling doesn't advance our cause. But the Gospel does. Yet, too many "Christians...

My new favorite blogger, Pastor Peters, nailed this ... The cause of Pastor and people is not the perfect church.  If it were, as they used to say, you would not be allowed in.  Even more to the point, when we spend our whole time lamenting what is wrong, we fail to see the work of God in our midst.  As much as we yearn for a perfect church, God, in His generosity and mercy has always worked among imperfect people and structures to do His perfect will.  http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2013/01/looking-for-st-utopias-church.html

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Thankfully, I wasn't supposed to stop in Romans 9 today, because today, this verse didn't sit well with me. I was first reminded of something Mom said to me a year or so ago: She believes God will save everyone because God is love, after all, right? Of course, sorry to say, Mom, it doesn't work that way. We are reminded in verse 20: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?" Another way of saying it is, God is the potter; we are the clay. God is God; we are man. God is in control; sometimes we think we are. Still, verse 18 hit hard. Why would God harden people's hearts? In other words, why would he make it so that they don't believe? If you don't believe in God, then you aren't saved. If you aren't saved, then, well, your eternal existence is in jeopardy. Thankfully, I didn't have to stop in chapter 9. Who ascends and descends (Romans 10...

Maybe you are just now stumbling on this space. Maybe you found me through the personal website I created early in the last decade. Maybe for some weird reason, you decided you'd subscribed to this blog and came back because I posted today. Regardless, I have been avoiding this blog for far too long. I first created this space in 2002 -- so for years now, you have been wholly disappointed with my procrastination in coming back. A few years ago, I deleted everything here ... for the second time. In other words, this is the third restart on this blog. So, fret no more. I finally have a reason not to avoid writing here: I actually need a place to keep a journal. And since this space has managed to keep me online all these years, well, javaswilling on blogger.com is going live again. You should see daily posts for at least the next six months. Perhaps by then it will be a habit. I have a new mission to read the New Testament three times in that time. And I have a covenant to jour...