Readings For January 8

The readings for celebrating the Baptism of our Lord are Gen. 1:1-5, Rom. 6:1-11, and Mark 1:4-11. Why was the perfect, sole-begotten Son of God baptized? He didn’t need to repent of anything, at least on His own account. Yet, Jesus was baptized to repent perfectly of our sin. For He was taking it upon Himself. He was giving us His perfection and setting our sorry, corrupted state of affairs in order. WE by nature, deserve hell because we are sinful to the core and cannot ourselves repent perfectly. Yet, Jesus obeyed the Law and now gives us heaven with life eternal. He buried our sin and, and by Baptism, raises us each day to new, forgiven life.

Back IN Action

Since my last post, several things have happened. So, I am breaking away from the norm before resuming my daily observations and commentary. First, my family and I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break down in Springfield, MO. Wow, my nephew and niece are growing up quick! Secondly, I returned home to finish up the first draft of my new book project, an Advent and Christmas devotion collection called THE NIGHT WILL SOON BE ENDING. I have yet to finish up layout considerations and peer review possibilities for presenting it to CPH. But, I hope and intend to do this. On alighter note—well, sort of lighter note—my Huskers got creamed in their bowl bid. It was rather embarrassing to watch. Oh, well, next year, Martinez and the Husker offense will be back in full strength as will the Husker Black Shirts (defense). Finally, I am thankful to Aardvark Alley for including my blog on the Lutheran blog roll. Blessed Epiphany to everyone. And, you can catch me daily from here on.

mission vs. missions

Don't get me wrong. I am a supporter and contributor to several organizations that speak of "doing missions" for the Gospel. Most Recognized Service Organizations for th Lutheran Church Missiouri Synod have a mission statement and, in one form or another, a promotion of their missions approach. It popular in the last few years to heighten the awareness of missions trips or missions boards. That all fine and good as long as the Church remembers that our Lord has given us one mission--proclaiming HIs Gospel to a lost and dying world, the Gospel that says, "Jesus Christ is Lord who has died to take away the sins of world." He offers eternal life free for the trusting in HIm alone. "Missions," as it we understand, puts a face or expression in place. WE fall prey to the lure of hyping this expression over the message. WE know the true preaching and teaching of God's Word is there, beneath the masks of whateve oranizational trappings. Yet, we so easily proclaim the organization or the work "we" do for the Gospel. Lord have mercy upon us! Thanks be to God, He does. He still lifts the veil of confusion to shine the light of His Law and Gospel in our eyes of faith. He stil puts in our mouths the words to speak to others on the street, at work, and anywhere else He places us. Mission is, after all, nothing more than the message of salvation in Christ alone He gives us to proclaim, be we laymen or pastors. That's why, Pastors, your seromons need to always preach the cross of Christ specifically, not by assumption. (1 Cor. 1:18, 2:5, Gal. 6:10, 14) Don't just tag your delivery with a passing mention of Jesus Christ to give an otherwise crossless pep talk the guise of Christianity. Too many lampstand have faded because they have failed to shine the Light of Christ's saving truth to the world and have turned to merely a social show of skin-deep piety, which can save no one. Rather, speak to us in the pew the same saving Gospel whose Light directs our human care, parenting, learning, and speech in His peace. The glory is Christ's alone, so let's keep it there. Then, all who believe in HIm through the words He gives us to speak may glorify our Father in heaven. Tab sheets on how many people attend a "missions" event are great for recording keeping. They are not status symobls or proofs of true effectiveness.Rather, the fruit of God's mission is a person's trust in and proclamation of Christ crucified and risen for us and our salvation. (Rom. 10:8-17) AS we look forward to celebrating our Lord's blessed Nativity, we pray that He will fill our lips and hearts with the same Word which the shepherds told abroad after worshiping the Christ the Lord, the newborn King in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:15-20) We, too, see HIm by trust when, though the hands of our called ad ordained pastors, He gives us His very body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Refreshed by this "fount and source of all godness," we proclam His death until He comes. (1 Cor. 11:26)

More Athanasius for Advent

Here's more Athanasius for Advent. This guy is great! "Here, then, is the second reason why the Word dwelt among us, namely that having proved His Godhead by His works, He might offer the sacrifice on behalf of all, surrendering His own temple to death in place of all, to settle man's account with death and free him from the primal transgression. In the same act also He showed Himself mightier than death, displaying His own body incorruptible as the first-fruits of the resurrection." (Athanasius, ON THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD, 16)

The Bach Coffee Post

Below you'll see a bit of casuistry. Before you think that finding it is my doing, well, think again. I normally don't comb the humor pages. But, when it's put right underneath my nose, on another blog, I can't help myself. So, I found Bach's Coffee musical of LCMS Pres. Matthew C. Harrison's bog, MERCY JOURNEYS, a fine daily read in itself. I saw the tag for "blog this." So, I did for you enjoyment.

This Week's Readings In Church

December 24, 2011 The readings for Christmas Eve are Is. 7:10-14, Titus 2:11-14, and Luke 2:1-14, 15-20. Our Lord promises deliverance from evil. He assures us that He has defeated sin, death, and the devil’s work by His coming. He has taken away our sin and given us His lived-out righteous life. Yet, swallowed up by our circumstances and frustrations, we challenge God to really intervene. Our Gospel reading tells how our Lord has come to be born—God with us. And, when the grace of God appeared, He redeemed us from our doubt. In Him, we wait for Him to come again for us. December 25, 2011 The readings for Christmas Day are Isaiah 52:7-10; Heb. 1:1-6, 7-12; and John 1:1-14, 15-18. Merry Christmas! God our Lord has revealed His Word of promise—His life and Light to us who have wandered in the darkness of sin. We know the story so well we can almost recite its events with eyes closed. But, the Light of the Word become flesh still shines in the darkness of our sin. He opens our eyes of faith that, coming to us, declares us to be children of God, born of His salvation.

Mercy Journeys with Pastor Harrison: JS Bach'...

Mercy Journeys with Pastor Harrison:









































JS Bach'...: JS Bach's Coffee Cantata Libretto by Christian Friedrich Henrici Cantata BMV211 wav:229Kb Compose...