tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32722669938826251632024-02-18T23:03:43.572-06:00GeRue BlogA Blog of Sermons, Devotional Thought, Religious Topics, and Just fun information and thoughts from Rev. Keith GeRue
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Between Girard and Virden IllinoisRev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-1065007754237852712019-07-15T08:25:00.001-05:002019-07-15T08:25:22.490-05:00Easter Sunrise 2019 “Christ is Risen! That’s it!”<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Easter Sunrise
2019 </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">“Christ is Risen! That’s it!”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alleluia! Christ is risen! [<i>He
is risen indeed! Alleluia!</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the name of the Father and of the + Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> That seems like such a small thing to say in the midst of a
world and life that can be most difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> seems so small when we think back 20 years ago this week to
the Columbine massacre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> seems so small when we hear of the resurgence of the Taliban.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> seems so small when we watch the body of a loved one being
lowered into a grave and covered with dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> seems so small against all the evil we see in our world, all
the hatred, all the bad news that never seems to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> seems so small as we watch our own bodies and
their inevitable march to death, whether than comes for you in old age, by
accident or violence, or from disease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ is risen.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Is that all the church has to say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, yes!</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And
that is enough. Because those are no mere words, but words that express the
truth that on this day, in Christ, everything has changed. That though sin and
evil oppress us, that though the devil roar and bear his teeth at us, and
though the grave opens wide its mouth to swallow us up - these have all been
defeated! Sin, Satan, death, and hell all did their worst to Christ, <i>and
lost</i>. And because Christ won, so do we.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the message the angel was given to
proclaim to the women. This is the message the women were given to proclaim to
the disciples. This is the message the apostles were given to proclaim. And
this is the message we are given to proclaim - in every time, in every place,
in every circumstance of life. <b><i>Christ is risen!</i></b> For
it is the message no one else has. It is the hope no one else has.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The world, without Christ, cannot handle death.
It has no words to say. Therefore, many try to ignore death, or wish it away.
Many turn to medicine to look for a cure, others try to turn it into a friend.
And when all else fails, we try to dress it up with fancy caskets, make-up,
loads of flowers, and pious sounding clichés. But the 800 pound elephant is
still in the room! And it is monstrous and threatening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The church does none of these things. Instead,
we look death and hell straight in the face and say: <i>Christ
is risen!</i> And you, O death, are defeated. <i>Christ
is risen! </i>And you, O Satan, are a toothless foe. <i>Christ
is risen!</i> And you, O grave, are just our resting place. For
as with Jesus, so for us. On the last day, your jaws will be forced to
open and release our bodies. He is raised, and so we will be raised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So rest well, we say to those who die in Christ.
Rest well, until our Lord comes again and finishes His victory, and <b><i>we
appear with Him in glory</i></b>. For <i>Christ is risen.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As St. Paul said (1 Cor 15:14-19), this is
the truth on which the Christian faith depends. If Christ did not rise, if His
body is still in some tomb somewhere, our faith is dead. Oh, we could still
piece together some interesting ideas about God and men, about man’s being and
his obligation, and create some kind of religious worldview - like all the
other religions of the world. But the Christian faith would be dead. Jesus
would be a failed religious leader; a Savior of no one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For only if Jesus is risen is there something
that has changed the world and the situation of mankind. Only then is He a
Savior on which we can rely. For though He was not the first to rise from the
dead, His resurrection was different. Others, we are told in the Scriptures,
were resuscitated from death - the widow of Zeraphath’s son (1 Kings
17:17-24), the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), the daughter of
Jairus (Mark 5:22-24, 35-43), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44), to name a
few. These people all returned to their normal lives and then died again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But Jesus was not merely resuscitated, but <i>resurrected</i>,
and now no longer subject to death. He did not just come back from death, but
defeated death. The Spirit that gave life to all things in the beginning now
gives life to His body - and thus begins a new reality, a new creation, a new
dimension of human existence, and a new future for us. Not the same old life
dressed up in a new way, but a new life that will never end. A new life
where the grave will provide a temporary resting place for our bodies, but no
more than that. Christ in His death and resurrection has transformed it
from a place of horror to a bed, from which He will call us from the sleep of
death to eternal life. For <i>Christ is risen!</i> And we too
will rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is what we confess in the baptismal Creed,
when we say: <i>I believe in the resurrection of the body.</i> Whose
body? Christ’s? Yours? Yes! For Christ’s resurrection <i>is</i> your
resurrection. For He took your humanity to redeem it, to raise
it. When He rose from the dead, it wasn’t for Himself - it was for you.
And in Holy Baptism you were joined with Him in His death and
resurrection. <i>Therefore, today is not just a remembrance of the past,
but a glimpse of the future. </i>Your future and mine. A future that
has, in fact, already begun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For Jesus didn’t just come to save your soul, as
so many want to say these days. As if whether Jesus actually rose
physically or not really doesn’t matter! That is a satanic lie; nothing could
be further from the truth. If Jesus’ body did not rise from the dead then
death won, and we lost. A mere spiritual resurrection means nothing, for you
are not a mere spirit. You are a person, made up of a body and a spirit. You
cannot be you if you’re not both. A body without a spirit is an animal. A
spirit without a body is an angel. You are neither. You are a man or a woman, a
special creation of God, the crown of His creation. And He came to save not
part of you, but all of you! That you live with Him forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And you will! For <i>Christ is risen!</i> Yes,
He is risen indeed. And so, too, will you rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But as I said, it is a resurrection already
begun in you, in your Baptism, in the forgiveness of your sin. You are already
being made new. How new? How so? Listen to what we heard from Paul
earlier: <b><i>Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">death,
where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is
sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, death has no victory or sting through the
death and resurrection of Jesus. Or as Jeremiah says: <b><i>“For I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s a remarkable statement! And it is a
promise for you. That you live a new life even now. A life restored
in the forgiveness of your sins. No matter how many, no matter how
great. You are restored as a pure and holy! You heard it again today, in
fact, as you hear it every Sunday: <i>I forgive you all your sins</i>.
That’s not me, but the voice of your Savior. The same voice that will call
your body from the grave on the last day. What He speaks now, He will
speak then. What He promises now, He will do then. For <i>Christ
is risen!</i> And so will you be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s one of the reasons why, in our Communion
liturgy, I say: <i>Lift up your hearts!</i> and you
respond: <i>We lift them to the Lord.</i> Whatever is dragging us
down in this world and life, whatever sins oppress us from without or weigh
heavily upon us from within, whatever doubts and fears are robbing us of this
life - not here! Not here at this altar, where Christ now comes in His
resurrected Body and Blood, with His forgiveness, life, and salvation. Here, we
set our minds on things above, that we may live here below. That we may
live in our callings. That we may live as new creations. For truly we
are! How could we not be? For when we eat the Body and drink the Blood of
Christ, we do <u>not</u> make this food into what we are - this food
makes us into what it is. We are transformed into the image of
Christ. Transformed even here and now to live a new life. Until <b><i>when
Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in
glory.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so an old pastor, as he lay dying,
said: <i>If Christ is risen, then nothing else matters; and if he is
not risen, then nothing else matters.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so as we proclaim today <i>Christ
is risen</i>, we are saying no small thing. We are proclaiming, in fact,
the event that changed everything. And from this small proclamation, first
spoken by an angel, then by the women, then by the apostles, then by the church
for some 2,000 years now - from this small, easily overlooked proclamation, has
come a new beginning. The new beginning for which the world was silently
waiting. A reality so powerful that not even the gates of hell can stand
against these words: <i>Christ is risen!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, that is <i>all</i> the church has
to say! The sum and substance of our proclamation. That is our good
news today and everyday, and that makes a difference today and everyday. Come
what may, Christ is risen! [<i>He is risen indeed! Alleluia!</i>]
Alleluia! Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-89930130577703565202019-07-15T08:24:00.002-05:002019-07-15T08:24:17.424-05:00“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Denial”<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lent 5 Midweek<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us:
Denial”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 22:54-62; 2 Timothy 2:8-13<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first rule about
trying to get out of a hole is to stop digging. But Peter doesn’t stop. Or
can’t. From pride to complacency to misunderstanding to keeping his distance, today,
perhaps we could say, he hits rock bottom. He denies his Lord not once, not
twice, but three times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It had been just a few
hours really, from the time this all started. Peter had heard things he never
thought he would hear. He had seen things he never thought he would see. He was
tired, he was worried, he was confused, he was afraid. And he had
never felt so alone . . . even though he was surrounded by people. All he could
feel was evil pressing in on him and choking him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So here he was, behind
enemy lines, so to speak. He was lost in the thousand thoughts that filled his
mind. He wondered where Jesus was, what was happening to him at this moment . .
. when all of a sudden, it seemed like everyone was looking at him, just like
all those eyes had looked in the Garden. The light from the fire whose warmth
he welcomed was betraying him, exposing him. And then a servant girl
said: <b><i>This man also was with him</i></b>. Peter felt a chill run
down his spine and all the blood run out of his face, and then he blurted
out: <b><i>Woman, I do not know him</i></b>. And while he immediately
regretted saying it, at the same time he felt relief that his answer seemed to
have satisfied his accusers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He put his head down as
it got a little colder. Not that much time had passed, but enough to begin
thinking that maybe the danger had passed . . . when it happened again: <b><i>You
also are one of them. Man, I am not.</i></b> He said it a little louder
this time; a little more defiantly. His hand felt the hard steel of his sword
still under his cloak, that still had the blood of the high priest’s
servant on it. It wasn’t much, but it was ready, if he needed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another hour went by . .
. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are they doing with Jesus? Why is
it taking so long? The first hints of sunrise were beginning to appear - what
would this day bring?</i> What it brought was the third accusation against
him: <b><i>Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean</i></b>.
Peter’s nerves, so raw, almost couldn’t take it anymore. <b><i>Man, I do
not know what you are talking</i></b>. . . and then he heard it - the rooster .
. . <b><i>about</i></b>. And at that moment, all his fears were engulfed in
a flood of shame and despair. He looked up and saw Jesus - still bound, still
surrounded by soldiers. And worse: Jesus saw him. And that voice, softer and
milder than any of his accusers, cut deeper than any of their words did . .
. <b><i>Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three
times.</i></b> And the tears began. And they wouldn’t stop for quite some
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And the hole he had dug
himself into suddenly felt like a grave.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sin that lives in
Peter is the same sin that lives in us. Sin that makes us timid and
fearful of making a bold confession. Sin that makes us do what we know we
should not and makes us not do what we know we should. Sin that makes
us not want to be labeled one of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“them.”</b>
Sin that makes us fear men more than God, that makes us fear death and life,
ridicule and judgment. The sin that seems to engulf us and makes
us say <i>no</i> to Jesus . . . our friend, our Lord,
our Savior. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For who among us cannot
say that we have never denied our Savior?</i> Either in our thoughts
or desires, our words or our deeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At that moment, Peter
felt that he had died. <i>Good!</i> For that is the first step for
resurrection. You must first die. Die to yourself, die to your goodness, die to
your faithfulness, die to what you are able to do, die . . . and be
raised by Christ. For the one who rose from the dead for you first died for
you, for all your sin, all your shame, all your failures, for all your pride
and complacency and misunderstanding and distance, and even your denials - that
on Him and not on you, He pay for them and you be forgiven. That
He die with you, so that you rise with Him to a new and better life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was probably a
rooster crowing that morning as well - that Sunday morning when the women came
and told Peter that Jesus’ tomb was empty. And by that evening, Peter’s empty
heart would be filled with life again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But from that day forward, I wonder . . . could
Peter ever again hear a rooster crow and not think about these things? Not
think about that awful night or that wonderful resurrection morning?</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> What a blessing, then, for Peter. Every
morning being called to repentance, and every morning rejoicing in the
forgiveness of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luther got that, I
think, for he spoke of baptism that way. That every morning when we awake,
make the sign of the cross and remember that you are
baptized. Repent, drown your sin, and then rise with Christ and His
forgiveness to new life again. Every morning repent of the sin, but don’t dwell
on it; don’t give <i><u>it</u></i> new life! Live in Christ as He now
lives in you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s what Paul was
talking about as he wrote to Timothy and said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The saying is
trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we
endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He cannot deny Himself</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. To deny those joined to Him by faith would be
to deny Himself. And that will never be. <i>If we die with Him, we
will live with Him</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those times when our
faith is rocked, when fears shake us, when we fall and fall hard, when the
Peter in us takes over - <i>if we are faithless, he remains faithful</i>.
He will not leave us or forsake us. His promises, once given, and never
reneged. There is forgiveness for you, in Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is only one
exception, Paul says: <i>those who deny Him.</i> Meaning not those
who fall in weakness, like Peter and you and me, but those who continually deny
Him and deny Him on the Last Day. Those who want no part of Christ will get
what they want . . . for eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But until then, <b><i>the
Word of God is not bound!</i></b> Yes, in a two-fold sense. First, the
Word of God is proclaimed in all the world, to sound the rooster crow
to call us to repentance and to faith in our risen Savior. <u>S</u>econd,
our Savior, the Word of God made flesh is no longer bound by the cords of
death and the grave, but alive and still forgiving sinners. Alive and
praying for you. Alive and preparing a place for you, to live with Him,
forever. Alive for Peter, for you, and for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the
Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-46047187050240333002019-07-15T08:23:00.003-05:002019-07-15T08:23:36.153-05:00“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Keeping Your Distance”<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lent
4 Midweek<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Keeping Your Distance”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
26:57-58; 1 Peter 3:13-22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He watched them as they
bound Jesus, as they cinched up those ropes tightly about His hands. Those
hands that had done nothing wrong. Those hands that had so often reached
out in compassion. Those hands that had touched lepers, restored sight to
the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, and embraced the unloved. Those hands now
tightly bound, as if they could do harm. As if they were a weapon. Those
hands that had done nothing but good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then they shoved
Him. <i>Get going!</i> they yelled into His ears, clearly
enjoying the power they now exercised over Him. As if they had any power. Did
they forget how He had just knocked them all down by just the power of His
Word? But soldiers aren’t paid to remember, but to act. And so they
did. Manhandling Jesus out of the Garden and to Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter just watched at
first. But then slowly one foot followed the other, and he followed the hostile
group . . . from a distance. Never letting them get out of his sight,
but never getting too close either. Lest they turn on him. Lest they
decide to let him get a taste of the steely sword he had just pulled on them.
Back across the Kidron Valley, up the slope to Jerusalem, in the gate
where Jesus had entered to shouts of Hosanna just a few days ago, through the
sleepy streets, and into the courtyard of the High Priest. But not too far
in. Near the wall, so he could blend in. Near the gate, in case he needed
to make a quick getaway . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps Peter tried to
console himself with the thought that he hadn’t left Jesus. He had said that
even if all the others fell away, he never would (Matt 26:33). He was
there; where were they? But even as he thought it, he knew it wasn’t true. He
was trying his best, but his best wasn’t enough. He was afraid; so afraid. He
was confused, he was distraught. He wanted to be with Jesus. He wanted to
speak, he wanted to act, he wanted to die with his friend, his Lord. But
something was holding him back. Something was keeping him away. Something was
making him <i>keep his distance</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You know how it is. So
do I. For how often do we, too, keep our distance from
our Savior? Afraid to speak. Failing to act. Strong when
it’s easy but weak when too much is being asked of us. Hiding our faith
lest we be mocked or attacked. Wanting to blend in with the world and not
stand out; to be popular and not considered odd. Maybe, like Peter, we console
ourselves with the way we come to Church every week and with what we give . . .
but still you know in your heart how weak that excuse sounds. For faith is
something to be lived not just in Church, when it’s easy, but in the world,
even when it’s hard. We see Christians in other parts of the world being
persecuted and killed for their faith, yet look at us! How we keep our
distance, not wanting to get too close; not wanting the danger. Like Peter, we
try our best, but our best isn’t good enough, is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
thanks be to God that in Jesus, God did not keep His distance from
us. That in love for us, He didn’t just draw near to us, but became one of us.
Jesus, God in human flesh and blood. You can’t get any closer than that. And in
our flesh and blood He went through all that you do. He knows the fears and temptations,
the worries and troubles. But where we are weak, He is strong. Where we fail,
He delivers. Where we shrink back, He never does. He fights for us against all
our enemies, even on the cross, and wins. Our sin is forgiven through His
sacrifice, our death and grave are overcome in His resurrection, and our hell
lies in ruins by His descent. For that man hauled off with His hands bound
together would not remain bound for long. In just three days He would be free.
To set us free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is the freedom now given
to us in Holy Baptism, where the Lord who drew near to us now draws us to
Himself. That’s what Peter wrote - yes, the same Peter. It is a changed man who
could later write so differently than how he once acted, writing: <b><i>But
even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no
fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as
holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a
reason for the hope that is in you</i></b>. For after Jesus rose and restored
Peter, Peter realized he was safe in the ark - the ark of Christ and His
Church. For he was baptized into Christ - the <b><i>Christ, who has gone
into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and
powers having been subjected to him</i></b>. So what did he have to fear?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh, Peter still had his
moments, as will we. Our sinful natures still get the better of us. But
how good to know that those sins and failures cannot separate us from the love
of Christ. That we, too, have forgiveness and restoration. That the
promises we have received in baptism will never be taken away. Maybe Peter
wrote that as much to teach and remind himself as to teach others. And we
cannot be reminded too often, either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter followed at a
distance because he expected the worst. But the worst, in the end, turned out
to be the best. And for us too. So when you shrink back and follow
from a distance, expecting the worst, the worst might happen - but the best is
not far behind. For the God who raises the dead to life is able to bring good
from evil even now. And He will. He promised. He promised <u>you</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so we sang our
prayer, based on that promise, earlier:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, lead Thou
on Till our rest is won;</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And although the way be
cheerless,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will follow calm and
fearless.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guide us by Thy
hand To our fatherland.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the way be
drear, If the foe be near,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let not faithless
fears o’ertake us;</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let not faith
and hope forsake us;</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For through many a
woe To our home we go.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, lead Thou
on Till our rest is won;</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heav’nly leader,
still direct us,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still support, console,
protect us,</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Till we safely
stand In our fatherland. (LSB #718 v. 1-2, 4)</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the
Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-51934699780137966782019-07-15T08:23:00.000-05:002019-07-15T08:23:00.780-05:00 “The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Misunderstanding”<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lent
3 Midweek<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of
Us: Misunderstanding”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
18:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In the Name of the
Father, and of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well Peter wasn’t going
to make the same mistake again! He wasn’t going to be caught sleeping this
time. He would keep his word and promises. He would stand by Jesus. He would
not shrink back. Yes, he would even die with His Lord - and <i>for</i> Him,
if necessary. He would prove himself. Now was his hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So when he sees <b><i>the
band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees</i></b>,
when he sees the <b><i>lanterns and torches and weapons</i></b>, when he
hears that they’ve come for Jesus and are going to arrest Him, bind Him, and
take Him away, Peter draws his sword. He’s going to go down fighting. And the
first casualty of his flying sword is the right ear of Malchus, the high
priest’s servant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh Peter! How can you be
so misunderstanding? It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus. This is His hour,
not yours. He would prove Himself and His love, not you. He would die for you,
not you for Him. You will still shrink back, but He will not. He will stand by
you, and He will keep His Word and promises - every single one of them. He is
going as it is written of Him. Don’t you see that, Peter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But he doesn’t. He
should. Look at what had just unfolded before his very eyes. When the crowd of
soldiers and officers come up to Him, Jesus cuts them down with just a few
words. <b><i>I am he</i></b>, he says, and <b><i>they all draw back
and fall to the ground</i></b>. Like dominoes knocked down by a giant divine
hand, all those big, brave soldiers tumble to the ground. And it could have
been worse. The one whose voice commands creation, rules over sicknesses and
diseases, and expels demons, could have struck them all down and taken their
life. But He does not. That is not what He has come for. He has come to lay
down His own life - for Peter, for them, for you. So after they all get up and
approach Him again, Jesus withholds His power. He allows Himself to be taken.
The Creator places Himself into His creatures’ hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t you see, Peter? Do
you still not understand? <b><i>Put your sword into its sheath; shall I
not drink the cup that the Father has given me?</i></b> But Peter hadn’t
heard that. That was the struggle and those were the words he had just slept
through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, what about you and
me? Do we understand? </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On
the one hand we do. We know the story. We know of the crucifixion and the
resurrection and how it all turns out in the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But what we don’t know
is the end of our own stories. How it will all turn out for us. Like Peter,
sometimes we are faced with frightening situations. We see the powers and
forces of this world, and their unholy alliance against Christ and His Church.
We know our own past failures and want to do better, prove
ourselves, not let our Lord down again. So we try to be strong and
pull our swords and fight for our Lord. That’s not necessarily wrong, this side
of the cross, as long as we use the right sword - the sword of God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But isn’t that the very
sword we so often leave in its sheath?</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Instead relying on the swords of our own strength, of human
wisdom, of political influence, of earthly and worldly power. Those all
have their place, but against the evil and darkness in our world, they are not
just weak, they are nothing. And we, like Peter, are easily overcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consider again the words
we heard from St. Paul today: <b><i>God chose what is foolish in the world
to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God
chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring
to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence
of God.</i></b> And the most foolish, weakest, lowest, and most despised thing
of all is the cross, and Jesus on it. That you must be saved by a
crucified criminal. That what looks like shame is really glory. That
what looks like death and defeat is really victory and life. That’s
stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But that Christ is <b><i>the
power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser
than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men</i></b>. <i><u>That</u></i> Christ
now places Himself into the hands of those He came to save and allows them to
crucify Him <i>to do just that</i>. They crucified a criminal against Rome
- that’s what could be seen. But Jesus died the death of all us criminals
against God - that’s what could not be seen. He took it in our place, to - as
He said in the garden - <b><i>let these men go.</i></b> And because
of Him, we have been. <i>Let go</i> from the guilt of our sin. <i>Let
go</i> from the grip of death and the grave. <i>Let go</i> from
the condemnation of the evil one. That the Word of God be fulfilled. That
we have a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, Jesus heals the ear
of the servant Peter in his zeal had cut off. That he might hear the Word of
God. For faith comes by hearing the Word of God and understanding by believing
what it says - not what we think ought to be. For as we sang: <i>How firm
a foundation, O saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent
Word</i> (LSB #728 v.1)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter would later
understand. He would <b><i>preach Christ crucified</i></b>. He would <b><i>boast </i></b>[only]<b><i> in
the Lord</i></b>. And he would lay down his life for Jesus; he would be martyred. But
not to keep <u>his</u> word, but because Jesus had kept His. Not
to prove himself faithful to Jesus, but because Jesus was faithful to
him. And not because his love was so great, but because Jesus’
is. And so while those who crucified Peter thought they won by so doing,
Peter would finally understand that he had already won. For Jesus had won the
battle for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For you. So that
whatever troubles, whatever powers, whatever fears now come to attack you, you
need not fear. You have already won, in Jesus. You are a child of God and under
His care even now. And on the Last Day, Jesus will say to the grave <b><i>let
this one go</i></b> - and it will. And you will live. For Jesus did
drink the cup. He loses none that He is given. And so we rest and we hope and
we boast in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the
Father, and of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-2304831097545536872019-07-15T08:22:00.000-05:002019-07-15T08:22:02.910-05:00“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Complacency”<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lent
2 Midweek<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Complacency”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
26:36-46; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the
Father, and of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fresh off Peter’s
confident statements that he would never fall away from Jesus, even if all the
others did; and, that he would never deny Jesus, even if it meant death, Peter
now finds himself . . . asleep. He is not overcome when the shepherd is struck.
He is not overcome with fear or threats. He is overcome <i>with sleep</i>.
He is worn down. He is drained. Physically, emotionally,
spiritually. His <b><i>spirit is willing but his flesh is weak</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s how it is, isn’t
it? With us, too. We get tired. We let our guard down. And before you
know it, we have drifted off into sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus and His eleven
disciples had eaten the Passover and had gone to the Mount of Olives. Now the
hour of evil, the hour of darkness, is almost here. Jesus knows it; the eleven
do not. He singles out His special three - Peter, James, and John. The three
who saw Him in the glory of His Transfiguration would now be with Him in the
agony of His prayer. They should have known something was up, as Jesus <b><i>began
to be sorrowful and troubled</i></b>. Something which, according to the
Gospel accounts, they had not seen before. And Jesus voices it to
them: <b><i>My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and
watch with me.</i></b> He then goes a little farther and falls on His face
in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How long did it take? 15
minutes? 30 minutes? before their eyes closed in sleep, so that when
Jesus came back in one hour, He <b><i>found them sleeping</i></b>. And
notice: <i>Jesus addresses Peter</i>. All three fell asleep, but Peter is
singled out. For Peter had confidently and pridefully singled himself
out: <b><i>Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall
away. </i></b>Peter is not as strong as he thinks. If the shepherd was
going to be struck and that shepherd is now sorrowful and troubled, why wasn’t
Peter on the alert and watching and ready? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so Jesus warns
them. <b><i>Watch and pray that <u>you</u> may not enter into
temptation.</i></b> The danger is not just to Jesus. There is danger for
them as well. But Peter is oblivious to the threats that might be out there. So
off to sleep again he goes. Sleep well, Peter, while
your Savior wrestles in prayer. Sleep well, Peter, while
your Savior agonizes for you. Sleep well, Peter, for
your Savior will not sleep again until He sleeps the sleep of death
and is laid in the tomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watch and pray
that <u>you</u> may not enter into temptation.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Those are words for us tonight as well,
for whether you are aware of it or not, the tempter wants you. And while he may
at times come at us with a full-frontal assault, more often than not, I think,
he wears us down, tires us out, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, until
we let our guard down. A day without prayer quickly becomes three. A week
without God’s Word becomes two or more. Coveting replaces contentment. Grudges
become firmer and forgiveness becomes harder. Disobedience grows into
disrespect and bears the fruit of bitterness. Fear increases, and faith
decreases. And how else? For you? You didn’t even see it coming.
It just happens . . . like sleep in a garden. <b><i>Watch and pray that <u>you</u> may
not enter into temptation.</i></b> The tempter wants you, and he is
patient and persistent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But here is the good
news for us tonight. As much as the tempter wants you, <b>Jesus wants you
even more</b>. And so the agony of Gethsemane is just the prelude to the
suffering of the cross. Jesus would drink the bitter cup of God’s wrath - every
last drop of it - so there’s none left for you. He saw what was in that cup,
the horror of sin and evil and the crushing weight that awaited Him. Your
sin, your death, your hell, on Him, in Him. That is why He asked if there
was any other way. But there wasn’t. <i>Thy will be done</i>, He prays. And
with that prayer, the Father’s will is His will. He drinks it. He goes to the cross,
so you never will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thy will be done</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>we</u> also pray, with Jesus. But
now it is quite different. For God’s will is that we now drink a different cup
- not a bitter cup, but a cup of blessing; not a cup filled with wrath but
filled with forgiveness; not a cup of horror, but the blood of our
loving Savior, poured out for you. That’s your Father’s will for you
now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With that cup comes life
- a new life. A life of forgiveness, not grudges. Of contentment, not
coveting. Of joyful obedience and good works. Of faith and
peace. And a life of prayer. Of knowing the danger that lurks around
us everyday, and so praying: <i>And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil</i>. Deliver us from the evil one. Make the fruits
of Your cross grow in us, that we not fall asleep, that we not be
unaware, that we not grow complacent, but live in Christ and His life, and He
in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe the current
direction of our culture will help wake us up. The wrestling’s of
Christians being persecuted in our own country, the agony of Christians being
beheaded in others, and the sorrow of the general movement away from the truth
of God’s Word. Paul told the Thessalonian Christians to be ready, good
words for us as well, and to <b><i>encourage one another and build one
another up</i></b>, which sounds very much like Jesus’ <b><i>watch with me</i></b>.
And it is. <i>For whatever you do to one of the least of these brothers of
mine, you have done it unto me</i> (Matt 25:40). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us watch and pray
with our brothers and sisters and so - even today - watch with Christ. But even
more important than watching <i>with</i> Christ is to watch <i><u>Christ</u></i>. To
watch His love. To watch His struggle in the garden. To watch Him on
the cross. To watch Him rise. To watch Him come to us and for us now
in His Word and Sacrament. And one day to watch Him come again in glory,
when all who sleep in death will rise, and live where no temptation or sin or
evil will ever come again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To watch <i>with</i> Christ
is what we should do. Lord, help us to do that! But to watch <i><u>Christ</u></i> is
to see what He has done for me. And seeing, believe. And believing, have
life. A new life that starts now and lasts forever. And that you have
that life is the Father’s will for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the Name of the Father, and of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-33880016465946848992019-07-15T08:21:00.002-05:002019-07-15T08:21:21.365-05:00“The Little (or BIG!) Peter in Each of Us: Pride”<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Lent 1 Midweek<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="grame"><span style="color: black;">“The Little (or BIG!)</span></span><span style="color: black;"> Peter in Each of Us: Pride”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Matthew 26:30-35; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">It was
Thursday night. Jesus had just eaten the Passover with His disciples in the
upper room. Even more than that, He had just transformed it - giving them
the <i>new</i> Passover meal of His Body and Blood. He had washed
their feet. He had spoken of betrayal. It was a night unlike any other, would
take a while to digest it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">After
singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. <span class="grame">A
familiar journey to a familiar place.</span> But on the way, more
surprise. Jesus speaks of what is going to happen, and with an ominous
warning: <b><i>You will all fall away because of me this night. <span class="grame">For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.’</span></i></b> But Peter, not realizing yet
the full significance and meaning of what Jesus said, confidently replies: No!
It shall not be! <b><i>Though they all fall away because of you, I will
never fall away.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You must
marvel at, maybe even admire, such confidence; such a “can do” attitude. The
problem is<span class="grame">,</span> it is not a confidence born of faith.
It is <i>over</i>confidence. <span class="grame">Spiritual pride.</span> For
what is Peter saying with his words? Not just that he will remain steadfast,
but that Jesus’ <i>“It is written”</i> is wrong. Or Jesus’
interpretation of it is wrong. To Peter, it seems very possible that the rest
of the disciples might fall away, but not him. You’re wrong, Jesus. Not me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">To which
Jesus replies, <i>Oh yes, you Peter</i>. In fact, maybe it could even be
said that his falling away would be <u>worse</u> than the others. For
not only would he fall away with them, but <b><i>truly, I tell you, this
very night, before the rooster crows, you will <u>deny</u> me three
times.</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;">No!
You’re wrong again, Jesus</span></i><span style="color: black;">, Peter
insists. <b><i>Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">So, Peter
is saying: God’s Word is wrong. Jesus is wrong. Peter alone is right.
Yes, <b><i>all the other disciples said the same thing</i></b>, went along
with him, suddenly found their courage, too. But it’s Peter who leads the way.
Peter, whose spiritual pride is leading him down a wrong and dangerous <span class="grame">path.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;">Could
the same be said for you and me?</span></i><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">First, a
distinction needs to be made. Pride is not necessarily wrong. You can be proud
of your children, you can be proud of your accomplishments and the hard work
you put in to achieve them. You can have that kind of pride and still thank the
Lord for His gifts and the abilities He has given you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">But such
pride in spiritual matters is different. Spiritual pride leads <i>away</i> from
our Lord and His gifts and exalts me and my strength. And that’s what makes it
dangerous and deadly. That’s why the Scriptures are filled with warnings
against such pride. Such pride, which in full growth, can lead us to say, like
Peter: <i>God’s Word is wrong. Jesus is wrong. I am right.</i> We see
that, actually, in no small way in our world today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">But is it
in us? <span class="grame">You and me?</span> It is, and here’s how you
know it: because even as you were hearing those words, <u>you</u> were
thinking, <i>that will never happen to me! I would never say that. I would
never do that. <span class="grame">Others?</span> <span class="grame">Maybe.</span> Sure.
But not me</i>. . . Yet isn’t that <u>exactly</u> what Peter said?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">As Paul
warned the Corinthians: <b><i>These things took place as examples for us .
. . they were written down for our instruction . . . let anyone who thinks that
he stands take heed lest he fall.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">But
there’s good news for us in the reading tonight - it isn’t all bad news. For
after the shepherd is struck - struck for all of our sins, including our
misplaced, overconfident, spiritual pride - <b><i>after I am raised up, I
will go before you to Galilee</i></b>, He says. After the shepherd is struck on
the cross and the sheep are scattered, and all looks hopeless and lost, the
Shepherd will rise from the dead and go and find His sheep again. He will
gather them to Himself in forgiveness and love. He will go before them and care
for them. Yes, they would leave Him, but He will never leave them. Not even
death will be able to stop Him. <i>Chief of [prideful] sinners though I
be, Jesus shed His blood for me</i> (LSB #611).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Peter
would soon know that. <i>God’s Word is <u>right</u>. Jesus is <u>right</u>. <u>I</u> am
. . . a poor, miserable sinner.</i> And he would weep bitterly. And in
this Lenten season, we confess - we say the same thing - as Peter. <i>When
I survey the wondrous cross, <span class="grame">on</span> which the
Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all
my pride</i> (LSB #425 v. 1). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="grame"><span style="color: black;">Because the <i><u>only</u></i> thing worth <i><u>any</u></i>thing
is not who I am or what I am able to do, but what Jesus has done for me.</span></span><span style="color: black;"> <span class="grame">His atonement for my sin.</span> <span class="grame">His defeating of my death.</span> <span class="grame">His
victory over my hell. His Baptism giving me new life.</span> <span class="grame">His Body and Blood feeding me.</span> <span class="grame">His
life giving me life.</span> So that we can say with Paul: <i>far be
it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ </i>(Gal
6:14). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">That kind
of boasting, that kind of <span class="grame">pride,</span> may be
dangerous. Quite the contrary! It is, in fact, life-giving, life-preserving.
For it is confidence in the one who not only rose from the dead to life again
but has promised the same for us. It is to confess the one who has gone before
us not just to Galilee, but to heaven, to prepare a place for us. It is to know
that <i>whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s</i> (Romans 14:8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">For
thus <span class="spelle">saith</span> God’s Word. Thus, has
Jesus <span class="grame">promised.</span> And <i>God’s Word is
right. Jesus is right. And I . . . I am <u>His</u></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="grame"><span style="color: black;">In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.</span></span><span style="color: black;"> Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-42479214168457220032019-07-15T08:20:00.002-05:002019-07-15T08:20:15.454-05:00Ash Wednesday 2019 “Marked with Death; Marked for Life”<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ash
Wednesday</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Marked
with Death; Marked for Life”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Text:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Genesis 3:19; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2
Corinthians 5:21; Joel 2:12-19</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the Name of the Father, and of the </span><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t know what it
meant, at first. I saw a big, beautiful tree marked with an ugly X. The tree,
outwardly, looked healthy and strong. But inwardly it was not. To my untrained
eyes, everything looked fine. But to the trained eye of the tree expert who had
marked it, this tree was diseased and rotten. In fact, I was told, it was
probably completely hollow on the inside, and near death. And if not cut down,
it would soon fall down.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, that’s <u>our</u> story.
We’ve been marked. Because while we may look good and healthy, even young
and beautiful, on the outside, inwardly the truth is quite different. We
are rotten with sin. We are dying. The words we heard today said that,
too. <i>Dust you are, and to dust you will return</i>. But we could say it
better. That makes it sound as if the returning is sometime off in the future.
But the reality is that the returning is happening even now. Just like with
that tree. The disease is doing its awful work <u>now</u>. <i>Dust
you are, and to dust you <u>are returning</u></i>. That’s more accurate.
Each day that goes by, we dry up a little more. We are a little more dust. We
are a little weaker, a little more rotten.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that would be true
even if we were not marked. Not everyone received ashes tonight, and we’ll all
wash them off either tonight or tomorrow. But the rottenness of sin is the same
and remains. And that is true no matter how good we try to make ourselves look
on the outside; no matter how much we want others to think we’re not so
diseased and rotten. Maybe if they can see how serious I am in spiritual
matters. If they can see how much I give. If they can see my fervent
prayers. Yet maybe it’s not only others we want to see and convince . . .
maybe I am also trying to convince myself. And maybe, just maybe, God,
too.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But such people Jesus
calls hypocrites. It’s not wrong to do those things, just to do them to
impress. That’s what makes one a hypocrite - a pretender, a deceiver. And while
we may get the reward of others thinking well of us, that’s like me admiring
the beauty of the diseased tree without knowing the reality that lies within.
But the reality is still there. In us. And the expert, our Creator,
knows it.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So instead of trying to
practice our own righteousness before others - which really isn’t righteousness
at all - better to receive a <i>real</i> righteousness, a real
rightness, a real healing. Which is what we receive, St. Paul said,
through Jesus. The one who <b><i>knew no sin</i></b>, but <b><i>for
our sake</i></b> was <b><i>made to be sin</i></b>, </span><b><i><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God</span></i></b><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You will receive that
righteousness as you come forward here, tonight, again, and this time, instead
of being marked as one diseased, you will receive the Body and Blood of the one
who was cut down for your sin, and then raised from the dead. Raised for
your righteousness. And you will receive Him because He marked you as His own
when He baptized you and marked you with the sign of His cross. And it is <u>that</u> water
that truly washes off the mark of our disease and heals us - not only in
appearance, but from the inside out. <u>That</u> water gives the life
of forgiveness to those who are returning to dust. A life then fed with His
Body and Blood. <i>Water, blood, and Spirit testifying to the One who has
come with life, with life for all</i> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(LSB #597)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So we come here tonight to
repent; to enter into this season of repentance; to acknowledge our sinful
rottenness and our rotten sinfulness. And we’re marked. But more than that, we
leave with much more than a mark - but with righteousness. A righteousness
which isn’t ours, but is given to us. Because Jesus is given to
us. The one who takes our sin and gives us Himself. The one who, as
the prophet Joel said, </span><b><i><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. The one who, as we sang, comes to us with a <i>love unknown. With
love for the loveless, that we might lovely be</i> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(LSB #430)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So you’ve been marked:
marked <u>with</u> death, but marked <u>for</u> life. And
while in this world death has the last word, it will not always be so. For
while this season of Lent will end with death on Good Friday, that death will
itself be ended with life, with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And
that’s how your death will end as well. With life. Jesus’
life. Given to you.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So tonight is a solemn
night, but not a somber one. We repent, yes, but are happy to do so. Because
here is the forgiveness we need, here is the life we need, here is
the righteousness we need. For here is the Jesus we need. And you the sinners He
wants.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the Name of the Father, and of the </span><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Wingdings 2"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "Wingdings 2";"> </span></span><span lang="DE" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-59725126148790694652013-12-16T15:40:00.002-06:002013-12-16T15:40:39.270-06:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Joyce A. Birk</h2>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Joyce A. Birk" border="0" data-mce-src="http://www.davis-andersonfuneralhome.com/obit_images/1387221720.jpg" height="200" src="http://www.davis-andersonfuneralhome.com/obit_images/1387221720.jpg" width="141" /></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>June 14, 1935 - December 16, 2013 </em></div>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Joyce A. Birk 78, of Girard passed away Monday morning, December 16, 2013, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.</h3>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Joyce was born June 14, 1935, in Waverly, IL, a daughter of John and Faye (Crouse) Muckelston. Joyce married Charles W. Birk in February of 1954 in Waverly, Il and he passed away November of 1979.</h3>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 2 brothers, and 3 sisters. Joyce graduated from Waverly High School, class of 1935. Joyce was a homemaker as well as a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard, IL.</h3>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Surviving are her daughter, Joy (Coy) Robinson of Carlinville, IL; sons, Ron Birk of Carlinville, IL and Bill (Lori) Birk of Girard, IL, sister, Betty Megginson of Waverly, IL, and sister, Bernice Stewart of Waverly, IL and several nieces and nephews.</h3>
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Funeral Information</h3>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Visitation will be held Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville, IL<br /> with funeral services to follow at 11:00AM. Rev. Keith GeRue, Officiating.</h3>
<h3 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery Carlinville, IL</h3>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-61287164369172899562012-10-30T20:32:00.002-05:002012-10-30T20:32:40.756-05:00Reformation Sermon 2012
<br />
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Reformation<br />
“The Real Reformation”</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">October 27-28, 2012</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of the Father and of the </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">X</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today, we celebrate the Festival of the Reformation,
which, when you think about it, is a festival that celebrates <i>one man</i>. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who was able to accomplish great things. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who didn’t care so much if he was politically
correct or not. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who taught unlike the teachers who came before
him. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who was single-minded and focused on his
mission. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who was arrested for his teaching. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who was hated by many, and had even friends turn
on him.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man whose life still impacts you and me today.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And that man is <i>Jesus Christ</i>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, I’m sorry! Did you think I was talking about
Luther?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Don’t get me wrong! I thank God for Luther, and what
God was able to accomplish through him. And he was certainly a central figure
in the Reformation. But it’s not about him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What Luther did (as one preacher put it) was <b>“sweep
the cobwebs off the crucifix,” </b>and once again proclaim Christ and Him
crucified. He restored the Gospel to its rightful place in the Church’s
proclamation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because sometimes, as hard as it is to believe (!),
the Church gets off track. And we need to get called back to why we’re here,
and what we’re to be about. Christ and Him crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so the Reformation is about an historical event,
yes – but <i>not</i> the one that happened over 500 years ago, but the one that
happened some 2,000 years ago. Not at Wittenberg, but on Calvary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The nails pounded through the 95 Theses and into the
wooden doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg were important. But the nails
pounded through the flesh and bone of Jesus and into the wood of the cross,
even more so. For it is through the cross where true reformation takes place. The
reformation of the heart, as the Spirit sent by Jesus turns us sinners into
saints, and re-forms us into the image of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And just as the people in Jeremiah’s day, and the
people in Jesus’ day, and the people in Luther’s day, <u>we</u> need <b>re</b>-forming.
Because sin is constantly <b>de</b>-forming us. Because we are constantly being
<b>con</b>-formed to the ways of the world, and <b>in</b>-formed by what is not
truth. And so we always need <b>re</b>-forming. By the Word of God. As
individuals, and as a church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Modernism, individualism, secularism, pietism,
rationalism, popularism, institutionalism, and all kinds of other “–isms”
seduce us away from Christ crucified, and to put our trust and our hearts in
something else. Perhaps even Lutheran-ism, <u>if</u> we become like the Jews in
Jesus’ day, and think: “<i>We are offspring of Luther and have never been
enslaved to anyone . . .”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now again, don’t get me wrong! I thank God for Luther,
and I am proud to belong to the confession of faith that is called Lutheran.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But it’s time that we asked a very Lutheran question
about being Lutheran: <i>What does this mean?</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Does being Lutheran mean following Luther?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Does being Lutheran mean <i>not</i> being Roman
Catholic? Sadly, that is what many think.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But rather, I think, to be Lutheran simply means this:
<i>to be sinners re-formed by Christ crucified. </i>Not re-formed by me, or
what I am able to do in my life. Not re-formed by my own reason or strength.
(Explanation of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Article of the Apostles Creed) And not
re-formed by what I feel in my heart. But re-formed by Christ crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so to be Lutheran means that the cross is not just
an historical moment in time, but a <i>present</i> reality. Re-forming us,
re-forming His Church, even today. It means that Holy Baptism is not what we
do, but is a washing away of sin because through the water and the Word, we are
joined to <b>Christ crucified</b>. (Romans 6) It means that the preaching of
the Gospel is not just information, or instruction, or how to live a better
life, but is the power of God (Romans 1:16) because it writes <b>Christ
crucified</b> on our hearts. (OT reading from Jeremiah 31) It means that Holy
Communion is not just a meal, but is the body and blood of <b>Christ crucified</b>,
given to us to eat and to drink, to give us His forgiveness, life, and
salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And if we are joined with Christ in His crucifixion,
then we are also raised with Christ Re-formed into His image. To live a new
life. That we be no longer <b>de</b>-formed by sin, <b>con</b>-formed to the
world, or <b>in</b>-formed by what is not truth – but <b>re</b>-formed into
Christ. Christ crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so to be Lutheran also means taking <b>Christ
crucified</b> into the world. Wherever God has placed you, whatever you have
been given to do, surrounded by whomever. To live, as Jesus said, as one set
free by the Son. (John 8) Perfectly free. Which means that we are at one and
the same time <i>perfectly free in faith and so subject to none, and perfectly
free in love and so subject to all</i>. (Luther, <i>On the Freedom of a
Christian</i>) Using our freedom not as license, but in love. Serving, giving,
forgiving. Laying down our lives, just as Christ has done for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many do not want such a life, or such a God. Preferring
a God who is instead strong and mighty, not weak and crucified. And preferring
a life for us the same. The fiction Satan would have us believe is that those
are opposites. That you cannot be both strong and weak, both mighty and
crucified. And so you must choose. But the truth that Christ crucified shows us
is that these are not opposites! And that God was never as strong as He was on
the cross. That His power is made perfect is weakness. That the Almighty God
became the Son of Man, because I am a son of man. He took flesh because I am
flesh. Born under the Law because I am under the Law. (Galatians 4) And bore my
sin on the cross. Dying, that I might live. Captive, to set me free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">To be Lutheran means that I cannot live without this
Christ. Christ crucified. I cannot truly live here and now, and I cannot live
eternally. Life apart from Christ here and now is but an imitation life. Earth
can never be Paradise. But Christ crucified, Christ arisen, and Christ ascended
means that I too have arisen and ascended. Not in the future, but already now. That
I am forgiven, now. Reconciled to God, now. At peace, now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And no terrorists, governments, rulers, disappointments,
unfulfilled dreams, economic ruin, grief, or sickness can take that away! Or as
Luther put it: “<i>And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, though
these all be gone, Our victory has been won; The Kingdom ours remaineth.”</i>
(LW #298 v.4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Have we gotten off message? Too concerned with sound
bites, popularity, and growth? As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever
shall be, I guess. We always need re-forming. We always need Christ crucified. Not
once, but always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so in the end, we are Lutherans for the same
reason we are Christians: by grace through faith in Christ crucified. The
Reformation is all about one man. Thanks be to God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of the Father and of the </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">X</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-27884320136735795752012-10-16T14:03:00.002-05:002012-10-16T14:03:41.404-05:00Sermon for Trinity 20 October 20-21, 2012<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Trinity 20 Matthew 22:1-14 October 20-21, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of the
Father and of the </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">X</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The servants are sent
out into the streets to invite as many as they find, the good and the bad. No
respect is paid to rank, class, or privilege. Everyone, apart from works or
genealogy, gets the same invitation. In a world with no free lunches the offer
of an endless banquet in paradise seems too good to be true. But it is true.
All things have been paid for, all things necessary have been sacrificed. The lamb,
the wine, the best parts are on the table. It is prepared for you: no cost, no
price. It is pure gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But many reject the
invitation. Some are actually hardcore rebels. They know the invitation is from
the King, but they don’t care. They hate the King. They want to rule
themselves. They embrace Hell with affection. But most simply don’t believe the
invitation is valid, that it actually is from the King, or even that there is a
King. They have lived in delusion for so long that it has become comfortable.
They are afraid of change, afraid to risk anything, afraid to come out of the
darkness and be exposed. They don’t want to be noticed. They want to hide, keep
their blemishes secret and pretend they are better than they are. Despite their
blabbering they don’t have enough intellectual honesty to face the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That is because the Word
of God is a threat - to us all. For the Word of God wields the Law of God. It
changes things. It kills and it makes alive. It threatens to break their hearts
and change their minds. What they have always thought is wrong. What is
comfortable, what makes sense, what they know from experience and reason, is
wrong. What they think about God, what they think about man, what they expect
from life - is all wrong. And that is pretty scary. God beckons them to a
position of weakness and vulnerability, of faith in things that they cannot
see. But what they can see, a man hanging on a cross, his followers persecuted
and martyred, poverty and hunger, they do not like. So they scurry back to the
darkness, back to the cold embrace of the devil in ignorance. They think they
made the wise choice and in a sense they did. But the wisdom of men is folly
and the foolishness of the cross is the only true Wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks be to God, that a
few are so desperate, so lonely, so tired, so hurt that they come despite the
foolishness. They are the meek. But they inherit a kingdom. They are brought
into the wedding hall, clothed with righteousness, and embraced as long-lost children.
They are home at last. The loneliness and heartbreak, the weariness and fear,
the frustration and pain of their time in the kingdoms of men is removed. They
have been found and restored, forgiven and cleansed, filled with joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">My friends, repent.
Repent before it is too late. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Hear His
Word and your soul shall live. Be meek. Let His Word have its way with you.
Stop trying to match the Word with your ideas and doctrines, apologizing for
the stern, jealous God of Abraham and rest in the sure mercies of David. Let
God speak for Himself. For His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our
ways. But His Word is Truth. It does not lie. It is not evil. It is good. It
will accomplish that for which it was sent. Let it break your heart and change
your mind. Let it expose you, make you weak and vulnerable. Be desperate for
this joy. Be lonely outside of this fellowship. Be tired enough, weary enough,
hurt enough to give up. For then you will be strong. In defeat you will find
victory, in hunger satisfaction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That is the way of the
cross, the way Our God endured to make us His. It is a way, not an end. We have
not yet arrived. We still have things to learn and things to suffer. The Word
is still working on us, still breaking and changing us. We learn humility and
faith in the exposure of our errors, our sin, and in His immeasurable Grace.
The Word made Flesh covers us. Even as it breaks, it binds. It restores and
refreshes us. The Father Himself loves you. He loves you individually,
specifically, personally. He has sent His only Begotten Son to suffer, die, and
rise again in your place. His Spirit has been planted in you through water and
Word. You are His Temple. He feeds you with His Body and Blood, which you did
not earn and could not buy. You are the Tabernacle, the place where He abides.
He speaks to you in the Holy Absolution and you are forgiven, holy, righteous.
Even now, He is guiding you home to the place where you belong through His
Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You are a citizen of His
Kingdom by virtue of the invitation. It doesn’t matter if you were good or bad.
You are His. He has bought you. That is what matters. What you are supplants
what you were. But you are still in a foreign land, traveling, eager to return
home for your Prince’s wedding banquet. There is temptation along the way. The
many beckon to you from their dark doorways like the sirens of Ulysses to
destruction. Some have been seduced into depravation. They have shed the
garment of righteousness and gone back into the darkness. Be warned. Be
vigilant in prayer. Forsake the ways of men. Hold fast to the ways of God. For
God has placed way stations like this along the way for you, places of His
presence, of His Word and Sacrament, of His regenerating love; places for you
to be re-broken and rebound, to be recast and recovered, to be reconnected with
the saints who have gone before you, and forgiven again. God is here for you.
You are in the right place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">And still, there is one
more surprise of Grace. For when at last you arrive at the wedding hall you
will find that you are not merely a guest, an honored niece or nephew, even a
brother of the Bridegroom. You are the very Bride, the one for whom He did it
all, the one He loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of the
Father and of the </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;">X</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-50685341418681464222012-10-16T14:02:00.003-05:002012-10-16T14:02:45.899-05:00Daily readings for October 21-27, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
32946
Route 4</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Girard, IL 62640<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pastor Keith GeRue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Office:
(217) 965 – 4816<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cell:
(217) 725 – 8137<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Tender
Evangelical Loving Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.tlcgirard.org/"><b>http://www.tlcgirard.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">The
Twentieth Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
After Trinity October 13–14, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday, October 20, 2012 Worship
Service 5:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 21, 2012 Sunday School
& Bible Class 9:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 21, 2012 Worship
Service 10:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Greeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "LSBSymbol","serif";">P:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Christ
is with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "LSBSymbol","serif";">C:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> He is and ever
will be!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—COME TO
THE FEAST<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Holy Spirit sounds forth the Gospel call: “See,
I have prepared my dinner …Come to the wedding” (Matt 22:1–14). But many reject
this invitation in favor of worldly pursuits. And so the call goes out to
others, both the good and the bad. For the wedding invitation is not based on
the qualifications of those invited but on the basis of the merits and work of
Christ. The feast is free: “You who have no money, come, buy and eat … Let your
soul delight itself in abundance” (Is 55:1–9). Those rejecting the Spirit’s
work shall experience God’s wrath and judgment. Those who are not clothed in
Christ’s righteousness shall be cast into outer darkness where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us therefore seek the Lord while He may be
found, for He will have mercy upon us. Let us redeem the time, being filled
with the Spirit, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:15– 21). — Lutheran Service Book Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS-Bold","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-Bold;">WE GATHER TO HEAR GOD'S WORD</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS-Italic","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-Italic;">—“If anyone loves Me, he will keep
My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home
with him.” </span></i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS;">(John 14:23). Each week the faithful
gather to receive the Word of their Lord. Ongoing catechesis— passing on the
Lord's Word by which faith lives—is the way of life for all the baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">LWML</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">October
is LWML Month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">During
October our LWML will have a door collection for mites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Coffee Break Bible Study<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Coffee
Break Bible Study meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 for a lively discussion. Today,
we are studying, “Lutheranism 101.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Guest Register in the Narthex.</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> All guests are asked to please
sign this register either before or after the service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Copies of Sermons</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
are on the back table for your reference and study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Copies of Sermons</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
are on the back table for your reference and study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Please <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Pray For:</span></span></u><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Rev. Richard Bremer, Sean Greer, Marge Greene, Elena
Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Dorothy Robison, George Van Huss,
Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary Kay Schmidt,
Dorothy Schroll, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bill
Uchtman,<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Colin Starks, George Shephe</span>rd,
and Katie Ketchum</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy Birthday This
Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span>Kaleb
Sisson, Karen DeFevers<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b>William & Tracy Beichler<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Guests and the Lord’s Supper</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
you desire to commune, please speak to Pastor GeRue before the service. Our
altar is open to those who confess oneness with us in doctrine, are members of
our congregation or sister congregations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
and are not under church discipline in another congregation. In Christ, Pastor
GeRue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u>LUTHERAN HOUR</u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0in;">"You've Got To Be Kidding"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speaker Emeritus of
The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Christians respond
to God's grace by putting Jesus first in their lives. But do they? (Mark
10:23-31)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am
& 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b>Lutherans
for Life – </b><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">www.lutheransforlife.org</span></b></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Life
Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“I can’t afford a baby right now” can be
a very real and heartfelt cry for someone in a crisis pregnancy. But, used as
an excuse for abortion, it becomes idolatry. The Bible never condemns wealth,
but loving and trusting it more than God is “a grievous evil I have seen under
the sun” (Ecclesiastes 5:13a). He who afflicted His Son on our behalf, will not
abandon us in our afflictions.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Quote:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“God created human life. He, therefore, gets to set
the rules. And no matter how many times man redefines human life, God’s truth
doesn’t change. The Bible should be the foundation for our thinking in every
area.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, Answers
in Genesis</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For
Life</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Readings for the Week of 18th
Sunday after Trinity</span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 21 Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21,
Psalms 89:38-52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 22 Jeremiah 39:1-41:18, 2 Timothy 1:1-18, Psalms
90:1-91:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 23 Jeremiah 42:1-44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21,
Psalms 92:1-93:5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 24 Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17,
Psalms 94:1-23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 25 Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalms
95:1-96:13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 26 Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus
1:1-16, Psalms 97:1-98:9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 27 Looking
Forward to Sunday:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Isaiah 55:1–9,
Ephesians 5:15–21, Matthew 22:1–14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 20 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 21 9:00 am Bible
Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday,
October 15 7:00 pm Elder’s
Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday,
October 24 5:30 pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 7:30
pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday,
October 26 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 6:00
pm LuHigh Dinner
Theater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 27 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 6:00
pm LuHigh Dinner
Theater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 6.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hayride, Bonfire and hot dog
roast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Sunday, October 28<sup>th</sup>, we will have a Bonfire, Hot Dog Roast, Hay
Ride, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> David and Debbi
Ray Farm, 12958 Leadline Road, Auburn, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> October 28,
4:00pm – whenever <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: yourself, your
family and friends and a dish to pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">NEXT WEEKS
LESSONS:<a href="" name="_Toc286232835"><o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;">REFORMATION</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Revelation 14:6–7, Romans
3:19–28,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">John 8:31–36, Matthew
11:12–19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Wisdom is justified by her
deeds”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Matthew
11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies
us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has
suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent
men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and <i>“remain in the house forever”</i> (John
8:35). For He is <i>“a friend of tax collectors and sinners”</i> (Matthew 11:19), and He
has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the
proclamation of His eternal Gospel <i>“to
those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people”</i>
(Revelation 14:6), <i>“the righteousness of
God has been manifested apart from the law”</i> (Romans 3:21), <i>“that He might be just and the justifier of
the one who has faith in Jesus”</i> (Romans 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of
Christ Jesus, <i>“whom God put forward as a
propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith”</i> (Romans 3:25), <i>“you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free”</i> (John 8:31–32).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shipp Endowment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There will be a
meeting with investors on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 pm to discuss investing
the Shipp Funds. Please come and join us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-24636728908486856422012-10-16T14:01:00.000-05:002012-10-16T14:01:06.841-05:00Sermon October 13-14, 2012<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark 9:38-50<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">October 13-14, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trinity 19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where
their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
ought to send chills down your spine. This is the prophet Isaiah’s description
of Hell quoted by Jesus. Hell is not make-believe. Nor is it reserved solely
for blatantly evil people, like Bin Laden and Hitler. It is the place for
sinners, the just reward for their works. The place where the worm does not die
and the fire is not quenched. It is the place, O Sinner, for you! For your
hand, and your foot, and your eye, all cause you to sin, and worse - your mind,
your personality, your heart! If you have never before imagined the possibility
that you are not one of the elect, imagine it now - before it is too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Repent.
Stop lying. Cease your vain posturing and pretending, your foolish boasting.
God is not fooled. Do you really think He is so impressed with your knowledge,
with your mature faith, with your anti-Pietism, that He’ll wink at your sins?
This is no joke. <i>Why do you care so for the opinions of men? Why do you
strive to impress them? </i>Perhaps you should consider the merits of being
without hands, without feet, without eyes for a while, instead of so quickly
finding a loophole around Jesus’ words. Sin is your biggest problem. It causes
your frustration, your depression, and your anger. Stop naively daydreaming
about receiving the praises of the masses and being honorably, though filthy,
rich. What you deserve is the place where the worm does not die and the fire is
not quenched. Admit it. Confess it. Repent. Woe to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
here, O Sinner, and only here, find rest: in the Cup of refreshment received in
Jesus’ Name, for Jesus’ sake, at Jesus’ Word, and, indeed, from Jesus’ Hand.
Cut off the hands, the feet, the eyes that cause you to sin -from the inside
out. Circumcise your heart. Be emptied of yourself and your selfish ambitions.
Know only Jesus. Be only Christian, nothing else. Be filled with His Blood
which makes all things new. You are His because He says so. He said so in the
waters of Holy Baptism. There He gave you a Name, His Name. By nothing less
than Divine Intervention, you are His little one, His own precious child,
helpless and weak, but adored by Him who has bought you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the meaning of the word, <b>“Holy.” </b>It does not simply mean <b>“without
sin.”</b> It means <b>“belongs to God.”</b> Thus we speak of Holy Baptism, Holy
Communion, the Holy Church, Holy Matrimony, the Holy Office, and so forth,
because those things have been instituted and belong to God. They are His. And
in those things you too are Holy. In those things you are His. Woe to him who
causes you to sin. You are God’s own and no one dare tempt you. By Grace, for
Jesus’ sake, you enjoy the constant attention and devotion of Him who died for
you, who prays for you, who defends you. And you also receive the providence,
protection, and care of His Father, the empowering love of the Holy Spirit, and
the service of an army of angels. You are His. He has forgotten your sins. You
cannot lose. Come, and drink from the Cup offered in Christ’s Name for you
belong to Him. The worm is dead, the fire quenched, in Jesus’ side. You are
His.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-90928066347589813382012-10-16T13:59:00.002-05:002012-10-16T13:59:49.184-05:00Trinity 19 Daily readingd for October 14-20, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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32946
Route 4</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Girard, IL 62640<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pastor Keith GeRue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Office:
(217) 965 – 4816<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cell:
(217) 725 – 8137<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Tender
Evangelical Loving Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.tlcgirard.org/"><b>http://www.tlcgirard.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">The
Nineteenth Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
After Trinity October 13–14, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday, October 13, 2012 Worship
Service 5:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 14, 2012 Sunday School
& Bible Class 9:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 14, 2012 Worship
Service 10:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Greeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "LSBSymbol","serif";">P:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Christ
is with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "LSBSymbol","serif";">C:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> He is and ever
will be!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">SUNDAY’S
DIVINE SERVICE– </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus’ Incarnation Secures for Us Life, Forgiveness,
and Healing </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Lord does not require us to ascend to Him; in mercy He descends to us (Gen.
28:10–17). The ladder in Jacob’s dream was not for climbing; it was the means
by which the Lord came to bless Jacob. This event finds its fulfillment in
Christ who descended from His throne to save and bless us. By His incarnation
He is the eternal bridge between heaven and earth. <i>“The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”</i> (Matt.
9:1–8). The Lord was present in the flesh to absolve the paralytic. Jesus also
healed and restored this man’s body. <i>“For
where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation”</i>
(Small Catechism). The Lord still has power on earth to forgive sins. In holy
absolution He raises up the new man (Eph. 4:22–28) and bestows the healing
medicine which will bring about our resurrection on the Last Day. Thus we say
with Jacob, <i>“This is none other than the
house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”</i> (Gen. 28:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS-Bold","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-Bold;">WE GATHER TO HEAR GOD'S WORD</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS-Italic","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-Italic;">—“If anyone loves Me, he will keep
My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home
with him.” </span></i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS;">(John 14:23). Each week the faithful
gather to receive the Word of their Lord. Ongoing catechesis— passing on the
Lord's Word by which faith lives—is the way of life for all the baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">LWML</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">October
is LWML Month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">During
October our LWML will have a door collection for mites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Coffee Break Bible Study<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Coffee
Break Bible Study meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 for a lively discussion. Today,
we are studying, “Lutheranism 101.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Guest Register in the Narthex.</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> All guests are asked to please
sign this register either before or after the service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Copies of Sermons</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
are on the back table for your reference and study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Copies of Sermons</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
are on the back table for your reference and study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Please <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Pray For:</span></span></u><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Rev. Richard Bremer, Sean Greer, Carmen Horrighs, Marge
Greene, Joe Worth, Elena Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Dorothy
Robison, George Van Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van
Winkle, Mary Kay Schmidt, Dorothy Schroll, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bill
Uchtman,<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Colin Starks, George Shephe</span>rd,
and Katie Ketchum</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Birthday This Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
Erin Miller <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b>None<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u>LUTHERAN HOUR</u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> "</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0in;">Nothing" </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran
Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Many things used to come with a guarantee. God's
promises still do. (Romans 8:37-39)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am
& 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lutherans for Life – </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">www.lutheransforlife.org</span></b></a></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Life
Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Speaking truth at the city gate must have
been difficult in Amos’s day. He writes, “They hate him who reproves in the
gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth” (5:10). People today—even God’s
people—do not always like to hear the truth. But thank God for those who speak
it anyway! For the ultimate goal is not condemnation but, “that the Lord, the
God of hosts, will be gracious” (15b).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Quote:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“My trust for real change is in the LORD. He changes
hearts, and we need a lot more changed hearts before we will ever get changed
laws. We need a lot more changed hearts so we can get a lot more pro-life
champions. We need a lot more changed hearts so we can get our priorities in
their proper place.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>– A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For
Life<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Readings for the Week of 18th
Sunday after Trinity</span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 14 Jeremiah 29:24-31:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17,
Psalms 119:33-40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 15 Jeremiah 31:15-32:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18,
Proverbs 25:1-10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 16 Jeremiah 32:26-34:22, 1 Timothy 1:1-20, Psalms
119:41-48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 17 Jeremiah 35:1-37:21, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Psalms
119:49-56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 18 Jeremiah 38:1-40:6, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalms
119:57-64<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 19 Jeremiah 40:7-42:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Proverbs
25:11-20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 20 Looking
Forward to Sunday:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Isaiah 55:1–9,
Ephesians 5:15–21, Matthew 22:1–14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 13 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 14 9:00 am Bible
Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday,
October 15 7:00 pm Elder’s
Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tuesday,
October 16 7:30 am North Mac Ministerial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 5:00
pm Unity Board of Directors Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday,
October 17 5:30 pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 7:30
pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thursday,
October 18 12:00 noon Virden Chamber Senior Dinner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday,
October 19 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 12 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shipp Endowment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There will be a
meeting with investors on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 pm to discuss investing
the Shipp Funds. Please come and join us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hayride, Bonfire and hot dog roast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Sunday, October 28<sup>th</sup>, we will have a Bonfire, Hot Dog Roast, Hay
Ride, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> David and Debbi
Ray Farm, 12958 Leadline Road, Auburn, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> October 28,
4:00pm – whenever <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: yourself, your
family and friends and a dish to pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">the twentieth sunday after trinity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Isaiah 55:1–9,
Ephesians 5:15–21, Matthew 22:1–14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus Invites Us
to His Wedding Feast to Receive Abundant Righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Holy Spirit sounds forth the
Gospel call: <i>“See, I have prepared my
dinner ... Come to the wedding feast”</i> (Matt. 22:1–14). But many reject this
invitation in favor of worldly pursuits. And so the call goes out to others,
both the good and the bad. For the wedding
invitation is not based on the qualifications of those invited but on
the basis of the merits and work of Christ. The feast is free: <i>“He who has no money, come, buy and eat ...
delight yourselves in rich food.”</i> (Is. 55:1–9). Those rejecting the
Spirit’s work shall experience God’s wrath and judgment. Those who are not
clothed in Christ’s righteousness shall be cast into outer darkness where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us therefore seek the Lord while He
may be found, for He will have mercy upon us. Let us redeem the time, being
filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:15–21).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-37639486393620325262012-10-02T22:42:00.001-05:002012-10-02T22:42:32.783-05:00Daily Bible Readings October 7-13, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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32946
Route 4</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Girard, IL 62640<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pastor Keith GeRue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Office:
(217) 965 – 4816<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cell:
(217) 725 – 8137<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Tender
Evangelical Loving Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.tlcgirard.org/"><b>http://www.tlcgirard.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">The
Eighteenth Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
After Trinity October 6–7, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday, October 6, 2012 Worship
Service 5:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 7, 2012 Sunday School
& Bible Class 9:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 7, 2012 Worship
Service 10:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">SUNDAY’S DIVINE
SERVICE– JESUS IS THE FULLFILLER OF THE LAW </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Pharisees ask a Law question.
Jesus asks a Gospel question. The Pharisees seek to trap Jesus in His own
words. Jesus seeks to “trap” them in the saving reality of who He is as the
Messiah (Matthew 22:34–46). The Law requires you to “fear the Lord your God, to
walk in all His ways, to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul”
and to “love the stranger” (Deuteronomy 10:12–21). Failure to keep the Law
perfectly brings judgment. On the other hand, the Gospel brings the grace of
God given by Jesus Christ, that you may be blameless in the day of His return
(1 Corinthians 1:1–9). Jesus is David’s Son yet David’s Lord, true God and true
man. He is Love incarnate who fulfilled all the demands of God’s Law on our
behalf, that we might be saved from the Law’s condemnation and sanctified in
the Gospel’s forgiveness. Thereby we see that “God is faithful, by whom you
were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Lutheran
Service Book Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">LWML</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">October
is LWML Month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">During
October our LWML will have a door collection for mites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Midstate
Fall Rally October 7, 5:30p.m. Zion Lutheran Church, 1301 N. State St., Litchfield. Speaker will be Diane Grebing. See bulletin
board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Coffee Break Bible Study<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Coffee
Break Bible Study meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 for a lively discussion. Today,
we will begin our Study on Lutheranism 101.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: #ddd9c3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Please Pray For:</span></u><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Joe Worth, Elena Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis
McElroy, Dorothy Robison, George Van Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt
Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary Kay Schmidt, Dorothy Schroll, Kathy Schmidt,
John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bill Uchtman, Colin
Starks, George Shepherd, and Katie Ketchum</span><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Birthday This Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
Erin Miller <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b>None<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u>LUTHERAN HOUR</u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> "Proper
Perspective"</span><br />
Speaker Emeritus of
The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus<br />
Why did Jesus say
the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of children? Pastor Ken Klaus thinks
he may have discovered the answer.<br />
(Mark 10: 13-16)<o:p></o:p></div>
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WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am
& 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lutherans for Life –
</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">www.lutheransforlife.org</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Life Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">n God’s perfect world, one thing remained “not good.”
“It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God created a
perfect woman for His perfect man. Then He ordained the perfect cornerstone
upon which to build and promulgate civilization—marriage between man and woman.
So perfect an institution that God uses it to picture Christ’s relationship to
His Church (Ephesians 5:32). Those who redefine marriage not only erode this
cornerstone, they defame this picture.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Quote:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“How can we speak of the termination of a pregnancy
when what we really mean is the destruction of a human life? How can we talk of
therapeutic abortion when pregnancy is not a disease needing therapy and what
abortion effects is not a cure but a killing? How can we talk of abortion as a
kind of retroactive contraception when what it does is not prevent conception
but destroy the conceptus? We need to have the courage to use accurate
language. Abortion is feticide: the destruction of an unborn child. It is the
shedding of innocent blood, and any society that can tolerate this, let alone
legislate for it, has ceased to be civilized.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">John Stott, English Christian leader and
Anglican cleric<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Readings for the Week of 18th
Sunday after Trinity</span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 7 Jeremiah 42:1-44:23,2 Timothy
2:1-21,Psalms 92:1-93:5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 8 Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy
2:22-3:17, Psalms 94:1-23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 9 Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22,
Psalms 95:1-96:13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 10 Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus
1:1-16, Psalms 97:1-98:9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 11 Jeremiah 51:1-53,
Titus 2:1-15, Psalms 99:1-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 12 Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus
3:1-15, Psalms 100:1-5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oct 13 Looking
Forward to Reformation Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Genesis 28:10-17; Ephesians 4:22-28; Matthew 9:1-8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 6 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
October 7 9:00 am Bible
Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 5;30
pm LWML Zone Rally, Litchfield<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday,
October 8 Columbus
Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tuesday,
October 9 10:26 am Lutheran
High Chapel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 4;00
pm Unity Finance Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday,
October 10 5:30 pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 7:30
pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday,
October 12 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 13 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hayride, Bonfire and hot dog roast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Sunday, October 28<sup>th</sup>, we will have a Bonfire, Hot Dog Roast, Hay
Ride, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> David and Debbi
Ray Farm 12958 Leadline Road, Auburn, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> October 28,
4:00pm – whenever <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: yourself, your
family and friends and a dish to pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">NEXT WEEKS LESSONS:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER
TRINITY<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Genesis 28:10–17, Ephesians
4:22–28, Matthew 9:1–8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus’ Incarnation Secures for Us Life,
Forgiveness, and Healing<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Lord does not require us to
ascend to Him; in mercy He descends to us (Genesis 28:10–17). The ladder in
Jacob’s dream was not for climbing; it was the means by which the Lord came to
bless Jacob. This event finds its fulfillment in Christ who descended from His
throne to save and bless us. By His incarnation He is the eternal bridge
between heaven and earth. <i>“The Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”</i> (Matthew 9:1–8). The Lord was
present in the flesh to absolve the paralytic. Jesus also healed and restored
this man’s body. <i>“For where there is
forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation”</i> (Small Catechism).
The Lord still has power on earth to forgive sins. In holy absolution He raises
up the new man (Ephesians 4:22–28) and bestows the healing medicine which will
bring about our resurrection on the Last Day. Thus we say with Jacob, <i>“This is none other than the house of God,
and this is the gate of heaven!”</i> (Genesis 28:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-18015274243363705102012-10-02T22:40:00.002-05:002012-10-02T22:40:33.532-05:00Trinity 18 October 6-7, 2012 Sermon<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Trinity 18 Matthew
22:34-36 October 6-7, 2012</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Seeking to trap Him, they ask a Law question, and so their answer
is of the Law: <b>"<i>What is the greatest commandment?</i> Love
God and man perfectly, without fail, without lapse, without exception."</b>
<i>If someone says, <b>"I love God,"</b> and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he
who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has
not seen?</i> And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must
love his brother also.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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They sought to trap Him in the Law and wound up trapped
themselves. Hatefully seeking to bind Him, they were bound by their own
pettiness and philosophical games, by their hate. They were guilty. In the
greatest to the least of the commandments they had failed, for they had not
acted in love. They envied His glory. They had paraded themselves. They were
puffed up, behaved rudely, sought their own, thought evil. For as nice as the
concept of love is, as noble and high and lofty, as obviously good and decent -
despite the fact that no one can be against it, that everyone acknowledges, <b>"Yes, love is good. That is the right
way."</b> Nonetheless, love is an impossible command and standard. We
cannot satisfy or keep it. We have not loved perfectly, but have behaved
selfishly - again and again and again. We know love is right. But that doesn't
save us. It can only We say damn us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But Christ, Our Lord offers an escape to those who are caught by
the Law's unbending and unrelenting, impossible demands. He asks: <b>"<i>What
do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?</i>" "David's Son,"
</b>they say. Indeed, David's Son, a man like us, but more: David's Son, our
neighbor, AND David's Lord, our Creator, a Priest forever in the order of
Melchizadek, the first and the last, the Redeemer-Kinsman come to save us. The
two things that the Law demand we love, God and neighbor, are embodied in Him
who has loved us. In this the Love of God was manifested toward us, that God
has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. . . . God is Love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for
his friends<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For his friends. Greater love has no God, no Baal, no Allah, no Buddha,
no Great Spirit in the sky, than this: that He lay down His Son's life for His
enemies, for His enemies! That He lay down His Son's life for His enemies, that
He forsake His Son, disown Him, damn Him, visit His wrath upon Him that He
might shower His love upon those murderers whom He adopts as new sons! Greater
and more perfect love hath no one than He is who is Love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Ram caught in the thicket, our scapegoat
who takes our sins off into the wilderness, our sacrificial lamb who dies in
our place. He is the fulfillment of the Law, perfect Love in the Flesh. He has
done what we could and would not, and that for us. He has loved us perfectly
without fail, without lapse, without exception. His enemies, those incarnations
of hate, the devil, death, and Hell have been conquered by the Heel they
bruised. They are under the Foot that crushed them. They are held fast so that
there is no one to accuse you, no prison to hold you, no threat or punishment
left. You are free, forgiven, clean, pure, righteous, perfect, for you are
loved in, and by, Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This Christ, David's Son and David's Lord, is a Priest forever in
the Order of Melchizadek, that King of Righteousness from the City of Peace.
That great and holy Priest, whose Body pierced and enlivened once again is the
very Temple that He rebuilt so that it is the House of Prayer for all people by
Grace, whose reign never ends, that great and holy Priest has offered up
Himself as the Sacrifice that makes us lovable, and makes us His. The Law has
no more to ask, no more to demand. It has been satisfied, fulfilled, completed.
Love, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, never fails. The Father has sent the Son as
Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, (is the
Christ), God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the
Love that God has for us. God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God,
and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have
boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Love in the Flesh, a priestly food, a heavenly banquet, is offered
to you this very day: His Body and Blood, the new Temple that cannot be
destroyed. Eat of Him. Be loved. Live. Have Him placed inside of you that you
would be a Temple of His Holy Spirit, that He would abide in you and you in
Him, that you would be as He is, so that you would have boldness in the day of
judgment for you are His, so that His love is completed and perfected in you,
His beloved. David's Son is your Lord, your Christ. Thanks be to God!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-17121978493037979322012-10-02T22:39:00.001-05:002012-10-02T22:39:45.710-05:00Sermon Trinity 17 September 30, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Trinity
17 Luke 14:1-11 September 29-30, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In
the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I'd
rather be the man with dropsy, in pain and humiliated, than the Pharisees at
this dinner party. The man with dropsy knows what he is. He can feel it and see
it. And the world knows what he is, too. He can't fake it. He is not one of the
beautiful, popular kids. He is a loser. He is alone. He is afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But
Jesus steps in and offers relief. He asks the Pharisees if it is lawful to heal
on the Sabbath. They are silent. They won't answer the question because the
answer is obvious and they don't like it. It is like asking certain people if
it is okay to pray to Allah. They don't like the question because it exposes
the viciousness their philosophy has done to God's Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
man with dropsy is silent too. But his silence is different. He is not being
rude or combative. He is listening. Every word that proceeds from the Mouth of
God is precious. He is waiting. Jesus heals him and lets him go. He is like an
ox that had fallen into a pit. He is like a dog on a chain that has wrapped
himself around a tree and can't get loose. The Pharisees figure it is just a
sign of his own stupidity, that that dog brought it on himself and deserves to
pull at a chain that is effectually a foot long. They don't even try to guide
him back around the twisting way he came. It is too far gone, too late. But
Jesus steps up and unhooks the chain with no fuss at all. The man with dropsy
neither has to live with it nor go back and undo it himself. He is unhooked,
set free, in an instant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus
the state of fallen man: We go twisting round and round the tree searching for
a moment's pleasure while tied to the Law. The Law is not bad. It keeps us from
getting hurt. It keeps us safe. But it can't untangle us. It can't make us
free. In these delayed days, while waiting for the end, some have thought that
the Law was the answer. The idea is that if we could learn to live with the Law
we could fix our lives and find favor with God. It seems to work. There are
principles and benefits within the Law. Treat your neighbors kindly, don't
steal, don't cheat on your wife, and your life will be smoother. You will even
be respected, to some degree, by the other dogs. But you won't be free. And
make one mistake, show one instant's weakness, and you'll be tangled up again
with the Pharisee's mocking your stupidity. It can't be that something is wrong
with their program, so there must be something wrong with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">They
are right. There is something wrong with you: sin. The problem is not that you
are basically a good person who sometimes does bad things or makes mistakes.
The problem is that you are a bad person who is very good at covering it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
solution is easy. Repent. Confess your sins, your twisting self-seeking ways
that have caused these problems, your shameful behavior and your lies. Quit
yipping and begging. And let Jesus take it all away. Be lost in His
self-sacrifice in your place. Die in His crucifixion. Be humbled in His atoning
death. And be exalted in His resurrection, welcomed home by the Father, full of
forgiveness and mercy. Kiss the nail pierced hand that unhooks the chain and
live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Find
solace in His soothing words of love in the Holy Scriptures. Find confidence
and hope in the Absolution. Find nourishment and strength in His Body and
Blood, His self-uniting and opening of heaven to you in that Holy meal. He has
not abandoned you or forgotten you. And you who are baptized into Him, you, are
no dog. You are a son, a prince, an adored and beautiful Bride washed in Blood.
Your scarred King, who was slain but who lives, who gave His life to rescue you
from damnation, He awaits. He is eager for you. He loves you. You are free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In
the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Trinity
17 Luke 14:1-11 September 29-30, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In
the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I'd
rather be the man with dropsy, in pain and humiliated, than the Pharisees at
this dinner party. The man with dropsy knows what he is. He can feel it and see
it. And the world knows what he is, too. He can't fake it. He is not one of the
beautiful, popular kids. He is a loser. He is alone. He is afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But
Jesus steps in and offers relief. He asks the Pharisees if it is lawful to heal
on the Sabbath. They are silent. They won't answer the question because the
answer is obvious and they don't like it. It is like asking certain people if
it is okay to pray to Allah. They don't like the question because it exposes
the viciousness their philosophy has done to God's Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
man with dropsy is silent too. But his silence is different. He is not being
rude or combative. He is listening. Every word that proceeds from the Mouth of
God is precious. He is waiting. Jesus heals him and lets him go. He is like an
ox that had fallen into a pit. He is like a dog on a chain that has wrapped
himself around a tree and can't get loose. The Pharisees figure it is just a
sign of his own stupidity, that that dog brought it on himself and deserves to
pull at a chain that is effectually a foot long. They don't even try to guide
him back around the twisting way he came. It is too far gone, too late. But
Jesus steps up and unhooks the chain with no fuss at all. The man with dropsy
neither has to live with it nor go back and undo it himself. He is unhooked,
set free, in an instant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus
the state of fallen man: We go twisting round and round the tree searching for
a moment's pleasure while tied to the Law. The Law is not bad. It keeps us from
getting hurt. It keeps us safe. But it can't untangle us. It can't make us
free. In these delayed days, while waiting for the end, some have thought that
the Law was the answer. The idea is that if we could learn to live with the Law
we could fix our lives and find favor with God. It seems to work. There are
principles and benefits within the Law. Treat your neighbors kindly, don't
steal, don't cheat on your wife, and your life will be smoother. You will even
be respected, to some degree, by the other dogs. But you won't be free. And
make one mistake, show one instant's weakness, and you'll be tangled up again
with the Pharisee's mocking your stupidity. It can't be that something is wrong
with their program, so there must be something wrong with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">They
are right. There is something wrong with you: sin. The problem is not that you
are basically a good person who sometimes does bad things or makes mistakes.
The problem is that you are a bad person who is very good at covering it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
solution is easy. Repent. Confess your sins, your twisting self-seeking ways
that have caused these problems, your shameful behavior and your lies. Quit
yipping and begging. And let Jesus take it all away. Be lost in His
self-sacrifice in your place. Die in His crucifixion. Be humbled in His atoning
death. And be exalted in His resurrection, welcomed home by the Father, full of
forgiveness and mercy. Kiss the nail pierced hand that unhooks the chain and
live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Find
solace in His soothing words of love in the Holy Scriptures. Find confidence
and hope in the Absolution. Find nourishment and strength in His Body and
Blood, His self-uniting and opening of heaven to you in that Holy meal. He has
not abandoned you or forgotten you. And you who are baptized into Him, you, are
no dog. You are a son, a prince, an adored and beautiful Bride washed in Blood.
Your scarred King, who was slain but who lives, who gave His life to rescue you
from damnation, He awaits. He is eager for you. He loves you. You are free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">In
the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-45877860606279709872012-09-27T09:27:00.002-05:002012-09-27T09:27:37.711-05:00Daily Readings for September 30-October 6, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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32946
Route 4</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">Girard, IL 62640<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pastor Keith GeRue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Office:
(217) 965 – 4816<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cell:
(217) 725 – 8137<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Tender
Evangelical Loving Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.tlcgirard.org/"><b>http://www.tlcgirard.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">The
Seventeenth Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
After Trinity September 29–30, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday, September 29, 2012 Worship
Service 5:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
September 30, 2012 Sunday School &
Bible Class 9:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
September 30, 2012 Worship
Service 10:00 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS-Bold","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-Bold;">SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE– THE LORD HUMBLES HIMSELF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanPS","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS;">“Do
not exalt yourself in the presence of the king” (Proverbs 25:6–14). Rather,
take the lowest position at the table. Humble yourself before Him. For your place
is not for you to take but for Him to give. Conduct yourself with all lowliness
and gentleness, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:1–6), that the
King may give you glory in the presence of those at the table with you. “For
whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted” (Luke 14:1–11). Is this not the way of Christ? He is the one who took
the lowest place, who humbled Himself even to the point of death for us. He is
now exalted to the highest place at the right hand of the Father that penitent
believers may be exalted together with Him in the resurrection. To the humble
at His Supper He says, “Friend, go up higher,” giving you His very body and
blood for your forgiveness that you may ascend to take part in the great
wedding feast which has no end.— LSB Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" style="background: #DDD9C3; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">LWML</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">October
is LWML Month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">During
October our LWML will have a door collection for mites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Midstate
Fall Rally October 7, 5:30p.m. Zion Lutheran Church, 1301 N. State St., Litchfield. Speaker will be Diane Grebing. See bulletin
board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Coffee Break Bible Study<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Coffee
Break Bible Study meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 for a lively discussion. Today,
we will be studying, Translations and paraphrases of the Scriptures, as
compared to the original text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: #ddd9c3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Please Pray For:</span></u><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Joe Worth,
Elena Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Dorothy Robison, George Van
Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary Kay
Schmidt, Dorothy Schroll, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bill Uchtman, Colin Starks, George Shepherd,
and Katie Ketchum</span><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Birthday This Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
Evelyn Carney, Dorothy Robison, Ozzie
Maddox, Gary Eskew, Kathy Donaldson<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b>Gary & Amy Eskew<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u>LUTHERAN HOUR</u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0in;"> "Jesus, I Don't
Love You"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus said those who are not against Him are for Him, but the
opposite is also true: those who are not for Jesus are against Him. (Mark
9:38-40)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am
& 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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Lutheran High Notes: Thanks to all who supported the Trivia Night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lutheran
High Players will have a dinner theater on October 26-27, 2012 more information
to follow soon. The Play is “Hard Luck.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lutherans for Life –
</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">www.lutheransforlife.org</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Life Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Scripture calls for
patience in suffering and reminds us that God can make it purposeful (James
5:10-11). The cross of His own Son assures us of this truth. Our society
increasingly deals with suffering by killing the sufferer and then calls it
compassion. They desperately need to hear about the compassion of the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Quote:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“[W]hen a child is adopted into a family there is a
real family formed there. Our entire Gospel is at stake in that recognition
because there is no such thing as an ‘adopted child,’ only children who were
adopted. Adopted in the New Testament is a past-tense verb, not an adjective.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Dr. Russell D. Moore, author of
“Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families”</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>– A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For
Life ·<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Readings for the Week of 17th
Sunday after Trinity</span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">September 30 Jeremiah 28:1-29:32, 1 Timothy1:1-20, Psalms
86:1-17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">September 31 Jeremiah 30:1-31:26, 1 Timothy2:1-15,
Psalms 87:1-7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 1 Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy3:1-16,
Psalms 88:1-18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 2 Jeremiah 33:1-34:22, 1 Timothy4:1-16,
Psalms 89:1-13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 3 Jeremiah 35:1-36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1-25,
Psalms 89:14-37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 4 Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21,
Psalms 89:38-52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">October 5 Jeremiah 39:1-41:18, 2 Timothy 1:1-18, Psalms
90:1-91:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">October
6 Looking
Ahead to Sunday Deuteronomy 10:12–21, 1 Corinthians 1:1–9, Matthew 22:34–46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
September 29 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday,
September 30 9:00 am Bible
Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 11:00
am Pot Luck
Luncheon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 11:15
am Voter’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday
October 1– Tuesday October 2 Fall
Pastoral Conference<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday,
October 3 8:30 am Concordia Chapel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 5:30
pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 7:30
pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thursday,
October 4 9;00 am LWML Bible Study<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday,
October 5 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday,
October 6 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Intersection
of Church and State<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">A Lutheran Hour program on
Religious freedom in America. Broadcast Sunday, September 30, 4:00 pm on Fox
Business Channel. Dishnet 206. Directv 359. NewWave Cable 141.AT&T 211 or
1211.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">NEXT WEEKS LESSONS:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Deuteronomy 10:12–21; 1 Corinthians 1:1–9; Matthew
22:34–46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Pharisees ask a Law question.
Jesus asks a Gospel question. The Pharisees seek to trap Jesus in His own
words. Jesus seeks to “trap” them in the saving reality of who He is as the
Messiah (Matthew 22:34–46). The Law requires you to “fear the Lord your God, to
walk in all His ways, to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul”
and to “love the stranger” (Deuteronomy 10:12–21). Failure to keep the Law
perfectly brings judgment. On the other hand, the Gospel brings the grace of
God given by Jesus Christ, that you may be blameless in the day of His return
(1 Corinthians 1:1–9). Jesus is David’s Son yet David’s Lord, true God and true
man. He is Love incarnate who fulfilled all the demands of God’s Law on our
behalf, that we might be saved from the Law’s condemnation and sanctified in
the Gospel’s forgiveness. Thereby we see that “God is faithful, by whom you
were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Collect: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">O God, forasmuch as without You
we are not able to please You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in
all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord
. Amen.</span></div>
</div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-15972962156822833262012-09-19T08:33:00.005-05:002012-09-19T08:33:50.697-05:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">The Sixteenth
Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After Trinity September 22–23, 2012</span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE–</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">THE LORD OVERCOMES DEATH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">A large funeral procession carrying the
only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His
followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke
7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our
mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His
creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what is
neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able to
do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:14–21).
Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as
Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman’s son (2
Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application
of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us.
“To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever.”—LSB Notes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: #ddd9c3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Please Pray For:</span></u><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Juanita Rankin,
Talon Fickas, John Haynes, Margaret Branham, George Van Huss, Joan Shipp,
Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Mary Kay Schmidt, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Colin Starks, George Shepherd, Donna Smith, </span><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Erna Van Winkle,
Mary Ehrat, Art Ehrat, Katie Ketchum, and Bill Hoff.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Lutheran High Trivia Night, Friday September 28, 2012 7 pm at Knights of Columbus
Hall at Iles and Meadowbrook Rd. We have 2 teams from Trinity. Thanks for you
support and have fun..</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle">
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</div>
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<div align="center" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: center 2.25in right 333.0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lutherans for Life –
</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b>www.lutheransforlife.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Life Thought:</b> Whoever receives a child, receives Jesus (Mark
9:37). Whoever receives anyone, especially the vulnerable and needy, receives
Jesus. It would seem to follow then that if we reject a child, if we reject the
vulnerable, we reject Jesus. May God preserve us and our nation from the latter
and renew our zeal to do the former.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Quote:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“All your sins—original sin that condemns even the
seemingly innocent baby, sins of sex outside of marriage, the sin of having an
abortion, the sin of leaving women in the helplessness and despair that leads
to abortion (that’s the sin of all of us who haven’t done everything we could
to help!)—all our sins were forgiven when Jesus reached out His arms for you on
the cross. You are forgiven!”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Carl C. Fickenschner II, associate
professor of pastoral ministry and missions and dean of certification and pastoral
education, Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday, September 22 5:30 pm Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday, September 23 9:00 am Bible Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 3:00
pm Circuit Forum @ Farmersville<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 5:00
pm Circuit Pastors Farewell for Kirby’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wednesday , September 26 5:30 – 6:45
pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 7:30 pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday, September 28 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 7:00 pm Lu High Trivia Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday ,
September 29 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Intersection of Church and State<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">A Lutheran Hour program on
Religious freedom in America. Broadcast Sunday, September 30, 4:00 pm on Fox
Business Channel. Dishnet 206. Directv 359. NewWave Cable 141.AT&T 211 or
1211.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Voters will meet on Sunday,
September 30 after church.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We will also have a
fellowship potluck dinner that day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u>LUTHERAN HOUR </u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; padding: 0in;">"With
God, There Is Great, Even Greater Grace"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lutheran Hour
Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">God gives great and
even greater grace because we need it and only God can provide it. (James
4:5-10)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday 7:00 am
& 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">NEXT WEEKS
LESSONS:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt;">Proverbs 25:6–14, Ephesians 4:1–6, Luke 14:1–11</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Whoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> ―Do not put yourself forward in the king‘s presence</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">‖</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(Proverbs.
25:6–14). Rather, take the lowest position at the table. Humble yourself before
Him. For your place is not for you to take but for Him to give. Conduct
yourself with all lowliness and gentleness, bearing with one another in love
(Ephesians 4:1–6), that the King may give you glory in the presence of those at
the table with you. <i>―For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he
who humbles himself will be exalted</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">‖</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(Luke
14:1–11). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Is this not the way of Christ? He is the one who took
the lowest place, who humbled Himself even to the point of death for us. He is
now exalted to the highest place at the right hand of the Father that penitent
believers may be exalted together with Him in the resurrection. To the humble
at His Supper He says, <i>―Friend, move up higher,</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">‖</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">giving
you His very body and blood for your forgiveness that you may ascend to take
part in the great wedding feast which has no end.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Readings
for the Week of 16th Sunday after Trinity</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">September 23</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Psalm
119:17-24, Lamentations 3-5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 24 Psalm 119:25-32, Ezekiel
1-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 25 Psalm 119:33-40, Ezekiel
4-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 26 Psalm 119:41-48, Ezekiel
7-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 27 Psalm 119:49-56, Ezekiel 10-12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 28 Psalm 119:57-64, Ezekiel 13-15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September 29 Looking Ahead to Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Proverbs
25:6–14, Ephesians 4:1–6, Luke 14:1–11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-45581404680015866612012-09-19T08:25:00.001-05:002012-09-19T08:25:00.662-05:00Draft of Sermon for Trinity 16 September 22-23, 2012<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Luke
7:11-17 Trinity 16 September 22-23, 2012 “Do Not Weep”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The two easiest emotions for almost every person are
sorrow and anger. We can get angry at another person - or group of people - at
the drop of a hat. That is, in part, why we see so many losing control and
doing horrible things to other people on the news. Anger is easy, and it is
contagious. You see that in riots. People often do not know why the riot
started, but they share the anger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Sorrow is another easy to come by emotion. It can consume
a person just like anger can consume a person, but the difference between anger
and sorrow is that anger is directed outward, usually, and strikes at others,
while sorrow is inward directed and the sorrowful person usually strikes at
themselves in their sorrow. It seems too much to bear. I would guess that most
of us have known of someone who was consumed by their sorrow and could not
escape it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Our Gospel shows us an encounter between Jesus and a
woman who was filled with sorrow. She had a good reason for her grief, her only
son had just died, and she was a widow, which, in those days in particular,
compounded the reasons for her sorrow. And Jesus stepped up to the grieving
woman and said simply, <b>"Do not weep."</b> I invite you to look at
this simple scene with me, and the miracle that Jesus performed under the
theme, Do Not Weep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The story itself is amazing, and you could get lost in
the details, and forget the underlying message. Here was a woman who had
already lost her husband. Her son was now her only support. Suddenly, he is
gone as well. I know that it is suddenly, because the Jews buried their dead on
the same day they died, unless they died quite late in the day - and then they
would be buried on the next morning. This woman was devastated. He only child
was dead. The true depth of her sorrow, and the troubles that it was bringing
to her might be measured in the crowd of mourners - <b>"a sizeable crowd
was with her"</b>, according to Luke. Although it was not their sorrow,
they could share it a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, I have heard that in that culture you were
obligated to join the funeral procession, if you were aware of it. We see
echoes of that cultural expectation in the funerals in today’s Middle East -
they always seem to be huge crowds, large parades. Among the Jews in
particular, it was disrespect to YHWH that the sorrow of death did not touch
them - because death will finally touch everyone, and death is part of life.
They believed, rightly I think, that one ought always to recognize and honor
life, even - perhaps especially - when it has been extinguished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the Gospel, Jesus is approaching Na'in from
Capernaum with a large crowd following Him. That means that this miracle was no
small, private affair. It was well witnessed and well-attested to. When Jesus
surveys the scene, he felt compassion. I am sure that the meeting appeared to
be pure chance - and I am just as certain that God timed all things that this
meeting would happen just as it did. And it happened not just to show us the
power of Jesus, or that He could do it, but to show us the compassion of Jesus.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He could have ignored it - or joined in with the crowd
to wail and mourn at the visitation of death and all the attendant sorrows and
troubles it brings. After all, death was nothing unusual even back then. In
fact, death was more public, and less postpone-able then than it is now. And
when somebody died, they were taken home and cleaned up and wrapped up and
buried that same day - there was no mortuary to hide the reality of death for a
time, and no dressing the body up and putting on make-up so that the dead
appeared merely to be sleeping. But Jesus did not ignore death, this time. He
also did not simply go along with the crowd. Perhaps this funeral reminded Him
of His own coming death, and His mother's approaching sorrow. Whatever was
going on in the mind of Jesus, He stopped the procession and told the mother, <b>"Do
not weep"</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Then He healed the man, that is, He made him to be
alive again, and gave him back to his mother, to the joy and wonder and fear of
everyone there. Life conquered death. Jesus spoke to the dead man as if he were
merely asleep, and the man heard Him and awakened from death itself. Of course,
he had to die again, one day, but that is another story for another day, and it
is a part of this story that the Bible does not take time to tell us. What is
striking - aside from raising the dead, of course - is the compassion of Jesus.
Although this raising of the dead happened only occasionally in the ministry of
Jesus, He has that same compassion towards us all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">"He died for all"</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">, the Bible tells us, and <b>"God so loved the
world"</b> - not just certain persons in it - <b>"that He gave His
only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life."</b> He saw our need in sin and He healed us, raising us
from the dead, so to speak, since we would have died eternal death in hell
without Him. And, through His Word, He has called us to life eternal and made
us heirs of glory with Him, just as He raised the son of the widow of Na'in
with His Word on that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Our Gospel lesson today doesn't just say Jesus has the
power to raise us from the grave - although it does make that point powerfully
- it shows us the compassion of Jesus. The message speaks to each of us in our
times of pain and sorrow, saying, <b>"Do Not Weep"</b>. It teaches us
about the caring of our Lord - something we often forget to think about because
life has rough edges and sharp corners and we have to deal with pain, and
tragedy, and terrorism, and hurricanes, and what all. But God would, by the
words of our Gospel lesson, teach us about the compassion which moves Him, so
that, in the words of our Epistle Lesson today, <b>"so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Greek word in our Gospel translated, "<i>felt
compassion</i>", means "<i>moved in his guts.</i>" It means that
this was not some abstract, academic notion, but the same sort of compassion
you feel when you turn on the Television and see the destruction of a hurricane,
or watch the draught in so many places this summer, or witness the people who
have had their homes, and all of their possessions, burned up in fires. Jesus
knows how we feel. Better yet, He knows how we should feel. He understands how
loss and grief and sorrow feels. He understands the hurts and the fears. He
doesn't fear the way we do. He never did, because He was never without hope -
and He had the certainty of the good will of God for us, and for Himself. But
He knows - and He understands fear and pain from a very personal standpoint. He
can feel it right along with us - that is what compassion means; <i>to feel
along with</i>. And His message, through our Gospel lesson today, is Do Not
Weep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In all of our troubles, He is there. He knows our pain
and He is watching over us. He takes no pleasure in our pains and suffering -
which is why He died for us, to spare us the greatest suffering of all. He was
under no obligation to stop and care for the pains of this widow woman. Surely
there were thousands of other opportunities to do just the same in the lives of
others, where He did not. But for this one He acted to lessen her pain and meet
her needs. He did it for her, but he did it also to remind us that He can, and
that He has compassion on us all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You know that you stand in a special relationship with
Him, by virtue of your Baptism, and His choosing of you to be His children.
That choice comes with certain troubles connected to it, guaranteed. But it
also comes with His compassion guaranteed. The troubles come because the world
hates Christ, and we show the world Christ shining through us in His Word and
in His worship and in His working through us. When we face these troubles, we
have the promise of God that He is with us every step of the way to strengthen
us and that we shall not have to bear more than we are able to endure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus has also given us His Word and the fellowship of
the saints, and the powerful gift of the Holy Supper to help us and strengthen
us and encourage us. When we partake of the Holy Supper, we receive Christ's
true body and blood, and with that forgiveness and strengthening and His
presence in us and with us to make us equal to the work which He gives us to
do, and whatever cross which He calls us to carry in His name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">That doesn't mean that pain will not hurt, or that we
will not be genuinely challenged by the cross which we must bear. It would not
be a cross if it did not bring pain and hardship. But Jesus bids us "Do
Not Weep". When He bid the woman not to weep, He was not merely wishing
something and giving her nothing else, but He had a plan and took action to
alleviate her sorrow. He has a plan for us as well. He has promised us that He
will not give us more than we can endure - and everything we must endure is
stamped with His purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And in the hour of trouble, or pain, or sorrow, we can
find great comfort in knowing that Jesus has compassion for us just as He had
compassion for that woman in her sorrow and deep need. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Be of good cheer. In every situation, we may trust
that our God knows our sorrow and knows our needs and is working our good and
our blessing - and, as with the woman in our Gospel, Jesus bids us, <b>Do Not
Weep.</b> In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-61666028255307577302012-09-17T18:19:00.000-05:002012-09-17T18:19:24.742-05:00September 16-22, 2012 Daily Readings<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">The Fifteenth
Sunday</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After Trinity September 15–16, 2012</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE– </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">“You cannot
serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24–34), for they require two contrary forms of
service. Worry is the worship given to the false god of mammon, an unbelieving
anxiousness and focus on the things of this world. Faith is the worship of the
true God, a confident trust that He is a loving Father who will care for all of
our needs in both body and soul. The widow of Zarephath served God, that is,
she believed the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah that the bin of flour would
not be used up nor would the jar of oil run dry (1 Kings 17:8–16). He who feeds
the birds and clothes the flowers will certainly provide for our daily needs.
For He has already provided for our eternal needs, clothing us with Christ’s
righteousness in Baptism and feeding us His body and blood for our forgiveness.
With such confidence we are liberated from worry and freed to do good with our
material resources, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians
5:25–6:10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: #ddd9c3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Please Pray For:</span></u><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Joe Worth,
Elena Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Dorothy Robison, George Van
Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary Kay
Schmidt, Dorothy Schroll, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bill Uchtman, Colin Starks, George Shepherd,
and Donna Smith</span><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons, especially Brittany Worth who is deployed to Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Birthday This Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
John Haynes, Valerie GeRue, Suzanne Maddox<b>
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b>Dick & Stephanie Sisson</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lutherans for Life –
</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/"><b>www.lutheransforlife.org</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b) Who cannot
identify with this tension? All Christians live on this teeter-totter. We
bounce up and down between faithful and faithless countless times daily. This
should give us empathy and a loving manner when confronting others with their sin
as we realize how much we all need the grace and forgiveness of God in Christ.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Life Quote:</b> <span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“It can never be in
society’s best interests that anyone should be killed because they are ill, or
that the health service should be turned into a death service … Whatever public
opinion may say, doctors have an overriding duty to an ethical code that says
‘first do no harm.”’<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Melanie Phillips, British columnist</span></i></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday, September 15 5:30 pm Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday, September 16 9:00 am Bible Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Monday, September 17 6:30 pm Parish Planning <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tuesday, September 18 8:00 am NM
Ministerial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 5:00
pm Unity Board of Directors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wednesday , September 19 5:00 – 7:00
pm Confirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 7:30 pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thursday, September 20 7:30 am Virden Chamber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday, September 21 Pastor’s
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday ,
September 22 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Voters will meet on
Sunday, September 30 after church.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
will also have a fellowship potluck dinner that day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">NEXT WEEKS
LESSONS:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">A large funeral procession
carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession,
Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the
city (Luke 7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact
with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks
His creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what
is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able
to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians
3:14–21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His
resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the
Zarephath woman’s son (2 Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in
the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and
everlasting life into us. “To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Collect: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">O Lord, we pray
that Your grace may always go before and follow after us, that we may be
continually given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord .
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Old Testament: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">1 Kings 17:17–24<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Epistle:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Ephesians
3:13–21<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Holy Gospel:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Luke 7:11–17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Readings
for the Week of 15th Sunday after Trinity</span></i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">September 16</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Cain Murders His Brother Abel—Genesis 4:1-1-15 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Titus
3:8-15, Philippians 1:21–2:11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">September 17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Philemon
1-25, Philippians 2:12-30 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">September 18 David’s
Thanksgiving to God—2 Samuel 7:18-29 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hebrews
1:1-14, Philippians 3:1-21 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">September 19 David
Shows Kindness to Mephibosheeth—2 Samuel 9:1-13 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hebrews
2:5–3:6, Philippians 4:1-23 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">September 20 David
and Bathsheba— 2 Samuel 11:1-17, 22-25 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hebrews
4:14–5:14, Colossians 1:1-23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">September 21 The
Prophet Nathan Confronts David - 2 Samuel 11:26-12:15 Hebrews 6:1-20, Colossians 1:24–2:7 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">September 22 Looking Forward to Sundays
Lessons: 1 Kings 17:17–24,
Ephesians 3:13–21, Luke 7:11–17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-18499479663392280172012-09-17T15:32:00.001-05:002012-09-17T15:32:23.000-05:00Sermon Trinity 15 September 15-16, 2012
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<span style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trinity 15<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Matthew
6:24-34<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>September 15-16, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The God of Abraham is a jealous God. He will not share the
adoration of His children with anyone or anything else. You shall have no other
gods. You are to fear, love, and trust in the God who called Abraham out of
Chaldea, who parted the Red Sea and gave His holy Law to Moses, who multiplied
the widow’s flour and oil in Zarephath, who sacrificed His Son to make you His,
above all else.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It really comes down to just two options. There are only two gods.
One has many names and faces, as many, in fact, as you could possibly want. You
can call him <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“God.”</b> You can call him
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Allah,”</b> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Buddha,”</b> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Scratch,”</b>
or simply make up a new name. He doesn’t mind. He’ll go by anything. He
conducts himself as the gentlest and noblest of all masters, existing only to
better the existence of his servants, finding commonality amongst all
religions, seeking peace and prosperity regardless of cost. His password is
tolerance. He isn’t jealous. He is quite modern-minded, sensitive, enlightened,
and patriotic. He doesn’t make any demands of his servants. He has no strict
doctrine or moral code. He is convenient, never embarrassing, never harsh,
never confrontational or condemning. He encourages His followers to enjoy
themselves, to pamper themselves, to indulge themselves. He is never shocked by
lewd behavior or deviancy. He understands. Life under him is a smorgasbord of
personal choices and preferences. He embraces diversity and encourages free
thinking. And he glibly tells his servants that they can have as many masters
as they want.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But he is a liar. There are only two masters. All his seeming
niceties are just bait. It is a trap. He deceives to enslave and eventually to
devour. He is willing to bide his time for under that sheepskin of tolerance
are claws meant for killing. He lures men to complacency with shallow
sweet-nothings, like domesticated animals to the slaughter. Nonetheless, most
of the world has fallen prey to his delusion. For he is far easier to take than
the other option, the other God, the One of circumcision, sacrifice, and
Eucharist. For the other Master is so old-fashioned and quite conspicuously,
awkwardly jealous. He won’t allow multiple masters. He offends the
sensitivities of fallen man. He calls them <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“sinners.”</b>
He is not tolerant. He tends to be stern. He won’t hear prayers in any other
name. He is the God of Truth, the God of Light, not of ambiguity and shadows,
not of silky promises in negligees, not of easy pleasure, but of discipline. He
is Life. But He is found in death. If you will be His, than you can belong to
no other. But you need no other. For no other is of any help, comfort, or aid.
Repent. Jesus is One, the only One. And He still wants you.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What shall we
eat?</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We shall eat the Body of Jesus, born of the Virgin, executed for
crimes He did not commit, and raised again to glory by His Father given for
you. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What shall we drink?</i> We shall
drink the Blood of Jesus poured out outside the city gates for the remission of
your sins. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What shall we wear?</i> We
shall wear His righteousness, the wedding garment of joy that He provides by
Grace.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About what then,
shall we worry? </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nothing. For all things pale next to this reality: God loves you
in Christ Jesus and promises to remove you from this shadowy valley of pain and
bring you to Himself in heaven. So what if code enforcement is making you paint
the garage, the synod is crumbling around you, your job is on the line, your
daughter has a drinking problem, they make fun of you at school, you can’t fit
into your wedding dress anymore, and terrorists are threatening America! God is
in control. He knows what He is doing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Our Lord directed the attention of His disciples to the
sparrows and the lilies, it was not much better for them. They lived in an
occupied country. Imagine East Germany after World War II. They were poor.
Imagine having nothing to eat. I don’t mean not wanting to eat the can of
creamed corn and tomato soup in your cupboard, I mean not having a cupboard.
Imagine people not living much past the age of 50 and half the children dying
by age 5. Imagine foreigners dragging off your adolescent sons to fight in
their wars. In the midst of this Jesus says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I take care of the sparrows. I’ll take care of you.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the world’s point of view there is always plenty to worry
about. But worrying doesn’t change things. It doesn’t stop terrorists anymore
than it prevents tooth decay. No mere man knows what the future holds for the
stock market, for America, or for the Missouri Synod. The Scriptures are silent
on those things. This is not the promised land. America is not God’s chosen
country. We are not better than other people simply because we were born here.
We are more fortunate, yes. But we didn’t earn it. In the same way, the
Missouri Synod is not the last word on orthodoxy and Truth. Yes, we are
fortunate, blessed by God, to have it. But it does not belong to us by Divine
Right. Despise the Word of God and it can be taken away. Anyway, tomorrow
America and the Missouri Synod and Trinity Lutheran Church will all be thrown
into the oven. There won’t be Americans or Missouri-Synod Lutherans in heaven.
There will only be Christians, those who were baptized into Christ, heard His
Word, ate His Body and drank His Blood for the forgiveness of His sins. No one
will care if you were Finnish, German, Russian, or American, let alone what
squabbling little Church body you allied yourself with. But despite that,
despite the temporary nature of the things God provides for us now, we know
this: Jesus is coming back. Death has been defeated. He will not abandon us to
the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the meantime, it might get better and it might get worse.
Lilies bloom, wilt, and die but new ones rise up behind them to bloom again.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Eat the Body of Jesus.
Drink His Blood. Wear the clean garments of acceptance that He provides. All
things pass away and are burned, save this: the Word of God. That we will not
compromise. We will not lie about it to save face, to satisfy those deluded by
the devil’s lies, to gain popularity with men. The Word made Flesh has paid
your debt. You are forgiven, clean, and whole. And on the last day He shall
call you forth from the grave. No man, no terrorist, no bureaucrat, no synod,
no institution of higher learning, no government, no devil will stop Him.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-10830368186593618602012-09-06T13:43:00.002-05:002012-09-06T13:43:37.287-05:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Intersection of
Church and State<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZzUXDihyphenhyphen6z8kK1rhNADo-wB1daGpA88x1KS_qt-Xt7ReiWWkzUN6wGRjAMbCcqFoKwGdmc1vW7qNB_oQrQ4m1d1IYTlqNL93I3zg5-1yxPaQxv5c2CDX5dVJ6KwRxCcGuh8WQ7P0Jg/s1600/ICS_promo_ppt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZzUXDihyphenhyphen6z8kK1rhNADo-wB1daGpA88x1KS_qt-Xt7ReiWWkzUN6wGRjAMbCcqFoKwGdmc1vW7qNB_oQrQ4m1d1IYTlqNL93I3zg5-1yxPaQxv5c2CDX5dVJ6KwRxCcGuh8WQ7P0Jg/s320/ICS_promo_ppt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i>The Intersection of
Church & State</i>, a new television special from Lutheran Hour Ministries,
premieres September 30, 5 p.m. Eastern,
4 p.m. Central, 3 p.m. Mountain, 2 p.m. Central on Fox Business Channel
as paid programming. Hosted by Speaker
of <b>The Lutheran Hour</b> Rev. Gregory
Seltz, the hour-long program explores how the First Amendment to the
Constitution was crafted both to protect the church and the state <i>and</i> to provide a framework within which
the two can work together for the common good.</div>
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<i>The Intersection of
Church & State</i> features careful scholarship and lively commentary by
experts on faith and citizenship. In addition to providing insightful
educational content, the program also challenges citizens to stay alert to
government activity that affects the institution of the church.</div>
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Watch for <i>The</i> <i>Intersection of Church & State</i> on
selected networks this fall; for listing details and more information about the
program, visit <a href="http://www.intersectionofchurchandstate.com/">www.intersectionofchurchandstate.com</a>.</div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-78104678983359925012012-09-04T21:50:00.002-05:002012-09-04T21:50:42.844-05:00Sermon for Trinity 14 September 9, 2012<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Trinity 14 Luke
17:11-19 September 8-9, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are Ten Commandments in the Holy Law of God; ten rules for
life that we fail to keep. Their simplicity is as sharp as polished steel. It
cuts to expose our cancerous souls. We are not good. We are not right. We are
not healthy. Ten commandments, ten rules for life, ten guides for our behavior,
ten policies of self-control and decency, ten obviously correct ideals that we
know we should be, all of which, without fail, we fail to keep. Ten little
lines: a full and perfect Law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Is it so hard? </i>Not really. <i>Honor your father and mother? We can do
that. Love your wife?</i> Of course, that makes sense. <i>Tell the truth?</i> Yes, that is good. That is right. That is what we
want. <i>And even believe in God?</i>
Absolutely. These rules are not unreasonable. They are not unobtainable. They
are not impossible. At our best, we do all of these, in part, part of the time.
<i>Why not always? Why not fully? Why not
even mostly or most of the time? Are we so shallow, so temperamental, so
afraid, so self-serving as all of that? </i>Yes. The brutal Law leaves no
escape. There is no excuse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are reasons. We are weak. We are stupid. We are evil. We
abide in the inheritance of the first and fallen Adam. But there is no excuse,
no justification for our selfishness and hurtful indulgences. There is nothing,
no extenuating circumstances, no once-in-a-lifetime vents that makes our
lies, violence, lust, and greed okay. Let me ask you this: <i>After suffering a hang-over and the shame of behaving like a
raving lunatic why would someone go and get drunk again? Why would he do that
to himself? Is he that weak, that foolish, that self-destructive?</i> Yes. He
is. I am. You are. With foreknowledge and with malice you have stepped into
your sin hoping to somehow escape your boring existence. You have catered an
intoxication of the soul wanting to forget who you were, wanting to forget both
your failures and your obligations. You have lashed out like a drowning man at
any half-promise of a moment’s pleasure, seeking to steal from God what He
would have gladly given. And all you have to show for it is pain, sorrow, and
shame; a lifetime full of poor choices; a raging debt that haunts your nights;
a handful of fickle friends who would sell you for a dollar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Repent. There is no excuse. Your posturing and vain spinning of
the stories from your life, your imagined headlines and fame, your sick
fantasies and delusional speeches, must be left behind. Your pride must wither
and die. The Truth of the Law must have its way. It must cut off every retreat,
every escape, every excuse. It must force you to your knees, to confession, to
death. For ten full commandments have we, all of which, we have failed to keep.
For which we deserve, quite fairly, quite reasonably, to die eternally.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our plea to heaven then cannot be for justice, for equity, for
fair treatment by the Law for that is simply to ask for Hell. Our cry must be a
plea for mercy, for undeserved pardon, for redemption with Someone Else’s
Blood. Let us learn from the lepers who stood far off and cried to God in the Flesh,
the Son of Mary adopted by Joseph, whom they would nail to the cross for
Blasphemy He did not commit and who would raise Himself up again, for mercy.
For mercy. Ah, sweet mercy from the Almighty! <i>Was there ever Love like this? Was there ever reprieve so sweet for
criminals so steeped in guilt? Was there ever a God who joined His rebellious
creation and let them kill Him for their own sins so that they would go free,
clean, and whole?</i> Yes! Mercy is what the lepers requested. Mercy is what He
gave.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But they didn’t know it right away. He told them to go and show
themselves to the priests. It was as they were going, with chunks of rotten
skin falling off along the way, that all of the sudden they discovered they
were healed. Then they knew His mercy. But before they knew with arms and hands
and eyes, they went at His Word. They went at His Word, without proof or
evidence. And His Word turned out to be all that it took to rid them of the
decaying flesh that rendered them unclean and left them dying in their skin.
Let us learn from those ten to cry for mercy and to take Jesus at His Word,
seeking no proof or evidence, but living by faith. All ten received mercy, a
full and perfect reprieve from the guilt of their sin, a fresh washing in Grace
they did not earn, a healing rescue from certain death. All ten, one for each
holy commandment of the Law, received mercy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But only one, and he, a foreigner, returned to praise God in the
Flesh. He did not simply offer a silent tribute in his mind to a far away God
for the good things he now knew. But he went to where he had found mercy. He
went to God in the Flesh! When he cried for mercy he was unclean. He did it
from a distance. But then, having been cleansed, having received mercy, he was
bold to approach this enfleshed God soon to be crucified. He came and worshiped
Jesus, praising Him for the life He had restored in him, glorifying Him for the
mercy He had bestowed. And he received in turn praise from God of his own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let us learn from the one what faith is and what faith does. Faith
receives God’s grace and comes back for more! It cannot get enough. It is not
simply thankful, though it is that. But it is also, and more markedly, hungry!
It desires the One thing needful, the One thing that satisfies, the One thing
that justifies, not our sins, not our many misdeeds, but justifies mankind by
declaring you righteous for the sake of the brutal death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ in your stead. Faith wants what God gives: new life, rest, hope,
love, peace - all for free.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ten were cleansed, given back life and limb. One returned to
worship. He did not come to give Jesus something, to bring His offering
envelope or His praise. He did not come to feed Jesus or to learn how to be a
healer for others. He came back to get something, to be fed, to be nourished,
to be healed some more. That is what worship is. It is what faith does.
Jesus needs nothing from us. We need everything from Him. He did not come
to be served, to put us to work. That is not the goal of the Gospel. He came to
serve, to work for us, to buy us back out of death, to restore us to health
that we might stand in His presence as His beloved, immaculate Bride. That is
the goal of the Gospel: that we would be His and live with Him in bliss
forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The fire from those holy ten commandments has been quenched. The
demands of every single one has been met. There is nothing more. Justice has
been served, satisfied. You are forgiven, clean, whole, loved. Arise, you have
come to the right place, to the place of mercy where God in the Flesh is served
in Bread for the eater and men are made His. Come, at His Word.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Receive what He gives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-79227483054439852712012-09-04T21:48:00.002-05:002012-09-04T21:48:22.030-05:00Daily readings for September 9-15, 2012<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday’s Divine Service–The Lord Extends
His Mercy To All<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The ten lepers cried out from a distance, “Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:11–19). Their condition cut them off from
God and others. So also do the works of
the flesh cut us off from God and others. “Those who practice such things will
not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16–24). Thus we cry out with the
lepers, “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,” eagerly seeking
His good gifts. Jesus said to the lepers, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went, they were cleansed. So too, we walk by faith and not by
sight, being confident of Jesus’ help before we see any evidence of it,
trusting that Jesus’ cleansing words of forgiveness will restore us to
wholeness in the resurrection. Let us be as the one leper who returned to the
true High Priest to give Him thanks and glory. For Jesus bore our infirmities
in His sacrifice at Calvary. His words are life to those who find them, and
health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:10–23).— Lutheran Service Book Project<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="background-color: #ddd9c3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Please Pray For:</span></u><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Joe Worth, Elena
Howarth, Emily Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Ada Dambacher Dorothy Robison,
George Van Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van Winkle, Mary
Kay Schmidt, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bill
Uchtman, Colin Starks, George Shepherd,
and Donna Smith</span><span style="background-color: #ddd9c3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Military:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons, especially Brittany Worth who is deployed to Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hospitalizations:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Birthday This Week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
Catherine GeRue, Josh Miller, John Boston<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Happy
Anniversary: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">George
& Melissa Howarth, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lutheran High Trivia Night, Friday September 28, 2012 7 pm</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> at Knights of Columbus Hall at
Iles and Meadowbrook Rd. We would like to have 1 or 2 teams from Trinity. See
Pastor or Valerie for more information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Confirmation Meeting </span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30 pm</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CALENDAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday, September 8 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunday, September 9 9:00
am Bible
Class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 10:00
am Divine
Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Monday, September 10 7:00 pm Elder’s <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tuesday, September 11 9:00 am Circuit
Pastors@ Girard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 6:00 pm Unity Finance Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wednesday , September 12 5:30 pm Confirmation Parents Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 7:30 pm AA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday, September 14 Pastors
Family Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday ,
September 15 5:30 pm Divine Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">NEXT WEEKS LESSONS:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY</span></b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The ten lepers cried out from a
distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:11–19). Their condition
cut them off from God and others. So also do the works of the flesh cut us off
from God and others. “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
of God” (Galatians 5:16–24). Thus we cry out with the lepers, “Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,” eagerly seeking His good gifts. Jesus said
to the lepers, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they
were cleansed. So too, we walk by faith and not by sight, being confident of
Jesus’ help before we see any evidence of it, trusting that Jesus’ cleansing
words of forgiveness will restore us to wholeness in the resurrection. Let us
be as the one leper who returned to the true High Priest to give Him thanks and
glory. For Jesus bore our infirmities in His sacrifice at Calvary. His words
are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs
4:10–23).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Collect: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Keep, we implore You, O Lord,
Your Church with Your perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of mankind
without You cannot but fall, keep us ever by Your help from all things hurtful
and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord . Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Old Testament: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Proverbs 4:10–23<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Epistle:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Galatians 5:16–24<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Holy Gospel:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Luke 17:11–19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Readings for the
Week of 14th Sunday after Trinity</span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Daily
Lectionary For September 9–15, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunday, September
9 Malachi
1:1-14, Matthew3:1-17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monday, September
10 Malachi 2:1-3:5,
Matthew 4:1-11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tuesday, September
11</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Malachi 3:6-4:6, Matthew 4:12-25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wednesday,
September 12</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Deuteronomy 1:1-18, Matthew
5:1-20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thursday, September
13 </span>Deuteronomy 1:19-36,
Matthew 5:21-48<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friday, September
14 </span>Deuteronomy
1:37-2:15, Matthew 6:1-15<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saturday,
September 15</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Looking Forward to Sundays
Lessons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 1 Kings 17:8–16, Galatians
5:25—6:10, Matthew 6:24–34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272266993882625163.post-53876505910996141422012-09-02T18:30:00.000-05:002012-09-02T18:30:13.469-05:00Sermon September 1-2, 2012
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Trinity 13</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Luke 10:23-37</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>September 1 – 2, 2012</strong><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Law knows that we know how to love ourselves. That is why it
says: <b>“Love your neighbor as yourself.”</b> Every sin we commit is based on
inwardly-turned self-love. Like Eve before us we think we know what is good for
food and capable of making us wise. We can see with our own eyes what pleases
us. Every sin is rebellion. Every sin is based upon the presupposition that God
is holding out on us, that He is keeping something good, something fun, from
us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eve knew the threat of the Law: eat of this and you will die. She
knew it was true, that God was faithful to His Word. But she wanted that fruit.
Her desire blinded her to reason, rendered her insane so that she made one of
these crazy bargains. Maybe the momentary pleasure that fruit would give would
make Hell itself tolerable. Or maybe she could have the best of both worlds,
steal the fruit and hope God didn't notice. Or even that she could enjoy it now
but repent later, that God wouldn't really mind and wanted her to indulge
herself in wickedness.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Repent. You know these bargains well. You know how to love
yourself. These bargains are not made with God, but with the devil. And the
devil doesn't care. He'll give you great deals, incredible bargains, no
interest and no payments until after you've die. He just wants you to take the
forbidden fruit and however you want to justify it is fine with him. He'll tell
you need it. He'll tell you it is a small thing, no one will mind. He will tell
you anything it takes to ease your conscience. And he is always impressed by
how pious and sincere you are. He always soothes with sympathy for your
struggle. But the bottom line is that you want an evil thing for selfish use -
the flesh of another, honor and praise from men, possessions and leisure, fruit
from a tree that God said do not eat. You and the devil are good at clever
excuses. He is glad to help with the philosophical questions and to help you
spin it if you should get caught. Repent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The jealous God of Abraham is not like the devil. Nothing escapes
His notice. If you have loved anything else, if you have loved yourself, more
than Him you have broken the Law, you have sinned. <i>Do you love your children
more than you love God? Would you kill them for Him?</i> It is not as
hypothetical as it sounds. This is what Abraham was called upon to do. He was
to take his only son, his laughing little boy, the delight of his old age, up
to the mountain, bind him to an altar full of kindling, slit his throat and set
him on fire as a sacrifice to the Lord. <b>“Abraham,”</b> says the Almighty. <b>“Love
Me above all else. Love Me more than your son.”</b> <i>Was there ever a Law so
harsh? A demand so extreme?</i> God spare us from such tests!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But here is the strange thing: Abraham had faith. What God
demanded seemed most evil, but God is good. So Abraham proceeded. He strove to
do what God demanded even though it seemed contrary to everything he knew to be
good, to everything that God had given, to everything that God is. God's clear
Word defied the reason and experience of Abraham. His faith was stripped bare
to nothing more than the bold assertion that God is good and that God's Law is
always best, always right, that God does not hold out on His children, that God
would provide and it would be good. There are no bargains to be struck with
God. He is good. He will do the right, the best thing. We wait to see it in the
land of the living while we abide in the shadow of death by faith. We cling to
the promise of God and forsake all else.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And thus was Isaac spared. He did not die for his sins. An
innocent ram was caught by its horns in the thicket. God provided the lamb. It
died instead. Isaac, his face wet with the tears of Abraham, went back to his
mother in his father's arms alive. God is good. He provided. And He blessed
Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac with faith. Despite the fears and uncertainties of
Abraham, God remains faithful to His Word. He loves Abraham. He keeps His
promises.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this way God fulfills His own Law. Unlike Isaac, His Son was
not spared. He loved His neighbor, you and me, to the point of sacrificing
Jesus Christ on the cross. There was no ram in the thicket for Him. His love is
perfect, all-encompassing. It does not fail. He loves you above all else. He
loves you with His whole heart, mind, strength, and soul. God loves you as
Himself. The Father loves you as He loves Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus loves you
as He loves the Father and the Spirit. The Spirit loves you as He loves the Father
and the Son. Thus the laws demands of the Law are silenced by compassion and by
mercy. Jesus died. Isaac lives. God loves perfectly and fully and always. God
loves Isaac. God loves you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now we can certainly see an exhortation in the parable of the Good
Samaritan. It shows us how to live, that our lives in Christ are to be merciful
and full of good works. The Good Samaritan is a perfect example of how to keep
the Law. Thus if we ask the Lawyer's question: <b>“Who is my neighbor?”</b> The
answer is obvious: <b>“everyone.”</b> Everyone is my neighbor. I am to help all
of them, at my own expense, at my own loss, even at my own death. I am to sell
everything that I have and give it to the poor. That is the standard. That is
the Law. It is good. It is true. But it always accuses because we are not
perfect, we are not without sin. We have not loved perfectly. According to our
fallen flesh, we can't. We don't even know how. <i>Sell everything? Then how do
we feed our children? How do we remain healthy? How do we get to work?</i> It
is an impossible standard for fallen men. Still it is the standard, and if we
are judged by it, by <b>“everyone is my neighbor,”</b> we are condemned. We
deserve damnation. There are no loopholes. Everyone is your neighbor. Repent.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope is not found in the Lawyer's question: <b><i>“Who is my
neighbor?”</i></b><i> </i>Hope is found in Our Lord's question: <b>“<i>Which of
these proved neighbor to the man?”</i></b> The answer to the lawyer's question
is everyone. We are to love everyone. No exceptions, no prejudices, no excuses,
no limits. But the answer to Jesus' question is not everyone. For everyone did
not prove neighbor to the man in the ditch. Only One did, the One who had
mercy. Jesus is an example for us. He shows us how the Law is lived. He shows
us what love is. But before that, both sequentially and in significance, Jesus
is our merciful Savior from the Samaritan village of Nazareth. He has
compassion on us. He intervenes. He comes to earth to bear our burdens, to love
us, to fulfill the Law for us and give His life as a ransom for our bodies and
souls. The Law passes by on the other side. It cannot help. It can only accuse
and advise. It cannot heal or forgive. Jesus washes our wounds, takes us to an
inn for recovery, pays for everything, and promises to come back. He loves His
neighbor. He loves everyone without exception, prejudice, excuse, or limit. He
welcomes all men to Himself by perfect accepting grace, in holy, Divine love.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Come to the Table. Have the Blood of Jesus poured on your wounds.
Be joined to mercy in the eating of His Body. He is your neighbor and you are
His beloved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Keith GeRuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12781758355095257002noreply@blogger.com0