St. John's Lutheran Church LCMS

Thanksgiving Day is just about here. This year we celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27.  Where has the time gone, and how did we get here so fast?

A few weeks ago, in our Epistle Lesson, St. Paul, the Apostle, encouraged the faithful in Philippi, to, “Rejoice always, I will say it again. Rejoice.”

As the Circuit Pastors discussed this part of the Scripture, at their Winkel, (Circuit Pastor’s monthly gathering), the question was raised as to what is the difference   between being happy and joy?  The answer agreed upon was that happiness is an emotion derived from circumstances and situations that take place outside of us. Therefore, happiness starts on the outside and works its way inside of us. In contrast to this, is joy.  Joy is a quality that starts on the inside of us, and is a by-product of faith, or of being in, with, and under Christ, and works its way our in our thoughts, words, and actions.

While I was taking Classes in Family Life Science, at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, I had one Professor who told the class that there are some things that are outside of our control. But, also, there are many things we can control, such as: our use of time, money, and other resources, that our God has given to us. His premise was that the more we could control these 3 things in a positive manner, the happier we would be.

This is a lot easier said than done, so, we now consider joy. St. Paul, the Apostle, wrote his words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He also was in about the worse possible situation imaginable.  For St. Paul had proclaimed the Gospel – “that man is saved by grace, through faith in Jesus as Savior.”  But the Apostles’ words did not comfort his hearers. Instead, St. Paul’s words got them so angry that they started a riot, and tried to kill the Apostle Paul. This put Rome, and most especially, the Roman soldiers in a difficult situation. For, it was their job to keep Roman citizens safe in whatever part of the Roman Empire they were in. St. Paul the Apostle was a Jew. He was also a Roman citizen. So, Rome believed that it was best for St. Paul the Apostle to be put in jail, under the protection of Roman soldiers, far from those who wanted to hurt and harm him. It was in this setting that St. Paul found himself serving the Lord, as he now had time and a safe place to write his Epistle to the faithful in Philippi. So, St. Paul says, “Rejoice.”

I know this year in particular, for many, that it might be a little hard to rejoice. The over production of corn and beans in America has driven the prices down low, because of the huge surpluses. Added to this, was the strange weather we had this past summer that did not help the growth of our crops. It is to this that St. Paul says, “Rejoice always, again I will say Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
do not be anxious abut anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:4-7)

Have a Great November   Pastor Brad Rick

On October 31, we celebrate Reformation Day.  It was on October 31, 1517, that an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther nailed his 93 Thesis to the Castle Church door of Wittenberg, Germany.  Luther had hoped that these would be a platform for theological discussion and debate to bring about needed reforms of the Church, concerning the sale of indulgence, forgiveness of sins, and eternal salvation.

Dr. Luther had arrived in a unique time in Church history. The leaders of the Church were well educated and could read and write, most especially Latin, the language of the Church. Many of the common people could neither read nor write, most especially Latin. Also, superstition ruled the day, and not the Holy Scriptures, resulting in people living and doubts and fears about forgiveness of their sins and eternal salvation, and God. Someone had to do something.  That someone was Dr. Martin Luther.

Dr. Luther himself had wrestled and struggled with teachings and practices of his day.  Dr. Luther had no problem with needing faith in Jesus as Savior in order to be saved.  The struggle was with an open ended system of good works done by man, which added to the work of Christ done in His death and resurrection, to help pay for sins not confessed or absolved. The open ended system caused a big question to arise: How do I know when I have said and done enough good things to have my sins forgiven and paid for, and to be saved? Dr. Luther did many things in order to do and say enough good works, including: whipping himself, fasting frequently, and praying for long periods of time without sleep. In the end, he still wondered if it all was enough, without an answer.

The Church realized that Dr. Luther was gifted in the languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.  So, the Church made Dr. Luther a Teacher of the Church. This resulted in Dr. Luther teaching on books of the Bible including: Romans, Galatians, and the Pastoral Epistles of St.  Paul. In the midst of this, Dr. Luther kept finding verses of the Bible such as Ephesians 2:8+9: “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith  – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  There was the answer, right where it always had been.  It was in God’s holy Word.  This is what we celebrate on Reformation Day, October 31.

Dr. Luther originally posted his 95 Thesis on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, in order to bring about theological debate and discussion. In the process, the leaders of the Church became angry with Dr. Luther, excommunicated him, and judged him to be a heretic. In the process, because of what Dr. Luther did, a new denomination arose, called “Lutherans.”

In 1661, Elector John George II of Saxony, standardized the custom of observing October 31, as a day to celebrate the posting of Dr. Luther’s 95 Thesis. This day has now become Reformation Day.  This is what we celebrate on October 31.

Lord’s richest Blessings      Pastor Brad Rick