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Catechesis

Pentecost: “Lord and Giver of Life”

by The Rev. Dan Feusse

In the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed you confess that the Holy Spirit is the “Lord and Giver of Life.” That is the work of the Holy Spirit – to give life. It is on Pentecost that the work of the Holy Spirit is given special attention by the Church. But have you ever stopped to consider what was going on in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost?

It is at the time of Pentecost that all of Israel gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks. The Feast of Weeks, also known as the Day of Firstfruits, or Pentecost, was a festival of joy and thanksgiving, celebrating the completion of the harvest season. It was the second major feast which all able-bodied Jewish males were required to attend – the first one being the Feast of Passover. The Feast of Weeks was celebrated as a sabbath with rest from ordinary labors and the calling of a holy convocation.

The Feast of Weeks, a harvest celebration, was a term used to describe the period from the grain harvest to the barley harvest, and finally to the wheat harvest. It is called the Feast of Weeks because the Lord specifically told the sons of Jacob that they were to count seven sevens of weeks (49 days) from the Day of Firstfruits, and then on the “morrow”, a feast was to be observed (Leviticus 23:16). That brings the total number of days between the feasts to fifty. This Feast was to occur precisely fifty days after the Day of Firstfruits and was given the name “Pentecost,” which means “fifty.”

On this occasion, the children of Israel would bring the firstfruits of wheat to the Temple. In this ceremony, they waved sheaves back and forth, creating a loud noise like that of a mighty, rushing wind. The Feast of Weeks in the Old Testament is the festival which foreshadows the giving of the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus rose from the grave as the Firstfruits of all who die, the Holy Spirit is given.

At the end of Luke’s Gospel account, Jesus tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high – the Holy Spirit. The apostles knew exactly how long they would have to wait. The Holy Spirit would come on Pentecost – fifty days after Jesus rose as the Firstfruits. This would be the next great Feast of Israel – a time when Jews from different countries would be in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of the harvest season.

The disciples waited as they were commanded. Fortunately, their wait was not long – only ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven. And then it happened. The Holy Spirit is given by the Son, and the ordination of the apostles, begun at the end of St. John’s gospel, is completed.

Oh, and one more thing: in the Old Testament, the twelve tribes of Israel gathered at Mount Sinai. There is noise and wind and fire. And there is Moses – the called and ordained servant of the Lord – preaching the Word of God.

Here, on the Day of Pentecost, it’s Mount Sinai all over again. The loud noise; the wind; the fire; the twelve apostles gathered together and the Word of God being preached by those who have been called and ordained.

This is how it started. And Jesus has continued to give the Holy Spirit ever since. Every Divine Service is a Pentecost. The Word of God is preached and the Holy Spirit is given. The Body and Blood of Christ is distributed and the Holy Spirit is given. In the giving of the Holy Spirit, you have been made one with the Father and the Son for all eternity.

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Pop. Culture & the Arts

Higher Movies: Spider-Man 3

by Stan Lemon

[Spoilers follow…]

The final installation of the Spider-Man Trilogy opened on May 4th, which is supposed to wrap up a number of plot lines from the first two movies, particularly Peter and Mary Jane’s relationship and Harry’s burning desire for revenge. Spider-Man 3 has a lot to live up to, after the first two movies. Unfortunately, the only expectation Spider-Man 3 lived up to was the initial box office revenues, breaking the record previously held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (another bad sequel) with a whopping 59.3 million dollars.

The third movie introduces three villains and more fight scenes than any of the previous movies. It’s also tainted with numerous convenient twists that allowed the director to end in a hopelessly romantic clash of duos and a fallen bad-guy-turned-hero. Take, for example, the revelation made by Harry’s butler, who appears out of nowhere, to let him know that his father died by his own hand. This sudden turn of luck for Peter Parker can be coined as nothing more than a convenient addition to the story line.

Amidst bad dialogue and a poor storyline, cinematographically, the movie leaves much to be desired. The first two movies were excellent examples of action-packed CGI, with Spider-Man flipping through the air doing incredible moves with special attention to detail. I’m honestly not sure if that attention to detail was in this latest installment, because every time a fight scene came the camera was moving too fast to see what was going on. Worse yet, the problem wasn’t just the CGI – the scene with the police officers searching for Sandman in the semi-truck was equally challenging to watch.

While Spider-Man 3 didn’t live up the reputation of its predecessors (a growing trend for Marvel-made movies) it does have something to teach us about sin. Much of the movie focuses on a gooey black substance that oozes its way out of a meteor and absorbs itself into Peter Parker. This substance amplifies Peter’s anger and his pride, consequently he becomes more concerned with himself than those around him. This substance, in a nutshell, is sin which becomes even more vividly so as Peter struggles to rid himself of it – conveniently on the bell tower of a cathedral.

Eddie Brock a.k.a. Venom, played by Topher Grace, is overtaken by this same gooey substance. In the final battle scene, we see Spider-Man trying to persuade Venom from the substance, to reject it and turn from it. Instead, Eddie Brock confesses that he likes being Venom, he likes being evil, and he has no desire to separate himself from the substance which ultimately permeates his very being. In the end Eddie dies, clinging to his sin – actually grasping after it – refusing to let go.

Sin isn’t much different than this gooey substance, it permeates our existence, defining who we are and what we do. And we revel in it. Some even continue to cling to it even when faced with their own death. The Lord doesn’t leave us with just the gooey black death though, He leaves us with His Son who takes away our sin so that we might live in grace by the forgiveness He won for us on the Cross.

Forgiveness is another underlying theme of Spider-Man 3, we find Sandman (conveniently the new killer of Parker’s Uncle Ben) telling Spider-Man “I’m not asking for your forgiveness, just your understanding.” Here Sandman’s got forgiveness all wrong. He’s less concerned with reconciliation than he is with sympathy. This is the very antithesis of the Christian faith. Our Lord doesn’t sympathize with our sin, He simply eradicates it – forgiving it all. What good would sympathy have done for Sandman anyhow?

Earlier in the movie Aunt May testifies that with forgiveness “you start by forgiving yourself”. Again we have a poor understanding of forgiveness, the same understanding that Sandman has. For Aunt May and Sandman, forgiveness works inside of themselves, its an action on their parts. We know this is not true, the Lord works forgiveness when and where He pleases, whether it be at the font or on the altar or in the words of your Pastor, and we sit as passive receivers of this gift.

Peter Parker is caught up in this worldly understanding of forgiveness too, which goes hand-in-hand with his struggle against sin (the gooey stuff). Just as worldly forgiveness doesn’t resolve anything, so the movie ends with a dead friend, an unmended relationship, and a super-hero still seeking purpose and meaning in life. Then the credits roll…

Fortunately for you and I, who have been forgiven once and for all in the waters of Holy Baptism, there’s more than just the credits at the end of the movie.

Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross at Calvary, winning forgiveness, life and salvation for all. He defeated that gooey black substance in order that we wouldn’t be left to fend against it ourselves, like Spider-Man. In the end, our purpose is found in Him and our meaning in the gifts He gives us daily and richly for our nourishment. So when the credits roll it’s not the end of the movie, but the beginning of eternal life in heaven above.

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Current Events

Star Wars at 30

by Rachel Soyk

Thirty years ago, in a galaxy not so far away…

In preparation for writing this article, I decided that it was my duty to watch A New Hope again. After all, it’s research – right? A New Hope is my favorite movie in the Star Wars saga, and watching it again reminded me of why. Full of quippy one-liners, heroic sacrifices, and exotic locales, not to mention a superb soundtrack, it’s no wonder that this movie has captured the imaginations of generations ever since its release on May 25, 1977. Besides beginning a series of six movies, what started with A New Hope has spawned hundreds of books and comic books; thousands of websites, fanfiction, and forums; and enough memorabilia to fill a galaxy. Star Wars has even influenced our culture, with references popping up in everything from Back to the Future to Weird Al songs to Sesame Street.

How did a sci-fi movie have this much impact? Even those who have never seen the movies recognize the name of Darth Vader. What makes a story so powerful that it sticks in viewers’ minds long after the credits roll? What causes people to return to a tale over and over? It’s certainly more than engaging characters and flashy special effects!

J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, talked about something he termed a “eucatastrophe.” A “eucatastrophe” is basically a happy ending. Now, you might ask why this is such a big deal. After all, a lot of stories with happy endings don’t gain a near-cult following. The difference here is that a “eucatastrophe” is not merely a happy ending. It goes beyond that to deal with evil and defeat. A New Hope takes into account the rather large possibility for failure, but the Rebellion does not despair. They believe that the Empire will be destroyed. In fact, they believe so strongly that this evil must be destroyed that they risk all for it. This happy ending goes beyond just being happy – it’s the triumph of good over evil, a triumph that was only won by sacrifice.

This embodies something that Tolkien wrote in his essay On Fairy-stories: “The peculiar quality of the ‘joy’ in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a sudden glimpse of the underlying reality or truth.” A New Hope teaches us something about the way our world works. It shows us virtues such as hope, courage, and self-sacrifice. It teaches us, through Ben Kenobi, that there are things greater than ourselves, that some things are worth dying for. It shows us, in Han Solo, that friends are worth far more than money. Through Luke Skywalker, we see that suffering and loss do not have to lead to despair, but can actually be used for good.

The prominence of these virtues, especially that of sacrifice, are what make Star Wars something people return to over and over. We see many sacrifice their lives for others – Ben, Biggs, and countless other pilots. By seeing this, we are reminded of The Sacrifice that Christ made for us and for our salvation. We are reminded that it is only through sacrifice and the crucifying of selfish desires that good can come. We are reminded that we cannot achieve this over evil by our own reason, strength or skills. Luke required the Force to make the perfect shot. We have something far stronger and more sure than the Force. We have a loving Savior who guides us, restores us when we fail, and gives us strength that can come from no other source.

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Pop. Culture & the Arts

Diary of an American Idol Junkie

by Kim Grams

The week before the finale:

When I go to church, I’m there for the Word and Sacraments.  I don’t expect to be entertained by a rock band at the altar or something resembling the American Idol finale.  HOWEVER, when I want to be entertained by watching something like American Idol, it’d better knock my socks off.  

We’ve had Kelly vs. Justin, Reuben vs. Clay, Fantasia vs. Diana, Carrie vs. Bo, Taylor vs. Katharine, and now Blake vs. Jordin. I’m getting a little jaded.  It’s hard to be moved or excited year after year.

For the finale, I want some spectacular vocalistic (my word) feats.  I want power notes that give me goose bumps or a rockin’, upbeat song that makes me want to dance.  I don’t want boring ballads or your grandma’s favorite song.  NO Bee Gee’s.  Please.  (If Lutherans believed in purgatory, what level would that be?  Making solo artists sing songs in falsetto that only work with the group of people who originally sang it?  What were the producers thinking?) 

What’s good about Blake:

He’s hip, fresh – there’s never been a contestant like him. The beat- boxing is fun, plus he can actually sing.  Sanjaya getting voted out was a blessing for Blake.   All those screaming, crying girls don’t just stop voting.  They need someone else to “crush” on.  Add the Sanjaya votes to the Blake votes and that’s a lot of votes.  

What’s good about Jordin: 

She’s young with lots of personality, but sings like a seasoned pro.  If she wins she will be (I think) the youngest American Idol winner.  For sheer power vocals, she’s got it in the bag.  It helps her to be up against Blake, because her style is similar to that of Melinda and Lakisha.  People who like power singers or don’t “get” the beat-boxing thing will vote for her.  And when they showed the clips of her visit home, she had quite a few screaming, crying fans of her own.   

For the first time, I’m undecided on who gets my vote.  Melinda was my pick to win, but I did think she might “skew older” with the votes.  I like both Jordin and Blake for different reasons.  It will come down to song choice and who has the best vocals THAT NIGHT (I almost never vote by single performance, but by body of work).  And, after 5 previous finales, I want the “Wow”. 

The day after the Finale, 2 hours before the results:

Here’s what it comes down to:  Blake will be great in a studio, but he’s not a power singer.  He’s also like Taylor – as much fun to WATCH as to hear.  On his first song (Bon Jovi’s “Shot Through the Heart”), the Kodak Theatre ATE HIM ALIVE.  He did that number WAY better the first time.  Being a repeat, I already knew what to expect, and how cool it was earlier in the season.  Round two’s Maroon 5 song, “And She Will Be Loved,” was better because the BAND wasn’t so loud.  Blake has clear, smooth vocals.  Kinda like Keane.  I liked Keane.  Good performance, but not amazing. 

Jordin’s voice fit the venue better.  I liked the Christina Aguilera song, which I was unfamiliar with, so I’m not comparing it to the original.  I’m glad she sang at least one non-ballad.  We already heard the Martina Mc Bride song earlier in the season – she did it great both times.  All in all, solid singing – and I do judge vocal quality.  But I’m not blown away, having seen this all before.  Round 1 goes to Jordan; Round 2 I’d call a tie.  Neither one has made me jump out of my seat. 

Round 3.  Blake sings.  Halfway through his performance, I know two things: first, this song is NOT in his comfort zone of song style; second, it IS in Jordin’s and if she knocks it out of the park, she will win the competition on this one “song-writing competition” selection.  (I pause the DVR during commercial, since we’ve caught up to live time, to explain this “how Jordin will win on this song” theory to my kids).  As Jordin prepares to sing, I’m yelling, “C’mon Jordin – bring it!” at the TV. 

Halfway through her performance, I know two things: one, I have goose bumps, I’m crying, and something in this finale has finally had the “Wow” factor; and two, if Jordin does not win after this we need to get more music education back in the schools, because she clearly stomped Blake on this song. 

And now the big question: Are there more screaming, crying girls voting, who may not be as savvy on vocal quality (or have WAY more time than me to vote) . . . OR are there more voters who recognize vocal excellence and will vote on the merit of the singing.  My pick has won in every single finale, with the exception of Reuben and Clay (and I STILL think there was a problem with the voting – come ON; look at the album sales!!!)   

5 minutes after the Finale results:

Jordin won and all’s right in the music world.  And I only had to sit through 2 hours of filler!  Loved the performances with current American Idol contestants and previous winners, along with some famous people.  They should cut the other solo artists (Bette Midler with a song that was old when I was in high school 20 years ago?) and the golden Idols (which my kids loved, but I thought were just painful).  They need fast-paced finale that’s exciting and zips right to the results. They don’t need Tony Bennett, Gwen Stefani or Green Day.  Idol Winners ARE big stars now. They are the ones I want to see on the show – for one hour, not two.  And this season I won’t have post-Idol withdrawal – tomorrow, So You Think You Can Dance premieres and I’m ready to get on the phone for my favorites. See Mom?  All those dance lessons and high school choir tours DID pay off! 

Kim Grams is a writer and pastor’s wife who lives in Scottsbluff, NE

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Catechesis

Encouraging Your Choir…Dare to be Lutheran

by The Rev. Kantor Richard C. Resch

Unfortunately, in Christendom the church choir is often seen as a democracy, but for Lutherans – this cannot be! And if this is not understood by all up front, a degree of chaos could be the weekly result. Why? Because when it comes to matters of music in the church, everyone not only has an opinion, everyone believes the subject is only about opinions and tastes. Therefore the flock looks for opportunities to voice what they want. Ponder this; it is the formula for chaos.

However, if you Dare to Be Lutheran with your choir, you need to take the lead and guide them into a very different way of thinking about how music decisions are made in your Lutheran congregation. Tastes and opinions do not govern what your pastor says in his sermon, in his catechesis with youth, and his adult Bible class. And since Lutherans believe that music is preaching and teaching the faith, tastes and opinions should not govern the decisions made concerning musical proclamation. The sung confession as it appears in congregational hymns, liturgy and choral responses is part of that day’s preaching –so it better be right! If it is not, it could be preaching something different from the rest of the day, and such preaching may fit another church on the block better than yours.

Such a daring view reveals A HIGH VIEW OF MUSIC, a view that not a one of us possessed at birth. It took decades for me to come to this. The high view always requires gentle catechesis to make one a Lutheran “musically.” For no other church body has such a high view! Therefore these ideas will be foreign to young and old — without catechesis.

So if you are still waiting for the answer to why your Lutheran choir director is not running a democracy, here it is. Your director has made some very important decisions concerning every word and note chosen. Those decisions were made based on the readings of that day. It is an enormous job to get those choices right. In fact, it is the hardest part of my positions at the Concordia Theological Seminary and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church/Fort Wayne – the choices.

I work to faithfully base those choices on what will add to the proclamation of that specific day. As an aside, my wife said to me after a recent Divine Service –that just happened to be my birthday, “What a faithful Kantor you are. I know you certainly did not choose your favorite hymns today even though it was your birthday.” She was right, for she knew that only one out of seven did I dearly love.

That is how it goes in faithful Lutheran church music. The pastor works closely with the musician and together they plan everything to flow from the chosen theme from the day’s readings. The result: a Divine Service that is a glorious feast from beginning to end as it proclaims in every word and note a unified preaching of that day’s Gospel.

A second part in the choral decision-making process has to do with musical periods, composers and styles. I try to draw on that wealth of music that has been written over the centuries for Lutherans by Lutherans and their Divine Service. It only makes sense to look there first at some of the biggest names in all of music: Schuetz, Praetorious, Bach, Pachelbel, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Distler, Wienhorst, Manz. If I do not find something there that is appropriate for the day and that choir can do well, I continue the search with music from all periods by less famous names; nevertheless, it is music that serves the text well and has the same standards used by the greats. I am happy to report that there are many today writing well-crafted, faithful liturgical music for our use in this time.

A third part in daring to make your choir Lutheran has to do with being able to honestly evaluate what your choir can do well on a given Sunday. Often our goals and expectations are too grand for the few singers before us. No one enjoys singing or listening to music offered that is beyond what the singers and instrumentalists can bring off. As directors, we mean well, but in the end such choices may make the singers uncomfortable, possibly even embarrassed, and the listeners are less than edified. As director I work very hard to choose music that even the smallest group can bring off well. If this is done consistently, it is the kind of choral program that begins to build. But remember, church choral programs take years to blossom and flourish. What I have given you here are only the first steps.

Think about musical choices in this light, and I hope it will change everything –for the better! It is the daring Lutheran approach.

The Rev. Kantor Richard Resch is Kantor for Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN.   He also serves as the FOR YOU Conferences Music/Worship Coordinator.

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Pop. Culture & the Arts

Higher Movies: Shrek the Third: Vocation, Vocation, Vocation

by Nathan Fischer

More fairy tale figures abound in the third Shrek installment, which hit theaters May 18. This time, everybody’s favorite green ogre is on another journey, and trouble just won’t let him be. He must find the next heir to the throne of Far Far Away, save the kingdom from the ruthless Prince Charming, and deal with the news that he is about to become a daddy. Of course, he can’t do any of this without his trusty sidekicks, Donkey and Puss in Boots.

I have to say, while it was funny (and worth seeing if you’re a Shrek fan), it just didn’t quite live up to its two predecessors. I’m sure the writers really tried, but Shrek the Third just lacks something. It was still pretty good. It was still pretty funny. It just wasn’t quite on par with Shrek or Shrek 2. With that said, it most certainly did have its moments, and I found myself laughing uproariously several times. Who wouldn’t laugh as sweet, little Snow White suddenly busts out singing Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, or at a powerful wizard who’s lost his touch and turned into a hippy tree hugger?

What I found most intriguing throughout the film, though, was not its humor or story-line, but the way in which the writers approached a topic very near and dear to any Lutheran’s heart: vocation. When Shrek is given the opportunity to rule Far Far Away, he turns it down – and at first, you’re left wondering why he would do such a thing. After all, as they say later on, “You can be anything you want to be.” I think Shrek has the right idea, though – he’s an ogre from a swamp who just wants to be a good husband. He knows he probably won’t be the greatest king (which you can tell during his hilarious trial period). He needs to find someone who will.

When he does finally find Arthur Pendragon, Arthur also does not appear to be very much on the surface (especially not King material). Throughout the story, though, he grows into the king that Far Far Away needs, and you get the sense that he will do the job quite well. He struggles with it at first and is terrified at the prospect of so much responsibility, but with some “gentle” nudging from Shrek, he comes to see his calling as king.

Shrek also struggles throughout the film with another looming responsibility of his own: fatherhood. Fiona is pregnant, and Shrek is scared that he just won’t be a very good dad. He is, after all, just an ogre. Shrek voices a very real concern – what if he doesn’t make a good father? It’s not that he doesn’t want children. He’s just afraid of being a lousy dad.

There is something awesome and powerful about all of this, even in a “kid’s” movie. Shrek recognizes that he is not fit to be king – but he never shirks off his responsibility as husband. He is humbled by the thought of the gift of children, but he returns to do what must be done. Arthur is also humbled and afraid that he will be a terrible ruler, yet it turns out this is what he was born to do. Despite the seeming mess of the world around them, in the end everything falls into place, and they fulfill the vocations they know they are to have in life.

Shrek especially teaches us that we don’t need to shoot for the stars. Being a husband and a father (or a wife and a mother, or a son, daughter, etc.) is good enough. In fact, being in those vocations is one of the greatest gifts of all. You don’t need to aim for president, or astronaut, or any of those other things in life. “You can be anything you want to be” applies especially to the holy offices of family, parenthood, and marriage. These are the truly important things in life. Not power. Not money. Not even “being all you can be.”

As Christians, we know that these gifts come from God, and that He places us each into our own vocation. He empowers us to lead holy lives in Christ, lives as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and all those other offices that we hold. If you become president someday, that’s great – but it’s also great just to be a mom and dad, or brother and sister, or son and daughter. It’s also good to be a janitor, regular office worker, auto mechanic, and all those other things that we think are so “normal” and mundane. Those are good things, because Christ has made them good.

Shrek the Third might not have been the funniest of the trilogy, and it might not have had the greatest plot line, but the theme of vocation that runs throughout can be used as a tool for parents to teach their kids (who are sure to love the movie no matter what). It can also be used to remind ourselves that where we are right now (as well as where we will be in the future) in our life in Christ is good and right, even if we’re not King of Far Far Away.

Nathan Fischer is a  junior at Concordia University Wisconsin, planning to attend Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN.  He is also a Higher Things Blogger.

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Higher Homilies

A Little Pentecost

by Rev. Brent Kuhlman

+ Jesu Juva +

Acts 2:38-39

Peter’s been preaching his Pentecost sermon. You hear the word “Pentecost” and you think Holy Spirit and all His gifts, don’t you? That’s right. The disciples are given the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day to preach the Gospel in many understandable languages. And 3,000 sinners are brought to faith in Jesus as the Savior of the world. Just as He promised Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to bring glory to Himself. The Holy Spirit points sinners to the Savior Jesus. The Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in Jesus only for salvation. As the UPS Delivery Man of the Trinity the Holy Spirit delivers, bestows, and applies the gifts of Jesus’ most holy Good Friday death to you and rescues you from death and the devil through the forgiveness of sins.

And lo and behold right before your very eyes this morning there was another little Pentecost Day. A full blown Holy Spirit extravaganza! Did you see it? Didn’t it just blow you away?

“Where Reverend? You’ve got to be kidding? A little Pentecost Day in a dead orthodox Lutheran congregation in rural Nebraska? Come on now! We all know that Holy Spirit Pentecosts and Holy Spirit gifts take place in big city churches that are all ablaze! What time is it? A little after 11:00 a.m. A bit too early isn’t Reverend? Shame on you. Have one of the elders check the sacristy! Do a little communion wine inventory! Kuhlman may have snuck into the sacristy during the senior recognition party! A little Pentecost Day? Give us a break Reverend. Now sober up, be a good pastor, and give us one of your typical dead orthodox Lutheran sermons that we’re so used to!”

I’m very happy to do that. So glad you asked. After all, dead orthodox Lutheran sermons are what I do best. Gave one to the Wyoming District pastors in Gillette, WY last Monday. They seemed to like it. What do you expect from a bunch of dead orthodox Lutheran pastors? In any event, be my guest. Smell my breath. Inspect the sacristy. I couldn’t be more sober.

So I think try it again. Shall I give it a whirl? What do you think? Are you sure? All right. Here goes. Right before your very eyes this morning you witnessed a little Holy Spirit-filled Pentecost event. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, was doing what He does best. Raising the dead! Recreating a sinner for faith in Jesus! A whole new life.

It happened when Mike and Stephanie brought their little baby sinner, Nolan, to church this morning. Jesus met them at the baptismal font. And with His Word He unleashed the power of the Holy Spirit! Handed out a washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit for little Nolan. A little Pentecost Day just for him!

I’m not making this up. Peter preaches Holy Baptism this way. Let’s have another listen: “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus,” he says. “Every one of you.” Every one means all. Every one leaves no one out. Who would dare to say that the “be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus” should exclude Nolan? If you would exclude little Nolan, or anyone else for that matter, then you anger the Lord Jesus who says: “Let the little children come to Me and DO NOT FORBID THEM for of such is the kingdom of God.”

So Mike and Stephanie have brought Nolan for Holy Baptism.

Better get back to the text. “Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus,” Peter says. Why? Simply out of obedience? To offer Jesus a gift? To show Him what good boys and girls we are? No. Just the opposite. It’s to receive gifts from Him.

Listen carefully to Peter’s sermon again. Baptism in the Name of Jesus is: FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.”

How wonderful! Forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit given in Holy Baptism. All the Lord’s doing. All the Lord’s giving. In the way He says in Peter’s sermon.

Are your and Nolan’s sins forgiven? Of course. Because Jesus died for you. Because you and Nolan are baptized in Jesus’ Name. It’s what the text says!

Are you Holy Spirit-ed? Of course. Because you and Nolan are baptized in the Name of Jesus. It’s what the text says! The Scriptures do not lie!

Holy Spirit and all His gifts. A little Pentecost Day. At the font. For you and for Nolan.

You can be sure of all this. Faith is only certain and sure in what the Lord promises. The apostle Peter states: “This promise [of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit] is FOR YOU and FOR YOUR CHILDREN and for all who are far off as many as the Lord shall call to Himself.” For you and for you children! Peter doesn’t say only eight years old and up. Why? Because Jesus died for all. He didn’t leave anybody out of His dying. So Holy Baptism is for all. He wants all nations to be baptized.

Forgiveness of sins. Gift of the Holy Spirit. For Nolan in his Baptism today. No wonder the apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:21 that “Baptism saves you . . . through the resurrection of Jesus.” No wonder Mike and Stephanie brought Nolan to the font today. Even though the apostle Peter sounds very much all those dead orthodox Lutheran pastors, they still brought Nolan for a little Pentecost Day. Couldn’t withhold that from him. And neither would I. After all, what Jesus institutes is not useless. It is for you and Nolan’s benefit.

Happy Baptism Day Nolan! Happy using Jesus, Holy Baptism, and its benefits against all your sin, death and the devil for the rest of your life. For all of you here at Trinity and for Nolan there is the never ending: “But I am baptized! And if I have been baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body,” (Large Catechism, 462.44).

This  sermon was preached by the Rev. Brent Kuhlman on the Fifth Sunday of Easter at Trinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, NE.

Categories
Pop. Culture & the Arts

The Bachelor

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

It began with my ill wife dozing on the sofa on Easter Monday evening. I was in another chair. She had the remote. We had watched “Dancing with the Stars,” and now no one changed the channel. The following program unfolded before our eyes and we could not help but watch it, like nosy passers-by near an accident. What was it? “The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman.” 

What is so appealing about this show? That evening there were fifteen women vying for the Bachelor’s attention. Many of these girls appear to have questionable morals, attempting to use appearance rather than their true selves to “get that rose.” 

The more one thinks about it, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would agree to be on the show, knowing that the mate she is seeking happens to have over a dozen women throwing themselves at him. Who knows how much of himself he will have shared – emotionally and physically – with the other contestants by the time he picks “the one.” It doesn’t matter how much he looks like “Malibu Ken” with perfect teeth, ripped chest and abs, and a flawless tan. 

Forget that he has the strength and courage to be in the navy, serving as a medical officer for a special operations dive unit in Pearl Harbor. Never mind that he has the intelligence to be a high school valedictorian and go on to earn a medical doctorate. Don’t dwell on this amazing athlete who competes in triathlons and marathons. Don’t give a thought to the sentiment of a man who created a charity to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research, in memory of his uncle. He’s been looking for love on T.V., enjoying a crowd of other women fawning over him! 

Nevertheless, these girls don’t seem to mind. Willing to forget the process of many women attempting to latch on to him, the ladies on the show appear to want to be exclusive with this too-good-to-be-true Lieutenant Dr. Andy Baldwin. Many get catty and extremely competitive, believing they will become his fiancée. Some seem genuinely surprised when they are passed over and do not receive the rose that signifies his desire to have them continue in his quest for a bride.

Isn’t this a sad commentary on our entertainment: that we can be so shallow at times, able to enjoy the voyeurism of the filmed courtships on “The Bachelor?” Do you ever feel sorry for the young women who are willing to make themselves this vulnerable on national television, just to get a 1 out of 25 chance at being Mrs. Too-good-to-be-true Lieutenant Dr. Andy Baldwin?

Dear friends in Christ, we can be so joyful! Our dear Savior is also the Perfect Bridegroom. Since wed at the cross to His Bride, the Church, He is no longer a Bachelor. And we are no longer lonely women* since He has baptized us, and brought us into His Body – His Bride.

We also have the joy of knowing that our Too-good-to-be-true Bridegroom is indeed true! There is nothing false or deceiving about Him; He is perfect beyond imagination!

Do not worry; our dear Lord will not allow you to be embarrassed in some televised competition to be received into His family. Instead, He gives it purely as Gift, through His Baptism and Gospel. And He sustains you in that relationship as His gives His Body to you – not in some obscene way, flirting in a hot tub or fornicating “off camera” – but in the pure and holy placing of His Body and Blood inside of yours at His altar!

Dearly Beloved, yes, Andy Baldwin seems like the perfect catch for many ladies. But Jesus Christ has made each of you part of His “perfect catch” as His eternal Bride. “Hotties” and “hunks” will come and go in this world, but the Lord Jesus will endure as your eternal Love!

* The “latching,” “vulnerable,” “lonely,” etc. comments apply equally to the men on seasons of “The Bachelorette;” such adjectives are in no way sexist.

Categories
Current Events

It Didn’t Affect Me…Or Did It?

by Kelsey Fischer

I can honestly say that I never thought such tragedy could happen in this world as the one yesterday. Then I realized what a sheltered world I live in. But it wasn’t from a lack of knowing, but a lack of not wanting to know, that I could be in such disbelief over the attacks at Virginia Tech. I was quite young when the events happened at Columbine, and I was only a bit older during September 11th. It’s funny how you can look back on these events and compare your point of view on death – how when you’re young and innocent, that the idea of death doesn’t have much of an effect on you.

I have to admit that I’ve lived a very fortunate life. I’ve only been to about three funerals in my lifetime, and only one of those happened to be for someone that I still have memories of today. I still had this naive idea of death, not fully able to comprehend it. It’s kind of funny to actually think about death and life. To realize how fleeting a life is, and how easy it is for it to disappear.

As I’ve grown older, I realized I had looked upon life as an action movie. Good plot, hero saves the day, and oh yeah…those background people “died.” Although, we all know that Hollywood doesn’t actually kill people, so it’s all good. Now, I view it as much more, because I realize just how short life is.

I’m going to see if I can get you to grasp this strange abstract idea that just hit me. I want you to picture life as if it was a Hollywood action film. We have our dashingly handsome hero and his beautiful damsel in distress running from the bad guys through a crowded street. Shots are fired and of course our stars are fine, but common people begin to fall. We don’t really care much because our two leads are perfectly fine. We don’t know those other peoples’ characters and we don’t care if they die. Sounds quite selfish, doesn’t it?

Now, I want to equate this little Hollywood film to our own lives, because so many people are exactly like this. We constantly have this point of view that as long as I’m safe and those I care about are safe, then nothing matters. They’re just background people, in the story of my life. Hopefully that sounds just as sadistic and horrible to you, as it does to me. But, by listening to the radio and reading online, I realized that this is the exact viewpoint of many people in the world today. Scary ain’t it?

I was horrified and floored to listen to people calling in to a music radio station yesterday and complaining because they decided to withhold their normal “game show” activities in respect for the dead. One woman even had the gall to proclaim that, “In times like this we need to carry on living our lives and we need to be happy.” Come off it! Can’t you even give people a day to mourn the lives lost?! But no, we must move on right away and totally forget a little thing called respect for the families and loved ones.

This terrible feeling of “it didn’t affect me so why should I suffer” seems to have impregnated our culture. And we wonder why people forget the cost of lives on September 11th, or other such horrific events. We live in such a self-centered, it’s all about me me me, society and it’s quite literally terrifying.

Anyways, to end my rant, I must ask that you as the future of this country take a good look at how you view such events in life. I know as Christians we pray for those left behind in mourning, and show our respect. In times of such sorrow please show your support and don’t end up like those self-centered people surrounding our culture today.

Also, be sure to read myHT: Oh That You Would Slay the Wicked by Rev. Rich Heinz. 


Kelsey Fischer is a college student majoring in history and dance, and is a regular blogger for Higher Things. Kelsey wrote this article in the wake of last month’s tragedy at Virginia Tech.

Categories
Catechesis

The Ascension of Our Lord

by The Rev. Dan Feusse

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:11 (NKJV)

In the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed, you confess these things about Jesus: that He was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  You confess that on the Third Day He rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

Each of these things you confess about Jesus are important for you.  That means that the Ascension of our Lord is every bit as important for you as Christmas, Good Friday and Easter.  When Jesus was born, He accomplished something for you.  The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. And so we celebrate Christmas.  When Jesus suffered and died, He accomplished something for you.  The Lamb of God bled and took away the sin of the world.  And so we celebrate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.  When Jesus rose from the grave, He accomplished something for you.  Death was swallowed up in victory.  And so we celebrate Easter.

When Jesus ascends into heaven, He also accomplishes something for you.  He takes His resurrected and glorified Body and, as true God and true Man, He ascends into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father.  Christmas.  Good Friday.  Easter.  Ascension.  They all go together.  And they all are important for your salvation.  You know much about Christmas.  You know much about Good Friday.  And you know much about Easter.  But what makes the Ascension of Jesus so important for you?  Two things: first, that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven; and second, that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Where your Savior goes, so you go.  Or, how it goes for Jesus is how it goes for you.  Did Jesus suffer on account of the sins of this world?  So will you.  Was Jesus persecuted because He loved His Father and carried out His will?  So will you.  Did Jesus die?  So will you.  Did Jesus rise bodily from the grave?  So will you.  Did Jesus ascend bodily into heaven?  So will you.

At the end of all things, after your mortal body has been buried in the ground, St. Paul tells you this from 1 Thessalonians 4: “…then the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”  Just as Jesus had His resurrection, so you will have your resurrection.  But St. Paul doesn’t stop there.  He continues:  “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Just as Jesus had His ascension, so you will have your ascension.  And Just as Jesus ascended Bodily, so will you.

Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father.  But that doesn’t mean that Jesus has gone away and left you to fend for yourself.  It doesn’t mean that Jesus is sitting up in heaven with His Father, the two of them side-by-side in big LaZBoy recliners, just passing the time and watching the world go by.

Many Christians think exactly that way.  Many Christians think that because Jesus has now ascended to the right hand of the Father that He is no longer here.  And because they believe that, they think and act accordingly.  Those Christians who think Jesus is no longer here often live their lives in despair, wondering why God has left them to fend for themselves – wondering if any of God’s promises are really for them. 

And those Christians who think that Jesus is no longer here also conduct their worship accordingly.  For them, the Lord’s Supper is simply a memorial meal – a gathering together of Christians to fondly remember a time when Jesus was with us.  But this is not what is going on with the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father.  The “right hand of the Father” is not a place.  It is a figure of speech.  It is the position of honor, power and glory.  And it is more.  St. Luke tells you in Acts chapter 5: “God has exalted Jesus to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”  St. Paul tells you in Romans chapter 8: “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”  The fact that Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father is great news for you!  Jesus and His Dad are not sitting in their recliners, taking it easy in some distant heaven far away from you.

Because Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, He continually intercedes for you, and always bringing you before His Father.  The right hand of the Father is also His merciful hand.  The right hand of the Father is His helping hand.  The right hand is the hand of blessing.  And it is with His right hand that He feeds you and sustains you.  To say that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father is to say that mercy, help, blessing and nourishment now are all yours – because Jesus has now ascended to give them to you.  And there’s yet one more thing about the right hand.  In Holy Scripture, the heir to the kingdom always sits at His Father’s right hand. 

Remember, where Jesus goes, so you go.  In Holy Baptism, you have been joined to your Savior in His death and in His resurrection.  But even more.  In Holy Baptism, you have also been joined to your Savior in His ascension.  Simply put, that means that just as Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, so will you.  And just as Jesus has been given the kingdom of heaven, so have you. 

Yes, Jesus has now ascended into heaven.  But that does not mean He is not here.  His ascension simply shows that heaven – His proper place and home – is now your proper place and home.  Jesus broke not only the gates of Hell that kept you in, but He broke down the gates of heaven that kept you out. He has now gone before you and paved the way into His Father’s kingdom. 

Jesus, who was born bodily as a baby in Bethlehem, who was nailed Bodily to the cross, who rose bodily from the grave, and who ascended bodily into heaven – is still with you as He comes with that same body to you in the Sacrament of the Altar.

One final thought: whenever the angels appear, something important is happening.  The angels were there the night Jesus was born.  The angels attended to our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The angels were there at the empty tomb.  Once again the angels are there when Jesus ascends into heaven.   When you come to the Lord’s Table, guess who’s there – all the angels, arch-angels and all the company of heaven.  Why then would you stand gazing up into heaven as if Jesus had gone away? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, is still here for you.  And from the Father’s right hand He is bringing you mercy, help, comfort and every blessing.  And from the Father’s right hand He is delivering to you eternal life. 


Rev. Dan Feusse is Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Nebraska. He also serves as editor for myHT’s Catechesis column.