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| "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Mark 4 |
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
O God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #503 Rise Crowned with Light - Pope
- Medical care: Lori Howell, Sarah Buck, Randy Anderson, Pastor Jim Shrader, Doc Lito Cruz; stress and metabolic disorders; Callie, seizures.
- Congratulations and God's Blessings - 34th Wedding Anniversary - Brett and Amy Meyer.
- Carl Roper - 80th Birthday. "Carl was in Reserves Navy for 6 years. Then he was in Reserves Army until after Desert Storm when he was called up for duty 9 months. He served that time in George training troops to go over seas. He was in counter intelligence. When Pres. Bush Senior came to visit the troops, Carl stood behind to guard him. Carl retired with 30 years of service. Yes, he was in the military!"
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| Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler |
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| Graphic based on Norma Boeckler's Art |
Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lenski, p. 200How could a former carpenter help these expert sailors when all their skill was at an end, and death in the roaring waves was their certain fate? In the providence of God this storm brought to expression such faith as they really had. Completely at the end of their resources, in which they had always taken great pride, they now throw themselves upon Jesus as their only hope. They forget that he had never sailed a boat ; they think not of human but of divine ability in him. They abandon all human help, the best of which they had in their own skill; they throw themselves utterly into the divine hands of Jesus. That was faith. But their terror, the resorting to Jesus only in their extremity, their fear of death in the waves, are not faith but littleness of faith and are in glaring contrast with the calmness of Jesus.
Fears can crush us, and they can be really self-crushing. We can easily go over every possible danger, repeating them and making them even worse. They are often quite real, and some people (Job's long-lost Comforters) will eagerly emphasize how real they are. I got an announcement, "Courses are being consolidated." What does that mean? I asked. Silence, they replied. Nothing changed for me, but I had vivid thoughts of frying burgers, scrubbing cars, and shoveling organic fertilizer.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
The opposite of fear is not courage, but faith in Jesus Christ. Luther expected to die, because the Church of Rome was very good at executing people they did not like. God protected him while the Reformation built up across Europe through the printing press (a co-inky-dink, you imagine?). Consider this - the Roman Catholic Emperor needed the Germans to fight against the Muslims, so the Catholics were compelled to let the Gospel take root.
Jesus gave His disciples training over three years so their faith grew. Even then, they were shocked that He rose from the dead and came before them in a locked room. We have lifetimes to learn what is clearly stated in the Scriptures, but we let our outward experiences overwhelm faith at times.
Paranormal
There are plenty of reasons to believe that the world of Satan overlaps the Kingdom of Christ. The underworld's intention is to bring as much people - or as many souls - as they can. No one needs to research the Paranormal because the minions of the Devil are legion, without count. They are like those who drove the Gadarene swine to Fuller Seminary after leaving the possessed person.
The aim of the Paranormal is to replace Jesus Christ with their Father Below. Already the mainstream denominations - including all the Lutherans - are too weak to stand against the old, evil foe. They are afraid of losing what they had and lusty for the alternatives to the Christian Faith.
The key factor is fear, the opposite of faith in the Savior.
One expert claimed that gorillas scream and pound their chests when they are afraid. I am not going to test that because I have seen that happen with lawyers and other bullies.
One lawyer for a hospital blew up when I asked if the surgeon had a substance abuse problem. He tore off his glasses (just like the movies) and began spewing four-letter words at two of us pastors. I told the mother, "You won." She did not see that. I said, "He was afraid and proved it." A week later the medical bill was reduced to zero.
Two other lawyers did the knuckles on the desk routine. I was helping people get outrageous bills reduced (two different states). Each man stood up, leaned on the desk, did the gorilla pose and shouted at the top of his voice. Both bills were greatly reduced.
Fear is highly motivating when someone seems to be a wee bit dishonest. I learned from Bethany Joan Marie (in a crib) that I could say, "I already talked to my attorney" and get good results.
Having faith in Jesus Christ necessarily brings the cross. We do not have to look for it - it is already on our backs. We can see that when someone gets all kind of help and retaliates with viciousness. Ask any minister, especially when he has dealt with synodical officials.
Some people can be especially annoyed with the Paranormal. Our best move is to ignore those events and to trust in the help of Jesus Christ.
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
If we look back we can see how the Savior has protected and helped us, in the most improbable ways. One comment from this passage is - Apparently that pillow was always there in the boat. Jesus was asleep on the pillow, but not unable to help them. He repeatedly said to His disciples - "Have you no faith?" Those experiences test us and make us stronger. At the End of Time, it will be far worse than now. "When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith?"
