Memorial Day McDonald's Drive-Thru

Frustrated I wait five minutes to give my order at the drive-thru menu and then wait 7 minutes in the line. 2 more cars to go so I'm blogging on my phone.

So I'm sitting here frustrated at the not so fast "fast food". Then I remembered that today is Memorial Day and that I'm a very blessed man who has a loving family, is not much for want and has such a convenience as fast food. This is in part thanks to the generations of armed servicemen and women who have helped made it such. Many are overseas diligently working in the vocation that God has called them to while in safety I'm able to proclaim the Gospel to children in the vocation God has called me into.

So thank you, our servicemen and women, law enforcement, emergency services and the like, current and former, who diligently serve our country and communities. Through your vocation God has blessed us. You are remembered and you are in our prayers. Thank you. May God protect you.

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria
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Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job? Part the Third

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)

Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Moses tells the nation of Israel to assemble everyone together; men, women, children (which is “taph” in this text, meaning “toddlers to adolescents”) even the sojourners (foreigners, guests, strangers) that are with them. They were to do this every seven years. (v. 10) Within this assembly they were to not only hear (the “shama”) but learn to fear the Lord that they would do all the things the Lord commanded. They were to do this so that their children (“ben”) who have not known it would also learn to fear the Lord. Here we see a mandate that they should instruct the nation of Israel (as this mass body of believers, as opposed to at the family level) every man, woman and child. In this way there would be no children who did not know of the instructions and mighty works that the Lord of Israel had given and done in the future generations of Israel.

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the Third":  Here we see the Lord establishing time, frequency, and location for instructing the nation of Israel with the "Law" (in this case meaning "the scriptures" as opposed to our use of the word in "Law and Gospel") The entire nation (regardless of age) and all who is with them were to be instructed as a mass body once every seven years. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the church to see to the children's Christian Education.

ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008 

e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary
Matt Richard

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job? Part the Second

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)

Deuteronomy 11

First Focus Verses:  Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Again Moses reiterates that they people are to fix (set or establish) God’s words on their hearts and minds and to teach (“lamad” in Hebrew. “to diligently train…instruct”) them at all times and places (v. 19 “…talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.). They are to keep the word visible on their persons and their households. In other words, there lives were to be a living testimony of the Lord.  With compliance of this condition God would bless them and their children for eternity. “The sense is: ‘Keep the covenant faithfully, and so shall your own and your children’s days be multiplied as long as the heaven covers the earth.’ The promise of Canaan to Israel was thus a perpetual promise, but also a conditional one.” “The words, “as the days of the heaven above the earth,” i.e., as long as the heaven continues above the earth, - in other words, to all eternity”

Second Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 11:1-2 ff

The nation of Israel is instructed to love the Lord their God and to keep everything He had commanded them always. Then Moses says in verse 2 "And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it)..." In other words, pay attention, listen, this is important. Remember what that Lord has done and what you have seen Him do. This is important because their children had not witnessed these mighty works of the Lord. It's not just for their sake that they do this, it's for the sake of their children as well so that they might know just how mighty and awesome God is, as well as how terrible His wrath is ( vs. 16-17) that they would continue to follow Him.

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the Second": For the sake of themselves, as well as their children, the Israelites are told to remember all that the Lord has done and to keep His commandments. They are to know them well and to take teachable moments as they come to instruct their children the things that they witnessed and have been commanded. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the parents to see to their children's Christian Education.

ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008
e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary

Jesu Juva,

Soli Deo Gloria

It be May 21st and we still be here...

Dear Mr. Camping: This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

I offer up for consideration the concept that you only pursue preaching Christ and Him crucified. I believe you will find much less media controversy and will do a much better job of not making the whole of Christendom look like morons. Also, you should wish me a happy anniversary. My wife and I have now been happily married 7 years. I would also suggest that you bone up on "Confession and Absolution".

Sincerely,
Leif E. Halvorson Christian
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

May 21st, 2011: The end of the world (or sanity) as we know it?

(WARNING! I will seem a bit snarky in this post due to the fact that I am going to be a bit snarky this post. Let's chalk it up to me being weak on sanctification today :) )

(If you've got a copy of the 4th Movement of Shostakovich's Symphony number 5, please begin to play that now....)

Yeah, I know, I've heard it too. May 21st is truly going to be some "special" day.

I've just about heard it all now. Someone's claiming things supposedly based upon when the flood was and yet once again we've got people taking liberties with the verse 2 Peter 3:8 about how a day to God is a as a thousand years and so forth. (Though I don't know Greek, yet, pretty sure it means that as God is the creator of time that he is outside of the constraints of time.)

Well, if you're fretting about it, don't. Here's a verse these "gurus" keep overlooking that deals with their supposed insight on May 21. Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (ESV) That's right folks, we don't know, and guess what, that's ok that we don't know. What do we know for sure? That at some point the end will indeed come where people will either spend eternity in Heaven with our Savior or eternity in Hell. However, as sure as I am that the top two missing wrenches on many farms are 1/2" and 7/16", May 21st will definitely be a special day, but not because "it's the end of the world as we know it."

May 21st is going to be special for 2 main reasons. #1: It's my 7th year wedding anniversary to my beautiful bride. #2: Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (ESV)

So instead of fretting about "the end" on Saturday, May 21st, a day that the Lord has made and is my wedding anniversary, spend that time finding a solid church that preaches Christ and Him Crucified on Sunday, May 22nd. Though I'll be gone to a graduation ceremony this weekend, I'm looking forward to listening to the podcast of my Pastor's sermon, because he will preach a sermon on Sunday.

Until my posts next week.....

Jesu Juva (Jesus help me)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone be the Glory)

"Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job?" Part the First

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)


First Focus: Verses 4-9
(4)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5)You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6)And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Here the nation of Israel is given the "shema" (meaning "hear" or "listen") which is an early creed of Israel's faith in God. This was not to be some mere rote action of conformity, but to be done so believingly, fervently and above all else. These words were to be in the hearts of the parents, living them out, so that they could not only teach their children from the scriptures, but from their lives as well. They were to take every opportunity, every teachable moment, and instruct their children.

Second Focus: Verses 20-25
(20) "When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?' (21)then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. (22)And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. (23)And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. (24)And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. (25)And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.'"

Here we see a brief form of catechesis. Kiel and Delitzsch explain it like this:
"In Deu_6:20-25, the teaching to the children, which is only briefly hinted at in Deu_6:7, is more fully explained. The Israelites were to instruct their children and descendants as to the nature, meaning, and object of the commandments of the Lord; and in reply to the inquiries of their sons, to teach them what the Lord had done for the redemption of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, and how He had brought them into the promised land, and thus to awaken in the younger generation love to the Lord and to His commandments."

In verse 25 "righteousness" does is not meant as in a merited legal status, but in context is mean "righteousness as the right response or obedience to God's covenant."

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the First": Through Moses the Israelites are given the "shema". It is to be "on your heart." The Isralites are then instructed to in turn teach their children the shema that they might fear and love God. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the parents to see to their children's Christian Education.

Biblegateway.com
ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008Deuteronomy 6

e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009

Jesus Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

A rose: What does this mean?

So what is it? It's the seal of the great reformer Martin Luther that has continued to be used to this day. Many a book has this image printed or imprinted on it, it can be found in churches and even on jewelry. Like many images and good traditions of the past, sometimes the meaning gets lost or forgotten as it's explanation is not passed on down to the next generation. Just try asking someone about why some pastors wear vestments and others don't. You mean there's actually symbolism there that points to Christ? Here is the explanation of Luther's Rose:

"The Luther Rose is the most well-known symbol of Lutheranism.


Here is how Martin Luther explained it:

First, there is a black cross in a heart that remains its natural color. This is to remind me that it is faith in the Crucified One that saves us. Anyone who believes from the heart will be justified (Romans 10:10). It is a black cross, which mortifies and causes pain, but it leaves the heart its natural color. It doesn’t destroy nature, that is to say, it does not kill us but keeps us alive, for the just shall live by faith in the Crucified One (Romans 1:17). The heart should stand in the middle of a white rose. This is to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace—it puts the believer into a white, joyous rose. Faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). This is why the rose must be white, not red. White is the color of the spirits and angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12). This rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that a joyful spirit and faith is a beginning of heavenly, future joy, which begins now, but is grasped in hope, not yet fully revealed. Around the field of blue is a golden ring to symbolize that blessedness in heaven lasts forever and has no end. Heavenly blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and better than any possessions, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal. (Letter to Lazarus Spengler, July 8, 1530 [WA Br 5:445]; tr. P. T. McCain)"

WA Weimar Edition of Luther’s Works
Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2005, S. 254

Jesu Juva
Soli Deo Gloria

Forget the ball, don't drop the food! (a prequel)

Recently I was making beef ravioli (in Montana we eat meat) for my almost two-year old daughters for supper. I carefully split the amount evenly between two plates and put them in the freezer for a minute to make sure they wouldn't be too hot for them. The first plate was retrieved safely and passed on to my wife and I then turned back to the freezer to get the second plate. I reached in an grabbed it, began to turn, and it slipped from my hand, bouncing off my chest, the wall and then onto the floor. "Ah Nellie!" I stared at the ground, tomato sauce splattered onto me from head to toe (as well as the wall and refrigerator), looking at the beef ravioli on the floor. I was really disappointed, not so much by the mess that I had just created, but because I had gotten the beef ravioli special for my girls and had dropped it all over the floor.

As a husband and a father I must see to the needs of my family. Physical needs are very important to young children. Without proper shelter, warmth, water and food a child can become malnourished and die. That's not going to happen in my house. But children have more than just physical needs. They have spiritual needs as well. They need Christ.

Whose responsibility is it to see to the spiritual needs of your children? Does it lie with you? Does it lie with the church? That does seem to be the attitude (and practice) of many. This is the start of a short series I'm calling "Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job?"

As I stood there in my wife's kitchen covered with tomato sauce, beef ravioli on the floor, I also stood there a forgiven sinner covered by the shed blood of Christ. I've been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is only in Christ. We don't deserve this, can't buy this or do enough good things to earn this. We know this, but do your children? Whose responsibility is it to teach them this?

Jesu Juva
Soli Deo Gloria

Treasury of Daily Prayer: a review

"Treasury of Daily Prayer" is available
through Concordia Publishing House. 

The "Treasury of Daily Prayer" is not just your average devotional book. This Lutheran resource brings together scripture readings, prayers, psalms, hymns, and devotional readings from the church fathers to guide daily prayer and meditation on God's Word. It is also designed around the church calender.

I got a copy of "Treasury of Daily Prayer" for my wife while I was gone for training for my job. Together we take turns doing the readings before we crash for the evening. Each day has a Psalm (with suggested further Psalm reading) Old Testament reading, New Testament reading, a writing from one of the church fathers that paralells the reading, a hymn, suggested reading from "Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions" (a reader's edition of the Book of Concord) and a prayer.  It even has built in liturgy. If you're not used to liturgy (we attend a confessional Lutheran church that does not use  traditional liturgy) you can easily adapt things to meet your likes and needs.

What I really like about "Treasury of Daily Prayer" is that it enables me to see to the spiritual needs of my wife and I by spending time in the Scriptures and time further deepening our understanding of  theology at the same time.

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

The Same Thing But Different

Today was a day where we needed to do something different. Our daughters had been cooped up inside the house for quite some time now and really needed an outing. We really didn't want to just load everyone up in the car and drive around and it was kind of a drizzly cool day. So what did we do? My inner Eagle Scout kicked in and we set up a tent in the yard. Yep, it ended up raining, and there was a wind, but we had blast outside in our little "get-away." My wife Kim and I brought out blankets, pillows and stuffed animals.

While Kim and the girls played I took care of prep and office work on the laptop and cellphone. We ran an extension cord in through the tent door to provide power for the laptop. It worked out pretty well. For lunch we had salomi, cheese and crackers.

After lunch, it took some coaxing, but we finally were able to get the girls to go down for a nap in the tent. I went and ran some errands and Kim read while the girls slept. Before I came home I stopped by Baker Boy and picked up a few face cookies and maple sticks.

Sometimes with the monotony of life it helps to vary things up a bit. An escape doesn't have to mean going somewhere different. Sometimes it just means doing the same things differently. A tent in our yard, despite the weather, provided that variance for us today. I got work done, my wife read, my girls played and we got to enjoy the same things with each other differently, making for an enjoyable drizzly cool day in Eastern Montana.