Sermon 02272013 Wed. of Lent 2

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Heavenly Father, You are Healer of our infirmities.  Enable us to understand that You heal our infirmities in order for Your Glory to be revealed.  For we are blind to the reasons for our infirmities, but You reveal Your Glory in order for us to rely solely upon You.  For You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die in order to set us free from our sins for all of mankind, but especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Here in Western Kansas one of the greatest challenges for an Easterner to grasp is that you can see 5, 10 and even 15 miles away.   Whether it is seeing Goodland from the Southern border of Sherman County, to being able to see, Edson, Ruleton or Kanorado, by just turning, the distances are measurable, but it is unbelievable to see that far.  For in the east where I grew up, you were lucky to see two blocks away for all the trees.

As we continue our series of the people and places of Lent, hear the story of Bartimaeus:

Mark 10:46-52 ⁴⁶ Then they *came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” ⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

 

For Bartimeaus, all he wanted to do was to “regain my sight!”  For an undisclosed period of time, Bartimaeus could only sit along the side of the road and beg.  He couldn’t work, he couldn’t earn a living, the only thing he could do was rely upon the generosity of strangers for food, handouts and the ability to survive.

But evidently, the stories had been told him that there was one who could give him more than just food, clothing or a warm place to stay.  And His name was Jesus Christ.  When Jesus who was leaving Jericho and probably had healed many people in the city of their infirmities and diseases was going by this blind beggar who could not see, of what possible benefit would or could Bartimaeus have in his calling out for Jesus Christ.

With eyes of faith that could not see to work, Bartimaeus called out to the only person he knew could help him.  Bartimaeus called out and the people tried to hush him, but he called all the louder, because he had heard that Jesus was the one Who could do something for him.  And Jesus question for him was simple, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  And his response is not to ask for riches or treasure, but simply, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”  Bartimaeus didn’t say, only if You are able, in true faith, he believed that Jesus Christ could give back his sight.  Jesus responded, “Go, you faith has made you well.”  In this one moment, Bartimaeus didn’t receive his sight because of what he had done, but simply by his belief, his faith in what Jesus Christ was able to do for him.

We are no different today.  We are blinded by the ways of man and do not see nor exercise the gift of faith given to us in our baptism.  Bartimaeus exercised his muscle of faith in what Jesus Christ could do and modeled for us the use of our muscle of faith.  In our world today we have sickness that taxes our bodies, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, pneumonia, influenza and many other diseases as well as sickness of our souls like doubt, fear, anger or other emotions that make us toxic.  But God, through Jesus Christ heals us of all of these diseases, not in healing us like Bartimaeus, which was while here on earth, but Jesus heals us for all eternity.

In, through and by our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection we are healed for eternity.  We are enabled to see and understand God is looking out for us and giving us the greatest gift of eternal life.  The gift of eternal life is not for the here and now, but promises us eternal life and our being with Jesus Christ in His kingdom for eternity.  As we journey through Lent, we continue to encounter people and places that point simply to what Jesus Christ can and does do for us.  Jesus Christ came into this world with one goal in mind, go to Calvary.  For on Calvary, He fulfills the plan of salvation that offers us eternal life.  That is the gift given and offered for us that we only see with the eyes of faith, like what Bartimaeus modeled for us in asking for his sight.  May we look with eyes of faith and on our Lenten pilgrimage call on God for the things that matter for eternity, for Jesus came not for a select few, but to offer life and salvation for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel on our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 02242013 Sunday in Lent 2

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Creator of heaven and earth, even the places that are wilderness and desert have a beauty to them that show Your hand upon their creation.  As we hear how You lead Your children by a pillar of fire and a cloud enable us as we journey in the wilderness of this world to trust You to provide for our every need.  For this was ultimately fulfilled through Your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ Who came and died for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

While working at Staunton River State Park where the Dan River and the Staunton River met to form Kerr Reservoir that straddled the Virginia and North Carolina border, I had the privilege to lead many nature hikes, historical hikes and even some canoe adventures.  As leader one of the main tasks was always to keep the group together, unlike in the open prairies of Kansas where you could see for miles, in Virginia the trees and waterways were everywhere and keeping a group of 20-30 together was a monumental task at times.  This morning we will be considering the Wilderness Journey of the 2 million Children of Israel in our series of People and Places of Lent.  Hear our text from Exodus: (Exodus 13:17-22)

¹⁷ Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. ¹⁹ Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” ²⁰ Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. ²¹ The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. ²² He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Enter the 2 million Children of Israel who just left Egypt.  In haste they have left their homes for the last 430 years and now are travelling in the Wilderness of Egypt and Southern Israel.  No longer surrounded by the comforts of their homes, possessions or everything that gives them greatest comfort, in complete trust and haste they have departed into the most inhospitable land in the Wilderness.

 

Surrounded by wild animals, ­­­marauders, murderers and bands of people only interested in robbing their riches of gold from Egypt, the people of Israel travelled in the Wilderness.  During this time, God Who led them out of Egypt didn’t lead them the easy way, but led them to the Wilderness in order to protect them and prevent them from changing their mind by ‘seeing war, and return to Egypt.’

 

Moses clearly shows that God was walking with them and caring for them when he says, “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.”  Leading them with these signs are not only a reminder for us of God’s interest, but investment in their well-being.  God clearly wanted to insure that they would make it to their destination, even by leading them through the desert and the wilderness.

 

Granted there were no Wal-Mart’s, McDonald’s or Taco John’s along the way, this crowd of 2 million needed God’s divine hand upon them, not only leading them through the Wilderness but also providing for them.  In the Wilderness God provided manna from heaven, quail as meat for His Children and water when needed even from a rock.  God knew their needs even before they did and provided for them day in and day out.

 

Yet, these same children rebelled against God and murmured against Moses.  They at times would follow their sinful desires and sin against God and turn away from Him, but God Who is faithful would provide for their needs even in the desert wilderness.  God “did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” because God’s divine hand was upon them and caring for their every need.

 

But of what consequence is that for us today.  We who live here in the ‘Wilderness of North Western Kansas’ may at times feel lost.  But God has not removed His divine hand from us either.  This past fall, we looked with question at God if He would provide us moisture for our Winter Wheat.  We were teased with rain, needing moisture and wondering what the Spring would find.  And now God has provided us with moisture without the usual winds.  God has provided for our needs.  Like the manna, quail and water, God has given us the greatest blessing we could imagine in receiving the moisture.  But this is of earthly things.

 

God’s gifts are clearly manifest as well in the gift of Jesus Christ for all eternity.  In, through and by the Gift of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary Jesus came not only for the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, but also for us today.  We celebrate every time we gather together and hear the Word of God the amazing gift of Jesus Christ for all of mankind.  For this gift is not given lightly, but because of the promise made to the people of Israel as they left Egypt, entered the Wilderness and even for us today here in Goodland, KS.  God comes to and for us today to set us free from sin, death and the devil and offer us life and salvation for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 02202013 Wed. of Lent 1

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray! Eternal God, we come before You this day/night to direct us during this Lenten season.  For the children of Israel were sent out of Egypt in haste because of the great fear in the Egyptians hearts of what God would do to them.  Enable us to not act out of haste or fear, but respect for God and His promises for us found in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered during our Lenten pilgrimage.  AMEN.

When crowds gather at sporting events the ticket sales made give a pretty accurate count as to how many ‘paying customers’ see the event.  Whether it is KU playing basketball, K-State moving the football down the field or even the Chiefs or Bronco’s trying to get to the Super Bowl, the crowds in the stadiums are usually at or near capacity for the stadium.  Today/tonight in our series of the People and Places of Lent we will be considering the crowd of the Children of Israel.

From our Old Testament Lesson this morning/evening, we enter into the story of the children of Israel fleeing Egypt and the tyranny of the Pharaoh.  The booming words of Charlton Heston saying, “Let my people go” resonate for some because of the famous movie, “The Ten Commandments”, but what is most interesting is that the Children of Israel who left Egypt weren’t a tattered band, but an enormously large group of people.  Our text says clearly, “Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.”  What is ironic is that no mention of the numbers of wives or women are mentioned either.  If every man had one wife and two children the number of people leaving Egypt numbered, not a simple six hundred thousand, but over two million people fleeing the Egyptians.

Yet, it is not only the fleeing of the people of Israel, but how the people of Isreal fled Egypt.  Just as when Michele and I moved here to Goodland, it took weeks of planning, weeks of preparation and packing all our worldly possessions.  But for the Children of Israel they left in great haste, even to the extent that the dough that would be used to make their bread had not even leavened and was bound up in their clothes in the kneading bowls.  The Children of Israel headed up and moved out on a moments notice in great haste with the urging of the Egyptians who were fearful of their feeling the wrath of the Israelite God.

What is additionally ironic is that the date of their leaving Egypt is not left to chance, fractions or partial time, but in God’s divine wisdom and provision the people of Israel are in Egypt a certain length of time.  Moses writes, “Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.”

But of what significance is the length of time, the haste of their departure or the number of people that actually flee Egypt?  Why should that be of importance for us today?  Simply, the children of Israel are models for us of what God can do in our lives when we trust Him fully and completely.  God in His infinite wisdom clearly allowed the Children of Israel to experience the worst of what Egypt would offer and with the speed of a running back removed His chosen children from the gravest situation.  But this was not just a few people like with Noah and his wife and sons wives getting into an ark.  This was a group of people of epic proportion who had to have complete trust in their God to remove them from the tyranny of the men who earlier in the day had beat them into submission as they built the cities for their masters.  And ultimately God fulfilled the children of Israel’s departure in His time.

This is also true of how God has saved each of us as we prepare our hearts, souls and spirits during our Lenten pilgrimage.  We look to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how God sent His own Son at the proper time to enter into the world in a manger.  When Jesus Christ came it was the fulfillment of the plan of salvation and now we are partakers of God’s greatest gift of grace offered for all of mankind.  The numbers are staggering to whom God offers this free gift of grace and eternal life without limit for all of mankind, but this occurs because of His great love for all of us.  And His love perfect and complete not only for the Children of Israel who escaped the bondage in Egypt, but for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who receive the gift of eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.  For the gift of grace offered on Calvary is offered for all of mankind, including the children of Israel and all of us saints that gather here at Emmanuel during our Lenten Pilgrimage.  AMEN.

Sermon 02202013 Funeral Sermon Etta Butts

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Gracious Heavenly Father, we come together this afternoon mourning the loss of Etta, but reassured of the promises You made to her and each of us in our baptism.  We know Etta now rests in Your loving arms and we are reassured of the promise of life and salvation given to her and now fulfilled with her entrance into the Church Triumphant.  For today Etta has the resurrected perfect body that no longer has neither pains nor ills and now rests with You in Your loving arms.  Though the veil of death separates us today from Etta, may we be comforted by Your Gospel and hear clearly the promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of salvation offered through Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection for all of mankind, but especially the saints of Etta’s family and all the saints gathered here at Emmanuel to say goodbye.  AMEN.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”  This verse from the most beloved Psalm written by King David not only tells a story it clearly illustrates for us the life of a little girl who was born in a sod house outside of Goodland and lived a life that few people today could believe or even imagine, but this was the life of Etta Butts a baptized child of God.

Born in 1916 outside of Goodland weighing a mere three pounds, Etta Laurene Butts was baptized in Water and Word of Holy Baptism that very Spring and experienced in her lifetime some of the most radical changes in society the world and her life.  They included transitioning from horse and buggy to the automobile, her family being one of the last families to use horse and mule teams exclusively to farm, travel across the United States from trains to planes to outer space and even the moon, experiencing segregation in its prime in the drug store during the war to equal rights and the liberation of women to serve in offices at the highest level of government, to the invention of the modern telephone, television, computers and now cell phones that nearly every person carries and relies upon.

Yet, the common things which Etta saw and experienced that formed and shaped her were not from society, but the values that were instilled in her by her parents and that she modeled and carried throughout her life.  Modeled for her was the importance of God, church, baptism, preaching and catechism instruction.  On one of the many visits I had with Etta while still living alone, we looked at her original catechism that she had while taking instruction and talked about her being taught by the Pastor to become a Confirmed member of the church.  This was after her family had moved to town due to the depression and dust bowl and while she was working for a Catholic family here in town taking care of the kids and cooking and cleaning.  It was very clear that when Etta’s family lived in town if the church doors were open, they were here and their faith was vibrant and strong and this was true even until she entered Good Samaritan a little over a year ago.

Psalm 23 which Etta chose for one of her readings begins with this thought, “The Lord is my shepherd” and Etta and her family understood and emulated this Psalm clearly. Their faith in God wasn’t mere lip service, but shown in how they worked, believed and treated other people.  It is clear that Etta had instilled from a young age a work ethic that served her well throughout her life earning her the trust of the community, honors and accolades by her peers and ultimately the knowledge and pride in knowing her work at Good Samaritan in her own words, was “doing something for someone” who needed the help.

God as Etta’s shepherd made this a reality through and by her baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The muscle of faith given to her sustained her throughout her life and even was evident from her preparation for this morning’s service.  You see Etta was a planner and had everything planned for our service this morning, from music, to pall bearers to even the scripture passages.  For the 23^rd Psalm, Psalm 119 and John 14 were her choices that clearly expressed her trust in her Lord and Savior as her shepherd, that God has prepared a place for her in His kingdom and that this only occurs because of God’s Word being a lamp unto her feet and a light unto her path.

This faith given to Etta occurred through her baptism into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It was not an accident, but a reality that her parents knew was extremely important.  With her being washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God, Etta became a child of God and experienced the greatest blessing of all time and place.  These were the promises her family knew would shepherd her into eternal life and spending all eternity with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the promise Etta experienced is the same promise offered this morning to each of us from our Gospel and Psalms that God has not only prepared a place for Etta, but also for each and every one of us.  God clearly through the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers us life and salvation and by and through the waters of Holy Baptism fulfilled this for Etta when God called her home.  My fondest memory of Etta is sharing her faith in her home with Holy Communion and praying the Lord’s Prayer with her.  The strength of her conviction comforts me and enables me to proclaim clearly for all of us gathered here today that Etta rests from her labors in her Lord and Saviors loving arms. 

May we feel God’s peace, may it continue to gather us into His presence and may all of us saints gathered here to say good bye believe in the promises of God that were the firm convictions of Etta of the gift of God of His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ for all of mankind, but especially for all of the saints of Etta’s family and friends gathered here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of what Jesus Christ did for Etta and each one of us!  AMEN! 

Sermon 02172013 Lent 1

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Almighty and eternal God, during this season of Lent we are reminded that from dust we came and to dust we shall return.  We are given plenty from Your bounteous goodness, enable us to understand that these gifts are from You and like Job enable us to live a nomadic life here on earth, for heaven is our home.  For Your Son Jesus Christ came to die for us and set us free from sin, death and the devil for all of mankind, but especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

As a young child I became enamored with computers at a young age.  Remember these weren’t the days of iPhones, iPads or any other laptop computer, but the days where the computers couldn’t fit in the palm of your hand but only upon the desktops or in large air conditioned rooms at major universities or NASA.  So while cutting my teeth on Atari Computers, TRS-80’s, Commodore 64’s or Coleco Adams, I learned to program computers to play games, print designs and even use them for basic word processing.

One of the games I played that required long hours of typing ‘code’ into the computer and saving it on tape drives was entitled, “Nomad”.  It was a simple game where you were a Nomad on the desert and had to survive the desert heat, the lack of water and even the experience of raiders trying to steal your wealth.  Needless to say it provided hours of fun and taught me a further attention to detail, but also is a connection for us this morning.

In our series of People and Places of Lent we on Wednesday encountered Job and heard how he lost everything because of being placed in the hands of Satan by God since Job was “a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and turneth away from evil.”  Job lived a life as a nomad, but unlike my playing the computer game, Job became rich doing it in none other than in the Land of Edom.  Hence this morning we will contemplate in our series a Place, the Land of Edom.

Let me draw a picture for you…The Land of Edom is in the most inhospitable part of Israel.  It is at the southernmost end of the Dead Sea.  The Dead Sea like its name implies is a salt sea that cannot sustain life not only because of its salinity, but because it is well below sea level.  As nomads the people of this area descendent from Esau, the brother of Jacob who received the blessing live from day to day mainly as herdsman, nomads and ‘toll gate keepers’ since this was a well-known and well-travelled trade route when headed from the Red Sea to the south and Moab to the East towards Israel or into the land of Syria.

Hence Job and others were in essence ‘gate keepers’ able to keep herds in the highlands and still be nomadic and gain great wealth charging tolls from the rich who were travelling the then ‘interstate highways’ or trade routes like we do today on I-70 that connects East Kansas to Denver and points West.

Thus with the heritage of Esau and gaining the wealth while living in the area, Job clearly amassed in this desert barren area a wealth that was only a gift from God.  But through it all, Job still kept and held God in high regard worshipping Him, fearing Him and clearly turned away from evil.  But why is this important in the case of Job?  For what reason would Job continue to live the nomadic life and do this?  The answer may to some be mysterious, but for us today it is clear if we consider a promise made to the Old Testament people of which Job is considered a patriarch.

The promise is of and for a Savior to come in the future, that would redeem Israel and save them.  The promise of the Savior is for Jesus Christ Whom during this Lenten season we prepare to hear the fulfillment of the story of salvation on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ Who came into this world in a manger, Who may have in fact travelled through the land of Edom while fleeing to Egypt carried by His parents, Who we come and worship and bow down before is the richest gift given for all of mankind and especially for Job who lived and thrived in the Land of Edom.

For the riches Job had when placed in Satan’s hands were clearly taken away.  Jobs goods and family and the only thing which could not be taken away was the promise of the Savior Jesus Christ.  This is the same promise we lay claim to today and hold onto because it is God’s promise to and for each and every one of us today.

The promise heard by Job in the stories passed from generation to generation promised a Savior.  As these stories were attested to in Jobs life, the promise of the greatest gift would not come until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  In through and by the promise of Jesus coming in this world Job held onto this promise and refused to ‘curse God’.  Job stuck to his guns and even though all of his riches gained in the Land of Edom were taken from him, still would not curse God.

We today Job’s descendants by Water and Word, heirs of the promised Messiah for all of mankind may lose all of our riches, all of our heirs, all of our gifts from God, whether by the lack of crops, dust that blows constantly or the lack of water.  We as well have the greatest opportunity to trust God and not ‘curse God’ because of the lack of a wheat or corn harvest or moisture to quench the soil.

Today we live in a very similar situation in our society where we live in a land of plenty like it was for Job in the Land of Edom, where we earn a living and are considered rich by many cultures.  But since we have heard the Gospel of Salvation offered by Jesus Christ and His death on Calvary this message can inspire us to not ‘curse God’, but thank Him and worship Him just as Job did when he lost family, farm and everything he held dear. 

God has fulfilled His promise in the Savior Jesus Christ and the proof isn’t just here say, but the reality that we receive around the altar of the Lord this morning, Jesus Christ innocent Body and Blood to sustain our faith.  Job didn’t have this meal, but we do and God not only fulfilled the promise of the Savior, but offers us life and salvation for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints who are nomads in the world today that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning rich in the gifts of God, but especially of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ for all of us saints here at Emmanuel during Lent.  AMEN.

Sermon 02162013 Funeral Sermon for Judy Willems

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Gracious God and creator of the Garden of Eden, as we gather to celebrate and remember our sister in Christ, Judy, we who continue on our pilgrimage know Your hands not only created the beauty of Judy’s gardens, but have now given her a resurrected body and perfect peace only found in Jesus Christ.  In, through and by her baptism into Your life, death and resurrection, Judy now rests in Your loving arms and tends Your heavenly garden.  May we through Your Gospel message be enabled to hear Your Word spoken in its truth and purity and may it comfort us as we mourn.  For though the veil of death separates us today, Your promise made to Judy in her baptism reminds us that in being baptized into Your death, we will certainly be raised with You in Your resurrection.  Keep us secure in this promise and allow the salve of Your Gospel message to surround us as we hear the clear message of salvation offered through Jesus Christ death on Calvary for all Your saints, especially the saints of Judy’s family gathered here at Emmanuel to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Tom Bodett has for the last 20+ years become the iconic voice for Motel 6 advertising on both radio and television, with the phrase, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”  And now etched in the minds of everyone is not only this phrase but what it encapsulates in caring for the customers who are looking for a good nights sleep.  But it isn’t just about sleep, it is a voice, the voice of Bodett, and a clear sense of reassurance that some would say is only a dream in our day and age, but for all of us gathered here this morning, it is an abject reality found for us in Holy Scripture and the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the Gospel.

Our Gospel lesson this morning in a much deeper and more profound way tells, not in the imperfect way of advertisers, but in the true and everlasting Words of Jesus Christ how God doesn’t only leave the light on, but actually prepares a place for us.  Jesus says, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”  This promise made by God from Jesus Christ clearly illustrates for us today the promises that are made to us today and especially for Judy as we come to say our final goodbyes.

God in His infinite wisdom from the beginning of time created the heavens and the earth.  As creator God made everything that existed, including but not limited to the Garden of Eden and the earth with all the trees, flowers and beauty that surrounds us today.  Judy child of God, baptized by God in the Waters of Holy Baptism where she was clothed in the blood of the Lamb of God has not only been redeemed by Jesus Christ, she also learned from God how to be a master gardener.  Just as Jesus Christ entered into the world to redeem the world and went back to the Father ‘to prepare a place for us’, Jesus made a promise for Judy and for all of us today.

The promise Jesus continues saying, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  This promise is made to all of mankind but especially to and for us Christians and especially for Judy as we lay claim to it today as we say goodbye to Judy.  The promise made to us is meant to comfort us as we mourn, calm our doubts and fears afflicted by the devil and our society and remind us that God has laid claim to our lives through our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For it is through Judy’s baptism by the Water intimately connected with the Word that she now basks in her Saviors arms and is now with Him fulfilling Jesus promise, that “there you may be also.”  Just as Judy who was an excellent homemaker, cook, master gardener and friend, found in Jesus Christ the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life given to her by her baptism and nourished around this altar with His precious Body and Blood, it has now been fulfilled because of the promise of Jesus Christ going to prepare a place for her and for all of us in His Kingdom.

As a mother, homemaker, friend, farmers wife and master gardener Judy clearly understood the need for preparing the soil with the right proportions of fertilizer and organic material, watering the plants so they would not roast in the Kansas wind and heat, and harvesting the bounty that God had given on the vine or in the ground.  This same preparation and dedication that Judy gave to her garden and offered to the community through her passion of the Farmer’s Market and maintaining the flowers around here at Emmanuel are an excellent illustration and manifestation of Judy’s faith in how God had prepared a place for her in His heavenly Kingdom.  God’s preparation in heaven for Judy and for all of us is a clear reassurance of His grace offered for all of mankind, with the greatest promise attached to it.

God promises for all of mankind and especially Judy today is Jesus own words said to Thomas at the conclusion of the text.  “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  Jesus words to Thomas remind us this morning that God’s promises are not only revealed to us through His Scriptures that we read and have heard this morning.  God’s promises are manifest for all of us when we look at His creation.  Judy with her own hands, head and heart encountered Jesus Christ with her planting the seeds in her garden, watering each and every plant she grew and using every fruit and vegetable in the dishes that fed her family, friends, church and community.  Judy encountered in the most personal way our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ especially when she partook around this altar His precious Body and Blood just as we are about to do.

For what we receive in, through and by Jesus Christ sacrifice is eternal life.  While Judy was in the hospital I had the honor and extreme pleasure to visit her and not only share in prayer and God’s Word, but also share Holy Communion with her.  One of the mystical parts of our receiving the sacrament is that we receive Jesus Christ precious Body and Blood not alone, but with all of the saints of all time and all place in celebration of Jesus Christ sacrifice on Calvary for all of mankind.  So to today as we come forward in a few minutes we now will share not only with one another this feast, but also with Judy and all the saints who have entered into the Church Triumphant.  May this meal remind us of God’s perfect preparation not only of a place for us, but of His great love for all of mankind, including Judy and all of the saints of her family who come to commune with her and say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of God’s preparation for Judy and each one of us!  AMEN! 

Sermon 02132013 Ash Wednesday

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Almighty and everlasting God, because You hate nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent, create in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily repenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  AMEN.

Today we enter the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday.  We come to confess our sins, receive forgiveness and be reminded that from dust we came and to dust we shall return.  Today we begin a long journey which will culminate in the Three Day Period, known as the Tridiuum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  Today we will no longer hear acclamations of praise until the stone is rolled away.  Today we begin with ashes.

It is clear from the Old Testament that ashes are a sign of repentance.  And it is appropriate that the first person in our series of People and Places of Lent begins with a man for which a whole book is written of his journey of his experience with Satan in his life.  Tonight/Today we begin with Job.

Job 1:13-22

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹³ Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking winein their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²² Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”

Clearly from this passage Job has just experience the greatest single loss in the span of a few moments.  Jobs loss is not just of possession by a warring tribe, the loss of wealth in the animals and herds that were destroyed by the ‘fire of God’ or the personal loss of his family, sons, daughters and heirs to the wealth he had amassed.  All of this loss was the result of the simple act of a fallen angel, Satan.  Job known by God as a ‘perfect and upright man, one that feareth God’ had been placed in the hands of Satan, with the exception that Satan could not touch Job personally.

Hence, Job’s experience as we have heard changed his reality from one of plenty to one of poverty, from one of having family to losing his family.  Job personally experienced the depth loss unlike any other biblical character.  And what did Job do after hearing this news of tragedy and loss, “Job arose, and rent his clothes, and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped.”

As we place ashes on our foreheads today/tonight, Job reminds us that even in great loss we are not called to blame, betray or ball out against anyone, and especially God.  Job reminds us that we are called to repentance.  Job tearing his clothes and shaving his head just like our putting ashes in the sign of the cross on our foreheads is to remind us that everything we have is a gift of God.  Job further reminds us with the truth, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return: the Lord giveth, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  God should be blessed no matter the tragedy, the circumstance nor the outcome.  We are in God’s hands and called to worship.

What we may not realize is that Job’s falling and worshiping is a clear tie to Jesus Christ when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, worshiping and praying for the cup to be taken from Him.  Jesus prayer was for God to take the cup, if it was His will, but Jesus trusted God and asked for God’s perfect will to be fulfilled.  This only occurred with Jesus innocent death on Calvary for you and for me.

With our worship today/tonight, may we see Job as an example for us and seek to humbly worship God and with the sign of the cross on our forehead with ashes to enter into the season of Lent with penitent hearts.  For from dust we came and to dust we shall return and with Job may we give thanks and praise to God and Bless His Holy Name as we enter this Lenten Season following the people and places of Lent.  For our journey is to the Cross of Calvary where Jesus Christ died for all of mankind, but especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel today/this evening on this Ash Wednesday.  AMEN.

Sermon 02112013 Funeral Sermon Margaret Margie Schmidt Richards

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Good and gracious Heavenly Father, as we gather here to celebrate the 99 years of our sister in Christ, Margie, we who remain on our earthly pilgrimage are reminded that Margie not only added to the beauty of our world, but has found the perfect peace of Jesus Christ.  In, through and by her baptism into Your life, death and resurrection, Margie now rests in Your loving and comforting arms.  May You through Your Gospel enable our hearts to hear Your Word spoken in its truth and purity and comfort us as we mourn.  The veil of death separates us today, but Your promise in our baptism that in being baptized into Your death we are certainly raised with You in Your resurrection.  Comfort us with this promise and let the salve of Your Gospel message surround us so we may hear clearly the Gospel message of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ innocent death on Calvary for all Your saints, especially the saints of Margies family gathered here at Emmanuel to say goodbye.  AMEN.

There are some things in life that need precision, accuracy and a steady hand.  These include making free throws in basketball, playing cards, whether Pinnocle, Hand and Foot or Canasta, in essence, knowing when to hold’em and knowing when to fold’em, and painting china, just as Margie was gifted by God to do, but also shooting a gun.  Some of you may not know, Margie, not only was a gifted card player, but also an artisan using her hands to cast pottery, help with 4-H art projects or make the most intricate nativity sets, Margie was also well adapted at handling a gun.  Sitting around the table as we prepared for this morning the story was told of how Margie with grace, precision and accuracy shot a .22 Rifle. 

Now it wasn’t the typical shot, to drop a fat squirrel for a meal, a running rabbit or a rodent out in the yard.  Margie clearly and precisely hit a whip antenna.  Now for those of you who may not know or remember, in the olden days, before satellites delivered the Sirrus radio, or we had iPods and computers were in our cars, watches, phones or homes, automobiles had large antennas to receive the AM radio stations which required the antenna to stretch over the car.  As a gentile and prim and proper lady that Margie was she was shooting a .22 rifle and whether by luck, skill or pure accident severed one of these antennas that stretched across the back of the car with a single shot from the rifle.  Needless to say it probably scarred not only Margie, but also those who were with her when she took the faithful shot.

From our Gospel this morning, we hear from the Apostle John another proverbial perfect shot, just like Margie that clearly encapsulates in one verse the entire Gospel message of Jesus Christ in its simplest terms.  John by inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  This short simple passage tells not only of the love, the forgiveness and the lengths to which God would go to save mankind.  This promise of God the Father and His gift of His Son offers the gift of eternal life for all of mankind.  It is the single most important passage that we Christians rely upon because of its perfect aim, accuracy and grace offered for all of mankind.

Yet, it is not only offered in Jesus own words, it is emulated to and for all of mankind by Jesus Christ in the way He lived and walked here on earth.  And Margie received this gift of grace when she was baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And in her life Margie through and by God’s grace emulated the gift of forgiveness and grace for everyone she encountered, whether as a ‘Pink Lady’ at the hospital, helping her husband treat patients in need of a good chiropractor, ministering with the women of the church in the Dorcas group or bible school in arts and crafts, working hours on 4-H projects, cooking sumptuous meals from a pantry that contained the barest essentials to painting china in her studio for gifts to people in the community.  Margie understood and lived 99 years of a grace filled life surrounded by family, playing cards with her friends on Friday night or by modeling for all of us how Jesus Christ impacted her life..

On one of my last visits to see Margie while at Good Samaritan, she was sitting in the common area in front of the nurses station.  Sitting in her usual prim and proper way, we began with polite conversation, but after sharing scripture, a prayer and the Lord’s Prayer it became clear that Margie knew her time was short on this earth.  But what was so palpable was not regret, but the sheer joy and peace she had.  It was not a peace that was of struggle, but the pure peace that only comes from God and is a gift from heaven.  Margie knew that it would not be long until she was with her twin sister in heaven.  The peace that was apparent was just like her perfect shot and Jesus words of promise found in John 3:16.

For the love of God was clearly manifest and Margie had no regrets.  She was ready to enter into the church triumphant and be welcomed not only by her sister, but by the mother she knew only for a few short days after birth.  Margie knew that God’s promise of grace, love and sacrifice by Jesus Christ was for all of mankind including her.  Jesus death on Calvary was the greatest gift she ever received and we today can take comfort, solace and peace knowing that Margie now rests in her Lord and Saviors arms basking in the beauty of God’s creation where she can enjoy her family, whether playing cards, catching up on the latest society news or scrapbooking about her travel to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior.  We today celebrate Margies entrance into the church triumphant and the promise of eternal life made for all of mankind, but especially for Margie and all of the saints of her family and all of us who gather here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of what Jesus Christ did for Margie and each one of us!  AMEN! 

Sermon 02102013 Quinquagesima Sunday

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Gracious redeemer, when You chose and anointed David to be King of Israel, You looked, deeply into his heart.  In the same way You look at us today as Your children and know our deepest darkest secrets, but in spite of our sins, You redeem us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Enable us to understand Your commitment to us and how You graciously anoint us in our baptism to be heirs of the gift of eternal life.  This occurs as a free gift for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

When Samuel entered into the presence of Eliab and his sons began to parade in front of him, this probably felt like a modern day pagent or even a job interview.  Looking with the eyes of this world Samuel probably looked for the fiercest, the most resplendent and best dressed son who would be king.  Samuel like society looked with his eyes, measured every feature with his intellect and felt he would choose based upon the things he could see or perceive in his interactions with each of Eliabs sons.

But Samuel experienced and heard God speaking plainly to him with these words, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature…”  Each of these are outward physical features that only show what is on the outside of each of us.  God clearly says concerning each of the sons of Eliab that first paraded in front of Samuel with these features, “I have rejected him”.  And there is a reason for this, God continues, “for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

With these last seven words, the perspective and the landscape of how God looks at all of mankind has changed.  It is not with human abilities that God uses to discern if one man is better than another, God, Holy and Divine being Who created the heavens and the earth, formed the trees that give us oxygen, the animals that feed us, the oceans that nourish us, looks not with eyes for appearance, but God ‘looks at the heart’.  This revelation for us today not only changes the landscape, but reveals God’s interest in our lives even here at Emmanuel.

This past month we as a congregation chose new members of the council, which we will install this morning.  We as a congregation voted with eyes of the outward appearance of each person, just as Samuel began to do when searching for a king.  But God who looks not at the outward appearance looks at the heart of the person and wants us to look like Samuel heard from God with more penetrating eyes at the heart with these three realities for each of us today.  God wants us to look with forgiveness, faith and for the future that God has in store for us here at Emmanuel.

We are to look with eyes of forgiveness, because God has first forgiven each of us.  We begin our communion service with confession and forgiveness.  Just as God is the One Who baptizes us into His Son’s life, death and resurrection, God is also the One Who forgives us our sins.  Though our sins are like scarlet, God makes them white and cleanses us from our unrighteousness.  God does this because of His great love for each and every one of us as we are reminded from our Epistle lesson this morning as well as our Gospel.  God having mercy upon us frees us from our sins and sets us free to be the children of God He formed and shaped in our mothers womb.

Not only looking with eyes of forgiveness we are to look with eyes of faith.  This faith we have been given in our baptism with the intimate connection of Water and Word where God again reaches down from heaven and not only forgives us but imparts to each of us the muscle of faith that we are to use daily.  Our muscle of faith is to be exercised, used and relied upon in every aspect of our daily lives.  Just as farmers you plant a seed in the fall and in faith wait until spring and the harvest of wheat, God planted the seed and muscle of faith in each of us and God waters it, exercises it and makes it grow and one day like with Margie, Brad or Judy takes them home to be with Him in His kingdom.  We with the eyes of faith experience in relationship with God the fullness of His love and wait for God to take us home to be with Him in His kingdom.  This is the fulfillment of God’s promise made through Jesus Christ to and for each of us.

And finally we like Samuel can look with God’s eyes of forgiveness, faith and to the future.  Samuel didn’t know or understand what the future would hold for the one he would anoint with oil as king, but God looking in David’s heart knew what the future would be and with the eyes of faith saw the future and the leader David would be for the people of Israel.  So to when God poured Water and Word over our heads He knew everything about our future.  God knows what will occur for all eternity and prepares us for the future He has in store for each and every one of us.

The preparation of forgiveness, faith and the future is to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind.  This is made full, manifest and complete on Calvary by Jesus Christ, but individually made complete for us with our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For God fulfills these promises and enables us to understand that God looks not at our outward appearance, but at the heart of all of mankind, with the eyes of forgiveness, faith and our future, especially including all of us saints that are gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

Sermon 02092013 Funeral of Brad Lane Cramer

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Gracious Heavenly Father, we gather here this morning to celebrate the life of our brother in Christ Brad.  We who remain are reminded that Brad has found perfect peace in His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May we take solace and comfort in God’s Word that frees us and fulfills the promise of life and salvation through our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  For this occurred for Brad and is offered for each and every one of us.  Though the veil of death separates us today, Brad now rests in the loving arms of Jesus Christ who lived to set all of us free from sin and death for all of mankind, including all of us gathered here this morning to say goodbye.  AMEN.

The following passage from Ecclesiastes opens a window for us to understand our world and how God Who made time clearly knows, not only what will occur, but when it will occur.

3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

² A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

As we gather here this morning we know there are truths contained in scripture and especially this section of Ecclesiastes.  These truths remind us that we live in a reality that time has control over us and life provides us opportunity, responsibility and accountability.  Whether it is to plant, build, weep, dance, be silent, speak, love or a time for peace, everything has a time, place, season and reason that God sometimes only knows.

But the mystery that still remains of God only knowing is really a question that all of us have.  There are questions that have an easy answer, but still others that are a mystery to us and will remain a mystery to and for all of us until we enter eternal glory.  But do not be afraid to ask the question, but be prepared to wait for the answer.  For it will come, but not until we have entered into eternal glory and like Brad are in God’s eternal presence and in His loving, caring and protective arms.

Hear this truth though, God through the promise of salvation offered to Brad in his baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection gives us a clear measure of comfort and peace today.  For Jesus own words from John 10 are true and certain for us today, Jesus said, “²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.””

Truer words have never been spoken and as we gather here today to say goodbye we can find solace, comfort and peace from Jesus own words and promise of grace and eternal life for Brad and for each of us as we lay claim to the promise of life and salvation for all of mankind, but especially Brad and all of us gathered here to say good bye. 

May we who gather here today see and understand God’s gift of grace offered to each of us through our baptism into Jesus life, death and resurrection, which was made manifest in Brad’s life by how he lived and honor and lay claim to the promises of God of eternal life for all of mankind, especially all of us gathered here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds and comfort us today, because of what Jesus Christ did for Brad and each one of us!  AMEN!