Prepare Ye

From Rabbi  Jonah Pesner : We share that common text in our tradition. The most often repeated command in our tradition, for Jews, but shared with you, our Christian family. ‘You were slaves in Egypt, and therefore you are to love stranger.’ Thirty-six different times it is repeated in the Torah. Thirty-six, which is the Jewish number for life. One time, it says, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Thirty-six times it says love the stranger because it is thirty-six times harder, but thirty-six times more important. Together, Lutherans and Jews, and Christians and Muslims, and people of all faiths, and people of no faith must at this moment in history do justice to that phrase that the most sacred act is to love the person who is not like us.  at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Milwaukee, WI; August 8, 2019.

o For my Lenten disciple, besides giving up pop (I don't care what you call it here in the Commonwealth, it is pop. POP, POP, POP!), I have taken to meditating on the windows of the various churches and chapels I go to. Each Sunday, I am trying to go to a different church for worship. Each day, I try to pick a different window at The LTS's Church of the Abiding Presence. But I have become fixated on this one (the big picture to the left and/or above) that depicts the conversion of Saul. I started looking at it prior to our Internship Workshop, and have kept coming back to it. The passage quoted on the window is supposed to be from Acts 9:6 . But if you look there in most translations, like the NRSV , it's not there. It only shows up there in the King James translations (the original and any updates.) That's because it isn't in any of the Greek manuscripts . It does appear in Acts 22:10 when he is recounting this story . No matter where it appears, I am finding it a...

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all of this took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “See, the virgin will become pregnant, and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,” which is translated ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel commanded him. He married her, but did not know her intimately until she gave b...

(Jesus said,) ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.’ - Matthew 6:9-13 Why do you have to learn Greek? That was a question that I was asked more than one time before I left Michigan to come out to Gettysburg. Why do we have to learn Greek? That is a question that my classmates or I ask more than one time each day we are here in Gettysburg. Actually, it is not that bad. It is frustrating, but no more so than any of the other courses I am taking. It’s just that it is so unfamiliar. First, it uses a different alphabet. Some letters are the same, but there are some new letters in there. Then, some of the familiar letters are not who they are in English. For example, this letter “p” is the Greek letter rho, and makes the “r” ...

Psalm 130 - Waiting for Divine Redemption, A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning , more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Psalm 131 -Song of Quiet Trust, A Song of Ascents. Of David. O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high;I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the ...

I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse, my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather. And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool. I am silent; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. Remove your stroke from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand. You chastise mortals in punishment for sin, consuming like a ...

I got up early this morning and decided to go for a walk. (I "borrowed" the idea from Law & Gospel .) LTSG is on Seminary Ridge, but at the corner, it turns into Confederate Avenue. If you're familiar with Gettysburg, (the battle or the movie) Confederate Avenue is now the point from which Pickett's Charge was launched on the third day of the battle. It is also the site of many of the monuments to the Confederate troops who served and died here. I travelled the route a week or so ago with my parents in a car tour of the battlefield, but until talking to L&G, I didn't realize how close they were. I set out at 7 a.m. to see how far I could get by 8. I took my Bible and Devotions book with me , because I figured, you're sitting on one of the most historically inspiring areas of ground in the country, you may as well use it. I made it the mile and a quarter to the Virginia monument in 45 minutes (good time for an out of shape OLine coach with a bad knee...

“What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.” - Psalm 116:12 - 19 These are the words of one of the offertory songs that we sing. What shall we give BACK to the Lord for everything that He has given to us? God has blessed us. How will we show our gratitude? How do we show our love for God and our love for one another? We do so by our offerings to Him. We give of ourselves and of our possessions, our talents, our time and our selves. Using your talents to serve and praise the Lord is the REASON that we were given these gifts. Just as Jesus gave us the gift of His sacrifice as atonement for our sins, we can give back to God the gifts he has given us as a thanksgiving. How do others show t...

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine...

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. – Jude 1:24-25 Glory is defined as “great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown or adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.” We all want glory. We want to be recognized for what we have done or accomplished. When someone recognizes what we have done, it feels good. You get a warm, tingly feeling. You might blush. You try to act embarrassed and treat it like it is no big deal. But at the same time, you are saying to yourself, “Well, it’s about time that SOMEONE noticed!” We crave the recognition, but then act as if it doesn’t matter. Not receiving praise for your hard work tends to make us bitter. Many hard working people have left groups because no one recognized their efforts...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NRSV) Father, forgive me when I rely on my own insight. Grant me the wisdom and the grace to trust the wonders of your love actively working in this world. Guide my path. May your will be done in me. AMEN. From Daily Texts from the Moravian Church.

Today was my mom's mastectomy, and thank God, everything went well. The doctor is as sure as they can be that they have have got all of the cancer. I am so thankful that she is ok. In fact, she just called me so we could talk about "Survivor." That's why going 11 hours away to Gettysburg makes me feel like a piece of crap. When I was reading my morning devotionals, this was part of the verse: If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:24-26 It was a comfort with my Mom headed into surgery.

No one else in my life forgives me as quickly as you do. Thank you, ever patient God, for your invitation to me to confess and for the assurance of your forgiveness. Help me to see my need and stop making excuses for my sin. I am sorry, and I seek your power to live as you desire. AMEN. From Daily Texts from the Moravian Church. for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will r...

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia! who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! our salvation have procured, Alleluia! now above the sky he's King, Alleluia! where the angels ever sing. Alleluia! Compleat Psalmodist, 1749 Why write something original when someone else has said it better?

Thanks to HeyJules at Maced with Grace for posting this from Positive Christianity . Jesus had to face a lot of things we do not have to deal with. Our crucifixions, as severe as they are, are nothing like Jesus Christ went through. First of all, there is His trial. Today, if we were to have Jesus Christ in court and try Him, right away the case would be thrown out. I have a fascinating piece I'd like to share with you. Do you realize that Jesus was not tried once, but five times? He was tried before Arras. He was tried before Caiaphas. He was tried before the Sanhedrin. He was tried before Pilot. And He was tried before Herod. Now, here is what the state's Attorney General of the state of Michigan says about His trial. He says it was illegal. These are the reasons why: #1--The arrest and trial on a capital charge was made during night time, and that was expressly forbidden. #2--The trial was not public. #3--The trial was completed in one day, and that was a direct violation of...