Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Who can fix all the ills of this World?

Taking ourselves and others too seriously is a major flaw we as human beings and even as Christians have.

Last week we had yet another scandal break about a politician. Needless to say I was sad to hear about it, and even sadder that it would effect so many other people. At the same time, do we think we should expect anything more? He is just as sinful as the rest of us are. He may have certain characteristics that make him elect able and make him a good governor, but that doesn't make him perfect does it?

Back in November we had an election and Barack Obama was elected president. I'm sure he will be a good president. He did a good job campaigning and getting people to vote for him. Still, do people really expect him to fix all of the ills of the world? Isn't he just a man, like you and me? Does he not still have sinfulness in him? When he fails the first time are people going to disown him, and call for his impeachment? Do people really expect him to be the Savior of the world? Can you imagine the pressure he is under to perform? How will he ever live up to expectations?

How about you? What do people expect of you? Does everyone expect great things of you? Do people expect you to be the perfect father, mother, worker, boss, leader, etc.? I know how you feel. As a pastor a lot is often expected of me and when, not if but when, I fail, I ultimately disappoint, discourage, and even anger people along the way.

Spouses do this with each other. We all have expectations of what our perfect spouse should be like, and for a while they might live up to the expectations, but eventually failure will happen. The sad thing is that there are such high expectations and such a lack of forgiveness that this failure often results in broken relationships.

The truth is that we all do it. We all have high expectations of each other. At the same time, people also have such high expectations of us. We are all always letting each other down.

The remedy? Stop taking ourselves and each other too seriously. Stop thinking that another sinful person can fulfill the impossible standards you have set for him or her. Stop hating yourself for not living up to everyone's expectations of you.

Especially with it being just a week before Christmas and everyone just wanting all of their expectations met; do not be disappointed if you don't get the perfect gift from your spouse. Don't be disheartened when your kids don't appreciate every little thing you got them. Don't get discouraged when the cookies don't turn out the way they should. Don't get upset when the family shows up an hour late. Don't freak out when it is just a week before Christmas and you still haven't started your cards yet.

Instead, enjoy the time you have with your friends and family as a time that is from God to you. Enjoy it as a reminder that the perfection has already come in God's own Son, Jesus. Realize that it is in him and through him that we will become perfect in paradise. Have peace in this hectic, fast paced time in the knowledge that one day all of this will go away and a new heaven and a new earth will come forth, will arise and it will be perfect.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier

To God All Praise and Glory!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

What does Christmas mean to you?

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Is it shopping? Is it parties? Is it travel? Does the birth of Jesus even enter into your tenth or twelfth thought at this time of year?

Do you ever wonder why you do the things you do at Christmas? Why do you have the traditions you do? Why do you spend all that time wrapping presents just so your kids can rip them all open in under ten seconds? Why do you spend all that time writing out Christmas cards? Why do you make seven different kinds of Christmas cookies and then give them all away? Why do you take your child to church every Saturday morning for a month to get ready for a half hour long Christmas program?

There is one answer to all of these questions. The answer is Jesus. If it wasn't for Jesus there would be no reason for any of it. It would just be empty meaningless ritual. Instead, our giving of gifts reminds us of the surprise gift we got that first Christmas. We make cookies to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. We visit friends and relatives to remind them and ourselves of the love we have in Christ Jesus by sharing it with each other. We decorate our homes as we would decorate a baby's room at his or her arrival to welcome the baby Jesus into our homes and our lives. Even the colors we use, red signifying the blood of Jesus and green signifying the life that the blood of Jesus gave, truly do bring meaning to an otherwise empty and meaningless celebration of nothing.

As you go about your rituals and traditions this season, please think about why you do them. You may even want to get rid of them if they have become meaningless. You may want to teach your kids why you do them while you are doing them. Make this a truly meaningful holiday full of the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus the Christ, who came down to earth as a lowly child to live, suffer, and die for us. Have a blessed Advent!

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier

To God All Praise and Glory!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." [Mk 7:50]

By the time you read this you will probably know who the next president is going to be. Many of you though have your fears and doubts about the future of this nation. There is definitely a lot to fear. You have the economy, wars and rumors of wars, job loss, health insurance, your own health, your family, the economy, oops, I mentioned that already.

It seems as though our circumstances in the future don't look so good. Or maybe, you are looking at your future circumstances, and you are thinking that everything is going to be fine or even better than fine, things are going to be great.

The thing is, no matter what our circumstance, we can't let them rule our lives. We must allow something, even someone else rule our lives. That someone, of course is Jesus Christ.

Paul put it best when he said, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want, I can do all things through Christ who give me strength.

And how does He give us strength? He gives us strength through the very fact that he died on the cross for us and three days later rose from the dead. Those acts of dying and rising give us strength because they are the be all and end all of our existence. They give us strength because, as Christians, we now live to him and die in him. They give us strength because we know that neither death nr life, things in the present or in the past, neither angels nor demons, nor anything else in all creation is able to separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So whether Barack Obama or John McCain is president; whether our economy turns into a recession or depression or goes so far up that you can't see the top; whether we lose our health care, our social security, and our 401k's all on the same day or they are all doubled; whether we have enough food in our pantries for ten families or our cupboards are bare; whether we are the supreme picture of health or are on our last breaths; we know that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. We belong to him forever. And if we belong to Him everything will be just fine no matter what.

Don't let your circumstances ruin your life or your witness. Let your witness to the calming, soothing, and peace giving Gospel run your life. Wake up in the morning with a cheerful heart knowing that your sins are paid for and forgiven. Go through your day smiling all the way as you remember that your sins have been washed away by the precious blood of Jesus. Then, end your day with this prayer: "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. And this I ask for Jesus' sake. Amen."

Then wake up in the morning either happy that your sins are forgiven and you are ready to start a new day or completely happy and ultimately at peace knowing that you are in paradise with your friend and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier

To God All Praise and Glory!

Friday, October 17, 2008

DO YOU HAVE PEACE OR CONFUSED?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

"And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Have you ever felt like Chicken Little, who knew that the sky was falling and tried to tell everyone but most weren't listening, others would just patronize him with a pat on the head, and still others would make fun of him behind his back?

Do you ever feel that way as a Christian? Your message is not so much that the sky is falling, but that Jesus is a solution or at least a remedy to the problems that people are facing? As Christians we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. We call Him our Savior. We try to tell others that if they would just put their faith and their trust in Jesus, that they would finally have a peace that passes all understanding. We try to tell people that their sins are forgiven by His death on the cross and that their place in heaven is secure by His resurrection from the dead, but they are too focused on the troubles of this life to realize the joy and the peace that are theirs by faith.

One of the verses that gives me comfort as a pastor is not necessarily a comforting verse. A couple days before He was to be betrayed, Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under wings, but you were not willing." Matthew 23:37 It gives me comfort, because as much as people don't always listen to me, even more did they not listen to Jesus. And He was God.

In the midst of this financial crisis, who knows what tomorrow holds? It sure isn't the financial wizards, they as much as have confessed so. They don't know what tomorrow brings anymore that you do. I'll tell you who does know. God does. In fact He tells us that there will be an end to all things. He alone knows what, where and when the end is.

So as long as we are putting our faith, our trust, and our hope in something or someone other than the one who knows all things and still loves us and cares for us, we are no different from the "Jerusalem" that Jesus speaks of here.

In a financial crisis such as we are experiencing the church can and must be a beacon of light and hope. It must be a place where people can come to find help. It has to be a place where people are turned to a true, lasting, and real hope, a hope not built on the shifting sands of this world, but a hope built on the solid foundation that is our Lord Jesus Christ.


Still we as Christians need to be willing. If we want God to care for us, protect our spiritual welfare, and guide us through this tough time, we must be willing to come under His wing, His Word and Sacraments. We must be willing to give up our independence in spiritual matters, acting like we have it all together, and realize our sinfulness and stupidity so that Christ may finally take us under His wing of forgiveness, life, and salvation. If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

Even if your 401 K has dwindled down to nothing, even if your business is on the verge of closing, even if you can't get a loan, don't have health insurance, and are on your last penny, you can have peace. I'm not saying that you will be physically comfortable or that you will even always have enough to eat. I am saying that your spirit, your soul will be at peace. It will be at peace as long as you believe and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

As a Christian, you know that this world is not the be all and end all of your life. You know that the end is only the beginning. You know that you can "rejoice in suffering, because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-4

My friends, this is a time of great rejoicing in Christianity. The fact that there a millions of Christians around the world and that are billions of saints already in heaven is a testament to the blessings of the Lord. Many more blessings are to come. As we look forward to an everlasting kingdom, let us be reminded daily of His love for us. Let us remind others of His love for us. Let us use ALL of our gifts to His glory, for His purposes, and to make disciples of all nations so that they may know the peace that passes all understanding just like we do! Can I get an Amen?

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

WHO IS YOUR MASTER?

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:13

Who is your master? Here is a test to find out? If you had the opportunity to choose between overtime at work where you could earn time and a half and Sunday morning worship which one would you choose? Or here is another test, say you had ten dollars in your pocket and you had to choose between buying a nice dinner tonight and giving half of it to church and going to McDonald's instead, what would you choose?

Which do you hold on to tighter your checkbook or your Bible? Which one has received more of your attention? Which one have you spent more time thinking about? Have you spent more time at the store this week than at your chair or table reading God's Word, on your knees in prayer, or in your community sharing the love of Christ?

I am often amazed at how defensive and even angry people get when you start talking about stewardship and money. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because it happens all the time. People actually leave church and never come back because you ask them to give a tithe to the Lord.

Why do you think that is? Everything else is fair game. Everyone can know how much time you have and how many things you are good at doing, but don't you dare touch my money. Don't talk about it. Don't ask about it. And especially don't ask me to give more of it away. Could it be that our hearts and our attitudes are more attached to our money than they are to our faith, our church, and our God?

Last week there was quite a bit of panic when the Dow Jones had its biggest one day drop in history. My question to that is this: Who would put their trust, their faith, and their peace in something as volatile and uncertain as the stock market or in money period? Does our happiness and our security really rely on the Almighty dollar that much?

I have heard people speak of the "Great Depression" before. Many of them say that it was a very hard time, but most of those people also say that it was a time that they remember with fondness, because neighbors helped each other out, churches grew by leaps and bounds, and families grew closer together. It was a time of great need, but it was also a time of contentedness and happiness for people whose happiness didn't reside in their pockets.

I pray that it doesn't come to a "Great Depression" again. I don't want to see people lose their jobs. I don't want to see people lose their life savings. I especially don't want people to be thrown out into the street. It hurts to watch people suffer. At the same time God has always used hard times to bring people closer to him. My question to you is how hard is it going to have to get before you realize who your master truly is?

I pray that you get your priorities in order in your own way and in your own time and that you are not forced to do so. I pray that you realize where your spiritual bread is buttered and for that matter your physical bread as well. Come to your senses and know that in order to have true peace and happiness in your life, God must be your master and master of everything in your life! Learn that the secret to contentedness does not lie in the checkbook balance but in God's love, mercy, grace and peace that He gives to you daily in His Word. Realize that God loving you enough to send His Son Jesus to die on a cross for you is not just something for Sunday mornings and funerals but for every day of your life to give you hope and peace.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

ARE YOU FED UP WITH............

Are you fed up with soaring prices? Are you fed up with your government? Are you fed up with how things seem to be going from bad to worse? God knows how you feel.

Since the beginning of the downfall of humanity when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, things have been going from bad to worse. At times, such as right before the flood and right before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, things got so bad that God decided to have the whole world destroyed by a flood.

At this time God is holding back his wrath. He is keeping our complete destruction, which is truly what we all deserve, from happening to us. Just in this way we see God's mercy working in our lives. I can look back at so many times in my life where I didn't get what my sins deserve. There are too many moments of stupidity in my life to count. Yet God, who is rich in grace, keeps the full penalty of the stupidity of our sins from us.

At the same time I often hear people say things like. "Things are so bad. Pastor, do you think the end of the world is coming soon?" Or they don't even ask me but they simply say, "The world must be coming to an end, because everything is going downhill. My answer to these comments and questions is always the same. The world has been coming to an end since the beginning. With every rise of the sin the world is always one day closer to the end. In the New Testament writings of the Apostles there is great evidence that many at that time thought that the end of the world would come during their lifetime. Paul spends a great deal of time making sure people continue to live their lives instead of just simply waiting for the end. There is also an urgency in Paul's writings to share the Gospel for the "time is near", which is exactly what Paul did from his conversion on.

When we see things that make us think that the world is coming to an end we should be motivated greatly to increase our witness to Christ. We shouldn't cower in a corner, become pessimistic, or just sit and wait and tell that day comes. We should get to work! Jesus tells us that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. He tells us to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into the harvest field.

Are you fed up with the way the world is going? Then do something about it! Share the Lord's truth with others. Fill your own life with God's Word, with His good news, and with His grace. Fill your community with these things. Tell your neighbors, friends, relatives, and everyone else about what Jesus has done for you and for them. If your world is falling apart around you and you aren't doing these things, you only have yourself to blame.

As has always been the case, it is God's Word, His truth that changes lives. It is His living Word that, when it reaches the ears of His creation causes people to go from belief and unbelief, from unsaved to saved. He has given us the joy and the opportunities to share His Gospel with others. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit gives us the power to share that good news with people from every tribe, language and nation.

You have no excuse, nor do you have a reason not to share the Gospel. The time is near when the end of all things will come, so instead of being fed up, start feeding souls with the food of the good news of salvation that only comes through Jesus Christ our Lord. Peace be with you as you get to work!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

How Sure Are You?

How sure are you of what is going to happen tomorrow? Do you know what is going to happen from minute to minute? How much do you have planned? How much of that do you think you will actually get done?

As I get older and wiser, some might argue the second one, I realize more and more how unpredictable life really is. For instance, not in a million years would I have predicted how, when, or where I would meet my wife. I never imagined that I would have two wonderful kids that brighten each and every day like they do. I would have never thought that I would be a pastor in Warrenton, MO, because I didn't even know such a town existed till I moved here.

I am amazed by the unpredictability of life. Yet, in the midst of all this, I oftentimes still fool myself into thinking that I have it all under control. What a fool I am! What fools we all are!

What do you think? Are you fooling yourself into thinking you have it all under control? Are you planning everything out from day today to the point where time doesn't move without you moving it? When your schedule gets messed up or when things like, oh I don't know, church and faith, get in the way, are you able to handle it?

I am about to go on vacation for two weeks. The plan is to go to the Black Hills, to Yellowstone National Park, and to Estes Park, Colorado with my family. I don't know if it is going to happen like I have it planned. I don't even know if I am going to make it past tomorrow.

It is this uncertainty that causes us to turn to God. It is this absence of knowledge that makes us fall to our knees and at the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The good thing to know is the God knows everything. He knows how my vacation is going to go. He knows how long I am going to live. He knows how many grandkids I am going to have. He knows what my kids are going to be when they grow up. He knows how many hairs are on top of my head.

It is this same God that, in His foreknowledge, sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to this sinful uncertain earth to suffer and die in our place. It is this same God who loves us more than we could ever love ourselves. It is this same God who gives us everything we need and so much more.

The whole world is full of uncertainty. You don't need me to tell you that. Are you going to put your trust in the things of this world, the economy, the government, your job, or your abilities? Or are you going to put your trust in Almighty God, who rules over all of these things, knows what is going on with all of it, what will happen in the end, and still loves you anyway?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory!

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Learn The Secret Of Being Content.

There is so much uncertainty these days. What is going to happen to gas prices if things stay the way they are? What if I lose my job? What is the future of the world going to be like for my kids? How am I ever going to be able to afford to retire?

People with no insurance are deathly afraid of getting sick because of soaring medical costs. At the same time businesses with employees are wondering how they are going to be able to continue to afford the insurance they provide. A dollar isn't going nearly as far as it did even six months ago.

Isn't it odd how all of this seems to center around one thing, money? One of the biggest reason for divorce is money. One of the biggest reasons for depression is money. The economy is front and center in the news and in newspapers. There are wars going on all around the world because of money. People are killed by the hundreds every day because people are going into houses and businesses to steal money. I could go on and on.

In 1 Timothy 6:10 it says very plainly "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many grief's.

Have you ever noticed that when our lives, our hearts, and our minds are focused on money we never seem to have enough of it? We can have money in the bank to spare, but if our trust is in that money, we are never happy or satisfied.

Have you also noticed that some of the most satisfied people are the people with the least amount of money? They scrape to get by, and often wish they had more money, but the money isn't getting in the way of their happiness nor is it controlling their happiness.

I was reading a Reader's Digest article the other day that had the five top reasons for happiness. One of those reasons was money. It wasn't the gathering and accumulating of wealth though, instead it was the giving of it away. It said that the more people were involved in donating to charities and helping other people, the happier and more content they were.

Notice that it is not money in and of itself that makes us happy but how we use it. If we use it in selfish ways and for selfish reason we will be miserable people. If we use it to help others and to give glory to God and His kingdom we will be satisfied and happy people. We will be content because we will be using our wealth to help others.

Paul said it best when he said, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything who gives me strength."

In these hard financial times it is best to be like Paul. He went from being a rich Pharisee to being a lowly tentmaker and evangelist. He went from everyone adoring him and giving him honor, to being beaten, stoned, and imprisoned. Then, after all was said and done, the times that he was most content were when he relied on God alone to give him strength.

Don't let your whole life revolve around getting more for yourself. Instead, learn the secret of being content. Learn to rely on God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who gives you strength.

Start using what God gave you to further His kingdom by supporting missionaries, donating to Agape, helping fellow church members who need financial help, starting a mission project of your own, donating to your church's building project, starting a scholarship fund for kids in need, going to places like Cedar Rapids, New Orleans, or Winfield and helping people out. The opportunities to serve and to give are endless. Go in peace, and serve the Lord!

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

How Much Are You Worth?

How much are you worth? It seems as though on a yearly basis now, record salaries are being rewarded to professional athletes. Just this past Spring a guy who hasn't even played a down in the NFL was given the biggest rookie contract ever. Pitchers in baseball, before they ever pitch a day in the majors are set for life. I'm not saying that it is wrong or right. I am a bit jealous of them. But, I guess if the owners and general managers of different teams can afford this, then so be it.

I also know that as soon as a person gets Dr. in front of their name or a Ph. D. behind their name their stock goes up. They become more important, even if they finished with the worst grades in their class.

In our world, the popular people are usually those who have some sort of special ability or at least a lot of money. Many people know the name Warren Buffet only because he is the richest man in the world. Just about everyone knows who Tiger Woods is because of his special ability to hit a gold ball well. Just about everyone knows who Paris Hilton is, well I don't know why everyone knows who she is, but I know it is not for good reasons.

What happens when the athlete loses his physical ability? No one but Twins fans remember who was on the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins. I can guarantee that 15 years from now no one will remember Paris Hilton. When people who seem to be worth a lot in earthly terms die, their worth goes away immediately.

This is not the case in the life of Christians. When Christians die their worth skyrockets. This is because their worth is and always has been found in Jesus. When the Father sent His Son to the earth, He showed how much we are worth to Him. We are worth nothing less than the life of His only Son. We are worth EVERYTHING to God. There is no amount of money, no fame, no power that can compare to how much we are worth to God. He sent His one and only Son, God incarnate, to take our place, the place we deserved, on the cross.

How humbling is that? How much peace does that really give you? The Almighty God, the one that created you, gave you breath, and sustains it thinks enough of you to send His Son to suffer and die for you.

To the world you are only worth what you can do or give. Once your talent goes away you are worthless. Once your fame and fortune is gone it is as if you are gone too. We don't much care what Michael Jordan does on a daily basis. People outside of Illinois and Chicago didn't have a clue who Barrack Obama was two years ago.

I bet there aren't too many people outside of Warrenton who know you either. Jesus does. Jesus knows you. He knows how many individual hairs are on your head. He knows when you wake up and when you go to sleep. He knows your past, present, and future. He literally knows you inside and out. And in spite of all that He still loves you.

I encourage you today to measure your worth, not on what others think of you or even on what you think of yourself, but on the measure that God with which God measures you., His Son. Have peace that on one thinks more of you than God does. Have joy that your worth will never change. And then, as you go about your life in joy and peace, honor God with the honor that He has given you! Have a peace filled day knowing that you are worth everything to God!

Rev. Jeremy Klastermeier
To God All Praise and Glory!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

It's vacation time. As you read this article this week I am sitting on a beach, catching a big walleye in a boat, or swinging a golf club on a golf course. I can't wait. I am really looking forward to this vacation.

Does this mean I am taking a vacation from being a Christian? Certainly not. In fact, I am weighing my options for worship on Sunday and am bringing several books along for devotions. I am looking forward to being able to devote some quiet time in a most serene setting, the north woods of Minnesota, to reading and listening to God's Word. I am looking forward to being in God's Word MORE.

A vacation is a good thing. In fact, God commands us to rest. The third commandment is very specific about remembering the Sabbath (rest) day by keeping it holy. Yet, we are not to rest AWAY from God's Word, but instead rest IN God's Word.

God's Word is where we can truly find rest. Yet even I, as a pastor, can forget that from time to time. I can't get over distressed about things going on in the church. I can get frustrated with the sinful things that people say and do. I can get overwhelmed from time to time with the great responsibilities that come with leading a church. All of this stress and heartache usually comes about because I am not, in the words of Martin Luther himself, reading, marking, learning, and inwardly digesting God's Word as much as I need to.

If I look back at the most stressful times in my life and my devotional life, there is a direct correlation between the two. The more stressed and freaked out I am the less I am in God's Word. The more calm, relaxed, and peaceful I am the more I am in God's Word. I am sure you can see this in your own life as well.

This is because in God's Word is where we find true peace, comfort and joy. In God's Word we find the true light of the good news of Jesus Christ. We hear things like, "For God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but everlasting life." And, "He was crucified for our transgressions and raised for our justification." And, "Don't worry... God know what you need." And "For we are saved by grace through faith and this not of ourselves, it is a gift of God not by works so that no one can boast."

I encourage you today to get into God's Word. Find a Bible study or start one of your own. Ask your pastor questions when you don't understand something. Take shelter under God's Word for in it you will find rest for your souls.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier

To God All Praise and Glory!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Patience is a Virtue

Patience is a virtue. Have you ever heard this saying? Have you ever thought that you wish you had this virtue? Bet you didn't know that it is one of the eight fruits of the Spirit. Here are the nine in order from Galatians 5:22. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

These are all the things that we get when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. So are all of you Christians filled with patience? I know I'm not. So what's the deal? Does this mean that the Holy Spirit is not working in me? Does it mean that I am not a Christian?

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, there is sin in the world, therefore because we are part of the world, you know "dust you are and to dust you shall return", we also have sin in us. If we were not sinners we would be perfect. We would have perfect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Since we are sinful human beings in sinful bodies we do not have those things perfectly but imperfectly.

So why do some seem to have greater fruits of the Spirit than others? Well, this can be answered in two ways. The first is that God gives these gifts in different ways to different people. One person might have more patience than another, while one might be gentler than another. One might live a purer life as in staying away from sin more, while another may have a very peaceful demeanor about him. We all have different gifts but the same Spirit gives them to all who believe in him.

Secondly, some people have experienced God's grace a whole lot more than others through hearing, reading, and studying his Word and receiving His forgiveness through the Word and the Sacraments. Because they have experienced God more they have also received more of certain kinds of gifts. For instance, a person has sinned greatly and hurt quite a few people along the way. After realizing his sin and the hurt he has caused he begins to feel greatly troubled in his heart and is unable to reconcile himself. He has caused much pain and grief and his pain and grief has been heaped back upon him tenfold by many who want nothing more than to hurt him back. In the meantime, one person that he hurt most deeply comes to him and tells him that he forgives him. At that moment peace comes upon him as he realizes and receives the forgiveness he so desperately needs. Having the true and real peace that he has, he is able to convey that peace to others in such a way that peace is clearly seen in him.

Also, think about the times when you have felt the closest relationship with God. I would imagine that these close times involve you being in God's Word in devotion and Bible study and in a close relationship with other Christians through a church or some other organization. I liken it to a marriage or even a parent-child relationship. Some have said that they felt that close relationship through experiences in nature where they can see God's handiwork in action. The point is that the more you are involved in and with the life of the other person and the more time you spend with a person the closer your relationship will be. Same is true with God. The more you are interested in Him and show it by listening to him, learning his will, and living a life connected to him, the closer your relationship with him will be.

God gives you the tools. He gives you His living and active Word, His personal letter to you by which he gives you the knowledge of his perfect will and shares his real and true love with you. He gives you the washing of water and the Word in baptism by which you are made His child. He gives you His true body and blood to connect with Him in a real physical and Spiritual way. He gives you other Christians with whom you can share His love and forgiveness and from whom you can learn the fruits of the Spirit.

One of the greatest gifts God gave me was my wife. I have learned so much from her, especially when it comes to the fruits of the Spirit. She is so giving, so kind, so faithful, so loving that one can't help but see the fruits of the Spirit in action. Every day I am amazed at the Holy Spirit working in and through Karin in so many aspects of her life. Her seemingly tireless attitude when it comes to work in the church is second to none. And she loves doing it because of her love for the Lord.

The best thing about the fruits of the Spirit is that you don't have to work to get them, that is unless you call being involved in church, reading your Bible, and being in fellowship with other Christians work. It really all comes naturally. I have often told people that I don't consider my job as a pastor work. Sure, there are times when I would rather be working on a farm field plowing up dirt, on a lake fishing, or on a golf course hitting the tee shot into the woods, but I can honestly say that there is nothing more satisfying than sharing the Gospel with people and having them share it with you. I encourage you today to look into how you can increase the fruits of the Spirit in your lives and in the lives of your family and friends. Peace to you always.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 1, has been set aside as the National Day of Prayer. Our Christian ministerial alliance and other Christian spiritual leaders in our community will be leading prayer at the University Extension Center at 107 Walton St. in Warrenton beginning at noon.

The national day of prayer is a day designated by the United States Congress as a day when all Americans are asked to come together and pray in their own way. It is held on the first Thursday in May, this year being May 1.

It was first made official in 1952 by President Truman, but even before that there had been several "days of prayer" that our government or certain presidents have called for. The specific day of the year that it was to be held on was put into law by President Reagan in 1988 and has
remained the same ever since.

Since the Warrenton Christian Ministerial Alliance is hosting the program on May 1, we will be praying to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and praying in Jesus name and for His sake.

Please come and pray with us and for our churches, our community, our county, our state, or nation, and our world. Let us not forget about who has the power to answer our prayers so that all glory, honor, and might may go to God forever.

Oftentimes I get frustrated when I hear people talk about the power of prayer. I get frustrated because of the misconceptions on prayer. People often don't take into account what the Scriptures say about prayer and what Jesus himself says about it.

I get frustrated when people think of prayer as some type of words in just the right way that God will certainly give you what you asked for in prayer.

I get frustrated when people talk about the power of prayer instead of talking about the power of God to answer prayer. People will actually pray for healing for someone and then, if the person isn't healed, it was because they weren't praying hard enough, or because they didn't have enough faith when they prayed.

I get frustrated when people don't take God's will into account when they pray, thinking that if it is their will it must be God's will too. Everyone dies, yet somehow people still think that you can live forever, or at least be cured of every disease that plagues you, if you just pray hard
enough and have enough faith.

The problem continues to be that we put too much emphasis on ourselves, our faith, and our abilities instead of laying our lives at the mercy and grace of Almighty God.

Prayer does just that. When we pray as we ought, we are throwing ourselves at the feet of Almighty God and asking Him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He is the one who changes hearts and minds to follow Him. He is the one who gives us daily bread. He is the one who forgives sins and gives us the will to forgive others. He is the one who keeps us from temptation. He is the one who guards and protects us from all evil. If our lives are to change, it is only because we have become powerless and Christ has become the power in us.

Again, please join us for prayer tomorrow at the University extension center from noon-1pm as we lay our lives, our community, our state and our world at the feet of Almighty God so that He may lift it up to His honor and praise.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Life in Perspective

"The Resurrection of Our Lord Sunday".

What was Easter all about for you? Was it about eggs, pastel colors, frilly dresses, and ham? Was it about getting together with family and friends to enjoy each others company? Was it about going to church very early in the morning, going to breakfast, and then going back to bed? Or was there more to it than that? What is Easter really all about?

Easter Sunday, or as it is more properly known, The Resurrection of Our Lord Sunday, may be considered the most important festival day in all of Christianity. It is the day that we celebrate the fact that Christ rose from the dead. The day of the year on which we celebrate changes every year, but the purpose and importance of it stays the same.

Unfortunately even people who call themselves Christians are believing in it less and less. Since it was 2,000 years ago, and since it is such a far-fetched story people just have a hard time believing it. It doesn't fit into people's brains. People just can't fathom a man rising from the dead. Besides isn't it all just made up anyway?

My friends, it doesn't take faith to believe in the resurrection. The resurrection is a true historical fact. Just like we have as fact that George Washington was the first President of the United States, or that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address. It is not faith that believes in the resurrection. It actually really happened and there are more than 500 witnesses to back it up.

What takes faith is to believe that Christ's death and resurrection were for you. Here's an example of what I am trying to say. One day I decide that I am going to work all day and give my paycheck to you. I have told you that I am going to do so. It doesn't take faith to see me working all day. You can go to where I am working and verify that I am working. It does take faith in me that I am actually going to give you my day's wages.

It is the same with faith in the resurrection. You could simply deny that the resurrection happened, which is just silly nonsense. The claims and facts of the resurrection would stand up in any and every court of law. To say that you have to have faith that the resurrection happened is nonsense. It is one of the most attested to events in all of human history.

Paul said it best when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said,

"If Christ has not been raised then your faith is futile, you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians. 15:17-22)

This passage from Paul answers everything. It gives another attestation to the truth of the resurrection, and it tells us how the resurrection benefits us. My prayer for you is that you not only believe that the resurrection actually happened just as the witnesses said, but also that you believe that the historical and real resurrection was for you, so that you may hold to its truth all the way to everlasting life. My other prayer for you is that you share this Gospel truth with all people so that He may hasten His second coming to restore that complete and total peace that He has promised.

Life in Perspective

"Jesus" and "forgiveness".

The last few weeks I have been talking about how to deal with conflict in a God pleasing way so that your relationships can be restored. This whole thing can really come down to two words, "Jesus" and "forgiveness".

This is holy week. It all starts on Palm Sunday as we remember Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on a colt as the people sang "Hosanna to the king". On Maundy (command) Thursday we remember the institution of the Lord's Supper and Christ's command to love each other. On Good Friday we remember the "good" death that Jesus died on our behalf. On Holy Saturday we mourn as we remember that it was because of our sins that Jesus lay in that tomb. Then comes Easter Sunday as we rejoice in the victory over death and the grave that Jesus won for us and that because he has risen we too shall rise and live forever.

What does this have to do with reconciliation and conflict? Well, look at it this way, if it wasn't for all that Jesus did in His life, suffering and death we would have no power, nor would we even desire, to reconcile ourselves to each other. Without the forgiveness of Christ we could care less whether those whom we have sinned against forgive us, and we certainly have no desire to forgive those who sin against us.

When we become Christians, we truly have Christ in our hearts, and our desire is for the Lord. Our desire is to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Our desire is to do what God would have us to do. Our desire is to be reminded, as often as possible, of the forgiveness won for us on the cross on Good Friday and the victory over death on Resurrection Day.

God has restored our broken relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. In order to share that good news and bring it to bear in the lives of others, we should and must forgive others and seek forgiveness from others. We should and must seek to be reconciled with one another and seek to have our relationships restored to ones that truly show forth Jesus Christ.

We should never withhold forgiveness or think that we are in the right when we know that we really aren't. We should never turn our search for forgiveness or our forgiveness for others into some sort of self righteousness where we think that, because we have done what God wants us to do, somehow we are better or deserve heaven more.

This holy week is a perfect time to get moving on reconciliation. You may be getting together with family members on Sunday. Wouldn't it be awesome to go to them and simply ask for forgiveness? Would it be spectacular if you could get a hug instead of a sneer? Wouldn't it be beautiful to feel love and forgiveness instead of tension and hatred? Think about it.

As you go forth in your efforts to reconcile, remember the four "Gs".

1.. Glorify God
2.. Get the log out of your own eye.
3.. Gently restore.
4.. Go and be reconciled.

For more information and help on how to reconcile your relationships go to www.HisAoR.org or give me a call at church at 456-2888.

God's blessings and peace as you mourn the death of Christ, as you remember that His suffering and death was for you, and as you rejoice in His resurrection and yours!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The last few weeks I have been talking about how to deal with conflict in a God pleasing way so that your relationships can be restored. This whole thing can really come down to two words, "Jesus" and "forgiveness".

This is holy week. It all starts on Palm Sunday as we remember Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on a colt as the people sang "Hosanna to the king". On Maundy (command) Thursday we remember the institution of the Lord's Supper and Christ's command to love each other. On Good Friday we remember the "good" death that Jesus died on our behalf. On Holy Saturday we mourn as we remember that it was because of our sins that Jesus lay in that tomb. Then comes Easter Sunday as we rejoice in the victory over death and the grave that Jesus won for us and that because he has risen we too shall rise and live forever.

What does this have to do with reconciliation and conflict? Well, look at it this way, if it wasn't for all that Jesus did in His life, suffering and death we would have no power, nor would we even desire, to reconcile ourselves to each other. Without the forgiveness of Christ we could care less whether those whom we have sinned against forgive us, and we certainly have no desire to forgive those who sin against us.

When we become Christians, we truly have Christ in our hearts, and our desire is for the Lord. Our desire is to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Our desire is to do what God would have us to do. Our desire is to be reminded, as often as possible, of the forgiveness won for us on the cross on Good Friday and the victory over death on Resurrection Day.

God has restored our broken relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. In order to share that good news and bring it to bear in the lives of others, we should and must forgive others and seek forgiveness from others. We should and must seek to be reconciled with one another and seek to have our relationships restored to ones that truly show forth Jesus Christ.
We should never withhold forgiveness or think that we are in the right when we know that we really aren't. We should never turn our search for forgiveness or our forgiveness for others into some sort of self righteousness where we think that, because we have done what God wants us to do, somehow we are better or deserve heaven more.

This holy week is a perfect time to get moving on reconciliation. You may be getting together with family members on Sunday. Wouldn't it be awesome to go to them and simply ask for forgiveness? Would it be spectacular if you could get a hug instead of a sneer? Wouldn't it be beautiful to feel love and forgiveness instead of tension and hatred? Think about it.

As you go forth in your efforts to reconcile, remember the four "Gs".

1. Glorify God
2. Get the log out of your own eye.
3. Gently restore.
4. Go and be reconciled.

For more information and help on how to reconcile your relationships go to www.HisAoR.org or give me a call at church at 456-2888.

God's blessings and peace as you mourn the death of Christ, as you remember that His suffering and death was for you, and as you rejoice in His resurrection and yours!

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier
To God All Praise and Glory!

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Life in Perspective: Put meaning in forgiveness

Today we talk about the fourth "G" in matters of reconciliation. This fourth "G" is for "Go and be reconciled."

During a worship service, after the members of the congregation confessed their sins, their pastor declared, "As a called and ordained servant of the word, I announce to you that God says, 'That's OK. Don't worry about it. You should be sorry. Don't ever do it again. I forgive you, but I don't want to have anything to do with you again."

The people couldn't believe their ears. He continued, "What's the matter? Isn't that the way that you answer others who tell you they're sorry? But you don't expect God to forgive you that way. Why not?"Is this the way God forgives us? Does he tell us that he wants nothing to do with us ever again? Does he remember our failures and shortcomings all the time and hold them against us? Does he shove our face in the dirt after we have come to him on our knees? Or does he lift us up with his forgiveness and peace?

Do you want real and true reconciliation in your relationships, or do you just want to feel better about yourself and get your own conscience clear? Do you want to have a relationship restored or do you just want to make the other person suffer for as long as possible? If we want true and real reconciliation, we need to be ready to forgive as God has forgiven us. What does that look like?

Well, when you forgive someone of their sins, you can promise the following things to them:
I promise I will not dwell on the incident.
I promise I will not bring this incident up and use it against you.
I promise I will not talk to others about this incident.
I promise I will not allow this incident to stand between us or our relationship.

If you can't do these things, then maybe you need to go back to the second "G," which is getting the log out of your own eye. If you can't truly forgive someone, it's not the other person's fault, it's your own.

The next question that usually comes up is: When should I forgive? Maybe a better question to ask is, when does God forgive us? According to his word, God forgives us before we know him, before we confess, before we repent. In fact, he forgives us while we are yet sinners, while we are still his enemies.

As Christians, we need to be forgiving people. We need to forgive people before they even sin against us. We need to forgive for our own sakes, for the other person's sake, but especially for Christ's sake, so that he may be praised.

Sometimes we may not immediately announce that forgiveness, though. We may first need to help the other person understand how he caused offense so that he can repent and believe in the forgiveness that is his. This prepares a person to receive the gift of forgiveness that has already been won by Christ.

Again, when we look at this fourth "G," we see it as having Christ at the front and center. He is not just our model but he is the one who makes true reconciliation happen. If it wasn't for his forgiveness won on the cross, we wouldn't be able to forgive others.

To me this has become a lost art. It is something that I have so often failed at. It is something that is foreign even to me as a pastor. If I have been hurt, I want to hurt back. If my reputation has been ruined, I want to ruin the other person's reputation as well. If I want to get my way and make the other person do what I want them to do, there is no better leverage than a past sin. As sinful human beings, these are the things that we hold on to.

Jesus' disciples asked him, "How many times should we forgive our brother who sins against us, seven times?" Jesus replied. "Not seven times but 70 times seven times."

Isn't it wonderful that, no matter how much we sin, our Lord Jesus forgives us? No matter how stupid we are and no matter how many times we slip back into our old ways, our Lord Jesus still died on the cross for us.

As you finish up your Lenten season and look forward to Easter, look to that cross for the answers, look to the Lord Jesus who has saved you from your sins.



The Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier is pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Warrenton. He writes a column about religious matters for the Journal.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Throughout the last two installments of this article I have been talking about the four G’s of reconciliation. Today we talk about the third “G” which is “gently restore”. The best way I can think of to do this is to tell you a story about myself as a pastor and how I messed up on this third “G”.

For the last few years I have been on a push of some sorts to get into contact and “deal” with inactive members of the church. I would call them and most of the time leave messages for them to call me back. Almost 100% of the time they wouldn’t call back. My next step would be to send a letter to them, explaining to them the “error” of their ways and how God wants them back in church. In the letter I would ask for a response from them once again, and once again almost 100% of the time I would get no response. At the end of this frustrating process I would send what as I look back on it now sounds more like a collections letter than a “loving” letter from the pastor basically telling them that I expected them in church soon and if they didn’t come to church or at least express their intention to do so soon, that their names would be dropped from membership roles.

You can probably guess that this approach was unsuccessful to say the least. Not only did these people not come back to church, but many were so offended and hurt by my “good intentions” that in their eyes and in the eyes of many of their family members my reputation was and still is ruined. I am no longer the loving pastor to them that they need. Instead I am the judging, hurtful pastor that they never want to see or speak to again.

Was I in the right? I guess you could say that I was. I was their pastor and it was my job to “take care” of them and I was doing what I thought was right. After all, they were the ones who weren’t coming to church. They were the ones who needed correction. Weren’t they?

What good did my self righteous actions do? They did no good at all. Why? Not because I wasn’t doing my job. I was doing my job. But I wasn’t doing it in a Godly, Christian, and loving way. I was being a self righteous critic and judge instead of being a loving and caring pastor.

If any of you that I have hurt by my words and actions are out there reading this today, I would love, more than anything, to come to you to talk with you and spend time with you so that I may confess my sins to you and so that God may reconcile us.

This is a perfect example of how NOT to gently restore. First of all I wasn’t glorifying God. I was instead trying to glorify the church and myself and at the same time put down and judge the person I was supposed to love and care for. There goes the first “G” which was to “glorify God” in conflict.

I also messed up the second “G” which was “get the log out of your own eye”. The person or family had not been coming to church for a reason. Maybe I hurt them by something I said or did. Maybe someone in the church or the church in general hurt them or in some way caused their inactivity. Yet my focus was on them and not on me or the church. I was looking at the speck in their eye and forgetting all about the log in my own eye.

Then, as if the first two weren’t enough, I totally messed up the third “G”. Instead of going to them personally and restoring them gently, speaking the truth in love and spending time ministering to them in their hurt, anger or temptation, I was more concerned about their worship attendance and how that looked on them and on the church.

Certainly I cared about them. I wanted them back in worship where they could receive the good news of the Gospel and His body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins. I wanted them to see that the longer they stayed away from church the more in danger they may be of losing their faith all together. I cared about them and frankly was worried about them. Yet I didn’t show that in my words and actions.

Can you see how my approach was more than a little off? I was writing letters instead of speaking to people personally. I was judging others without first judging myself. I was not going to them gently but in a spirit of judgment and criticism. Instead of offering support and forgiveness I was offering up ultimatums and deadlines.

Oh, I could justify myself all day long. After all, the church constitution says that a person can be considered “inactive” after only six months. I wouldn’t “deal’ with people till after at least a year and a half and even longer. After all wasn’t it my job to make sure that people were holding up their end of the bargain, fulfilling the vows they made at their confirmation? After all, I was “in the right” and they were “in the wrong”.

What good does justifying oneself do? No good at all. It is God who justifies the sinner. It is God who makes things truly “right” in us. Justifying myself only caused all sorts of walls to go up between me and the people God had placed into my care.

While it may be too late for some of the relationships I have done such a good job to mess up, I thank God that he has used some wonderful loving people to correct me and ring me around to a right, Biblical and loving way of thinking so that I will do a better job to restore future broken ones. I thank god that he has kicked me in the you know what, that he has brought me down to a place of severe humility so that He may lift me up again.

As you work on your broken relationships and as you gently restore the person you love. Remember that your goal is not to justify yourself, it is not to judge, but it is to reconcile, it is to forgive, and it is to help them to restore their relationship with God. If you go to restore the person you love without glorifying God and getting the log out of your own eye first, you will not succeed. If you want them to see their sins for all the wrong reasons, you won’t be successful. If you don’t do all these things out of the pure and genuine love of Christ, it won’t work.

It is my hope and prayer that out of my mistakes and failures some good might come. It is my prayer that you will use what I have learned to reconcile your relationships and bring everlasting peace.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

This past week I went to a workshop called “Coaching through Conflict”. In this workshop we were taught how to coach others as they work through conflicts with each other. Throughout the next few weeks I will share with you some of the things that I have learned, my “wisdom from on high” if you will.

One of the things that our workshop leader said that really struck me is that he never thought he would be at a seminary teaching pastors how to deal with conflict.much less teaching them how to coach others. I would imagine that much of the church conflict that we experience is due to the fact that pastors have not dealt with conflict in a right way, nor have we taught and coached the members of our churches on how to deal with conflict in the right way.

Throughout the next few months I will be giving practical, Biblical advice on how to work through conflict. It is important that we, as Christians, learn how to use conflict to share the Gospel with each other and so bring peace to our broken relationships in every area of our lives. For the benefit of this article we will call the art of reconciliation “peacemaking”.

Today I simply want to talk about the first “G” of peacemaking, “Glorify God”. When it comes to the conflicts in our lives too often we focus on our own needs, wants and desires. How can I get them to do what I want? They just aren’t listening to me. I need this. I want that. You get the idea.

Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we need to rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on His forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude. Instead of focusing on our own needs and wants we should focus on what God wants in the situation. Notice I said what God wants, as what God wants may not necessarily be what the other person wants.

If God is glorified in a conflict the conflict will not be so much a problem as it will be an opportunity for genuine, real healing of souls to occur. What God wants is there to be peace and reconciliation in conflict. He wants the good news of His mercy and grace to be brought to bear on the lives of His people. He wants the relationship restored with each other so that the relationship with him can also be restored.

Our conflicts are not so much about the things we fight over as they are about the sin in our lives. Let’s face it, if there was no sin, there would be no conflict. Since there is sin, since there is a selfishness to us that we will never fully get rid of this side of heaven, there will always be conflict, not only between humans, but also between humans and God.

One very real way that we can glorify God is to recognize and realize the sin in our lives. Just as the first step in recovering from alcoholism is to admit that you are an alcoholic, so the first step in recovering from sin is admitting that you are sinner. Once you admit that to God, God is ready with arms open wide, to forgive your wickedness and remember your sins no more.

You can do this in your conflicts with others as well. You can glorify God by admitting your guilt in the conflict to the person with whom you have the conflict. Even if it is nothing more than how you reacted to what the other person did or said to you, you still have a part in the conflict. You still have sin to confess. The best way to begin to resolve a conflict then is to not only confess your sins to God but to confess them to the person against whom you have sinned.

Imagine this scenario. You have been fighting for months with your spouse about a bedtime for the kids. At times it has come to a shouting match. She thinks they should be able to stay up later. You think they should be in bed by 8pm. You have said some pretty choice words to each other. Now imagine that you go to them tonight and confess that you have said some really mean things to them and that you have shouted and yelled when you shouldn’t have. You also confess that you really haven’t been listening to her and only want your way for your own sake.

What would that do? Would it break down barriers that you have put up? Would it make way for a free flowing discussion where you could come to agreement? Would it heal a broken relationship?

I urge you throughout these next two weeks, till the next article, to think about all the conflicts you are having in your life and how you have been a big part of them. Confess your sins to God. Then go and confess them to your opponent. See what happens. This alone might just fix your relationship.

On the other hand, the other person might be stubborn and not ready to accept your new attitude and outlook. Be prepared for that. Realize that they have not had the same advice that you have had. The only thing you can control is what you do and say! And remember GLORIFY GOD!

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

This past week my family and I did a lot of traveling. We went to Indiana for a wedding, from there we went to Minnesota to visit my family for our Christmas celebration, and then we drove back home to Warrenton. All in all it was a total of 27 hours on the road. It was a long trip, but nothing compared to the trip that the magi, also known as the wise men, took from the east to see Christ the king.

We don’t know exactly how old Jesus was when the magi went to see him. Many crèches (nativity scenes) have them seeing Jesus lying as the infant in the manger. We can figure that this probably wasn’t the case. There is really only one piece of evidence that points to this and that is that when Herod found out that the magi had not come back to report to him as they were asked he became outraged and ordered that all the males two years old and younger be killed.

In any case it was a long trip and one that these magi thought very important to make, for they were going to see the King of kings and Lord of lords. Even at that time, as the child of a poor carpenter and his young wife, Jesus was so important that three very important astrologers, wise men, some even call them kings, would travel such a long distance to see him.

This is what Epiphany is all about. Epiphany is a season, celebrated in many Christian churches, during which the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed. The stories we focus on at this time of year are the visit from the magi; his baptism at which the voice from heaven, the Father, calls him his beloved son; his first miracle of turning water into wine; and we end it with all with his transfiguration, the time that he went up to the mountain with his disciples Peter, James and John and had a meeting with Moses and Elijah and was transfigured so that he shined with the brilliance and glory of heaven.

All of these events show the importance and glory of Jesus They show us that he was more than just a man who had somewhat of an impact on the earth. They show him to be who he really is, our God and our Savior.

The question is who is he to you? Is he just a guy that you simply go to when you need him? Is he someone that you are trying to appease so that he likes you more? Is he someone that you think about every once in a while when you get the “feeling”? Or is he the Lord and God of your life?

He should be our God and Lord, but he isn’t all the time, is he? We don’t think about him all the time. Our attitudes and actions are not always based on his will. Our life doesn’t always revolve around him. We fail all the time, every day.

My friends, that is exactly why he came in the first place. He came for us. He came to take our place. He came to be the guy that always had the right thoughts, actions, and attitudes for us. He came to provide the perfect love that we couldn’t provide. He came to give the perfect sacrifice that we couldn’t give. He came to be Immanuel (God with us).

For all this it is our duty to thank and praise, serve and obey him. He doesn’t require it of us for our salvation. We don’t obey him to be saved. We obey him because we are saved. Our Christian life becomes one of thanksgiving and praise because Jesus came to earth to save us and because WE ARE SAVED by his precious blood and righteousness.

Throughout this Epiphany season listen to and reflect on the stories of Epiphany. Through His Word, allow him to reveal himself to you as he really is, your God, so that the peace that goes above and beyond all understanding might keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, all the way to your eternal life!