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!

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!

"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!