Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

First Reading: Exodus 32:7-14
Psalms: Psalm 51:1-10
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
Color: Green

Prayer of the Day
O God, overflowing with mercy and compassion, you lead back to yourself all those who go astray.  Preserve your people in your loving care, that we may reject whatever is contrary to you and may follow all things that sustain our life in your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Alleluia. (Luke 15:10)

Dear Easter Friends,

This past week it felt like I was living Ecclesiastes 3:

Have you ever wondered how God’s word compares to or can be integrated into your personal job?  This message contains the thoughts that have crossed my mind as I spend more time trying to improve my relationship with God and more time learning how to improve my skills as an account manager.

It is said that “He who holds the gold rules.”  In account management the client holds the gold.  In our lives God holds the gold and it is eternal life… which is more precious than gold.

Dear Easter Family.
 
Recently I had contact with a person while conducting some church business.  During the course of the conversation this person, knowing that I am a pastor, said “I don’t know why I am telling you this, but....”  She went on to talk about her extended family – some of whom were less than gracious about her religious expression of Christian faith (she was not Lutheran).  The truth is that some of the in-laws were very judgmental to the point of saying that she and her children were going to hell.
 
My stomach turned, literally.  I believe that eternal judgment is God’s job, not ours.  I believe that Jesus came to reveal God’s grace, not a narrow and heartless conditional God of judgment.
 
On the one hand, I know that many people have had wounding experiences like those of that woman arising out of their religious affiliation.  On the other hand, I know that many people have healing and renewing experiences with the WORD of God preached and practiced by religious persons and churches.  If it weren’t for the fact that God has called us together to be the Church and to preach the Gospel and to live Grace in community, it would be hard for me to be part of religious life because of the judgment.  But I don’t get to split hairs like that.  I simply get to choose to be faithful and loving, gracious and generous, or not.  I choose the Way of Jesus.
 
When Jesus said, “turn the other cheek” I believe he was asking us to forgive those who are ungracious to us, and others, and to rededicate ourselves to be even more conspicuously loving and kind.
 
Jesus did not ask us to be doormats either.  We are asked to be truth-tellers, not passive or aggressive followers.  So, be prepared to answer someone who offers a negative opinion or experience about the church and the way of Jesus.  Be prepared to say what you believe and why and what you are doing to live that out each day.  God will use you for good things.

If a preacher preaches long enough he/she will have their favorite stories to share; stories that run the risk of being used more than once!  
    
One of my favorites is the story of the Mexican fisherman and the Harvard MBA.  

Presented by Rick Dahl at the July 20 Council meeting
Rick is serving his second year as Church Council President.  
He and wife Shirene have three children and live in Eagan.

A wise man once said, “The problem with Christianity is that religion keeps getting in the way.”  While at first blush this may sound blasphemous, or at least contradictory, it makes a lot of sense when you break it down.  Christianity in the purest sense is to be a disciple of Christ, living and doing God’s will, modeled by Jesus as he walked this earth.  Religion, on the other hand, is, by one of Webster’s definitions: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices.

Dear Easter Family,
What is your heart’s desire?  Does your list include: Things? Experiences? Blessings?  Love given and received?  Health?  Wisdom?  Knowledge? A meaningful career (job)? A fulfilled “bucket list?” Travel? An advanced degree?
 
While the Declaration of Independence proclaims that human beings have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, none of these things are guaranteed.
 
Life is a gift.  With health and opportunity to use our lives, we experience great blessing.  But the length of life is not guaranteed.  Some live 100 years; others live but a few minutes.  Some live well and healthy; others live challenged and distressed.
 
Liberty is a gift that we Americans too often take for granted.  There are so many places in the world where freedom is a rare commodity.  Not only did many people pay with their blood and their lives to establish this country and the freedom we enjoy, many thousands step forward to serve our country and preserve these freedoms.
 
Pursuit of happiness is a right.  Happiness is not.  We are free to pursue those things that we think will bring happiness to ourselves and to those we cherish.  But there is no way to guarantee happiness, not even in Disney World.
 
I am more and more grateful to be an American and enjoy these marvelous blessings:  the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  But none of these things can begin to compare with the blessing of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is life beyond this life as well as life for this life.  Jesus gives liberty from sin, death and evil, which no constitution or government could possibly do. Jesus gives peace and joy which are not dependent upon outward circumstances upon which happiness depends.
 
Do you agree with me?  Or more accurately, do you agree with Jesus?  If you do, you belong to the family of God also known as the church.  If you do, God is counting on you to share this good news by what you say, by how you live and in what you give away.
 
“I am the church.  You are the church.  We are the church together.
All who follow Jesus, all around the world, YES, we are the church together.”
 
Now, what is your heart’s desire?  Has your list been altered in some way?  Is God at the top?  Is blessing others a close second? Is living with peace and contentment and joy in the top 10?
 
While I am writing this letter hoping that many read it and agree with me (agree with Jesus actually!), I am also writing this letter to myself.  I am reminding myself of what is the main thing in life and reminding myself not to get distracted from the “Best” by what is “Good.”

This past week was Vacation Bible School!  I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me to see the faces of little ones getting excited about learning God’s word, singing songs of faith and having a plain old good time!  It makes me think once again about how beautiful it is when faith gets passed down from generation to generation.  When we baptize babies and children, we ask the parents and sponsors a bunch of questions.  What those questions boil down to is this:  “Do you promise to pass down the faith to your children?”
 

In the days of our immigrant ancestors it was a necessity – not an option – for many homesteaders to take their children with them into town.

Immigrating to America as adults, it was very difficult for the mix of many Scandinavians and Europeans (many of whom had little, if any, formal education) to leave their mother tongue and learn a new language in a new land.

But for young children, with their pliable and receptive minds, they were able to acquire the English language more quickly and fluently than their parents.  Thus children were a huge asset in translating one's mother tongue into English as immigrant farmers bartered for goods and negotiated with shopkeepers. 

A Bible study that I participate in is finishing up a study of the book of John.  Jesus has appeared to his disciples after his resurrection; the doubting Thomas has exclaimed “My Lord and My God;” Jesus publicly reinstated Peter after his denial of him; Jesus has told them that he is going away; and now they must wait . . . wait for something that Jesus has prepared them for and has explained to them, but for which they still lack full understanding – the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  In John 20:21-22, Jesus said, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  Jesus then breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit . . . “  Jesus was preparing them to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as he knew they needed God’s help to carry out the commission he had just given them -- the very same commission that God has given to us.  And like the disciples, we too need the Holy Spirit in order to carry out God’s commission.  We too at Easter need the Holy Spirit if we want to grow in faith and carry on the work of Christ; we too need the Holy Spirit if we want to do God’s work with our hands.  We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), as it is impossible to do God’s work without God’s power (Zechariah 4:6).