Beyond the Turkey

“Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.” I don’t know who first prayed that prayer. I know it’s an old one. I believe it was an ache deep in the heart of Martin Luther and the push behind his writing a little book called The Small Catechism. As we begin a new season of discipling our kids, its good to remember a little piece of Lutheran history. For Luther, what we know as the Small Catechism was developing for over 10 years. Why did it take so long? Luther didn’t want to muddy the water with one more book. There were a number of “Catechism” books floating around. But Luther thought that many of them served to destroy faith rather than nourish it. Luther said of them: “Here was neither faith nor Christ, and the communicant could not be directed to the strength of the absolution, but was rather trained to count his sins and trust in the intensity of his [own] repentance.” In other words, people were taught that, if they worked hard enough, they could get what they wanted from God. Life would be good as long as you paid for your sins. And there is the lie. We owe a debt far too great to repay. That is why Jesus went to the cross. Luther saw the need for a simple catechism – a little book that would explain the whole Gospel – small enough that anyone could memorize – a work that pastors could learn from – a work that every parent could teach to their own children – brief enough that even those who could not read (of which there were many) could memorize it and take it to heart. But Luther was a busy man. His other responsibilities got in the way. So what do you do when you don’t have the time? You ask those who do. During the passage of nearly 10 years Luther commissioned Justus Jonas and a man by the name of Agricola to prepare a catechism. They didn’t get the job done. Why? Between those two men and Phillip Melanchthon, they couldn’t agree about what should be in it! This is what happens when you entrust some things to a committee! But the urgency to get this job done overwhelmed Luther. It hit him hard when he personally visited the churches around Saxony – in Germany – in 1528. He was shocked to find that people – even pastors – did not know so much as the Lord’s Prayer. Luther sat down and penned a simple book that included the 10 Commandments, the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer with simple meanings for each part. The Small Catechism has since become an amazing little book that has affected lives the world over. In Luther’s Day it was called, “The Layman’s Bible” because it was so small and could be easily memorized. And for such a small book, it contained the breadth of God’s Word – the whole story. Keep the Live the Faith. - Pr. Dave

It's Harvest Season

“. . . so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 3:10 Oh, here it comes . . . “Dad, why you make us go to church?” Well, maybe it’s because: 1. Life makes sense when you’re connected to God. 2. Church is true family, and you need family to get through life. . . I know . . . no family is perfect – and kids are quick to point out the hypocrisy. Still, Church is what Paul explains as “the wisdom of God in its rich variety” on display for the world to see. Think of that! Our gathering together is displaying to the world just how smart God is! That’s enough to make your brain explode! AND that makes “Church” one of the most mysterious and amazing miracles God has caused to happen since creation. Church historians note that in the first three centuries, Christians had unbelievable challenges to face. One example: They submitted to the emperor but they refused to worship him as god. This painted them as unpatriotic. It was said that they made the nation weak. It was open permission to mistreat them both physically and economically. So why did anyone become a Christian? The Christian church was so “different” – in a good way – that people took notice. They embraced all of humanity. Look at the Christian church in Antioch (Acts 13). People of different ethnic backgrounds and social classes embraced each other as family. They came together often, ate together, and honored one another as equals. Forgiveness and reconciliation were lived out. These people were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, and killed, yet they taught forgiveness instead of seeking revenge. This was unheard of. Even more so, within the Christian community, grievances were confronted, and relationships healed. Their families and their sense of community were strong. Hospitality to the poor and the suffering was given freely. During the plagues, Christians didn’t flee the cities. They stayed and cared for those who were sick – regardless of the color of their skin, the tribe they belonged to or their economic class, often sacrificing their own lives Christians defended and celebrated life. Unwanted children condemned to death by exposure or to slavery were taken in by Christian people. Kids were valued as made in the image of God and not as property to be discarded. The sacredness of family was honored. In Roman culture sex was seen as a physical appetite that was to be satisfied. Those who followed Christ embraced sexuality as giving oneself wholly and exclusively to another in marriage as Jesus gave Himself wholly for us. As they supported one another, community was strengthened as trust grew and kids were raised in safety. I know, these are broad brushstrokes. But do you see any similarities to our own time? The early church challenged the people of their time with a Christ-like attitude that defended life and protected the most vulnerable, that built trust and showed mercy, and demonstrated the security built by unconditional love – a fulfilment of what Paul wrote of to the Ephesians – The wisdom of God was on display – a wisdom that was totally counter to the culture they were living in. And yes, the culture made them pay, but it was a price they were willing to pay. . . As a result, life flourished. There’s a lot of challenges our generation faces. Our generation needs to see God’s wisdom at work. The solution is getting together and opening ourselves to God working in and through us. When we come together, we learn how to support one another in the mission fields God has placed each of us in. We learn how to support those parenting kids. We learn how to support those facing the challenges of growing older. We figure out how to support those teaching the next generation. We discover the joy and beauty of exercising the variety of talents God has given each of us.  Dive deep into the life of Gloria Dei. As crazy as it sounds, let’s show the world just how smart God is! -Let us all keep and live the faith!

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  Psalm 27:13

25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27) On July 11th of this year, we celebrated the anniversary of our chartering as a church. We are walking into our 80th year as a family of faith! In the above Scripture passage, Paul points us to the glory and beauty of God. Even in the midst of beatings and imprisonments, Paul experienced the amazing Glory of God. Paul unfolded all of the ways this is taking place – · that in Jesus Christ, God is showing the Jews that He is faithful to fulfill every promise to their forefathers, · and in Jesus, God is showing the Gentiles – of which we are a part – that He is drawing those farthest from Him into His kingdom, being generous in mercy and claiming them as His children. Therefore God is bringing together the Jews –to whom He gave His promises and the Gentiles – those who are objects of His mercy, into the family of His unconquerable kingdom where we do not live by the lies the culture tells, where men and women know who they are in Christ, who raise their children to look to their Creator in discovering who they are, and where the strong are to deal gently with the weak. Glory be to God. The result is salvation and shalom – wholeness. Whole people, whole families, whole communities – to the Glory of God. “Gloria Dei” means “Glory to God”. Our name reflects the attitude that is at our foundation. Christ is our cornerstone. Everything we do springs from Him! In the early documents of Gloria Dei, repeated are expressions like, “Glory to God for sustaining us for another year.” “Glory to God for growing us beyond our current building’s capacity.” At the end of 1963, it was apparent that they had experienced frustrations in their desire for a larger facility. President Chris Stefferud placed the concern in these words, “In our effort to build a larger sanctuary, we must not forget that our first and primary goal is to save the souls of men.” Then at the annual meeting of 1965, after experiencing God opening doors to the construction of this facility, they moved to officially change the name from American Lutheran Church to “Gloria Dei.” Glory to God. As Paul closed his letter to the Romans, he instructed them to fully embrace God’s power and presence – to embrace His glory and step up and push forward. That has been your attitude as a family of faith from the beginning. It’s time to take up that attitude again in these unsteady times. Glory be to God! Living to the glory of God comes in the moments you are looked to for know-how and for guidance and for leadership. You may say, “I’m not up to this, but I know God is.” And you step up to the plate. · Living to the Glory of God is being bold enough to say that the skill that I bring to the table comes from God. · The sensitivity and the wisdom that I bring comes from God. · The solution to the problem has come from God. Whatever impact I have is because of God. The glory is His. Gloria Dei. That is how I live. Something deep in your soul is saying to you: I was made for this — to behold the glory of God and to become a glorious, God-reflecting person. Gloria Dei. Glory to God. That is how we live. Today – this moment – is when the challenge of life meets the faith that God has poured into you, and by God’s grace you are given the strength to meet the challenge. That is Gloria Dei. That is how you live.  Now to God who is able to strengthen you through Christ, and open mysteries to you, who is actively saving the human race by bringing them to obedience to Him, to the only wise God, be the glory forever! Amen.

Built on the Rock

Let Your Light Shine Before Others. -Matthew 5:16

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31).