A fire broke out today at Lebec and Frazier Mountain Road. The high school has been evacuated. We pray for the safety of all the firefighters and families in the immediate area.
Update 5:30 PM: Now 3500 acres acres and no containment.
Lebec, CA
Ascension Day: A festival day often overlooked. Yet this event is critical in the entire scheme of God’s salvation.
Ascension of Christ
It had been 40 days since Jesus rose from the dead. But now, he leaves the disciples with a promise. He “ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.” But this is not a resting, inactive position, nor is it a physical location. Rather, the right hand of God is the position of power, power to rule, power to speak through His Word, power to bring salvation through Baptism, power to come to us with His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper.
Thus, Jesus did not ascend to be away from us, but to be with us. That was His promise earlier when He gave the Great Commission to the disciples (Matthew 28:16-20 HCSB).
The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizingd them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So, here is the Ascension account according to Acts:
I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11 HCSB)
May our ascended Lord, be Lord in our hearts as well.
For mothers, those who live in the role of mother, and those who love them…
Heavenly Father, we give thanks to You for mothers everywhere. We give thanks for their love, care, concern, and compassion. We lift up to You especially those who have struggled in their roles as mothers, where the path has not been smooth. We pray for those whose mothers perhaps failed in any way. Bring hope in the midst of their lives, whether as mothers or as children. For those relationships that are strained, grant reconciliation. Where there is pain, bring the healing of Your grace and mercy. For those who have not had their own children, but share their love in mothering roles that is invaluable to the Body of Christ, sustain them as they minister in Your kingdom. As we reflect may our own hearts of love extend to all mothers everywhere; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen
Well, not a forked tongue, but you might not have guessed it yesterday. Maybe this T-shirt should have been my motto.
“understanding things is overrated” (Photo credit: Geff Rossi)
Sunday morning Bible study was great. We had almost full house, as we have recently been doing. We began with Matthew’s Gospel (11:15-19), moved to discuss language and history—good discussion. And eventually a question arose about the differences between the Christian faith and what Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) believe and teach.
Yep, everything I said was correct and addressed to that question—except for one problem, I forgot to speak in English. Well, understandable English. My wife kindly reminded me of this when we got home. As much as I have stressed understandability in translations, I need to remember that applies everywhere, even in Bible studies! So I spoke in extreme Biblish… and yuck, the after-taste is not good.
I hope the Bible class participants will forgive me. Next week will be more understandable. So this coming Sunday I will address the question in a better fashion—and it will be understandable!!!
We often hear about “unity regardless….” The implication is that unity is to be preferred over agreement in doctrine or even true love. Such attempts at unity are superficial at best. Unity without truth and love is not unity at all. Truth without unity and love can be so harsh as to turn away people from the truth. Love without truth and unity is sentimental feelings only.
As the Christian Church began to grow, the disciples faced the issue of truth, unity, and love. Is it possible to maintain that? Perhaps that is the negative side of asking, leading to false assumptions and false claims. Rather, the disciples in Acts and Paul in Ephesians demonstrate the need and actuality of maintaining truth, unity, and love —in Christ Jesus.
This Sunday we continue to follow the Easter message through the early Church. In the Narrative Lectionary the last two weeks, we have read about Stephen (Acts 6-7) and Philip (Acts 8). God was moving the disciples from Jerusalem, to Samaria, and eventually to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
Acts 15
One of the challenges for the Christian Church was what about Moses’ Teachings? Were they were required for non-Jewish people? Specifically, the question about circumcision arose: can someone be a Christian without circumcision? Today that may not be an issue, but it certainly was in the first century.
Church leaders gather in Jersualem to work through this conflict. Our text for this Sunday is Acts 15:1–21:
How did they deal with unity, truth, and love?
Do we have barriers that we think are important in order for someone to be Christian? But are they really tradition or sentimental demands?
Gather this week around God’s Word and Sacrament to hear, receive forgiveness, restoration, and new life. And let us walk in the unity of faith:
Ephesians 4:3 Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to maintain the unity that the Spirit gives.
Ephesians 4:13 13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.
This week we start the New Testament Survey course: we cover the New Testament in 11 weeks. Buckle your seat belts and hang on! Each section lasts 1 ½ hours.
Palestine in 1st century
Choose the time and place that best suits you!
Wednesday (PMC) 7:00 PM
Thursday (SMLC) 6:30 PM
Saturday (SMLC) 9:30 AM
On the road to Emmaus
What a great Second Sunday of Easter! Worship in the morning worship services reminded us of the ongoing significance of Easter. Sermon text: Luke 24:13–35, the story of the two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. And Jesus joins them, explaining the Scriptures (Old Testament) that point to him:
Then he began with Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27)
Then Jesus revealed the full import of who he is and what he has done.
[He] opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us. (Luke 24:32)
Then last night we hosted the Easter Cantata, “Such Love.” The theme song was written by Val Kaltov. The Cantata covered Good Friday through Easter Sunday. What a wonderful night of music and Scripture narrative! All music and words were written by people on Frazier Mountain; they were excellent. And the singing and playing of instruments was top notch.
Such Love
And we had an overflowing crowd, standing room only and then more. Watch for further details on our church web site, for photos, etc.
Thanks to Val and Allie for organizing, leading, coordinating this superb sharing of the central message of the Christian faith.
L: He is risen!
C: He is risen, indeed!
So goes the greeting on Easter Sunday. What a great day it is!
Do you ever feel a let down after Easter? The anticipation is much longer than even for Christmas. The build up to Easter took 46 days (40 days of Lent, plus the six Sundays in Lent). While it doesn’t receive much attention in the media (as does Christmas), the progression through Lent does in fact prepare us for Easter. And then what?
In Holy Week we follow Jesus on Palm Sunday and his majestic ride into Jerusalem. Jesus’ entry in this fashion is appropriate for the King. We join the disciples shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
We hear of the Passover celebration on Thursday that becomes something more, something unexpected, even unexplained. Jesus institutes the new covenant/testament/last will and testament of his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. This is not just a ritual of obedience but a life-giving feast.
But the mood of celebration has an undercurrent of impending doom. Jesus’ claim that someone would betray him, his cryptic statement to Judas, then his plain challenge to Peter’s “defense” that will result in denial of Jesus—three times. As they journey to the Mount of Olives later that night, the betrayal occurs, Jesus is arrested, Peter tries to defend with a sword, and Jesus heals the man’s ear. And all the disciples flee from Jesus.
Friday seems nothing like good. In fact, Jesus is tried and then punished as the worst of the criminals. The insults of the soldiers and the crowds, the despicable spitting in his face, and the horror of crucifixion—all elements of “good” Friday.
Yet, through his suffering and death Jesus endured all that to pay for the penalty of our sins. Even the pain and shame of what he endured could not stop him from fulfilling this essential work of salvation.
For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NET)
Then he was put in a tomb, to rot, to be forgotten like a common criminal. But it was not to be—the tomb is empty on the third day!
Resurrection-of-Jesus (Photo credit: ideacreamanuelaPps)
The shock, uncertainty, questioning of that first Easter is often overlooked. It wasn’t an annual “we have always done this” of our lifetime. Rather “He is not here!! Who took him?” That changes to overwhelming joy! Joy of realizing just how earth shattering, life changing this event was, and now is.
Sometimes we forget that, and when Monday rolls around we are ready to “get back to normal.” But the Church has never done that. In fact, the resurrection on the 8th day became the standard for worship, Sunday. Thus, every Sunday was a celebration of the resurrection. In fact, the Sunday became a participation in Maundy Thursday (Lord’s Supper/Sacrament of the Altar), Good Friday (Confession and Absolution), and Easter (the new person is raised from the death of sin to life in Christ). Thus, we are still celebrating Easter today, this Sunday, every Sunday.
Formally, the Church also began to extend the Easter celebration for seven weeks until the Pentecost Sunday (May 19 this year). We will read and hear about the account of the resurrection and the impact this made in the lives of the first Christians. We celebrate not just because it was an ancient event and “the thing to do.” No, we celebrate because everything that Jesus did in his life, death, and resurrection was for us—even today. We “poor, miserable sinners” are now declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NET)
And that is why Easter continues. It will be the festival for everyone who believes. We continue to celebrate until we too will be raised with an imperishable body when Christ returns.
L: He is risen!
C: He is risen, indeed!
Orthodox: Hristos voskrese
Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen. Χριστός Ανέστη Αληθως. Christ is Risen Indeed!
How can it be good if someone dies? How can we observe and give thanks when someone dies? Can anything good come from Good Friday?
Good questions, and only answered by looking at the One who is good, perfectly good. The good that He had done is capped with the good His death accomplished.
Isaiah, the prophet, wrote about this 700 years before it happened. It is like he was sitting on the hill watching the events on Calvary, and writing a commentary—700 years ahead of time.
The Good achieved at the cross
My servant will be successful. He will be respected, praised, and highly honored. Many will be shocked by him. His appearance will be so disfigured that he won’t look like any other man. His looks will be so disfigured that he will hardly look like a human. He will cleanse many nations ‹with his blood›. Kings will shut their mouths because of him. They will see things that they had never been told. They will understand things that they had never heard.
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORDs power been revealed?
He grew up in his presence like a young tree, like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him. He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him. He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn’t consider him to be worth anything. He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we thought that God had wounded him, beat him, and punished him.
He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds. We have all strayed like sheep. Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the LORD has laid all our sins on him. He was abused and punished, but he didn’t open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn’t open his mouth.
He was arrested, taken away, and judged. Who would have thought that he would be removed from the world? He was killed because of my people’s rebellion. He was placed in a tomb with the wicked. He was put there with the rich when he died, although he had done nothing violent and had never spoken a lie.
Yet, it was the LORD’s will to crush him with suffering. When the LORD has made his life a sacrifice for our wrongdoings, he will see his descendants for many days. The will of the LORD will succeed through him. He will see and be satisfied because of his suffering. My righteous servant will acquit many people because of what he has learned ‹through suffering›. He will carry their sins as a burden.
So I will give him a share among the mighty, and he will divide the prize with the strong, because he poured out his life in death and he was counted with sinners. He carried the sins of many. He intercedes for those who are rebellious.
May this Friday and every day be good, because of the good of this Good One.
