"From this it again appears how highly these Ten Commandments are to be exalted and extolled above all estates, commandments, and works which are taught and practised aside from them. ... Therefore they should be taught above all others, and be esteemed precious and dear, as the highest treasure given by God." -- Martin Luther
How much we treasure the 10 Commandments will be seen in how frequently we reflect, pray and meditate upon them, thank God for them, and tell others about the wonderful blessings that we have experienced by walking in the way of His commandments. They are summarized by our Lord Jesus as follows: Love the Lord your God; and love your neighbor as yourself. Only by living in the Crucified One and His love for us can we begin to walk in newsness of life.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
this prayer came back to me...
Father, grant that what we have heard with our ears we may believe in our hearts, and what we have believed in our hearts we may confess with our lips and what we have confessed with our lips we may show forth in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
Why "Josiah" was so named
In honor of our son Josiah Paul Becker, born 4/4/91.
this is the Epistle for the Beheading of St. John the Baptist:
Sirach 49
1 The memory of Josiah is as sweet as the fragrance of expertly blended incense, sweet as honey to the taste, like music with wine at a banquet.2 He followed the correct policy of reforming the nation and removed the horrors of idolatry.3 He was completely loyal to the Lord and strengthened true religion in those wicked times. 4 All the kings, except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were terrible sinners, because they abandoned the Law of the Most High to the very end of the kingdom.[b]5 They surrendered their power and honor to foreigners,6 who set fire to the holy city and left its streets deserted, just as Jeremiah had predicted.
this is the Epistle for the Beheading of St. John the Baptist:
Sirach 49
1 The memory of Josiah is as sweet as the fragrance of expertly blended incense, sweet as honey to the taste, like music with wine at a banquet.2 He followed the correct policy of reforming the nation and removed the horrors of idolatry.3 He was completely loyal to the Lord and strengthened true religion in those wicked times. 4 All the kings, except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were terrible sinners, because they abandoned the Law of the Most High to the very end of the kingdom.[b]5 They surrendered their power and honor to foreigners,6 who set fire to the holy city and left its streets deserted, just as Jeremiah had predicted.
Epiphany V
+ Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany +
February 6, 2011
“Commandments of the Kingdom” Matthew 5:19-20
Even as we rejoice in the free gift of forgiveness, Jesus reveals the Commandments of the Kingdom that lead us safely through this vale of tears to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“What if I told you there was a well-researched and statistically proven program that can:
• increase the average life expectancy of your children by 8 years
• significantly reduce their use and risk from Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
• dramatically lower their risk of suicide
• help them rebound from depression 70% faster
• dramatically reduce their risk for committing a crime
• improve their attitude at school and increase their school participation
• reduce their risk for rebelliousness
• reduce the likelihood that they would binge drink in college
• improve their odds for a "very happy" life
• provide them with a life-long moral compass
• and get them to wear their seatbelts more often
“Is there such a program? Yes, there is.
“And it is supported by research from Duke University, Indiana University, The University of Michigan, The Center for Disease Control, Barna Research Group, and the National Institute for Healthcare Research. “How much would a program like this be worth to you? What if I told you it was free, and only took about 2 hours a week. Take a look at the list again.
It's not a dream. The program is called "active church participation."
“In study, after study, after study, children who actively engage in a faith community on a regular basis are rewarded with SIGNIFICANTLY reduced likelihood of problems and risks, and significantly improved odds of a happier, healthier, longer life. These studies show the same results for adults as well.
“To increase the odds of receiving these results, you can't wait. According to a Barna Research Group study, adults who attended church regularly as children are nearly three times as likely to be attending a church today as their peers who avoided church during childhood (61% to 22%, respectively). In other words, parents who truly want the best for their children should get their children involved at church now and regularly.”
1. Don’t RELAX them
a. Take God’s Word seriously! Wedding band illustration: I’ll marry you and wear this band on three (3) conditions: 1. I will keep my old boy/girl friends; 2. I will see you only once a week, and 3. I will keep our relationship a secret. How many would enter holy matrimony under such condition? How many would treat God with such contempt and expect to be taken seriously by God?
b. Personal responsibility or self-government = peace and prosperity.
2. DO them
a. In daily prayer and meditation
b. In daily action toward God and your neighbor: Love and respect, honor and obey our parents; respect and protect all human life from conception to natural death; all married persons love and honor their husband or wife and each of be sexually pure in all that we think, say or do; respect and protect the property of others; help protect and defend our neighbor’s good name and reputation and explain everything in the kindest possible way.
3. TEACH them
a. Signs in the yard/billboards are better than county courthouse
b. chiasms
4. EXCEED them
a. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
b. By putting on Christ crucified in Baptism and abiding in Christ risen in the Supper.
O divine fruit of the Virgin’s womb, may I love you in union with the holy mother of God. Fill my life with the obedience of St. Joseph and the missionary fervor of the shepherds so that the witness of my life may shine like the star that led the Magi to your manger.
February 6, 2011
“Commandments of the Kingdom” Matthew 5:19-20
Even as we rejoice in the free gift of forgiveness, Jesus reveals the Commandments of the Kingdom that lead us safely through this vale of tears to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“What if I told you there was a well-researched and statistically proven program that can:
• increase the average life expectancy of your children by 8 years
• significantly reduce their use and risk from Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
• dramatically lower their risk of suicide
• help them rebound from depression 70% faster
• dramatically reduce their risk for committing a crime
• improve their attitude at school and increase their school participation
• reduce their risk for rebelliousness
• reduce the likelihood that they would binge drink in college
• improve their odds for a "very happy" life
• provide them with a life-long moral compass
• and get them to wear their seatbelts more often
“Is there such a program? Yes, there is.
“And it is supported by research from Duke University, Indiana University, The University of Michigan, The Center for Disease Control, Barna Research Group, and the National Institute for Healthcare Research. “How much would a program like this be worth to you? What if I told you it was free, and only took about 2 hours a week. Take a look at the list again.
It's not a dream. The program is called "active church participation."
“In study, after study, after study, children who actively engage in a faith community on a regular basis are rewarded with SIGNIFICANTLY reduced likelihood of problems and risks, and significantly improved odds of a happier, healthier, longer life. These studies show the same results for adults as well.
“To increase the odds of receiving these results, you can't wait. According to a Barna Research Group study, adults who attended church regularly as children are nearly three times as likely to be attending a church today as their peers who avoided church during childhood (61% to 22%, respectively). In other words, parents who truly want the best for their children should get their children involved at church now and regularly.”
1. Don’t RELAX them
a. Take God’s Word seriously! Wedding band illustration: I’ll marry you and wear this band on three (3) conditions: 1. I will keep my old boy/girl friends; 2. I will see you only once a week, and 3. I will keep our relationship a secret. How many would enter holy matrimony under such condition? How many would treat God with such contempt and expect to be taken seriously by God?
b. Personal responsibility or self-government = peace and prosperity.
2. DO them
a. In daily prayer and meditation
b. In daily action toward God and your neighbor: Love and respect, honor and obey our parents; respect and protect all human life from conception to natural death; all married persons love and honor their husband or wife and each of be sexually pure in all that we think, say or do; respect and protect the property of others; help protect and defend our neighbor’s good name and reputation and explain everything in the kindest possible way.
3. TEACH them
a. Signs in the yard/billboards are better than county courthouse
b. chiasms
4. EXCEED them
a. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
b. By putting on Christ crucified in Baptism and abiding in Christ risen in the Supper.
O divine fruit of the Virgin’s womb, may I love you in union with the holy mother of God. Fill my life with the obedience of St. Joseph and the missionary fervor of the shepherds so that the witness of my life may shine like the star that led the Magi to your manger.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hermann Sasse, 1936
"If Christianity cannot comprehend that in this Sacrament the most magnificent thing that can ever happen on earth is taking place, that is, in this Sacrament, which in its outwardly unpretentious form, Jesus, the Lord of all majesty is Himself present, then that Christianity no longer takes the actual presence of Christ seriously and has apostatized from the faith." (Thanks to Rev. Matthew C. Harrison for posting Sasse's letters on his blog!)
With what reverence, honor, and respect will we then approach the awe-full mystery? How can we do better than to sing and pray with Philipp Melanchthon (LSB 585): In these last days of great distress grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness that we keep pure till life is spent Your holy Word and Sacrament.
With what reverence, honor, and respect will we then approach the awe-full mystery? How can we do better than to sing and pray with Philipp Melanchthon (LSB 585): In these last days of great distress grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness that we keep pure till life is spent Your holy Word and Sacrament.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What is preaching the Gospel?
Now what can we conclude? This, that this can, yes, must, be preached to all men. Preaching the Gospel is merely saying to all men: Sinners, rejoice! Christ has already blotted out your sins; Christ has already reconciled you with God; Christ has already earned God’s grace for you; Christ has already fulfilled the Law; Christ has already procured a righteousness for you which avails before God; Christ has already conquered death, hell, and the devil; Christ has already earned the necessary worthiness for your entrance into heaven; in short, Christ has already completed the work of our salvation! -- C.F.W. Walther
Receive it daily, treasure, thank and tell what God has done for us in His Son and through the Spirit.
Receive it daily, treasure, thank and tell what God has done for us in His Son and through the Spirit.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Luther on Marriage
"Therefore God has also most richly blessed this estate above all others, and, in addition, has bestowed on it and wrapped up in it everything in the world, to the end that this estate might be well and richly provided for. Married life is therefore no jest or presumption; but it is an excellent thing and a matter of divine seriousness. For it is of the highest importance to Him that persons be raised who may serve the world and promote the knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, to fight against wickedness and the devil."
How many believers today see their call to marriage as a call to "fight against wickedness and the devil"? NOT ENOUGH! What a high honor all married persons have to promote the knowledge of God, godly living and all virtues simply by being faithful and loving to each other as long as they both shall live.
How many believers today see their call to marriage as a call to "fight against wickedness and the devil"? NOT ENOUGH! What a high honor all married persons have to promote the knowledge of God, godly living and all virtues simply by being faithful and loving to each other as long as they both shall live.
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