Worship for Pentecost 15 - 2012

Thursday after Pentecost 14

September 6, 2012

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday is the 15^th Sunday after Pentecost. On our calendar, there is no specific saint or event commemorated. However, on our secular calendar, it is Grandparent’s Day. So, we will remember the blessings God gives us through grandparents Sunday. Our assigned readings are: Isaiah 35:4-7a; James 2:1-10, 14-18; and Mark 7:24-37. For our liturgy we will be using the third setting of the Divine Service, beginning on page 184 of the hymnal. This is a Communion Service. You may pray Psalm 132 in preparing to receive the Sacrament.

The opening hymn Sunday will be “Christ the Eternal Lord” (LSB 829). The sermon hymn will be “Take My Life and Let It Be” (LSB 783). The closing hymn will be “I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb” (LSB 740). The distribution hymns will be “In Christ There Is No East or West” (LSB 653), “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” (LSB 821), and “Christ Is Our Cornerstone” (LSB 912). Our sermon will be titled “What Would Jesus Do?” and the text is Mark 7:29.

We will continue to lift up other Christian denominations and their leaders in our public prayers. This Sunday we will remember the Southern Baptist Convention and their president, Rev. Bryant Wright. We continue to pray for our LC-MS missionaries around the world. This week we remember Ginger Taff-Lagergren, who is in South Africa. She specifically asks us to petition the Lord to use her to spread His love and that she would be a help to others with challenges in their day-to-day lives. We ask the Lord to protect Ginger and keep her in good health, so that she may serve to her fullest capacity. Finally, we also thank the Lord that Ginger has answered His call to serve in South Africa.

We will remember the persecuted believers in the Sudan. Christianity reached this area of Africa in the first century (it was called Nubia then), becoming the dominant, and then official religion. Arab Moslems began attacking Nubia in the 640s ad, but success was slow. It took eight centuries to completely conquer the area, and the last of the indigenous church wasn’t destroyed until the 19^th century, when they were either martyred by the Moslem government, or forced to convert. At the same time, European missionaries began to arrive and the Church rebooted. Currently at least 16% of the north is Christian and over 50% in the south. However, the government is still firmly Moslem, and it is one of the most deadly countries in the world to be a Christian. This is one of the governments that have brought back crucifixion, and anyone who leaves Islam and becomes a Christian is subject to crucifixion. We specially remember the leaders of the Church in Sudan.

We will also remember, in our prayers, our sister SED congregations: Faith, Baltimore, MD; Holy Nativity, Baltimore, MD; Immanuel, Baltimore, MD; Living Water, Baltimore, MD; Mt. Olive, Irmo, SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures acceptance of abortion and advocacy of sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice. We will remember our Cub Scout Pack as they begin a new year and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative’s effort to end malaria in Africa by 2015.

Below is a video of “I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb,” our closing hymn.

Our adult Bible class meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. We are currently in Matthew 26. Jesus has just been arrested and is being taken to trial.  

Preview of the Lessons

Isaiah 35:4-7a:           This is a wonderful Gospel passage. The opening words set the tone, and so it is important to understand them. Isaiah writes, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’” The vengeance and recompense spoken of happens on the cross of Jesus. On that cross Jesus bore the full punishment for our sins. Therefore our anxious hearts are quieted with the peace that comes from above. God, in Christ, has come and saved us. The metaphorical language in verses 6 and 7 leads us to also think of verse 5 in a metaphorical fashion. Therefore, while God is certainly capable of healing those who are literally, physically blind, an understanding much closer to the text would be being healed from the blindness of sin, the lameness of sin, and so on. We are now able to hear the good news of the Gospel of God’s love in Christ Jesus. One might also wish to see overtones of the Second Coming and the final manifestation of this healing at the general resurrection of the dead, but that would be the second point. The first point is that, in Christ, our relationship with the Father has been healed.

James 2:1-10, 14-18: This is a favorite passage of those who contend that we must do something to contribute to our salvation because of verse 17, which reads, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Notice, though, that James does not say faith and words save. He is simply saying that a living faith makes a difference in how a person lives. James also points out the upside down approach to life that the world has. It exalts the rich and powerful and distains the poor and weak. But it is the poor and weak that are rich and strong in faith. Indeed, the poor and weak are simply better positioned to reflect Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9). James and Paul are not at odds with each other. Both believe that we are saved by grace through faith. Both teach that that faith makes a difference in how we live.

Mark 7:24-37:            Jesus has entered into what some have called his year of popularity. His reputation is growing by leaps and bounds. In this lesson we have two healings, one of a demon possessed girl and the other of a deaf man. He is in an area were “good” Jews didn’t go, as it was a Gentile region. This reminds us of how Jesus broke down barriers. In light of that, the healing of the demon possessed girl is startling. Jesus, at first, denies the mother’s request on the grounds that she wasn’t Jewish. The woman continues to plead, and Jesus, in recognition of her faith, grants her request. A great deal of ink has been spilled on this passage, seeking to explain our Lord’s words. The simple fact is that the only “explanation” we have is what he said. This, though, can be a real source of insight. How often does it seem that the Lord turns a deaf ear to us? Maybe we can think of some reason, maybe we can’t. The woman’s consistent recognition that her only hope for help was in Jesus should encourage us in such situations. Cling to Jesus, even when it seems futile. Isn’t that what the writer of Hebrews tells us? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Tidbits

• “Scouting for Scouts” was tonight. As many of you know, our Cub Scout pack fell below the minimum number to be a pack (5) this past year. We continued, by the grace of God, as a satellite unit of Pack 53 (thank you Scott). Well, though the turnout wasn’t all that strong, our recruitment efforts were successful among the boys that did come out. Four boys signed up from Houston, two from Cliffton-Glendale, and (in all probability) one from Jessie Boyd. Add to this our returning cubs, and we are well above the minimum number of boys to re-charter. Thank you for your prayers. Now, you can say a prayer of thanks.

• Portals of Prayer for October – December are in your mailboxes. Extra copies are available if you wish to give one to a friend or neighbor. These devotions are an excellent way to share the Gospel.

• We are sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, October 27, at the Fats restaurant (http://www.superpages.com/bp/Boiling-Springs-SC/FATZ-Cafe-L0006431720.htm) in Boiling Springs, to support the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI). Members are asked to sell tickets for $7.00 (of which $4.00 will go to LMI and $3.00 will go to Fats to cover their costs) for this event. Tickets will be available Sunday. Additional help will be needed in the form of greeters who will also sell tickets at the door and/or accept donations. You can expect more information over the next two months on this blog about our Pancake Breakfast and LMI.

Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Zacharias and Elizabeth - 2012

Commemoration of Zacharias and Elizabeth

September 5, 2012

The Lord be with you

Zecharias and Elizabeth are remembered on our calendar on September 5. They were “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). One should be clear about what the New Testament means by being “righteous before God.” The NT teaches that we are righteous before God by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 1:17; 3:22; etc.). They lived in light of this gift of righteousness. We also should not interpret the phrase “walking blamelessly in the commandments and statutes of the Lord” to mean that they were somehow now completely sinless. Their very story in Luke 1 reveals doubt on the part of Zecharias. Like all of humanity, Zecharias and Elizabeth were sinners in need of daily forgiveness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-9; etc.). What we have in Zecharias and Elizabeth is a couple who believed in the OT promises concerning the Messiah, as such they were saved by grace through faith in the Messiah, and who live in that grace, receiving forgiveness for their daily sins and, in gratitude, sought to live their lives guided by the word of God.

One day Zecharias, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel, who announced that Zecharias and Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially, Zecharias did not believe Gabriel’s announcement because of their old age. For his disbelief, Zecharias became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth named their son John, as directed by Gabriel (Luke 1:13). When the neighbors objected, because no one in the family had been named John before, Zecharias confirmed the choice by writing on a tablet. When he did this, his speech was restored. In response, he sang the Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God’s promises in the Old Testament and a prediction of John’s work as forerunner to Jesus (Luke 1:68-79). The Benedictus is still commonly used in the historic prayer service, Matins. It is also part of the newer service, Morning Prayer, in our hymnal. Zecharias and Elizabeth are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.

Prayer: O God, who alone knits all infants in the womb, You chose improbable servants—old and childless—to conceive and parent the forerunner of Christ and, in so doing, demonstrated again Your strength in weakness. Grant us, who are as unlikely and unworthy as Zecharias and Elizabeth, the opportunity to love and serve You according to Your good and gracious will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Other prayers that Zecharias and Elizabeth might inspire:

• For the aged
• For children
• That we may be open to the improbable ways God continues to work through the Church
• For the Jewish people, that they may recognize the Messiah

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Moses - 2012

Commemoration of Moses

September 4, 2012

The Lord be with you

Moses was born in Egypt several generations after Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and his brothers there to escape a famine in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Jacob had been enslaved by the Egyptians and were ordered to kill all their male children. When Moses was born, his mother put him in a basket and set it afloat in the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her son (Exodus 2:1-10). At age forty, Moses killed an Egyptian taskmaster and fled to the land of Midian, where he married and worked as a shepherd for forty years. Then the Lord called him to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1). Though Pharaoh initially refused, after a series of plagues, he eventually gave in and, after the Israelites celebrated the first Passover, Moses led them out of Egypt. At the Red Sea the Egyptian army was destroyed by God, and the Israelites passed to safety on dry land (Exodus 12-15). At Mount Sinai, they were given the Law and erected the tabernacle (Exodus 19-40). The tabernacle remained the worship site for the Israelites until Solomon erected the first temple. But because of disobedience, they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years before entering Canaan. Moses himself was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, though God allowed him to view it (Deuteronomy 34). In the New Testament, Moses is referred to as lawgiver and prophet. The first five book of the Bible are attributed to him, and he is the main human character in all of them except Genesis.

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Moses, You began the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Gregory the Great - 2012

Commemoration of Gregory the Great, Pastor

September 3, 2012

The Lord be with you

The Sixth Century was a century of change in Europe. To truly appreciate Gregory (540-604 ad), understanding those changes is most helpful. However, this is not the place for a 100-year history lesson. So, below, are some highlights that will give you an idea of what was happening.

Sixth Century ad Time Line

Ø      500 Scriptures have now been translated into more than 500 languages.

Ø      507 Clovis, King of the Franks, defeats the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouille.

Ø      508 Paris (now called Lutetia) established by Clovis as the capital of the Kingdom of the Franks

Ø      511 Clovis, King of the Franks, dies. The Merovingian Dynasty is continued by his sons.

Ø      521 Boëthius introduces Greek musical letter notation to the West.

Ø      525 Dionysius Exiguus (Dionysis the Little), a Roman monk and astronomer, records in his Easter Tables Jesus of Nazareth’s birthday as December 25, 753 years after Rome was founded. The date is repeated in all Christian calendars.

Justinian's Empire in 555 AD

Ø      527 Justinian becomes emperor of the Byzantine (Roman) Empire. He rules until his death in 565. He reconquers huge parts of the Roman Empire which were lost in the 5^th century. This included Italy, Dalmatia, Africa, and southern Hispania.

Ø      529 Codification of Roman Law, Justinian’s Code, in a series of books called Corpus Juris Civilis, by the Emperor of Byzantine. Many legal maxims would be based on this code, which included the clause, “The things which are common to all (and not capable of being owned) are: the air, running water, the sea and the seashores.” The spelling of the word justice originates from Justinian’s Code. (Justinian is commemorated on November 14.)

Ø      531 Khosru I, of the Sassanian dynasty, comes to power in Persia.

Ø      532 “Eternal Peace” between the Sassanid Empire and the Byzantine Empire established.

Ø      533 Emperor Justinian begins to reconquer Northern Africa.

Ø      534 Queen Hu of China is assassinated. Northern China divides between western and eastern halves of the Wei dynasty.

Ø      535 Justinian begins to reconquer Italy

Ø      537 Saint Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, outlines the steps for leading a devout life in what is known as the Rule of St Benedict. The Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) is dedicated in Constantinople.

Ø      540 Gregory the Great born. Sassanid Empire breaks peace and invades Byzantine Empire. 

Ø      542 The plague of Europe, known as the Great Plague of Justinian (a bubonic plague) ravages Europe. It would last until 593, killing half the population of Europe.

Ø      543 Byzantine general Belisarius defeat the Vandals in North Africa. (Belisarius was the main general of Justinian, responsible for many of their victories.)

Ø      547 The famous church of St. Vitale in Ravenna, known for its octagonal shape and mosaics of the Byzantine Emperor and empress, Justinian and Theodora, is completed.

Ø      552 Emperor Justinian initiates Europe’s silk industry by sending missionaries to smuggle silkworms out of China and Ceylon. Historian Procopius writes Anecdota, littered with scandalous gossip about Justinian and Theodora and their commander, Belisarius.

Ø      556 First written account of the Loch Ness monster.

Ø      560 The Hephthalites of Samarkand are defeated by a Persian-Turkish alliance and vanish as an identifiable people.

Ø      562 Peace with the Sassanid Empire reestablished.

Ø      563 Irish missionary Columba establishes a center of learning on the island of Iona.

Ø      565 Emperor Justinian dies. Nephew, Justin II seizes the throne. “Rules” until death in 578. Went insane and so his wife (573-574) and then Tiberius Constantine (574-578) ruled as regents.

Ø      568 The Lombards invade Italy, reaching Milan. Eventually all of Italy is lost to the Byzantines. “Barbarians,” who become Christians, rule.

Ø      570 Mohammad born in Mecca (His first “vision” was in 610).

Ø      578 Tiberius II, former regent, become emperor. Rules until 582.

Ø      572 Maurice, son-in-law of Tiberius II, becomes emperor. Rules until 602, when he was executed. War between the Persians and Byzantines resume, this time over Armenia.

Ø      587 First Japanese Buddhist monastery established.

Ø      589 Emperor Wen of northern China gains control of the south ending 271 years of division.

Ø      590 Pope Gregory I (the Great) begins the papacy which will reform Europe.

Ø      591 War between the Persians the Byzantines ends (again).

Ø      592 Emperor Sujun of Japan is murdered by Umako who places his daughter, Suiko, on the throne and makes her nephew, Shotoku, regent. The Lombards invade Italy.

Ø      594 Shotoku converts Empress Suiko to Buddhism, which becomes the state religion of Japan.

Ø      597 Gregory sends St Augustine of Canterbury to the British Isles to introduce Christianity. Augustine will lead the conversion of England and found a monastery in Kent town (later known as Canterbury), one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon settlements, dating from the mid-400′s.

Ø      602 War between the Byzantines and Persians resumes. (These wars left both the Byzantines and Persians crippled just when Islam was beginning to attack the world.)

Ø      604 Gregory the Great dies.

Gregory I, called “the Great,” was born in Rome around 540 to a distinguished Christian family of senatorial rank. His grandfather had been a pope after he had become a widower. Gregory as a young man had a palace and immense wealth. He was educated in the law and entered civil service. As Prefect (mayor) of Rome he presided over the Roman Senate, gathering knowledge of political and business affairs. In this role he restored economic vitality to his native city, which had been weakened by enemy invasions, pillage, and plague. Not long after Gregory’s father died, Gregory became a monk.

About 575 he turned his family home into a monastery dedicated to St. Andrew (the Festival of St. Andrew is November 30), provided for the founding of six monasteries on his father’s property in Sicily, and gave the surplus of his inheritance to the poor.

Gregory the Great

He reentered what he liked to call “the turbulence of life in the world” when he was ordained by Benedict I. In 579 he was sent as the papal representative to the Byzantine court at Constantinople where he increased his knowledge of the political and religious problems disturbing the empire. (During his stay in Constantinople he lived with the monks who accompanied him and apparently never learned Greek.)

He was recalled to Rome around 586 to be a counselor to Pope Pelagius II. It was a troubled time for the city. A plague spread through Rome, killing many, including the pope, and Gregory was elected his successor by popular acclaim. The year was 590. His consecration as Bishop of Rome was delayed until the approval of the Byzantine emperor could be secured. Meanwhile, Gregory ministered to the sick and dying in the then-plague-ridden city and organized penitential processions.

In 592 the Lombards invaded Rome. In the absence of secular leadership, Gregory rallied the people to defend the city and agreed to pay a yearly tribute to save Rome. The Byzantine emperor had refused aid; civil government had failed. The people, therefore, saw the pope as their protector who had assumed responsibility when they had no other helper.

Gregory showed concern for the poor and for justice, insisted upon a high standard of spirituality in Church administrators and reformed the process of raising money from the papal patrimonies so that unjust amounts of money were not collected. He put his stamp on the liturgy by reviving the “station churches” in which the pope processed and celebrated Mass on certain days; writing some prayers of the Gregorian sacramentary; changing the second petition in the three-fold Kyrie to “Christ have mercy”; ordering that Alleluia be sung throughout the year except on penitential days; fostering the development of music; emphasizing the importance of the sermon; fixing the present order of the Our Father in the Mass; and establishing a Church Year calendar still used by many church bodies in the Western world today. Gregory’s book on pastoral care became a standard until the twentieth century.

Gregory struggled with the Patriarch of Constantinople (remember Constantinople was the capital of the Roman Empire) who claimed to be the “ecumenical (worldwide) patriarch,” and in opposition to him Gregory claimed universal jurisdiction for the Bishop of Rome, not as lord but as “servant of the servants of God” (a title not original with Gregory but typical of his approach).(Both bishops retain these titles that assert leadership over the entire church on earth.)

Gregory’s use of monks as missionaries to the Anglo-Saxons was another important influence in shaping the future of Christian culture and institutions. In 597 he sent forty monks to evangelize Britain. The story told by Bede the Venerable (commemorated May 25) is that Gregory saw some fair-haired slaves in Rome and, being told that they were Angles, is said to have replied, “Not Angles but angels,” and decided that they must be Christianized.

Gregory is remembered for was his masterful statesmanship. As the “classical” world crumbled around him, he guided the Church into a “new” world where it could continue to bring the grace of God in Christ Jesus to souls in need. This church would be committed to reaching the lost, caring for the poor, faithful and orthodox worship. And this was the work of a man who described himself as sickly and who constantly yearned to return to monastic seclusion. Called by some the greatest man of the sixth century, Gregory forms a bridge between the ancient and the medieval worlds, and his episcopate was a model for his successors.

Gregory died on March 12, and many protestant denominations commemorate him on this day. The LC-MS, following the lead of the Roman Church, remember him on September 3, the anniversary of the day he was elected Bishop of Rome. This ensures that his day will not fall during Lent.

Prayer: Almighty and merciful God, You raised up Gregory of Rome to be a pastor to those who shepherd God’s flock and inspired him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people. Preserve in Your Church the catholic and apostolic faith that Your people may continue to be fruitful in every good work and receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Other things Gregory might inspire us to pray about:

• For the poor
• For social justice
• For renewed appreciation of the liturgy
• For a spirit of service
• For harried pastors and administrators, distracted by many concerns

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Hannah - 2012

Commemoration of Hannah

September 2, 2012

The Lord be with you

Hannah was the favored wife of Elkanah, the Ephraimite, and the devout mother of the prophet Samuel (Samuel is commemorated on August 20.) He was born to her after years of bitter barrenness (1 Samuel 1:6-8). After she weaned her son, Hannah expressed her gratitude by returning him for service in the house of the Lord at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:24-28). (In America, we are quick to wean our children, so you might think Samuel was 18 months or 2-years old. However, in the days of Hannah, children were not weaned until they were 5-years old, or even older.) Hannah’s prayer (psalm) of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10) begins with the words “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.” This song foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary centuries later (Luke 1:46-55). The name Hannah derives from the Hebrew word for “grace.” She is remembered and honored for joyfully having kept the vow she made before her son’s birth and offering him for lifelong service to God.

Prayer: God the Father Almighty, maker of all things, You looked on the affliction of Your barren servant Hannah and did not forget her but answered her prayers with the gift of a son. So hear our supplications and petitions and fill our emptiness, granting us trust in Your provision, so that we, like Hannah, might render unto You all thankfulness and praise, and delight in the miraculous birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Other things Hannah might inspire us to pray about:

• For a richer prayer life
• For patience in trying circumstances
• For others in trying circumstances
• For the childless
• For a servant heart
• That the grace of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord, may reach others through us

Blessings in Christ

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Joshua - 2012

Commemoration of Joshua

September 1, 2012

The Lord be with you

Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, is first mentioned in Exodus 17 when he was chosen by Moses to fight the Amalekites, whom he defeated in a brilliant military victory. He was placed in charge of the tent of meeting (Exodus 33:11) and was a member of the tribal representatives sent to survey the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:8). Later, he was appointed by God to succeed Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief. Joshua eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land and directed the Israelites’ capture of Jericho. He is remembered especially for his final address to the Israelites, in which he challenged them to serve God faithfully (Joshua 24:1-27), concluding with the memorable words, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (24:15).

Joshua Crossing the Jordan River - Unterberger

Joshua is mentioned by name seven times in Exodus, eleven times in Numbers, and nine times in Deuteronomy. He is referred to six times in the first two chapters of Judges. In 1 Kings 16:34, a prophecy he made (Joshua 6:26) is referenced when Jericho is rebuilt. He is in a genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:27. In the New Testament he is referred to by Steven in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8. There are some other Joshuas in the Bible as well. Oh, yea, he is referred by name 151 times in the book of Joshua.

No vowels are used in the ancient written Hebrew language, only consonants. Also, the symbol for the sound “sh” and “s” are the same. Like all the abbreviations used by people who “tweet,” the reader was expected to know the correct sound to include when reading the consonants. The reason I bring this up is that, in Hebrew, the names “Joshua” and “Jesus” are spelled the same and have the same meaning, “savior.” (“Jesus,” by-the-way, is the Greek form of our Lord’s name, and we use it because the New Testament, which is written in Greek, uses it. Some groups, in an effort to appeal to possible Jewish converts, use the name “Joshua” or “Jesuah” or “Yahshuah.” It is not more accurate, or more biblical, and could be confusing. But if using one of these alternate spellings gets a hearing for the Gospel, then I’m all for it.)

In Joshua 3, the crossing of the River Jordan is directly compared to the crossing of the Red Sea under Moses (3:7, 13, 16; Exodus 15:8). Saint Paul links the crossing of the Red Sea to our baptism (1 Corinthians 10:2), therefore many have also seen the crossing of the Jordan as a type of our baptism. As Joshua led the people of God through the waters of the Jordan and into the Promised Land, so we, through the waters of baptism, enter into our Promised Land where our Joshua (Jesus) gives us the ultimate fulfillment of our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:1-11).

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Your servant Joshua led the children of Israel through the waters of the Jordan River into a land flowing with milk and honey. As our Joshua, lead us, we pray, through the waters of our Baptism into the promised land of our eternal home, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Eat Pancakes & Save Lives!!!

Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Spartanburg, SC, in cooperation with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) is sponsoring a pancake breakfast to end malaria in Africa. Cost is $7 per person ($4 goes to LMI); while at the Hwy 9 FATZ, SPAN for Africa (SPonsor A Net) - $10 each (tax deductible); tickets for breakfast may be purchased at the door or by emailing pastorrickert@hotmail.com. Malaria is a completely preventable and curable disease and you can help STOP MALARIA NOW by being part of this event. If you do not wish to eat breakfast, you may donate by sending a check made payable to Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 1645 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Please put LMI in the comment section of your check. (Sorry, but we are not set up to receive pay-pal, credit cards, etc.) or go to the LMI website http://lutheranmalaria.org. Y'all come out and have a good time saving lives!!! Time is 8:00 - 10:00 am, Saturday, October 27, 2012.

Below are several videos from when LMI began. It is a Press Conference. The videos are all about three minutes long (give or take a few seconds).