Now that's a "slam dunk"!

Check this out from some timeout entertainment at a Phoenix Suns basketball game:



"Wow!" and "Ouch!" are about the only ways I can think of to describe that.

Homilies-Long Overdue

I must apologize to all followers and regular readers for not posting in such a long time. I especially apologize to any and all who may listen to my homilies as posted here on this blog. But now, at long last, I'm finally getting caught up. So here are links to several homilies spanning from Advent through Christmas and now into the Epiphany season.

As usual, just click on the title (the link) for each homily listed below, download the audio file, and listen away.

Fourth Sunday in Advent (12/19/2010)
Text: Luke 1:39-56
Title: "Mercy Magnified"

The Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Eve (12/24/2010)
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Title: "How to Receive the Infant Savior"

The Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Midnight (12/24/2010)
Text: Luke 2:1-20
Title: "Yes, Our God IS Small!"

St. Stephen, Martyr (12/26/2010)
Text: Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60
Title: "Merry Martyrdom!"








The Epiphany of our Lord (1/6/2011)
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Title: "True Light Shining For You!"

Second Sunday after Epiphany (1/16/2011)
Text: John 2:1-11
Title: "God's Will for Empty Vessels"

Advent Message from a Genuine Pastor

Here's a great Advent message from President Matthew Harrison, President of the LCMS. How great to have a pastor with a pastoral heart at the helm of our church body!


Advent Blessing from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

Great Tribute to Veterans

Here's a great tribute to our nation's veterans as sung by some 3rd grade students:

Homily for Advent 1

It's hard to believe we've begun yet another new Church Year. But Advent has, well, come and I must say that it's nice to see a color other than green on the altar.

Today's homily borrowed from the Collect of the Day (in Lutheran Service Book) for its direction and outline. With the theme "Come, Lord Jesus!" we hear just how our humble, donkey-riding King stirs up His power and comes to rescue us from the threatening perils of our sins.

Click the link to download the audio file and listen to today's homily for Advent 1.

Homily for Thanksgiving Day

This year for our Thanksgiving Day Matins service I chose to use the readings for "Harvest Observance" in Lutheran Service Book. What a refreshing change for this national - not ecclesial - observance. (After all, preaching on the ten lepers in Luke 17 can get a bit repetitive after awhile, especially when the reading pops up in both the One-Year Lectionary and the Three-Year Lectionary not too long before Thanksgiving Day!) The readings for Harvest Observance are: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; and Luke 12:13-21. From these readings came the central thought that real thanksgiving cannot happen without giving that precedes it. Hence, the title of the day's homily: "Thanks Comes After Giving."

To listen to the audio file of this homily, just click this link and download the audio file.

Homily for Last Sunday of the Church Year

November brought a reprieve from the pulpit on Sunday mornings, though only to concentrate on preaching several funerals as well as the normal Wednesday routine of Morning Prayer (school chapel) and evening Divine Service.

However, on 21 November it was great to get back in the pulpit for the Last Sunday of the Church Year (a.k.a. Trinity 27) and preach on the Gospel from Matthew 25:1-13. It's amazing how many different angles a preacher can take on a single text over the years. This time it was a joy to focus on the theme, "Don't Miss Out!"

Just click on this link to download the audio file and then listen to the homily.

Robert Farrar Capon's treatment of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins was certainly compelling throughout. But this quote, which also concluded the homily, was hard to ignore:

“’Watch therefore,’ Jesus says at the end of the parable, ‘for you know neither the day nor the hour.’ When all is said and done—when we have scared ourselves silly with the now-or-never urgency of faith and the once-and-always finality of judgment—we need to take a deep breath and let it out with a laugh. Because what we are watching for is a party. And that party is not just down the street making up its mind when to come to us. It is already hiding in our basement, banging on our steam pipes, and laughing its way up our cellar stairs. The unknown day and hour of its finally bursting into the kitchen and roistering its way through the whole house is not dreadful; it is all part of the divine lark of grace. God is not our mother-in-law, coming to see whether her wedding-present china has been chipped. He is a funny Old Uncle with a salami under one arm and a bottle of wine under the other. We do indeed need to watch for him; but only because it would be such a pity to miss all the fun.” (Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Judgment, 166)

Homily for Funeral of Nadine Macko

On 8 November 2010, I had the privilege of finally giving Christian burial to a long-time saint and member of my congregation. Nadine had been a shut-in just a little longer than the nine years that I've been back at Hope, St. Louis. When I served at Hope as Associate Pastor (1990-1994) I also had the privilege of visiting Nadine's sister Laura. Back then sister Laura really wanted to go home and be with the Lord, and for the past nine years Nadine has had the same sanctified desire. I often reminded her of St. Paul's words to the Philippians: "My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (1:23).

Well, finally, the Lord blessed Nadine with a peaceful rest as she awaits the Resurrection on the Last Day. My homily for Nadine's funeral focused on the three readings - Isaiah 25:6-9; Romans 8:31-39; and Luke 2:25-32 - and was titled simply and fittingly, "Finally!"

Just click on this link and download the audio file to listen.

Homily for Reformation Day

On Reformation Day we hear the great news that the Son of God sets us free from sin, death, and hell. Today's homily was based on John 8:31-36 and titled "Free from What? Free for What?"

To listen to the audio file, click on this link, download the file and listen away.

Another Reason to Pay Off Debt

In his most recent blog post Steve Stewart over at MoneyPlanSOS asks, "Is there a reason to pay off debt?" Then he answers his question with with some responses that he has heard:

Admit it, we all know that debt is bad.  For those who don’t mind carrying balances on credit cards or believe student loans are “good debt” know that it would probably be a good thing to pay it off.  For some, paying it ALL off has become a priority – but why?  Paying off debt is a pain in the butt, so there has to be REASON.  A couple with $112,000 in debt asked during our first session “Are we going to be miserable in order for this to work?”, I replied “Aren’t you already miserable?” 

I have never heard anyone say they wanted to pay off debt because it was the right thing to do.  Here is a short list for some reasons I have heard:

1. Reduce Stress / Save Marriage
2. Save for retirement
3. Save for kid’s education
4. Save for daughter’s wedding
5. Start a small business
6. Buy a hobby farm
7. Buy a second home

PS – Notice that Reason #1 is the ONLY one you can’t pay for, but it does have a cost.  
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What is your reason?  What would you do in order to WIN with money?  What is holding you back?  Think about your answer carefully, make sure it is a reason and not an excuse.

Those reasons listed are certainly good and salutary, but allow me to add a reason, this one more philosophical, if you will, and one that largely explains why "we all know that debt is bad." This reason actually comes from God Himself in Holy Writ and adds more weight to the dilemma of debt, showing why it's more than just a bad idea or an inconvenience or just a "pain in the butt." This reason just might help people to articulate that they want to pay off debt because it's "the right thing to do."

The "right" reason, among so many other good reasons, to pay off debt is this. Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave of the lender." (Thanks, Dave Ramsey, for pointing this one out!) Why pay off debt? To be free from the slavery of the lender--free indeed from ever-fluctuating interest rates and costly fees, but especially free from being obligated to send my money to other people who have other purposes and designs for it.

As a recovering "debt-aholic" I can tell you that the simple liberty of being completely "debt-free" is quite refreshing and so relaxing (Can you say cut back on the stress big time?). Now my wife and I can manage the money that God gives us both for His glory and for the benefit of our neighbors.

Sorry, lender-task-masters, you don't dictate how my money gets used anymore! And now I'm free to plan for some of those other reasons listed.

Reformation Text Study

If you're looking for a text study to aid in preparations for celebrating Reformation Day (October 31), please consider this humble offering. It was presented last year (2009) at our weekly Pericope Study group, and I offer it here for wider consideration and use.

"Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defends us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." (Collect for Reformation Day, Lutheran Service Book)

Homily for Trinity 21 & Stewardship Sunday

Never would I consider myself a "stewardship expert," but it was an honor and a joy to preach this morning for Zion Lutheran Church, Edwardsville, IL, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Worden, IL, on the topic of stewardship. Pr. Heath Curtis graciously invited me to preach the Word of God on stewardship and tithing on the occasion of his congregations' "Consecration Sunday" - and using the lectionary readings for Trinity 21.

So utilizing today's readings - Genesis 1:1-2:3; Ephesians 6:11-17; and John 4:46-54 - the homily was titled "Enlivened to Live as Givers," and focused on our gracious God creating us in and restoring us to His image so that we may live all of life as givers.

To listen to the audio file, click on this link and download the file.

And on a related note, I am very intrigued by the program that Pr. Curtis uses, "Consecration Sunday," written by Herb Miller. I want to examine it myself. (Check it out here at the Cokesbury website or here at Amazon.com. The Southern District of the LCMS offers a PDF file adapting the use of Miller's education program.)

It's quite encouraging to hear lay leaders sing its praises and tell how it has turned their congregation around. One gentleman said it's "just so positive," as opposed to the stewardship programs that seem to beat folks over the head with the Bible's teaching on tithing and giving. The financial secretary rejoiced that it's made her job "much easier" because they can actually pay the bills without having to worry or borrow. Now that's high praise!

Homily for Trinity 20

"The Lord loves a banquet. He is happiest when His people are gathered at the table with Him." That's how Dr. Norman Nagel began his 1996 sermon on Luke 14:15-24 at Zion Academy. It's also a line I was happy to adopt for my 2010 homily for Trinity 20 based on Matthew 22:1-14. Under the title and theme of "R.S.V.P." we heard how God loves a banquet, invites the bad and the good, and wants our R.S.V.P. for attending His feast of forgiveness, life, and salvation given through His Son.

To listen to the audio file of this homily, click this link and then download the audio file.

Homily for Trinity 19

Yesterday's homily focused on the Gospel reading from Matthew 9:1-8, when Jesus heals the paralyzed man first by forgiving his sins and then by healing his physical malady. It's the "Absolute Healing" that comes from Jesus' Absolution.

To listen to the audio file, click on this link, download the audio file, and listen away.

Milton Friedman on Capitalism & Greed

Here's a classic defense of Capitalism by Milton Friedman as he defends it against the typical yet trumped up charges of greed, here leveled by Phil Donahue. Not only do I really want to learn more from Friedman and his writings, but this is great to see Friedman leave Phil Donahue speechless.



HT: New Zeal