Why Lutheran Schools? Why Lutheran Teachers?

Pastor Hinton at Steadfast Lutherans, cuts through all the side issues and makes a good case for Lutheran education with Lutheran instructors:

Why do we need Lutheran schools? Why do Lutheran schools need Lutheran teachers? Though these are simple questions, their answers get at the whole reason that the extensive system of Lutheran schools exists in the first place. Lutherans in North America have been school-builders from the beginning. In fact, the opportunity to establish schools apart from the purview of the State was at least as enticing to these first Lutheran immigrants from Europe as freedom from a state religion.

But why? After all, schools are a lot of work....

Read the rest here.
Crossposted on One Room is Better.

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time
http://www.last.fm/music/Grandpa+Jones/_/Daylight+Saving+Time

Hymns for March 2013 (LSB Series C)

27 February 2013

Vespers
Guest Preacher, Pastor Korb
Psalm 111:1-10
Old Testament Lesson Genesis 6:1-8
Epistle 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel Luke 17:26-27
Sermon Text Hebrews 11:7
Sermon Theme: "Jesus, the New and Better Noah".
Baptized into Your Name Most Holy LSB 590
Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain LSB 435

3 March 2013
Third Sunday in Lent
Divine Service Setting 3, No Gloria in Excelsis, No Alleluias
“Do you think that they were worse sinners?”
Jesus, grant that balm and healing LSB 421
May God bestow on us His grace LSB 823
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father LSB 809
Lord of All Hopefulness LSB 738
On What Has Now Been Sown LSB 921




6 March 2013
Vespers
Pastor Palm
Psalm 8
Romans 5:12-19
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 35-49
“Jesus, the New and Better Adam”
All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall  LSB 562
Abide with Me LSB 878 ss. 1, 6

10 March 2013
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Matins
“Be not afraid”
O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe LSB 666
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed LSB 437
God loved the world so that He gave LSB 571

13 March 2013
Vespers
Pastor Michael Matthews
Sermon: “Jesus, the New and Better Joshua”
Sermon Text: Hebrews 4:8–11
Psalm 116
Joshua 1:1–11
Hebrews 3:7–4:11
Matthew 11:28–29
   Hymns:
Sermon: LSB 684  “Come Unto Me, Ye Weary”
Closing: LSB 423  “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary”

17 March 2013
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Morning Prayer
“The Rejected Son”
My song is love unknown LSB 430
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth LSB 438
What Wondrous Love is This LSB 543

20 March 2013
Vespers
Sermon: “Jesus, the New and Better David”
Psalm 51
1 Samuel 17:31-50
Hebrews 13:7-21
John 18:33-40
The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll not want LSB 710 (Sermon)
Savior Again to Thy dear Name we Raise LSB 917

24 March 2013
Palm Sunday
Divine Service Setting 3, No Gloria in Excelsis, No Alleluias
“Jesus, the New and Better Solomon”
Hosanna, loud hosanna LSB 443
No tramp of soldiers’ marching feet LSB 444
All glory, laud, and honor LSB 442
Christ, the Life of all the living LSB 420
Ride on, ride on in majesty LSB 441

28 March 2013
Maundy Thursday
Divine Service Setting 3, No Alleluias, No Postlude
“Jesus, the New and Better Moses”
The Son of God Goes Forth to War LSB 661
When You woke that Thursday morning LSB 445
Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior LSB 627

29 March 2013
Good Friday
Tennebrae Service with Litany from Lutheran Worship
“Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted,” LSB 451
“Jesus I will Ponder Now”     LSB 440, ss. 1-4
“O Dearest Jesus,”      LSB 439, ss. 1-4
“O Dearest Jesus,”  LSB 439, ss. 5-7
“Jesus in Your Dying woes,”  LSB 447, ss. 1-3
“O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” LSB 450, st. 1-4
“O Sacred Head Now Wounded,”      LSB 450, ss. 5-7
“Jesus in Your Dying woes,” LSB 447, ss. 16-18
“Lamb of God, Pure and Holy,”  LSB 434, St. 3
“O Darkest Woe,”  LSB 448

31 March 2013
Easter Sunrise
Divine Service Setting 3, beginning with the Exsulset from the Easter Vigil
Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands LSB 458
(Exsulset)
(Choir)
The Day of Resurrection LSB 478 (Sermon)
This Joyful Eastertide LSB 482
Awake My Heart with Gladness LSB 467
Jesus Christ is Risen Today LSB 457

Easter Day
Divine Service Setting 1
Christ the Lord is Risen Today LSB 463
Christ is Arisen LSB 459 (In place of the Alleluia)
The Strife is O'er the Battle Done LSB 464
Jesus Lives, the Victory's Won LSB 490
He's Risen, He's Risen LSB 480
I Know that My Redeemer Lives LSB 461

When Everything is Changing Something is Not

What can you depend on when everything is changing in the world? We live in uncertain times when things that we thought were sure are now questioned and things that we thought were solid are now shaky. Where can you go to find a firm foundation that you can trust? What can you stand on and build your life on that is sure and dependable?

There is something that we can trust at all times, though the whole world is shaking. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 ESV)

How can we know and trust that the Bible is true and accurate? We can turn to the greatest authority on truth ever to live, Jesus Christ. Jesus verified the Old Testament Scriptures as trustworthy and true (e.g. Luke 24:44, Matthew 5:17-18). He also promised that His apostles would accurately record the truth when they wrote the books of the New Testament (John 14:26).

But how can we know that Jesus is a trustworthy authority on the subject of truth? In His ministry he told us many things, not only about the scriptures, but also about His work that He came to do. Jesus not only said that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets but also to give us life, truth, peace with God, forgiveness and eternal life (John 10:10, 18:37, 12:46, 3:16-17 and 6:32-51). He even said He is God (John 10:31-33).

How do we know these are not just empty words? He proved it by keeping the most difficult promise, to rise from the dead (Mark 8:31, Matthew 17:22, Luke 9:22). If he was able to raise himself from the dead, surely we can trust everything he said to be true. All of it. Every word. Forever. And not just his own words but also the things he told us were true: all of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.

Back to the question: what can you depend on? Jobs go away; health fails; wealth flees; the world writhes; the culture chases vain fads; and who can predict what the future will bring? Even our close relationships fail us because we and those we love are faulty, sinful, selfish creatures at heart. We cannot even trust our feelings. We stand in the top of the hourglass, climbing sand as it slips away under our feet. Where is the firm place we can stand? It is Jesus and His word, as He said:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

What, then, shall we do? How do we build on that firm foundation?

1. Find a church that teaches the Bible as God's unchanging truth.
2. Read the Bible yourself, praying to Jesus to give you faith and understanding.
3. Trust in Jesus and his word, more than you trust in anything else. Leave behind the sliding sands of worldly thinking and our selfish sins. Build your life, thoughts and beliefs on the firm foundation of God's word and wisdom. Trust in Jesus to forgive you for your sins; it is what he came to do.
4. Teach these things also to your children, grandchildren, family and neighbors. They need the firm foundation as much as you do.

We are only here for a short time. As Christians we are pilgrims on the way to heaven. Pilgrims wandering though a foreign land need a map, or else they will go the wrong way or wander into grave danger. God has given us that map. It is the Bible. We can trust in it. “The word of our God will stand forever.”

Hymns for February 2013 (LSB Series C)

3 February 2013, the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Divine Service, Setting 1
Jeremiah 1:4–10 (17–19)
1 Corinthians 12:31b—13:13
Luke 4:31–44

O love, how deep, how broad, how high LSB 544
Son of God, Eternal Savior LSB 842
Choir: O God My Faithful God
Take my life and let it be LSB 783
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me LSB 683
In Thee is gladness LSB 818

10 February 2013, The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Matins
Deuteronomy 34:1–12
Hebrews 3:1–6
Luke 9:28–36

Beautiful Savior, King of creation LSB 537
O wondrous type! O vision fair LSB 413
Alleluia, song of gladness LSB 417

13 February 2012, Ash Wednesday
TLH Confessional Service with Divine Service, Setting 3 Communion no Alleluias
Joel 2:12–19
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21

Baptismal waters cover me LSB 616
From depths of woe I cry to Thee LSB 607
Jesus sinners doth receive LSB 609
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word LSB 655

17 February 2013, First Sunday in Lent
Morning Prayer, no Alleluias
Deuteronomy 26:1–11
Romans 10:8b–13
Luke 4:1–13

O Lord, throughout these forty days LSB 418
The tree of life with ev’ry good LSB 561
A mighty fortress is our God LSB 656
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle LSB 454
Jesus, lead Thou on LSB 718

24 February 2013, Second Sunday in Lent
Divine Service 3, no Gloria in Excelsis, no Alleluias
Jeremiah 26:8–15
Philippians 3:17—4:1
Luke 13:31–35

In the shattered bliss of Eden LSB 572
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart LSB 708
What is the world to me LSB 730
The will of God is always best LSB 758
Children of the heav’nly Father LSB 725

Happy New Year's Resolve

With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.

For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.

Ev'ry morn with Jesus rise, And when day is ended,

In His name then Close your eyes; Be to Him commended.

A new year is full of new opportunities, new hopes, new challenges, and doubtless also new hardships and new griefs. If we face it with the Lord, however, we need not fear. We may try to ensure that our new year is full of goodness by our own resolve. I think that this joke is an old stale one. The chicken crossing the road is funny once. The thought that this year's new years resolutions will be so much more successful than last is not that funny anymore either. We make our efforts to improve and reform ourselves, but we also learn just how frail our flesh is when we try.

That is why we need a Savior. That is why we need grace.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
(Psalm 127:1-2 ESV)

The problem with new year's resolutions is the resolve. It is ours. Our resolve does not run too deep. Our sinful nature undermines our efforts to improve. Our old Adam resists any kind of reform. He cannot be persuaded. He must be drowned in baptismal waters. That is why our resolve is so weak. But we can draw on one who has deep resolve. So deep was Jesus' desire to save us that He died on the cross for us. Not only does he desire to save us he desires to bless us.

With your Savior at your side, Foes need not alarm you;

In His promises confide, And no ill can harm you.

All your trust and hope repose In the mighty Master

Who in wisdom truly knows How to stem disaster

If your task be thus begun With the Savior's blessing

Safely then your course will run, Toward the promise pressing.

Good will follow ev'rywhere While you here must wander

You at last the joy will share In the mansions yonder.

Even if this year does bring grief, hardship, sorrow and crosses, we know that we have a Lord who sees over it all. He has begun his task in us. He has invested much in us. Would he abandon you? You are the fruit of His labor. You are the work of His hands. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

He has all the resolve we need. We can depend on Him. He will not only save us in the end. He is with us all along the way.

Heaven Opened

Heaven Opened

Let all together praise our God before His glorious throne;
Today He opens heav'n again to give us His own Son
To give us his own Son.

God opens heaven to send his Son. We see the echoing of His glory and the joy of His incarnation as the announcement is made to the shepherds on that Christmas night:

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto You is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

At this announcement of the opening of heaven to send the Savior, a multitude of the host of heaven also spill through the door. Unable to hold back their excitement over God's marvelous work Heaven overflows onto Earth with the praise of the Lord and the angelic song fills the night:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The problem was that heaven was not always open. The way had been barred by sin as Adam and Eve had seen in the Garden of Eden. There and angel also stood making an announcement, but his message was not good news. With flaming sword in hand, he barred the way back into paradise. By sin and rebellion against God and His Word Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden. They left the garden by their disobedience. It is only a false misleading dream to think that we could reenter paradise by any act of our obedience. It could never succeed. All such efforts are doomed to fail. Thus the angel stands guard. Man must not eat from the tree of life while in his sin. But:

He undertakes a great exchange, Puts on our human frame,
And in return gives us His realm, His glory and His name,
His glory and His name

This great exchange is the Lord's plan to open the way to heaven and at the resurrection of all flesh to a restored paradise. No one from our side could open the door, but from the holiness of heaven, Christ could. Entering our sin soaked world had a great cost for Him, though; as soon and he entered the world he bore on his infant frame the full weight of all our sin. But the door is open:

He is the key and He the door To blesséd paradise;
The angel bars the way no more. To God our praises rise,
To God our praises raise.

The first president of our Synod, C. F. W. Wather, concludes a Christmas sermon this way:

O my dear hearers, in conclusion I therefore call you once more: Rejoice! The Savior is born; heaven is open for you. Now let none of you remain irresolute and hesitant as you stand before the open gates of heaven. Do you perhaps want to remain outside for the sake of the joy that the world and its sin and vanity gives you? Oh, consider this: This joy is nothing but apparent joy, and its end is everlasting mourning! Or do you perhaps not want to enter because of your many and great sins? Oh, think about this: The gates of heaven have been opened so wide precicely for the sake of sinners, for gret sinners! Or do you think you must first do something in order to be worthy of it? Oh, concider: As long as you remain outside, you remain unworthy; you will become worthy by going in! O, therefore, believe the joyful Christmas message I have brought you today. Then you also today will go throug it as through an open gate of heaven, into heaven opened wide for you today. And when onde day your bodily eye is closed in death, then the eye of your soul will behold all the glory of heaven. You will “rejoice with unutterable … joy” [1 Pe 1:8], and “no one will take your joy from you” [Jn 16:22].¹

Pastor JPalm+

1Selected Writings of CFW Wather: Selected Sermons, Henry J. Eggold, translator (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1981, as printed in Concordia Pulpit Resources, vol 18, part 1, p. 57