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In his article in the February issue of First Things, “The Rise and Fall of Gay Activism,” Scott Yenor details the various waves of the gay liberation movement that, beginning around the time I was born, as an outgrowth of the sexual revolution both created and defined what has been the defining pastoral and theological issue for my generation of pastors.  Yenor’s article is a deep-dive on the subject, detailing the thinking and strategies that took same-sex relationships from forbidden, to fringe, to fraught, to front-and-center.  Same-sex attraction has in both the popular and scholarly imagination, gone from disordered to desirable in the space of living memory.  Indeed, among many young people it is seen as in many ways more desirable than heterosexual attraction, as it does not carry with it two great risks; the risk of navigating the natural divide between male and female ways of encountering and engaging reality and the risk of the life-changing effects of pregnancy and parenthood, which necessarily involves the curtailing of one’s own desires for the sake of the children.

“The love that dare not speak its name” is not only shouting it from every height and corner of the culture, but all who do not add their enthusiastic endorsement are publicly regarded with the scorn and opprobrium once reserved for Nazis and the KKK.  When I reposted a link to former New Atheist Aayan Hirsi-Ali’s now-viral essay “Why I Am Now a Christian,” all a high school friend, once a devout Roman Catholic, could reply in response was, “But Christianity still has no place for gay people.”

It was not worth responding to her that Christianity has all the room in the world for people who think of themselves as gay, it just has no ability nor authority to condone or bless same-sex sexual behavior… just as it has no room to do so for much (most?) of the behavior engaged in by heterosexual couples since the sexual revolution.  It was not worth saying that the church is full of sinners who struggle to live out, live up to, and live into the fullness of God’s revealed intentions for not just sex, but the whole panoply of human behaviors.

There was no point in responding because social media is not a place to do pastoral counseling or theology, but rather to engage in rhetorical pugilism and gather an observing crowd whose primary purpose is not to thoughtfully listen and reconsider their own position, but to cheer for the point of view they already espouse. 

In such contexts, truth is not the point.  A generation ago, in a book that still stands without peer or persuasive reply, Robert Gagnon’s The Bible and Homosexual Practice demonstrated using historical-critical exegesis that orthodox, Biblically-based Christianity not only cannot endorse same-sex behavior, but that there were few moral perspectives in the Scripture more consistently attested to in both Testaments.

Christianity also cannot endorse the central claim of the sexual revolution, the claim that sexual orientation and expression is central to human identity and flourishing.  Biblical Christianity insists that true human flourishing can only be found when one identifies themselves as “in Christ,” and that the human soul is only finally and properly ordered when it regards “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus [as] Lord’ and gladly suffers “the loss of all things and counts them as rubbish, in order that [it] may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:8) 

As a colleague once helpfully summarized, “The problem is not just what the Bible says about sex, it’s what ignoring that does to Biblical authority.”  Put plainly, what it does is gut Biblical authority.  This may be why on a recent podcast, an ELCA pastor who is a top-notch systematic theologian with a high regard for Biblical authority confessed their dismay at the confession of several ELCA seminarians that most of what they learned at seminary “bashed” the Bible, clearly seeking to undermine its witness in every way.

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My purpose in this article is not to re-adjudicate the theological disputes that have divided not just the Lutheran communion in this regard, but every Christian communion functioning in the West.  It is also not to outline tactics or strategies to win the erstwhile “culture war”—Yenor does that in his article, and besides, in my estimation, Christianity has been decisively on the back foot culturally since it accepted what social historian Barbara Dafoe Whitehead termed “expressive divorce’ thirty years after the legalization of no-fault divorce.

My purpose is rather to point out that the Church needs to be not only teaching faithfully what Christian life entails, it must be preparing her members for the distrust, resistance, revulsion, and sometimes betrayal of those they love because of it, particularly in the area of sexual behavior.  I have had more than one person to whom I ministered and who at one time both embraced and professed the Christian faith reject that faith so that they could embrace a “sexual identity” or demonstrate public support for behaviors that are clearly at variance with the requirements of Biblical Christianity in the realms of sexual identity, sexual behavior, and the related area of the sanctity of human life.  Occasionally, such people have gone so far as to excoriate me publicly or cut off contact with me.

This hurts, and we do nobody any favors by pretending that it doesn’t.  In fact, we must prepare people as we teach them not only the negative demands of God’s Word regarding sexual issues, but also the exhortations of God to ongoing faithfulness and trust in that Word and the promises of God that He will both help us in that steadfastness and reward us for it in the fulness of time.

What this means is that the Church needs to be catechizing her congregants on how to be resilient, long-suffering, and loving toward those who reject them or their faith.  We must be teaching our people to have the trust and steadfastness of purpose that Monica, the mother of Augustine, showed for the twenty seven years that she prayed for her son’s conversion from sensualism and Manichaeanism.  Augustine ultimately became one of the greatest theologians in Church history, but he did not get there without the Lord working through his mother’s prayers.  We must teach our people to be a Monica for every Augustine in their lives… especially when they despair of that person ever changing.

What we can be sure of is this; learning to face persecution, pray unswervingly, and love those who scorn us is the very essence of becoming more Christ-like in our character.  As an Orthodox friend once said to me (Orthodoxy has a rather more fraught regard for Augustine’s theology than Lutheranism), “We are pretty sure Augustine was a saint… we are POSITIVE that his mother was!”

The church’s pastoral ministry has always been long-suffering when it comes to helping people live into the Christian standards of chastity outside of heterosexual, monogamous marriage, and most pastors I knew prior to Obergefell and the concomitant liberalization of ecclesiastical disciplines that began to be officially enacted around that time were caring and deeply sensitive in their pastoral work with their LGB (T’s and Q’s were beyond the horizon as of then) members.  The Church can be infinitely patient with sinners, but it cannot redefine sin, for if we do, we end up proclaiming nothing but our faith in our own contemporary judgments—and such affirmations are deficient in their ability to console or  instruct when sin, death, and the devil inevitably come knocking, for they lack the substance of revealed truth, which is the heart of the Word of God.

For the sake of the wellbeing and comfort of both Her members and those who do not yet call Christ Lord, the Church needs to be preparing its members for misunderstanding, resentment, and even persecution from those who reject “the faith once for all delivered to the saints,” especially the people closest to them and especially in regards to sexual issues.  To do less is spiritual malpractice… and it will mean the eventual caving of orthodoxy to the spirit of the age.

…was the last time in the Pulpit,
The last time serving Holy Communion,
The last time preaching the love of Christ,

Then I am humbled to have been
Called to serve Your People, Lord.
I count it all joy!

Thank you, Lord, for Your Holy Word.
I know you were there, Lord of Mercy,
In that Country Church.

You were there in the faith of the people.
In the music.  In the liturgy.  In Holy Communion.
All is good. I have been so blessed.

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If now is the time to step back
to enjoy Your Stillness, O Lord,
To embrace Prayer as a Call to
Ministry in my Sunset years…

…To Pray for a Revival in Your Church
With tears of Gratitude in My Heart,
Thank You for the Years.

+

I pray for Wisdom, Lord.
I ask not to be that Old Pastor
Tripping and Falling 
On the Church Steps. Again. 

I ask for Clearness of Mind, 
Not to be irrelevant.
Mis-speaking the words, 
Repeating myself; Staying too long. 

If it is Your Will, let your servant gently
fade away as Your Light Shines On
Brighter and Brighter into the future. 

Lord, please bless the time remaining:
Bless My Family.  If now is the time
to step back, it was all worth it.  

With Gratitude in My Heart, 
All Glory be to the Triune God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  
Amen and Amen.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church (NALC) in State College, PA is a dynamic, growing, and multi-generational church plant located in the heart of central Pennsylvania, home to Penn State University. Celebrating 10 years of faith, growth, and community, Emmanuel’s name, God with us, captures the essence of our journey. From the very beginning, we’ve felt God’s presence guiding us as we seek to live out His calling.

Our core values are foundational to everything we do: Grounded in God’s Word, Confident in God’s Grace, and Committed to Sharing God’s Love. These principles shape our worship, outreach, and relationships, as we strive to be a faithful, generous, and enthusiastic presence in our community. A pastor called to Emmanuel will find a supportive and encouraging congregation, eager to partner in ministry and growth. We are committed to providing opportunities for both personal and family development, as well as a welcoming environment for leadership and spiritual growth. As we look to the future, we are excited to call our next pastor; a shepherd who will help guide us in sharing the Good News and extending God’s love in the State College area. Together, we will continue to grow in faith, hope, and mission.

For more information about Emmanuel, see the Congregational Profile at:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/17VNb_7wyQAMPb2-sn8Dj29BxM9_0x8dD/view

A video about Emmanuel is available at:  

Link’s to Emmanuel’s webpage and Facebook page:     

https://www.emmanuelnalc.org

UNIMAGINABLE, AMAZING GRACE

by Dennis D. Nelson

I had heard that the musical “Hamilton,” based upon the life of Alexander Hamilton, was good.  Until I went to see a movie version of it on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its opening on Broadway, I did not know how good.  The staging was stunning, the singing was energetic, the lyrics are brilliant, and the man who played King George was an absolute hoot. 

For me the most powerful part of the play was the song, “It’s Quiet Uptown,” in the latter part of the Second Act.  Alexander and his wife Eliza have moved to a quiet part of town as they seek to rebuild their lives after the severe double trauma of the death of their son Philip and Alexander’s marital infidelity.  Phillip was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr as he tried to defend his father’s honor.

UNIMAGINABLE GRIEF

Parents who have lost a child through death say that that pain is the absolutely worst possible.

The Ensemble then join with Angelica in noting that the Hamiltons have moved up town – to the quiet part of town – as they “learn to live with the unimaginable.”

Hamilton, who had been very active in the founding and early days of our country, describes what life is like for him now in the quiet part of town as he seeks to come to terms with what he has done and the loss he and his wife have suffered. 

I think of people I have known who surround themselves with constant busyness and noise so they do not have to deal with the painful parts of their lives.  They would never want to live in the quiet part of town.

UNIMAGINABLE GUILT

UNIMAGINABLE GRACE

That is the turning point.  She takes his hand.  In spite of all her unimaginable grief and Alexander’s unimaginable guilt, she offers him unimaginable grace.  She takes his hand.  What made her able to do that?  What made her able to offer what the company then sings about?

“Forgiveness.  Can you imagine?

Forgiveness.  Can you imagine?”

Every time I hear that song my heart is rung out and I have a deeply moving spiritual experience.

This is not easy, cheap grace – as Dietrich Bonhoeffer described.  This is no, “I’m sorry.  Please forgive me.  Now it should be all over, so why are you still upset, mad at me, and do not trust me?”  Rather this is an unimaginable forgiveness – an unimaginable grace – given by someone who has suffered unimaginable grief to someone who has fully accepted the seriousness and consequences and felt the pain of his unimaginable guilt.

Alexander knew his wife.  He knew whom he had married.  He knew that his only chance lay not in the depth of his confession and/or in the amount of his sorrow but in the depth of her love, expressed in unimaginable grace.

It also reminds me of the story of King David, who along with Bathsheba experienced unimaginable grief.  David bore an unimaginable guilt, but, as undeserving as he was, experienced God’s unimaginable mercy and grace.  David is a prime example of the truth of the statement that is attributed to Ravi Zecharias, American evangelical minister and Christian apologist who learned the full meaning of these words from his own life –

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

The Psalm for Ash Wednesday is Psalm 51.  In this Psalm David confesses his unimaginable guilt.  He knows that his only chance is to throw himself completely upon the mercy and grace of God.  The prophet Nathan, who had confronted him with his sin, tells him that – because of his confession – he will not die, but the child that will be born to Bathsheba will die and the sword will never depart from his house (2 Samuel 12: 10-14).

David is guilty of an unimaginable guilt.  He has taken the wife of another man (who happened to be not a stranger but a close comrade) and arranged for the death of that man.  David’s confession did not bring Uriah back to life.  The consequences of his sin remained, just as the consequences of our sin remain.  Uriah was still dead.  

David and Bathsheba are suffering an unimaginable grief.  Their first child died.  Son Amnon will rape his sister Tamar.  Son Absalom will kill his brother Amnon.  Son Absalom will be killed after leading a rebellion against the King and taking over the throne.  What the prophet Nathan said did come true.  The sword never departed from David’s house. 

But David also received unimaginable forgiveness, unimaginable mercy, and unimaginable grace.  From David and Bathsheba Solomon was born, whose descendants eventually included our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even when we humans are at our worst, God can still bring about His best. 

This Lenten season, as once again we bring all our sins and sorrows to the cross, may we again put our full trust in and receive the full blessings of God’s unimaginable, amazing grace. 

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PASTORAL CARE, POWER, AND THE PROPER WORK OF THE CHURCH

Many thanks to Paul Fleming for writing a theological analysis of the Consultation that Bishop Hagmeier of the ELCA’s South Dakota Synod had with the leaders and members of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.  This consultation was held on September 21 prior to their first vote on whether to disaffiliate from the ELCA. 

Paul is a retired intelligence officer and confessional Lutheran layman who is currently working toward a Master’s degree in Lutheran Theology. His work reflects a deep concern for pastoral integrity, congregational life, and the centrality of the Gospel in the Church.

My analysis was written more from a governance perspective.  His is from a theological perspective.  A link to my analysis can be found HERE. 

The Bishop’s Consultation was held one week prior to the first vote on September 28.  For that vote 360 out of the 530 ballots (67.9%) voted to terminate the church’s affiliation with the ELCA and 170 ballots voted to stay with the ELCA.  A two-thirds vote on two separate occasions is required to disaffiliate.  The second vote was held on January 25.  There was a total of 661 votes, so 441 were needed to disaffiliate. The total votes were: Yes to disaffiliate: 434 (65.66%)

 – No to disaffiliate: 227.  So the vote failed.  Please join with me in prayer for the pastors, lay leaders, and congregation of First Lutheran Church.   

Paul writes –

Inspired by and written in response to Pastor Dennis D. Nelson’s Lutheran CORE article,
“An Analysis of a Bishop’s Consultation.”

In recent years, many Lutheran congregations have experienced deep strain—not primarily from external persecution, but from internal processes intended to bring “clarity,” “truth,” or “renewal.” Pastor Dennis D. Nelson’s careful and documented article, An Analysis of a Bishop’s Consultation, names this reality with sobriety and pastoral concern. His work provides an important occasion to reflect more broadly on the nature of pastoral care, ecclesial authority, and the proper work of the Church according to the Lutheran confession.

The concern raised is not simply the size or composition of synodical consultations, resource teams, or institutional delegations. Rather, the deeper issue lies in the spiritual logic that governs these encounters. When gatherings described as pastoral immediately introduce loss-based leverage—threats involving funding, scholarships, institutional standing, or reputational harm—the Church risks substituting fear for faith. At that point, consciences are no longer being addressed solely by God’s Word, but are being pressed by consequences.

The Lutheran Confessions speak clearly here. The Church has been given a specific and limited mandate: to proclaim Christ crucified for sinners and to distribute His gifts through Word and Sacrament. Pastors are not authorized to manage outcomes, secure compliance, or curate narratives. They are called to bind and loose consciences only by the Word of God (Augsburg Confession XXVIII). When pressure or strategic silence enters the process, the pastoral office is quietly transformed into an instrument of control rather than care.

This tension becomes especially acute when former pastors are drawn into congregational conflicts. Even where policies permit such involvement, the pastoral office is not a political role that can be redeployed to influence internal governance disputes. Former shepherds retain spiritual authority in the eyes of the congregation. When they are positioned—intentionally or not—to shape outcomes, the appearance—and often the reality—of manipulation is difficult to avoid. For congregations already carrying heavy burdens, this compounds confusion and deepens wounds.

Lutheran theology insists that Christ alone governs His Church through His appointed means. The Church is not renewed by stronger management structures, clearer messaging, or enforced alignment. She is renewed when sinners are forgiven, consciences are comforted, and faith is created and sustained by the Gospel. Any process, however well intentioned, that displaces this center risks turning the Church inward upon herself.

This danger becomes particularly visible when institutional programs or compliance frameworks assume organizing authority over the Church’s life. When ideological accountability or mandated initiatives become functionally central, the Church subtly shifts from proclamation to performance. Good works, justice, and love of neighbor matter deeply—but they must remain the fruit of faith, not a new law that becomes the Church’s operating gospel. As Luther repeatedly warned, even well-intended law always accuses.

Unity in the Church cannot be coerced. Trust cannot be engineered. Renewal cannot be managed. These are gifts of the Holy Spirit, given through the Gospel. When leaders substitute institutional righteousness for sacramental life, they may achieve short-term compliance, but they inevitably lose credibility. Congregations recognize when truth is being managed rather than spoken plainly, and when pastoral language is used to serve non-pastoral ends.

None of this is written with joy in separation. Faithful Lutherans rightly grieve division. The recent vote outcome at First Lutheran, Sioux Falls, only underscores the pastoral weight of these matters and the continued need for prayerful, confessional clarity. Yet coercion must not be baptized as care, nor narrative control labeled “truth.” When leaders refuse to speak plainly or to respect congregational integrity, trust collapses, and consciences seek refuge elsewhere.

The way forward is neither reactionary nor despairing. It is confessional. The Church must return again and again to her true center: Christ crucified for sinners, given freely in Word and Sacrament. Where this center is preserved, even painful disagreement can be borne with patience and hope. Where it is displaced, no amount of institutional effort will suffice.

Faithful Lutherans are not called to win battles, but to confess Christ clearly, soberly, and without fear—entrusting the Church to her true Lord, who sustains His people not by pressure, but by grace.

In Christ,
Paul Flemming

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VIDEO MINISTRIES

HERE is a link to our YouTube channel, which contains 66 videos on books and topics of interest and importance. This month we would like to feature two videos.  First, to continue the themes of guilt, grief, and grace in the opening article in this letter, we have a video review by Daniel Ostercamp of Philip Yancey’s book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”  And then Cathy Ammlung continues her series of helpful information for worship planners, particularly in churches where there is no regular called pastor.

WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?”

by Philip Yancey

A review by Daniel Ostercamp

Many thanks to LCMC pastor Daniel Ostercamp for his video review of Philip Yancey’s book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”  HERE is a link to his review.  Daniel writes – 

Philip Yancey calls his readers to trust deeply in grace and to proclaim it as powerfully in their lives as in their words. Grace is the specifically Christian treasure that needs to be shared boldly with the people who judge themselves solely by their successes and failures within this broken world. 

First published in 1997, the book would eventually sell more than two million copies.  The more recent edition includes a preface with reflections about how our world thirsts for grace even more today.  We are not people of reward, retribution or karma, but receivers and givers of love and mercy. 

The challenge of receiving the new beginning of grace in the midst of the difficult reality of our own sin is always central to our lives as Christians.  We walk in the knowledge of our own failures and how they have hurt our loved ones.  

As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to pray humbly for those who have fallen short and to share the forgiveness of the cross.  In deep sorrow, Philip Yancey shared in January that he needed to confess the betrayal of his vows of faithfulness to his wife of more than fifty years, Janet.  As a reviewer of his work, I offer my prayers as well, asking that they and their family would know helpful guidance and wise ministry.

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TOOLKIT FOR WORSHIP PLANNING – PART THREE

by Cathy Ammlung

Many thanks to NALC pastor Cathy Ammlung for this third in a series of videos intended to provide congregations – especially those with temporary and/or longer-term pastoral vacancies – with some tools for worship planning.  A link to her video can be found HERE.  A link to the full manuscript of her presentation can be found HERE.   

In this video, Cathy covers the lectionary: What is it?  Where is it?  Why is it?  Why are there more than one?  How do you use the lectionary in worship planning?  What are some pitfalls, and what are the most important things to know about lectionaries as a worship planning tool?

In her first video in this series (LINK) Cathy discussed the whole issue of why worship planning is important.  In her second video (LINK) Cathy talked about the church year, including festivals.

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May the Lord draw you closer to Himself and the Cross as you begin your Lenten journey.

In Christ,

Dennis D. Nelson
Executive Director of Lutheran CORE

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”  Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:25-26).

What do you cling to in this world?  Holding on to things is often the baggage that gets in the way.  Jesus tells us we need to let go of everything, even ourselves, and trust Him.  We cannot do it, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, He we give us the ability to do what is needed.  The hardest part of this is what the Lord does for us.  To what will you cling that is more important than who You are being created to be?

Lord, I do understand this, for there are many things to which I cling.  You know what they are.  I cannot do this on my own.  I need to be saved and that is what You came to do.  Help me to shed all that needs to be shed.  Help me to become what You are making of me, for that is what You, the Author of my faith, does.  Lead me into the righteousness You know I will gain for Your name’s sake.  Lead me my Lord and Savior.

Dear Jesus, You have said these words and deep in my soul there are places of resistance.  Guide me up and out of these places to lay everything at Your feet.  To what can I cling that is of more value than You and the life You have and are giving me?  Turn my heart so that I see that my wealth is in You.  The things of this world will pass away, but You are forever.  Guide me into forever Lord Jesus.  Amen.

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23-24)

To be wealthy in this world is to accumulate many things.  One who is a steward may be in charge of many things, but the steward knows it belongs to someone else.  It is hard to give up ownership until you realize that it truly is not yours.  That is the place where you begin to understand the truth and know that you are not your own, but belong to the One who made you.  Whom will you serve?  Truth or the illusion of self?  How hard it is.

Lord, You call us Your children.  You have made us a part of Your family.  I am not my own, but belong to You.  Guide me so that I do not act as my own, but as one who belongs to You.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I live in the reality of truth.  All that I have has been entrusted to me and I shall leave it behind when this life is done.  Guide me into all truth and teach me how to live truthfully.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have true life and have it abundantly.  Lead me through the obstacles that get in the way.  Help me to understand that all that I have is mine in stewardship.  Teach me to let go and trust You for all things.  You are the One who has provided for me throughout my life.  You are the entrance to eternal life.  Let nothing get in the way of my being with You.  Amen.

“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property” (Mark 10:21-22).

One thing you lack.  Those are words we do not want to hear.  But listen to what Jesus says.  The rich man is rich in his own mind and this hinders him.  Where is it you lack?  What is it that hinders you from living fully in the Lord’s kingdom?  What has more value to you here?  We are to love, fear, trust, and seek the Lord above everything else.  Whatever might get in the way needs to go.

Lord God Almighty, all things are Yours, for You created them.  For a time, we have possession of things, but we will leave them behind.  I have scrambled and sought and clung to what I have gained, but what is that compared to the eternal life that You offer?  Lead me out of the pit of delusion to have the right priorities so that I may live into the life You are giving me.  Guide me in the way of salvation.

Salvation incarnate, Jesus my Lord and Help in every time of trouble, help me to see the true state of my soul.  With faith, grace, and mercy, guide me along right paths for Your name’s sake.  Help me to leave behind all that has brought me to this point, both the bad and the good.  Help me to pick up my cross today and walk with You wherever You will take me.  Guide me out of the pit of this age and into the light of Your glory.  Amen.

“You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”  And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up” (Mark 10:19-20).

Do you know right from wrong?  Maybe not everything, but you do know when you are choosing to do something wrong.  This is the place to begin.  Then, ask where to go from there.  Instead of insisting that you’ve always done things right, look to the One who has.  We each have places where we have participated in the rebellion against the Lord.  Jesus is gracious and He asks us this question.  Give an honest answer.

Lord, I can speak of all of the things I’ve done which are right, but there are also so many things that I have done that are not right.  Guide me out of thinking that all is well with my actions if You know there are other things that need to be confronted.  You must be the author and finisher of my faith because I do not know where things are that get in the way of living in harmony with You in Your kingdom.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us.  More than just brushing us off and sending us on our way, You create a new an clean heart in us that willingly unites with You.  Lead me out of selfish thinking to the place where I love what is right and willingly die to what is wrong.  Guide me in Your goodness through all that hinders me so that I rely upon You and not upon what I have or have not done.  Amen.

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:17-18).

Who is good but God alone?  We assume that we are good, but apart from grace, which allows us to stand before our good God, we have the wickedness in us that sin has brought upon us.  We call others good, but why?  That cheapens the reality of what is truly good.  Your words do matter and the truth is not changed by the false witness that the little good in us outweighs all of the evil.  Jesus said that God alone is good.

Lord, I know this does not mean the opposite where I think of others as pure evil.  We are in the age of good and evil.  Both are present.  Both are present in me.  You alone have come and shown us what is right and good.  Help me to be guided by the faith You have given me to seek what is right and good.  Lead me by Your grace to not settle for what is good in me, but to move fully through this journey where You will slay what is not good.

Lord Jesus, I need to be saved.  I will settle, but You will not.  Lead me out of the positions where I settle and think in terms of good enough.  You have told us that we must be perfect, even as the Heavenly Father is perfect.  Guide me out of the compromise I live between good and evil in order to live for the true life which lives in the goodness of the Father.  Help me each step of the way and grant that Your goodness would shine through me.  Amen

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

Pastor: Whew! It’s warm in here, isn’t, Sammy?

Sammy: I am a perfectly comfortable temperature. Wool is great like that–keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the spring.

Pastor: I don’t know, Sammy. I am pretty warm. 

Sammy: I am not surprised. I mean, look at you. You have all those layers of polyester fiber on you. Do you know what that fabric is made of, Pastor? It’s not wool.

Pastor: Well, Sammy, I know there’s a lot of places in our world that are pretty warm, and the very first Palm Sunday was celebrated in a warm place, too.

Sammy: It was?

Pastor: Yes, the very first Palm Sunday was in Jerusalem. It’s pretty warm there.

Sammy: I think you are warm too because of all the celebrating we just did. 

Pastor: That’s right! Today is a great day: Palm Sunday. We had a great time processing in and waving our palms and singing together, didn’t we?

Sammy: Why is today called Palm Sunday, Pastor?

Pastor: Well, Palm Sunday refers to Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. While he was riding into Jerusalem, the people put their coats on the ground for the donkey to step on. They waved palms, and said, “Hosanna!”

Sammy: What does “Hosanna” mean? 

Pastor: It means “save us.”

Sammy: Save us? Save who from what?

Pastor: Well, Sammy, the people were asking Jesus to save them from Romans. But Jesus didn’t come to save us from the Romans.

Sammy: Jesus came to save us from our sins.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Jesus came to save us from our sins. He had to die on the cross. It was a warm day that first Palm Sunday, but you know, Sammy, I am starting to feel a little cold.

Sammy: What’s wrong, Pastor?

Pastor: I don’t know. I just feel cold now. 

Sammy: You are really struggling with temperature regulation today. Well, Pastor, I will pray and then I can give you a warm hug. Would that be okay?

Pastor: That would be great. Boys and girls, would you please fold your hands and bow your heads?

Sammy: Dear Jesus, thank you for Palm Sunday. Help us to always honor you as our Savior and King. We pray for Holy Week–please fill our hearts with love and help us to honor you and follow you this week. Amen.

Sammy: I need my hug, Pastor. Bye, everyone.

Pastor: Bye, Sammy.

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone! It’s almost, Easter, Pastor!

 

Pastor: Yes it is, Sammy. 

 

Sammy: I cannot wait to see all of the kids looking for Easter eggs. 

 

Pastor: It’s a great time of year for hunting for eggs, Sammy, but that’s not what Easter is about.

 

Sammy: That’s right. It’s about celebrating the return of chocolate eggs and bunnies to the store. I just love chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, cream eggs, and all of the different Easter treats.

 

Pastor: That’s not what Easter is about, Sammy.

 

Sammy: Oh. Well I guess it’s about the Easter bunny, right? Seeing the Easter bunny at the mall or at our church.

 

Pastor: No, Sammy. That’s not what Easter is about, either. Boys and girls, do you know what Easter is about?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Sammy: Oh I get it! Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. He died on the cross and rose again after three days. That’s what Easter is all about. Easter is all about Jesus.

 

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Easter bunnies and chocolates are wonderful, but they are not the reason for Easter. Easter is all about Jesus, God’s Son. 

 

Sammy: So what is going to be special about Easter at church?

 

Pastor: Easter is a time of baptism, renewal, and joy. We are going to have bells, trumpets, special music, and a special Gospel reading.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I really like Jesus’ promise to us in this reading today. 

 

Pastor: I do too, Sammy. Jesus says, 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Sammy: Jesus shows us exactly this with Lazarus and with how he raises from the dead, too.

 

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. One day, all of us will live with Jesus in Heaven forever. Let’s pray: can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for Easter. Thank you for creating us. Thank you for being our God. We love you. Amen.

 

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:15-16).

We are to be like children, but not childish.  See with wonder the creation around you.  Look, explore, discover, and search for the pearls of great price.  Do not scramble to gain for its own sake, but seek for the Lord where He may be found.  Adults accumulate, children see the world through the eyes of wonder.  Do not be distracted by this world, but seek to look at it with awe and wonder.

Lord, I have forgotten the joy of childhood.  Those quite moments where I pondered the stars, looked at the butterflies fluttering, and marveled at the activity of creation.  I have become busy with being responsible or distracted and have set into a pattern of always being busy.  Restore the wonder You first gave me that I may see Your hand behind, in, and through all things.  Teach me what it means to come to You as a child.

Lord Jesus, You give the power to become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Teach me what it means to be a child.  Help me to see things the way You would have me see them.  Lead me according to Your purpose so that I mature in the way You know I need to mature.  Guide me in the faith You have given me and awaken me to the awe of wonder of all that has been made through You.  Amen.

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:13-14).

The world segregates, divides, and determines who is privileged and who should be kept out.  The world determines the outcasts of society.  All are made in the image of God and none are to be kept away.  Do not hinder the children.  The invitation is inclusive even if the relationship in salvation is exclusive.  The kingdom of God belongs to those who move from guilt to innocence.  By grace in faith do we find salvation.

Lord, what You are saying is not so mysterious.  You love all whom You have created.  Sinners divide and You unite.  We think in terms of who is worthy, mature, made of the right stuff, or whatever.  You love.  Guide me out of the wickedness in my heart to see that in You alone is there truth and right vision.  Help me to see others through Your eyes.  Lift me out of the fog of this age.

Lord Jesus, You love all equally.  I think in terms of what I have done and how I ought to be considered differently.  Guide me out of the mess of my thinking to see all others through the eyes of love.  Help me to love all people, sharing with them the truth of the Gospel.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me in faith.  May I see all others today as those whom You have made in Your image and love as You love me.  Amen.  

“In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.  And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery” (Mark 10:10-12).

What does God intend?  That the two become one.  Yes, there are all kinds of reasons why divorce happens, but look at God’s intent.  He desires that the two learn how to unite as one.  Not one over the other, but two working as one.  So also, we are the bride of Christ and He is teaching us how to be one with Him.  It is not a power struggle, but a shifting, blending and growing that happens, just as should happen in marriage.

Lord help me.  I hear these words, but I am constantly striving and seeking for myself rather than learning from You how life is to be lived.  This principle goes beyond marriage to include all of the relationships I have.  Teach me what it means to pursue being who I am in the midst of relationship.  Teach me to not seek to exert power or authority, but live in the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of life.  You will lead me and I must follow.  Guide me this day to have Your righteousness come into all of my relationships.  Lead me according to the Father’s purpose to live out today those things which You would have me do.  Through all the turmoil of this age, guide me in the upward call You have given me so that I may live into the life You offer.  Amen.