tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post6707776721272203544..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Scripture Does Not Speak of ChristPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-86972170251028816402010-02-05T11:16:39.210-06:002010-02-05T11:16:39.210-06:00Pr. Peters... This is a direct parallel to Hebrews...Pr. Peters... This is a direct parallel to Hebrews 1:1-2. The writer addressed Jewish believers who actually would hear the voice of God speaking through the OT Scriptures. "In many and various ways God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He created the world." So also in THESE latter days, God speaks, really speaks in the congregation of believers gathered in this liturgy, the work of God. --Ken Larson, FloridaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-42205653230886768002010-01-26T15:37:06.456-06:002010-01-26T15:37:06.456-06:00Oops, after posting my comment I realized that the...Oops, after posting my comment I realized that the first line was really confusing. It should read "one practice to recommend to people for them to be ready to listen to God."Rev. Allen Younthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00211830350490559932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-34054097155296973282010-01-26T15:34:00.358-06:002010-01-26T15:34:00.358-06:00One practice to recommend so that people are ready...One practice to recommend so that people are ready to listen to God speaking through Scripture on Sunday morning is to read through the appointed readings on Saturday evening or earlier on Sunday morning. And having the Sunday lectionaries printed right in the front pages of the Lutheran Study Bible makes it easier to follow that practice, because everything you need is in one book.Rev. Allen Younthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00211830350490559932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-7323765699855471342010-01-25T15:10:09.927-06:002010-01-25T15:10:09.927-06:00This is an absolutely brilliant piece, Pr. Peters!...This is an absolutely brilliant piece, Pr. Peters!!! I can't wait to share it with others in my family and our congregation.<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />T.C.T.C. Juddhttp://takingthoughtscaptive.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-77475611764337588372010-01-24T18:25:24.988-06:002010-01-24T18:25:24.988-06:00Dear Rev. Peters: I am one of those people who ha...Dear Rev. Peters: I am one of those people who hang onto every word of the Liturgy, the Scripture readings, the Sermon and the Hymns. How did I achieve this unbelievable feat? I did not! It was a gift to me during a spiritually very difficult time in my life more than fifty years ago when I began to doubt that I was a child of God. It was given to me through those few people who proclaimed the Gospel to me. Obviously I had heard the Gospel before, but what was left essentially hidden was the part of the Gospel that only begins with the Resurrection of our Lord. I refer to what happens after people are baptized, when the Holy Spirit comes to live in them, and literally makes them new creatures with a nature that is different from what it was before, and after “He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14) This is not sanctification; it is what our gracious Father does for us to keep us in His Kingdom. It is similar to what the Good Samaritan did for the man who was near death: After saving him, He leaves him at the inn and then makes provision for his future wellbeing. <br /><br />The byproduct of this realization was and continues to be unspeakable joy. This joy is what we need to “rediscover.” The ancients had it, and the Reformers had it. I think we have lost much of it because our people are too frequently assailed with what they must do if they are “real” Christians, rather than learning that there is no compulsion in the Kingdom of God. I was surprised recently to read the following lines in the diary of Fr. Alexander Schmemann: “And for some reason, ‘religious’ people are always suspicious of joy. The first, the most important, the source of everything is, ‘Let my soul rejoice in the Lord …’ The fear of sin does not prevent one from sinning. Joy in the Lord does. The feelings of guilt and morality do not “free” from the world and its temptations. Joy is the foundation of the freedom in which we are called to stand. Where, how, and when did this “tonality” of Christianity become muddy, or more correctly, where, how, and why have Christians become “deaf” to it? How, when and why, instead of freeing the tortured, did the Church begin to sadistically frighten and to terrorize them?”<br /><br />To this I need to add the words of our Lord, spoken hours before the horrors of Good Friday were visited upon Him: “22And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22)<br /><br />I think it is impossible to work at having joy. I suspect that thanking and praising our dear Father in our prayers will bring us more joy than asking for things. We can find joy in the many passages in the Scriptures which speak of the certainty of our salvation, but ultimately we have to ask our Lord to enable us to “cast our burdens on Him,” and we will receive joy in return. Then our hearts will leap with joy whenever the pastor turns to the people and says, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” our “Amen” will come from the depth of grateful hearts, and we will hang onto every word that follows. <br />Peace and Joy,<br />George A. Marquart<br />PS.: I did not want to put this into the main posting of my message, but I want to assure everyone who reads this that I do take sin seriously, that I do believe in the Law, and that I do not believe it is impossible to fall from grace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-89856294355700846262010-01-24T17:13:40.713-06:002010-01-24T17:13:40.713-06:00right onright onAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-36646773981172653092010-01-24T12:57:27.070-06:002010-01-24T12:57:27.070-06:00"Scripture is God Speaking. When Scripture sp..."Scripture is God Speaking. When Scripture speaks we hear the voice of God."<br /><br />WOW - I can hear clearly now!<br /><br />Thank you for this powerful insight/message and blessing, the Holy Spirit is surely working through you.ErnestOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13077415409728022160noreply@blogger.com