Good morning!  It looks like it’s going to be a great few days coming up.  This weekend we are honoring two teachers who are retiring.  They have served the Lord faithfully for many, many years.  They have touched so many lives.  They are truly wonderful gifts from God.

Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

In the second place, you must know also that it is not only an honorable, but also a necessary state, and it is solemnly commanded by God that, in general, in all conditions, men and women, who were created for it, shall be found in this estate; yet with some exceptions (although few) whom God has especially excepted, so that they are not fit for the married estate, or whom He has released by a high, supernatural gift that they can maintain chastity without this estate. For where nature has its course, as it is implanted by God, it is not possible to remain chaste without marriage. For flesh and blood remain flesh and blood, and the natural inclination and excitement have their course without let or hindrance, as everybody sees and feels. In order, therefore, that it may be the more easy in some degree to avoid unchastity, God has commanded the estate of matrimony, that every one may have his proper portion and be satisfied therewith; although God’s grace besides is required in order that the heart also may be pure.

 

I think Luther explains this well.  I don’t need to expound on it any further.  May God bless your day.

So I got up today and I thought it was Thursday.  I went to put out the trash and no one else had their trash out.  Why?  Because it’s only Wednesday.  There was a note on the door to take a bottle of juice to school for a little breakfast we were having for our interium principal.  Well, I convinced myself that the breakfast was tomorrow.  Guess what?  It was today.  I need to keep repeating to myself, “Today is Wednesday.  Today is Wednesday.”

Luther continues talking about the 6th Commandment in the Large Catechism:

Therefore I have always taught that this estate should not be despised nor held in disrepute, as is done by the blind world and our false ecclesiastics, but that it be regarded according to God’s Word, by which it is adorned and sanctified, so that it is not only placed on an equality with other estates, but that it precedes and surpasses them all, whether they be that of emperor, princes, bishops, or whoever they please. For both ecclesiastical and civil estates must humble themselves and all be found in this estate as we shall hear. Therefore it is not a peculiar estate, but the most common and noblest estate, which pervades all Christendom, yea which extends through all the world.

Luther is right.  Marriage is a very important institution.  It is the most important institutation we have.  What other institution is charged with the raising of children?  It is so important and blessed by God.  Yet, what does it take to get married?  A couple signatures and a brief ceremony.  Most couples spend more time planning the reception than they do the marriage.  I spend a couple hours with each couple, but that really isn’t enough.  I’d love to spend weeks with them.

If couples enter marriage rightly, they enter it knowing that they are going to spend the rest of their lives with each other.  When someone good happens, the first one they want to tell is their spouse.  When something rotten happens, the first person they want to tell is their spouse.  That what our spouses are for.  They are there to help and support to share joys and sorrows.

Last night my wife asked for ice for her knee and a beverage before I came upstairs.  I had to remind her that asking for ice would result in me bring up the ice, but asking for ice and a beverage would probably result in me forgetting something.  That’s just the way I am.  My mind gets sidetracked.  Well, I must have been on a roll because I remember both the ice for her knee and the beverage.  Couples help and support one another.  As Jerry Meguire said, “You complete me.”  That’s what couples do.

Have a blessed day.

There were lots of people running around Miller Park this morning.  They were giving away small statues of the Chorizo racing sausage.  I was listening to the news at 6am and they said they still had plenty.  So I decided to go up there, but by the time I got there at 6:45, they were all gone.  At least I didn’t skip my workout completely, I had a nice long walk across the Miller Park parking lot.  I saw a number of people walking away with Chorizo.  I saw a couple people with two and one person with three.  Why can’t people just play nice and just take one?  Why ruin it?  Did I mention, I saw three of them on Ebay listed from $100 to $500.  Again, why try to make a profit off a free give away?

Martin Luther continues his discussion of the 6th Commandment in the Large Catechism:

But since this commandment is aimed directly at the state of matrimony and gives occasion to speak of the same, you must well understand and mark, first, how gloriously God honors and extols this estate, inasmuch as by His commandment He both sanctions and guards it. He has sanctioned it above in the Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother; but here He has (as we said ) hedged it about and protected it. Therefore He also wishes us to honor it, and to maintain and conduct it as a divine and blessed estate; because, in the first place, He has instituted it before all others, and therefore created man and woman separately (as is evident), not for lewdness, but that they should [legitimately] live together, be fruitful, beget children, and nourish and train them to the honor of God.

Therefore God has also most richly blessed this estate above all others, and, in addition, has bestowed on it and wrapped up in it everything in the world, to the end that this estate might be well and richly provided for. Married life is therefore no jest or presumption; but it is an excellent thing and a matter of divine seriousness. For it is of the highest importance to Him that persons be raised who may serve the world and promote the knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, to fight against wickedness and the devil.

If only we took marriage as seriously as God does.  There are three commandments that protect the institution of marriage in the Ten Commandments.  In the 4th Commandment, God sets mom and dad up as the authorities over their children.  In the 6th Commandment, our Lord protects the close relationship that a husband and wife have together.  Then in the 10th Commandment He tells us that we should not covet our neighbors wife.  That should give us some clue as to how important this wonderful blessing is.

But so many people look at marriage as being disposable.  People are married two, three and four times.  Some celebrity marriages don’t last more than a few months.  Marriage is for life.

I love an appreciate my wife.  She is amazing.  I thank God for her every day.  I’d be lost without her.

Happy Monday morning one and all.  Martin Luther continue in his Large Catechism on the 6th Commandment:

But because among us there is such a shameful mess and the very dregs of all vice and lewdness, this commandment is directed also against all manner of unchastity, whatever it may be called; and not only is the external act forbidden, but also every kind of cause, incitement, and means, so that the heart, the lips, and the whole body may be chaste and afford no opportunity, help, or persuasion to unchastity. And not only this, but that we also make resistance, afford protection and rescue wherever there is danger and need; and again, that we give help and counsel, so as to maintain our neighbor’s honor. For whenever you omit this when you could make resistance, or connive at it as if it did not concern you, you are as truly guilty as the one perpetrating the deed. Thus, to state it in the briefest manner, there is required this much, that every one both live chastely himself and help his neighbor do the same, so that God by this commandment wishes to hedge round about and protect [as with a rampart] every spouse that no one trespass against them.

Can you imagine what Martin Luther would say about the condition of the world today?  The whole attitude that he held is opposite of the attitude today.  Luther says, “there is required this much, that every one both live chastely himself and help his neighbor do the same.”  Really?  The world today tells us to keep your nose out of your neighbor’s business.  The world today tells us the your neighbor can do whatever he or she wants to do with other concenting adults.  The world today tells us that we better be accepting of whatever our neighbor wants to do.

No, I think Luther would a appaled at the condition of the world today.  It is amazing how the world acts.  Now even our president says that he is in favor of gay marriage.  No, my dear friends, Luther is correct, “and not only is the external act forbidden, but also every kind of cause, incitement, and means, so that the heart, the lips, and the whole body may be chaste and afford no opportunity, help, or persuasion to unchastity.”  It is a very difficult task that we have today.  We need to constantly be in prayer to help us keep this commandment.  We need God’s help.  We can’t do it on our own.

Have a wonderful and blessed day.

When I teach Confirmation to our 8th graders we begin with the basics about God and the Bible and then move on to the 10 Commandments.  We can spend a lot of time talking about the first three Commandments, the students will get into so lively discussions.  By far, the quickest Commandment to cover is the 6th Commandment.  They don’t ask any questions about that.  They don’t want to discuss that.  So, I cover the basics, fill them in on what’s right and what’s wrong and move on to stealing.

Martin Luther begins his discussion of the 6th Commandment in the Large Catechism:

The Sixth Commandment.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 

These commandments now [that follow] are easily understood from [the explanation of] the preceding; for they are all to the effect that we [be careful to] avoid doing any kind of injury to our neighbor. But they are arranged in fine [elegant] order. In the first place, they treat of his own person. Then they proceed to the person nearest him, or the closest possession next after his body namely, his wife, who is one flesh and blood with him, so that we cannot inflict a higher injury upon him in any good that is his. Therefore it is explicitly forbidden here to bring any disgrace upon him in respect to his wife. And it really aims at adultery, because among the Jews it was ordained and commanded that every one must be married. Therefore also the young were early provided for [married], so that the virgin state was held in small esteem, neither were public prostitution and lewdness tolerated (as now). Therefore adultery was the most common form of unchastity among them.

If there is one commandment that is broken more than others in our country today, this one has to be at the top of the list.  Just sit and watch television for half an hour and you will see this commandment broken 10 or 20 times.  Go and sit in the mall and watch the people go by and you will be tempted to break this commandment many times.  Go sit in a court room for an afternoon and you will hear case after case of this commandment being broken.

It is very difficult.  If a recovering alcoholic stays out of bars, out of the liquor section of the grocery stores and away from certain parties, they can easily stay away from liquor.  But someone adicted to pornography has a much more difficult task.  It’s on television, the computer, in movies, even walking through the grocery store can be difficult given the way people dress.  It even shows itself in Best Selling Novels.  This must be one of the most difficult commandments to keep.

Yet, our Lord gave us this blessed gift to enjoy.  A husband and wife are intended to have a beautiful and wonderful time together.  It is intended to build their relationship, to increase the bond between them.  It is a wonderful gift from God to be shared between husband and wife.

What do we do?  Pray.  Prayer is the greatest weapon one can use in trying to remain pure.  Focusing on God, inlisting His help, asking for guidance all help.  Our Lord will help and be with us in this fight to honor Him.  He is on our side.

May God bless you this day as we focus on Him.

One never feels as helpless as when in the hands of medical profession.  My wife needed surgery to repair her knee yesterday.  While we have checked with all the doctors, the surgeon still wanted written permission from her cardiologist that it was okay to do the surgery.  Of course, the office was closed at that time of the morning.  All we could do was sit and wait.  I tried calling the office myself, but my cell phone wouldn’t work in the building.  We were helpless.  All we could do was put it in God’s hands and let Him run with it.  And once she went into surgery, I had to do the same thing, put her in God’s hands.  It all worked out.  She’s home doing fine.  She even said I could go to the Brewer game with our school 5th and 7th graders, but I just couldn’t do that.  Thanks Jesus for your help.

Luther concludes the Fifth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

This we ought to practice and inculcate and we would have our hands full doing good works. But this would not be preaching for monks; it would greatly detract from the religious estate, and infringe upon the sanctity of Carthusians, and would even be regarded as forbidding good works and clearing the convents. For in this wise the ordinary state of Christians would be considered just as worthy, and even worthier, and everybody would see how they mock and delude the world with a false, hypocritical show of holiness, because they have given this and other commandments to the winds, and have esteemed them unnecessary, as though they were not commandments but mere counsels, and have at the same time shamelessly proclaimed and boasted their hypocritical estate and works as the most perfect life, in order that they might lead a pleasant, easy life, without the cross and without patience, for which reason, too, they have resorted to the cloisters, so that they might not be obliged to suffer any wrong from any one or to do him any good. But know now that these are the true, holy, and godly works, in which, with all the angels He rejoices, in comparison with which all human holiness is but stench and filth, and besides, deserves nothing but wrath and damnation.

So often, we think that our actions only affect ourselves.  “What I do is my business.”  But as Luther says here, when true, holy and godly works are done, all the angels rejoice.  Our actions do matter.  It is not just our business.  It is also our Father’s business.  If we kept this Fifth Commandment perfectly, we would be so busy doing good for others.  Why do you think Jesus spent so much time healing and preaching about God’s love?  He was keeping the Fifth Commandment.  He had to heal people.  He had no choice.  He had the power.  They were in need.  To keep this Commandment, He had to heal.  We don’t think of it in those terms often.  But that’s the way it was.  Jesus healed people because they needed healing and He had the power to heal.

He continues that even today.  Studies have shown that Christians heal faster and quicker and spend less time in the hospital than non-Christians.  Why?  Because they put the situation in God’s hands.  They trust God to be with them and help them.  They know He walks with them down the road each day.

May God bless you richly today.

Well, after a couple students shaved off my beard Friday night, I have forgotten how much I dislike shaving.  Getting up in the morning and standing in front of the mirror is not fun.  It was funny.  I got home after the PTL shave party and let the dogs out and they kept sniffing me to make sure it was me.  They recognized the voice, but not the face.

Anyway, Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

It is just as if I saw some one navigating and laboring in deep water [and struggling against adverse winds] or one fallen into fire, and could extend to him the hand to pull him out and save him, and yet refused to do it. What else would I appear, even in the eyes of the world, than as a murderer and a criminal?

Therefore it is God’s ultimate purpose that we suffer harm to befall no man, but show him all good and love; and, as we have said it is specially directed toward those who are our enemies. For to do good to our friends is but an ordinary heathen virtue as Christ says Matt. 5, 46.

Here we have again the Word of God whereby He would encourage and urge us to true noble and sublime works, as gentleness patience, and, in short, love and kindness to our enemies, and would ever remind us to reflect upon the First Commandment, that He is our God, that is, that He will help, assist, and protect us, in order that He may thus quench the desire of revenge in us.

Short, sweet and to the point, we should help out our fellow man.  A couple nice people have helped us out.  They each brought a device that will pump cold water through tubes to a water bottle type device that will continually ice down my wifes knee after surgery tomorrow.  We are all set up now.  We have a walker.  We put our daughter’s college refrigerator up in our bedroom.  We have a table like they have in hospitals that pulls over the bed.  Now we have the ice machines.  This afternoon I’m making minestrone soup so we have something eat for a few days.  All we have to do is get up at 4am tomorrow and we will be ready.

So, I won’t be on tomorrow morning.  I’ll have my ipad at the hospital but there is no way I’m going to type out a message one fingered on here.  I’ll probably post Facebook updates as I get them.  It’s going to be a long day.

So have a blessed day today.  Do me a favor, pray for sun.  A few prayers for my wife would be great too.

Martin Luther continues talking about the Lord’s Prayer in the Large Catechism:

Secondly, under this commandment not only he is guilty who does evil to his neighbor, but he also who can do him good, prevent, resist evil, defend and save him, so that no bodily harm or hurt happen to him and yet does not do it. If, therefore, you send away one that is naked when you could clothe him, you have caused him to freeze to death; you see one suffer hunger and do not give him food, you have caused him to starve. So also, if you see any one innocently sentenced to death or in like distress, and do not save him, although you know ways and means to do so, you have killed him. And it will not avail you to make the pretext that you did not afford any help, counsel, or aid thereto for you have withheld your love from him and deprived him of the benefit whereby his life would have been saved.

Therefore God also rightly calls all those murderers who do not afford counsel and help in distress and danger of body and life, and will pass a most terrible sentence upon them in the last day, as Christ Himself has announced when He shall say, Matt.25, 42f.: I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in; naked, and ye clothed Me not; sick and in prison and ye visited Me not. That is: You would have suffered Me and Mine to die of hunger thirst, and cold, would have suffered the wild beasts to tear us to pieces, or left us to rot in prison or perish in distress. What else is that but to reproach them as murderers and bloodhounds? For although you have not actually done all this, you have nevertheless, so far as you were concerned, suffered him to pine and perish in misfortune.

Did you hear the news about the young man who was arrested and then forgotten?  He was in jail, maybe even handcuffed for four days with no food, water or access to bathroom facilities.  When they discovered him he was taken to a hospital to be treated for dehydration and other problems.

That bring up this aspect of the 5th Commandment that Luther covers today.  If you are in a position to help someone and don’t, then you are breaking the 5th Commandment.  We are to do what we can to protect our neighbor.  If we have the ability and don’t, that’s just wrong.

That is made more difficult these days by criminals who act like they are in distress, get us to stop and help them and then rob us.  It simply is not safe to stop to try to help a motorist stuck on the side of the road.  So often, they are armed and ready to harm us.

Around Christmas, I have many people calling the church asking for money.  I have no way to assess if they are truly in need.  I was getting calls almost every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Now that January is long passed, I haven’t had one call.  Don’t people need help in May?  There have been a few times when my own members have come to me for help and we have done everything we could to help them.  That’s a different story.  We should definately help our own members.  We should do what we can to help EVERYONE.  But we also need to be good stewards of what God has given us and protect the church from being robbed by people who really don’t need help.

I wish it was black and white and clear so that I knew who needed help and who didn’t.  That would make it so easy.  So we do the best we can with the Lord’s guidance.

May God bless your day and keep you safe of the severe weather they are calling for today.

The weather people have been so wrong so far this week.  And all this rain is just getting to me.  We were promised sun yesterday and we never got it.  No sun today so far either.  We did have lots of fog as I was driving to the gym.

Luther continues on the Fifth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

Thus this commandment aims at this, that no one offend his neighbor on account of any evil deed, even though he have fully deserved it. For where murder is forbidden, all cause also is forbidden whence murder may originate. For many a one, although he does not kill, yet curses and utters a wish, which would stop a person from running far if it were to strike him in the neck [makes imprecations, which if fulfilled with respect to any one, he would not live long]. Now since this inheres in every one by nature and it is a common practice that no one is willing to suffer at the hands of another, God wishes to remove the root and source by which the heart is embittered against our neighbor, and to accustom us ever to keep in view this commandment, always to contemplate ourselves in it as in a mirror, to regard the will of God, and with hearty confidence and invocation of His name to commit to Him the wrong which we suffer. Thus we shall suffer our enemies to rage and be angry, doing what they can, and we learn to calm our wrath, and to have a patient, gentle heart, especially toward those who give us cause to be angry, that is, our enemies.

Therefore the entire sum of what it means not to kill is to be impressed most explicitly upon the simple-minded. In the first place that we harm no one, first, with our hand or by deed. Then, that we do not employ our tongue to instigate or counsel thereto. Further, that we neither use nor assent to any kind of means or methods whereby any one may be injured. And finally, that the heart be not ill disposed toward any one, nor from anger and hatred wish him ill, so that body and soul may be innocent in regard to every one, but especially those who wish you evil or inflict such upon you. For to do evil to one who wishes and does you good is not human, but diabolical.

This is indeed, very difficult.  Luther says, “Thus this commandment aims at this, that no one offend his neighbor on account of any evil deed, even though he have fully deserved it.”  How many times have we said, “He deserved it.”  When someone does something to make us mad or hurt us and we have that justification, we feel we are in the right to punish them.  Well, God saw that coming and He tries to stop it with this commandment.  Even though a person may totally deserve it, we are not to harm them.  We are not even to speak evil against them.  We shouldn’t even wish evil upon them.  And my dear friends, that is very difficult.

Again, the Lord just wants what is good and right for everyone.  Remember, Jesus died for that person who caused you harm.  Jesus has forgiven them.  We should forgive them too.  God never said it would be easy.  It is very difficult.  But, we have great treasures waiting for us in heaven.  Focusing on the wonderful time we will have in heaven will help ease any problems here.

May God bless us each day.

 

 

So, we got great news at our school yesterday.  Trinity School is a finalist to receive a $100,000 library makeover.  Our students have been involved in the Racine Reads program to read 1,000,000 books.  Well, they did that months ago.  But the program has been very successful.  The students have read lots of books.  It would be awesome to get that library makeover.

Luther continues discussing the Fifth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

But the cause and need of this commandment is that God well knows that the world is evil, and that this life has much unhappiness; therefore He has placed this and the other commandments between the good and the evil. Now, as there are many assaults upon all commandments, so it happens also in this commandment that we must live among many people who do us harm, so that we have cause to be hostile to them.

As when your neighbor sees that you have a better house and home [a larger family and more fertile fields], greater possessions and fortune from God than he, he is sulky, envies you, and speaks no good of you.

Thus by the devil’s incitement you will get many enemies who cannot bear to see you have any good, either bodily or spiritual. When we see such people, our hearts, in turn, would rage and bleed and take vengeance. Then there arise cursing and blows, from which follow finally misery and murder. Here, now, God like a kind father steps in ahead of Us, interposes and wishes to have the quarrel settled, that no misfortune come of it, nor one destroy another. And briefly He would hereby protect, set free, and keep in peace every one against the crime and violence of every one else; and would have this commandment placed as a wall, fortress, and refuge about our neighbor, that we do him no hurt nor harm in his body.

I love this picture that Luther paints of God being a kind father who steps in ahead of us and settles the quarrel.  So often we look at the Commandments as a burden.  But they are really for our benefit.  The Fifth Commandment especially exists for our protection.  Sure, it may be difficult not to get angry at someone who cuts us off on the freeway.  But on the other hand, we do not have to fear for our life because our Lord is watching over us and has issued this command to protect us.  Our Lord is really a loving Father.  And our Loving Father is bigger and stronger than any other.  There truly is no other like Him.  And He loves us.  He cares for us.  He watches over us.  What a blessing that is.

Martin Luther begins his discussion of the Fifth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

We have now completed both the spiritual and the temporal government, that is, the divine and the paternal authority and obedience. But here now we go forth from our house among our neighbors to learn how we should live with one another, every one himself toward his neighbor. Therefore God and government are not included in this commandment nor is the power to kill, which they have taken away. For God has delegated His authority to punish evil-doers to the government instead of parents, who aforetime (as we read in Moses) were required to bring their own children to judgment and sentence them to death. Therefore, what is here forbidden is forbidden to the individual in his relation to any one else, and not to the government.

Now this commandment is easy enough and has been often treated, because we hear it annually in the Gospel of St. Matthew, 5, 21 ff., where Christ Himself explains and sums it up, namely, that we must not kill neither with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor counsel. Therefore it is here forbidden to every one to be angry, except those (as we said) who are in the place of God, that is, parents and the government. For it is proper for God and for every one who is in a divine estate to be angry, to reprove and punish, namely, on account of those very persons who transgress this and the other commandments.

At first glance, it would appear that keeping this Commandment would be easy.  “Thou shalt not kill.”  I would never kill anyone.  True, something might happen with an accident, but I would never intentionally kill anyone.  It’s just that simple.  But then Jesus fills us in with the spirit of the law and include anger.  We aren’t even supposed to have evil thoughts of hurting someone.  Suddenly, this commandment too becomes impossible to keep.

One of the things that people often ignore is that God has granted the government the permission to stand in His place.  Governments are allowed to enter into just wars.  They are also allowed to punish, and that includes capital punishment.  The Bible says, “Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, life for life.”  It is difficult that in recent years innocent people have been convicted of capital offences.  But the Lord does give governments the authority to carry out those punishments.

How does one keep from being angry at his neighbor?  His dog may be outside barking at 3am.  He may never cut his lawn.  He may even steal our snow shovel.  Some neighbors can be pretty hard to deal with.  As with all things, prayer goes a long way.  We can also use the legal means we have to deal with an unruly neighbor.  The key is that we can’t take matters into our own hand.  Our Lord has provided a government to take care of us.

Well, it’s a rainy Monday.  How fitting is that!  Still, the Lord will be with us and bless us.

Pastor Jennings

 

 

Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

If that were done, God would also richly bless us and give us grace to train men by whom land and people might be improved and likewise well educated citizens, chaste and domestic wives, who afterwards would rear godly children and servants. Here consider now what deadly injury you are doing if you be negligent and fail on your part to bring up your child to usefulness and piety, and how you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath, thus earning hell by your own children, even though you be otherwise pious and holy. And because this is disregarded, God so fearfully punishes the world that there is no discipline, government, or peace, of which we all complain, but do not see that it is our fault; for as we train them, we have spoiled and disobedient children and subjects. Let this be sufficient exhortation; for to draw this out at length belongs to another time.

“Let this be sufficient exhortation; for to draw this out at length belongs to another time.”  Really?  Luther went very long on this subject.  But we haven’t finished the Commandments yet.  And I haven’t looked ahead.  I thought he covered the topic plenty.  Basically, it almost sounds like all the problems in the world are because parents didn’t raise their children right.  And to be sure, there is a lot of truth to that.  The world would be a much better place if all parents raised their kids right, punished them rather than befriending them, bring them to faith in our Lord, and teach themright from wrong.  This is indeed a very difficult job.  But it is one that our Lord prepares us and helps us with.

I remember as we were leaving the hospital with our son, I was struck with the awesome responsibility we would have.  It hit me, I had to practice for weeks and weeks and take several tests to get a drivers license.  But here, this hospital is letting me walk out the door with this person who was just born.  No training, no testing, just walk out the door.

So yes, there is much more that we could say.  Indeed, we need to pray daily and our Lord makes us better parents and that we pray daily for our children.  Have a blessed day.

Martin Luther writes in the Large Catechism on the Fourth Commandment:

But here again the sad plight arises that no one perceives or heeds this, and all live on as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement, and servants that we should employ them like a cow or ass, only for work, or as though we were only to gratify our wantonness with our subjects, ignoring them, as though it were no concern of ours what they learn or how they live; and no one is willing to see that this is the command of the Supreme Majesty, who will most strictly call us to account and punish us for it; nor that there is so great need to be so seriously concerned about the young. For if we wish to have excellent and apt persons both for civil and ecclesiastical government we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our children, that they may serve God and the world, and we must not think only how we may amass money and possessions for them. For God can indeed without us support and make them rich, as He daily does. But for this purpose He has given us children, and issued this command that we should train and govern them according to His will, else He would have no need of father and mother. Let every one know therefore, that it is his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children above all things in the fear and knowledge of God, and if they are talented, have them learn and study something, that they may be employed for whatever need there is [to have them instructed and trained in a liberal education, that men may be able to have their aid in government and in whatever is necessary].

Raising our children right is a matter of stewardship.  While the Lord used us to bring them into existance, they are His children.  He uses us to train them, educate them and teach them about God.  We are God’s managers in raising His children.  We just borrow our children and love them and raise them as our own.  But they are really His.  So, we should do the best job we can is raising them.

No one is the perfect parents.  We all make mistakes.  Our parents made mistakes.  Our children will make mistakes in raising our grandchildren.  I heard of a book once called, “The Good Enough Parent.”  The premise was that we aren’t going to be perfect, we just need to be good enough.  We can take it easy and relax because we aren’t going to be perfect anyway, so it doesn’t matter.  Well, it does matter because we are raising God’s children here.  Their spiritual life is on the line.  Heaven and Hell are on the line.  We want them to build up a great relationship with God so that they will be with Him forever.  So, we do the best job we can in raising His children, so that He will be proud of them.

I don’t have any meetings tonight!  Yeah!  I should start cleaning house because my sister-in-law will be visiting next week.  We will see.  Anyway, stay dry and have a blessed day.

Things are changing with my children.  My son is moving from Oshkosh to Appleton in the next couple week.  We are going up Sunday to pick up a table and an old dresser to bring them home.  My daughter will be starting a new job in June, her first job.  She will be training in the Falls for two weeks and then moving somewhere else.  We don’t know where.  She will train for two years moving here and there (they provide her with a furnished apartment).  My children are moving further away from us.

I didn’t want my kids living across the street from me and coming to dinner every night.  But I didn’t want them moving to Idaho either.  While I know we can pick up the phone and Skype and other things, it’s not the same.  I love me kids.  I’m proud of them.  They have grown up very well.

Martin Luther continues discussing the Fourth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

In addition, it would be well to preach to the parents also, and such as bear their office, as to how they should deport themselves toward those who are committed to them for their government. For although this is not expressed in the Ten Commandments, it is nevertheless abundantly enjoined in many places in the Scriptures. And God desires to have it embraced in this commandment when He speaks of father and mother. For He does not wish to have in this office and government knaves and tyrants; nor does He assign to them this honor, that is, power and authority to govern, that they should have themselves worshiped; but they should consider that they are under obligations of obedience to God; and that, first of all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge their office, not only to support and provide for the bodily necessities of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but, most of all, to train them to the honor and praise of God. Therefore do not think that this is left to your pleasure and arbitrary will, but that it is a strict command and injunction of God, to whom also you must give account for it.

So, while children are to honor and respect their parents, parents have responsibility too.  While we have authority to discipline, beating a child is not God pleasing.  Parents do not have God’s permission to be tyrants.  Just because we CAN turn our children into slaves does not mean that it is right and proper.  Our number one duty as parents is to help our children develop a relationship with God.  Because one day, our children will be raising our grandchildren and we all want our grandchildren with us in heaven.  So the better job we do (with the Holy Spirit) in building a relationship between our children and God, the better job they will do raising our grandchildren and making sure they know about God.

But what am I talking about. I’m only 51.  I’m not ready for grandchildren yet.  I could wait five or six years.  Besides, unless the grandkids are in town, what fun is that?  No, my children can take their time, save money, buy a house, get that career going, there is still plenty of time for grandchildren.

It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.  God bless.

So, I cut the grass over the weekend.  It was the second time cutting the back yard and the first time cutting the front.  It was also the first time I started up my weed wacker.  It is usually very difficult to start the first time of the year.  I usually try to use last year’s gas/oil mix.  And of course that doesn’t work.  So you have to get rid of the old and make new stuff.  Well a member told me you can buy a gas/oil mix with gas stablizer in it at Sears.  No guess work.  He says his weed wacker starts up right away with that stuff.  So I went and bought some yesterday.  Then I pulled out the weed wacker and was getting ready.  Last year’s gass was still in it.  I figured, “Why not try.”  So I primed it five or six times, set the choke.  Gave it a couple yanks and boom, she starts up.  Of course, if I hadn’t bought the stuff from Sears, it would not have started.

We are almost finised with the Fourth Commandment.  We will finish this week.  Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

But those who keep in sight God’s will and commandment have the promise that everything which they bestow upon temporal and spiritual fathers, and whatever they do to honor them, shall be richly recompensed to them, so that they shall have, not bread, clothing, and money for a year or two, but long life, support, and peace, and shall be eternally rich and blessed. Therefore only do what is your duty, and let God take care how He is to support you and provide for you sufficiently. Since He has promised it, and has never yet lied, He will not be found lying to you.

This ought indeed to encourage us, and give us hearts that would melt in pleasure and love toward those to whom we owe honor, so that we would raise our hands and joyfully thank God who has given us such promises, for which we ought to run to the ends of the world [to the remotest parts of India]. For although the whole world should combine, it could not add an hour to our life or give us a single grain from the earth. But God wishes to give you all exceeding abundantly according to your heart’s desire. He who despises and casts this to the winds is not worthy ever to hear a word of God. This has now been stated more than enough for all who belong under this commandment.

God’s Word promises that if we honor our father and mother, we will be blessed.  How is this for an idea, why not honor and respect everyeone?  The Bible also tells us to love our enemies.  So why not just treat everyone with honor and respect.  I understand some people don’t deserve it.  Some people are just jerks.  There are lots of people who don’t like us.  I think it would be kind of fun to treat them with honor and respect and see how they react.  If we return their harsh actions with love, it could drive them crazy.

One wise person once told me that if you are praying for your enemies they won’t be your enemies for long because your attitude towards them changes.  How can you pray for someone and still dislike or hate them?  I just think it makes it easier of we just treat everyone with honor and respect.  That way we don’t have to waste time deciding who we like and who we don’t like, who we love and who we hate.  If we treat everyone the same wonderful way, it saves time.

It saves time so you have more time to work in the yard.  Summer would be perfect if you didn’t have to do yard work.  I still like my idea of training sheep to eat grass and taking them around town and charging people to have my trained sheep cut their lawn and maybe fertilize it at the same time.  I’ll have to keep working on that.  Have a blessed day.

Happy Thursday!  Did you know that today is National Garlic Day?  I love garlic.  I used to grow garlic.  It takes the better part of a year in these parts to grow garlic.  Basically, in September, you use a stick to poke a hole in the ground six or eight inches deep and drop a clove of garlic in each hole.  You let it go.  In the spring, you will see the green onion type leaves come up and let the plant go until August or September.  You dig them up and boom, you have all the garlic you need.  So, to celebrate this National Garlic Day, I may have to make this recipe from Jeff Smith, the Frugal Gourmet.  It may sounds like a lot of garlic, but as the garlic cooks, it gets mild and tasty.  Trust me, it’s amazing.

I got a text message from my son yesterday that Ted Nugent was playing at the Racine County Fair.  Tickets are $10!  He knows that I have followed Ted since college.  Ted is from Detroit although he moved to Chicago and spent almost as much time there, but people don’t remember that.  And I grew up just outside of Detroit.  So it was just natural for me to come to enjoy his music.

So, this morning, I get up and turn on my computer and on Yahoo where they list the top searches, I see Ted Nugent listed.  Now I know that Ted Nugent didn’t become a top search on Yahoo because he is playing the Racine County Fair.  So I get to the gym and I’m walking on my treadmill and watching the television and the Today Show comes on and it all becomes clear.  Ted Nugent was at was at an NRA Convention and he made some remarks about our current president and others being criminals.  Then he makes some comment about, “off with their heads.”  The news people were (and probably still are) making all kinds of noise about Ted’s comments.  Wake up people!  This is Ted Nugent we are talking about.  He makes his living making outrageous remarks.  He’s written books filled with crazy remarks.  Ted pushes the envelope in his music and his political views.  That’s what he does.  It should be no surprise.  Would they be surprised at Charlie Sheen making over the top remarks?  No.  Ted isn’t as stupid as Charlie Sheen.  In fact, he is quite intelligent.  He knows his facts.  But the fact of the matter is that he says them the way a Rock N Roll figure would be expected to say them.  Quite often, with a lot of profanity.  So stop being surprised.  It’s Ted Nugent we are talking about.

Martin Luther on the Fourth Commandment in the Large Catechism:

If we would ever suffer ourselves to be persuaded that such works are pleasing to God and have so rich a reward, we would be established in altogether abundant possessions and have what our heart desires. But because the word and command of God are so lightly esteemed, as though some babbler had spoken it, let us see whether you are the man to oppose Him. How difficult, do you think, it will be for Him to recompense you! Therefore you would certainly live much better with the divine favor, peace, and happiness than with His displeasure and misfortune. Why, think you, is the world now so full of unfaithfulness, disgrace, calamity, and murder, but because every one desires to be his own master and free from the emperor, to care nothing for any one, and do what pleases him? Therefore God punishes one knave by another, so that, when you defraud and despise your master, another comes and deals in like manner with you, yea, in your household you must suffer ten times more from wife, children, or servants.

Indeed, we feel our misfortune, we murmur and complain of unfaithfulness, violence, and injustice, but will not see that we ourselves are knaves who have fully deserved this punishment, and yet are not thereby reformed. We will have no favor and happiness, therefore it is but fair that we have nothing but misfortune without mercy. There must still be somewhere upon earth some godly people because God continues to grant us so much good! On our own account we should not have a farthing in the house nor a straw in the field. All this I have been obliged to urge with so many words, in hope that some one may take it to heart, that we may be relieved of the blindness and misery in which we are steeped so deeply, and may truly understand the Word and will of God, and earnestly accept it. For thence we would learn how we could have joy, happiness, and salvation enough, both temporal and eternal.

One of the prime freedoms we have in this blessed country is the freedom speech.  Our nation was founded on the principle of free speech.  Men and women have died protecting that freedom.  It used to be that one was happy just to express his feelings and ideas to the people around him or her.  Now days you can share that message with the world in two seconds on the internet.  Our speech gets so much more attention very quickly.  Notice I haven’t mentioned if I agree or disagree with Mr. Nugent.  Let’s just put it this way, I would never allow him to get in the pulpit at church, mainly because of the way he says things and because he’s not an ordained Lutheran minister.  But we are all free to say what we want, when we want.  That is the amazing thing about our country.

The cool thing is that tomorrow someone else will say something to get the media attention and we will move off the Ted Nugent discussion and on to something else.  Personally, I believe the Secret Service is behind this.  They put Ted up to it to get attention off the scandle surrounding them.

Have a blessed day and God bless America!

So, we pick up Jan’s new vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Highlander, and we get a bite to eat and then we run to Walmart to look for something.  After we finished shopping, she gets in line to pay and sends me to get the car.  Well, I didn’t pay good attention to where we parked and I didn’t remember well what her new car looked like and I end up wandering the parking lot for a few minutes before I have to hit the panic button to find the car.  So much fun.

Martin Luther continues in his Large Catechism talking on the Fourth Commandment:

Whoever will not be influenced by this and inclined to godliness we hand over to the hangman and to the skeleton-man. Therefore let every one who allows himself to be advised remember that God is not making sport, and know that it is God who speaks with you and demands obedience. If you obey Him, you are His dear child; but if you despise to do it, then take shame, misery, and grief for your reward.

The same also is to be said of obedience to civil government, which (as we have said) is all embraced in the estate of fatherhood and extends farthest of all relations. For here the father is not one of a single family, but of as many people as he has tenants, citizens, or subjects. For through them, as through our parents, God gives to us food, house and home, protection and security. Therefore since they bear such name and title with all honor as their highest dignity, it is our duty to honor them and to esteem them great as the dearest treasure and the most precious jewel upon earth.

He, now, who is obedient here, is willing and ready to serve, and cheerfully does all that pertains to honor, knows that he is pleasing God and that he will receive joy and happiness for his reward. If he will not do it in love, but despises and resists [authority] or rebels, let him also know, on the other hand, that he shall have no favor nor blessing, and where he thinks to gain a florin thereby, he will elsewhere lose ten times as much, or become a victim to the hangman, perish by war, pestilence, and famine, or experience no good in his children, and be obliged to suffer injury, injustice, and violence at the hands of his servants, neighbors, or strangers and tyrants; so that what we seek and deserve is paid back and comes home to us.

Did you get your taxes done?  I finished mine yesterday.  I heard on the radio yesterday that about 54% of our income goes to paying taxes.  Between Federal, State, property tax and sales tax, plus the tax on gas and other items, we end up spending more than half our income on taxes. While that number could serve to upset us, we have to look at what we get for that support.  We live in a safe nation.  We have a marvelous police department.  We have a fire department.  Good roads.  Health care.  Great schools.  We do get a lot for our tax dollars.  Could it be better?  Absolutely.  But we really don’t have much to complain about.  We are very blessed.

Yesterday I mentioned that I remind my Confirmands that not only do they have to obey their parents but they need to obey them joyfully.  Martin Luther reminds us that the same holds true for us.  We need to obey the government joyfully.  Sure, we can do little things like waiting until April 17th to file our taxes to protest.  I know that when I voted a few weeks ago, I showed them my driver’s license in protest of those people who are against Voter ID laws.  There are little ways we can protest those things that we don’t agree with without breaking the 4th Commandment.  But lest we forget, we have it very good in this land.

Take a few moments today as you go through the day and thank God for the blessings He gives us through this wonderful nation we live in.  I saw on the news this morning that one of the space shuttles is flying to DC to be placed in the Smithsonian.  I was thinking that I’d love to go and see it there.  Oh, and admission to the Smithsonian is free.  It’s just another benefit of living in this great country.

So, my parents are in Florida all winter.  They take their Honda CRV and leave their minivan at their condo.  They are gone all winter.  Well, three days after they get back to Detroit, their minivan gets stolen from the car port.  What’s funny, is that neighbors saw it happen.  A neighbor sees the van drive away with a car following behind, wakes up his wife and says, “The Jennings’ just left at 11:30pm.”  Nope!  It was the thieves.

Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

Now, what a child owes to father and mother, the same owe all who are embraced in the household. Therefore man-servants and maid-servants should be careful not only to be obedient to their masters and mistresses but also to honor them as their own fathers and mothers, and to do everything which they know is expected of them, not from compulsion and with reluctance, but with pleasure and joy for the cause just mentioned, namely that it is God’s command and is pleasing to Him above all other works. Therefore they ought rather to pay wages in addition and be glad that they may obtain masters and mistresses to have such joyful consciences and to know how they may do truly golden works; a matter which has hitherto been neglected and despised, when, instead, everybody ran in the devil’s name, into convents or to pilgrimages and indulgences, with loss [of time and money] and with an evil conscience.

If this truth, then, could be impressed upon the poor people, a servant-girl would leap and praise and thank God; and with her tidy work for which she receives support and wages she would acquire such a treasure as all that are esteemed the greatest saints have not obtained. Is it not an excellent boast to know and say that, if you perform your daily domestic task, this is better than all the sanctity and ascetic life of monks? And you have the promise, in addition, that you shall prosper in all good and fare well. How can you lead a more blessed or holier life as far as your works are concerned? For in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him, but the works are for the service of man. There you have everything good, protection and defense in the Lord, a joyful conscience and a gracious God besides, who will reward you a hundredfold, so that you are even a nobleman if you be only pious and obedient. But if not, you have, in the first place, nothing but the wrath and displeasure of God, no peace of heart, and afterwards all manner of plagues and misfortunes.

 

Luther here covers something that I tell my Confirmation students all the time.  Not only do you have to obey and honor your parents, but you have to obey them joyfully.   It does no good to clean your room yelling and screaming at your parents.  It does no good to do dishes while you are slamming things around and being grumpy.  We are to obey our parents and joyfully do as they ask.  Be pleasant.

Of course, my daughter accused me of being grumpy 98% of the time.  I think that’s an over statement.  I think I’m in a good mood 98% of the time.  I do want to be left alone to relax and wind down after 9pm.  Time for devotions.  Back in a few.

Does paying your taxes on time fall under the 4th Commandment?  I just realized over the weekend that Sunday was the 15th and I hadn’t filled out my taxes yet.  As I started to work on them Saturday, I realized that I didn’t have my W-2!  I thought my secretary had made copies (thank God she did).  So I can complete them today.  I just thank God it all works out fine.

Enjoy the day.  May God bless you.

Good Thursday morning!  Yes, I know it’s been a week since I’ve posted.  But what a week it was.  I had seven worship services in four days.  Looked for cars for my daughter and my wife.  Entertained 13 people for Easter dinner.  Transported two loads of firewood from a friends home to mine.  Now I’m in the office trying to catch up.  It was a wonderful Lent and Easter.  I saw many blessings from our Lord.

Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

In this commandment belongs a further statement regarding all kinds of obedience to persons in authority who have to command and to govern. For all authority flows and is propagated from the authority of parents. For where a father is unable alone to educate his [rebellious and irritable] child, he employs a schoolmaster to instruct him; if he be too weak, he enlists the aid of his friends and neighbors; if he departs this life, he delegates and confers his authority and government upon others who are appointed for the purpose. Likewise, he must have domestics, man-servants and maid-servants, under himself for the management of the household, so that all whom we call masters are in the place of parents and must derive their power and authority to govern from them. Hence also they are all called fathers in the Scriptures, as those who in their government perform the functions of a father, and should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates. As also from antiquity the Romans and other nations called the masters and mistresses of the household patres- et matresfamiliae that is, housefathers and housemothers. So also they called their national rulers and overlords patres patriae, that is fathers of the entire country, for a great shame to us who would be Christians that we do not likewise call them so, or, at least do not esteem and honor them as such.

 

I remember when I left my first job.  I was working in a restaurant washing dishes.  I had gotten the job because a neighbor friend of mine had the job before me.  He was in a car accident and couldn’t work for a number of weeks.  He was close to being able to go back to work.  I was doing my job washing the dishes and a cook put a hot pan in the dish water and I didn’t know about it and grabbed the pan and burned myself.  I might have said a nasty word or two and the owner yelled at me.  I was the victim.  She wasn’t going to get away with yelling at me.  So I quit.  I just walked out.  Looking back on it, it was a whole misunderstand.  But, we do have to obey our boss at work.  We all have superiors.  We all have people above us.  And yes, God wants us to obey them.  We have to keep order in the world somehow.

It is not that they pay us and we earn a living from them.  But God has put them in authority over us and we have to obey for that reason.  Ultimately, God is the boss and we have to respect those whom He has put over us.  Otherwise, we are questioning God’s authority and that’s never a good thing.

Sometime this afternoon I need to cut my grass.  I should take some video because the grass is literally over the heads of our little dogs.  I’m going to have to weed whack the grass first and then cut it.

Have a blessed day.