Mt Olive Lutheran Church

July Messages

July 15

July 22

July 15

John 14:6

THIS VERSE was our theme verse for our Vacation Bible School last week. Jesus says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.”

MY BOHLKENIZED VERSION of this text is this: Jesus is the true Way to Life.

At first glance, Jesus is speaking about Himself as the Way to Heaven. The context mentions the mansions in His Father’s House, that is, Heaven.

JESUS HAS BEEN CRITICIZED for telling people to focus on Him as the true Way to Heaven. I wrote about this in the Newsletter. Karl Marx and John Lennon are two that criticized Jesus for telling people to look to Heaven. Marx thought people wouldn’t do anything to better their condition in this life if they had Heaven to look forward. Just plug along and accept whatever plight comes your way – ‘cause when you die you go to Heaven. Marx called religion the “opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness.” JOHN LENNON expressed the same concern in his most famous song: Imagine. “Imagine there is no Heaven, it’s easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today.”

C.S. LEWIS does an admirable job of refuting such stupid thinking in his classic little book Mere Christianity. Lewis noticed something. People who focus on this life, end up being shallow and petty. They are usually quite small people. Know any atheists. Often they focus on today’s issues and become quite intolerant people. Remember the history of the Soviet Union? Stalin was a pretty intolerable person. He killed more people than Hitler did, and for the silly reasons.

In fact, Lewis writes, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

Since this is true. Let me ask you a question and tell you a parable.

THE QUESTION simply is this: What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake? If you are totally preoccupied with the present moment you will accomplish little on earth that really counts for something now or in eternity. If, we as a church, are totally wrapped up in present realities and problems and are not focused on Heaven, we will accomplish little that will be remembered in Forest Grove or in eternity.

NOW FOR THE PARABLE. We had a successful VBS. Why? We had a clear goal: To tell as many children as possible about Jesus as the true Way to LIFE. We spent months planning for VBS. I personally spent a lot of time coming up with funny pictures, object lessons, and interesting ways to tell the lessons. I wanted to keep the kid’s attention and to tell them about Jesus. We had song DVD’s and skit DVD’s. Every time a DVD came on, we had the kid’s attention. The parents actually clapped for the song DVDs on Friday.

Why can’t we do the same thing on Sunday? Sorta have a mini-VBS each Sunday. Make it interesting. Humorous. Use Song DVDs. Instead I have a hard time finding someone to run the slides. And ask someone to learn how to run the DVD player – heaven forbid. If we are really serious about Heaven, we will do a little extra work to get the message out in and exciting way. 

I AM AFEARED that after I retire – which is not that far in the future - you will ditch the visual stuff. You may even buy the new hymnal and go back to being a church that is not kid friendly or visitor friendly. Our church body likes to put ancient and Reformation tunes in the hymnal make it difficult for kids and visitors. Why don’t we go back further to Jesus?

I DON’T TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS as the true Way to Heaven so I or you can sit back and take it easy in life or in church. I tell you about Jesus as the true way to Heaven so both I and you will have perspective and confidence in our life to believe and live in new ways that will literally change your perspective and priorities now and forever; that will turn this world upside down.  

The grain ship was perhaps 140 feet long and 36 feet wide. It was difficult to handle with one large square sail, guided by two steering oars instead of a rudder. It could not sail directly into the west wind toward Italy. The normal course straight across the Aegean was impossible because of the treacherous winter winds which were already blowing. It was a poor time to be at sea. Sailing was difficult after September and almost impossible by November. The cloudy weather made charting a course a challenge.

Slowly making their way against the unfavorable winds, they were able to reach a small bay called Fair Havens. It was now too late in the year to travel safely. The Fast, the Day of Atonement of the Jews in mid-October, had already passed. The ship owner and pilot felt they could wait for a favorable wind and reach the better harbor at Phoenix. A brief southerly wind gave them false confidence and they quickly weighed anchor and set full sail along the shores of Crete. Then the greatly feared northeaster hit them. It should have been only a few hours of sailing. A gale of hurricane force blasted off from the 7000 foot peaks of the island and caught the ship broadside, driving it into the open sea. Nothing could be done to control the vessel. Everything was soon in confusion and chaos.

For days the gale tossed the ship like a twig in the sea. Gear and cargo were thrown overboard in a frantic effort to stabilize the swamped ship. Terror pervaded the ship, gripping all on board. The captain is frozen with fear; the centurion is immobilized by anxiety.

Running out of control, taking on water, the vessel was in danger either of sinking in the open sea or being dashed to pieces on some rocky shore. They were exhausted from battling the storm, nauseated from sea sickness, weak from hunger and demoralized by fear.

The wind was merciless. The sun had not shown through the winter clouds for days and the stars were hidden by the black mists of the night. The ship tossed helplessly in the unknown sea. The tumult of the sea all around them matched the raging storms of fear within them.

All gave up hope. All except Paul. Paul had received assurance from an angel, “Do not be afraid, Paul, you must stand trial before Caesar.”

Paul exhorts them, “Keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost.” For Paul, Jesus was Lord, alive and powerful in the world. God was actively working in the present to carry out His redemptive purpose. The Lord who had loved him – no matter what – would work out His purpose in every circumstance – no matter what.

Nothing will deter God’s purpose for Paul – not raging sea or rampant fear. Purposelessness allows the storms of life to drive us to discouragement and despair. But once we become sure of why we are alive, we can take any storm. This is the power of purpose. Life is more than enduring and solving problems, it is grasping those problems as opportunities to accomplish God’s purpose for you.

Nearing midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, the sailors found they were moving into more shallow waters and approaching land.

In the ultimate act of confidence, Paul urges his companions to eat. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and began to eat. This repetition of the familiar fourfold table action by which the risen Lord was revealed is a source of encouragement for all on board. Paul’s act of breaking bread was not the Lord’s Supper but, nevertheless a powerful reminder of the many occasions and circumstances in which all believers had given thanks and broken bread in celebration of the Lord’s death and resurrection. Now the act was a powerful reminder of Christ’s victory over every evil power and His presence with them, even in the storm. Surely Theophilus’ church would make the connection between their Sunday meals together in whatever storm they were experiencing and this meal on a dark day at sea.

July 22

Luke 9.18-27

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

DID YOU NOTICE THE WORD DAILY? This is a great help for our understanding of what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

SOME THINK OF TIMES OF TRIBULATION AND TROUBLE as their cross. But who of us suffers and struggles with pain or loss every day of our lives?

SOME THINK OF THEIR CROSS AS A SELF-IMPOSED PRIVATION, avoiding certain foods, or marriage, or certain worldly enjoyments. But a self-imposed cross is not what Jesus is talking about.

THE CROSS THAT WE MUST BEAR DAILY is right there, in the text. “If anyone comes after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross. MY CROSS = DENYING MYSELF.

WANT TO KNOW HOW THE PHARISEES FELT about denying self? That was crazy talk! They emphasized the human will and choosing to follow God’s path. Do you know how crazy this would sound to them?

WANT TO KNOW HOW MOST 2007 AMERICANS FEEL about denying self? They laugh out loud! How can I – with so many options for life out there - deny that I am the source of my life? How can trusting Jesus give me LIFE?  

LIKE SMALL CHILDREN who want to do it myself. I want to do it by myself. I end up trusting in myself - my abilities, my accomplishing, my attaining, my acquiring, and my amusements to give me LIFE. Just look. We work hard so we can have enough money to buy lots of stuff and do lots of things.

PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE A BALANCING ACT.  “I am so busy.” “My job demands a lot of time.” “My kids are in sports.” “I need some time for myself.” “We will be gone this weekend to the Coast.”

Did you listen carefully? PEOPLE ARE ON A SEARCH for LIFE that is meaningful and enjoyable. They look and look. They wear themselves out. They try this and that and the other thing. Always searching, always seeking LIFE. And the secret to LIFE is so simple.

WE NEED A NEW BRAIN. We think we need to accomplish something, acquire something, amuse ourselves with something. All this striving is a searching for something is really an attempt to feel worthwhile and valuable. God gives me His Spirit. God gives me a new brain. God gives you a new perspective about LIFE.

DO YOU KNOW WHO TONY DUNGY is? OK. That was an easy one – he is coach of the Indianapolis Colts who won the Super Bowl last year. Now, do you know Tony Dungy’s favorite Bible passage? “WHAT GOOD IS IT FOR A MAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, and yet to lose or forfeit his very self?” Tony Dungy told his players that winning the Super Bowl was not their goal or destination in life. Their goal, he told them, was to find themselves, to live a life that was worthwhile and meaningful.

WHAT GIVES ME WORTHWHILE LIFE IS GOD’S LOVE. Nothing gives me a new brain and a new perspective like knowing, “God loves you more than anything.” Let God tell you of His love and how that changes the way you see yourself and the way you see life. If God can change the way we look at ourselves and the way we see life; that changes everything.