Roger's Postings

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Luke 13:31-35. Jesus weeps for his wayward people 28/2/10

(31) At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." {32} He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' {33} In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day--for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! {34} "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! {35} Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

As Jesus looks down over Adelaide and this country of ours today, one can almost see his reaction in light of this reading here. As he focuses on the many people who have let him down so badly: who have become so slack in their attitude toward the Christian faith; or who have openly turned their back on him; one can imagine him dropping to his knees broken-hearted. As he looks on each one of us here in turn, one can almost see another tear of sadness fall. “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

It is amazing to think that he should care so much: That he should be so concerned about our every wayward action and thought: Particularly in light of the fact that we are so unconcerned about our failures and hiccups. After all, they are no big deal, are they? I mean we still call ourselves Christians: We have been baptized and are members of the church; and we try to do the right thing - well most of the time anyway. So what if we miss going to church, or we don’t read our Bibles as often as we should, or we take our neighbour down in a deal; or other things that are no big deal; does it really matter? We certainly don’t think so!

Yet, here we find that Jesus is deeply concerned. He knows only too well what each of those little failures, stem from, and lead to. He knows what dangers are lurking around the corner for each one of us. Even if we are blind to the reality of the evil that is there in our lives; our Lord is not. He is concerned for each and every one of us here this morning; and he is mindful of all of those others in our community who are not here. All are important to him, and he doesn’t wish to lose any one of us. Yet the time comes when he has to leave us to our own destruction, if that is the way we are determined to go.

Now the picture of the hen and the chickens that Jesus uses here is so good to describe on the one hand how much Jesus cares for us; and on the other how stupid we can be. Just think for a while on this picture, and our place in it: Then particularly of Jesus and his concern for us.

Mother hen and the chickens are out scratching around in the yard. The hen is trying to teach her chicks how to find sustenance for life and to constantly be on the lookout for the ever-present dangers in life. Yet how often weren’t the chicks oblivious to those dangers. They would wander off from being too close to mother hen: first just a little way, then a bit more and a bit more. Happily playing around they had forgotten about their food and were no longer listening to their mother – they were too busy enjoying themselves.

All of a sudden mother hen kicks up such a fuss, racing over to the chicks, flapping her wings. In the process some of the chickens are sent flying. She saw the cat sneaking up and raced up to scare it off. As the hen tried to gather the chickens under her protective wings, they grumbled and complained that she had hurt them in her mad scramble.

Very soon, however they head off in another direction, thinking that all the dangers had passed. Even when the shadow of a hawk circling overhead came their way, they did not see the danger that was inherent. When the call went out from the hen and the other chooks around, they paid no great attention. Despite the hens efforts one chick falls prey to that menace from nowhere.

Now at that we would think the rest would take note and now be very careful indeed. But no, before long they are back to their old ways, too busy doing other things – getting on in the world – thinking only of themselves and their pleasures. They know better. They will be able to out run the hawk next time. They will be right.

Meanwhile mother hen continues to fly back and forth trying desperately to help and protect her chicks. Whenever danger was present, she would call them to her protective wings. She does everything she possibly can for her young, and it grieves her greatly to see her loved ones placing themselves in danger again and again. She is left heart-broken every time another of her chicks falls prey to the evils that were ever present.

As we think about that illustration, how often isn’t this just the case with Jesus and us: God is constantly trying to teach us what is good and right for us, and give us the help and good that we need; and also of the dangers that are ever- present around us. Yet so often, we find ourselves having moved away from our God and the help and protection that he wants for us.

We get caught up in life and the comings and goings around us, and so often don’t even realize that we have moved away from those things that he wants for us. After all it is only one Sunday that we missed in the beginning; but little by little we miss a month at a time. Or it is only ignoring or changing one little aspect of the Bible to suite ourselves, but before long, the whole focus of our attention in worship is on ourselves and not what God has to give us. Or there is any number of ways that we get caught up in the crowd, and move bit by bit away from where we should be.

Then when have moved far enough away, unbeknowns to us, the devil is lurking ready for the pounce. We don’t even realize the danger is there, or the shift in our thinking. Even when we see one of our Christian friends fall away and get caught out, we very quickly seem to forget. So we go our merry way thinking we will be alright: Look we still believe in God, we have got it all under control; she’ll be right mate. And that is danger time indeed for us. There evil is ready to swoop.

However thank God that Jesus is like the mother hen: doing all he can to protect us and gather us back under his wings. He hasn’t given up on us yet. He hasn’t given up on our community or country yet. He is patiently calling and calling us back: doing all he can to ward off the dangers that threaten to capture. But however, perhaps allowing us to be hurt from time to time and go through difficulties, so that we recognise the need for us to stay close to our Lord and saviour. Maybe there, our Lord is trying to protect us from a much greater harm – our soul’s destruction. But Jesus has told us again and again that he loves and cares so much for us. So much so, that he doesn’t want to lose any one of us. He knows the dangers; and he is constantly seeking to gather us back under his wings: back into the safety of his family, the church.

Here as we approach Easter, this picture of the hen and her chicks takes on a further step. Recently I was reminded of a story that I read about a hen and her chicks, some time ago. On this occasion a fire went through this farm yard and burnt through the chook shed. After the fire had gone the farmer wandered through his burnt out yard, and out in the middle of the yard he kicked a charred lump which was once one of his hens. To his surprise, under the charred remains there was this little chicken still alive: Saved under the protective wing of her mother.

True or not, I do not know. But certainly, we know that Jesus spread out his wings – his arms to save us. He gave up his life on the cross so that we might have forgiveness for our sin; for our failure to heed our Lord’s commands. He died so that we might have life, here and in heaven. He has rescued us from certain destruction, which was circling around us, because we have again and again wandered far from our Lord’s protective care. He raised his arms so that he might ward off, eternal death from us all.

As a result, let us this Lenten season show our gratitude for his not giving up on us. Let us heed his call to turn back to the safety of his protective care. Let us not be one of those that Jesus truly wept over because they ‘would not let him put his arms around them.’ Let us not cause him any further heartache by doing our own thing and wanting to go our own way, and by failing to listen to his calling and rejecting his word.

Instead, let us recognise that great love and concern that he has for us, and so stay close under his protective wings; and give him thanks and praise for all that he has done. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Matthew 27:22-26. Washing our hands of him??? Lent 2010

{22) "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" {23} "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" {24} When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" {25} All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" {26} Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

This Lenten season as we focus on various objects connected to the passion of our Lord we are drawn to reflect on how terribly impoverished we as a human race are as a result of the sin that is there in us all. But at the same time through these objects, we see the riches of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he extends to us. Here this evening we will be reflecting in Pilate’s washing of his hands in an attempt to excuse himself of any blame for the death of Jesus.

‘Washing our hands of this issue.’ It is interesting isn’t it the connotation that this phrase still now has, centuries later. Whether this is the first time it is used or not, here we have a symbolic act which we think will divert the blame away from ourselves. Pilate knows that Jesus is not guilty of the accusations that are hurled at him, but in order to be politically expedient he ‘washes his hands’ of the matter. He would sooner give in to the crowd than stand up for what is right and true.

What a coward we have here, washing his hands, rather than protect the innocent and good. Even though he had the position and power to do what is right, he found it far easier to give in to popular demand. He could easily have brought in the army and protected the ‘King of the Jews’ and quelled any uprising that may have resulted from freeing one who was not guilty of the charges brought against him. And from our perspective that would have meant that, Jesus Christ would have been able to continue on with his wondrous ministry of miracles and proclamation of a great philosophy of life. This great man’s life was cut short because Pilate, the one who could have protected him, chose instead to do what was popular and so washed his hands of any guilt being placed on himself.

But it is all fine for us here to look back with scorn on Pilate and his attitude and actions, but what about us and our attitudes and actions. Far too often, we also wash our hands of what we know is right and good. In order to go along with the crowd and to do what is popular we will give in to what we know is right and true. We will try to absolve ourselves of any guilt for doing so, by making all kinds of excuse and justifications.

Yes, even when it comes to our Lord Jesus, how many times do we wash our hands of our guilt for our failures to take him and what he has to say to us seriously? How many times don’t we also look for the miracle worker, philosopher and moral teacher, but want to ignore the Jesus on the cross and its implications for our lives. We try to wash our hands of the guilt of doing so by justifying our position with all kinds of reasoning and even the use of Scripture.

We too would sooner go along with the devil, the world and our sinful self, rather than be ridiculed for standing up for what is right and true. We would sooner be socially and politically expedient than take the difficulties and hardships that would come our way for standing with the Lord Jesus and the centrality of his death on the cross. We too deserve all the scorn that is hurled our way for washing our hands of the guilt of Jesus’ death.

But this is where this whole issue gets really interesting. When we shift our focus to the central figure in this whole event, what do we see in his attitude, actions and the outcome of what happens to him and through him. Here find something truly extraordinary, which shatters our whole human way of thinking, looking at things and of what results in that which is good and right.

When Pilate washes his hands of the blood of Jesus; when the Jews cry out for his crucifixion; and when we continually wash our hands of our guilt, we find that Jesus instead of turning his back on us and justifiably washing his hands of us, he willingly allows it all to be placed on him. He takes all of our rebellion, guilt and shame on himself, allowing himself to be killed: Punished for all that we are and do. He allows himself to be crucified for us and for our salvation. What amazing love we have lived out before our very eyes.

He could have walked away from all of that: from you and me. He could so easily have washed his hands of us, deciding that we just so hopeless and rebellious that he would give up on us altogether: We are just not worth his blood, sweat and tears. We have made ourselves enemies of him by being so selfish and self-centred that we would reject him to the point of death. But he doesn’t turn his back on us, but takes on himself what we deserve.

We all are so totally and wilfully rebellious and yet he continues on to do what is good for us. No washing of his hands of us and the blood that we deserve to be extended to us. Instead, he gives us his very blood which he shed on the cross for our sin: and through that blood and our connection with him, we have the assurance of the forgiveness of sins and thereby also of salvation and eternal life with our God. Nothing now need separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus.

This is absolutely extraordinary! This is surely humbling for us all. Surely now, we will fall on bended knee and submit ourselves to the love that he has extended to us. Surely now we will grasp onto him and the grace that he has extended to, for dear life; knowing that we are unworthy and that we can do nothing to help ourselves. Surely now we will not continue to wash our hands of him and his blood.

Yes, surely this Lenten season we will stop and reflect on how badly we so often turn our backs on this One who has done all of this for us; and we will then seek his forgiveness, help and strength to cling to him alone, as the One who is truly important in our lives. Surely, now we cannot help but seek to give up on ourselves and our selfish way of thinking, living and acting. We have One who has committed himself totally to us; so surely we hold to him as to that which is of utmost importance.

Yes, let us cling to all that Jesus has done for us in our baptisms; joining us to his death and resurrection; washing us clean and accepting us as his very own. Who gives us his body and blood to eat and drink so that we can not only know that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is ours, but that he seeks to now go with us and help us live this new and better life. Let humbly submit ourselves to his Word so that he can lead and guide us as to the way we should now live and act as his people, who have been rescued from hell and given eternal life with the Almighty God himself.

Now we can give up on ourselves and our selfish ways and do the very best that we can in holding up Jesus Christ and his death on the cross as that which is of utmost importance for our whole life. We can wash our hands of the ways of our rebellious world and allow this Jesus to be the be all and end all, of all that we are and do. For after all, to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.



Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Luke 4:1-13. Temptations of life 21/2/10

(1) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, {2} where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. {3} The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." {4} Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" {5} The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. {6} And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. {7} So if you worship me, it will all be yours." {8} Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" {9} The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. {10} For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; {11} they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" {12} Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" {13} When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Today we are confronted with the account of the temptations that Jesus underwent as he begins his ministry. Here in this message we find One in whom we can have hope; despite the fact that underlying Jesus temptations is a very sad tale of our human existence. If there was any pride in our human ability before we read this account, then surely there shouldn’t be after hearing it. However, at same time it does highlight the one hope we have in life: the one and only sure hope that we can have.

But here I wonder how many want to really hear and know this whole point that God wants us gain from this. Most of us I am sure want our pride left in tact; and we merely want to hear that which will make us feel good and allow us to go on living the way we want: then whenever things don’t work out too well we want to be able to complain to, and blame God and others for our troubles. Not too many at all, I am sure, want to face this reality: the truth of our situation. And as a result, we are denying ourselves of the one source of hope and peace that is extended to us.

Yet again, though, we need to take this message seriously, so that we can truly know him who gives this peace, contentment and eternal happiness. So let us again have a look at this text that we have before us this morning.

Here we have Jesus at the very beginning of his ministry here on earth, and the Spirit sends him out into the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil. In other words to undergo a short course to see if he can stand up against the temptations that you and I face in our daily lives: To see if he is capable of carry out the ministry that has been set before him, and to see if he can be of any help to us. Where we have failed again and again, Jesus came to show that he is the answer for us. We see this unfold us we move on.

Well, the first real test comes after he has been out there for some time and has had nothing to eat. So by our standards he would have been extremely hungry. Remember he was fully human as we are. Now it is here that the devil seeks to get him. After all, he can get to us much easier than that: We only need to go without food for a day and we start doing strange things. We grumble if we don’t get the food that we want, far less if we have to go without. On top of that, we place so much store on having enough put away for a rainy day, and all of our effort is made in order to gain and have more than ample. And often we do it to the detriment of nearly everything else in life: the church and other things come second – a poor second. Here we lie and cheat – twist and turn things to justify ourselves.

If we are honest with ourselves we would have to say that we all fall into this category to a greater or lesser degree - every one of us. The physical aspect of life is too often the be all and end all for us; and we will do almost anything – give into any temptation - in order to satisfy what we think we need or are told we need. The devil can get to us here almost every time.

So here, the devil says to Jesus in his severe hunger, ‘merely “turn this stone into a loaf of bread.” ‘After all if you are going to be able to do God’s work here on earth you need to keep up your strength. What good are you going to be to anyone if you starve to death? Anyway, it is no big deal. It is only a loaf of bread; and no one else will know.

But Jesus knows very well from Scripture, that we are “not to live on bread alone’. We need much more for life than that; and to give up all the rest for the sake of a loaf of bread would be disastrous. To give into the devil on one little point is to give in totally.

So the devil then takes him and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and all peoples, and then tells Jesus that he can have all power and authority over them, he only needs to do one little thing – bow down to Satan. No big deal – one little act, but he then can have all power over all the people.

Boy, would we be in there like a shot! Too often, we only need a hint of power over someone and we will do anything to get it – so what if we have to bend a little here and there. After all, if we can have a little power and authority over others, well of course we will use it for their good. And imagine if we could have power over the whole world, surely, we could bring about peace and harmony; and look, we could even make them all Christians.

However, history has shown time and again, that a little power corrupts in small ways – great power greatly. Anyway, as much as we often think that we have the answers, we, in no way, know what is truly good and right for everyone.

Now we all again to a greater or lesser degree fall to this temptation if the opportunity arises to have power over others; even if it means giving way to what we know is not quite right.

Jesus however, again knows what God has to say to us in this regard, and so says to the devil; “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” The Almighty God himself is the One who is all important; and to hold anyone or anything else up against him, even in a small way, is just not on. There again is what is important – there is what is needed.

So the next time the devil takes Jesus to the temple at Jerusalem, where the people are coming and going to church. Here he seeks to tempt Jesus to jump from the highest point so that God can save him miraculously, and then all people will then look up to Jesus and he will really get the crowds in.

Here again, don’t we fall for this one time and time again. We look for God to provide us with something special so that we can look great. We go out on a limb and put ourselves in danger, so that we can achieve something or other, usually so that we might be looked up to. Then as we do, we hope to God that he will take care of us; and if he doesn’t, then again we grizzle, complain and get angry; it is all his fault that it didn’t work out. And there are many other ways that we fall for this temptation. As we do, we try to justify our thinking, with the thought that it will all enable me to be a better person and to perhaps be able to help or have a good influence over others.

Jesus however knowing his Bible, simply states, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” He again simply places himself in submission to God and what he has to say; instead of listening to the devils lies and deceptions: instead of succumbing to his own desires and wishes. As he simply placed himself under God’s Word the devil was unable to lead him into temptation.

Now where does this leave us? Certainly when we look to ourselves, we see that we are obviously pretty foolish, stupid, gullible, and I could go on. We fall a long way short of what God expects of us. None of us can hold our heads up – none of us. When we look to ourselves and our ability to do what is right, we are in big trouble. We don’t come within coo-wee of measuring up. There is no hope. We deserve nothing but Hell.

But again, that is the point of this reading. Yes to show the temptations that we so easily fall into and our failure to even come close to how God expects us to live and be. But far more importantly, to show us One who has – the only one who has. So we now can have hope in the midst of our hopelessness. But hope not in ourselves – not in our abilities and achievements.

No, our hope is in this One who was tempted in every way as we are, but was without sin. Where we fall, he did not succumb: Even when he faced his final and greatest temptation from Satan in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, he did not let his Father down – or us. There he faced God’s punishment for all the sin in the world, even though he himself had done nothing wrong: He even there, did not succumb to the easy way out; but gave himself for us – so that we might be forgiven our sin; our failures; and assured of eternal life in heaven. So now we really do have hope – we do have what we really need and that which is important. But it is not in and from ourselves – but it is in and from the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

So let us this Lenten season put our selfish pride to death; recognising our weakness and failure to stand up to the many temptations that come our way: Acknowledging our inability to be the people that God would have us be. Then as a result, allow God’s Spirit to lead us to total reliance on Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that he brings: So placing our complete confidence and trust in him: For he is our only hope – our only source of peace, happiness and eternal life. So again to the Lord Jesus Christ alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Joel 2:1-2; 12-17. Return to the Lord your God 17/2/10

(1) Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-- {2} a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. {12} 'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' {13} Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. {14} Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. {15} Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. {16} Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. {17} Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, 'Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?''

As we begin this Lenten season, God through the prophet Joel sends out the call to us, to wake up: to sound the alarm: we are facing a very serious situation: Which on the face of it has dire consequences. The day of the Lord is coming; and in fact, we are reminded that it is close at hand; and that most people are not ready or prepared for it. So it is going to be a day of darkness and gloom: a day of clouds and darkness. A day of destruction as has never been seen before: A day when many people will be wiped out - caste into Hell. So wake up - sound the alarm bells – because that day is near at hand.
But, ho hum - everybody goes back to sleep: they hit the snooze alarm. What's the big deal! Who cares? I have got other things to do and think about. I'm busy and all the rest.

No, wake up! Wake up! This is God - the Lord's – call. This is important stuff. It is not some media beat up or some panic merchant talking about some insignificant issue. This is God Almighty himself telling us to wake up – to sound the alarm bells. There is not much time left and unless there is an urgent change of heart, the destruction that will take place will be unprecedented. Remember, here the Lord himself is trying stir us into action: to wake us up from our apathy and make us aware of the seriousness of the situation of life that we are facing and the destruction that will befall us if there is no change of heart. In a sense, he is saying that here is a last chance to avert this impending doom.
Even now, he says - even now - return to me: return to me with all your heart; with fasting and weeping and mourning. Please; please, come back: Take this message and me seriously, and do it recognising the seriousness of the issue, and the harm and the devastation that you are bringing on yourselves. Return to me; he says. Come back! Come back now, before it is too late.

So this Lenten season rend your hearts and not your garments. Be fair dinkum about God and the Christian life. Now is not the time for outward show. It is not simply a matter of church attendance, finances, and a few good deeds. We need to recognise that at the core of our being there is a serious problem: Our hearts are not where they should be; they are focussed inwards and not upwards, and so there is a serious need for a change for the better. Tear your heart open, because it is a matter that is too grave and too important. Remember this is a life and death issue, and we are facing death and destruction if we do not take God and his Word seriously: and we deserve nothing less if that be the case.

Let us all heed the call here to return to the Lord our God, for he is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does relent from sending calamity, and yes, he wants to help us and save us. His love for us is such that does not want to give us a hard time or destroy us. Even though we don't deserve it, he still cares about us and wants better for us. There is still hope.



Look God has changed his mind before; on a number of occasions. Think of Jonah and the people of Nineveh for instance. When they realized what was about to happen to them because of their waywardness, they repented: they sincerely turned their backs on their former ways, with great sorrow. And we hear that God did not bring the calamity on them that he had promised. So let us return to Lord our God, while we still have an opportunity: who knows, he may turn and have pity on us and leave behind a blessing, so that we can again give thanks to our God.

Let us gather together everyone, so that we can call on the Lord our God to spare us: To call on him so that he does not wipe us out, and give further evidence for others to ridicule Christianity, and continue to say that obviously this God of ours is not for real. Look what he has done to us. No, let us call on him to help us; to save us; and make us the people that he wants us to be again: Imploring him to restore us again as his people: as people who look to him as their Lord and saviour.

This Lenten season let us heed our Lord's message here. Let the alarm bells ring to stir us out of our complacency, and to remind us again that we cannot take the Lord our God for granted and ignore the fact that his day of judgement is coming; soon. Then he will deal with those who continue to place their trust in themselves or elsewhere other than the Lord Jesus Christ; as he must, once and for all.

So let us hear his call to return to him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; cut to the heart because of our sins; sorrowful for our waywardness; yet knowing that he is a gracious and compassionate God who loves us immensely: so much so in fact that he sent own Son into our world to take that punishment we deserve for our sin, on himself: So that we can have forgiveness and the assurance of salvation.
Knowing that he has died and risen again for our forgiveness and salvation, let us return to him with confidence. Yes deeply aware and sorrowful for our waywardness and sin, which brought about Jesus’ death on the cross, but with that assurance that he is slow to anger and abounding in his steadfast love toward us.


Then may we again confidently, give our gracious God thanks and praise for all of his goodness, and that we then also go forward with this message that others may look and say, Yes, here is their God also. A holy and awesome God: one who is above all and over all: gracious and compassionate. Here is that One who is truly the only real God there is. Yes, may we all take him seriously and give our all to him.
May God’s Holy Spirit be with us all this Lenten season, and draw us all back into his loving fellowship, so that the day of the Lord may be a day of rejoicing for us his people. God be with you all this Lenten season. AMEN.


Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Friday, February 12, 2010

Deuteronomy 26:1-11. Gifts from God. 14/2/10

(1) When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, {2} take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name {3} and say to the priest in office at the time, "I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our forefathers to give us." {4} The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. {5} Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. {6} But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labour. {7} Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. {8} So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. {9} He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; {10} and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. {11} And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

Today we are here to give thanks to God for his many gifts and blessings that he has provided for us. As we look around us, we can see that we have so much to be thankful for: we have been given so much; and by and large we are all doing very well. But the question is; are we all that appreciative of what we have: are we all that happy even though we are so richly blessed? And generally, I think we would have to say, “I think not.” We, in our present day and age have been trapped into thinking we could have a bit more – a bit better – a bit flashier – a bit easier. And on top of that, we have fallen for the idea that we have worked for what we have – we deserve what we’ve got and what we want: it is my right to have it all and more: it is me and my happiness that is paramount. With that as our thinking, we have become not all that thankful or appreciative for our many blessings; but in fact the opposite: and even though we have so much, we are unhappy because we want more; we struggle and strive because we think we have to have the extras, and our whole focus is turned in on ourselves, and it continues to be a real battle.
We need to recognise that our culture today breeds this idolatry. It’s not that we carve idols and hide them in our cupboards. The idolatry of greed is much more subtle, but just as sinister. It would have us believe that we are nobodies without the right homes, clothes, cars, or whatever. Bit by bit we have become convinced that genuine happiness can only be found in these things, rather than in the God who gives these things to us. It is time we call that what it is – a terrible lie and false worship of a false God. Clearly, it is not the truth of God, and the lie comes straight from the devil.

That, however, is not the way it was ever intended to be for us, or needs to be. Here we are reminded of the best understanding we can have, with regard to all that we have, and which enables us to have a whole different attitude toward what we have and want; and which enables us to have a truly thankful heart, and be content in life, no matter what our situation.

Now the first thing that strikes us in this passage is; that it is God who is in control of life: he is the giver of all the gifts that we receive and have. Here it is God who gives the land to the people of Israel and us today: It is he who makes it grow and produce and for the people to prosper: It is he who allows nations to rise and fall: It is he who hears the cry of the oppressed and brings down the oppressors: It is he who allowed each of us to be in the situation that we are, and enabled us to have what we have today. All of this is a gift from God. All that we have and all that we are, that is good, is from the hand of the Lord Almighty himself. And on top of that, it is he who through Jesus and his life, death and resurrection, makes us something when we are nothing: he gives us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. So all we need to do, is trust him: look to him and believe in him: understand and acknowledge that he alone is where it is all at, and that he first and foremost is the one who is most important, and not us and our wants and desires.

It is here in this reading that we are reminded to remember this throughout our lives, and the lives of our children and grandchildren: to recognise and acknowledge that the Lord Almighty is central; he is the real essence of life, happiness and all the rest; he is in control and brings good to where it is needed; he takes care of the great and small things of life.
Yes, sure he allows difficulties to come our way from time to time. We know what happens when everything goes well for us and we get our own way: What happened to Israel when they prospered? They quickly forgot God and the things that are important. But through the troubles and hardships of life he seeks to draw us and others back closer to himself: There he reminds us that we don’t have to try to do it all on our own; or think that we know where it is all at; or that we always have to have the latest and the greatest to be somebody. He there in our troubles reminds us that, it is because of our sinfulness and selfishness that we bring much of this on ourselves, and that we don’t deserve have a thing, far less think that we have a right to it; but to remember that all the good gifts that we have are from God himself and are extended to us by his grace, despite us. And that we can then look back and trust that in our baptism God accepted us as his very own; and that he will never leave us or forsake us, and assures us of eternal life with himself.

So with our lives under his control; selfish and sinful though we are, we have nothing to fear or to complain about. When he promises to care for us more than the sparrows and lilies of the field; and that time and again we have seen through history that he has done just that, for the people of Israel, others and we ourselves, we see that there is no need for us to fret and worry. Then particularly, as we know that he has taken care of the most important aspects of our life, and that in Jesus we have the bread of life: we have with us, he who gives all that is really necessary; forgiveness of sins, life and salvation: and that with the Lord Jesus there in our lives, we can know that everything will work out for good – even if in a worldly sense it does not seem so. That being the case, we can go forward confidently and positively: we are able to find contentment and joy in every task – every moment.

However, this peace and enjoyment of life comes not just as we recognise God has all things under his control and that he is the giver of all good gifts; but also as we turn away from our selfish, self-interest and give thanks to him as the giver of all. If he is the one who is in control, surely then our first thoughts and focus will shift to him – we will remember him when we receive some good: we will give back to him the first fruits of what he has given, and not just the left-overs; and we will do it with thanks in hearts. We will share what he has given us – with God and those around us. Then we will begin to know and experience the joy and peace that we so desperately seek; and we will find the security and fulfilment that we long for.

But so often, it is here in this area that we have a problem. We are a little reluctant to give back to God what he has given us: because, ‘well, we might not have enough to buy our new house, car, or TV.’ Yes, we are willing to admit that has blessed us in the past; but we are not so good at trusting him when it comes to the future; well not to our liking anyway. So we prefer to be selfish – reasoning after all – that God has given it to us, so surely he wants us to use it and enjoy it. Thereby we deny ourselves any chance of enjoying what God has given us, no matter whether it be much or little.

However, as we give back to God, and others, out of thankfulness for what he has given us, then we will begin to see and experience the joy of being at one with God and our fellow human-beings. As we acknowledge that he is the giver of all the gifts that we have, then we will begin to experience the fulfilment that we desire from all that we have and receive. As we look past ourselves, our rights and our desires to God himself, then we start to share the joy with God that comes from helping the weak, lonely and lost, to know of the love and salvation that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then true blessing will abound throughout, and glory will go to where it belongs, and all will be well.

That being the case, let us continually keep in mind that all our good gifts are from the Lord God himself. Let us look to him and give him all the credit all the way along; thanking him for all that he has, is and will do for us; recognising his over-all rule and authority in what is happening in our lives – even when it may not always be as we would think it should be – or we would like it to be. Even there let us trust that because he is God Almighty, he knows and wants what is good. Then as we go along through life, may we regularly bring to him the first- fruits of all his goodness, and share them with him and each others; so that all may rejoice in all the good things that God has given us. For to him alone belongs all glory and praise for all of his goodness, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Luke 5:1-11. The call of discipleship 7/2/10

(1) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, {2} he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. {3} He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. {4} When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." {5} Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." {6} When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. {7} So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. {8} When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" {9} For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, {10} and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." {11} So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Here this morning we have a record of Jesus’ call of discipleship to Simon Peter, James and John; and certainly there are some interesting things that we can learn about our call to follow Jesus from this as well. I wonder how many of us here feel a bit like Peter when we hear that we are to go out and witness and be God's people in the community. We might feel as though we have toiled long and hard with little or no results, and that things are little better than when we started. So we are tempted to think that it is all a bit too much - almost a waste of time. The fish out there are just not interested.

So when it comes to getting out there and doing what God wants; come on - be reasonable – what’s the point. But then, because we know that this is what God wants of us, we feel as though we need to give it a go: because after all we are Christians and that is what we are supposed to do. But we don't feel as though we are really going to achieve much at all. So with that often being our thinking, let us listen again to what happens to Peter.

Jesus comes preaching and teaching around the countryside, and this day he comes to the area where Peter, James and John were fishing. On the edge of the lake there is a crowd of people pushing up to hear Jesus and so he gets into Peters boat and they push out just a little way so that Jesus can preach and teach to the crowd of people.

Now when Jesus finished speaking he asks Peter and his mates to take him out fishing: to go out into the deep water and let down their nets for a catch of fish. But Peters responds to this request with; ‘Come on, look, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing – the fish are just not biting. And look, we are tired. Anyway now it is daytime, and every fisherman surely knows that we can't catch anything much now.’ Never-the-less he goes along with Jesus’ request and they go out and drops their nets in the deep water, and lo and behold they catch heaps of fish. So many in fact that they have to call in their partners with their boats, and even then, they all just about sink. Amazing! Unbelievable!

It is here then that we are given an insight into the most significant aspect of this whole event. Peter falls on his knees. No jumping up and down for joy now that his ship had finally come in. He has just made his fortune as a fisherman. No wanting to run around skiting about his good fortune: his obvious goodness because God has blessed him with this catch of fish. No, he falls on his knees.

He recognises his sinfulness and unworthiness. This has to be God at work - right in front them, and who is he but an untrusting, no-good, ordinary person; a simple fisherman; one who thinks he knows his own business, fishing - but God turns everything upside down. This is too much for him – he is not worthy of this – he is not good enough for God to be present in his midst. ‘Get away from me God for I am a sinful man.’

With that response, Jesus tells Peter, James and John that he has got important work for them to do: Instead of catching fish, they are now to catch men: They are now to follow him and do his work: and they do – they pull their boats up on the beach, leave behind their newly made fortune, and follow Jesus. Their lives were never again the same, despite the fact that they were simple, ordinary, sinful human beings; totally unworthy and unqualified for what God had in mind for them. As a result, the Good News of Jesus has spread across the world for all to know.

Therein we here today find a number of lessons for us as God’s people. Here we have a message to humble us and at the same time encourage us as we go forward to be the people God would have us to be.

However, up to this point, when Jesus speaks and calls us to a task, have we listened and trusted God, or do we look to and follow our human thinking and the ways of the world? Do we want to change God’s Word to suit the prevailing thinking that is going on around us? Do we think; I can't speak - we can't do it - we have tried all night and nothing? The traditional way of being church is no longer successful, so we need to give up on it and use modern human strategies.

Yes, from the human perspective doing God’s work, is like fishing when we know the fish cannot be caught. Humanly speaking and under our human strength we cannot achieve what God wants and cannot achieve what is expected. When we look at this from our perspective it just doesn’t seem possible. And even when we do outwardly achieve some sort of results, we need to be careful that it has not been done for the wrong reasons, which means that the results will not be lasting. Ministry and mission in this day and age, is a lost cause from a human perspective.

However, we have our Lord's direction to head out into deep water and get on with the job: to faithfully get on with the task, using the means that he has given us; his Word and the Sacraments. Here we have the most unlikely means and the least attractive bait possible. In fact, it is foolish to our human minds. The message of a man dying in cross, for us and our stupidity: Then rising again from the dead; how unrealistic. Then we have Baptism where a person, a child in many case, is washed clean from their sin and adopted into God’s family. To top it off, we are given Jesus’ flesh and blood to eat and drink to sustain us. This would seem to be utterly ridiculous and hopeless.

Yet it is here that we suddenly see surprising results. When we look at ourselves, and the rest of humanity as well, we can see that we have gotten ourselves into really deep water indeed. Through our rebellion against God and the subsequent selfishness and disobedience, we find that we are in big trouble. In our relationships with one another, we are in a mess. In our inner selves, there is no peace and contentment. And most importantly in our relationship with God, we are lost and condemned.

However, it is here that God has stepped in and done the most surprising thing of all. He produced the real miracle that turns life upside down for us all. He forgave us for Jesus sake. He made it possible for us to be a part of God's family by punishing his own Son on the cross and then he raised him from the dead again, so that we can know that there is life beyond death for us all in heaven. So that we can be sure that it is for each one of us individually, he called us to be baptised so that we can be washed clean and welcomed into God’s family. And he gave us Holy Communion so that we can regularly be reassured that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is ours. Now that is a huge catch for us! There we have the assurance of an eternal inheritance that is beyond measure. There we have that which is utterly impossible for us to achieve on our own. Every other miracle, achievement, good happening, riches or feelings are nothing by comparison.

Now what is our reaction to this great miracle? Surely, it leaves us in awe as to how great our God is? Here is something that is absolutely mind-blowing; God loves us –you and me - so much, that he gave his one and only Son into death so that we might have eternal life with him. He has rescued us from Hell and wants us to be his very own. He comes to us, in order to give us life and salvation and much more, even though we don’t deserve it. Incredible! Absolutely incredible!

But again look at me and you; poor, miserable, insignificant, no good sinners. We have no right to be near God's presence. We have no right that he should do such a thing for us; and yet he does. He is just too awesome - too special - too great. Get away from me God - I have no right - no good – I don't deserve to have this wonderful Good News bestowed on me. And look even now I cannot live up to your expectations. I can't be the person you want me to be. Go - leave me be – I am sinful and far from perfect - go away from me.

But our Lord says to us, ‘Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ He knows our weaknesses, frailty and failings, and yet he still wants to work with us and through us. Despite us, he still wants to reach out to others through us: through our fumbling work; our poor and weak efforts; our mistakes; He wants others to know of his love for them. And through us he wants to tell them of his Son Jesus and what he has done for us all: how his death on the cross and resurrection has brought forgiveness, life and salvation to us all. He wants us to be baptised, and to baptise, so that he might cleanse us and incorporate us into his family. He wants us to eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood so that we might be reassured again and again that he did die for us and for our forgiveness. He wants a huge catch, so that we all can share in his glory. So yes, he says to me and to you; “Come follow me. Come follow our Lord Jesus Christ. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish