Reading for the next few days:
Wednesday, October 30: Luke 14 – 16

Within our congregation, we follow the Revised Common Lectionary as our guide for our Sunday morning readings. Most mainline congregations follow the RCL, so whether or not you are attending First Lutheran in Tiffin, Ohio or some other Lutheran church anywhere in the US (or even around the world) you are likely to hear the same readings share from the pulpit. For those of you who don’t know the RCL well, it is a three year cycle with one year desiganted for Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with readings from the Gospel of John interweaved intbeween.

This year is “Year C” or the “Year of Luke.” That being said, since the first of September we have been working our way through Luke 14 – 16 one parable at a time, for the past eight weeks. As I sat down to reflect on these particular readings I could recall little tidbits on each parable as I preached the Gospel over the past two months. I pondered what to share that might be moving and through provoking for you. I mean how can you reflect on all of these great parables in one fell swoop? I’d be writing a small book! Well, rather than do that, I’d like to reflect on one in particular . . . The Shrewd Manager.

“There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly;
(Luke 16:1-8a)

One of the sources that I rely on for my Sermon prep is a pod cast from Pulpitfiction.com. On their podcast for Sept 22, Rob and Eric proposed an interesting title change. What if instead of “The Shrewd Manager” this became “The Manager who Changed Sides”? Think about that one for a minute. I think it works, and fits the story well.

In the parable, the manager “changes sides” to care for and do honest business with those who owed his master. He gave up his commission to benefit those he was charged with managing. His master didn’t lose out. He did. In the end, we can assume he was rewarded, although we don’t see/hear that part of the story. Like the manager, Jesus changed sides for us. Jesus changed sides for us, leaving the throne of glory to walk this earth, and endure the cross. Jesus changed sides for us, by becoming the sacrifice for our sins rather than leaving the cost and weight of sin for us to bear on our own. Jesus changed sides for us, so that we see God as gracious, compassionate, and loving, over and above being spiteful, vengeful, full of anger and wrath. Jesus was born to be our divine manager, to change sides for all of us, so that we might receive the reward of new and everlasting life.

Like all parables, they are left open enough to challenge our thoughts. Perhaps this helped to challenge you? Perhaps it stirs you enough to ask whose side are you on? What benefit, or difference do that make to someone else? How might you change sides to give glory to God and to help make this place a bit more like the Kingdom God intended?

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Reading for the next few days:
Thursday, October 31: Luke 17 – 18
Friday, November 1: Luke 19 – 20
Saturday, November 2: Luke 21 – 22

Reading for:
Tuesday, October 29: Luke 12 – 13

I used to be a worrier. Maybe I still am and just don’t want to admit it. Maybe I still am and have learned to control it. Either way, I used to be a worrier. Most of us are, or have been, so I don’t feel alone.

I can say, “used to be” because Sunday mornings used to make me sick. Literally. I was so consumed with anxiety and worry that my Sunday morning routine would typically include several trips to ‘pray to the porcelain goddess’ if you know what I mean. I’d eat and it wouldn’t stick. My wife always joked that she was going to get me a “Golden Bucket” to hide in the pulpit, ‘just in case.’ Thankfully it never came to that, usually once I was out the door, I was good. Thankfully, somewhere in the past 5 years, I’ve grown out of that, or I just got confident enough to make it thought the morning without that extra prayer routine. Either way, somewhere in the past few years, I was able to set those worries aside. Although I’d be fooling you if I told you I don’t get nervous. After all, it should be intimating (and a joy) to do God’s work!

As I think of my own nervous tendacies, the fingernails that I used to bite as a kid, and the sleepless nights I still experience as an adult, Jesus’ words speak to me, just as much as they probalby speak to you . . .

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12:22-31

Those are rich, rich words. Simple enough to read. Complex enough to challenge ourselves to “let go and let God.” I recall one of my early sermons, maybe even before seminary that preached on this text. Can’t recall what I said and lost the notes long ago, but I guarantee I was still worried, and “praying to the porcelain goddess.” Could I live my my message? Could I live by Jesus’ words. Well I thought I would try. What I remember most about that particular message was my mother-in-law. She is a worrier without a doubt. She didn’t know how anyone could heed these words. She even challenged me on them with further conversation. Again, don’t remember what I said, but like any son-in-law/mother-in-law relationship, I’m sure it added a bit more tension to our relationship.

In the end, still we live with challenge to set our worries aside. To trust, remember, believe, and know that God has got this, what every your “this” is. God has it completely under control.

So for, all of you worriers out there (me included) . . . let go, and let God!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Reading for the next few days:
Wednesday, October 30: Luke 14 – 16
Thursday, October 31: Luke 17 – 18
Friday, November 1: Luke 19 – 20

Luke has a unique blessing for it is the only Gospel with a sequel. That’s right, Luke wrote two books. Don’t believe me turn to the first few verse of Luke:

³I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Luke 1:3-4

Then turn to the Book of Acts:

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ²until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts 1:1-2

How about that! We have a sequel, and we don’t have to wait 2 years for the movie to come out and finish the story. We do have a few more weeks to wait however before we are reading Acts. But who is Theophilus? Scholars tend to follow these four thoughts. 1) A Jew from Alexandria. 2) A highly regarded Roman Official. 3) Paul’s lawyer during his trial in Rome. 4) High priest of the temple in Jerusalem from 37 – 41. It could be any one of these individuals, or an honorary title as defined in Greek “Friend in God.”

Besides having a sequel, there are other great things to keep in mind when reading Luke. If we keep in mind the Two Source Hyphothesis, then Luke relied on Mark, his own source material, and Q (a shared source between Matthew and Luke) Of the 1151 verses in Luke, approximately 300 come from Mark, 200 are shared between Luke and Matthew, and the remaining come from his own material. Some of these unique stories include:

• The prologue and the infancy stories of John the Baptist and Jesus
• Several Miracles:
  • Miraculous Catch (5:1-11)
  • Widow of Nain (7:11-17)
  • Crippled Woman (13:10-17)
  • Man with Dropsy (14:1-6)
  • Ten Lepers (17:11-19)
• Several Parables: (including but not limited to)
  • Good Samaritan
  • Friend at Midnight
  • Rich Fool
  • Barren Fig Tree
  • Prodigal Son
  • Unjust steward
  • Rich Man and Lazarus
  • Unjust judge
• And some unique stories:
  • Martha and Mary (10:38-42)
  • Zacchaeus (19:1-10)
  • Walk to Emmaus (24:13-27)
  • The Ascension (24:50-53)

In that list alone, there is plenty of good stuff to lighten our hearts as we walk with Christ to the Cross. However, unlike Mark, it doesn’t take the cross to reveal Jesus’ true identity. Think back to the angels greeting the Shepherds . . . who is born? The “Savior”! From the beginning, we encounter the one who has come to bring salvation to all people.

That places us just about back on schedule, and reading a few chapters a night we should be pretty close to this:

Reading for the next few days:
Tuesday, October 29: Luke 12 – 13
Wednesday, October 30: Luke 14 – 16
Thursday, October 31: Luke 17 – 18

God’s Blessings,
Pastor Bailey

Many thanks again to our friends over at thebibleproject.com and for their creative and in-depth video presentations. As we have wrapped up our readings in Mark and are working our way through Luke, here are their videos to help us in our daily reflection:

God’s Blessings,
Pastor Bailey

Greetings Friends and Faithful Year of Scripture Readers!

So, I took a week of vacation, and truly enjoyed some me time. It was probably the first time in 17 years of ministry that I took a week just for me. It was wonderful! I’d recommend it, and my wife gives thanks that I was able to check several things off the “honey do list” as well.

Now that my little week of me time was two weeks away, I used last week to get caught up and I kept saying, “I need to get back to my blog.” Sorry I dragged my feet. I kept thinking it, just never sat down to pound out some thoughts. Anyways . . . on to Mark!

If we’ve been following along, we should have read Mark two chapters at a time, beginning October 15 through October 22. If not, its a relatively quick read especially when compared to the other three Gospels. As you read, here are some things you might have noticed:

• Mark’s Gospel is short, there is a sense of urgency, and it ends abruptly.
• To highlight that, Mark uses the word “immediately” 17 times. Compare this to Matthew which uses the same word 6 times, Luke 13, and John 5.
• The ending it is a mystery in and of itself. Did anyone see Jesus? Did the women say anything to anyone? Someone must have, otherwise the story wouldn’t have been shared.
• Everything is a secret. The Disciples don’t understand who Jesus is (in fact they are pretty dense in Mark). Miracles are asked to be kept a secret, and parable are Jesus preferred form of teaching, which are secretive in their own way.
• The only ones who seem to understand the truth are the demons. They always recognize Jesus for who he is, “I know who you are, the holy one of God.” they proclaim. Peter might get it as he proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, but then he denies Jesus in nearly the same breath. It’s not until the end, that the centurion proclaims, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

That proclamation, proves to be the heart of the Gospel, for in Mark the cross reveals to all the world that Jesus is God’s Son. Living in the light of that truth we give thanks that the crucified and risen one give his live to reveal God’s love for you and me.

And a side, ps . . . If Jesus is patient enough to stay with the disciples as portrayed in Mark, then there is hope for you and me!!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for:
Tuesday, October 8: Matthew 15 – 17
Wednesday, October 9: Matthew 18 – 19
Thursday, October 10: Matthew 20 – 21
Friday, October 11: Matthew 22 – 23

First off my apologies. I’ve gotten behind on posting my thoughts and reflections. Part of that is the realization that for every two chapters we read, there are easily ten weeks of Sunday sermons . . . how do you condense that down to just a few hundred words for a blog?

Another part of that is that I’ve realized I’m exhausted mentally, physically, and (dare I say) spiritually. This past month has been a marathon for me. A wedding every weekend, two big funerals, teaching 5 college level lay leadership classes on the New Testament and taking in the rather challenging texts that the past few Sundays have presented for us. Folks, I’m beat! Right now, I stare at the screen as if to say “I’ve got nothing left to say.”

The good news here is that I hear the message my “self” is telling me, and it’s time for a week off. Just me at home with little to do. In 17 years of ministry, I’m not sure that I’ve ever taken a week like that before, but its time. So . . . connecting all the dots for you . . . I’m going to blog off for a while and get back to you in a week or so, where hopefully I’ll feel restored, refreshed, and ready to share some great insight on Mark and Luke.

Until then, I hope you keep reading. The dates and assigned readings are listed below. If you keep up on your readings, I will keep up with that as well.

Before I close for now, two more things. One:) Take a moment to check in with our friends from thebibleproject.com and see their reflections on Matthew. Two:) It’s “Pastor Appreciation Month” be sure to thank your pastor for all they do. A card, note, gift card to dinner out, some token of appreciation is always welcome. Oh, and don’t for get the Music Directors and everyone else who “ministers” to you as well.

Peace!
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Saturday, October 12: Matthew 24 – 25
Sunday, October 13: Matthew 26
Monday, October 14: Matthew 27 – 28
Tuesday, October 15: Mark 1 – 3
Wednesday, October 16: Mark 4 – 5
Thursday, October 17: Mark 6 – 7
Friday, October 18: Mark 8 – 9
Saturday, October 19: Mark 10 – 11
Sunday, October 20: Mark 12 – 13
Monday, October 21: Mark 14
Tuesday, October 22: Mark, 15 – 16

Readings for the next few days:
Monday, October 7: Matthew 13 – 14

Growing up on the shores of Lake Erie, I have always had a fascination with water. The soft voice of the rolling wave. The hush of the breeze. The roar of an angry storm, and the devastation and havoc it can leave behind. It is all impressive and humbling.

Because Lake Erie is so shallow (did you know it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, and the only one who’s bottom is above sea level?) a little bit of wind can whip up a pretty big story in just a few short hours. Working on a ferry boat service in college, I can attest how ugly some of those were and how quick they came. No matter how good your “sea legs” some of them you still feel and will indeed make you a bit “green”

Even though most of the disciples were seasoned fishermem, they find themselves in a similar situation. The winds whip, the water roars, and they fear for their lives. To make matters worse, a ghost appears on the not so distant horizon. “It is the Lord!” Then you have to love Peter, “prove it” he essentially says, let me walk to you on the water. Here is the thing to remember, IT WORKS! Peter actually does walk on water. For a little bit anyways. As soon as he takes his eyes off of Christ, what happens? He sinks.

I found this great image to share, perhaps of Peter’s vantage point as he is sinking ever so quickly . . .

I found this pretty impressive. Just as Peter was pulled up out of the water, Jesus does the same for us. Reaching down into the depth of our own trials in order to restore us to wholeness. Where we can walk through the raging storm once again.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Tuesday, October 8: Matthew 15 – 17
Wednesday, October 9: Matthew 18 – 19
Thursday, October 10: Matthew 20 – 21
Friday, October 11: Matthew 22 – 23

Readings for the next few days:
Sunday, October 6: Matthew 11 – 12

The plot is beginning to thicken isn’t it? The Pharisees are getting frustrated. Neither Jesus nor his disciples follow the rules of the Sabbath. “How can this be, if he were indeed one from God?” The Pharisees must be asking themselves. And, what does it mean for us?

I guess we can think back 30 – 50 years ago or more, when Sunday was reserved for “church.” I’d have to think back pretty early in my childhood to remember when nothing was open on Sunday. It was a time for God. It was time for family. I can remember the constant plea that my sister and I had wanting to go to Perkins Pancakes after church every Sunday, but other than that it was day the family spent together.

Now, people skip church and go straight to the store. There is little respect for the Sabbath. Hence the decline in our “godless” society. “We’ve all got too much to do to bother with God”, some might say. Yet God still bothers to provide everything we need, and the Sabbath, is our chance to give back as best as we are able. An hour of praise and prayer, isn’t too much to ask . . . then with our eyes on God, we can go about our daily life.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Monday, October 7: Matthew 13 – 14
Tuesday, October 8: Matthew 15 – 17
Wednesday, October 9: Matthew 18 – 19
Thursday, October 10: Matthew 20 – 21

Readings for the next few days:
Saturday, October 5: Matthew 9 – 10

The world’s greatest sandwich. If you read Dagwood, you would know that he is always looking for the perfect sandwich. There has even been a commercial lately, that is asking, this “the perfect sandwich?” All while showing a young girl sitting between two bulldogs. Now you may love Dagwood, peanut butter cracker sandwiches, or sandwiches in general, however I would like to let you know that the most popular sandwich is right here in the 9th chapter of Matthew, and you probably didn’t even know it was a sandwich:

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.
(Matthew 9:18-26)

Did you enjoy the sandwich? We have probably all heard this story before. It’s included in the same manner in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. A leader has a daughter who is ill and he seeks Jesus’ help. Then, right in the middle of the request, Jesus encounters the hemorrhaging woman. The needs/request of the first part of the story are set aside, the bleeding woman is healed, then we get back to the conclusion of the first part of the story. This is why many refer to this as a “sandwich” story. It’s a great literary technique to help build suspense and draw the reading along from one part to the other. Pretty tasty isn’t it?

Well it gets better . . . think of how it must have been to be a part of the world’s greatest sandwich. The dead, find new life . . . The lame, are restore . . . indeed our God is good!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Sunday, October 6: Matthew 11 – 12
Monday, October 7: Matthew 13 – 14
Tuesday, October 8: Matthew 15 – 17
Wednesday, October 9: Matthew 18 – 19

Readings for:
Thursday, October 3: Matthew 5 – 6
Friday, October 4: Matthew 7 – 8

I wanted to wait and post so that we got all of Jesus’ longest teaching in Matthew, better know as the Sermon on the Mount. It is full of some great teachings:

• The Beatitudes
• Being the Salt of the Earth
• Being the Light of the World
• Forgiveness before approaching the altar
• Words on adultery, divorce, swearing, and loving our enemies
• How to pray
• The Lord’s Prayer
• Words on fasting, treasure, serving multiple masters, and how not to worry.

The list is long, and could go on. As we take in Jesus teaching moment, think of the crowds that gathered. Matthew tell us, “the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (7:28b) This is profound! The crowds are gathering by the 1,000’s to hear Jesus preach and teach. Many are hoping for a sign or a miracle to be preformed, for that they or their loved one will be healed. All of this is unheard of for the time. Daily life was hard and demanding. There was little time to follow needlessly, yet something was different with Jesus. He had a great sense of love and devotion for the people, and a power unlike the world had seen.

How could this be? Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit! From his Baptism, he was empowered by God to go and do likewise. So to are we, for the same Spirit is given to us in our Baptism and we are empowered to take Jesus’ teaching and put them into action. It is a bold challenge that has been place in our hands! Yet with the Spirit’s guidance we can and are able to go and do likewise!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Readings for the next few days:
Saturday, October 5: Matthew 9 – 10
Sunday, October 6: Matthew 11 – 12
Monday, October 7: Matthew 13 – 14
Tuesday, October 8: Matthew 15 – 17