One of the greatest outcomes of your faith is the gift of Joy. More than happiness in circumstances, Joy buoys your life through the mountains and valleys, the ups and downs.

Joy, abiding joy, is not something the world can give. Joy is one of the gifts of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). You have joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17)

“You will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”( John 16:22)

The very calling of God’s people is to be people who are filled with joy. Repeatedly you are encouraged to sing for joy, (Isa 43:23, Ps 98:8, 1 Chron 16:33, + 124 references) Or you are commended to shout for joy. (Isa 54:1, Ps 100:1-2, Isa 49:13, + 104 references)  For those who are in a right relationship with God, joy is a blessing God gives. “The prospect of the righteous is joy.” (Proverbs 10:28)

Joy strengthens you to face each and every day, no matter what it brings. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18)  “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)   The very example having joy in the face of adversity is your Lord Jesus. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) . Even in the midst of hardships, your joy grounded in God remains. (Hebrews 10:34, James 1:2)

Your joy springs from our relationship with Christ Jesus. The angels proclaim that the birth of Jesus will “cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

In the life of believers, joy is natural result of having received salvation. Irrelevant of whatever other circumstances are happening in your life the joy comes on account of what Christ has done for you. When the disciples encountered the risen Lord, they worshipped him and returned to their lives “with great joy.” (Luke 24:52)

Joy comes because God is victorious over all your adversaries. Joy belongs to you because you belong to Christ and he has overcome sin, death and the devil. Jesus has spoken his good news into your life “so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)  Christ gives you a joy in Him that no one and no circumstance can take away.

“You will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”( John 16:22)

May Heavenly Father, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Christ, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Pastor Douglas

In our day and age, Dystopian novels and movies are common from Orwell’s 1984 to Blade Runner to Mad Max movies to even Disney’s Wall-e. We are overwhelmed with the perception that humanity is not progressing, but regressing. Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, ruthless mega-corporations, environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a dramatic decline in society.

The Book of Revelation is not a dystopian disaster but an unfolding of God’s magnanimous grace in a world of brokenness, wickedness and outright evil rebellion.  “Revelation is about an exile and the visions which John describes for the benefit of seven churches, about a throne and a scroll, seals, trumpets, and bowls, horsemen, locusts, and scorpions, a dragon and a monster, two women, one clothed in heavenly, the other in earthly finery, and two cities, the one worldly and the other not of this world.” (The Revelation of St. John the Divine,  G. B. Caird)

Luther and the End of Days

In the early days of the Reformation in 1520, Luther wrote to a friend: “I am convinced the last day is at the door.” He stressed this again 20 years later: “it is the last hour.” He believed that Jesus Christ would return soon, destroy the old creation, and usher in a new heavenly earth. Luther could not have conceived of the earth still existing in our day, 500 years after the launch of the Reformation. At in his time, he was convinced that the world “could not last another hundred years.” As we are bombarded with atrocious and ridiculous news we might think the same.

Martin Luther saw many signs for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus in his time. He believed that most of the prophecies given by Jesus Christ and the apostles were being fulfilled in his day. We could look back in our smugness and say that Luther was mistaken; one might even smile about his seeming ignorance. But that attitude would not be justified, because our Lord will definitely come back one day. Luther often said Christ will come “when one has forgotten about it.”

Pastor Luther was sincerely convinced that his interpretation of the end times was in agreement with God’s Word. He saw his world full of “examples of God’s wrath and judgment.” To him, humanity seemed ripe for the Day of the Lord—that is, the day when Jesus Christ returns to judge the world and to establish a new righteous earth. We probably feel the same way?  Luther saw himself as an end-time prophet like Noah.

Waiting for Jesus Christ can never be wrong; rather, it is a duty for every believer. Luther fulfilled this duty. Luther thought the gospel was spreading as never before.   Rather than our lives bearing the mark of the beast and Satan, our heads and hands, our thoughts and actions should bear the imprint of God on our lives (Deut 6:4-9, cf. Rev 13:16-17)

When asked what he would do if the LORD’S day was tomorrow, he responded, “If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today!”

The end of all things is not a rupture with the present age. It is its fulfillment. That sapling will have time to grow in the eschaton — indeed, all the time in the world. Deeds of hope begun now will flower in eternity.

Come join us each week as we explore the powerful message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.

May your ears hear what the Spirit is saying.

Pastor Douglas

Marv told us that when he was a young man, he would go to the mall as soon as he got off work he went to the mall just to be around people. He was so lonely in his apartment.

People are busy going to work, managing their household and maybe going to the gym. Often they may feel they don’t have time to meet with friends. More and more people are like that.

Lack of social connection is damaging to your health. Loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking, obesity or lack of physical activity.

This isn’t just a problem for the elderly. In a survey of Americans half reported feeling lonely or left out always or sometimes. 1 in 3 young adults suffers from loneliness. Some studies found correlation between smart phones and the likelihood of depression and loneliness. But the biggest factor contributing to loneliness is our busyness. Staying busy, people don’t make the time to build deeper one-on-one connections.

The LORD created you for relationships. “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Gen 2:18.  This is why we were created for family. We are hardwired to be in relationship with our parents, siblings and other relatives.

This is why we have been going through the worship series “Scratch and Dent” to listen to what scripture says about our family relationships, hear the promises and receive the blessing God has for our family relationships.

As human beings we have a need to belong to a social network. We are also created for bonds with others. Ultimately we are created to be in connection with the LORD. As he says repeatedly, I will be their God and they will be my people. All of scripture is the story of God bringing people together to be part of his family, his kingdom.

As human beings we also have a need to belong to something bigger than ourselves. Because of sin this need for purpose can drive us into the wrong direction – like joining a gang or being a racist. But the LORD seeks to bring us onboard with his redemptive purposes.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Gal 3:26-28

Yes, the church is made up of hypocrites and sinners like you, but in belonging to the church we connect to the biggest something bigger than our selves – God and his abundant life.

This is why we will start the worship series “BELONGING: Life Is Better Together” to ponder the blessing God has for us when we belong to Christ and one another.

So, if you are feeling lonely. Get off work, get out of the house. Come join your church family at Concordia where we pray to be of one heart and mind in Christ.

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Douglas

Why would Lutherans be afraid to do that? But use the greek-derived word – “evangelize” – and so many Lutherans freeze up in their pews. Yet, we Lutherans believe in bringing the good news to others. How can Lutherans bring the good news to their neighbors and invite people into the life-transforming faith relationship with Christ? 

Join Rev. Dr. Douglas Schoelles in a study on Evangelism over the next two semesters for St. Paul Lutheran Seminary (semlc.org). 

You can audit this online course to grow in your understanding of Evangelism and learn various approaches to reach out. 

– For Lay people and clergy

– Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm (Pacific Time). 

– Starts September 5th.  

– Contact Julie Smith to sign up. jsmith@semlc.org

• If you have a question about the course, contact me directly.

There is a cost to audit the course. If we have 10 auditors, the cost will be $200. If we have 20 the cost will be $100 per semester. 

I apologize for not getting this out sooner. I have been busy with start of fall activities and getting my house on the market. 

The apostle Paul was being led by the LORD to give testimony of Jesus Christ in Rome. before th emperor. But God’s travel booking was different than we would have asked for. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, threatened with death and only upon claiming ROman citizenship was he taken in chains to Rome.

As the Roman soldier embarks on the international travel with his prisoner Paul they must take the common mode getting across the globe. They hop on a ship. The travel is uneventful, until . . . They are sailing around the island of Crete and really only hop from one harbor town to another on the island. No biggie, right.

Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”  (Acts 27:10)

Now Paul has no expeirence as a sailor. He is a learned rabbi and knows tentmaking. Recognize. Listening to worldy experts isn’t madness, but common sense. When my car breaksdown I consult a mechanic not a pastor.

But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.  (Acts 27:11)

Of course the roman centurion listened to the experienced sailors instead of apsotle. Paul understood that they were on a spiritual journey, nnot a business trip.

In much of our life it is wise to listen to earthly experts. Often the practical earthly advise seems the way to go.

But every person lives in this world of spiritual storms and chaos. The practical advise cannot overcome impractical battering. Paul tells the waterlogged desperate crew to have faith in God, keep up their courage and be prepared to run agound. (Acts 27:25-26)

So, as believers recognize the limitations of earthly advise. Seek to know where the LORD is leading you and hang on to his guidance in the midst of the journey.

“All the kings horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”

Maybe not, but God can!

Did you ever find yourself on a very high wall and suffer a totally shattering “great fall”?  I have. The depth of the low I felt was beyond the reach of “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men,” but not beyond God’s reach. From that devastating fall, I came to realize fully the magnitude of God’s power to pick up the remnants of ruin and create an abundant life.  Even though I wanted to hold onto the broken mess, I eventually placed my damaged clutter in His hands.

God truly can put Humpty Dumptys back together again – no matter how great the fall.  We all have been Humpy Dumptys. Our world is full of them – widows, single parents, children of divorce, recovering addicts, ex-cons, abuse victims, unemployed, and other messed up, spilled yolk folks. I have fallen off that wall a quite few times. What about you?

Part of putting my jumbled shards into God’s hands was seeking God and being present with God’s people. Loving Christians made feel wrapped in spiritual arms, and there I found healing.  Being present in God’s word. Praying and worshipping the LORD. Confessing, repenting and receiving forgiveness and the bread and wine of Christ. All these activities are part of the process of God pulling you together and being made whole again.

The Good news is that God heals broken lives. As Jesus tells us, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)  Jesus affirmed he was here to put Humpty Dumptys back together because he is driving out demons and healing people (Luke 13:22, 10:9) The incredible news for you is that Jesus came to heal you and make you new, shards and all.

The additional incredible news for us is that we get to be the King’s men. By his blood Jesus freed us from our sin and selfishness and made us to be royal priests serving God the Father.(Rev 1:5) As the King’s men and women we are to follow In His Steps.  “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,  that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) We have all been called to bring the good news to our world (Matthew 28:18-20).

As Christians, we are not a fairy tale people. We are called into the real world to be practically involved in the lives of those around us.

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.     -Psalm 105:4

Servant of Christ,

Douglas

You are under a constant barage to lose hope in Christ. You are being tempted all the time to lose hope and give up. The enemy tries to sow  discouragement in you. One of the most powerful attacks by Satan is to get you to “lose your heart.”

After Joshua and Caleb returned from the promised land telling of all the bounty awaiting the people of God, the other scouts only told of the dangers and threats. The Israelites looked at themselves and felt discouraged. So the Israelites wouldn’t and couldn’t enter the Promised Land (Numbers 32). But God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you, wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

When you are being discouraged by delays, disappointments, disabilities, and difficulties, when you are being drained of your hope, consider who is draining you of hope. The prince of this world is seeking to steal your hope. Even strong men cannot fight well when they lose heart.

So what is the antidote?

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  (1 John 4:4)

God Himself is our antedote to discouragement  The LORD is with us wherever we go. Jesus comes to support and encourage us. He breathes hope into us when we are feeling bruised and fading.

“A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.”  (Mt 12:20–21, ISa 42:3-4).

In his name we put our hope.  There is no greater discouragement than being put to death. Yet Christ has defeated sin, death and the devil in the cross. And the risen Christ has overcome all that discourages.

So when you feel discouraged and at the end of yourself, call out to Christ and remember that he abides in you and he is greater than the one who is in the world.

Take this blessing:

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Eph 1:18-19)

On Sunday mornings I am relieved to see the people of my flock. I am glad to spend time with you in worship or bible study. I pray for you by name throughout the week. I hold you in my heart and lift you up in intercession before the Lord. I am concerned about your spiritual and earthly well-being. Every Sunday I know whether you are there or not. I rejoice when you are there on Sunday and I miss you when you are not.

Some like to have a spiritual father who looks after his flock. You may not want all this attention and concern. But then I don’t have a choice. I was called to this by the LORD; to be a shepherd and carry his people on my heart.

And Sundays in our society is just another day. A day to work or a day to play. Another day in our hectic time.

“ and before we know it the year is half over and we are in July!”

So many of us keep ourselves so busy and hectic. Of course there is our work to provide for our needs. There is keeping our household together with all its chores. And we keep ourselves occupied with all kinds of other distractions too. With zooming from there to there we can lose sight of where our lives are going and before we know it the year is half over and we are in July!

The Bible is loaded with caution that we are not promised more than today and the life is but a vapor.  As James 4:14-15 says,  “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Our faith leads us to deeper and clearer understanding of life on this earth. We are also learning about the eternal, never ending life promised to us.

Our time is a gift to us from the LORD. The gift of time from the LORD is so our lives can be lived to be a blessing. God is in control. He is the giver of life and the giver of everlasting life which comes after death.

As Christians our hope gives direction and purpose to every day of life. Our hope is in a life lived through Christ Jesus, which leads to eternal life with him.

Coming to worship on Sundays is about valuing and gaining the worth of our time. Worship is about luxuriating in the abundance of God’s time. This summer make time to value your time by celebrating the LORD who gives you time.

• I rejoice when I see you on Sundays.
• I miss you when you are not there.
• I hope to see you Sunday.

May the unfailing love of the LORD rest upon you as you put your hope in Him. (Psalm 33:22)

Your servant in Christ, Pastor Douglas

The face plant. The old “falling flat on your face”. The embarrassing, comical and sometimes very painful act of falling face forwards into some object, usually the ground.

    In the Old Testament we hear about an episode when the Philistines who are enemies of the Israelites defeat them in battle and seize the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4). The gold covered ark contained the tablets of the LORD’s covenant with Israel; the Ten Commandments. The ark was a emblem of God’s presence and power. 

     So the Philistines take the ark back to their country placing it in the temple of their god Dagon. When they return to the temple the next morning the idol Dagan has fallen down. So they put their idol up right again. The next morning they return again to find their idol Dagon face planted on the floor with his head and arms broken off. Meanwhile sickness and tumors plague the Philistine people.

     What idols are worshiped in our society? What are the values that we idolize and give our lives to? Greed, Sensual Pleasures, Self Power.

       These false gods and idols are also face planted in the presence of the Lord. None offer real and abundant life. Rather following these gods causes sickness and disease in people and plagues society at large.

Pursuing these idols lead people into self destructive behavior.

People do face plants with their lives all the time. 

God invites us to avoid face plants. God invites us into lives that are upright and fulfilling.

Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

(Psalm 112:1–5).

“Which of you fathers, if your child . . .  asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11–13). 

The LORD your Father is ready to bless your life more abundantly than you can even ask or imagine. The greatest gift the LORD can give you is to bestow the Holy Spirit on you.

Unfortunately we do not desire a close relationship with God. We keep our heavenly Father at arm’s length.

BUT if you want to have God closer in your life all you have to do is pray and ask.

• Do you ask for the Holy Spirit? DO you ask regularly?

Hard to eat egss if you do not have a plate and a fork. The eggs will not just be poured down your throat. Like receiving your breakfast eggs, we must make our selves available and ready for the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than resisting.

• Do you make yourself ready to receive?
• Are you showing up to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in worship, the preaching of the Word, the blessing of Holy Communion, the fellwoship of the other saints in progress?

Eating breakfast often means to have to forego something else. Eating may be a little act, but it is still an acceptance of the breakfast interruption. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit and remain the same. A closer relationship with God makes it more difficult to be of this world.

• Are you willing to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit at the expense of other distractions in your life?