Devotion for Tuesday, December 19

During this Advent season, I invite you to ponder the words of these wonderful Advent Hymns!

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Dave  

Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah

Light one candle to watch for Messiah: 

let the light banish darkness. 

He shall bring salvation to Israel, 

God fulfills the promise.

Light two candles to watch for Messiah: 

let the light banish darkness. 

He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, 

gently lead them homeward.

Light three candles to watch for Messiah: 

let the light banish darkness. 

Lift your heads and lift high the gateway 

for the King of glory.

Light four candles to watch for Messiah: 

let the light banish darkness. 

He is coming, tell the glad tidings. 

Let your light be shining.

Text: Wayne L. Wold (b. 1954)

Tune: Yiddish folk tune

Devotion for Monday, December 18

During this Advent season, I invite you to ponder the words of these wonderful Advent Hymns!

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Dave  

Awake, Awake and Greet the New Morn

Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning.

Sing out your joy, for soon he is born, behold! the Child of our longing.

Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together,

he opens wide the heavenly door and lives now inside us forever.

To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a’singing,

His humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the earth with its ringing,

music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness,

the thunder of his anthems roll to shatter all hatred and blindness.

In darkest night his coming shall be, when all the world is despairing,

as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring.

Then shall the mute break forth in song, the lame shall leap in wonder,

the weak be raised above the strong, and weapons be broken asunder.

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though dark the winter and cheerless

the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless.

Love be our song and love our prayer and love our endless story;

May God fill every day we share and bring us at last into glory.

Music and Lyrics by Marty Haugen (b. 1950)

Devotion for Friday, December 15

During this Advent season, I invite you to ponder the words of these wonderful Advent Hymns!

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Dave  

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

O Lord, how shall I meet you, 

How welcome you aright? 

Your people long to greet you, 

My hope, my heart's delight! 

Oh, kindle, Lord most holy,

Your lamp within my breast

To do in spirit lowly 

All that may please you best.

I lay in fetters, groaning; 

You came to set me free. 

I stood, my shame bemoaning; 

You came to honor me. 

A glorious crown you give me, 

A treasure safe on high 

That will not fail or leave me 

As earthly riches fly.

Love caused your incarnation; 

Love brought you down to me. 

Your thirst for my salvation 

Procured my liberty. 

Oh, love beyond all telling,

That led you to embrace 

In love, all love excelling, 

Our lost and fallen race.

Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, 

Who sit in deepest gloom, 

Who mourn your joys departed 

And tremble at your doom. 

Despair not; he is near you, 

There, standing at the door,

Who best can help and cheer you 

And bids you weep no more.

Text: Paul Gerhardt (1607-1667)

Composer: Johann Cruger (1598-1662)

Devotion for Thursday, December 14

During this Advent season, I invite you to ponder the words of these wonderful Advent Hymns!

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Dave  

Hark the Glad Sound!

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne
And every voice a song.

He comes the prisoners to release,

In Satan's bondage held.

The gates of brass before Him burst,

The iron fetters yield.

He comes from thickest films of vice

To clear the mental ray

And on the eyeballs of the blind

To pour celestial day.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of His grace

To enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

Thy welcome shall proclaim

And heaven's eternal arches ring

With Thy beloved name.

Author: Philip Doddridge, 1735
Composer: Thomas Haweis, 1792

Devotion for Monday, November 13

Do not remember the former things,

   or consider the things of old. 

I am about to do a new thing;

   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

   and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43: 18-19)

Yesterday, our congregation met for one Worship Service, followed by our Fall congregational meeting as part of our Stewardship Sunday.  It was a blessed day.  We welcomed guests from our ministry in India, Bethania Kids.  We baptized a newborn from one of our new young couples. We celebrated with music and a full house in worship as well as giving thanks for the many ways we continue to serve others at Bethel.

The day also included asking some difficult, but necessary questions about our ministry together.  At our congregational meeting, we discussed some of our frustrations with declining Sunday worship attendance and continued struggles with our finances. 

Our worship attendance has been declining for several years - from a high of 272 about 5 years ago to our current level, in the 230's.  There are apparent reasons for this -- i.e. changing worship patterns for families, some people who were active have moved away, and others who have left our fellowship for other reasons.  The sense that the sanctuary is less full and the additional concern about meeting our financial realities has caused anxiety and concern within our congregation.  In fact, it has caused some anxiety and concern with me too!  

I have attempted to remain faithful to the promise that God is with us always, even to the end of the age.  And I don't believe we are at the "end of the age" quite yet.  And because "God is with us" we can dare to seek new paths and new ways that God can lead our congregation forward, albeit perhaps looking differently than before.  

My first sermon at Bethel included the above text from Isaiah.  I believe that what God does is bring new life, new hope, and new possibilities amidst dying, desperate, and uncertain moments.  This is the work of God, the purpose of Christ.

I believe yesterday, at Bethel, we took some new steps down a God-breathed path.  I am heartened by the people of God at Bethel who are willing to covenant together to be community together, even when it is hard.  As we do so, entering into our Bethel Re-Forming visioning process at the beginning of 2018, I am confident God will satisfy and nourish our parched places, and renew our life together in surprising and creative ways.  

In Jesus' name, Amen.

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 90-95)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

90.  To suppress these very pointed arguments of the laity by force alone and not to resolve them by providing reasons is to expose the church and the pope to ridicule by their enemies and to make Christians miserable.

91.  Therefore, if indulgences were preached according to the spirit and intention of the pope, all of these [objections] would be easily resolved -- indeed, they would not exist.

92.  And thus, away with all those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!

93.  May it go well for all of those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Cross, cross" and there is no cross!"

94.  Christians must be encouraged diligently to follow Christ, their head, through penalties, death, and hell,

95.  ... and in this way they may be confident of "entering heaven through many tribulations" rather than through the [false] security of peace.

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 82-89)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

81.  This unbridled preaching makes it difficult even for learned men to defend the reverence due the pope from slander or from the truly sharp questions of the laity:

82.  Namely, "Why does the pope not empty purgatory for the sake of the holiest love and the direst need of souls as a matter of the highest justice, given that he redeems countless souls for filthy lucre to build the Basilica [of St. Peter] as a completely trivial matter?"

83.  Again, "Why continue funeral and anniversary masses for the dead instead of returning or permitting the withdrawal of the endowments founded for them, since it is against the law to pray for those already redeemed?"

84.  Again, "Why is this new piety of God and the pope that, for the sake of money, they permit someone who is impious and an enemy to redeem [from purgatory] a pious, God-pleasing soul and yet do not, for the sake of the need of that very pious and beloved soul, redeem it purely out of love?"

85.  Again, "Why are the penitential canons -- long since abrogated and dead in actual fact and through disuse -- nevertheless now bought off with money through granting indulgences, as if they were very much alive?"

86.  Again, "Why does the pope, whose riches today are more substantial than the richest Crassus, not simply construct the Basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of the poor faithful?"

87.  Again, "What exactly does the pope 'remit' or 'allow participation in' when it comes to those who through perfect contrition have a right to full remission and a share [in the church's benefits]?"

88.  Again, Could any greater good come to the church than if the pope were to bestow these remissions and participation to each of the faithful a hundred times a day, as he now does but once?" 

89.  "Since, rather than money, the pope seeks the salvation of souls through indulgences, why does he now suspend the documents and indulgences previously granted, although they have equal efficacy?"

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 75-81)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

75.  To imagine that papal indulgences are so great that they could absolve a person even for doing the impossible by violating the mother of God is insanity. (Luther accused Johann Tetzel, the Dominican Indulgence preacher, of making this claim. Tetzel denied it.) 

76.  On the contrary, we have said that papal indulgences cannot take way the very least of venial sins, as far as guilt is concerned.

77.  That it is said that even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could not grant greater graces is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope. (Another charge Luther accused Tetzel of saying. Again, Tetzel denied it.)

78.  On the contrary, we say that even the present pope, or any pope whatsoever, possesses greater graces -- namely the gospel, "deeds of power, gifts of healing ..." -- as in 1 Corinthians 12: 28.

79.  To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal coat-of-arms and erected [in the church where indulgences are preached], is of equal worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy. (A final charge leveled at Tetzel by Luther. And yes, Tetzel denied this too.)

80.  The bishops, parish priests, and theologians who allow such sermons free course among the people will have to answer for this.

81.  This unbridled preaching makes it difficult even for learned men to defend the reverence due the pope from slander or from the truly sharp questions of the laity: 

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 68-74)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

68.  Yet they are in truth the least of all when compared to the grace of God and the goodness of the cross.

69.  Bishops and parish priests are bound to admit agents of the Apostolic indulgences with all reverence.

70.  But all of them are much more bound to strain eyes and ears intently, so that these [agents] do not preach their own daydreams in place of the pope's commission.

71.  Let the one who speaks against the truth of the Apostolic indulgences be anathema and accursed.

72.  ... but let the one who guards against the arbitrary and unbridled words used by declaimers of indulgences be blessed.

73.  Just as the pope justly thunders against those who, in whatever way they can, contrive to harm the sale of indulgences,

74.  ... much more so does he intend to thunder against those who, under the pretext of indulgences, contrive to harm holy love and the truth.

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 61-67)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.


61. For it is clear that the pope's power only suffices for the remission of [ecclesiastical] penalties and for [legal] actions.

62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of 
God.

63. But this treasure is deservedly the most hated, because it makes "the first last."

64. In contrast, the treasure of indulgences is deservedly the most acceptable, because it makes "the last first."

65. Therefore, the treasures of the gospel are nets with which they formerly fished for men of wealth.

66. The treasures of of indulgences are nets with which they now fish for men of wealth.

67. Indulgences, which the declaimers should about as the greatest "graces", are indeed understood as such -- insofar as they promise profits.

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 54-60)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

(Since I will be in Europe for a Reformation 500 trip with others from Bethel, I will be sharing Theses 24- 40 here in one space. For the previous theses, see this same blog. As previously mentioned, I am using Martin Luther's 95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide by Timothy Wengert.)

54.  An injustice is done to the Word of God when, in the very same sermon, equal or more time is spent on indulgences than on the Word.

55.  It is necessarily the pope's intent that if indulgences, which are a completely insignificant thing, are celebrated with one bell, one procession, and one ceremony, then the gospel, which is the greatest thing of all, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, and a hundred ceremonies.

56.  The treasures of the church, from which the pope distributes indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among Christ's people.

57.  That [these treasures] are not transient worldly riches is certainly clear, because many of the indulgence declaimers do not so much freely distribute such riches as only collect them.

58.  Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, because, even without the pope, these merits always work grace for the inner person and cross, death, and hell for the outer person.

59.  St. Laurence said that the poor of the church were the treasures of the church, but he spoke according to the usage of the word "treasure" in his own time.

60.  Not without cause, we say that the keys of the church (given by the merits of Christ) are the treasure.

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.  Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 47-53)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

(Since I will be in Europe for a Reformation 500 trip with others from Bethel, I will be sharing Theses 24- 40 here in one space. For the previous theses, see this same blog. As previously mentioned, I am using Martin Luther's 95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide by Timothy Wengert.)

47. Christians are to be taught that buying indulgences is a matter of free choice, not commanded.

48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, while granting indulgences, needs and thus desires their devout prayer for him more than their money.

49. Christians are to be taught that papal indulgences are useful only if they do not put their trust in them but extremely harmful if they lose their fear of God because of them.

50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the demands made by the indulgence preachers, he would rather that the Basilica of St. Peter were burned to ashes than that it be constructed using the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep.

51. Christians are to be taught that the pope ought to give and would want to give of his own wealth -- even selling the Basilica of St. Peter if necessary -- to those from whom certain declaimers of indulgences are wheedling money.

52. It is vain to trust in salvation by means of indulgence letter, even if the [indulgence] agent -- or even the pope himself -- were to offer his own soul as security for them.

53. People who forbid the preaching of the Word of God in some churches altogether in order that indulgences may be preached in others are enemies of Christ and the pope.

These theses show that Luther was centrally frustrated by the danger that indulgences (i.e buying salvation) would supplant faith in Christ in the naive person of faith.  He put the responsibility for this on the "indulgence preachers" assuming the best possible action on the part of the pope (like he later states in his explanation of the 8th commandment).  Luther assumes that the pope is generally unaware of what is happening with indulgences.  It is only when he realizes that the pope himself is complicit, that Luther begins a verbal diatribe against the pope.

Lord Jesus, lead us into stronger and braver faith. Amen.

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 41-46)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

(Since I will be in Europe for a Reformation 500 trip with others from Bethel, I will be sharing Theses 24- 40 here in one space. For the previous theses, see this same blog. As previously mentioned, I am using Martin Luther's 95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide by Timothy Wengert.)

41. Apostolic indulgences are to be preached with caution, so that the people do not mistakenly think that they are to be preferred to other good works of love.

42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the acquiring of indulgences to be compared in any way with the works of mercy.

43. Christians are to be taught that the one who gives to the poor person or lends to the needy does a better deed than if a person acquires an indulgence ... 

44. ... because love grows through works of love and a person is made better; but through indulgences one is not made better but only freer from penalty (for sin).

45. Christians are to be taught that anyone who sees a destitute person and, while passing such a one by, gives money for indulgences does not buy [gracious] indulgences of the pope but God's wrath.

46. Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must set aside enough for their household and by no means squander it on indulgences.

In the above theses, Luther continues his argument that indulgences are not in any way to be preferred over acts of mercy, love, and grace to both neighbor and within one's household. In particular, I find that the theses that begin with the words, "Christians are to be taught ..." to be a succinct accounting of his worldview in relationship to indulgences. One can see that Luther puts emphasis actions of the believer toward their neighbor. This, for Luther, was paramount for our discipleship and growth in faith.  For in loving our neighbor, we grow closer to Christ and become more like Christ.

Jesus, help us to love our neighbor as you love us all. Amen. 

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Days 24-40)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

(Since I will be in Europe for a Reformation 500 trip with others from Bethel, I will be sharing Theses 24- 40 here in one space. For the previous theses, see this same blog. As previously mentioned, I am using Martin Luther's 95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide by Timothy Wengert.)

24. For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of release from penalty.

25. That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese and parish.

26. The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them.

27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.

28. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.

29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend.

30. No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission.

31. The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare.

32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.

33. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.

34. For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man.

35. They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine.

36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.

37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.

38. Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they are, as I have said (Thesis 6), the proclamation of the divine remission.

39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.

40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them -- at least it furnishes occasion for hating them.


In these theses, Luther argues compellingly that a truly penitent heart and trusting heart is what ultimately matters to God.  At the end, in theses 36-37, he makes this salient point well.  Additionally, in theses 39-40, Luther counters the validity of indulgence preaching because in their very offering, they nullify the cross of Christ.  And for Luther, this is the true issue with indulgences, indulgence preaching, and the way that the pope uses them.  They alleviate the need for Christ!  The power of salvation becomes something that we can affect with money and something the Church grants on a whim.  And this, for Luther, cannot and will not stand.  In Christ alone, we are saved.  In Christ alone, we are forgiven.  In Christ, alone we trust and find our hope. 

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.

   I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

   I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

   O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

   In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

   I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

   I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.

Therefore I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. 

Amen

95 Days with the 95 Theses (Day 23)

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017.  Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. 

23. If any remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone, it would certainly be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.

Luther acknowledges the strained logic of remitting sins of those who have already died, suggesting that only the "very best" would even be in the conversation.

Please note that I will be using Timothy Wengert's "95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide." If you don't have a copy, pick one up, it is an excellent resource.

Lord Jesus, help us find a way to love others as you love us all. Amen.