P2 at Christ Lutheran, Winnipeg

If Jesus wanted to, he would like us on Facebook. But He usually doesn’t work that way.

Better still, Jesus likes us – make that LOVES us as we are, in real time and real life. Not virtually, not digitally, but actually and in person, Jesus, Lord of lords, King of kings, Creator of the universe, in whose death we find forgiveness of sins, life and salvation – that same Jesus is thrilled about us. He is not tired of us for always screwing up. Instead, He loves when we come with our sins for his plenteous forgiveness. He is not disgusted by our attitudes and actions that hurt, maim, kill and destroy. He understands and well provides victory conquering strife, to quote a hymn by Terry Dittmer. Jesus loves us, and on Facebook he would LIKE us. Really.

on Wednesday, and it was holy ground, there in the CCU, with his family gathered ’round. Krista, the nurse, got the water and some swabs, and she okayed the 10 of us at the bedside with him. The grace of God, right there. Thank you, Jesus.

after Christmas, with just a visit to the hospital yesterday.

I was wearing my clergy outfit, and as I was headed for the parking lot after my visit, a guy approached me about his dad in the ICU. (The Intensive Care Unit.) Funny. That wouldn’t have happened if I was wearing my University of North Dakota sweatshirt (and, No, I did not go there. Just bought it at a thrift store). Turns out his dad wants to be baptized, so tomorrow I will go the ICU and talk about his dad, and we’ll see about a having a baptism in there.

My first baptism was in an ICU – a neonatal unit – in St. Paul, Minnesota. My first funeral was a day later. The same saint I baptized I got to bury.

An honour to be asked to be a part of this Means of Grace.

Makes me think I should wear clergy shirt all the time – except to bed and showering, of course… XD Sometimes people need to make a connection with God, and the outfit says, “You know who I work for. Talk to me.”

by the Daredevil Christopher Wright.

Mother Mary

A gentle song they produced last year, and it carried me through the Christmas season. That, and Handel’s Messiah, of course.

It is almost Christmas, and what to bring as a message on Christmas Eve is percolating through me. I trust God will accomplish what He accomplishes – bringing clear what should be said in the sermon. Somebody – maybe one of my profs in grad school – said there are three sermons – the one you write, the one you speak, and the one people hear. Sometimes people say things like, “I like what you said about …” and it’s something I don’t recall saying in the sermon. Another one of those strange God moments…

It goes to show that God is at work in our hearts and lives – and in the hearts and lives of those who don’t come to church but once a year. God prepares us for a word from Him. I worry about what to say, so as to give the Holy Spirit lots of stuff to work with in people. ‘Cause Luther said that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to call, gather, enlighten and sanctify us – to get us into the family of God, into the Kingdom, into faith. So I know it is not my job. My job is to be faithful in presenting the Law and the Gospel.

Still, I worry about my fellow sheep… lost and harassed, like they have no shepherd. I know a good shepherd, faithful and true, tenaciously gracious. We celebrate his birth in a couple days… So what to say about the good shepherd to get through to the sheep? And how to say it? Ahhh – preaching is foolishness… and God uses it to get to us.

He’s a modern day John the Baptist. No camel hair and leather belt, but he’s got shorts and red mittens in the snow.

I love the earnest enthusiasm. Great video, and lovely variations in chording and words.

On the CBC he said he wanted the focus of Christmas to be Jesus.

Now read the first chapter of John:

John 1:6-9, 19-28 Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[b]

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[c] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

Goofiness abounds.

… with pretty pathetic results. Follow my progress here. Support men’s health issues if you can, and get that prostate checked! Women, the men in your life need some prodding to get probed by their doctors!

Well, He’s there everyday, before we even get there, but my friend Laura visited church and brought me a Jesus doll today – kinda like this one pictured. Her pastor down in Colorado sends Jesus home with parishioners for a week at a time, with a journal to record how it was having Jesus with them for a week. Some reported less fighting, ’cause Jesus was at their house, and Laura said the airline staff loved it when Jesus flew in their plane with them. A pilot even took a photo. Thanks, Laura, for such a thoughtful gift!

So, today, Merja (Maria H) took Jesus home, with the journal. She said she needed to spend some time with Jesus.

Maybe you could be next!

reminds me of the call of God through Isaiah -

“Come, let us reason together, says the LORD
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow
though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.” (Is 1:18)

Only God can change the colours like that. Therefore, Martin Luther would post on the door of the Wittenberg church on October 31, 1517 the first of the 95 Theses: The life of the Christian is one of daily repentance.

(And that reminds me of something completely different: the now-defunct Christian satirical magazine, The Wittenburg Door, then it became simply, The Door. Here’s a sampling of their work- the 10 worst movies about Jesus.)

The Daredevil Christopher Wright is coming to Winnipeg to perform, opening for Dan Mangan at the Garrick Theatre 330 Garry Street, the evening of November 1st.

Why the interest in this? Their harmonies are soaring, their song writing exquisite, and Jason and Jon are two of my sister’s boys.

Here’s a review of their album, In Deference To A Broken Back:

sputnikmusic.com/review/46296/The-Daredevil-Christopher-Wright-In-Deference-to-a-Broken-Back

Here’s a taste of their latest EP, The Longsuffering Song: