Fourth Sunday after Trinity (24 June, 2018)

Not Worth It

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him."  So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died: 'Say to Joseph, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants."  But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  Genesis 50:15-20

Of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.  On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.  All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.  For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.  Psalm 138

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:14-21

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  Romans 8:18-23

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." He [Jesus] also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."  Luke 6:36-42

Sometimes a common theme is obvious.  That doesn't make the teaching any easier to grasp, understand, or even practice.

Both Joseph son of Jacob and St. Paul had experienced this, though in different ways.  Joseph had been treated horribly by his brothers while the pharisee formerly known as Saul was imprisoned and beaten multiple times.  Joseph only was a mouthy brat to his brothers, while Paul had once been the number one persecutor of early Christians.  After his time in prison, Joseph was placed in charge of all of Egypt.  After Paul spent a few days blind, he became a Christian, then an itinerant missionary.

Two stories, same common theme.  As St. Paul wrote to the church in Rome "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," and "never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God."

That is a level of patience that most of us cannot usually muster.

Joseph did.  He was in a died-out well, then sold into slavery, and then wrongfully imprisoned.  The whole time he did not complain, he did not argue, he did not fight against the authority he was under.  Rather he waited for the Lord.  And in his situation, things worked out greater than anyone could ever have imagined.  A literal "rags to riches" story.

But not every experience is like that.

St. Paul as a "pharisee of pharisees" who was being given great honor and authority in his persecution of the Church.  From the perspective of the "food chain" in Roman empire Judea, Saul of Tarsus had a lot of power and prestige.  And one trip to Damascus changed all that.  Blinded by the Light of Life, he converted to the very faith he was previously trying to destroy.  He searched the Scriptures for years then was commissioned to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.  Three long missionary journeys filled with debates, prison stays, floggings, stoning, sneaking out of town came to a climactic finale with a trip to Rome where he would be beheaded.

Quite the dramatic difference.

Christ makes it clear that it is not our duty to "fix" people.  We are to care for, support, even encourage, but it is not for us to execute judgement.  Not we are forbidden from judging, since as Christians we know the standards by which to judge, the Law of God.  But judging and being judgmental are not the same.  We should judge things to determine if they are right or wrong.  We should not look down upon people because of real or perceived "flaws."

Instead we are to love our neighbor and, like Joseph and Paul, wait for God.

Mail Call - 2

19 June, 2018

Adam Baumann
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2018 Summer Greek


1-15 June, 2018

χαιρέτε!

Summer Greek is in full swing.  Some of us are grasping it better than others, but the pace is quite fast no matter how you look at it.  Kinda like boot camp.  Lots of drill that has to be mastered in a very short amount of time.  We do about a chapter a day, with each chapter having a dozen or so vocabulary, plus whatever paradigm or declension we're working on, so the learning curve is steep.

Each day starts with a two hour class, then chapel.  That is one of the great constants at CTSFW: worship life.  There is chapel every day, and no class overlaps with it.  That way there is no excuse to not worship.  After chapel there are a few hours until mandatory tutoring in the afternoon. Most of the Greek students use part of the time to study in the library.  We quiz and drill together, and double check everyone's work.

Vocabulary and quizzes is another constant.  Lots of repetitive drill.  Conjugations, paradigms, variations, accenting, drill and repeat.  Much like Forrest Gump and his rifle in boot camp.  Take it apart, put it back together, take it apart again till you can do it blindfolded.

There are a lot of resources out there to aid in studying, but I'm sticking to the "old school" methods for now.  That means writing a lot of notecards.

Drill and repeat.

Meg's parents were here last week.  Which was great for the kids.  They got to go to the zoo, where they fed the giraffes.  Having the extra hands was at times helpful.  And the kids loved having the grandparents here.  Its a little bit of normal that helps everyone settle in.

But the upcoming weeks look just as busy as the previous.  Insurance to fill out.  Contact information to update.  Contacting the IT department to access the page to update contact information.  Find churches.  The list goes on.

Third Sunday After Trinity (17 June, 2018)

Not Begrudging The Lost

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love.  He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.  You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.  Micah 7:18-20

Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.  The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.  He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel.  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  He will not always chide, nor will he keep His anger forever.  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.  Psalm 103:1-13

I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.  1 Timothy 1:12-17

And He [Jesus] said, "There was a man who had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"  Luke 15:11-32

Its one of the few stories that everyone seems to know.  The Prodigal Son.  There's even a "praise" song about it, talking about us running to God "like a prodigal."

What a dumb statement.

I say that because the writer of that song clearly didn't understand the point of the parable, nor the definition of "prodigal."  The "prodigal" son is the one who was wasteful with his father's money.  The title has nothing to do with his being lost.  Directly.

Who is the parable about?  The Jews, who, like the son that stayed at home and worked for his father, were the people of the covenant.  Yet they failed to comprehend the extent of the Father's love.  In the parable, the father runs to his wayward son.  Why?

Obviously he is overjoyed to see his son.  But from a practical standpoint it is twofold.  First to take hold of the boy and keep him from fleeing back to his life of danger.  Second to keep him safe from those who might wish ill will upon him.  After all, he did take half the inheritance and squandered it.

So which are we?  Irrelevant.  We are not in this story.  Though it we were, we'd be in the same spot St. Paul was in, according to his own words.  He called himself the foremost of sinners, having been a "Jew of Jews."  Humans love to self-justify us in our own eyes using the very rules given to protect us as some sort of check list for why we have earned God's love.  This pietistic nature is exactly the thing the "loyal" son stands for.  But which son was truly lost?  The one who left but remembered his father's love, or the one who served his father for personal gain?

The better question is which one God does not love?

According to the prophet Micah, "He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."  God has sent His Son to rescue us from our self-made prisons of greed, self-righteousness, fear, lust, hate, and arrogance (among uncountable others).

So who is the real prodigal son?  The one who took his share of the father's inheritance, spent it among the peoples of the world, and who returned to his father, knowing that living as a servant was better.  Perhaps the way to look at the story of the Wayward Son is not that it was the one who went out into the world was the lost boy.

Rather, the son who went out is Christ, and the son who looked scornfully upon his father's actions is us, the true Lost Son of the parable.  Thanks be to God that our Brother found us and brought us back home.

Second Sunday After Trinity (10 June, 2018)

Smartest thing since sliced bread

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.  She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.  She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."  Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.  Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  Proverbs 9:1-10

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.  The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.  Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  Psalm 34:12-22

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:13-22

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.  By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:13-18

When one of those who reclined at table with Him [Jesus] heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"  But He said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'  And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'  And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'  And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'  And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"  Luke 14:15-24

Bread and wisdom.  Two things that don't stereotypically get listed together.  Not because they are mutually exclusive, but because they usually are not part fo the same thought.

Except when speaking of the Wisdom and the Bread.  Or, simply put, Christ.

The readings are all about bread and wisdom, or aspects of the two.  The teacher in Proverbs describes wisdom as a wise woman who manages her household, and provides bread for others.  As is common with Proverbs insights are given.  We are told that scoffers, those who wish not to be told the truth, will be angered when corrected.  The Psalmist doubles down on that sentiment, and even spins it on an introspective level.

Both Paul and John speak about our unity with Christ.  And how to we get this unity?  By what path?  The bread we partake in Holy Communion.

Sharing meals has always been an important sign of unity throughout the world.  The Jews understood this, but did not understand what unity with Jesus actually meant.  They expected a kingdom like Solomon's, run with wisdom.  Instead, Jesus promised one like no other, run by Wisdom.

Those who had been raised in the promise of the kingdom had rejected it, so God sent out servants to call all peoples to Himself.  The unifying factor is the bread we share, since it is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mail Call - 1

5 June, 2018

Adam Baumann
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2018 Summer Greek


22-31 May, 2018

The move from Nebraska to Indiana is, officially, complete.  The convoy, consisting of the truck with all our items, our van with the kids, and my parents and a couple of siblings, arrived in Fort Wayne on Monday, 21 May.  We unloaded the truck on Tuesday, 22 May, with the help of my family and members of the CTSFW Moving-In Committee.  The unload was very quick, which allowed us time to get things put together and in the correct room.  By Friday, we were pretty well settled in physically.  Which was good for the kids when grandma and papa left.

We spent the next week getting things set up, put away, and rearranged in the apartment.  Most things are at least inside (that is, not in the trunk of the car or in the back of the van) and in probably the correct room.  We even started putting pictures up.

The summer Greek class starts on the 11th, so some refresher work is in order.  Among the thinks I'm hoping to work on, either in the lead-up or during the class, is redoing the audio notecards I had made a few months ago.  Not just for myself, but for others.

Getting all the various bits of paperwork and what-not is still a frustration.  For example, I still haven't heard anything about field work, and some have implied that I should have already.  Working on getting health insurance in order is another task.  The Concordia plan, while very good, is very expensive.  Working on an alternate that is within the family budget.

There is an ice cream social that is "mandatory" for all Greek students and their families.  Likewise, the new student orientation is mandatory, though it takes place in the afternoon after the first Greek class.


(Yes, on 7 June I changed the name for this post and for future posts of this nature.)

The First Sunday after Trinity (3 June 2018)

Like the surfer dude says...

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."  But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"  And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."  And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:1-6

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!  The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.  The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.  Psalm 33:12-22

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:16-21

[Jesus said]  "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'  And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--  for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'  But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"  Luke 16:19-21

Counted as righteousness.

Such an odd phrase to our modern ears.  It was Abram's faith in God's promise was considered, by God, to be a righteous act on Abram's part.  Abram, by trusting God, kept the Commandments, trusting in God alone.

Now, this righteousness was not saving.  But the trust in the promise, the promise of the Messiah, was saving.

The same promise made to Adam and Eve.  The same promised delivered at Sinai.  The same promise spoken of by David.

The same promised the Jews rejected.

Instead of trusting God and keeping His Commandments, the Jews attempted to obey the Law in order to earn righteousness.  What they did not understand is that it is not within our power to gain righteousness.  Abram didn't earn righteousness, God granted it to him.

And yet, his descendants believed they could earn righteousness.  In attempting to keep the Law, though, they rejected the very words that taught were righteousness comes from.  In Jesus's parable, He makes it painfully clear that the person who doesn't believe the words of the Law and Prophets will refuse to believe that someone can rise from the dead.

Work that backwards for a moment.  The person who rejects the truth of the Resurrection will also reject the very Law of God.  They will not see anything wrong with murder, adultery, theft, disrespect, and idolatry.  They will invent their own standards, laws, and deity, which they will cling to vigorously.  They may even stumble upon being a "good person" in relation to their neighbors.

But they will be unpleasantly surprised when they find themselves in Hell.  A rejection of God's Christ is a rejection of His Law fulfilling righteousness, which is counted to us as our own.  Without the righteousness that completes the Law, we are all, man, woman, and child, doomed to Hell.

But to the one who believes, who clings to the Cross, the righteousness of Christ is granted, covering them and washing their unrighteousness away.  And we cannot cling to it by our own power, but by Christ's strength.