Shepherds Share the Good News

Dear Friends,

“Can you feel the excitement in the air? It’s only early December and already the streets are laden with decorations and lights, all announcing the arrival of a very special guest. Now, for many in the world, that special guest wears a red suit and drives a sleigh with magical reindeers. However, we know that the most special guest is the One that God sent so many years ago to a manger in Bethlehem. We celebrate Jesus, our Savior, who came to bring us forgiveness and hope, and who continues to bring us joy and peace beyond human understanding. There are so many things around us that can distract us from the real meaning and message of this season if we allow it. How easy it is to get caught up in the commercialism and miss the real reason for the season! I believe that this is the season for the Church to shine with the good news. At this time of the year we have a great opportunity to share the message of the Gospel with many who choose to have nothing to do with faith or religion.

I think we have a wonderful example in the Christmas story from Luke 2. In fact, one of my favorite parts of the story focuses on the shepherds. Luke writes: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Lk 2:8–20, ESV).

Once shepherding was a noble task. After all, King David started out as a shepherd. Things had changed in the days leading up to Jesus’ birth. The shepherds were often viewed in a negative light. They were considered by many as dishonest, dirty and outcasts. They were alienated from the mainstream of that society. Yet, it was to the shepherds that the angel’s announced the good news of the Savior. Maybe it was because they were the neediest, or maybe because God wanted to display His transforming power to the world. We can speculate but God had His own reasons. These shepherds were so transformed that they sought out the Holy Child, worshipped Him, and then became among the first evangelists as they made known what had been told to them concerning this child.

At the risk of stretching the image too far, let me offer this Christmas lesson. In our postmodern day Christians have often been, like those shepherds, labeled as dishonest outcasts. The truth is, we are all sinners, in great need of God’s grace. That grace came to us in the gift which the angels announced to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem. Like them, we don’t deserve to hear this good news, but God chose us from before the foundation of the world. Paul reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9, ESV). God chose us with great purpose, even as He chose the shepherds.

My family had some sheep when I was growing up. They taught my brothers and me many lessons, not all of them pleasant! One of the most important things I learned was that if you care for the sheep they respond. They know who will feed them and protect them. Shepherds form a bond with their sheep. Perhaps this is why the shepherds have a special meaning to me. I think the shepherds teach us about how we can reach out those who may have all the right ideas about celebrating, but fail to grasp the One we celebrate.

The response of the shepherds is a wonderful example of how we can spread the true Christmas cheer. When they heard that good news, they didn’t allow how they were viewed by others stop them from sharing the good news. They weren’t concerned about who would listen. They were so overjoyed they couldn’t contain the good news. Shouldn’t this also be our response to the good news?

I believe that God gives us so many opportunities—from the Christmas music to the lights and decorations – that can all be used as “handles” to point to the story of Jesus. So many of the songs we hear at Christmas, even some that are more “secular” can point to the good news of Jesus. The lights remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World, who entered into the darkness of the world to give us hope. The gifts point us to THE GIFT, Jesus! With a bit of creativity, we can find bridges to tell the true story of Christmas. A case could even be made for sales at the stores—how Jesus came as our Redeemer to buy us back from sin and death!

If the shepherds, despite all their challenges, could share the good news, then how much more can we? God is opening the opportunities all around us. Take some time to find someone with whom you can share this wonderful and joyous story. They are in your neighborhood, in your work place, maybe even in your own home.

We are indeed privileged “shepherds,” chosen by God, called by Him, and now sent to the  world that has so commercialized this celebration that many are growing up not really understanding it’s true meaning. We have a part in the story.  We aren’t called to be like the ceramic shepherd figurines in so many nativity sets.  Ours is a call to action.  We have the privilege to tell the real story of Christmas joy–unto you a Savior is born! Take time to share the real reason for the season, Jesus, our Savior. May the excitement of the shepherds fill you as we anticipate our celebration once again!

God’s blessings for a very Merry CHRISTmas!!

Peace
Greg

Thanks

Dear Friends,

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” So writes the Psalmist in Psalm 107:1. There is so much for which to thank our Lord. How easy to take it all for granted. Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude,” as some have coined it, is not always easy or natural for many of us. Someone was asked if they are a glass half empty or a glass half full person. The response was, “I’m a broken glass that keeps leaking…” At first I thought this was an odd statement, maybe even a depressed statement, but the person continued, “But by God’s grace I am daily refilled and fully dependent on Him.” It brought to mind Paul’s words to the Corinthian Church in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

Thanksgiving isn’t really about a day to eat turkey and watch football. It’s more than family get-togethers and plotting out a strategy for “black Friday” sales. It’s more than decorations and place settings and menus and guest lists. Thanksgiving is about a lifestyle lived out in the world for the sake of Jesus. It’s about being conscious of His blessings day-in and day-out, in the good times and in the not-so-good times. The Psalms are filled with calls to give thanks to the Lord. That’s why they are such a great devotional guide for us. The Psalms remind us to be thankful.

Thankfulness is such a privilege, and can be an attitude changer for us. When we recognize that we are dead in our sin and trespasses, but that God, in His great love, sent Jesus to die in our place on the Cross, how can you not find joy? William Arthur Ward wrote, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” My mother-in-law, who went to be with Jesus earlier this year, had a custom on Thanksgiving Day as we would gather for dinner. After grace, before we began the feast, we would go around the table and state one thing for which we were thankful. My youngest son always resisted. Last year, which we didn’t realize at the time would be our last with her, we had the rare opportunity to all be together. My youngest son, who is now an adult, still didn’t want to participate, which was an option. My older son and his wife were then expecting their first child, our granddaughter and hadn’t revealed her name yet to anyone. After we got around the table sharing our thankful thoughts my younger son stated that he had one. He was thankful for his new niece, and then he gave her some crazy name that my other son had named her. My mother-in-law’s reaction was priceless. I am thankful for laughter! That little incident will long be remembered as we cherish the memories of Edith’s mother!

Have you stopped lately to just say “thanks” to God? Have you thanked Him for the simple things like family and friends? Have you thanked Him for food and shelter? Have you thanked Him that you have a faith, and confidence of eternal life in Jesus Christ? Have you thanked Him that you get to receive the body and blood of Jesus in the bread and wine of Holy Communion; that you get to worship with fellow believers; that you have access to His Word? Truly we have, in the words of Irving Berlin, “plenty to be thankful for!”

November points us to be thankful all month through. It begins with the celebration of our sainthood in Jesus on All Saints Day! What a great reason to be thankful—through the blood of Jesus we have been made His saints. Then, just a couple of weeks later, we celebrate Veterans Day, when we remember those men and women who have so graciously served this Nation to protect our rights and keep us safe—another tremendous reason to be thankful. In fact, be sure to find a veteran to give thanks to on Veteran’s Day! Just a short time later we stop and celebrate the day of Thanksgiving. Don’t miss out on all these opportunities to cultivate a thankful heart! This could be how the world around you sees Jesus living in you!

John Clayton writes, “Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see just how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another.” What a wonderful opportunity we have to grow in giving thanks to God, and allowing that thanksgiving to overflow by sharing it with those whom God has placed in our lives. At the same time, what a difference we can make by thanking the people we love and those who have blessed us by simply saying, “Thanks for being a part of my life!” We are a very blessed people in Jesus, called to engage in the Master’s business, and that always means reaching others, in the midst of our blessings, to share the love of Jesus. Through this God refills the broken glasses of our lives and keeps us looking to Him. So give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever! May that love live in us so others may see it, and somehow be connected to Jesus!

And while we’re talking about thanksgiving, I want to thank each of you. I thank you for the support and prayers, for the welcome acceptance I’ve received, for the forgiveness which I have needed and been given, and for the partnership in the Gospel. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:3-6, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” I thank God for you and the privilege of serving together with you for the sake of Jesus! May He fill our hearts with true thanksgiving!

With thankfulness in my heart for Jesus and for you,

Greg

It’s Still All About Jesus!

Dear Friends,

What’s not to love about October in Florida and Georgia? In Florida the temperatures begin to slowly descend to a more pleasant heat, while in Georgia the leaves begin to glow and then fall, reminding us of the cycle of life, and that death brings new life forth. October also happens to be my birth month, and the older I get, the more I seem to think about that cycle. Jesus said in John 12, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” This Scripture passage has always reminded me that death brings forth life. Obviously I am not a proponent of reincarnation, but I am a huge fan of eternal life. When I die to my sin, new life emerges, empowered by Jesus. Knowing that God always has a plan, I can be confident that when some door closes, God is close by, ushering me toward a new one! That’s kind of the story of the Reformation!

I wonder if Luther was motivated by the fact that new life was around the corner. Led by Paul’s words to the Ephesian church, Luther knew that the traditions of the church that had been passed down and often emptied of their meaning became ways that only led to hopelessness and despair that demanded change. People seemed to be guided more by fear of God than faith in Him. It was a literal dead-end. God touched Luther’s heart and opened his eyes to the truth of His Word. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:8–10). Doing all the right things, but doing them for the wrong reasons, doesn’t please or appease God!

It’s all about grace—knowing that God bestows His favor on us, not because of the good things we attempt to do, not because of our theology, or our hymnody, or our pious living. It’s purely a gift! Strip it all away and God would still love us in Jesus. We are His workmanship! He finely crafted each and every one of us and recreated us in Jesus with great purpose. He calls on us as His witnesses to bring life to the world by sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus. He is the giver of new life, who on the Cross bore the burden of our sin, and made the great exchange—His life for ours! We bring nothing to this. That was the message that motivated Luther and made him so passionate about reform.

Luther’s heart’s desire was to see the Church he loved prosper in the grace of Jesus. He wanted people to experience the new life that he, through the Gospel, had experienced. He had a new found freedom that he wanted all people to understand. We are saved by grace, not by the things we do or fail to do, but solely by the merits of Jesus Christ.

That same truth stands as boldly and as strongly today as ever. Our Synod has recently published a new logo for the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, with the tag line, “It’s Still All About Jesus!” I love that phrase. It’s what drew me to a life of service in the church. I grew to love our liturgy and traditions. I cherish our theology, the architecture, stained glass windows, the hymns, because they point me to Jesus! What draws people to the church isn’t any of the peripheral things, but rather it is the love of Jesus, and seeing that love flow through His people. It is always all about Jesus.

Having a Reformation birthday, it always seems ironic that God called me into the ministry of the Lutheran Church. Honestly I fought it, especially early on. It had nothing to do with my faith, or my desire to serve Jesus. From the earliest of my faith memories, I have always loved and wanted to serve Jesus. I wanted others to know His love, forgiveness and grace—things I had personally experienced, and still do! I wanted people to know His healing power, His abiding presence, to hear His clear voice in His Word speaking directly to each of us. Isn’t that really His call to discipleship on each of our lives? Jesus saved us so that we could do the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do, not to somehow earn His favor or show Him how great a Christian we are—in Jesus God couldn’t love us more! But as His children, saved and redeemed through the blood of Jesus, we now get to share Him with the world.

What a great joy and privilege that is! It would mean dying to ourselves. Paul, in Galatians 2, reminds us, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Can you imagine the Reformation that would take place in our day if we, who claim Christ as Savior, fully lived out our faith? Imagine if everyone lived as a representative of Jesus how that would change our approach to and participation in worship, or our congregational meetings, or council meetings, or even meetings with strangers on the street? It’s really all about Jesus, and Jesus is all about relationships.

I grew up seeing my pastor live out his theology and doctrine in such a visible way that I wanted to be like him. There was no doubt that he loved Jesus, and while I don’t think I understood it at the time or could have identified it, he was a Lutheran through and through. Looking back, everything we did was Lutheran, but the focus was always on serving Jesus in our day to day life. To me, that’s just what a Lutheran does! I remember using page 5 and 15 (and occasionally 32) and singing the liturgy—wonderful memories of my faith formation. But the greatest impression was the living testimony of a pastor who wasn’t out to change the world, but simply to touch the people in our community with the love of Jesus! Pastors are important people!

During this month of October we have the privilege of honoring pastors during Pastor Appreciation Month. I strongly encourage congregations to lift up these men of God. Pray for your pastor, and be Jesus to him, as he strives to be Jesus to your community. Celebrate God’s call on his life, the gifts God has placed within him, and encourage him in a world that has increasingly become hostile to pastors and ministry in general. Remind him of his privilege to share the love of Jesus with all people, and, again, pray for him regularly. Someone has said that if you want a better pastor, pray for the one you have and trust God! These servants are men who are learning to serve in an environment very different, in most cases, than they were trained to serve in. And the partnership you share with your pastor not only deepens the relationship, but it also strengthens your ministry within your community. Take time to celebrate your pastor during Pastor Appreciation Month.

October is a great month of celebration. We get to celebrate our heritage as Lutheran Christians in the Reformation. We get to celebrate our pastors. Mostly we get to celebrate our faith in Jesus as we live it out in such a way so that others can see it and know His love. It’s still all about Jesus! It’s about living in such a way that His beauty is seen in us. It’s about cycling through our life, confident of His leading, and strengthened day by day in the knowledge that in Jesus all things are made new, including each of us. We are now the seeds of hope and joy, planted in Jesus to bear fruit for Him as we die to ourselves and grow in sharing the new life He gives us with the world around us. There’s nothing we can do to add to or take away from what Jesus has already done. However, in another sense, we each add a lot to it as we live out a proclamation of Jesus in our lives. Saved by grace, saved for works, we celebrate this month of Reformation boldly proclaiming it’s still all about Jesus! Amen!

Being reformed like you,

Greg

Pastor Appreciation Month ….. Celebrating Those Who Serve

This month is recognized as Clergy Appreciation month and let me urge you to take time, in some way, to recognize and celebrate the pastor or pastors who serve God’s people in your worshiping community. A simple note of encouragement or affirmation can be so significant. Even if there isn’t a pastor currently serving in your congregation, this is a great time to celebrate the Office of the Public Ministry, which God has given to His Church. In an escalating secular society Clergy Appreciation is more than just another Hallmark opportunity.

It is truly an opportunity to lift high God’s shepherds and then encourage them for the work they do. So much of pastoral ministry goes on “out of sight” of the average congregational member. And while there are a variety of opinions among congregational members of what a pastor “should” do, it is primarily the role of a servant. I can testify that many of the pastors I encounter are faithful chosen men of God in carrying out their responsibilities. We aren’t called because of our skills or wisdom. It’s an act of grace. Jesus reminds us in John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you to bear fruit, fruit that will last.”  Certainly that applies to all Christians, but I think it is especially relevant for God’s pastors.

In Jeremiah 23:4 we read, “I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.” God has called the pastor to be a care-giver. His is the role of foot washer. His leadership is derived from the relationships He builds. The Holder of this precious Office should never misuse it as a platform for authority or to abuse God’s sheep. In fact, God warns against this.

So, let me encourage you to take time to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month. Certainly this is a time to show honor and appreciation to those serving in the Office of the Public Ministry. However, it’s also an opportunity for the clergy to celebrate and appreciate the calling God has placed on their life and to celebrate the relationships we are privileged to have among the sheep! May those who pastor and the flock they pastor celebrate the special relationship God has given us in Jesus.  Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!

Check Out a variety of resources at these web sites:

• http://www.lifeway.com/Article/pastor-Ideas-for-Pastor-Appreciation-Month-in-October
• http://holidaysofyear.com/pastor-appreciation-day/
• http://www.pastor-appreciation.net/pastor-appreciation-ideas.html
• http://desperatepreacher.com/pastor_appreciation.htm
• http://www.my-pastor.com/pastor-appreciation.html

Your fellow servant,

Greg

Rev. Gregory S. Walton, President
FLGA District, LCMS

Freedom

Dear Friends,

The other day I was thinking about putting out my American Flag for Labor Day. It’s a holiday that reminds me of the freedoms we have as a nation to work and prosper no matter where we’ve come from or what our background might be. At the same time, I’ve always found Labor Day to be filled with a bit of irony.  Only in America can we celebrate our hard work by taking the day off… Seriously, once we recognized this as a celebration of those who came before us who creatively worked to make this nation great. In our modern time it has become more a Labor Day of bargains, highlighted by mattress sales, clothes shopping, and watching football on television. What happened to the picnics and homemade ice cream? You don’t often hear about parades and marching bands playing and flags waving. Perhaps I’m waxing a bit nostalgic, but it just seems like in the past when I was growing up we had a greater capacity to really celebrate.

Maybe it was simply that Labor Day, for so many of us, marked the real end of summer, and it was our last chance to celebrate freedom. Where I grew up school didn’t begin until the Wednesday following Labor Day. It was always a bittersweet celebration as we anticipated putting all those newly purchased school supplies to good use. At the same time, it meant we gave up the freedoms we, as children, enjoyed all summer. In fact, there’s a great festival in Atlanta on Labor Day weekend called “Celebrate Freedom.” It’s a great time to celebrate before the routines of fall get fully entrenched in our lives.

Giving up freedom is a difficult thing. In fact, we don’t like to be restricted. We like our freedom! So many in the world today think that if they truly commit to following Jesus they are giving up their freedom. Sure, we know that there are blessings that come from following Him, but often we focus far too much on what we “have” to give up. Paul sheds a bit of a different light on this. He writes, in Galatians 5, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” What we often view as restrictions are things that aren’t that great for us anyway, and as we grow in Jesus they become things we don’t really want.

Paul is reminding us that if you want to experience true freedom, it finds its real beginning in Jesus. In Him we are free to be the people God created us to be. That freedom shapes our hearts and minds to be outwardly focused rather than simply focusing on ourselves. Paul goes on to write, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Paul was not alone. Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:16, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” Isn’t it interesting that both Paul and Peter point us to the fact that our freedom is not a license, but rather an opportunity to serve. There is great freedom that comes in serving others, not to mention joy. It’s a service not born of obligation, but rather from the love of Jesus flowing through us. Freedom is all about choice, and choice can be a great reminder of grace.

God chose each of us and rescued us from the sin and death we deserved. Like unfaithful laborers, we have betrayed God time and again, and yet, in love He has chosen to forgive us and cleanse us through the blood of Jesus Christ. By faith in Him we have true freedom—freedom from eternal death and condemnation. It’s a freedom that reminds us that no matter how bad things get, we still can have peace because of Jesus and what He accomplished on our behalf at the Cross. He’s the One that really made the sacrifice for each of us. That’s very freeing.

To follow Jesus does indeed mean that we relinquish some things. There are habits that need to be challenged, and places we shouldn’t go, and things we shouldn’t do. To be sure, there is some sacrifice. Jesus said, in Matthew 16:24–26, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Our problem often is that the things we think are freedoms, outside of our faith in Jesus, are sometimes the very things that restrict our freedom in Christ. Sure, we’re free to act as the world does, but in Jesus, do we really want to act as the world does?

There are times when I see the behavior of a sinful world and my heart aches as I imagine how God’s heart breaks for the world He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, to save. Everywhere you turn it seems like we have become increasingly depraved as a society. The voice of the church has often been silenced by charges of being intolerant, judgmental, uncaring and irrelevant. At times, the world has unfortunately been right. Holy wars are still being waged with accusations and anger. To the world we look like the scene in Acts 19:32, where we read, “The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.”

It just goes to show you that Solomon was right—there’s nothing new under the sun! Here’s the hope to which we hold fast: Jesus died for our sins and rose again! He sent us His Spirit to give us freedom so we could be diligent in our labors for Jesus. What can we do to change the world’s perception? I think it begins by living in the love and freedom of Jesus. We can make choices that focus us more on Jesus and less on us. We can work together for the sake of the Gospel so that the light of Jesus shines in our lives, individually and as a church. God gives us great purpose in Jesus. Peter reminds us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” We get to share that mercy with the world. We are bearers of the light of Jesus in a world filled with darkness. That dispels the confusion!

On Labor Day, if you are able, sleep in late. Enjoy the day. But remember that you have been set free in Jesus to serve others with joy. God chose you, so let’s get to work!

Your fellow servant,

Greg

A Laborer is Worthy of His Hire

Dear Friends,

How do we treat a gift? Depending on the giver, we may treat it with delicacy or delight.

God has gifted His church with workers, yet often this gift is ignored or abused. We fail to recognize and acknowledge the gift that God has given us in these professional church workers, whether it be a pastor, a DCE, a principal or teacher. Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that God gave the gift of these workers to equip the saints for works of ministry. Paul writes, “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Eph 4:16). He gave! That’s a grace word! We received from God, as we always do, what is good for us. He gives us what we need, and maybe not always what we want, but when He gives, and what He gives, is always good! God doesn’t make mistakes, and He always has a plan!

God has sent these workers to specific places, where He alone knew the full need, and has a plan for them. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Heb 13:17). When the relationship between workers and members is a partnership, God’s work is accomplished in marvelous ways. When it is more of a tug rope of who is in charge or who has the last word, it hardly ever works. By the way, God is always in charge, and He always gets the last word! In fact He is the living Word, Jesus! And as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, God blesses our ministry relationships!

So, why all the focus on the relationship between workers and congregations? Simply this, in the days and weeks ahead many ministries will be considering budget. Worker compensation is often seen as an “if there’s anything left over” kind of item. There is an inherent danger in this kind of reasoning. It might be seen as not valuing the very gift that God has placed among you. The Apostle Paul writes, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages.’” (1 Tim 5:17–18).

Now, I realize that there were times on a Sunday morning when the members of my congregation wanted to muzzle me, especially after 15 minutes of sermon time…okay, 20 minutes, but I hope you get Paul’s point here. Paul was so concerned about this that he wrote in several Epistles, expressing concern. In 1 Corinthians 3:8 he wrote, “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” It is God who gives us purpose in life, and whether it is to serve as a garbage man or a physicist or a parish pastor, we each are to be rewarded according to the manner in which we fulfill our task. This, of course, has nothing to do with earning salvation, which is another free gift.

Would you be surprised to know that many church work professionals struggle to make ends meet? The average debt for a pastor completing a seminary education can range anywhere from $60-90,000. The District publishes a guideline for salaries on our website that lists a minimum for consideration. In many cases, this document isn’t even consulted. Keep in mind it is only a guideline, but it certainly can help determine a reasonable range. There is a huge discrepancy among our ministries, often based on membership size, debt load and the like, but rarely considering the concerns of the worker. There is a huge salary discrepancy for Lutheran School Teachers, which can range anywhere from $8-15,000 less than their public school counterparts, who, by the way, aren’t paid all that great either.

James writes, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” James 2:15-16. This happens in the world all the time, but in some places it happens in the church when we fail to take care of our workers. Here’s the real point: if our professional church workers are living paycheck to paycheck, and so concerned about survival, always looking over their shoulder for an oncoming bill collector, or gaining a reputation as someone who reneges on their bills, what does that do to the overall ministry? If workers are having to deal with the stress and fear of the unforeseen medical expense or the unexpected car expense, or sometimes even putting food on the table, how can they focus on God’s call in ministry?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Paul writes, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” How these servants are treated is indeed a reflection on your ministry, whether in the church or in a school. God has placed them among us as His gifts, and we should care for them.

Many years ago we went through some struggles while on vicarage. It was a new program at the church and because of some circumstances, the early half of the year was tight. At one point we had $.63 in our checking account! We felt demoralized, like failures, and embarrassed to even ask the church for help. We prayed fervently, and thought God had answered our prayers through a family member who promised to send a check (one that was constantly in the mail but never came). That gave us hope, especially as we would go to the mail box looking for our solution. Day after day for almost two weeks we waited, eating lots of cereal and just trying to survive. What made it worse was it was Christmas time and we couldn’t even afford to fly home to see family. It created tension in our home, and sadness, like God had abandoned us. It was humiliating. But God intervened in several miraculous ways. First, we got a visit from a family where the member had been to the doctor and was diagnosed with heart-problems. His issues were manageable, but the grace in this was that they had only weeks before purchased half a cow, and he now could eat no red meat. The end result was they filled our freezer with all kinds of things that his doctor removed from his new diet. It was an incredible gift, and God supplied our need in abundance. The second part is that within the next two months the seminary intervened and straightened out the salary issues. We learned a lot that year about trusting in the Lord. Reflecting on that time, I think of how much more productive my ministry may have been if we didn’t have to endure that. I’ve learned, the hard way, that it’s not very reassuring to someone struggling through it at the time to remind them how someday God will use those circumstances. More importantly, I’ve seen God do amazing things, even in those times of struggle. However, how can we bless our workers and not stress them?

We need to support our workers and treat them as the gifts God has made them to be. None of our workers arrived at their position without some sacrifice and struggle. Many gave up far more lucrative careers to heed God’s call. We need to make sure that they are adequately compensated and cared for. It’s been suggested that if you want to find a fair way to calculate compensation for workers that you find out the median income in your community for police personnel, for hospital personnel, for lawyers, and public school teachers and see where your church worker stacks up. I’m confident that we can find better ways to support these folks and honor the gift of God that they are.

Now, I’m certain there are some saying, “They’re in no different circumstances than me. I struggle too. I live paycheck to paycheck.” God has also placed you where He desires as we’ve listened for His voice. Sometimes we’ve missed His cues and we feel frustrated. God never promised us that He would give us everything we desire, but He promises to give us all we need. If you have been in that kind of stressful financial situation or even if you are there right now, then you understand what it feels like. I guess the real question is, is that something that we want others to have to experience? God blesses us to be a blessing! We can change lives if we’re willing to make the necessary adjustments and, again, honor these folks as the gifts they are that God has given to your ministry. Our God still does the miraculous. Just give Him the chance to act and you just may be amazed at what you see.

This doesn’t mean we should be reckless or unconcerned about financial realities within the parish community. We don’t raise funds for the budget to meet needs. That’s the wrong approach. We raise funds for the budget so that we can do more ministry and connect people to Jesus, so we can glorify God. As brothers and sisters in Christ our goal should always be to leave things better than we found them. Imagine what that might do in your ministry, in your community, in your school or church, if our workers could be financially more confident and well cared for in their ministry without overwhelming stress or worry? We can do this! To that end, we have planned the Stewardship Summit, August 14-15 in Orlando, a free conference, to help congregations learn about being stewards of God’s gifts. For more information contact Kathy in my office for details. There will be all kinds of resources available and best practice ideas shared! God owns it all, and He owns that cattle on a thousand hills! He makes it all available to us. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 37, “He is ever lending generously, and His children become a blessing” (Ps 37:26). He gives it to us so we can bless others!

God has promised to supply our need, and already has in the worker He sent you. God blesses our service for His Kingdom. In fact, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” You and I are part of that blessing, and through it, we are also blessed.

Take care of your workers and be confident that God will honor that! Make sure these laborers, who are worthy of their hire, are adequately compensated. These workers are your ministry partners, who are there in the good times and the difficult times to proclaim the love and grace of Jesus, transforming lives. I pray that we can consider how we might support them in this tremendously challenging, and often very fulfilling work! May God give us wisdom to honor them as we honor Him in all we do.

Your partner in ministry,

Greg

Sabbath Rest

Dear Friends,

Fourth of July—our nation’s birthday—a day that we celebrate, and look forward to having time off. Imagine this situation. A husband comes home after a long day at work, eats dinner, and with a great sigh, says, “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat, I need a break” as he sits in front of the television and falls asleep. Rest is essential for our physical and mental renewal. Yet, so many of us find ourselves feeling fatigued, always tired and worn out. Fatigue is extreme tiredness brought about by not enough rest over a period of time whether from mental or physical exertion or illness. Can you relate to that? Even God understood that we needed a break. In fact, God, Himself, took a break after creating the world. We read in Genesis 2, “And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” (Ge 2:2–3).

Are you making time for a time of rest? Businessman John Battelle writes, “As you grow older, you learn a few things. One of them is to actually take the time you’ve allotted for vacation.” What I’ve learned over time is that people often don’t beg you to take time off, you have to seek it out. Sometimes just a day or even an afternoon of diversion can make a difference in how refreshed we feel.
Here are some fascinating facts about vacations in America:

• 75% of employees with paid time off didn’t take all of their accrued vacation days.
• 59 % of working Americans plan to do something job-related while on vacation this summer.
• 90% of people say the happiest vacations are planned more than a month in advance.
• 1 in 10 travelers claim they can’t relax while on vacation.
• Only 45% of Americans take a summer vacation.

Even when we take a vacation we often fail to take time to rest. We don’t seem to know how to rest. The closest we get to rest is restlessness… Often we come back from a vacation more tired than when we left. However, vacations provide an opportunity to reconnect—maybe with your spouse, your children or grandchildren, maybe with siblings or parents or friends. These times of sabbath provide the chance to change things up and break with the routine. Maybe sleep is the real need, or exercise, maybe it’s a time to pursue other hobbies or interests. The staycation has become popular, especially on a tight budget, and it can be a great way to catch up with all the chores you just haven’t had time to do. Many will travel a long way, others not too far. Some will stay in fancy hotels with great service; others will pop up a tent or a trailer and rough it.

Vacations, no matter where we take them, are a great time to reflect on life and all the blessings that God has given us. When God rested on the Seventh day, I suspect it was a day of rejoicing in all He had created. God doesn’t need physical rest, like we do, but He knew we would, so He gave us an example to follow. By the way, I find that I am healthiest when I follow God’s advice! For many rest doesn’t come easily. So many of us were raised with a work ethic that tells us we need to achieve more, build more, do more. Yet, we need time to rest. Maybe your iPhone or computer can illustrate. My iPhone can last only a day, sometimes less than that especially if I am constantly using it. If I fail to recharge it a red, drained battery flashes at me, and eventually shuts off the phone. Then it is useless. It’s not good to me or anyone else. When I am needing to use my phone a lot, I carry an extra power cord to recharge it, sometimes several times, during the day. Our bodies really aren’t much different. There are experts who would tie what we eat to this fatigue, as well as lack of exercise. All of this advice is well meaning, and is meant to strengthen and sustain us with a healthier life. I know when I am well rested I am better equipped to do the things God has called me to do—and so are you!

As important as physical rest is, we also need that spiritual rest. Now, I don’t mean by that a break from the church! In fact, it’s just the opposite. We need to be fully engaged in God’s Word and Sacrament. Isn’t it interesting that Luther writes, in the Small Catechism, speaking of the third commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” What does this mean? Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should not despise His Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it.” That’s why we take time weekly (in some cases weakly) to worship our Living Savior, Jesus Christ! It’s an opportunity to be refreshed. I once heard someone say that we are holy people, but like balloons, the toils of life prick little holes in us, and we leak. That’s why we need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit, so we can live as witnesses for Jesus in the world.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.” When we gather for worship, we enter God’s rest. We call the place of worship a sanctuary, because it is a place of refuge from the struggles of our day to day life. We are privileged to come to the Altar with all our cares and sorrows, and Jesus gives us His own body and blood to assure us of His forgiveness and love, as He sends us out, refreshed and renewed by Him, into the world. This is why, even during vacation time, it’s important for us to make time for worship.

Jesus says to every one of us, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Mt 11:28–30). Jesus desires us to be refreshed, and we can rest in Him. He’s always waiting and longing for us to turn to Him, and He welcomes each of us, despite our burdens, our hurts, our fears, and our issues, and wants to renew us and make us stronger.

Let me suggest a few strategies for a Sabbath rest, or a spiritual vacation. First, make time daily to be in God’s Word. I’m not suggesting that you read 10 chapters a day. Just allow God’s Word to impact your heart and life. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly! Secondly, make time for prayer, and not just a wish-list kind of praying, but one that includes meditation, and actually listening for God’s direction. Thirdly, find a time for some quiet, apart from others, apart from the noise of the television or radio, disconnected from a phone, and just practice silence. Start with five minutes, and move to ten, then 15. Clearing your mind of the world’s troubles, really opening your mind for God’s Spirit to speak to, can actually be very restful.

Personally, I would also suggest planning regular times to do something other than what you normally do. For some that may be volunteering at your parish. For others, who work in the parish, it may be volunteering elsewhere, like a food bank or school or someplace where you can have an impact beyond what is normal. Maybe it would be joining a gym or a book club. Do something that gets you out into your community so that you can be a witness for Jesus in a new place. You may be amazed at how rejuvenating it can be, and it may even help you appreciate the place God has called you to serve.

A Sabbath rest is a gift from God. Just as the physical body needs a break, so spiritually, we need to enter into that place where God can renew us by His Word and Sacrament and strengthen us for all He has for us still to do. I hope you get some vacation time this summer, and that you come back to your “normal” life well rested and energized for engaging in the Master’s business, whatever that happens to be for you. Rest well, my friends! There’s still work to be done for Jesus!

Resting in Him,
Greg

Anxious? No need to Worry!

Dear Friends,

The excitement is building around the District Office. In eleven more days people will begin arriving for the 32^nd Regular Convention of the Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For me, personally, this is like a family reunion of sorts. People who are connected by Jesus to connect people to Jesus will all come together in Orlando for a few days of celebration and work. There is certainly work that will be done, but we also hope to maintain an atmosphere of celebration throughout our time as we together engage in the Master’s business.

I can tell you from my experience that Conventions can build a little anxiety. There are so many details that need to be attended to. However, I find comfort in reminding myself that it’s all about seeking first the Kingdom of God. If your life is at all like mine, it can often be filled with a bit of anxiety. There are so many things to worry about in life. Whether its family issues, financial stability, home repairs, car repairs, work struggles, faith struggles, just to name a few. Many of us struggle with anxiety.

In Matthew 6 Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Mt 6:25–34.

How are we to understand these words in a practical way? I believe that they remind us that God has made promises to us, beginning in the waters of Baptism. He chose us, and cleansed us, and claims us as His very own by grace. This means that by His unmerited grace the whole Kingdom of heaven belongs to us. We are His precious children and we can place our trust in Him, not just when things are going our way, but especially when they aren’t. The testimony of Scripture gives us great encouragement. Even when it seems as if God is absent, He is not. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God was with them every step along the way, every battle, every success, upholding them, offering them hope. Even in King David’s darkest days he knew that he could praise God for His blessings. Following the Resurrection, after the disciples received the Spirit on Pentecost, we find they no longer cowered in fear. In fact, look at how Peter and John react after being imprisoned for healing the lame man at the temple. When they are released they don’t hide, or protest or create a scene for being thrown in prison unfairly. Instead, they go back among the rest of the Apostles and they all pray for boldness to continue to proclaim Jesus (Acts 4:23-31). Certainly the Apostle Paul could understand anxiety and worry. Yet, as he was imprisoned for his faith in Jesus, he didn’t waste time worrying about tomorrow. He began to witness to the guards, and actually converted some.

Life is filled with challenges. God has promised to care for our needs. He says that He won’t leave us, will never forsake us, will walk along side of each believer to strengthen us in our faith. He says, in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” He has great purpose for each of us, and He will provide the way for us to carry it out as we remain in Him.

In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” As we abide in Jesus, even during the difficult times, He promises to abide in us. His purpose is so that we can bear much fruit! We can’t do that effectively apart from Jesus. When I lived in North Georgia we had four peach trees on our property and two apple trees. What I learned is the joy I received in growing and nurturing fruit isn’t simply to benefit me or the fruit itself. In other words, the fruit gains no benefit by simply hanging on the tree. The real joy of the fruit was seen as I was able to give it away to others. I saw how it fed critters at times, as well as bees who helped to pollinate other plants, not to mention the many people who received peaches and apples. Here’s the point—fruit is meant to benefit others. Jesus wants us to bear much fruit, not for our own benefit, but to bless others because He knows that as others are blessed we receive blessing as well, and Jesus is glorified in it all. This is what happens when we get our focus right, seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness. He’ll take care of all the rest!

So face those fears and anxieties with confidence. If God is for us, who can be against us? We have a Savior who went all the way to the cross to show us the depth of His commitment to each of us. We can be certain that the One who called us also sends us to engage in the Master’s business—to bear much fruit for the sake of others. We do this as we fix our eyes on Jesus, looking to Him daily, despite our failings and frailties, realizing that only in Him and by abiding in Him can we bear fruit! In Him we have the assurance of forgiveness and new life, and trusting in Him we don’t need to allow anxiety and worry to get the upper hand in our lives. As they say, “Don’t worry, be happy,” and we can be filled with joy and boldness for today as we abide in Jesus and seek His Kingdom. Let tomorrow be anxious about itself!

With you in the Master’s business,

Greg

Call to Serve

Dear Friends,

I just returned from Placement Services for Vicars and Candidates in Ft. Wayne and St. Louis. It’s an exhausting trip, but one that leaves you filled with joy, and hope for the future. We saw 111 eager vicars receive their assignments to congregations across the United States. We received five of six requested vicars. These men, and their wives, will participate in a year of practical, hands-on learning experiences in a congregational ministry, benefitting from a mentoring relationship from a seasoned pastor. These congregations are carefully chosen to provide the best overall ministry experience for these men, assisting in their preparation for pastoral formation.

We also placed 97 men into the Holy ministry for their first call. They heard the same words I heard when I was first called, from 1 Peter 5, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” They joined a band of humble servants—shepherds of the Good Shepherd, caring for God’s sheep!

Many of these congregations have been eagerly awaiting the Call service for many months, and in some cases several years. I can only imagine the joy these congregations experienced as they learned the news. Unfortunately not everyone who applied for a candidate received one. There were more calls than candidates! It just points to the fact that we are not preparing as many men as we once did for holy ministry. Couple that with the fact that we are seeing a wave of pastors beginning to retire, and the number of pastors that experience burnout on a regular basis, it signals our need to creatively address the issues that face us as congregations dwindle and fewer pastors are available to serve them.

For far too long the church has become inwardly focused. As I learn the history of many of our congregations the vast majority of them were founded with a desire to reach more people with the good news of Jesus and how He died for our sins to bring us into relationship with Himself.   Many began with service to the community.  We, in the LCMS, were once known as an evangelistic church, reaching out to the helpless and hurting with the love and grace of Jesus. In fact, there are over 300 Lutheran social service agencies that were organized to respond to the needs of all kinds of people with the love of Jesus. As these pastors were called, the preachers charged them with loving not only their congregation, but also their community. They were charged to see the hurts and needs of people all around them, and to serve their community. It was really a call to be incarnational—the very presence of Jesus in a hurting world.

I suspect that most of the pastors reading this can recall call night. It’s an unforgettable life event for most of us. While I couldn’t tell you who preached or what was said, I can tell you about how Edith and I anticipated with great joy the opportunity to serve Jesus full time and tell people about His love and forgiveness. Of course, there was that, and then also the knowledge of what would set the course of our post-graduate life, when we all learned where we would be living. It’s an anxious time, contemplating where God would be sending us, and then asking why! I can still remember thinking we were going “home,” back to New York, in fact being convinced in our minds that as this was pleasing to us, it had to be pleasing to God too. Someone has said that if you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans…

What I didn’t fully grasp then, and still struggle to comprehend at times, is that you can always trust Gods plan. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” While this is true for pastors receiving their first call, it’s really true for every one of us. God has created each of us with purpose and He has unique plans for each of us. Concordia Seminary in St. Louis uses, as its motto, “to equip the saints for works of service,” from Ephesians 4.

The role of the Pastor isn’t to DO ministry, but rather to equip God’s people to do ministry. By the way, that also doesn’t exclude the pastor from living as an example of a life of service. It’s a partnership, pastor and people together, proclaiming the forgiveness and grace of Jesus. That’s why our focus for at least the next three years is to engage in the Master’s business. One of the most important things we can do is to serve the community in which God has placed us. This, again, isn’t only for the pastor, but for all of God’s baptized children. Each of us has been chosen, in grace, to represent Jesus in the world. Certainly that includes the church, but it is also pointed at the world beyond the church to those who have not yet heard. The opportunities around us are staggering. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few; pray the Lord of the harvest to embolden you to be a proclaimer of Jesus. As we share the grace and love of Jesus with a sin-filled world, many will be eternally grateful for their new life. Then you will have some idea of the excitement and eagerness of these new pastors and vicars who are preparing to serve Jesus.

Call day is a highlight on the seminary campus. It’s a special call, set aside for those who will serve in pastoral ministry. However, each of us also has a call. Our call, in partnership with your pastor, is to reach the world for Jesus, starting in the communities in which God has placed us. May the Lord prepare us as we work together, engaged in the Master’s Business, equipping, empowering and engaging to connect people to Jesus!

Serving Jesus with you,

Greg

April Fools for Jesus

April Fools for Jesus!