ADVENT; Promised through Prophets

Jeremiah 33:14-16
New International Version (NIV)
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.“‘In those days and at that time    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
    he will do what is just and right in the land.In those days Judah will be saved    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’

'Prophet, Priest, and Pirate' is the name of this blog. Jesus is out prophet (John 12:50), our high priest (Heb.4:14-16), and our king (John 18:36). He calls us all (John 20:21), if we follow Him to also be prophets (Joel 2:28-29) in the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:4-9) and heirs and participants in His kingdom (1 John 3:1-3).

The first candle on the Advent wreath is the Prophets' candle. One thing that followers of this blog may know bugs the heck outta me is that Americans seem to think that prophets magically predict the future. That's not prophecy, its divination, which God strictly prohibits in Leviticus 19:26. Seeking out signs and omens to predict the future is a sin because God wants us to trust Him and know that He will be with us in the future and take care of us.

Prophecy, on the other hand, is delivering God's Word, His message. Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, Joel, Malachi, Micah, and Zechariah- they all announced and declared the coming messiah- not by divination, but because God gave them His promise, and they repeated them.

When we share that God promises to love us, and He sent his Son Jesus as a sacrifice for us, to save us, forgive us, and stay with us, we are being prophets.

Advent Devotion: His name is our name too

14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15 " 'In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.

16 In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.'

-Jeremiah 33:14-16

Usually at Christmas, we think of the baby Jesus, being born into the family of mankind, God incarnated in lowly flesh. But it's important to remember why He did it- not so that He could be in our dysfunctional family, but so that we could become a part of His, complete, whole, perfectly loving family. 1 John 3:1a declares "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"

When a child is adopted, they receive the last name of their adoptive family. You are no longer a John or Jane "Doe," unaffiliated, unclaimed, unknown, unassociated. Once adopted, you are no longer unsafe or unsaved.

Because Jesus was born on Christmas, and died for our sins on Good Friday and defeated sin, death, and the Devil on Easter morning- we are adopted as God's children. Christ isn't really a last name, it's a title- it means "anointed one." To be anointed means to be set aside for God's special purpose. To be "Christians" (little-Christs) means that we inherit that same purpose, the purpose is sharing God's love and the good news of His forgiveness through Jesus- our purpose is to enlarge the family.

Having the right name can make all the difference. In the movie "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" a group of New York teenagers spend all night trying to find the club that their favorite band will play. Most people have to stand in lines outside, few get past the bouncers- but Nora can get her friends in every time. The reason is because she's the daughter of a famous music producer with lots of connections. Her name gets her perks.

In Jeremiah 33, God promised a new branch in His family tree and He gives us His name as our new name- "The Lord is our righteousness." Without Jesus, none of us could ever be holy or worthy to be set aside for His purposes, let alone be His child. But once adopted, He no longer sees our own lack of righteousness, He IS our righteousness.

This Christmas, remember the Christ part of the holiday's name, because it is also OUR name if we are adopted into His family. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"

---

Know someone who's adopted? Pray for them this Christmas.

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy? Adoption is a beautiful choice. Give your baby the gift of life and the gift of a loving family who're looking for a child to love and care for.

Got love and resources to share? Be like Joseph the carpenter from Nazareth, consider adopting or becoming a foster parent.

http://www.lfsiowa.org - Lutheran Family Services of Iowa

http://www.christianadopt.org - Christian Adoption Services

Prophet, Priest, and Martin Luther King

A Prophet- is one who speaks for God to the people, sometimes it's inspirational or encouraging, other times it's an admonishment, meant to bring contrition and repentance. Always it brings wisdom and insight for our time.

That was Martin, a writer, a speaker, a pundit and political activist.

A Priest- is an advocate and and intercessor on behalf of the people to God. They counsel, they represent us like a defense attorney before God who requires justice. The ancient priests presented the animal sacrifice and the offerings, since Jesus fulfills any and all sacrifice or penitence, we now as a "priesthood of all believers" ( 1 Peter 2:5-9) pray for others and ask God to help others.

That was Martin, a pastor, a theologian, a community organizer, a spiritual leader

Was MLK kind of a Pirate?- Insofar as he broke with tradition and convention. Insofar as he broke unjust laws and stood against the establishment and entrenched and corrupt institutions. Moses, a prince of Egypt, demanded an end to slavery. Jesus exposed the hypocrisies of the religious and political leaders of His time. Martin Luther stood against the corruption, political power and arrogance of the church of the Renaissance. And Martin Luther King Jr. followed suite, using love, logic and nonviolence to resist the passionate anger and ignorance of American Apartheid. A rogues' gallery of pirates, for sure.

Americans tend to think of Kings as figureheads or tyrants, but the Biblical model of a godly King is someone who leads by example and executes God's plans. Someone who is willing to be God's hands and feet, ministering and protecting, shepherding and watching over- all the while walking a walk that others ought to follow. Barack Obama is encouraging Americans to emulate Dr. King's example by volunteering to serve others today, helping the poor and the oppressed. And Dr. King was only emulating Jesus' example, of feeding the hungry, offering drink to the thirsty, healing and comforting the sick, visiting the prisoners, caring for the widows the orphans and the aliens.

This Martin Luther King Day, we can all participate in his dream and make his dream live on, by reaching out to those who are different from us, by not being afraid of them or feeling threatened by them, by seeking to understand them and to share ourselves with them. Maybe it's reaching across gender lines, political party, or socio-economic lines, maybe it's sexual preference or identity, maybe it's nationality or culture, maybe it's race. We should find out how we are alike and try to (as Jesus taught) treat them as we would like to be treated.

But we can also fulfill the dream by, like Dr. King tried to, emulating Jesus' example and fulfill the destiny He gave us by dying for us, by His resurrection, and by sending us His Holy Spirit- to be His sons and daughters, so join Him in His ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20) by each of us being Prophets, Priests, and Kings & Queens- and Pirates, when necessary!


Painting by Br. Robert Lentz, a religious icon painter. He comes from a Russian Orthodox background and is now a Franciscan friar who serves at All Saints Church in Houston, Texas. In addition to his painting and clerical work, he writes and teaches on art and spirituality across the country.

Happy Pentecost

Just a few words about one of the three most important holidays in the Church year. I feel guilty for this being almost a passing thought. Pentecost truly should be as celebrated as Christmas and Easter. We Lutherans especially, it seems tend to overlook the third person of the Trinity. Many mainline Christians seem to think of Him as an it, something God fills you with, as opposed to an equal godhead with the Father and the Son. What a shame, so much that we leave to "Pentecostals" and "Charismatics" who we write off as somehow "fringe" Christians. How much we forfeit that might have been ours.

It seems to me that it's fitting that Pentecost falls on Memorial Day weekend this year, because in my mind, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-21 is analogous to democracy. Just as the Age of Enlightenment and the American revolution made every citizen an active participant in their government, replacing the previous practice of "Divine rite of kings," so the coming of the Holy Spirit brought (See also Joel Chapter 2) about meant that rather than God's Spirit descending upon any one individual prophet (say Elija), Priest (say Aaron) or king (like David)- He lives in each and every Christian believer, anointing all of us for Divine service, as...

• Prophets- speaking Gods' Word
• Priests- interceding on behalf of others with God (say in prayer for instance)
• and as Kings- leading by example, letting God's Kingdom come in and through us as His servants

Personally, I read Martin Luther's "Babylonian Captivity of the Church" to say that the "office of public ministry" is really no more than just another vocation wherein we are all the King-of-King's ministers, but I suppose I'd better be careful with that one because I'll no doubt irk some Missouri Synod clergy as toying with heresy- but hey, when Luther postulated that Jesus built His Kingdom on the foundation of Peter's confession, rather than on Peter- blowing away the Roman Catholic dogma of the Divine right of priestly succession, Rome considered Luther a heretic.

But I digress, the point is, Pentecost, the birthday of the Church ushered in a sort of democratization of a relationship with God. No longer did people have to go to some temple on some mountain and have a priest intercede for them, but instead each of us can approach the throne of God with confidence because first Jesus removed our sins and then, because we were justified, the Holy Spirit could come in and God could not only live among us, but could live in us.

Mind you, it's just an analogy. German philosophers like Hagel tried to come up with some hair brained theory of the Holy Spirit as something called the "Zeitgeist" where through out history certain nations or nationalities were possessed by God, first the Egyptians then the Jews, then He experimented with one man in Jesus, then the Germans (thus the Nazi brand of holy nationalism- yikes!) So needless to say, we should be careful when we claim to speak with the authority of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that's why mainstream denominations like Lutherans cower away from the Spirit, and cling to hierarchies and quasi-political structures and "offices" and orders- because we fear the cult of personality that has led many a televangelist astray.

At any rate, whatever danger may come, I pray:
Come Holy Spirit,
Come
Live in Your Church members
So that we might go forth and proclaim Jesus' victory
as Your servant prophets,
Your servant priesthood of all believers,
and as sons and daughters of the one true King!
In the name of the Father, the Son, and You, the Holy Spirit, three-in-one
Amen

First week in Advent

HOPE

“And HOPE does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” ~Romans 5:5

Hope is so important. We all get depressed, especially this time of year. Without hope, we’re lost. Suicide rates rise this time of year because people lose hope.

I know you might just be tempted to avoid watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” again this season because you’ve seen it a million times and it’s become cliché’, but I want you to make a point of watching it again and this time keep reminding yourself that it’s a religious movie.

That’s right. It’s a religious movie. It’s all about faith, worth, hope, and love. George was desperate and depressed. He thought he was worth more dead than a live and attempted suicide. God sent Clarence the angel to give George hope. By showing him how much God had used him throughout his life, Clarence helped restore George’s faith that he had hope no matter how dire his situation. Even more so because he had given hope to so many people throughout his life without even realizing it, you reap what you sow (Galations 6:7).

You have worth, belonging, usefulness, importance, AND hope. For every recession there is eventually a recovery. Every war ends, every storm ends, it’s just hard to remember that while you’re in the midst of it. God used George Bailey of Bedford Falls as His instrument for good. Will you let God use you to share the hope of Christmas with others?

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer:

Thank you, Holy Spirit

for filling us with a hope that won’t let us down. Thank you Lord, for including me in Your plans. Please help me to live with that hope and to share Your hope with others.

I love You, Jesus,
Amen.

First week in Advent

HOPE

“…we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But HOPE that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

~Romans 8:23b-25

It’s not always easy to wait is it? It seems like the whole month of December is all about waiting. When we were kids we started waiting for Santa Claus. If you’re in high school or college, you might be counting down the days until vacation! Then you wait for family gatherings or friends’ parties. After Christmas we wait for New Year’s. On New Year’s Eve we wait for midnight. Then it’s only a matter of time till its back to school.

Thousands wait in line at stores and airports. We’re still waiting to receive some of the gifts we ordered for people on the internet to be shipped to us…

But what does it mean to wait eagerly for our adoption? For the redemption of our bodies?

It’s part of the “Now-Not-Yet” principle of prophecy.

Jesus has come and has defeated death and Satan, yet He is still coming again and will remove Satan and eliminate death once and for all. Hitler was doomed as of D-Day (June 6, 1944), but WWII didn’t quite end in Europe until V-E Day (May 8, 1945). When the Marines landed on Omaha Beach, millions of people were still stuck in concentration camps, waiting to be freed.

We already have salvation and a reconciled relationship with God thanks to Easter, but we continue to hope for Jesus’ SECOND coming promised in Revelation 20: 3-4 when God will live with us. We will be His people, and God Himself will be with us, He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

That kind of hope can get us through the hardest times. When I was depressed and exhausted by the worst summer jobs or the most difficult classes in school, I KNEW that it wouldn’t last forever. The summer would end and I could go back to school to escape that awful job. The semester would end and I’d swallow the poor grade and get to take a different class, hopefully one I’d enjoy more.

The point is I didn’t WISH the bad times would eventually end, I KNEW they would. That’s what real hope means. A genuine light at the end of the tunnel, but just a light, not the end. If there were no light, there’d be no hope. But if it were the exit already, you wouldn’t need hope. That’s the “Now-Not-Yet” principle.

Advent and Christmas are all about hope. We celebrate them to remind us that we only have to suffer in this world for a little while longer, Jesus is on His way.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

This Advent, help us to remember that we’re not just waiting for Christmas 2004 to arrive.

We are celebrating the victory that You have already won,

while waiting eagerly for you to liberate us from this corrupt and dying world,

our own frail and fickle flesh,

and the taunts and temptations of the defeated Devil.

Come Lord Jesus,

Amen.

First week in Advent

HOPE

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their HOPE in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their HOPE in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” ~1 Timothy 6:17

What do you hope Santa will bring you this Christmas? As a parent, I really hope that our daughters enjoy the presents that we’re getting them this year.

During the Vietnam War, ex Beatle John Lennon wrote a modern holiday classic.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun! The near and the dear ones, the old and the young. A very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Let's hope it's good one, without any fear.

Lennon hoped that the war in Vietnam would end. Unfortunately, as long as there are people, there will be wars.

As Christians, we have hope, even during times of war, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4, “we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

In his letter to Timothy, Paul told the young pastor to make sure that the members of his congregation didn’t get too wrapped up in the temporary things of this world. Presents are not what Christmas is all about. Even “peace on earth” isn’t what Christmas is all about- not peace as we know it anyway.

True peace, the peace which passes all understanding, comes from hope. The hope that there is eternal life, eternal enjoyment, and eternal peace – an end to our spiritual war with God.

My hope for you is not that you get what you WANT for Christmas (presents, money clothes, etc.) Instead, I hope you get what you NEED; Faith, Hope, Love, and Peace in Jesus.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Please protect our soldiers overseas this Advent.
Especially the ones in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea.
Boost their morale, Lord.
Remind them of the hope that eventually their tour of duty will end and they’ll get to come home to their families.
Help us to put our hope in You, not in money, toys, gifts, things, or even noble things like peace, but only in you.

I love you Jesus,
Amen.

First week in Advent

HOPE - PROPRHETS -DISCIPLESHIP

“also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

~Romans 5:3-5

You might have noticed that I have three words at the top of these devotions. The first is the theme that the candles represent, the second is the Biblical characters used to represent each theme. The third word that I’ve decided to add, represents each of the five purposes from the best-selling Christian book,‘A Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren. I think that these purposes fit in perfectly with the candles of the advent wreath.

Warren contends that in the Great Commandment (Matt 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20), Jesus gives us five reasons for living. Five things that Jesus did on Earth and we should be doing as members of the Body of Christ (the Church on Earth).

Discipleship - you were created to become like Christ.
Fellowship - you were formed to be part of God's family.
Ministry - you were shaped for God's service.
Worship - you were planned for God's pleasure.
Mission - you were made to tell others about Christ.

A disciple is someone who follows a discipline. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a discipline is a field of study, a training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character, or a prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior.

If we follow Jesus, study His Word, and practice Spiritual disciplines like prayer, praise and meditating on God’s Word He will fill us with hope. But those things take work. Just like physical training for a sport. No pain, no gain.

Need help becoming self-disciplined enough to spend time with God everyday? Try Soul Journey they have cool daily devotions that you might want to check out- especially once Advent is over and I stop sending these to you!

Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi studied God’s Word and followed His ways even before Christ came. They persevered in cultures that ridiculed and rejected them. They held onto the hope that God would send His Son.

During Advent we hope that the baby Jesus will come at Christmas, but we also hope He will return in Glory to renew all of creation. Right here, right now, we hope He will live in us and speak through us.

But if we are going to have any hope at all, we must follow Him

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

This Advent, I want to be Your disciple and your prophet.
Draw me into spending time with You- in Your Word and in prayer-time.
Teach me Your ways and mold my character,
so that I can be someone you speak through
and so that I can have the kind of hope that does not disappoint.

Thank you Jesus,

Amen.

First week in Advent

HOPE - PROPHETS - DISCIPLESHIP

“14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.”

~1 Peter 3:14-15a

There are five candles in an advent wreath. 3 purple or blue, and one pink on the wreath itself, and one white one in the center. Advent means coming. It is a season when we prepare for Jesus’ arrival. Purple symbolizes both His royalty and our repentance. The evergreen or holly wreath symbolizes both the eternal life He brings and the crown of thorns He wore to win it for us.

Each week a new candle is lit. each candle represents something.

The first candle is the “Prophets’ Candle.” It represents the hope that the people of Israel in the Bible had that someday their Messiah would finally come. His coming was predicted in the Old Testament by the prophets.

A prophet is not a psychic. A prophet is someone who speaks for God. Whenever we talk about God or His love for us, we are being prophets.

Last year kids from St. John’s Lutheran Youth Fellowship joined 600 other high school students from 60 different Iowa congregations in Des Moines last weekend for the annual District Youth Gathering.

The theme of the event was a Steven Curtis Chapman song, “Live Out Loud.”

We were reminded of who we are, loved and forgiven children of God. We were then challenged to live like who we really are without embarrassment, without hiding our love for Jesus. May your hope live out loud this Christmas.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

This Advent, please remind me of the hope I have in You.

Help me to “Live Out Loud” for you

and to be prepared to explain where my hope comes from.

Thank you Jesus,

Amen.