Sermon for the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Ordination of Rev. Stephen P. Starke

The Church Season of Trinity

Trinity 6, (Pentecost 8)

St. Peter and St. Paul Apostles

25^th Anniversary of Rev. Stephen P. Starke’s Ordination

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Amelith, MI June 29, 2008

“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

Readings: Psalm 100

Acts 15:1-12

Gal. 2:1-10

Matthew 16:13-20

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The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 16^th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses,

Matthew 16:13-20 (NIV)

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ “But what about you?” (Jesus) he asked. “Who do you say I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Members of St. John Lutheran Church, fellow Pastors, honored guests, friends, and family. Pat, and the entire Starke family, and my dear, dear brother in Christ, the Reverend Stephen Starke...

Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from the Father,

and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

A few years ago Pastor Starke and I found ourselves in the city of Wittenberg, Germany in the place of Martin Luther’s home which is now a museum. As we viewed the historical writings, the documents, and artwork relating to the life of the great theologian Martin Luther and as we contemplated Luther’s impact which led to the Protestant Reformation, we came upon a larger than life-size statue of Moses. There chiseled in marble was Moses with staff in one hand, the tablets of the Law in the other. This was an awesome statue of Moses the patriarch who parted the Red Sea, who led the Israelites out of slavery, who received the ten commandments etched by the very finger of God. And as we stood there gazing at that statue I quickly noted to Pastor Starke a possibly un-noticed detail in the very room. How unusual, I commented to Pastor Starke, that in this very room, right behind the statue of Moses, there was hanging on the wall, a rather large fire extinguisher. There was the man Moses, who was chosen to be God’s spokesman, and to whom God spoke from a burning bush. Yet next to his side was a fire extinguisher placed there by a man who wanted to be ready to snuff out any burning flames. Upon hearing my comment and without thinking for even a moment, Steve’s only remark to me was, “Larry, you and I think differently.”

How true it is, we do think differently. But it is not only I, but many who are not capable of the lofty thoughts and words which Pastor Starke carefully crafts into hymnodic poetry. He writes hymns that will stand the test of time, for he knits and weaves together in blessed verse the magnitude of Christ’s life and the heavenly gifts which Christ bestows upon us. And these verses which are sung by God’s Saints here on earth give answer to Jesus Christ’s question in our Gospel lesson today,

“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

Over the last 25 years, Pastor Starke has continually written words which not only answer Christ’s question, but they also speak, they sing to the very souls of men. And in every occasion the words of his carefully crafted hymns, points sin stricken souls to the splendid glory of Christ enthroned at God’s right hand. Over thirty hymns in our new hymnal, over 200 hymns and counting throughout his entire pastorate. Each and everyone of these hymns without exception, have been written to the Glory of God, enjoining all who would sing these verses that, “We Praise You, and Acknowledge You, O God to be the LORD,” proclaiming not us, but that it is Christ who is the great, “I am.”

Those who know Pastor Starke, know that accolades do not sit well him, and he is probably rustling in his chair at this very moment. But know that his collected hymns are bound in a volume with a cover inscribed with the title, “O Sing of Christ” which also displays Christ’s Name and Christ’s cross. Steve has chosen this cover in a time and in an age when it would have been all too common to take the more familiar ground of printing a portrait of himself. But rather than binding his works with self promoting artwork, even here Pastor Starke points to Christ who cannot be bound by earthly works.

In today’s second reading St. Paul’s comments about earthly works. In his letter to the church in Galatia, St. Paul speaks of a great battle regarding earthly works which occurred, “because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.” And St. Paul further states, “ ⁵ We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.”(Gal. 2:4-5) Here St. Paul stands firm in the truth of the gospel and in so doing proclaims and reflects the obligation, the responsibility, and the honorable task that a man undertakes when he is called to be an under shepherd of Jesus Christ. And while this is a blessed calling, a noble task, it is not an easy one. For the world we live in desires the clatter of busyness and change. But as Martin Luther stated about those who would add to or revise the Gospel, “They do not base their theology on the objective divine truth, but on subjective human opinions. They all have something to sell. Their aim is not to reveal Christ and His mystery, but their own mystery.” (St. L. XIV:397)

Repent. For in Jesus Christ you have been given a gentle Shepherd, and He has given you a pastor, an under-shepherd, who cares for God’s people and is not a slave to public whims or tributes or any other earthly works. Rather in all that he says and does, Steve proclaims the heavenly works of Jesus Christ, faithfully answering Christ’s question, “Who do you say that I am?”

He answers through his commitment to the Holy Scriptures, to the historic Lutheran Confessions and to our rich Lutheran liturgy which not only speaks to past generations, but to this generation, and to the generations to come. Pastor Starke faithfully responds to Christ, by feeding his flock when he reads the Gospel of Jesus Christ in rooms filled not with hundreds or thousands, rather he points to Christ in rooms inhabited by the sick, by the lonely, by the despondent, and the dying. Whether it be in the light of day or the middle of the night, these are not crowded rooms, but to most people these are forgotten places. But the devoted shepherd faithfully goes to those rooms where only two or three may be gathered because where the Gospel is proclaimed there Christ is and Martin Luther would add, “where Christ is there He always goes against the flow.”

Your pastor responds to Christ, by feeding his flock with the true body and blood of Jesus Christ who upon the cross gave His life for you so that all your sins may be forgiven, so that your faith may be renewed and refreshed. Your Pastor responds to Christ by baptizing God’s people with the water combined with God’s Word just as he does today. And while the name of this Pastor or the name of Pastor who baptized you fades as the years pass by, the Name of Christ which was placed both upon your forehead and upon your heart will never fade. For in your baptism you are marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified, and so you are forever enjoined with all Christ’s saints who sing not of themselves but who, “Sing of Christ!”

Pastor Starke, mein Christlicher Bruder, my beloved brother in Christ, my beloved brother in the Holy Ministry, my family and I are extremely blessed to know you. You have a loving caring and supportive wife Pat who has stood by your side all these years, and you have been blessed with wonderful children. May God continue to grant you a long and blessed ministry in the service of His people.

Dear members of St. John Lutheran Church, in the Reverend Stephen Starke, his wife Pat, and his family you have received a wonderful blessing from God who has given you a loving and faithful shepherd. God has blessed you with a Pastor who points not to what he has done, nor does he point to that which the people of this world think they need. Rather he points you to Christ through his brilliant poetry which shines the light of the Gospel to those in this age and ages to come. And while your Pastor has faithfully fed his flock with the Word and Sacraments, also know that he has fed and is feeding many others even as we speak. For in the radiance of his compassionate hymnody, Pastor Starke reflects the shining light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to countless congregations throughout this country and beyond. These and all the voices who sing Starke hymns are joined together in proclaiming the depth, the richness, and the glory of Jesus Christ who died on the cross so that we may live.

It is somewhat obscure family story but a very important one, that Pastor Starke’s Father Eugene and his beloved mother Dorothy always arrived very early for church on Sunday morning. And while they sat there silently in devotion before church would begin, a young Steve Starke thumbed through the hymnal reading and learning hymn after hymn, stowing away in his mind words and tunes, meter and verse. Now Steve pens his own hymns making painstakingly certain that the focal point is always upon Christ’s work alone. And so in his hymns and in his faithful pastoral ministry of over 25 years, he answers Jesus Christ who asks, “Who do you say that I AM?” In Pastor Starke’s, words,

“You, Jesus, You alone deserve all glory!

Our lives unfold, embraced within Your story,

past, present, future-You, the same forever-

You fail us never!”(LSB 667)

To which we the saints on earth can only join in saying. AMEN!

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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Sermon for the Installation of Rev. Jeffery Frechette Sr.

The Church Season of Pentecost

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, LSB Proper 6, Three Year Series

The Installation of the Reverend Jeff Frechette, Sr.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Roseville, MI (June 15, 2008)

“he had compassion on them”

Readings: Psalm 100
Exodus 19:2-8
Romans 5:6-15
Matthew 9:35 – 10:20

Sermon Form Deductive

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The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 9^th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses:

Matthew 9:35-10:20 (NIV)

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, fellow Pastor’s, honored guests, friends, and family. Laurie, Emma, Jeffery, and my dear, dear brother in Christ, the Reverend Jeff Frechette...

Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Jeff, or more appropriately, Pastor Frechette. Today is a day, that at times, you and your family thought would either never get here or couldn’t come soon enough. Tomorrow is a day that you will face with respect, fear, and trepidation. And quite frankly, if you’re not even a little bit nervous about what you will face in coming days, then you would certainly not be human. But you are indeed human, and you are worthy and well prepared for the awesome duty and responsibility of being an under-shepherd of Christ, and being the Shepherd of this flock here in this place.

Dear members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, I met your new pastor late one night as he came out of the chapel of the Fort Wayne Seminary. On that night, Jeff had just been assigned to serve his vicarage church, his one year internship, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion, Michigan. Jeff and Laurie, Emma, and Jeffrey were all smiles just like they are right now, ready to go on a new adventure. I was the “old” Vicar at St. Paul, finishing my year, ready to hand off the torch to this new guy. I had spent a year there, and I learned so much from those people those treasured saints of God. I was praying that the “new” Vicar would serve these people well. Little did I know at that time, at that very moment, history was repeating itself. For not so many months later I would have to admit, just like St. John the Baptist, that I was not even worthy to tie the sandals of this man’s feet. God had sent the right man, to the right place, at the right time, to care and have compassion for His people. For God saw His people and...

“he had compassion on them”

Today, God has sent the right man, to the right place, at the right time, to care and have compassion for His people here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. In our Gospel lesson, “Jesus Christ went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”(v. 35) And on His journey of teaching and preaching, Jesus saw what others could not or did not want to see. He saw that His people were, “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”(v. 36) And so Jesus gathered together those who He called from their vocations, their jobs, and Jesus called them into His service. Those twelve apostle’s came from various positions, one was a tax collector, some were fishermen, another was a Pharisee, literally men from all walks of life. And none of these men came with theological or academic credentials a mile long, nor were they sent out by Christ with any of those things either. The point is that Jesus called twelve men endowed with differing gifts, and He sanctified and purified their natural gifts and abilities for His service. In the same way Christ has called you Jeff, from your former career to serve, care, and to have compassion on His people.

And from our reading we know that the apostles were sent out with compassion and to do this they were given authority from Christ Himself. Jesus would say to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”(Mt. 28:18) This is the same authority, Christ has conferred to you Pastor Frechette. You are called and given this awesome authority and with it comes awesome responsibility.

In our Old Testament lesson, God gave Moses awesome authority and responsibility as He called Moses to speak to His people. And God, through the lips of Moses would tell His people that “they were a treasured possession” and that “they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”(Ex. 19:5) And so these people heard God’s Word from Moses’ mouth and scripture tells us that, “The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the LORD has said.’”(Ex. 19:8) Here is a lesson of the difference between the promises of God and the words of man. For in these few verses we see that God’s promises are always kept, and the words of promise from men are all too easily broken.

Jeff as a Pastor, you are called to speak and to proclaim God’s Word to your people and to all who would hear. And you will hear them respond to you over and over again saying, “We will do everything the LORD has said.”(Ex 19:8) But the truth of the matter is that not a single one of them is telling the truth, and for that matter no human, whether sitting in a congregation, or whether standing in a pulpit can say they are without sin. For if they do, they “deceive themselves and the truth is not in them.”(1 John 1:8) But this indeed will happen, neither some of the truth, nor part of the truth, nor the whole truth or anything like the truth will always be told. And as a pastor, when this does happen, you will know that it is because all God’s people of their own will and accord are harassed and helpless from the forces of evil and satan himself. You as the Shepherd of this flock are called to defend the Gospel by having compassion on them, by “teaching them, by rebuking and correcting them, and training them in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16)

And I will say without hesitation that I know you to be a wonderful servant of God and of His people. The German word for this caring compassionate pastor is Seelsorger. The word Seelsorger does not translate well into English, we often translate the word as Pastor, but Pastor is not nearly enough to explain what it means. It means one who comforts and cares for the souls of God’s people. I know you will comfort and have compassion on the souls of God’s people here by proclaiming to them the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the Gospel reveals the ultimate care and compassion of God Himself. And as the good shepherd of this flock you will convey God’s compassion for the souls of His people when you preach His Holy Word. You will convey His compassion for the souls of His people when you forgive repentant sinners and as you teach and seek out those who would not repent. You will convey Christ’s compassion as you baptize with the water and God’s Word all those who have been brought to faith by God’s free grace. You will convey compassion as you administer the Sacrament of the Holy Supper of our Lord to those who come to be fed and to have their faith renewed and refreshed. You will have compassion on the souls of this flock as you read the scripture to those who are homebound, or in hospital beds, and even to those who are on their deathbeds. For in all these places you will not point to that which you have, but rather you will point to Christ the one who had compassion for His people. For Jesus Christ had so much compassion for His people, He cared for their souls so much, that He drank the cup which His Father had given to Him, and that was to die for us on the cross. And in that ultimate act of compassion Jesus gave His life for us so that our sins may be forgiven.

Pastor Frechette, Jeff my dear brother in Christ, my brother in the Holy Ministry, I and my family are extremely blessed to know you, and equally blessed to know your family too. Do not forget that your family is your part of your flock too. Take time, make time to feed them with your love, care, and comfort because they need you not only as pastor, but they need you as their husband and father too. May God grant you a long and blessed ministry in service to His people.

Dear members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in the Reverend Jeff Frechette and his family you have received a wonderful blessing from God who has sent you a compassionate Shepherd. Do not forget to have compassion on him too. Have compassion when he does things right, have compassion when he makes a mistake. Because he is a human, and deserves compassion and forgiveness too.

And I guess I will have to admit that I made just a slight error at the beginning of this sermon, because I implied that Jeff will begin his pastoral duties tomorrow. But, indeed they will begin in only a few moments as your new Pastor feeds this flock in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and as he prays for us and conveys God’s Word of Blessing upon us all. And all these blessings are through Jesus Christ whose care and compassion brings us into His kingdom for all eternity. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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The life to come...

AELW 6:99

"Psalm 93:19: “When the cares of my heart are many, etc.” Such is this life, full of griefs and troubles! The life to come has been promised so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (cf. Rom. 15:4). In the meantime, these two are mingled, steadfastness, or encouragement, and tribulation. For if encouragement is present, all is prosperity and joy; again, when darkness and tribulation break in, the devil reigns and Christ is crucified."

Kingdoms and Empires of the world

AELW 6:9

"Therefore there is no reason why we should be distressed and concerned about how the kingdoms and empires of the world are governed. But let us give thanks to God that we know that we are the object of His care in such a way that He even knows all that we do, suffer, and think.

But men should be individually certain about this, that they are the people of God, or members of the church. Above all things this faith is necessary which firmly apprehends the following syllogism. The whole people of God is blessed, holy, pleasing, and acceptable to God in such a way that it cannot be torn from the hands of God. We are the people of God. Therefore God exercises care for us. The major premise is eminently true, because even the death and blood of the saints are precious in the sight of the Lord (cf. Ps. 116:15); all they do and suffer is pleasing to God. On the contrary, their errors and lapses have been covered and forgiven, as Ps. 32:1 testifies."

Luther's Work's Volume 6

LUTHER’S
WORKS

VOLUME 6

LECTURES ON GENESIS

Chapters 31–37

Marriage, the blessing of God

AELW 5: 363

"The rest of the populace is more wicked than even the heathen themselves. For most married people do not desire offspring. Indeed, they turn away from it and consider it better to live without children, because they are poor and do not have the means with which to support a house-hold. But this is especially true of those who are devoted to idleness and laziness and shun the sweat and the toil of marriage. But the purpose of marriage is not to have pleasure and to be idle but to procreate and bring up children, to support a household. This, of course, is a huge burden full of great cares and toils. But you have been created by God to be a husband or a wife and that you may learn to bear these troubles. Those who have no love for children are swine, stocks, and logs unworthy of being called men or women; for they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage."

Ask, Seek, Knock

AELW 5:360-361

"This is how we, too, should learn to ask and hope for help whenever there is misfortune and faith totters. For we have the promise of the Gospel; we have Baptism, absolution, etc., by which we have been instructed and strengthened. We have the command by which we are ordered to pray; we have the spirit of grace and of prayer. But as soon as we have begun to pray, our heart is troubled and complains that it is accomplishing nothing. Therefore one must learn that if you accomplish nothing by asking, you should add searching, that is, you should seek; if that, too, seems to be useless, and God conceals and hides Himself even more, add knocking, and do not cease until you storm the door by which He has been confined (cf. Matt. 7:7–8). For there is no doubt that our prayer is heard immediately after the first syllable has been uttered."

Cling Tightly to the Word of God

AELW 5:353-354

"But we should take hold of and firmly retain the Word, and we should bear in mind that we have been baptized, absolved, and taught by the Word of God. Therefore let us give thanks to God and be joyful. Whether heaven or the whole world crashes in ruins and, in addition, hits us on the head, we are nevertheless certain that our games and most wretched misfortunes have been adorned and crowned with divine glory and splendor, namely, with the Word of God. For this reason these histories are called sacred and are common to all men who have the Word of God and in whom God works, and does so with good pleasure, with His mercy, and with His grace. He does not deal in this way with Alexander, Scipio, Cicero, Hannibal, etc. Therefore we should rejoice and be grateful and happy to find rest in God’s good pleasure, and we should bear with equanimity whatever troubles confront us. And no matter how unimportant, servile, womanish, and full of wretchedness our works are, we should nevertheless add this title: THE WORD OF GOD, because of which everything we do becomes glorious and will remain forever, while, on the other hand, the histories of the world are eternally wretched."

Sola Scriptura

AELW 5:348

"...human nature does not want to be content with the usual doctrine and Word of the Gospel or to be satisfied with the sacraments which have been handed down through the Son of God and the apostles and have been propagated through their successors; but it demands something special. Then the devil comes and speaks with you. Therefore unless you will be able to reply: “This is what God’s Word says; you say things contrary to the Word. Get behind me, Satan! (cf. Matt. 16:23)” you will be overthrown immediately."

And again on allegory

AELW 5:347

"Consequently, I hate allegories. But if anyone wants to make use of them, let him see to it that he handles them with discretion. For first of all the historical sense must be sought. It gives us correct and solid instruction; it fights, defends, conquers, and builds. If this is genuine and pure, an allegory may be sought later, not a monastic allegory or one concerning the speculative life but one that is in agreement with the history and embraces the sacred matters pertaining to the holy cross, that is, the doctrine of the cross, of faith, of hope, of love, and of patience, not a monk who sits and speaks with Christ and boasts of visions and of having heard the voices of angels or the voice of Blessed Virgin Mary. For he sits in idleness without a cross and trial. Such a speculative life is cursed and damned."

Luther on allegory

AELW 5:345

"But I have often declared that I greatly abhor allegories and condemn the fondness for them. For the examples and the footsteps of the fathers frighten me. By means of their allegories they obscure doctrine and the edification of love, patience, and hope in God when by those speculations of their allegories they divert us from the doctrine and genuine meaning of the words. Jerome and Origen are especially devoted to this. Indeed, Augustine, too, would have been brought to do so had he not been withdrawn from it by his controversies and disputes with the heretics. But because I admired these men as very great theologians, I followed the same course at the outset. When I read the Bible, I did not follow the literal sense; but according to their example, I turned everything into allegories.

Accordingly, I urge students of theology to shun this kind of interpretation in the Holy Scriptures. For allegory is pernicious when it does not agree with the history, but especially when it takes the place of the history, from which the church is more correctly instructed about the wonderful administration of God in all stations of life, in the management of a household, in the state, and in the church. Inasmuch as such interpreters overlook these things in the histories, they necessarily transform everything into allegories and a different meaning. Thus in this example, because they do not see the counsels of God and His governance, which is hidden under this ordinary outward appearance of household management and marriage, they attach to it a foreign meaning concerning the contemplative and active life"

Luther and Nostradamus

Did Luther (like the alleged predictions of Nostradamus) in this text anticipate and name a combination of several groups of 21st century radicals? e.g., Eco-PETA-Manichaean's?

AELW 5:344

"In his Confessions Augustine reports that the Manichaeans inveighed against the very saintly patriarchs with the most virulent reproaches for having many wives and children. “When I was a Manichaean,” he says, “I derided them as completely lustful men. But you in turn, dear Manichaean, derided me when I devoted myself to your prodigious nonsense, so that when plucking an apple or a pear from a tree I believed that the tree wept.”

Ah Ha!

It is very interesting that in this paragraph, the word "change" and "kitchen" appear. Is this a veiled reference ( a la Da Vinci Code) to a conspiracy by the monks to cause division in the church by changing the authority over the church's kitchen? Can you read into this text that the rulers of the kitchen became the rulers of the church? ;-) (Please read this with an unveiled attempt at humor!)

AELW 5:342

"But God’s care and concern for us does not appear to be so great. Therefore one must learn, and accustom oneself to, that changing and alteration of things and men in the world. The heathen have learned in one way or another by experience that a servant is the master in the house and that the master is a servant. Indeed, the monks made the same complaint about their servants. For they had brothers whom they called lay brothers. To them the kitchen and domestic works were entrusted. But these also ruled over the others..."

It's good to be a peasant...

AELW 5:341-342

"God regulates the world in such a way that all things—those that are highest, those in the middle, and those that are lowest—serve Him. The highest things are the lowest, and the lowest are the highest. Therefore Duke Frederick, the Elector of Saxony, stated wisely and brilliantly to Staupitz that when he made a mental survey of the whole world and all ranks of men, it seemed to him that the peasants, who occupied the lowest place in the state, were the happiest, because they alone enjoy peace and true tranquility and are not tormented by the cares and dangers of the state. In summer they cultivate their fields; in winter they sit by the fire and enjoy their possessions. Although they lack royal magnificence, they nevertheless enjoy the greatest blessings, namely, tranquility and ease, and live more safely and happily within their own enclosure than kings and princes within their citadels or fortifications.

This is God’s wonderful governance or changing of things. For the things that seem to be lowest and most wretched are the greatest and most prosperous. Nothing in the world is more wretched than the church. Hence arise those complaints of the church: “Why hast Thou turned Thy face away? Why dost Thou forget me? I preach, I confess, I do and endure everything that God enjoins; but no one is more afflicted and forsaken than I am.” But then the Lord replies: “I do not forget you,” as is stated most sweetly in Is. 49:14–15: “But Zion said: ‘The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the sons of her womb? Even these may forget, yet will I not forget you.”"

I know I'm behind ;-) Catching up again...Interesting...

In Genesis 32 Jacob wrestles with God. In Genesis 30:8, the Hebrew text states, (literally) that Rachel, with wrestlings of God, I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed. In Genesis 42, Jacob would struggle again, this time through deciding whether or not to withhold sending his son to Egypt in exchange for his starving families daily bread. Thank God that He did not withhold the sending of His only Jesus Christ so that we may be offered the Bread of eternal Life.

AELW 5:340
An interesting listing by Luther.

A table copied from Dr. Luther’s work on chronology which illustrates the historical sequence in an excellent manner 

	Leah bore		Rachel bore
	Reuben	1	0
	Simeon	2	0
	Levi	3	0
	Judah	4	0
	0	5	Dan
	0	6	Naphtali???	from Bilhah
	0	7	Joseph
	Gad	8	0
from Zilpah	??? Asher	9	0
	Issachar	10	0
	Zebulun	11	0
	Dinah	12	0
	0	13	0
			Benjamin

Yikes! But true...

Of Jacob and Leah

AND

of Luther and Katie

This gives a new meaning to the song, "Can I get a witness?" ;-)

AELW 5:298-299

"But the question is asked what kind of nuptial rites there were among those people, for Jacob alone sleeps with her alone in the bedchamber and on the same bed. Yet he does not realize that Leah has been substituted for Rachel. For he has lived in this house for seven whole years, and here he undoubtedly saw his bride occasionally and sometimes spoke with her. And if he could not have discovered this by touching her in the bed, yet he could have recognized and distinguished her voice. According to our customs, we act far more cautiously. For we lead the bride both to the church and to the nuptial chamber not in darkness but with trumpets and torches, and we also bring witnesses along, so that there can be no room for any imposture. "

the stone at the well...

Genesis 29:1- 3 "Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheep lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place upon the mouth of the well."

An interesting contrast? (my thought's not Luther's)

Jacob on a journey to the people in the east and saw flocks who had arrived for nourishment. Here the shepherds would roll away the stone, and water, that is to say nourish their flocks, and then the stone , the large one, was placed back upon the mouth of the well.

Christ on a journey from heaven to earth, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to the heavenly Jerusalem, was born of Mary of whom shepherds sought. Christ arrived as the "bread of life" to nourish His flocks with his body and blood which conveys forgiveness and therefore eternal peace. The stone was rolled back, not by shepherds, but by the hand of God as Jesus rose from the dead. Nor is the stone in front of the well of life ever replaced, the tomb is open and from it Christ arises to offer forgiveness to all who would believe...

Sustained....Not by example, but by the Word!

AELW 5:254

"The fact that David killed Goliath, a bear, a lion, etc., does not edify me much. For I cannot imitate such things, since they surpass my strength and all my thinking. Although they commend the saints in their strength and heroic fortitude, they do not concern us; for they are too sublime for us to be able to match or imitate them. But when examples of weakness, sins, trepidation, and trials are set forth in the saints—as when I read David’s complaints, sobs, fears, and feelings of despair—they buoy me up in a wonderful manner and give great consolation. For I see how they, fearful and terrified though they were, did not perish but buoyed themselves up with the promises they had received; and from this I conclude that there is no need for me to despair either. For in this struggle with hell, in fears and struggles of conscience, they feel and speak as if they had no promises at all. Nevertheless, they are finally preserved and sustained by the Word."

What the church is...

AELW 5:250

"Thus the church is established among men when God dwells with men, with this end in view that it may be the gate of heaven and that we may pass from this earthly life into the eternal and heavenly life. Who can adequately marvel at or comprehend this, namely, that God dwells with men? This indeed is that heavenly Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from God and has the splendor of God, as is stated in Rev. 21:2. This is the definition of the church in its essence: “The church is the place or the people where God dwells for the purpose of bringing us into the kingdom of heaven, for it is the gate of heaven.” From this it follows most properly that in the church nothing should be heard or seen except what God does, according to the statement (1 Peter 4:11): “hoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies.” But if I am uncertain about the Word or the administration of God, I must be silent. But whenever I minister, that is, baptize or absolve, I must be certain that my work is not mine, but God’s, who works through me. Baptism is a work of God; for it is not mine, although I lend my hands and my mouth as instruments. Thus when I absolve you or call you to the ministry and lay my hands on you, you should not doubt that, as Peter says, it is God’s strength. This, then, is the complete definition of the church, which is the habitation of God on earth. Not that we should remain on earth, but the sacraments are administered and the Word is taught in order that we may be led into the kingdom of heaven "and through the church may enter into heaven.

The water of God the Savior

AELW 5:248

"But the blindness and stupidity of our minds has been put before our eyes like a cloud, so that we do not see such great glory. It is great honor and majesty, however, when one says: “This is the Word of God.” I hear a man’s voice. I see human gestures. The bread and the wine in the Supper are physical things. At ordination the hands of carnal men are imposed. In Baptism water is water. For the flesh judges in no other way concerning all these matters. But if you look at that addition with spiritual eyes, namely, at whose Word it is that is spoken and heard there, not indeed the word of a man—for if it is the word of a man, then the devil is speaking—but the Word of God, then you will understand that it is the house of God and the gate of heaven. The wooden house or the land per se does not deserve this name; but the land where the Word resounds is the land of God, not of the Creator but of the Ruler of His church, who governs His saints in such a way that they enter into the kingdom of heaven. Thus the water that is poured in Baptism is not the water of the Creator; it is the water of God the Savior."

Jacob's ladder, Christ, and the church

AELW 5:247

"...he describes the glow of this church in a very magnificent manner by saying that here the entrance to the kingdom of heaven is open. For God governs us in such a way that wherever He speaks with us here on earth, the approach to the kingdom of heaven is open. This is truly extraordinary consolation. Wherever we hear the Word and are baptized, there we enter into eternal life. But where is that place found? On earth, where the ladder which touches heaven stands, where the angels descend and ascend, where Jacob sleeps. It is a physical place, but here there is an ascent into heaven without physical ladders, without wings and feathers. This is how faith speaks: “I am going to the place where the Word is taught, where the Sacrament is offered and Baptism is administered.” And all those things that are done in my sight in a physical place are heavenly and divine words and works. That place is not only ground or earth; but it is something more glorious and majestic, namely, the kingdom of God and the gate of heaven. “Here one goes to the stars,” as is stated by the poet. There is no reason for you to run to St. James’s or to withdraw into a comer or to hide yourself in a monastery. Do not seek a new and foolish entrance. But look in faith at the place where the Word and the sacraments are. Direct your step to the place where the Word resounds and the sacraments are administered, and there write the title THE GATE OF GOD. Let this be done either in the church and in the public assemblies or in bedchambers, when we console and buoy up the sick or when we absolve him who sits with us at table. There the gate of heaven is, as Christ says (Matt. 18:20): “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Throughout the world the house of God and the gate of heaven is wherever there is the pure teaching of the Word together with the sacraments."

Faith does not snore...

AELW 5:205

"Therefore faith is not a laughable, cold quality that snores and is idle in the heart. No, it is agitated and harassed by horrible trials concerning the nothingness and the vanity of the divine promises. For I believe in Christ, whom I do not see. But I have His Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, and consolation through the Word and Absolution. Yet I see nothing of what He promises. Indeed, I feel the opposite in my flesh. Here, then, one must struggle and do battle against unbelief and doubt."

btw...

The section AELW 5:189 to 196 contains a wonderful exposition on marriage, well worth re-reading...

The constant course of the church...

AELW 5:202

"This is the constant course of the church at all times, namely, that promises are made and that then those who believe the promises are treated in such a way that they are compelled to wait for things that are invisible, to believe what they do not see, and to hope for what does not appear. He who does not do this is not a Christian. For Christ Himself entered into His glory only by first descending into hell. When He is about to reign, He is crucified. When He is to be glorified, He is spit on. For He must suffer first and then at length be glorified."

The definition of marriage

AELW 5:188

Genesis 28:2. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father; and take as wife from there one of the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

"The first part of this chapter is not theological, for it does not relate examples or spiritual doctrine concer