The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for December 19, 2014

Diane and I wish you and yours a joyous and blessed Christmas.  The humble birth of the Son of God speaks hope to every one of our lives, there being no circumstance too mean for His loving care or too well-off not to kneel at the manger.  The King of Glory offers forgiveness, life and salvation for all.  This is the joy that can animate us throughout the entire year and comes to special focus as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  “Marvel, O people, at this great mystery—the highest Ruler appears to the world!”

“O let the harps break forth in sound!  Our joy be all with music crowned, our voices gladly blending!

For Christ goes with us all the way – today, tomorrow, ev’ry day! His love is never ending!

Sing out! Ring out! Jubilation! Exaltation! Tell the story! Great is He, the King of glory!” (J.S. Bach, BWV 36)

 

Thanks for reading the Minute.  We’ll be back in the new year.

The Meyer Minute for December 18, 2014

“Resident Field Education” is the Seminary’s program that assigns students to local congregations and institutions to observe and participate in ministry.  One seminarian serves at a church in the heart of the city and also is a chaplain for the police department.  What follows is his account of an experience earlier this week.

"Today, a church member and a newly baptized child of God (11 year old girl), were in the neighborhood handing out flyers for our Christmas Eve service. Suddenly, gun shots began to ring out in the neighborhood. I pushed the young girl with me into an alcove, then got her across the street to the church member I was with. I then jumped the fence and ran to where the shots were. As I approached, I saw two men on the ground, wounded. I called the police as I applied pressure to their gunshot wounds, and when they arrived there were two officers I knew well. They said these two men were gang members, and this was a gang related shooting. I stayed with the officers for a while before heading back to the church. As I walked back, I noticed the blood on my hands and began to cry. I cried for the kids of that neighborhood, who experience this daily. I cried for the people who have no hope. I cried for the community, as it experiences destruction. I realized then, more than ever, how in need we are of a Savior. Come, Lord Jesus, come... Save us."

“O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease and be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

 The only reason we can rejoice is Jesus, who came and promises to come again.  “Come and save us, O Lord our God.”

The Meyer Minute for December 17, 2014

Ever feel you don’t have what it takes? That’s when God is ready to do a miracle.

 In the second century before Christ a foreign ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes attempted to eradicate the Jewish religion. To that end, he offered offensive pagan sacrifices on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem.  Led by the Maccabees, the Jews rebelled. After a two-year struggle, the Syrians were driven out. The desecrated altar was destroyed, a new altar was built, and eight days of festival declared. But the story goes that there was only enough pure oil to burn candles for one of the eight days. Even so, the priests took the little oil they had and lit the first candle. The first miracle of Hanukkah: that little oil lasted for the full eight days.

Ancient commentators said that the greater miracle was that the priests trusted God to provide, even though it appeared they didn't have enough oil for the eight days.  Sometimes God waits for all our hopes to grow dim so that He might kindle in us the one hope that will not go out, hope in Him.  Hasn’t He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness?" (2 Corinthians 12:9)  Hasn’t He said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me?” (Psalm 50:15)  Trust God.  He will answer your prayer in the way He knows best.  “God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.”  (Lutheran Service Book, 765, 4)

Whether the oil miracle happened or not, I don’t know.  As our Jewish friends observe Hanukkah, you and I are reminded as followers of Jesus to trust God’s promises. In Christ Jesus “He is able to do more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)  So then, “What more can He say than to you He has said who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?”  (Lutheran Service Book, 728, 1)

 

The Meyer Minute for December 16, 2014

"I'll be home for Christmas; you can count on me," promises the popular song. Who'll be coming to your home in a couple weeks, hauling in suitcases, hugging you and embracing your heart?

Guilt promises to come. "Remember how you hurt that family member? Don't imagine that you can ever repair the damage you've done!" "Your husband, your wife, your child, died this year, not home for the holidays. Don't you feel guilty for the times you weren't loving?" "So dedicated to your career, to your corporate climb, you've shut others out, Mr. Scrooge!"

Not all bad! It's a naive preacher who imagines that guilt leaves when he preaches about Christ's forgiveness for our sins. True, God does forgive when you're sorry you've disobeyed Him and messed up in life, but any honest believer can't forget some things he or she has done. Guilt gets hard-wired into our feelings ... and only an outside word from God is able to deal with guilty feelings, take the edge off it, and sometimes remove it all together. "If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts" (1 John 3:20).

"I'll be home for Christmas; you can count on me." Advent means coming. When guilt comes, welcome some Bible reading at the same time, like Psalms 32 and 130. It'll stop guilt from dominating your holidays.

The Meyer Minute for December 15, 2014

Ten Cultural Commandments for the Season:

l.  Thou shalt not pause to plan thy ways, so that thy only goal will be to make it to the 26th.

II. Thou shalt feel obligated to blanket the world with thy Christmas cards, much as snow covereth the earth.

III.  Thou shalt deny the simplicity of Christ's stable by impressing guests with thy holiday house.

IV. Thou shalt not be like the shepherds and show up in the same old clothes.

V.  Thou shalt think thyself a wise man or woman by searching far and wide for gifts.

VI. Thou shalt blow the budget, imagining that thus it will go well with thee.

VII. Thou shalt so stress thyself that thy family calleth thee Scrooge.

VIII. Thou shalt be so busy that thou sittest not long by the Christmas tree with family and friends.

IX. Thou shalt not lay aside old grudges, even while singing of peace and good will for all.

X.  Thou shalt forget the Reason for the season.

Lord, give us the courage to leave some things undone. Amen.

 

The Meyer Minute for December 12, 2014

Item: Despite strong criticism from members of both parties, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill to keep the federal government working.  Item: Release of a report from the majority of the Senate Intelligence Committee has created a windstorm from politicians and pundits. There’s much more in the news but those two items are sufficient for me to ask this question.

What does an elected official think when he/she is completely alone?

The answer is, “God only knows.”  Because America is deeply divided and sorely troubled, that’s my modest Midwestern prayer for each elected official alone with his or her own thoughts.  “God, may they know that You know.  You search the heart of every person.  Every one of us will come before You in judgment, come before You in the real ‘corridor of power.’  Give them the spirit to go about their work in Your fear and may their quiet reflection when they are alone move them to seek Your wisdom.  For the sake of Your holy name.  Amen.”

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

The Meyer Minute for December 10, 2014

We don’t know what had been done, but someone had grievously hurt fellow church members and they were swinging the club of guilt.  It’s a very useful thing, that club of guilt. Whenever you feel the need, you can clobber the sinner and send the strong message you’re in control of the relationship.

“For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,” Paul wrote, “so that you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” Paul’s advice is profound. A person can only live with so much guilt. Judas Iscariot felt so guilty that he took his life (Matthew 27:5).  Many people convinced of their guilt withdraw from the people they’ve hurt, feeling too ashamed to show up as if nothing had happened.  Without forgiveness, that shame keeps the sinner away from the fellowship that claims to be welcoming and forgiving.

“So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him,” Paul pleads. “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive.” If the pastor and church officers have dealt with that sinner and spoken God’s word of forgiveness, are you going to act above the command to forgive?

“What I have forgiven has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).   Forgiving one another keeps the devil at bay.  The prophet Zechariah pictures Satan as the accuser of God’s people (Zechariah 3:1).  In Revelation he is called the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).  Why not?  The devil knows plenty against you and me to torment our conscience and convince us of our unforgiveable unworthiness. Zechariah heard, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!” and in Revelation the accuser is thrown down because the forgiven “have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb.” (Zechariah 3:2; Revelation 2:11)  When you and I forgive the brother or sister who has sinned, Satan is defeated here and now.  So for Jesus’ sake, put down the club of guilt down!

 

The Meyer Minute for December 9, 2014

“What we need is more communication!” How many times have you heard that, in marriage, at work, at church and in community? In this digital age we don’t need more communication but better communication.  Some signs that could have been worded better:

On the door of a restroom: “Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.”

At the entrance of a public building: “For anyone who has children and doesn’t know it, there is a day care center on the first floor.”

In the kitchen area at a workplace: “After tea break staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.”

On the front door of a shop: “We can repair anything.” And then this additional note was scribbled, “Please knock hard on the door–the bell doesn’t work.”

Humor aside, we’ve all known hurt feelings because time and care weren’t taken to communicate kindly and well. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).  That’s the Golden Rule, not simply sage advice from the past but our Lord’s command to us.  Ask questions in conversation.  Review what you’ve written to see if you’re being clear and making sense.  Learn how other people prefer to communicate.  Women tend to communicate differently than men and younger people use different ways to communicate than older people.  Because you’ve said it doesn’t mean it’s truly been heard!  Jesus begins the Golden Rule with the little word “so.”  He had just taught persistence in prayer; now He says “so” you be persistent in treating others with love, “for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Love God; Love your neighbor, “for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Compare Matthew 22:34-40).

And here’s my favorite: A resell-it shop advertised this: “We exchange anything – bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your husband along and get a wonderful bargain?”

 

The Meyer Minute for December 5, 2014

Every so often some prominent person says, “We need a national conversation about…”  Well, we’ve got one now!  In the wake of Ferguson and New York, everyone is talking but a smaller number of people are listening.  One topic that is getting scant talk is institutions.

Our life together as citizens is structured in organizations and institutions.  Without those structures, we’re living in anarchy.  Police, fire departments, schools, city councils and legislatures, offices of mayor, president, and elected officials are all institutions developed over millennia by which people strive to live orderly lives.  We’re living in a time that does not respect institutions.  Burning down businesses is one extreme example.  A milder example is writing off political institutions, like the federal government, as irrelevant to my life.  Many valid topics are raised in our new national “conversation,” but who’s saying, “Let’s be careful lest we seriously damage the institutions we all need for orderly, peaceful living?  A damaged institution takes years to come back, if it can.  We need to bequeath strong and trustworthy institutions to those who come after us both for their individual sakes and for the sake of the country.

“I will build my church,” Jesus said (Matthew 16:18).  The unseen things of faith manifest themselves in institutions, for example local congregations and seminaries.  We who follow Jesus are stewards of the churchly institutions that have been handed down to us.  Wise stewardship of the institutional church will not only bless coming believers, but will contribute positively to our national life, church being soul and conscience of a blessed country.    

The Meyer Minute for December 4, 2014

A friend asked about perseverance. He happens to be an athlete but we all need perseverance in our lives.

Jogglers need it.  I don't run too much anymore, my knees can't take it, but when I was running my wife coined the word "joggler" to describe my style, a combination of jogging and waddling.  Years ago daughter Katie encouraged me to enter a 10K with her.  She was a Big 12 Conference runner, has the trophies to prove it, and so she zipped through the race but this old joggler was struggling.  I found the will to keep going when I imagined Katie waiting for me at the finish line, her approving smile welcoming me.

Faces help me persevere. Family members, friends, anyone who smiles approvingly helps keep me going. The dearest face of all is the face we anticipate seeing at the end of life's race. "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12).  Press on! "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’" (Psalm 27:8).

Some Christians have taken the time to compose their own personal mission statement, in my opinion a useful thing to do.  Their statements often go something like this: “I want to share Jesus in everything I do;” “My mission is to serve God in family and at work,” and the like.  Fine, but they strike me as not being time specific.  There are seasons of life, stages in the race, and we need to take them into account.  For example, my daughters are married and raising young children.  Their personal Christian mission statement would be different than their parents who are obviously closer to the end of the race.  One part of my mission in this season of life is to share what I’ve learned.  Hence this book.  Your will to persevere through immediate problems should be one stage of the Spirit enabling you to run the entire race toward “the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).  Where are you in the seasons of life?  If you’re young and the climb is uphill, does the promise of blessing pulling you on?  If you’re weary, do moments of devotional rest give you your second wind?  And if you’re older and nearing the finish line, does the thrill of seeing Jesus invigorate your steps toward home?  Joggle on! You have the promise of seeing Jesus. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).