The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for July 24, 2015

I vividly recall my very first sermon, a Sunday in November, 1969, in the congregation where I was raised, St. Paul’s, Chicago Heights, Illinois. I was their “homie” and they received me most kindly.

When Jesus returned home to Nazareth for his first sermon, people “spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth” (Luke 4:22). So far so good, but when Jesus went on to puncture their self-righteousness by comparing them unfavorably to Gentiles, they ran Him out of town. Jesus analyzed the situation perfectly. “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown” (Luke 4:24).  This is His quotation from Mark: “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household” (Mark 6:4)

Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. Other times it just breeds ho-hum. It’s wonderful when a pastor fits in nicely with his people, but does that familiarity make God’s Word too routine to us when he preaches and teaches? “Ho hum. Yeah, pastor keeps talking about that.” When a pastor becomes one of us and beloved, our “homie,” might we become offended when he pricks our self-righteousness? Might we hear the Good News that He shares with no fresh joy, as if we don’t need the Savior as much as other people? Beneath those questions lies the real question: Have we known Jesus so long that He’s our “homie” whom we welcome publicly but don’t really receive inwardly?

“Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Amen. (Lutheran Service Book, collect 148)

 

The Meyer Minute for July 23, 2015

The AP reported that Islamic State is teaching children how to behead a doll. “They taught me how to hold the sword, and they told me how to hit. They told me it was the head of the infidels,” said a 14-year-old boy. “They taught us to hate” said another teen. (Associated Press, in St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 20; A8)

Two videos have been released, more are to come. They show Planned Parenthood officials talking about selling baby body parts. Planned Parenthood claims their actions are legal and that the videos were improperly obtained. (New York Times, July 22; A1) Can’t they see through the shallow nature of that defense into the abysmal evil of killing babies?

“The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, ‘God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’

“Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account’? But you do see….” (Psalm 10:10-14)

As a pastor I shake hands at the church door. When a little girl comes out of church, holding her dolly, I bend down and ask her about her doll. Through the years I’ve learned that the little girl is shy about herself but dolly is her alter ego and she’ll tell me all about her dolly. Aborting babies? Beheading dollies? “Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand.”

The Meyer Minute for July 22, 2015

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16).

The turtle looked to me. I was walking through Forest Park, and as I crossed a bridge over water I saw a turtle, 8 inches long, swimming toward the bridge. It saw me and lifted its head toward me, hoping I’d be like other visitors to the park and throw down some food. “The eyes of all…”

The ducks in the park look up. Eat outside at the Boathouse restaurant and they paddle as close to the tables as they can get, knowing someone is sure to throw them some food. “The eyes of all…”

The hummingbirds know it. Sitting on the porch, they dart here and they dart there, looking for food in the flowers or in the feeder Diane keeps full. “The eyes of all…”

Our dear dog Ferdie gets it. In the morning he goes out to do his business, and then comes in and immediately looks to Diane or me.  Feed me! When Diane walks him around the campus, Ferdie is sure to go to Bill’s office or Erika’s office or the campus store or visit the boys down in the shop. They always have a yummy for him.

Lord, how much we learn in Your magnificent cathedral of creation! We see Your marvelous creatures look to us, and when our hand feeds them it is really Your hand through us. When we ourselves sit down to eat, the cooks and bakers and waiters who serve us are really Your hands satisfying our dependency upon You. Teach us to “receive our daily bread with thanksgiving” (Martin Luther, Sixth Petition).

“All creatures that have breath and motion, that throng the earth, the sea, the sky,

Come, share with me my heart’s devotion, help me to sing God’s praises high.

My utmost pow’rs can never quite declare the wonders of His might.”  Amen? Amen!

(Lutheran Service Book, 811, 4)

The Meyer Minute for July 21, 2015

“Life isn’t fair” is often said and it’s true. Life isn’t fair because the Law can’t deliver what it promises. Background: The Law, whether it’s rules of the road or God’s great “Thou shalt’s” and “Thou shalt not’s,” promises that proper conduct will be rewarded and improper conduct punished. That’s fair. But why then do we also say, “No good deed goes unpunished?” Because you can’t depend upon the principle of Law to deliver what it promises. Good works don’t always result in a person getting their due. The reason is sin. Try as we might, no one can keep God’s commandments or meet human expectations. Insidious sin mucks up everything.

Jesus kept the Law, obeyed every “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not” (See 1 Peter 2:22). Therefore you might think that His death was unfair – He had done no wrong – but in the eternal scheme of things Jesus’ death was fair. Sin deserves punishment and God exacted it. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). The Good News is that Jesus substituted for us by suffering the consequence of our failure to live up to the Law. His death was sacrifice for you and me; that’s selfless love. “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

So when life treats you unfairly, think it through theologically and put your hope for justice in Jesus. “Within the kingdom of His might, all things are just and good and right: To God all praise and glory!” (Lutheran Service Book, 819, 2)

Today’s Minute is based upon a devotion from “Timely Reflections,” a compilation of 365 Meyer Minutes available from www.tripillarpublishing.com.  

The Meyer Minute for July 20, 2015

A word of appreciation for First Responders…

I woke up earlier than usual this morning, and went out to sit on the porch with my first cup of coffee. Our house sits across the street from the American Legion post, usually a quiet street except for the Legion’s Friday Fish Fry and an occasional wedding reception. Quiet this morning, until 3:47 am when the Legion’s alarm went off. The alarm was loud enough to scare away any would-be burglar, not to mention waking up the neighborhood. Within five minutes two police cars arrived, in ten minutes a Legion member arrived, and after 15 minutes it appeared that nothing was wrong.

Police, fire department, paramedics… First Responders are essential to a community and nation’s well-being. When a First Responder arrives, chances are you won’t know him or her personally but you welcome them as friends because you know they’ve come to help. When holidays bring family and friends together, First Responders often aren’t present because they’re on duty for us. And if they are able to join the party, they’re on call and can’t totally relax. Over the years I’ve spoken with several of these dedicated people and they’ve shared stories, always leaving me to ponder the different kind of life and work they have. Most of us haven’t gone into the situations they regularly encounter, but we know it’s our duty to be grateful and appreciate the service they give us all.

“Merciful Father, we commend to Your keeping all who work to bring rescue and relief. Give them courage in danger, skill in difficulty, and compassion in service. Sustain them with bodily strength and calmness of mind that they may perform their work to the well-being of those in need so that lives may be saved and communities restored; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen. (Lutheran Service Book, Pastoral Care Companion, collect 875, page 516)

The Meyer Minute for July 17, 2015

I woke up this morning with no energy. Not sick, feeling fine. Maybe it’s the heat, high 90’s. Maybe because I’ve had a busy week? Whatever, I have no energy. You probably know the feeling.

So I don’t know what to write about for this Minute. There’s plenty of news alright, and there are plenty of wonderful Bible passages and teachings to write about. But I have no energy, no umpf to get my brain going. The gray matter is sitting on top of my neck, along for the ride. The light is on but no one’s home. You know the feeling?

I think I’ll take a walk, but to my doctor I must say that today’s walk won’t be the aerobic exercise you want me to have. I’ll just amble along. There are some Seminary duties I have to attend to, but not many and they are mindless. Today I am well suited for mindless activities.

Today is going to be a special day of grace. Remember, we’re saved by grace, not by works? Ephesians 2:8-9?  Yes, God has us in this world to work for Him by serving others, Ephesians 2:10, but that comes after grace, after receiving His gifts without any merit of our own. I’m pretty sure that’s why God instituted the Sabbath, so that we’d feel OK when we didn’t have to produce. I’m confident that’s why Jesus led the disciples to retreat; rest graces us for work. That’s why Jesus Himself didn’t always preach and heal and cast out demons; He went off simply to be with His Father. It’s OK just to be, not to have energy, thankful for the simple fact that the light is still on. Don’t these days of grace increase as we get older? Don’t just do something; sit there. Check out Psalm 90:12. 

The Meyer Minute for July 16, 2015

When St. Paul described the duties of government, he wrote, “If you do wrong, be afraid, for he (government) does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). Paul literally meant “sword,” because that was the prime weapon of Roman soldiers. Today we understand “sword” figuratively because the government has all sorts of weapons at its disposal.

A timely way to read St. Paul’s words today: “If you do wrong, be afraid, for governments do not have atomic weapons in vain.” On this date, July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico, not far from Los Alamos where it had been secretly developed. As we all know… check that, older people know; do schools teach this? Later, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to bring a swift end to World War II. Since then, nuclear science has been both blessing and curse, witness nuclear medicine as something good, Iran and proliferation of “the bomb” as bad.

Polls have found that 52% of teen-agers in church youth groups aspire to careers in science (including, “medical- and health-related careers, engineering, science, technology, veterinary medicine”) but only one percent of youth pastors or youth workers “have addressed issues of science in the past year.” (David Kinnamon, “You Lost Me,” 140) How shall we preserve this world from nuclear contamination or destruction? How shall we treat new diseases and work against malnutrition? How shall we help people understand their true identity and sexuality before God? How shall we be better Christian stewards of this marvelous planet? Young people should hear that they can follow Jesus in careers of science, government, law, medicine, business and the like, and can follow as faithfully as any pastor.

God, our Creator and Redeemer, help the entire “priesthood of all believers” to work and yearn for Your promised day when “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” For Jesus’ sake. Amen. (Isaiah 2:4)

 

The Meyer Minute for July 15, 2015

A pastor friend of mine says that fear is our most common emotion. I’m no psychologist but that strikes me as true, in my own life and ministering to others over the years. What’s to become of me?

In “The King and I” Anna sang, “Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect, and whistle a happy tune so no one will suspect I’m afraid.” You’ve got to wonder about that advice. How much bravado, how much wealth, how much partying, how much daily living is actually a facade covering our fears?

It’s late at night, dark, a fearful time, and the disciples are out on the Sea of Galilee. They think they see a ghost but it’s actually Jesus walking on the water. Either way, ghost or Jesus, I’d be scared too. Here’s what He says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Those few words are packed with insight about how to deal with fear. “Take heart” is a command; it’s Law. “Thou shalt.” Same with “Do not be afraid.” The Law commands the good things we’re supposed to do but the Law can’t make those good things happen. Whistle if you want, but the Law tells you it’s a sham. What’s wonderful about the Gospel is that it makes the good happen. Sandwiched between the commands, “Take heart” and “Do not be afraid” is the Good News, “It is I.” Put Jesus in the center, keep His promises in your heart, and you can take heart and not be afraid.

Anna went on to sing, “You may be as brave as you make believe you are.” “Make believe.” Not real. What’s real is looking outside ourselves to Jesus. “It is I.” That’s the wonderful thing about fear; it keeps coming back. It keeps scaring us to Jesus.  

The Meyer Minute for July 14, 2015

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!”

Thanks to science, today’s a special opportunity to stand in awe before God our Creator. At 7:49 ET this morning, the spacecraft New Horizons passes by Pluto and its 5 moons. Whereas the planets revolve around the sun on a horizontal plane, those moons revolve around Pluto in a vertical plane, meaning Pluto’s little system is at right angles to the other planets and their moons. Launched 9½ years ago, New Horizons passes through that vertical plane and the pictures it takes? Over 4 hours to get back to us earthlings!  “How great Thou art!”

When Concordia and several conservative Bible-believing seminaries received a grant to teach your future pastors about science, we got unfounded criticism that we’re going to teach evolution. That’s sad. Not only are we going to continue to teach what the Bible says about creation, your future pastors should have an informed basic knowledge about science, its good and bad. Scientific advances in all areas of life call for faithful responses and engagement, but simplistically reduce all of science to creation versus evolution? Here’s what that gets us: “Millions of young Christians perceive Christianity to be in opposition to modern science.” Said one, “To be honest, I think that learning about science was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I knew from church that I couldn’t believe in both science and God, so that was it. I didn’t believe in God anymore” (“You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church…and Rethinking Faith,” 131).

To self-righteous Job, the Creator said, “I will question you… Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?” Humbled, Job said, “I am of small account; what shall I answer you?” (Job 38: 3, 33; 40:4). Science isn’t perfect, but thank You, God, for science. Today New Horizons shuts us up in awe of You and Your creation. 

The Meyer Minute for July 13, 2015

July 11, 1995 – 20 years ago this past Saturday – Serbian soldiers began a genocide against Bosnian Muslims. Although the United Nations had designated the Bosnian city Srebrenica a safe zone in war-torn Yugoslavia, it wasn’t safe. 8,372 Bosnians were slaughtered. The New York Times says, “This was the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II; the entire region is dotted with mass graves.” “I lost my dad in the massacre,” said Edmir Oric of St. Louis. “They found his body five years ago in 2010, and we buried it at the memorial. So, yeah, it hurts.”

Some 15,000 Bosnians tried to escape. Nedzad Avdic was among them, fleeing with his father and uncle. He lost his father. “I cried, calling for him. But everyone wanted to save themselves.” He and his uncle were caught and taken to a town 35 miles from Srebrenica. “They called for us five at a time.” Seema Jilani reports, “They heard shots and bodies crumpling to the ground. His uncle went first, in hopes of somehow sparing him. It was the last time Mr. Avdic ever saw him alive. His uncle’s remains were finally located two years ago in a secondary mass grave (his body was bulldozed and reburied in another location to conceal war crimes).” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 12; B1, 3; New York Times, July 12; Sunday Review, 7).

Now from Srebrenica to World War II genocide: Nickolaus Westermann is a history professor at London University. His new book, “KL, A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps,” is 865 pages long. Reviewer Roger Cohen writes that the book “is claustrophobic in its evocation of the depths to which people can succumb. Readers may find themselves wanting out, but there is always worse to come” (NY Times, Book Review, July 12; 12). That’s enough for this Monday morning.

When Jesus was asked about a slaughter, He said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). We imagine that we wouldn’t perpetrate such crimes, and we might not. We can imagine being victims of a terror attack. Either way, you and I are part of a deeply fallen, sinful humanity. On this normal Monday in America, Lord, have mercy upon us.