The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for October 30, 2015

Venus and Mars are in “conjunction,” close together in the nighttime sky but one is brighter. Tomorrow, Reformation Day, reminds us of the conjunction of spiritual lights, Lucifer, the “angel of light” (Isaiah 14:12; 2 Corinthians 11:14) and the brighter Morning Star, Jesus (Revelation 22:16).

Satan and his forces are infinitely smarter than you and me. “On earth is not his equal,” wrote Martin Luther. The “ruler of this world” (John 12:31) isn’t troubled that most Americans believe in God, that some people go to church (2 Corinthians 11:14) or revere the Bible. He knows the Bible as well as we do (Genesis 3:1; Luke 4:3-13). This “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10) is glad when we confess our sins; our troubled consciences and guilt are one of chief weapons he uses against us (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10). And it’s no dagger in the demons’ heart to know that long ago Jesus died for our sins. James says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe…” but then James adds the demons “shudder!”(James 2:19).  

“The world rulers of the darkness of this age” (Ephesians 6:12) shudder before God but we moderns don’t? Keep all that Jesus has done for us in the past and there’s no need to shudder, but remember that you’ll be judged for your works (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Hebrews 4:13), then fear. Satan fears because his rule and authority and power will end on Judgment Day (1 Corinthians 15:24). Our fear of God is different; it’s awe and love that our Judge saves us sinners for eternal life. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). Only in fear and love for the Judge whose scarred hands pardon and save us, only there are we in the “mighty fortress” (1 Peter 1:5). “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Until Satan is bound, there’s a conjunction of lights working on your soul. “Lucifer,” the bringer of light, is a liar (Isaiah 14:12; John 8:44) but Jesus shines brighter. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am…the bright morning star.” “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

The Meyer Minute for October 29, 2015

Yesterday Diane put up the Christmas tree. Yippee! We’re the first in the neighborhood. Most people are plodding along with pumpkins, maybe thinking toward Thanksgiving, but we’re in a different time zone.

Here’s the story. Every year the Seminary sends out thousands of Christmas cards from the president and his wife, and the card often has a photo Diane has taken. Diane brought out a small, artificial tree to be the background for the photo on this year’s card. Why bother putting it away now?

Pastors know the feeling of living in different time zones. Soon after Christmas they’re projecting ahead to Lenten services. Snow on the ground, Christmas gifts still new, they put their minds into Lenten simulation, somber, slower music, Jesus suffering, Jesus dying. Maybe your work has projects that require you to think beyond here-and-now “real time.”

 Followers of Jesus know that “real time” is relative. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,” says Paul. He doesn’t say Baptism reminds us of Jesus death and burial. No, we actually were buried with Him, mysteriously put into a different time. And more awe: “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” That hasn’t happened yet. It’s a promise about your future that should fill “real time” with hope.

How sad that many people don’t see the relevance of the Christian message. Buried with Christ and promised that you’ll rise gives you a different perspective on whatever you’ll face in “real time” today. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4-5). Back to the future. It’s moving your “clock,” your attitude constantly back and springing forward as you live in the present.

So the Christmas tree is up in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving. How soon before we think about Easter? Think about it today! “My times are in your hand” (Psalm 31:15).

The Meyer Minute for October 27, 2015

Col. Trevor Bredenkamp spoke about his late friend. “There are so many people that think so highly of Mike. He represents all that’s good in the Army as an officer, as a man; as a husband; as a father; and as a friend. Michael Donahue really epitomized all of that.” (Fox News website)

 

Major Michael Donahue was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan on September 16, 2014. “As a friend…” said Col. Bredenkamp. Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). How many Americans, and I include myself, go about our business with no thought for the men and women going into danger right now, right now, so that we can be free?

 

Major Donahue, Col. Bredenkamp said, was also an exemplary father. When he was home, he trained and ran races with his son Seamus. Seamus said, “My dad and I first decided when I was in sixth grade to do a 5K out in Lynchburg, Virginia. I was a tiny little sixth grader, out of shape and all that, but we trained up together. I stopped running for a month. When I started again, without any training. I had significantly improved. I somehow felt like he was with me when I ran.”

 

“Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). If parents expect to be honored, they must show themselves worthy of honor. Michael Donahue did not run races to win as much as to be selflessly and lovingly with his son. The 41-year-old Major was 6 feet, 5 inches tall, strapping strong, but “My husband would not leave him behind on races,” said Sherri Donahue. Sunday, 18-year-old Seamus honored his father by running in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. When he finished the 26.2 mile race, Seamus went to Section 60 and placed his medal on his father’s grave marker.

 

Spirit of our selfless Savior, help us who follow Jesus humbly count others more significant than ourselves, looking not only to our interests but to theirs (Philippians 2:2-3). Amen.

 

The Meyer Minute for October 23, 2015

I feel for Cub fans, their deep disappointment. A great season but the curse continues. Diane grew up in Chicago, in Roseland on the south side. I’m from the south suburbs. Geography is supposed to be destiny, so we’re White Sox fans. Bill McClellan is a popular commentator for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Talking to him one day, he said he’s from south Chicago but is a Cub fan. I stared at him in disbelief. The shameful truth is that we even have some of those apostates in our family. “Apostates” is a big word for Sox fans, but surely the Cubbie intellectuals understand big words. They’ve had a century of Octobers to study rather than be in the stands. Truth is, the Sox disappoint most of the time, only two Word Series appearances since 1919. In St. Louis since 1973, Diane and I favor the Cards in the National League, but they disappointed us. So we hoped the Cubs would get into the series, we really did. Now we feel for you Cub fans.

Sports teaches us that life goes on without trophies. “Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character” (Romans 5:3-4).  Concordia is somewhat unusual among seminaries because we are into sports, intramurals and intercollegiate/seminary competition. Soccer, tennis, basketball, even stair-climbing. Big baseball in the past but less now. It’s true for participants and spectators, that through sports we face the great emotions of life, and often the emotion is disappointment.

Our lives are usually not on the mountaintop but down in the plain (Matthew 17:1-9). We get over this year’s baseball season and soon look forward to spring training, but the disappointments that really hurt come from people and life. We get bested. We can become bitter. Disappointments tell us to look at the scorecard; we are sinners, limited and mortal. “Mighty Casey has struck out.” The Spirit (“Take not your Holy Spirit from me!” Psalm 51:11) revives our hope in the only unfailing Hero. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” My baseball team may fail, “but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26). 

The Meyer Minute for October 22, 2015

A long walk yesterday on our county trails reminded me of one of my favorite Minutes.

“Euonymus alatus compactus, the botanists call it. For us commoners, it’s the “burning bush,” and here on the Seminary campus it’s providing a spectacular display of fall color. True to its common name, its leaves have turned a brilliant read. The popular name comes from Exodus 3: “The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2). God said, “ Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5).

How many people, I fear, are missing the awe of creation? How many are obsessed with the screen on their smartphone? “When through the woods and forest glades I wander,” I have my attention focused on a screen? Duh! In this most beautiful time of the year, we’re obsessed with our own problems? Could it be that autumn is God’s billboard advertising that He is able to help you with your problems? “Earth’s crammed with heaven / And every common bush afire with God: /  But only he who sees, takes off his shoes, / The rest sit round it, and pluck blackberries” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning).

“And Moses said, ‘I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned’” (Exodus 3:3). Be a child again, a child of God, and take a long look. Marvel. And when you turn aside and look at a burning bush, you’ll see that old “Euonymus alatus compactus” has ridged branches, not round and smooth. I wonder why? Perhaps for no practical reason, save the Creator looking down with delight as you and I with childlike wonder marvel at nature. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). So many opportunities to marvel at God’s creation, but what do we do? Rush on to the next meeting, click the next link, pluck our Blackberrys or iPhone or Android, or what have you.

This is taken from “Timely Reflections,” available at www.tripillarpublishing.com

The Meyer Minute for October 21, 2015

Had some slack in my Seminary schedule, so yesterday Diane and I went on a date. Our romantic destination was…tada! The new IKEA store in St. Louis. I’ve heard that IKEA is a favorite for students and young marrieds. Maybe so, but yesterday the majority of romantics in the store were, uh, mature. Part of the romance for me was watching what interested Diane. The first thing she went looking for was a can opener. She even gave a testimonial to another shopper about how great the IKEA can opener is. Even with arthritis, this is the best! Sheets were next on her list. “What do you think of this color?” “What difference does it make? We’re supposed to be sleeping.” I tried to be helpful, but she knows when I’m bored. What we both were looking for was a small chest of drawers. Found one we liked, but then, “OK, how do we get out of here?” IKEA is like a massive labyrinth, once you’re in deep, it’s not easy to get out. No doubt that’s part of the retail strategy to get us to spend more date money. I see that some retailers are getting into “slow shopping,” making shopping an experience, not just a quick in and out. Yesterday the shared experience was the point of our date.

Aging frees up time. Like Diane says, “We’re old enough that we don’t have to do what everyone wants us to do.” Spiritual maturation also frees up time.  Whatever your age, the Creator blesses rest with family and friends (Exodus 20:8-11). You don’t have to try and do everything. That has Jesus’ approval.  “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Well, IKEA wasn’t desolate but it was our day away by ourselves. I’m planning on asking Diane for another date. “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Please pray for me today. I’m going to try to assemble that chest of drawers.   

The Meyer Minute for October 20, 2015

The “Body of Christ” is one way the New Testament describes the Church and that’s how we usually use it, descriptively. We are all different but one in Jesus. Caucasian, African-American, Asian, young, old, all believers in Jesus, a description of the “Body of Christ.”

“The Decline and Fall of Congress” by Christopher DeMuth was yesterday’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.  Mr. DeMuth was president of the American Enterprise Institute for 22 years and now is a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute. About the ineffectiveness of Congress, he writes, “The disarray within Republican ranks isn’t an adequate explanation. It didn’t dissuade Henry Clay, Thomas Reed, Joe Cannon or Sam Rayburn.” There’s something deeper causing Republican and Democrat party factions. “Cultural individualism has worn down one mediating institution after another, from family to church to local community.” (WSJ, October 19; A15)

A “mediating institution” holds people together despite all their differences. For example, the family talking things through at the dinner table has given way to eating on the run and texting. Neighbors talking over the backyard fence has given way to not knowing our neighbors. Church people talking about issues in a meeting has given way to emails and posts with people who think my way. Rampant individualism, my way or the highway, is a cancer throughout our public body.

“The body does not consist of one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body…. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:14-15, 27). Church people, do you want to be more effective in mission to our sorely divided society? Then let’s stop thinking of “Body of Christ” as merely descriptive but make it prescriptive for our life together.  We should consciously and publicly model for our fellow citizens how people can be different, even disagree, but still be tight with one another because we together belong to Jesus. Jesus taught He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) but was far more loving than many church people are today.

 

The Meyer Minute for October 19, 2015

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” That’s a popular hymn, but what does that church jargon mean outside of church?

“Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead…. If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” (2:8, 11-13).

To say God is faithful means God keeps His promises. He doesn’t say one thing and do another. He doesn’t renege. Sooner or later, He shows Himself true to His word. “If we have died with him, we will also live with him.” That means dying to ourselves to be incorporated into Christ who died for our sins. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). God promises you’ll then participate in His resurrection. “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5). For you to be “faithful” means you hang onto that promise.

“If we endure, we will also reign with him.” Endurance is never easy, especially in these days when our attention flits here and flits there. Key to Christian endurance is faithfulness, hanging onto the words of promise. “The righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). God will keep that promise; we’re faithful when we trust His promise.

God has made us many promises, many are warm and welcoming but not all. “If we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” Walk away from Jesus and Jesus will deny you. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). So today is one more day of grace for you, one more day before judgment to live on His promises. “Thou changest not: Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”

Congratulations to Chapel of the Cross in St. Louis. Yesterday I was privileged to share these thoughts with them on their 50^th anniversary.

 

The Meyer Minute for October 16, 2015

A “Dennis the Menace” cartoon has stuck with me; the reason is obvious. The cartoon shows Dennis standing in the midst of one super messy bedroom, his exasperated mother glowering at him. Dennis looks up at her and says, “Now, what’s the problem?”

If you ever visit Concordia Seminary, and I hope you will, you’ll see that the president’s office is neat and clean. That’s because I want it to look good when we have the privilege of welcoming people to campus. There’s another reason. It’s probably not an accident that the names Dale and Dennis are close together in the alphabet. The official office is clean because I work from another office on campus, and that office is filled with piles: piles on the desk, piles on the floor, piles on the shelves. When I go to heaven, that office will be sealed with yellow disaster tape. That’s the point: heaven is our true home, not here. Leaving piles of unsettled stuff for those who will survive us is a burden to our heirs that we could have lightened.

“The time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6). Paul didn’t have an estate to square away, but his love for Jesus motivated him to care for the future of the Church when he would be gone. He told Timothy, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

There are two great commandments: love God wholly, and then love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:34-40). About the first, we look forward with anticipation to that day when we’ll see our God and Savior face-to-face. Remembering your church in your will witnesses your love of God to the next generation. About the second great commandment, “love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 39), who is your neighbor? Doesn’t it include those who survive you? We’re going to our true home; look around. “Now, what’s the problem?”

This Minute is from “Timely Reflections,” a compilation of 365 Meyer Minutes available from www.tripillarpublishing.com  

The Meyer Minute for October 15, 2015

Something profound, at least it strikes me as profound, is happening on campus, and not only on our Seminary campus but in many schools throughout the nation. What’s changing is that educators are shifting their focus from teaching to learning.

Here’s what I mean, and I’ll use Concordia Seminary as an example. 46 years ago my classmates and I arrived on campus and for three of the next four years professors poured knowledge into our heads. (The odd year was our internship in a congregation.) The primary focus of professors was to teach what they knew, those theological specialties they had mastered through years of intense study. If we got passing grades, we graduated and became pastors.

A focus on learning is slightly but significantly different. If the focus is on student learning, then there’s something more important than a prof delivering data. The prof strives to know how students learn, what excites them, how he can motivate them to become life-long learners, not simply “What do I have to do to pass this class?” The teacher’s knowledge is still important but now data dump is out. Drawing students into a passion for learning is in.

Apply that to Christian witnessing. Am I just unloading on you what I know, but with no concern for who you are, your life, your own passions? Apply it to congregational life. Do we do it the way we’ve always done it, whatever “it” is, because that’s what we’re good at? Or are we so concerned for others, the young, the marginalized, those outside the love of Christ, that we’ll shift our focus to how they in their situations can best hear and receive the Good News of Jesus through us?

Might you and I need to realize that we’re learners more than teachers? “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).