Today's Devotion

The Only Thing We Need To Know

2007-05-19T00:39:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 17, 2007

Read: Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17

THE ONLY THING WE NEED TO KNOW

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want...Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:1, 6)

One Sunday School teacher gave her fourth graders a challenging task. She asked them to memorize one of the most quoted Scripture of all, Psalm 23. She gave the children a month to learn the Psalm and they attacked it with enthusiasm. One of the little boys, Billy, was really excited about the task, but he just couldn't seem to memorize the Psalm. He practiced and practiced and practiced, but to no avail. He just couldn't remember the Psalm. Then the day came when his Sunday School class was scheduled to recite the Psalm in front of the congregation. Billy was as nervous as could be. When his turn to recite came, he reluctantly stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know!"

If you think about, Billy's simple answer is cute, but it doesn't necessarily meet the needs of many adults. It's too simple. It's too imprecise. It doesn't have enough details. We live in a world where simple answers are suspect and anytime someone says that there's a simple answer to the challenges of life that threaten our safety and comfort, our first tendency is to laugh at them and consider them naive. How can there be any simple answers to rampant crime, failing marriages, broken families, rising violence, and a host of other societal maladies that threaten people's existence and challenge any sense of hope? It's not possible, according to the world's standards, that there is any way to handle such issues spiritually. Little Billy's rendition of Psalm 23's simplicity makes for good story telling, but in reality life isn't that simple. Or is it?

In Scripture, on numerous occasions, God makes it a point to let us know that no matter what challenges we may face, what dangers may touch us, and what fears may bind us, He is always present with us and will protect us, comfort us, and strengthen us so we can overcome those things in life that would harm us. The power of Sin is such that it works diligently and vigorously to lead us to despair in the face of many trials and challenges to our faith and our lives. Yet God, in His infinite wisdom and love, grace and mercy, reaches out His hand to us and lifts us up above the fray and reminds us that He is the One who saves us. As Psalm 23 says so clearly, "even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (v.2).

God's final revelation is that our true and only Shepherd is Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) who has come to redeem His people from their sins. He has come into the world for all humanity and His promise is, no matter what happens to those who have faith in Him, that nothing can keep us away from His love and forgiveness which He won for us by His suffering, death, and resurrection. Little Billy's announcement, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know," is far more profound and meaningful than we might want to admit. Ultimately, because we are in Christ Jesus, it really is that simple - He is all we need to know to live a life of peace, hope, and joy. No matter what dangers we may face, whether as troops in a combat zone, a police officer on crime ridden streets, a firefighter facing an intense blaze, or as a homeless person on the streets of the city, there is hope and comfort offered by God in Jesus Christ who is our Good Shepherd. And that's all we really need to know.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for all the blessings You've given me, especially as I face the dangers and hardships of life which would take away my hope and joy, and fill me with fear and trembling. You have assured me by faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior from Sin, death, and Satan, that my sins are forgiven and that nothing can take me away from Your love. You comfort me by the power of Your Word and Spirit with the sure and certain hope that there's no danger so great or hardship so intense that can separate me from Your love and forgiveness. Help me, Father, to live my life filled with the simple reality that knowing Jesus as my Good Shepherd leads me to eternal life and gives me the courage of faith to share Your love in Him with others, no matter where they're from or what they've done. Help me to live my life filled with hope and joy for all to see, no matter the circumstances I may face, so that I may be a living witness of what it is to know that Jesus, the Lord, is my Shepherd, and in Him there is no want. In His precious name. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

God Is Our Sure Refuge In The Face Of Fear

2007-05-18T03:46:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 16, 2007

Read: Isaiah 43:1-13; Psalm 46

GOD IS OUR SURE REFUGE IN THE FACE OF FEAR

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waves roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3)

How fearful a place is the world? Over the past weekend I read a newspaper article about a father in the central city who is doing his best to love his children and take care of them. One of the things he has done to keep them safe is to arrange the furniture in their living room so that it can form a barrier of protection in case of stray bullets shattering the silence of their home. On Monday of this week, with that story fresh in the minds of the newspaper's readers, another story was published that seemly reflects the futility of the father's attempts at safety for his children. It seems that another child, four-year old Jasmine, was killed in a drive-by shooting by a stray bullet that entered her family's living room and struck her dead.

Our world isn't a safe place. Everywhere we look violence and destruction seems to abound. We're engaged in a global "war on terror," that seems to have no boundaries and many manifestations. Terror is not only perpetrated by disgruntled rebels, religious fanatics, or political dissidents. Terror rears its ugly head when a small child is killed in a drive by shooting as collateral damage. Terror takes control when a family loses its freedom to take a walk down the street on a summer's evening to enjoy the warmth and grow their family's bonds. Terror takes control when a child brings a bullet to his school principal that he claims to have found at school and the police are called in. Terror takes control when a mentally ill student goes off the deep end and commits mayhem and murder on a university campus. The news of the day seems intricately intertwined with a sense of futility and fear that is gripping the nation and the world.

It's into such an atmosphere that God comes to humanity and says, "Pay attention to Me. I love you so much that I've sent my One and Only Son into the flesh to redeem you from slavery to Sin and the fear that it engenders in your hearts and lives." The Psalmist reminds us that the God who has created the universe and who specifically and specially created humanity in His image and likeness is "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." We're not left alone to face our fears, confront terror, and stand against evil. God's promise to Israel as they faced their enemies - those who sought to destroy them - was that they were His people. Even though they faced the powers of darkness and Sin which sought to destroy them through their enemies, God assured them that He would be with them. That same promise and assurance is ours as well, through faith in Jesus Christ.

One of the tools I use to ramp up my courage or that of others when faced with a fearful and daunting situation is to ask myself and others, "What's the worst thing that anyone can do to me? Take away my birthday?" Many times, people will look at me as if I were crazy (if you ask my wife and kids they would probably say I am:>)). Yet the reality of living a life of faith in Christ, trusting in the power and promises of God, is that if my life were taken - my birthday disappears if you will - I have the hope and assurance that I will be with God forever in heaven. In that confidence and hope we can, by faith, take heart and have the courage to face down any fear, confront any terror, and overcome any evil. God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ is the only message of hope and peace that can change the hearts of those who do evil and promote terror and fear. It's the only message that can take the fear from fear-filled hearts and replace it with hope, peace, joy, and thanksgiving. Only Jesus can change what is ailing our world, our nation, and our communities. Only God's love in Christ can change the hearts of those who would seek to destroy. In the meantime, we also take heart because our God is truly our refuge and strength in the face of any and all fear and terror and Christ is the hope of the world.

Prayer: Father, as I look around me I see death and destruction, evil and danger seemingly everywhere. The news of the day seems to say there's no place that's safe from danger and fear in the world. Even the security of my home can be breached by those who might seek to do harm to me or my family. I'm frustrated at the news accounts of little children being murdered in their homes by unthinking and uncaring people who don't care about or love anyone other than themselves. I'm both angry and fearful; angry at such people and our seeming inability to stem the tide of such destructive behavior, and fearful of stepping forward and having my voice heard and having violence visited directly upon me or those I love. It's fear that immobilizes me all too often from speaking Your truth and working for the welfare of others. Forgive me, Father, for being so self-centered and fearful that I fail to see the opportunities You give me to make a difference as Your witness and servant. Strengthen my faith by the power of Your Word and Spirit, that I may step forth boldly with the truth of Your Word and its power to change people's lives. Remind me that You are my refuge and strength in every trouble. Give me the courage to take the risks necessary to touch the lives of those who seek to harm others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus, so that hearing they might be changed into instruments of Your peace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Better Than Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!"

2007-05-17T14:51:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 15, 2007

Read: Exodus 14:1-31; I Corinthians 1:18-31

BETTER THAN RIPLEY'S "BELIEVE IT OR NOT!"

"For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:18)

One Sunday afternoon not long ago, nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother to share his Sunday school lesson from that morning. "Well, Mom," Joey replied, "Our teacher told us about how God had sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge upon which all the people escaped safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. Bombers were sent to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." Joey's mother was flabbergasted at this account. "Now, Joey," she responded, "is that really what your teacher taught you?" Joey responded, "Well, no, Mom. But if I told it the way my teacher told it, you'd never believe it!"

Little Joey's not alone, is he? A whole lot of people simply laugh at the "incongruity" of the Biblical accounts of God's actions on behalf of human beings. People are always trying to "fix" the Biblical accounts so they make more sense and fit into a schema more attuned to human thought and understanding. For centuries there have been those who have sought to discount the story of salvation in Scripture. There are those who purport to be able to tell what is truly God's truth and what isn't. Many have rejected the Bible out of hand simply because it doesn't conform to their personal schema of the secular and sacred. And many organizations, groups, and individuals (for instance "The Jesus Seminar") continue to work hard to discredit the truth and power of the Scriptures because they have their own opinions about what is holy, sacred, and God's will (usually based on how their desire to have God act in keeping with their personal preferences of what is good, moral, and right).

Lest we get too smug and self-important, there isn't one of us - even among God's redeemed children - who isn't guilty of trying to stuff God in a box of our choosing. Like little Joey, we are often overwhelmed by the incredible power of God and His total love for humanity. How often haven't we found it hard to believe that we don't have to do anything to receive God's forgiveness - that He took care of that for us in Christ Jesus? Throughout the Old Testament, we see the hand of God working to redeem His people, saving them not only from those who sought to destroy them, but also promising the ultimate redemption from Sin, death, and Satan in the Savior to come. The Children of Israel experienced that power so many times, not just in their deliverance from Pharaoh as they left their slavery in Egypt, but also numerous times throughout their history when their enemies sought to drive them from the face of the earth. And all too often, even though they had seen and heard God's deliverance, His power and promises were just too good to be believed.

That's the way it is with the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It seems just plain foolish to think that a god, much less "The One True God," would stoop so low and care so much for His lowly creatures on earth - human beings - that He would sacrifice His only-begotten Son on the Cross as payment for the sins of the world. The story of the Cross of Christ, the Plan of God's salvation through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus as payment in full for the sins of the world, taking upon Himself the full wrath of God in our place, has been probed and prodded, edited and abridged, time and time again to somehow make it more believable.

It's hard for human beings to believe that what God says is true - salvation is found in no one else than Jesus Christ and the Cross, an instrument for the cruel and inhuman punishment of evildoers and lawbreakers, is the instrument of redemption for the world. It's a story of God's power used in our behalf that would be even too unbelievable for "Ripley's Believe It Or Not." But, praise be to God, it is true. We are saved by faith in Christ. God's almighty power is found to be at work even in the lowly and intellectually unsound act of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. It may be unbelievable to many, but it is God's power for salvation to all who believe.

Prayer: Father, I'm so often faced with the incredulity of a world that just can't seem to understand nor believe that salvation from Sin, death, and Satan isn't just necessary, but impossible to accomplish on our own. I have to admit that my own sinful condition, when left unchecked by Your forgiveness and love, leads me into the same unbelieving trap as everyone else. I, too, find it hard to believe that there's nothing I can do to save myself and earn Your forgiveness and eternal life. Just like little Joey, I find it hard to understand or believe many things You tell me in Your Word. And, like the world around me, I want to reduce everything in Your Word to human logic so I can wrap my mind around it, rather than take You at Your Word and, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, believe Your promises in Jesus. Forgive me, Father, for such foolishness and strengthen my faith so that I may be a willing and living witness to the "folly of the Cross." Give me the strength of faith and purpose to share Jesus with others so they, too, might believe the "folly of the Cross," and be saved unto eternal life. In Christ's precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

The Lord - He Is God!

2007-05-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 14, 2007

Read: I Kings 18:16-39; II Corinthians 13:1-11

THE LORD - HE IS GOD!

"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!'" (I Kings 18:39)

There's an old story about a Sunday school teacher and the account of the Prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal. She was explaining how Elijah had challenged the priests to see who was stronger, Baal and all their other gods or the God of Israel, who saves. To that end, as we read in I Kings above, altars were built for the sacrifices of young bulls and it was first the turn of the priests of Baal. They prayed and prayed and prayed, entreating their gods to send fire down and take the offering they were giving. The failed and failed miserably.

It was then Elijah's turn. He took a young bull, slaughtered it and laid it on the altar he had built of twelve stones. He dug a trench around it and then told those who were helping him to fill four large jars with water and dump them over the bull, the altar, and all the wood for the fire. So they did so three times. It was at this point the teacher paused in her retelling of the Biblical account. She asked if anyone in the class could explain why the Lord had Elijah pour water over the bull on the altar. Certainly it was an unusual thing to do. At that a little girl's hand went up in the back of the room, "I know! I know!," she said. "God had Elijah pour all that water on the bull so he could make gravy!"

We all know the end of the story. Elijah prayed and God sent fire from heaven that consumed everything - the bull, the stones, the wood, the water, and even the dirt. The people saw it and responded, "The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" (I Kings 18:39). Obviously He wasn't "making gravy" but He was sending a clear message; a message no one could fail to understand.

We don't live in the days of the Prophets or Apostles. They're long gone. Yet the message from God that they brought to humanity is that God is the Lord and He saves His people. While the people of Israel were fooled into believing the prophets of Baal and worshiping all sorts of false gods, the true God was still watching over them and sending His Prophets, like Elijah, to remind them that "The Lord - He is God!" It's a reminder we need in the world today as well. There are so many conflicting claims as to the "way of salvation" - money, power, the right government, personal charisma, might, political will and accomplishment. Yet all these have nothing but the same false allure the people of Israel were confronted with by turning to Baal worship and forsaking God.

God's promise of salvation isn't found in the power human beings might wield, or in the power of armies, the charisma of politicians, or the overthrow of capitalism, communism, fascism, or any other of the "isms" fighting for prominence in the world. God's promise of salvation is found in the power and foolishness of the Cross of Christ, the sacrifice of God-made-flesh on that Cross to redeem the world from Sin, Satan, and the Law which condemns before God. God's promise of salvation isn't to be found in an earthly kingdom or a powerful Church, but in the simple, wondrous gift of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior - an act of God's pure grace and unmerited favor because He loves the world. In that gift of faith we have life and hope, peace and joy. In that gift of faith in Jesus we have a message of hope and peace to share with the whole world. In that gift of faith in Jesus we are no longer double-minded, for we know the truth that sets us free. In that gift of faith in Jesus we live each day with the firm conviction that "The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!"

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so often led down the primrose path of destructive behavior as I'm enticed by the world's wiles and false promises of power, prestige, wealth, comfort, and peace. All around me I see the pain and sorrow caused by Sin and sinful people, but I also find myself looking for salvation from these things in people, government, society, and programs. Forgive me, gracious Lord, for so often failing to recognize that my peace and hope, and the peace and the hope of the world can only be found in Your love and forgiveness. Forgive me for so often forgetting that Jesus reminded His disciples that the kingdom of heaven is among us, but it's not a physical kingdom but a heavenly one. By the power of Your Word and Spirit continue to fill me with Your peace and forgiveness. Strengthen me with Your love and hope, and give me the courage and purpose to daily live for Jesus and share Him with everyone I meet. May my life, both in word and deed, thought and purpose, be a living testimony that shouts, "The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" for everyone to hear. In Jesus' precious name I ask this. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Are You Turning Into A "Telephone Pole?"

2007-05-09T21:04:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 9, 2007

Read: Luke 17:20-37; II Peter 3:1-18

ARE YOU TURNING INTO A "TELEPHONE POLE?"

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (II Peter 3:17, 18)

It never ceases to amaze me how children can be the source of great wisdom through the simplicity of their thinking. Sometimes that wisdom is displayed by innocent comments that show the absurdity of a situation. Sunday school teachers are often the witnesses and recipients of the "wisdom" of children, often to their amazement and often to their chagrin. One Sunday school teacher recalls she was describing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to her class and noted that Lot's wife looked back with some apparent wistfulness at the city she had called home and ended up turning into a pillar of salt. Little Jason, eager to make his contribution to the account and show that he was listening announced triumphantly, "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving, and she turned into a telephone pole!" (cf. Genesis 19)

If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah at all, and remember what happened to Lot's wife, you know that little Jason didn't "get it." At the same time, all too often, we adults don't "get it" either. Jesus frequently talked about the fact that after His resurrection and ascension there would come a time where evil would begin to take over the world. God's people would find themselves on the wrong end of society. Living and acting as a child of God, living as the redeemed in Christ, would become difficult and life threatening. He continually reminded His disciples that they would need to be on their guard so they wouldn't allow themselves to act like the world and forget who they were.

Peter gives that same reminder in his Epistle. Just as Jesus had taught the Apostles, so Peter teaches us. By faith in Christ, God's precious gift to every believer, we are reminded to not only recognize our sins are forgiven, but that we are called to live a life that reflects the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Father in heaven. We are reminded by Peter, as Jesus reminded the Apostles, that the time will come when the world will totally forsake any thought of God's will and lawlessness will prevail. We are taught by Peter, as Jesus taught the Apostles, that there will be great temptation to go the way of the world and not remain in Christ. And, just as Jesus warned and cautioned the Apostles not to get caught up, like Lot's wife (Luke 17:32), in yearning for the things of the earth, so also does Peter warn and caution us.

Little Jason's, "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving, and turned into a telephone pole," reminds us that because of Sin in the world, people just plain don't get the point. Often even God's people don't get the point. Why there's even a school of thought that says that there will be a thousand year reign of Christ on earth - all because even God's people find it difficult to understand that we can't look back, only forward to heaven and eternity with Christ. That's the ultimate end of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. As forgiven and restored people of God, our lives lived here are but an exercise for heaven. How are you living your life? God wiling, each of us lives by faith, looking for the day we can go home to heaven. It's a great way to live a redeemed and holy life.

Prayer: Father, I know that all too often, even when You're speaking to me in Your Word, I'm thinking about the things of this world. I wish the world would accept Your children, not disdain them. I wish that I could avoid having to experience the derision of those who hate religion, particularly those who believe in and follow Jesus. I'm too often like little Jason's mom, turning around to see where I've been and turning into a "telephone pole." Forgive me for so often putting the things of this world before my relationship with You and my witness for Jesus. Fill me with the power of Your Word and Spirit that may never look back at what has been, but always look forward to what You are giving me - Your forgiveness, love, blessings, hope, and peace - until You take me home to heaven. Hear me Father, for the sake of Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Go And Do Likewise

2007-05-08T18:36:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 8, 2007

Read: Luke 10:25-37; Psalm 49

GO AND DO LIKEWISE

"'Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' The expert in the law replied, "the one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'" (Luke 10:36, 37)

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

Out of the mouth of babes! How often isn't that the response we human beings have toward those in need. We live in a dangerous world and being a "Good Samaritan" is really risky. From what I understand about the situation of life for the beaten man, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan, it wasn't much safer for them on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho than it is on most of our cities' streets today. Robbers and brigands were prevalent. That the priest and Levite may have seen the injured man as bait in a trap is entirely possible. They, and we, could probably find a thousand reasons not to stop and offer assistance under the circumstances. But one man did stop. And, what's more, he wasn't the "right type" of person. He was a Samaritan.

Without going into great detail, suffice it to say that the Jews considered the Samaritans as trash. In many ways I suppose one could say that Samaritans were viewed by the Jews in much the same way as Jews have been viewed by other people throughout history. There were racial, ethnic, and religious reasons for the disconnect between these two peoples, so for a Samaritan to stop and help a Jew would have been unthinkable. Of course, that's Jesus' point exactly. The lesson He was giving through this story answers not only the question, "Who is my neighbor?", but also reflects the grace, mercy, and love of God for humanity - "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

If we're honest with ourselves and how we view those with whom we have differences - racially, ethnically, nationally, religiously, spiritually - we're probably right there with the little girl's response to her Sunday School teacher's question, "I think I'd throw up!" Thank God He doesn't "throw up" when He sees our sinful condition. Thank God He determined to save us from our sins and heal our wounded souls and spirits, and most especially our relationship with Him.. In Christ Jesus we have been given a new life with our Father in heaven. By God's gift of faith to us through the power of His Word and Spirit, we know His love and are restored to Him so that we might share His love and compassion with others. "Go and do likewise" is to respond to God's love for us in Christ by loving others enough to overlook our differences and share the Good News of Jesus with them. That's how God's love touches others - through us.

Prayer: Father, I can't honestly say that I'm a very good, "Good Samaritan" in my life. All too frequently I let the differences I have with others, whether they are racial, ethnic, religious, economic, or otherwise, get in the way of loving them as You have loved me. All too often I find myself looking askance at those who are different from me and from those with whom I surround myself. As a result, I'm not always as willing to share Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus with others. I am just as afraid at times to assist those in need as were the priest and the Levite. I'm certain that Samaritan was also afraid, but his love and compassion, and I expect, his love for You, led him to overcome that fear and assist a brother in need. Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure and move my heart and spirit to seeing others as brothers and sisters in need of Your love and compassion. Let me be an instrument of Your peace and share with those in need and those who are different from me, even those with whom I may be at odds, You love and forgiveness in Jesus, who died and rose again for all people everywhere. In His precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Jesus Is The Christ For Everyone

2007-05-07T16:27:00.000-05:00

Read: Acts 11:1-18
Romans 10:1-15

JESUS IS THE CHRIST FOR EVERYONE

"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trust in Him will never be put to shame. For this is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."'" (Romans 10:11-13)

I don't know about you, but no one is knocking down my door to put my face on the cover of GQ, or to have me pose for a fashion spread. To say that I'm overweight is an understatement of galactic proportions. I can honestly say no reporters are calling me day and night seeking my erudite opinion on the political, social, or economic events of the day. I have more bills to pay than I have money, my asset base is zero, and, all in all, I'm just a really very ordinary person. How about you?

Human beings tend to look at certain characteristics as being signs of success and prosperity, power and prestige. We put labels on people like short and fat, tall and skinny, handsome or ugly, beautiful, plain, or a "dog." How we treat others often is a result of what they look like, how they dress, how clean or dirty they might be, what their level of wealth or prestige might be, or even what kind of car they drive. We are attracted to some people and repulsed by others. The phrase, "They're our kind of people!" is a very real part of how human beings gravitate to others.

Our sinful, human nature drives wedges between us and others because "they" might not be like us. "They're not our kind of people," and so we turn away, ignore, or chase such people away. Thank God, however, that He hasn't treated us the same way. Certainly, as we hear in Scripture, "we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). If we saw ourselves as God sees us we wouldn't want anything to do with us. Yet, in His grace, mercy, compassion, and love God determined to save all humanity from the stain and stink of Sin and redeem us for Himself that we might receive His forgiveness and live with Him forever in heaven.

In Jesus, the Christ - the Anointed One, the Messiah - God fulfilled His promise to redeem all people from their sins. Jesus died on the Cross for everyone, no matter how big or small, short or tall, fat or thin, rich or poor, famous or infamous, so that all might know God's forgiveness and be at peace with Him. When we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Thus, as we have received God's grace and blessings, His love and forgiveness, all who believe in Jesus seek to share Him with others. The Gospel, the Good News, isn't the sole possession of any group or groups of people, but the power of God for salvation to all who believe. As we have received the Good News through the power of God's Word and Spirit, we seek to get that Good News out to others. As witnesses of God's love in Christ Jesus we don't take a look at the externals of people but remember that Christ died for everyone. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior for everyone, regardless of station in life - "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's an important thing to remember the next time God gives us an opportunity to share Jesus with someone in need of His love or invite someone who isn't quite like us to come to worship with us.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for all those times I miss the opportunities You've given me to share Jesus with others. Too often I've looked at others and judged them by their clothing, their station in life, their intellect, or their wealth and then chosen not to share Your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness in Christ with them. Too often, Father, my witness is reserved for those who are "like me," forgetting that all human beings are alike in one very crucial and critical way - we are all sinners in need of repentance and salvation. Father, forgive me for such arrogance and unloving behavior and send Your Holy Spiriit into my heart so that I may truly seek to share Jesus with others. Let me witness be sure and certain; don't let human labels prevent me from being a faithful witness and disciple of Christ Jesus, in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Listening To Jesus' Voice

2007-04-29T01:39:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 26, 2007

Read: John 10:22-30; Psalm 95

LISTENING TO JESUS' VOICE

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27, 28)

Have you ever such clamoring as has been going on in the political sphere these days? Someone is always calling for someone's head, or shouting out their opposition to one position or another taken by the "other" party, or taking the final stand to end all stands against the worst possible corruption or some other "bad stuff" being committed by those elected to keep the country running. It's quite a din.

Each of the clamoring voices seeks to be the only voice heard. If someone doesn't agree with their position they are shouted down, berated, discounted, and ignored. I've noticed that the folks in some quarters seem bent on determining when a subject is closed and is no longer debatable - it's now a given and there's no room for disagreement, even if the disagreement is rational, provable, and documented. A recent series of polls by different organizations, showed that a position held by one political party, on which they were basing all their moves, was not supported by the public's responses to the polls - including from their own party. The mandate supposedly given them appears to not be supported by the facts of the polls.

I suppose we could discuss these clamoring voices 'ad infinitum.' They're all over the place and they want to be the only voices people hear and follow. While such clamoring goes on regularly in our world and is endorsed by the news media, another clamoring is also taking place that doesn't get much play, but has the power to destroy the world and every human being in it. That clamoring is the voice of those who seek to exclude God and His Word and Will from the public arena. Those clamoring voices seek to lead people to an alternative "religion," a religion of self, a religion of the community, a religion that puts human beings at the center of everything and seeks to put human wisdom on a pedestal - particularly the brand of wisdom espoused by the clamoring voices.

God's people face those clamoring voices shouting for our spiritual attention every day of our lives. They seek to deafen us to God's Word and His voice as it comes to us in the Word and Sacraments, the Means of Grace by which He touches us both spiritually and physically so that we can know by faith that He is present with us at all times and in all places. Jesus addresses this challenge to the faith of His redeemed, and reminds us that as our Good Shepherd, we are His sheep by faith, He has redeemed us to be His own forgiven people, and we know His voice, hear it and follow Him. He promises us that He will never let the clamoring voices take us away from Him nor will He allow them to keep us from heaven. We are secure in the arms of Jesus as we listen to His voice, hearing it above the clamoring of the world's voices that would take our attention away from Him. Listening to His voice, we are also moved to share that voice with others so they too may know His forgiveness, love, grace, mercy, and peace in their own lives, and know Jesus to eternal life.

Prayer: Father, this is a "noisy" world in which I'm living. Everyday, in myriad ways, I'm confronted and assailed by all the conflicting voices of the world which seek to lead me to embrace their "wisdom" and their "understanding" so that I will follow them. They don't wish me to disagree with them, and my courage is often tested when I know they're turning me off because I don't agree with what they're clamoring. Forgive me, Father, for all too often turning away from the confrontations which come when I follow Jesus and hear His voice over the clamoring voices in opposition to You and Your will for the world in Christ. Fill me with Your Spirit, Father, so that I may be able to always hear Your voice. Fill me with Your Spirit, Father, so that I may always be able to hear Jesus' voice, recognize it, and follow Him. Give me the courage to speak to others about Jesus, not as a clamoring voice insistent on having its way, but as a gentle, loving voice sharing a winsome testimony to Your love, forgiveness, and redemption of the world in Christ Jesus, my Lord, in Whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Bound Together In Christ

2007-04-26T19:24:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 25, 2007

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6
I Peter 3:8-18a

BOUND TOGETHER IN CHRIST

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3)

A community columnist in Wednesday's local newspaper was decrying the latest Supreme Court decision that upheld the prohibition against "partial-birth abortion." This person is a retired clergyperson and was arguing, not from a Scriptural perspective, but a humanistic perspective. A recent conversation "between a pro-choice advocate and an anti-abortion activist" broadcast over National Public Radio was noted by the columnist. The moderator had asked if there were any place that these two people could find common ground, since their arguments were the same rehashed ones heard ad infinitum. According to the columnist the "pro-choice person's" response was that both sides could work to prevent unplanned pregnancies and the reaction by the "anti-abortion proponent" was silence.

Now it seems to me that allowing for Christian freedom, this columnist and retired minister may speak his/her mind on this subject. I don't agree with abortion and have even graver misgivings about partial-birth abortions. Others would disagree. Yet, how are the people of God who are obviously on both sides of the question going to be able to discuss the issues when each sides deliberately disrespects the other.

For instance, take a look at the descriptions given of the two people in the conversation on NPR. The person in favor of abortion is "pro-choice" and an "advocate" (all positive phrases), while the person that doesn't approve of abortion is labeled as "anti-abortion" and an "activist" (both negative phrases). It's hard to seek "common ground" when one side wraps itself in positives and seeks to label the other side's position in the negative. It would hard to find any kind of common ground or a means of open communication if, by the same token, a person who doesn't approve of abortion would label someone in favor of it "pro-abortion" and an "activist" while labeling his/her position as "pro-life” and an "advocate." In the end, the same issue arises - how can people find common ground when they choose to use language that puts others down or minimizes them? It's disingenuous and intellectually dishonest to look for common ground when one isn't willing to treat those with whom the disagree with basic respect.

God's people are often at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to many social decisions. Whether the issue is abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, or a host of other social concerns, many time Christian people find themselves at odds with each other. Those who are called to be bound together in Christ are often found baiting each other, fighting one another, and hating each other. If we can't respect one another and deal with such issues using the power of God's Word, lovingly and patiently working with each other to come to a God-pleasing decision on such issues, then how can we expect the world to listen to the message of salvation in Jesus coming out of our mouths?

We have been called by the Gospel into the marvelous light of God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, we have been led to repentance and hope in Christ. Faith in Christ is God's precious and marvelous gift to all who believe - it's not something anyone has gained by his/her own efforts and merits (Ephesians 2:8-9). God has gathered us together to be His family, His people, His redeemed children so that we might be lights to the world through our lives and words of faith and hope to others. How important it is for us to seek to live together in the Body of Christ in peace and unity. How essential to the witness of the Gospel it is for all who confess the name of Jesus to show what it means to walk together in love, compassion, and mercy, recognizing our differences and seeking to end them lovingly and honestly. Living in a world that has no use for God and His Christ, it becomes even more essential that God's people "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).

Prayer: Father, there is perhaps no more difficult task I have as one of Your redeemed children than living according to Your will and Word. It's all too easy to succumb to the world's thinking and try to find ways to fit it into Your will. It's all too easy to argue with others about our differences than it is to find ways for us to talk with each other in love so that Your Word and Spirit can bring us to common ground and a true understanding of what is truly Your Will and purpose for each of Your children. Forgive me for speaking and acting in ways that seek to get the upper hand on those with whom I disagree; putting them down, speaking pejoratively of them, and otherwise finding ways to minimize them as people. By the power of Your Word and Spirit lead me instead to speak the truth in love, listen to what others of my brothers and sisters in Christ think and feel, and then to speak with Your Spirit's wisdom so that all might be blessed. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

The Power Of God's Love

2007-04-25T02:53:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 24, 2007

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 5:1-11

THE POWER OF GOD'S LOVE

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

If you've got friends or relatives like I do you probably receive your share of email "pass alongs." You know the ones I'm talking about. Those are the "don't break this chain and you'll receive a blessing" variety of emails. I regularly toss them, or, if it's one I haven't seen before (or don't remember) I file it for later use - sometimes they provide me with ideas for "Today's Devotion" - which is the case today.

The following is one of those emails that I've received a couple of times - never sent it out, but it stuck with me as being appropriate for looking at the Christian's life with God. Whoever wrote the following was very creative and not a bad mathematician (I've been told that in some quarters it's believed that mathematics can solve all the ills of society - perhaps you've seen the television series, NUMBERS). Here's what I received:

From a strictly mathematical point of view it's suggested that we can determine what it means to give 100% and also what it means to give more than 100% as well. It's suggested that we take the alphabet, A to Z, and assign each letter a numerical, percentage value from 1% to 26%, with "A" being "1%" and "Z" being "26%." If we use the numerical values of each letter, the idea is that we can measure how much certain activities on our part can build our relationship with each other and with God. So let's take a look at the following:

"Hardwork" is often seen as crucial for any amount of success we might have in life. So, based on our formula, "H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K" would look like this in numerical values: 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%. Now that's close to 100%, but it doesn't quite make the grade.

The there's "Knowledge." Knowledge is touted in many was as the "end all and be all" for success. If you only have the proper knowledge, you can accomplish anything is one of the preeminent concepts we often hear. If we break "K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E" down to its mathematical components based on our formula, then its equation would look like this: 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%. Now 96% can still get you an "A" in school, but it's still short of 100%.

Of course it could be argued that "Hard Work" by itself is useless without "Knowledge," and "Knowledge" without application, i.e., "Hard Work," doesn't get you anywhere either. That's a function of "Attitude" we're told, so getting our "Attitude" in place is critical to one's success. The formula for "A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E" according to our premise is: 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%. We've hit the 100% level, but does that get us any closer to God?

According to Scripture, no amount of hard work, knowledge, or attitude is going to win God's approval, His forgiveness, or eternal life. Paul writes that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He further assures us that what saves us isn't our hard work, knowledge, or attitude because none of them can measure up to God's standards by themselves. Sin so taints our lives, our human nature, that all our hard work, knowledge, and attitude is negatively affected so that we can't achieve God's purposes by ourselves. On the other hand, St. Paul reminds us that not only is faith in Christ a gift from God, but "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10).

And so we are returned to our mathematical formula and what it says about the "love of God" for us: "L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D" equals 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%. The only thing that brings us into a full and loving relationship with God, receiving His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ is His love for us. One could say that this is a "mathematical certainty."

What we can say, however, that God's love for us is so great, and it's power so encompassing, that it affects every aspect of our life and living. His love for us lives in us through the washing of Holy Baptism, through the forgiveness of all of our sins, and through His continued presence with us through His Word. As Christ lives in our hearts and lives we are empowered to live lives of hope, joy, peace, and confidence, knowing that we are held in the very palm of God's hand. When we couple "hard work - 98% - the ability which comes from God," "knowledge - 96% - a gift of God to us," and "attitude - 100% - because God has changed our hearts and minds through faith in Christ," and we add them with the "love of God - 101% - for us as revealed in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have a the world's greatest winning formula. For it is the power of God's love which makes every good thing happen in our lives and in the lives of others through us. What a blessing we have from God!

Prayer: Father, I know that playing around with numbers and formulas doesn't prove Your love for me or the world in any way shape or form. I realize that nothing can prove Your love except the truth that Christ came into the world to save sinners, including me. Forgive me for so often forgetting that there's nothing I can do or have done to deserve Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, but that You have done it all for me through Jesus. Help me always look to You for the strength, wisdom, knowledge, attitude, and abilities necessary to live in and through You as a true witness to others of Your redeeming love in Jesus. Father, I pray that You would send Your Holy Spirit upon me in abundant measure to keep me fully assured by faith of the redemption You have given me in Christ, certain that I will be with You in heaven, and confident that You will use every gift and talent You've given me so that I may be a blessing to others and demonstrate the power of Your love in Jesus. In whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Christ Is Our Stability In A Topsy-Turvy World

2007-04-23T15:43:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 23, 2007

Read: James 1:12-18; Psalm 127

CHRIST IS OUR STABILITY IN A TOPSY-TURVY WORLD

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

How well have you been able to keep up with our changing world? Technological changes alone have been sweeping. I remember learning to type on a manual typewriter in high school; I remember the old, black Remington my dad had at his desk in the basement. Even though we had already landed on the moon, the next step in word processing for me was an electric typewriter. When my wife and I got married in 1980, we even got a new portable electric typewriter - it was soon obsolete; we couldn't even find ribbon cartridges for it after awhile. It's still gathering dust, sitting alone and useless in a hall closet. The old transistor radio I used to carry next to my ear to listen to ball games is nowhere to be found except in antique stores and musty basements. I-Pods, with 3,500 or more songs, are the music delivery system du jour.

Technology isn't the only thing that has changed over my lifetime - and in 55 years I've seen sea change in technology. Society has also changed. From the more staid 50's, we moved into the revolutionary, "Flower Child" 60's, the "Sexual Revolution" and "Women's Liberation" 70's, through the challenges of the 80's and 90's. We're almost finished with the first decade of the 21st Century. The societal changes, the changes in mores, morality, concepts of right and wrong, social justice concepts, and a host of other people-centered changes have been, are, and will be taking place.

People's belief in and relationship to spiritual things has also changed. Already back in the late 80's, when I was serving a congregation, the Barna Institute and the PEW Research Institute both published studies that showed an increasingly, Biblically illiterate society. Even reading the Bible simply as good literature had fallen by the wayside - a situation that continues to this day.

As God's people in Jesus Christ, we're faced every day with a changing culture, often not for the best. What was acceptable one day is now politically incorrect. What was right yesterday will be considered wrong tomorrow because a judge somewhere ruled that something was no longer socially acceptable, even though it is the law. In short, as the hymn, "Abide With Me" states, "change and decay in all around I see..." and we have to live with the uncertainty that that change and decay brings.

Thanks be to God! He doesn't change. No matter what, He still loves us. No matter what, His forgiveness of all our sins in Christ is sure and certain for eternity. No matter what, we can be certain His promised redemption in Christ is ours and that by faith in Jesus we have the hope and promise of eternal life. No matter what changes occur around us in the world, our communities, and even our own families God never changes. His promises are always certain. He never goes back on His Word and He continues to send His Holy Spirit to uplift us in our Baptisms and bring His forgiveness physically into our lives in the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus in the Lord's Supper. Our Father in heaven gives us stability in a topsy-turvy world, for which we give thanks and breathe a sigh of relief. No matter how crazy things may get, how many new gadgets find the light of day, and no matter how many new rules for behavior the world throws out to us, God's will and Word stay the same. In that we are greatly blessed and have a message of Good News to share with others.

Prayer: Father, You understand better than I do how confusing the world has become. Nothing ever stays the same, and while change can be good, there are changes that are taking place because of the power of Sin and Satan in the world that are leading more and more people away from Your love. All too often, Father, I get pushed off course in my life of faith as well. So often I find myself just wanting to do what everyone else does because it's easier than remaining true to You. Father, send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure so that, through the power of Your Word I might be equipped and prepared to stand firm in Jesus, stand solid against the ways of the world, and be a living witness to Your grace, mercy, love and forgiveness in Christ which never changes. Father, keep me ever grounded in the solid Rock of faith in Jesus - that self same rock that led Peter to confess, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Living As God's Chosen Instruments

2007-04-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 19, 2007

Read: Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 30

LIVING AS GOD'S CHOSEN INSTRUMENTS

"This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name." (Acts 9:15, 16)

I'm pretty certain that none of us remember our birth. I'm also quite certain that, if your mother is still alive, she does. Your father also may remember the circumstances of your birth, but your mother most certainly does; every excruciating moment of it. I suppose it could be reasonably said that every one of us has been dragged, kicking and scream into the world. Some of us may have been born more easily than others, but it's a sure bet that describing our entering into the world as being "dragged, kicking and screaming" into it is a pretty apt description.

Our spiritual births weren't much different. Certainly the kicking and screaming part probably didn't apply, although I've had a few such babies brought to Holy Baptism. Yet the kicking and screaming part of our new birth into Jesus Christ took place in our hearts and souls, as the power of Sin in us tried to put up a fight against God's Word and Spirit. Yet, by God's grace and mercy, He sent His Spirit to work through His Word and change our hearts so that we might be His own children, redeemed and restored to Him in Christ Jesus.

A fellow named Saul, who later described himself as "a Pharisee of Pharisees," had made it his business to seek out all those who claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who believed that He had risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, to arrest them and bring them before the Sanhedrin where they could be tried and convicted. Many died because of their faith in Jesus, much as Stephen did (Acts 8:54-9:1). And Saul often had a hand in such actions. While engaged in a campaign to root out followers of Jesus ("The Way"), Saul headed to the synagogues in Damascus. Here was a man who knew the Scriptures as well as anyone in his day, and yet he refused to see them pointing to Jesus as the Christ, the promised Messiah and Savior from Sin. So, on the road to Damascus, Saul had his "dragged, kicking and screaming" experience. Jesus appeared to Him on the road. He was blinded and could not see and his men had to lead him into Damascus where he was left to heal.

God chose Saul, later to be known as Paul, to be His missionary to the Gentiles. He healed his blindness, poured out His Holy Spirit on him, and through Holy Baptism washed Him clean from his sins and clothed him in the righteousness of Christ. Saul/Paul became a chosen instrument of our Father in heaven to share the Good News of Jesus with the world.

We, too, are God's chosen instruments to share His message of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ with the world. Sometimes He has to "drag us kicking and screaming" to forget about ourselves and our fears and trust His Word and Spirit to provide us with the strength and purpose to be witnesses for Jesus. Just as with Saul/Paul, we have God's Word and Spirit to strengthn our faith in Jesus and give us the words we need, when we need them, so we can share Christ's love with others so that they, too, might come to faith in Him and be clothed with His righteousness. Each of us, who have been baptized into Christ have become a new creation, God's chosen instruments to share Christ with the world.

Prayer: Father, You have truly blessed me with the privilege of being Your child, redeemed and restored to You in Christ Jesus. Yet, the truth is that so many times I let my own desires and Sin rule my heart and life and I run away from You and Your call to me to live in Your love, receive Your forgiveness, and be Your chosen instrument to share Jesus with others. Forgive me, gracious Father, and so fill me with Your Word and Spirit that I may gladly and willingly live in Christ's love and, living in that love, seek to tell others what You have done for me and for them in Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection. Strengthen my faith that I may be a willing instrument, chosen by You, of Your grace, mercy, and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Father, Deliver Us From The Evil One

2007-04-19T23:20:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 18, 2007

Read: Matthew 15:21-28; Psalm 28

FATHER, DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE

"...but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:13)

A young man walks around a university and shoots upward of 50-60 people, killing 32 and then himself. He videotapes a rambling and threatening monologue in which he "explains" the reason for the massacre in which he's about to engage. The resulting carnage has families, friends, the community, the university, and the authorities are asking why this happened. The news media, despite protestations to the contrary, has been sensationalizing this video as "legitimate" news reporting and drawn attacks for its lack of compassion and just, plain commonsense courtesy to the suffering. The inevitable political debate over the legality of handguns or the need to outlaw them altogether has been engaged once more. And, just as inevitably, there is the standard "who knew, when did they know, and why didn't they do something about it," as the "blame game" begins once more concerning the signs of the mental and emotional instability of yet another human being that “went off the deep end.”

Now I suppose that many might consider any one or all of the above perfectly legitimate concerns, arguments, or analyzing the story. Yet what concerns me, and it's very much in line with the problem the daughter of the Canaanite woman had. According to her mother she was "suffering terribly from demon-possession" (Matthew 15:22). I realize that it's not fashionable or considered realistic to speak of demon-possession in the "post-modern" age we live in, yet I can't help but wonder if the young Virginia Tech student who took so many lives, including his own, wasn't suffering from a spiritual emptiness and control of demons.

The reality of our contemporary world is that demon possession is somewhat akin to science fiction. In fact, movies that carry plots of demon possession are most often shown on the Sci-Fi Channel on cable television. In recent weeks movies such as Carrie, The Shining, and The Exorcist have been on the Sci-Fi Channel, a clear indication that our modern, "sophisticated" world regards such genre as so much fantasy. Unfortunately, with such an attitude prevailing in our culture, people such as this young man are going to continue to harm others and then themselves because no one recognizes the spiritual emptiness of which the devil is taking advantage. Ultimately, the real concern in such cases as the Virginia Tech massacre isn't whether or not handguns are able to be obtained legally (they can certainly be obtained illegally, no matter what any legislation might say), nor is it about whether or not the young man showed symptoms of his problems and who knew when. In the end, this young man slipped through the cracks in society because spiritual things, the things of God, are not the highest priority in the world or our culture.

God's people need to remember this. We need to pray diligently every day, as Jesus teaches us in the Lord's Prayer, "but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). We can pray that petition with confidence that God will answer us and keep us safe from the evil one, because that's what Jesus accomplished for us and the entire world by His suffering, death, and resurrection. Satan is defeated. The devil has no power over God's people any longer. By faith in Christ, all who believe have God's power to defeat Satan through His Word and Spirit. As forgiven sinners, we are confident that the devil has nothing to offer us that God hasn't already promised us in Christ. As we live as Christ's witnesses in our communities and world, we pray that God would lead us to touch the lives of others with the Good News of His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ - a message which could have given the Virginia Tech student the hope and peace that was obviously lacking in his life. After all, when we know Christ Jesus and live in God's forgiveness, mercy, and love, we have no worries and no one else’s behavior, power, or possessions (all part of the shooter's ramblings) can tear us away from Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to take away the guilt of my sins and open the doors of heaven to me, a poor, miserable sinner. Father, I think about the spiritual pain and anguish the young man in Virginia must have been going through for him to take not only the lives of others, but his own as well. I'm struck by his apparent hopelessness and despair. My heart aches because I firmly believe that if he had only known Your love and forgiveness in Jesus, none of what he did would have happened. Father, I know there are others like him in the community and the world. Lead me and all Your redeemed children to have hearts for all who are lost and in spiritual darkness and pain, suffering the stings and arrows of the devil as he seeks to wreak havoc on Your redeemed world before Jesus comes again. Give me Your wisdom and fill me with Your Spirit, so that I may be an active witness to others of Your gift of salvation in Christ. And Father, as I am tempted by the power of Sin and Satan, the world and my sinful flesh, hear me as I pray, "Father, deliver us from the evil one." In Jesus' name. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Our Greatest Act Of Love

2007-04-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 17, 2007

Read: John 15:1-17; Romans 12:9-20; 13:7-9

OUR GREATEST ACT OF LOVE

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

On the campus of Virginia Tech University on Monday a student went berserk murdering 32 people, wounding another 20, and finally took his own life. No one knows exactly why he did what he did, nor what set him off. The anguish, pain, suffering, emotional distress of thousands of family members, friends, classmates, and the entire university community are palpable. The shock that has gripped the university has also touched the nation. This rampage has been labeled the worst mass murder in the history of the United States.

Amidst all the speculation, discussion, and interviews that I've read and heard in the news media, one relatively small article struck me as of more importance in many ways, than all the rest of the reporting. A professor by the name of Liviu Librescu is among the many shot dead, but his is a singular story. It seems that, according to emails received by his wife from his students, he saved their lives by barricading the door to his classroom with his body, preventing the shooter from reaching his students, while he urged his students to flee. Opening windows they leaped two stories to safety. We're told that Professor Librescu was a Nazi-holocaust survivor in Romania, who also managed to flee Romania to Israel, eventually coming to the United States to teach. Obviously he was a man who had faced death not just a few times before. This time he faced it for the sake of others, not with a weapon to defend himself, but with his body to defend others.

I share this account with you because it reminds me of Jesus' words to His disciples on His way to Jerusalem, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus had just told them how much He loved them and how important they, and the whole world were, to the Father. He wanted them, and He wants us, to recognize that our salvation comes with a price. We're not saved by our actions, our goodness, our obedience, or our intellect. No amount of wealth, fame, or power can gain God's forgiveness, love, and favor. Nothing we do, nothing we have, and nothing we might be can get us to heaven. Our sins keep us from knowing God's love unless God does something about it.

Jesus' suffering and death for the sins of the world - for your sins and mine - was and is the only way anyone can be saved and freed from the bondage of Sin and Death that would keep human beings forever apart from God's love and presence. While it's true that Jesus could have called on legions of angels to defend Him and keep Him from the Cross, He was obedient to the Father's Will. He knew that the only way God's perfect justice could be answered was if He paid the price we owe God for our disobedience. While He could have saved Himself, while He could have gotten down from the Cross as the one thief wanted Him to do, and while He could have struck every Roman soldier and Jewish leader dead on the spot, He instead offered His life for ours. He gave His life. No one took it from Him.

As you and I live in the forgiveness of sins and the new life with God we have through faith in Jesus, we are called by our Lord to give our lives for others as well. We are called by faith to sacrifice our comfort and gain for the sake of those in need and who don't know God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Our Lord doesn't demand this of us - He calls us to it. He doesn't force us to serve Him and others - He asks us to share what He has given us. He doesn't demand that we forgive others - He asks us to forgive as we have been forgiven by Him. Ultimately, our sacrifice is the gift of ourselves for the sake of others in response to God's love for us in Christ Jesus. We give the gift of ourselves not for personal gain or because we want recognition, but because we love as He first loved us. Our greatest act of love is the sacrifice of ourselves for the sake of others - following in our Lord and Savior's footsteps.

Prayer: Father, I can't thank You enough for sending me a Savior. You took on human form in the person of Your Son Jesus Christ so that I and all people of every time and place could be redeemed to You and saved from the eternal damnation that Sin, Death, and Satan bring into the world. Jesus' sacrifice of Himself, "not considering equality with You a thing to be grasped," paid the ultimate price for my sins and the sins of the world so that I might know Your forgiven and love and the sure and certain hope of life with You forever in heaven. Help me to live my life filled with that certain hope and strengthen my faith in Jesus so that my greatest act of love is to give my life for the purpose of sharing Christ with others in any and all circumstances, whatever the cost. Thank You for calling me to be Your very own child. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved

Taking God At His Word

2007-04-17T09:17:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 16, 2007

Read: Matthew 22:23-33; Psalm 119:89-112

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

"You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)

There's nothing I appreciate more than a good, open, honest debate. Argumentation can be a positive, useful tool for developing understanding of others. If done in a respectful, intelligent manner debate can be an agent for positive, meaningful, and lasting change. True debate revolves around each person debating being respectful of the position of the other and sharing opposing points of view. The end result of debate doesn't have to be agreement, but it should never be anger or hatred. Being argumentative isn't the same as giving an argument.

Unfortunately, that's often not the case with debates in these times. This is especially true of debates concerning the subject o race, politics, and religion, as such debates often become personal and filled with negativism and combativeness, even hatred. When it comes to these topics, people are often so deeply entrenched in their opinions that they're not too likely to listen to other opinions or honestly and openly entertain information that may shed a different light upon their strongly held beliefs.

I've found that this is often true when speaking to people about the difference between having faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior from Sin as a Christian and following what might best be described as the Christian religion which requires obedience to God in order to get to heaven. There are so many people who call themselves theologians and seek to discredit God's Word, challenging its efficacy and God's plan of salvation - redeeming the world from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Of course such disagreement, skepticism, and unbelief is also a result of many people believing that there's no heaven or hell, and thus no life after death. Often attacks on God's Word are a result of sinful people realizing that God's Word and will doesn't agree with their personal desires.

That was the argument of the Sadducees, a religious-political party of Israel in Jesus’ day, who didn't believe in the Resurrection. As far as they were concerned - and it could be argued they were very much in at least one part of the Epicurean camp - they, too, saw nothingness at the end of live. Jesus knew their hearts and their intent and sought to help them understand that resurrection and eternal life were God's gifts to humanity and that human beings were made to be in relationship with God for eternity. Jesus' own suffering and death would mean nothing without His Resurrection, because in His Resurrection, the Father lets us know that He has accepted Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of the world once and for all times.

Just as Jesus didn't argue with the Sadducees, so also do we forsake arguing about faith with others. Instead we seek to share God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ by how we live. Respecting others, we live as God's people, caring for everyone, loving even the unlovable, and helping people to understand that faith is God's gift to all who believe and nothing something He or we will try to force on anyone. We seek, by the power of the Word and Spirit, as baptized, redeemed, and forgiven children of our heavenly Father, to love others as Christ loves us and gave Himself up as a ransom for many. Filled with God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness, living in His peace and joy, we take God at His Word and gladly and willingly seek to help others take Him at His Word also.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word of Truth that I may know Your more completely and appreciate all You have done for me in Jesus Christ. Forgive me for those times that I argue with others about how wrong they are in their beliefs, instead of taking the time to listen to them, understand them, and show them respect so that I may also share Your love with them as I share Jesus with them. Help me to be patient in my life of faith as it touches those who don't know Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ. Give me the strength of faith and spirit to live a life that openly takes You at Your Word - practicing what I believe so that my actions may speak louder than my words. Equip me, by Your Word, to be an effective ambassador for Christ, always prepared to focus the issue on Your truth and love for all to hear and see. Hear my prayer, Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Faith In Christ Is Reflected In Action

2007-04-15T23:48:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 14, 2007

Read: I John 2:3-17; Psalm 1

FAITH IN CHRIST IS REFLECTED IN ACTION

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." (I John 2:3)

I suppose it could be said that we live in cynical times. All too often we find ourselves doubting the word of others. Politics is a particularly fruitful place for innuendo, prevarication, and deceit. What you see and hear in the political realm frequently fails to be what you get. Duplicity seems to be the watchword for the day, and it doesn't matter which political party one belongs to because it seems as if each politician is "in it for himself or herself" and the "good of the nation" is just so much rhetoric.

This is a powerful lesson for those who call themselves Christians and claim to be disciples - followers - of Jesus Christ. God's people are often not too honest with themselves or others. While we might confess that Jesus is Lord and that He is our Savior from Sin, Death, and Satan, our actions don't always follow suit. One of the more telling debates in the battle for culture these days is whether or not faith and religion have any place in the public sphere.

It's not unheard of to hear politicians support social and legal positions which conflict with God's Word and will. Often, in order to be accepted by the most amount of people (and be more electable), politicians who call themselves Christians have taken positions on such issues as abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage, and "alternative lifestyles" that are clearly in violation of God's Word. Of course, in order to hold these positions, the prevailing mantra is that there are "other interpretations of God's Word" that are just as valid.

What we're left with in all of this, whether in the political realm or the everyday situations of life, is John's statement of reality from God's perspective: "By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" (I John 2:3). It seems this should be pretty simple for God's redeemed in Christ to understand, yet, because there are so many disparate "interpretations" of God's commandments, even the people of God can't seem to agree on what it means to obey God.

Perhaps we're making it too complicated for ourselves. If we go further into our reading in John's letter for today we're reminded by John that living in and for Jesus is to love others and put others ahead of ourselves. It means realizing that even though human beings may have determined that alternative approaches to what's right and wrong are "loving" toward others, the reality is all too often that it brings their ultimate harm and destruction because they end up forever outside God's presence.

Ultimately, if we say we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Savior of the world from Sin, Death, and Satan, then our lives will reflect that faith. We certainly will be challenged by Sin, the world, and our flesh to "modify" our faith so that it can accommodate the world's thinking. Yet, by God's grace and the power of His Word and Spirit in our Baptisms, we have the strength of faith to live for Him according to His purpose for us. Our faith is reflected in our actions, as we love others before ourselves, in the same way as He has loved us and forgiven us and given us the assurance and sure hope of heaven. And, as we reflect truly and surely our relationship with Him by loving others in His name, not only will we be filled with His peace, but we will be able to face any challenge to our faith with joy and thanksgiving.

Prayer: Father, to live for Jesus is a wonderful gift from You, yet all too often I end up giving in to the world's wisdom and acting and living contrary to Your Will. I understand that living in Christ means also living according to Your Will as an example to others who don't yet know Your love and forgiveness. I realize that I'm not always ready, willing, and able to love other as You have loved me, and that "walking in the darkness" is often a whole lot more fun than "walking in the light." Forgive me, Father, for so often claiming to be Your child but acting otherwise. Strengthen my faith in Jesus so that I may truly be a living example of what it means to believe in Him as I touch the lives of others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Living At Peace When All Around You Are On Edge

2007-04-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 13, 2007

Read: I Thessalonians.4:1-12; Romans 12:9-21

LIVING AT PEACE WHEN ALL AROUND YOU ARE ON EDGE

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18)

Is it possible for us to live in a world without conflict? Probably not. Human beings being who and what they are, the likelihood of a world without conflict isn't too likely this side of heaven. We don't have to look too far to see conflict at work. In the past two weeks a prominent radio broadcaster, known for his "shock jock" style has come under the gun for making a remark that called into question the virtue of a group of young women. Interestingly enough, those who have been asking for his head (which incidentally, they got; the broadcaster was fired) have been known to be less than stellar in their treatment of the women in their lives. The one thing that seems to stand out in all of this, from my perspective, is that no matter how often and how much the broadcaster apologizes for his words, no one seems to be willing to forgive him. In fact, public pronouncements discount his apologies as "too little, too late."

We live in a conflicted world. We see behavior in others we don't like and are quick to point it out, while at the same time ignoring our own shortcomings, often in the same areas as those at whom we're pointing our fingers. Rather than seeking to find a solution and a way to bring people together, it seems we're more disposed to putting the other person down, getting in their face, seeking their demise, and gaining the upper hand. This is conflict at its worst. It's neither constructive or helpful because it only serves to exacerbate the problem.

For those who follow Christ Jesus, who are God's children through faith in Christ and have been washed in the waters of Holy Baptism and declared holy and righteous before God, living at peace has a whole different meaning. When we deal with others and face the conflicts that often occur in daily living, we do so with the knowledge that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiveness us all our sins. We know that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross to pay the full penalty for Sin that is required by God's perfect justice, so that all who believe in Him might know God's forgiveness. We live with the sure and certain assurance that God raised Him from the dead - that He has overcome death - and thereby declared our Lord's sacrifice a complete and full pardon for all who believe in Him. God has established His peace with us. He offers it to all humanity. We who believe in Him are His ambassadors of that peace and show that peace in our lives. Because we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are empowered by God's Word and Spirit to share that peace with others. As our lives touch and are touched by the lives of others, we have the opportunity to show them God's peace through our words and deeds. Our lives become instruments of God's peace, and, with God's help, no matter the challenges we face and the conflicts we endure, we endeavor to live at peace with everyone.

Yes, it's true that the world can be a most disagreeable place to live. It's also true that God calls us to be "seasoning" for the earth - Jesus calls us the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:11) - because, through our witness and living for Christ, we bring God's peace to bear in the lives of others. While everyone around us is running around, constantly on edge, wondering what everyone else is thinking about them or seeking to do to them, we live with the calm and certain assurance that nothing and no one can separate us from God's love and forgiveness in Christ. Thus, as St. Paul urges us, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). We can't control what others do or how they want to live, but we do have something to say about how we deal with others for we have been freed from the power of sin which seeks to put barriers between us and others. In Christ, we have God's peace; through Him we share it with others. And, no matter how bad things get, we know for certain that God's peace in Christ is ours.

Prayer: Father, the world is a pretty frenetic place. It's a place in which people are constantly at odds with one another. Often just a little word, a glance, or a body motion sets off a firestorm of anger, violence, and conflict. All too often, I, too, get caught up in the firestorm of conflicts that permeate daily life - much less abound on a grander scale. In those times, Father, I need Your gracious presence and the power of Your Word and Spirit to remind me that I am forgiven in Christ and Your peace rests upon me. In those times, Father, I need Your forgiving love to so fill me that I reflect Your peace to others, and, as the Holy Spirit tells me through St. Paul, as far as it depends on me to live at peace with others. Help me, Father, to truly live in Your peace and share that peace with others, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Guide me to look to You for strength and calm even when all "hell" breaks loose, so that I might be a true ambassador of Your peace and a witness for Christ. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Feed My Lambs - Feed My Sheep

2007-04-12T22:33:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 12, 2007

Read: John 21:15-19; Psalm 23

FEED MY LAMBS - FEED MY SHEEP

"The third time He said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?....Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said, 'Feed My sheep.'" (John 21:17)

I read earlier today that the Iraqi Parliament was bombed and six people died. Not only is it a sad thing that people would do such a thing, but it's really sad that the group of people targeted are trying to make Iraq a safer and better place to live for its citizens. In other parts of the world, the picture isn't any rosier. In Africa genocide and other atrocities are taking place as groups of people try to force their will on others. In refuge camps food is often scarce and sanitary conditions are frequently horrible. When we look at our own cities we see poverty, homelessness, drugs, crime, and myriad societal maladies. And, if we have any concern for others at all, we wonder why no one seems to care.

O, I know you and I care about those in need, those who were killed, and those who face annihilation. Yet, what are we doing about those things? Have we gone out of our way lately to help a homeless person, send food to a food pantry, donate clothing to a thrift shop or clothing bank, or bought a hungry person a meal? Have we taken the time to pray for those who are committing the atrocities of terror in Iraq and Africa as well as other parts of the earth? Do we encourage our elected officials to find ways to help us reach out with love and compassion to provide assistance to those in need all over the globe - assistance that's meaningful and generous? While we might realize that we are our "brother's keeper," all too often we fall short of providing the care and concern which so many hurting people need.

Besides the physical hunger people face there is the spiritual hunger that's integrally wound around the fabric of human existence. We, who have been called into the marvelous light of God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ through the washing of Holy Baptism have also been called by our Lord and Savior to share that same spiritual food with others. No one cares or loves the people of this world as our heavenly Father does. No one has paid so great a sacrifice for the life of human beings - physical, spiritual, and eternal - as has Jesus the Christ. This is the very point that Jesus was making to Peter in our reading from John's Gospel - as He had died for Peter, He was also calling Peter to share what he had received through faith in Jesus with others. Calling upon His words earlier in John (10:14ff), Jesus calls upon Peter, and us, to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with everyone - His lambs, His sheep - those for whom He died so they might have life forever in Him.

Today our Lord is calling us to the same calling He gave to Peter - Feed My lambs; feed My sheep." He's calling us to bring the power of His Word and Spirit to bear in people's lives, just as He has brought it to bear in our lives through those who have loved us in His name. As we live in the fullness of Christ's love and salvation, we are filled with joy and we no longer hunger and thirst spiritually in Him. As He is the bread of life in our lives, we heed His call to us and share that bread of life with others each day. By God's grace we are compelled by faith to obey Jesus' calling to "feed My lambs; feed My sheep" so that many may come to Him for forgiveness. With all the troubles that this world is facing, the hatred, pain, despair, and myriad maladies and disregard for the welfare of others, the only true answer, the only sure solution, is for us to share Jesus with everyone and thus fulfill our calling from Jesus to "Feed My Sheep."

Prayer: Father, You have called me into the marvelous light of Your grace and have fed me with Your Word and Spirit, so that I might be filled with Your peace no matter the circumstances of life I might face. All over the world, however, gracious Father, people are suffering from physical, mental, and spiritual malnutrition. Terrorism, genocide, and just plain homelessness and hunger face countless of Your dear children - the "sheep" that Jesus died for. Forgive me for so often ignoring the needs of others and failing to share both physical and spiritual food and others of Your blessings with them. Help me to be more aware of Your call to me through Jesus to be feeding "Your lambs" and "Your sheep" so they might know Your love in Christ and receive, by faith, Your forgiveness and love, hope and peace. Let me be ready and eager at all times to bear witness to Your promise of heaven for all who believe, so that no one ever misses hearing about Jesus from me when the opportunities arise. Hear my prayer, gracious Father, and send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure. In Christ's most holy and precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Believing In Jesus Has Eternal Consequences

2007-04-11T14:47:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 11, 2007

Read: John 20:30-31
Psalm 139

BELIEVING IN JESUS HAS ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31)

We live in a world that doesn't have a lot of regard for "right believing." For many people, to say there's a right way to believe, that there are absolutes, is just plain backward and unenlightened thinking. We’re told that everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe about religion, God, and spirituality. Even when it comes to morality, ethics, and values, there's a creeping relativism that is affecting our culture and the world. For some, lyrics that are degrading toward women or racially charged are acceptable if used by one group of people, but misogynistic and racist when used by another group. A radio talk show host makes degrading comments "in jest" about a group of people and a host of people want him fired. Yet the most vocal of those calling for his head are among those who turn the other way when others do the same things. (If you’re thinking of anyone in particular, please note it’s happened a few times in the past couple of years so I’m not specifically referring to any one individual, male or female.)

It seems that the reality of life these days is that everyone is insisting that everyone else agree with them or their wrong-headed, prejudiced, racist, or worse. In the same way, when the Gospel is shared and the Word of God proclaimed, we so often hear that Christians who believe in Jesus as the only way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life are bigoted and unloving. As a disciple of Jesus Christ in today's world, it's not unusual to be considered closed minded, ignorant, and judgmental because we share Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) and that He's the only way to heaven and eternity in God's presence (and those are Jesus’ own words).

What we believe about Jesus, who He was and is, has eternal consequences for knowing God’s peace, love, and forgiveness both now and in heaven. John has revealed who Jesus is throughout his Gospel account. He has declared openly that Jesus is the one and only way to heaven, using Jesus' own words and actions. As he ends his account with the resurrection of Jesus, John simply states the following: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (20:31). It's significant that John also notes that he only wrote about some of the things Jesus said and did, but enough that those who hear might believe and, believing, receive God's forgiveness and promise of eternal life.

John's purpose was to share the Good News of Jesus with the world. By the power of God's Word and Spirit he tells us about Jesus the Savior of the world. He is direct and firm about letting all who hear or read these words know that what they believe about Jesus has eternal consequences. And, as John's purpose was to make it clear for us who Jesus was and is, so also is our purpose clear as the redeemed and forgiven children of God in Jesus Christ - to clearly and firmly, without concern for the consequences nor worry about what others might think of us, share the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that by believing everyone might have life in His name. It's a task with eternal consequences, for which God has equipped us by His Word and Spirit. What a great opportunity for service to Him who gave Himself for us!

Prayer: Father, with the passage of time it seems as if there are more and more people at odds with the truth of Your Word and the reality of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection as payment for the sins of the world. I look around me and realize that there are many permutations of religion and religious beliefs, including among those who call themselves Christians. The world has developed it's own "religion" which seems to include everything people want to believe, or not, except that which is true according to Your Word. I have to admit that I often find myself wanting to take the easy way out and just "get along" with everyone - accepting everyone's beliefs as true for them and good enough. Forgive me for such lack of faith and trust in You that I'm willing to compromise another's eternal life because I'm afraid of offending someone with the Good News of Jesus. Father, give me the strength of faith in Christ that is necessary for me to boldly and vigorously proclaim Your love for humanity and Your redemption of people from their sins. Help me to never give up on sharing the Gospel in word and deed, regardless of the consequences to me. Remind me always that the only consequences for my faith that are of any real concern are the eternal consequences of being with You in heaven. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Faith Triumphs Over Doubt

2007-04-10T23:36:00.001-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 10, 2007

Read: John 20:24-29; Hebrew 11:1-3

FAITH TRIUMPHS OVER DOUBT

"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:29)

It's true that Missouri calls itself the "Show Me State." You've probably also heard the expression, "More stubborn than a Missouri mule." Both expression are highly descriptive of an attitude that many in our sister state, Missouri, like to cultivate about themselves and who they are. However, with all due respect and apologies to our fellow Americans living in Missouri, they don't have a corner on skepticism, stubbornness, or hard-headedness. Everywhere we look in our communities, states, and the nation as a whole, we see "Missourians" in every nook and cranny of the nation. Skepticism, doubt, and stubbornness are staples of American life.

This is especially true, it seems to me, when it comes to spiritual things - the things of God. People have their own perceptions concerning who God is, how He should think and act, and how people should respond to Him. Some would say that any concept of a God or gods is absurd. If there is a God, some ask, why are there wars and other calamities in which people die? I have an instructor in my doctoral program who challenges the efficacy of any religious beliefs, regardless of their origins - pagan or Christian - when so many horrible things have been done throughout history in the name of religion..

The questions of the doubters of religion, much less Christianity, are often heartfelt. People want God to "show me" He exists and that He's really making a difference in their world. Lost in the human concept of religion that sets ground rules for living and behavior, and convinced by their sinful condition that God is only a figment of our collective imagination, God becomes a non-entity, a fictitious being created by humanity's fertile imagination, to help us hide from our troubles, fears and all the many problems we face in life, including the apparent finality of death.

John reminds us that such doubting occurred even among the apostles. Thomas wasn't with them when Jesus first appeared to them on Easter evening. He didn't believe their report. His response was a typical "Show Me State" response - "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it" (v.25). When Jesus did appear again, and invited Thomas to do just what he said was necessary for him to believe Jesus was risen and alive, Thomas believed. He had seen Jesus and believed. Yet, Jesus noted that believing because he had seen wasn't the same as having faith when the object of faith is unseen.

We can take comfort and have peace because our faith in Christ is based on the eyes of faith. Only through the eyes of faith do we see Jesus. Only through the eyes of faith do we experience and receive the forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven. Only through the eyes of faith do we take heart in the face of trials and tribulations, sharing Jesus' love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others. Faith triumphs over doubt as the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives through the power of our Baptisms and the power of God's Word. While Thomas may have doubted and only believed Jesus had arisen from the dead because he saw Him, the Holy Spirit worked faith in the risen Christ in Thomas' heart. Millions of Christians in India trace the roots of their faith in Christ back to Thomas, whom, tradition tells us, was the apostle to India in the First Century. Not too bad for a doubter. Thomas' life and ministry remind us that faith triumphs over doubt - as it did for Thomas, so also will faith in Jesus do for us as well.

Prayer: Father, as I hear the many challenges to my faith in the newspapers, on television or the radio, and from those I meet each day, help me to meet them head on with the power of the faith in Christ Jesus You have worked in my heart by the power of Your Word and Spirit. Forgive me for succumbing all too often to my doubts and fears, losing sight of my Savior who died for me and rose again. Forgive me when I doubt Your Word as the logic and arguments of those who despise You and deny Your existence play on my heart and mind and get me looking for proof of Your promises instead of just believing them. Strengthen my faith, gracious Father, so that I may have a faith that will move mountains and a hope that is so certain that I may fearlessly and enthusiastically, filled with Your joy and peace, tell everyone what You have done for the world in Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord. So fill me with Your Word and Spirit that at all times in my life, faith triumphs over doubt. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Sent With Christ's Peace To Strengthen Us

2007-04-09T17:51:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 9, 2007

Read: John 20:19-23; Psalm 30

SENT WITH CHRIST'S PEACE TO STRENGTHEN US

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.'" (John 20:21)

I believe that if I had been at the foot of the Cross on that first Good Friday, I would have been no less confused, hurt, and afraid than Jesus' disciples were. Not only that, but I'm not so certain I wouldn't have been just as troubled and fearful had I discovered that Jesus was no longer in the tomb and no one seemed to know what had happened. If it had been me hearing the angels' reminder, "remember what He said...", I still don't think I would have understood. On top of all that I'm pretty certain that I would have been just as afraid of the Jewish leaders as the disciples were and would have found myself in that locked room on the evening of that first Easter.

How about you? Can you relate to what the disciples must have been going through? We're privileged with the hindsight to be able to hear and see the reminders of what was happening to Jesus and what work He was accomplishing that were so visible in the events of that first Good Friday and Easter. Yet, if we're honest with ourselves, we would have been just as much in need of our Lord's greeting of peace as the other disciples. Just as they had run and hidden while He hung on the Cross, and just as they had remained skeptical and doubtful about His Resurrection, and just as they were in seclusion, confused, afraid, and doubting, so also do we find ourselves all too often when the world challenges our faith and trust in Jesus.

Into that time of fearfulness and confusion comes our Lord Jesus Christ. As He appeared in that locked room and shared His "Peace" with the disciples, so also does He share His peace with us. Instead of scolding them for running away and hiding; instead of scolding them for their doubt and unbelief, Jesus wishes them peace - He offers them His forgiveness and love, compassion and mercy, grace and hope. He is alive, just as He had said. He is no longer in the grave for He has overcome Sin, death, and Satan for us. Because of this reality, this great blessing and gift from God, His people have no need to be afraid of anyone or anything. Nothing can keep us from His love and forgiveness. Our hope of heaven is assured in His resurrection and we have Good News to tell others.

Jesus' peace rests upon us in all of our life and living. His peace can see us through every challenge of faith, every time of doubt and fear, and every temptation. When we touch the lives of others, we have His peace to remind and encourage us to share His peace and love with them. The Good News is for everyone. Just as He sent His disciples that first Easter, so also does He send us to tell and share the forgiveness of sins with the world. As we live in His peace and forgiveness we are empowered by His Word and Spirit to boldly proclaim Him to the world through our words and deeds.

Prayer: Father, thank You for establishing Your peace with the world through my Lord Jesus Christ. Your peace gives me hope in the midst of a world that would just as soon do things its own way as Yours. So often I'm afraid to share Your love in Christ with others, filled with the same fears and doubts as the disciples had that first Easter evening. Forgive me for failing to look to You for strength, hope, and peace. Forgive me for so often forgetting that You have removed my sins from me for the sake of Jesus and that I am clothed in His righteousness and holiness by faith. Help me to put aside fear and confusion, doubt and despair as I face a world at odds with You. Instead, filled with Christ's peace and forgiveness, lead me to boldly live for You and share Christ with the world so others might know Your peace, love, and forgiveness and gain the same hope of heaven You have given me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

WOULDA's, COULDA's, SHOULDA's

2007-04-08T01:24:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 7, 2007

Read: Luke 23:50-56; Revelation 5:1-14

WOULDA's, COULDA's, SHOULDA's

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Revelation.5:9)

Have you ever second-guessed yourself? I suppose most of us could say we'd like to have the opportunity to do something over again. Maybe we could have done it better; maybe we could have prevented a problem from occurring. How often don't we live with recriminations, either from ourselves or others as our actions and the actions of others come under the scrutiny of hindsight? It's a scenario that plays out in our lives all the time. We see it in our communities as we face the issues of suffering, poverty, crime, and the other maladies of society. We experience it as news media and others question the judgment and actions of those chosen to lead communities, states, and the nation. How often don't we hear the "woulda's, coulda's, and shoulda's" from the critics. No doubt it's easier for us to see what might have been after the fact, than it is for us to make the correct decisions all the time.

I suspect that this was true of Jesus' disciples on the first Holy Saturday. About that first Sabbath following Jesus' crucifixion we don't hear anything in Scripture. After the drama of Holy Week - Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, His driving out of the merchants and sellers from the Temple, His celebration of the Passover and institution of the Lord's Supper, His arrest in Gethsemane, His trial before the Sanhedrin, being questioned by Pilate, sent to Herod, returned to Pilate and subsequently handed over to His accusers to be, crucified on Golgatha, and then buried in a new tomb - that Saturday (Sabbath) was quiet and tame. Perhaps, on that particular Sabbath Jesus' disciples were filled "woulda's, coulda's and shoulda's" as they wondered what they might have done differently to prevent Jesus' Crucifixion. If only they had foreseen that the hatred of the members of the Sanhedrin would result in Jesus' arrest, false accusations, mock trial, and death sentence. Perhaps Peter, filled with bitterness and remorse following his denial of Jesus, found himself second-guessing himself and his failed courage. And, what recriminations might there have been over Judas' betrayal of Jesus and Judas' subsequent suicide? It seems reasonable that Jesus' followers were in turmoil and confused.

Some 50 years later, in a time of intense persecution, John receives a marvelous vision from God which he delivered to the Church in the Book of Revelation. Jesus gives John this vision in the Book of Revelation so that God's people might be comforted as they faced increasingly deadly persecution for their faith and their refusal to worship the Emperor Domitian. Jesus shows John that God is fully in charge of His creation and Jesus' suffering and death serves God's ultimate purpose of saving His people and the world from Sin. John uses a powerful picture of God sitting on His throne to assure the readers that God is in total control - no matter what is happening, He's not pacing the floor or worried about anything - after all, He is God. No matter how active evil is in the earth and the mass confusion it brings with it, spiritually and physically, God has triumphed over Sin and the devil; Christ has won the ultimate, final victory and the angels cry out in praise and adoration of the "Lamb who was slain" and who lives again and forever.

How blessed we are, that in the midst of all the confusion and danger in the world we can have the hindsight that God has done great things for us and has saved us for Himself! How blessed we are that we have the "present sight" that we receive God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness by faith in Jesus every day! How blessed we are that by faith, we have the foresight to know and believe that nothing can ever separate us from God's love for us in Jesus Christ which will have it full and complete reality in heaven! It's true that we often second-guess ourselves with the "woulda's, shoulda's, and coulda's" that plague our sinful condition. Yet, because Jesus has died for our sins, we know that God has wiped the slate clean and remembers our sins no more. Our Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the Cross in our place means that we are no longer enslaved by the "woulda's, coulda's, and shoulda's" of our sinful nature, but are now free to know God and have a relationship with Him, both now and forever in heaven. This "Holy Saturday" is a really good day for us to look back at God's work on our behalf and to look forward to the ultimate end of that work as we dwell with Him forever in Paradise.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You accomplished Your saving Will in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Your Son, my Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ. Help me to look back at my life to see clearly You hand at work in making me Your own child. Help me to look forward with confidence and complete trust that You are always with me in Christ and that my promised inheritance of heaven is sure and certain in Him. You have forgiven me of all my sins. Let that forgiveness be so powerful in my life that I may live fully and completely Your own, a witness to Your great and merciful love, and a testimony to Your amazing grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Jesus' Work Is Done - "It Is Finished"

2007-04-07T01:17:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 6, 2007 (Good Friday)

Read: John 19:16-30; Isaiah 53:1-12

JESUS' WORK IS DONE - IT IS FINISHED

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John.19:30)

If our calendars are correct, Christians all over the world are observing the 1,977th Good Friday. Today we remember the emotionally packed, violence strewn, and spiritually devastating events that changed the world forever. On a hill outside the city gates of Jerusalem, a place called Golgotha ("The Place of the Skull) God completed His plan for the world's salvation from Sin by allowing the crucifixion of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It was an ignominious death, one reserved for the worst criminals and enemies of the Roman state. It placed Jesus the Christ of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Prince of Peace, the sinless, holy Son of the Father on a cross flanked on either side by two criminals.

Jesus final words from the Cross, "It is finished" draw our attention to the most important truth in the world - His perfect obedience to God's Law, His righteousness and holiness, and His selfless, total love for humanity fulfilled the Father's will, met His justice, and once and for all time paid the price every sinner deserves to pay for disobedience to God. God makes His forgiveness available to all humanity, and we, by the faith worked in us by God's Word and Spirit, are the recipients of are declared just and righteous before Him for the sake of Jesus. Because of Jesus' selfless act of love for us, when He says "It is finished" we are assured that God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness are ours.

Jesus' words, "It is finished," stand in stark contrast to our own failures to please God. Our human nature always believes that it can do that which is necessary to please God. Bound by the chains of Sin and unbelief by nature however, we are unable to obey God's Will in any way shape or form. We have the testimony of the Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - King David, the Prophets - Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi - and a host of others that God's promise of salvation was necessary and essential. And, even though many of God's people were confused or unbelieving about the truth of His plan of salvation (so many looked for a political messiah rather than a spiritual messiah) Jesus still completed His mission. "It is finished" assures us that God's plan has come to fruition and we are saved.

So the words of Jesus Christ on the Cross resound like the clear pealing of a bell. "It is finished" is the dying utterance of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, declaring that once and for all time, God's peace rests upon this world and its inhabitants. "It is finished" sounds the death knell for Sin's power over us. "It is finished" means the job is done, it can't be improved upon, it will never need doing over, nor will it ever fade away. Our sins are forgiven and removed from us by faith in Him. We need do nothing. He has done it all. "It is finished."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself as a ransom for many, paying the ultimate price for my sins and the sins of the whole world. On the Cross You suffered the indignity of innocence being punished in the place of the guilty. You became "guilty" for the whole world so that I and all people might be forgiven and restored to the Father once and for all times. As I remember Your words, "It is finished," help me to also hear the finality and completeness of those words. Help me to understand and believe that there truly is nothing that I can do to save myself, but that You have done it totally and completely for me. Lead me to share that fully with others as I live in its total message of forgiveness each and every day. Thank You Lord for this marvelous gift that gives me life and hope. In Your name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

God's Promises Fulfilled In Jesus

2007-04-05T18:31:00.001-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 5, 2007

Read: Luke 22:24-38; Psalm 116

GOD'S PROMISES FULFILLED

"It is written: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in Me. Yes, what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment." (Luke 22:37)

Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? I dare say that's true for everyone. The reasons for not keeping a promise are myriad. Circumstances beyond our control might keep us from following through with a promise - illness, accident, disaster, and storm are good examples, to name a few. Sometimes promises are made with no intention of keeping them because it's convenient, achieves an objective, or gets someone off one's back. I'm sure that if we carried this discussion further we could come up with countless times promises are made and broken and the myriad reasons for such failure. In the end, however, there's no doubt that broken promises have their origins in our sinful, human condition.

It's that very condition, the condition of sinners separated from God by disobedience and unbelief, which caused God to make a promise that has been kept. Jesus' addresses this for His disciples and us in conjunction with the events of the events of the Thursday of Holy Week - Maundy Thursday - by sharing with them His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine in the Last Supper, the final Passover meal Jesus' celebrated on earth. In His subsequent conversations with them on that night, as the disciples argued among themselves as to whom would be the greatest among them, as Peter declared his loyalty and willingness to suffer for Jesus, and Jesus urging them to get ready to travel, He reminds them that He had come for a purpose - to fulfill the prophecy and promise of the Father that the Christ would suffer and die for the sins of the world.

As we continue our walk along the "Via Dolorosa" with Jesus again today and are reminded that His body and blood have been given and shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins, we take heart and have courage in the face of a dangerous world. God has kept His promises to send a Savior for us. God has fulfilled those promises in Jesus. Jesus gladly and willingly went to the Cross and bore our sins upon Himself, sinless and holy though He was, so that we and all who believe in Him would be saved, would be covered by His righteousness, and could stand before the Father, holy and sinless in Jesus. While there are many promises flying around the world, off our lips and the lips of others, which we can never be sure are going to happen, or which have been continually broken, we have confidence and hope that God's promises are sure and certain. They have been kept by Him - Jesus has fulfilled them. In Him we have forgiveness of sins, the hope of heaven, and the courage to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me the gift of eternal life in Christ. You have kept Your promises to me and all humanity by fulfilling salvation in the blood of Jesus. Forgive me for all too often forgetting Your promises and trying to live life without Your strength and wisdom to guide me. Forgive me for failing so often to keep my own promises, including those I've made to You. Help me to follow Jesus' example of obedience and be faithful in my promises by faith to live in Him and to share Your Good News with everyone I meet each day. Guide me to proclaim the fulfillment of Your promised salvation in Jesus and the assurance of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with You forever in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

The Cross Of Christ - God's Foolishness

2007-04-04T17:49:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 4, 2007

Read: I Corinthians 1:18-25; Psalm 19

THE CROSS - GOD'S FOOLISHNESS

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:18)

Yesterday, in the State of Wisconsin, there was an election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. There were two candidates, both female, from different ends of the political spectrum. Now this particular electoral race is supposed to be non-partisan, but of course, as you can well imagine, the two major political parties gravitated to the candidate that better fit their political preferences. Now, I'm bringing this race to your attention because some very interesting things happened that I believe help illustrate what Paul is writing to us in today's reading in First Corinthians.

The first thing that stood out in this race was the amount of money spent. According to news sources, over $1.5 million was spent - a record for a contest for the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Mudslinging was a staple of the campaign right from the start. One of the candidates never prosecuted a criminal case in her life, never sat on a judicial bench of any kind, and focuses on immigration law. The other candidate had been an assistant U. S. Attorney, prosecuting many criminal cases, has been a sitting judge for a long time, and has the experience and credentials to sit on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Her opponent began questioning her integrity and judgment by claiming the judge had not recused herself from cases involving a business on whose board of directors her husband sat. Another charge was to single out a few sentences that seemed quite lenient for sexual predators - obviously ignoring the fact the judge is known for issuing longer sentences as a whole for sexual predators than the State average.

The results of the election? If you live in Wisconsin you know the sitting judge was elected by a 58% to 42% margin. While many have declared it a landslide, I see that almost half of the voters chose to believe the innuendo and mudslinging of the judge's opponent - or just voted for the opponent because of her political leanings. I'm wondering how much this shows how foolish we really are as a people and a society; that we can't see through the nonsense and grasp the truth.

Spiritually, God's people find themselves in the same kind of situation. We have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior from Sin. He's walked the walked, talked the talk, and walked the talk all the way to the Cross. His suffering, death, and resurrection are living testimony of God's love and compassion for humanity, and His burning desire to redeem human beings from the curse of Sin, death, Satan, and the Law. Yet the mudslinging continues unabated - the Christ was mocked and ridiculed all the way to the Cross and the same mocking and ridicule is experienced by those who follow Him today.

The message of the Cross is, as St. Paul notes, foolishness to the world. How stupid is a "God" who takes on being human and suffers and dies the ignominious death of a common criminal and thug. And we, the people of God, scratch our heads and wonder over and over again why others can't see the truth, can't get past the "mudslinging," and just won't open their eyes to see the One who walked the walk of the perfect and obedient Son of the Father. Jesus' perfect obedience to God's Law for us becomes our righteousness, our obedience before the Father. It's not foolishness, but God's wisdom. It's not nonsense, but God's free gift of His grace that saves us for eternity with Him.

Rest assured, the Cross is and will remain God's foolishness to those who reject Him and His love. But for you and me who believe it is the greatest wisdom in the Universe. Jesus paid the price for us. Our sins are forgiven. As we walk the "Via Dolorosa" with Jesus this Holy Week, may His Spirit remind us that God's truth is foolishness to sinners but wisdom to His saints.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness and life that is mine through faith in Jesus. Forgive me when I let the false wisdom of the world dictate my feelings toward You, my behavior toward others, and doubts and fears concerning Your love for me. While the world all around me continues to deny Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus, give me the strength of faith by Your Word and Spirit, to ignore the mudslinging and derision that come to all who confess Jesus' name and proclaim Your love in Him to a sin filled world. Keep me from being fearful of what others might think about You and Your gift of salvation in Christ Jesus, and boldly live my confession of faith so that all may see my "credentials" as Your child and know that Your "foolishness" is the wisdom that saves. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Dying To Live Eternally

2007-04-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 3, 2007

Read: John 12:23-29; Psalm 47

DYING TO LIVE ETERNALLY

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:24, 25)

As the weather gets warmer, the ground thaws, and the rains come we who live in the northern climes know that planting season is just around the corner. Not only are the farmers working their fields, but flower aficionados and backyard vegetable gardeners are getting things ready to plant. Where I live, there’s still danger of frost, so most vegetable and flower gardens will have to wait for the seeds and transplants to be put into the ground. It's springtime. Death is being replaced by life. It's a fitting time for Easter to be celebrated.

The imagery that Jesus uses in this section of John is very much in keeping with this season of the year. He is going to be hung on the Cross in just a couple of days. His death will mean life for the world, because He is to bear the sins of the world on His shoulders. He is the "kernel of wheat", itself the most essential of grains, that nourishes and gives life, which gives life, through His suffering and death to all who believe in Him. His death pays the price God's justice requires for our sins, and lifts us up to a new life and relationship with our heavenly Father.

But Jesus also throws in a cautionary word as well. While His death fulfills God's justice, and His resurrection assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice for our sins, bringing forgiveness and hope of eternal life into our lives, Jesus reminds us that while we live in the world we are not of it. If we remain focused on the things of this world, on getting and having things, power, wealth, prestige, fame, and all the other trappings of this world, His sacrifice for our sins will have no lasting effect on our lives. We will remain estranged from our Father in heaven and, in the end, our lives will end, not in God's presence forever, but without Him for eternity.

God's gift of life to us in Christ Jesus leads us to see our time on earth as transitory. As His redeemed and dearly beloved children, we seek to make the most of our time on earth, sharing His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others. Rather than seeing life on earth as the epitome of our existence, we long for heaven and hope for God's eternal presence in the face of all the trials and troubles the world throws our way. By faith, filled with hope and God's peace, we seek to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people everywhere. We willingly and joyfully face any hardship for the sake of the Gospel and the people of this world who don't yet know Jesus, but for whom He died and rose again. Filled with power of God's Word and Spirit, we are literally dying to live eternally, forsaking the world and living for Jesus.

Prayer: Father, life is a precious gift. Life with You because of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection is even more precious. All too often I get so engrossed in my life and living that I forget that this life is transitory - it's only true meaning comes in my service to You and others in Jesus' name. Forgive me, Father, for so often forgetting that Jesus' death on the Cross is the beginning of a new life for all the world in Your gracious presence. Help me to remember that if I live for myself, my life is replaced by death, but if I die to myself and live for Jesus, my life is eternal and will be spent in Your presence forever. As I live in that hope and peace, lead me to share Your love and forgiveness with others so they, too, may die to self and live forever in Jesus; in His precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

We Have A Gentle, Compassionate God And Savior

2007-04-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For April 2, 2007

Read: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 96

WE HAVE A GENTLE, COMPASSIONATE GOD AND SAVIOR

"A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice; He will not falter or be discouraged till He establishes justice on earth." (Isaiah 42:3, 4)

Are you tough? Can you stand on your own two feet? I suspect that most people would answer these questions in the affirmative. Our pride as human beings generally leads us to believe we can handle anything, that we can overcome any obstacle, and that we can control our destiny. Yet, as we stand on the "Via Dolorosa" - "The Way of Sorrows" - and watch Jesus move closer and closer to the Cross we come face to face with our brokenness as human beings and our inability to save ourselves from the horrific results that Sin visits upon our lives and our world.

We don't have to look very far to understand human frailty and failure. Our newspapers and other news media speak on a daily basis about war, disease, poverty, crime, and economic turmoil. Hopelessness is evident in every corner of the globe; have you seen the looks in people's eyes and their body language as television and reporters' cameras catch the destruction, squalor, and suffering being visited upon human beings by other human beings? How helpless and hopeless do you feel when you see the suffering of others - all as a result of Sin in the world?

What a wonderful message comes to the world and to us as we hear God's words through the Prophet Isaiah! His promise to send a Savior to redeem the world from Sin, overcome death, and defeat Satan brought hope then, and brings hope now. Not only this, but the picture of this Savior in one of compassion, kindness, concern, patience, and love (just to name a few). The imagery of people who are "broken reeds" and "smoldering wicks" - spiritually and emotionally hurting and dying - is a powerful reminder of the consequences of Sin in the world and in people's lives. God, our heavenly Father, didn't give up on us. He determined to redeem us and bring us, and the world, back to Him.

And so Jesus walked the "Via Dolorosa" as the gentle, compassionate, suffering Servant whose suffering and death paid the full and complete penalty of God's justice for the sins of the world. As we prepare once again to remember His death and then rejoice in His resurrection, we walk that "Way of Sorrows" with Him and experience His compassion, love, grace, and mercy in our own lives. We are able to face the world and all its sorrows and despair with hope and courage because Jesus has paid the price of Sin for us and all humanity. By faith in Him our sins are forgiven - a forgiveness offered to the world - and God's justice is complete. No longer do we despair or lose hope because we walk with Jesus as His dearly beloved children - and seek to share that same hope and love with others.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Jesus to take my place on the Cross. Thank You for Your compassion and mercy that led You to seek my redemption instead of my destruction. Forgive me for not turning to You and Your love and forgiveness as I so often try to "fix" things over which I have no control. Forgive me for not speaking up boldly when I see others trying to do the same and leaving You out of the picture. As I walk with Jesus along the "Way of Sorrows" again this Holy Week, send Your Holy Spirit into my heart and mind that I may look to Jesus for strength and hope for living and the courage to share Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Him with everyone I meet today and everyday. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright ©2007 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Jesus Clears Up Our Spiritual Confusion

2006-10-05T16:56:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For October 5, 2006

Read: Matthew 16:21-23; Psalm 40

JESUS CLEARS UP OUR SPIRITUAL CONFUSION

"I desire to do Your Will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." (Ps.40:8)

There's a certain confusion that often arises for Christians when it comes to how we deal with the world as redeemed and forgiven children of God in Jesus Christ. On the one hand, as Peter so eloquently did earlier in Matthew 16, we stand firm and tall in our confession that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), and seek ways to bring healing to broken hearts, feed the poor, house the homeless, and seek peace on the earth. And, not unlike Peter, when God's Will doesn't quite fit our view of how things should be and our personal feelings get in the way of faithful and obedient living, we rise up in opposition to God's purposes and seek our own. Thus, while me might confess Jesus as our Savior and Lord, in the next breath we take His name in vain, are impatient and unloving toward our neighbors, and try to find ways to get even with those who hate us because we believe in Jesus.

Peter's powerful confession of faith, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16) is one which all of God's people seek to live by themselves. Yet, just like Peter, when God's plan doesn't match our conception of things, such as Jesus telling the disciples that He had to go the way of the Cross and suffer and die for the sins of the world, we stand in the way and seek to turn God's purpose into one more in keeping with our human, sinful sensibilities. Such confusion is frequent in our lives as we move between the secular and the sacred, between thinking a man's thoughts and thinking God's thoughts.

We can better understand Peter's dilemma if we understand that the common belief concerning the Christ's work and mission was that He was to literally restore David's throne and be a ruler of unparalleled power on the earth. Jesus' words of suffering and death, crucifixion and resurrection, flew in the face of that long held belief and popular conception. While on the one hand Peter could confess Jesus as the Savior of the world (the Christ, the Son of the living God), in the next breath, as Jesus' words shattered his long held picture of the Christ, Peter could become an instrument of Satan seeking to prevent salvation from going according to God's plan - a plan of eternal, spiritual dimensions, not one focused on earthly power.

And so it is among us today as well. In the Christian world there are still those who would seek to have Jesus be an earthly ruler. They are people who cling to the things of this world and want to have some of the "gravy" they feel they've so often been denied because they're Christians. These same people feel that, with Jesus on the "throne of power" and ruling the world, they might get even with those who have indicated hatred for Christians and have abused them. So intense is this desire to "get even," that God's Will is warped by their desire for revenge.

Recently, among Pennsylvania's Amish citizens, a local man attacked a school, took a number of Amish girls, six to thirteen years of age hostage, with the apparent intention of sexually abusing them. In the end, they were spared the sexual abuse but were murdered by him before he took his own life. The response of the news media to the response of the Amish was one of wonder and surprise, because, true to their beliefs, the Amish have sought to forgive, embrace the man's family, and seek God's help in healing their hearts and their community. In sharp contrast to the ways of the world, and the contradictory tone of those who would place Jesus on an earthly throne, these brothers and sisters in Christ seek to be Christlike in forgiving and await their reunion in heaven with their departed loved ones.

God's plan of salvation in Jesus' Christ is purely a spiritual event. His salvation lives in us while we still walk this earth, filling us with His forgiveness so that we might also be forgiving. The righteousness of Christ, put upon us in Holy Baptism, strengthens us to live for Jesus and share His love, grace, and mercy with the world around us. By the power of God's Word and Spirit working in us through Holy Baptism, we are able to say and act according to the words of the Psalmist, "I desire to do Your Will, O my God; Your law is within my heart " (Psalm 40:8). In Jesus our spiritual confusion is met and overcome. We are empowered to live for Him, filled with His love and forgiveness to share with the world. Our lives become that very confession of faith that Peter declared so long ago - and God's Spirit, in Holy Baptism, sets us free from the Sin which would deny that confession.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You went to the Cross, suffering, dying and rising again from the dead so that I might have life eternal in You. You have forgiven me of all my sins. Yet, so often I lose sight of who You have made me to be, and I get caught up in the things of this world. It's a spiritual contradiction I don't wish to have, but it's there. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, I pray that You would strengthen me in my faith and trust in You so that I may avoid such spiritual confusion and remain a faithful, consistent witness of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to a lost and fallen world. Help me to overcome evil with good, as You fill me with hope and peace. Remind me every day, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, that as a redeemed and Baptized child of God I can overcome the world and be an effect witness for You to others. Lord Jesus, clear up the spiritual confusion in my life so that I may be a beacon of confident faith to others. In Your precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Knowing The Real Essence Of Life

2006-10-04T14:36:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For October 4, 2006

Read: Matthew 16:13-16; Acts 17:17-34

KNOWING THE REAL ESSENCE OF LIFE

"For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28)

What's the grounding for your life? Now that's a pretty odd question, isn't it? Perhaps we might also ask the question: What is the meaning and purpose of your life? On what do you base, not only your existence, but also your very essence? No doubt these are questions that we've all asked ourselves in one form or another sometime in our lives. These are the types of questions we human beings ask ourselves as we seek to know ourselves better and understand the sum and substance of our lives.

Interestingly enough, Jesus broached that very subject with His disciples as He began His journey to Jerusalem and His eventual crucifixion for the sins of the world. His query, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13) was intended to focus His disciples' thoughts on what they knew and believed about Him and what it meant to have a relationship with Him. Peter gave a magnificent statement of faith - "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16) - yet his and the disciples' subsequent actions made it clear that they didn't really understand what that powerful confession of faith really meant for their lives and their eternity.

Certainly, Jesus had His share of challenges from the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. They didn't seem to care about His mission and purpose. Instead, they believed they had all the spiritual answers necessary for their relationship with God. Jesus was just a nuisance - a really "weird" guy who refused to be overwhelmed by their "authority." St. Paul also experienced much the same thing as he spoke to the scholars/philosophers on Mars' Hill - the Areopagus - and challenged them to know the reality of the resurrection because Jesus had been, in fact, raised by the Father so that all who believe might have new life in Him. Jesus posed His question to Peter in order to lift his sight, and the sight of the rest of the apostles, to what the essence of life in Christ is all about. Paul's words to the philosophers had the same purpose - to both introduce them to God and show them that the real essence of life - its meaning and purpose - is found only in Christ Jesus.

How do you see Jesus? How do you respond to Jesus' question about who He is? Are you open to listening to the truth of God's Word without finding it to be nonsense or ridiculous? As we live in the world around us, it's quite difficult to stand on faith in Jesus. It's quite difficult, as we're faced with the uncertainty of life and the spiritual skepticism of the world around us, to not be tempted to push Jesus aside and stand with the world. Yet, our very essence, the very foundation of our lives is found in a living relationship of faith in Jesus Christ. In Him we "live and move and have our being" for He is the very essence of life itself for all who believe. It's a message we want to share with others, so they, too, can know God's forgiveness, His grace, mercy, and love, and have the sure and confident hope of heaven.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Peter's great confession of faith is followed, throughout the history of Your Church, by the same conviction and confession among Your people. Great men and women of faith have walked this earth, holding the greatest treasure of their lives to be their faith in You. It is only in You that my life has any substance or meaning, for the very essence of life is found only in You and Your gift of salvation from Sin. All too often, even though I know and believe this to be true, I'm tempted to focus on me, on the world, and on all the things which we distract me from You and seek my life's meaning and purpose elsewhere. Forgive me, Lord, and lead me to always focus on You. Let my life be a life of substance because it rests on You. Let my life be the same strong confession that Peter's words are so that others might know You through me. Hear me, O Lord Jesus. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Overcoming Delusions of Grandeur

2006-10-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For October 2, 2006

Read: Matthew 18:1-5; Philippians 2:1-11

OVERCOMING DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

"'Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:5)

There is, perhaps, nothing that more completely ties the "great" rulers of history together than their "delusions of grandeur." Myriad names of such rulers are a part of the fabric of world history. Men like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, and Adolph Hitler, to name but a few, wanted to rule the world. A close look at history tells us that there's no doubt that each of the aforementioned rulers achieved some level of greatness or infamy. Yet, that same history tells us that none of them really ever ruled the world. Each of them achieved some level of greatness or infamy, but it can never be said that they ruled the world. They each wished to be great, fully in control of their destinies as the saw them, eager to go down in the annals of history, revered and honored by subsequent generations.

There's a theory of leadership that is called "Trait Leadership Theory." This theory is often simplistically defined as "leaders are born; not made." Yet, when studied carefully, Trait Leadership Theory holds that certain characteristics and traits in individuals have a tendency, when correlated with other factors such as circumstances, upbringing, and opportunities, to move such persons into positions of leadership and further advancement in positions of leadership. According to this theory of leadership, there is, perhaps, no greater correlative factor than the intense desire to achieve, succeed, and accomplish one's goals and reach a vision. In many ways, this drive can be summed up in the phrase, "delusions of grandeur," because all too frequently, such persons lose sight of the primary purpose of leadership - at least in God's eyes - which is to serve God and others.

While there are many ways to measure greatness by the world's standards, how do God's people measure greatness? Throughout history, many leaders have arisen and fallen, many trying to emulate such rulers and leaders as were mentioned earlier, but are now only footnotes in the history books. At the same time there have been many great leaders that no one has ever heard about - people who humbly walked before God, putting the needs of others before themselves, and loving and caring for those in need. As Jesus notes to His disciples in Matthew 18:5, greatness is measured in God's eyes by the holy humbleness worked in one's heart by His Word and Spirit. It's a childlike humility that doesn't seek personal gain or recognition, but seeks to trust only in God's love in Christ Jesus and share it with others. Leadership and greatness aren't concepts restricted to the rich and famous (or infamous), but to all who humbly walk before the Lord and seek their reward in heaven, not on earth from people.

According to Jesus (Matthew 18:1-5), His disciples also had their own "Delusions of grandeur." Interestingly, they weren't caught up in the issue of who would be seen as greatest in the history of the world, but in the kingdom of heaven. They had set their sights much higher than "mere mortal men," far outstripping those listed above. And this thought process, ever a product of our sinful condition, is a clear reflection that they neither understood Christ's mission, nor were clear that His kingdom was not of this world and He wasn't looking for "someone to be in charge." This thought process and striving for "power" completely flew in the face of Jesus' mission. It also stood at odds with the picture of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 and the humble Savior of Paul's Letter to the Philippians (2:5-11).

So, how about you and me? Are we filled with "delusions of grandeur?" Do we aspire to greatness? Depending on our perspective on life and position in a company, community, or other organization, each of us could be said to have our own sense of what greatness means. And, while we might not like to admit it, all of us are filled with our own "delusions of grandeur," every time we fail to put ourselves in God's hands and seek His will and purpose for our lives. Jesus is challenging you and me in the same way He challenged His disciples. The whole idea of greatness in the kingdom of heaven isn't one of power and position, but humility and service to God and others. Regardless of human accolades, awards, promotions, or other expressions of human accomplishment, the kingdom of heaven is about childlike faith in Jesus Christ, trusting God above all things, which leads us to selfless service to others - just as Jesus served. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, through faith in Jesus, we follow Jesus' footsteps, learn from His example, and overcoming delusions of grandeur in our lives, we seek to live a life of humble service to others in Jesus' name. Sharing His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness throughout our lives is our greatest accomplishment, for in so doing we bring the message of salvation in His blood and righteousness to a lost and dying world. In God's eyes, that's true greatness.

Prayer: Father, my Lord Jesus Christ came down to earth and, humbling Himself, took on human flesh and my condition, subjecting Himself to all the same temptations and problems of Sin which I face in my life every day. He perfectly obeyed Your will and purpose for Him - and me - fully taking my place under Your Law and Your righteous. He received in His body the full and just punishment for Sin that I deserve, bearing my sins and the sins of the world on the Cross so that I might stand forgiven before You and walk humbly with You until You call me home to heaven. Father, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, help to put aside all my sinful "delusions of grandeur." Lead me to recognize such delusions of grandeur as the result of Sin in my life and give me the strength to overcome them and be a humble witness of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus for the world. Let my demeanor and actions be those of a faithful and humble servant of You, my gracious heavenly Father, so that others might come to know Your love in Jesus; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

United, We Stand; Divided, We Fall

2006-10-02T12:28:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For October 2, 2006

Read: Luke 11:14-26; Psalm 25

UNITED, WE STAND; DIVIDED, WE FALL

"I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."(I Timothy 2:1-2a)

I don't remember who the artists were who recorded the song - I'm not even sure I remember the name of the song - but one line stands out for me that gets me thinking about the current state of affairs in our nation. The line I'm thinking of goes like this (I'm pretty sure it's the chorus or refrain): "For united we stand, divided we fall, and if our backs should ever be against the wall, we'll be together; together you and I (sic)." If my memory serves me, I'm pretty certain the rest of lyrics were focused upon a relationship between a man and a woman, but it may also have been about good friends standing together. At the same time Jesus' counsel has implications for a family, a community, a state, a nation, and even the church. When we're fighting among ourselves, and not willing to give each other a fair hearing, nor have the willingness to forgive, then it's easy for others to divide us and the consequences, as Jesus Himself noted are such that "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25)

Every where we look in our communities, states, and the nation there is polarization, anger, frustration, hatred, and ill will flying in all directions. Even in our churches the spirit of unity and commitment to living together in understanding, compassion, and forgiveness is suffering. Rather than having heartfelt discussions of differing opinions, viewpoints, and positions, disagreeing with vigor, debating our differences, and finding ways to work and live together, our national conversations, and even our personal intercourse, is wholly vitriolic, accusatory, personal, and damning. It seems as if we've reached such a new low as a society that rather than discussing our differences with rationality, we're attacking the persons with whom we disagree, rather than the positions they hold or actions they take. This has become increasingly noticeable with the name calling and personal excoriation of character that is going on at all levels of society - particularly in the national conversation where our former habits were to "rally 'round the flag" (even when we disagreed on policy, politics, and actions) in time of war or national emergency.

Criticism and skepticism can be useful tools of dissent and keeping things honest. When they are a product of hatred and contempt they are no longer useful. The polarization that is occurring in the United States these days is affecting every level of society and culture. Rather than "freedom of religion" being a reality, mockery of Christianity as well as other religious beliefs is rampant. Rather than our politicians - you know the ones about whom I'm speaking; the ones who are elected by the people and who carry out the work of governing which belongs to the people- caring about the body politic, they seem more concerned about keeping their jobs and attacking other politicians persons, rather than their ideas and policies. Attacking another person rather than disagreeing with their ideas and actions seems to be becoming the order of the day. Even in our churches it seems that people are more willing to tear down rather than build up; criticize rather than find solutions. Of course it doesn't help the process any when those who hold responsible positions of leadership fail to listen and take into account the concerns of others. Having the attitude that "I'm right and you're not" doesn't serve to unite - only divide. In the end, it doesn't matter whether it's a nation, a community, a business, a church, or a family, such behavior only serves to tear apart, not build up. And when people spend their time tearing down, especially from within and making disagreements personal, there's an absolute certainty that the "nation, the city, and the house" will fall with a thud and a bang, and so rapidly no one will ever see it coming.

Jesus understood that reality so very well. Throughout His ministry on earth, He wasn't faced with detractors who vigorously debated His teachings. Instead they attacked Him and hated Him. He experienced such derision that He was actually accused of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. The irrationality of such an accusation, Jesus' pointed out, was that, if such were the case, the devil himself was defeating his own purposes. In many ways, as we look at our national, state, local, church, and personal dealings with one another, that's exactly the behavior we see. The power of Sin - to focus on "me" ("I") - is taking root and leading us to destroy ourselves from within. Might doesn't make right, nor does vitriol and tearing another person down make for a better argument or idea.

The implications of this situation in our society are profound for our living as God's people in Christ and witnesses to His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Him. As the redeemed children of God in Christ Jesus, we have been called to be His ambassadors; we've been called out of the world, into the body of Christ, in order for us to give a living testimony by our words and deeds to God's compassion and love for the world. As Christian citizens our "vocation" our "calling" is to provide the "seasoning" so desperately needed by our society and our politics. While it's reasonable for people to disagree it's not reasonable for them to do so in a way that tears down, promotes hatred, and fails to find common ground to unite and nourish. Our prayers, as Paul wrote to Timothy, are needed for those who criticize and tear down, for those who serve and seek to build up, and for those in authority, especially the President, so that we might "live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." Such a "house," a nation built upon the foundation of faith in Christ, cannot help but to be united to destroy those who would spread terror, provide justice, opportunity, and care for its citizens, and seek to make the world a better place for people to live, including allowing other religious beliefs to exist and be protected by law. There is great spiritual truth to those lyrics: "United we stand; divided we fall," and, by God's grace we won't forget that.

Prayer: Father, I'm really disturbed by the personal, vitriolic, name-calling attacks being made by those who have been elected to lead in the nation, the state, my community, and my church. Rather than disagreeing with one another in a meaningful and helpful way, it seems as if this society has taken on a demeanor of hatred and derision that divides and polarizes. People don't discuss things anymore, Father. Instead they seem intent on tearing others down with whom they disagree. People in positions of leadership seem intent on ignoring what others are saying and show a grave unwillingness to admit to wrong decisions, faulty premises, and that they may have taken a wrong direction.

I find myself guilty on the same counts. Too often I criticize the person rather than their behavior or position. Too often I'm more concerned with being right than communicating my position and beliefs in a firm but loving manner that doesn't seek to tear another down. Forgive me, Father, for such behavior on my part, including my willingness to wish for the failure of others, rather than for what's best for them and others. Help me to be an instrument of Your peace that my actions and words as I fulfill my vocation as a Christian citizen, neighbor, and friend may serve to help unite rather than divide. Grant me the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit that I may seek the best for the lives of others in the community, the church, the nation, and the world, and encourage the same in others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Dialing "9-11" Or "G-O-D"?

2006-09-13T22:50:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For September 11, 2006

Read: Psalm 18:1-30; II Corinthians 1:1-11

DIALING "9-11" OR "G-O-D"

"I have told you these things so you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

It was a Tuesday morning. The sun was shining. I had just returned home from dropping our three youngest children off at school. As I was driving home I turned on the radio and there was news that a plane crash had occurred in New York City. The announcer sounded quite frantic so as soon as I got home I turned on the television - just in time to see a second plane strike the second tower of the World Trade Center. As the coverage continued the horror of the event began to sink in. Someone had done this deliberately - someone had, with sinister intentions, attacked occupied buildings with the intention of causing death and destruction on a scale not seen in the United States. That reality was driven home a short time later when news came that a third plane had crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth had nosedived into a Pennsylvania field.

The lives of hundreds of millions of people were changed in less than an hour. Our son, Matthew, had just begun his first semester at the United States Naval Academy. The next year and a half were quite problematic for him. He couldn't stay focused on his studies - the events of "9-11" played on his heart and soul. Eventually he left the Academy and joined the Marine Corps. In a few weeks, God willing, he will return to the States after a second tour of duty in Iraq. This is but one example of the effect that day in 2001 had on people who were not the immediate victims of the attack.

For the past 5-years the world has been engaged in a new kind of warfare. Some have called it a war for civilization. Others have called it unnecessary and immoral - attacking not the perpetrators of the attacks, but those who have taken action against them. The nation, today, stands in turmoil. It's a nation divided against itself, and, as Jesus notes, "a house divided against itself cannot stand" (Mark 3:25). I've always thought it was quite ironic that the date of the attack, "9-11," is the same set of numbers we use to call for help in time of emergency. As a people and nation we are in an emergency situation as we speak, both as a "house divided against itself" and a people who are facing an enemy unlike any ever seen before in the history of the world. We are in need of an emergency "hotline" beyond the ability of "911" responders. We really need to dial "G - O - D."

Both David and Paul are reminding us that God is our deliverer, our Savior, from every harm and danger that can come our way. Our enemies may try to hurt us, exploit us, and destroy us, but they can't keep us from His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus. We may be in a struggle for the "survival of civilization," but only God has the power to accomplish the victory over Sin and every evil which is at the heart of the conflict facing the world. today. While the enemy, from a human standpoint, may be unique in the annals of history, the face of the enemy is known to God from eternity. That enemy has been defeated, and although we're still engaged in skirmishes with him, skirmishes that threaten body, soul, and spirit, he has been overcome by our Lord Jesus Christ in His suffering, death, and resurrection.

No one and nothing can separate us from God's love for us in Jesus Christ. Every evil we face in the world has been overcome by Jesus. While it may be true that such evil affects people all over the world, the redeemed child of God in Jesus Christ has the confidence of faith in Jesus that such evil cannot keep us from our final destination in Jesus - Heaven. We have a greater resource for our safety and deliverance than dialing "9-11," for we have been blessed to call upon the name of the Lord and are blessed to know the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Prayer: Father, "9-11" will live as a day of infamy in the annals of the United States of America as well as in the history books of many other nations in the world. In some parts of the world the history books that day will stand as a "glorious" landmark to the beginning of the destruction of "civilization" as we know it - a civilization that has its beginning, middle, and end in Your grace, mercy, and love, even though there are many who ignore You. Father, forgive me for the times I forget that You are in charge of the entire world - that there's nothing that happens that You don't know about - and that You will keep me safe and secure from every attempt of evil to take me away from You. Let my life be filled with peace and joy, courage and commitment so that I may be a living witness to Your love, and a vocal ambassador of Your Word of salvation in Christ Jesus and Your forgiveness of sins in Him. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Those Darned "Thorns In The Flesh"

2006-08-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 22, 2006

Read: II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 3:1-11

THOSE DARNED "THORNS IN THE FLESH"

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9)

The longer I live the more I become aware of the weaknesses of the human body. I've struggled for years with my weight, even having gastric bypass surgery a couple of years ago, and still haven't won the "battle of the bulge." The excessive weight I carry around has a terribly negative effect on my internal organs - heart, liver, kidneys - and joints. My circulation isn't always the best in my legs and I don't sleep as well as I would like, so that I'm often tired and not able to be as alert as I'd like. Mentally this has an effect as well, and I find myself not being able to focus on things the way I'd like. In some ways one could say I'm a mess. And, I suppose from a certain frame of reference that's true. I prefer, however, to look at the situation as "being in good shape for the shape I'm in."

What I've learned facing these physical and mental challenges is that the endeavors of both my body and mind aren't totally mine to control. I realize that God has blessed me with many talents, gifts, and abilities. At the same time I also realize that I've not always used them to His glory and the benefit of others. My human nature is selfish that way. Sin leads me to put more stock in myself, my ideas, and my abilities than is safe for my relationship with God. As I look at my life I see that I have often been less than humble in my attitude and dealings with others. Despite God's many blessings to me, I have too often failed to use them in service to others. Too often I find I've been quite arrogant and unfeeling, uncaring and unloving toward others. I've also found that, as I face the challenges that my health places in front of me, I have become less self-sufficient and more dependent upon God.

I'm not usually given to telling you about myself - hinting maybe but never so blatantly. But, in this case, I just couldn't point a finger at anyone else. St. Paul's experience with his "thorn in the flesh" is an encouragement for me when I begin to feel sorry for myself because I can't do all the things I'd like to do, nor accomplish all the things I believe I should have accomplished. Each day is a wonderful opportunity to see God's hand at work - when things seem the toughest, whether spiritually, mentally, physically, or financially, He always comes through with just what is needed. As He does so He reminds me of His love for me and His promises to provide what's necessary for life and living. It's a constant encouragement to meet every challenge of each day with courage, hope, strength, and purpose, because God's "grace is sufficient" and His "power is made perfect in weakness."

All of us experience times where we need to be brought up short by our Father in heaven because we're ignoring Him and going our own way. Our sinful arrogance and self-reliance - much encouraged by our culture - so often leads us to think and act as if we don't need God. It's our downfall and the backdoor through which Sin keeps building the wall of separation between us and God. It's at these times and in such circumstances that those "darned thorns in the flesh" become God's blessings to us. By faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord we are God's redeemed and blessed children. We have a marvelous, wonderful story to tell others about His marvelous grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness purchased for all humanity with Jesus' blood on the Cross. It's those "darned thorns in the flesh" that are reminders to us that we need God's love and that through Him alone do we have the strength to live life to the full.

Prayer: Father, I have to confess that all too often I depend more upon myself than You when it comes to how I live my life and meet the challenges that I face daily. Sin has that very challenging letter "I" in it - it's the letter I to which I gravitate when it comes to living my life and accomplishing things. Yet, without Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness anything and everything I do means nothing because it doesn't serve You or others in Jesus' name. Forgive me, gracious Father, for my selfishness and self-dependence.

By the power of Your Word and Spirit and the washing of my Baptism keep me ever mindful that You have made me Your very own child and an heir of eternal life in Jesus. Help me to remember each day that those "darned thorns in the flesh" that affect my life are Your loving and gentle reminders to me that my life is good only when You are in it. Let me use those "darned thorns in the flesh" as encouragement to share Your love with others so they too might depend on Your love in Christ; in whose precious name I pray. Amen. *******************************

--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Living With A Spirit Of Power

2006-08-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 21, 2006

Read: II Timothy 1:6-14; I Peter 3:8-12

LIVING WITH A SPIRIT OF POWER

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord...join with me in suffering for the Gospel." (II Timothy 1:7, 8)

In the early part of the 20th Century, the United States was a neutral country when it came to world affairs. The prevailing mood in Washington and in communities around the nation was "Isolationism." This meant that not only was the nation neutral when it came to the disputes of other nations, but, for the most part, the United States wasn't concerned with what was going on outside of its own borders. When war in Europe broke out about 1914, the American public certainly kept its eye on any news that came this way, but it was the Kaiser's war and none of this nation's business.

While maintaining its neutrality, the United States also tried to broker a peace between the major combatants, raising the ire of both Britain and Germany. Germany and its allies were carrying on "total war" which meant they sought to totally destroy their enemies, bringing all their resources to bear on the effort (and discarding any political considerations). This resulted in unrestricted undersea warfare which caused significant losses of U.S. ships as they carried on commerce with Europe. The straw that broke the camel's back, however, came when a German U-boat sunk the British steamship, Lusitania, with the loss of all life, including 150 Americans.

Facing up to the problems of the world is a real challenge for us. We'd really like for things to be simple, easy, and non-controversial. We'd like others to leave us alone and we'll leave them alone. And, while these sentiments may make us "feel good," the reality of life is that we can't ever remain neutral if we're going to face the challenges and problems life throws at us. There is evil in the world. There are other people besides ourselves who live in this world and have hopes and dreams, pain and despair, just as we do. Sin affects the lives of everyone of every time and place. There's a war going on in the world - the spiritual world is at the heart of it - and human beings, for the most part, want to ignore it. Very much like the United States prior to World War I (and, incidentally, following World War I - we didn't learn our lesson), human nature tries to keep us aloof from the problems of the world and our neighbors, until something happens that forces us to take action and care.

Paul's encouragement is for God's children in Christ not to shirk from the pain, suffering, and other challenges that Sin foists upon the world. Rather, he calls us to live our lives of faith with a "spirit of power," knowing that God has redeemed us from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan in Jesus Christ. He doesn't want us to wait until the "Lusitania" is sunk before we act, but to step forth boldly in faith and, facing suffering for the sake of the Gospel, declare the marvelous gift of God's grace to the world - Christ died for the sins of all humanity. Peter calls us "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that (we) may declare the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:18), all so that we might act proactively to overcome the power of Sin and evil in the world with God's Good News in Christ.

As God's people then, we don't shirk from our calling to be witnesses of Christ and proclaimers of the Gospel in the face of Sin and unbelieff. We live our lives, in the power of our Baptisms into Christ, with a spirit of power so that we might face the spiritual warfare of this world with courage and strength of faith. By faith we are empowered to step forth boldly, in love and commitment to God and our neighbor, to speak the truth, to face evil, and to overcome and share God's peace with the world.

Prayer: Father, all too often I follow the path of timidity, unwilling to confront evil, decry sin, and fight for what is right and pleasing in Your eyes. It's my nature as a sinful human being to sit back and let other people live their lives without even a whimper from me about Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ. Father, I need to be reminded each day that in Christ I can live for You filled with Your Spirit of power, and in so living, give a ready and unashamed testimony of Your gift of salvation to the world in Jesus. As You have called me to be Your own special child, help me to boldly and unvailingly declare the wonders of Your love in Jesus to others so they, too, might be Your own special children living with Your Spirit of power. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Depending On God's Protection

2006-08-19T20:07:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 18, 2006

Read: Genesis 3:8-19; Psalm 32

DEPENDING ON GOD'S PROTECTION

"You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."(Psalm 32:7)

World events are having a deleterious effect upon people's senses of security and safety. It's amazing that the same events, events which are rocking the world's security and peace, are seen and understood from widely divergent points of view. What's understood as evil to some is seen as justified by others. The sectarian violence in Iraq is blamed on the presence of U.S. forces in the country - even though a great deal of the violence isn't directed at those forces. Iran and North Korea seek nuclear capability as their sovereign right while the rest of the world sees a renewed nuclear arms race. Israel jails terrorists that belong to Hezbollah, move out of the Golan Heights and Gaza, leave southern Lebanon, and they are still attacked, their people kidnapped. When they respond in self-defense they are chastised as responding too harshly and the perpetrators become the victims.

It's been this way since the Fall into Sin in Eden. First Adam blamed God for giving him such a "wicked" wife. Then he turned on Eve and blamed her for his sin. When confronted by God, Eve immediately turned the spotlight of blame in the serpent. In the process, humanity's relationship with God was damaged, human relationships were tanked, and a huge rift between people and the rest of creation ensued. Each party in this tragedy saw the events in the Garden in completely different ways. God's truth and His Will were dismissed as being too harsh and too exclusive. Man and woman determined that they could do just as well as God, and the very creation for which they were supposed to exercise stewardship became an enemy.

Because of Sin in the world people die every day. Because of humanity's disobedience to God's Will and Word people fight each other, ignore God's truth, destroy the environment, and decide what "truth" is according to a faulty standard. Yet God, in His infinite grace and mercy meets our foolish attempts to redefine His truth, to make ourselves gods, and to exclude Him from our thinking with compassion, love, and forgiveness.

As He promised to Adam and Eve, Abraham and the patriarchs, and to all His people throughout the ages, He has redeemed humanity from the curse of Sin, the power of Death, and wiles of Satan through the innocent blood of Christ, sacrificed for all of us on the Cross. In Jesus' full obedience to God's Will God's Law was fulfilled. In His innocent suffering and death He paid the ultimate price for Sin which every human being is responsible to pay. His resurrection is the Father's loving statement that Christ's sacrifice is acceptable and His righteousness saves all who believe in Him.

Even though life had become a horrible nightmare for Adam and Eve, God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness were theirs. They knew fear for the first time because they disobeyed God, yet God's promise and compassion gave them comfort and strength, hope and peace. No matter what troubles and dangers we may face in our lives, none is greater than the power of Sin to keep us from God's love and eternity with Christ. In Jesus the power of Sin, death, and Satan is destroyed and God extends His loving hand to everyone, everywhere, with the promise of hope, peace, joy, and forgiveness. We live our lives in faith, depending on God's protection from all things that would harm us and keep us from Him - physical or spiritual. Christ is our deliverance.

Prayer: Father, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of self-determination; to believe that I am the master of my destiny and my future is in my hands. As I look around me in the world I see that attitude everywhere. I see people trying to control the lives of others, even take their lives, because they can’t agree politically. I see hatred for others because they don't look the same, believe the same, or think the same. Yet, in Your infinite grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness You sent Jesus to be fully obedient to You in all things because I and no other human beings can, and then You exacted the full punishment for Sin from Him on the Cross - all so that I and all who believe in Him might be forgiven, redeemed, and restored to You forever. Remind me each day of Your protection and deliverance from all that would seek to keep me from You, and strengthen my faith in Jesus that I may live my life in a way that is pleasing to You and a true witness to Your love in Christ to others. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Guided In Life By God's Truth

2006-08-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 4, 2003

Read: Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 139

GUIDED IN LIFE BY GOD'S TRUTH

"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior and my hope is in You all day long." (Psalm 25:4, 5)

Last night I watched a movie which really got my attention. It's called "The Ron Clark Story." It's the story of a man from the Midwest who went to New York City, got a job as a teacher in one of its most troubled schools, and, with grace, love, and an indomitable spirit, took a class of sixth graders out of the pits of despair to the heights of learning and accomplishment. His class of ragamuffins took a required New York State exam and scored higher than even the honors classes in the state. Because of his encouragement, his cajoling, his pushing, his tenacity, and, above all his love and respect for his students, those young people overcame their streets and neighborhoods and started the long road to being the people God intended for them to be.

What Ron Clark did for those sixth graders was to teach them, using different methods and forms, what it was to learn and what it meant to understand. Rather than allowing them to wallow in ignorance, despair, and self-pity he found new and different ways to relate to them and guide them into effective learning. Rather than allowing them to give up on themselves, he pointed them in the right direction and kept on pushing them up the hill of learning to greater success, knowledge, and, we hope, wisdom. In the end, Mr. Clark's dedication to his students and his dedication to helping them learn is the first step in preparing them to responsible leaders and citizens in our communities, states, and nation.

Our Father in heaven also seeks to help us to grow in faith and knowledge of Him. He continues to send His Word and Spirit to us that we might be freed from the spiritual ignorance of Sin, the struggle with spiritual despair, and the self-pity that Sin encourages in us. Through the truth of His Word and the power of His Spirit, He teaches us who He is, who we are, what He made us to be and do, why He created the world, and, among many other things, how He continues to work in this world to sustain it, the universe, and our lives, as well as how He blesses us with His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

There are myriad people offering all sorts of information and opinions about the origins of the universe, the earth, and humanity. They even issue dictums as to what constitutes socially acceptable behavior, which are often at great odds with God's Will and Word. The information deemed reliable is too often tainted by human self-service, and the opinions and dictums refuse to recognize God's presence and hand in the universe, the world, and people's lives. The power of "chance" is substituted for the miracle and power of creation.

But the universe and the earth didn't come to be by chance. They have a design and a purpose. Above all, we human beings didn't come into existence by chance - we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) - so that we might work with God to care for and preserve the world and share His love with each other and walk in a personal relationship with Him through Christ our Lord. It's this truth - this knowledge - which leads us to greater acts of service for the benefit of others and the praise and glory of God. In the truth of God's Word we find hope - hope for living today and hope for our eternal tomorrow in the presence of Christ in heaven. It's this hope that sustains us and keeps us strong in the face of every temptation and trial of Sin, for our God and Savior has redeemed us to Himself.

Prayer: Father, I find that many people believe that if I trust Your Word I'm a fool and an ignoramus. They question my intelligence and my good sense. The world is full of people who purport to know what's best for me without any regard to Your Word and Will. All to often I find myself falling into the trap of "caring" about what such people think and say, so that what's true according to Your Word becomes a stumbling block in my daily life. Forgive me, Father, for failing to remember at all times that Your Spirit is my Teacher who shows me truly who I am and what Your purpose for my life is. Help me to seek Your purpose in my life each day that I may live in a full and loving relationship with You, forgiven and restored to You in Christ, and actively sharing Your Good News with the world. As Your truth, according to Your Word and Spirit guide my life each day, I pray that You would use my life - my actions and words - as a living testimony to others of that same truth for their own salvation. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Jesus' Victory Brings Us Peace

2006-08-17T22:46:00.001-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 16, 2006

Read: John 16:17-33; I John 5:1-5

JESUS' VICTORY BRINGS US PEACE

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace; in this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world."
(Jn.16:33)

Has everyone gone mad? Sometimes it seems that way when you listen to the things being said by those who would be our leaders. Now a former U.S. President has accused Israel of overreacting to the attacks of the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, and killing Lebanese civilians. He has also faulted the U.S. for backing Israel.. With the U.N. ceasefire in place, the Hezbollah, having hidden themselves among civilians during the conflict, causing the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese civilian non-combatants, are now helping people return to their homes, giving them money, and working to show themselves to be the "good guys" and Israel the "bad guys."

It's scary to realize that so many of our leaders can't see that there's evil in the world. When they even acknowledge evil, they have the mistaken impression that evil is willing to negotiate. Yet, the very essence of evil is to seek its own gain at the expense of others. Instead of being cautious in dealing with those who seek to destroy everything that doesn't fit their worldview, too many of our leaders fall into the trap of praising the enemy and ignoring the evil they espouse.

Of course, global conflict isn't the only scary thing in this world. Crime, drunk driving, drugs, smoking, and a host of other "evils" face us every day. Our sense of security and personal wellbeing are constantly under attack. The list of potential dangers to life and limb is seemingly endless. We're in a constant struggle to maintain our physical, spiritual, economic, and emotional equilibrium as we face the uncertainties of life on a daily basis.

By God's grace, however, and in His great love for us, the world doesn't need to be such a scary place. Our Lord Jesus comforts us and gives us hope when He reminds us that He has overcome the world. The world may be turning itself upside down but we have nothing to fear. Every trouble, every hardship, every rumor or fact of war, every act of terrorism, every economic calamity, and every catastrophe, whether natural or manmade has no power to keep us from or remove us from God's love for us in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome Sin, Death, and Satan for us by His suffering, death, and resurrection. Because of His sacrifice, we, by faith in Him, are empowered to overcome a whole lot of evil with a whole lot of hope. Because Jesus has overcome the world we are at peace in our hearts and with God.

Prayer: Father, as I face a world of hatred, fear, war, disease, crime, and a host of other maladies brought about by Sin, I am comforted and strengthened by the hope You give me in Jesus. You give me hope because in Him Sin, Death, and Satan have been overcome. In my place, my Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for my sins and has brought peace into my heart and life. Give me the courage, faith, and commitment to tell everyone about this Good News - that Christ has overcome the world and no one has to be afraid anymore. Help me to not only live in Your forgiveness and hope, but also to live them as I touch the lives of others in Your name. May my life be a living, winsome witness to other so they might also come to know Your peace forever. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Freed By The Truth

2006-08-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 15, 2006

Read: II Timothy 3:10-4:5; Psalm 111

FREED BY THE TRUTH

"If you believe My Word, then are you My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:31b, 32)

One of the most devastating aspects of a world at war is the negation of the truth. Propaganda is the order of the day. Governments, news media, and "talking heads" filter the news and put twists and turns on it so that what is portrayed if often far from the unvarnished truth. If you're in Iran right now, the Iranian president is assuring the people that Israel's been defeated in its war with Hezbollah. The leader of the Hezbollah is doing the same thing. World leaders have condemned Israel's response to Hezbollah as disproportionate, and thus, as one wag put it, falling far short of the principles of a "just war." At the same time, no international outcry has been raised against the terrorist group Hezbollah which is covering its actions by helping the returning refugees to southern Lebanon rebuild.

Our President is being accused of falsifying information to get us into a war in Iraq. The same people who once voted for the war now vote against it. Whenever there is a success in the fight, someone is sure to throw a monkey wrench into the works because he or she doesn't want this President to get any positive credit for anything. The "smell test" for truth in such cases seems to apply only to those about whom the "purveyors of truth" are speaking, never to themselves. In the end, knowing what's true in such affairs is hard to determine.

If we're looking for the truth about current events, whether they're on the world stage, local, state, or national politics, or in areas of life and living that we all experience daily - economics, community issues, crime, etc. - we can be reasonably certain that whatever truth is available to us will be couched in "shades of gray." Reliability of information and, thus, of the truth, is a suspect commodity in our world.

Living in a sin-filled world, it's important for us to have a source of unvarnished truth, a source which doesn't care about what others may think or do, and a source which seeks only to speak the truth in love so that people can have a source of certainty and hope in their lives. Jesus' disciples had such a need, just as we do, and Jesus made certain they had a focal point for truth - His Word. He assured them that believing His Word - that it is true and reliable and given for their benefit, out of love - would set them free from the power of doubt and uncertainty which Sin tries to cultivate in order to keep people under its control.

Jesus' assures us that by faith in Him - in His suffering, death, and resurrection for our sins and the sins of the whole world - we are set free from the bondage of Sin which blinds us to the truth about God, His creation, and His gift of salvation to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our eyes are open to seeing God's hand at work in all of life, even in times of war and destruction, economic hardship, famine, disease, civil unrest, and mounting crime. By faith we know that nothing can keep us from His love for us in Jesus. We know and believe that His truth, as revealed His Word, sets us free to see the world as it really is and be winsome witnesses of His love so that others might also see His truth fulfilled in Jesus.

Prayer: Father, in a world that always seems to be turning itself upside down and inside out because of conflicting "truths" espoused by those who would control the lives of others, I thank You that You have given me Your Word of truth against which I can measure all other "truths." Forgive me for so often forgetting to consult You and Your Word when faced with the "truths" of the world which so often contradict Your Will and Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ. Help me to keep my eyes always on Jesus, knowing that in Him is forgiveness, hope, and the strength to live as a bold and winsome witness of Your salvation for the world. Send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure that I might be wise unto salvation, confident of Your love and forgiveness, and bold in my living for You; in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Rescued In Christ Jesus

2006-08-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 14, 2006

Read: I Thessalonians 1:1-11; Psalm 31

RESCUED IN CHRIST JESUS

"For He (the Father) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13, 14)

A ceasefire brokered by the UN goes into effect today in the Middle East between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Skirmishes still continue; people are still dying. The UN is supposed to insert a multinational peacekeeping force into southern Lebanon and the Lebanese Army is supposed to go into an area controlled by a Hezbollah military force which has usurped the Lebanese Army's authority for some time. Iran and Syria are trumpeting the ceasefire as a triumph over Israel. Iran is especially emboldened by this action to step up its propaganda attacks against the United States.

As we listen to this news and observe the behavior of the characters, it's clear that as much as things change they remain the same. One "war" is stopped only to open the door to another. Rhetoric is used to foment hatred, anger, discontent, prejudice, racism and just about anything other than peace. Politicians run around spouting platitudes as to how each of them has "the answer" for the world's problems, or, more specifically, the latest conflict.

Not only are there trouble spots in the world where people are fighting and dying, but there are also places where famine, disease, and hopelessness prevail. Inflation, we're told, especially encouraged by the continually rising cost of a barrel of crude oil, has the potential to decimate the economy of our nation as well as the world. Even those of means are finding that the dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used to. The burdens people feel on their lives and their hearts are getting heavier. God's people are also affected by these burdens in their own lives.

If anyone doubts that Sin is in the world, they only need to look at the evil that is evident in the events of the day - the fighting, the greed, the illness and disease and a host of other maladies of body, soul, and spirit fomented by Sin in our lives. Sin is the source of all the uncertainty, dismay, pain, and suffering in the world. While people everywhere are searching for hope, comfort, and peace in their lives and hearts, they're often looking in all the wrong places. Hope is a cherished blessings and people are seeking that hope in the face of all of life's uncertainties - hope that assures them that they can be saved from the power of Sin and the pain and suffering it brings into the world.

As we observe, and even feel, such yearning for hope and salvation in the face of death and destruction, hatred and despair, we are led to see the powerful hand of God rescuing us. By God's grace in Christ we are no longer subject to the vagaries of Sin and our own search for meaning and hope, but we are turned to Jesus Who is "the way, the truth, and the life," for all of God's people and for the whole world. The hope and peace of the world can't depend upon UN ceasefire resolutions, intervention of military force, or clever negotiations by politicians. Hope and peace are certainly not going to gain any traction from the political posturing and vitriol with which the leaders of various nations seek to gain the upper hand.

Hope and peace for the world is found nowhere else than in God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. He is the "lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World." By faith in Him we can be certain that it doesn't matter what happens in the world, we belong to Him and nothing can separate us from His love. He emphatically pronounces us to be His restored, redeemed children. And He reminds us that He has called us to the special task of being His disciples to a lost and dying world and bringing into their lives the Good News that a true and lasting peace is theirs through faith in Christ. (cf. Eph. 1:3-14)

Prayer: Father, as I enter into a new week, I realize that the pain and suffering we human beings put upon each other isn't going to end any time soon. At the same time, I thank You for the opportunities You give to me and all Your children to be living witnesses of Your peace for the world in Jesus. Thank You for the gift of faith in Christ so that I might know Your peace and joy, even in the midst of war, famine, and pestilence. Bless those in need of Your loving kindness and peace that they may also come to a point of peace in their lives, even in the face of the evil that seeks to destroy God's people and what He has created. Let my life be a witness to that peace and hope; in Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Life Restored By Jesus

2006-08-11T17:13:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 10, 2006

Read: John 11:17-44; I Corinthians 15:50-57

LIFE RESTORED IN JESUS

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25, 26)

Last week news came that two Wisconsin men, ages 19 and 20, missing for 40 years, had been found. Their car was found buried in a lake, deep in silt and weeds where it had sunk back in 1966. Once they'd gotten into their car to head for home they were never seen again. A collective sigh of relief was offered by their family members as they finally found out what had happened to their loved ones.

On another note, death is rampant in our world as we are a world at war. Terrorism is able to strike anywhere at anytime. We've just been made aware of the most massive plot of terrorism against the U.S. and Britain since "9-11." Precautions and security have been heightened and long lines await people once again at the airports. New regulations prohibit even more items from being carried on to an aircraft. Tensions are high and people have fear for their lives. At the same time many are breathing sighs of relief that they weren't the next victims of terrorists.

While such a strike was averted in this case, many other acts of terrorism daily claim human lives around the world. U. S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are fighting and dying in the battle against terrorism in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Terrorists are striking the civilians of these countries as well as many places in Africa and Asia. In the Middle East we also find that Israeli soldiers and civilians are facing death and destruction from Hezbollah terrorists attacking Israel; these terrorists, hiding among the civilian population of Lebanon are also the cause of civilian deaths as the Israelis engage them in combat.

But death doesn't just take on the hue of accidental deaths or terrorist activity, or sectarian violence. Our city streets see death come knocking regularly as gun violence affects the young and old alike. Poor people who can't afford medical care die of maladies that might have been treated or prevented if they'd gone to see a doctor. When the recent heat wave hit around the nation, news reports revealed the deaths of people, particularly the poor and elderly, who couldn't afford the electricity to run air conditioners to stay cool.

We live in a dangerous world. For some of us, life is a precious blessing; for others it's cheap, especially if it's not their own. We can see the power of Sin in the world by how people value or don't value life. The consequences of Sin in the world are revealed in sickness, disease, poverty, crime, war, terror, and a host of other "maladies." Jesus' handling of Lazarus's illness gives us pause to realize that Sin has very real consequences in the here and now, not just in eternity.

Those consequences of Sin, however, have been overcome by Jesus on the Cross. Because of His sacrifice, Sin no longer has a hold on us that will keep us from God's love. We believe Jesus' declaration that He is "the resurrection and the life." His raising of Lazarus from the grave was but a small reminder of His true power and authority over life and death. He has overcome death and the grave for us by His suffering, death, and resurrection. With a confident faith and trust in Him we therefore are encouraged despite the evils of the world that would threaten our lives both physically and spiritually. Along with Martha, we are blessed to confess, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ." In that faith and trust in Him we find that life is restored in Him.

Prayer: Father, it's really very easy to be discouraged by the apparent disregard for human life that is running rampant in the world. Whether it's disease, poverty, hatred, terrorism, war, crime, or a host of other maladies of Sin in the world, life is very cheap for so many people. While the world pays lipservice to the idea of the "dignity of human life," it so often ignores what it means to truly uphold the sanctity of life for everyone. Give me the strength of faith to remember that no matter what I may face in life, in Jesus nothing can separate me from Your love and nothing can keep me from being with You in heaven. Father, thank You for delivering me from the power of Sin in my life and lead me to share my joy and peace for the life that Jesus has restored to me with those in need of knowing Him as Savior; in His precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

What's Your Claim To Fame?

2006-08-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 9, 2006

Read: Mark 9:33-37; I Corinthians 13

WHAT'S YOUR CLAIM TO FAME?

"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:11, 12)

Americans are enamored with fame. This past weekend saw the latest induction of the current class for the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. For the most part the inductees were acknowledged for their prowess on the football field or in support of the game. Similar events occur almost every year for baseball (Cooperstown), basketball (Springfield, MA), soccer, country music, tennis, college football, rock and roll, inventors, and a host of other skills, talents, abilities, and interests (even including WWE wrestling "superstars"). We set up memorials to great events, great people, great sacrifices, and a whole lot of other "greats" in our culture. Notably, as I have observed over my lifetime, the people elected to these "halls of fame" aren't generally elected because of their humility, their love for others, or their civic activities. They are elected because they were prominent in their sport or field of endeavor, regarded as the "elite of the elite," and their names are synonymous with the activity in which they engaged.

Human nature strives for recognition. Even the most "Casper Milquetoast" kind of person wants to be acknowledged and recognized. Nothing motivates a "wall flower" at a dance more than being asked to step away from the safety of the wall and the periphery of the event and become a part of the action and energy of the party or event. Yet, all our craving for recognition, even fame, means nothing if all the recognition and acknowledgement only serve to place us above others and inure us to the needs and dignity of others. It's not so hard to understand that "fame" can go to one's head - we've seen it over and over again, perhaps even in our own lives - and being the people of God becomes inconsequential to our "success."

Jesus warns His disciples of this when He points out the inconsistencies of the scribes and Pharisees, the leaders of Israel, who placed all sorts of requirements on others, but didn't apply them to themselves. Their outward appearance and behavior set them up as being better than everyone else - more holy, more spiritual, more obedient to God. Yet they had forgotten that God sees the condition of the heart and isn't concerned with outward appearances. Their sense of self-importance took precedence over being compassionate, caring, and loving toward others. They were more concerned with how others saw them than with how God saw them.

It's trap we can easily fall into ourselves. While God may allow us to accomplish great things for the sake of others and in His name, it's always important to remember that all that we are and have comes from Him. Above all He has made us His very own children, washing us clean from our sins in the blood of Christ, and assuring us of His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in all of our living. We have the sure and certain hope of heaven, not because of what we've done, but because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins on the Cross. The saving faith we need to receive those blessings from God is solely and only His gift to us - unearned and undeserved.

St. Paul reminds us that in Christ our thinking, feeling, and being is completely different from the world's way of thinking. While it's a great thing to be acknowledged for one's success in a sport or a field of endeavor, if that's all people see when they look at us, it's hardly a claim to fame of any consequence. If people don't see Jesus in us, don't hear about Jesus through our words and actions, and they don't even know we are His redeemed children, then all the "fame" in the world isn't going to cut it. When Paul writes the words of that great chapter on "love" - "agape" - in I Corinthians 13, he not only reminds of this truth, but points us finally to the ultimate "fame" of God's people - self-sacrificing "agape" for others. It's a love that only comes from God and can only come from us as God works in and through us in the lives of others. That's the Christian disciple's claim to fame - loving others in Jesus' name and sharing the Good News of salvation in Him with everyone.

Prayer: Father, it's not too very difficult for me to get my priorities confused when it comes to my service to You and others in Your name and my own need for recognition and acceptance. My sinful human nature leads me to want to be acknowledged and recognized for what I do. My push to be successful often fails to truly define what meaning of "success" is pleasing to You. Forgive me for seeking my "claim to fame" in all the wrong places. Fill me with the power of Your Word and Spirit that I might walk humbly before You, acknowledging that all I am and have are gifts of Your grace and to be used to Your glory and the blessings of others in Your name. Let my life be a constant testimony to Your greatness, Father, and Your love and forgiveness for the whole world in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

God Is Always Working For Our Good

2006-08-08T17:38:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 8, 2006

Read: Romans 8:18-39; Psalm 147

GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR GOOD

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Over the past couple of weeks life at our house has been faced with just a few challenges. My wife, Susan, got word about two weeks ago that the school in which she's been teaching for the past 10 years may have to close because of mismanagement on the part of the administration. That means not only the loss of income but the loss of our health insurance, impacting health coverage requirements for our children in high school and those in college. Less than a week after getting this news, on a Sunday morning, we discovered that someone had stolen my van right out of our driveway from between the buildings. The insurance claim isn't going to be much since it was an old van - to replace it will be impossible.

Now, in the grand scheme of life, these situations are but a small pimple in the road. When I think about the many people who are starving, have no clean clothing, or a roof over their heads, live in constant fear of their lives because they live in war torn parts of the earth or crime infested communities, or the many people who have no family or friends to turn to in time of need, and the many people who have poor health and no access to medical care, and...well, you get the picture...I realize that the events of the past couple of weeks don't match up in comparison. They're annoying, that's true. But they aren't the end of the world.

Perhaps you're experiencing such challenges in your life also. No doubt all of us have had some annoyances in our lives - things that cut into the smooth operation of our existence and cause a bit of angst. At the time they may have seemed overwhelming and debilitating. What's often the case for us when we're faced with such circumstances is that we forget to look for God's hand in them.

St. Paul certainly knew what it was to face seemingly insurmountable troubles, challenges, and odds. Throughout his ministry he was faced with danger, ridicule, jail, and, finally, death. In spite of those obstacles, he kept his eyes on the prize of his calling in Christ - the forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven. Thus, he could write to the Roman church and Christians everywhere that God's hand was and is at work in every aspect of our lives and that no matter the circumstances we may face, "all things work together for the good of those who love Him" for He has a purpose in mind for each of us through Christ our Lord (Romans 8:28).

It's now two weeks since Susan found out she might be losing her teaching position. In those two weeks she's been working hard to solve the problems that are facing the school. She's received assistance from a congregation that is adamant that they're going to overcome this hurdle and are feverishly working with her and other teachers to rectify the administrative issues and keep the school open. Perhaps, for the first time in many years, the congregation realizes that the mission God has given them has been neglected and is in danger of failure, and it has galvanized them to action.

Will the school remain open? That question is still unanswered. What we do know however is that God has a purpose in mind for the school, for the congregation, for the teachers, and for all the children seeking enrollment for this next year. In each of our lives the uncertainties can mount as well. Yet, as St. Paul notes for us, God has a purpose for us - He has called us in Christ to that purpose and everything will turn out for our good, especially as it regards our relationship with Him, the forgiveness of our sins, and the final hope of life with Christ forever in heaven. We can be certain that God is always working for our good for we are His dearly loved children, redeemed in Christ.

Prayer: Father, help me to face the challenges and dangers of life on earth with confidence, hope, and joy, knowing that You're in charge of everything and nothing can separate me from Your love. Give me the confidence to trust that “all things work together for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose.” In that trust, help me to walk with my head held high, filled with faith and trust in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord. In that faith lead me to be a true ambassador of Your peace to the world. Keep me from being afraid or uncertain about the future, and help me to put myself and the whole world in Your loving, all-powerful, and caring hands each and every day. So fill me with faith, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, that I might step forth in life each day, assured that I never walk alone and that I have hope and joy in Jesus; in Whose name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Getting Away With "Murder?"

2006-08-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For August 7, 2006

Read: II Samuel 11:26-12:15; Psalm 32

GETTING AWAY WITH "MURDER?"

"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgression to the Lord-and You forgave the guilt of my sin.'"(Ps.32:5)

Most of us have heard the old accusation, "He got away with 'murder.'" Often that statement is applied to situations where one child seems to get more leeway on their behavior than a sibling might. "He (or she) just gets away with 'murder,'" has often been heard around office coolers when people gossip about the apparent impunity with which another co-worker can act when others are not allowed to act in the same way. Of course, the same sentiment has been registered when someone accused of an actual murder has been exonerated of the charge even though that person is guilty.

Can there be any doubt that if we could all "get away with 'murder'" we would? No one wants to be held accountable for their actions - it's just not part of our sinful human nature. If we can hide from our sins, hide our sins from others, or blame someone else for our behavior, our natural tendency is to do just that. Adam and Eve did that very thing when they tried to hide their sin and guilt for disobeying God in the Garden of Eden. Among myriad examples of such behavior in Scripture, King David's adultery with Bathsheba and her subsequent pregnancy led David to orchestrate the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, at the forefront of battle, stands out as a truly aggregious example of "getting away with murder." And, of course, being the king, David could hide his behavior and actions from everyone - except himself and God.

Except, perhaps, for those persons who are truly "anti-social" - such people seem to have no consciences at all - most people can't run away from their actions. Their guilty consciences trouble them for most of their lives. Physical maladies, mental instability, and depression are often the result of unresolved guilt and unacknowledged sin. What's more, if people don't acknowledge God, they're stuck with the consequences of their behavior with no hope for resolution. At the same time, even those who acknowledge God, try to hide their behavior and guilt from Him - an exercise is futility and an added burden that kills hope and peace in one's life.

Rather than being burdened with "getting away with 'murder,'" God calls us to repentance and promises His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness for all who repent and believe His promises. David's guilt weighed heavily upon him and his behavior had dire consequences for his family's and his lives. Yet, upon the urging of the prophet, Nathan, David, by God's grace and blessing, was led to repentance and granted God's peace and forgiveness. While the consequences of his behavior were still to be felt, David knew he was no longer alone - God had declared him forgiven and loved - and he could go on with his life of service to God and others.

So also is it for all who trust in God's promises in Jesus Christ. By faith in Jesus we are assured that our sins are forgiven and that our hope is in heaven with the Lord. We are confident, by faith in Christ, that God is ready and willing to forgive us of all our sins when we turn to Him in repentance and faith. We are assured that there's nothing, no sin, no danger, no trouble, nor any power or circumstance outside of ourselves that can take us away from God's love in Christ (Romans 8:38, 39). By God's grace, and in His great mercy, we can be certain that no one, especially His children, is "getting away with 'murder.'" Everyone will ultimately be held accountable for their sins - with God's promised forgiveness in Christ granted unequivocally to those redeemed by faith in Christ.

Prayer: Gracious Father, I thank You that You don't allow me to "get away with 'murder,'" but that You call me to account for my sins through my conscience and the power of Your Word and Spirit. Your Word convicts me of my sins and shows me my need for my Savior, Jesus. Your Spirit continues to work in my heart to keep me focused on You and to guide me out of the morass of Sin which would blind me to Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. Father, I pray that You would never allow me to hide from my sins, nor try to hide them from You. Rather, let my life be a living example of Your love and forgiveness as I readily acknowledge and repent of my sins in witness to Your amazing grace. Clothe me in the righteousness of Christ, wash me clean from my sin in His precious blood, and fill me with Your Spirit so that I may be a loving and winsome witness of Your salvation in Christ to others. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Look And Listen For God's Blessings

2006-07-29T09:48:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 28, 2006

Read: Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 46

LOOK AND LISTEN FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble...The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress...Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:1, 7, 10a)

Certainly you would agree with me that life is full of uncertainties. Picking up a daily newspaper in any city in the United States today one can read about wars - in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iraq - not to speak of all the genocide and other non-entity wars that are affecting nations all over the world, particularly in Africa. Skirmishes and uprisings in parts of the world most people barely know exist are going on all the time. People's lives are in turmoil, refugees are fleeing from fields of death and destruction, and malnutrition, famine, disease, and a host of other deadly consequences of humanity's sinfulness are to be found everywhere.

We don't just find that turmoil on the pages of our newspapers or blaring out of our televisions and radios. Turmoil is all around us. If we look next door, down the street, or across town we will find people whose lives are in turmoil. They may face dangers to their safety and well-being from violence on our streets, from drugs, from illness and disease, from poverty, the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or a host of other challenges to human comfort and existence; to peace of mind and a life of hopefulness.

As of today, in our house, we're facing the loss of a job - my wife, Susan, may not be teaching this year because it looks as if her school may end up being closed due to administrative neglect in keeping accurate financial records required for state funding assistance. That means the loss, as of Tuesday, of our health insurance as well as better than half our income. In all truthfulness, while holding out hope of a reversal of the situation, there is a nagging doubt and a fear that things have gone "south." While on side of the coin, trusting God's purpose and provision is not open for debate, on the other hand, doubt and fear of "tomorrow" are certainly lingering in the back of our minds and hearts.

Yet, God's encouragement for His children, under any and all circumstances, is never-ending and powerful. As the Sons of Korah extolled Israel, in the face of its enemies, to remember that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble," (Psalm 46:1), so also do they extol us to the same confident hope and trust. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, gives us encouragement to trust that no matter what happens in our lives our Father in heaven has not forgotten us and we don't need to worry about the necessities needed to live.

With all the voices that assail our ears, and all the "contrary" evidence that appears to show us that we're on our own, it's easy to get lost in our fears and anxieties about the troubles and challenges of our lives. Yet the greatest of all challenges and troubles, the power of Sin, death, and Satan, have been overcome and defeated by Jesus for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, faith in Christ has been worked in our hearts so that we can face any trouble, any challenge, and any fear with confidence that God loves us and holds us firmly in the palm of His hand.

As the din of doubt assails our ears and hearts, God calls to us and exhorts us to "be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10a). I am always with you, I will never forsake you, and I promise that you will have all that you need to sustain your life - food, clothing, shelter, forgiveness, and hope." As we face a world increasingly filled with violence, hatred, despair, uncertainty, and a host of other human-sponsored maladies (so what's changed since Cain killed Abel?), God's children, redeemed in Christ, have the sure and certain hope that we are not forsaken, that God knows what's happening in our lives, and that He will accomplish His purpose for us in the face of all opposition and trouble. Filled with that assurance, therefore, and as dearly beloved children of our Father in heaven who has made us His own in Holy Baptism, we are empowered by faith and the power of His Spirit to look and listen for His blessings at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. "Be still and know that I am God."

Prayer: Father, when the troubles of life and the world assail my ears, eyes, and sensibilities with ever increasing intensity, it's really hard for me to "be still and know that (You) are God." I'm more inclined to fret and worry, fall into doubt and despair, and try to find solutions to such challenges in all the wrong places. While I believe Your promises to deliver me from evil and provide me with all that I need to support this body and life, my sinful nature puts intense pressure on me to solve my own problems and seek my own solutions without any concern for Your will in my life. When the troubles of life hit me square in the jaw, it's just to easy to "hit the canvas," wallow in self-pity, and stay down for the count. Forgive me, gracious Father, for such acts and thoughts of unbelief. Strengthen my faith so that I may more surely trust in You for deliverance and hope. Help me to be a living witness to Your provision for the health of body, soul, and spirit for Your children, so that others might be led to know that same provision as well in Jesus. Hear me, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

A Changed Life

2006-07-27T22:55:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 27, 2006

Read: Psalm 30; Revelation 19:1-10

A CHANGED LIFE

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever." (Psalm 30:11, 12)

Have you ever thought about making any changes in your life? At some point or another in each of our lives we come to the realization that things need to change. We may find ourselves in job situations which don't utilize our gifts, talents, and abilities in the best way. Or, perhaps our home lives need a "pick-me-up" because we're taking our spouses or children for granted and tensions are mounting. Maybe our goals and dreams for the future are crashing down around us because of medical problems or financial woes. Think of the stress which comes to people when their job security is threatened or they lose a job. When such situations arise for us, the desire to make the changes necessary to alleviate or eliminate them, the stress they bring, and the fear and anxiety they foster is overwhelming. All too often, however, we find ourselves wallowing in the swamp of despair and helplessness, seemingly unable to meet such challenges and overcome them.

Scripture speaks volumes about such situations in the lives of people. In Psalm 30, for instance, David has written a psalm of praise to God that he wanted to be read upon the dedication of the Temple (which Solomon would later build). David remembers the miserable things that Sin had brought into his life, how it had affected his behavior, and how it had driven his enemies to come after him to destroy him. At the same time he also recalls how God delivered him from his despair over his sins and from those seeking his destruction. God's forgiveness gave him new life, restored his faith and trust in God, and led him to more fully appreciate God's grace, mercy, and love. God had ended his tears of despair, lifted him up by His mighty hand, "clothed (him) with joy (v.11)," and filled his heart with songs of joy and thanksgiving as a witness and testimony of God's goodness and love for all to see.

God changes lives. He makes the difference for us in times of despair; during the times when we fail to obey Him, fail to serve Him, or forget to give Him thanks. No matter what transpires in our lives, by faith we can be as confident as David that God will deliver us from everything that seeks to keep us from His love. We can be certain that God will always hear us, will always answer us, and will never forsake us. As John writes in Revelation, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgments...Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!" (Revelation 19:1b, 6b, 7)

The ultimate in life changing activity comes to us in God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. In Him our sins are forgiven. We are no longer subject to the slavery of Sin, but are free to know God and His love for us, and to serve Him and others in Jesus' name. In Christ, ours are changed lives. In Christ our sins are forgiven and His righteousness makes us pure before God. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). We no longer have to be subject to the despair that Sin brings into our lives. The righteousness of Christ is ours by faith and it covers us and changes our appearance before God, taking our sins and putting them on Jesus so that when the Father looks at us He sees Jesus and His holiness. Today our lives are changed by faith in Christ Jesus. Tomorrow our lives will continue to be changed by faith in Christ Jesus. For all of our lives, through all of our days, our lives will be changed daily in Jesus Christ as we receive His forgiveness and His love. Our changed lives will be known as we declare God's praises, exalt His holy name, and are living proof of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to a lost and fallen world.

Prayer: Father, with David I sing Your praises and exalt Your holy name. You have changed my life by calling me by the Gospel into the marvelous light of Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ. Even when I didn't deserve Your love and was lost in the same despair over my sins as was David, You continued to work in my heart and life by the power of Your Word and Spirit so that I might be changed by You to serve You and others in Jesus' name. In Holy Baptism, You accomplished my renewal and regeneration and continue to build me up in Your peace and joy so that my life might be a living testimony to Your life-changing love. Keep me ever faithful, gracious Father, so that I might continue to sing Your praises with my heart, my tongue, my lips, and my actions - clearly showing others Your life-changing power as I point them to You and the hope of heaven with Christ. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Armor For The Soul

2006-07-26T08:29:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 26, 2006

Read: Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalm 27

SPIRITUAL ARMOR FOR THE SOUL

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:10, 11)

The questions of might, power, and body armor are significant concerns for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting a new kind of war - a war against terrorism - they are facing roadside bombs detonated electronically from a safe distance and suicide bombers who load up their bodies with explosives and detonate them, and themselves, in populated places. Over the course of the current conflict, questions have frequently been raised over the quality and quantity of adequate armor, both body armor and armored vehicles, available for our troops. A week or so ago, a National Guardsman from Cedarburg, Wisconsin was killed by a roadside bomb while passing by in a Humvee - apparently because of inadequate armor. The training and equipping of the troops has again become an issue raised by both his father and the member of Congress of whom this young man was a constituent.

Sadly, the reality of life tells us that we can never create the perfect body armor, the perfectly armored vehicle, or any type of perfect protection that will keep us totally safe from harm. We live in a sinful, imperfect world, and while we're capable of accomplishing remarkable things, even to the point of providing a level of safety and security on the field of battle undreamed of by generations of soldiers in the past, we still cannot guarantee perfect protection for our troops. Facing reality, we do the best we can, pray that our best is good enough, and put everything in the hands of God.

While roadside bombs, bullets, mortars, and suicide bombers bring destruction, death, and grevious injury to our troops in the field, the greater danger to them is posed by the wiles and cunning of the devil as he seeks to keep them from God's love and strike them with the poisonous darts of doubt and despair, fear and frustration, hopelessness and loneliness. Whether it's on the field of battle, being far from home, or even, working and living in conditions not conducive to normalcy, keeping one's spiritual safety is a greater challenge than anything our earth bound enemies can throw at us.

Yes, us. For no matter where we are in the world, God's people are always on the battlefield; we're always in a life-threatening conflict with sin, death, and Satan. The power of Sin in the world is much more devastating and insidiously catastrophic than anything the terrorists can throw our way. Whether we speak of our troops in the field or ourselves in our places of work, play, and community, the greatest danger we all face is that we might be led to succumb to the power of Sin and Satan because we've ignored "the full armor of God" - His Word and Spirit - and are ill-prepared spiritually to overcome them.

St. Paul understood the challenge, perhaps better than almost everyone else other than Jesus Himself. Paul had personally faced challenges to his faith and trust in God, challenges to his personal safety, and challenges to his health and well-being. His life was constantly on the line, even to the point of dying for his faith in Jesus. In the end, we know he ended up paying the ultimate price of faith in Christ as he was martyred in Rome. Yet, until that moment of his death, Paul depended on the "full armor of God" to keep him faithful and able to withstand the spiritual dangers that would have drawn him away from Christ and to his eternal destruction. On a daily basis, Paul's life of ministry and mission reflected his confidence and trust in God's loving protection, just as David had declared, "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

We have been blessed by God to know His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ by which God strengthen us and keeps us in the one, true faith. We have the power of God's Word and Spirit to keep us safe from the snares and wiles of the devil as he seeks to drive a wedge between us and our Father in heaven. Paul's description of the "full armor of God," leads us to a faith-filled appreciation of God's provision for our spiritual protection and safety regardless of anything the powers of Sin and Satan can throw at us, the redeemed in Christ. By God's grace and blessing, in His great love and compassion, we are equipped by faith to overcome the world, push aside the temptations of Sin, and face down the devil's attempts to turn us away from God. While our own "protections" may fail us (and they do), and all the body and vehicle armor we use to ensure our physical safety are never fully adequate, God's "armor for the soul," His Word and Spirit, will keep us safely in the arms of Jesus, forgiven and hopeful until we are with Him in heaven.

Prayer: Father, all too often I try to take care of my soul and spirit with the inadequate tools of my intellect and emotions. Whatever "armor" I can construct for myself against the spiritual dangers I face in life are as inadequate as any body or vehicle armor provided for the protection of troops on the field of battle. My personal efforts to overcome temptation go only so far before I fall flat on my face in failure. I'm "down for the count" and realize I can't get up and overcome without You to pick me up, dust me off, and get me focused on You. Forgive me, Father, for depending on myself instead of You; for so often forgetting about You and Your blessings to me. Thank You for the power of Your Word and Spirit (especially as You fill me with them each day in the power my Baptism) by which the snares, wiles, and darts of the devil are turned aside from me and I am kept safely in Your arms - protected by Your "armor for the soul." As I rest safely in Your arms, lead me to be a faithful witness in my life and words to others so they, too, might come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and receive the "full armor of God" - "armor for their souls" - for eternal life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Standing Tall With Jesus

2006-07-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 25, 2006

Read: Psalm 25:1-11; Romans 1:1-7, 16-17

STANDING TALL WITH JESUS

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me." (Psalm 25:1-2)

Unless we've got a massive ego problem, most of us don't really want to stand out in the crowd. Living life anonymously, without any scrutiny by others, is the safe thing to do. After all, everyone knows that when anything calls attention to oneself, one's life can receive almost microscopic dissection. Our society has become so self-centered and self-righteous that good people of character and intellect, willing hearts and devoted to service, will not run for any type of public office because of the incredible, personal scrutiny and "dirt digging" that passes for media coverage and campaign "truth." This is a malady that affects both ends of the moral, ethical, social, and political spectrum - the "politically correct" bunch and the "right-wingers" all believe that they're right and if you don't agree with them your not.

For God's people, redeemed by Jesus Christ, such treatment is almost commonplace these days. While deferential treatment and constitutional protection is offered to almost every religion in the United States, if one professes Jesus Christ, he or she is often labeled as unloving, uncaring, closed minded, and idiotic. Many of God's redeemed children respond to such treatment by hiding their faith from public view, fall back on the old dodge that "faith is a private matter," and assure the public, as in the case of many politicians and business people, that their "faith" doesn't influence their political or business decisions - which, if you are even a smidgeon intellectually honest, is a contradiction in terms and a statement of irreligion and no faith at all.

King David knew what it was like to be ridiculed for his faith in God. They had laughed at him when he declared he would fight the Philistine giant, Goliath, with only a slingshot - a boy against a man. Goliath himself not only ridiculed David, but also Israel's cowardice in sending out a "boy to do a man's job." Yet David stuck to his guns, convinced that God would be doing the fighting and protecting of Israel through him - that he was only a shepherd boy chosen by God to accomplish His purpose. David also had to put up with the derision he received for his faithfulness to God's promises when he didn't overthrow King Saul, even though he had been anointed by Nathan the prophet to be Israel's next king. Trusting in God's promises, His mercy and grace, and His forgiveness, David faced all the ridicule of people and the nations with confidence and hope.

St. Paul faced very similar circumstances in his life of ministry as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Writing to the church at Rome, Paul knew the challenges to his faith in Jesus, having been ridiculed by those who had once revered him as a "Pharisee of Pharisees," and persecuted and imprisoned for confessing and serving Christ. In His Letter to the Romans, Paul boldly proclaims, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith...just as it is written: "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16, 17).

Following the examples of David, Paul, and the other pillars of faith of Scripture - sinners one and all who believed God's forgiveness was theirs - we, too, step forth boldly in faith and stand tall with Jesus. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, continually working in our hearts and lives in the power of Holy Baptism, we are enabled to live boldly by faith as living witnesses to the power of God, the grace of God, and the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. We live lives unconcerned with how the world sees us - our only concern being how God sees us. Living faithfully, filled with hope and peace in Christ because our sins are forgiven and we have His promise of life with Him forever in heaven, we no longer seek to hide from the world, from its scrutiny, or its derision. Rather (and I know this sounds really "weird" from a human standpoint) we welcome all the scrutiny, all the ridicule, and all the hatred and anger for it is confirmation of our faithfulness - people are responding to our witness in word and deed to the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Standing tall with Jesus is a powerful blessing and our life's calling - our vocation - which is manifest in all that we are, all that we do, and all that we say. Standing tall with Jesus takes place as we touch the lives of our families and friends with God's love. It takes place as we live lives of integrity and service in the community, fearlessly speaking the truth in love, regardless of what others may think. It takes place as we accomplish God's purpose for us as spouses, parents, family members, workers, leaders, politicians, or in any other part of life we may be led. Standing tall with Jesus is a real challenge - but the rewards are endless and the lives of the people we touch are blessed by the Lord.

Prayer: Father, it's really very easy for me to go and hide my faith and relationship with You in Jesus from public view and scrutiny. I'm just like everyone else in the anxiety and angst I feel when I face ridicule, derision, or even outright hatred for being one of Your children in Christ - especially when I declare the truth of Your Law and Your Gospel. Because I base my decisions in dealing with others and how I understand life and what's right and wrong on what Your Word says, I find myself all too often as the "odd man out." I'm not alone in avoiding public service because I don't want my life scrutinized by those who seek to find fault with me, especially because I'm a sinner - even though forgiven. Forgive me, Father, for such faithless cowardice. As Your beloved and redeemed child in Christ Jesus, help me to live a life that receives Your forgiveness without concern for how the world sees me. Grant me, Father, the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit that I may continually, strengthened in my identity as Your child in Holy Baptism, stand tall for and with Jesus as a witness to Your redeeming love for all to see. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Always Joyful? You've Got To Be Kidding!

2006-07-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 19, 2006

Read: II Thessalonians 5:16-24; Psalm 136

ALWAYS JOYFUL? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (II Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Let's see now...Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed two others; Israel attacks Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah sent rockets into Haifa, Israel, so Israel bombed the Beirut airport. Syria is rattling swords and Iran is threatening. At the same time, Hamas continues to send suicide bombers and mortars into Israel from Gaza, and Israel has sent in troops and tanks to quell these incursions and attacks.

At the same time the international community has lost sight of the original issue of the G8 Conference just ended - rather than talk about Iran and its nuclear weapons ambitions, attention was diverted to the Middle East. As it stands right now, no real decisions or actions have been taken by the international community to address the terrorism being escalated against Israel, who now considers herself at war.

Unknown to most of the world, forgotten by others, and of no consequence to even more are the Christians living in Israel and Lebanon facing the dire consequences of the war that unfolding all around them. There is the situation of Pastor Shmuel Awaida, the Arabic pastor of a Messianic congregation in Haifa, who has seen the horror the terrorists bring into people's lives. He speaks of the loneliness many feel - that no one really cares about them.

Yet, this pastor also reveals his joy in the Lord in the face of the insecurity of the situation and the danger that lies all around him. He gives thanks in an email for the prayers of brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. He notes the encouragement that comes from God's people gathering together in the name of Jesus for worship and praise.

Reading Pastor Awaida's email brought to mind how we so often get caught up in little, insignificant things which turn our eyes away from Jesus. So often we get hooked into fussing about nonsense and not being able to control our circumstances. All too frequently we're distracted from truly having joy in the Lord, praying for His presence and blessings, and realizing that we are able to overcome any and all circumstances of life as we put our trust in Him. Our first response to Paul's words is, all too often, "Always joyful? You've got to be kidding!"

Paul knew what it was to suffer and to have plenty. He understood the challenges we face in life every day, and then some we've never experienced, such as those Pastor Awaida and his congregation in Haifa are going through. Yet, knowing God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ as he did, he could also encourage us to be joyful always, pray continually,and give thanks for each and every circumstance in life - good or bad - in which we are blessed to see the hand of our loving Father in heaven at work. When all is said and done, we belong to God in Jesus Christ, and, just as Jesus has overcome the world, Sin, and Satan for us, so also are we empowered in Him to overcome as well.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for so often focusing on those things which are of no consequence and forgetting that You are always with me - holding me in the palm of Your hand. All too often I let life get to me and find myself depressed, negative, and otherwise feeling sorry for myself (something I really don't want to admit). I find myself turning inward to my own resources or lashing out at others for the challenges of life I face. Forgive me for forgetting to turn to You in both good times and bad, knowing that in Christ there is fullness of joy, Your assurance to hear and answer my prayers, and confidence to face every circumstance of life with thanksgiving - thanksgiving that You have given me a new opportunity to serve and to see Your loving hand at work.

Father, I also pray for my fellow believers in Christ those who are living in dangerous places all over the world, especially in war torn areas. Fill them with hope and trust in Jesus, knowing that You are always with them and nothing can snatch them out of Your hand. Let their lives be filled with Your peace and joy in Christ, let their prayers rise before You as incense, and fill their lives with thanksgiving for their circumstances so that they can experience once more the power of Your love and the working of Your mighty hand. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Faith In Jesus Never Loses Heart

2006-07-18T02:08:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For July 17, 2006

Read: II Corinthians 4:7-18; I Peter 1:3-9

FAITH IN JESUS NEVER LOSES HEART

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." (II Corinthians 4:16-18a)

During this entire month of July, Jews for Jesus and affiliated organizations are blanketing New York City with Gospel tracts - broadsides they're called - sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ - Yeshua in Hebrew. One of the affiliated groups is The Apple of His Eye Ministry out of St. Louis led by a wonderfully blessed Jewish Christian gentleman by the name of Steve Cohen (http://www.aohems.org). Steve has been sharing the marvelous opportunities the volunteers from all over the country, particularly the Midwest, have had to tell others about Jesus. He's also shared the vitriol that so many of the volunteers experienced when they approached Jewish people about Jesus. According to news reports, at least four major Jewish organizations have banded together to denounce and challenge the proclamation of the Gospel by the Jews for Jesus volunteers.

But the challenges to sharing and living the Gospel aren't just found in New York City sharing Jesus with God's chosen people. The challenges are found in many areas of life and living. A Christian in most Moslem countries is not welcome or treated very well if he or she is a witness to the Gospel of Christ. The same can be said of those who, according to accounts from missionaries in and Christian immigrants from India, run afoul of Hindu beliefs, practices, and laws. Jesus often warned of such disdain and hatred, reminding us in the Beatitudes that we can expect to be persecuted and treated with derision and falsehood because we follow Him (Matthew 5:11).

Today, as we look at the newspapers and listen to the news on television and radio, or over the internet, we see a world on the verge of war. Hatred has taken hold of the world and people are fighting each other for myriad reasons. The Palestinians and the Israelis are fighting each other for religious and social reasons. Terrorism dedicated to advancing and establishing Islamic law throughout the Middle East and in many near Eastern nations continues to kill, maim, and destroy. God's people in Christ are challenged each day, even in the United States, because our faith in Jesus leads us to see the world and people differently than society so often does - recognizing humanity's sinful condition and knowing that no one is without sin and everyone is in need of the Savior.

Paul's words to the Corinthian church came during such a time in their lives as well. He knew what it was like to suffer for the Gospel. He knew what it was to be challenged to be faithful in the face of persecution, hatred, and disdain. He took courage and strength from the assurance of faith in Christ that nothing, including death, can remove us from our loving Savior's arms. Paul reminds us, also, that we can take heart no matter how mad the world grows, no matter what challenges to our faith in Jesus we might face, and regardless of the attempts of our detractors to destroy us. We can take heart, Paul reminds us, knowing that even though we may feel the "heat" and suffer for Jesus, the Holy Spirit, who has put God's mark on us in Holy Baptism, is continually renewing us in that Baptism and in the Word each day.

Just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob received God's promises and believed them, even though they never saw the Savior (cf. Hebrews 11), so also, by faith, do we trust God's promises in Christ, trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, and await, as forgiven sinners, the final day in which He calls us to be with Him forever. Faith in Jesus never loses heart, no matter what happens in the world and in our lives, because we belong to Him and nothing can separate us from His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Prayer: Father, as I look around me I see a world gone mad. People hate for no really good reason except someone else isn't them, doesn't look like them, doesn't talk like them, or doesn't believe like them. Too often, Father, I find myself walking in those shoes also and I'm ashamed. Father, for the sake of Christ, forgive me of my hatreds and strengthen me for the task ahead of sharing Christ's love in a world that would just as soon flay me than listen to me. And that frightens me, Father. As I see others experiencing derision and hatred for their faith in Jesus as they witness for Him, I am left wondering if I really want to be a witness to Your love in Christ, for I don't like to suffer. Remind me by the power of Your Holy Spirit, working in me through Your Word and Holy Baptism, that by faith in Jesus I don't need to lose heart, but can boldly proclaim Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ alone, no matter what others may think of me nor what they might do to me. Help me to live a life that reflects Your strength and power in my life so that others might hear about Jesus from me without fail. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Is Anybody Listening?

2006-06-27T08:16:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 27, 2006

Read: Psalm 86; II Chronicles 7:11-18

IS ANYBODY LISTENING?

"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me." (Psalm 86:5-7)

Have you ever had a feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? That's often the case in households with teenagers. Of course, from the parents' perspective it's the teens that aren't listening. If you ask the teens, the shoe's on the other foot and mom and dad aren't listening. Such a scenario plays itself out nearly every moment of the day somewhere in America (Canada and Mexico included).

Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? Husbands and wives can surely relate to this. How often don't wives accuse their husbands of not listening to them? And vice versa? The anxieties that occur in so many marriages are a result of situations where spouses aren't listening to each other. thereby saying to the other they just don't care about them.

Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? In our state, Wisconsin, people are sick and tired of political corruption and excessive tax burdens with no end in sight. Constituents address the issues with their state legislators, get a lot of lip service, and soon thereafter find out that they were only talking to a nodding head, not a real, caring, concerned and interested person.

Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? If you're a "liberal" you're convinced that the "conservatives" aren't paying any attention to the issues of the day, or, at the very least, are discounting their importance. If you're a "conservative" you're equally convinced that the "liberals" only care about hearing themselves talk and pay lip service to the principle of listening to and considering opposing points of view. Carried on in the political arena, the President is accused of not listening to the people and the Congress, while he, at the same time, accuses the Congress and the people of not paying attention as well.

Should I go on? The point is that it's really hard to get anyone to truly listen to our needs, concerns, dreams, desires, expectations, and hopes, and, if they do, they may not "hear" what we want them to hear. Their understanding of our needs and concerns may be understood by them out of context or, because of their particular frame of reference, take on an entirely different meaning. Ultimately, no one can be certain that any other human being is actually going to listen and understand what we're saying in the same way that we mean it.

We can be confident, though, that there is someone who truly hears us, understands us from our frame of reference, knows our every need, and will answer us, including and especially in our times of need and despair. The evidence of that is shown in the fact that God came down to earth, took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, suffered and died on the Cross bearing the sins of the whole world, of all times and places, so that we might know that God is listening. He hears our needs, He understands our wants, He feels our despair, He knows our thinking. He is an awesome and loving God and Father, who has saved us from our sins with the blood of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, so that we might have a loving and living relationship with Him.

David writes in Psalm 86 that he was certain that God was listening and answering his prayers. He was confident that God was "forgiving and good...abounding in love to all who call" to Him (v.5). David had experienced, firsthand, God's tremendous mercy and grace and had no doubt that God would deliver him in his time of need. David's prayer is a reminder to us that God is also our God and Father. He is also our Savior and Redeemer. He is also the One who brings us into a saving relationship with Him, growing faith in our hearts so that we might receive His full forgiveness and the sure and certain hope of life with Him forever in heaven.

So, is anybody listening? With confidence and hope in our hearts, our answer is a resounding, "Yes!" God is listening! He does understand. He does meet our needs according to His wisdom and purpose. We can be confident of that and have hope.

Prayer: Father, amid the hubbub of the world around me, the dangers that I seem to face at every turn, and the frustrations that fill me with the dread that no one is listening and no one cares, You are there. You listen, You answer, You love, and You shower Your mercy and grace, Your forgiveness and peace into my heart and my life. With David I speak in confident praise of Your deliverance from the curse of Sin, the temptations of the flesh, the allure of the world, and the power of death and Satan. In Jesus You have shown me that You are listening, Your are answering my every prayer, and that Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness abound to me every moment of my life. Help me to live in the full and certain confidence that I "have Your ear" so that I might be a living, loving witness for You and Your love and forgiveness in Christ to a world that's looking for someone who will listen. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Blessed With A Glad Heart

2006-06-25T22:49:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 26, 2006

Read: Psalm 100; Psalm 95

BLESSED WITH A GLAD HEART

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:1, 2)

We live in a very loud world. Automobile and truck engines on our streets and highways, the whine of jet engines at airports, the vroom of lawnmowers cutting grass, the screeching of tires, the booming of bass from car radios, the sound of heavy metal bands, rock concerts - well the list is endless. We shout to be heard over the din - my wife and children complain that my voice is just too loud. Noise is everywhere. Noise permeates life. Peace and solitude is hard to come by. Noise can be one of the more destructive influences on people and their nerves. Headaches and body aches, even illnesses, have been attributed to excessive and continuous noise.

Noise comes in all forms, as we've already noted. At one time noise can be destructive, blowing out eardrums, while at another time it cansave someone from harm, as when a shrill scream scares off an attacker. In one moment noise might scare the daylights out of a military recruit as a drill instructor yells at him at the top of his lungs, while in the next moment it can be a soft, quiet lullaby putting a baby to sleep. Our voices can be used to contribute to the din of our daily living or they can be used to build up and encourage one another. The words that come out of our mouths, bred by our heads and hearts, can be noises with which to harm others or build them up. The nature of Sin in the world and in our lives often sets up such a din that all other sounds are shut out.

The sounds we don't want shut out, however, are those which give praise and thanksgiving to God for all His wonderful goodness and grace. The Psalmist calls us to serve God, to worship Him, with a joyous shout, to not be afraid or bashful about our relationship with Him, His love for us, and His salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. By faith we shout for joy with our lives, making a "joyful noise," as the King James Version translates the first verse of Psalm 100. Our lives of faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ provide another kind of noise to our world. Our lives become loud statements of God's love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus as they become our glad worship of our God and Savior. The words that we use, the love that we share, the compassion that we offer, and the kindness with which we touch the lives of others are our "joyful songs" to our God - sweet music that rises above the din of the world that seeks to quiet God's voice in our hearts and lives. By God's grace we are truly blessed with a glad heart so that each day we "shout for joy" to the Lord and call the world around us to that same worship and praise of our God and Savior.

Prayer: Father, I sometimes forget that You've blessed me with a voice with which to sing Your praises and declare Your wonderful salvation to everyone I meet. The din of Sin in the world around me so often seems to drown out the "joyful noise" of Your children, so that it's all too easy to stop that "joyful noise," believing its not doing any good. Forgive me, gracious Father, for forgetting that You have called me live a life of worship as I praise You with my actions and words - actions and words which reflect Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others. Help me to live a life filled with a glad heart and the confidence that the joyful shout and joyful songs of my voice, my heart, my spirit, and my life will not go unheard, either by You or by those to whom You send me as Your witness and ambassador of Your peace. Help me to remember that through me You are calling people to repent and worship You - it's a precious and marvelous privilege and a great joy to share Your Good News in Jesus with others. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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-Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Challenged To Be Faithful

2006-06-23T01:42:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 23, 2006

Read: Revelation 2:8-11; Matthew 10:17-23, 32, 33

CHALLENGED TO BE FAITHFUL

"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

I don't think anyone would raise an argument if I proffered the observation that life isn't easy. What do you think? No doubt most of us would respond with a resounding, "Say it again, Preacher!" Okay! Life isn't easy. In fact, sometimes life throws us so many curves that we keep going down swinging (to borrow some baseball terminology) and can't even seem to get to first base with anything. And, while such challenges face people every day in the physical world, the challenges of the spiritual are even more intense.

It's not easy to be a follower of Jesus Christ in today's world. Not that it was ever easy, but it seems that there are more and more frequent attacks on the religious expressions, especially when they are expressions that focus on Jesus. A good example of what I'm talking about occurred recently in Henderson, Nevada when the valedictorian of Foothill High School had her valedictory speech censored by the school administration of the religious content - some Biblical references and one mention of the name, "Christ." Not only did the school officials do a cut job on her speech but then they sent it to the local ACLU chapter to make sure it was truly a "politically correct" speech.

The young lady, Brittany McComb, was told that if she mentioned anything religious from her speech, if she brought any of the censored material back in, she would have her microphone cut off. Just before she uttered the name, Christ, her microphone went dead. She had been silenced by school officials and the ACLU. Brittany's response was the following: "I went through four years of school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech. God's the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior."

That was the kind of situation, only much more deadly, for the Christians in the Church at Smyrna in Asia Minor to whom John is writing in Revelation 2:8-11. Jesus Himself warns the twelve apostles of that same danger when He sent them out into the cities, towns, and countryside of Israel to share the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' words to both the apostles and to the Church at Smyrna are clear - suffering and persecution are and will be part and parcel of being a living, breathing witness for Christ in the world. We can expect to be held to a different standard than others are. We can expect that the freedoms we cherish may be withheld from us because we serve the Lord. We can be certain that the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh will do their level best to turn us away from Jesus and our Heavenly Father's love, and, failing that, make our lives as miserable as possible, filled with all the inequity and unfairness they can muster.

In the midst of all the turmoil we face because we belong to Christ, our Lord Jesus encourages us to remain faithful, just as He is faithful to us. We are reminded that our Father in heaven holds us in the palm of His hand. We are reminded that of our Lord's promise that He is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us. No matter the challenges we may face, no matter the temptations that may challenge our obedience, and no matter the hardships and dangers that come to us because we serve the Lord, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to know that He is faithful to us. He sees what we endure as His dearly beloved, redeemed, and forgiven children. He knows how hard it is to remain faithful.

To be sure, we are certainly challenged by the world to remain faithful to Jesus, but we are also challenged by Jesus Himself to remain faithful. But His challenge to us to remain faithful isn't given without His support, for it is coupled with the gift of His Word and Spirit to keep us in faith. That same challenge to be faithful is also coupled with His assurance that, as Paul writes, "all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). As the Christians at Smyrna suffered hardship and persecution for their faithfulness to Jesus, and as that Foothill High School valedictorian, Brittany McComb, of Henderson, Nevada was silenced in her thanksgiving to God, so also can we expect and should we expect to be challenged to be faithful. We will meet each challenge with the assurance of Jesus' promise, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

Prayer: Father, it's not an easy thing to be faithful to You in this world. Not only do I face numerous temptations to be disobedient to Your Word and Will, but I find myself often put on the spot by society to be "politically correct" and not be a visible and verbal witness for Christ. Forgive me, Father, for the many times I'm silent when I should speak, run and hide when I should stand and meet the challenge, and live in fear of those who have no power over me because I belong to You. Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure to strengthen my faith through Your Word, remind me each day of the power of my Baptism into Christ Jesus, and keep me ever assured that my sins are forgiven and my sure and certain hope is eternal life with You in heaven because of Jesus. Father, lift me up each day in Your almighty hand that I may be a faithful witness of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus to all whom I meet and in every situation in which I find myself. Keep fear of what others might think or do to me because I believe from making me powerless to serve You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Salvation Unmerited

2006-06-22T01:17:00.001-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 22, 2006

Read: Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10

SALVATION UNMERITED

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us..." (Titus 3:4, 5)

Perhaps the most important thing God ever tells us about our salvation in Jesus is that it is a gift of His grace, mercy, and love. He both tells and shows us throughout Scripture that it's impossible for us to merit salvation by our works, our good looks, or our stellar personalities - or anything else we can do or be for that matter. This is also something we need to be reminded about on a regular basis. We are simply incapable, according to our human nature, of truly understanding (on our own) that there's nothing we can do, think, or say that can earn our salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God in heaven.

It's not too difficult for us to understand the reality of our confusion concerning receiving God's forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Our daily existence is fraught with the need to succeed, accomplish, gain, and obtain. Our whole mindset is that we human beings can do just about anything we put our minds to and we can and must earn our own way. We hold to the axiom that nothing worthwhile is ever "free." In order to achieve higher position, greater pay, and more responsibility, we understand that we must work for it. No one is just going to hand us these things. We have to work for them. Our competitive nature thrives on the whole idea of merit - people try out for sports teams (ex. soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball) and try not to get "cut." If someone is good enough, they'll play on those teams. If not, they go home and try something else.

The gift of heaven and God's forgiveness is a special gift from God. The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled God's promises of a Savior from Sin and the hope of heaven. It was a once and for all time event that put the perfect, holy, and sinless Son of God on the Cross to pay the price we should pay, but can't. God's gift of His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus brings us His salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternity with God, totally unmerited by any human being. Our salvation is unmerited by us, but fully merited by Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. What a marvelous gift of God - a gift that saves us from the burden and bondage of Sin.

There's nothing I can do to save myself. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Our salvation is God's doing - paid for with the blood of the Lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our salvation is, by God's grace, a salvation that unmerited, yet freely given - so great is our Father's love. We are moved by that same grace and love to reach out with the power of God's Word, to live in our baptismal grace, and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and lives so that we can be absolutely certain by faith that our salvation is "Salvation Unmerited."

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your generous gift of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. I don't deserve any of Your blessings, yet You continue to shower them upon me in abundance. Forgive me for too often taking Your love for granted. Forgive me for too often forgetting the terrible price Jesus paid on the Cross that I might be saved. Strengthen my faith so that I may continue to share Your peace and Your blessings, particularly "salvation unmerited," and touch others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Salvation Unmerited

2006-06-22T01:17:00.000-05:00

Living A Worshipful Life

2006-06-20T19:45:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 21, 2006

Read: Psalm 95; Hebrews 3:7-14

LIVING A WORSHIPFUL LIFE

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." (Psalm 95:6, 7)

How would you describe your life? What is it that defines you as a person? If someone were to ask you what is most important to you, how would you answer? What would be the most important thing you could do with your life if you had the opportunity?

Everyone of whom we might ask these questions would probably answer in a different way. No two answers would be the same, because no two people are the same. Some people might answer by saying "It's none of your business!" Others might respond with dreams and goals related to gaining great wealth, fame, or prestige. Still others might respond by talking about all the things they've accomplished and how much more they expect to accomplish. And then there would be those who would answer these questions by describing themselves as servants of God, serving other people in Jesus' name, and putting their whole lives and trust in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Psalm 95 gives us a way of answering those questions ourselves. The Psalmist issues a "call to worship" as would be offered during a time of worship in the tabernacle or in a church today. It calls upon us to praise God as we worship and to worship Him with our lives by living obediently and responding to His call to us with servant hearts focused, not on ourselves, but on Him and loving others in His name. It's a call to worship and the obedience of faith in response to the loving and merciful hand of God who provides us with every good thing and has sent His salvation to us that we might live forgiven and restored lives with Him. As the Psalmist writes by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, we "are the flock under His care" (Ps. 95:7c), and receive His total and gracious attention.

In Jesus we have been called to a life of worship, for our worship doesn't just take place in the pew on Sunday, or at the family altar, or in our room where we go to be alone to pray. In fact, worship also takes place in our daily living as we live forgiven lives, filled with the joy of service to God and others in Jesus' name. How we speak to others praises and worships God. How we care for others gives thanks to and worships God. How we carry out our daily tasks in our jobs, professions, and every vocation - "calling" - which God gives us to accomplish His purposes, declares to the world that we are His dearly beloved children and our lives are lives of worship and praise. We live worshipful lives by God's grace and mercy in Jesus and in so doing we fill the world with words of grace and peace from God, our heavenly Father.

Prayer: Father, I can honestly say that I am too frequently guilty of failing to live a life of worship and praise. All too often I find myself caring more about me than about others. Too often I'm guilty of putting my selfish desires ahead of obedience to You, loving You above all things, and loving my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for my disobedience, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake and strengthen my faith that I might see all of my life as an opportunity to praise and worship You. Help me to declare Your praises to all I meet with how I act, how I speak, and how I care for others. Let people see Jesus through me so they, too, might know Your love, receive Your forgiveness, and come to lead worshipful lives in Your presence now and forever. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Solace And Hope In Times Of Loneliness

2006-06-19T20:57:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 20, 2006

Read: Psalm 71; Ephesians 6:10-18

SOLACE AND HOPE IN TIMES OF LONELINESS

"Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me for You are my rock and my fortress." (Psalm 71:3)

Have you ever felt lonely? No doubt most of us can answer this question in the affirmative. Loneliness isn't something that strikes any one group of people, but it's a feeling that can affect the lives of both young and old, rich and poor, and the powerful and the weak. Suicide is often a result of people feeling lonely and hopeless. This is often the overarching reason for suicide among teens, but it also is the reason for suicides in other age groups as well.

Loneliness is especially pervasive in the lives of people in the twilight of their lives. I can remember visiting with one lady at her home on her 92nd birthday. She was grateful to have reached that milestone, but was also sad because all of her friends were gone, her husband was long dead, and she was no longer able to take care of herself in the manner in which she was accustomed. Her children lived far away, as did her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and one of her daughters was anxious to put her in a nursing home near the daughter's home - far away from anything familiar to this lady. This lady (let's call her Marge) was all alone except for her neighbors who watched over her and the people at church who called her on the telephone or stopped by to see how she was doing and to pray with her. With her health failing, Marge often spoke of just dying and getting her life over with. She struggled with the reason God was still keeping her around.

Yet, a more faithful woman of faith I've never seen. She truly trusted in God for everything and no one could get away from her without a word about Jesus and a promise she would be praying for them. She regularly volunteered for the prayer chain, helped sew blankets for missionaries, and faithfully filled her "mite" box to help support the work of missionaries around the world. For every gripe she might offer when I visited she would count two blessings from God and talk about His faithfulness to her. Marge knew Jesus as her Rock; God was truly her "rock of refuge" in all things.

Psalm 71 is the song of an old man recounting the blessings of God throughout his life. He rejoices in God's protection, His love, His mercy, and His forgiveness. He praises God for his redemption from both his earthly and spiritual enemies. Although he has seen hard times and troubles, he is confident that God will restore him and give his life continued meaning and purpose. God's faithfulness is a source of solace and hope and a sure assurance that He never leaves His children alone. For the old man, and for us, no matter what happens in life, we can be certain that we are held in the very palm of God's hand and that He has redeemed us to be His very own, forgiven and restored children in the salvation He freely gives to all in Jesus. No matter what time of our life, the hope and solace the old man professes is also ours in Jesus. We are never alone - our God chases away loneliness with His love and presence each day of our lives.

Prayer: Father, so often I feel tired and overwhelmed by the troubles I experience in this world. It's easy for me to throw my hands up in despair and feel sorry for myself. Loneliness is something I read and hear about a lot, but I never think it's going to touch me. Yet, because of the power of Sin in my life, I too often turn away from You and Your love for me and end up experiencing the spiritual loneliness which comes from turning away from You. When those times come my way, O Lord, send Your Spirit to pick me up and comfort me so that I might find true hope and solace in You and Your love and forgiveness for me in Jesus. Help me to reach out to others who may be experiencing the loneliness that Sin brings, whether young or old, rich or poor, powerful or weak, so they might come to know Your love and forgiveness in Christ and live a life full of hope and faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

A Fully Assured Faith

2006-06-19T09:05:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 19, 2006

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 116

A FULLY ASSURED FAITH

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:22a, 23)

Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? No doubt most of us have. I can remember my father telling me that if I made a promise I was obligated to keep it and that I should never make a promise I couldn't or didn't intend to keep. Most likely, my dad wasn't the only father to give such advice to his children. I'm grateful that, to the best of my knowledge and memory, my dad never made a promise to me he didn't keep - at least if it was in his power to do so (sometimes, as we all know, exigent circumstances beyond one's control do keep even the best intentioned promises from being kept).

One of the blessings I received growing up was having a father in whom I could place a lot of trust. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. As a small child I was absolutely convinced he could do no wrong. Yet, as I grew older and learned more about life, I began to realize that this man I so fully trusted was also fallible and could make mistakes. I remember times where he didn't fully listen to a situation and the circumstances surrounding an issue (in my opinion) and disciplined me even though I was innocent (at least in my own mind). Yet, no matter what, I always knew he loved me and only wanted the best for me.

What still strikes me today, a day after Father's Day, is that my dad is and always has been (as long as I've known him) a person of integrity, faithful to his wife and family, faithful to his God and Savior, and faithful in service to others. He would be the first to tell you that, even with all these superlatives I've shared, he is a simple, fallible, sinful man who recognizes each day his sinfulness before God and daily repents of that sin and receives, with joy, his heavenly Father's forgiveness. And, while I no longer consider my dad to be infallible, as I did as a child, nor the complete storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that he seemed to be when I was younger, I still see him as a faithful example to me of my heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness as he lives it in his own life. (And, let me add, as a marvelous example of what it means to be a faithful, Christian father.)

It cannot be doubted that there are many people around the world who can't lay claim to such an experience with their fathers as I have had in my life. Way too many people (and perhaps you are one of them) have had father's who didn't care, didn't love, didn't forgive, and didn't provide any positive example that was and is a reflection of our heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Yet, all of us can turn our faces toward our Father in heaven and trust that He loves us, is faithful in His promises, and continues to bless us with His presence every day. His forgiveness of our sins in Jesus is sure and certain.

We can be sure, without any doubt or fear in our hearts, that God's plan of salvation in Jesus is available to all and is for all who believe. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, all who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord can be certain that theirs is a fully assured faith - God is faithful and He keeps His promises, even in the face of the worst sins committed by His children. His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus is ours today and every day by faith. Our faith in Jesus is a fully assured faith and we can be certain that our Father in heaven will keep us safely in His arms as He leads us home to heaven.

Prayer: Father, in a world where it's so hard to trust people to do what's right and to care about others, Your faithfulness and love for me in Jesus is a breath of fresh air and a confidence builder. While I all too often look for answers to my problems and challenges in all kinds of different places, I know, deep in my heart, that if I bring them to You, You will not only take those burdens off my shoulders but You will show me the way to go that is go and pleasing to You. Forgive me, Father, for ever doubting Your love and faithfulness to me. Your promises are always sure and certain, which You confirm for me each day as I read Your Word and remember my Baptism. Strengthen my faith and trust in You each day as Jesus takes me by the hand and shows me Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Keep me in a fully assured faith that I may be a true and living witness and example of Your love and forgiveness in Christ to others. And, Father, I also pray for both my dad, and all the other fathers in the world, that You would touch their hearts and lives so they might be living examples of what You are as the Father of all. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Forever Certain

2006-06-16T10:14:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 16, 2006

Read: I Peter 1:22-25; Isaiah 55:6-13

FOREVER CERTAIN

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever." (I Peter 1:24, 25)

"Nothing lasts forever." Now there's a statement with which almost anyone would agree, don't you think? There's a song titled, "Nothing Lasts Forever" written by Judy Collins and Jesse Valenzuela that makes the points very clearly. Some of the lyrics of the song go like this:

"Nothing lasts forever you should know that by now
Good times, Heartache
You'll get through this trouble though you may not know how
Your heart won't break
If you have a vision of your destiny
Tears can't stop you
Hidden in your heart is everything you can be
You'll be fine
Nothin' lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever."

The main thought of this song, continued in the subsequent verses (of which there are two more), is that you can get through anything because nothing lasts forever. If you're patient enough and can stay focused, the implication is that you can face any hardship and overcome any difficulty by just focusing on the reality that "nothing lasts forever."

In a sense, that's what Peter is reminding us of when he notes that "all men are like grass and their glory is as the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall...(I Peter 1:24). Peter is quoting from the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 40:6-8) and is reminding us that we human beings, because of Sin, are no longer the eternal creatures God intended for us to be. Because of our disobedience to Him we die. No matter what we've accomplished in our lives, it will all fade away. It's of no consequence when it comes to eternity - it can't earn us a place in heaven. Thus, while in the lyrics of the song "Nothing Lasts Forever" the picture is given of a brighter and more hopeful day tomorrow because "nothing lasts forever," the reality is that we human beings don't last forever, either. One could go so far as to say that "nothing lasts forever" because, inevitably we die and all our earthly problems come to an end.

It's not God's purpose, however, for us to hear Peter talking about the mortality of mankind, as much as it is for us to hear that God's Word never, ever changes or fades away. While everything else around us fails and dies, fades away and vanishes, "the Word of the Lord stands forever" (I Peter 1:25). Peter calls that Word of God a "living and enduring Word" (v. 23) which is both written and "made flesh" in our resurrected and ascended Savior Jesus Christ. In the face of the uncertainties of the world, the insecurity of life and health, safety and comfort, peace and hope, there is one thing above all else that is "forever certain" - God's love for us in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. His forgiveness in Christ is certain. By faith in Christ it brings us to eternal life.

No matter how things may fade and decay in this world, and no matter that we face death and the decay of our mortal bodies, God assures us that we can have certainty and "forever" in our lives. We can be certain that there is one thing that will last forever - the only thing necessary and needful for hope and promise in our lives - the permanence for all eternity of God's Word. That Word has come to us in all its living power and grace in the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him we have the hope and promise of eternal life. Our lives aren't stuck in the mode of "Nothing Lasts Forever," but are invigorated by faith to be "forever certain" of God's eternal love and forgiveness, hope and salvation in Jesus our Savior and Lord.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have made known to me the certainty that I am forever Yours in Jesus Christ. You have forgiven me of all my sins, even those I don't even realize I've done, because of Jesus' suffering and death in my place on the Cross. You continue to assure me in the power of His resurrection that I am one of Your dearly beloved children and that nothing in this world can separate me from Your love. I can be forever certain that "nothing lasts forever," not because things change in this world, but because my hope and home is in heaven with You. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, lead me to live my life with that eternal certainty of heaven through faith in Jesus so that I might be bold and confident in my living and witnessing for Him to the people around me. Help me to boldly face whatever challenges may come my way, fearlessly face any dangers that may challenge my safety, and courageously proclaim Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone, no matter how hostile they might be. In Jesus' precious name I ask all this. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Solid As A Rock

2006-06-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 15, 2006

Read: Psalm 31:1-5; Matthew 7:24-27

SOLID AS A ROCK

"Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge." (Psalm 31:3, 4)

In order for any building to have a chance of standing for a long period of time, it needs to have a solid foundation under it. Most building construction in the United States has a requirement of at least a minimal concrete foundation, which is usually laid on a prepared bed of ground, which includes a layer of crushed rock. In the northern climes such construction usually includes a basement, also set on a concrete foundation, with the ground beneath it properly prepared so that shifting of the foundation is kept to minimum - such shifting can cause the foundation and the walls of a basement to weaken and collapse. I know of one such building at my children's high school where settling has occurred to the point where there are now cracks in the foundation walls and the floor where the new building is attached to the old. If left unaddressed and uncorrected, over a period of time numerous other problems will begin to crop up and the expense of fixing them will become greater and greater.

Before we knew how to mix cement and concrete, however, people who built wisely, built their buildings on soil they knew was reasonably solid, often looking for areas where there was bedrock underneath the structure. On the prairies, the settlers had to be certain that where they built their house they wouldn't be in danger of having it washed away because of heavy rains. The key to the stability of any of those early structures, even going back to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, was the foundation on which they were built, and rock was about the most solid foundation they could have.

Just as a physical house or building needs to have a solid and firm foundation, so also do our spiritual houses require such a foundation. Everywhere we look there's someone, somewhere, coming up with new ways of living and being that are supposed to be the "end all" answers to the spiritual challenges and dilemmas people face in their lives. Instinctively, because of humanity's natural knowledge of God based on the evidence of the world and universe around us, people know when their spiritual foundation is insecure and unstable. People will search high and low to find the answers to the spiritual dilemmas they face, even when they don't "believe" in spiritual things.

Various cults and religions have arisen over the course of human existence to try to come to grips with the spiritual needs of human beings apart from acknowledging the one true God - the God who created the world, the universe, and all that exists; the God who has redeemed His creation, especially we human beings, from the destructive nature of Sin which would destroy His creation and keep it from Him; the God who works every day to touch people's lives with His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness and who seeks to bring them into a saving and loving relationship with Him. Invariably, the results of such cults and religions that seek to give answers apart from knowing the true God lead people to greater doubt, greater uncertainty, and loss of hope for anything beyond what can be seen.

In the face of such uncertainty in the world around us, how wonderful and sustaining are the words of the Psalmist, "Since Your are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge" (Ps. 31:3, 4). Because of God's assurance to us that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be certain that we can withstand every spiritual challenge and stress to the spiritual foundation we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can say with the same certainty and faith as the Psalmist that our God is always present with us to uplift us, protect us, and guide us to live in and for Him each day. He fills us with His peace and joy and removes all doubts about who we are in relationship with Him.

It's true that the power of Sin and the challenges of the world conspire on a daily basis to set spiritual traps for us to lead us away from a relationship with God. Yet, in Christ, we are assured that we have a refuge from the power of Sin and the vagaries of the world. By the power of His Word and Spirit, through the washing of and continual blessings of Holy Baptism, and in the reception of the true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper our God continually sets us free from the traps Sin, Death, Satan, and world set for us. He is truly our refuge and provides us, in Christ, with a spiritual foundation that is truly "solid as a rock."

Prayer: Father, no matter how often I may be led astray by the temptations to sin and the challenges of the world, You still come to my aid and by the power of Your Word and Spirit, bring me back to You. Continue to shower Your power and love abroad in my heart and life that I may live a life of true repentance, full of joy in Your forgiveness in Christ, and confident that You are my rock and fortress, my refuge in whom I can trust and stand up against sin and every evil. Guide me by the power of Your Word and Spirit to greater faith and obedience to You and Your Word. As You strengthen my faith in Jesus I pray that You would also strengthen my witness to Your love and forgiveness in Him so that others, too, might come to know Your truth and receive Jesus as the rock of their spiritual foundations so that they might stand in faith with You, "solid as a rock" in witness to Your salvation. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Perfect Truth

2006-06-12T07:20:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 12, 2006

Read: Proverbs 30:5-9; II Timothy 3:14-4:5

PERFECT TRUTH

"Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." (Proverbs 30:5)

"That's not what you said!"

"Yes it is!"

"No, I distinctly heard you tell me that...!"

"I did not! What I said was...!"

Ever had a conversation like the above? It happens at my house all the time. Usually I'm the one who doesn't remember what I said, according to my children (and sometimes my wife). My son and I just got into one of those "you said - I did not" debates yesterday. Who was right? Well, I still think I was, but he's convinced he is. What was resolved? Nothing. We ended up just letting it go - it kept the peace.

Our real life world is filled with such situations. On one hand a claim is made, a statement of fact offered, or an opinion is proffered. The speaker means to say one thing, but words it in such a way that a different message is conveyed, so the hearer hears something not necessarily intended by the speaker. In a sense the speaker has given a false statement, not necessarily by intent but definitely in fact. While the speaker has intended to speak the truth, in reality, how he or she stated that truth ended up conveying a falsehood. Often, no matter how hard we try, especially in very difficult situations in which we take great care in choosing our words, a false impression, a mixed message, or a half-truth can be conveyed. It's the nature of Sin in our lives that makes communication such a difficult thing.

Happily, God's Word isn't so open to being "iffy." When He says something He says what He means and He means what He says. He doesn't "beat around the bush," "hem and haw," or use the wrong words or phrases to convey His truth. When we don't understand what He's said or misapply or misunderstand His Word, it's not because He wasn't clear - it's because our hearts and minds are darkened by Sin and are focused on ourselves and our desires and thoughts, rather than on listening to Him.

Our Father in heaven understands this challenge we face. That's why He reminds us frequently in Scripture (as He does in our lessons for today), that His Word is truthful and sure. It clearly conveys His meaning and intent. We don't need to doubt it, nor do we need to dissect it to find any "hidden meanings." Instead, our Father in heaven assures us that His Word is perfect truth - it's never just an attempt at telling the truth. The gift of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has redeemed us from the curse of Sin, the fear of Death, and the power of Satan, is proof positive of His love and His truth for all time.

God's assurance to us, which is ours by faith in Jesus Christ, is that His Word will uplift us, sustain us, and protect us from the evil that would drive us away from His love and forgiveness. His Word is "flawless" as Solomon writes, and He provides us a safe haven from the dangers posed to us by Sin and Satan. He always tells us the "perfect truth" that convicts us of our sins, leads us to repentance, brings His forgiveness to bear in our lives through faith in Jesus, and comforts us and encourages us with the hope and promise of eternity with Him in heaven. Isn't it really good to know that if we have any doubts about what God says, it's not Him, but us? To know this is to be able to focus on where the misunderstanding really lies - there's no debate.

Prayer: Father, thank You for clearly declaring Your Will and Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me and all the world. In order for me and all humanity to really get the message of Your anger toward Sin and Your desire to redeem all of creation from it's destructive influence and power, You took on human flesh in the person of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him, You confirmed the truth - the perfect truth - of Your Word and promises and clearly showed Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness for sinners. Having worked faith in my heart, gracious Father, I pray that You would help me to live in that faith each and every day as a faithful witness to Your truth and love to others, that through such witness others might come to the assurance of Your Word and promises and be saved. In Jesus' precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Our "Place Of Refuge"

2006-06-11T00:52:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 10, 2006

Read: Psalm 46; John 17:6-15

OUR "PLACE OF REFUGE"

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Ps. 46:1, 2a)

Where do you go when things aren't going well in your life? Who's your "lifeline." the person or persons to whom you turn for solace, help, and advice? All of us need someone like that in our lives, for none of us is an "island" - we can't survive without others, no matter what some may say. God made us to be social creatures and to have relationships with others. He gave us other people to share love and compassion, hope and peace, and the myriad blessings He gives to the world every day. Yet, no matter how marvelous a relationship we may have with others, there are limitations as to what they can do for us and we for them as we face the challenges to faith and service Sin and the world throw at us every day.

Perhaps there's no better example we have than the challenges faced by our men and women in uniform serving in "harm's way" in danger of their lives halfway around the world. While they depend on one another to watch their "six," the reality is that they can never be sure from where the next terrorist attack is going to come. In a recent satellite phone conversation with our son, Matthew, serving with the Marine Corps in Iraq, he mentioned, with some enthusiasm, that his company now had a "lay reader," and that Sunday services were being held even in the absence of a chaplain (a "lay reader" is a Marine who has volunteered to be a company religious leader (Protestant or Catholic) and provide for times of worship when a chaplain isn't available. Reading between the lines, this information also told me that Matthew's and his buddies' need for spiritual refreshment is great. Looking to God for deliverance and security in the face of an enemy that cares nothing about the lives of others - or even his or her own - is daunting.

What comfort and peace comes to all of us, especially those in Matthew's situation, when the Psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in trouble." No matter what may happen, no matter how much we may be threatened, physically, mentally, or spiritually, our confidence is in God's providential care and His almighty and merciful power. He has shown that power and strength in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who took on our human flesh and bore our sins upon the Cross for our salvation. By the power of His Word and Spirit we receive hope and strength for living each day, and the courage to face whatever comes our way, confident in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all who believe in Jesus. Filled with His peace, encouraged by His love, and strengthened by His Spirit, we also say with the Psalmist - "therefore we will not fear." In our God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - we have a sure and certrain "place of refuge" for now and for eternity.

Prayer: Father, thank You for always being there for me, no matter what happens in my life. Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness sustain me each and every day. In the face of every kind of trouble and danger, Your power and love uplift me and give me a place of refuge. Help me to turn to You in every circumstance of life, whether things are going well or not so well. Help me to trust in You and Your redemption of me in Jesus, Keep me ever mindful that I am Your dearly beloved child, saved by Your grace in Christ and called by You to live that message of salvation in my life and share it with my tongue so that others also might know You as a true "place of refuge." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Blessed By God's Great Love And Faithfulness

2006-06-10T00:18:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 9, 2006

Read: Psalm 57; Proverbs 16:1-9

BLESSED BY GOD'S GREAT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS

"For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 57:10)

Well, as most of us know by now, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a bombing raid on one of his safe houses. The most important part of this story for us isn't so much that this man (who was responsible for so much death and destruction while turning people to suicide in the name of religion) was finally stopped, but that there is evil in the world and we're faced with a never ending struggle against it. Recent events in Somalia and the Sudan are reflective of a growing march of evil in the name of religion around the world. Love for one's neighbor, concern and compassion for those in need, and mercy for those who are weaker are not high priorities in much of the world. Rather, controlling others, demeaning others, and stripping them of their dignity has become more and more commonplace.

As we strive against evil in the world, we realize that we're not alone. David, in Psalm 57 and numerous others of his Psalms, cries out to God for deliverance and sustenance in the face of his enemies. David understood what it was to face evil, especially the evil that came from within his own people (Psalm 57 was written after David ran into the cave to escape Saul). David cries out to God for deliverance and gives Him thanks for saving him from his enemies. David exhorts himself to remain faithful, declaring his faith and trust in God's care and praising Him for His steadfast love and faithfulness to David, even in the midst of all of David's troubles. God's great love and faithfulness what sustained David, and also sustain us no matter how much evil we might face in the world.

As we face evil in our day we also draw strength and comfort from knowing that God is faithful and in His love for us He provides for atonement of our sins - fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We are also encouraged in our struggle with evil that the fear of the Lord helps us to keep from engaging in the evil that surrounds us (Pr.16:6). By God's grace we have received His strength so that we, through the Word and Spirit, might overcome evil by living lives of faith built on the righteousness of Christ. Truly blessed by God's great love and faithfulness we put ourselves in His hand, trust in His mercy, and let Him guide our lives of faith in service to Him - proclamation of and living in the Gospel of Christ as living witnesses of God's love and faithfulness to all. No one, not even people like the terrorists and the suicide bombers, can take away the hope we have because of God's love and faithfulness. He is our only sure and certain hope in the face of the evil that touches our world every day.

Prayer: Father, in Your great love and faithfulness, which extends beyond any bounds of the human imagination, You provide me with hope in the face of a "world gone mad" with Sin and the evil that causes it. In Your great love and faithfulness, I receive Your forgiveness of all my sins and the certainty that You are walking with me and guiding my footsteps to do Your will and serve Your purposes in this world. Keep me faithful, gracious Father, to You and Your love for me in Jesus. Keep me faithful as a living witness and testimony to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all mankind in Jesus. Let my life reflect the confidence and fearlessness of a disciple of Jesus Christ to face any situation, meet any challenge, and endure every evil so that I might lead others to Jesus so they, too, might be saved. In His most precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Taking A Stand For Jesus

2006-06-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 8, 2006

Read: Luke 21:5-19; Hebrews 10:32-39

TAKING A STAND FOR JESUS

"All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." (Luke 21:17-19)

It's becoming increasingly obvious that being a Christian isn't easy. If we go back about 20 years or so, one of the first indications of the coming struggle between the followers of Jesus and the world was seen in the "P...ing Christ" "artwork" that put a crucifix into a bottle of urine and called it art. In the Netherlands, cartoons making fun of Islam were published and the people who published them were threatened with death for insulting Islam. Newspapers in the United States refused to publish the cartoons, yet have frequently published anything which "bashes" Christians. To disagree with Islam or other non-Christian religious belief systems is considered closed minded and petty, yet attacking the Christian faith and misapplying laws to wipe out any instance of faith and the things of God in the public arena is okay and acceptable.

How do we respond, as the people of God, to such things? Our sinful nature wants to believe that following Jesus should be easy and comfortable. We have a certain theological perspective running around the Christian Church saying that prosperity and material gain is what God wants for His children. There is a "social gospel" which turns its back on the truth of God's Word in order for "Christianity" and the church to become "relevant" to the world. For decades a theological teaching of "liberation theology" has been the mantra of myriad "social gospel" evangelists, seeking to turn Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection into an act of freedom - not from the curse of the Law and the power of Sin and Death - but from poverty, pain, suffering, loss of personal freedom, and a host of other "social improvements" in society based on the importance we human beings assign them.

Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, was never supposed to be easy. Jesus noted in the Beatitudes that just as He was persecuted, and the prophets were persecuted, so also would all who confess His name and follow Him (Matthew 5:11, 12). Each day of our lives we're faced with the challenges to our faith and trust in Jesus as the world seeks to denigrate the truth of God's Word and His plan of salvation for the world in Christ. The values and principles for living that God gives us in His Word are ridiculed and ignored by the world because they don't fit with humanity's desire to do things its own way. As a result, the world is a mess. Violence, crime, hatred, and a host of other social and personal maladies affect our culture, our society, and our world. People are dying lost and forlorn, without any hope or peace in their hearts.

Jesus calls us to a different perspective on the world than what's generally held by society and culture. He calls us to expect to be hated because of Him. He warns that such hatred may even lead to death - and we have an idea of the huge numbers of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone and still are going to their deaths because of their confession of Christ. At the same time, our Lord encourages us with the promise that when we take a stand for Him in the midst of a lost, fallen, and hate filled world, we are living our faith and trust in Him. we're standing on His promises and looking to the hope of heaven. Taking a stand for Jesus in every moment of our lives, in every circumstance in which we're placed, and in every challenge to our service in His name has its greatest reward in the promise of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven. Standing firm in Jesus means "life to the full" (John 10:10) as His disciples here on earth, fully confident we are held in the very palm of His hand, and, finally, eternal life - redeemed and restored to the Father forever.

Prayer: Father, it's so very easy to get frustrated by the inequities I experience because the world hates You, throws aside Your Will, ignores Your love, and denigrates Your forgiveness in Christ. Whether it's putting a crucifix - a symbol of Your redemptive work in Jesus - into a bowl of urine, or declaring any mention of You in the public arena to be illegal and unconstitutional, the world daily reflects its animosity toward You and those who love and serve You. Too often, Father, I'd like to put my "head in the sand" and find a way to ignore the reality that being a follower of Jesus means being scorned, ridiculed, and even persecuted. Yet, as Jesus reminds me, if He's treated badly, how else should I expect to be treated. Father, please strengthen me in the great gift of faith You've worked in my heart through the power of Your Word and Spirit, so that I might not be overcome by the challenges to faith the world lays before me. Rather, Father, give me the courage of faith in Christ to live my life "to the full," taking a stand for Jesus in all things and being a true reflection of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Him to everyone I meet. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

The Secret Of Being Truly Content

2006-06-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 7, 2006

Read: Philippians 4:10-13; II Corinthians 12:1-10

THE SECRET OF BEING TRULY CONTENT

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12, 13)

Are you content with your life? I know this might seem like an odd question, but there's good reason to ask it. We spend a good deal of our lives striving to have a comfortable life and frequently we hear the complaints that life isn't fair. In a recent news story, a young woman who just turned 18 years of age and has just graduated from high school was told by her parents that she would have to pay for one-third of her college costs. She's planning to go to a "high-priced" private college and one-third of the cost of her education for a year would be around $12,000. She's upset. Money is no object to her parents. They can afford the full cost of her education. Yet they were after her to get a job while she was still in high school and she never did. She was content with her circumstances. Now she's required to work to help pay for her education and she's no longer content.

There's more to this story, but we need not relate anything further to make the point. No one likes to be uncomfortable in their lives. Contentment is a prize to be coveted according to much prevailing thinking. Yet, the reality of life is that things don't always go according to our plans. We don't always have a lot of things. Some people aren't certain from where their next meal is going to com. Others spend their days searching for a safe place to sleep on the streets because they're homeless. Many families don't have a lot and struggle with the cost of raising children - putting food on the table, keeping a roof overhead, and making sure there are adequate clothing and shoes. The result of Sin in this world, as God noted for Adam (Gen. 3:17-19), is that work is a requirement and it won't be easy to make a living. Yet, despite all these challenges and uncertainties, many people in these situations are among the most contented people you'll ever meet. Why? Good question.

We learn from the Apostle Paul that he, too, had his times of struggle and of ease. He had times of plenty and of want. He endured persecution and relished the love and compassionate support he received from his fellow believers in Christ. In any and all circumstances he was certain that he would strive and survive because God would give him the strength necessary to do what he was called to do. For Paul, an empty stomach was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, having a feast was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping out in the cold was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping in a warm bed with a roof over his head was an opportunity to praise God. Whether imprisoned for his preaching and faith in Jesus or walking freely among people in the market place talking about Jesus with them, Paul was content - he found all circumstances of his life to be opportunities to praise God.

The "secret" to being truly content, according to Paul's own example, is to completely and fully trust in the Lord without reservation. When we are faced with the vagaries and uncertainties of life, our Lord gives us the strength to overcome our doubts and fears and, trusting His promises, to step forward in faith to live for Jesus boldly and faithfully. St. Paul's words, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" is the true "secret" to contentment in our lives. Trusting in God's promises in Christ - the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven - we are confident that He will provide us what we need, when we need, for as long as we need it. Ultimately, true contentment is found only in trusting God's promises to us in Jesus Christ. That trust gives us the strength to live for Jesus and touch others with His love and forgiveness.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for all Your blessings to me. You provide every necessity of life - all my needs are met by Your loving hand. Forgive me for the times I forget that You are always with me and You never fail to do what You've promised. When I get anxious about things that I know You have promised, guide me by Your Word and Spirit to trust Your Word and promises. Help me to follow in St. Paul's footsteps and be content in every circumstance I face in life, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Your love sustains me and Your strength uplifts me. Father, help me to be a faithful witness to Your love and forgiveness in Christ for the world and help me to share the true "secret" of contentment with my lips and my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Keot Firmly In God's Hands

2006-06-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 3, 2006

Read: Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 1:15-23

KEPT FIRMLY IN GOD'S HANDS

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38, 39)

Over the past few weeks, I've been writing "Today's Devotion" with an eye on the confirmation verses chosen by the members of my daughter, Marion's confirmation class for their confirmations on May 7, 2006. While I've written a number of devotions in the past based on verses 38 and 39 of Romans chapter 8, today I want to focus on what the choosing of these verses tells us about the spiritual insight and maturity of the young man who chose them for his confirmation verses at the ripe old age of 14.

Adults have a generally good understanding of how difficult life can be. Adult Christians generally understand that standing up for Jesus and living a God-pleasing life is both difficult and, at times, dangerous. The power of Sin in the world is manifest everyday in media reports of crime, war, pornography, economic troubles and inequities, disregard for human life, and a general "me first" attitude that seems to be increasingly prevalent in our culture and our world. That Christian adults may fear standing up for Jesus in their lives in word and deed, and find it difficult to meet the challenge of God-pleasing living, it doesn't seem reasonable for a 14 year old to have the same appreciation or concerns about such things as we adults do.

Yet, just as we have need to hear St. Paul's encouragement and statement of faith - "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39) - so also does every young person. They, too, are aware of the challenges to their faith which they face in school, in their neighborhoods, on the internet, and on the streets. They see the future as a hopeful thing, and yet, because of the proliferation of information in our day and age, they recognize that the world is also a dangerous place. Some are willing to come to grips with that reality; others are not.

Spiritual growth and maturity takes on myriad meanings in our culture, but for God's children it means acknowledging our sins, recognizing our need for a Savior, and, growing in faith, trusting that we are in the palm of God's hand. There isn't one of us, young or old, that doesn't have fears of the present and future. Not one of us can say for certain that we don't have doubts about how we might hold up to temptation and the challenges of the world. The comfort and strength we receive from God's assurance that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Jesus is what we need to know. Whether we're a 14 year-old boy or girl, or a wizened older man or woman - or anything in between - we need God's assurance and we stand on His promise that we are kept firmly in His hands each and every day. We belong to Him. Nothing can take us from Him. Our lives, therefore, are filled with hope and the ability to overcome our fears for we are His.

Prayer: Father, I thank and praise You for Your constant and certain love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me. Not only these things but also Your certain presence in my life through faith in Jesus encourage and strengthen me every day. I know, by faith, that nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus. I know, by faith, that nothing can prevent Your blessings to me. Help me to be a faithful witness in my life of Your boundless love, infinite mercy, marvelous grace, and undeserved forgiveness by how I live and how I speak and how I touch the lives of others for Jesus. Help me to live a life devoid of fearfulness and filled with peace because You are my God and Father - my Savior and Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Living Uniquely

2006-06-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For June 1, 2006

Read: Colossians 2:6-12; Ephesians 4:17-24

LIVING UNIQUELY

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:6, 7)

What is there about you that makes you unique? Do you have particular facial features - a prominent nose, different colored eyes, a large/small mouth, a special kind of smile? Or how about your body type (I can't begin to accurately describe mine - not sure I'd want to)? Is it large, petite, small, medium, plumb, or ...? How about your voice? Does your voice cause you to stand out from others? Perhaps its pitch, timbre,volume, or other quality makes it unique and different from the voices of others? Perhaps you can sing like a lark, or do you croak like a frog? Maybe you have hobbies or other special activities that give you uniquenessas a person, a neighbor, a friend, a colleague, or family member. No matter what it is, there is always something that differentiates each of us from one another - that makes each of us unique and different so that we have our own identities, dreams, goals, and aspirations.

One of the dangers we face in our lives, however, is the desire not to stand out in the crowd - not to be different or unique. Often, instead of reveling in those characteristics and abilities that make one unique and different from everyone else, the tendency is to hide that uniqueness -to be ashamed or afraid to be different. And for good reason. Too often, in a sinful world, those who are unique and different are also often at odds with the world's values. Instead of "going along to get along," they buck the trends, challenge the norms, and assault conformity. Sometimes those who do so seek to be at odds with society and culture - often ending up in prison after having broken laws, harming people and property in the process. On the other hand, there are those who "walk to the beat of a different drummer" because they believe very strongly in something that stands at odds with the norms of the community.

One example of such "nonconformity" would be the challenges faced by God's people. As the redeemed in Christ, we are called out of the world to be His dearly beloved and redeemed children. Living in His love and forgiveness, we are called to be examples of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the world. Such living can put us at odds with the world around us, as is becoming more and more evident in the news of the day. As a result of the tension of living the unique life of a disciple of Jesus Christ the temptation is great to conform the Christian life to societal values. Some seek, therefore, to be acceptable to the culture and community by adopting the values of the culture, regardless of their distastefulness to God's will. Others, afraid of standing out, hide themselves from the realities of life, often hiding behind the doors of a church, unwilling to venture into the world and be different - a witness for Jesus.

St. Paul knew well the challenges facing God's redeemed children in Christ. He understood how difficult it was to live according to God's Will and purpose when it flew in the face of the ways of the world. He knew what it was like to be scorned for his faith in Jesus and to be beaten, scourged, and imprisoned for the sake of Christ. That Paul was unique there was, and is, no doubt. His preaching and teaching, his challenging of authority when it was wrong, and his debates with the philosophers of his day made him unique and different - bringing him both reviling and praise. Having experienced such things in his life as an apostle of Jesus, Paul calls upon us to continue to live in Jesus no matter what. He encourages us by faith to live as the unique people we are in Christ.

We are, by faith, a mirror of Christ Jesus to the world. How we live and act, speak and think reflects the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God for us in Christ. There are those who would seek to turn us away from God's purposes, to follow ideas, hold to principles, and live in a manner that goes against everything God calls us to be in Jesus. No matter how much we are attacked by the world, we know and believe that our Lord Jesus understands what we are facing, has experienced it for Himself, and stands with us and upholds us as we live for Him each day. Having been buried to Sin with Him in baptism, we have been raised with Him through faith and restored to our Father in heaven. We are empowered to live uniquely as His children and witnesses to a lost and dying world. We don't stand alone - Jesus stands with us all the way. Being unique and living uniquely are wonderful blessings of God to cherish, relish, and for which to give thanks. In Jesus, by faith, we are different. We are unique. And that, my dear friends, is really okay.

Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me to be Your dearly beloved and redeemed child in Jesus. Your forgiveness to me is the same as You offer to the whole world, yet it makes me unique because You have put it in my heart and led me to faith in Jesus so that I might fully and completely receive it and live in it each day. Father, don't let me be ashamed of being Your unique child in Christ. Rather, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, give me the strength of purpose and faith to seek to stand out from the crowd as a living witness to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. No matter how much ridicule, hatred, or maltreatment I might face in life, help me to take them in stride and continue be uniquely Your child as I repay evil with good, hatred with love, and anger with peace. Hear my prayer, gracious God and Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen. ***************

--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Receiving The Crown Of Life

2006-05-31T11:10:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 31, 2006

Read: Revelation 2:8-11; Psalm 45

RECEIVING THE CROWN OF LIFE

"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10c)

In the game of "Checkers" (a game, if my recollection is correct, I haven't played in at least 30 years), when you manage to land a checker on the base line of your opponent, he's supposed to "crown you," taking one of the checkers he's already taken from you and placing it on top of your checker now on his baseline. The advantage for the "crowned" checker is that, having been crowned (it's now called a "king"), it has renewed and increased "powers." It can now go forward and back on a diagonal, not just forward. Playing one's king(s) with skill can be a "difference maker" in the game.

While it's not my intention to turn life into a game of "Checkers," Jesus' words to the church at Smyrna, bring to mind the challenges of a game of "Checkers." The Christians at Smyrna had their faith challenged on every front by the world around them. Jesus assures them that He knows and understands their situation as He notes that they suffered from poverty and other afflictions because of Whose they were and Whom they believed. At the same time He gives them encouragement, declaring that they "are rich" (v.9), bringing to mind what James writes in his epistle, "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him" (James 2:5).

These same followers of Jesus had to deal with those who didn't "play the game" fairly. There were those who claimed to be people of God, but instead were Satan's disciples. Faced with such falsehood and hypocrisy, the redeemed of God in Christ Jesus were to suffer terribly for their faith. Jesus forewarns them that they will be thrown into prison to suffer persecution and have their faith tested by the devil. Yet, Jesus also encourages and comfort them (and us) that the time will be short and of definite duration (ten days) and their faithfulness (and ours) to the Gospel will not be in vain. Even if death should come to them (or us) because they (we) remain faithful, Jesus' assures them (and us) that "the crown of life" - eternity with Him in heaven - is the final and great reward.

Life is a challenge for every human being. No one is immune to suffering or pain. No one can be certain to escape hardship and poverty. Regardless of one's "pedigree" there are no assurances that life will be easy, success assured, or satisfaction attained. In fact, in many ways, one's "pedigree" can be a terrible hindrance to one's relationship with God - the story of the rich man and poor Lazarus comes to mind (cf. Luke 16:19-31). Jesus' words to the church at Smyrna, experiencing challenges to their faith and well-being not unlike what His children experience today, bring hope and joy to a troubled world and into the lives of the redeemed in Christ. As we live faithfully in Him, sharing His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness with others, regardless of the world's hatred and anger toward the things of God and those who serve Him, we will eventually get to the world's "baseline" as our life ends in Jesus. Our hope and comfort is that in our faithfulness, accomplished by the power of God's Word and Spirit, our Lord will "crown us" with "the crown of life" with Him forever in heaven.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for all Your blessings to me, particularly the gift of faith and hope I have in Jesus. I am so grateful that You truly know and understand what challenges, troubles, trials, and problems I face in life as I strive to live out my faith in Jesus for the world to see. Sometimes it gets so hard that I'm tempted to "go along in order to get along," and end up failing in my witness of the Gospel. For the sake of Jesus, gracious Father, I ask Your forgiveness. Comfort me with the hope You gave to the Church at Smyrna, encouraging me by the assurance that "running the race of life" in Jesus will end with "the crown of life" with You in heaven. Let all my life be a witness to that truth and hope for all who hope in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Is There Room For God In Your Life?

2006-05-30T03:54:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 30, 2006

Read: Proverbs 3:1-12; Romans 12:1-3

IS THERE ROOM FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

How do you see the world? Now that's a loaded question. Our culture has taken a position that holds, for instance, that the universe had an arbitrary and cataclysmic beginning. The popular position on origins says that all life evolved out of the "primeval ooze" and, by the "luck of the draw," over billions and billions of years, what we see and experience today as the earth and the universe came into existence. Human beings are said to have evolved from lower life forms, based on the presupposition that there is no Creator - a position commonly held by those who refuse to allow God to have first position in their lives (and anyone who says that's not true is only kidding themselves no matter how much they may argue to the contrary).

If one studies the history of science, it becomes clear that many of the early scientists have been falsely labeled as "anti-God," or "anti-religion," or "anti-Christian." Sir Isaac Newton is commonly understood to have been "anti-religion" in his scientific theories, yet when one reads his findings and positions closely it becomes clear that he was not only a Christian, but also was intent on showing how scientific endeavor arrives at no clear definitions or understanding without recognizing the Creator at work. Yet the power of Sin in this world so blinds human beings to the truth, that even when sound scientific efforts and observations are conducted, the conclusions reach are all to often colored by the anti-religion of the observers.

God warns us that such thinking happens all too frequently in our world, even among His people. In the face of the world's pressures upon us to conform to its standards and belief systems, the question arises for God's people, "Is there room for God in your life?" This is a challenging and troubling question as we determine in what direction our lives will go. As we face the ramifications of this question, we find ourselves in desperate need of guidance and direction - and who better to give it to us that the Holy Spirit?

Thus, the Spirit reminds us in Proverbs that we should "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (3:5). These words are both a warning and an encouragement, for we are often too easily swayed by the thinking of the world around us and our own sense of need to be ready to "trust in the Lord with all" our hearts. Rather than searching the Scriptures for wisdom and understanding, for knowledge and truth, the philosophers and gurus of the day are the "authorities" that often hold too much say over our thinking and our actions, both as individuals and as a society. The Holy Spirit reminds us in these words that without the Lord, we're really standing alone and arift in a fearful and changing world. At the same time, He is encouraging us with the reminder that our God is always with us, He does what He says, and His "foolishness" is wiser than the wisdom of any human being (I Corinthians 1:25).

As God's children, redeemed from our sins and restored to our Father's presence through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are called to think differently, to live differently, and to believe differently from the world (Romans 12:1-3). Solomon, who wrote the Proverbs, had been challenged by his father, King David, to serve God with absolute and heartfelt devotion (I Chronicles 28:9). He also remembered God's deliverance of Israel because their leaders trusted God (Ps. 22:4, 5). The call to us in these proverbs is the same as God has given to His people throughout the ages - put God first in your lives, serving Him with a willing and faithful heart. As we do so, God's promise is also clear - He will clear away each and every obstacle that would prevent us from having a loving relationship with Him and living a life of service to others in His name. By His grace and mercy, He will guide and lead us to accomplish every goal for which we strive in our service to Him as we proclaim His love in Christ for all the world.

Prayer: Father, thank You for never leaving me "on my own." No matter how foolishly I may think or act, no matter how often I may forget to trust You and pay attention to that which is pleasing in Your sight, You never leave me alone and Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness are Your ever-present gifts to me each day in Jesus. Forgive me for falling sway to the world's thinking and falling into the trap of believing I can stand alone, on my own, without You in my life. Lift me up each day in the power of my Baptism, so that I may be reminded that You have made me Your own dear child, having washed me clean from my sins by the water and the Word. Let my life always have room for You and Your wisdom and truth. Fill my heart and my thinking with that which is pleasing and right in Your eyes, so that I may be a faithful, loving, and winsome witness to Your love and forgiveness for the world in Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Pondering God's Mighty Deeds

2006-05-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 27, 2006

Read: Psalm 111; Revelation 15:1-4

PONDERING THE GOD'S MIGHTY DEEDS

"Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 111:2, 3)

This is graduation time all over the nation. In our family we've had a college graduation, a high school graduation (today), and an elementary school graduation (next week - two: our youngest daughter and a nephew). Other families are experiencing the same events as well. Graduation is a time to celebrate the culmination of long hours and years of studying, late night cramming for finals, and the opportunity to move on to the next step in one's life. Each graduating class, at least at the high school and college levels, gives recognition to those who have excelled in their studies. Valedictorians, salutatorians, and honors scholars are recognized. In many colleges and high schools, speeches are given by the highest academic achievers, often pondering the future, remembering the past, and celebrating the present.

Sadly, however, after all the pomp and circumstance, reality sets in. Even while this year's graduates are celebrating their accomplishments and graduation, the next step in their lives is looming. What successes one had in elementary school, high school, or college don't necessarily translate into future successes. Where one might have been a "star" athlete, that same person, at the next level, is only average. Where one might have been a "4.0" student (straight A's across the board) at one level, at the next pulling a "2.0" may be a success. While it's great to celebrate each other's accomplishments and acknowledge each other's successes, the reality is such things are fleeting at best. Tomorrow comes and no one remembers your name.

Yet, while we have the tendency to focus on ourselves and our accomplishments, the fact that they are fleeting sends us looking for something of permanence to hang our hats on. The Psalmist encourages us to turn our attention to God, to praise Him and all His works, and to ponder the marvelous, wonderful, glorious, majestic works of our righteous and loving God. His great and wonderful deeds bless His people and strengthen them in their daily lives. You and I, as His beloved children in Jesus Christ give thanks and praise that our God is with us and blesses us with so many great and marvelous gifts. As the graduates go on to the next steps, challenges, and opportunities in their lives, we pray that they, and we, will continue to ponder the goodness, greatness, majesty, and righteousness of our God. And, in such pondering, may we be strengthened to reflect His glory, majesty, and righteousness in our lives of service to Him and others in Jesus' name.

Prayer: Father, I praise and magnify Your holy name as I see and experience Your mighty deeds, Your faithfulness, Your glory, Your majesty, and Your righteousness in my life and in the world around me. Give me pause to ponder Your might deeds and realize that all that I am and have comes from Your loving, gracious, and almighty hand. Forgive me for too often getting caught up in my own accomplishments, my own troubles, my own challenges, and my own ego and forgetting that without out Your love and forgiveness for in Jesus Christ my accomplishments mean nothing, my troubles are impossible, my challenges are too great, and my ego keeps me from acknowledging You. Father, I pray that You would continue to send Your Holy Spirit into my life that I may seek Your wisdom in Your Word, be prepared to share Your love in season and out of season, and live my life as a loving and living witness of Your greatness, Your glory, Your majesty, and Your righteousness. May my witness prove to be effective to others so they too might ponder on Your mighty deeds and come to know Jesus as their Savior; in whose most holy and precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

The Blessings of Faithfulness

2006-05-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 26, 2006

Read: Psalm 91; John 12:23-26

THE BLESSINGS OF FAITHFULNESS

"He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:15, 16)

Loyalty is a huge commodity in the political and business worlds. So often we hear that a politician, such as the President, values loyalty and rewards it for those who work with him. We've heard about the loyalty of executives to the CEO of a corporation, a loyalty that may have been rewarded with great benefits and compensation bonuses. No doubt most would agree that loyalty to one's organization and its leadership is paramount for the effective and efficient operation of the government and a corporation. And, for the most part, such loyalty is not misplaced.

At the same time, there is no doubt that loyalty is often misplaced and detrimental to one's personal good and the common good. Some would say that's true in the case of Presidential appointments to Cabinet and other appointed positions in the federal government. Favoritism and cronyism, based on one's loyalty and faithfulness to the political party of a President, a powerful member of Congress, a governor of a state, or powerful members of a state legislature has caused many a coverup of wrongdoing and breakdowns in honest and effective government. The same can be said to be true of corporate loyalty and faithfulness where stockholders have seen companies become insolvent while the executives got rich and where consumers have paid premium prices for inferior goods and services.

In the popular mind these days, it would seem that the whole idea of loyalty and faithfulness brings up negative thoughts and feelings. Because loyalty and faithfulness to a group, a person, or a cause is ideally based upon the belief that such entities are truly honest and practice integrity in their business and dealings with others, betraying that loyalty and faithfulness can cause devastating results in the lives of the "faithful." In many ways the betrayal of people's trust has led to a very cynical and contentious social order.

Yet, by God's grace, loyalty and faithfulness are not a lost cause for His people. Those who trust in God have their faithfulness rewarded. We can be certain that in Jesus Christ all of our sins are forgiven. In Him we have the sure hope of eternal life with God in heaven. We can faithfully share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ with others, certain that He will keep His promise to hear all who call upon Him and forgive all their sins through faith in Christ Jesus. Living in His promises, loving others in Jesus' name, and serving God with our hearts, our lives, and our voices as witnesses to His love for all the world in Christ brings God's assurance of "long life" and certainty of His "salvation" (Ps. 91:16).

Our faithfulness and loyalty to our God and Father through faith in Jesus Christ brings the blessings of faithfulness into each of our lives. We live forgiven of our sins, we live certain that everything we need for life and living is God's sure and certain gift to us, we live with the assurance that God will hear and answer our prayers according to His good and gracious will, and we live with the absolute assurance that our Lord is with us always, even to the end of the world. Above all, as St. Paul writes, we can be certain that in our faithfulness we are blessed with the certainty that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:39). The blessings of faithfulness are the blessings of "daily bread" our Lord promises in the Lord's Prayer and sustain us each day of our lives until we see Jesus in heaven.

Prayer: Father, I know I've neither earned nor deserved Your love for me, but, because You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, You have blessed me with Your presence, forgiven me of my sins in Jesus, and have called into the marvelous light of Your grace to experience, fully, the blessings of faithfulness - Yours to me and mine to You. Forgive me for so often doubting Your love for me, for ignoring Your Word and doing things my way, and for forgetting that You provide me with everything I need to "support this body and life. Strengthen my faith and trust in You, my faithfulness to Your Word and promises that I may live with the certainty "that You defend me against all evil, guard and protect me from every kind of danger." Keep me faithful to You because of Your love and faithfulness to me so that I may be a loving and living witness to others of Your gift of salvation and the forgiveness of sins in Christ, and the sure and certain hope of heaven because of His suffering, death, and resurrection. In His precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Soaring Above The Fray

2006-05-25T10:09:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 25, 2006

Read: Isaiah 40:25-31; Hebrews 12:1-3

SOARING ABOVE THE FRAY

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

It doesn't take much digging to realize that the world is a messy place. A quick overview of current affairs reveals arguments over legal and illegal immigration, whether or not laws concerning a national language are "racist" (editorial aside - it seems ludicrous to call discussions of language racist since language isn't tied to race - unless of course someone wants to change the rules), and whether or not there are anti-Christian agendas in our nation which are driving public policy, key court decisions, public school regulations, political correctness in the media , and modern day censorship (cf. Jane Folger's book, "The Criminalization of Christianity") - just to name a few of the many different debates and disagreements extant in the public sector.

Now whether the anti-Christian agendas are true or not, regardless of the outcome of the language debate, and no matter what ends up happening to "solve" the illegal immigration issue, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the world is not a peaceful place. Certainly there are the wars we're always so fond of touting in the media and politicians hang their hats on - whether pro or con. There's no question we've got a worldwide problem facing humanity with the proliferation of terrorism, genocide, religious persecution, and myriad ways we human beings find to be disagreeable to one another and poor stewards of the planet. It seems that there are never solutions to the issues we face, only disagreements as to the extent of the problems (or if what one sees as a problem another does not), as well as disagreements over the solutions to the problems everyone seems to agree are real.

On a more personal level, we human beings face chaos and discouragement on a daily basis. Job security, providing for one's family, community safety issues, the price of food, clothing, shelter, and fuel, and even the challenges of interpersonal relationships, particularly within families, are all tacked on to the stresses and strains of the world's problems. It's so easy to get lost in the chaos - the fray - of conflicting needs and concerns, issues and answers, that we may feel as if we're drowning, no one is throwing us a life preserver, and we're going down for the last time. Yet, as God tells us through the prophet Isaiah, in Him we have hope and strength.

In the face of every challenge, trouble, and danger we face in the world, our heavenly Father offers to lift us up above the fray and free us from the chaos. He calls us to put our hope and trust in Him, just as He called on Israel to do, and renew our strength in Him. He promises us that as we trust in Him, as we put our faith in the blood of Christ, believing that in Him our sins are forgiven and we have the hope of heaven, He will lift us up on "eagles' wings," to soar above the fray, the chaos, the hatred, the strife, the pain, the suffering, and everything else that Sin brings into the world. No matter whether we are loved or hated because we are God's people in Christ, it doesn't make any difference, for we are His and we carry His strength with us.

Life is a marathon. It's a long run. Some of it we'll run; some of it we'll walk. We can be sidetracked and detoured along the way by the temptations that would seek to drive us away from God. Yet, God's promise is that His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus lifts us up above the world - when you soar on eagles' wings it's impossible to get caught in a "traffic jam" - so that we can walk with Him and reach out to others with His love. Strengthened by the Word and Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), we can "run the race" (I Cor. 9:24) of faith and not grow weary or faint regardless of the challenges we face. After all, we have God's own promise that He forgives us in Jesus and that heaven is our home. In Jesus we are truly "soaring above the fray," filled with hope and peace, courage and strength, and the confidence to share His love with others.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me that I'm not alone as I face a world that's increasingly hostile to You and those who follow Jesus. I need to be reminded, just as You reminded Israel, that You lift me up on "eagles' wings," above the fray of the world, so that I can be an effective witness to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Forgive me for those times I get so caught up in the troubles of the world that I forget to call on You for guidance, strength, and courage to meet the challenges of the day. Forgive me for forgetting that Jesus reminds me that if He was treated badly by the world, that it's not going to be any easier on me. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, strengthen my faith and trust in You so that I might not be overcome by the vagaries of the world, but run the race, walk the walk, and talk the talk of a disciple of Jesus Christ - a sure and certain witness of Your gift of salvation from Sin, Death, and Satan to the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

A Question Of Origins

2006-05-24T12:48:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 24, 2006

Read: Romans 11:33-36; Colossians 1:15-20

A QUESTION OF ORIGINS

"For from Him and through Him and in Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36)

Who am I? Where did I come from? How did I get here? Where am I going? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What will I become? Why am I who I am? What's to be my destiny?

Whewwww!! Those are sure a lot of questions, aren't they? Yet they are questions that enter the minds of every human being at one time or another, in one circumstance or another, all with the intent of "finding ourselves," which was a popular notion of the 60's and 70's. Sadly, people are still trying to "find" themselves and they spend a great deal time, effort, and money looking for the answers to the question above. Human beings want to know answers to myriad questions which affect their thinking, feeling, and being. There isn't one of us that is immune to such musings or queries. The trouble is, however, that we frequently don't find the answers we're looking for - probably because we've got a set idea of what we want the answers to be.

Of course, when it comes to the things of God, we're also challenged with questions to which there don't seem to be any answers. Such questions have great bearing on the aforementioned questions, whether we human beings want to admit to it or not. Looking for answers concerning our origins and futures, who we are, and what we're to become, isn't done in a vacuum. We are both physical and spiritual creatures at the same time. We won't find answers about ourselves until we look at ourselves through the eyes of God. We won't understand ourselves and our world, our need for God and His love and forgiveness, until we understand ourselves according to the wisdom of God. Our struggle to know ourselves is only available through the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God Himself.

St. Paul reminds the Roman Christians that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and being. His knowledge and wisdom is beyond our human comprehension. How and why He does things baffle human beings because without knowing God's love we can't possible understand why He does what He does, including His righteous judgment on all of our sins. As the Creator of the universe, of all things visible and invisible, His thoughts are far above us and incomprehensible until made clear to us by His Word and Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians (I Corinthians 1 and 2) that the Cross is God's wisdom for our salvation, even though seen as foolishness by the world, and we can only understand that truth through the wisdom imparted to us by His Holy Spirit. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we are to become is dependent upon the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Father in heaven. His gifts to us are priceless; we can't earn or deserve anything He gives us and we can never pay Him back for His blessings.

The price, the payment, for everything we are and will be in Jesus was paid by Jesus Himself on the Cross. All of our sins have been paid for; God's righteousness and perfect justice has been satisfied; we are His very own people because Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and the sins of the whole world in our place. So, whether we ask the questions of our physical or spiritual origins, the answers are always the same - "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Rom. 11:36). We are God's creatures, "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10), through which we give Him all glory and praise as we live in Him, and through Him , and for Him. By God's grace, the answer to any question of origins and being is found in Him alone. When we see God through Jesus, we see where we come from, why we are, where we're going, what we're about, and who we're to become. Now isn't that a load off your mind?

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me through Your Word and Spirit, that it's in You that all my purpose and meaning in life is found. In Your grace, mercy, and love You sent Jesus to take away my sins, bearing the burden of Your judgment and condemnation for Sin on the Cross in my place. I am reminded, as St. Paul proclaimed to the men of Athens on the Areopagus, that in Him "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Father, by Your grace and favor, through the power of Your Word and Spirit, You have worked faith in Jesus in my heart. By that faith I have all the answers to every question of origins I and others might ask, for from You comes all things and all things are revealed to me and the world in Jesus. Help me to be a faithful witness to Your love for the world in Him; in His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Be A Prize Winner

2006-05-23T13:01:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 23, 2006

Read: Philippians 3:12-4:1; I Corinthians 9:16-27

BE A PRIZE WINNER

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Some of the more pleasurable moments in my life are when I'm watching my children compete in athletic events. All of them have been fierce competitors in one way or another. I don't think any of them likes to lose, but each handles losing differently - although they're all very similar in certain aspects of dealing with a competition loss. What's been most gratifying to me has been the unanimity of approach to winning they all have - they are grateful for the win but they keep a humble spirit, which provides good leadership to other of their teammates.

Yesterday I again had the opportunity to watch one of my children compete. Jonathan competed in a Regional Track meet. He managed to make the finals in all three of his events, which was quite a milestone, considering he had only begun to put the shot and throw the discus in this, his senior year. What stood out for me, however, wasn't so much that he made the finals, but the attitude with which he competed. While winning would have been great, making the top four in order to go to Sectionals would have been nice, for him to do his best, run his best hurdles race, throw the best he could in the discus, and put the best he could in the shot was all that really mattered to him, and ultimately, to me. More gratifying for both of us than making the top four or winning an event was that he achieved a personal best in the shot put by over a foot (which is quite a feat when you're 170 pounds going up against guys well up in the 200 pound range).

Track and Field always reminds me of living a Christian life. I guess that's why it never bores me - it even bores Jonathan, and he's competing! While some events require team work, for the most part track and field events are individual efforts by the competitors. While each competitor strives to win, often the greatest win they achieve is improving their time, height, or distance in their events. Scoring points for their team is a wonderful bonus, but the satisfaction received from a PR (personal record) is unbeatable. As the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, we all have the prize of the high calling of God in Christ - heaven. We can work together as brothers and sisters in the same faith and trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord to reach others. Yet we can't live someone's life for them. We each have to live and die for the Lord as individuals. Each of us if responsible for our own actions. We are each responsible for our sins and repenting of them. Each of us must receive God's forgiveness personally - we can't receive it for others nor can they for us.

Paul's encouragement to the Philippians and the Corinthians is also encouragement to us. While he exhorts us to follow his example of faith and "running the race," he also calls us to be living examples to others of Christ's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We work together to bring the saving Gospel to a world lost and dying in Sin and unbelief, yet each of us has his or her own specific mission according to God's purpose. While we encourage one another and seek one another out to team up and use the gifts and blessings, talents and abilities the Spirit has given to the Body of Christ - His Church - to reach the world for Jesus, each of us is called upon to do what our Father in heaven has in mind for us to do in service to Him and others in Jesus' name.

God has truly blessed each of us with our special talents and abilities with which to serve Him and reach others for Jesus. Just as the athletes in Track and Field, we train hard and diligently to run the race or compete in a particular event in order to win the prize. Sometimes we hit a "home run;" sometimes we come in last. Yet in every case, as we seek to serve the Lord and touch the lives of others with Christ's love, we are winners, for we know that no matter what, our "race" in Jesus leads us to the goal of heaven. Each little step in our witness and serve to God is a victory - a PR if you will - because it may lead someone one step closer to forgiveness and salvation in Christ. Thus, in Christ, each of us seeks to "be a prize winner" for Jesus and, by God's grace, touch the lives of others with His love.

Prayer: Father, I know that so many times I fall short of Your glory, yet each time I stumble and fall, You are there to pick me up, brush me off, and set me on course once again. Your forgiveness uplifts me and encourages me to train spiritually to "run the race" of faith as I live as a vibrant witness to Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus to the world around me. Send Your Holy Spirit upon me in abundant measure that I may train diligently in Your Word, prepare myself for the "race" in prayer, and "compete" with courage and faith so that I might "be a prize winner" in Jesus who seeks the little victories each day in my service to You and others in Your name. Help me to grow each day in Your Word and strengthen my faith that I may be a true witness and example to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

A Love Better Than Life

2006-05-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 22, 2006

Read: Psalm 63; Hebrews 13:1-3, 15, 16

A LOVE BETTER THAN LIFE

"Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands." (Ps. 63:3, 4)

Recently I had an email from a (I'm assuming) young lady, who noted that the title's of "Today's Devotion" aren't as inspirational or "catchy" as they might be in order to "entice" her and others to read them. As I thought about today's title, trying to be as "creative" as possible without harming the content of the devotion (one hopes to keep them congruent), I came up with a title that, to me, almost sounds like the title of a daytime soap opera. Based on some of the ads I used to see on television, today's title could probably conjure up some interesting story lines.

But there's no better story line than the original purpose and background to David's Psalm 63. He had been surrounded by his enemies many times in his life. As a young shepherd boy he had to drive off lions that threatened the sheep. As a young man, bringing food to his brothers fighting in Saul's army against the Philistines, he had bravely and faithfully lived his faith and trust in God, slaying the giant, Goliath, with his slingshot thereby routing the entire Philistine army. After he was anointed by the prophet, Nathan, to be Saul's successor as king, David had to flee for his life as Saul sought to kill him. As king of Israel, David was in almost continual conflicts with Israel's enemies. With such a history it's not too difficult to understand David's longing for peace and security.

Psalm 63 is filled with David's yearning for God's redemption and protection. Imagery of the soul that "thirsts for You" and a body that "longs for You" (v.1) bring to mind romantic poetry and thoughts one might have for a lover and convey a powerful sense of David's love for God. In the midst of his longing, David declares that nothing is more important to him in life than God's love for him. He trusts that God's love will never fail and he declares his intention to sing his praises with his whole life ("I will lift up my hands" (v. 4) refers both to prayer and doing God's work), for all of his life. It's an endeavor of love that is satisfying, comforting, and filled with an absolute sense of security and safety in God's loving arms. David declaration is on of absolute trust in God's deliverance and redemption in the face of every enemy that faced Israel's king.

The writer to the Hebrews (Hebrews 13) reminds us that we, too, are loved and redeemed by God in Jesus Christ. Redeemed by Christ from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan, we, too, offer a "sacrifice of praise" (v.15) as we confess His name with our lips and in our lives. In the face of every danger, every challenge, and every temptation to sin, God is present with us in Jesus, watches over us with His holy angels (v.2) and leads us to love one another by bearing each other's burdens (v,1, 3). As with David, God's love is better than life itself, for only in His love do we really know what life really is - a full and holy relationship with our Father and Creator who has redeemed us for Himself in Christ.

As we live our lives of faith, we also live lives of love. Having received God's love in abundant measure, we are then moved to love others as we love ourselves. Just like the love one lover has for another, so also is our love for our Father in heaven compelled by His love for and redemption of us in Christ. Just as God's love lives in us and gives us a gift greater than life itself, so also does it move us to love one another, regardless of circumstances, so that He might be praised and glorified, His name proclaimed to all, and His love in Christ declared to all the world - His love that's better than life itself!

Prayer: Father, thank You for all Your blessings to me. You have loved and continue to love me even when I'm not loveable. You continue to shower Your blessings upon me, even when I forsake You for the ways and things of the world. In Your great love for me You sent Jesus to suffer and die for my sins so that, by faith in Him, I might be saved for You and all eternity with You in heaven. Forgive me, Father, for Jesus' sake, for the times I've doubted Your love, failed to love You and others in Your name, and the myriad times I've forgotten to tell others of Your love and forgiveness for them in Jesus. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, help me to live a life that loves You and others in Your name so much that I may be a true example of what David meant when he said, "Your love is better than life." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

What Does "In God We Trust" Really Mean?

2006-05-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

"Today's Devotion" For May 20, 2006

Read: Psalm 56; Matthew 10:17-20, 24-31

WHAT DOES "IN GOD WE TRUST" REALLY MEAN?

"When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Ps. 56:3, 4)

On the currency and coin of the United States of America is printed and stamped the motto, "In God We Trust." It seems somewhat significant that this motto should appear on our means of exchange, as our money is one of the most common points of contact among the people of our nation. We also know that there are a lot of naysayers who seek to remove any mention of God from the public arena (there's still the fight over "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance). It has also been observed that those who fight against "one nation under God" also would like to redact our nation's history and remove any mention of or reference to God from that history, even including the Declaration of Independence.

Nevertheless the motto "In God We Trust" endures as a powerful reminder that we are not a nation that stands on its own. Rather, we are a nation whose history is replete with the blessings of God and the evidence of His almighty hand protecting us and defending us from our enemies. "In God We Trust" is a powerful reminder that we, as a nation, have the power of Almighty God available to us, should we care to acknowledge Him as God and Lord. Indeed, as the Psalmist wrote, "When I am afraid I will trust in You...in God I trust, I will not be afraid" (Ps. 56:3,4).

Each of us has known fear in our lives. Just the other day one of my children's high school teachers was out walking with his wife when they were confronted by a mugger with a pistol. The teacher, without thinking charged the young man, got hit in the head with the butt of the pistol, and sent the young man running. The screams of the teacher's wife were so loud and piercing that a neighbor on another block, down in his basement, with the doors and windows shut, heard her scream. No doubt she was afraid. I'm also quite certain her husband, the teacher, was as well. By God's grace, the teacher didn't pursue the mugger because a few houses down he was joined by an accomplice. They both took off running.

Was God protecting our teacher? No doubt exists in my mind. But fear for our physical well-being isn't our only concern. How about our spiritual well-being? David, the psalmist, isn't just speaking about fearing for our physical lives, but for our spiritual lives as well. David wrote Psalm 56 while a prisoner of the Philistines. No doubt he feared for his life. Yet, he also knew that God was with him and had other plans for him. With God as his protection and strength, David was confident that he had no need to be afraid of mere mortals. Even though his enemies were playing fast and loose with the truth, David was confident that they could do nothing to harm him that wasn't in accord with God's purpose.

Jesus also speaks to this in our reading from Matthew 10. As redeemed and forgiven children of God, Jesus warns us that we can expect to be ridiculed, harassed, and harmed, physically, by a world that denies the Father's love in Him. If the world treated Jesus badly, do we really believe it will treat those who follow Him better? Jesus warns us that we will face difficult times living for Him, yet our lives can be lived in the full confidence that He is always with us and no one and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38, 39). We have nothing to fear from human beings. Our Lord Jesus promises that God will watch over us with His angels (Ps. 91) and protect us from the power of the evil one.

Filled with God's peace in Jesus, forgiven of all our sins, and blessed with the sure and certain hope of heaven and eternity with our Father in heaven, we also can say with David, "In God We Trust," we will "not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" By God's grace we are then able to live the full lives Jesus promises in Himself (John 10:10). Each day is filled with hope and peace, comfort and joy, love and forgiveness in Him. No matter how bad things may get, we can always, with confidence proclaim with our lives, "In God We Trust," as individuals, as neighbors and friends, and as a nation. Let us pray that each of us, along with our neighbors and friends, can say with confidence, "In God We Trust," and be led by that faith to serve Him and others in His name faithfully and well without fear or trepidation.

Prayer: Father, I praise and thank You for all Your loving-kindness toward me. You have forgiven all my sins and "redeemed my life from the pit" of despair and desperation in a world that ignores You and seeks to destroy anything related to You. No matter how great Your love is for all the world, the truth of Your love and forgiveness is often kept hidden by those who would seek to do harm to others. Yet, by Your grace and the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit, working through Your Word, I am kept safely in Your loving and protective arms, forgiven of all my sins and empowered to be a faithful and courageous ambassador and witness to Your love and redemption for the world in Jesus. Help me to be ever faithful to Your calling of me to be a disciple of Jesus' Christ, in whose precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.