Shade Tree Wisdom 11/22/13

          More thoughts on reaching 93.

          Joshua had an interesting life, didn't he. He was one of the spies Moses had sent originally to spy out the land, and he and Caleb had tried to get the people to enter then, but were voted down, loudly. He was Moses’ right hand man and when Moses died, Joshua became the leader who led them into the promised land. When he reached 110, he called the people and said to them, “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you, not one thing has failed.” Joshua 23,14.

          Joshua speaks for many of us. “Not one word has failed of his promises”. For the years have been rich with blessing. So as Pastor I could always speak truth. Truths we find in the holy Bible. The Gospel of John tells us that “many others things Jesus did that are not written in this book, but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through His name.” John 20, 30-31.

          The LCMS clearly states what it believes. Not only do we have the Bible, we add to that the written confessions and books like Luther’s Small Catechism and the Hymnbook. All alike teach the same truths, that we believe and teach and live by.

          That was the message St. Paul and the Apostles carried into their world. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Sinners, Solomon speaks about men’s heart. He writes, “The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they do to the dead.” Eccl. 9,3.

          Mankind, since the fall into sin, had a need for salvation, and since he is a sinner born, he is helpless That is why Jesus came as the Babe born in Bethlehem.

          It was starting to snow the day I was born. That was a Friday. That Sunday it was still snowing and they took me to church to be baptized.(My first ride in a car, my uncle Ed’s Model T). So I became an “heir according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3,7. Now Psalm 139, says, “In thy book all my members were written, when as yet there was none of them.” V.16. So the time has extended to this moment, and no matter what, “How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them.” V.17.

          And He blesses me still.

GPD 11/22/13