Shade Tree Wisdom 12/31/14

At year end 2014.

“My Soul rejoices,

My spirit voices,

Sing the greatness of the Lord.

For God my Savior,

Has shown me favor

Sing the greatness of the Lord.

With praise and blessing,

Join in confessing,

God Who is solely,

Mighty and Holy,

O sing the greatness of the Lord.

His mercy surely,

Shall rest securely,

On all who fear Him.

Love and revere Him,

 Sing the greatness of the Lord.”

LSB 933,1

GPD 12/31/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/29/14

          The event that changed the world and brought us ‘BC’ and ‘AD’, the birth and life of Jesus Christ in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire. Hardly noticed by anyone else, took place some 35 years before this letter arrived in Rome.

          Rome, the teeming capital of power, bustling with commerce and business activity of all kinds, was also home of much important writing, so this letter hardy made a splash when it arrived.

          There is much to read in Rome. Court documents, official notices, fine poetry and excellent literature, yet this letter has outstayed them all, and is still read for its vital truths. For it is an excellent statement of what God is up in this world, and just why Jesus Christ was born, and what “Jesus Christ Saves” really means to the lost world.

          For here St. Paul, who begins the letter by identifying himself as “servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to tell the Good News” v.1, starts from the beginning and tells the story. How Adam and Eve fell into sin; “ by one man sin entered into the world”, and how this sin was defeated when Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for it, and what this means for the life of the person who believes in Him. Then what happens to their living, their outlook, and their existence. How they can, and do, live in hope, and how they can defeat the temptations thrown at them by the devil.

          It’s an important letter because it gives us the truth about our way of salvation. It's the last verses we look at are so striking. Paul ends by throwing in this caution: “Fellow Christians, I urge you to watch those who cause disagreements and make people fall for going against the teaching you learned. Turn away from them. Such men are not serving Christ, our Lord, but their own bellies. By their fine flattering talk are deceiving innocent people”. Then he adds this word, “I want you to be experts in what is good, and not even beginners in evil. It will not be long before the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16,17-20. Paul uses “I urge you”. He means the words to be taken as strong warning. Please pay attention. I insist you fellow my advice. It is pressing.

          A recent study tell that a mere 10 percent of all Christians believe they have the entire truth and says, “there's some good in all religions”. Don’t believe it. Your Lord says, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father But By ME”.  John 14,6.

GPD  12/29/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/27/14

          Church services usually end with the Aaronic  Blessing.

“The Lord bless thee,

And keep thee;

He make His face shine upon thee,

And be gracious

unto thee,

The Lord lift up His Countenance upon thee,

And give thee peace”.

 Numbers 6,24-26.

         So the worshiper always leaves the service with God’s blessing ringing in his or her ears. Ready to begin the new week.

          These days during quiet moments I wonder where this “peace that passes all understanding” disappeared to. I remember one afternoon on a cold winter’s day making a pastoral visit to a member who was staying in a room with a family who were taking care of her. So after celebrating the Lord’s Supper and our visit and devotion together, I left to drive home. My way led through deep forest and there was a lake set on the side. I stopped and looked at the quiet water, several ducks were floating and eating, a Heron stood fishing, He caught a minnow while I watched. And I was flooded with a feeling of “Peace with God”.

          The moment passed, I had “promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep”.  So I reluctantly drove on. Suddenly the forest gave way to a casino run by Indians on their reservation, and that was going full blast, with lights and noise and people all over. And that “peace with God” lay shattered by civilization.

          It strikes me that our life is too often just like that. Our quiet moments are broken by  unexpected company or a telephone request for urgent help with something, or whatever.

          Let us seek to try to live with that blessing and peace with each other and the people we meet daily. God surely will bless such a life, so lived in His grace.

GPD 12/27/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/26/14

Peace I leave with you;

My peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives,

Do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled,

Neither let them be afraid.”

John 14,27

          Yes, Christmas is here and Christ is born bringing “peace on earth, good will to men”. You enjoyed good fellowship with family and friends. It was a nice Christmas. Except – did you get into an argument with that fellow again and came away fuming? Remember your wife asked you not to discuss politics with him because his thinking, you said, was twisted. But you thought you might set him straight, and now you are fuming.

          So where’s the peace Jesus is talking about?

          It starts with an apology. You apologize to him, that nut? Yes, because you’ re baptized, so have been filled with the Holy Spirit. So, in Jesus’ name, apologize (and mean it from your heart).

          That is one way this Peace on earth fills us with real peace.

          In Jesus’ Name bring us peace. So ends the Christmas story.

GPD 12/26/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/25/14

         

And the angel chorus still rings out:

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among those with

Whom He is pleased.” Luke 2,14

          Christ is Born.

          A Blessed Christmas to you.

GPD Christmas Day 2014

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/24/14

          If you will, cast your mind back to when you were about 6. Remember? The time simply dragged. It seemed to be standing still. Would Christmas never get here?

          Now change to the time when you were about 26. What a difference. Time simply flew. So many things -  letters to write, notes to pen, envelopes to send, presents to wrap. Maybe some last minute shopping, then get the ham ready for the oven, dinner planned, and then get the family ready for worship.

          And at just the right time, as always, Christmas is here.

          And so:

“Turn to me and be saved,

All the ends of the earth,

For I am God, and there is no other.”

Isaiah 45,22

GPD 12/24/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/23/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/`13/14

          On day closer as time marches on. So use this prayer:

“All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son,

Ever more your voices raising, to the eternal Three in One.

Come and worship, Come and worship,

Worship Christ the new born King.”

And let the Spirit strengthen your faith in this King Our Savior

GPD 12/23/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/23/14

          It’s  Christmas coming.

“O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels,

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord  Immanuel” LSB 301,4

          I send this precious thought while awaiting His coming.

GPD 12/23/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/18/14

          I believe it was Blaise Pascal who used the term for a “God appointed vacuum in a man that Only God can fill".  And men search frantic ways to fill this place, and only God can do so.  When the Holy Spirit enters, that happens.  That is what the Birth means.  Jesus came, was born, lived, suffered, and died for us, and in Holy Baptism He sends His Holy Spirit to us to fill that vacuum, and makes us righteous.

          The Hymn I send along expresses it so well.

“By Grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless.”

          Think that God has sent His Spirit to fill that “God appointed vacuum”.

GPD 12/18/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 12/2/14

          Enter December, the last month in this eventful year.  The Church is now in the Season of Advent, preparing for and looking to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem.  The end result of that is, of course, our salvation.  One hymn writer expressed it this way:

“My sin, Oh the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”

          The State and local land owners so far have replanted some 40,000 acres with native grasses to create a bird friendly habitat.  For when native grasses were removed to plant other grasses more suitable to range for cattle, such plantings did not provide the habitat where the quail and other birds could survive.  State biologist estimate quail population dropped 75% over the last 30 years.

          Texas lawmakers last year earmarked $6 million for restoring prime habitat, expanding research, and educating land owners.

          Jim Willis was a pioneer in the movement.  He removed cattle, used prescribed burns and herbicides, before planting native grasses, sand plum trees, and shrubs. In time quail and some 30 species of grassland birds, as well as rabbits, deer, and ducks returned to the property.  The new prairie also acts as a sponge when it rains and replenishes the aquifers below the surface.

          That is what Advent leads to.  It brings us to the Birth of Jesus Christ, who was born “to save His people from their sin.”  To us who are all born in sin, it is the message that tells us “Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."

          Let the birth bring you rejoicing anew in this year of your life.

GPD 12/2/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/26/14

          The year was 1863, and the country was embroiled in the civil war.  President Lincoln struggled with a thanksgiving proclamation, but he was also concerned with the soul of the country.  In March he said, among other things:

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties

Of heaven; we have been preserved, these many

Years, in peace and prosperity; we have

Grown in numbers, wealth, and power

As no other nation. BUT

We have forgotten God”.

          The local paper this mornings paper carried an article titled: “Be More Than Thankful, show some gratitude”

          A dictionary definition tell us being thankful means that something you hoped would happen, did.  Being grateful means you appreciate something done for you or for something you have.

          I believe that is what St. Paul means when he wrote, “I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.”  There it lies, and we have read it many times, even quoted the words but often forgotten to live them.  Being grateful makes us happier. Some doctor of psychology said ungrateful people cannot be happy.

          So tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  Lets sing:

“Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,

Lead us from night to never-ending day,

Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,

And glory. Laud, and praise be ever Thine,

Amen.  Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

GPD 11/26/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/24/14

          I’m sure we all are aware of the snowstorms in western New York state and especially the Buffalo area.  Because that area is so snowy, the building codes require homes and businesses to be able to handle 50 pounds per square foot of snow on their roofs.  That would be, according to structural engineer Mark Bajoreck, as heavy as a slab of concrete 4 inches thick.  No wonder they picture people busily shoveling snow from their roofs.

         The hymn lines read:

“Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

Join with all  nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness,

Great is Thy faithfulness.

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”

          And some of the proof lies in this promise of God to our first parents,

“And God said,’behold I Have given you every plant yielding seed

That is on the face of the earth, and every tree yielding fruit.

You shall have them for food’ ”. Geneses 1, 29.30.

          So snow of winter.  Now what is there to keep us warm?  Oil, gas, coal and wood.  Roughly 2.5 million households use wood for heating.  If you use oak, you will need 3 cords of wood to heat a 3000 square foot home.  If you use soft woods like pine, you will need 5.3 cords.  One cord measures 4x4x8 feet.

“So all I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”

And may God bless each.

GPD 11/24/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/16/14

          On this eve of my 94^th natal day allow me to share a prayer I ran across in my reading.  It is ascribed to St. Francis of Assisi.

“Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,

Or watch, or weep tonight.

And give your angels charge over

Those who sleep.

Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ,

Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones.

Soothe Your suffering ones.

Pity Your afflicted ones.

In the Name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

         With that nighttime prayer rest refreshed under His care.

GPD 11/16/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/14/14

            As he grew older, St. Peter wrote some letters “to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” 1 Peter 1, 1,2a.  He is their shepherd, and is very concerned that when he dies, they might very well forget the true teaching.

                So He writes in 2 Peter 1, 13-15, as follows: “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth you have.  I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus made clear to me.  And I will make every effort And every effort, so that after my departure you may at any time recall these things.”

          Maybe that is the reason why I sit down at this machine and write these Shade Tree notes to you now and then.  Because the Lord has told me the same thing he told St. Peter.  “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength they are eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone.” Psalm 90,10.

          Because you and I live in a culture that is not kind to the Christian faith; that often attacks the people of faith and makes their lives miserable and often legally costly.

          St. Peter warned his hearers about this. He writes, 1 Peter 5,8,9:  “Be sober-minded, be watchful, your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

          The adversary, the devil, is quite active.  He tempts, he allures, he looks “like an angel of light” to deceive the believer.  He never stops trying to get you to fall away.  “Are you sure God said that” is still his most effective weapon.

          But before we despair, remember God’s promise to us.  “God is faithful, and He will not let you to be tempted beyond your ability.  But with the temptation He will provide a way to escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10,13.  So “Put on the whole armor of God, and having done all stand.”  And may God bless that life lived under His Word.

GPD 11/14/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/12/14

“I Remember the days of old;

I meditate on all You have done;

I ponder the works of Thy hands.”

Psalm l43,5.

          Memory can play an important part of making our life better and more interesting.  The Christian who has a bank filled with memorized verses is often better armed against temptations, and temptations do come daily, unexpectedly, out of the blue, in quiet struggles, because “as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he will devour.  Whom resist steadfast in the faith”.

          In my active ministry, I rarely saw a catechism lying somewhere handy, looking as if it was  being used.  And that puzzled me and I often mentioned it.  The Pastor in my youth always had a catechism on his desk, and he regularly referred to it.  Dr. Luther, who wrote it, said he studied it daily.

          Why such attention to this simple book?  It reviews and recalls things the Christian needs for his daily walk.  We do well to “grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

          Fortune magazine, 11/17/14, calls that their advice issue, and it quotes a number of bits of advice from all kinds of people, mostly in positions of leadership.  One that strikes me is from the CEO of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi.  She is quoted as saying “Never stop learning.  You don’t know it all. Admitting this is not a sign of weakness.  The strongest leaders are those who are lifelong students.”

          Thus, when the Psalmist says, “I Ponder the works of Thy hands” v.5, he is really talking about thinking and ruminating on God’s work and God’s  world.  When we do that, the Lord very often gives us a renewed understanding and a refreshing zeal for the work of Being His Child.

          And that reminds me, there is a little shelf at the door of each apartment in this village, and on it appeared this sign.  A cross, and under that cross a little sign reading “Gods Child”.

          And so are we all, baptized children of a loving Father who loved us enough to send His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to come, live, and die to rise again, so pay for the sins we have done and do daily. So yes, God’s Child means something comforting.

GPD 11/12/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/5/14

          In his pastoral letters Paul is always quick with his words of thanks.  For example, he ends the first letter to Thessalonica with this:

“Be at peace among yourselves. . .admonish

The idle, encourage the fainthearted,

help the weak, be patient with them all,. . .

rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

for you.” 2 Thes.5, 13-18.

          To “give thanks in all circumstances”, according to this letter, “Is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

           And that statement gives me pause, because it seems so very difficult.  I just read about Gordie Howe, the longtime great hockey player who retired at age 52.  He was visiting his daughter here in Texas when he was felled by a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side with impaired speech.  How does that family “give thanks in all circumstances”?

          Or what so often happens.  You go to a doctor, he runs some tests and asks you to come back when he gets the results, and often the result dismays us.  It’s not really what one might want to hear.

          But then we think a bit more and remember that our God says to us, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”, and it begins to start to make some sense.  For did not God also say, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16,33.

          And remember this wonderful word also from St. Paul, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you to be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will provide a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10, 13.)

          Some ruminations on a phrase that seems to make little sense, until we look a bit more closely to see how the Lord works in our lives, always to our good.

GPD 11/5/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 11/1/14

“For all the saints who from their labors rest,

Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed

Allelujah! Allelujah!

          And we are warned to set our clocks back in time, because daylight saving time ends, and we finish another try by man to set things to suit himself.  But more important it is to spend a moment to think of the saints who have gone this year, or in years past.

           Especially so since we also just observed the Reformation.  And can think of the struggle of a Martin Luther, who really spent His life struggling with the Church he was born in and longed to serve by correcting the doctrine it had gotten wrong over the centuries.

          Thank God we have the true faith.  We see that salvation is a real gift, it is not something we earn or deserve, it  is “a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast”.  As St Paul teaches so clearly.

          I remember as a lad being in a church service and observing all saints day. And Pastor read the names of those who died, and I knew them all, even uncle Silas who had been killed when his team ran away and he was thrown and hit his head on a rock.  A tragic time, for he was a likable young man who had a promising life cut short.

The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest;

Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.

Allelujah! Allelujah!. LSB 677,1,6.

   
       Let the day remind each of loved ones gone before us to His blessing.

GPD 11/1/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/27/14

          In the opening chapter of the Book of Romans St. Paul described how people act to what may be “clearly seen” about God’s creation when He writes:

“It is written, the just shall live by faith. But

God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human

mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate,

as people try to put a shroud

 over truth. But the basic reality of God is

plain enough. Open your eyes

and there it is!

By taking a long and thoughtful look

At what God has created, people have always been able to see

what their eyes can’t see, His eternal power and

The mystery of His divine being, so

Nobody has a good excuse.” Romans l, 17-20 MSG

          The words came to mind as I was reading an article in the local paper about the owls that inhabit our area.

          Their eyes can catch the faintest glimmer of light, so they are able to hunt in near darkness. Their ears are set not quite in line, so they can echo locate prey, and their face, shaped like a parabolic disk, channels to outsized eardrums. Using that equipment, a barn owl can locate a mouse in total darkness.

          So while we sleep, owls go on the hunt of scurrying rodents, slithering snakes, toads, creepy-crawly insects, and other critters venturing into the night. And their flight is silent because the leading edge of their wings have a layer of soft feathers that dampen the noise of air streaming over their surface.

          God’s creation so made that it suits exactly the purpose in which it exists.

Indeed, “His eternal and divine nature have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, so that they are without excuse." Romans l,20.

GPD 10/27/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/22/14

          Several members of Living Word stopped by for a visit.  I always appreciate such visits, and we got to talking  about the state of the church and the world we are living in which seems more and more hostile to Jesus Christ.  Yet did not Jesus himself meet opposition of the leadership and was crucified for us, so that we might have the forgiveness of sins.

          And we spoke of the power of the Word and the work that is going on in all the world because He commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature”.  And God does bless the message regardless of how it seems.  So I am bold to remind us all of the hymn:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,

As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.”

          We do well to remember the words of promise for our living tomorrow.

GPD 10/22/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/15/14

“Go, My children, with My blessing,
Never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you,
You are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river,
I Have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with My blessing,
You are My own.” 
TLH 922,1

          I was thinking of all the blessings the Lord has granted in my lifetime, and humming the “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” and checking the hymnal for all the words when my eyes fell on the lines above.

          The words are from a hymn by writer and hymn-composer Jaroslav Vajda, now deceased.  (We were at the Seminary together).  And it came to my mind how we so often simply take all God’s riches to us for granted.  And they are given because He loves us in spite of our failings.

          In this Reformation month my thoughts are often on Luther and his valiant struggle for the TRUTH.  One friend once asked him how he endured all his troubles. He said simply, “Baptizo sum”.  And that is always our answer too, “I have been baptized”.

          Indeed,

“In My love’s baptismal river,

I have made you mine forever”.

          And with that comforting thought I leave you.

GPD 10/15/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/8/14

“The heavens declare the glory of God,

And the sky above proclaims His handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech, and

Night to night reveals His knowledge” Psalm 19,1,2.

          And did you see the eclipse last night?  It was just ending when many got up.  The creating hand of God is set before us so clearly so that, as St. Paul says

in Romans l,19,20:

“For what can be known about God is plain to them

Because God has shown it to them. . .

So that they are without excuse.”

          The eclipse surely shows us God’s order, for man can predict it precisely. 

          Another indication of God’s hand in the creation is the arrival just now in Houston of the Rufius Hummingbird.  This 3 and one half inch long bird weighs less than a penny, yet it crossed the Rockies to get here.  It spent the summer in the Pacific Northwest, maybe as far north as Alaska.  Ornithologists know very little about the species and are just beginning really to study it.  But the question always is, “How can such a tiny creation fly so far and find the same area when it arrives.

Indeed:

“The heavens declare the glory of God,”

          And I believe God created it all.

GPD 10/8/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/6/14

“My sin,oh the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not the part, but the whole.

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, all is well with soul”.

          And for the soul forgiven and called righteous before God, I offer this evening prayer:

“O Lord, support us the day long

Of this troublous life, until the shadows lengthen,

And the evening comes,

And the busy world is hushed,

And the fever of life is over,

And our work is done.

Then, Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us safe lodging.

And holy rest,

And peace at the last,

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.”

          And God bless you this day and always.

GPD 10/6/14

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/2/14

          The Village at Gleannlock Farms, the facility where I am now living, hires a service to take care of its extensive lawns.  So as I am typing this I can hear the roar of a mower under my window.  When that ends it will be followed by a blower, and when that is done, they leave a man weeding the flower beds, and his work is silent.  We live in a noisy world.  (This morning’s paper has an article about a man killing a teenager because he would not turn down his loud car music.)

          Fortune magazine, 6/6/14, has an article titled “Silence is Golden” which offers resorts and hotels that offer silence as part of their package.  One of these is situated on its own island, and it takes a 30 minute boat ride to get there.

          Hotels are offering absence of noise as part of its package.  The TV sets are programmed so they can’t exceed a certain volume.

          The trend to silence makes sense.  Noise complaints usually top the list of why guests are dissatisfied.  In our wired world where we are hooked up 24/7, we all need a little stillness to sit and catch our breath.  Even Amtrak offers a ‘quiet car’. The idea came from customers who persuaded a conductor to offer such a car, and the idea caught on.

          Yes, our world seems to be a noisy place.  Often one thinks the person behind in the line is addressing you when he is on his cell phone to a friend.

          So what can we do?

          Find a quiet corner in your home and settle down for some extensive reading of your Bible.  And rise refreshed and ready to face life anew.  That’s my challenge to you to.  May God bless the reading with fresh insight and further meat for the journey.

GPD 10/2/14