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Last week I completed another trip around the sun. Because we were attending a convention, there really wasn’t anything special about the day. That is usually not the case in our family, but I have spent many of my birthdays at conventions, so the celebration gets moved to another day.

Birthday celebrations involve parties and friends and decorations and cake and presents. It has become an expectation in our culture. And it seems like children’s birthday parties have become a competition of sorts, with people spending absurd amounts of money to lay bragging rights as to whose party was the best.

Birthday celebrations have not always been a reality. Much has been written about the origins of celebrating birthdays coming from mythology and magic. Some will tell us that Jewish tradition did not allow for birthday celebrations, yet interestingly they always tell us how old someone was when they died.

It became a custom in the early church to speak of the day of a person’s death as his or her “birthday” to a new life. St Ambrose wrote, “the day of our burial is called our birthday, because, being set free from the prison of our crimes, we are born to the liberty of the Saviour“, and “wherefore this day is observed as a great celebration, for it is in truth a festival of the highest order to be dead to our vices and to live to righteousness alone.”

Jesus spoke with Nicodemus about the need to be “born again.” It is not something we do, but something God gives us. And our new life does not have to wait until the day of our death to begin. It is a reality in our lives here and now.

1 Peter 1:3–4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,

That is something worth celebrating.

Matthew 28:19-20  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This was my confirmation verse. I asked my dad, my pastor, if that could be the verse spoken over me as I was confirmed in my faith. He said he would think about it, saying it was not a “normal” confirmation verse. In the end, he used it, and I’ve always loved this passage.

From early on, I wanted to be a pastor. When my siblings and I played “church,” I always insisted that I had to be the pastor. I felt called early in life to follow in the footsteps of my father. Hence the request for my confirmation verse.

In High School, I got sidetracked. I was a good student, especially in math. A petroleum engineer in my home congregation hired me to plot oil well production from computer printouts onto logarithmic paper. He used that to extrapolate and predict future production. He was paying me as a high school student a lot of money to sit at a desk. I became interested and decided to pursue petroleum engineering as a career. Being a good student at the top of my class, I got scholarships that enabled me to attend Texas A&M on a free ride.

Everything was great. I enjoyed being an Aggie, and I was making good grades. But God wouldn’t stop pestering me. One day in October as I was studying Calculus in my room, I looked up and saw my Bible on the shelf. I pulled it down and started reading it. I honestly don’t remember what I read that day. But after spending about an hour reading God’s Word, I called my dad and told him I thought I needed to transfer to Concordia in Austin and start studying for the ministry. I transferred in the middle of my freshman year.

We don’t always answer God’s call, or maybe we don’t answer it right away, but it is still there. Go. Make Disciples. Baptize and Teach. Share the message of Jesus, not just with those who already know it, but with those who don’t. That is why the church exists.

Lord, help us find the proper balance between caring for those who are members of the household of faith and reaching out to those dying without you. As we hear that good news again this week, may it fill us and renew us. Make us eager to share this Good News.  Amen.

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When I hear or read the word “excellent” I am often reminded of my father. He instilled in me at an early age that you should always put your best effort into everything. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, you should strive to do your best with the abilities God has given you.

However, we all fall short of excellence on a regular basis. That is why knowing and believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior is such a wonderful thing. He was indeed the most excellent of all, living a perfect life and offering that as the payment for every sin. Because you know and believe that, you can rest assured that you have forgiveness and life everlasting. That needs to go with you as you journey through life.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.  Paul said that, offering himself as an example to follow because he was following the example of Christ. Who do you follow? As you journey through this world, you learn who not to follow. It is probably not a good idea to follow someone who says, “Hold my beer and watch this!” Yet learning comes from seeing and making mistakes. So keep learning from those things. Repent of your sins, take the forgiveness Jesus earned for you, and go on. And follow good examples.

The reason you can be confident following the example of Paul is because he follows Jesus. That is the real source of excellence. Jesus embodied all those words Paul mentioned: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Jesus is all that and more because of who He is and what He has done. He came to live among us, one of us, without sin. And He took the sins of everyone to the cross to make the payment necessary for everyone to be forgiven. You need to have this faith on your journey.

We arrived safely in Omaha on Sunday evening. Cheryl had meetings yesterday, so I had the day to do what I wanted. I decided to walk to a grocery store to get breakfast items, snacks and sodas for our room. It was a beautiful morning, so I decided to walk. Google Maps said I could walk the 3.7 miles in one hour and fifteen minutes. I needed some exercise, so I went for it.

I walked through the campus of Creighton University, which is beautiful. It was well kept and even had some shade trees every now and then. Next came a neighborhood of well-maintained homes that appeared to have been built around 100 years ago. There were oak trees lining the street that were almost that old.

I got to see lots of flowers, some of which we have growing in our yard back home. Others that were thriving here we have never been able to grow in our beds. The lawns were mostly manicured and nicely landscaped. I was enjoying the beauty of it all.

I started getting a little warm after about 2 miles, and God had a sprinkler system go off to give me a refreshing little shower. There was then a steep uphill walk for about 2/3 of a mile, but it was mostly shaded and God has a nice little breeze blow right on my face at that time. During that time, I had put my phone in my pocket. When I took it out to see how much further I had to go, all the apps had shut down and the screen had a message saying that my phone was overheating. I was glad it wasn’t the owner who was overheating.

The last third of a mile was all downhill. The trip took me just five minutes longer that Google said it would. And I got everything on my list at the store.

I saw God’s gracious provision for me throughout my walk. I simply tried to take it all in and be in the moment. I remembered and thought about the theme of the first National Youth Gathering I attended: “Blessed in the Journey.” Too often in life I have rushed through things, trying to get from point A to point B without enjoying the journey. Yesterday was not one of those days. As I walked I thanked God for letting me enjoy the journey.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

I live in the certainty that Jesus is my Savior from sin and death. I know He has given me everything I need to be reconciled to God the Father. But He has given me so much more. The ability to walk and see. The chance to enjoy my life and the places I have been. Blessings to numerous to count. I should remember that more often.

I hope you will be blessed in your journey today.

Oh, in case you were wondering, I took an Uber back to the hotel. I was blessed by the A/C in that vehicle and a delightful conversation with my driver.

Yesterday we went to McAllister’s Deli after worship to get something to eat on our way to the airport. When I was finished eating, a young man came to our table and asked if I was finished so he could take my plate. I said I was and he grabbed my plate. When he did so the fork on my plate fell to the floor. He didn’t hesitate, but squatted down immediately and picked it up.

After he walked away, Cheryl laughed. Not at him but at us. She noted how quickly he went down and popped right back up again. I saw her point. These days, when I drop something, I ask myself how badly I want it before deciding if it is worth bending over. My knees are getting less cooperative all the time. I don’t kneel down or get down on the ground to work on something without an exit strategy!

After we arrived at the airport, we were waiting in the seats at the gate for our flight to Omaha for the LWML convention. Cheryl was looking over some papers from her backpack, and as if to prove her point, her container of pens and highlighters slid off her lap and fell between the seats. It bounced to an area between the two rows of seats where I could not reach it without getting down on my hands and knees. It was bad enough the first time, but she did it again about 10 minutes later! After the second time I took it away from her and told her she was not allowed to keep that on her lap any longer. We both laughed again.

I thought of these passages.

Proverbs 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:15  All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Cheryl and I have laughed a lot together over the years. I think it comes from the peace and joy we have in our lives knowing Jesus. He is the one who gives us cheerful hearts. Knowing that He did everything we need to be forgiven for all our sin and spend eternity in heaven with our Maker changes the way we face things. Like bodies that are aging.

I’m still waiting for the Good News to bring health to my bones, especially my knees. But I know the Good News of Jesus has given me the spiritual healing I so desperately needed. So I’ll keep laughing with my wife as long as I can.

Once again I am sharing one of the videos Cheryl and I recorded during the time after the government mandated lockdown for Covid 19. I hope it is a blessing to you today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d4zyAQdetk