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A few years back, the ACLU’s posted on their website: “It is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment.”  Is freedom of speech the first thing mentioned in the First Amendment? Absolutely not. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The ACLU is so agenda driven that it often ignores the facts. Freedom of speech and the other freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights all flow from the understanding that an individual’s freedom is first and best expressed in freedom to worship God. Conventional wisdom thinks freedom leads to truth, but the Bible says, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Of course, freedom of religion continues to come under attack. All three branches of our government seem to be trying to remove any vestige of Christianity from the lives. I know this is disturbing and troubling to many of you, but let’s try to keep it all in perspective.

Christians should stop expecting the government to be the teacher of Christian values and morality. I think that is a big part of the problem. People thought that the government would always follow the teachings of the Bible and impose those beliefs on everyone. And because they believed that to be true, the followers of Jesus became lazy and complacent. But our nation’s laws are not based on the Bible. They are based on what the people say they want. When Christians were the majority of those in control, thinks went well for us. That is no longer the case. And what people want is constantly changing. We are seeing more and more that people are following their sinful nature and desires. They are looking for happiness and peace and contentment by pursuing lust and greed and sin, and they will come up empty. Going down that road will continue to bring disappointment.

We are witnessing people indulge in all kinds of depravity and having it be labeled as acceptable. We are right to pray, “The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.” We know that God will remain with His people. But when people are not following God’s Word, Satan is there to fill the void. He promises pleasure and satisfaction, but brings pain, conflict, hatred and cruelty.

The message is not all doom and gloom. While it may not be what we would like to see, the government declaring yet another sin legal does not spell defeat for the followers of Jesus Christ. He is still risen from the dead and He is still in control. He has purchased us back from sin and death to give us forgiveness and life, and He wants only the best for us.

The government is not responsible for getting God’s Word out. You and I were given that task. It is our job – as the followers of Jesus Christ, those who know the truth – it is our job to proclaim the whole counsel of God to the world around us, those in far away lands and those living on our street. And the Word of God we have to share is more than Commandments, more than the Law of God, more than pronouncements of condemnation. You and I are called to share the precious, priceless Good News of Jesus Christ as Savior, the only hope for anyone to be saved from sin. You and I have in our possession and must share in our words and actions the message that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and He did that by living a perfect life and dying to pay for the sins of all men. You and I know that He rose again in triumph on the third day to open heaven for all who will believe in Him, and that is what we have been called to share with our neighbors. We are to announce the freedom that Christ brings. That is our job, not that of the government.

We rejoice that we live in a land that still has religious freedom, and we want to safeguard that freedom so that we can continue to worship God and share Him with others. But don’t confuse your freedom to worship and the government’s responsibility. The government grants you earthly freedom. Your job is to use that freedom to share Christ and the spiritual freedom He offers.

Earlier this week Cheryl and I took our boat out for the first time this year. We had a lovely day on the lake. While the temperatures soared to triple digits here in North Texas, we stayed under the shade of the Bimini top on our pontoon boat and enjoyed the cool breeze blowing across the top of the water. We got in the water for a swim. And we fished. For hours. We came across several schools of small fish, but after several hours of trying, we only caught one fish big enough to keep. It wasn’t that we were not trying. We used several different tactics and lures and techniques, but at the end of the day there was only one sand bass in the live well.

A day like that may seem discouraging, but we were still happy we had the chance to be together and on the water. And we did catch fish, which was what we were trying to do.

At least a third of the disciples of Jesus were fishermen:  Peter, Andrew, James and John. They were not recreational fishermen, but people who did it for a living. And they also knew what it was like to have a “bad day” fishing.

Luke 5:1–11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

They fished all night and caught nothing. We fished several hours and caught little. But we kept trying. I wonder if I have been as persistent in being a fisher of men?

Lord, forgive me for the times I have not been faithful to my calling to be a fisher of men. Help me to be as persistent in my efforts to let other people know about what a wonderful God and Savior you are as I am in my efforts to catch fish on when I am on the lake! And thank you for loving me and dying in my place to make the payment for all my sin and shortcomings.

Psalm 27 Of David. ¹ 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? ² When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. ³ Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. ⁴ One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. ⁵ For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. ⁶ Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. ⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. ⁹ Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. ¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. ¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. ¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. ¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

A boss or coworker is telling lies about you, saying you didn’t do your job properly when you did.

A family member is spreading vicious rumors about you that have no basis in reality.

Kids at school tease you about having done something that you did not do.

The Eighth Commandment says “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

 Luther offered this explanation of this commandment in his Small Catechism.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

Even with this admonition, the things I listed at the beginning of this devotion still happen every day. And more. King David had the same kinds of issues in his life. And more. In today’s Psalm he complained: Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

Even with this happening, David affirmed his confidence in God.

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?

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock

And he encourages us to do the same when we are attacked and accused.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

We do so knowing that God’s promises are not empty words. He came down here and paid for our sin. He died in our place. He conquered death so that we could have life with Him now and life with Him forever. God keeps His promises. Be strong. Take heart. Wait for the Lord.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

I think about the men and women who have taught me the faith and remember them fondly. Some were those who taught me in my youth. Others lived out their faith with confidence and conviction in the face of trials and hardships. These days, there are fewer and fewer of those folks on this side of heaven. They have received their promised crown.

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

I have now reached the point in my life where I have a Medicare card. I don’t know how many more trips around the sun I will make, but I pray that God will continue to work through me so that others will come to know and love and believe in my Jesus.

There is a song by Anne Wilson that conveys what I hope to do in my life. You can listen to one arrangement of it at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ey1U7czXVo

Who would take my cross to Calvary?
Pay the price for all my guilty?
Who would care that much about me?
Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus

Psalm 20 For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!

We trust every day. We trust that our car will start when we get in it. We trust that our belongings will be safely in our homes when we return to them. We trust that we will be able to walk down a street without being assaulted or attacked. Many times that trust is betrayed. A dead battery in your car. A storm or a thief invades your home. Violence in the streets.

I want to live my life in a trusting manner. I refuse to let fear dictate my actions and decisions. But I want to make sure I place my trust where it belongs.

That is what David discussed in the Psalm above. If you place your trust in worldly things, including money and might and power, you will be disappointed. But we trust in the name of the Lord our God. The one who made all things. The one who promised a rescue from sin and death and delivered on that promise by coming down here to take our punishment and give His righteousness to us. The one who works through His Word to lead us to faith and keep us in that faith. We trust in the name of the Lord our God. He is with us every step of the way. He continues to show His loving care in our lives while we are here and will do so eternally when we go to be with Him. We trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Lord Jesus, our God, we trust you. Help us to trust you more and more, that we live with the confidence that comes from being your redeemed children, and shine your light to those we encounter this day.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

This past Sunday was Father’s Day. Yesterday I wrote about my father, whose birthday often fell on Father’s Day. So I thought I’d share a few more thoughts about fathers with you today.

Many of problems with youth today are attributed to not having a father in the home or not having a father who provides a positive role-model. I read the story of a preacher who had a stray dog show up at his house. His three boys fell in love with that dog. There were three long white hairs in the tail of what was otherwise a completely black coat of fur. A short time later there was an ad in the paper announcing a lost dog that perfectly described their new pet. Knowing how attached his boys had become to this animal, he took them outside and together they carefully separated the three white hairs in the tail and removed them. The real owner heard that this preacher had found a dog, and came to see if it might be his lost pet. The dog showed every sign of recognition, and the man was ready to take him home. But the preacher said, “Didn’t you say that your dog had three white hairs in its tail?” The owner, unable to find those identifying marks, was forced to leave. The preacher later confided, “we kept the dog, but I lost my three boys for Christ.” His sons no longer had any confidence in what their father professed. He had not practiced what he preached.

His actions spoke much louder than his words. We all need to be aware that our children are watching to see whether or not our actions will match our words.

We need fathers who are willing to lead their homes in a manner that is God-pleasing, pointing to Christ and living in response to the salvation He gives. A young man named Jim had such a father. He lived in Hamilton, Missouri. While a teenager, he got a job working for a grocer. He liked his work and planned to make a career of it. One night he came home and proudly told his father how shrewd his employer was. The grocer made it a habit to mix low quality coffee in with the premium, expensive brand in order to increase his profit. Jim laughed as he told this story at the supper table. But his father, a Baptist minister, didn’t laugh. He saw nothing funny about the practice of cheating people. He said, “Tell me, if your employer found that someone was pawning off an inferior product to him for the price of the best, would he think they were being shrewd and laugh about it?” Jim could see that his father was disappointed. “I guess not,” he replied, “I guess I never thought about it that way.” Jim’s father told him to go to the grocer the next day, collect whatever wages he had coming, and to inform him that he would no longer be working there. Jobs were not plentiful in Hamilton, but Rev. Penney would rather his son be unemployed than to be associated with a crooked businessman. It was just one of the many lessons James Cash Penney learned from his father on his way to establishing the retail empire that we know as JCPenny. In fact, his name became synonymous with doing business according to the Golden Rule. This was due in large part to the positive witness of his Christian father.

I pray that all Christian fathers will strive to be a good example and bring their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Many of you know that my dad was a pastor. He served 5 different congregations, the last one being in Dallas, where he served for 23 years. His name was Fred, and every now and then one of the more seasoned members of the Texas District will still call me “Fred” because they remember my dad. He’s been in heaven since 1991. Today would have been his 96^th birthday, so I’ve been thinking about him the last few weeks.

Like any child, there were plenty of times I rebelled against my father. There were times I was sure he was the dumbest man alive. And since I was called into the same vocation, I was often under a very large shadow. I remember leading chapel services at Concordia College in Austin during my sophomore year. It just so happened that the Board of Regents of the college was meeting on campus that day, so they attended chapel. That added to my anxiety when I walked in and saw all these leaders of our church sitting there with the professors and students. Carl Heckmann was our District President at that time. As he was walking out of the chapel after the service I heard him ask one of the professors, “Say, isn’t that Fred’s boy?” That is how I was known through college and seminary to many my professors: “Fred’s boy.” Even when I got to my first parish in Oklahoma, many of the pastors there knew Dad, including my circuit counselor, who had been dad’s classmate, so I was still “Fred’s boy.” And of course, coming back to Texas, I lived with that legacy. Early on I resented it, then endured it, and finally came to appreciate being known that way.

Over the years, I have attended various functions throughout our Synod. Many times when I’ve been introduced to people, they have said things to me like “Your father confirmed me … Your father married us … Your father helped us get our congregation started.” Earlier this year we attended worship on Ash Wednesday at a congregation dad served in Abilene, Texas, and a woman there were several members who remembered him. I once had a man tell me that he was a Christian because of my father’s witness to him. The same is true for me. God worked through him and mom to lead me to faith in Jesus.

It wasn’t always easy being my father’s child. I’m sure my daughters would tell you the same thing about me. Neither of us was perfect. We had our share of disagreements. But he was a Christian father to our family in the best sense of the term. He saw to it that we were brought up in the training and instruction of the Lord. He taught me to be a child of my heavenly Father, as well as his child. He is the one who baptized me, confirmed me, officiated at my wedding (with my father-in-law), and ordained me as a pastor. He is also the one who spanked me, although not as often as I deserved. He grounded me, loved me, cared for me, provided for me. But most of all, he brought me up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Just as I sometimes rebelled against my being my father’s child, all of us at times rebel against being the children of our heavenly father. Sometimes we hear those in the world try to ridicule us by saying, “Oh, you’re a Christian” and somehow we resent it. We don’t realize just how good we have it! We are His Children. He is the one who loves us, loves us enough to do anything for us, even to the point of giving up His only-begotten Son to pay for our sin. Your heavenly Father’s love led Him to provide you a way to escape your deserved punishment for sin. He promises that if you put your faith in Jesus, you are forgiven. You will not have to die eternally. This is what your loving Father gives you.

Earthly fathers who follow Christ have been called to reflect that love in their homes. They are to give us the picture of our heavenly Father, who loves us to the end. There is not a single father who has ever done that perfectly. They all fall short. Yet those who are in Christ Jesus live under the same banner of forgiveness. They confess their sins to God, receive His pardon, and start over in their efforts to be the kind of father God wants them to be.

If you have not been this kind of father, it is not too late to start. God will forgive you and strengthen you to do this. Confess your faults to Him and put your confidence in Christ. Be like that bumper sticker that says, “REAL MEN LOVE JESUS.” Wouldn’t it be great if all children had that impression of their dads?

Last week was VBS at our congregation under the theme “Stellar.” The catch phrase response all week was “Shine Jesus’ light.”

It was a space theme, and our pastor is kind of a space nerd, so he was eating it up. He even built a Nasa-like control center from which to run the Powerpoints, and now has it on his desk with his computer in it. His sermon on Sunday was tied to the VBS theme. He told us about the Artemis astronauts training underwater in darkness to prepare for exploring the South Pole of the moon. He said that originally their missions were going to be several months long, but they are limiting them to only a month at a time. The rationale is that extended time in total darkness has a negative effect on people. Then he said, “Man was not made to live in darkness.” A simple and profound truth.

John 1:1–5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

For Father’s Day, one son-in-law gave me a pair of keychain lights. They are small square LEDs that can clip onto your keys. They also have a kickstand so they can sit on a table. When they were full-time RVers, they said those were very useful. When I turned it on, it was not even pointing toward my face, but it was so bright it startled me and hurt my one good eye a bit!

I thought that must be what it is like for those who have been living in the darkness when the Light of Jesus shines on them. It is kind of scary and makes them uncomfortable. Hopefully believers will shine Jesus’ light in a way that helps those in darkness see it is a good thing, a wonderful thing, a thing that all people need and can have freely.

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

I am glad to have the light of Jesus in my life, and try to shine it for others to see as well. Yesterday I did that with five others guys from my congregation. A member of our congregation had a tree knocked over by a storm last week, leaning dangerously against another tree. We cut it down and hauled it away for them. Today I am going to check on another member who needs a porch repaired to see if it is a job I can do for them. When I have time, I also work with Habitat for Humanity to repair and build homes.

How will you let the light of Jesus shine through you today?  Remember, people were not made to live in darkness.

I attended a men’s Bible Study this week that is working their way through the book of Proverbs. I decided to read through it at home as well.

The first chapter tells us right off the bat that these were written by Solomon, who was given wisdom by God (1 Kings 3:1-15).

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Fear means more than being afraid. The fear of the Lord means we respect Him for who He is. I like to use electricity as an analogy here. I respect electricity, because I know that it is powerful and can hurt me if not used properly. But I am not afraid to plug something into the wall to take advantage of its power.

While God is powerful and able to condemn us, He is loving and chose to reconcile us to Himself instead. He tells us what we need to know and believe to be forgiven. Jesus paid for the sins of the world. That is the knowledge we need above all else.  God wants us to have knowledge and the wisdom to use it properly. Too many despise this wisdom and the discipline that tries to instruct us in it.

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

There is profound wisdom in these words, but they are so difficult to follow. Even the wisest man who ever lived, the one who wrote these words, had trouble heeding this admonition.

Lord, you have led us to faith that gives us the certainty of forgiveness and life. Help us to use the wisdom you have given so that we live lives that show our gratitude to you.

1 John 4:10, 19:  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” …   We love because he first loved us.

There is a profound truth in this passage, and throughout Scripture, that we all need to grasp: God loved us first!  Wrapped up in that is the understanding that love in its purest form is His love for us, not our love for Him!

Psalm 98:3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

John 15:9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.” 

1 John 4:7 …for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 

If everyone who loves has been born of God, then we were transformed by His Love FIRST in order to even know who He is!  His love for us is what allows us to know Him and be born again!

1 John 4:11    “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “

Since God so loved us…He loved us first! That is what empowers us to love each other.

Why is this important? Why is it significant? What difference does it make who loved whom first? Understanding this gives us a clear understanding of who we are as Christians.  It would be impossible for us to keep the command “love one another” unless we first understood that we are God’s adopted children, dearly loved by Him from before the day we were born, and constantly being molded into His image.  If we did not believe that, we would never find the encouragement, the strength, or the will to attempt to love our own friends and families, much less our enemies!

I read that if a Hebrew-speaking Israeli were to invite you to go to lunch with him, he would do so in such a way that would be translated into English as “Me and you will have lunch today.” That doesn’t sound correct in English, to put the pronoun “me” at the beginning of the sentence, but it is done that way purposely. “Me and you will have lunch today.” Why? Because in Hebrew, the person who is mentioned first pays the bill!  This is why, in Scripture, God says

Genesis 17:7  I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

…between me and you… Who pays?  The answer, of course, is repeated all through God’s Word.

1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

God pays the tab. His love is immeasurable, beyond our comprehension, so vast that it covers everything, and it is everlasting! Jesus was the payment for our sins and the sins of the whole world.