“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24
Last Friday and Saturday, there were 3 notices of un-delivered messages to people who receive my messages and I have removed those email addresses from my list. IF you too, would like to stop receiving this message, please send me a reply and I will remove you from the list as well. This message is also found on FaceBook and the Trinity HOPE website.
I worshipped online with Christ Lincoln yesterday and the message from Pastor Dirk Reek spoke about putting lipstick on a pig. I’ve heard and even have used that phrase before, but he nudged my mind to take that phrase in a new direction. Back in the day, when I was in high school in the late 60’s, the word ‘abortion’ was seldom used and when it was, it was akin to a horrible, unforgivable, un-speakable sin in Seward, NE. Twenty years later, my pre-teen daughters and I went on ProLife walks in Lincoln, NE and also stood with other members of Christ Lutheran along ‘O’ Street in silent protest to abortion that was at the time, culturally approved, growing in favor and receiving tax dollars. Today, men marry men, women marry women, men identify as women and women identify as men and our pigs wear lipstick. People that I am friends with have grown frustrated at what is happening in our country and the truth is ‘we’ have allowed ‘sin’ to happen on our watch; we keep smearing lipstick on the pig to make it look good. And after last week, it doesn’t seem that our one Nation under God doesn’t have enough lipstick to hide our sins. Our world needs to confess our sinfulness and turn to the cross of Christ.
In the scripture for today, the lost son didn’t understand how much his father loved him and seldom do we really understand how our Heavenly Father can possibly be excited when we are walking back to Him, head lowered, after being lost in the affairs of this world with lipstick on our face.
The children in the attached photo are some of the 344 that attend Grace Lutheran School in the Les Cayes District. These children felt the earth violently tremble nine days ago and were drenched by Tropical Storm Grace a few days later. They are His kids and they like you and me, have strayed now and then and we have been tempted by this world to turn away. Their temptations are different than our temptations. We take our food for granted and think nothing of spending $86 a month for cable TV, a cell phone, groceries, clothes, shoes; eighty six dollars would feed all the children at this school for one day.
When we find that this world’s temptations don’t bring what we had thought they would, we turn and return home to our Heavenly Father who is changeless. His love is everlasting; for you, for them and for me. Have you been following the temptations of this world recently? Have you been searching for that something you can't find? Are you running with nowhere to run to? Have you smeared bright red lipstick on the pig? Come home; come home to the One who loves you more than anyone. Thank you for helping to feed His children.
I heard a song recently which was written by Cleavant Derricks and this is not found in the Lutheran Service Book, but a quartet sang it on the internet radio station. The title is ‘We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials’ and the words hit home.
“Some of these days I'm going home where no sorrows ever come, we'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials; safe from Heartaches, pain and care, we shall all that glory share, and I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, Lord, I'm gonna sit down and rest a little while. We'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials, troubles and trials. In that home yes, in that home on the other side, on the other side, and I'm gonna shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning. Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, and rest a little while.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay