During Holy Week this year, I found myself in the hospital for a serious infection that I am still recovering from.  As I am sure you are all aware, this is not an ideal time for a pastor to be sick. However, the Lord’s timing is always perfect and while hospitalized, the Lord gave me ample opportunity to ponder the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote, “But [Jesus] said to me, “My grace is suffic...

April begins with Holy Week and the celebration of Easter. Throughout the month we will be focusing on the resurrection of our Lord and His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil.   In his essay “On the Fruit and Power of the Resurrection of Christ” (Day by Day We Magnify Thee, Fortress Press, 1982, p.170.) Luther wrote,     “When I look at my sins, they slay me. Therefore, I must look...

“Christ sacrificed Himself in His own body on the tree for our sins, so that we who have died to sin, live in righteousness; through His wounds we are healed.”  The following is a portion of a sermon by Johann Gerhard on “The Suffering and Death of Christ.”      “How should we, on account of His suffering, show our gratitude towards Christ?  The scripture shows us this also, in as it admonishes th...

  The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22.  However, already at the beginning of the month we enter the season of what is called pre-Lent.  While still officially part of the Epiphany season, what are often referred to as the “gesima” Sundays begin to prepare us for the “official” forty day season of Lent leading up to Holy Week and climaxing on Easter Sunday.     The pre-Lente...

“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:...