​These words of Jesus remind me of the PeeWee baseball team I was on in the summer of 1965.  It was the only year that I was on an official baseball team (though I loved playing baseball and softball with the neighborhood friends).  But as I remember it, I had just moved to a new town with my family.  And our neighbor Scott, a year older, and an athlete all through his life, chose me to be on his team.  And 60 years later I can still remember the excitement of being chosen!!  Though it was a big mistake for Scott, the captain of the Olson Jewelers team,   Because I only had one hit the whole season.  But I will always remember being chosen for the team!
 
As we read in John 15, Jesus chose His disciples.  Not only those first disciples that walked with him before HIs resurrection.  But also each and every one of us.
As Peter writes, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people." (1 Peter 2:9).  
And the Apostle Paul tells us that "God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).  And in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 he writes, "For we know brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,"
 
So how do we respond to being chosen by God?  And what are we chosen for?
 
Maybe we should answer that second question first:  we are chosen to be loved by God.  We are chosen to be His redeemed people.  We are chosen to be those for whom God sent His Son to save us from sin, death and the devil.  We are chosen to be with Him now and forever.  We are chosen to follow Him and His way now and forever.
 
It sounds like being chosen by God in Christ is much, much better than being chosen for the PeeWee baseball team!  And if I am still excited about being chosen for that baseball team, then imagine the excitement and all the emotion of gratitude and joy we can have as we are chosen by God!!

Jesus spoke these words, as recorded in this Sunday's Gospel reading.  They are words spoken in the context of telling us that He is the Vine and we are the branches.  In other words, as a branch needs to be connected to the vine to live, so we need to be connected to Jesus.

So how do we get connected to Jesus?  How do we live as people who receive all their strength from Jesus?  

The answer is found in Jesus, not in us.  Just as a branch doesn't choose the vine to connect to, neither do we reach out to connect to Jesus.  He comes to us!  He chooses to connect with us, and give us life with Him.

Religion is defined as our beliefs and efforts to serve and worship God.
But Christianity is the Good News of the God who loves us and takes the action of coming to us in Jesus Christ.  

And the really Good News is that God loves all of us.  He came to be Savior of the world.  He connects with each and every one of us, through the work of the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacraments.

So how do we get connected to Jesus?  The answer is in Jesus!  In His life, death and resurrection, God has come to us and made us His people!  All we can do is receive His love and grace with gratitude, worship and service.  And even that is by God's grace and power in us.  Thanks be to God!!

​    Those opening words, and all of Psalm 23, are no doubt familiar to many of us.  We've all heard many sermons (and some of us have written many) on these words.  And the artwork and music based on God as Shepherd and we as His sheep are also very familiar.   I've memorized this Psalm, and have used it often for my own devotions and as a pastor at the bedside of so many.
   An old childhood song based on this Psalm was one that I used every week for many years with the preschool that was in our congregation.  I even have hand gestures that go with it.  I can't share that in this blog, but here are the words (and I'm singing it as I write this :)

"I am Jesus' little lamb; ever glad at heart I am.
For my Shepherd gently guides me
Knows my needs and well provides me
Loves me every day the same.
Even calls me by my name".

  Why is this Psalm such a favorite?  Is it simply because the shepherd and sheep imagery is so popular in Scripture?  Is it because Jesus uses this imagery so often (Luke 15, John 10, etc.)?  Or is it comforting to think of ourselves as under the protective and caring leadership of a Good Shepherd?  Maybe it's because many of us love little lambs and animals.  (though maybe an even better imagery would be of a dog and their owners.  But I better not criticize the writers and God as the author of the Scriptures ;)  No doubt we know the Shepherd and sheep imagery because of all and more of the above.

   All I know is that I'm thankful for these words of Scripture.  And I have so appreciated reading and meditating upon the love and care that God has for me, as  the Good Shepherd has for each and every one of us.

Pastor Steve

This obviously will not come as a surprise when I say, "I love food!"  Just one look at me and you can tell that :)
   
​ So when this Sunday's Gospel reading includes an occasion when the Risen Lord is eating, it caught my attention :).  And this passage in Luke 24 follows another occasion when Jesus ate with two of his disciples.  In fact, have you ever noticed how often the Gospels and Jesus' ministry includes eating and drinking with others? 

    Turning water into wine, asking a woman for water at the well, offering living water, feeding over 5,000 and then more than 4,000, calling HImself the Bread of Life, attending meals prepared by others, and hosting meals for others, eating the passover meal with his disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper, the Risen Lord eating with his disciples, making breakfast for 7 of his disciples, and promising an eternal banquet.  And I'm sure I've forgotten others times when Jesus ate with other people and used food and drink as examples of God's grace and love for all.
     Why?  Why is food and eating so important to Jesus and His ministry?  Maybe that last sentence of the previous paragraph answers the question.  Food and drink is a good example of God's grace and love for all!  
    In the months after my Mom died, and before my Dad died, he often referred to a picture he had on the wall of his room.  It is a long, long, banquet table, with the finest of everything on the table...all set for people to sit down for a banquet.  And the caption below the picture is a quote from Luke `14:17, "Come, for everything is now ready", from the story Jesus told of a great banquet and invitations to many.  My Dad would point to one of the empty chairs at the table and say, "There's where your Mom is sitting.  And soon I'll be sitting right next to her".  And he always was encouraging each of us to keep the faith and look toward the promise of eternal life with them in heaven.
     So today we are in the midst of the days of Easter, that will last until the Ascension of our Lord.  And the accounts of the Risen Lord often include sharing a meal together. And then the Ascended Lord promises to be always with us.  And one of the events that brings the Risen  and Ascended Lord to us is in the Lord's Supper.  So whenever you gather for Holy Communion, or when you sit down to a meal with family and friends, or even when you grab a snack and water bottle, may you remember that your Savior and Lord is with you.  Be assured that He will answer the common table prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus".  For He will come and be with you now and always!

Blessings,
Pastor Steve

Resurrection Lutheran Church has just been awarded the  "Outstanding Congregation of The Nation"
Given by the ECCUSA (Ecumenical Christian Coalition of USA)
 
It is an award given to one congregation of all Christian denominations, based on the Love they have received and been given over the past year. 
 
(April Fools Day!!)
 
OK, so the only correct words in the above announcement is...
             "the Love they have been given and received over the past year"
 Because those words are true!  No foolin'!!

And it is the love God has given to ALL congregations and people, year after year, throughout history and forever into the future.  And you and I and everyone can receive this love that has come through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of all!
 
Here's another thing that is NOT an April Fools Day prank:  to answer the question:  So what do we do now, after celebrating Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter?!  There usual is this post Easter Letdown.  I mean, we can't continue to stay on the mountaintops of celebrating the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Savior, can we?  
 
But wait!  I continue to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries (and I better not forget them!).   And I have some big ones coming up:  Every birthday of a family member is a big deal, and this year is our 40th wedding anniversary, and my 40th anniversary of ordination and years of being a pastor.  So if those events can continue to be remembered, then certainly even more so can all of us continue to celebrate and bask in the glow of the love of Christ, and the new life that He gives to us!
 
So here's an ANNOUNCEMENT that is ALL TRUE:
 
God loves you!
So much He has sent His Son to save all of us!
In the Crucified and Risen Christ we have life, now and forever!
 
No foolin' here at all.  
 
Happy Every Day as a day that you can celebrate God and His love in Christ for you and all people!!

Blessings, 
Pastor Steve