Northwoods Table Talk

  Purpose Of Preaching Luke 24:36-49 Cantate – Easter V – 04.28.’24 (Easter Tuesday Propers)       Luke 24:36-49   As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a  spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate before them.         Then He said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with  you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalm...

 It has been quite a while since I have posted anything here.  Why? That is a really good question. But to be fair it is also easy to answer.  First, it takes a lot of work to post something on a blog. You have to make sure it is all spelled correctly, that the grammar is in accordance with the proper rules, and it needs to be set up nicely in an orderly manner. Second, every post should be set up in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Of course, this is problematic for me because I am not a technophile and my idea of what is pleasing to the eye is seriously out of date. Third, as I am in throes of creeping decrepitude and practicing to be a crotchety ol' curmudgeon, it means I almost don't care. Finally, I don't have someone who really has the time as a web designer to clean up what I do desire to post. BUT...someone (okay, more than one) has asked me to come back and post things occasionally.  So, here I am introducing at least something I will be d...

 What do you do in the summer? I am guessing most people like to take some time off! I agree, a laudable goal. And indeed, I did take some time off - even as I hope to be able to take a bit more. BUT... This summer has found me involved in a number of things that were not "summer vacation-y." First, I gathered in St. Louis with a about 150 other folks who were invited to serve Christ's Church by making up one of 13 different floor committees who will organize the resolutions to be brought to the National Convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod later this month. (Yes, I will be there as a pastoral delegate.) I had previously been in St. Louis in January as part of the Committee for Convention Nominations helping to put together the various slates of candidates for the elections to take place. (Yes, it has been a busy year!) After returning home from the Floor Committee weekend of meetings, Pauline and I (12 of us from Zion & St. Peter) were part of a crew of 5...

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today's post is a bit of a rant. I purchased a "readers Bible" a couple years ago. I was intrigued by the advertisement that stated it gets rid of things that often get in the way of reading the Bible smoothy, with the verse numbering removed, the text place into a single column,  into what we understand as paragraphing.  OK, all that is wonderful, but... I was looking at getting another one, because the first one I had gotten was disappointing. I didn't get it because - 1) my wife said, "Do you really need another Bible?" 2) keep reading and see if you can figure it out. I examine it online, and I found something else that I'd like to see removed, personally, something that seems even more invasive to the reading of the text than either verse numbers or whether or not there are 2 columns of text per page. Of what am I speaking? The ridiculous headings that have come to be f...

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I posted on the blog a few days ago. Not sure what motivated me to do that, but now I almost sort of have the bug to do so regularly - ALMOST...SORT  OF... So, this came across my desk (AGAIN) and thought you might enjoy reading it. It is timely, with the thoughts about gardens and the greening up of lawns. I will say this, what we want and what we think is pretty, or appropriate, isn't always what....OK, I'll just be quiet. I do not know where this came from, but I think it will bring you to chuckle. AND maybe, cause you to stop and ponder. (No, those who have gone before us into glory do not look down and see what is going on. It is a joke!) Imagine the conversation The Creator might have had with St. Francis on the subject of lawns: God: Hey St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Midwest? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thist...

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has been a while since I have posted on this blog. Why? Good questions! Best response? OK, how about the most honest response? I got lazy! I was putting a lot of energy into writing decent devotions. I don't do some of the special stuff, cute graphics, wonderful pictures, and all that sort of stuff. I don't have the technical know-how to do such things. And to be frank, I don't want to take the time to learn. OK, having said all that, I thought I would write something new - if for no other reason than to say, "Hello! Who's out there?" Now that we're here though, maybe a few thoughts might be in order, they may be devotional, they many not. The other day I packed up a couple rods and headed out to the river. While I was driving, I was listening to Jeremiah. As I have done for a few years now, I challenge people to join me in reading through either the New Testament, or the ...

Lectionary for January 13 Ezekiel 36:13-28        Romans 4:1-25 Let us take a moment to look at the last few verses of our Old Testament reading. 22  “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  23  I will vind icate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  24  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26  Moreover, I wi...

  Lectionary for January 12 Ezekiel 34:1-24       Romans 3:19-31 This Old Testament lesson is truly amazing. I do not know how many Christians believe that the Old Testament is all about the Law, and the New Testament is about the Gospel, but the numbers must be staggering.   It is incredible how many times Christians will say something like, “We’re people of the New Testament, not the Old Testament.”   And yet, the merciful heart of our Lord is so vibrantly exposed and brilliantly expressed in this text from Ezekiel. Let me reprint here verses 11-16.   11  “For thus says the Lord  God :  Behold, I, I  myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.   12  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on  a day of clouds and  thick darkness.   13  And I ...

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Since shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19 I began writing a daily devotion in this space. With the weekend after Thanksgiving I simply ceased doing so. I could give a bunch of reasons why it happened, but they are all so much hot air.  So, at this point, I simply ask for your forgiveness. I am thinking of returning to writing them again. Yes, that means I am not sure if I will or not. If I do not have the internet accessible I cannot post them. Someone might say, if you know you will be away from the internet, write them ahead of time.  I could do that! But, for you to get them daily (this is to those who subscribe) I still need to get online and publish the night before so that you receive them. Here is where I request your assistance. I am wondering if there are any out there who are missing what I am writing and would like me to return. If that is you, please reply to me in some ...

Devotion for Friday after Last Sunday  Isaiah 1:1-28         1 Peter 1:1-12 In our text from Peter's pen, God reveals: 10  As to this salvation, the prophets who  prophesied of the  grace that  would come  to you made careful searches and inquiries,   11  seeking to know what person or time  the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He  predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories  to follow.   12  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who  preached the gospel to you by  the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which  angels long to  look.  What salvation is this? That salvation that is yours in Christ Jesus. Do you understand what this text is declaring? That salvation in Christ was that which was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. That the events of Chr...

Devotion for Thursday after Last Sunday  Daniel 6:1-28          Revelation 22:1-21 The Epistle lesson for today (at Thanksgiving Day worship service) is 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Because of the fact that some will not get to church today, I am posting in this space a meditation   based on that reading, and reflecting “Thanksgiving Day.”   1 Timothy 2:1-4… First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth . ( The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by  Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. )   Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. We celebrate all that goe...