Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 24 & Sunday, 23 & Saturday, 22 & Friday, 21 & Thursday, 20 Wednesday 19 November 2014

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 24 & Sunday, 23 & Saturday, 22 & Friday, 21 & Thursday, 20 Wednesday 19 November 2014 - Scripture: Isaiah 64: Can We Be Saved?
1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
    make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
    who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins.
8-12 Still, God, you are our Father.
    We’re the clay and you’re our potter:
    All of us are what you made us.
Don’t be too angry with us, O God.
    Don’t keep a permanent account of wrongdoing.
    Keep in mind, please, we are your people—all of us.
Your holy cities are all ghost towns:
    Zion’s a ghost town,
    Jerusalem’s a field of weeds.
Our holy and beautiful Temple,
    which our ancestors filled with your praises,
Was burned down by fire,
    all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins.
In the face of all this,
    are you going to sit there unmoved, God?
Aren’t you going to say something?
    Haven’t you made us miserable long enough?(The Message)
Years ago (many), our son always gave this reply when he got into trouble and was asked, "Why did you do that?!" With quivering lip he'd say, "I'm having a bad day ... "
Whether because of something you said—or did—or didn't say or do, when's the last time you had a bad day? And when you have a bad day, do you echo the words of Isaiah, and ... Bob Barker and Drew Carey? Do you, too, cry out to God, "Come on DOWN!" And if you recount God's previous appearances and power-full deliveries but God still seems—well, indifferent—to your plight, then what?
Perhaps your Great Expectations of our Great God do reflect those of Isaiah—or Elijah. Perhaps you look for God to startle from within a fire or earthquake or other life-shattering display. But perhaps, instead, it is time for God's still, small voice. Perhaps this day is yours simply to be shaped by our Almighty Potter.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me ... And don't get too upset over my bad days, Lord God. Forgive that which I've done and that which I've left undone, for it all boils down to the fact you are our God, and we are your people. Amen.
Keith Muschinske
Chaplain, United States Air Force (retired)
Eagle River, Alaska 
Master of Divinity , 1989
Isaiah 64:1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
5 You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.(New Revised Standard Version)
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“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” ELW 502
1. The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine forever.
2. Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth
and, where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
4. In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me,
thy rod and staff my comfort still;
thy cross before to guide me.
5. Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thine unction grace bestoweth;
and, oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
6. And so, through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
It was in a little white church in rural Iowa that I came to know this hymn. I was a young boy who sang in the choir along with my buddy—a bit unusual for our age. We had interest in more than music and words. There were young girls singing in the choir too!
This hymn continues to be special because it was on this hymn that I learned in turn the various parts: the melody (young boy voice); tenor (cracking boyish voice); and finally bass (a lower voice of a high school senior). Some of the words were puzzling: "verdant pastures," "celestial feeding," "perverse," "unction grace" and "transport of delight."
Yet, as I sang this song over and over, the message and promises sank into my memory bank. To this day, I can sing the six verses by memory. It continues to be a powerful reminder of the definition of "God-king"—love, shepherd, goodness, living water, carried gently, fearless before death's dark vale, cross guiding, healing grace, goodness that never fails. 
Wow, what promises! And am I ever glad I sang in that choir!
Gracious God, thank you for your unfailing love that comes daily in the Water and the Word—forgiving, healing, challenging, guiding and life giving! Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise within my life each day! Amen.
Ben H. Coltvet
White Bear Lake, Minn. 

Master of Divinity , 1970
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“There Is a Balm in Gilead” ELW 614
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.
1. Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.
2. If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, "He died for all."
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.
3. Don't ever be discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
and if you lack for knowledge
he'll ne'er refuse to lend.
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.
This well-known traditional African American spiritual was my father's favorite hymn. The "balm in Gilead" is referenced in Jeremiah 8:22: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" And in Jeremiah 46:11: "Go up to Gilead, and take balm."
As a young boy I asked, "Dad, what is balm?" He said, "Bennie, remember when Zipper (our dog) got in a scrap with a cat and had a bad cut on her face? That salve we put on the cut was 'balm.'"
As we walked to the house, my Dad hummed the song. Then he said, "Bennie, there will be many times in your life when you will feel discouraged or inadequate. Even your friends may pick on you and make fun of you. But always remember this: Jesus is your friend and His Spirit will give you hope and strength for each day."
These words of my Father and the song he sang have been a constant reminder—especially at those times when I felt inadequate—of the empowering love, grace and guidance of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Come Lord Jesus with your balm and bring healing and hope to an injured and broken world. Empower me to be your agent of balm, sharing your love and life giving presence. Amen.
Ben H. Coltvet
White Bear Lake, Minn. 

Master of Divinity , 1970
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Scripture: Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”(The Message)
In 1929, Mother Theresa arrived in India to begin working alone among the poorest of the poor and the lowest of the low in the slums of Calcutta. She spent every cent she had on an old shack, turning it into a school for small children. Mother Teresa's chalkboard was the shack's dirt floor, which she rubbed smooth with an old rag and wrote on with a pointed stick.
Even more amazing is the lasting effect she has had among young women and men. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity. At the time of her death in 1997, there were over 5,000 sisters and 400 brothers active in over 600 missions in 123 countries of the world, aided by over 1 million co-workers. Mother Teresa is living proof that the call of the heavenly king, Jesus Christ, to love God by loving the neighbor, changes lives and empowers for service!
"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
Come Lord Jesus, King of life and death. On bended knee before you, fill us with your Spirit that empowers us to go, intent on making a difference in the world as we rub shoulders with whomever we meet. May we be that cup of water, ray of hope, hand of healing or light in darkness, sharing and caring in your name. Amen.
Ben H. Coltvet
White Bear Lake, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1970
Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'
45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."(New Revised Standard Version)
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Scripture: Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”(The Message)
This coming Sunday marks the end of the liturgical year as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. The Advent Season will soon be here.
It was a beautiful fall Sunday morning with bright sunlight and clear blue skies. As I entered the sanctuary, bright red colors surrounded me. The celebration of Reformation Sunday was in full force. The processional hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," rang out with pipe organ, brass, choirs and congregation singing with strong voices. Eighty-three young people confessed their faith, each one announcing, "I do, and I ask God to help and guide me."
The words of verse 40 of this reading from Matthew's Gospel flashed through my mind: "just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." My thoughts turned to parents, grandparents, God-parents and congregation—thank you for feeding, nourishing, welcoming and loving these eighty-three young people on their journey of faith from the waters of baptism until now! I left that celebrative service challenged to make a difference in my everyday world! Thank you young people for your bold affirmation of faith.
Gracious God, in the waters of baptism you come with your transforming and life giving Spirit. Come Lord Jesus today and renew in me your transforming presence that will feed, nourish, welcome and love a broken and hurting world. Amen.
Ben H. Coltvet
White Bear Lake, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1970
Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'
45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."(New Revised Standard Version)
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Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.(The Message)
She walked from the elevated train platform to the street. The larger than life statue above the door of the cathedral-like church caught her eye. The statue had no hands. It was a defining moment. 
For some reason, "I looked at this statue and saw the eyes of Jesus looking at me with compassion, inviting me to come to him. It was then I decided to 'try out this church.' It was the following Sunday that I experienced a new kindling of my faith. Since then I have experienced God's forgiving and loving grace in Jesus Christ. Oh, by the way, I have also discovered that the 'no hands of Jesus' on the statue reminds me every day that I am Jesus' hands sharing Jesus' love and forgiveness in my daily life."
"God's Work, Our Hands" brings life and hope to the giver and the recipient.
Gracious God, empower us to be the community of faith that dares to get dirty and bruised hands living out your love in the most unusual places of a broken world. Amen.
Ben H. Coltvet
White Bear Lake, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1970
Ephesians 1:15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(New Revised Standard Version)
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