“Can It Be…?” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

S-1235 8SAE//3A 02/27/11 Hymns (O) #1; (S) #442 L.S. from LSB #620; #623; 633; (C) #493

Text: Isaiah 49:8-16; I Cor. 4:1-13; Matthew 6:24-34

Theme: “Can It Be…?” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

Question: “How often do you forget things?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 8^th Sunday after the Epiphany is from the Old Testament: “But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me; My Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me’” (Isaiah 49:14-16).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

You who are the most beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, this text is the medicine for every believing heart and soul that doubts God’s love for him or her. What a glorious text Isaiah gives us today. It is one that engages us and assures us of who our loving and gracious God is. Isaiah paints a most moving message with these words to help us on our journey of life and remind us that the Lord will never EVER forget us. If the creator of the universe doesn’t forget one blade of grass; if He who made all of the animals in the world, can’t forget these creature but provides for them; don’t you think He would do the same for YOU?

I’m certain that you have seen someone who has a tattoo on his body. Some of these tattoos are simple and elegant and others are gory and ugly. Yet, here is God—the Creator of the universe comforting us by telling us even though a mother may forget the child she nursed. He will not forget us. In fact He has in love on the cross engraved our names on the palm of His hands.

In today’s Scripture, the Lord Himself asks this very intriguing and compelling question: “Can a woman forget her nursing child?” and the answer through the centuries, through the millennia, has been – NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! It’s often the woman who brings the love we all need. But humanity is degenerating in its attempt to be “modern,” and women of today care less about the gifts of God in our lives. Children, less-and-less are thought of as a “blessing,” and more-and-more of as a burden. Children used to be looked at as a joyful event, but now they have become an impediment to careers. An unborn child is labeled as a “fetus,” which is defined as some kind of disposable bodily tissue. We pretend like the children we are, also pretending we are mature adults making rational decisions.

Even though women have shown notable love for their children, the Scripture for today includes the sad note, but “surely they may forget.” We live in a time when women no longer wait for their men to come home and march with them in the creation of a home, in the nurturing of children and the forming of lives into one, through the power and the wonder of love. Women want to be loved, too, and are saying, “my children can wait – it’s me first.” PAUSE.

Did your mother love you? If so, you are blessed by God and you should thank Him every day. And the best way to say “Thank You” is to pass that love on. Take the risk of loving your spouse, your child, giving up your life for someone else, instead of forcing them to give up their lives for you. Love is a legacy that can LAST! If you didn’t feel loved as a child, you have the opportunity to give someone else the love you did not have. And amazingly, when you give honest, pure, wholesome love, your very being will radiate with the love you have always wanted and needed. As St. Francis of Assisi taught us, “it is in giving that we receive.”

David, the king of Israel in one of the Psalms wrote these words: “When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Ps. 8:3-4). The answer to this question is the Divine love for man. We all need to be loved and the only cure for our problems, our only hope for our hearts felts desire is reflected in today’s Scripture.

The love we cannot effectively give, the love that most don’t even WANT to give becomes possible when our lives are touched by the God of LOVE, Jesus Christ. Our Amazing and gracious God is the God of miracles who can and will change you and me for the better.

He knows your name. More than merely knowing about you, He knew YOU, before you even existed. He carefully fashioned you in your mother’s womb. He has protected you more times than you can imagine. Even our so-called “faults” have been carefully allowed, with the intention that all of us will be drawn out of the ashes of our failures into new life. As He says, “I will never forget you.”

We are given amazing words of love, written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, who was to die a terrible death as the remedy for our sins: “See,” He said, “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16). Scholars recently have said that crucifixion did not involve the hands, but instead the terrible nails went through the wrists. But it was revealed to Isaiah the prophet that the “hands” of our Savior would be pierced for our sins. It was also revealed to David, who foretold the thought of Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and feet” (Psalm 22:16). They tied His wrists to the wood and pierced His hands with nails. He literally loved you to death, His death, and He did it so you will become His most admired and precious child. Remember, it was not the nails that kept Jesus on the cross but His love FOR YOU! PAUSE.

Somehow, some way, when Jesus hung on that cross for those six hours your name was etched in His palms. This is Jesus talking here in Isaiah 49:16, the Suffering Servant section, “See, take a good long look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.”

Jesus’ death on the cross was not just for the whole cosmos, it was FOR YOU! How many people do you know that laid down their life for you—literally, even went to hell and back for you? You can count them on one finger. His name is Jesus.

Can it be that God loves me this much? First, that He would die for me. Second, He would permit nails to be driven in His hands and feet for me? Third, that He would bear the wounds of these marks etched into His hands for all eternity?

When we arrive in heaven each one of us will see just how our name has been personally etched and inscribed into the hands of the risen Savior! It will be powerful, won’t it! Remember Thomas when he saw the wounds of the Risen Savior, he cried out “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28).

He went from it “could not be” to “can it really be” that Jesus died and rose for me?

One of the oldest books in the Bible is the book of Job. It is a book where we see an ancient believer suffer in an unbelieveable manner. He loses all ten children in one day. He loses all his possessions in one day. He loses his health—big time! He is rotting away and is covered with painful pus producing boils from head to toe. His wife abandons him. His work-righteous, legalistic friends turn on him like a pack of hyenas.

In the midst of all this pain, abandonment, delirium he cries out, Can it be that God loves me? Can it be that He has a cure for death—if a man die, shall He live again? Can it be that He will get me through this living hell?

In the midst of all His pain Job pleads for Easter words to be inscribed, etched into a rock or a book for all eternity. Little did He realize these words would be etched in a book—the Bible. Little did He realize these words would become a very familiar Easter Hymn. Little did He realize these words would be etched into stone: on millions of gravestones around the world! Little did He realize that His words would be engraved, inscribed, and etched upon the palms of the hands of the Savior! Listen to His prophetic and powerful words:

Oh that my words were written!

Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever!

And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives.

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

Even after my skin is destroyed, Ye from my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall behold and not another! (Job 19:23-26)

Can it be that the Lord of history, the Man on Calvary, died personally for you and me? Can it be that our names are personally engraved in His Palms with Good Friday and Easter Sunday ink? Can it be that we receive today His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins? Can it be that we have as St. Paul writes actually been baptized into His body?

The answer? YES, YES, YES, and YES! In Jesus Christ all the promises of God are yes! He loved us to death and He will personally love us for all eternity. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

Soli Deo Gloria

“You Are Different!” (Leviticus 19:1-2).

S-1234 7SAE//3A 02/20/11 Hymns from LSB (O) 706; (S) 851; L.S. #620; #638; 633; (C) #783

Text: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; I Cor. 3:10-23; Matthew 5:38-48

Theme: “You Are Different!” (Leviticus 19:1-2).

Question: “Do people see you as being different?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Mt Calvary @ Richfield, MN

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 7^th Sunday after the Epiphany is from the Gospel lesson: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them You shall be holy, for I the LORD Your God am holy’” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

You who are the most beloved congregation in the Lord Jesus, today’s text challenges the preacher and the people of God to be different. In these words, Moses tells us that we are to be holy, because the Lord is holy. These are strong words for the believer living in this politically correct society where everyone should be treated on equal level. These words pierce our hearts to be different because God demands of us—His redeemed and blood-bought children to be like none-other in the world.

If you study people you will notice that many people want to be the same. People get haircuts similar to movie stars or politicians. Others want to dress like them, or drive the same kind of vehicle. Some even want to act like them—walking, speaking and behaving like them.

In a sexually saturated society, many fall prey to the desires of the flesh and sleazy life-style that is promoted and publicized on TV. Perhaps you have noticed that so many of the TV programs are not wholesome or God-pleasing. On top of that, almost 60-80% of TV programs are reality shows. People want to be part of the crowd, they want to be noticed and tell their story which is not a story at all.

However, we who have been forgiven and redeemed by the ONLY Savior, Jesus Christ have been called to be different. We shouldn’t be following the ways of the world, but the ways of the Lord. The Word of the Living God should be our guide and blue print. We should stand out like a sore thumb. For we, too, have a story to tell—not a sleazy story, but salvation story. But we can’t tell that story and make it powerful if we don’t obey the will of the Lord our God by being holy and different. PAUSE.

Max Beerbohm wrote a story which he entitled, “The Happy Hypocrite.” It is a story of a man whose face personified evil. He was faced with a dilemma. The woman he loved refused to marry him because he didn’t look saintly. To solve the problem the suitor put on a mask with a kind face. The young woman married him despite the face beneath the mask. Her husband proved to be an attentive, caring and unselfish husband.

One day in a moment of rage an enemy abruptly tore of her husband’s mask before his wife’s eyes. Instead of a cruel, grotesque face, the man had become what he lived for many years. Kindness, not evil, radiated from his face. PAUSE.

What is our goal for life as Christians? To be holy even as our God is holy. As God said to Moses, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them You shall be holy, for I the LORD Your God am holy.’” And what does it mean to be holy and set apart for God? To love –– to love God and neighbor.

He who is LOVE—Jesus, was confronted by those who wanted to trick Him. They asked Him which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus knowing their hearts and the evil within summarized all the Law and the Prophets in two lines: “‘You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). The Bible is clear that to be God’s people means to be set apart, to be different, to be a holy people for a holy God.

And what is that makes us different? What is that sets us apart? What is that makes us holy and noticed by others? It is the work of Christ in us in spite of us. For it is Christ and His shed blood on the cross that makes us holy and different. He made us holy by taking our sins upon Himself and giving us His righteousness. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For our sake He [God] made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21), and again Pastor Paul put it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

The blessed news is that our story is not one that is made up like Max Beerbohm’s of the Happy Hypocrite; bur rather one that is written by the Author of Life Himself—Jesus Christ. And Christ doesn’t give us a mask to wear, but His white robe of righteousness in Baptism, so that we may live our lives differently in a world that is filled with sin and hate. Because of Christ’s work in us, we become His holy, pure and kind people. Because of Him we stand out like blossomed tulips stand out in the spring against the harsh reality of the fading winter. We are noticed like a beautiful bouquet of roses in the living room. The aroma of those roses causes people to come and smell and notice each pretty petal.

That is the life of the Christian man and woman, boy and girl. We are called to be different and not part of the crowd. We are called to live our lives as salt of the earth and light of the world in order that we might glorify our heavenly Father. PAUSE.

But, let’s be honest. How many of us live differently than the world around us? How many of us speak up when we should against the evil of the world? How many of us call sin, “SIN” rather than saying it is no big deal.

For God sin is a big deal indeed. For the wages of sin is death. Sin destroys life. Sin separates us from our Holy God. Sin sends us into the depth of hell for eternity. As the Baptized, Redeemed, Forgiven, Blood-bought and Heaven-bound children of God we can’t remain silent and say nothing against the immorality in this world and in our lives. When you know of someone living in sin, kindly speak to them about it. If you know of a couple shaking up together, tell them lovingly that is sin. When you know of someone who is thinking of having an abortion, tell them that is sin. And when people deny the inerrancy of the Scripture, tell them kindly that is not the case.

Why do we want to do that? Because we are DIFFERENT! We live under the Grace of Him who made us different Jesus through His suffering and death. We live our lives to magnify the name of Christ our Savior. We live different lives because we want others to come to know the grace and love of Jesus that forgives their sins, heals their guilty conscience and calls them to a life of holiness and righteousness. PAUSE.

In St. Paul, MN not far from here, there was a church in the heart of the city. At one time, the church was blossoming and growing and people came there by the throngs. But as the business district closed in, it began to dwindle and it wasn’t long before they had only a handful of worshippers. One cold January day, a fire started in that place and before the fire department could come to the scene, most of the building was burned. In the center of the church, was a huge statue. A larger than life size, 8 foot tall statue of the Savior with His arms outstretched. Somehow it was untouched by the flames. When the fire was under control, the firemen took the statue outside and put it on the sidewalk. You should have been there the next day. Cars were driving by so slowly to look at the beautiful statue. People who did not ever enter the church were now able to see the statue of Christ. That’s a great illustration of what it means to be different, and what being a Christian is all about. We need to take Christianity outside of the church walls and take them to the sidewalks and the byways. We are witnesses of what we have been told and what we have seen God doing for us and to those around us.

Indeed the Holy, sinless, Son of God came into the world and lived a different life-a life of humility and faithfulness to His Father. By His obedience to the will of God His life drew others to Him and caused them to become His followers. They followed Him because they heard from Him the truth that leads to eternal life. They followed Him because He showed Himself to be the Way out of hell and the way to heaven. They believed in Him because He is the truth that gives hope to all. They saw in Him the message of hope and salvation, as they witnessed the brutality of His death on the gallows of the cross.

Because of the cross of Christ and the empty tomb, Christ makes us different. His blood washes away our sins. His Word makes us strong in faith. And His body and blood nurtures us to remain different without compromising the truth that we are His precious and priceless children.

Oh, the joy of being different. Not as a laughing stock, but as the carriers of the message of hope the story of our salvation. God grant us the privilege and honor to remain different by sharing this marvelous and wonderful story with all people now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace of God...

Soli Deo Gloria

The Holy Land Tour with Pastor Nabil Nour.

Departing October 24, 2011 from Minneapolis
$3,698
All Inclusive! (except lunches)

“You can’t escape the feeling and the presence of God here. This is His special land”

Dear friends in Christ,

You are invited to come and join me (a native of Israel) on a spiritual journey to the Holy Land, Israel, which I promise to be a journey and an experience of a lifetime. On this journey, you will hear the Good News and follow in the footsteps of the Savior, Jesus. You will see glorious sights, smell wonderful aromas and get a taste of foreign delicacies. We will be departing on October 24, 2011 for 11 days.

If this is a trip you want to take, now is the time to take this exciting adventure of a lifetime. You will come back refreshed and rejoicing because you walked the walk of our only Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible will come alive and the names and places will jump out at you whenever you read or hear them.
The price of $3,698 for the 11-day trip includes airfare, hotels, tips, taxes and two meals a day.

For further information, contact:

Pastor Nabil S. Nour (Phil. 1:6)

Redeemer Lutheran Church P.O. Box 158 Armour, SD 57313-0158
(605) 724-2489 (ofc) (605) 724-2722 (hm)
redeemarmour@unitelsd.com

Your Journey Features:

• Round-trip air transportation from Minneapolis
• Deluxe and first class hotels
• Land transportation via deluxe, private motor coach
• Professional, English-speaking guides
• Tips ($87) and airline taxes & fuel surcharge ($546) included
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary
• Masada and boat ride on the Sea of Galilee

Please Read This Important Information:

Each tour member must hold a U.S. passport that is valid up to 6 months after the scheduled return. Application forms are available at your local Passport Office or U.S. Postal Service. Any required visas will be processed for US citizens only. Non-US citizens are solely responsible for obtaining any required visas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rates based on double-occupancy, the airline fuel surcharge and currency exchange rate(s) at the date of quotation to your host. Subject to change up to 30 days prior to departure.

The Holy Land

Day 1 Mon, Oct 24: MINNEAPOLIS - EUROPE - TEL AVIV. Tour members gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours prior to departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast are served in-flight.

Day 2 Tue, Oct 25: TEL AVIV. Upon our arrival at the Tel Aviv airport, we are met and transferred to our hotel in a suburb of Tel Aviv - situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner is served at our hotel. Weather permitting; we suggest a walk on the beach after dinner.

Day 3 Wed, Oct 26: MEDITERRANEAN SEA - CAESAREA - MT. CARMEL - HAIFA - PLAIN OF ARMAGEDDON - TIBERIAS. After a good nights rest and a hearty breakfast, we begin the thrilling journey of following in the footsteps of Jesus. At Caesarea by the Sea, we visit the Crusader's Castle, the Roman Amphitheater and water duct, and the port from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. We continue northward along the Mediterranean coast to Mount Carmel where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by the Brook Kishon. After Haifa, we view Megiddo and the Plain of Armageddon, Jezreel and Esdraelon. Eastward, we arrive in Tiberias and get our first glimpse of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 4 Thu, Oct 27: MT. TABOR - DEBORIYA - NAIN - BETHSHEAN - TIBERIAS. Traveling westward across Galilee, we visit Mt. Tabor (Psalms 89:12), Deboriya, the hometown of the Prophetess Deborah, at the foothill of Tabor (Judges 4 and 5). Continue to the Village of Nain where Jesus brought life to a young man (Luke 7:11-18). Then, on to Nazareth the hometown of Jesus where we tour the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1:5-42) and Mary’s Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). On the way back, we stop by Cana—the site of Jesus first Miracle.

Day 5 Fri, Oct 28: TIBERIAS. Today is a free day at leisure for shopping or other pursuits on our own.

Day 6 Sat, Oct 29: TIBERIAS - SEA OF GALILEE - CAPERNAUM - MT. OF BEATITUDES - TABGHA - CAESAREA PHILIPPI - MT. HERMON - GOLAN HEIGHTS - JORDAN RIVER. This will be an exciting day in the Galilee area. After a delicious breakfast, we depart the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias via a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (John 6:24) to walk among the ancient ruins of this first century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matthew 4:13-17). Then, on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and to Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:34-44). We then proceed to Upper Galilee and the site of Peter's Confession (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm 89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8) and the present day Golan Heights where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together. We follow the fresh mountain waters of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and to the outlet passage at the southern tip of the sea. Next, we stop at the beautiful Pilgrims Park at the Jordan River. Return to our hotel for overnight.

Day 7 Sun, Oct 30: BETHSHEAN - JERICHO - BETHLEHEM - JERUSALEM. Early morning departure to Bethshean, then head south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho, where the walls came tumbling down (Joshua 6:1-27), view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), and Elisha's Fountain. Continue to Bethlehem where we visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus, and Shepherds Fields (Luke 2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's Tomb (if viewable) to our hotel in Jerusalem for overnight.

Day 8 Mon, Oct 31: JERUSALEM. After a night of rest and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day begins with a drive to Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives (Matthew 24:3) for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, visiting the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster and the Dominus Flevit. Walk along Hosanna Road to the Gethsemane to see the Church of All Nations that stands on the Rock of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:36-57). See the Pillar of Absalom, the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. We then drive to Mt. Zion where we visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiaphas' House, the Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) and the Tomb of King David. Continue on to tour New Jerusalem: Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Return to our hotel for overnight.

Day 9 Tue, Nov 1: MASADA - DEAD SEA - QUMRAN - BETHANY. This morning, we drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth. A beautiful new road takes us south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, a truly remarkable piece of history. Ascend to Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70-73 A.D., the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean Revolt against Rome and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth century Byzantine church are still on view. Return along the Dead Sea to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). If possible, we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:1-46) on the return to Jerusalem. On to our Jerusalem hotel for overnight.

Day 10 Wed, Nov 2: JERUSALEM. Today begins at the Western (Wailing) Wall where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God, continue to the Temple Area of Mt. Moriah. Visit the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which is built on the ancient site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place. After this, we walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6). Then, we continue through the Old City bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Visit the Garden Tomb and Golgotha - Place of the Skull - for a worship service. Dinner and overnight at our hotel

Day 11 Thu, Nov 3: TEL AVIV - EUROPE - MINNEAPOLIS. Early morning departure for our flight home - the end of a most enjoyable journey.

Itinerary–for Holy Land Nour Tour is scheduled for October 24, 2011

The Holy Land
Day 1 Mon, Oct 24: MINNEAPOLIS - EUROPE - TEL AVIV. Tour members gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours prior to departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast are served in-flight.
Day 2 Tue, Oct 25: TEL AVIV. Upon our arrival at the Tel Aviv airport, we are met and transferred to our hotel in a suburb of Tel Aviv - situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner is served at our hotel. Weather permitting; we suggest a walk on the beach after dinner.
Day 3 Wed, Oct 26: MEDITERRANEAN SEA - CAESAREA - MT. CARMEL - HAIFA - PLAIN OF ARMAGEDDON - TIBERIAS. After a good nights rest and a hearty breakfast, we begin the thrilling journey of following in the footsteps of Jesus. At Caesarea by the Sea, we visit the Crusader's Castle, the Roman Amphitheater and water duct, and the port from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. We continue northward along the Mediterranean coast to Mount Carmel where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by the Brook Kishon. After Haifa, we view Megiddo and the Plain of Armageddon, Jezreel and Esdraelon. Eastward, we arrive in Tiberias and get our first glimpse of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Day 4 Thu, Oct 27: MT. TABOR - DEBORIYA - NAIN - BETHSHEAN - TIBERIAS. Traveling westward across Galilee, we visit Mt. Tabor (Psalms 89:12), Deboriya, the hometown of the Prophetess Deborah, at the foothill of Tabor (Judges 4 and 5). Continue to the Village of Nain where Jesus brought life to a young man (Luke 7:11-18). Then, on to Nazareth the hometown of Jesus where we tour the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1:5-42) and Mary’s Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). On the way back, we stop by Cana—the site of Jesus first Miracle.
Day 5 Fri, Oct 28: TIBERIAS. Today is a free day at leisure for shopping or other pursuits on our own.
Day 6 Sat, Oct 29: TIBERIAS - SEA OF GALILEE - CAPERNAUM - MT. OF BEATITUDES - TABGHA - CAESAREA PHILIPPI - MT. HERMON - GOLAN HEIGHTS - JORDAN RIVER. This will be an exciting day in the Galilee area. After a delicious breakfast, we depart the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias via a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (John 6:24) to walk among the ancient ruins of this first century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matthew 4:13-17). Then, on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and to Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:34-44). We then proceed to Upper Galilee and the site of Peter's Confession (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm 89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8) and the present day Golan Heights where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together. We follow the fresh mountain waters of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and to the outlet passage at the southern tip of the sea. Next, we stop at the beautiful Pilgrims Park at the Jordan River. Return to our hotel for overnight.
Day 7 Sun, Oct 30: BETHSHEAN - JERICHO - BETHLEHEM - JERUSALEM. Early morning departure to Bethshean, then head south

through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho, where the walls came tumbling down (Joshua 6:1-27), view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), and Elisha's Fountain. Continue to Bethlehem where we visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus, and Shepherds Fields (Luke 2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's Tomb (if viewable) to our hotel in Jerusalem for overnight.
Day 8 Mon, Oct 31: JERUSALEM. After a night of rest and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day begins with a drive to Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives (Matthew 24:3) for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, visiting the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster and the Dominus Flevit. Walk along Hosanna Road to the Gethsemane to see the Church of All Nations that stands on the Rock of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:36-57). See the Pillar of Absalom, the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. We then drive to Mt. Zion where we visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiaphas' House, the Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) and the Tomb of King David. Continue on to tour New Jerusalem: Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Return to our hotel for overnight.
Day 9 Tue, Nov 1: MASADA - DEAD SEA - QUMRAN - BETHANY. This morning, we drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth. A beautiful new road takes us south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, a truly remarkable piece of history. Ascend to Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70-73 A.D., the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean Revolt against Rome and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth century Byzantine church are still on view. Return along the Dead Sea to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). If possible, we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:1-46) on the return to Jerusalem. On to our Jerusalem hotel for overnight.
Day 10 Wed, Nov 2: JERUSALEM. Today begins at the Western (Wailing) Wall where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God, continue to the Temple Area of Mt. Moriah. Visit the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which is built on the ancient site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place. After this, we walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6). Then, we continue through the Old City bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Visit the Garden Tomb and Golgotha - Place of the Skull - for a worship service. Dinner and overnight at our hotel
Day 11 Thu, Nov 3: TEL AVIV - EUROPE - MINNEAPOLIS. Early morning departure for our flight home - the end of a most enjoyable journey.

“We Are Witnesses of these things.” (Acts 5:27-32).

 

S-1232 5SAE//3A 02/06/11 (O) #506; (S) #412; (C) #48

Text: Isaiah 58:3-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20

Theme: “We Are Witnesses of these things.” (Acts 5:27-32).

Question: “Are you a WITNESS for the Gospel?

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD Observing Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 5^th Sunday after the Epiphany is from the book of Acts: “And when they had brought them [disciples], they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:27-32).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

You who are the most beloved in the Lord Jesus, transformed to be witnesses of the cross and empty tomb. It was on January 15^th, 1967 in Los Angeles, CA the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs met in what was called the Supergame (today the Super Bowl), when the final gun sounded the Green Bay Packers won with a score of 35-10. Ever since that day people in the United States and around the world; have sat, watched and talked about the game, the plays and the commercials. Today is no different. This evening some of us here will sit, watch, eat and talk about the 45^th consecutive Super Bowl. When the game will be over, people will continue to talk about the plays, commercials and the outcome. PAUSE.

However, there is an even LONGER running Super event that takes place today.75 years ago, (October 2, 1930) with a prophetic voice of proclamation, Dr. Walter A. Maier went on The Lutheran Hour Broadcast and speaking for Lutheranism and all of faithful Christianity said this:

“…we acknowledge as our own the apostle’s determination, “Not to know anything...save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” ....I offer you, in the name of the Triune God, not the Christ of present-day compromise and concession, not the Christ of twentieth-century indifference and indecision, not the Christ of modern doubt and denial, who has been exalted in His humanity, only to be robbed of His deity, but the Christ of the cross. With my hand on the Bible I dedicate this radio mission to the preaching of that cross, the cruel gibbet on which the Savior died the blackest death of all history. That crucified Christ, Son of God, yet Son of Man, the all-sufficient Savior and Him alone, we offer with the pledge, “Nothing Save Jesus Christ and Him Crucified in every message, every prayer, every hymn broadcast over this Gospel network.”

With that pledge, The Lutheran Hour was joined with this pulpit, with every parish, with every prophet and apostle who has believed and proclaimed God’s Word is truth; with every soul which has courageously confessed Jesus Christ alone is the Savior of the world, and His Name is the only Name which they trust for forgiveness and salvation. Jesus Christ is the Savior. This is God’s truth and it is a truth which Satan, the “The Father of Lies”[i], does not wish you, or anyone in this dark and damned world to know or acknowledge. And although Satan has worked tirelessly in every age, it is in our time that he has seen his efforts bearing some terrible fruit as more and more people refuse to believe they need the Savior, they need the Redeemer, and they need the Christ.

Jesus is the Savior of the world. There is no denying it! That is a truth Satan does not want the world to hear. And lest you think this is mere empty oratory, let me point to a case last year in California where, at the Los Angeles Community College, a professor called a student a “fascist”, and threatened to expel him for making a speech which defended Christian marriage.^[ii] Consider Georgia’s Augusta State University student Jennifer Keaton who was told she would be expelled from pursuing her counseling degree program unless she altered her “central religious beliefs on human nature and conduct.” In other words, Jennifer had to stop being the Christian if she wanted to be a counselor.^[iii] “Christians be silent” is the order which is being heard again and again in America’s institutions of higher education.

“The Father of Lies” does not want people to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In his unholy crusade he has enlisted extremists from other religions. Go to Baghdad and ask the few Christians who survived the Reformation Day attack on Our Lady of Salvation Catholic Church. Let them tell you how the priest was ordered to lie down and then was murdered. Let them tell how gunmen shot at the crucifix, how they murdered more than 50 of our brothers and sisters as they prepared to worship. Understand, this was not an isolated incident. Again and again it is happening as religious terrorists demand, “Christians be silent.”[iv]

Or would you care to look at one of America’s great banking firms, J.P. Morgan Chase. This past Christmas the brilliant powers-that-be ordered all of its banks to “take down any and all Christmas decorations which had not been supplied by company headquarters.” Wishing not to be offensive to unbelievers, they decided it would be best if they ignored the Christ Child’s birth. True, when the Christian community cried out, the company reversed itself, but they had, like so many other stores, tried to profit from Christ’s birth, even as they wished to minimize the Savior’s coming. Once more the world had said, “Christians be silent.”

In truth, it would be easier to be silent. It would be politically correct to be silent. It might make us more popular if we were to be silent or preached a message without sin or repentance, without the Savior, or the salvation He has won. It would be easier to preach a social Gospel, a name-it-claim-it brand of religion. But we can’t do that. The faithful followers of the Lord can never do that. Turn to Scripture and see Peter and John who were arrested and arraigned by the same Sanhedrin which had orchestrated the crucifixion of the Christ. When these apostles were told to stay silent in regard to the Savior, with deliberation and dedication they declared: “We cannot help but speak about what we have heard and seen.” These special servants of the Savior knew preaching Christ must take priority over silence or political correctness.

And, we, His modern day disciples cannot remain silent to the truth of the Savior’s cross and empty tomb. Every son of Adam and every daughter of Eve has been called upon by the Lord of the Church to bear witness of His gift of salvation which He earned for us through His suffering on the cross of Calvary. PAUSE.

Many talk about the weather, the Super Bowl, the events in Cairo and the economy. But when was the last time you spoke about Jesus to a friend; perhaps to a brother or sister who have not darkened the house of the Lord? When was the last time you gave a powerful witness to the God of the Bible even though you knew you would be ridiculed for it?

Oh you, who are blood bought and redeemed by the Christ of the Bible, witnessing is not an obligation but an opportunity; it is not a payment but a privilege; it is not a have to, but a want to. When we are faithful in ignoring the father of lies, and speak of the Father of Love God will work in the hearts and ears of hearers.

Let me introduce you to an Arab Palestinian from the West Bank. Tass Saada was born into a Muslim home in Gaza. He and his friends murdered Jews in Israel. They murdered civilians and soldiers alike. They attacked Christians in Jordan. Sometimes they tossed hand grenades at Christians’ homes. Other times they strafed houses with machine-gun fire.

But in 1993 after marrying an American girl (Karen) and moving to the US a country he had long hated—this Jihadist met the Savior (I changed this line from Found Jesus. Jesus was not lost Tass was). This violent radical was one day radically transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This killer became a man of peace and compassion.

What made the change in the life of this Radical? Someone cared enough to share with Him the love of Jesus. Someone challenged him to read the Bible! Someone called him lovingly and caringly to review the difference between the god of the Muslims who destroys life, and the God of the Bible who wants to save all lives. Perhaps I should let Tass tell you his story: (Read out of the book: Some of the above information and below are paraphrased from the book Inside the Revolution by Joel C. Rosenberg pp. 363-366) “I was a Palestinian sniper,” Saada would later tell me. “But then I fell in love with a Savior who loves Arabs as well as Jews.” In his remarkable book, Once An Arafat Man, Saada explained his realization that the God of the Bible loves us all with an unfathom­able, everlasting, unquenchable love. He explained that God’s love is so amazing, so divine, that He actually offers all of us—Jew and Gentile alike—the free gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. And he explained that God wants to adopt each one of us into His own family. He wants to bless us. He wants to take care of us. He wants to heal us and change us and make us more like Him. And He wants to empower us to be a blessing to others.

This change happened because someone witnessed to Tass Saada. There are many in our community, county and country that have not been challenged or heard of the love of the Savior. Dr. Walter Maier’s words on the Lutheran Hour 75 years ago still ring true today. We are partners with the Apostles who said, “We are witnesses of these things.” This pulpit, this congregation, and every Bible Study and event that took place here has been to equip people to be faithful witnesses so that others like Tass Saada, you and me, come to bow before the Throne of Grace and meet the God of love and mercy—Jesus.

Like the Apostles, like the different speakers of the Lutheran hour, we, too, remain committed to telling this sin-saddened world that Jesus has not almost succeeded in saving us; He is not an almost Savior, an almost Redeemer an almost Conqueror. He is the One to whom we must go, for He is the One Who has eternal life. This is the Christ Whom we have seen and heard. His is the story that we share. May God grant His Spirit’s blessing upon us as He breaks Satan’s silence as we share what we have seen and heard. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

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[i] John 8: 44

[ii] http://www.examiner.com/church-state-in-los-angeles/judge-rules-favor-of-lacc-student-defending-traditional-marriage

[iii] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/27/georgia-university-tells-student-lose-religion-lawsuit-claims/

[iv] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11463544

v Rosenberg C. Joel. Inside the Revolution, Tyndall House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois pp. 363-368