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July 17, 2024

Broadcast

                        In the Garden -- Part 3
                              Genesis 2:9
                              07/17/2024


        9    And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring
             up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and
             good for food. The tree of life was in the midst
             of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of
             good and evil.  (ESV)

        We believe, teach, and confess that in the beginning, God
   created the heavens and the earth, including all plants and
   animals.  This He did with His Word alone.  But with the case of
   humans, God sculpted us from the dust of the ground and breathed
   into us His Spirit of holiness, wisdom, and intelligence.
   Therefore, humans are the utmost height of creation, the ones God
   gave as a blessing to all creation to be His hands to care for
   land and plants and animals.

        ``And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every
   tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of
   life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the
   knowledge of good and evil.''

        From the first day of creation, God provided for the care of
   all things.  To Adam, God gave every plant and the fruits of
   every tree for nourishment.  God provided everything the man
   needed to remain healthy, to be able to tend the garden, to do
   the will of the Most High.  And because the man was created in
   the image of God, the man was content.

        In giving Adam the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
   God also provided for a way for Adam to show His reverence to
   God.  For Adam, this tree was a form of church, a form of
   obedience.  For Adam, this tree also became his downfall.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom to hear His Word, and to
   trust in Him above all things.  Amen.

July 16, 2024

Broadcast

                        In the Garden -- Part 2
                             Genesis 2:7-8
                              07/16/2024


        7    Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the
             ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath
             of life, and the man became a living creature.
        8    And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the
             east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
             (ESV)

        If Charles Darwin is correct, if humans are an accident of
   genetic mutations, then there is nothing inherently superior
   about mankind.  Yes, we can use tools, but lesser forms of life
   use tools.  Yes, we can communicate, but lesser forms of life
   communicate.  But do lesser forms of life understand history, or
   geography, or even ask the question, ``Why am I here?''

        ``Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground
   and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man
   became a living creature.  And the LORD God planted a garden in
   Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.''

        Unlike every other being, God made a deliberate plan for
   humans.  He formed us out of the dust, and breathed into us more
   than a life force.  He gave us a perfect will, perfect intellect,
   and a perfect mind.  But the image of God is more than the will,
   intellect, and mind, it is the holiness of living without sin,
   without the fear of death, and without shame.

        God created us, not only to be another creature to populate
   this planet, but to be the caretakers of nature, the stewards of
   creation, and to properly use all of His rich blessings.  Adam's
   labor was a joy, and perfectly satisfying.  Working was not a
   chore, but something to be embraced, a desire to create and to
   take care of everything entrusted to us by God.  God created us
   also to acknowledge Him and to respect Him in all things.  But
   this did not last.

        May our Lord grant us the faith which sees His love, grace,
   and mercy even as He cares for our needs of body and soul.  Amen.

July 15, 2024

Broadcast

                        In the Garden -- Part 1
                              Genesis 2:7
                              07/15/2024


        7    Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the
             ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath
             of life, and the man became a living creature.
             (ESV)

        The debate still rages, where did the universe, the earth,
   and life originate?  On one side are the physicists who propose
   the universe began with a big bang, when matter came into being
   from nothing.  Life began when, by chance, chemicals came
   together and interacted in such a way that eventually
   intelligence grew and creatures filled the earth.

        Those physicists, however, cannot seem to explain the first
   half second of the big bang.  Get past the beginning, even a
   fraction of a second past the beginning, and they have theories.
   Charles Darwin explained the life as starting from a random
   process, and all creatures coming from a common root.
   Unfortunately, no one has been able to replicate the beginning of
   life, nor find the fossils that prove the transition from a
   single-celled animal to the variety of creatures now on the
   earth.

        We believe, teach, and confess a different story.  It is
   actually more scientifically accurate to speak of intelligent
   design than creation by chance.

        ``Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground
   and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man
   became a living creature.''

        This week we are going to look at God creating humans in His
   image, and the fall into sin which corrupted all of creation.

        May our Lord grant us open minds to hear and understand His
   Word, and to come to know of His love.  Amen.

July 12, 2024

Broadcast

                      Ten Commandments -- Part 5
                            Exodus 20:12-17
                              07/12/2024


        12   Honor your father and your mother, that your days
             may be long in the land that the LORD your God is
             giving you.
        13   You shall not murder.
        14   You shall not commit adultery.
        15   You shall not steal.
        16   You shall not bear false witness against your
             neighbor.
        17   You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you
             shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male
             servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his
             donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
             (ESV)

        Last week in the Prayer of the Church we asked God for His
   rich blessings.
        O Lord, You will that we live a holy life and love our
        neighbors as ourselves.  Give us Your Holy Spirit and
        teach us to honor authority, protect life, cherish
        marriage, respect possessions, defend reputations and
        be content with the gifts You give us.


        Yet we also confessed before God and the congregation that
   we are by nature sinful and unclean, that we have sinned against
   God and neighbor in thought, word, and deed.  We know what we
   should do, but have failed.

        The message that we heard last Sunday was not the
   condemnation of the Law, nor was it a list of rules we must keep.
   Rather, we heard that Jesus Christ, God's only-begotten Son,
   fulfilled the Law on our behalf.  He gives us His righteousness
   and takes our sin upon Himself.  He bore the guilt and punishment
   of our transgressions upon the cross, and for His sake, we are
   given complete forgiveness and everlasting life.

        As we live our lives in light of the Ten Commandments,
   loving God above all things and serving our neighbors, we desire
   to join with each other to receive God's rich gifts of grace and
   mercy.  Where better to hear the truth of God's Word than at
   Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning?  You will
   hear of salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ.

        May our Lord continue to richly bless you will His good
   gifts.  Amen.

July 11, 2024

Broadcast

                      Ten Commandments -- Part 4
                            exodus 20:12-17
                              07/11/2024


        12   Honor your father and your mother, that your days
             may be long in the land that the LORD your God is
             giving you.
        13   You shall not murder.
        14   You shall not commit adultery.
        15   You shall not steal.
        16   You shall not bear false witness against your
             neighbor.
        17   You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you
             shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male
             servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his
             donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
             (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Ten Commandments.  God gave
   us His Law for our benefit, so that we look to Him for our help
   in times of trouble, and that we live in harmony with our
   neighbors.  We have already heard that we should fear, love, and
   trust in God above all things.  If we put Him first, we will
   properly use His name and we will accept His gracious invitation
   to join Him to receive His rich blessings of love, grace, and
   mercy.

        Knowing how we should act towards God, how do we act towards
   our neighbor?  God tells us to respect authority, to honor life
   and marriage, to protect our neighbor's property and reputation,
   and to be content with the blessings we have received from His
   gracious hands.

        Honor your father and your mother, that your days may
        be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving
        you.  You shall not murder.  You shall not commit
        adultery.  You shall not steal.  You shall not bear
        false witness against your neighbor.  You shall not
        covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your
        neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female
        servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is
        your neighbor's.


        Therefore, the Ten Commandments are summarized as love
   towards God and neighbor.  If we look first to God for His rich
   blessings, we can then reflect His love towards our family,
   friends, and neighbors.  This is a blessing to everyone, given by
   God out of His mercy.

        May our Lord guard us from all evil and guide us in His
   love.  Amen.

July 10, 2024

Broadcast

                      Ten Commandments -- Part 3
                            Exodus 20:7-11
                              07/10/2024


        7    You shall not take the name of the LORD your God
             in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless
             who takes his name in vain.
        8    Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
        9    Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
        10   but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your
             God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your
             son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your
             female servant, or your livestock, or the
             sojourner who is within your gates.
        11   For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth,
             the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the
             seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the
             Sabbath day and made it holy.  (ESV)

        This week we are looking at the Ten Commandments.  Often we
   speak of the two tablets of the Law.  The first tablet is our
   relationship to God, the second our relationship to each other.

        If we truly fear, love, and trust in the Triune God above
   all things, how should we act?  God said: ``You shall not take
   the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold
   him guiltless who takes his name in vain.''  Therefore, we use
   His name properly, to praise Him, to pray to Him, and to give
   thanks for His goodness.

        As we fear, love, and trust in God above all things, we take
   seriously His invitation to come into His presence to receive His
   gifts of love, grace, and mercy.  Therefore God also said:
        Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days
        you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh
        day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall
        not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter,
        your male servant, or your female servant, or your
        livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
        For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the
        sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh
        day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and
        made it holy.


        In this way, God cares for both our bodies and our souls.
   Our bodies rest while our souls are refreshed by hearing how He
   loves us enough to send His Son to redeem us from sin and death.

        May our Lord grant us the will to call upon Him and to hear
   His Word for our eternal benefit.  Amen.

July 9, 2024

Broadcast

                      Ten Commandments -- Part 2
                            Exodus 20:1-5a
                              07/09/2024


        1    And God spoke all these words, saying,
        2    ``I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of
             the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
        3    You shall have no other gods before me.''
        4    You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or
             any likeness of anything that is in heaven above,
             or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
             water under the earth.
        5    You shall not bow down to them or serve them.''
             (ESV)

        When the children of Israel escaped from slavery in Egypt,
   they were led through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day
   and a pillar of fire by night.  Shortly after leaving Egypt, they
   came to Mount Sinai where God spoke directly to Moses.
        And God spoke all these words, saying, ``I am the LORD
        your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out
        of the house of slavery.  You shall have no other gods
        before me.''


        The sin of Adam and Eve was the desire to be like God, to
   replace Him.  We see how that worked out for everyone.  By
   looking to ourselves as our own god, we cause great dissension,
   wars, and violence.  In love God calls us to look outside
   ourselves, to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things.

        Not only do we become our own false god, but we place
   objects before Him.  God warned each of us of the danger of
   trusting in things rather than Him.
        You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any
        likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that
        is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
        the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve
        them.


        God taught us that the things we create cannot support us in
   times of strife and trouble.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in the Creator rather
   than in things created.  Amen.

July 8, 2024

Broadcast

                      Ten Commandments -- Part 1
                             Exodus 20:1-3
                              07/08/2024


        1    And God spoke all these words, saying,
        2    ``I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of
             the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
        3    You shall have no other gods before me.''  (ESV)

        Last month the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, signed a
   law that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in every
   public school classroom beginning in 2025.  In addition, the
   poster-sized display will have four paragraphs describing how the
   Ten Commandments were a prominent part of American public
   education for almost three centuries.[1]

        This week's Old Testament lesson are the Ten Commandments.
   We believe, teach, and confess that God had these Commandments
   engraved on stone, not to limit our freedom, but to teach us how
   to live in harmony with both God and neighbor.  Jesus summarized
   the Ten Commandments:
        You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
        and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is
        the great and first commandment.  And a second is like
        it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.[2]


        As we study the Ten Commandments, we realize that any law
   serves three purposes.  The first is to curb antisocial and
   harmful behavior.  The second is to show us where we have failed.
   The third is a guide to show us how to best live in peace with
   each other.

        This week we will look at this controversial, yet so
   important, gift from God, a gift that helps us love Him and serve
   our neighbor.

        May our Lord grant you His richest blessings.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-ten-commandments-
      displayed-classrooms-571a2447906f7bbd5a166d53db005a62

   2. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

July 5, 2024

Broadcast

                        Still Small Voice -- Part 4
                          1 Kings 19:13-14,18
                              07/05/2024


        13   And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in
             his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance
             of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him
             and said, ``What are you doing here, Elijah?''
        14   He said, ``I have been very jealous for the LORD,
             the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have
             forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars,
             and killed your prophets with the sword, and I,
             even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to
             take it away.'' ...
        18   [And the LORD said to Him,] ``Yet I will leave
             seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have
             not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not
             kissed him.''  (ESV)

        The prophet Elijah, who was fleeing from Queen Jezebel,
   heard the voice of God.
        And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his
        cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the
        cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said,
        ``What are you doing here, Elijah?''  He said, ``I have
        been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For
        the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
        thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with
        the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek
        my life, to take it away.'' ...  [And the LORD said to
        Him,] ``Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all
        the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth
        that has not kissed him.''


        With awe and reverence we hear the Word of God.  He hears
   our complaints, He strengthens us with His Word and sacraments.
   He assures us of His love, grace, and mercy as we learn of Christ
   Jesus.  The still small voice gives us calm reassurance, ``Your
   sins are forgiven because Jesus died and rose again for your
   salvation.''

        You won't find earthquakes or wind or fire or great
   theatrical productions at Trinity Lutheran Church as you join us
   at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday morning.  You will hear the still small
   voice of God saying, ``You are my beloved child, to whom I give
   the gift of eternal life because of My grace, love, and mercy.''

        Please join us as we continue to learn the truth of God's
   Word and receive His gift of life everlasting.  Amen.

July 4, 2024

Broadcast

                         Prayer for the Nation
                            1 Timothy 2:1-2
                              07/04/2024


        1    First of all, then, I urge that supplications,
             prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made
             for all people,
        2    for kings and all who are in high positions, that
             we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and
             dignified in every way.  (ESV)

        Saint Paul wrote:
        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.


        On this Independence Day, it is fitting, therefore, to offer
   the prayer once delivered by George Washington:
        Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt
        keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that
        Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to
        cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to
        government, and entertain a brotherly affection and
        love for one another and for their fellow citizens of
        the United States at large.

             And Finally that Thou wilt most graciously be
        pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy,
        and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility,
        and pacific temper of mind which were the
        characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed
        religion, and without an humble imitation of whose
        example in these things, we can never hope to be a
        happy nation.

             Grant our supplication, be beseech Thee, through
        Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
   ____________________

      Written at Newburg, June 8, 1783, and sent to the Governors of
      all the States.  From 1942 Armed Forces hymnal.