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December 31, 2024 — 6 Days After My Head Exploded – Where’s the Tylenol?

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Ephesians 4:4-7

Bacon. Not Kevin Bacon. Not Francis Bacon. Not Henry Bacon. Just plain old bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon — unless of course your bacon has a face that is smiling back at you. Cranky Reverend loves bacon. Bacon is the great unifier. If you want people to gather around your kitchen table, make a lot of bacon. Bacon looks good even on your Christmas tree. And you cannot put bacon in a box, because it comes in a plastic covered package – and it is good on everything.

One thing this Cranky Reverend has learned throughout CR’s long and winding life is G-d’s Spirit cannot be held in a box. The working of the Spirit is as elusive and unknown as the incredible flavor of bacon. The Holy Spirit can be found in all kinds of people, of all kinds of groups of people of faith. It is the Holy Spirit that gathers the faithful, and as such the Holy Spirit gathers Christians everywhere — it becomes our calling to share the love of Christ as people of faith gather together in the unity of the Spirit. This means we find ways to work together with our fellow Christians. There is no need to work alone – and Christ does not call us to do that – the Spirit calls us to be “One in the Spirit, One in the Lord”.

So, through the Holy Spirit we become entangled with other Christians like bacon wrapped hotdogs. The longer this devotion goes the hungrier this Cranky Reverend is getting. As Martin Luther states in the Small Catechism, “…the Holy Spirit…calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy (through the Gospel) the whole Christian church on earth…”

Bacon must not have been a staple on the Luther family breakfast table since CR has not found any mention of this cheap and easy resource for meat in Luther’s writings – though he was known to use “earthy” and rich language. So, because he doesn’t use the visual image of bacon, perhaps Luther didn’t know what he was missing. Mmmmmmmm….bacon!!!!

Pastor Dave

December 30, 2024 — 5 Days After My Head Exploded – Where’s the Tylenol?

“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” Exodus 3:1-6

Look at what might happen if you get too close to the bushes when trying to decorate them for the holiday season. Cranky Reverend thinks this bush is saying “Just like the burning Bush, you better take your shoes off before you approach me.” There is nothing more evil looking than a bush that wants to devour anyone who gets too close – sort of reminds me of “Audrey II” from Little Shop Of Horrors.

“Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”

Cranky Reverend wants to know why it is that too many people fear getting closer to G-d? Are too many afraid that G-d will consume them because they are too sinful? Or are they afraid that G-d will ask so much of them that it will consume too much of their time?

Listen to CR: G-d is not looking to devour us. G-d is simply looking to surround us with love, mercy and Grace. It is G-d who will rescue us when we feel as if everything wants to consume us. How does G-d do that? G-d comes to us in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism, through the Word of G-d that we read and hear preached, through the words of forgiveness that we offer each other and that G-d offers to us, and through the consolation of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My friends, although G-d told Moses to “come no closer” at the burning bush, Moses grew closer and closer to G-d through his actions and faith – so close in fact that Moses got to see more of G-d than any other person. The closer we get to G-d, the more we will see and experience G-d’s love, mercy and Grace.

Pastor Dave