OVERCOMING EVIL IN THE WORLD

        If you woke up this morning expecting things to be better, you’re in for a shock. Authorities tell us CoViD19 is still killing people, so we’d better do as they say. The riots have lessened, but the resentment and hatred are still with us. The stock market may be going up, but only because we’re going farther into debt. If you expected the world to be a better place today, you’ll be disappointed because the causes are all still there.
        Things might seem better if we were more realistic in our expectations. Riots will not lower the amount of hatred in our world. “Have-nots” still hate the “haves”, the Left still hates the Right and non-Christians still hate Christians. We could soften our terms, replacing hatred with resentment or discontent, but the feelings are still the same. Hatred is with us because there is evil within us. It’s been that way since sin first came into the world.
        People today hate to hear about sin. “It’s so negative!” they say, but happy feelings won’t make sad truths disappear. Indignation won’t change facts.
        Modern progress has hoodwinked us, saying if we just do the right deeds, say the correct words and adopt their attitudes, we can make the world into the kind of world it’s meant to be. “Social justice” is what the secular world believes we need. “Social Justice” will order the world correctly, and then humanity can make this planet a very good place, maybe even a perfect one.
        Someone once said, “You mean you can't eat that fruit? No, no, you won’t die. You’ll become like God.” That’s what humanism wants for us, to think we can be like God. But all we get is proof of sin - violence, riots, theft, looting and even murder. “Oh stop! You’re being negative again!”
        A few days before His crucifixion, Jesus was in Jerusalem telling His disciples what to expect. They saw big buildings, wealth and accomplishments. They were dazzled by the big city, but Jesus told them: “Don’t expect a wonderful life just because you follow me. Rather, expect tribulation and trouble.” 
        Apostle John recorded Jesus’ Good News:  “In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Men or women, great or small, young or old - we're all mistaken if we expect to make the world perfect or even a really good place. Because of sin, that won’t happen! Evil will always rear its ugly head.
        Satan hates the goodness of God and wants to destroy His efforts. Satan wants to kill us all and defeat God. But it won’t happen - we have God’s promise of that! John wrote to early Christians, “The one who is in you [Jesus] is greater than the one who is in the world [satan].” (1 John 4:4). That’s Good News! We’re not in this confusing world alone. God is with us and will deliver us!
        May we all be encouraged today because the Savior who lives in us is greater than the Evil One in the world. All people will die, but all who trust Jesus will not die forever. We will be raised again to eternal life. Praise God for His mercies new every morning!
Life is good! Praise Jesus who makes it so by faith.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

CHURCH DOORS OPEN AGAIN!

        Yesterday, for the first time since the epidemic moved leaders to close church doors for corporate worship, Carol and I participated with about 50 others in a regular Sunday worship service at our home church in Parker, Colorado.
        Praise God that our church doors here are again open for worship with friends, visitors and fellow members! The singing was great, the liturgy was comforting, the Gospel of Jesus was proclaimed, the Sacrament of the Altar was joyfully received, and the service was memorable. (Government guidelines were, of course, followed.)
        I’m sure I wasn’t the only one whose eyes brought tears of joy as we finally could be together again. True, it has only been three months since churches were closed, and yes, we could participate in recorded online services in our homes. But worship together with others is most beneficial, so we praise and thank God for His renewed gift to us.
        Lamentations 3 tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies will never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!” It is my fervent hope that we Americans will always have, and never lose, our Constitutional right to freedom of religion. It is far more precious than we realize.
        As our worship concluded, we sang together, “Thank the Lord and sing His praise! Tell everyone what He has done. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name! He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving - Alleluia, Alleluia!”
        We left there with thanksgiving that God has brought us back together. There are those in our nation and world who would close church doors forever and that would be tragic to us all. Thus, it is my fervent prayer of thanks to God, and a request that we shall always be allowed the privilege of meeting together for mutual strength and worship.

May our doors to corporate worship never again close, O Lord!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

BEING TOGETHER IS HEALING

Dear friends,
        With our current “social distancing” and “safer at home” rules, some will think staying apart is better than being together. But this is not true. It might help for awhile, until the dangers of disease are lessened, but lengthy required separation is far more destructive in the long run than helpful.
        Once while up in the mountains I decided to make a small cook fire. Dry sticks of wood lit easily with a match, but the fire wasn’t hot enough for cooking. I assumed more air around the sticks would make the fire hotter so I separated the sticks a little. Some did burn quicker but they gave off little heat. Only when I moved the sticks next to each other did they burn hot enough to cook food.
        The heat of one supports the heat of the other. You and I need to be with others more than we think. Alone, we can do some things well, making a few sparks or a small flames here or there. But only together can we become useful heat. If we stay separate from each other too long, our own flame may go out.
        Our Christian faith is not self-sustaining. Sundays alone require many more Sundays together  to keep faith strong. “Virtual worship” is a brief solution, but actual Christian fellowship helps body and soul. A body in bed for weeks will fall with a first step because legs have grown weak. Worship strengthens body and soul.
        It’s time for us to get back together again, to start meeting and gaining strength from God and from each other. Being apart is helpful only only a short time. We human beings are social creatures. We grow stronger together.
        If a short time of separation is needed for your health, don’t leave God out. Virtual worship is helpful, but if that isn’t possible for you, read from your Bible daily and pray. God’s Word blesses us with His presence, comfort and love.
        Jesus took only short times away from the crowds, because His faith grew stronger when He was with others. The faith of one Christian supports the faith of the other. This is why God’s Word urges, “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

A united flame makes a better fire.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD!

        In my nearly 30 years of writing WEEKLY MESSAGE, I have tried, fairly successfully, to avoid ranting on an issue. Today I nearly succumbed to doing that with one of my least favorite COVID19 rules, that of government entities closing public worship in churches. Regardless of what rules and regs mayors or governors may write, churches may not required to close. 

        Regardless of the 14th Amendment’s directive for public safety, the 1st Amendment protects our individual rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. End of discussion! But taking this further is an argument that no one would win. 

        Instead, today I want to quote for you the words of an ancient song, the “Te Deum Laudamus”. This magnificent hymn of praise deserves to be sung more than it is. Read it, hum along if you know the melody (“Jupiter” by Gustav Holst), and be blessed!

WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD

1. We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
“O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!”

2. The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise;
The fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise.
The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng,
Sing with the holy Church throughout all the world this song:
“O all-majestic Father, Your true and only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Comforter—forever Three in One!”

3. You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son,
Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev’ryone:
You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin’s womb,
Were crucified for us and were placed into a tomb;
Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve—
You opened heaven’s kingdom to all who would believe.

4. You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God’s right hand,
Upholding earth and heaven by forces You command.
We know that You will come as our Judge that final day,
So help Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray;
May we with saints be numbered where praises never end,
In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen!

(CPH, by Stephen Starke and Gustav Holst)

Thanks for listening (and singing)!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

C. S. LEWIS' ADVICE FOR TODAY

        In 1939, when Germany invaded Poland and ignited the fuse of World War II, British theologian C. S. Lewis preached a sermon to his students at Oxford called, “Learning in War-Time.” Although written 81 years ago, his advice is relevant today when our enemy is uncontrollable disease. Lewis identified three enemies which must be faced, and I’ve applied them to our current crisis.

        The first enemy is “DISTRACTION.” News sources overwhelm us, make us anxious, and almost paralyze daily life. The incessant, ever-changing information attacks us 24 hours a day with global death and destruction. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck, pulling us from work and trapping us with regulations we don’t like or trust.

        Lewis’ advice: Look at history. “Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice,” he said. Our present troubles are more normal than abnormal, for we live in a fallen, sinful world. Let us draw courage from knowing past generations survived, by God’s grace, and so shall we.

        The second enemy is “FRUSTRATION.” What if … I can’t get back to work? … my life will all be changed? … the economy won’t recover? What if…. (you fill in the blank)?  Lewis’ advice: Pray for strength to live for today and leave the future to God. Worrying about the future solves nothing. “You may as well leave the future to God,” Lewis said, because His grace will certainly be in it, whether we leave it to Him or not.

        The third enemy is “FEAR OF DEATH.” What if I get sick and die? What about my loved ones? I know everybody dies, but I’m not ready! Lewis’ advice: Rather than being fearful or stoic or angry, accept the fact that this virus shows us our own mortality. Psalm 90:12 prays, “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” Such an attitude will help us make the most of the days we have left.

        This current world crisis can either overwhelm us, or it can keep us on our toes to focus on the beautiful and good things of life. Rather than being distracted, frustrated or fearful, let us live each day with courage and faith. We are not the first to live through a huge crisis and we won’t be the last.

Life is precious, so let’s use our time wisely.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

THE TOMB WAS EMPTY!

        Despite all the fear, caution, threats and drastic measures taken to contain the effects of the current virus, yesterday’s Easter observance was held anyway. All over the world people rejoiced in their faith that the tomb was empty because Jesus truly had risen from the dead. However differently their rejoicing may have been, however separately their worship brought them together, God’s people still rejoiced and said, “He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!” 

        Carol and I worshipped at our desktop computer terminal as we sang, prayed and listened to the Gospel through an online Lutheran worship service. Afterwards we took part in an Easter Parade of three or four dozen decorated golf carts that paraded through our streets nearby. Easter Breakfast for two was a feast!

        In the Easter message, our pastor quoted Rev. J. W. Ylvisaker, a Norwegian Lutheran pastor and former president of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, which he wrote 100 years ago in his commentary, The Gospels, “The resurrection is the Father’s ‘Amen’ to the words of the Son on the cross, ‘It is finished.’ The blood of the sacrificial Lamb was accepted by the Father. Therefore His resurrection is the judgment of acquittal for the world.”  

        The resurrection of Jesus is God’s “Not Guilty!” verdict for us all. With faith in Jesus, we are all forgiven. Nothing more is needed for us to stand before the Lord as men, women and children who’ve been freed from eternal death by what Jesus of Nazareth did for us in leaving the tomb empty. 

        Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”

        Since the time of Jesus, the world has tried to deny, change, silence or scorn the Gospel, but it can never snuff out the light of faith Christ’s resurrection brings to the millions and millions who Trust Him for salvation. “The word of the Lord remains forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Our churches may be empty, but so is His tomb!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

“What’s going on in our world? Who is doing this to us?” Such questions swirl around like the wind as the stock market bounces up and down. People asked the same kind of questions during the Great Depression (1934), after Pearl Harbor (1941), or when the Twin Towers went down (2001). This raging Covid-19 virus has all but shut down our country.

What makes our world unstable? Perhaps we should look to see what we’re doing to make it this way. People have always sought less troubled times. When peace finally comes, or life is more prosperous, or medicine brings a disease under control, then we feel better. We want life to be dependable, more predictable and safer. 

King David’s reign gave people reason for hope because he sought God’s will, despite his sins and the rebellion of his son. His son Solomon’s reign brought prosperity and peace, but that ended when his government disrespected God. The people then may have asked, “What’s going on in our world? Who is doing this to us?”

We must never trust in human rules and traditions alone. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no salvation,” says Psalm 143:3. Peace and prosperity may occur for a time, but sinful ways always bring back instability. 

Rather, we should, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend only on what you know. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Lord Jesus, direct us in life, take away this disease, and give us Your peace.

Rev. Robert L. Tasler, www.bobtasler.com