Our son was married this past Saturday in a joyful, busy and loving week filled with friends and relatives, food and activities that left us and many others weary but happy. Brian and Kersta were classmates but barely knew each other in high school. They met again at their 20th Class Reunion and met a third time via Facebook to begin the romance that brought them to the altar. There 150 friends and family heard them speak their vows to each other on a lovely summer morning.
Brian asked that I be his Best Man, something a father rarely is asked to do. Officiating for their ceremony was another cherished honor. The women of Epiphany Lutheran labored for days to give us a fine reception. Brian and Kersta are committed Christians and both know that good spouses can make each other better.
Brian’s brother and his family were there and took part in the wedding. Kersta’s two children now raises the number of our grandchildren to five. Grandpa and Grandma Tasler are happy people today. We know the meaning of Psalm 127:3: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.”
Pastors are often privileged to preside over their children’s baptisms, confirmations and weddings, and if God grants, those of their grandchildren, too. Being surrounded by fellow believers raises these ordinary events into the extraordinary. I wish everyone could know the exceptional blessings of being a Believer. You cannot buy, borrow or earn what Jesus freely offers us by faith in Him. The love of God knits one’s whole life together.
May you all know the peace of God through faith in Jesus.
Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com
Monday, July 27, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
I'LL FLY AWAY!
Last week I visited a pastor friend and his wife in Texas. The trip from Denver to Dallas-Ft. Worth was great. After the scheduled layover at DFW, we boarded a small CJR 200 jet ("flying hotdog") to finish the trip as planned. Only it didn't quite go as planned.
The first plane kept us sweating in the gate an hour and a half before the pilot said air conditioning problems forced a change of planes. A long while later we boarded another CJR 200, and after finding and loading luggage, we departed. Twenty minutes into the flight the pilot announced apologetically that a "malfunctioning auto-pilot" forced us to turn back. The half dozen emergency vehicles, lights a-flashing, that followed us to the gate made me wonder what the real problem was.
At 10:00 PM and with no other flights to San Angelo, we waited patiently until they brought us a third plane of the same variety. After another wait to locate and load luggage, we backed out of the gate, sat there a half hour, and then pulled back into the gate. The pilot announced more unnamed problems was canceling the flight. By then some of us were on a first name basis with other passengers and had all but exchanged phone numbers.
The desk scheduled us on a flight the next morning and gave us vouchers to a very nice Fairfield Inn for the night where we checked in at midnight. I slept like a log. The next morning we boarded a fourth CJF 200 and quickly flew to San Angelo. As we landed I noticed at least thirty identical planes in mothballs nearby parked like little red, white and blue toys. I joked loudly maybe those were left from other cancelled flights. No one laughed.
After a lovely but all-too-short visit, I was pleased to return to DIA the next day at midnight. I was very civil in my email to the airline, but I am unsure how or if I will use the Courtesy Voucher they sent me.
Lessons learned? 1) Sometimes after years with no problems, they all come at once. 2) Good pilots don't take off when they're unsure if the plane will fly. And finally, 3) God was watching over us, so why gripe? There are other airlines to fly.
“Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away.“ (Psalm 55:6)
Rev. Bob Tasler
ww.bobtasler.com
The first plane kept us sweating in the gate an hour and a half before the pilot said air conditioning problems forced a change of planes. A long while later we boarded another CJR 200, and after finding and loading luggage, we departed. Twenty minutes into the flight the pilot announced apologetically that a "malfunctioning auto-pilot" forced us to turn back. The half dozen emergency vehicles, lights a-flashing, that followed us to the gate made me wonder what the real problem was.
At 10:00 PM and with no other flights to San Angelo, we waited patiently until they brought us a third plane of the same variety. After another wait to locate and load luggage, we backed out of the gate, sat there a half hour, and then pulled back into the gate. The pilot announced more unnamed problems was canceling the flight. By then some of us were on a first name basis with other passengers and had all but exchanged phone numbers.
The desk scheduled us on a flight the next morning and gave us vouchers to a very nice Fairfield Inn for the night where we checked in at midnight. I slept like a log. The next morning we boarded a fourth CJF 200 and quickly flew to San Angelo. As we landed I noticed at least thirty identical planes in mothballs nearby parked like little red, white and blue toys. I joked loudly maybe those were left from other cancelled flights. No one laughed.
After a lovely but all-too-short visit, I was pleased to return to DIA the next day at midnight. I was very civil in my email to the airline, but I am unsure how or if I will use the Courtesy Voucher they sent me.
Lessons learned? 1) Sometimes after years with no problems, they all come at once. 2) Good pilots don't take off when they're unsure if the plane will fly. And finally, 3) God was watching over us, so why gripe? There are other airlines to fly.
“Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away.“ (Psalm 55:6)
Rev. Bob Tasler
ww.bobtasler.com
Monday, July 13, 2015
REMEMBERING DAYS OF YOUTH
After several decades of happy marriage, a man realized he had
never shown his wife the old farm in another state where he grew up. So
they planned a summer road trip that included a drive past the old
place.
During the trip he described to her the old house and barn as well as the garden his mother tended, the orchard and huge trees around the north and west sides of the farmstead. He also told her of the views of the surrounding farms, and the stream that flowed under a bridge through a corner of their land where he had often fished and swam.
Imagine, then, the man's shock when they rounded a corner by the old home place and found everything was gone! The house, buildings, trees, garden and even the farmyard were nowhere in sight. In fact, over that entire place the new owners had planted a field of corn.
Disheartened, the man drove to the old lane, now an just approach into the cornfield, and got out to look. Realizing his emotions his wife said, "Look, there's the stream and the bridge." Yes, they were still there, as well as a neighbor's farm and the open view to the north. He also saw a familiar clump of trees in the old pasture, now a field of soy beans. And to the west was the familiar grove of trees of another neighbor. "I still dream about this," he said, "the house, barn and windmill." The farmstead was gone, but the stream was still there, and the view around his home was still stunning.
"In my dream I see the house and the barn and sometimes even hear my parents talking in the kitchen as she baked fresh bread." His wife listened patiently as the man described his happy youth, his godly parents and his family life there on a road past the old home of his memory.
Disappointment can almost shatter our lives until we realize there is something greater than the memories of our youth. In Psalm 77, the writer speaks of a difficult time when he felt overwhelmed with memories. But in the midst of his emotions he shifted his focus and said, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11-12)
In dealing with disappointment, we can either focus on our loss or on God Himself. The Lord invites us to look to Him and see His eternal presence in our lives, a presence and love that encompasses all of life, including the days of youth and the joys of present life.
Remembering God's goodness helps keep our hope alive today.
Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com
During the trip he described to her the old house and barn as well as the garden his mother tended, the orchard and huge trees around the north and west sides of the farmstead. He also told her of the views of the surrounding farms, and the stream that flowed under a bridge through a corner of their land where he had often fished and swam.
Imagine, then, the man's shock when they rounded a corner by the old home place and found everything was gone! The house, buildings, trees, garden and even the farmyard were nowhere in sight. In fact, over that entire place the new owners had planted a field of corn.
Disheartened, the man drove to the old lane, now an just approach into the cornfield, and got out to look. Realizing his emotions his wife said, "Look, there's the stream and the bridge." Yes, they were still there, as well as a neighbor's farm and the open view to the north. He also saw a familiar clump of trees in the old pasture, now a field of soy beans. And to the west was the familiar grove of trees of another neighbor. "I still dream about this," he said, "the house, barn and windmill." The farmstead was gone, but the stream was still there, and the view around his home was still stunning.
"In my dream I see the house and the barn and sometimes even hear my parents talking in the kitchen as she baked fresh bread." His wife listened patiently as the man described his happy youth, his godly parents and his family life there on a road past the old home of his memory.
Disappointment can almost shatter our lives until we realize there is something greater than the memories of our youth. In Psalm 77, the writer speaks of a difficult time when he felt overwhelmed with memories. But in the midst of his emotions he shifted his focus and said, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11-12)
In dealing with disappointment, we can either focus on our loss or on God Himself. The Lord invites us to look to Him and see His eternal presence in our lives, a presence and love that encompasses all of life, including the days of youth and the joys of present life.
Remembering God's goodness helps keep our hope alive today.
Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
THE HELP WE NEED EACH DAY
Most of us awake each morning with a plan of what we wish to do.
But first we start with a certain ritual that will includes washing,
dressing and making our bodies ready for the day. Women will put on
make-up and men will shave. We may include time for some exercise,
reading the paper and hopefully having coffee with a little breakfast.
Then we grab our wallet or purse, start up the car, and out we go to
face the day ahead!
Most of this shows we cannot get along without having some help. We clothe ourselves for modesty and warmth. We eat for bodily nourishment and groom ourselves so we appear suitable to others. Some add things to help us get by for the day: glasses for seeing, aids for our hearing and pills to make sure our body is healthy and strong. We take a wallet or purse for money, ID cards and essentials, including a cell phone to keep connected with loved ones.
The days are long past when we woke up, left our cave, and went looking for food to kill, but maybe the ritual is similar. We are not self-sufficient; we will always need some things to help us through each day. Even the caveman needed a club to kill his food. Since the beginning of time, people have known they cannot live in isolation. We need companionship and the support of others.
People also seek help from God. Of the seven billion people in the world, three-fourths of us acknowledge the existence of God. We know in our hearts the world and universe did not happen by chance, so we seek help from the One who is greater than ourselves.
As Christians, we believe that One to be the God of the Bible, the Creator Father, the Redeemer Son and the Holy Spirit who gives faith. He is the one true God who cares for His creation and wants His creatures to depend on Him. There is nothing weak about trusting God and praying to Him. Folded hands and bowed heads are a far greater sign of strength then self-reliant heads held high.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.” (Psalm 8:1)
(From my new daily devotional, DAY BY DAY WITH JESUS)
Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com
Most of this shows we cannot get along without having some help. We clothe ourselves for modesty and warmth. We eat for bodily nourishment and groom ourselves so we appear suitable to others. Some add things to help us get by for the day: glasses for seeing, aids for our hearing and pills to make sure our body is healthy and strong. We take a wallet or purse for money, ID cards and essentials, including a cell phone to keep connected with loved ones.
The days are long past when we woke up, left our cave, and went looking for food to kill, but maybe the ritual is similar. We are not self-sufficient; we will always need some things to help us through each day. Even the caveman needed a club to kill his food. Since the beginning of time, people have known they cannot live in isolation. We need companionship and the support of others.
People also seek help from God. Of the seven billion people in the world, three-fourths of us acknowledge the existence of God. We know in our hearts the world and universe did not happen by chance, so we seek help from the One who is greater than ourselves.
As Christians, we believe that One to be the God of the Bible, the Creator Father, the Redeemer Son and the Holy Spirit who gives faith. He is the one true God who cares for His creation and wants His creatures to depend on Him. There is nothing weak about trusting God and praying to Him. Folded hands and bowed heads are a far greater sign of strength then self-reliant heads held high.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.” (Psalm 8:1)
(From my new daily devotional, DAY BY DAY WITH JESUS)
Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com
Saturday, June 27, 2015
THE COURT IS WRONG AGAIN
In the words of Dr. Matthew Harrison, the President of the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, “A
one-person majority of the U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong – again.”
Friday’s 5-4 decision created something that never existed before, a law
declaring same-sex marriage to be legal in all fifty states. Five justices of
the government body charged with interpreting and clarifying laws decided
instead to create law. Thirty states had actual laws on the books declaring
marriage only to be between one man and one woman, and those states sought the
Court’s clarification. The five justices decided instead they had the right to
make a new law which negates them all.
In 1973 a similar thing happened when the
Supreme Court voted 5-4 that abortions should be legal, and proponents thought
the matter settled. But the matter was not settled, and the ruling only
unleashed forty-two years of ongoing challenges and arguments. Friday’s
decision will do the same.
“It’s the law of the land now,”
proponents are saying. The same thing was said in 1857 when the Supreme Court
voted 7-2 to declare that African American slaves were legal property. The
Dredd Scott decision has been universally condemned as the Supreme Court's
worst decision, and it was overturned by the 1866 Civil Rights Act. Chief
Justice Taney hoped his 1857 ruling would settle the slavery question, but it
immediately spurred vehement dissent from anti-slavery elements in the North
and was part of what led to the Civil War.
Today’s
Chief Justice John Roberts, issued the dissenting opinion, condemning the
decision and stating that five justices have no right to enact their own
version of marriage as constitutional law. Now shall come the time of testing
for Christians faithful to the Scriptures and the divine institution of
marriage (Matthew 19:3–6) And I pray that there will be vehement dissent from
those in favor of traditional marriage people all over our nation.
The
ramifications of this decision are huge. Proponents will it to seek to nullify
the Christian understanding of marriage. They will try to pass laws forcing
faithful Christian institutions and individuals to violate their consciences
and follow this law rather than the Bible. If left unchallenged, pastors will
be required to perform same-sex marriages and churches who refuse to obey will
be punished in courts.
The early
apostles were once ordered to stop preaching about Jesus, but they refused, replying,
“We must obey God rather than men.”
(Acts 5:29) This is what Christians must also do and say today. As Christians,
we should continue to be obedient to just laws. We should also respect the
divinely given dignity of all people, no matter their sexual preference, while
also recognizing we are still sinners in thought, word and deed, and confessing
that the “blood of Jesus Christ, God’s
Son, cleanses us from all our sins” (1 John 1:7).
However, as
we struggle with a decision that rejects the historical and biblical practice
of marriage, Christians must also learn what it means to be in a state of conscientious
objection against the United States government. We must seek to overturn this
illegal and unwise decision, and we must resist this Court’s imposition of
falsehood upon us as we stand shoulder to shoulder with Christians, churches
and all people of like mind on this issue.
May
God help us courageously to follow His Word in this matter.
Monday, June 22, 2015
FOOLISH THINGS FOR GOD
In the winter I live next to a golf course. Although I am not an avid
golfer, I like the “green lawn” in my backyard as well as the evening
sunsets. I can see and even hear some golfers as they walk by and once
heard the joy of a “hole in one” achieved on the green near our house.
That’s a goal I have yet to attain.
In 1945, professional golfer Byron Nelson had an unforgettable season. Of the 30 tournaments he entered, he won 18 times, including 11 in a row - incredible! If he had chosen to do so, he could have continued his career and may have become the greatest of the game.
But that was not his goal. He wanted to earn enough money to spend his life doing what he loved to do. At the age of only 34, Byron Nelson retired from the PGA to become a rancher, his real goal in life.
Our world may find that kind of thinking to be foolish. We assume if a person excels in a field, (s)he must remain in it as long as possible. Yet there have been numerous great athletes who have walked away, often at the top of their game, in order to achieve other, more important goals.
Winning may be wonderful, but it can’t supply all our needs. The world doesn’t always like that attitude. It believes wealth and fame produce real satisfaction, but most people know that’s not true. Contentment comes from a good relationship with those we love, our family and especially with God.
The goals of a Christian man or woman may include some winning or similar achievement, but they realize God’s eternal goals are more important. Paul once wrote, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
The Christian choice to live according to God’s Word may make us look foolish to the world, but it is the wisest in the long run. When we follow Christ and His Holy Word of life, we bring honor to God and His kingdom, and we have the satisfaction only He can give.
What “foolish” thing can you do for God today?
www.bobtasler.com
In 1945, professional golfer Byron Nelson had an unforgettable season. Of the 30 tournaments he entered, he won 18 times, including 11 in a row - incredible! If he had chosen to do so, he could have continued his career and may have become the greatest of the game.
But that was not his goal. He wanted to earn enough money to spend his life doing what he loved to do. At the age of only 34, Byron Nelson retired from the PGA to become a rancher, his real goal in life.
Our world may find that kind of thinking to be foolish. We assume if a person excels in a field, (s)he must remain in it as long as possible. Yet there have been numerous great athletes who have walked away, often at the top of their game, in order to achieve other, more important goals.
Winning may be wonderful, but it can’t supply all our needs. The world doesn’t always like that attitude. It believes wealth and fame produce real satisfaction, but most people know that’s not true. Contentment comes from a good relationship with those we love, our family and especially with God.
The goals of a Christian man or woman may include some winning or similar achievement, but they realize God’s eternal goals are more important. Paul once wrote, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
The Christian choice to live according to God’s Word may make us look foolish to the world, but it is the wisest in the long run. When we follow Christ and His Holy Word of life, we bring honor to God and His kingdom, and we have the satisfaction only He can give.
What “foolish” thing can you do for God today?
www.bobtasler.com
Sunday, June 14, 2015
WHAT FATHERS REALLY WANT
“What would you like for Father’s Day, Dad?” Father’s Day is next Sunday. Dads aren’t very good at answering this question without some time and thought, and though you may think some of these are odd, here’s what I’d like:
+ I’d like you to trust in God a lot and pray every day, and
not just to ask Him for things.
+ I’d like you to be good to yourself and other people, and
treat them right.
+ I’d like you to be able to defend yourself, emotionally
and physically, but be gentle.
+ I’d like you to stand up for what’s right, and do it with
respect even if the other guy is a jerk.
+ I’d like you to love and esteem your Mother, especially if
I did a poor job of it.
+ I’d like you to honor your Grandparents. They are of a
different time and tried their best.
+ I’d like you to be honest but patient with me, because I,
too, grew up in a different time.
+ I’d like you to take an interest in our country and honor
the people who defend it.
+ I’d like you to help out with good causes that involve
others in greater need than yourself.
+ I’d like you to grow to be a responsible adult. If you’re
still not sure what that means, ask me.
+ I’m glad if you ask me how I am doing, but be patient if I
rehearse a few things.
+ I’d like it if I tell a story over a second or third time
that you’ll still smile or even laugh again.
+ If I appear indifferent, it may be because I didn’t
understand you even with my hearing aids.
At the end
of my life I hope you will still love me, even if I’ve shown you more of the
sinner I am than the saint. Despite what it may have seemed at times, I tried
my best. If you can, on Father’s Day I’d like you to take your Mother out to a
restaurant. And I wouldn’t mind having lunch with just you sometime.
Love, your Dad
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