This past week, I spent three days in St. Louis. Why? Not to avoid the snow, although the timing was wonderfully convenient. While most in our area were shoveling out and enjoying a snow day, I was in 60-degree temps with sunny skies. Plus, if I’m going to flee the snow, it will not be to the middle of the country where there is no beach in sight!  It also was not, primarily, for the delicious St. Louis BBQ, fresh Anheuser-Busch brew, or local Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. The actual reason that I was in St. Louis was for the Set Apart to Serve (SAS) initiative that you’ve seen mentioned several times over the past many months in our weekly blasts and church bulletins.  Our church body, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, has its headquarters located in St. Louis and they hosted all members that are part of this pilot group for an onboarding conference.

So what is Set Apart to Serve?  Again, it is a synod-wide, intentional commitment, and meticulous approach to raising up, educating, and sending new church workers. There is an incredible shortage of full-time church workers. For example, we currently have about 6,000 active pastors in our synod. If nothing is done, due to retirement and low enrollment at our... 

An online article in the town I live, speaking of an effort to prevent a ‘mega-warehouse’ from building and moving into the community, starts off with this statement—"Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world.” As I continue to think about the future of our ministry here at King of Kings, this statement rings loud and true. How can we bless our community? What needs can we help meet? How can we make a difference? How do we fruitfully share the Gospel of Jesus?
 
It is easy to think, what difference can a small church make? We can fall into the dangerous, evil trap of comparing our worth to the bigger churches around us. (And believe me, I have!) But the Bible wonderfully reminds us that the Church started off as only a small group of Jesus’ followers. Yet from that small group, the church grew. As the Gospel was shared, God powerfully blessed the efforts of these earliest followers. This is still the way God works. Let us be the salt and light that we heard Jesus speak of this past Sunday--His modern-day, divine difference-makers! Don’t hide your Christian life. Let it shine. Let the world know what gives you joy, let them hear about the One who gives you hope. The saving gospel, the good news of Christ, isn’t just good for you. It’s good for everybody.  And when we all embrace this renewed life and this blessed calling together, no matter how small our group may be, God will bear fruit. He will change the world! 
 
“Let your love for God change the world, but never let the world change your love for God.” 

Throughout our years in Wisconsin, right about this time of the winter, we would spend a couple of nights at a nearby indoor waterpark.  Less than an hour away, was the self-described waterpark capital of the world in the city of Wisconsin Dells. Two years ago, after we moved out east, we were excited to see that we were now about the same distance away from similar indoor options up in the Poconos of Pennsylvania.  Our family’s winter waterpark tradition could continue!  Yet recently, I was slapped upside the head by significant sticker-shock when I went to check on the pricing for a quick 1-2 night getaway that worked within our kid’s school schedule.  For a basic standard room, during a time when I would not have to pull the kids out from school, the cost was $980 per night. Add on taxes and fees, and a 2-night venture would have cost over $2,000.  However, if I were to book a reservation one week later, on a Monday and Tuesday but thereby needing to have the kids miss school, the cost—for the same exact room—went down to $222 per night.  Same hotel. Same room. Same number of beds. Same amenities.  $758 more expensive per night! Despite my attempts to chat and schmooze with a “reservation agent” there was nothing they could do. They are a “dynamic pricing” resort. The costs are not negotiable. I received only their apologies and encouragement to keep checking their website for occasional price drops and future specials. 
 
So why do they charge like this?  Because they can.  If not me, they know that still another family will end up reserving the high-priced rooms. The more money they make, the better. Plain and simple, it’s all about the dollar. They don’t care about the sad stories of families trying to make memories if it cuts into their gain.  If you’ve purchased a new car within the last couple of years, you probably found yourself paying an extra “fee.”  Whatever they call it, they will attribute it to a variety of different things like shortage of computer chips, pandemic hangover, worker shortage, or reduced inventory. Hogwash!  According to a handful of people I talked to in the car sale industry, it is essentially the “just-because-we-can” fee to increase their profit. They assume that if people really need the car, they’ll pay whatever is on the ticket. It is certainly not like there are cheaper options elsewhere. For the most part, I suspect this is the same reason gas prices remain high and the cost of a carton of eggs continues to climb. Sure, there may be several other factors involved, but corporate greed undoubtedly plays a role. They know we need it; hence they’ll charge us more.  I never took a business or economics class, but I believe this is the very definition of supply and demand. The more the need, the higher you can price your items.  Business bigwigs don’t care about family budgets; their decisions are based on the numbers. They know such things like gas, milk and eggs are a necessity of the consumer; thus, they hike up the prices and watch people pay, grumbling the whole time. Why? So, they can continue to pad their pockets and increase their profits. 
 
Reflecting on my waterpark getaway-less frustration, it brings me great peace to know our God deals with us in a drastically different way. Can you imagine if He functioned similarly?  Can you imagine if He preyed on our desperate need and lack of options?

“You need salvation?
You want forgiveness? 
Interested in an all-inclusive stay in the heavenly mansions?
How much are you prepared to pay?
This is really going to cost you!” 

Thanks be to God that our gracious, heavenly Father does no such thing.  In fact, this is the beautify of the Gospel. We are not restrained by exorbitant costs, hidden fees, or inflated prices. We are set free from it all. There are no barriers. There are no obstacles. The Bible tells us, “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) The cost is covered. The bill is paid. No reservations are required, or online booking needed. Our room is ready. The blood of Jesus that poured forth from the cross becomes the magnificent means by which we are assured of our place in His eternal kingdom. Definitively and thankfully, we will never find ourselves in that awkward position—with a desperate need that can only be met by satisfying the demands of a selfish, greedy tyrant. Instead, we find ourselves as beloved recipients of God’s great gift. Jesus paid the price. And because He did, we are the beneficiaries that have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, and riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:17)
 
Therefore, my friends, whether at the grocery store, gas station, local restaurant, or on Amazon… do not let the wretchedness of climbing prices overwhelm you. Do not take out your frustration on workers who do not control the bottom-line pricing. Try not to secretly curse those getting rich on overpriced eggs and butter. Instead, let it be a moment where you thank God for His material blessings. Greater appreciate the abundance of your daily bread and be assured that thrill of our heavenly paradise will be better than any earthly waterslide or wave pool.  Take that Kalahari! 😉
 
“Better it is to have little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8)
“Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)

Yesterday morning, while walking past the sanctuary, something caught my eye. It was enough to pique my curiosity and stop me in my tracks. Where was the brightness coming from that flashed as I quickly shuffled past the big class windows? As I peered into the church, I noticed that our baptismal font was glowing. Not literally, of course. But the way the sun was pouring in through the stained-glass windows, it was hitting the marble font in such a way that the whole thing just radiated. I tried to capture it, but the picture doesn’t do it justice at all. 

As I sat down in the pew to appreciate it, the words of our Old Testament reading for this Sunday came to mind. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.  You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you…” (Isaiah 9:2-3) 
 
The image of light and darkness is common throughout the scriptures; and in these words, the prophet Isaiah declares that although people have been stuck in darkness (without salvation), when the Lord appears He will bring light (salvation) to all who trust in Him. The Lord is promising a joyful, new life to all who trust in Him.  He is promising to remove them from the fear and scary shadows of darkness, where there is so much that is hidden and so much that is unknown. In its place, the Lord assures us that there will be joy. This is the very same promise we receive in baptism as well. In fact, we can point to our baptism as the very moment where God removes the darkness and places His light within us.  It is more than appropriate then, that in this picture, we see the font just below the cross. The beauty and benefits of baptism flow from the sacrifice of the cross. It all starts with Jesus. Because of everything Jesus has done for us, on the cross and in the empty tomb, we know that we have joyful, new, and eternal life to look forward to. On the cross Jesus wins and finishes God's redemptive plan; and, in our baptism, He delivers all the blessings of that redemption to us.  Just as water cleanses our bodies, so the waters of baptism cleanses our souls. Baptism is the means by which we are brought out of the darkness and deadness of the grave, and re-created into the light and life of being a beloved child of our Heavenly Father. The slums of sin and the druthers of death are drowned. At the font of, we are brought into the Lord’s most glorious light; we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. God is light, and in Him there's no darkness at all. In other words, when God shows up for us in our baptism, He pours out His grace into our lives and all darkness in us is scattered. (cf. 1 John 1:5) Goodbye shadows and sin, hello new creation!
 
So today, give thanks for your baptism. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your gift of life through Baptism. This day and always, drown out the sin in my life and raise me up to live with You in joy and peace. Amen.

Wrong purchase.
Too big. Too tight.
Already have it. Doesn’t work.
Not needed. Not my style.
Seriously, what were they thinking?!  
 
For these and many other reasons, the days after Christmas are the busiest “return” days of the year. Have you stood in a long return line at Target, Kohl’s or elsewhere yet?  I was at the UPS store yesterday morning, just after they opened, and was still 8-customers deep in the line. Americans return nearly $90 billion worth of gifts every year.  According to the National Retail Federation, more than half of all shoppers say they will return or exchange any unwanted gifts within the first month after Christmas.  Based on numbers from last year, UPS alone estimates they will process more than 60 million holiday returns. Despite the best intentions of friends and families, some gifts just don’t work out.  Returned holiday gifts are a fact of life. Not every gift is going to be a winner.
 
But did you know that it was actually the raggedy, dirty old shepherds who made the first Christmas return?  Luke 2:20 says, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”  Yes, indeed, it was the unlikely first guests of Jesus’ birth that found themselves with the first Christmas return. It was not a return rooted in disappointment or dissatisfaction. Quite the contrary!  It was an invaluable return; one that most assuredly changed their lives forever. It was a return that they didn’t want to send back.  They didn't want to exchange for something different.  They were excited about it. They wanted to keep it; and they shared it with anyone who would listen. After the shepherd’s early encounter with the heavenly hosts and precious time spent with the holy family, these shepherds would never be the same. They were uplifted. They were rejoicing. They were praising God for all they had heard and seen. 
 
Why so?  After all they still had to go back to the same unimpressive jobs. It’s not like they won the lottery, found new wealth, or even a better profession. So why did these men return to the sheep fields with such a newfound sense of jubilation? 

​As you may expect, the life of a shepherd would never land them on the cover of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”  Though a necessary work, it wasn’t the most appreciated and certainly not sought after. These shepherds were off the grid and far from most people’s minds, living away from their families outside of town. And this particular group of shepherds, more likely than not, drew the short straw having to work the night shift—risking their lives for a bunch a sheep against thieves and predators for a menial salary. It is unexpected then, yet very much divinely prescribed, that these are the first to hear “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” The angel squashed their fear and returned their gaze to the heavens, declaring, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  These poor, stinky shepherds knew immediately that this was not just a gift given for others, but a gift given for them also! Rather than announcing Christ's birth to kings, scholars, or priests, the angels went to "ordinary" persons (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26–30). The message of the gospel is universal, and accessible to all—a fact echoed in the way angels first carried it to everyday laborers in humble circumstances.  And because the shepherds received this good news, and found the Gift hand-wrapped by Mary herself, they returned to their lives rejoicing in the love of God shown and given to them. 
 
So, as you are out making your returns this post-Christmas season, may the good news of the Savior born, lead you to return to a life filled with praise and thanksgiving!
 
“I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.” (Norman Vincent Peale)
 
“Well, this is one Christmas shepherd who’s going to keep his trusty blanket with him.” (Linus, A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Check this out!)

Recently, my Dad recommended a new, binge-worthy series on Amazon Prime. I watched it. It was really good…  

I’m glad he told me about it.

Several weeks ago, a family member recommended we visit a local cidery. My wife and I went and we had a fantastic time together… 

I’m glad she recommended it.

Way back in August, a church member invited my son and me to a NY Mets game. He was even willing to drive into the city. We went. The Mets won. We had an awesome time… 

I’m glad he invited us.

Frequently, we will try a new restaurant based on a good review or recommendation.  After a satisfying meal and good experience, I’ll often think… 

I’m glad they encouraged us to try this place.

This past Friday night, we had 11 preschool and 8 church families here at church for a Gingerbread Family Event. They loved it… 

“Thanks for inviting us. We had so much fun.”

Do you get the point?
Am I being too subtle?
Are you picking up what I'm putting down?  😉

3 days away. Christmas weekend is nearly upon us. Don’t let people miss out. No matter where you will be worshiping this weekend, bring someone else with you. Extend the invitation to your family, friends, and neighbors to join you in worship this weekend.  
​
“How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15) 

Maybe there is something to the repetition of it all?!? The predictable and the familiar doesn't always have to be a bad or mundane thing. I can almost guarantee that you will not hear any breaking news when you come to church this Christmas.  Very likely, nothing will shock you or leave you speechless. No special additions or previously unseen characters. After all, the story hasn’t changed.  We follow the same star.  We travel to the same manger.  We marvel at the same angels. We stand alongside the same shepherds.   “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (KJV, Luke 2:11-12) 

Sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it?

For over 17 years now, my wife and I have shared presents with each other at Christmas.  With varying degrees of excitement and practicality, we exchange gifts as an expression of love and thankfulness for each other.  In the early years of our marriage, we’d occasionally try to recount the different gifts shared at past Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries.  It was fun to relive the gifts we had shared as it brought to mind different memories or stories from years gone by.  But as the years have progressed and with more attention focused on gifts for our kiddos, it has become impossible for us recall each gift given and received from one year to the next.  After all, I can’t remember half of what happened to me in the last week. Truthfully, many of those gifts have probably since been thrown out or used up; they no longer work or are no longer needed. It is not that the gifts weren’t special or appreciated, it is just near unachievable to find a gift that stands the test of time.  Maybe then, there really is something special and news-worthy to the unchanging story we encounter each Christmas season.

The repetition of God’s beautiful gift given to us in the Christ Child firmly imprints itself on our hearts and in our minds.  Unlike clothes that have worn out or gadgets that are outdated, the incredible message of Christmas is timeless. It speaks just as much comfort to us today as it did 2000 years ago. Today the “good tidings of great joy” is just as relevant and sorely needed in our culture and our personal lives as ever before.  We need to hear of God’s great act of love to put back our sin-shattered lives.  We need to hear that there is still hope in despair and peace in the midst of hardships.  We need to hear that all is not lost, that we are loved and passionately pursued by the Creator. 

To be fair, we don’t always like repetition.  None of us do.  If a song comes on the radio too much, we change the station.  If our favorite TV show comes on with a rerun, we flip to another channel.  If our children wear the same clothes every day, teachers will start to get concerned. If we start eating the same thing for dinner each night, eventually our taste buds will rise in protest.  But we dare not tune out the Christmas story.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) No matter how many times we’ve heard it before. We still need it. Desperately. The gift of a Savior, light breaking into our world of darkness to uplift and redeem us.

Even though my wife and I can no longer recall the exchanged gifts of the past, one thing we never fatigue of is hearing about how much we love each other.  Our children never get tired of hearing how much their parents love them. Parents never get tired of hearing their children say how much they love us.  Christmas is God’s emphatic—and wonderfully repetitious—declaration of His unchanging and unmatched love for you.  We sing with the angels and rejoice with the shepherds again and again, year after year, because God shows His great mercy for us in flesh and blood form.  We see the “goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior” who appeared to save us and make us heirs to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)  We don’t enter into a candlelit church just for tradition’s sake, to hear a familiar story.  So much more is happening.  God is again revealing Himself to us.  God is again showing up in our midst. He is again dwelling among His people.  Yes indeed, something awesome happens when we gather to worship, again, at Christmas. We peer into the manger, past the hay and animals, to gaze upon a child wrapped in swaddling clothes—the divine and perfect Gift that lasts forever.  “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23) 

Beautiful words!  God is with YOU today and always.  For YOU a Savior is born.  My prayer is that we never grow weary of hearing this! 😊

“Of course, it’s the same old story. Truth is usually the same old story.” (Margaret Thatcher)

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life." (Corrie Ten Boom)

This is not just a desperate pastoral plea. I have recently seen several articles and videos that all stress the same thing… Invite your friends and neighbors to church this Christmas.  No joke!  And the research and numbers back that statement up. 
 
Among regular church goers, over 91% plan to worship at Christmas. No surprise. BUT even among non-church goers, 53% of people (in the northeast) said they would look for a church to worship at Christmas. Furthermore, people are over 57% more likely to respond favorably to an invitation to church this time of the year.  That’s a huge number!  Why? Because it’s Christmas!  Even if it isn’t their routine or desire during the rest of the year, people find their way back to church during this Christmas season.  So why not invite them here to King of Kings?  Or wherever you call home. Seems like a situation we dare not pass up! 
 
What does this mean?  It means we need to extend the invite, it may be the easiest time to do so all year! Make the call. Type the email. Send the text. Or... gasp... actually talk to someone in person. No matter how you do it. Invite them. Personally. To family and friends, neighbors and co-workers. If you plan on attending church here (or anywhere else) this Christmas, please invite someone to go with you. You might even offer to pick them up. No matter where your church home is, there are few things more uplifting than a full service on Christmas Eve.