refining the precious metal‏

^{1 Peter 1: 6} In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
It's hard to understand how going through difficulties can be a positive influence that strengthens your faith and adds a permanent quality to your life. That is the assertion of Peter and many Christian writers since him. C.S. Lewis wrote The Problem of Pain to explore what he calls the "redemptive aspects of human suffering". The idea is that we share in the suffering of Christ and learn to depend on his consolations. Our faith in Jesus is made stronger in the process. We don't seek pain on purpose but when we go through it we find our Savior is right with us. We sing, "Jesus keep me near the cross" to remind us that it was through a cross that we were given salvation. That is more precious than gold. 
We pray that all those who endure suffering might turn to the cross and find relief. Amen.

it's in the will‏

^{1 Peter 1: 4} and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

A net result of the resurrection of God's Son is that you are written into his will. You have a hope that is supported by God's will. It says that you are a beneficiary of God's riches in glory. Not only that, but since God knows that Satan will try to keep you from getting what you have been promised, the Father will supply "Secret Service men" to protect your body and soul from harm until you come into his estate. Your salvation is guaranteed by God's will. 
Thank and praise him, always. Lord God, we thank you for an imperishable promise of life that never fades. In Jesus' name.

Amen.

WE are witnesses‏

1 Peter 1:  ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 
What is on your agenda for today? Do you look forward to meeting the challenges set for you to meet? If not, then have "a living hope." If you have a deadline, a grueling task, or just boredom  to face, have a living hope. Christ is alive in you. You can make a difference. Believe that and watch the Spirit go to work. 
Read the story of Edith Burns, the Easter Lady. 
We pray for those who are facing another two months of school.

The Fellowship of Christ‏

Psalm 133  Behold, How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard

On the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

It is lie the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

After the excitement of Easter I awoke in a combination aches and pains and sinus drip this morning. Then I remembered it was April 9, the day we recall in 1945 when a good Pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed for standing up to Hitler. He had the best theological training available in Berlin and received his doctorate just as Hitler was taking power in Germany.

Hitler had a dream of a super race and regime to rule the world. In that scheme the church was the servant of the state. All pastors and teachers of the church were subservient to the interests of the Third Reich. Bonhoeffer saw that this was no church because a man had taken the position of God. So Bonhoefffer and other faithful pastors took the church underground. In 1939 Dietrich was invited to New York for a series of lectures at Union Theological Seminary. His teaching was so inspirational that the Seminary tried to persuade him to stay here in safety.

But Dietrich could not bear to stay here while his country was suffering under the rule of a mad man. He went back to serving in the underground church. He was later arrested for implication in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler. While in prison he was an inspiration to the other prisoners. After many attempts to secure his release, Bonhoeffer was transferred to Flossenburg prison and was executed just a month before VE Day. His life is a testimony for the Easter victory over the power of death. He is my brother in Christ even though he died the year I was born. He is alive in Christ forever and continues to inspire those who feel the Spirit is moving them to take an unpopular stand for Christ. .   

Behold, How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Easter People

^{Mark 16: 4} But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
 ⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Everything that could go  Wrong did. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph his followers thought that it was finally happening. Jesus would be named “the king of the Jews.”But he began to talk about going away and leaving them. He got into some really hot arguments with the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin. Then he gathered us together for the Passover and said Judas would betray him. That night turned into the longest day of our lives. Interrogation. Cross examination. False witnesses. Beating. Flogging Crucifixion! All our hopes were crushed.

After his burial all kinds of rumors circulated. Some said the tomb was empty. Another said the women had seen an angel on the tomb. Others believed that his body had been stolen to trick people into believing he was still alive. But in spite of it all we began to see that he was alive. We went everywhere and told people about Jesus. That even death could not contain him. We urged them to believe in Jesus and they could have a new life. All the past mistakes, the sorrow and regret would be wiped away. We could believe in him and our lives would change.

If you had time I could tell you about all the men and women who thought it was a privilege to die with the Christ. All of the twelve and Paul died for their testimony.

Justin, Columbia, Valentine and Thomas a Beckett, just to name a few. If you read Hebrews 12 you will see how drastically different the life of a disciple can be. You could attend our Bible study on Wednesday which is focused on these great stories of faith. But when the angel on the tomb challenged the women to believe that Jesus was risen, he started a great movement of faith that still works in our lives today. Faith is the substance of everything we hope for. We don’t expect to get our reward here but have a city built in heaven for us to inhabit. Your imagination can’t outdo what the Father has prepared for those who love him.

When Jesus stepped out of the tomb he proved the Chief priest and the Sanhedrin were wrong. The Romans had it wrong, too. All those who think you can buy or threaten your way to getting what you want. .He made us servants who excel in showing grace to all in need. We are new people: we’re Easter people from now on! Join the song and join the family of Easter people. 

Hallelujah! He is risen!This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it. 

Amen.

Pass it on‏

^{1 Corinthians 11: 23} For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The things that Jesus does this week have crucial significance for our lives from this point on.  In the Gospel  of St. John we read of the great teachings of Jesus to his disciples. In each of the gospels his crucifixion and death are recorded. And though we are separated by time and culture and all we call modern life we still have access to what Jesus did through the sacrament which the apostle received and handed down to the Church. 
In Holy Communion, all the distance that separates us from God’s Son is washed away. It’s like a window that has been opened to grace and truth. Come and celebrate his last supper with the disciples. 
Keep the new commandment : to love one another just as he loved us.

Wednesday in Holy Week‏

^{John 13: 21} After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Wednesday in Holy Week: Read John 13:21-32

Reflection” How does the betrayal of Jesus by Judas add to the tragedy of Jesus’ death? In spite of human weakness, Jesus triumphs over death and wins the victory over sins and death.

Almighty God, your Son, our Savior suffered at human hands and endured the shame of the cross. Grant that we may walk in the way of his cross and find it the way of truth and life. Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Sing: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”

Holy Tuesday worship‏

1	Corinthians 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
	but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Today we commemorate Holy Tuesday. Sing Hymn  293(LBW) , “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less…” Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you. We pray that our love may not grow cold: in your service, and that we may not fail or deny you in the hour of trial. Read John 12:20-36.

Meditate on this passage:

31 Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; 32 and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

How does your faith in Jesus lift you up in a greedy world to see where true joy is found? Pray for the power of the Gospel to lead and enable faithful service in our congregation.

Jesus at his Last Supper

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

Jesus was committed to do the Father’s will. He would depart out of this world and leave the disciples behind to finish his work. He had prepared and trained them to go out and proclaim the Kingdom of God in every village and town. But there was one more important part of their preparation that still needed work. They needed to have a servant heart. The disciples were amazed at the great deeds of power that Jesus performed. But they were still seeking the position of authority within the group. Their motives were corrupted by individual ambition.

Jesus takes the moment before supper to teach them one more time. Without a word, he shows  each of them how to treat one another. He took the position of the most humble servant and gave himself to comfort the rest. Without a word, he shows them the love of God given to all. As we prepare for the last week of Jesus’ life, Holy Week, let us learn to serve with the heart of Jesus. Find the time to serve your brothers and sisters in need. Bring the comfort and consolation of the Holy Spirit. 
Then you will be ready to dine with Jesus at his Last Supper. 
Amen.