Come, Holy Spirit, come!  
And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine!  
Come, Father of the poor!  Come, source of all our store!  
Come, within our bosoms shine. You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, May that light within us shine and our inmost being fill!  
Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint and ill.  
Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.  
On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.  
Amen. Alleluia!  (ancient Sequence for the octave of Pentecost)

Luther writes in his Large Catechism: No human wisdom can comprehend the Creed: it must be taught by the Holy Spirit alone.  Therefore the Ten Commandments do not by themselves make us Christians, for God’s wrath and displeasure still remain on us because we cannot fulfill his demands.  But the Creed brings pure grace and makes us upright and pleasing to God.  Through this knowledge we come to love and delight in all the commandments of God because we see that God gives himself completely to us, with all his gifts and his power, to help us keep the Ten Commandments: the Father gives us all creation; Christ all his works, the Holy Spirit all his gifts.”

The Holy Spirit!  Without the person and work of the Holy Spirit, there would be neither Christians nor Church; for He calls us by the Good News, enlightens us with His gifts, sanctifies and preserves us in the true faith.  Just as He calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and preserves it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.   Jesus makes sure we do think of this as an abstract truth, or something that only belongs only to the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost,  but as a personal and ongoing reality in our daily lives as His followers

On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him; but the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet returned to his glory in heaven.)

In sending the promise of the Father, the Spirit of Truth, Jesus not only satisfies our thirsty souls, but causes rivers of living water to flow from the inmost being of His followers to refresh and revive the drought-stricken lives of their neighbors.

“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come…let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.’”  Song of Solomon 3:10-12a, 14b.

Who was St. Valentine and why has his day remained popular for so many centuries?  One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

 During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.

In the most recent issue of Touchstone, Anthony Esolen describes in a powerful, prophetic manner why we need a reawakening of this ancient tradition in our time.

“In 1970, there were more than 426,300 Catholic marriages in the U.S., then a country of 205.1 million people.  In 2021, there were 97,000 Catholic marriages, in a country of 329.5 million people.  Put those two statistics together, and you have a collapse of 86 percent.  And that does not capture the whole of the problem.  It understates it considerably.  It passes by the 40 percent of American children born out of wedlock, with all the terrible pathalogies that go along with fatherlessness…The sexual revolution really is the Lonely Revolution, whereby we live as if we were meant to be islands unto ourselves, especially during the years of our greatest social energy and joy…The stunning and disheartening thing is that marriage itself is fading fast, in numbers, in social influence, in political power, and in the hearts and imaginations of all people, even among those who attend religious services.

What we have now is, I believe, the worst calamity to befall mankind since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and sought their good from themselves, or from a mere created thing, rather than from God.  I do not mean that we are the worst sinners the world has known.  I mean that as terrible as human history has often been, with plague and famine and war, man has never, in principle, denied his own sexual being.  Never has it been assumed that the interests of the sexes were severable, that man was not for woman and woman was not for man.

That is the essential feminist lie, which until recently could get no traction, for the simple reason that people needed to survive from one winter to the next, and so the sexes could hardly pretend to get on without one another.  That is still the case, I believe, but our wealth and our technology insulate us from feeling the lie’s consequences so directly and severely.

Marriage, then, is a necessity.  But marriages do not simply happen – certainly not in our time.  We must raise boys and girls determinedly, to form young men and young women eager and ready for marriage…

We may dare to add a verse to our Lord’s promise and warning: “Come, ye blessed of my Father,” I imagine him saying, “possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For my cousin was single, and you found her a husband.  I was single, and you found me a wife.”

Through our prayers, words and actions, may we be among those who strive to rekindle the fire of love that fears not the commitment and self-sacrifice required of Holy Marriage as we actively encourage young people in our circles of influence to embrace this estate for their own good, and for the good of the church and world that may not be so quick to mock miracles when it sees them on a more regular basis.

In His love that is stronger than death, Pastor Paul Becker

Advent prepares us to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus as we remember the first Christmas Day, to anticipate his glorious reappearing on the Last Day, and meanwhile to greet Him who gives his holy body and precious blood for us to eat and drink in the holy supper.  Two hymn stanzas below, selected from the first hymnal of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, address all three aspects of Jesus’ coming: past, present, and future.

Thou criest, in Thy manger laid, to give us heav’nly laughter. 
Thou, Highest One, art lowest made, to lift us up hereafter. 
Thou, O my Savior, Mercy-Seat and Son of God, whom here I greet,
art born of earthly mother to be our elder Brother.

O bounteous Savior, grant to me the good that will not fail me.  
O Mighty Lord, I trust in Thee, Thy refuge will avail me;   
When human help is far away, when comes at last my dying day,    
Death’s bondage Thou wilt sever, to Thee I’ll sing forever!

(from C.F.W. Walther’s Hymnal, “Church Hymnbook for Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession 1847,  translated by Matthew Carver)

         We are not accustomed to imagining the Infant Jesus crying in the manger, for we all learned as children “But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes!”   Since our Lord was made like us in every way, except for sin, how could He not shed infant tears just as He wept 30 years later at the grave of his friend Lazarus?  This hymn illustrates what theologians call the “Blessed Exchange” i.e., our crying for His heavenly laughter and our humiliation for His exaltation.  Only eyes of faith can see the truth of this mystery – human reason remains blind and uncomprehending.  Another poet captured the immense significance of Christ’s coming into our world in these lines:

This little babe, so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake.
Though he himself for cold do shake,
For in this weak unarmèd wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.

            May the Christ Child, our Lord and Savior Jesus, whose birth fills the devil with despair, drive all darkness from our hearts and fill them with the wonders of His love today and hereafter.

Pastor Paul Becker

Why Christians Don't Tithe

I believe in tithing. Soon after joining my first church as an adult, I received a membership packet, which included a statement about giving. It read, "As a member of this church, you agree to support this ministry through your regular tithes and offerings."

Even though I didn't fully understand it, the tithe concept always made sense to me. I figured a church has expenses to operate, and the tithe is how God planned to provide for them. I also saw this as an example in Scripture, and it seemed reasonable to me, so I started tithing, and I haven’t stopped.

At first, tithing was simply an act of obedience. It wasn't until much later, after studying it further, that I understood its purpose and meaning. The most important part I learned is that although God wants us to be obedient, he's more interested in our motivation because if our hearts are not in it, God knows, and I personally believe it breaks his heart.

Tithing is a test of your heart's commitment. It's not just doing the right thing. It's doing the right thing for the right reason. It's an expression of gratitude and love toward a selfless and faithful God.

Over the years, I've met many Christians who don't tithe. There are two main reasons for this, and I'll share my thoughts on them below. But first, let me be clear, it's not my job to convince you to tithe. Actually, it's no one's job except for the Holy Spirit. So, I'm not telling you to tithe, but I am asking you to do what I did, study it, and ask God for clarity, then do what He tells you to do.


The two obstacles to tithing

1. A BELIEF THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH

We live in a world where needs and wants are misunderstood and misinterpreted. What we today call needs, just 100 years ago, was barely imagined. Abundance in every area of life has caused us to become so acclimated to comfort that what once was considered extravagant for even the wealthy few is now normal for almost everyone. This lack of clearly defining needs has caused us to live above and beyond what we can afford. Other things influence this, like easy access to borrowing and a culture that has embraced debt as normal. In the end, it all leads to one result, making you feel like you never have enough!

If you're constantly feeling like what you make is not enough to live on, then tithing seems a bit, well, crazy! You ask yourself, "How could I tithe (10%) from my income when I don't have enough to pay for what I "need?"

I've counseled many people who were spending hundreds of dollars more than they made every month. Introducing them to the principle of tithing was a challenge. I would think to myself, "they are $700 in the negative each month! If they begin tithing, they will be $1,200 in the negative each month!" When doing the math in these situations, tithing defies logic. That's why so many people fail to do it. Their response is, "I would like to tithe, but I just can't."



2. A  BELIEF THAT WHAT YOU POSSESS IS YOUR OWN

When someone spends a significant part of their life studying and learning a trade or profession, then gets a job, works hard, and begins to earn an income, it's natural for them to feel like what they made is their own.

I remember the day one of my daughters received her first paycheck. After examining the pay stub, she was shocked and quite offended that the government had taken taxes out of her salary without asking her; this is a perfect example of an ownership mentality. When we believe what we earn is ours, we think we should be the only ones who get to decide what we do with it. When someone takes it or requires us to give some of it away, it feels like a violation. Perhaps that's why many people don't just disagree with tithing; they vehemently oppose it.

This ownership perspective can be understood for those ignorant about the Scripture who have not accepted the gospel. However, for those who confess Christ as Lord, they've been enlightened by the Scripture and believe God owns everything, tithing should be easy to embrace. So why is it that so many Christians oppose it still?



The Fruit of Repentance

In Luke 3, John the Baptist began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The crowd coming out to be baptized by John didn't get the welcome they were hoping for. John called them a "brood of vipers," coming out to flee from the coming wrath. He warned them to produce fruit in keeping with repentance and not rely on their heritage as Abraham's children. John saw their lack of sincerity and called it out. How did John know they were not sincere, and what exactly was he accusing them of? We find the answer in John's response to their questions.

10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11 John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay." (Luke 3:10-14 )


Every one of John's instructions to them had to do with how they managed money and possessions. I find this interesting and revealing! He tells them to share from their abundance, be honest, collect no more than required, not extort money, and be content with their pay.

Today, much like in John's day, true repentance is seen by how one lives. How one manages money and possessions is the clearest indicator of their commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. It was the test in John's day, and it's still the best indicator of true repentance today.

Are you producing fruit in keeping with your repentance? Are you satisfied with your provision? Is there an ownership mentality still present in your life, or have you relinquished that right and taken on your role as a faithful steward?

From Christian Stewardship Network, used with permission.

From Pastor Becker’s heart to yours…..

For some time, October has been observed in the body of Christ as Respect Life Month.  I remember the joy and excitement I experienced upon discovering 25 years ago at a Fall Pastor’s Conference in Pigeon Forge, a copy of The Gospel of Life by Pope John Paul II (Three Rivers Press, April 17, 1995).  I took it as a sign of hope that if more Christian leaders spoke the truth in love, a culture of life might be restored in our world.  Sadly, my hope no longer burns as brightly as it once did.  Too many pastors and churches have been silent and missing in action for too long.  I tremble when I pray Psalm 98: “…for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”
 
Twenty-five years ago, Pope St. John Paul II wrote that the Gospel of Life is at the heart of Jesus’ saving message to the world (Evangelium vitae 1)  In taking on human flesh, dwelling among us, and sacrificing his very life for our redemption, Christ reveals the profound dignity of every human person.  This God-given dignity does not change with our stage of life, abilities, level of independence, or any other varying circumstance.

Rather, it is rooted in the permanent fact that each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, created to share in the very life of God himself.  The human person is a “manifestation of God in this world, a sign of his presence, a trace of his glory” (EV 34).  And we must reflect this truth in how we act and how we treat one another.

In his encyclical on the Gospel of life, Pope St. John Paul II recognizes the full range of threats against human life, from poverty and malnutrition to murder and war.  He places particular emphasis, however, on threats to life at its beginning and end—precisely where it is most in need of protection.  In modern times, children in their mother’s wombs and those approaching the end of their lives are certainly among the “least of these” in our world’s estimation.  Practices such as abortion and assisted suicide tragically reject the truth that human life is always to be cherished and defended with loving concern.
As the Church celebrates the 25th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s prophetic encyclical, let us reflect on how we personally live out the Gospel:
• Do I talk about and act towards others as I would talk about and treat Jesus himself?  
• Do I inform myself of the Church’s teachings and engage in the civic arena as first a follower of Christ?  
• Do I support and advocate for laws and policies that protect and defend human life?  
• Do I help pregnant and parenting mothers in need?  Am I ready to support a loved one nearing death?”
(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities)

Dear people of God, I pray that our hearts. minds and conversations may be captivated by the Gospel of Life, and not by the false propaganda which daily assaults us, coming from “the cosmic powers over this present darkness, … the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  
   
“Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing.”
Philippians 2:16            

Pastor Paul Becker      

------
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
                Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
                Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.                                                                                                                                          

by Pastor Paul Becker

Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana announced a Hymn Competition for the 175th anniversary of the Seminary.  Several factors played into the process of writing this hymn.  As I often begin by thinking of a tune, I ran through many possibilities, looking for something lively and energetic, not too short, composed in a major key conveying a celebratory mood, and not over-used but also capable of bearing a new text.  “Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head” (LSB 647 REUTER) met all my criteria.

The Scripture passages that guided me were I Chronicles 16:8 and Psalm 105:1, Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people.  I was hoping to write something that would speak both to the men preparing for the Holy Ministry, as well as Christians in local congregations who support them with their finances and prayers.  By focusing in a general way how we “Make known His deeds!” as well as looking specifically at each Person of the blessed Trinity as they relate to our lives of witness in the priesthood of all believers and in those set apart as stewards of the mysteries of God, I tried to give a fresh expression to the overarching missionary task of the Church that was both timely for our present context and timeless – to be sung by disciples of Jesus in any generation.  I humbly submit this hymn for use in the larger church without charge, asking only for acknowledgment of the author.  
 
Make known His deeds!  Let praises ring, His wondrous works repeating,
His marvels tell, His judgments sing, His righteous deeds rehearsing;
Your servants’ voice make strong, sing out heaven’s song!
Sweet messages of grace resound in every place,
Throughout each generation!
 
We thank You, Jesus, dearest Lord, for holy revelation
In sacraments and living Word, You make a new creation,
To grasp God’s promise sure: Christ’s cross is our cure!
From Satan, death and grave, from selfishness You save:
This is our proclamation!
 
Dear Father, unto You we cry, that Your Name be kept holy;
In all we teach and do, supply, to love and serve You only;
Your gracious Kingdom come, that we might become
Your prophets without fear, Your Christians gladly bear
Good News for every nation!
 
Spirit of Life, of truth and love, Now fill us with Your power,
Your priceless gifts from heaven above, cause faithful lives to flower;
In means of grace take root, bring forth godly fruit;
That all to God might turn and passion freely burn
For all to know salvation!
Tune: REUTER  (LSB 647)  

 “Make Known His Deeds!”  I Chronicles 16:8; Psalm 105:1  
Copyright 2020, Rev. Paul F. Becker

For the Great Fifty Days of Easter!

"This is the Pascha of our salvation:
this is the One who in many people endured many things.
This is the one who was murdered in Abel,
tied up in Issac,
exiled in Jacob,
sold in Joseph,
Exposed in Moses,
slaughtered in the lamb,
hunted down in David,
Dishonored in the Prophets.

This is the One made flesh in a Virgin,
who was hanged on a tree,
who was buried in the earth,
who was raised from the dead,
who was exalted to the heights of heaven.

This is the lamb slain,
this is the speechless lamb,
this is the One born of Mary, the fair ewe,
this is the One taken from the flock,
and led to slaughter.
Who was sacrificed in the evening,
and buried at night,
who was not broken on the tree,
who was not undone in the earth,
who rose from the dead and resurrected mankind
from the grave below"  

—Melito of Sardis (+ c. 180)
Offered by Pastor Paul F. Becker, Concordia Lutheran Church

Call Your Pastor
written by Pastor Michael Knox, seconded by Pastor Paul Becker, included with permission

Your Pastor is involved in much of your life. He is there when you are baptized and granted the new life of salvation in Jesus. He is there each week preaching the Word of God leading you to a life of repentance and toward a confidence in Christ’s redeeming work. He is there teaching you as a catechumen the truth of Scripture and the Small Catechism so that you may confess the Lutheran faith and be welcomed into the communion fellowship of the congregation. He is there administering the Sacrament of the Altar so that through receiving the body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins you may grow strong in faith and in love for your neighbor. He is there to hear your confession of sin and to forgive you of those sins in the stead and by the command of Christ. He is there teaching Bible Class so that all your life you may grow in the knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, flee from false teachers and teaching, and be guided throughout life by the Scriptures which are a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. He is there when you are dying as he proclaims the victory of Jesus over death and the grave so that you may, with Jesus, entrust your spirit into the hands of your Heavenly Father.

From the beginning of your life until its end your Pastor is there so that you might have faith in Jesus. That’s what your Pastor has been called by Jesus to do.

There is another time in your life when your Pastor is there—when you are sick, hospitalized, or facing surgery. In fact, a very important part of your Pastor’s work “during the week” is making calls on the sick.

Why does your Pastor want you to call him when you are sick? Why does he visit you when you are hospitalized? Why does he meet with you when you are preparing for surgery? The reason may not be what you think.

Your Pastor doesn’t come to visit so that the surgery is more successful. He’s not a good luck charm; the result of your surgery or sickness will be the same whether he is there or not. You entrust yourself into the hands of physicians, nurses, and other caregivers who will be God’s instruments of mercy and who will care for your body.

Your Pastor doesn’t come to visit so that he can pray better or more effectively than you can. Yes, of course he will pray. God desires that you pray in times of need. But know this without any doubt: your Pastor’s prayers are not heard any more loudly or clearly by God than those from you or from any other Christian. Your Pastor is not nearer to God, nor does he have special privileges with Him. One of the reasons he does pray with you and for you is that in times of weakness, sickness, fear, or doubt, it is hard to pray. Your Pastor doesn’t come to visit you so that you won’t die. God has not promised that you will not face death, and all of the visits from your Pastor won’t keep that from happening if it is God’s will.

So why does your Pastor want you to call him when you are sick? Why does he visit you when you are hospitalized? Why does he meet with you when you are preparing for surgery? Your Pastor visits for the same reason that he is there in all those other times in your life—so that your faith in Jesus may be strengthened by the Word and Sacraments. That’s it. That’s all there is. That’s all you need: faith in Jesus!

The next time you are sick, or in need, or facing surgery—please, call your Pastor.