jordan river

my friend aehab took this photo at the jordan river last week

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semper reformanda

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a mighty fortress

Remember 1976? It was America's bicentennial year. Everyone was proud to be an American. There was red, white, and blue all over the place. Parades rolled down the streets, bands played patriotic hymns, and fireworks lit up the sky across the country all summer long. When the “Star Spangled Banner” was played, people were full of hope and pride and joy.

It's a similar feeling this year for Lutherans. It's 2017 - the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. There are lots of events and activities going on, special services are being planned, Luther's seal is being waved, and the Battle Hymn of the Reformation is being played. "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."

We all know this hymn of course. It is one of the most well-known hymns in church history. But I'm not sure we all know the background of why it was written in the first place.

In the summer of 1527, one of Martin Luther's friends was martyred for teaching the Lutheran faith. In the fall of that year, the plague broke out in Wittenberg which caused much suffering and pain. And then in December, Luther's daughter was born sickly and later died.

It was at this time that Luther went through one of his worst periods of temptation and trial. Most scholars believe that it was in the midst of these difficult circumstance that Luther set out to write "Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott" (A Mighty Fortress is Our God) based on Psalm 46.  

An early church father named Tertullian once said, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." In the same way, suffering and trials are often the crucible from which come great works of literature or art in the church. Luther didn't consider this hymn as a "battle cry of the reformation" as many call it today. For him it was a hymn of comfort and consolation in the midst of great suffering and pain.

In his periods of greatest darkness and despair, Luther knew where to turn, to the love and promises of God in his Savior Jesus Christ. "God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble."

"And take they our life, goods, fame, child, or wife,
though these all be gone, our victory has been won,
the kingdom ours remaineth."

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rest

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family reunion

the real rainbow connection

I've always imagined there being a rainbow over the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning - a little holy speculation I suppose. That's probably where I got the idea for this little diddy. So with apologies to Kermit the frog, here's my version of his little rainbow song ...

Why are there so many songs about rainbows? And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, not merely illusions, cause God's got nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it,
I know they're right wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, for sinners and schemers like me.

Who said that every prayer could be heard and answered when prayed by the morning star?
God's the one who thought of that, and some have believed Him, and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, for sinners and schemers like me.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard a voice say,
Wake up, I'm calling your name.
Is this the sweet sound, the call of my Savior,
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it,
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Finally I've found it, in Christ's resurrection, for sinners and schemers like me.
Finally I've found it, in Christ's resurrection, for sinners and saints like me.

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word map

;-)