March 2009 message from Pastor Homan: Applying God's Word to your life

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

Have you ever wanted direction for your life ... and, to learn how God directs us, you take your Bible, open to a page of scripture, and with eyes closed you point your finger to a verse and read it?

For most of you, the results are mixed. Sometimes what you read is meaningful; at other times, the verse does not seem to apply to your situation.

I decided to try this with our new Bible study by Armin Panning, "The people's Bible—Romans." I tried it five times. Here are some of the sections of his study that I discovered:

•  The first words come from discussion of Romans: "God credits that righteousness to the believer." god looks at the believer as perfectly holy. He declares the believer to be just and holy. Hence, justification is 100 percent completed. 

The new life of faith, however—the Christian's walk with God—is in a constant state of becoming. The Christian's life of holiness, often called sanctification, grows and matures as the Christian experiences continually new outpouring of grace and goodness from a loving God. Do these words from the Bible study intrigue you? I hope so.

•  The second is a commentary on Romans 1:16-17: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of god for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Of these verses the Romans study by Panning says, "Being ashamed of the gospel would imply that Paul was hesitant about proclaiming it, that he was afraid of making claims and promises from it that might go unfulfilled. If such unreliability was the case, when all is said and done, Paul would end up embarrassed and discredited for making false claims and promises that he couldn't keep."

•  A final look at the commentary will come from near the end of the book: "What we do for a weak brother is in reality being done for Christ himself as well." Regarding such deeds done by his believers, our Savior testifies that on the last day he will declare, "I tell you the truth: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Hence, in living a life of loving service for others, we are actually glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I enjoyed turning through the pages of this Bible study. I hope this brings you excitement at growing in God's Word. Remember that we will have a study book for each one joining in the study. Come to our Sunday-morning Bible study and grow in God's Word.

Taking a look at God's Word,

Pastor Brad Homan

February 2009 message from Pastor Homan: Why we celebrate Lent

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

Ash Wednesday comes near the end of this month (unlike last year when this day fell on February 6) and is a day when we seek to renew our allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ.

This holy day marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Let's take a moment to remember why the church has felt this season to be important. This season is a time when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the special days of Christ's death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter. In Lent, we recognize we are simply dust and ashes without Christ, we confess our sins to God, and we follow Christ to the cross, where we are made whole again. In the early church, the six weeks of Lent were a time of training and instruction for converts to Christianity who were preparing to be baptized on Easter. The English word "Lent" is derived from the Germanic root for "long" because Lent occurs in spring, when the days lengthen.

Forty Days. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Sundays are excluded from the counting of the 40 days, because they remain "little Easters" even during this solemn season. The number 40 is significant because, at the start of his ministry, Jesus spent 40 days fasting, praying and resisting temptation, as we are called to do during Lent.

One Focus. Our focus during Lent is solely on the cross of Christ. For it was on the cross that the sinless Son of God suffered and died for us that we might be fully forgiven and live forever with Him in Heaven. Reading Scripture verses about the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion (see below) and putting a cross in a prominent place where it can be seen often keep our focus strong.

Pondering the Passion. The word "passion" in the context of Lent does not refer to intense romantic love, but to the sufferings of Christ from the night of the Last Supper to His death on Good Friday. Here are sections of the gospels to be read this season:

Matthew 26:14-27:66
Mark 14:1-48
Luke 22:14-23:56
John 18:1-19:42

Here are some of the hymns that are a special part of our worship. They help us to understand Christ's sacrifice for us. Sing or simply read the words of these Lenten hymns as part of your regular devotions.

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" 425, 426
"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" 449, 450
"Abide With Me" 878

Looking to the cross of Christ,

Pastor Brad Homan

January 2009 message from Pastor Homan: Begin the year with God

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

At a worship service recently I offered an encouragement of how to grow in God's Word. I read about how to make God's Word real in our lives from a book, "You Can!" by Dr. Frank Minirth, the co-founder of the Minirth-Meier Clinics. In this book, the Christian is encouraged to have a confident faith, a faith that is transformed into action.

As we enter the New Year, our thoughts often focus upon how we can improve ourselves. I would also like to suggest that we work to improve our relationship with God's living and eternal Word. Here are some suggestions:

• Read the Bible again and again—Spend 15 minutes a day in the Word, just reading it; this will allow you to cover both testaments in a year.
• Meditate on God's Word—Psalm 119:11 says, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you." How do we hide God's Word in our hearts? By saying it to ourselves over and over again, by meditation upon it.
• Ask God to make His Words real in your life—Turn the words of Scripture into your own prayers. How is this done? Simply by turning Scripture into your prayers. Find a verse of Scripture that fits your circumstances and make it your theme for the year. Need help in selecting a theme verse? Give me a call or stop by church and I would love to help.
• Apply the Scripture to your problems—For instance, if you have a problem with worry, look up the passages of Scripture that speak of worry. Or, turn to our hymn book and look to "I am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus." God's word certainly can help.
• And finally, never give up studying God's Word—We are told this in the Bible: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
  

As we enter a new year, may we become focused upon God and His precious Word.

Keep this new year, 2009, focused on God's word,

Pastor Brad Homan

November 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Courage of convictions

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

A few weeks ago I had a message which focused upon our need to trust the Lord during this time of uncertainty. Part of my message looked back upon the spiritual foundations that have been part of our heritage in this our United States of America. My favorite quote in that sermon was President James Garfield's words from 1877. His focus was upon the need to have a strong morality guiding our politics.

Since that time, one of our members brought to my attention a testament of faith of our first president, George
Washington. Take a moment to read these words written in 1752:

"O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father. I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers have become my sin, and they stand in need of pardon.

I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have condemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not. I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment, and broken my vows and promise. I have neglected the better things. My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me."

—George Washington: from a 24-page authentic handwritten manuscript book dated April 21-23, 1752. William I. Johnson, George Washington, the Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, New York and Cincinnati 1919), pp 24-35.

As we think about these words of President Washington, we can go back even further to the foundations of our faith. These foundations have helped to make our nation great. That greatness is often tested. We saw that on September 11, 2001, with an assault on our country. Will we be tested again? Perhaps. This is why we as individuals need to work together to grow in faith in our Lord Jesus and in service to our country.

As we near election day, we can serve by taking time to vote in the national and local election. So, on November 4, exercise your freedom to vote reflecting your courage of convictions. May we remember the words of our hymn, "God Bless our Native Land."

That is our prayer. May God bless us all as a country and as a people of God.

In Christ,

Pastor Brad Homan

October 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

Words such as "recession" and "depression" have been used recently to describe what could be coming in our economy, both in the U.S. and around the world. In talking to members at a recent evening worship service, many emotions were displayed, especially that of outrage at those who are responsible for leading us to where we are in our financial situation. Even President Bush addressed the nation about the need to act soon so that we don't continue down a treacherous path toward economic destruction. In these dangerous times, how about joining me in thinking in a different direction?

A few years ago I saw the movie October Sky. It is based upon the true story of Homer Hickman, a boy who grew up in Coalwood, a company-owned coal mining town in West Virginia. Everyone in the town seemed destined to work in the mines, and few residents seemed willing to fight that common fate. Homer, however, desired something different. Following the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, Homer wanted to build rockets and become an astronaut. He fought an uphill battle. Who wanted to embrace an idea that went against the popular thinking of the town? Certainly not Homer's own father, the superintendent of the town's mine, who wanted to see Homer follow in his footsteps.

Homer eventually fought his way out of Coalwood, received his education from Virginia Tech, and became an engineer at NASA, training astronauts. He has since retired and works as a consultant to NASA.

As we continue down some challenging times, popular thinking might be dangerous. In fact, as Kevin Meyers has said, "The problem with popular thinking is that it doesn't require you to think at all." Unfortunately, many people try to live life the easy way. They don't want to do the hard work of thinking. It is easier to do what other people do and hope that they thought it out.

Let's challenge ourselves to think ourselves out of these difficult times and act upon the solid foundation of our faith. At our recent evening service, just over one hour before President Bush addressed our nation, we sang the hymn, "I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus." Think of how we can continue to grow in trusting our Lord Jesus and we can go forward in confidence in these uncertain times.

Hope we think together this new time in our lives!

Pastor Brad Homan

September 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Rejoice in change

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

In my morning walk, I often pass by a house with a message in the front window, "Change," and then the name of a political candidate. The thought behind this message is that we need a change from the current administration. I think about that word often, but maybe with a different meaning. We are all going through change, yet for some this change can be unwelcome. For others, change can be a most positive experience.

I have heard two words in the recent weeks: "empty nest." The meaning behind these two words is that Julie and I will no longer have any of our children at home. As I write this, my thoughts are of Allison heading off to college at Bethany in Mankato, MN, in just a number of hours. Although I will miss her dearly, I know this change is for the good of all of us. Julie and I will be entering a new stage in our lives and Allison will be entering an exciting time in her life.

As I think of our church family, many of you have gone though this experience and for the majority of you it has been very positive. You describe how difficult it was at first, but after a time of adjustment, life continued on. For some of you, you will be entering this time of being "empty nesters" at the same time as Julie and I. If you feel some emptiness in the weeks to come, call me and we can share our experiences. For others, your time will come. And to all of you, I say to enjoy where God has placed you.

Because I will not be able to help my daughter travel to Mankato, I picked out a card expressing my thoughts to her. I also chose a section of Scripture that I hope gives her encouragement when college life becomes difficult. These words are found in Phillippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

So, in this world of change, this time when the days are getting shorter, remember that the Lord who does not change is near!

God be with you!

Pastor Brad Homan

August 2008 message from Pastor Homan: God always answers prayers

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

I was recently at an anniversary celebration, when a lady came up to me and said, "Thank you for praying for me." I didn't know here and she went on to explain that members of our church had requested that our church pray for her. She was so grateful and was a firm believer in Almighty God who is behind all answered prayer. She went on to explain that she is a walking miracle. She was given a 1 percent chance of survival. After a long stay in the hospital, and a lengthy time of recuperation, she is now able to get around and be part of celebrations like I witnessed.

While driving home that day, I reflected upon a passage from Philippians 4:6:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests to God."

God tells us not to be anxious--but how often we are pressed down by the worries of the world.

Jesus taught us how to pray in what we call The Lord's Prayer. Here are some of the things we pray for, and other places in Scripture where we are taught to do this:

• Hallowed be thy name. (I Peter 1:15-16)
  
• Thy Kingdom come. (Mark 1:14)
  
• Thy will be done. (Luke 22:42)
  
• Give us our daily bread. (Matthew 6:25-34)
  
• Forgive us our trespasses. (Matthew 9:1,2)
  
• Lead us not into temptation. (James 1:12-15)
  
• Deliver us from evil. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
  

Take a minute to look at each of these readings of Scripture and see how Jesus' prayer is taught throughout the pages of the Bible.

But, do we always get what we pray for? When we pray that God's will be done, then we get what God wants for us. Sometimes, God's answer to our prayer seems difficult at the time. But later on, we can come to understand what God says to us in Romans 8:28:

"All things work for the good of those who love God and have been called according to His purpose."

Sometimes God answers our prayers by giving us something better than we ask for. The Bible says:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power which is at work within us."

So, keep praying and always focus upon that which God has done, is doing, and will do for us by His grace.

Prayerfully,

Pastor Brad Homan

July 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Growing in God's Commandments

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

In June, we began a journey through the Ten Commandments with our Wednesday evening
worship services. We have enjoyed a wonderful group seeking to grow in the faith. One of our
members, when she realized we would be taking a week off because I would be at convention,
said, "Oh, I am really going to miss it this week. I look forward to each Wednesday evening."

I look forward to each Wednesday because I am growing in my own faith as we walk through the
covenant of God in the Ten Commandments. My goal in this worship series is to grow in our
catechism faith. In preparing for this summer, I came across a small book, The Picture Catechism
Explained, by Theodore J. Hartwig. Professor Hartwig writes these words about the Ten
Commandments in the second chapter of his book: "God began his series of commands and
promises to Moses on Sinai (Exodus 20) with the words, 'I am the Lord your God.'" To believers in
the Old Testament, this meant that God was their Creator, their Preserver, and the Lord who had
made a covenant that He would save them. To Christians of the New Testament, this word
declares, fruthermore, that God had saved them through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With
these opening words, God therefore teaches His people the right understanding of the Ten
Commandments as His gracious guide for the holy and God-pleasing life. When this word is kept
at the head of the Ten Commandments, Luther's statement in the Large Catechism comes into
clearer focus: 'Whoever has mastered the Ten Commandments thoroughly and completely will
have mastered the entire Scripture" (LC, Preface, 17).

We may not master the Ten Commandments this summer, nor will we master the entire Scripture.
We could study His Commandments the rest of our earthly lives and still not master the
commands nor all of Scripture. But we can grow in knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Have you been too busy to join us Wednesday evenings? Why not rearrange your calendar and
join us to work on mastering the commands of our God.

God's blessing this July and the rest of the summer,

Pastor Brad Homan

June 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Walk the path of faith

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

As I begin thoughts to each of you, I have enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature that
is within walking distance of our church. The colors are radiant, the sounds are coming from the
birds nearby, and the sky above is clear blue. As I write this, I have completed my sermon for this
weekend and my plan was to sing and read from Psalm 46. This verse often catches my attention
when I feel overwhelmed with chores that need to be completed. May is one of those months that
bring me to the end of the day with the thoughts that I have much more to do.

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be
exalted in the earth." This is a verse of scripture that I often think about in the early morning hours
when I walk my dog, Maggie. The quiet of the early morning hours is my favorite time of the day. To
look to the east and see the horizon turning pink with the anticipation of a new sunrise to greet our
day cannot be beat. Now for those of you who are night owls, this might be difficult. It is easier for
you to enjoy a beautiful sunset. But take time to enjoy the beauty of the early morning which invites
a time of praise and reflection, as well as a time of preparation for the day ahead. Doing so may
help you to appreciate the words of our psalm: "Be still, and know that I am God."

I have noticed that so many of us try to get away from the competing noises of life and living in or
near a city like Madison by getting into our cars and campers and escaping to a quieter place. But I
have discovered that there are so many places that bring us peace and quiet that are so near to
our church. I have discovered such places while walking and taking time to take a different path
instead of the way I go by force of habit. Just the other day I noticed a sidewalk that came to a dead
end and I thought to myself, "I wonder what is on the other side." So, I took that path and soon I
was walking in a serene area which brought an almost immediate sense of peace and quiet. The
small path worked its way through this wooded area and it became smaller with each step that I
took. I have probably taken this path a dozen times now, and only once have I come across
another person.

To take another path can also be our focus in life. Sometimes we need to continue forward,
focused upon what is truly important. Claude Pepper, who served as a U.S. Congressman, said:
"Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling."

I have thought about this statement and how we can relate it to our life of faith in Christ.
Sometimes we fall off our journey with Christ when we make excuses during the summer months
to stay away from church. But we have no excuse, because we have so many opportunities to
worship with services on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday each week.

So, keep pedaling and take time to know the still voice of God!

Pastor Brad Homan

April 2008 message from Pastor Homan: Stories of faith

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

As I write this "Pastor's Page," I have walked with you through the busy times of Lent and Easter.
Now that we take time to slow down a bit, I have been looking ahead to the next weeks of Easter,
for we continue to observe the Easter season for five more weeks. Some of the most amazing
stories of our faith are part of this continual season of Easter.

I would like to give you a preview of the coming sermons during the month of April:

• April 6 and 7: Our Gospel is Luke 24:13-35, with the theme "Hope to Carry On." The story of
  the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is the story of faith reborn. It is the record of hope
  restored. That is what makes it so beautiful. It is one of the greatest stories ever told. For it
  reminds us that we have a pledge and promise from our God, a word of hope, a living trust
  in our risen Savior that we can hang onto.
  
• April 12 and 13: Our Gospel lesson is John 10:1-10, with the theme "The True Shepherd."
  The Old Testament paints a picture of God as our shepherd in Psalm 23. The picture of
  God as shepherd comes into even more clarity in the New Testament. In our Gospel,
  Jesus compares two shepherds. Both may appear to be genuine shepherds. But only one
  is true, and that is Jesus Christ.
  
• April 19 and 20: Our Gospel lesson is John 14:1-14, with the theme "The Way and the Truth
  and the Life." These words of Jesus are quite demanding for people today to believe. For
  we are told over and over that there are many "ways" and many "truths." But Christ says He
  is the only Way and the only Truth. Come and give some thought to these words.
  
• April 26-27: Our Gospel lesson is John 14:15-21, with the theme "Always With Us." Come
  and learn how we are comforted because God is always with us.
  

Join us these weeks of Easter and grow closer to the Risen Christ!

Blessings this April,

Pastor Brad Homan

March 2008 message from Pastor Homan: The goal

Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,

What is the most famous quote in the history of sports? These words by Vince Lombardi, former coach of the Green Bay Packers, "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing."

These words have been repeated at all levels of sports, even down to young children. But Vince Lombardi wanted to take back his words. Shortly before his death in 1970, Lombardi told columnist Jerry Izenberg, "I wish I'd never said that. I meant the effort. I meant having a goal. I sure didn't mean for people to crush human values and morality."

Asked how he would restate his words, he replied, "I would say, 'Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.'"

He knew what matters is the desire, not the conquest. Vince Lombardi understood the priority of pursuing victory in the right way with the right motives.

Lombardi understood as well that winning is the result of a process that begins at the most basic level. Holding up the familiar pigskin, he started each year's spring training with the words, "Men, this is a football." His purpose was to move from the simple to the complex, concentrating on the essential components which lead to success.

This is what we are to do as we walk the way of faith in Christ. In the church we also need to move from the simple to the complex. We do this when we keep these core elements that have lasting values:

• Integrity: It was true when your mother first said it to you: "Honesty is the best policy." Even though this is not a Bible verse, it is a Biblical truth. As believers, we need to show integrity in word and deed.
  
• Commitment: When meeting with couples preparing for marriage, I tell them that commitment is the most important quality they need for a lifetime together. This is true in our Christian faith. Just as Christ committed himself to us, so are we called upon to keep our lives committed to him.
  
• Spiritual focus: During our season of Lent and the week of Holy Week, we are called upon by one God to renew our focus upon Him. We do this by regular worship of our Lord and by looking to God's Word. This will help us be focused upon God's calling to us.
  

May God lead us forward as we look to His high calling.

Pastor Brad Homan