From 'CyberStones'

Here is a link to an excellent post about confession and absolution. The thought of actually telling someone else about our sins is scary. At the same time, it is needed. "Confession is good for the soul." In breathing out the dank air of sin we then breathe in the fresh air of absolution giving us new life.

Call your pastor. Ask him to hear your confession and ask him to pronounce forgiveness in order to fulfill God's will. Go in peace. Amen.

Sleeping on a post . . .

I had a post all ready to go last night. It wasn't very cheery or upbeat. I was feeling pretty low at the time. This is part of the struggle with depression. Evenings for me are particularly difficult. I just sit there in front of the TV or computer and veg.. Not good. Even worse? Writing a blog late at night. I was mad, sad, disappointed, frustrated, discouraged . . . you name it. While I'm on the right track to changing things in my environment, I had experience a couple set backs and I wanted to lash back.

But I didn't. I slept on it and deleted it this morning. And I'm glad I did.

"Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3)

Such is my prayer as I blog.

Sunday's Gospel reading in the Historic One-Year lectionary was part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:17-26). Jesus tells His hearers that those who hate their brother, call him names, or insult him are guilty of breaking the 5th commandment. When relationships go bad there is so much attention paid to obeying the 8th commandment and following the prescriptions of Matthew 18 that the 5th commandment and Matthew 5 are trod under foot. One must examine their motives and their actions and repent of ill will, a slanderous tongue, and the disastrous thoughts we have toward those with whom we do not get along.

Jesus reminds us that we are not above the Law. If we are not condemned by the Law, if it does not apply to us, then neither are we comforted by the Gospel, neither does it apply to us. Jesus teaches us the spirit of the Law and proclaims to all of us that we need His righteousness and forgiveness.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. All of God's prescriptions and all His rules are fulfilled in Jesus. All the Messianic Prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. They will not pass away until they are accomplished. Neither will God's Word of Gospel and peace. God's promises of forgiveness for Jesus sake will never pass away nor will they be abolished. They will be fulfilled in their being given to you.

"Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3)

Dear Lord, preserve me from lips and fingers which lash out in a curse. Forgive me for my impetuousness and renew my soul that I may rejoice in the righteousness of Christ by which all you children enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Names . . . names . . . names

Naming things is very difficult for me. I thought about the name for this blog for several days. When I play fantasy sports leagues online I go back and forth on the name over and over again. I want it to be snappy, memorable, funny, meaningful, and basically not dumb. In the end I'm very satisfied with the name for this blog. It ties together my inspiration (see first post), my feelings of comfort that Jesus is indeed my companion on the way, and it seems interesting enough that someone might come and look at it.

Names connect us with our identity. Sure "a rose is a rose is a rose" and "a rose by any other name would smell just a sweet" but in the end, we all call a rose a rose. You do not call it a biscuit anymore than I would call it a shoehorn. It has a name, something by which it is called, and its name is eternally connected to its identity.

You earthly name, sometimes called you "Christian Name," is intimately tied to your identity. When your name is mentioned to those whom you know, you come to mind. As a child you answered when called. You have a name. You are known by that name. Your name is meaningful to you and yours.

So too your heavenly name. Indeed your "Christian Name" is written in the Book of Life in eternity, but here in time and hereafter in eternity you bear another name . . . the Name above all names. Our Lord Jesus directs His disciples to baptize all nations "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28). To baptize, apply water, in the name or with the authority of the NAME of the Triune God is to be united, put into, that name, the reality of that Name, that you might be known by it.

So now those baptized into the name of the Triune God are united with Him, are called by His own Name. The baptized children of God have a Name: His. They are known by that name, answer to that Name, and it is meaningful to Him Whose Name it is.

To bear the Name of God . . . to be called by His name . . . is to then have all that is His as well: Heaven and eternal bliss.

I pray that you would also bear the Name of God through the Waters of Holy Baptism where He calls you His own.

Disappointed . . . or Victimized

We may have lost our ability to deal with disappointment. It seems that, in all realms of life, when something doesn't go our way we like to thing that something immoral has been perpetrated. We didn't get the job . . . there must be some sort of inside agenda. Our candidate didn't win . . . there must be a conspiracy. Something costs to much . . . there is a plot to pick our pocket. The vote didn't go our way . . . it must have been a back room deal.

In the end, perhaps all it was, was that we didn't get our way. We're disappointed. We have a pit in our stomach and we can't understand why others didn't think like us or agree with us. With childish rhetoric we cry out "It isn't fair!" So I'll comfort myself, and I hope you, with the words of our parents: "Life isn't fair." Not said with a scolding shout or a condescending scowl, but with all the tender compassion as when they clean a wound or kiss a boo-boo.

Life isn't fair . . . and . . . Thanks be to God! . . . eternity isn't fair either. Jesus tells us in Luke 6 that according to the measure we use, it will be measured back to us. What we dole out to others we ourselves deserve to receive. That would be fair. An eye for an eye is fair. A tooth for a tooth is fair. Returning evil for evil is fair. But in the mercy of God our Father we do not receive as we have measured out. Instead, Jesus comes as our substitute (our scapegoat if you will) to receive our measure and in its place we receive the measure laid up for Him. Those who are merciful will receive mercy. Those who are forgiving will be forgiven. Those who do not condemn will not be condemned. So Jesus stepped into our place, was condemned, judged, and treated unmercifully so that you and I might receive mercy, be forgiven, and be judged according to the righteousness of Jesus.

Now that's not fair. Thanks be to God that it's not fair! It is merciful, it is grace, it is life and salvation.

Falling Through

Sometimes it's hard to believe that things don't go as planned. You look at a situation, see the obvious solution where everyone benefits, and wait for those who have the authority to make the decision to see things your way. But they don't see things your way. They see things in view of their responsibility and needs. You see things in view of your responsibility and needs. These don't always give the same perspective. So things fall through. Jobs, houses, medical treatments, whatever. Sometimes things fall through.

So what shall we do when things don't go as we planned?

The Psalmists experienced these feelings. At any given time they couldn't understand why the evil were prospering and they were oppressed, why liars were triumphing over them and they (the blameless) were trod down. But through all these lamentations over disease, failure, oppression, and disappointment the Psalms always seems to recount the mighty deeds of God in the past and these give confidence to the faithful.

So when things do not go as planned, recount the mighty deeds of God in the past, how He has given you all that you need to support this body and life, fed you as a bird, and clothed you as a lily. He has taken care of you in the past. Perhaps you can recall specific times when things weren't going as planned and now as you look back you can see God's providential hand caring for you. Take confidence in His perfect track record of care for you. And even when you are in physical want, take heart knowing that God's benevolence is most gloriously seen in His eternal care for you. In the end, all that you need to support this body and life is every Word which proceeds from the mouth of God. Our Lord will feed you with the daily bread come down from Heaven which satisfies the hungry soul and quenches those who thirst for righteousness.

This is God's providential care for you, that in Jesus you have the righteousness of God and all the blessings of Heaven.

Comfort one another with these words.

A nod to my inspiration . . .

http://darkmyroad.blogspot.com/

I want to thank Dark for giving me the inspiration to start a blog. I've been reading them for sometime and look forward to sharing my favorites with you.

"I Trust When Dark My Road" is a much needed forum for a discussion about depression and related ailments. I too have wrestled with depression and stress related disorders. The days of depression are indeed dark. Clouds distort a true vision of relationships, events, and work.

The title for my blog comes from my own struggles and the comfort I have in the love of Jesus Christ, my companion on the way . . . even when Dark My Road.

Right now my way seems uncertain. I feel as though God has told me to go to the place He will tell me. I'm preparing to leave in only a few weeks. I have a goal in mind, a calling if you will. My wife's job future is uncertain, housing is uncertain, money is uncertain. But I don't care. I will be leaving the environment which thrust me into the depths of depression. Stress, antagonism, demands, gossip . . . I will be leaving these things behind me in this place. I know other crosses await me wherever I go, but I have a companion in the way.

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife, an earthly companion. He has also blessed me with brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. Perhaps I can be your companion in the way, when your road is dark. I will at least introduce you to my Companion in the Way.

Cordially in Christ,

Companion