July 2009 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive]
Pastor's Article	Vicar's Article
Christian Education	Parish Notes
Portals of Prayer

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PASTOR'S ARTICLE

"REARRANGING THE SAHARA"

Recently I was perusing some of the writings of Dr. Norman Nagel of our Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He mentioned the blind Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges who visited the pyramids in Egypt. As he went from one of the pyramids he scooped up a handful of sand. As he walked on he began dribbling the sand on the ground and remarked that he felt that he was changing the desert landscape by moving the sand. Nagel wrote: "Whether building a pyramid or picking up a handful of sand-one seems to last a bit longer than the other-do I dare disturb the universe?"

It seemed like such a unique question, but it is also a question that disturbs a lot of people in our day. They are deathly afraid of "disturbing the universe," as though one actually could do such a thing! A segment of the population of the western world seems very concerned that man is able to effect the climate of our world adversely and irretrievably.

Can we really rearrange the Sahara? Is it within man's capability to do so? First, if one posits that there is no God, then one must suppose that all things are within man's power to effect. Yet, even this thesis must be weighed for its own merits. Is there evidence to prove that man has enough power to change the climate? One large volcanic eruption makes everything man does pale in comparison. Super volcanic eruptions have, in fact, changed the world's climate for a time. There is little evidence that man can actually change the climate.

Second, we Christians confess our faith in "God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." While there are some Christians who think that God may have created the world and universe, he has taken up the position of absentee landlord, leaving the running of all things to the tenants. Only a defective doctrine of creation allows that view. We confess that the doctrine of creation has two sides: 1) the creation by God ex nihilo [out of nothing], and 2) preservation. You know it simply from Luther's Small Catechism, the First Article explanation:

What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

We confess a loving heavenly Father who does not abandon his Creation. What is more, he cares for each of his children personally, sending his holy angels to watch over them. If God our heavenly Father is such a loving parent, would he allow things to spin out of control so as to bring complete disaster? Think back to the flood of Noah which destroyed the world. After the flood, God made a promise, one which he has not rescinded:

"And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."" (Genesis 8:21-22, ESV)

It takes faith to believe this. That's what the definition of faith entails, but it is not blind faith as many might accuse. It is an informed faith. It is informed by the Second Article of the Creed which teaches us about our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for us in suffering, dying, and rising again for our eternal welfare. It is further informed by the Third Article which tells that the Father and the Son together send the Holy Spirit to keep us in the true faith and to reassure our hearts in a world seemingly out of control.

It seems that believing that the really big things of this universe are in our control is the acme of arrogance. Indeed, it is similar to those who attempted to build the Towel at Babel. They thought they could reach all the way up to heaven itself. But God prevented them from any further activity.

By no means does this say that we should treat God's good creation in a careless manner. It is also true that he has given it to us to care for. Being responsible in the use of our resources is right. We are not to waste those things that are consumable, if for no other reason than it redirects our resources away from holy things. We should manage things so that we have resources for the proper work of God, namely, the Gospel.

Enjoying the Creation is the prerogative of the children of God because we alone realize from whose hand it has all come! Read through Psalm 104 and see how the Psalmist praises God for all the good gifts he has given us and how they are to be enjoyed. Keep in mind that the dispensing of such gifts comes from the hand of God, not the government.

Jorge Borges actually thought he was rearranging the Sahara! He was quite naïve to think that. Being blind, he had no idea as to the scope of the created order. There is no danger that we will destroy this world. God has reserved that right for himself, on the last day. And he will do it as he created the earth, by a word from his mouth. In the meantime, the word that comes from his mouth is one of Preservation.

Relax, enjoy the created order, knowing that the steady hand of God holds it all together! Enjoy the summer time outside as you marvel at how wonderfully God has made it all and how he continues to make it all work together for all people! And don't worry about rearranging it all!

Pastor Meyer

VICAR'S ARTICLE

DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) These are Paul's words to parents, especially to the father. "What does this verse mean?" one may ask in good typical Lutheran catechesis.

These words are not mere suggestions but a command, an imperative! Yet today it seems that many consider it a suggestion or a good idea, but something I don't really have to do. The command is clear though, (You) bring them up. It is not someone else, not the church, and not the Pastor. You cannot shirk this responsibility. You made the child. (This, by the way, is still God pleasing. The mandate of God after the flood to be fruitful and multiply still applies today.) You are to raise your child in a manner that is befitting of a Christian.

As I pointed out last month, we want our children to be the best at everything: football, choir, or school. We will do everything we can to make sure they are successful. There is nothing wrong with having a child who is intelligent and gifted, but my experience continues to be that we bring up our children only in the secular world, and the church becomes secondary. Maybe the thought is that the church will not give what my child needs to have a successful career. He will only need to worry about church when he gets older.

So why do we baptize our children? Why not just put it off if we don't need to worry about it right now? If you don't want to be in the divine service regularly, let alone your child, why bother with baptism? People have a number of reasons. My mom and dad expect me to baptize my child. It is the right thing to do. It makes him a member of the church. Jesus said that we are supposed to baptize, didn't he? It's how you are saved, right?!

The truth of the matter is that we do baptize because we have the Word of God which has given us a promise. Baptism...now saves you (1 Pet 3:21). Jesus did say we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19) Yet it does not end with baptism, (and) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matt 28:20)

Matthew 28:19-20 and Ephesians 6:4 are actually very parallel in thought. There is one command in each followed by instructions on how that occurs. The command in Matthew is, make disciples. A disciple is a student of a particular school or teacher. This command is given to the church, and more precisely to the Apostles who are to administer Word and Sacrament. So while Matthew 28 is directed at you specifically, it still corresponds nicely with Ephesians 6, because ultimately parents are teachers!

This is becoming lost in today's society. Many parents no longer take responsibility for their children's education except to blame teachers when their child is not doing well in school, and the same occurs in the church. I will show you this is to be exactly opposite, The Word of God will blame parents for their children not knowing of the saving faith found in Christ.

This brings us back to Ephesians. What is the discipline and instruction of the Lord? The Greek word for instruction is "nouthesia." While often translated as instruction, this actually causes us to lose the nuance of what the Greek is saying. A full definition means to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct. This is much different from instruction and this complete definition is totally lacking in all translations.

The importance of this word is striking because there is to be a desire to stop our children from doing improper actions. This is an action that should never cease! Even if our child is thirty and living with someone outside of marriage your counsel should be to cease this improper action and either get married or live apart. Our children are always our children.

The fourth commandment never ceases to apply. Even as grown ups many of us still have parents to whom we are to not despise or anger. Rather we are to honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. It is odd looking back on life and thinking about all the things that my mom and dad were right about. Yet it will often continue to be that your children will not understand why you do what you do until they finally grow up.

This word, "instruction," is crucial for the understanding of this verse. It creates a sense of education that if not done or followed through will only result in dumb and negligent Christians, if even our children remain Christian at all. This idea creates a sense of urgency and importance for you to continually educate your kids in the Word of God. It shows that a Christian education of a child falls ultimately not to the pastor but to each parent.

Paul's use of the word discipline is meant to go hand in hand with instruction. The Greek word for discipline is "paideia." It means the act of providing guidance for responsible living which we often see shortened down to upbringing, training, instruction, or the best definition as is the case with verse four, discipline. This word root also includes the word child. So these words go hand in hand with each other. What this indicates is that our children are not our friends, they are our children. That is what becomes instilled in this word.

For example, we do not give our children the option to go to the Divine Service, we teach them that this is what we do. Who gives their child the option to decide if they will steal clothes from a store or not? Rather, we teach that we do not steal. So likewise, faithfully and regularly going to the divine service tells our children that it is God-pleasing. This action demonstrates our desire to follow the third commandment.

We are not meant to discipline our friends, but rather those placed in our charge. It reminds me of a drill sergeant. A drill sergeant lays down very specific, direct orders meant to be followed. If they are not followed a number of disciplinary actions may follow. Why does the drill sergeant discipline someone who does not do what he is supposed to do? Is it because he hates the new recruit? On the contrary, he exists to care for each recruit and keep them safe. He performs his job in order that the recruit may come out ready to function as a soldier and stay alive on the battle field. That is no easy job! Nor is it an easy job being a parent.

At times your children may not like your decisions. They might not like being disciplined. But we raise our children to fear, love, and trust God above all things, just as we proclaim in the meaning of the first commandment. It is the same reason life is not always easy for each of us. Our Lord is constantly directing us back to himself, pointing to himself as the true source of all our strength.

It is obvious through reading the Word that we are not true obedient children to our Father in heaven. How much more will our children also be. It is for this reason that we continually show our love for them rather than provoking our children to anger. We won't get it right all the time either. We are bound to treat our children wrong, get angry with them, and punish rather than discipline.

It is for this reason that we too seek out forgiveness from God as well as from our children. To admit that you did wrong to your own child is one of the greatest lessons a child can learn. Through this simple act of repentance, a child can learn the greatest need that all Christians must have, forgiveness. What you learn in the family you carry with you for the rest of your life.

Discipline and instruction-these are but one more way to show how God works through us so that we may know that we have been justified by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith. They are certainly no easy task. When approached through the Word, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will provide the help necessary to accomplish the goal of being a father or mother.

Vicar Heinecke

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

As the Father is called Creator and the Son is called Redeemer, so on account of his work the Holy Spirit must be called Sanctifier, the One who makes holy. 37 How does this sanctifying take place? Answer: Just as the Son obtains dominion by purchasing us through his birth, death, and resurrection, etc., so the Holy Spirit effects our sanctification through the following: the communion of saints or Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. In other words, he first leads us into his holy community, placing us upon the bosom of the church, where he preaches to us and brings us to Christ.¹

¹Theodore G. Tappert, The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 415 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2000, c1959)

KILLING THE KILLER

Many have read the news account of the murder of Dr. George Tiller, an abortionist physician in Kansas. What perhaps caught the attention of many was the fact that he was murdered while ushering at the Divine Service at a Lutheran congregation of the ELCA. His murder was shocking, but even more shocking was the fact that this physician was responsible for the slaughter of more than 60,000 infants during his career. How a congregation and a denomination [ELCA] could ignore this outrage is beyond comprehension. Yet, Uwe Siemon-Netto offers the following analysis and why those who are pro-life cannot cheer his murder.

Killing the Killer was a Blow to Pro-Lifers

By Uwe Siemon-Netto

The murder of abortionist Dr. George Tiller was a blow to American society in general, and to the pro-life movement in particular, for the following reasons: This crime turned one of the worst perpetrators of mass infanticide into a presumed martyr for abortion rights just at a time when its supporters were slipping dramatically in public esteem. While Tiller's killer has done away with a physician who by his own admission took the lives of 100 babies every week, this crime might result in an increase of abortions in months to come. Simple minds will now see abortionists as victims, und not the innocent human babies they slaughter, innocents like the 60,000 Tiller has slaughtered just before their births. This must be a depressing thought for all those faithful Christians who peacefully pray and fast outside the Planned Parenthood slaughterhouses. In the long run, they stood a good chance of being victorious in the war against the culture of death. Let it be known that Tiller's killer has become a soldier on the side of death in this conflict.

The United States is still a democracy. In a free society, the voters are their nations sovereigns. They are empowered to fight evil, such as abortion, in the polling booths. This is their divine calling. On the other hand, nobody has a calling to kill except at the orders of duly instituted authorities. It is government alone that in a civilized society may instruct soldiers or policemen to use their firearms.

The United States is a nation of law. The law is a gift from God to protect us against anarchy and subsequent chaos, a state that prevailed before God created the universe. Tiller's killer has committed an act of anarchy and therefore not only violated the Fifth Commandment but also rebelled against the divine order of creation. Those who secretly cheer his dastardly act must be made aware that they are participating in a despicable revolt against the creator.

But we can't leave matters there. A man has taken the law in his hand because, like many of us, he believed that politics and the courts have warped The Law beyond recognition. Following the French Revolution, many Western democracies, including the United States, have turned against Natural Law, which God himself has written upon every human heart, and replaced it with man-made positive law. In this context it is well to remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer's assessment that the French Revolution was the laying bare of the emancipated man in his tremendous power and his most terrible perversity. He was convinced that the liberation of man as an absolute ideal leads only to mans self-destruction.

The abortion issue is a case in point. Natural law, the universal moral code, must surely tell us that sucking the brains out of a baby's skull in his or her mother's womb is simply wrong, regardless whether you are a Christian or not. Only man in his most terrible perversity, to cite Bonhoeffer, can conceive of such an act as a human right. To make this point, though, does not call for a killers gun. All that's needed is the voters soul-searching reflection about their duties as sovereigns of their own land.

Uwe Siemon-Netto, PhD D.Litt
Director
The Center for Lutheran
Theology & Public Life
801 Seminary Place
St. Louis, MO 63105

VICAR'S CORNER

Wednesday evening Bible study continues from 7-8pm. It's never too late to join. There is still two more weeks of Bible study left before Summer break! July 8th will be our last Wednesday evening for Bible study. Bible study will start up again on August 12th with Vicar-elect Dock finishing out the study on Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah.

VBS concludes on July 8th as well. It is not too late to join. Ages 2 through 2nd grade are invited to join us and continue to learn about the Trinity. There is also a nursery for those too little to participate! We start at 6:15pm and conclude at 8:00pm. This also works nicely for parents to join us for the adult Bible study.

The officers of Immanuel's Lutheran Student Fellowship are busy preparing for next fall. We will be participating in ISU Fest, a yearly event where we come into contact with parents and are able to show that we have an active LCMS campus ministry. We also will be participating in the student organization fairs at ISU and Rose-Hulman. We will have our own display and will be giving away free goodies. If you would like to help donate to this cause please see Vicar Heinecke.

Higher Things gathering is right around the corner, July 21-24! I look forward to this last event of my vicarage!

LIBRARY NEWS

These books are new in the library:

Luther's World of Thought by Martin H. Bertram.
The author's preface says "Luther was more than a great theologian. He was a man of wide and varied interests and a thinker whose mind encompassed many fields. Therefore it may be permissible to present his world of thought not in a compact theological system but in a free and easy choice of some of the most significant themes. In this way it may be possible to move some of Luther's less-known ideas into clearer focus and to demonstrate how these bridge the years and are ever alive and relevant."

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology by Charles Porterfield Krauth.
Quoted from the cover "Krauth offers his mature thoughts, on among other things, the nature of the Reformation, the question of Lutheran identity and the relationship of the Lutheran Church to the broader Christian tradition." He lived in the mid 1800.

Dorothy Senff, Librarian

PARISH NOTES

	01 July	Wednesday, 7:00 AM				Office of Matins
	05 July	Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 AM		Divine Service
	08 July	Wednesday, 7:00 AM				Office of Matins
	12 July	Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 AM		Divine Service
	15 July	Wednesday, 7:00 AM				Office of Matins
	19 July	Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 AM	Divine Service
	22 July	Wednesday, 7:00 AM				Office of Matins
	26 July	Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 AM		Divine Service
	29 July	Wednesday, 7:00 AM				Office of Matins

WORSHIP FOR SHUT-INS - JULY BROADCAST SCHEDULE - SUNDAYS @ 8:00 AM ON CHANNEL WTWO

July 5, 2009 - Romans 6:12-23
"Freedom with a Purpose"
By Rev. Ronald May, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN
The freedom we celebrate in our nation is a freedom that was won through sacrifice and is meant to be used for service toward the common good of society. So also, our spiritual freedom comes at a great cost and has a great purpose in our lives - namely, using our freedom to live for God.

July 12, 2009 - Ephesians 1:3-14
"Blessed by God"
By Dr. Daniel J. Brege, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, IN
The Triune God is God. The Father blesses us, even from eternity, through His Son. The Son earns our blessings by His death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit brings us to faith in Jesus and seals us as God's children, heirs of eternal life. Each person of the Trinity thus receives His glory-praise.

July 19, 2009 - Psalm 23:1-4
"My Shepherd"
By Dr. Walter A Maier, III, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
The Lord is a wonderful Shepherd. He provides for all their physical and spiritual necessities and protects and leads them.

July 26, 2009 - Mark 6:45-56
"His Personal Touch"
By Rev. James Elsner, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hudson, IN
Have you touched someone lately? Has Jesus touched you lately? Amidst the storms and struggles of life, Jesus touches hurting people with His love and His presence.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Our college student class will be sponsoring a booth at the August 25th ISU Fest which is one of the orientation days before school starts this fall. Immanuel will be presented to the ISU students and represented by our young college students which are from area post secondary educational institutions. An organizational banner has been designed, coffee cups ordered and a gift raffle will be held.

The adult summer Sunday school class is viewing a video of and studying the book of Revelation and is averaging about 40. The children's class is very small so please get your children there - WE NEED YOU.

Upcoming dates:
No July BofE meeting
Next BofE meeting August 11

God's blessings,
Chuck Lux, Deacon Board of Education

BOOK CLUB

July Book Club meets Monday the 13th from 10am to noon. Please let Leslie Bilyeu know if you plan on attending.

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

One Thousand White Women begins with May Dodd's journey west into the unknown. A government program, in which women are brought west as brides for the Cheyenne, is her vehicle. What follows is the story of May's adventures: her marriage to Little Wolf, chief of the Cheyenne nation, and her conflict of being caught between two worlds, loving two men, living two lives. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.

BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS
August Book Club meets Monday the 10th from 10am to noon.

A Skeleton in God's Closet by Paul L. Maier

Dr. Jonathan Weber, Harvard professor and biblical scholar, is looking forward to his sabbatical year on an archaeological dig in Israel. But a spectacular find that seems to be an archaeologist's dream-come-true becomes a nightmare that could be the death rattle of Christianity. Meanwhile, Weber's strong interest in Shannon Jennings, daughter of the dig's director, is an exhilarating complication.

Carefully researched and compellingly written, this fast-paced thriller takes you from the dust of an archaeological dig to the laboratories of dedicated scientists to the halls of political and religious power, where world reaction is instant, fierce, and shattering. Moreover, A Skeleton in God's Closet explores the tension between doubt and faith, science and religion, and one man's determination to find the truth - no matter what the cost.

Plan to join in as you have the time to read. No monthly commitment! Everyone is welcome!

VACATION TIME

Vacation time is upon us and we ask you not to forget the ongoing needs of your congregation. Even if you aren't going to be here for a Sunday or two, the obligations of our congregation go on. You will find addressed envelopes on the table in the narthex. Please feel free to pick up a few, if you plan to be out of town. Please remember our Lord's work while you relax and play.

CHURCH PICNIC & HEINECKE FAREWELL

The church picnic and Heinecke farewell will be held on July 26th following Divine Service in our own back yard. The Board of OAF will supply the grilled meat, drinks and table service. The congregation is asked to provide side dishes and desserts. Make your reservation from the Sunday bulletin insert or by calling the church office.

SCRIP PROGRAM ONGOING

The Scrip program at Immanuel is ongoing, and we are happy to report consistent participation. The program has generated more than $800 for Immanuel and every order helps!

Scrip Tip of the Month: Having a 4th of July party? Pay for your food and party supplies at stores that offer Scrip, such as Wal-mart or K-mart. You can have your BBQ and give back to the church at the same time!

Online Ordering Now Available!! Order Scrip anytime online! FAQ and Instructions are available at the Scrip table or in the church office.

Review of How It Works: You purchase gift cards to participating retail stores, and those stores donate anywhere between 1% and 17% of the value of each gift card back to Immanuel. FREE Money! A complete list of participating retailers is available at the church office or online at www.glscrip.com.

Who can I go to with questions? Our Scrip Program Coordinator is John Schulz. You may contact John at 812-299-1429 or johnschulz2@yahoo.com.

Important Scrip Dates
July 5th, 2009 - Scrip orders placed from June 22nd through July 5th to be processed. This order will be available for pick-up during office hours or following Divine Services after July 9th.

July 19th, 2009 - Scrip orders placed from July 6th through July 19th to be processed. This order will be available for pick-up during office hours or following Divine Services after July 23rd.

LADIES CRAFT DAY

Saturday, July 11 9:30am-noon
Project: Clay pot Birdfeeder
Cost: $5.00 per kit
(Kit includes clay pot, saucer, glue, sealer and paint. Stencils, patterns and samples will be available)
Please pre-pay at the church office.
No painting skills needed. Come for the fellowship!
Sign up on a bulletin insert or call the church office.
Finished size: 8" tall

BABY SHOWER

It's a Baby Shower for Julie Saunders and her new baby girl!
Sunday, July 12th following Divine Service.
Light lunch served. Gift ideas:gift cards, diapers, 12-18 mo. clothing

ADULT CARD & GAME NIGHT

On Friday, 31 July at 7:00PM
Come in out of the heat and enjoy an evening with friends and meet new people at Game Night. Bring a snack to share. Drinks will be provided. Sign up on sheet posted on the Fellowship bulletin board or by calling the office.

PORTALS OF PRAYER

The July through September issue of Portals of Prayer is now available in the narthex and across from the office for your use. Large print copies are also available.

REMEMBER IMMANUEL IN YOUR WILL!

Help keep the work of the Gospel going here after you are gone.

WE RECYCLE!

Please help us out by putting recyclable items in the proper place. The kitchen has a specially marked waste can for plastic, metal and cardboard. This includes beverage cans and bottles, drinking cups, plastic containers, boxes and paper. For plastics, check the bottom of the item, it should have the recycle symbol with number 1-7. The office also has a box for used bulletins and paper waste. Please help us keep these items out of our landfills. Sorry, no glass or Styrofoam items.

NEW VICAR RECEPTION & PANTRY SHOWER

It is that time again! We'll welcome our new Vicar, Jeff Dock and his family, Elizabeth and daughter Lydia with a reception and pantry shower following Divine Service Sunday 2 August. Please plan to stay and bring items to fill their pantry. Our usual First Sunday donuts will be served along with other light refreshments.

TABLE TALK

Martin Luther used to sit around the dinner table and talk for hours with his friends about all kinds of topics, some of them merely reflections on what was happening in their society. In Luther's Works, American Edition, this is called "Table Talk," from the German Tischreden, which can be translated as "after dinner talk." In that spirit we include this monthly column.

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In the May/June newsletter of The Lutheran Heritage Foundation, the lead article focused on "Seeking the Lost in Somalia." Somalia is the nation that has given the world a new infection of piracy on the high seas. A power vacuum came about in January 1991 when the government completely collapsed. Filling that vacuum were many Islamic groups which established Sharia law throughout the nation. As a result most of the young people have been radicalized, ready to fight and die for Islam. Mohamed Gurhan, a LHF translator also said that Christians are not tolerated in Somalia: "Somalis are probably the world's most hostile people to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. More than 20 Somali Christians have been executed by the Islamists, including two Lutherans who had been catechized and baptized at the LHF center in Nairobi, Kenya [which I have visited]. They were murdered because their homes had been searched and copies of Luther's Small Catechism were found. Possessing any Christian literature brings death. To read more, see the newsletter on our bulletin board or go to: http://www.lhfmissions.org/Page.aspx?pid=191