The things I get myself into!

Good day to you all and what a beautiful day it is.  At least it is here in St. Louis.  Sunny, warm but not hot, slight breeze, just the perfect day to be anywhere other than in my tiny little room writing papers, and yes it's plural.  However, I did smartly place my desk right next to my window so I can sit here with both halves wide open, and at least look out side and hear the wind rustle the leaves in the tree.  They are getting that nice crisp sound to them like they are drying out and going to be falling soon.  I love that because one I am ready for hopefully a few good weeks of perfect fall weather, but also because I am ready for the beautiful, white gift from God to start falling from the sky. (SNOW!!!!) T
Today went well, even though it was a rough start this morning.  I had set my alarm to get up and do some final touches to my Hebrew before class.  However, for the life of me, no matter how hard I tried, my eyes would not hold themselves open.  I even got out of bed and sat at my desk and slept their ten minutes, so I went and took a shower, and I'm not so sure I didn't fall asleep in there as well.  However, I drank my cup of coffee, and headed off to Lutheran Mind. We got our first papers back, and I failed.  However, before you judge me, every one in the class failed, and everyone in that class for the last ten years has always failed the first paper.  It is just their method, even if it is a great paper, they assume there is always something you can improve in it.  I did fail "better" than some in the class I know, if that's the proper way to say that?  Basically I have less mistakes to fix than some.  So that is one of my papers I am working on tonight.  All we really did in class was discuss the papers, and then recovered the idea of our "Hidden God", in a little more detail.  Then I went to Hebrew, and aced my vocab test so that was a highlight of my day.  Then I was all excited for chapel since St. Michael and Angels day just happened to be the same day as communion, plus the hand bell choir was playing, and my friend Lee is in that.  However, my boss asked my to come help with the training session for cashiers for the new cafeteria.  So I went and made money instead of getting to go to Chapel.  Then I was upset because it wasn't even a training session but rather a meeting of all the top dogs deciding what features of the programs they wanted installed and which ones they didn't.  Plus it's just a touch screen cash register very similar to the one I used as a manger of The Happy Chef in Adair.  So I was actually giving them pointers, and the one head guy who is head of all human resourcing actually apologized to me.  While they were on the phone conference with the software guys, I wasn't really paying attention because it seemed like something that wasn't really my call or position to be listening to, and so he slightly rudely told me to pay attention.  Then when I corrected him on one of his ideas, and he realized I actually knew what I was talking about, he apologized.  I try not to let things like that go to my head, but it always good when you can use previous experiences to look smart about something.  Plus like I said I got paid to be there.  Then I went to Pastoral Ministry which was a presentation by Concordia Services Plan.  I felt sorry for the guy because he did have a good presentation and was trying to make it fun and interesting, but since this is the third one THIS WEEK we have had to sit through nobody was very attentive or responsive with him.  Some of us kind of feel like Dr. Utech could be using his class periods better.  I mean we did the math and realized we are paying $61.50 per class period.  So we spent over $180 this week listening to guest speakers.  I mean if they want to do that, I would rather they send us to some big conference where we get fancy hotel rooms and free buffet meals and out of all our other classes for three days.  Plus it just looks like lack of effort on Dr. Utech's part for not having to teach a single thing to us this whole week.  But then classes ended with Greek Readings, with my favorite Dr. Gibbs.  It was a great class, and we covered some pretty in-depth material.  He actually told us we were getting into material that will be covered in our classes the next two quarters.  So he was impressed with how mature our theological thinking is already.  Then after that class as we were walking back to the dorm, President Dr. Meyer stopped about six of us guys and told us we were going to get to learn servant leadership.  We had to help him carry some old heavy windows which took five minutes.  It was easy, but just funny how he worded his use of free labor to be for our benefit.  I really do enjoy every encounter with that man.
The last part of my day, was where my brilliance really shined through!  I am being purely sarcastic for those of you whose computer don't include that font.  I decided I needed to start getting some exercise and being a little healthier man.  I am personally guilt tripped by this area because probably ninety percent of my friends are doing P90X, a very intense workout series.  I know I need to lose weight as well as just get more exercise in general.  So I asked my friend Aaron, who played four years of college football, has lifted constantly in his life since early high school, fit as an ox, and strong as one too, if I, who has not worked out {unless you count golf workouts :)} in probably four years, am fat, lazy, out of shape, and every joint on my body hurts when I even think about working out, could work out with him today!  Like I said, brilliance I know.  Well, I did work out with him and other than a head ache, that burning in my chest, and muscles I forgot I even had screaming in pain, it wasn't too bad.  However, I did warn Aaron that if I can't get out of bed in the morning to make it to class he has to carry me there.  I plan on sticking with his program, called Spartan Warrior Workout--- YIKES!, for a couple weeks and see how it goes.  I am not really concerned with how much weight I can lift or anything like that, but rather just get a little toned, hopefully lose some weight, and get in better shape for sports.  I have talked several of the tennis team guys into beating me, once our courts are finished and back in use.  I say beating me, because while I can usually hold my own on the tennis court, the tennis team had their first meet against a college team the other day and not a single guy lost a single game.  I think they are all pretty good.  So maybe next time you will see me, I will be slender, trim, and fit, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
My topic for today comes from our Greek Readings class.  We just finished translating the Magi story, in Matthew 2.  There are a few pointers I want to make notice of, mainly because Dr. Gibbs made notice of them to us.  The first is that the term "wise men" is completely misleading.  These guys were magicians, sourcers, and even astronomers.  Now, everywhere else we see in the Bible anyone who uses magic, witch craft, or astronomy is the bad guy.  So these guys were not wise men, but rather the witch crafting, star believing bad guys from the east.  Dr. Gibbs also noted that the story proves they were not very smart, let alone wise.  First, they go to Harod, a king with a reputation of not being very nice, to ask him where the new king was to be born.  I mean if you know he has the authority of a king, and does not like it when people threaten his crown, he is probably not the best guy to ask about a new king being born in the area.  And then even after they find the baby Jesus, they are still not smart enough to figure out that going back to Harod would be a terrible idea.  Rather, God must intervene and directly tell them in a dream that they should not go back to Harod.  So these three are not wise.  Then the second item we talked about was if Harod actually thought the King of the Jews was being born in Bethlehem.  Now Dr. Gobbs pointed out that there is nothing grammatical or specific words used to show that Herod doubted it.  However, we do have one pretty good clue, just from knowing the culture of the time that Harod had serious doubts that a new king was actually being born.  Any guesses?  The correct answer is that Harod sent off the three magi without any of his own men.  If he seriously felt threatened that another king was being born to take his throne, he most likely would have sent as least a scribe if not a few soldiers to Bethlehem with the magi to find this baby.  Did he really expect the magi to return, and if he did, why would he want to wait that long to find out if the king exist or not?  So that was just a side note we discussed.  The thing my friend Adam and I talked about as we were translating is in verse 5 and  6.  Harod asks the scribes and priests where the king would be born.  They use prophecy of the old testament (Micah 5) to know exactly where the king will be born.  However, it is not recorded that these scribes and priests take off and go to Bethlehem themselves to worship him.  Dr. Gibbs explained that by saying every narrative has gaps, and only context can once in awhile fill in those gaps.  This is however, not one of those times.  So these are the technical details we talked about with this narrative.  I wont even begin to bore you with all the Greek grammar we discussed within this narrative.  However, the main point that we (Dr. Gibbs, most pastors, and myself) believe that the importance Matthew is trying to show with this narrative is the very fact that I discussed first.  The fact that these three were not wise men, but rather Biblical bad guys is the importance.  Who does Matthew most commonly show Jesus teaching, preaching and spending his time with?  Who does Matthew show most commonly seeing the truth of the Gospel like a light bulb click on above their heads, and worshiping Jesus for it?  The "bad guy"!!!!  Tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners.  These are the people Jesus came to save, and Matthew uses these characters to show that the Gospel is for everyone, and any one is able to grasp the Gospel if the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.  These magi, the bad guys, traveled many miles to come worship the King, and brought Him elaborate gifts.  Now did they believe He was truly the second person in the Trinity?  No.  But they knew He was truly a King, and He was worthy of their praise and gifts.  We must never forget, the Gospel is for EVERYONE!  Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all, believer and non-believer.  Matthew shows us that those we might judge as the outcasts of society, the sinners of our world, are the very ones Jesus came to save.  He uses these examples to remind us all, that we are not to be hypocrites like the Pharisees, but evangelizers of  God's Gospel, to ALL of God's children, even the sinners, and even the ones who have not heard of Him.  This is why Matthew's conclusion to his book, truly is a great conclusion/ wrap up of his entire Gospel account.  He shows us the Gospel is for all, and then ends with the Great Commission!  The Great Commission for review= Matthew 28:19-20 "19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Amen, Amen, and all God's people say and believe Amen. All Praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
We thank you so much that You sent Your Son to save all Your children.  For we are all sinners, unworthy of Your grace and mercy.  Yet through Your Son's death and resurrection we have been washed clean and made anew.  Through Your grace we have been saved and claimed as Your own.  Help us to rejoice, give all thanks and praise to You, and go and spread Your faith.  Give us the power of the Holy Spirit to be with us, guide us, and strengthen us as we do our best to spread Your love and mercy to all Your children, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  In Your most holy and precious name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.