It's not just me!

God's blessings to you all.  I had a rough, crazy weekend that actually worked out to be a blessing.  I have a sermon due this very day.  Last week on Thursday I had my outline roughly drafted, and after class on Friday I was ready to begin writing my sermon.  However, Friday night I went and saw a movie with some of the guys.  We saw the movie The Raven, which I wasn't sure what to expect from it.  There were parts that were a little more bloody and gory than they needed to be, and some of the dialogue is a little simplistic, but the overall plot was very good and I would recommend it if you are looking for a good movie.  It has a little bit of a Sherlock Homes feel to it if you like those kinds of movies.  Getting back to my sermon story, Saturday after working brunch I sat down to start writing it.  I decided to make my outline more detailed and figure out exactly what I was going to write about before actually writing it. This is where the more I thought about my outline, the more I realized it was not even close to being usable.  After about the first four hours I decided to scrap the whole idea and try to think of a new one.  Then after another two hours of pulling my hair out, I got a break from the frustration with the storm we had go through.  It got super dark, the wind was blowing very hard, the storm sirens of Clayton went off, and then it hailed for about a minute golf ball to tennis ball size hail.  It was huge and sounded terrible bouncing off the slate shingles of Wartburg.  Down by Busch Stadium a tent blew down, killing one man and injuring several others if you didn't already hear about that.  That part was not good, and some of the guys have hail dents on their cars now, but other than that no serious damage was done.  So I was back to the frustration of having no idea what I was going to base my sermon on.  The biggest problem was, I could have easily written several sermons off of my text.  Except for class we were told to write one very particular style, which is why I struggled so much. So another couple hours passed by of me starring at the Bible just thinking about every possibility I could think of.  Then I went to vent to one friend who was playing video games and not really listening.  So I went to another friend and he actually let me vent to him.  However, he asked me, "Have you prayed about it?"  I felt stupid saying no, but it was the truth.  He told me to go spend some time in prayer and then get a good night sleep and try again on Sunday.  I went back to my room, literally got down on my knees and prayed.  I threw it all out there and told the Lord I give up, I know I cannot do it, but need Your help.  Then I curled up under my blankets with a blank notebook and a pen.  I simply wrote out every idea I could think of that this text was actually saying.  After scratching out a couple dozen, one popped out.  I started writing ideas that went with it and before I knew it I had my entire outline done.  I called it a night and went to sleep.  Sunday morning, I did not have to go to field work church because I went to the deaf church.  It is part of my cross-cultural module along with my sign language class.  This was an experience I will never forget because it was so amazing.  I truly want to go back again.  I will tell all about the deaf church after I finish my sermon story, so I do not get too side tracked.  After church I came back and wrote about two-thirds of my sermon before I had to work as an usher.  The concert was an Easter Lessons and Carols concert in the chapel and was awesome.  I love going to those kinds of things we have here on campus, especially since I get paid to go to most of them.  Then after the concert I came back and wrote some more on my sermon.  Then the rest of the night last night I had to study for my Calvin Reformation test I have today.  It is open book, so I went through and highlighted important areas.  However, as I was reading to find the key parts I kept dozing in and out.  So I finally called it a night and went to sleep.  Then this morning I reluctantly got up at my second alarm, instead of waiting for the fourth or fifth like normal.  I sat down, finished my sermon and revised it once.  I still need to revise it at least once or twice more throughout the day today, but the important part is I am done writing it.  So the very important lesson I was reminded of, since I already knew it, was that the harder I try to write my sermon, the more frustrating it gets.  Instead of praying, trusting the Holy Spirit to be with me in my writing process and just overall spending enough time in the text, I tried to write it myself.  The best part of this whole story is, the teaching I used for my sermon was to "trust the Holy Spirit".  If only I had  trusted Him sooner, I would have seen the text screaming that message at me and saved a lot of hours and stress.  However, it was a reminder that the best sermon preparation is to simply let the Word preach and teach you first, then you can decide what it is trying to teach God's people.  That is a really important message I have heard on several occasions this year already.  I quote Dr. Bayer, a guest speaker, as saying, "The comfort that the preacher is trying to bring to the people, is the very comfort he needs himself and the only way he gets it is by letting the Word first address him."  I even typed that into my paper I had to write about his speech.  Dr. Gibbs told us that when a pastor gets a little frustrated he is thinking that is is him doing the work instead of knowing it is Him doing it, and when a pastor gets really frustrated he is believing  it is him doing the work instead of Him doing it.  I have heard this message several times, and yet my thick stubborn self spent all of Saturday stressed and frustrated.  Hopefully eleven hours of misery is enough to remind me next time to just stop and pray right away.  I thanked my friend for reminding me of what I needed to hear and pointing me towards the One I was forgetting about.  After I get the sermon graded I will try to post it so you can all read it.  Until then, trust in the work of the Holy Spirit and remember He is with you at all times.  
Back to the deaf church story, it was amazing.  My friend Lee and I went together.  As soon as we walked in, the Pastor asked if we were seminary students.  Lee is about the exact same size as me, so there we stood two big guys in dress clothes and ties walking into a church of about thirty people all in jeans and t-shirts. He welcomed us as did some of the hearing members.  The one lady who was in the choir starting giving us a hard time asking if we wanted to sit with the goats or with the sheep.  We sat down and ended up having to sit down the entire service.  There are only about four rows of pews, and behind the pews are tables and chairs.  Most of the completely deaf people sat back at those tables and chairs because they could still see the signs.  However, when Lee and I stood up, the people at those tables and chairs could no longer see.  So the pastor, from the altar, asked if we could just remain seated.  I laughed every time he said, "Please stand," and Lee and I both would start to stand up and then sit back down.  A fellow seminary student, who wears hearing aids and is hard of hearing, goes there for field work and he actually gave the sermon.  It was cool to see a brother student giving a sermon and signing the entire thing himself.  The entire service is still spoken by  the pastor and the people, it is just also completely signed too.  My favorite part was communion.  When you are at the rail, the seminary student gave you the bread and signed the words after he placed it in your hands.  Then an assistant would give you your individual cup.  Then finally the pastor went behind them and gave each and every person a hug and a personal dismissal.  The theme for the day was not knowing but believing.  So Pastor would randomly ask people to explain how the meal had just worked.  Then he would remind them we do not absolutely know, but we still believe.  It was just very personal and I like it.  Then he had all the children come up to the rail after all the adults had received communion.  He gave each one of them a hug and made the sign of the cross on their forehead, blessing them.  The service took longer than an hour, but was fun to see.  Then afterward we had fellowship with doughnuts and coffee.  We talked to several people, and they were all so nice.  It was a great experience and amazing to see how our Lord cares and blesses for all of His children, even in a unique ministry like that one.  They stream all of their services online, so if you want to see it the website is holycrossdeaf.org.  If you watch yesterday's church service you would see me and Lee stand up and introduce ourselves in sign language.  
My thought for the day was included in the sermon story.  So I will close with prayer and the rest of the commandments.  Hope you all have a wonderful day and I ask God's blessings on your week.  All Praise be to Him who gives us His Spirit, to be and abide with us now and forever.  Amen.    
LSB Prayer 183
Almighty God, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that He may rule and direct us according to Your will, comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth that we, being steadfast in faith, may increase in all good works and in the end obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 


Last four Commandments and Conclusion from Luther's Small Catechism:

AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY SHOULD TEACH THEM 

IN A SIMPLE WAY TO HIS HOUSEHOLD

The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal.

What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income. 

The Eighth Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.  

The Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor's house.  

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way that only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.  

The Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not entire or force away our neighbor's wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty.  

What does God say about all these commandments: He says: "I, the Lord your God, an a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments." [Exodus 20:5-6]

What does this mean? God threatens to punish all who break these commandments.  Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them.  But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments.  Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands.