The Road Less Traveled

Where do the good times go?

When working on my sermon for Ascension service, for some reason I got a little nostalgic. One of my favorite singers and song writers has always been Kenny Rogers. One of his lesser known songs is a great one called "20 Years Ago." I think most all of us can relate to this song one way or another. Take a moment to watch this short video of the song. (The YouTube site won't let me embed the video, so click here to watch the 20 Years Ago Video, but come back!)

How often do we spend time thinking about the "good ol' days?" Kenny is not the only one who sings about the past. Frank Sinatra did it with the great song, "It Was a Very Good Year." Bruce Springsteen wrote about the "Glory Days" and current artists have songs like "100 years" by Five for Fighting or Alan Jackson "Remember When."   

What makes you look back on life? An event? A death of family or friend? A smell? Going back home again? Class reunions? A Song? There are a number of things that hit me, and most often when I least expect it. Join us for Ascension Service May1st 6:30 pm, to see where the Lord takes this idea and how it fits.

Preparing For the Unexpected

In getting ready for Sunday's Sermon, January 20th, this video came to mind as a great example of the "pop in" of the unwanted "guest."

Commitment: God and Us

"I (Jesus) didn't die for just a piece of your pie." A quote from Pastor Maier in his sermon Sunday, November 4th, when he spoke about God's commitment to us as well as our commitment to Him.

What are your thoughts on this comment or on commitment in general?

Please click the comment button below. Often we don't get the opportunity for feedback for sermons, but a blog allows this.

Father's Day: You da Man

This Sunday's sermon is based on 2 Samuel 12 regarding David and Bathsheba. This video isn't quite what was meant when Samuel told David, "You are the Man," but it is a funny look at how our society views these words and how we often see ourselves. Being "the man" often means you are to take credit, you are awesome, great, etc., as the definition from Wikipedia puts it,

"Calling someone "the man" can also be a form of praise. This may refer to the recipient's status as the leader or authority within a particular context, or it might be assumed to be a shortened form of a phrase like "He is the man (that is in charge)." In more modern usage, it can be a superlative compliment indicating that the subject is currently standing out amongst his peers even though they have no special designation or rank, such as a basketball player who is performing better than the other players on the court."

But when Samuel calls out King David with this phrase it isn't a form of praise. Actually it is just the opposite. David thought he was "da man," with his power as king and his ability to hide his sin, but the Prophet Nathan comes and says otherwise, as he communicates to David a story in which David comes to realize that he is "the man," the man in the wrong. Through repentance and forgiveness, God restores David and he once again humbles himself before the real, "da man," because he knows that with out God he is nothing.

David certainly has a lot to teach us as father's, dads, men about humility and forgiveness on this Father's Day. My prayer for us is that we see ourselves not as "da man," but recognize that it is only through the power of the cross and our humbling ourselves before the hand of the Almighty that we have any place at all. Jesus said in Luke 14:11, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Easter Sermon - The Easiest and Most Diffucult Sermon

This may seem like it is a little confusing, but let me explain the thoughts in my head as I work on my Easter Sunday sermon, (as well as the other sermons, but that is another topic.) What makes this obviously the easiest sermon to write is that Easter Sunday is the greatest joyful celebration in the church year. Here we find Jesus Christ, resurrected, bodily resurrected, exulted waving a banner per say of victory over sin, death and the devil. And while we find the centrality of our faith at the foot of the cross, it is at the empty tomb where we find validation for what just happened on Good Friday.

No where is the Gospel more easily proclaimed than on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The readings, the liturgy, the songs, the prayers, everything about this day, just screams that Jesus Christ is Lord and His death for us was not in vain. Someday, because of His resurrection, we also shall live with glorified bodies and we shall rise again also, even to sit with Him on the throne as it says in Rev. 3. What an easy sermon! Continue...

At Home Missionary - A New Perspective?

Discussing one of the functions of the priesthood of all believers helps us to realize that it is all of our responsiblities to share the Gospel, not just the pastors, or a certain group of people. Yesterday in the sermon, March 18, I proposed, not really anything new, but an encouragement, a challenge, for our congregation to begin to see itself as missionaries in our community, rather than depending on an evangelism board or team doing the work.

There are many authors who believe that we live in a Post-Christian America. If this is true, and I believe that it just might be, then we need to start to see ourselves as missionaries to our own culture. That has many different implications for Christians as we look at how we can share the Gospel with others. I am looking to hear your thoughts, your apprehensions, your ideas on this. Here are a few questions to get the conversation going. Feel free to go beyond this:

- Do you feel we live in a Post-Christian culture? Why?
- Does this idea of considering yourself as a missionary frighten you, bring questions etc.?
- Is it true that our mindset has been to leave the sharing with the pastors and the evangelism team?
- What might it take to change this mindset?
- What is the role of the Law and the Gospel as we consider these questions and ideas? the Means of Grace (Word and Sacraments)?

I pray that this is just a start to a longer conversation on the subject of sharing the love of Jesus with those who don't know or are looking for a hope. The family of Our Savior will be gathering on Wed. March 21st after the Lenten Service in the fellowship room to discuss these questions and others as we explore these ideas.

Life is Calling: How Far Will You Go - Sunday Sermon

This is the new motto for the Peace Corps. I have seen these commercials on TV recently for this new Ad campaign and it is very compelling. This Sunday, Feb. 25th, we get a chance to say thank you to the volunteers of the Our Savior Lutheran Church food bank,to look at this how Our Savior reaches into the community and a chance to donate food and items.

What a great statement for us in the church, "How far will you go?" A question like this really takes some soul searching. There are some who have traveled overseas on short or long mission trips. There are those who travel across the country to help those that are still struggling from hurricane Katrina. And there are those who help out feeding and reaching to those across the street. "How far will you go," is not a question of distance, but a question of our faith and good works (Clarify:not for our salvation, lest there is someone out there who may misunderstand the proper use of "good works".)

For Christians, there is more than just life calling, but there is a calling from God himself to serve Christ and to serve our neighbor. How far are we really willing to go to show Christ's love? How far are we really willing to take it? Is there a limit? Did God put a limit on it? Did Christ put a limit on how far he would go for us? The Epistle reading we use this Sunday sums it up well, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Christ demonstrated for us how far he would go. Now the Lord of Life is calling to YOU. How far will you go? Join us Sunday as we examine this together.

Sunday Sermon to Speak Comfort and Hope to Maier Family and Congregation

This Sunday, February 18th is Transfiguration Sunday, when Christ took Peter, John and James up on a mountain with him to pray. Something amazing happened to them and to Christ. They got a glimpse of Jesus glory, just a small preview of what was to come. In his haste Peter desires to stay right there. Guess I would think the same thing, "It doesn't get any better than this, why go anywhere." Jesus knew this wouldn't be possible, as a matter of fact Jesus knew that His work was yet to be done and it would be a tough walk down the mountain.

How many times have we had those "mountain top" experiences, not wanting to climb down. The climb up was exhilarating and exciting, and the view, wow, can't beat the view, but we have to come down at some point. It is how we look at life, how we view the journey down the mountain into the valley and who we take with us along the journey that makes the difference.

This journey is not easy. It is hard and fraught with disaster, sickness, loss and sadness. I have had a number of people who have talked or emailed me recently feeling "lost" over the recent diagnosis regarding Pastor Maier. Let us take this journey together with the Maiers' as we deal with what it means to live in the valley, but more importantly to stand in the shadow of the cross of Christ recognizing that our suffering is His suffering and His victory is our victory.

As a pastor it is not my job to eliminate suffering or pain, though many times I wish I could. That task has been given to the doctors and nurses who have the training, skills and gifts given by God. In pastoral care, my task is concerned with the very presence of God in the midst of struggles or suffering. For many of us there is a feeling of helplessness, but through this helplessness we turn to the place we should, to God and we can stand in the shadow of the cross, the place where God took upon himself suffering, despair and loneliness so that in the victory of the cross and the resurrection of Christ our helplessness turns to hope and our suffering turns us to the Savior.

Romans 5:2-5  "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.  5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." May you find comfort and strength in the hope of the Spirit, in the power of the Cross and the victory of our Risen Lord.Always remember, that in our weakness, he is strongest.

Welcome to lutheranpastor.com

Pastor Olsen's blog is now linked to lutheranpastor.com. Come back here for more illustrations, stories, sermon extensions, maybe some thoelogy and just ...whatever.
This blog in particular is an extension of the sermon from Sunday, January 28th which you can listen to again if you choose or for the first time from oursaviorchurch.com .

Below are some hands from the Faculty and Staff at Our Savior. See if you can guess who they are. Answers are posted at the bottom, so scroll down when you think you know and click "continue reading." Remember these hands working together share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining our hands with yours.

#1.

#2 (Hint: Piano Man???)

#3 Hint (Live long and prosper. ((Star Trek))

#4 Hint (This is a children's book.)

#5 (hint: Is that one of the classroom MACs?)

 

Sermon Sept 17 - Unity of Spirit

God calls us as brothers and sisters in Christ, as the church to have unity. Much has been said and a lot of ink spilled over whether or not we should have divisions in the church and church bodies. While there are many implications for the universal church, my emphasis and audience is the family of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing Michigan.
- What does unity look like in our church and is it important at OSL?
- What or who is our unity rooted in?
- Is or has our unity ever been threatened or come under attack?
- Is unity something we have to work towards, or do we already have it and need to work at keeping it?

Ephesians 4:3 and Romans 15:4-6 are some key verses from Scripture that we will build on. Join us Sunday as we listen to God's Word regarding unity and the power of the cross to bring us together despite our differences and our human frailties.