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Blessings How is it going with you day-by-day? I ask this question a lot theses days because of all the people that I care for and am concerned about. At times a person is willing to talk about their situation and at other times it seems to them it can wait till later. This is under-standable. If things aren’t going well one can get very tired repeating over an over what this or that Doctor said or describing different pains and ailments. As it is the calling of a pastor to listen to his sheep, in any given day I hear a bucket load of things that make my daily prayers long. That is the way it is and that is the way it must be for those of us who serve the Lord. I would have it no other way. I like to know what to pray about and I love to be informed of the concerns, fears, loves and joys of the souls that the Lord has placed under my care. Pastor Erwin Tepker once pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Stratford liked to tell the story of how he (it could be apocryphal) was walking down the street and one of his congregational members accosted him with the words, “Pastor, I was in the hospital two weeks ago and you never came to visit me!” Brother Tepker replied, “Tell me, when you are sick does the Doctor call on the telephone and say, please come and see me or do you call the Doctor with your health concerns and ask to be helped?” It is hard for a Pastor to know when his sheep are ailing in any way and a short call is always appreciated. The first place you will be added to is the daily prayer list and then other interaction will follow. While preaching is the most important part of a pastor’s duties, it is, only a part. The minister of the Gospel is eminently a Seelsorger, a bishop (overseer), a pastor (shepherd), a watchman, a man who by God has been entrusted with the care (cura) of souls, Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:20, 26, 27, 31; Ezek. 3:16ff. Such, of course, he is also when in the pulpit, but in addition he is in duty bound to look after the spiritual welfare of each one of his members. Like unto Paul he is to teach publicly and from house to house. Pastoral Theology by John H. C. Fritz, I guess that it is my main concern these days that you my dear ones need to be encouraged towards the acquisition of good habits, such as daily prayer and reading the Bible, church-going, Christian giving, doing church work and the practice of all Christian virtues. I know that all these things sound corny and counter to our Canadian culture but I sincerely believe they are more and more necessary each and every day. I am not just talking about constant repetition of the same act, for example, praying the Lord’s Prayer or of taking part in the liturgical portion of the church service, but about a total and complete lifestyle change. Some of the brothers and sisters who call themselves part of our congregation are doing things each day that make then totally unrecognizable as Christians. It is no wonder they are unwilling and indeed unable to let their pastor be their Pastor. They are either ashamed of what they are doing or they are so far immersed that they have no idea what they are doing. Faith life and church membership and all that it entails has just become another thing that they do when they have time to get around to it. As is very obvious to us all but somehow forgotten by the majority that the responsibility for wrong rests upon the person who is doing the sinning. Christians need to be careful not to be partakers of other men’s sins, and should not count the people of this world who live in sin among their Christian friends nor keep them company. That does not mean to avoid all contact with such people, but it does mean that one should gage very closely their own conduct. If you think this is a load of religious clap trap take a close look around you and ask yourself how you would feel if you looked up and saw Jesus coming in the clouds for the final judgement. Good question? That is what it is all about and you know it too! “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.” I hope you recognize this quote and that it is your confession. Rejoicing In His Days,
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