A hero returns

Not feeling well but I wanted to post this that Matt Maupin who lived less then an hour away from me and who has been MIA for about 4 years now has been found. Sadly it was his remains that have been found. While many of us have hoped for a safe return they have gotten less with each passing year. Still there was that glimmer that he would be alive. Today it came to a sad end as the public was told that Matt had been found dead. I am not to ashamed to admit that I shed a tear this morning as I heard the news.

At least now his parents have closure that there son died bravely serving his country. Today is the opening day of baseball season. Cincinnati had its parade and a tribute was appropriately paid to baseball and Reds legend Joe Nuxhall who died last year. While it may have been fun to watch Joe play and I had fun listening to him colorize the broadcast of a Reds game on radio he was not the biggest hero they paid tribute to today. A moment of silence was given in honor and memory to Sgt. Matt Maupin. It was men like him who have kept me safe so I could stay home to listen to Joe Nuxhall on radio. The hero will soon return home and while his mission is completed ours will continue. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Erlanger Batpist Church: Easter Sunday Sermon for 2008

Here is the Easter Sunday Sermon from Erlanger Baptist on March 23, 2008.

Luke 5:12-26

12) While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13) And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14) And he charged him to tell no one; but " go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." 15) But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. 16) But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. 17) On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18) And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; 19) but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20) And when he saw their faith he said, " Man, your sins are forgiven you." 21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" 22) When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, " Why do you question in your hearts? 23) Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Rise and walk'? 24) But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins " -- he said to the man who was paralyzed -- " I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." 25) And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. 26) And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

Erlanger Baptist "Guys In The Garden"

Every once in awhile I will post some sermons that were done at my church Erlanger Baptist. Here is the one from March 16, 2008 called Guys in the Garden.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (Happy Easter)

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with the bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by.
Isaiah 53:3 NLT

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns Thine only crown; how pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish which once was bright as morn!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend, for this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

A profoundly personal and awesome vision

Although Bernard was one of the most influential Christians of the Middle Ages, settling disputes between kings and influencing the selection of popes, he remained a devout monk, single-minded in his devotion to Christ.

In his own day Bernard was known as a preacher and churchman; today he is remembered for his hymns of praise. "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" comes from a poem originally having seven sections, each focusing on a wounded part of the crucified Savior's body—His feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head. The text of this hymn compels us to gaze at the cross until the depth of God's love overwhelms us. Bernard's hymn pictures God's love, not as an abstract theological statement, but as a profoundly personal and awesome vision of the suffering Christ.

Mark 15:34-47

34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, " E'lo-i, E'lo-i, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 35) And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Eli'jah." 36) And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to take him down." 37) And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 38) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39) And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" 40) There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salo'me, 41) who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42) And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43) Joseph of Arimathe'a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44) And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45) And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46) And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47) Mary Mag'dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

All Glory, Laud and Honor Christ is our Redeemer

He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, "Praise God! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!"
Mark 11:9-10 NLT
All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring; Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David's royal Son, who in the Lord's name comest, the King and blessed One!

To Thee, before Thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise; to Thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise: Thou didst accept their praises—accept the praise we bring, who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!

All Glory, Laud and Honor
Theodulf of Orléans (c. 750-821)

You can hear the hymn if you click on the player below.