This Week at Mt. Olive

Good morning, fellow redeemed!

Take a look at yesterday's Gospel (Luke 14:1-24) and you'll get a lesson in the Theology of the Cross.

Jesus tells His fellow dinner guests to seek the low seats, not because it's a good show, but because that's what the deserve. Jesus instructs the host of the dinner that, in fact, all the religious upper crust at the dinner doesn't deserve His company, while the unclean - the poor, the lame, the blind, the crippled - do.

Jesus tells a parable in which everything is turned upside down. A certain man prepares a banquet and constructs a guest list. When the banquet is ready, all the guests who had been invited have something better to do. In other words, the guests feel they have enough of a relationship with the banquet host to decline his offer. The banquet host, now furious, sends his servants out to get new invitees: the poor, the lame, the blind, the crippled, and the foreigner.

Of course, this is a lesson on the Kingdom of God. The banquet host, our Lord Jesus, is Himself the banquet. All those who believe themselves worthy are, in fact, not worthy of our Lord's banquet. All those who proclaim their great faith, who doubt their own sin, are unworthy of our Lord's banquet.

On the other hand, all those who know themselves to be unworthy, who know their own sin all too well, who are ashamed of their weak faith, these are the worthy guests. They have no place left to turn and no place to go, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

In true, godly humility, we know our sin, our guilt, our unworthiness. In our brokenness, we are the poor, the lame, the blind, the the crippled, and the foreigner.

Interestingly enough, whenever we make note of our humility, it's really our pride talking. Whenever we confess our pride, it's really our humility talking.

That's the theology of the cross! Our prayer, then, is one of repentance for our sinful pride and false humility, confessing our unworthiness. In our poverty of spirit, our prayer is also one that our Lord would continue to bless us with the blessing of faith.

This week at Mt. Olive, we have a "Hail!" and we have some "Farewells!"
Fresh from Iraq, Andrew Epley is back home again, safe and sound. Praise God!

The farewells are a little more numerous:
Stephanie Muhr, who left for Japan this morning for a year of teaching English.
Stephanie Peterson, Blinn Jr. College, College Station
Matthew Willoughby, UTSA
Jessica Peterson, UTSA
Rachael Proske, A & M, College station
Daniel Proske, A&M, College Station
There are probably more, but these are the ones I've heard about so far.

Wednesday morning Bible Class is held each Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. This week we begin a study of the book of Deuteronomy.

Also this coming Sunday, Sunday School classes begin. Though the slate is for, the most part, put together, more teachers are always needed!

Prayer Concerns:
Ruth Prytz, hospitalized

Thanksgiving for Andrew Epley's safe return.

Those who serve in our armed forces: Rob Vadney (Afghanistan), Richard Rhode (North Carolina), Dru Blanc, John Sorensen, Ryan Radtke (Corpus Christi)

Our Sunday School teachers and those committed to their teaching

Those who travel and are returning or going to colleges and universities for the first time

Pastor Matthew Ulmer, who was installed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop yesterday

Pastor Alfred Schubert, as he considers a call to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Escanaba, MI

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, August 30
Zumba Aerobics, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, September 1
School Chapel, 8:30 a.m.
Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Zumba Aerobics, 6 p.m.