Dear brothers and sisters in the faith:  

Bitterness happens because something sweet has turned sour. That's the case for the Prophet Jeremiah. That's the way Jeremiah himself describes his relationship with God. Jeremiah tells God, "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight."

To understand the reason for Jeremiah's bitterness, let's walk in his shoes a bit. God has called Jeremiah to a particularly difficult ministry. Listen to what God tells Jeremiah about his calling. God says, "I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day." Jeremiah is called by God to show the Israelites their sin, and then to call them to repentance. That wasn't an easy task. At every turn Jeremiah is foiled by the enemies of God. When Jeremiah talks about the sins which the Israelites have committed, he is branded a troublemaker. Because he is faithful to his calling Jeremiah is treated as a social outcast. When he calls the people to repentance, he is accused of being an enemy of the state.

Facing, owning up to sin is not something that we human beings do very well. We like to deny and avoid. We like to blame others. We like to excuse what we have done wrong; after all it can't be our fault. Calling someone to repentance is not a job that most of us want. From what we hear from the mouth and from the pen of Jeremiah, it's not a ministry that he enjoys very much at all either. Look at who Jeremiah blames for the troubles and the frustrations that he is struggling with. Jeremiah's target is God himself.

However, God is not to blame. T

Who hasn't been there? Haven't we all at times done the same? Aren't we guilty of the very same thing? Under the pressures of everyday living we grow so frustrated that we lash out in anger at God. If God loves us, how could he allow such a thing to happen? If God really cares about us, how can we be so lonely? How can things be so out of control? How can life be so complicated? How can I be so miserable? It has to be God's fault, or so we think. But it isn't God's fault. It's never God's fault. Remember what St. James writes in his Epistle. James says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Only good things come to us from God. Only the best things come from God. Look at what our God has done for us. Look to the cross. Look at the sacrifice that takes place there on that cross. St. Paul tells the Roman believers, "He...did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all." Elsewhere Paul tells the Corinthians, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." The Prophet Isaiah tells us that our Lord Jesus was "pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Forgiveness means that we can let go of the bitterness that complicates our lives. Forgiveness means that we have been restored. Forgiveness empowers us so that, as Paul tells Timothy, we can be "useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." We are useful to the Lord for every good work!

May our Lord bless us not only with His forgiveness, but also with willingness for many good works!

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Revitalization:

Our SWD executive staff has been asked to be part of a pilot group of districts in addressing the need for congregational revitalization. The SWD staff will be at the LCMS International Center, Monday, August 18th to begin the discussion of how we can collaborate on every level to assist our congregations and their church workers as we engage this unchristian culture in which we find ourselves. Please keep this and your own congregation together with your pastor in your prayers!!  

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Support Needed for a New Deaconess in the Dominican Republic:

The good news is that the outreach and ministry of the Dominican Republic mission start have been greatly blessed!  With those blessings come growing ministry needs.  One of which was highlighted in a request from Rev. Ted Krey, lead missionary in the DR and LCMS Regional Director.  Ted writes in an email:

I have a deaconess, Gail Ludvisgon who is in need of support for her personal support.  Do you have any congregations in which she could talk or that you could point me to.  Does the district itself have anything that could help us to push her towards this goal?  She is already 20 percent funded, so another 50 percent and we would have her on her way.  She will be writing curriculum for deaconesses not only for the Dominican Republic, but also Latin America.

 

Serving as district president, I thank you the people, congregations, and pastor of SWD for the way in which you have so generously supported the DR mission over the past seven years!  So many good things are happening there as the Word is proclaimed and the Sacraments administered.  A solidly Lutheran church body is emerging!   

 

If you can assist in supporting this new deaconess who serves in the Dominican Republic, we will all be blessed; and I will be grateful to you!   

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Rev. Stephen Rosebrock Installation  Rev. Joshua Rusert Installation      Rev. Jonathan Meyer Installation
at Mt. Olive, Milwaukee                        at Trinity Freistadt, Mequon            at Divine Savior, Hartford 

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German Fest:
German Fest has made a CD of the complete church service with Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison available.  The cost is $3 including shipping.  Please make check out to:  German Fest C/O Ronald Kabitzke 6811 Hickory Rd., West Bend, WI 53090 

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A Place of Refuge Baby Shower: 

On June 4th the South Wisconsin District Staff held a baby shower for A Place of Refuge (APOR) mom, Tia and her baby Leeonna. Tia was overwhelmed with the "showering" of gifts for Leeonna and very appreciative of the attention given to them.

A Place of Refuge looks to congregations and organizations to sponsor showers for their moms, as they may never get to experience the fun of a shower.  If you would like to sponsor as shower please contact A Place of Refuge.   

 

 

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Pig Roast/Silent Auction/Family Games:  

Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 4:00 pm at Chapel of the Cross, Racine

A benefit to help recently ordained pastors in the Racine/Kenosha Circuite with student debt reduction.
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2014 Annual Chaplaincy Fundraiser Picnic: At 3 Guys & A Pizza Pie Banquet Hall

Sunday, October 5, 2014 - Doors open at 11:00 am

Chicken and Hog Roast Dinner at Noon
Silent Auction - Bingo
Entertainment by "The Cody Clausen Band" $40.00 Adult Donation $20.00 Donation Children 6-12
RSVP by September 20th
For more information call 920-892-2211 - www.WhenIWasInNeed.org
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