The writer of the book of Hebrews was a great stylist. He knew how to work allusion and metaphor. His vivid references to Old Testament imagery and characters makes a pivotal turn as he moves from chapter eleven into twelve. Chapter eleven is that seeming homage to the great hall of faith: from Abel through Abraham, Moses, and finally David. We may be tempted to stop there and admire these great men of faith, “who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” (Heb 11:33-34) Yet chapter twelve makes it clear that the author of Hebrews was leading up to someone greater than these faithful, someone to whom is the object of our faith.

Chapter twelve begins with placing the Old Testament faithful in a stadium; they are watching a footrace. The word used for these spectators is an old, poetic term that can mean cloud or mist, or even mass or heap. I like to think of it as a misty mass. Because this crowd of onlookers is cheering us on from the misty past, we are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)

In order to run well — to finish — we are given three critical race tactics. First, “lay aside every weight.” (Heb 12:1) We are not in training so, it is time to take off the ankle weights. This is the actual race. It is not an event for which we are preparing; the starting gun has already fired. Quit standing around. What is holding you down? Lay it aside. Run!

Second, lay aside that clinging sin. (Heb 12:1) You do not run in your sweats or your warm-up suit. And you cannot run the race well with clinging sin. Lay it aside and stretch out your stride.

Third, realize where you are running. The only way you will possibly finish the race is if you know where you are running. When the starter’s pistol fires, you need to be headed in the right direction. Later in the race, when you are fatigued, you need to know where the finish line is so you can press on toward the end of the race. (Phil 3:14) Nothing is more humiliating, even for the cloud of spectators, than for a runner to drop out of the race. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was tempted to drop out of the race but he pressed on toward his goal. Thanks be to God!

If Jesus had not kept the finish line in mind, he would never have been able to say, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) It is the same with us; we will not likely finish without keeping the goal in sight. So what is that goal, that finish line? Is it the end of this life? Is it heaven? Is it some reward, a trophy or a ribbon? In fact, for the Christian the reward is simply the finish line, to have run the race well enough to actually finish — no matter how long the race takes or how tired you are. But how does one know she has finished the race? How does one know she is even running the right race at all? It is all about the Finish Line. You are in the right race if you are running toward the correct goal. And you could die today and have finished well… if you are running toward the Goal.

The Finish Line is Jesus. If you are “looking to Jesus” (Heb 12:2) while you run, you will always have the Goal in sight. Our goal is not a nice sentiment on a tombstone, or a fine eulogy, or extra reward in heaven. Jesus is our goal. He is the Finish Line of this race called life. He began the race and ran it to the end. He is not on the prize rostrum, wearing his medal and waving at the crowd. Since he finished his race two thousand years ago, Jesus has been waiting at the finish line for you to cross. He too is in that great cloud of witnesses, but he is not in the stands. He is at the finish line, cheering you on. Run to me! Keep going! Finish!

And when you have crossed the line, running into the waiting arms of your Lord, you will be at the Father’s side with Jesus, the object of your faith, the author and finisher of your faith (Heb 12:2, KJV), your prize.

Antonio Ciseri's “Behold the Man”

Ironically, Good Friday is the day Christians remember the passion of Jesus. It was on this day that he was beaten and crucified and laid in the tomb. Despite the darkness and the sadness of Jesus’ death, it is a very good day indeed. It makes us realize with cruel clarity how much God loved us — that he gave his only begotten Son to die for us. (John 3:16) Christians believe that the only way to be right with God is through his Son who died for them on Good Friday. (John 14:6) The only good man who ever lived was killed on a cross to pay for the price of your sins. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (1 Pet 3:18)

Without Jesus’ death on that dark day so long ago, the world would be even darker than it sometimes seems, and eternity would be darker still. Though we commemorate the death of the Savior today, we celebrate that his death brought the light of hope into the darkness. That is why we will rise early on Easter morning and welcome him in church cemeteries and sanctuaries. The Light of the World has stepped down into this darkness and the darkness has not overcome it! (John 1:5) Though it seems the darkest hour in history, a now empty cross shines with the hope of God’s promise and presence. And our hope is not disappointed. (Rom 5:5; )

"Christ Washing Peter's Feet" by Ford Madox Brown

The worldwide Church celebrates Maundy Thursday this evening. It is a day that commemorates the last meal that Jesus had with his disciples, and the new commandment or mandate (mandatum novum, from which we got the now archaic word “Maundy”) he gave them: “love one another.” After what he knew would be his last meal with his disciples, Jesus demonstrated this love by washing their feet, including the feet of the very man who would disown him. Therefore, the Thursday before Easter is an occasion for Communion and Foot Washing services.

Maundy Thursday (or as it is called in so many churches today, Holy Thursday) is a good day for us. It is a day for “getting right” with God so that one is better prepared for Good Friday and Easter. Like Peter long ago, recoil at the notion of Jesus bathing a sinner like you. After all, like Peter, you will disown Jesus too. Jesus knows this and washes you just the same. Like Peter long ago, let Jesus cleanse you fully this day. “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.” (John 13:10)

Saint John's Lutheran Church, Asheboro, NC

The members of Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Asheboro, voted on February 22, 2012, to call me as their first North American Lutheran Church pastor. I will be ordained and installed on Sunday, May 6th at 2pm, at Saint John’s Lutheran Church, 505 South Park Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Susan and I, and the members of Saint John’s invite you to the service of ordination and installation over which Bishop John Bradosky and Dean Carl Haynes will preside.

A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

I begin my ministry at Saint John’s on Tuesday, May 1st.

Our time of ministry in Graham these past twelve years has been rich and varied. We are sad to leave so many friends and a community we loved from the start. But as someone remarked the other day, it isn’t called a calling for nothing. We gladly go where the Lord calls us.

In fact, when you look at the trajectory of my ministry and education, it is clear that the Lord has been calling me back to my Lutheran roots for a long time. Either those confirmation classes at St. Luke’s in Springfield, Ohio, really took hold or I just read Scripture as Luther did. Maybe it is both. Dr. Ron Selleck, a professor I had for various theology classes in seminary, was the first to notice. He would repeatedly remark in the margins of my earliest papers, “Luther is trying to get out here” and, “Luther again” and simply, “Luther.” This led to research projects on Luther’s commentary on Galatians and Justification in the Lutheran Confessions, as well as the reading of and writing about many books by Luther.

In other words, it feels right and good to be going home.

Dr. James Wagner

Below are five talks that Dr. James Wagner gave on “The Art of Letting Go.”

Letting Go of Our Children (42:07)

Letting Go of Our Parents (33:26)

Letting Go of Our Younger Selves (31:13)

Letting Go of Our Illusions (32:14)

The Final Letting Go (39:52)

Here is a Sermon that Dr. Wagner preached at Graham Friends Church in Graham, NC, on December 11, 2011.

Advent Comfort (18:38)

You will not need flash cards and you will not need to take tests. You will however, learn The Lord’s Prayer in the language of the New Testament, Koine Greek. You will also learn part of John 1 and Revelation 1. Along the way, you will learn the Greek alphabet, many Greek words, how to spot common characteristics of Greek words, and…you will discover if you want to go even further with the language.

Imagine, being able to read the Bible of the early church by reading the actual New Testament and Old Testament (Septuagint) instead of an English translation.

Classes will begin Sunday, January 8th, from 4 to 6pm in my home in Graham, NC. The atmosphere will be relaxed, fun, and inspirational.

This is not only open to folks from my church. You may take part too. Let me know if you plan to be there.

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When I was a boy, we always had Christmas morning at home with just my immediate family — mom, dad, my three sisters, and me. But on Christmas Eve…oh! on Christmas Eve, that is when Christmas really happened.

At 5 o’clock or so, we would gather at Grandma and Grandpa Ryman’s house for dinner. The whole Ryman family as there: Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Thelma and Uncle Richard and Jim and Lori, Ben and Doris Dace (friends of the family), and the six of us. Before the dishes were done and certainly before presents were opened, we packed up the cars (including Grandpa’s Rambler), usually in the snow, and headed off to Calvary Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio. Aunt Thelma’s family went to First Lutheran and we went to St. Luke’s, but Calvary was Grandma’s and Grandpa’s church. And we all went there together once a year.

Though I only attended Calvary once a year, I remember so much from those annual visits. I vividly remember the way the church entrance was located off to the left and that, as soon as we entered from the cold snow and the rush of getting there from dinner, the sanctuary gave me a warm, red peace and stillness. And wonder.

But the poinsettias and the people and the carols and the candy are not what made the difference in a little boy’s heart and life. The difference was that for my family it was important to stop and worship on Christmas Eve. Oh, yes, there was a book of Lifesavers waiting under the tree and a crisp dollar bill in an envelope with my name on it stuck in the tree. But those had to wait, as did the new handkerchief and socks that were also part of the annual family gifting. The whole book of Lifesavers (eight or sometimes twelve rolls) would be there when we got back from church. I was taught that at a very early age.

When I was a few years older (I think 14), and the world got more hurried, someone decided we could skip church that year. Nothing doing! I told them the presents could wait; I was going to church. I don’t know how I planned to get halfway across town in the snow. But I looked around to see what the response might be and Aunt Thelma and Grandma Ryman were getting up to put their coats on. Then everyone but the person who’s idea it was to skip church was headed out the door to Calvary.

He would have to wait along with the handkerchief and socks — and the dollar bill and Lifesavers. Jesus was waiting for us.

I went to the local Walgreens to pick up Christmas photos and a Texas Roadhouse gift card. They did not have Roadhouse gift cards but they did have my 100 photos, and I might add that they were very nicely printed. That Walgreens does a great job with prints.

But I still needed the gift card. So I decided to go to Texas Roadhouse since they might also have a nice presentation folder for the card too. They did. They also had a special place inside the door for people buying gift cards. I got there at just about the right time since I was only three deep in the line with more people getting in line behind me.

Just as the lady in front of me was handed her receipt, the waitress knocked the credit card machine off the counter and parts went flying. I stepped up to first place in line and waited while she put the machine back together. But it failed to work. She tried several more times to no avail. Meanwhile more people were getting in line.

Eventually, the manager came over to work on the machine. She could not get it to work either. Another manager went to work on the machine, just as unsuccessfully. I can hear the people behind me shifting and muttering but not as audibly as the manager’s comment: “I’m gonna lose a thousand dollars in gift card sales.”

Twenty minutes later, she succeeded. The manager ran my transaction and handed me the gift card in its presentation folder. Then she gave me a $5 off coupon. I figured this was a way of making up for the twenty-minute wait. But no; they were giving those coupons to anyone who bought their gift card at the restaurant, instead of another store like Walgreens. Then she handed me a voucher for twenty dollars on my next purchase and thanked me being the only person who waited.

I turned around and found myself alone in line. When I turned back to her she added, “And you didn’t say anything nasty to me either. I appreciate that.”

What do you say to that but, “Thank you.” And, “Merry Christmas!”

Lettered on felt-finish, acid-free water color paper. 9 x 12. Ready for framing. $20 + postage. revryman at gmail dot com.

Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, October 17-23, 2011

Monday Morning

Luke 7:1-10   Peter will encounter a Roman centurion named Cornelius in Sunday’s text. Jesus had also met a commander of 100 Roman soldiers in this morning’s reflection. The centurion whom Jesus met had a sick servant and sent some Jewish elders to Jesus, asking him to heal the servant, who was near death. Jesus went with the elders to see the servant. As he grew near the centurion’s residence, the centurion sent some friends to Jesus to tell him that he needn’t have come. He could have just said the word and the servant would be well. Indeed, by the time the friends got back to the centurion’s house, the servant was healed.

Here was a man who knew the power of God’s word. Just as Jesus spoke all things into creation (John 1:3), he could say the word and the servant would be made well again.

Monday Evening

Romans 2:11-13   “In Caesarea there was a certain man…” God is having Peter leave his comfort zone. Peter will have to leave the security of Jewish Joppa for the city bustling with Greeks, or in Peter’s case, to put a fine edge to it, a city full of Gentiles. He would have to learn that here that God puts no restrictions on who he calls righteous. Peter will encounter God’s people, even in the Greek cities.

Tuesday Morning

Romans 3:21-26   Everyone is a sinner. We are born into sin. We are by nature and definition born in sin. Luther insisted that this is the chief and overarching sin of our nature. “All who are naturally born are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with the inclination to sin.” (Concordia. Second ed.  [Concordia, St. Louis, 2006], 31.) To deny this brings about the notion that one might actually be able to cooperate with God through good works and personal righteousness, and find justification by “his own strength and reason.” (Ibid. 32)

Church people and other religious people are no better in this regard than anyone else. We are not merely inclined to sin; we are sinners in need of a Savior. There is no natural or original righteousness in any person. The result is ignorance of and contempt for God, a lack of fear of God and a hatred of his judgment, or any confidence in him on the other hand, and putting our trust in the things of the world instead of in the grace of God. Karl Barth said, “Our disposition to [God] is hostile.” (Dogmatics. 515.)

This is not just the Gentile mindset; it is a religious mindset, as is evidenced by our tendency to say things like, “He was a good man.” Thanks be to God that though no man is good, he has sent a Savior for all.

Tuesday Evening

Daniel 9:20-23   God uses prayer to open us up to his leading. Daniel is keeping a regular time of prayer, as is Cornelius, when God sends them each his message. It is when we regularly turn our faces to the Lord (Dan 9:3) that we, in effect, see his. Too often, we get charged up about knowing God’s will and go to him in one or two spurts of prayer. Here we see that the way God usually communicates with us is when we have been regularly coming to him. God talked with Adam in the same way, when he showed up each day for a walk in the garden.

Wednesday Morning

Revelation 8:1-5   The prayers of God’s people are sweet and effective. It is as if they are mingled with incense; they have an effect on God. Our collective prayers toward heaven are cast back on earth with great effect. The more continuously (Acts 10:2; 1Th 5:17) one prays, the more effective her prayers will be.

Wednesday Evening

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Thursday Morning

Thursday Evening

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Friday Morning

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Friday Evening

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Saturday Morning

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Saturday Evening

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Sunday Morning

An audio reflection on my translation of Acts 10:1-8

Sunday Evening

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