Scripture: Genesis 3:22-24, The Garden of Eden was made beautiful and perfect by God. God and man were in perfect relationship. Doubt (i.e.sin) entered that relationship, and mankind believed Satan's lie. Man was exiled from the Garden and cut off from the Tree of Life. Eternal immortality was exchanged for everlasting death. The Messiah, promised by God, would accomplish what man cannot achieve. He would remove the dividing wall of hostility and reopen Paradise for us today.

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15, And there's no way Jesus will abandon you in your time of need. You are not alone in your wilderness, you are not alone when you suffer, you're not alone when you're crying, you're not alone when this world just becomes too much to bear and you want out.Jesus goes with you to bring you through temptation, to bring you through whatever wilderness you find yourself in. Jesus brings you through to the other side to be with him forever. When you come to think about it, whenever you are with Jesus, you are back in Eden, for good.

Scripture: Joel 2:12-19, Revelation 7:9-14, 1 Corinthians 2:9, This Lent we will be meditating on the idea of journey, an idea frequently co-opted by the world. As the saying goes, life is a journey not a destination and yet overlooked is that this so-called journey of life always leads to the grave. Death is the end of the journey, or is it? Christianity tells of a way through death. In the words of of Jesus who lives, death is now gate of life. Our Lord Jesus died and yet lives. He has made death not an end but a portal, a doorway for all who trust in Him, a doorway that leads to marvels and mysteries so great the Scriptures simply say "Eye has not see it, ear has not heard .. the things which God has prepared for those who love Him".

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, 2 Corinthians 3:2-13, Just as Moses and Elijah were transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration, we too are transfigured by Jesus in our holy baptism. In our baptism, Jesus joins us with other believers on the journey to the promised new heavens and new earth. You might not see it with your physical eyes but through your spiritual ears, the Holy Spirit is regenerating you and creating faith. By faith you "see" the face of Jesus Christ who has mercy on you. May we keep our eyes upon Jesus, as we wait for His certain return.

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39, Jesus doesn't want acceptance of men and women nor does he want their praise. He doesn't want to be crowned king. So why did Jesus come? All he wants to do is heal you--- forever. If you are not sure you need to ask yourself this one question. Are you going to die some day? Because, if you are, you just might consider going to see the only one who can save you.

Scripture: Corinthians 8:1-13, We first ask: what does food, offered to idols, have to do with us? As Christians, we are free to eat anything. This is correct, but we must take care that this new freedom does not become a stumbling block to another who is weak. Our newly acquired knowledge and freedom must serve others, not ourselves. Our desire should be for others to see Christ in us. In our Christian freedom we must remain the servant of our fellow man and not hurt our brothers. The Corinthian's knowledge is correct but they used it in a wrong way.

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10, The remarkable event in the story of Jonah is not how he was preserved in the belly of a fish for three days, but that the Ninevites believed God's seven word "sermon" delivered to them by Jonah. Jonah calls them to repent from their evil ways, and when they did, Jonah became angry and wanted to die. Jonah wants the Ninevites dead, but God wants them to live. Jonah resented that the Ninevites received the same grace of God that he received.

Scripture: John 1:43-51, In Genesis 28:10-17, we read about Jacob and a dream he experienced. Jacob had spent some time running from his past. He had sinned and he had deceived. He deserved to be tormented by his conscience by his wrongdoing, as he closed his eyes, Jacob dreamed of a ladder. And what he saw was the Son of Man in an image of undeserved mercy. What he heard was a voice speaking undeserved love. The God whom he had sinned against, absolved him and said: "I am with you and I will keep you wherever you go." For you and I this morning, we have come into the presence of Jacob's Ladder, the ladder from heaven to earth. It comes down to this baptismal font and here to this pulpit and here to this altar. We have come to what Jacob dreamed of and to what is at the foot of Jacob's ladder. You have come into the gracious presence of Jesus Christ Himself, whether you believe it or not. Here, heaven pours out its mercies for and to you. Here heavenly beings ascend and descend. Angels and archangels serve God by serving you here. God speaks his absolution to you again, once more calling you His friend. Here Jesus says, "I am with you and I will keep you wherever you go", just as He promised Jacob.

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, Imagine the puzzled expressions on the faces of the three wise men when they arrived all dressed up for the party with gifts in hand only to find out the king wasn't throwing a party. These rich visitors were in town seeking the new king of the Jews. Instead, they found that King Herod was more than troubled and all Jerusalem with him. The coming of God in flesh and blood is trouble to him. And God in the flesh means trouble for everyone who wants to be king themselves and for everyone who wants to have the final say over his life. May we listen to this message of the wise men and be wise ourselves, not according to the wisdom of this age, but wise with the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus. For the light of God's Word has arisen and shined on us too. Let us come to worship Him and receive his gifts.

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39, If God is for us, who can be against us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? As people of God, nothing is the answer! This promise of God provides us a great deal of comfort and confidence, so that whatever may come, we are safe in Christ. Nothing can steal us away --- but it doesn't always seem this way, does it? The world can take our life at best, but this is no threat at all. The end of this life is the continuation of eternal life that began the moment you were baptized. Our biggest threat in this life is sin. Sin can separate us from God on earth as well as separate us from God for eternity. This is why the church takes sin so seriously because of what sin does to us -- it separates us from God. To know we are forgiven our sins is very good news indeed. Being forgiven our sin, is to know we are safe and secure, with Christ, in God. Because of Jesus, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Cling to God's Word and His promises.