A Note from Pastor https://www.ilcseoul.org Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:44:35 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Sir, Give Me This Water https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/sir-give-me-this-water_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/sir-give-me-this-water_2#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0400 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/sir-give-me-this-water_2 The woman said to him [Jesus], “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:15 ESV) Sometimes our petitions ask for more than we may realize. This is especially true of the Lord’s Prayer. Today at International Lutheran Church, we continue our study of Luther’s Small Catechism and take up the Lord’s Prayer. At the same time, we reflect on the conversation in John’s gospel between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. We may be surprised at how this dialog can help us unpack the importance of prayer.

Lent is a special season of prayer. For centuries Christians have used these forty days as a time of spiritual discipline. It has often been used as a special time to prepare for baptism – where the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer along with the Sacraments were studied and memorized. Whether we have taken up reading (or listening to) the Lenten devotions as a family or perhaps have been trying to spend more dedicated time in prayer, all of this can aid us as we contemplate our Savior’s passion. Today we want to take up the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s explanations to the petitions as part of our spiritual discipline of prayer even as we listen to Jesus’ words to the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well in John 4. Luther begins: Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

What may not be obvious to most is that the Lord’s Prayer is first and foremost an invitation into an intimate relationship with God. Even as the Ten Commandments teach us to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things, and the Apostles’ Creed teaches us to “believe” that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has made me, redeemed me, and sanctified me, here the Lord’s Prayer now invites us to see God as our true Father, and ourselves as His true children. “If you knew, … you would have asked Him.” (John 4:10) Here Jesus invites the woman who has come to Jacob’s well in the heat of the day to ask Him for a drink. In just such a way God invites us to believe that He is our dear Father who desires for us life, not death.

While prayer is an invitation to see God as the One who provides, one might wonder, what are we to ask for? As we begin the Lord’s Prayer, we may be surprised that we ask for such things as that God’s name to be made holy, that His Kingdom would come, and that His will would be done. Even so, Luther mused with a repeated phrase in his explanation stating, God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. And, The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. And finally, The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

Yes, these three petitions are part of the invitation to take the nature of God’s Name, His Kingdom, and His Will personally. Our prayer is that each of these would be and come “among us also!” This is His way of helping us to know who it is that we are speaking to. Like the woman at the well, we may not always be aware of who we are talking to and that His goal is to attach His Name to us, to bring us into His Kingdom, and to make His Will our one desire. “Sir, give me this water!” (John 4:15) That is our prayer!

But one might ask, “Isn’t prayer about asking God for things?” Yes, and God does give us all good things: our daily bread, food, clothing, house, home, good government, devout friends, etc., even without our prayer so that we would thank and praise Him. Yet there is still so much more! Not only does He graciously give us everything we need for this body and life, but He pours into us His own Holy Spirit that becomes in us a well to eternal life. “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14b) You see, like the woman at the well, we also live dusty lives often caught in sin and shame.

Now maybe we don’t think our sins are so bad as the next person, but we are likely to want to change the topic whenever they are shown to us. “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” (John 4:19) Not many of us like to be shown our sin since we can’t do anything about it except to confess that it is ours. But this is exactly what the Lord’s Prayer helps us to do, namely, to confess our sins as we see our need for the forgiveness of sins; to be led away from temptation and to be delivered from evil.

This is the reason Jesus sits by Jacob’s well; this is why He hung on the cross. “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:26) Just as the woman at Jacob’s well that day was freed from her past, we, too, are able to say the “Amen” in faith believing that God does provide for us a Messiah. In Jesus, we see behind our daily needs how our gracious Father has even given us His dear Son as the answer to all our prayers. I can’t think of a more powerful message for this 1000th issue of The Messenger while the testimony of the woman from Samaria rings out “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) on this weekend of International Women’s Day.

Pastor Carl

]]> The woman said to him [Jesus], “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:15 ESV) Sometimes our petitions ask for more than we may realize. This is especially true of the Lord’s Prayer. Today at International Lutheran Church, we continue our study of Luther’s Small Catechism and take up the Lord’s Prayer. At the same time, we reflect on the conversation in John’s gospel between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. We may be surprised at how this dialog can help us unpack the importance of prayer.

Lent is a special season of prayer. For centuries Christians have used these forty days as a time of spiritual discipline. It has often been used as a special time to prepare for baptism – where the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer along with the Sacraments were studied and memorized. Whether we have taken up reading (or listening to) the Lenten devotions as a family or perhaps have been trying to spend more dedicated time in prayer, all of this can aid us as we contemplate our Savior’s passion. Today we want to take up the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s explanations to the petitions as part of our spiritual discipline of prayer even as we listen to Jesus’ words to the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well in John 4. Luther begins: Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

What may not be obvious to most is that the Lord’s Prayer is first and foremost an invitation into an intimate relationship with God. Even as the Ten Commandments teach us to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things, and the Apostles’ Creed teaches us to “believe” that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has made me, redeemed me, and sanctified me, here the Lord’s Prayer now invites us to see God as our true Father, and ourselves as His true children. “If you knew, … you would have asked Him.” (John 4:10) Here Jesus invites the woman who has come to Jacob’s well in the heat of the day to ask Him for a drink. In just such a way God invites us to believe that He is our dear Father who desires for us life, not death.

While prayer is an invitation to see God as the One who provides, one might wonder, what are we to ask for? As we begin the Lord’s Prayer, we may be surprised that we ask for such things as that God’s name to be made holy, that His Kingdom would come, and that His will would be done. Even so, Luther mused with a repeated phrase in his explanation stating, God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. And, The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. And finally, The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

Yes, these three petitions are part of the invitation to take the nature of God’s Name, His Kingdom, and His Will personally. Our prayer is that each of these would be and come “among us also!” This is His way of helping us to know who it is that we are speaking to. Like the woman at the well, we may not always be aware of who we are talking to and that His goal is to attach His Name to us, to bring us into His Kingdom, and to make His Will our one desire. “Sir, give me this water!” (John 4:15) That is our prayer!

But one might ask, “Isn’t prayer about asking God for things?” Yes, and God does give us all good things: our daily bread, food, clothing, house, home, good government, devout friends, etc., even without our prayer so that we would thank and praise Him. Yet there is still so much more! Not only does He graciously give us everything we need for this body and life, but He pours into us His own Holy Spirit that becomes in us a well to eternal life. “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14b) You see, like the woman at the well, we also live dusty lives often caught in sin and shame.

Now maybe we don’t think our sins are so bad as the next person, but we are likely to want to change the topic whenever they are shown to us. “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” (John 4:19) Not many of us like to be shown our sin since we can’t do anything about it except to confess that it is ours. But this is exactly what the Lord’s Prayer helps us to do, namely, to confess our sins as we see our need for the forgiveness of sins; to be led away from temptation and to be delivered from evil.

This is the reason Jesus sits by Jacob’s well; this is why He hung on the cross. “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:26) Just as the woman at Jacob’s well that day was freed from her past, we, too, are able to say the “Amen” in faith believing that God does provide for us a Messiah. In Jesus, we see behind our daily needs how our gracious Father has even given us His dear Son as the answer to all our prayers. I can’t think of a more powerful message for this 1000th issue of The Messenger while the testimony of the woman from Samaria rings out “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) on this weekend of International Women’s Day.

Pastor Carl

]]> Where and When the Wind Blows https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/where-and-when-the-wind-blows https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/where-and-when-the-wind-blows#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/where-and-when-the-wind-blows The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 ESV) With these words, Jesus instructs Nicodemus about the work of the Holy Spirit to create the faith that looks to Christ. Today at International Lutheran Church we reflect on the meaning of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and the work of the Holy Spirit to call us to faith through the Gospel. While “faith” and “belief” are actions of the heart, this is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word. This is where and when the wind blows!

Lent is a special time for us to reflect on the cross and what Jesus’ passion means for us in our daily lives as we prepare to celebrate His resurrection on the third day. In a way, Lent is our own wilderness journey that the Spirit guides us through to see Jesus lifted on the cross for us. Perhaps another image for Lent might be the “midnight conversation” through which the Spirit brings us into the “day.” That Nicodemus came to Jesus by night seems to strike an interesting tone with his role as a prominent and important teacher in Israel. It is usually the things done in the dark that we hope no one will notice. Yet, this is the very conversation that Jesus uses to bring him and us into the light.

As part of our Lenten meditation we have been reading through the Small Catechism, this book of simple questions and answers that Luther used to teach moms and dads how to teach their children in the Christian faith. Today we want to cover the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and its explanation where we read…

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. (Luther’s Small Catechism: The Apostles’ Creed, the Third Article)

Luther uses a similar pedagogical pattern to explain and teach the meaning of each article of the Apostles’ Creed. Each one focuses on the work of the person of the Trinity. God the Father who “makes” is the Creator. God the Son who “redeems” is the Justifier. Now in this Third Article, God the Spirit who “makes Holy” is the Sanctifier. We confess the work and action of each person of the Trinity in their relationship to ourselves. Simply put, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit that makes us holy. How does the Spirit do this? Through the forgiveness of our sins. He takes what Christ did on the cross - His life, death and resurrection - and makes it yours and mine. He is Holy as He makes you and me holy by faith created and sustained through the Gospel. The Spirit breathes/blows into our lives the breath of life and creates faith in you and me personally. Faith/belief is then a gift and “work” of our gracious God who works in our lives to create and sustain our faith.

Where does God do this? Luther explains this in the simplest terms – where the Gospel gathers us together into a holy community, the church. Here the Holy Spirit sanctifies and sustains us through the forgiveness of sins that is brought to us through the Gospel and through the Word and Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

This is the work of the Spirit that we confess when we call Him holy and are brought to lift our eyes upon the very Son of God with faith in the Father’s grace and love for us. This is the work that the Spirit calls us to in sharing this good news throughout our communities, in our homes, and places of work and study. The Spirit even uses those “midnight” conversations to bring us into the “daylight” of His love and grace for us and all in Christ. This is where and when the wind blows!

Pastor Carl

]]> The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 ESV) With these words, Jesus instructs Nicodemus about the work of the Holy Spirit to create the faith that looks to Christ. Today at International Lutheran Church we reflect on the meaning of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and the work of the Holy Spirit to call us to faith through the Gospel. While “faith” and “belief” are actions of the heart, this is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word. This is where and when the wind blows!

Lent is a special time for us to reflect on the cross and what Jesus’ passion means for us in our daily lives as we prepare to celebrate His resurrection on the third day. In a way, Lent is our own wilderness journey that the Spirit guides us through to see Jesus lifted on the cross for us. Perhaps another image for Lent might be the “midnight conversation” through which the Spirit brings us into the “day.” That Nicodemus came to Jesus by night seems to strike an interesting tone with his role as a prominent and important teacher in Israel. It is usually the things done in the dark that we hope no one will notice. Yet, this is the very conversation that Jesus uses to bring him and us into the light.

As part of our Lenten meditation we have been reading through the Small Catechism, this book of simple questions and answers that Luther used to teach moms and dads how to teach their children in the Christian faith. Today we want to cover the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and its explanation where we read…

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. (Luther’s Small Catechism: The Apostles’ Creed, the Third Article)

Luther uses a similar pedagogical pattern to explain and teach the meaning of each article of the Apostles’ Creed. Each one focuses on the work of the person of the Trinity. God the Father who “makes” is the Creator. God the Son who “redeems” is the Justifier. Now in this Third Article, God the Spirit who “makes Holy” is the Sanctifier. We confess the work and action of each person of the Trinity in their relationship to ourselves. Simply put, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit that makes us holy. How does the Spirit do this? Through the forgiveness of our sins. He takes what Christ did on the cross - His life, death and resurrection - and makes it yours and mine. He is Holy as He makes you and me holy by faith created and sustained through the Gospel. The Spirit breathes/blows into our lives the breath of life and creates faith in you and me personally. Faith/belief is then a gift and “work” of our gracious God who works in our lives to create and sustain our faith.

Where does God do this? Luther explains this in the simplest terms – where the Gospel gathers us together into a holy community, the church. Here the Holy Spirit sanctifies and sustains us through the forgiveness of sins that is brought to us through the Gospel and through the Word and Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

This is the work of the Spirit that we confess when we call Him holy and are brought to lift our eyes upon the very Son of God with faith in the Father’s grace and love for us. This is the work that the Spirit calls us to in sharing this good news throughout our communities, in our homes, and places of work and study. The Spirit even uses those “midnight” conversations to bring us into the “daylight” of His love and grace for us and all in Christ. This is where and when the wind blows!

Pastor Carl

]]> He Was Hungry https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/he-was-hungry_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/he-was-hungry_2#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/he-was-hungry_2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2 ESV) Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness serves as a clear reminder of what it meant for Him to take upon himself our very flesh. Today at International Lutheran Church we reflect on the meaning of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: that He, Jesus, has purchased and won us with His own precious blood. By doing so we again confess that God saves us in our flesh so that we can live in Him both now and in the life to come.

Lent is the ancient Christian custom of penitential preparation. For forty days we reflect on the cross and our Savior’s suffering as we prepare physically, emotionally, and spiritually to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ on Easter morning. How can we begin to fathom the forgiveness of our sin won for us through His victory unless we walk with Him and see what He endured? In fact, Jesus’ forty-day temptation in the wilderness offers us a glimpse into the close connection between His baptism and His suffering, and the temptation that He endured not just for forty days, but for His entire ministry culminating on the cross. Like Israel, Jesus is declared the Son of God in and through the water (Exodus 13:14-15; Matthew 2:15; 3:17) and then He enters the wilderness for a time of testing. But unlike Israel, Jesus does not succumb to the temptations that so easily ensnare us. He is the One who conquers the devil through His reliance on the Word of God so that He can serve as that perfect substitute. Today, we reflect on His temptation, and especially what it means to confess Jesus Christ as our Lord from Luther’s explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed.

And (I believe) in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed the Second Article)

Luther pulls together these two truths that Jesus is both “true God” and “true man” in what it is to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is not half and half but all in all. Both of these truths are evident in His temptation. His Spirit-led journey was a confirmation of His complete Sonship, even as His hunger was completely the same in kind as you and I feel each day when we have missed a meal or two. Only the Son of God can do what He does, and only the Son of Man can suffer in every way that you and I suffer. Why is that important? Because our sin is not just an external malady or a figment of our imagination. Our sin is in our very flesh and bone completely infecting and touching every part of God’s creation. His innocent suffering is real. His precious blood and unwavering obedience is what alone can undo the curse.

This is why Luther’s understanding of “Lord” is rooted in the Biblical concept of redemption. In and through Jesus’ physical suffering and death, you and I were won, purchased, and now we belong not to self but to Him who died and rose for us, who gave His Body and Blood for us, who rose from the dead for us. In an age when our whole world hungers for identity and a sense of purpose, God satisfies that hunger with His very Son. Jesus hungers for us. His sole desire, His Spirit-led trip had one aim – that you and I would be His.

In Him through Baptism we now live a very different existence. Our purpose, our hunger, is no longer satisfied with self, but only in our service to our neighbor. In our care for our neighbor through the vocations and callings that God has ordained we now are free to live for His glory! His reign and rule are not a burden but a delight that gives to us something that all our hunger could never satisfy. This is sheer joy! Even our own momentary suffering, our holy fast and Lenten “hunger” is not a burden but rather part of His Spirit-led effort to bring all to the knowledge of what He has done for us all. May God bless our hunger and connect us to His as we serve our neighbor by His grace.

Pastor Carl

]]> Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2 ESV) Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness serves as a clear reminder of what it meant for Him to take upon himself our very flesh. Today at International Lutheran Church we reflect on the meaning of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: that He, Jesus, has purchased and won us with His own precious blood. By doing so we again confess that God saves us in our flesh so that we can live in Him both now and in the life to come.

Lent is the ancient Christian custom of penitential preparation. For forty days we reflect on the cross and our Savior’s suffering as we prepare physically, emotionally, and spiritually to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ on Easter morning. How can we begin to fathom the forgiveness of our sin won for us through His victory unless we walk with Him and see what He endured? In fact, Jesus’ forty-day temptation in the wilderness offers us a glimpse into the close connection between His baptism and His suffering, and the temptation that He endured not just for forty days, but for His entire ministry culminating on the cross. Like Israel, Jesus is declared the Son of God in and through the water (Exodus 13:14-15; Matthew 2:15; 3:17) and then He enters the wilderness for a time of testing. But unlike Israel, Jesus does not succumb to the temptations that so easily ensnare us. He is the One who conquers the devil through His reliance on the Word of God so that He can serve as that perfect substitute. Today, we reflect on His temptation, and especially what it means to confess Jesus Christ as our Lord from Luther’s explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed.

And (I believe) in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. (Luther’s Small Catechism; Apostles’ Creed the Second Article)

Luther pulls together these two truths that Jesus is both “true God” and “true man” in what it is to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is not half and half but all in all. Both of these truths are evident in His temptation. His Spirit-led journey was a confirmation of His complete Sonship, even as His hunger was completely the same in kind as you and I feel each day when we have missed a meal or two. Only the Son of God can do what He does, and only the Son of Man can suffer in every way that you and I suffer. Why is that important? Because our sin is not just an external malady or a figment of our imagination. Our sin is in our very flesh and bone completely infecting and touching every part of God’s creation. His innocent suffering is real. His precious blood and unwavering obedience is what alone can undo the curse.

This is why Luther’s understanding of “Lord” is rooted in the Biblical concept of redemption. In and through Jesus’ physical suffering and death, you and I were won, purchased, and now we belong not to self but to Him who died and rose for us, who gave His Body and Blood for us, who rose from the dead for us. In an age when our whole world hungers for identity and a sense of purpose, God satisfies that hunger with His very Son. Jesus hungers for us. His sole desire, His Spirit-led trip had one aim – that you and I would be His.

In Him through Baptism we now live a very different existence. Our purpose, our hunger, is no longer satisfied with self, but only in our service to our neighbor. In our care for our neighbor through the vocations and callings that God has ordained we now are free to live for His glory! His reign and rule are not a burden but a delight that gives to us something that all our hunger could never satisfy. This is sheer joy! Even our own momentary suffering, our holy fast and Lenten “hunger” is not a burden but rather part of His Spirit-led effort to bring all to the knowledge of what He has done for us all. May God bless our hunger and connect us to His as we serve our neighbor by His grace.

Pastor Carl

]]> The Father's Voice https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-fathers-voice_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-fathers-voice_2#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-fathers-voice_2 He [Peter] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5 ESV) Our Heavenly Father’s voice announces our Savior Jesus, their relationship to one another, and transfigures us in faith. Today at International Lutheran Church on this Transfiguration Sunday, as we reflect on the meaning of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, we see and hear clearly how our Heavenly Father has provided for all our needs even as we are transfigured for service and obedience in Jesus through the Father’s voice!

“As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way…” This is the opening of the Catechism; it presents itself as a teaching tool for moms and dads to teach their children and extended household the Christian faith. If we reflect on the Ten Commandments and their use in our lives as a curb, a mirror, and a rule in our service to our neighbor and obedience to God, we come to an obvious question. But who is God? And why should I listen? In response to these questions, the Catechism moves from the Commandments to the Creed. As we take up the first article of faith in Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed – what it means to say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” For Luther, the Creed was more than just a simple three-part confession of what a Christian believes about God. For sure, each phrase and word depicts a myriad of doctrinal statements concerning the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but in doing so it also helps us focus on our relationship to this God and what He has done for us. In other words, the Creed is not just teachings about God. The Creed serves as an invitation to fear, love, and trust in God above all things and gives us the reason why. And in doing so, the Catechism offers a three-fold view of our relationship to our Creator.

What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. (Luther’s Small Catechism)

God the Father Almighty has made you and me. He provides for us everything we need. And He defends us from every evil. Note the detailed nature of God’s creative work. His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy is shown in His care for us throughout our life from beginning to end, but especially in His attention to make Himself known to us. The Transfiguration of Jesus is a reminder to us of the work of the entire Trinity as Jesus reflects the fullness of God’s glory in His face and as we hear the Father’s voice from the cloud. Like Moses and Elijah of old, now the disciples Peter, James, and John hear the voice of the Father declaring His love for the Son. In and through the Son alone do we see that God the Father’s almighty power is used for us and not against us. In Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, we see the Father’s almighty power being used to defend us from all evil and to take away our sins. In our Baptism, we live a new life of thanks and praise as we listen to the words of our Savior and trust Him. Just as the Father’s voice calls in the cloud to “listen to Him (Jesus),” so today we hear the Father’s voice and follow Him in faith with lives of praise and thanks even as we use all that He has given and provided us to serve our neighbor. Happy Valentine’s, and a blessed Seollal!

Pastor Carl

]]> He [Peter] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5 ESV) Our Heavenly Father’s voice announces our Savior Jesus, their relationship to one another, and transfigures us in faith. Today at International Lutheran Church on this Transfiguration Sunday, as we reflect on the meaning of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, we see and hear clearly how our Heavenly Father has provided for all our needs even as we are transfigured for service and obedience in Jesus through the Father’s voice!

“As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way…” This is the opening of the Catechism; it presents itself as a teaching tool for moms and dads to teach their children and extended household the Christian faith. If we reflect on the Ten Commandments and their use in our lives as a curb, a mirror, and a rule in our service to our neighbor and obedience to God, we come to an obvious question. But who is God? And why should I listen? In response to these questions, the Catechism moves from the Commandments to the Creed. As we take up the first article of faith in Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed – what it means to say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” For Luther, the Creed was more than just a simple three-part confession of what a Christian believes about God. For sure, each phrase and word depicts a myriad of doctrinal statements concerning the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but in doing so it also helps us focus on our relationship to this God and what He has done for us. In other words, the Creed is not just teachings about God. The Creed serves as an invitation to fear, love, and trust in God above all things and gives us the reason why. And in doing so, the Catechism offers a three-fold view of our relationship to our Creator.

What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. (Luther’s Small Catechism)

God the Father Almighty has made you and me. He provides for us everything we need. And He defends us from every evil. Note the detailed nature of God’s creative work. His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy is shown in His care for us throughout our life from beginning to end, but especially in His attention to make Himself known to us. The Transfiguration of Jesus is a reminder to us of the work of the entire Trinity as Jesus reflects the fullness of God’s glory in His face and as we hear the Father’s voice from the cloud. Like Moses and Elijah of old, now the disciples Peter, James, and John hear the voice of the Father declaring His love for the Son. In and through the Son alone do we see that God the Father’s almighty power is used for us and not against us. In Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, we see the Father’s almighty power being used to defend us from all evil and to take away our sins. In our Baptism, we live a new life of thanks and praise as we listen to the words of our Savior and trust Him. Just as the Father’s voice calls in the cloud to “listen to Him (Jesus),” so today we hear the Father’s voice and follow Him in faith with lives of praise and thanks even as we use all that He has given and provided us to serve our neighbor. Happy Valentine’s, and a blessed Seollal!

Pastor Carl

]]> His Divine Service https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/his-divine-service_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/his-divine-service_2#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/his-divine-service_2 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58:9a ESV) Today the prophet Isaiah deals with the age-old conundrum of when our prayers and worship of God are more focused on our actions than God’s. Today at International Lutheran Church, we see how Isaiah points to the good news that brings light into our lives in how God comes to serve us in worship that then is reflected in our actions toward others.

Isaiah 58 starts with the harsh reality of the emptiness and vainness that is often reflected in our worship of God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ (Isaiah 58:3) By musing in this way, we can uncover our true attitudes about our worship of God. In some ways it seems that we are only focused on our own actions and not on what God has done and is doing for us. In other words, it seems like we are only interested in “what is in it for me?” In other words, we develop a kind of quid pro quo attitude towards prayer as if it was our “way,” or our “action” to press God’s buttons so He would answer us or do what we want. This chapter then is an amazing insight into what worship and prayer are all about – that is, that our worship is not about us, but rather about God. God reveals to Isaiah that it is God who serves us. Worship is “His Divine Service” where His presence is the only thing that will bring about the change in us that we truly need.

This is not what we would expect and so we need to perhaps take a closer look. To begin with it is helpful for us to recall the instances where someone used the words “Here I am!” in the Old Testament. Whether Abraham (Genesis 12:1; 22:1,11), Jacob (Genesis 31:11; 46:2), Moses (Exodus 3:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4ff) or Isaiah himself (Isaiah 6:8), the term “here I am” is spoken as one who is a servant to God (see also Acts 9:10 as Ananias speaks this too). But now these words are spoken by God Himself to those who would call on God in prayer especially the nations (see also Isaiah 65:1)! Worship, prayer, and fasting is where God comes to serve us. This is seen in how God describes what fasting is all about – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6) These are all things that point to God’s outcome of His service in our lives – to work forgiveness of sins and deliverance from death, our sinful nature and the devil. Only God can do this. And only God has done this.

“How can this be?” you ask. With His very presence. When God comes to serve, He comes here – into our midst, into our death and hell for the purpose of setting us free. His divine presence in the midst of our “fists and quarreling” literally breaks the cycle of our own violence, the yoke and oppression that we are stuck in. His presence is what frees us and changes how we look at God, ourselves, and our neighbor. His presence on the cross of our sin removes our condemnation; His presence in the stone-cold tomb of our death makes us alive and restores us to Him and one another. This is the amazing part about Epiphany – the light of God that has shone in our Savior Jesus – that same light now shines in and through us. This is one of the key teachings in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, when He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Because of His presence in our lives now, He serves our neighbor through us.

God’s light goes before us. His glory is our rearguard. Jesus is reflected in our lives as we live in the reality of His service to us. As we stand in the presence of His grace, we are forgiven to forgive, we are freed to free, and we are shined upon to shine before others. His Divine Service – His presence - is what moves us to fast and pray with acts of kindness toward our neighbor, clothing the naked as we have been clothed, feeding the hungry as we have been fed, serving our neighbor as we have been served even as the light of His Divine Service shines in us and through us.

Blessed Epiphany,

Pastor Carl

]]> Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58:9a ESV) Today the prophet Isaiah deals with the age-old conundrum of when our prayers and worship of God are more focused on our actions than God’s. Today at International Lutheran Church, we see how Isaiah points to the good news that brings light into our lives in how God comes to serve us in worship that then is reflected in our actions toward others.

Isaiah 58 starts with the harsh reality of the emptiness and vainness that is often reflected in our worship of God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ (Isaiah 58:3) By musing in this way, we can uncover our true attitudes about our worship of God. In some ways it seems that we are only focused on our own actions and not on what God has done and is doing for us. In other words, it seems like we are only interested in “what is in it for me?” In other words, we develop a kind of quid pro quo attitude towards prayer as if it was our “way,” or our “action” to press God’s buttons so He would answer us or do what we want. This chapter then is an amazing insight into what worship and prayer are all about – that is, that our worship is not about us, but rather about God. God reveals to Isaiah that it is God who serves us. Worship is “His Divine Service” where His presence is the only thing that will bring about the change in us that we truly need.

This is not what we would expect and so we need to perhaps take a closer look. To begin with it is helpful for us to recall the instances where someone used the words “Here I am!” in the Old Testament. Whether Abraham (Genesis 12:1; 22:1,11), Jacob (Genesis 31:11; 46:2), Moses (Exodus 3:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4ff) or Isaiah himself (Isaiah 6:8), the term “here I am” is spoken as one who is a servant to God (see also Acts 9:10 as Ananias speaks this too). But now these words are spoken by God Himself to those who would call on God in prayer especially the nations (see also Isaiah 65:1)! Worship, prayer, and fasting is where God comes to serve us. This is seen in how God describes what fasting is all about – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6) These are all things that point to God’s outcome of His service in our lives – to work forgiveness of sins and deliverance from death, our sinful nature and the devil. Only God can do this. And only God has done this.

“How can this be?” you ask. With His very presence. When God comes to serve, He comes here – into our midst, into our death and hell for the purpose of setting us free. His divine presence in the midst of our “fists and quarreling” literally breaks the cycle of our own violence, the yoke and oppression that we are stuck in. His presence is what frees us and changes how we look at God, ourselves, and our neighbor. His presence on the cross of our sin removes our condemnation; His presence in the stone-cold tomb of our death makes us alive and restores us to Him and one another. This is the amazing part about Epiphany – the light of God that has shone in our Savior Jesus – that same light now shines in and through us. This is one of the key teachings in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, when He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Because of His presence in our lives now, He serves our neighbor through us.

God’s light goes before us. His glory is our rearguard. Jesus is reflected in our lives as we live in the reality of His service to us. As we stand in the presence of His grace, we are forgiven to forgive, we are freed to free, and we are shined upon to shine before others. His Divine Service – His presence - is what moves us to fast and pray with acts of kindness toward our neighbor, clothing the naked as we have been clothed, feeding the hungry as we have been fed, serving our neighbor as we have been served even as the light of His Divine Service shines in us and through us.

Blessed Epiphany,

Pastor Carl

]]> A Humble Stride https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/a-humble-stride_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/a-humble-stride_2#comments Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/a-humble-stride_2 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you; but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV) Serious questions with enlightening answers – this is Epiphany! Today at International Lutheran Church, we meditate with the Prophet Micah on these serious questions and God’s enlightening answers as we learn what it means to walk with a humble stride.

Micah, the “other” 8th century prophet and a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah, sheds light on the situation of his day. Namely, he is called to point out the apostasy of God’s people and their failure to live in a covenant relationship with God. Like Isaiah, Micah sees the corruption in God’s people both economically as well as spiritually. Not only are the people “joining fields” and gorging themselves on personal gain over against their neighbor and fellow Israelites, but they are also mixing faith in the LORD with the worship of many other gods, using even sorcery and divination (fortune telling). After asking a rhetorical question from God’s perspective, “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you?” (Micah 6:3), Micah reflects on the covenant acts of God. He recalls how God rescued them from Egypt and blessed them to be a blessing. But then he asks another set of rhetorical questions, namely “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?” (Micah 6:6-7) This time it is from the vantage point of the believer – the covenant child of God. But Micah sees something amazing as he ponders the desires of God – a humble stride. This stroll down memory lane takes us way before the Exodus and Moses, Aaron and Miriam. This simple word to “walk” with God is used of Abraham and Isaac, of Enoch and Noah. It takes us right back to the garden as God walked in the cool of the day while Adam hid in fear (Genesis 3:8).

We may not care to walk today, but at one time it was the principal mode of transportation. Walking, we can say, is synonymous with living especially in the Biblical context. But it is more than just a means to travel from point A to point B. Walking and especially walking together signifies a common step and direction. I can recall the morning walks with my dad which were often more about the conversation than they were about the exercise. Walking with someone can mean a lot, especially when we “go the extra mile.” So, when God uses this as the term for describing the relationship He desires for us to have with Him, it also says something about how He goes about making that relationship possible. Namely, that for us and for our salvation, God picked a humble stride in Jesus Christ and in His cross.

We have been seeing the results of Jesus’ itinerant ministry and note it again today as many come to the mountain to be taught by Him (Matthew 5-7). His humble invitation to one and all to follow Him comes with simple instructions to do justice and to love kindness even as He came to fulfill God’s justice in the sacrifice of His own body for the sin of our soul. Jesus’ gait to Calvary reveals the humblest step and expression of God’s love and grace for each of us. Jesus walked “the mile” that is too far for us. And with that final step as He came forth from the tomb, our stride was changed for good. In and through Baptism, God’s loving kindness and His justice is poured into our hearts changing each step of our lives, both the direction but also the stride and pace. His humble stride is now made manifest in you and me. Our desire is changed to reflect His love, His grace, His humble stride.

Yes, as we meditate on the humble stride of our Savior Jesus, our gait is altered. We are changed and made new in the grace and mercy of God.

Blessed Epiphany, 

Pastor Carl

]]> He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you; but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV) Serious questions with enlightening answers – this is Epiphany! Today at International Lutheran Church, we meditate with the Prophet Micah on these serious questions and God’s enlightening answers as we learn what it means to walk with a humble stride.

Micah, the “other” 8th century prophet and a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah, sheds light on the situation of his day. Namely, he is called to point out the apostasy of God’s people and their failure to live in a covenant relationship with God. Like Isaiah, Micah sees the corruption in God’s people both economically as well as spiritually. Not only are the people “joining fields” and gorging themselves on personal gain over against their neighbor and fellow Israelites, but they are also mixing faith in the LORD with the worship of many other gods, using even sorcery and divination (fortune telling). After asking a rhetorical question from God’s perspective, “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you?” (Micah 6:3), Micah reflects on the covenant acts of God. He recalls how God rescued them from Egypt and blessed them to be a blessing. But then he asks another set of rhetorical questions, namely “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?” (Micah 6:6-7) This time it is from the vantage point of the believer – the covenant child of God. But Micah sees something amazing as he ponders the desires of God – a humble stride. This stroll down memory lane takes us way before the Exodus and Moses, Aaron and Miriam. This simple word to “walk” with God is used of Abraham and Isaac, of Enoch and Noah. It takes us right back to the garden as God walked in the cool of the day while Adam hid in fear (Genesis 3:8).

We may not care to walk today, but at one time it was the principal mode of transportation. Walking, we can say, is synonymous with living especially in the Biblical context. But it is more than just a means to travel from point A to point B. Walking and especially walking together signifies a common step and direction. I can recall the morning walks with my dad which were often more about the conversation than they were about the exercise. Walking with someone can mean a lot, especially when we “go the extra mile.” So, when God uses this as the term for describing the relationship He desires for us to have with Him, it also says something about how He goes about making that relationship possible. Namely, that for us and for our salvation, God picked a humble stride in Jesus Christ and in His cross.

We have been seeing the results of Jesus’ itinerant ministry and note it again today as many come to the mountain to be taught by Him (Matthew 5-7). His humble invitation to one and all to follow Him comes with simple instructions to do justice and to love kindness even as He came to fulfill God’s justice in the sacrifice of His own body for the sin of our soul. Jesus’ gait to Calvary reveals the humblest step and expression of God’s love and grace for each of us. Jesus walked “the mile” that is too far for us. And with that final step as He came forth from the tomb, our stride was changed for good. In and through Baptism, God’s loving kindness and His justice is poured into our hearts changing each step of our lives, both the direction but also the stride and pace. His humble stride is now made manifest in you and me. Our desire is changed to reflect His love, His grace, His humble stride.

Yes, as we meditate on the humble stride of our Savior Jesus, our gait is altered. We are changed and made new in the grace and mercy of God.

Blessed Epiphany, 

Pastor Carl

]]> Light Out of the Darkness - Then and Now https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/light-out-of-the-darkness-then-and-now https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/light-out-of-the-darkness-then-and-now#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/light-out-of-the-darkness-then-and-now And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Acts 9:20-21 ESV) Luke the doctor records for us the surprising reaction of those who witnessed the transformation of this vehement opponent of those who called on Jesus’ name. Today at International Lutheran Church as we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul, we witness the Epiphany light of God’s Christ, our Savior Jesus, shining into our lives. For us, too, this monumental event is a sign and testimony of God’s grace, and how God brings light out of the darkness revealing how Jesus is our Epiphany!

During the Epiphany season, one major theme is that of light, but particularly how the light shines out of the darkness. Not only is this the first of God’s creative acts on the first day (Genesis 1:2-4) but it is also a testimony of His ongoing work of salvation. Not only does God actually bring light out of physical darkness, but He also brings faith (the light of life) out of the spiritual darkness of sin. This is especially evident in the story of one particular zealous Pharisee named Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. Probably one of the most dramatic transformations in the Bible, his personal encounter with the Risen Christ is the Epiphany that he and we need each and every day – the Epiphany of God’s grace in our lives.

Unlike some in Saul’s day who were more or less apathetic to the new phenomenon of this new group called the Way, those followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Saul took a more extreme reaction. He was zealous for God and God’s law and therefore sought to have these people arrested. Yet in the process, literally on the road, Saul is stopped in his tracks by no less than the Risen Christ Himself – Jesus of Nazareth.  And in that blinding instance, Saul was moved from darkness to light. Through the trembling hands of one follower of Jesus, Ananias, Saul received both baptism into Jesus’ name and his sight back. Though he had formerly persecuted these followers, he now became one of the most ardent followers of Jesus. The one who brought letters to arrest those who called on Jesus was now proclaiming Him to be the Son of God.

Why is this important for you and me? Because God is still making the light of His Christ to shine into the darkness of our sin, fear, and death, so that all would see and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God who came to give His life for us that we might live in the light of His Christ. In Baptism, we, like Saul, receive the Holy Spirit, and the scales of our past ultimately give way to His abiding presence. In this Holy Baptism, God makes His light to shine into our hearts that we would become His very vessels of that light to the nations. He does not choose the strong, but the weak. He does not choose the wise, but the foolish so that His light - His Epiphany - can shine through the darkest, most helpless, most impossible places in our world. Yes, His light shines in the darkness then and now!

Blessed Epiphany,

Pastor Carl

]]> And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Acts 9:20-21 ESV) Luke the doctor records for us the surprising reaction of those who witnessed the transformation of this vehement opponent of those who called on Jesus’ name. Today at International Lutheran Church as we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul, we witness the Epiphany light of God’s Christ, our Savior Jesus, shining into our lives. For us, too, this monumental event is a sign and testimony of God’s grace, and how God brings light out of the darkness revealing how Jesus is our Epiphany!

During the Epiphany season, one major theme is that of light, but particularly how the light shines out of the darkness. Not only is this the first of God’s creative acts on the first day (Genesis 1:2-4) but it is also a testimony of His ongoing work of salvation. Not only does God actually bring light out of physical darkness, but He also brings faith (the light of life) out of the spiritual darkness of sin. This is especially evident in the story of one particular zealous Pharisee named Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. Probably one of the most dramatic transformations in the Bible, his personal encounter with the Risen Christ is the Epiphany that he and we need each and every day – the Epiphany of God’s grace in our lives.

Unlike some in Saul’s day who were more or less apathetic to the new phenomenon of this new group called the Way, those followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Saul took a more extreme reaction. He was zealous for God and God’s law and therefore sought to have these people arrested. Yet in the process, literally on the road, Saul is stopped in his tracks by no less than the Risen Christ Himself – Jesus of Nazareth.  And in that blinding instance, Saul was moved from darkness to light. Through the trembling hands of one follower of Jesus, Ananias, Saul received both baptism into Jesus’ name and his sight back. Though he had formerly persecuted these followers, he now became one of the most ardent followers of Jesus. The one who brought letters to arrest those who called on Jesus was now proclaiming Him to be the Son of God.

Why is this important for you and me? Because God is still making the light of His Christ to shine into the darkness of our sin, fear, and death, so that all would see and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God who came to give His life for us that we might live in the light of His Christ. In Baptism, we, like Saul, receive the Holy Spirit, and the scales of our past ultimately give way to His abiding presence. In this Holy Baptism, God makes His light to shine into our hearts that we would become His very vessels of that light to the nations. He does not choose the strong, but the weak. He does not choose the wise, but the foolish so that His light - His Epiphany - can shine through the darkest, most helpless, most impossible places in our world. Yes, His light shines in the darkness then and now!

Blessed Epiphany,

Pastor Carl

]]> The Hidden Light Revealed https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-hidden-light-revealed_2 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-hidden-light-revealed_2#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/the-hidden-light-revealed_2 It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6 ESV) Epiphany is the season of light. But sometimes the light can be obscured and hidden in the darkness of what appears to be ineffectiveness. Today at International Lutheran Church we celebrate “Servant Sunday.” As we read this second of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, the hidden light of God’s love is revealed in His Son Jesus for you and me and all people.

If you came early to ILC today, you were treated to “Breakfast with Gordy” by our ILC Sunday School children and parents as part of our “Servant Sunday” celebration. Gordy is a favorite character in our Sunday School program. He plays an important role in helping us share the love of Jesus with each of the children at ILC. He serves as not just an instrument of amusement and interest but also as a reminder to our role as children of God, baptized into Christ and ultimately His servants, His instruments in the hand of God. Maybe I should explain. Gordy is a puppet that became instrumental to us during those dark days of COVID lockdowns and “online” Sunday School. While we have long since transitioned to in-person Sunday School, Gordy has continued to be an instrument or tool in helping us tell the story of Jesus’ love to all people near and far.

The idea of a servant or tool to tell of God’s love did not arise out of the necessity of COVID, but rather is the very heart of God. We see this in the words of the prophet Isaiah where here in chapter 49, the LORD speaks of His “tool,” His “instrument,” to be the light of His love to the ends of the earth. “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (Isaiah 49:3) This is no puppet but the very Servant of the Lord. Yet, the hiddenness and frustration cannot be missed. As precious as His calling and origins from birth are, His anguish is strikingly obvious. “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity!” (Isaiah 49:4a) It is as if He is feeling like a puppet. While we might muse about who this servant is, and reflect on all the other servants of the Lord that underwent frustration like: Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Isaiah, Hosea – His faith is clear: “Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” (Isaiah 49:4b) This ultimately reveals the purpose and point of His anguish. God had bigger plans: not just to restore His servant Israel, but to ultimately bring all people back to God. Here we see the Epiphany Light of Our Savior Jesus stand out clear as crystal.

His “spent-ness,” or “His death,” would be the clarion call to all the nations that God loves them. This whole chapter begins after all with a call to the coastlands. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks to us here in the coastlands of the Korean peninsula. God’s Servant Jesus was chosen from birth, His majesty hidden from human eyes so that you and I would see God’s glory – that He loves you and me. That “in Christ,” literally baptized into His name, we become precious tools and instruments of the LORD to show His grace and mercy each day in our communities – our “coastlands” and “far off places” where God has called us so that not only Jacob would be saved and Israel restored but so that all people everywhere would know His love for them.

But just as the Servant of the Lord was not immune to the seemingly ineffectiveness of His calling, we too can only rely on the strength and light of God to shine in and through our hiddenness. That God would choose such a way to reveal His hidden light speaks again to His greater purpose – not just to redeem you and me, but to redeem and bring back all! This is the hidden light of God’s love revealed in Jesus and now in you and me. This is Epiphany after all!

Pastor Carl

]]> It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6 ESV) Epiphany is the season of light. But sometimes the light can be obscured and hidden in the darkness of what appears to be ineffectiveness. Today at International Lutheran Church we celebrate “Servant Sunday.” As we read this second of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, the hidden light of God’s love is revealed in His Son Jesus for you and me and all people.

If you came early to ILC today, you were treated to “Breakfast with Gordy” by our ILC Sunday School children and parents as part of our “Servant Sunday” celebration. Gordy is a favorite character in our Sunday School program. He plays an important role in helping us share the love of Jesus with each of the children at ILC. He serves as not just an instrument of amusement and interest but also as a reminder to our role as children of God, baptized into Christ and ultimately His servants, His instruments in the hand of God. Maybe I should explain. Gordy is a puppet that became instrumental to us during those dark days of COVID lockdowns and “online” Sunday School. While we have long since transitioned to in-person Sunday School, Gordy has continued to be an instrument or tool in helping us tell the story of Jesus’ love to all people near and far.

The idea of a servant or tool to tell of God’s love did not arise out of the necessity of COVID, but rather is the very heart of God. We see this in the words of the prophet Isaiah where here in chapter 49, the LORD speaks of His “tool,” His “instrument,” to be the light of His love to the ends of the earth. “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” (Isaiah 49:3) This is no puppet but the very Servant of the Lord. Yet, the hiddenness and frustration cannot be missed. As precious as His calling and origins from birth are, His anguish is strikingly obvious. “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity!” (Isaiah 49:4a) It is as if He is feeling like a puppet. While we might muse about who this servant is, and reflect on all the other servants of the Lord that underwent frustration like: Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Isaiah, Hosea – His faith is clear: “Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” (Isaiah 49:4b) This ultimately reveals the purpose and point of His anguish. God had bigger plans: not just to restore His servant Israel, but to ultimately bring all people back to God. Here we see the Epiphany Light of Our Savior Jesus stand out clear as crystal.

His “spent-ness,” or “His death,” would be the clarion call to all the nations that God loves them. This whole chapter begins after all with a call to the coastlands. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks to us here in the coastlands of the Korean peninsula. God’s Servant Jesus was chosen from birth, His majesty hidden from human eyes so that you and I would see God’s glory – that He loves you and me. That “in Christ,” literally baptized into His name, we become precious tools and instruments of the LORD to show His grace and mercy each day in our communities – our “coastlands” and “far off places” where God has called us so that not only Jacob would be saved and Israel restored but so that all people everywhere would know His love for them.

But just as the Servant of the Lord was not immune to the seemingly ineffectiveness of His calling, we too can only rely on the strength and light of God to shine in and through our hiddenness. That God would choose such a way to reveal His hidden light speaks again to His greater purpose – not just to redeem you and me, but to redeem and bring back all! This is the hidden light of God’s love revealed in Jesus and now in you and me. This is Epiphany after all!

Pastor Carl

]]> Expectation https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/in-expectation_3 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/in-expectation_3#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/in-expectation_3 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22 ESV) Today at International Lutheran Church we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. This is the season of Epiphany – the ever-increasing light and revelation of Jesus the Son of God. The baptism of Jesus is an Epiphanic moment and the beginning of His public ministry. This is the moment and the reason that John came baptizing. All our expectations are redefined in this Epiphany. As the clouds give way, the Spirit descends, the voice booms, and the focus is on Jesus – the Son of God standing in the water.

This year we will be reading through the gospel of Luke and enjoying his perspective on Jesus, both his historical humanity as well as His eternal divinity. This gospel is more than just a chronological repetition of the events of Jesus’ life. Luke’s gospel is a beautiful and theological reflection on these historic events as they took place in time and space with universal and profound purpose. Perhaps this unique aspect is first reflected in Paul’s letters and ministry when he writes in Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Jesus’ historical appearance was and remains the fulfillment of time, as God stepped into time and space.

From Luke’s perspective, the significance of Jesus’ baptism is just this, the fulfillment of all of God’s promises and actions. We actually begin with the expectations of the people and their wonderings if John could be “the One to come.” We often have expectations. This is part of our human nature. Perhaps this is even a part of that God-created identity that sees into events or people a significance that requires understanding and wisdom to see. That our expectations are often misplaced or remain unfulfilled is also a significant signal to us that we live a broken reality. “All the people were baptized.” They all heard the call of John and recognized that there was something happening even in the desert. While it was the tax collectors and sinners that responded, even the self-righteous people could not ignore the message. Herod even had to find a way to stop it by putting John in jail.

This is one of the unique aspects of Luke’s gospel – while historically we know that it was John who baptized Jesus, Jesus is the sole focus here. Jesus stands in solidarity with the people and associates with all who will come into the water. His presence in the water makes of this water a life-giving flood, a spring that wells up to eternal life, and a new identity in the name that is now attached to us. Paul talks about it as being “in Christ” both His death but also His life. Jesus gathers us to Himself even to the point that we hear and experience what He hears and experiences as He stands in the water. We receive the Spirit even as the Spirit descended on Him. We hear the voice, even as the voice was heard by Him, “You are my beloved Son! In you I am well pleased.” These words are the words we now hear “in Christ.” You and I are beloved. We are no longer outsiders, but sons and daughters of God. We have been brought near and incorporated – in-fleshed through the bodily presence of the Son into God Himself.

Luke notes that this is the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and that Jesus was about 30 years of age (Luke 3:23). What follows then brings us to Luke’s second major theological interpretation of Jesus standing in the water, the voice booming from the clouds, and the Spirit’s descent – Jesus is the Son of God. But this sonship is not detached from the same humanity that you and I share, but one and the same. As much as you and I are God’s creation – Jesus shared in our humanity that our identity would be restored to God and that His expectations would then be fully met in Jesus. Our restoration becomes part of God’s eternal Epiphany – the Light that has shone into our darkness and brought us to His perfect Light. In this Epiphany, we now shine and reflect that light. In earthly and ordinary ways God has transformed our expectations with His own Son, so that all people can know His love for them as He shines through us.

Pastor Carl

]]> Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22 ESV) Today at International Lutheran Church we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. This is the season of Epiphany – the ever-increasing light and revelation of Jesus the Son of God. The baptism of Jesus is an Epiphanic moment and the beginning of His public ministry. This is the moment and the reason that John came baptizing. All our expectations are redefined in this Epiphany. As the clouds give way, the Spirit descends, the voice booms, and the focus is on Jesus – the Son of God standing in the water.

This year we will be reading through the gospel of Luke and enjoying his perspective on Jesus, both his historical humanity as well as His eternal divinity. This gospel is more than just a chronological repetition of the events of Jesus’ life. Luke’s gospel is a beautiful and theological reflection on these historic events as they took place in time and space with universal and profound purpose. Perhaps this unique aspect is first reflected in Paul’s letters and ministry when he writes in Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Jesus’ historical appearance was and remains the fulfillment of time, as God stepped into time and space.

From Luke’s perspective, the significance of Jesus’ baptism is just this, the fulfillment of all of God’s promises and actions. We actually begin with the expectations of the people and their wonderings if John could be “the One to come.” We often have expectations. This is part of our human nature. Perhaps this is even a part of that God-created identity that sees into events or people a significance that requires understanding and wisdom to see. That our expectations are often misplaced or remain unfulfilled is also a significant signal to us that we live a broken reality. “All the people were baptized.” They all heard the call of John and recognized that there was something happening even in the desert. While it was the tax collectors and sinners that responded, even the self-righteous people could not ignore the message. Herod even had to find a way to stop it by putting John in jail.

This is one of the unique aspects of Luke’s gospel – while historically we know that it was John who baptized Jesus, Jesus is the sole focus here. Jesus stands in solidarity with the people and associates with all who will come into the water. His presence in the water makes of this water a life-giving flood, a spring that wells up to eternal life, and a new identity in the name that is now attached to us. Paul talks about it as being “in Christ” both His death but also His life. Jesus gathers us to Himself even to the point that we hear and experience what He hears and experiences as He stands in the water. We receive the Spirit even as the Spirit descended on Him. We hear the voice, even as the voice was heard by Him, “You are my beloved Son! In you I am well pleased.” These words are the words we now hear “in Christ.” You and I are beloved. We are no longer outsiders, but sons and daughters of God. We have been brought near and incorporated – in-fleshed through the bodily presence of the Son into God Himself.

Luke notes that this is the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and that Jesus was about 30 years of age (Luke 3:23). What follows then brings us to Luke’s second major theological interpretation of Jesus standing in the water, the voice booming from the clouds, and the Spirit’s descent – Jesus is the Son of God. But this sonship is not detached from the same humanity that you and I share, but one and the same. As much as you and I are God’s creation – Jesus shared in our humanity that our identity would be restored to God and that His expectations would then be fully met in Jesus. Our restoration becomes part of God’s eternal Epiphany – the Light that has shone into our darkness and brought us to His perfect Light. In this Epiphany, we now shine and reflect that light. In earthly and ordinary ways God has transformed our expectations with His own Son, so that all people can know His love for them as He shines through us.

Pastor Carl

]]> God's Wisdom in the Flesh https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/gods-wisdom-in-the-flesh https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/gods-wisdom-in-the-flesh#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.ilcseoul.org/blog/post/gods-wisdom-in-the-flesh After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47 ESV) As we begin a new year together here at International Lutheran Church, we are blessed to reflect on the words of Luke, the good doctor, as he tells us of our Savior Jesus and His early presence in His Father’s House. Jesus is present with His wisdom and understanding that brings us peace even as we enter another year of uncertainties and unknowns.

I don’t know if you have ever had to undergo a stressful moment in your life. The Bible is filled with these “three-day” ordeals and episodes of uncertainty. Here are just a few examples of these three-day waiting events that show up in the Bible… Abraham and Isaac who journey for three days into the unknown as God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son to God (Genesis 22); Joseph’s plight in the dungeon as he waits the outcome of dreams and whether he would be remembered (Genesis 40); Jonah’s journey to the bottom of the sea and the gates of death (Jonah 1); Hezekiah’s anxious three days of prayer for healing (2 Kings 20); and Esther’s three day fast for wisdom (Esther 4-5). Each of these and many more had to go through a time of testing.

Luke records for us what must have been an unforgettable moment in the early years of our Lord. This young boy of 12 had gone missing for three whole days! Yet, what Mary and Joseph learn and you and I in the process, is beyond our human understanding. While it was customary for the Passover feast to be celebrated in Jerusalem by Jesus and his family, this moment took on new significance as He remained behind in His Father’s House, the temple of God, asking questions, listening, and learning and at the same time teaching the teachers. We can only stare in wonder at the wisdom and glory of God come down into our very midst.

Now many of us at some point in our lives have been a student or sat in the classroom. I will be honest that I didn’t always favor attention in the classroom, especially if I hadn’t quite finished the readings or wasn’t confident in my ability to answer. The silent prayer of many students (“Don’t call on me!”) was something I still remember muttering. Some of us have even been at the other side of the desk as the teacher in the room. Teaching is not an easy profession as it requires great wisdom and understanding, not just in knowing the content but in knowing how to draw the students in and invite their engagement of the subject. How often the teacher’s prayer, “Help me understand this child’s motivation and passion!” is the only way we can begin.

Jesus was not just a know-it-all, cheeky 12-year-old, but rather fully engaged in the discussion and interested in the subject at hand – the very truths of God, His Word, and His presence in our lives. The Temple of God had in fact come to the temple. The Sacrifice was able to offer up His own perspective. While Jesus was certainly able to wow the grey-breads with all the right answers, perhaps it was His ability to help them see these things in a new light – His light. Filling in the gaps and probing the unknown can be an enlightening experience. Jesus’ Presence brings the pieces into a whole-ness that is divine. His Being makes sense and creates connections in the randomness and chaos of our understanding and a new appreciation for the beautiful complexity of God’s design. His very Person removes the fear of the unknown and invites us to connect with Him on the most personal level. The Mercy of God is seated before them and speaks of God’s mercy in ways we could never have imagined.

Just as Luke’s gospel begins with this “mind-blowing” account, he also ends it with the story of two travelers, whose eyes are opened to the good news of the three-day resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Stranger who opened their hearts to the Word of God showed Himself to their recognition in the breaking of the bread. For us, too, as we hear the account of Jesus’ submissiveness to His earthly parents, we also see more fully His submission to the Father’s will and plan to give His life for ours and bring us to His eternal Self.

Today as we begin a new year in God’s House, we are again brought to the knowledge of this One who looks for us and has found us in His Son. Blessed New Year!

Pastor Carl

]]> After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47 ESV) As we begin a new year together here at International Lutheran Church, we are blessed to reflect on the words of Luke, the good doctor, as he tells us of our Savior Jesus and His early presence in His Father’s House. Jesus is present with His wisdom and understanding that brings us peace even as we enter another year of uncertainties and unknowns.

I don’t know if you have ever had to undergo a stressful moment in your life. The Bible is filled with these “three-day” ordeals and episodes of uncertainty. Here are just a few examples of these three-day waiting events that show up in the Bible… Abraham and Isaac who journey for three days into the unknown as God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son to God (Genesis 22); Joseph’s plight in the dungeon as he waits the outcome of dreams and whether he would be remembered (Genesis 40); Jonah’s journey to the bottom of the sea and the gates of death (Jonah 1); Hezekiah’s anxious three days of prayer for healing (2 Kings 20); and Esther’s three day fast for wisdom (Esther 4-5). Each of these and many more had to go through a time of testing.

Luke records for us what must have been an unforgettable moment in the early years of our Lord. This young boy of 12 had gone missing for three whole days! Yet, what Mary and Joseph learn and you and I in the process, is beyond our human understanding. While it was customary for the Passover feast to be celebrated in Jerusalem by Jesus and his family, this moment took on new significance as He remained behind in His Father’s House, the temple of God, asking questions, listening, and learning and at the same time teaching the teachers. We can only stare in wonder at the wisdom and glory of God come down into our very midst.

Now many of us at some point in our lives have been a student or sat in the classroom. I will be honest that I didn’t always favor attention in the classroom, especially if I hadn’t quite finished the readings or wasn’t confident in my ability to answer. The silent prayer of many students (“Don’t call on me!”) was something I still remember muttering. Some of us have even been at the other side of the desk as the teacher in the room. Teaching is not an easy profession as it requires great wisdom and understanding, not just in knowing the content but in knowing how to draw the students in and invite their engagement of the subject. How often the teacher’s prayer, “Help me understand this child’s motivation and passion!” is the only way we can begin.

Jesus was not just a know-it-all, cheeky 12-year-old, but rather fully engaged in the discussion and interested in the subject at hand – the very truths of God, His Word, and His presence in our lives. The Temple of God had in fact come to the temple. The Sacrifice was able to offer up His own perspective. While Jesus was certainly able to wow the grey-breads with all the right answers, perhaps it was His ability to help them see these things in a new light – His light. Filling in the gaps and probing the unknown can be an enlightening experience. Jesus’ Presence brings the pieces into a whole-ness that is divine. His Being makes sense and creates connections in the randomness and chaos of our understanding and a new appreciation for the beautiful complexity of God’s design. His very Person removes the fear of the unknown and invites us to connect with Him on the most personal level. The Mercy of God is seated before them and speaks of God’s mercy in ways we could never have imagined.

Just as Luke’s gospel begins with this “mind-blowing” account, he also ends it with the story of two travelers, whose eyes are opened to the good news of the three-day resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Stranger who opened their hearts to the Word of God showed Himself to their recognition in the breaking of the bread. For us, too, as we hear the account of Jesus’ submissiveness to His earthly parents, we also see more fully His submission to the Father’s will and plan to give His life for ours and bring us to His eternal Self.

Today as we begin a new year in God’s House, we are again brought to the knowledge of this One who looks for us and has found us in His Son. Blessed New Year!

Pastor Carl

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