If this guy looks familiar to you, then you watch some of the same TV channels that I do.  The Chef pictured here is not just a big man; he is tenacious in telling it like it is.  He goes into failing restaurants and within about three days sets the owners up for success with a glorious unveiling to boot.  It’s the same thing every week.  A restaurant is given a face lift, an owner set straight; employees are refreshed and excited to be a part of the establishment as it begins anew.  It may be the same thing every week but it is quite gripping as it all comes together.  Only one problem.  I have yet to see this show actually say "this is impossible" and walk away from a restaurant restoration mid stream.

So perhaps the name of the program is a bit misleading.  The fact is that with a team of builders and designers, knowledge of the restaurant industry and fine cuisine, and the drive that this Chef brings; restoring and restarting a restaurant is very possible, even probable. 

We have become accustom to seeing the impossible happen.  Be it in a Tom Cruise movie series or a Food Network TV show, we have come to believe that the impossible actually isn’t.  

Only one problem.  Jesus makes a pretty clean cut statement, something is impossible.  When asked “who then can be saved” he says “With man it is impossible” and he means it.  Saving mankind, let alone one man, wouldn’t be like this TV program recording three days worth work.  We need much more than a face lift.  There is no way that we could ever straighten out the curved in on self nature we carry.  The problem that we have is our own rebellious, unbending, “I know what’s best for me and mine”, “I like it just this way so take a hike God” heart.  Replacing you own heart, impossible.  

But Jesus didn’t stop talking after he uttered that word which does not mean what we think it means, “…but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”  Jesus comes into our failing life, takes our place in His death and three day rest in the tomb and tops it off with a glorious resurrection to boot.  Suddenly, the impossible would be done for you.  Possible for Him, and Him alone.  Sets us straight with His Father, restored and restarted what was crumbling around us. He sends His Spirit to refresh us as life begins anew.  He was the only one who could do it, for He is God in flesh.  The best part is, He does it every week in about an hour.  Called by the Gospel, He gathers us around Word and Sacrament.  He is giving us life, forgiveness and salvation each week.  “Yes, this is impossible for you”  He says, “but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

Thanks to Rev. Philip Hoppe, for this one.  I ran across this as I was going over Sunday's sermon thinking about how through Word and Sacrament Jesus is making His bride ready.  The message and metaphor of this one was worth sharing.  

It is sadly common behavior in our day: hooking up.  For those who do not know (blessed are you), the term refers to a casual sexual encounter without any strings attached.  On college campuses, it has become the norm rather than the exception for many students.  That is sad enough.

But it has occurred to me recently that many people are approaching their relationship with Jesus in the same way.  Who?  Well those who want the sacraments (as well as things like marriages and funerals) of the church without remaining as part of the life of the church.  Have no doubt, to participate in the sacraments is intimacy with Jesus in the most real way possible.  And to ask for those things with no intention of a life with Christ in his Church is to ask Jesus to hook up, to have sacraments without strings attached if you will.

This is despising the Word of God.  This is failing to hold these things sacred. This is disrespecting Jesus himself.  It is unquestionably a sin against the Third Commandment.   

We must not enable people to simply continue unaware of their sin in treating Jesus this way.  We cannot simply say, “Well, at least they want to be baptized or come to the table.”  While it is easy to suggest that is always righteous to seek the sacraments in any way, it is not.  We must call things what they are.  And to ask for the sacraments apart from a life with the Church is a gross misunderstanding of life with Christ in his Church.   We must expose this truth in order that this sin can be repented of and forgiven as the person is drawn back into the life given by Christ in his Church.  Jesus wants more than anything to be in intimate relationship with each member of humanity, but he does not hook up.

Jesus relationship to his people is that of sustained intimacy.  It is not a single act of intimacy but a life of intimacy.  This is why the scriptures always speak of the relationship as a marriage of Christ and his Church.   It is a relationship in which the Church called by the Spirit’s gifts leaves all other relationships and cleaves to Christ her husband.  They live together as one.  What God has brought together, let not man seek to separate.

To read more from Pastor Hoppe you can visit his blog at http://ihoppe.com/blog