In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Sometimes, we get caught in the perfect storm. Oh, I don't mean the perfect storm, as in the three storms that converged off the coast of New England in 1991-and I don't mean the storms of 2005--Katrina, and the others. I mean, the storms of life. Sometimes, it seems we are caught in what might be called the perfect storm-perfect, as in perfectly awful-perfectly frightening-perfectly deadly. It may be one big storm in life, that picks us up and throws us about-and as with the one off the coast of Gloucester, Mass., there may be three storms that converge, and combine, to assault us and assail us and confuse us and leave us afraid and fearful as we wonder just what will happen to us-if the storms of life don't calm down soon. And what are our storms in life? Well, for some folks, it may be something like Katrina-a hurricane which leaves you homeless, and without an income, and without ability and resources to rebuild and reconstruct your life. For some in our world, it's a tidal wave that robs you of security and safety, and yes, maybe even the life of a loved one. For most of us, though, the storms take other forms. We find out we have a lump that turns out to be cancerous.and that, at a time when we are struggling with unemployment and financial strains. We are having marital problems, and then we find out our spouse is to be deployed for six months! We are trying to keep our head above water financially, when unexpected bills arrive and leave us anxious and unsure about how we're going to get out of this latest hot water. Job concerns, overwhelming responsibilities, illness, marital strains, raising children and teens, addictions, unhealthy behaviors, extended family pressures-the list of storms which arise in life, and beat upon us in life, seem never-ending-just as the swirling, tempestuous chaos can seem never-ending-leaving us, with those first disciples, hunkered down in the boat-fearing for our lives. Of course, there are many passages in scripture to which we relate easily and readily-but are there many that strike so close to home, as our gospel lesson today? And not just because we know what it is to be caught up in the storms of life-not just that-but also, it's the fact that we, too, know what it's like to wonder if Jesus has fallen asleep on us! We know what it's like to wonder if Jesus has all but checked out-leaving us alone, lost, forsaken-leaving us to sink or swim in life-as if indeed, he doesn't really care that we are perishing! It seems like that--doesn't it? It seems, at times, as if Jesus is silent-as if Jesus is asleep at the wheel. Oh, none of us want to admit that-but deep down inside, we question-we doubt-we wonder-what have I done that my Lord has forsaken me? What have I neglected to do, that has caused Jesus to abandon me? Am I so disobedient, so sinful, so guilty, that God has turned life and the world, against me? If you haven't struggled with such agonizing questions-then good for you-we're happy for you-you're one of the fortunate ones. Most of us, at some time in life, are buffeted by the winds and the waves and the storms of life, and most of us, at some time in life, question and doubt, whether God is here for us-or if-if, perhaps, He has left us alone-bobbing on the deep, dark sea.

     And we have to say, it's human nature, for us to have such questions and doubts. Look, the twelve disciples 2000 years ago had the same feelings and questions. Indeed, centuries before that, Job also had doubts, and ended up questioning God-recalling his past happiness, yet questioning why such wretched misfortune should befall him. The book of Job gives voice, not just to Job's haunting doubts and struggles-but to ours as well! And our first reading is God's initial response-and the first thing God says-is not so easy for us to hear. "The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words, without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you-and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you think you know so much. Who determined its measurements-who stretched the line upon it? Who shut in the sea with doors and prescribed bounds for it and said, Thus far shall you come and no farther-here shall your proud waves be stopped?"

     Ouch! I suppose most of us, when we question God, and wonder if God is really present with us, expect an apology-anticipate our loving God would say something like, "I'm so sorry-I didn't know I was letting you down-here, let me fit things for you." We tend to think of God more as a doting old grandfather who will kiss our hurts and make them all better, rather than as a strong, forceful creator who won't take our guff. And yet, that's the response Job and his friends receive from God-a strong, forceful response, intended to remind Job, that in spite of how it might look to Job-there is a God in the universe-and it's NOT Job! And this God has a plan-a wonderful, healthy, meaningful plan-that may not be what we'd choose for our lives-but which is what we need, for our lives. That's the message God has for Job, in response to Job's questions and doubts. The Lord challenges Job to remember-there is a spiritual purpose to struggle and suffering-there is a reason for the storms and tumult of human life, though we may not see it, or know it, because we are the creatures, not the creator. And that, of course, is what we continue to be guilty of as Christians today. We see only the storms and tumult in life-we fail to look for the spiritual meaning and purpose. We see only trials and difficulties and challenges-we are blinded to the strength and growth and faith that come as a result of the storms of life.

     If you really consider our gospel account for today, that's really the message, for us, from the experience of those first disciples. We see that Jesus was present with the disciples all along-without a doubt, Jesus was there, with them through it all. He had not abandoned them, He was not uncaring, He had not forsaken them. And when they called upon Him, He responded. He rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" and the original Greek says, "The wind died down and there was a great calm." And then Jesus makes it plain. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" You see, the problem was not the storm, nor the waves filling the boat, nor the danger that they would capsize. The problem was not that Jesus was asleep in the boat, and appeared to be uncaring. The problem was the fear of the disciples, and their lack of faith.

     Now, certainly, we don't like to hear that. In the midst of the storms of life-when facing cancer, or illness, or unemployment, or deployment, or marital problems, or financial worries, or anxiety or persecution or difficulties in life-the last thing we want to hear is, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And yet-it's true. Storms in life, challenges in life, disease, troubles-can serve to create and strengthen faith! Just as the-- yes, the pain of exercising strengthens muscles and increases stamina and endurance-- pain in life, strengthens faith and increases faith and enables us to remain faithful, in the face of whatever life can throw at us. And just as Jesus was all about creating and strengthening faith in His first disciples, Jesus is at work among us-you and me, today-and He's here to create and strengthen faith-for life! So that, as St. Paul writes in our second lesson, as servants of God we may be commended in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger-so that through all this we may remain faithful-by, Paul writes, purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left. You see, no one can use weapons effectively, without weapons-training. And you don't wait until you are engaged in battle, to pick up your weapons and begin practicing. We see regularly in the news, how our soldiers are working here, for weeks and months at Fort Carson preparing for their mission in Iraq, before they ever step foot on the plane that will take them to Iraq. In the same way, we disciples, we Christians are to see wind and storms and rain and hail in life, as cause, not for weakness, not for faltering-but as cause for faith-as reason to turn to Jesus in prayer, as reason to dare we say-rejoice in the presence of Jesus, in our sufferings? St. Paul wrote in Romans 5, to the Romans who would be suffering great persecutions, "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us." And then, Paul goes on, "While we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.and the free gift (of Christ's death) is not like the trespass.if, because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."

     Today is the commemoration of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, the chief Lutheran confessional statement, presented by the Lutheran reformers to the emperor Charles V, on June 25th, 1530. And this confessional statement, is all about the free gift of Christ's death-given to us so that we might receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness, that we might reign in life, through the one man, Jesus Christ! In spite of dungeon, fire or sword; in spite of war, pestilence, persecution-we are conquerors in life, through the free gift of the death and resurrection of the one man, Jesus Christ! And that-is why we can rejoice in our sufferings! That is why our challenges and struggles in life are not a curse, but a blessing-to create faith and strengthen faith! Because.we have been justified by faith and are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because through Jesus Christ, we have obtained access to the grace of God-the grace in which we now stand. So that, we now rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God-whether that glory comes on a stormy, tumultuous day in our lives, or a day of bright, wonderous sunshine! Those who have received the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness in Jesus Christ-reign in life, through Jesus Christ!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.