Who's in charge of this world, anyway? Who makes the big decisions that affect it? Is it the rulers, kings, dictators or presidents? Do politicians rule the world, or the historians or journalists who tell its stories? Who's in charge of this world?

         Perhaps more importantly, who's in charge of the church? Is it the pastors or the professors? Is it the trained theologians or the bishops of Synod who lead it? Or is the church run by the laity who raise the funds or by the preachers who tell of God's Gospel of grace? Who's in charge of the church?

         We are just a week away from Easter and you'd almost think it never happened. The most important event in human history has been eclipsed by the supposedly "important" news, such as a foolish man who finally stuck his foot in his mouth far enough to choke. Or the identification of the lover of an outrageous woman the tabloids could not get enough of, a woman who had so many partners it took DNA to figure out the father of her child. And then there was news about self-righteous politicians upset because they aren't allowed to see some White House Emails, petty rulers who can't get seem to get their way fast enough.

         We are just a week away from the resurrection of the Son of God whose disciples changed the world. Christ's followers have left their impact on the entire world though channels of education and medicine, culture and science, the arts and geography, not to mention the millions of souls saved from everlasting hell and separation from God through the message of the Gospel. We're just a week away from the event that changed the world, but for all you'd know, Easter never happened.

         But no matter, for God's will gets done with or without human cooperation. God is God and ever shall be, so, in the words of St. John, "To him be glory and power for ever and ever!" God has the glory now and He will always have the glory. No matter if humanity believes Him or not, He will have the glory. No matter if there's not another single person around who acknowledges and believes in His Son's resurrection, God will have the glory. And St. John says to that, "So shall it be! Amen!"

         God does not need people - have you ever considered that? Does it shock you to know He doesn't need us, His creation? God can exist just fine without us, thank you very much! We need Him, but He doesn't need us. We need His creation with His sun, rain, animals and His good earth. And even those things do not need us. We are completely dependant on God, but He does not need us.

         Something in that statement offends me. I want God to need me. I want to believe He can't get along without my help. I think He should need me, at least like I need my grandchildren, or I need my wife.

         Of course we humans can exist separately, independently. We're fairly tough and resilient, but we still do need each other, economically, socially, even spiritually. If I am alone, I can exist, but I am less than if I am with others. All of us together are usually better than each of us alone. I am not "worth less" individually, but I am less a person alone than when I am with others. People need each other and give each other worth, and so also we like to think God needs us. But He doesn't. He is God, and that is enough. We need Him, not the opposite.

         I am not proclaiming a god on perpetual vacation that runs things through His Administrative Assistant. Nor am I speaking of an inventor god, someone the philosophers call, "Deus Machina," a god who sets things in motion and then lets the world run itself - like "Mother Nature" as we say. God still has His hands on things, and give thanks this is true! God cares for His creation - it's just that He wouldn't have to.

         God doesn't have to love us, and He doesn't have to forgive us. It's not like He needs loving and forgiving people to give Him self-worth. God cares for people because it's His nature to care. God is love and so He loves us and cares for us, and that's good because we need His mercy and grace. We need God, and we are far better people when we know it and live like it.

         I've been having weird dreams again. Back in 1971 when I finished my eight years of college and seminary, every fall for nearly 20 years I dreamed I was enrolled in classes but not attending them. In each dream I would frantically try to figure out what classes I'd missed, but I never seemed to find out. Maybe that's why it always felt good to wake up in the morning, because then I realized it was all a dream. This past week things have changed. I began dreaming I was missing church services - just failing to show up. Now understand, I've never missed a single church service in my whole ministry, not a wedding or funeral, let alone a scheduled worship service, not for illness, accident or bad memory. I've been late to a wedding and a funeral because of directions, but I always made it there. But last week I started dreaming I failed to show up for worship. I was in the building but missed church anyway. And worst of all, no one seemed to care. I went to church late, found everybody had just gone home, and wondered if people would be upset. But it was like they expected me not to show up. Of course, I know what this one means. That kind of dream will make sense in another few months, but I am hoping they don't go on too long. Carol told me she still has teacher dreams, and she's been retired for 17 years!

         It's a human longing to be needed, and maybe that's why it stings a bit to realize God doesn't need us, that He can get along without us. But let's not forget that while God may not need us, He still wants us and will never cease wanting us.

         That's because God loves His creation. He cares for His people. Not like a human loves his toys or her handiwork. The closest comparison is our children. We know they are their own people, but at they same time, they are us. And we pride ourselves in what they have done or the kind of life they live.

         The Bible compares God's love to people with that of the father (or mother) for his children. Martin Luther, in His explanation to the introduction of the Lord's Prayer said: "Our Father Who art in heaven. What does this mean? God here tenderly invites us to believe that He is ou

         I am not sure why someone in the church chose this Revelation lesson to be read the week after Easter. A scripture lesson about Jesus coming soon might better come at Ascension or certainly at the end of the church year. But here it is in the week after the most important event in God's history - the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. And in this moment of time Revelation tells us: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be!"

         Regardless of age, I will always want to know more about God. I would love to understand why He said this or did that. And I'm sure one day He will answer all our questions. Christian author C. S. Lewis once wrote words something like this: "When I pass through heaven's gates, I shall come with all kinds of questions of why. But when I enter heaven, I shall immediately know, 'Yes, of course - that's why!' Merely being in heaven will give me all the answers I long for."

         All people, including all unbelievers, will one day meet Jesus face to face. And in that moment, they will all look upon the one who they have pierced. We've all pierced the Savior with our sins, and we all put Him on the cross. But all who trust in God will not be afraid. They will rejoice in knowing God loves them anyway.

         So back to my original question - who's in charge of this world and the church? Let's let St. John speak again in Revelation, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." That settles it for me - God is in control, not you and me. May we all this weekend after Easter, rejoice in knowing God is with us always. So shall it be! Amen!"

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  Epiphany logo designed and provided by Dale Bargmann at daleb@ecentral.com