Dr. Dale Meyer is the President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. But before having that job for many years Dr. Meyer was the speaker for the Lutheran Hour. He wrote an article quite a few years ago in the Lutheran Laymen’s League monthly newsletter and I think he titled the article “The Greater Dash.” It went something like this – “Do you ever walk through a cemetery and notice the headstones? There are always two numbers there – one for the beginning and for the end. But there is something in between those numbers, something between the date of birth and the date of death – it is a dash, a long line. And what is that greater dash? It is what you did between the start and the end. That dash is your life.

So we all know our beginning, our birth date, and we all know that one day we will conclude life here on earth, but the question that we live with daily is what we do with the dash between those dates. It is that greater dash that James, the writer of our epistle lesson wants to address.

I saw a really good example and a really poor example of people doing something with their life in the paper during this past week. This coming Friday, September 11, the Denver Rescue Mission is holding their major fund raising event and they have titled it “Women who changed the heart of the city.” Some very prominent women, women who have done amazing things with their lives, will speak and inspire and encourage their listeners with their lives.

But then I saw a really bad example of one who is isn’t doing much with that greater dash. You might have read or heard that the slot payouts in the casinos are lower now than they have ever been in the last 18 years. (That’s why you keep on losing!!) The Denver Post interviewed one man who was quite upset that they tightened up the slots. He said that he used to go 7 days a week and now he can only afford to go 2 days a week.

Isn’t that something? You’ve been given a life and you spend lots of hours just hoping that the Jackpot is going to be on the next spin. There has to be something better to life, something more productive than living in Black Hawk. But I’d better watch what I say!! I have wasted too many hours watching a bunch of bad ballgames!! How about you? What happens for you beyond these doors? Beyond these doors is where the faith, that we confess so easily here, is lived.

It is a good thing that we are here. This is the place where God chooses to meet us. In this place lives are blessed and hearts are made stronger and faith in our God is established and grows. Here is where you are fed with the bread from heaven. When I teach my Adult Information Class I ask the folks why they would come to church on a Sunday morning. There are so many other things to do, why come here? And they talk about the blessing that they receive and how they are ready for the day and the week after time with God’s people. Good!! (Maybe I should ask the many who never darken the inside of a church why they stay away.) But the challenge for all worshippers is not what happens here but what happens there. The challenge is when you leave here and go home and go to work and go to school. The challenge is when you live and learn and work among people who aren’t as godly as the people who sit next to you. The challenge is living out that greater dash.

James in his pointed book says, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed’, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17)

It is good for us to confess the great things that we do about God. Never let that confession become silent. Never fail to confess the saving name of Jesus. We confess, without reservation, that the blood of Jesus Christ has been spilt in order that we would be forgiven. We confess that we are saved not by any works or deeds that we have done but solely through the action of Jesus Christ in our place. We confess that the enemies of the devil and death and sin and hell have all been silenced because Jesus, the greater one was victorious. This is our faith. This is our confidence. Christ, and He alone, is the reason for our peace and confidence. James and Paul knew each other and they worked for the same Lord. Paul says in Philippians, “[I want to] be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (3:9)

We stand by faith in Christ alone. But faith is never alone. Martin Luther once wrote, “Oh, it is a living, active, energetic, mighty thing, this faith.” Within these doors know the great truth of all that we confess as believers in the glorious truth of Christ and then beyond these days live that faith faithfully.

On this Labor Day weekend it is right for us to see that we have great opportunity to live out our faith in that place we call home for 40 or 50 or 60 hours during a week – our jobs. Paul, in addressing slaves in the Book of Colossians, speaks of working for something greater than simply pay, writes, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (3:22-24)

Beyond these doors is the opportunity to live the faith. We are called not to just be hearers of the word but doers. And James issues a warning concerning how we treat folks within these doors and beyond these doors – “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” (James 2:1) He then tells the story of a couple of folks who come to church, one in crummy clothes and the other looking pretty sharp. The poor guy gets the poor seat; the rich guy gets all the attention. James says that within these doors and outside these doors that is not how that should be done!!

I had someone tell me that he could tell within a minute whether he liked somebody or not. Isn’t that too bad? Before any relationship of substance could be formed he already had made his choice!! I didn’t ask him if he liked me – I don’t think I had the guts!!

But that guy is not alone. We look at someone and determine by their appearance, their cloths, their size and shape, their age, their color, their language, the vehicle they drive and many other externals whether we like them, if they fit in or if we will speak to them. In these walls and beyond them that is not how people of faith show their faith!!

How wonderful it is to be a person who has full confidence in the gracious heart and actions of Christ. In the Gospel reading for today after Jesus had done a mighty miracle it says, “People were overwhelmed with amazement. He has done everything well!” (Mark 7:37) I hope that we are amazed and in awe of what Christ brings us and how we are blessed in Him. And then, by the strength of God, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we, beyond these doors, live out faith, not just by words but by actions and in our life.

If you have been a fan of Saturday morning cartoons and especially “Looney Toons” you have heard the voice of Mel Blanc. On his tombstone you will find his name, the dates and then the final words, “That’s All Folks”. William Hahn Jr. had this inscription on his grave, “I told you I was sick.” I guess he was!!

When someone runs past your niche or tombstone and sees those two dates, beginning and end, I hope they see the line in between and they will say, “They did something with that line!!” God bless us as we live beyond these doors with great faith and a faithful life. Amen!!