Fishing with Luther

Philip Melancthon, the  great reformation theologian, once said to his friend, Martin Luther, "This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe."  What Luther said in reply was unexpected: "This day you and I will go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God."

"Our Daily Bread" March-May 1996

Top Ten Signs the Organist is Off His Rocker

10) Plays Beatles tunes for the postlude

9) Expects the sermon to last at least 20 minutes so he can make a Starbucks run

8) Thinks if the organ sounds like a calliope it would liven up the service

7) Won't play any hymn that starts with the letter "L"

6) "Pianos are for sissies!"

5) Complains that he isn't paid enough

4) Plays while playing in top hat and tails

3) Insists on being shown on the big screen in the sanctuary while playing so he "gets his due"

2) Stood on the organ bench and shouted "I am the king of the world!"

1) Still complaining that he isn't paid enough

So we can feel, grasp and touch God

God has given us Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar and Absolution to bring Christ very close to us, so that we can have Him not only in our hearts but also on our tongue, so that we can feel Him, grasp Him and touch Him.

Martin Luther, "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 301

Our Ark is the Lord's church

How like Noah and his family are we, kept safe by God within the confines of the Ark, kept safe from the destruction without.  Our Ark is His church, where we are sheltered from the wrath of God by the covering of the righteousness of Christ.

Frank Starr, "Light for the Way," book 1, page 9

The two things necessary

 I feel there are especially necessary for me in this life without which its miseries would be unbearable.  Confined here in this prison of the body I confess I need these two, food and light.  Therefore, You (O Jesus) have given me in my weakness Your sacred Flesh to refresh my soul and body, and You have set Your Word as the guiding light for my feet.  Without them I could not live aright, for the Word of God is the light of my soul and Your Sacrament is the Bread of Life.

Thomas Kempis, in "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 243

Worry is...

Worry is dealing with tomorrow's problems on today's pasture.

Anon.

A Prayer of Confession

Back in 1948, Concordia Publishing House printed what they called "The Devotional Bible," a two volume set of devotional readings of the Gospels.  The devotions included a prayer and this particular one seemed to be meaningful for me on the day I read it because I wrote in down in my journal.  The prayer went like this:

O Lord, for Jesus' sake, remake me day after day, creating in me a clean heart.  I confess my sins to You.  They have bruised and wounded my soul.  You alone can blot all these wrongs and transgressions through Christ.  Make me acceptable to You and grant that every word and act of mine may please You.  Then You shall be the praise in Christ Jesus forevermore.  Amen.