Speaking of dogs...

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.  Inside of a dog, it's too hard to read.

A Groucho Marx quote from a t-shirt I saw for sale at Bookman's.

One Good Reason for Owning a Dog

Humorist Dave Berry provides the answer:

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, "You're right! I never would have thought of that!" 

Top 10 Signs You're At A Bad Voters Meeting

Top Ten Signs You’re At A Bad Voters Meeting

10) The Secretary reads the “hours” of the last meeting.

9) The pastor’s opening devotion: “The Worker Is Worth His Hire or Why I Am Entitled To a Raise”

8) The President announces, “All in favor of approving the budget say “I.” “All those not in favor have five minutes to change their minds.”

7) The Elders budget includes a suspicious entry regarding a “prayer and fasting retreat at the Princess Resort.”

6) The Budget is printed in disappearing ink.

5) Proposed that all future voters meeting be held at Gila River Casino

4) The pastor’s budget includes a $2000 addition marked “Chick-fil-a”

3) It is moved that all voting should be declared at “Yes,” “No,” or “Over My Dead Body”

2) Voters change mission statement, “We Seek People For Jesus,” to “We’re Pretty Comfortable Just the Way We Are.”

And the number one sign that you’re at a bad voters meeting:

#1 No one shows up. 

Let go and let God?

 Pray, and let God take care of you.

Martin Luther, "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 1035

Rest in the Lord

 When we think about the gifts God gives to us, His children, our natural tendency is to focus on the gifts we need the most.  We need God to be reconciled to us and so we give thanks for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from slavery to sin and saved us by suffering for our sins on the cross.  We need to lived for God and for others and not for ourselves and so we give thanks to God for the new life in Christ that began at our conversion.  Through Word and Sacraments the Holy Spirit is working to give us a new attitude and new way of living for Christ and for others.  We need to be assured that our death is not the end and so we give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life that is ours through faith in our Savior.

 But there are so many other gifts that God showers upon us for which we are grateful.  Answers to prayers...freedom from guilt...fruit of faith...Christian fellowship...guidance for daily living.  

 And then there is this - rest.  Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matt. 11:28.

 The cares and problems of this life can seemingly break our backs.  We wonder where we can find relief.  To us, Jesus says, "Come."  He offers to bear our burdens.  He urges us to shed our cares.  The Lord takes the load from our backs and He bids us rest.  We rest in His compassionate love.  We rest in knowing that He cares for us.  We rest in trusting that nothing can separate us from Him.  So, rest.  Rest in your Lord.

It's Time For the Friday Funny!

A women called a pet shop one day and asked, "I need to purchase 10,000 cockroaches."

The proprietor asked, "Why in the world would you need 10,000 cockroaches?"

She replied, "I'm moving from my apartment today and the lease says that I must leave the apartment exactly as I found it!"

Have a nice (and bug-free) weekend!

Preach the Gospel...and use words!

It is St. Francis who is to have said, "Go out today and preach the Gospel...and if you must, use words."  I don't know if he said such a thing but I have a hard time with such a thought.

The Gospel is all about Jesus Christ - His suffering, death and resurrection for the redemption of the world.  The Gospel is good news, the best news anyone can hear.  The Gospel is all about words - words regarding the salvation that is God's free gift to those who believe in Jesus - the way and the truth and the life.

The life that St. Francis is speaking of is one that is motivated by the Gospel.  The love of Jesus changes us and moves us.  We want to be salt and light to the world.  We want to love our neighbor as Jesus first loved them and us.  We want to let our light shine in a world full of darkness and sin so that more and more people will come to know and trust Jesus to be their Savior from sin and death.

In Acts, chapter 8, Phillip used the words of the 5th Gospel - Isaiah - to help the eunuch see and believe in the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  Paul wrote to the Romans that the "Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of the world."  The Gospel is all about the Word - Jesus!

By all means, go out today and show the power of God's love at work in your life.  Let people see the difference that Jesus makes.  But also be ready to speak His Gospel of love and forgiveness to those around you.  Preach the Gospel...and use words to do it!

From October 2012