A Prayer For Christmas Eve

Dear Jesus Child, I want to kneel by Your crib.  I know I can never thank You enough.  I know I can't give You anything that would sufficiently thank You for what you've done.  But since You want to have everything that's evil in me, I will give You everything: my life and my heart, my past and my sins, my future and my eternity.  I wouldn't dare to come to You if You hadn't come to me.  But now You are here, and I know that it's for my sake.  Therefore, I kneel here and thank You, Jesus Child, Prince of Peace, You who are called Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God.  Amen.

Bo Giertz - "To Live With Christ" page 797, CPH

A right now blessing

Earlier last week, I was preparing for my Thursday Bible class and began to wonder if it was worth making the effort to lead the class.  I'm not sure why but I was feeling a little down and started talking myself into pulling the plug on the class as soon as it was appropriate.

I was just getting the class started when one of the members approached me and said, "It isn't very much but we want you to know how much we love and appreciate you and this class."  She handed me a Christmas card and inside the card was a very generous gift.  But the words written inside the card were priceless.  It was just the pick-me-up that I needed.

A fellow I used to work with liked to talk about "right now blessings."  These were blessings that came unexpectedly.  And so often they came just when they were needed the most.  

Do you think I left class that day with a new desire and determination to give my best in preparing and teaching the class.  You bet! That's what a right now blessing will do for you!

Making the sign of the cross

We Lutheran make the sign of the cross.  It's not mandatory.  A person doesn't have to do so.  But making the sign of the cross is a very good reminder of our baptism - our adoption into the family of God.

While researching a topic the other day, I came across something in the book, Lutheran Worship: History and Practice that I thought I'd share.  The book references another book, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, written in 1912, which gives instructions to the pastor on making the sign of the cross.  Read on...

The presiding minster will, therefore, position himself accordingly.  The signing with the cross connected therewith is a personal signature, and it is appropriate that all join in this act as a remembrance of Holy Baptism and the call to repentance.  Lutherans have commonly made this sign differently from Roman Catholics, specifically as to the direction of the last movement.  With the palm of the right hand held flat with thumb and fingers together, first the forehead is touched ("My Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven"), then the breast ("and was incarnate for me"), the right shoulder ("and was crucified for me"), and finally the left shoulder ("and entered into my heart").  Luther recommends the use of this sign in both the Small and the Large Catechism. 

For some, making the sign of the cross seems a little awkward.  You might even feel a little self-conscious about making the sign the first few times you do so.  After a time, it is quite easy and becomes more and more meaningful.  Anything we might do that reminds us of our baptism and the new life in Christ we have received through the washing of water with the Word, is a very good thing indeed.

Oops! The Christmas card I didn't mean to send!

Perhaps you've heard this story...

A lady had a circle of friends for whom she really wanted to buy Christmas presents.  Time slipped away and it was so busy at work that she just wasn't able to get to the store to purchase those gifts.  Time was running out.

Not too many days before Christmas she decided to give up on the gift idea and just buy everyone the same beautiful Christmas card.  She went to the local gift store and hurriedly went through the now picked over stack of cards.  She found a box of 50, just what she wanted.  She didn't take time to read the message, she just noticed a beautiful cover on it and gold around it and a floral appearance on the front of the card and she thought, "That's perfect.  So she signed them all, 'With all my love'."

As New Year's came and she had time to go back to look at the cards she didn't send, she was shocked to read the message inside.  It said, in a little rhyme, "This Christmas card is just to say, a little gift is on its way."

Charles Swindoll

Checking in with good friends

This lunchtime I'm getting to me with a couple of good, long time friends, Dan and Paul.

Years ago the church I attended had a great sports program.  We fielded basketball and softball team that won championships in both our city and church league games.  Dan and Paul were two reasons why we did so well.

Dan's family moved to the Valley from Wisconsin.  Being good Lutherans they sought out our church and immediately became faithful worshippers and helpers.  Dan was just starting High School.  You could see that he had a lot of basketball talent.  He very quickly became a key part of our starting five.

Shortly thereafter Paul and his family moved to our area and joining our church.  Paul was tall, around 6'3'' and he had good moves around the basket and could also shoot from the outside.  His rebounds helped to start our fastbreak which usually led to a basket.

When my family and I moved to St. Louis in 1988 I slowly lost contact with Dan and Paul.  But about a year of so ago I reconnected with the two guys.  We've been meeting for breakfast every few months and now with Dan retired, we decided that lunch at a favorite spot would be fun.

Dan and Paul have both gone on to have successful careers.  They both are intelligent and hard working.  Both are married and have families.  I marvel at the men they have become.  I couldn't see that years ago.  

God blesses us with many things.  Friendship is one of them.  I praise and thank God for Dan and Paul.

Joy and Peace at Christmas

Andy Williams sang, "It's the most wonderful time of the year."  And that certainly is our desire for Christmas.  A time for enjoying family, sharing gifts, giving thanks for blessings that came during the year and, most importantly, preparing our hearts and minds for welcoming again our Immanuel, "God With Us," who has come to bring forgiveness, new life and salvation.

But this is a not wonderful time for many people.  Some have lost loved ones during the year.  Or had to dealt with a lingering illness that doesn't respond to treatment.  Or struggled under an inflation that more than outpaced the weekly paycheck.  

This Sunday's Epistle lesson is taken from Philippians 4:4-7.  Paul enthusiastically proclaims, "Rejoice...the Lord is near."  Is it possible to have real joy when loss or disappointment had been at the forefront of life.  That's the question we'll wrestle with this Sunday during the 9 am service at Christ the Redeemer, 43rd Avenue and Olive.  May God give us many reasons to rejoice this Advent season!

Be prepared!

"Thus John's ministry was to abase the proud and life up the humble.  He prepares people for the Messiah through repentance and forgiveness, that they might receive the Messiah - the Lord in the flesh, who was come to save them - and not be destroyed.

So it is that John still ministers to us today.  We still need preparation.  The Gospel begun in the wilderness continues now among us.  King Messiah, risen from the dead, comes to us hidden in bread and wine, but He is not less dangerous now than He was then.  We must be prepared, and we are prepared in the same way: repentance, baptism and forgiveness.  Thus prepared, the coming of Jesus is indeed very good news."

God With Us, David H. Petersen, page 38

Thursday Bible Class

I was rereading some of my recent posts and I noticed that I failed to mention the day that I teach at Church of the Master at 27th Avenue and Cactus.  The class is held each Thursday at 9:30 am.  We begin with a time of prayer then launch into the class.  We end with prayer and a benediction.  On the third Thursday of each month we begin with Holy Communion.

We're studying the second half of the Book of Acts (chapters 14-28).  If you'd like to attend a weekly Bible study class then come and join us.  We'd love to have you! 

A Stack of Books to Get Through

One aspect of retirement I enjoy is that I have plenty of time to read.  There are a couple of times during the day where I have free time to pick up a book.  And my dear, sweet wife and I end our days with digging into a favorite book.  Here's what's on my bed table now:

The Betrayal of Anne Frank - A Cold Case Investigation.  For decades those familiar with the story of Anne Frank and her family have wanted to know who turned them over to the Nazis.  Rosemary Sullivan's book tells the story of how retired FBI agent Vincent Pankoke and a team of investigators reviewed hundreds of pages of files and conducted numerous interviews and believe that they have finally discovered what actually happened to the Franks.  The story of Anne Frank has always intrigued me and I look forward to digging into this book.

A Guide to Mental and Emotional Wellness.  I'm close to finishing Dr. Jennifer Londgren's book.  It is published by Time of Grace and is full of suggestions for finding peace, purpose and joy in the midst of a difficult and uncertain world.  

Paul - A Novel.  I read this wonderful book by Walter Wangerin Jr. many years ago.  I'm teaching a class on the Book of Acts so I decided to read through this book again with the idea that I might glean something from Wangerin that would apply to the class.

Grace Under Pressure.  I recently read Christopher Kennedy's book, Jesus Said What and found it an interesting and helpful read.  Kennedy took a number of those hard saying of Jesus and unpacked them.  I can see myself utilizing the book when preaching on some of those texts.  The subtitle to his new book is Responding Faithfully to Stress.  I'm hoping to find real encouragement in this book.

So, that's it for now.  Happy reading!

The Lord is near during the busy days of Advent

The season of Advent is a busy time for a parish pastor.  The regular work of ministry goes on - writing Sunday sermons, preparing Sunday worship, Bible study or Confirmation to prepare, people to counsel, homebound to visit and any number of unscheduled things that can crop up on a given day or week.

But work increases at Advent.  There are extra sermons to write and extra services to prepare.  There is the need to be sure that volunteers are willing to serve at the extra services.  Every pastor wants to make the Advent season as meaningful as possible.  But the hours are many and the days are long.  There were years when I worked myself into exhaustion.  I hated the fact that there were times when Advent and Christmas were over and all I could do was breath a sigh of relief.

But then I started taking to heart Paul's words to the Philippians 4:4-5 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.

It was so comforting to know that I wasn't doing all this work on my own.  The Lord was near to me.  I picked up His Word and He spoke to me.  I looked at my baptismal certificate on the wall and rejoiced that I was a child of His kingdom, I thought about the communion elements on the altar and gave thanks that Jesus met me right there, giving me His body and blood.

As this realization took hold, I attached a sticky note to my computer monitor - THE LORD IS NEAR! Since I spent so much time at the computer I was reminded again and again that God had not left me on my own to do the work of the ministry I had been called to do.

The Lord is near to you as well.  He is near as you as you are taken into the surgical room.  He is near to you when it seems that your family has abandoned you.  What ever the situation might be, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Paul instructs us to rejoice.  Today, rejoice that the Lord is near to you!

Fill our songs with your love

Fill them, O Jesus

Fill our hearts with Your love.

Fill our songs with Your windy Spirit

Let nothing we sing be empty or noxious or foolish or false

For if you will be the cause of our carols

then we will have joined the heavenly choir

We, with Mary, may be transported

and joy will shed joy on everyone.  Amen.

Walter Wangerin Jr., "Preparing For Jesus," page 83

Words of Wisdom

"Our lives are fashioned by our choices.  First, we make our choices.  Then our choices make us."

Anne Frank

The Friday Funny is Back

You've gotten to the end of the week? How did it go? Good?  Bad? Don't want to think about it?  Here's something that might brighten your day.

A little girl finally got to attend a wedding for the first time. While in the church, the girl asked her mother: “Why is the bride dressed in white?” The mother replied to the girl: “Because white is the color of happiness, and it’s the happiest day of her life today.”

After a little bit, the girl looks up at her mother and says: “But then why is the groom wearing black???

So what's happening, you ask?

Retirement has been very nice.  We thank God for giving us the resources and good health to make it so.  We are able to spend summers with our kids and grandkids but when the temps drop (and it doesn't take much for us) we head back home to enjoy our mild and sunny Arizona winter and  spring time.

My dear, sweet wife stays very busy.  Sometimes I feel guilty because I don't keep an active calendar the way she does.  But the guilt is my own.  Sherri has never said or done anything to make me feel like I should be doing something more with my time.  I justify this by saying to myself that I worked two stressful jobs, owning and managing six radio stations and almost 25 years of full time ministry, so a slower work schedule is something that, in my mind, has been earned.

However, I am not a complete slug.  I have the privilege and joy of preaching each Sunday at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran at 43rd Avenue and Dunlap in Phoenix.  I have the same privilege and joy at Church of the Master, 27th Avenue and Cactus when I teach a Bible class.  (Church - 9:am -- Bible Class -9:30 am).

Both congregations are made up of wonderful, special people.  In 2022, I filled the pulpit at CTR for a few Sundays and then over the summer I suggested that I could preach regularly for them during the months we are in the Valley.  It's a match made in heaven (at least that's how I see it).  CTR has outstanding leadership and faithful worshippers.  They are making their facilities available to a number of self-help groups and several churches.  CTR is definitely a community church.

At COTM, the leader, John, had gotten my name and called to ask if I would like to teach when they had an opening in their schedule.  As it turned out, the church we attend when we are in Michigan has an excellent man who teaches their Sunday morning class.  Coming to his class each week planted a new desire to do some teaching myself.  This is my second year of teaching at COTM and we are working our way through the Book of Acts.  I have a lot of fun with this neat group of people.

Have I mentioned our dog, Jake? We rescued him over six years ago and I can't imagine life without him.  How good is he? My dear, sweet wife and her family were cat people.  Sherri didn't care for dogs and the ones we have had in the past were tolerated.  The dogs were for the kids and they were supposed to take care of them (at least that was their promise).  

But Sherri loves Jake and will say, "How's my boy!"  Jake is also our unofficial  exercise director.  He likes to walk every morning - no, he has to walk every morning.  He's established several routes in our neighborhood and the exercise does us good.  Without Jake it would be easy to sit in the recliner, have an extra cup of coffee and complain about the difficulty of solving WORDLE.  

Well, it's dinner and it wouldn't be right to keep Sherri waiting:-). Thanks for checking in!

Psalms to read when anxious

I've been filled with much anxiety lately.  The world is in upheaval, politics is so nasty, and morality seems to be an an all-time low.  I worry about my kids and grandkids.  One thing my dear, sweet wife and I did right was to make sure that our kids were in church and Sunday school every week. But our kids are not following the example we set.  I'm concerned that as these grandkids grow older, worshiping God will become less of a priority.  We know that Satan never takes a day off, an hour off, a second off.  The grandkids are still young enough to develop good worshiping habits.  But time flies by so quickly.

I'm also anxious about aging.  I never thought about my age while I was working.  Maybe I was too busy.  But now when I hear of someone who passed away at 72 or 75 or 77, I can't help but think, "I'm almost there.  Will people be reading my obit sooner rather than later?"

I know that my Redeemer lives.  He is the resurrection and the life and everyone who believes in Him will never die.  But I struggle with aches and pains and fear they will become worse.  My dear, sweet wife cared for her Mom and Dad in their last years.  Will she have to do the same for me.

Well, I went searching for some Psalms that I hoped will calm my fears and anxiety.  Psalm 23 was a good place to start.  The Lord will lead me through the valley of the shadow of death and I will be with Him in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 121 is a favorite.  It assures me that the Lord is watching me constantly; nothing escapes His attention.  Psalm 77, especially verse 19, has been a source of comfort for sometime now.  The Lord is with me whether I see his footsteps or not.

I've been called for dinner so time to go.  But I'm glad I have some good reading material for tonight.

All I Really Needed To Know I Learned in Sunday School

            Robert Fulghum is an artist, painter, sculptor, author, musician and singer.  But he is best known for his 1986 book, “All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”  The book stayed on the New York Times bestsellers list for over two years and was a collection of random stories and observations.  But it was what Fulghum learned as a five year old that struck a chord with readers.  Remember what we learned from kindergarten?  Lessons like:

Play fair.

Don’t hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

(my favorite) Take a nap every afternoon

 

            In the midst of our busy, fast-paced lives, Fulghum suggested that we might learn to look at life differently and maybe even live at a slower place if we would just see things through the eyes of a child.  I remember being enjoying Fulghum’s book very much and it brought back reminders of my kindergarten experience.  But some of the best memories and best lessons I ever learned came from my time in Sunday school.  So, with apologies to Robert Fulghum, here’s “All I Really Needed To Know I Learned in Sunday School” by George Spicer.

 

Love one another

“Come Lord Jesus, be our guest…”

Turn the other cheek

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

Jesus can do a lot with just five loaves and two fish

(my favorite) “Jesus loves me, this I know…”

 

            Of course, that’s not all I learned in Sunday school.  I loved learning the creation story, Adam and Eve, and about Noah and the Ark and the flood.  I felt like I really knew Abraham, Issac, Jacob and especially, Joseph and his coat of many colors and his rotten brothers.  I cheered when David dropped Goliath in his tracks.  I marveled at the wisdom of Solomon.  And best of all, I never tired of learning about Jesus (my favorite).  Those were some great days.

           

            As parents and grandparents, we want our kids and grandkids to have a solid Biblical foundation.  What they learn as children will go with them throughout their entire lives.  Support the Sunday school at your church, won’t you.  Make sure your kids and grandkids are plugged in.  Show them that God’s Word is important to you giving the Lord two hours of your time each Sunday.  Make it a priority – be in worship and be in Bible class and Sunday school. 

Need a chuckle or two?

Years ago when my family and I became members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL., we very quickly became acquainted with George Kottwitz.  We learned that George was the resident humorist of the church.  He always had a story to tell and the punch line never failed to deliver a good laugh.  George regularly submits and is published in the Lutheran Witness magazine.  Here's a couple of samples of his humor.

Two elders drove to a nearby restaurant and bar after an early evening meeting at church.  While waiting for a table, they sat in the bar drinking a beer.  When their pastor walked by, one quickly said, "Oh, I hope Pastor didn't see us."  Asked the other, "What difference does it make? God knows we're having a beer."  "Sure," replied the first, "but God won't tell my wife!"

Or there's this one...

The new vicar popped into the church office with a printed copy of his yet-to-be-delivered first sermon.  Standing in front of the office's new paper shredder, he stared at the machine, a bit perplexed.  The church secretary, sensing he needed help, walked over and asked if she could do something for him.  "Yes," said the vicar, "can you show me how this thing works?"  She said, "Gladly!" She took the pages from the vicar's hand and began feeding them into the shredder.  "Thanks," said the vicar politely.  "But where do the copies come out?"

The Greatest Distance in the World

Read this great devotion this morning and wanted to share it with you.

What's the greatest distance in the world? Not the miles across the Atlantic or down to Antarctica, but the distance between the human head and heart.  Those 18 inches are the most difficult in the world.  Why? Because only God the Holy Spirit can travel them.  Millions hear about Jesus Christ as their only Savior, but only some believe.  The rest shake their heads in rejection or nod in seeming approval, only to go their own ways.  Their ears have heard but not their hearts.

What about me? Can I say with my heart, "Jesus is my Savior whom God raised from the dead?" Can I say with conviction: "His death counted for me.  His resurrection assures my resurrection.  Because He lives, I also will live, body and soul, in heaven some day?" Then thank God the Holy Spirit.  Through the gospel he carried the message from my head to my heart.  My faith is His gift.  Through that gospel He still works when my faith wavers to bridge the distance between head and heart.

The Spirit helps me travel another distance, the one between my heart and mouth.  When Jesus has moved from my head to my heart, then he'll also move from my heart to my mouth.  I'll proclaim gladly what I believe and thank Him for it.  I'll tell others what I believe and ask them to join me.  By God's grace it'll be head to heart to mouth, with the name of Jesus my precious Savior.

Richard E. Lauersdorf
"Together with Jesus - Daily Devotions for a Year"
Northwestern Publishing House 

A Word to Parents and Grandparents

As parents and grandparents we should never underestimate the influence we have upon our children and grandchildren.  They watch us carefully.  Our words soak deeply into their heads and hearts.  Studies indicate that even our teens watch and listen to us, yes, even when it seems that they have tuned us out.  Our example matters!

I don't know who penned the poetry below but the message is one worth pondering:

To hear my child at prayer, what a thrill it is to me!
There's a sweetness in the moment, as he speaks on bended knee.
And yet my heart is smitten, at this touching moment I see,
Has his faith and trust in prayer, depended much on me?

As I see him fold his hands, and bow his head to pray,
I trust he'll always love the Lord, the way he does today.
Then I hear a voice within me, speak in solemn words and true, 
How he lives a life of prayer, depends a lot on you.

So I kneel next to my bed, and lay my hand upon him,
After he has voiced his prayer, I add my own petition
May my son recall one day, that his father daily raised,
His voice to thank the Lord, and make the sacrifice of praise!

Dads and Moms, do you think much about the example you are setting for your kids? Do they see you in prayer? Do they find you reading your Bible? The next time you are tempted to "veg out" in from of the TV, try something different.  Gather the kids together and tell stories.  Talk about a favorite family vacation.  Share the funny story you heard.  Read Bible stories to your kids.  Tell them what Jesus means to you.  Share your faith in God and encourage your kids in their walk of faith.  Most of all, ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and His love so that you might always be that Godly example that your kids and grandkids need to see.

Almighty God is still in control

 Almighty God is still in control.

Almighty God is wiser and more powerful than death, war, suffering, inflation (fill in the blank)

We are still children of God.

We are still loved by the Father.

We are redeemed by the blood of the resurrected Son.

We are being made holy by the Spirit.

We will love one another.

We will stand on the truth of Holy Word alone.

We will confidently trust that the Lord will hold us up and lead us through any persecution the church might face in the future (just as He always has).

We will continue to pray, "Come, Lord Jesus."

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

God's peace and blessings be yours in abundance this week!

He is Risen Indeed!

The grave could not hold Jesus.  And it will not hold the ones who have faith in Jesus either.  He promises, "Because I live, you also will live."  (John 14:19)  The grave is where we were supposed to get what our sins deserve.  But instead, the grave is where the believer gets what our sins deserve - heaven, forever.  Instead of closing our eyes in death and opening them again to see even greater death, we close our eyes in death and open them to see Jesus.  Leave it to our Greatest Friend to take the devil's greatest weapon and use it as the believer's greatest blessing.

From "WELS.Net" devotional, April 5.

A Tradition Like No Other

If I have my facts straight, the legendary golfer, Bobby Jones, once said years ago of the new phenom, Jack Nicholas, "He plays a game of which I am not acquainted."

Bobby Jones might have said the same thing about my golf game.

However, unlike Nicholas, it wouldn't have been a compliment.

Anyway, the next two weeks of professional golf are the most enjoyable ones for me.  Later this week The Masters gets underway in Augusta, Georgia.  Next week, The Heritage tourney will be played at the Harbor Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, SC.

My wife and I lived in Hilton Head for almost four years.  I quickly learned that The Heritage was a very big deal.

I lost track of the number of folks from the church I served who came up to me and proudly said, "Pastor, I won't be in church this Sunday.  I'm (fill in the blank) at The Heritage."

It took lots of volunteers to make a golf tournament successful.  People from our church carried scoring signs, picked up pro golfers at the airport, worked concession stands, and helped run the parking lots.

My wife and I lived on a golf course so I had plenty of opportunities to get out and hit the ball around.  I remember a short time where I actually had improved my game to the point where I felt like I knew what I was doing every time I stood over the ball.

Then I went on vacation and didn't take my clubs.  When I finally got back to the course, the magic was gone.  It has never returned.

I've been pretty frustrated with my game I haven't gone out very much to play.  But I know how hard the game of golf really is.  So I like watching it (even if my wife says that watching a bag of popcorn cook in the microwave is more exciting).

Whatever...at my house on Sunday, it will be as quiet as it is when a golfer is lining up a putt.  Hey, it's The Masters!

To Whom Can You Offer Some Fruit Today?

In the late 1980's when our family moved from the Valley of the Sun to the Midwest, we didn't realize just how much we would miss fresh citrus.  However, my wife's Aunt Jean remedied the problem, at least a little bit, each Christmas.

Arriving at our doorstep would be a full box of fresh Arizona oranges.  For days afterward the only sound you would hear around our house was "Mmmmmm goooooood!"  The oranges were a delicious treasure.  Aunt Jean's gift was a blessing beyond compare.

When you arrive at the doorstep of a sick friend to provide a meal and a prayer...when you stand at the doorstep of a troubled friend to offer compassion and help...when you wait on the doorstep of a mourning friend to give comfort and love, you are demonstrating the fruit of Christian faith that the Holy Spirit produces in us and through us.  God uses you to be a blessing beyond compare to others.  And your faith in the Lord is nurtured as you trust more and more in your Savior God for forgiveness of sins, peace of heart and the gift of salvation.

Remember Galatians 5:22-23? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To whom can you offer some fruit today?

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is risen, and life reigns.

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.  Amen.

John Chrysostom

From "Treasure of Daily Prayer," page 185

By Love

 By love He took our place and died;

by faith we take His place and live.

Our sins were imputed to Him;

  His righteousness is imputed to us through faith.

From the devotional book, "Daily Bread," page 81

Good Friday worship at 6 pm

Sunday Easter Celebration at 9 am

Join us at Christ the Redeemer in Phoenix and have a blessed weekend!.

So You Want To Be A Sports Talk Show Host?

 I've had the opportunity to listen to the big sports talk station in town this week and I've discovered a few simple steps for hosting a sports talk program.  It's really pretty simple so if you've ever listened to such programs and thought to yourself, "Hey! I could do this!" I urge you to put these three steps into practice and soon you'll be rubbing elbows with Dan Patrick and Bob Costas and, well, probably not.

First, learn to repeat every sentence you say at least three times.

Say something like, "The Suns did not show up to play tonight." Then say it again.  Say it one more time.  Apparently, those who listen to sports talk program aren't very swift so you've got to repeat your points over and over again until the listener gets what you're saying.

(Or maybe the host is not very swift and simply repeats stuff over and over again because they've got no real insight or anaylsis to offer.  Nah - that's couldn't be true, right?) 

Ah, but repetition in and of itself is not enough!

Second, as you repeat every sentence three times, crank up the volume!!

Let me try and demonstrate (you can't hear me so use your imagination, OK?)

"The Suns did not show up to play tonight.  The Suns Did Not Show Up To Play Tonight!  THE SUNS DID NOT SHOW UP TO PLAY TONIGHT!!!!!"

Cranking up the volume proves that you are a passionate sports talk show host and we sports fans are nothing if not passionate about our teams and their performance.

Third, remind your audience over and over again that you were at the game.

I guess this lets your listeners know that you weren't watching the game from the comfort of your living room where with all the good camera angles and instant replay, you can see the game much better than at a seat in the stadium.  You were there at the game! That must lend more creditability to what you say.

So, say something like, "You're right, I was at that game and the Suns did not show up to play.  No way did they play hard.  I was there and the Suns didn't show up.  I was there at that game and the Suns did not show up, no way! I WAS THERE AT THE GAME AND THE SUNS DID NOT SHOW UP!" (a good use of rules 2 and 3).

Now I know that there are only a few sports talk show hosting opportunities out there so maybe you can use these rules where you work.  If you're a pastor, use them in the pulpit: (The devil fooled Adam and Eve.  The Devil Fooled Adam And Eve! THE DEVIL FOOLED ADAM AND EVE!!!)
Or maybe you can apply the rules with your fellow employees: (I was there at the meeting and our benefits have been frozen.  They're frozen! I was there.  I heard it with my own two ears.  I WAS THERE AT THE MEETING!!!)

Of course, should you apply these three rules to your place of work, you might run the risk of having happen to you what I did to the sports talk station.

Tune it out.

What in the world?

The sainted John Jeske was a WELS pastor, author and seminary professor.  An Old Testament scholar, he had the wonderful gift of showing how those 39 books continually point to Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world.  I am using Jeske's "Peoples Bible" commentary for research with the daily readings found in our "Treasuring God's Word" daily devotional which we offer each week.  Here is a nugget I discovered the other day:

The world is not only Satan's playpen, but the workshop of our God.  (page 285)

Hope - you can't live without it

 \Hope - you can't live without it.  It's the thing that keeps us going during the darkest night of the soul. It's the power that keeps us moving when we're ready to give up.  It moved Job, who was tested and tried, to confidently write, "I know that my Redeemer lives."  Even as he faced death, it led the apostle Paul to pen, "Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day."  That's hope - pure and simple!

A favorite verse of my is Hebrews 6:19a: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  On this verse one pastor wrote, "Few things were more important to the sailor in a storm than a good anchor and a good ground for it.  Believers in Christ have both.  They have an 'anchor for the soul, firm and secure.'  Like some anchors whose strong flukes cannot be twisted out of shape,  so we have in Christ and absolute strong and reliable hope."

In Christ Jesus we have safe harbor.  The storms of life, while threatening to us, cannot destroy us. We flee to Christ. Anchored in the solid ground of His Holy Word, we can stand firm against the temptations of the old evil foe.  The devil can't steal our soul.  Christ's comeback victory on the third day ensures us of new life now and eternal life in heaven.  As Jane Fryer writes, "Flee for refuge to Him! Take hold of the hope He offers you! Live in great courage! You are His now and forever!

Coming Down With March Madness

 I feel a bad case of March Madness coming on.

All season long I've been following Grand Canyon University's basketball team.  The Antelopes won 29 games this year, won the WAC conference and tournament and were selected yesterday to be a 12th seed in the West bracket.

When I heard the announcement I was sky high...I imagined GCU beating their first round opponent, St. Mary, with ease.  Next, they toppled Alabama which sent the Havocs', GCU crazy student, cheering section into mass hysteria.  Those kids really pounded the Mountain Dew and emptied bag after bag of Doritos in celebration (it's a Christian university).

I could see it all...the Sweet 16, the elite 8, the final 4.  The Antelopes victorious in every game.  And just as GCU was tipping off for the National Championship... I fell back to reality.

And the reality is that GCU is probably facing a hill that they can't possibly climb to the top.

But they are well coached by Bryce Drew and have a potential NBA forward in Tyon Grant-Foster.  They play tough defense and don't seem to panic when they get off to a slow start.

My heart says GCU has a chance to make a run in the tournament.  My head says they lose in the first round.

Who knows? That's why they play the games, right?

Go Antelopes!

Before you can walk you have to be taught

The first part of Psalm 86:11 - Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth.

The psalmist makes it clear that before you can walk you have to be taught.

This make such perfect sense, right?

Before you can live out the truth of God's Word in your daily life, you have to know this Word.

I get frustrated with people, especially some parents, who say things like, "I don't want my child cooped up in some classroom going through a boring Catechism class.  I want my child learning how to serve other and help others.  That's how they learn the faith."

Wrong!

Our works and service are a result of our learning the truth of God's Word.  First, we are taught the truth and then we put the truth into practice.

Besides, if a parent's thinking about Catechism class that it's boring, it's not hard to know what their child's attitude toward the Catechism will be, right?

Don't despise the teaching of God's Word.  Pray with the psalmist, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth."

God bless your learning and your walking!

True Service Inspires Service

The principle of service is what separates true leaders from glory seekers.  Jesus, the leader, served His people.  Most religions teach that we are put here to serve God; yet in Jesus, God is offering to serve us.  True service inspires service.  The true attitude of serving is a softening agent that works on the hardest of hearts and situations.

Laurie Beth Jones, as quoted in "Cracking Your Congregation's Code" page 135
 

Walking in the wilderness

 .Ever find yourself getting distracted during your prayer time.  Does your mind seem to wander while offering your prayers and petitions to the Lord? One important admonition is to eliminate all distractions so that you can focus completely on God. The Psalm reading from the "Treasury of Daily Prayer" was portions of Psalm 63.  This psalm of David begins with these words: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water...."

We are told that David wrote this psalm "when he was in the wilderness of Judah."

Wilderness wanderings aren't much fun.  In fact, they can be downright devastating. The sense of hopelessness becomes overwhelming.  You can't see a solution to your problem.  You can't find a soul who can offer a pinch of hope.

But David stands that thinking on its head.

When he remembers God, when he meditates on all the ways that the Lord has been with him, helped him and blessed him, David finds a song in his heart.  "I will sing for joy."

In faith, David will do even more: "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."

In the wilderness of suffering and confusion, you always have a choice.  You can choose, with the hands of faith, to cling to the Lord.  When you believe that you can't take another step, the Lord will hold you up, give you His strength to keep on going and to keep on trusting.

Psalm 63 does not end with how the Lord led David out of the wilderness.  At this point, David has no idea what God's solution might be.  But David trusts that God has the solution and knows the way. That's is good enough for David.

May it always be enough for you.  Rejoice in God!.