The Word, the Word, the Word." That is how Martin Luther responded when asked how God works. He forgives sin by His Word. He creates faith by His Word. He sustains faith by His Word. He heals through His Word. He raises the dead by His Word and He will raise the dead through His Word.
From "What They Need to Hear" by Klemut Preus, page 152
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Give God Two
That is, 2 hours of your time tomorrow. Worship and Bible study go together like peanut butter and jelly, Lennon and McCartney, NCIS & NCIS LA, etc., etc. We meet for worship at 8 and 10:45 am; I'm looking forward to joining Dan and Connie to provide the music for the service. Classes for all ages meet at 9:20 am with a new adult class starting with Pastor Darling in the sanctuary and the Women's class continuing their study of the book, "Every Day Deserves a Chance" in room one. So TIVO the Cardinals game, give God two hours of your time and then you've got the rest of the day to yourself. Hope to see you tomorrow at LICL!
Friday, September 27, 2013
The Maker of the Universe
The Maker of the universe, As Man, for man was made a curse
The claims of Law which He had made, Unto the uttermost He paid
His holy fingers made the bough, Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow
The nails that pierced His hands were mined, In secret places He designed
He made the forest whence there sprung, The tree on which His body hung
He died upon a cross of wood, Yet made the hill on which it stood
The sky that darkened o'er His head, by Him above the earth was spread
The sun from Him that hid its face, by His decree was poised in space
The spear which spilled His precious blood, was tempered in the fires of God
The grave in which His form was laid, Was hewn in rocks His hands had made
The throne on which He now appears, Was His from everlasting years
But a new glory crowns His brow, and every knee to Him shall bow
The Maker of the universe
Words by F.W. Pit
Hear Phil Keaggy's arrangement as he sings "The Maker of the Universe" on his album/cd, "Way Back Home"
The claims of Law which He had made, Unto the uttermost He paid
His holy fingers made the bough, Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow
The nails that pierced His hands were mined, In secret places He designed
He made the forest whence there sprung, The tree on which His body hung
He died upon a cross of wood, Yet made the hill on which it stood
The sky that darkened o'er His head, by Him above the earth was spread
The sun from Him that hid its face, by His decree was poised in space
The spear which spilled His precious blood, was tempered in the fires of God
The grave in which His form was laid, Was hewn in rocks His hands had made
The throne on which He now appears, Was His from everlasting years
But a new glory crowns His brow, and every knee to Him shall bow
The Maker of the universe
Words by F.W. Pit
Hear Phil Keaggy's arrangement as he sings "The Maker of the Universe" on his album/cd, "Way Back Home"
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The best words I hear on TV?
And they are, "Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode," spoken by Mark Harmon, star of CBS's "NCIS."
My dear, sweet wife and I have watched the show from the very first episode. I watch because Harmon seems like a "man's man" and Sherri watches because he is a really good looking guy. It's the perfect combination!
The new season, the show's 11th, began last night. It solved last spring's cliff hanger ending and set the stage for a key cast member's departure. During its run, NCIS has had supporting cast come and go but rating continue to climb. And although the show gets no love whatsoever from the awards programs, it was last year's highest rated program not named "Sunday Night Football."
Why? Well, here's my theory. In NCIS, good always prevails over evil. Jethro Gibbs, Harmon's character, always gets the bad guy, always solves the crime. And I think people like that a lot.
That's how we expect life to work. But it doesn't. Good, hard working people are victimized. Evil, selfish people often comes out ahead. Our society seems to be in a state of disequilibrium. It can leave us confused, disappointed and unsure about our future.
So, it's comforting when the bad guys get justice served on their heads. And although NCIS is just a television program - make believe - it's nice to see wrongs righted and justice served. And in 60 minutes! (Even less if you have TIVO).
NCIS is coming up against some strong competition this fall. And "American Idol" is always a threat to cut into the audience. As for me and Sherri, we'll be sitting onto the edge of our seats for another year of NCIS. And waiting to hear those favorite words at the end of each episode.
My dear, sweet wife and I have watched the show from the very first episode. I watch because Harmon seems like a "man's man" and Sherri watches because he is a really good looking guy. It's the perfect combination!
The new season, the show's 11th, began last night. It solved last spring's cliff hanger ending and set the stage for a key cast member's departure. During its run, NCIS has had supporting cast come and go but rating continue to climb. And although the show gets no love whatsoever from the awards programs, it was last year's highest rated program not named "Sunday Night Football."
Why? Well, here's my theory. In NCIS, good always prevails over evil. Jethro Gibbs, Harmon's character, always gets the bad guy, always solves the crime. And I think people like that a lot.
That's how we expect life to work. But it doesn't. Good, hard working people are victimized. Evil, selfish people often comes out ahead. Our society seems to be in a state of disequilibrium. It can leave us confused, disappointed and unsure about our future.
So, it's comforting when the bad guys get justice served on their heads. And although NCIS is just a television program - make believe - it's nice to see wrongs righted and justice served. And in 60 minutes! (Even less if you have TIVO).
NCIS is coming up against some strong competition this fall. And "American Idol" is always a threat to cut into the audience. As for me and Sherri, we'll be sitting onto the edge of our seats for another year of NCIS. And waiting to hear those favorite words at the end of each episode.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
A Missionary's Prayer
Actually, it's a prayer any of us could pray.
Lord, here are my eyes. I give them to You. I want to see only the things You want me to see. Help me to look at the things You want me to look at and avoid the things You do not want me to look at. Here are my hands. Work through my hands to do what You want me to do. Here are my feet. Guide them to go where You want them to go. I give You the Lordship of my life.
Bill Tisdale
Lord, here are my eyes. I give them to You. I want to see only the things You want me to see. Help me to look at the things You want me to look at and avoid the things You do not want me to look at. Here are my hands. Work through my hands to do what You want me to do. Here are my feet. Guide them to go where You want them to go. I give You the Lordship of my life.
Bill Tisdale
Monday, September 23, 2013
I guarentee it!
It's been a good friend for about 15 years. It's traveled from Missouri to South Carolina to Arizona. It's suffered coffee spills and been marked with pen and pencil. It's been dropped a few times and is being held together by more than one strip of strapping tape. In spite of its looks, it will have my undying loyalty. It's my Today's Light Bible.
The Today's Light Bible is like most devotional Bibles on the market today. By following the daily reading guide, a person can go from Genesis to Revelation in just over two years. Most reading can be done in 15 minutes or less, offering a person an easy opportunity to spend time hearing God speak through His Word and then responding with prayers and petitions back to the Lord.
But the best feature of the Today's Light Bible are the devotional comments by author Jane Fryer. Fryer gets Law and Gospel. Because this is so, she never fails to encourage me with the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ for me and the whole world.
Here's just one example, from page 1241: Read the promise of Hosea 13:14. The death that was ours, is ours no longer. The grave that belonged to us, belongs to us no more. That death became Christ's death. That grave became His grave. And His life is now - right now - alive in us by His grace.
Christian bookstores are awash in all kinds of devotional books, Bibles and other materials. If you're looking for an aid that will help you be in God's Word consistently, check out the Today's Light Bible. If you're looking for an author who will help you rejoice in your new life in Christ Jesus, you'll be blessed by Jane Fryer's devotional thoughts. To borrow George Zimmer's phrase: I guarantee it!
The Today's Light Bible is like most devotional Bibles on the market today. By following the daily reading guide, a person can go from Genesis to Revelation in just over two years. Most reading can be done in 15 minutes or less, offering a person an easy opportunity to spend time hearing God speak through His Word and then responding with prayers and petitions back to the Lord.
But the best feature of the Today's Light Bible are the devotional comments by author Jane Fryer. Fryer gets Law and Gospel. Because this is so, she never fails to encourage me with the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ for me and the whole world.
Here's just one example, from page 1241: Read the promise of Hosea 13:14. The death that was ours, is ours no longer. The grave that belonged to us, belongs to us no more. That death became Christ's death. That grave became His grave. And His life is now - right now - alive in us by His grace.
Christian bookstores are awash in all kinds of devotional books, Bibles and other materials. If you're looking for an aid that will help you be in God's Word consistently, check out the Today's Light Bible. If you're looking for an author who will help you rejoice in your new life in Christ Jesus, you'll be blessed by Jane Fryer's devotional thoughts. To borrow George Zimmer's phrase: I guarantee it!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Job One
Back in the 80's the Ford Motor Company said building quality cars for their customers was "Job One." In the Epistle lesson we explore tomorrow at worship, it seems that the Apostle Paul is calling prayer "Job One" for every Christian. Join us tomorrow and learn more. Worship takes place at 8 and 10:45 am with classes for all age groups meeting at 9:20 am. Come and worship the Lord this Sunday at LICL!
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