Tim Tebow is working out in the Valley of the Sun and so that has sparked some speculation that he's in town to show his stuff to the Arizona Cardinals brain trust. Apparently, that's not the case but like some others in Phoenix, I think the Cardinals should take a hard look at Tebow.
* He is winner, both in college and in the pros (although, I admit, his professional resume is slim).
* He seems to have the qualities that the new NFL quarterbacks have (he can run as well as throw the football, like the qb's from Seattle, San Francisco and Washington).
* He is a leader. It may not always be pretty but he gets things done and his teammates feed off of that (how many come from behind games did he win last year in Denver?).
* He's a man of God. He gives kids and young people, especially, someone to look up to. I don't think we'll ever see Tebow getting grilled by Oprah in the way that Lance Armstrong was. Tebow seems to be a man who is really trying to lead a life of faith and integrity.
He's not the prettiest quarterback around. He'll probably never be a Kurt Warner, standing back in the pocket, waiting until the very last moment to throw a perfect pass to Larry Fitzgerald. But Tebow seems to have the intangibles that lead to victories.
We know what last year was like in Arizona Cardinals Nation. Why not Tebow? Give him a chance!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Bo Giertz on Faith
Faith is, then, a poverty of spirit, a hunger and thirst, a poor, empty heart opening toward God so that He can put His grace into it. When God bestows His grace upon us, we are born anew and become partakers of the new life.
from "Hammer of God," page 217
from "Hammer of God," page 217
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A pastor's prayer as he prepares his sermon
God, help me not to preach better. Just help me to be better. Do nothing for my reputation. Only bring me to the place where I see what needs to be done, and make we alive for the doing of it. Don't make my sermon's interesting; make them important. Let them seek no critiques as to their eloquence or boredom. Only let them be a cry on Your behalf for all You want done in the world. Amen.
Calvin Miller, The Sermon Maker, page 51
Calvin Miller, The Sermon Maker, page 51
Monday, January 14, 2013
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Last week I reflected on the 8 years I've spent at Life in Christ. God has blessed our church in that time period and He has richly blessed me and my family. When I arrived in January 2005, the church met in a house that was remodeled to accommodate as many people as possible. There was no parking lot; folks just parked wherever they could find a spot. Some found shade under the many citrus trees on the property, others on the grass in what was the back yard. We all made do, as they say, and we were happy.
My office was actually the master bedroom of the house. It was good sized and had a window from which I could see the front yard and, beyond that, busy 75th Avenue. At that time we would receive each week a fresh supply of irrigation water. It took about 2 to 3 hours for the water to cover our 1.1 acres.
What was so interesting to me was the scene that followed the irrigation. I had the chance each week to watch our front yard become a bird buffet!
It seems that as the water covered the property, grub worms would rise to the surface. This was followed by a variety of birds who would wade through the water in search of a meal. And wow, did they ever eat! I think I heard a couple of those birds belch! What was certainly true was that the birds ate until they could eat no more.
That little scene always reminded me of Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The answer is much, much more valuable!
In fact, the Apostles' Creed and its explanation shows us just how valuable we are to God. The First Article points out that we are so valuable that God provides for our every need in this life. He does this, as Martin Luther writes, "only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy." We are so valuable to God that, according to the Second Article, God gave His only Son to be our Redeemer from sin, death and the power of the devil. This happened so that you and I might be God's very own son or daughter. We are so valuable to God that the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, who calls us by the Gospel to believe in their precious promises. And the Spirit continues to feed our faith so that we trust God more and more and worry less and less.
There are no simple answers to overcoming worry and Jesus doesn't offer a one-step, easy solution to overcoming fear and anxiety. But He is teaching us in Matthew 6 to remember who we are and whose we are. We are God's sons and daughters. We belong to Him through the miracle of baptism. We are valuable to Him. Don't worry. Trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
My office was actually the master bedroom of the house. It was good sized and had a window from which I could see the front yard and, beyond that, busy 75th Avenue. At that time we would receive each week a fresh supply of irrigation water. It took about 2 to 3 hours for the water to cover our 1.1 acres.
What was so interesting to me was the scene that followed the irrigation. I had the chance each week to watch our front yard become a bird buffet!
It seems that as the water covered the property, grub worms would rise to the surface. This was followed by a variety of birds who would wade through the water in search of a meal. And wow, did they ever eat! I think I heard a couple of those birds belch! What was certainly true was that the birds ate until they could eat no more.
That little scene always reminded me of Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The answer is much, much more valuable!
In fact, the Apostles' Creed and its explanation shows us just how valuable we are to God. The First Article points out that we are so valuable that God provides for our every need in this life. He does this, as Martin Luther writes, "only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy." We are so valuable to God that, according to the Second Article, God gave His only Son to be our Redeemer from sin, death and the power of the devil. This happened so that you and I might be God's very own son or daughter. We are so valuable to God that the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, who calls us by the Gospel to believe in their precious promises. And the Spirit continues to feed our faith so that we trust God more and more and worry less and less.
There are no simple answers to overcoming worry and Jesus doesn't offer a one-step, easy solution to overcoming fear and anxiety. But He is teaching us in Matthew 6 to remember who we are and whose we are. We are God's sons and daughters. We belong to Him through the miracle of baptism. We are valuable to Him. Don't worry. Trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Shut him down!
That what seemed to happen when evil Herod the tetrarch tossed John the Baptist in jail. Did that action derail God's plan that the world know that the kingdom of God had come? In chapter three of his Gospel, Luke provides the glorious good news. Join us today at 4:32 for our new Saturday service. You'll discovery meaningful worship, uplifting music and great fellowship. Or if Sunday works better, come for either our 8 or 10:45 am services. Christina LIFE Hour (Learning Is For Everyone) with classes for everyone begins at 9:15 am. Hope to see you this weekend at LICL!
Friday, January 11, 2013
I hate the grapevine
If I could find it at its root, I dig it up and burn it. It's destructive. It's hurtful. And the devil must dance a jig when people log on.
Every church has one. It's the place where all kinds of gossip and rumors are discussed, dissected and disseminated.
This week I've seen again the rotten fruit produced on the grapevine. I've watched how the grapevine has led some to sin against their brothers and sisters in Christ. I've been made aware of what happens when people fail to "defend, speak well of and explain everything in the kindest way" (from Luther's explanation of the 8th commandment).
In the Large Catechism, Luther sums up his teaching on the 8th commandment in this way: Now we have the sum and general understanding of this commandment: Let no one do any harm to his neighbor with the tongue, whether friend or foe. Do not speak evil of him, no matter whether it is true or false, unless it is done by commandment or for his reformation. Let everyone use his tongue and make it serve for the best of everyone else, to cover up his neighbor's sins or infirmities (1 Peter 4:8), excuse them, conceal and garnish them with his own reputation. The chief reason for this should be the one that Christ declares in the Gospel, where He includes all commandments about our neighbor, "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them." (Matthew 7:12) From Concordia, pages 417-8, para. 285-6.
Beware the grapevine. It's fruit, more often than not, is a deadly poison. It's not a place where followers of Christ want to be found.
Every church has one. It's the place where all kinds of gossip and rumors are discussed, dissected and disseminated.
This week I've seen again the rotten fruit produced on the grapevine. I've watched how the grapevine has led some to sin against their brothers and sisters in Christ. I've been made aware of what happens when people fail to "defend, speak well of and explain everything in the kindest way" (from Luther's explanation of the 8th commandment).
In the Large Catechism, Luther sums up his teaching on the 8th commandment in this way: Now we have the sum and general understanding of this commandment: Let no one do any harm to his neighbor with the tongue, whether friend or foe. Do not speak evil of him, no matter whether it is true or false, unless it is done by commandment or for his reformation. Let everyone use his tongue and make it serve for the best of everyone else, to cover up his neighbor's sins or infirmities (1 Peter 4:8), excuse them, conceal and garnish them with his own reputation. The chief reason for this should be the one that Christ declares in the Gospel, where He includes all commandments about our neighbor, "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them." (Matthew 7:12) From Concordia, pages 417-8, para. 285-6.
Beware the grapevine. It's fruit, more often than not, is a deadly poison. It's not a place where followers of Christ want to be found.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Happy anniversary...to me!
Yesterday brought with it a trip down memory lane. In was on January 9, 2005 that I was installed as pastor of Life in Christ Lutheran Church.
My dear, sweet wife and I (along with our beloved cat, Hope) left Hilton Head Island on Dec. 31. We ushered in the new year in Jackson, Mississippi. The following night, after a very long day in the car, we stopped in McAllen, Texas. The following evening we were greeted by our kids when we arrived in Peoria.
The next day we closed on our home. Next, one of the members of our new church family arranged to have the inside of the house painted for the cost of the paint - what a blessing! By the end of the week, the moving truck arrived, driven by a guy who had a voice that sounded like actor Mark Harmon (that was cool - my wife and I are huge NCIS fans!).
Sunday morning we worshipped with our new church family and later that afternoon I was formally installed as pastor. The service was held at Fountain of Life in Sun City. My dear friend and pastor, Rev. David Schultz, gave the sermon. The congregation worked so hard to make it a memorable day for me and my family. We felt truly welcomed.
Much has happened at Life in Christ in these past eight years. We outgrew our first house of worship and we finding ourselves feeling pinched for space again. We've watched as the Holy Spirit has worked mightily through Word and sacraments, bringing people to faith and leading them to produce fruit of faith in their lives. People who visit LICL find a group of warm and friendly people and that is good. They also hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is even better.
I often thank the Lord for calling me to serve in this place. My family and I are so blessed to be here. Praise the Lord!
My dear, sweet wife and I (along with our beloved cat, Hope) left Hilton Head Island on Dec. 31. We ushered in the new year in Jackson, Mississippi. The following night, after a very long day in the car, we stopped in McAllen, Texas. The following evening we were greeted by our kids when we arrived in Peoria.
The next day we closed on our home. Next, one of the members of our new church family arranged to have the inside of the house painted for the cost of the paint - what a blessing! By the end of the week, the moving truck arrived, driven by a guy who had a voice that sounded like actor Mark Harmon (that was cool - my wife and I are huge NCIS fans!).
Sunday morning we worshipped with our new church family and later that afternoon I was formally installed as pastor. The service was held at Fountain of Life in Sun City. My dear friend and pastor, Rev. David Schultz, gave the sermon. The congregation worked so hard to make it a memorable day for me and my family. We felt truly welcomed.
Much has happened at Life in Christ in these past eight years. We outgrew our first house of worship and we finding ourselves feeling pinched for space again. We've watched as the Holy Spirit has worked mightily through Word and sacraments, bringing people to faith and leading them to produce fruit of faith in their lives. People who visit LICL find a group of warm and friendly people and that is good. They also hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is even better.
I often thank the Lord for calling me to serve in this place. My family and I are so blessed to be here. Praise the Lord!
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