I was looking through one of my old journals recently and came across some quotes attributed to Martin Luther. In a couple of cases I failed to note where I found the quote. See if one of these doesn't strike a chord with you:
In order to reach the next life, we need to know God and His Word in this life.
Faith does not lie on the heart, like foam on beer.
The Bible is the manger where the Word of God is laid.
Pray and let God do the worrying.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Yearning for a different Lenten Season
I always look forward to Lent. I like the idea of having some time to really reflect about life with God. I look forward to having some time to think about those areas of my life that need reformation and change. It is refreshing to be able to approach God's throne of grace and pray, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!"
I yearn to slow down and take time to focus on Jesus - His amazing grace, His sacrificial love, His willingness to give up His own life just to save a sinner like me.
But every year I end up a slave to my to-do list. My use of time is determined by others. By the time Holy Week rolls around, I'm running on fumes and hoping I can keep going until 12 noon on Easter Sunday.
May this Lenten season be different. May it be less about "to-do" and more about what Jesus has "done" for me. May it be about keeping appointments with God for reading and reflection, about repentance and faith. May it be more about receiving the refreshment worship and the Lord Supper offers to repentant children of God.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
I yearn to slow down and take time to focus on Jesus - His amazing grace, His sacrificial love, His willingness to give up His own life just to save a sinner like me.
But every year I end up a slave to my to-do list. My use of time is determined by others. By the time Holy Week rolls around, I'm running on fumes and hoping I can keep going until 12 noon on Easter Sunday.
May this Lenten season be different. May it be less about "to-do" and more about what Jesus has "done" for me. May it be about keeping appointments with God for reading and reflection, about repentance and faith. May it be more about receiving the refreshment worship and the Lord Supper offers to repentant children of God.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Downton Abbey - I Get It!
It seemed that my dear, sweet wife and I were the only ones in America who were not watching Downton Abbey, the PBS television show that presents what life was like in Victorian England in the early 20th century. The show recently began its sixth season and we've been told over and over again, "You have to watch it from the start to really understand what's going on."
So while checking the DVD shelves at the local Savers last week I happened upon seasons one and two of the program. I rushed home and Sherri and I started watching season one, episode one. And within 15 minutes or so, we were hooked!
To me it is simply the best written television program I've ever watched. The cast is large and yet Julian Fellows, the creator and writer, seamlessly weaves different story lines for each of the characters. It seemed as though there were plot surprises in each episode, ones which neither Sherri or I saw coming. When we finished the first episode we had to go on to number two right away.
We finish season one last night and as the credits were rolling Sherri said, "You'd better find seasons three, four and five quickly!"
Back to Savers!
So while checking the DVD shelves at the local Savers last week I happened upon seasons one and two of the program. I rushed home and Sherri and I started watching season one, episode one. And within 15 minutes or so, we were hooked!
To me it is simply the best written television program I've ever watched. The cast is large and yet Julian Fellows, the creator and writer, seamlessly weaves different story lines for each of the characters. It seemed as though there were plot surprises in each episode, ones which neither Sherri or I saw coming. When we finished the first episode we had to go on to number two right away.
We finish season one last night and as the credits were rolling Sherri said, "You'd better find seasons three, four and five quickly!"
Back to Savers!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Ground breaking day!
Tomorrow is one of those red-letter days at Life in Christ. Between services we'll break ground as we begin a 2 million dollar construction project. When finished we'll have a new fellowship hall, Sunday school classrooms, a new high school youth space, larger kitchen which our folks will actually be able to prepare meals, overflow space for worship, a small chapel, remodeled offices, and a new music practice room. (Whew!). It is hoped that we'll be ready for move in by September 1. Since projected construction completion dates are usually missed, pray with us that the project progresses smoothly, that delays are minimal, and that the building will be ready by September.
So, today we worship at 5 pm and tomorrow at 8 and 10:45 am. Come and join us for an exciting day of worship and of giving thanks to the Lord for His amazing grace. Blessings!
So, today we worship at 5 pm and tomorrow at 8 and 10:45 am. Come and join us for an exciting day of worship and of giving thanks to the Lord for His amazing grace. Blessings!
Friday, February 5, 2016
It's Friday! Let's praise the Lord!
I really appreciate this prayer:
Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, O earth! Sing forth the honor of His Name. Let day proclaim unto day the salvation of our God. O come, let us sing unto the Lord our God a new song, May He bless and preserve me - The Father, Who created me, The Son, Who redeemed me, The Holy Spirit, Who sanctified me. Amen.
J K Wilhelm Loehe, from "For All the Saints" page 875
Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, O earth! Sing forth the honor of His Name. Let day proclaim unto day the salvation of our God. O come, let us sing unto the Lord our God a new song, May He bless and preserve me - The Father, Who created me, The Son, Who redeemed me, The Holy Spirit, Who sanctified me. Amen.
J K Wilhelm Loehe, from "For All the Saints" page 875
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Giving Christians a Good Name
I've been slowly working my way through Philip Yancey's latest book, "Vanishing Grace." In the book Yancey explores some of the reasons why Christianity seems to have lost respect in many parts of the world and offers some ideas as to how Christians might once again be seen as dispensers of God's grace to the lost and hurting.
One way that Christians are seen in a positive light is by providing assistance, help and resources in times of disaster and loss. Yancey tells how a "60 Minutes" producer, John Marks, watched in awe as Christians came together to serve and offer help during Hurricane Katrina. He looked on as churches stepped up to feed thousands, offer temporary shelter and go into stricken neighborhoods to help rebuild homes.
Marks writes, "I would argue that this was a watershed moment in the history of American Christianity...nothing spoke more eloquently to believers, and to nonbelievers who were paying attention, than the success of a population of believing volunteers measured against the massive and near-total collapse of secular government efforts. The storm laid bare an unmistakable truth. More and more Christians have decided that the only way to reconquer America is through service. The faith no longer travels by the word. It moves through the deed."
I disagree a bit with Marks conclusion. Paul wrote to the Romans, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ." The Gospel is the "power of God for the salvation of all who believe," as Paul reminds the Romans. Saving faith for any person begins and ends with the Gospel.
Still, as Marks points out, deeds are important. In the Catechism, question eight asks, "What does God teach and do in the Gospel?" Here's the answer, "In the Gospel, the good news of our salvation is Jesus Christ, God gives forgiveness, faith, life and the power to please Him with good works."
The deeds Marks is talking about are a result of the effect the Gospel has had on a believer's life. When touched with the amazing grace of Jesus Christ a believer can't help but want to share and show the love of Jesus with others. This manifests itself in any number of ways - bringing a meal to someone who is ill...helping to clean up a yard for a friend who can no longer do the work...sitting at the side of a hospital bed and praying with someone near death. And, yes, investing one's own time and money for the sake of a family who has lost their home in a hurricane.
It seems to me that responding to needs as Marks has describes gives Christians an opportunity to answer the question, "Why are you doing this for me?" Then when the door of opportunity is opened, believers have the chance to share Jesus with those who wonder about the reason for the good works and deeds being done on their behalf.
Yancey also shared a comment from "Time" magazine's political editor, Joe Klein. Klein was in Oklahoma serving as a volunteer to help repair and rebuild homes that suffered damage in a massive tornado. Klein noticed all the church groups at work, many who had traveled hundreds of miles just to come and help, and he observed, "Funny how you don't see secular humanists giving out hot meals."
Yancey's book has really impressed upon me that even non-believers sit up and take notice, so to speak, when Christians respond with the love of Jesus to those in need of help. Maybe more Christians should move away from political action and just look for ways to help others in the name of Jesus. That kind of love and service might just give Christians a good name!
One way that Christians are seen in a positive light is by providing assistance, help and resources in times of disaster and loss. Yancey tells how a "60 Minutes" producer, John Marks, watched in awe as Christians came together to serve and offer help during Hurricane Katrina. He looked on as churches stepped up to feed thousands, offer temporary shelter and go into stricken neighborhoods to help rebuild homes.
Marks writes, "I would argue that this was a watershed moment in the history of American Christianity...nothing spoke more eloquently to believers, and to nonbelievers who were paying attention, than the success of a population of believing volunteers measured against the massive and near-total collapse of secular government efforts. The storm laid bare an unmistakable truth. More and more Christians have decided that the only way to reconquer America is through service. The faith no longer travels by the word. It moves through the deed."
I disagree a bit with Marks conclusion. Paul wrote to the Romans, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ." The Gospel is the "power of God for the salvation of all who believe," as Paul reminds the Romans. Saving faith for any person begins and ends with the Gospel.
Still, as Marks points out, deeds are important. In the Catechism, question eight asks, "What does God teach and do in the Gospel?" Here's the answer, "In the Gospel, the good news of our salvation is Jesus Christ, God gives forgiveness, faith, life and the power to please Him with good works."
The deeds Marks is talking about are a result of the effect the Gospel has had on a believer's life. When touched with the amazing grace of Jesus Christ a believer can't help but want to share and show the love of Jesus with others. This manifests itself in any number of ways - bringing a meal to someone who is ill...helping to clean up a yard for a friend who can no longer do the work...sitting at the side of a hospital bed and praying with someone near death. And, yes, investing one's own time and money for the sake of a family who has lost their home in a hurricane.
It seems to me that responding to needs as Marks has describes gives Christians an opportunity to answer the question, "Why are you doing this for me?" Then when the door of opportunity is opened, believers have the chance to share Jesus with those who wonder about the reason for the good works and deeds being done on their behalf.
Yancey also shared a comment from "Time" magazine's political editor, Joe Klein. Klein was in Oklahoma serving as a volunteer to help repair and rebuild homes that suffered damage in a massive tornado. Klein noticed all the church groups at work, many who had traveled hundreds of miles just to come and help, and he observed, "Funny how you don't see secular humanists giving out hot meals."
Yancey's book has really impressed upon me that even non-believers sit up and take notice, so to speak, when Christians respond with the love of Jesus to those in need of help. Maybe more Christians should move away from political action and just look for ways to help others in the name of Jesus. That kind of love and service might just give Christians a good name!
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
How do we keep God's Law?
How might we keep the Law which we've never kept before? By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is it. It is the only way. It is in being loved, being forgiven, being fed the Holy Supper that not only is sin forgiven but faith is also strengthened. In that - these things that God has given for His Church, for her faith and life - the Holy Spirit takes up residence and works do follow. The only way for sinners like us to keep the Law is to have the Law kept for us.
David H. Petersen, "God With Us," page 22
David H. Petersen, "God With Us," page 22
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