Martin Luther, from "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 155.
Cross Thoughts
CROSS THOUGHTS - Looking to the Cross for Life and Encouragement
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
How will you respond?
Saturday, March 29, 2025
God wants to give us all things
In Romans 8:32 the apostle Paul writes that God wants to give us all things. Is that really true? This week's Gospel lesson about the Lost Son in Luke 15 may just provide the answer. Learn more this Sunday at Christ the Redeemer, Olive and south of 43rd Ave. Join us at 9 am!
Friday, March 28, 2025
Get ready to laugh, It's the Friday Funny!
Mrs. Smartt was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle.
The curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?”
“No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come with me this morning, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.”
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Luther says, It's On You!
Therefore, when you view the nail's piercing through His hands, firmly believe it is your work. Do you see His crown of thorns? Believe the thorns are your wicked thoughts.
"Martin Luther in His Own Words," page 117
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
So You Want To Be A Sports Talk Host?
So you want to be a sports-talk show host?
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.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
A prayer of confession
Back in 1948, Concordia Publishing House printed what they called "The Devotional Bible," a two volume set of devotional readings of the Gospels. The devotions included a prayer and this particular one seemed to be meaningful for me on the day I read it because I wrote in down in my journal. The prayer went like this:
O Lord, for Jesus' sake, remake me day after day, creating in me a clean heart. I confess my sins to You. They have bruised and wounded my soul. You alone can blot all these wrongs and transgressions through Christ. Make me acceptable to You and grant that every word and act of mine may please You. Then You shall be the praise in Christ Jesus forevermore. Amen.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Here's the Friday Funny!
After watching the boys efforts for some time the pastor walks across the street up to the little fellow and rings the doorbell.
Kneeling down next to the child, the pastor smiles and asks, "And now what, my little man?" To which the boy replies, "Run!"