The Friday Funny on a Thursday

 Food for thought...Incorrectly is the only word that, when spelled correctly, is still spelled incorrectly.

 Have a happy 4th!

Where the Lutheran Church is growing

 According the the Veith and Sutton book, "Authentic Christianity," there are "reportedly 70-90 million Lutherans in the world."  They go on to write, "But Lutheran church bodies, like those of other theological traditions, come in both liberal and conservative varieties...northern European nations have become highly secularized.  Church attendance is miniscule, though church membership remains high."

 They go on to write, "Today, the real center of Lutheranism is not in its European lands of origin but in Africa and Asia...there are more than 20 million in Africa and more than 10 million in Asia.  The fastest growing Lutheran Church is in India."

 Interestingly, the African and Asian Churches are mostly liturgical in their worship.  There is an emphasis on traditional worship, and utilization of Word and Sacraments.

 What can we learn from these growing churches.  Maybe we don't need "seeker services," modern worship choruses, and pastors so casually dressed that they look like they walked off a beach.  Mainline Lutheran Churches in America are still bleeding members. 

 Perhaps it's time for us to get back to what we do best: let God serve us in the Divine Service, cherish the Liturgy which is nothing more than God speaking to us and we, in turn, speaking back to Him, placing the emphasis on Law/Gospel preaching, singing the great hymns of the church and coming with humble hearts to receive our Lord's body and blood in the Holy Supper.  I wonder what work the Holy Spirit might do if we were to return to what got us here in the first place? 

 

Top 10 Signs the Pastor is Watching Too Much Fox News

10) Church meeting no longer run past 8 pm so pastor doesn't miss Jesse Watters

9) Urges his wife to dress more classy like Martha McCallum

8) Promotes new audio Bible read by Tyrus

7) Upset when church council won't allow books by Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino and Bret Baier in the church library

6) In nod to popular program, "The Fivem" pastor now calls the sermon, "The 25"

5) Tries to deliver his sermons with the passion of Sean Hannity

4) Replaces coffee and donuts with the Super Beets he saw on Fox

3) Names his new born son, Yingst

2) Now calls the Scripture Readings "Notable Quotables"

And the number one sign your pastor is watching too much Fox News:

1) Ends each sermon with the words, "Still fair, balanced and unafraid!"

Love isn't love until you give it away

            Actress Mary Martin was on the road performing in the musical, “South Pacific.”  Just before going on stage she received a note from a dear friend, lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein.  The short note said: Dear Mary, a bell’s not a bell until you ring it.  A song’s not a song till you sing it.  Love in your heart is not put there to stay.  Love isn’t love till you give it away.”

            One picture of Jesus that the Gospels provide is how His ministry was marked by the love He gave away.

            St. Mark tells us of a leper who was healed by a willing Jesus – the cured man was on the receiving end of Jesus’ love.  A large crowd gathered around Jesus and he had compassion on them by providing a meal from only a few fish and loaves of bread – the crowd was on the receiving end of Jesus’ love.  In spite of the disciples, parents were invited to bring their children to Jesus so that He could bless them – the children were on the receiving end of Jesus’ love.

            As Jesus walked with His disciples on the road up to Jerusalem He explained, according to Mark’s Gospel, that “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law.  They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles, who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him.  Three days later He will rise.”  And then it happened just as Jesus said.  And we – you and I – were on the receiving end of Jesus’ love!

            “Love isn’t love until you give it away.”  Jesus gave His very life for us so that we might be redeemed from God’s wrath and punishment for our disobedience.  Having shed His blood on the cross, Jesus reconciled us to our heavenly Father.  Having become God’s children through faith in Jesus, we receive every blessing that God can give – forgiveness for our sins, peace to sooth our hearts, and love which assures us that nothing can separate us from our Lord.

            Jesus took your sins upon Himself.  He suffered the punishment you deserved.  He gives you credit for His perfect life and makes you righteous and holy before the Father.  If that’s not love, then love doesn’t exist.  To whom can you give the love of Jesus? Your spouse? Your kids? A suffering friend? God has planted the love of Jesus in your heart by the Holy Spirit.  Be sure to joyfully and with thanksgiving give that love away! 

From April 2021

Top 10 Complaints from Church Members

10)If you don’t stop this praise band stuff I’m going to set the guitars and drums on fire!

9) Why in the world did we build a pulpit if you won’t use it? Stand still!

8) I don’t like your attempts at humor on Sunday.  And by the way, I don’t like your haircut either!

7) Do something about the rude ushers.  I’m sure one of them stood over me and wouldn’t move until I put another dollar in the collection plate.

6) How much extra is it costing this church to have the custodian vacuum up all the cheerios left behind by those noisy kids?

5) I have a complaint about the free donuts you serve each Sunday.  I hate Dunkin Donuts. Get them from someplace else!

4) Have you seen the Sunday school rooms? They are a mess! If the children can’t keep them neat and clean, we should just cancel Sunday school!

3) Do you always have to preach from the Gospel lesson every Sunday? There are other people in the Bible to talk about besides Jesus!

2) Can you get the organist to play faster? She sounds like a 45 rpm record being played at 33!

1) I’m tired of all this preaching about evangelism.  You should tailor your preaching to those in the church who pay the bills!

Sanctification is slow

 Justification is instant.  Sanctification is slow.  The moment the Holy Spirit leads a person to faith in Christ Jesus is the moment of salvation.  There is no buffering or prolonged download time when it comes to justification.  It is the immediate and instant salvation that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.

 Sanctification, however, is far from instant.  It is slow and steady progress toward a life of holiness.  Sometimes, though, it is not all that steady; rather, it can be a steady conflict, full of ups and downs, failures and new beginnings.  And it isn't always progress in the modernist sense of getting better and better, onward and upward, as if old people have become more holy than young people.  It is, however, progress in the sense of a journey that is heading somewhere.  Sanctification is the work of God, calling us to our vocations, providentially putting us through experiences that cause our faith and love to grow, and giving the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament.  It is not immediate gratification or instant holiness.  It is, however, the beautifully slow and eventful journey of the Christian life.

"Authentic Christianity," Veith and Sutton, page 198

What does love mean?

 

            A group of social scientists asked some children the question, “What does love mean?”  Here are some of the answers: When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too…love is what makes you smile when you are tired…love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.  And here is my favorite: When they crucified Jesus, God could have sold magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn’t.  That’s love.

            Of course, we know this to be true.  God could have stepped in at any point and spared His Son the unbearable pain and torturous death that had been planned.  Even Jesus said to the Temple Guard: “Do you not think that I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54)

            So for God the Father, love means giving up Your only-begotten Son to be Savior of the world.  The apostle Paul put it like this: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

            You’ve heard it said, “Talk is cheap.”  Sometimes it is.  People pledge to make changes in their lives but soon fall back into old habits.  Others make promises that are quickly forgotten.  Talk means nothing unless backed up with action.

            God's love IS love in action!  We see love in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prays, “Thy will be done.”  We see love in action at Calvary as Jesus cries out, “It is finished!” We see love at Bethany as Jesus blesses His disciples and then tells them to “Go!” Jesus counts us as His friends, not His enemies, and He gives us the great opportunity of working in partnership with Him in sharing His Word of love and grace with the whole world.

            Sacrificing your life for others…giving up you life so that others might live…giving the very best you have to offer.  That sounds like love, doesn’t it? That’s the meaning of love according to the One who loves you best – your gracious and loving Savior.  Rejoice!