My World Cup Fever Has Reached a Fever Pitch!

Every four years it rolls around.  It captures the attention of the world.  Even America is learning to love soccer ("football" every where else in the world)!

This year's World Cup started with 48 teams with countries from all over the world.  The USA, Canada and Mexico served as hosts.  The first match began on June 11 and  the tourney finally reaches its conclusion tomorrow.  Spain and Argentina will vie to raise the cup in front of their multitude of fans.  Both countries will be well represented.

Spain are the favorites.  They feature one of the best players in the world in Rodri and one of the best young players in Lamine Yamal.  And Argentina has the GOAT (Greatest Player of All Time), Leo Messi.  Any team that features Messi cannot be counted out.  I won't be surprise if Argentina finds a way to victory.  They would be the only team in decades to lift the trophy in consecutive World Cups.

I fell in love with soccer in 2005.  I suppose I was like most Americans - I thought soccer is boring, no team ever scores, all they do is kick the ball back and forth, etc.  But then I started watching more closely.  I discovered that these athletes are in amazing condition - some run 13 to 15 miles in a single match.  How they can control the ball by using their hands is a marvel.  To watch a team move the ball down the pitch, utilizing short, accurate passes until the ball is passed in the box and kicked into the net is a marvelous thing to see.  

Tomorrow I preach two services and conduct a Bible class in Paw Paw, Michigan.  When the last hymn is sung, my dear, sweet wife and I will head back home, change clothes and celebrate my Son-in-Law's birthday.  And we'll sit right in front of the tv and watch Argentina beat Spain 3-2!

Well, I can dream, cant' I?

"Death is but a sleep"

"Thus before our Lord God, death is not death but a sleep.  For us, when we die it is and is termed death, but before God is it but a sleep and a very light sleep at that."

Martin Luther, as quoted in "Thank, Praise, Serve, Obey" page 158 

What does the word "confess" mean?

The word, "confess," means to speak the same thing as God does about our sin.

William Weedon, "Thank, Praise, Serve and Obey," page 75 

What faith does

Faith can transform reason, but nothing can be as unreasonable as unbelief.

Frank Starr, "Light for the Way," book 4, page 20

My book is off to the printer!

In the spring I reached an agreement with Westbow Press to self-publish my first book - "Hope Upon Hope - Encouraging Words When Your Life Needs a Lift."

Westbow has very specific instructions for self-publishing; I didn't know there would be so much detail - size of book, size of font, cover work, inside design and the list goes on and on.  

First stop for the book is the Content Department; they will make sure that the material I've wrote is in keeping with their editorial guidelines.  From there it will go to Design and when they have put together a mock up of the book, I'll get a chance to review and make sure I'm satisfied with what they've done.  After that the book gets printed and the finished product will land on my doorstep.  I must say, I can't wait to see how all this turns out.

Westbow has an online store from which the book can be purchased.  There is a possibility that the book will be available on Amazon.  I'll know more about distribution in a few months.

I thank the Lord for this opportunity and my dear, sweet wife for her belief that I should move forward with getting my book published.  I'll keep you friendly readers posted on its progress.

Martin Luther's Morning Prayer for Children

Thank you God, through Your dear Son

That with the Spirit, three in one

You kept me safe all through the night

And I awoke to see the light

Be with me throughout the day

Let nothing evil pass my way

This life on earth, I live for You

My soul and body and all things

I trust to You, You are my King

Your holy angels keep me near

The evil one I will not fear

Amen. 

Note: I haven't been able to confirm that Luther actually wrote the above prayer.  It may be that someone else took Luther's Morning Prayer, found in the Catechism, and wrote a simple version that children could memorize and use.

Why do we want more?

It's silly, isn't it, to think that if we just accumulate enough "stuff" (whatever kind of stuff you like) we'll somehow be happy and content with our lives.  I've had some interaction with "stuff" and "stuff" has never comforted me when I've been sad or offered wise advice when I was troubled.

In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther brings the focus back to where it should be - to God.

What more would you have or desire than God so kindly promising to be yours with every blessing and to protect and help you in all need.

1st Commandment, paragraph 41