How can we be sure?

As I was doing some devotional reading yesterday, I was struck by these words from the Apostle Peter: Though you have not seen Him (the Lord), you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.

How is it that Peter can write with such confidence? Why can he be so sure that his readers are filled with such a trusting faith in Jesus?

The explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed in Luther's Small Catechism reminds us that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts and gives us the saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Savior.  With this faith we can trust Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, rejoice in our new life of faith and find comfort in our Lord in all the seasons of our lives.  With the help of the Spirit, we believe in our Savior even though we do not see Him!

The psalmist Asaph speaks to this same kind of faith.  In Psalm 77, Asaph complains about the difficulties of his life and the lives of his people.  They have suffered so much and, without any relief, Asaph is beginning to wonder if God has forgotten about him.

But then Asaph begins to meditate on God's Word.  He remembers God's mighty deeds.  He recalls God's gracious help and deliverance when the people were freed from bondage.  He writes in 77:19 - Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.

Faith enables us to know that God is with us even when our eyes can't see Him.  His Word assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Today, offer thanks to the Holy Spirit who empowers you to know and trust Almighty God even when you can't see Him.  

God's service station

A while back in "Christian Reader" magazine, Jim Corley wrote about a conversation he had with a friend named Alex who attends Corley's church.  Meeting at an automobile dealership, Alex got right to the point.

"Jim," said Alex, "I feel like a hypocrite every time I go to church because I fail to live for Christ so often."

"Alex, what do you call this part of the dealership?" Corley asked, nodding to the area outside his cubicle.  "You mean the showroom?" Corley answered, "That's right.  And what's behind the showroom, past the parts counter?"  Alex answered confidently, "The service department!"

Corley then asked, "What if I told you I didn't want to bring my car to the service department because the car was running rough?"  Alex quickly answered, "That would be crazy! That's the whole point of the service department - to fix cars that aren't running right."

Corley responded, "You're absolutely right.  Now let's get back to our initial conversation.  Instead of thinking of church as a showroom where image is everything, start thinking of it as God's service department.  Helping people get back in running order with God is what the church is all about."

What can keep our relationship with God and others from running smoothly? In a word - sin.  So when you come to church on Sunday, you are stepping into God's service station! In worship, God serves you and the very first thing He does is to hear your confession of sin and to speak His Words of absolution and forgiveness.  God forgives that sin that separates us from Him and empowers us to practice this same confession and forgiveness with those whom we have hurt or have been hurt by.  Do you need a tune up or a complete overhaul?  Come and let God serve you!

Breaking Through Depression

Those who suffer through depression often lose hope.  There is a feeling that life will never get better and you will never again feel like your normal self again.

But there is a hope for depression sufferers and I believe it comes through a coming together of: 1) Prayer and worship; 2) Diet and exercise; 3) Appropriate medication; 4) Speaking with a trusted and caring counselor or therapist.

In his book, Donald Hill shares the story of Staci.  He tells of her journey from hopelessness to hope.  The paragraph below describes the end result.

She stopped worrying about the future. She trusted God with the best and worse cases she could imagine. Her verbally bitter husband began to mellow. Still, his behavior didn't really matter. Staci was centered on God's love and generosity, assured that regardless of her spouse's behavior, (God) would keep her in perfect peace. Her husband's threats of divorce lost their sting - God would provide what she needed. His criticism of her care for her children was dismissed. She trusted God and humbly loved her husband - spiritual vitality made it possible.

Donald P. Hill, "Breaking Through Depression," page 226

It would be foolish to believe that from that point forward, Staci, enjoyed a "happily ever after" life. What she had been given was the tools to know that God would see her through her "best and worse" cases and knowing how to react to them would go a long way to holding on to that feeling of hope - something which we can't live without.

May God fill you with the assurance of His hope and His dependable care for you.

Thanks for reading and God's bless your day!

Prayer - Your First Option Rather Than Last Resort

You're on the road when you have a flat tire. You reach in the trunk for the jack and you find that your teenager forgot to put it back.

You're running late for your child's soccer match when you become ensnared in a traffic jam.

You have a misunderstanding with an old friend who rebuffs your efforts to try and make things right.

What do you do in those situations? Get mad? Get even? Laugh? Cry? Give up and throw in the towel?

Why not pray?

When you're tempted to lose your head, why not pray and ask God to help you keep your head and find a solution to your problem.

When the traffic jam is enough to make your blood boil over, use the time to thank Jesus for the forgiveness and salvation that is yours because of His shed blood on the cross.

When you feel powerless to bring reconciliation between yourself and your friend or loved one, ask the Holy Spirit to work through the power of the Gospel so that your friendship might be restored.

The apostle James wrote: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  Since this is true, let's ask our Heavenly Father to help us make prayer the first option instead of the last resort as we encounter these and other situations in our lives.

Let us pray!

What's your weekend looking like?

Let's see...

We've got two of our grandchildren staying with us.  We're not sure yet what our fun agenda will be with them but we've been advised that they like to watch Christmas movies (in June?) and that they like to get the bikes and trikes in our backyard and wash them.  Our dog, Jake, may join them but the truth is, he doesn't really like the heat and the tile floor in the kitchen feels real good this time of year.

Tomorrow, we'll be celebrating my son's 40th birthday.  This does not seem possible but we checked his birth certificate and it is true. We'll have dinner here and then visit Sherri's mother so that she can join in the celebration. 

Today, I preach at the 5 pm service and tomorrow I'll share my message at 8, 9:30 and 11 am.  Come and join us this Sunday at Life in Christ!

Friday Funny - Helpful Sermon Feedback

They say that a preacher's wife is always his number one assistant.

An example of this comes one Sunday morning after the preacher had finished his sermon.  He went on a walk that afternoon with his wife and she asked him how he thought the church service went.

The Preacher shrugged and said, "The worship was excellent, and I think the prayer and communion times went quite well, but," he continued, "I just don't think the sermon ever got off the ground."


The wife looked over at him, and before she could stop herself, she said, "Well, it sure did taxi long enough!"

What About Mistakes?

John H. Holiday, who was the founder and editor of The Indianapolis Star, stormed into the composing room of the newspaper one day.  He was mad...ticked off.  He had been reading the newspaper when he found a story where the word "height" had been spelled as "hight."  Holiday was determined to find the person who had made the mistake and really let them have it.  A copy editor checked the original copy of the story and discovered that it was Holiday himself who was responsible for the misspelling.  When he was told that he said, "Well, if that's the way I spelled it, then it has to be right!" For over 30 years The Indianapolis Star misspelled the word "height."

Holiday's actions sometimes mirror ours.  We find it difficult to admit our mistakes, don't we? At time, a three word sentence is the hardest for us to say: "I was wrong."  Rather than admit our guilt or acknowledge our missteps, we cover up, make excuses, or shift blame to someone else.  We'll often do anything but own up to a mistake.

Remember Cain? He became jealous because of his brother's offerings were received by God while his own were not. God gave Cain a chance to correct his mistake and do the right thing.  But Cain refused and his anger ultimately led to his act of murder against Abel.

Mistakes are inevitable.  We are not perfect people.  We sin daily.  So we have two choices.  We can behave like Holiday and fail to acknowledge our error or we can humble ourselves before Almighty God and, in repentance, tell Him, "I was wrong."  Like the psalmist David, you can say, "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' - and You forgave the guilt of my sin."  Don't let foolish pride get the best of you.  It is God's nature to forgive and restore.  Know that as you pray to the Father, "I was wrong," He is always ready to answer, "You are forgiven for the sake of My Son.  Go in peace."  Amen!

From June 19, 2012

Clear Communication

A devotion by Bill Crowder

While traveling in Asia, my iPad (containing my reading material and many work documents) suddenly died, a condition described as "the black screen of death."  Seeking help, I found a computer shop and encountered another problem - I don't speak Chinese and the shop's technician didn't speak English.  The solution? He pulled up a software program in which he typed in Chinese but I could read it in English.  The process reversed as I responded in English and he read in Chinese.  The software allowed us to communicate clearly, even in different languages.

At times, I feel like I'm unable to communicate and express my heart when I pray to my heavenly Father - and I'm not alone.  Many of us struggle sometimes with prayer.  But the apostle Paul wrote, "The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."  (Romans 8:26-27)

How amazing is the gift of the Holy Spirit! Better than any computer program, He clearly communicates my thoughts and desires in harmony with the Father's purposes.  The work of the Spirit makes prayer work!

Less of More

The subtitle of Chris Nye's book is: "Pursuing Spiritual Abundance In A World of Never Enough."  This is good food for thought, so to speak, for the disciple of Jesus.  Advertising is designed to create desire - even if we don't need the product or service.  Nye's purpose in writing is to encourage his reader to focus "on things above," the spiritual gifts that come from a loving and generous God.

Nye doesn't break new ground - I didn't see anything that I hadn't read in other books.  However, if you are feeling that maybe the stuff of this earth has captured your undivided attention, you might find some needed encouragement in "Less is More."

Seeing Paul McCartney for the last time?

They say it's your birthday, Paul McCartney! My favorite Beatle (we all have one, right?) is 77 years old today.  My dear, sweet wife and I are going to see him next week in concert in downtown Phoenix.

I had seen Paul once before - it was in St. Louis in the early 90"s.  I took my oldest daughter, Stephanie, with me to Busch Stadium.  We stood and sang through the entire concert and when it was all over I thought to myself, "Seeing Paul McCartney - I can check this off my bucket list!"

Fast forward to November of 2005 - Paul is coming to the Valley of the Sun.  He's 63 years old.  I said to Sherri, "We really should go - this may be the last time we can see him live and in person."  We went, had great seats and stood and sang through the entire concert.  I left with a good feeling.  I had seen Macca before he retired.

Only one problem - Paul didn't retire! He's been to Phoenix two more times since 2005 and we went both time, again thinking "this is probably it, the last time."  Wrong! And now, Paul comes back next week to sing 39 Beatles, Wings and solo hits.  We'll probably stand and sing right along with him.

Some folks I know are a little dismayed that some of the old rockers, like the Rolling Stones and the Who, are still doing concerts.  They call it a "money grab."  It seems like folks are willing to pay lots and lots of money for a ticket to see their musical heroes one more time.

With McCartney, it's something more.  He genuinely loves to entertain.  He was the Beatle who missed the connection with the fans when the Fabs quit touring.  Paul was the one who, when the group were going through their season of discontent, wanted to go back on stage.  He felt that being a band, as they once used to be, would help them see what being a Beatle was all about.  Unfortunately, John, George and Ringo had had enough.

So, we're going to the concert next week.  It may be the last time we can see Paul in concert.  Or maybe not.

I do know this - a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

Dad jokes!

Did your dad entertain you with corny jokes, the kind that are only suitable for groans and eye rolls?

How about this one - Did you hear about the dad who invented knock-knock jokes? He won the no-bell prize.

My dad used to tell jokes like the one above all the time.  I thought they were just about the dumbest jokes I'd ever heard.

I've become like my dad.

I told a couple of my grand kids yesterday, "If you ever need an ark, I Noah guy."  They stared at me for a moment or two and then said, "I get it."  Then one of them corrected me, "Papa, it's 'I know a guy'."  Why didn't I see that?

Here's the thing - neither of the grand kids laughed at my joke.  Which, apparently, makes it a great dad joke!

I understand the rule is that if your kids or grand kids laugh at a dad joke, it must never be told again.  But doesn't that go against the whole idea of joke-telling, that you want people to laugh or put a smile on their face?

Nevertheless, I am not defeated.  I've got 364 days to find more really bad (dad) jokes and puns - that make me laugh!

Church, sweet church

Whether you're going north or south between Greenway and Thunderbird on 75th Avenue, you can't miss Life in Christ.

Don't drive by but stop in this weekend - Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 8, 9:30 or 11 am.

God bless your weekend!

When praying, try this

God invites you - yes, commands you - to remind Him of His promises.  Populate your prayer with, "You said...."

Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing daily calendar, June 13

The Friday Funny #496

A small boy was pushing a gasoline-powered lawnmower down the street with a "For Sale" sign on it.

A man stopped him asked if the mower would run. The boy told him it would, so the man bought it.

A while later, the boy was walking past the man's house and saw him pulling repeatedly on the starting rope with no success.

The man noticed the boy and said, "I thought you told me this mower would run!"

The boy replied, "Well you have to use some cuss words to make it start."

The Man responded, "Son, I'm a preacher; I don't know any cuss words!"


"You keep pulling on that starter rope and some'll come to you!"

Listening to God as He speaks to us

I made one New Year's Resolution this year and I invited members of Life in Christ to join me in keeping this resolution.  It was this: each time I set down to read the Scriptures or begin to worship, I pray: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," the words that young Isaiah spoke to the Lord.

As I was reading Psalm 80, it seemed that the Lord really got my attention with verse 19: Restore us, O Lord God Almighty, make Your face shine upon us, that we might be saved.

Restore us, O Lord God Almighty...  To restore something is to return it to its former condition.  Israel prays that God Almighty will restore the nation and its land from the near total desolation of the land by the hands of their enemies.

Interestingly, this verb in the Hebrew language can also be translated, "to restore to life."  The consequence of sin is, as Paul writes to the Romans, "death."  (Romans 6:23).  When Jesus came to atone for our sins, His death and resurrection restored "life" to you and me. (Also Romans 6:23 - read the entire verse).

Make Your face shine upon us...  These words take us back to the Old Testament book of Numbers and the blessing that Moses gave to Aaron and, in turn, Aaron would give to the people of God.

We, too, cherish receiving the blessing and promise of God as it is usually spoken at the end of each worship service.  Through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection and being clothed in Jesus' righteousness, we are certain that God looks upon us with grace and loves us just as a father loves his child.

That we may be saved...  Asaph and all of Israel are looking for a king who will come and save them from their oppression.  The psalmist prays this petition three times, in part, because as he writes, there doesn't seem to be that leader in their midst and God's help is desperately needed.

God, in mercy, sent His Son to be our King (this is one part of Jesus' three fold office of being our Prophet, our Priest and our King).  Our King governs us, His church, in grace and will one day lead us into the kingdom of heaven.

How wonderful it is when God speaks to us through His Word, His promises of forgiveness, new life and salvation give joy and light to our lives.  Say it again, O Lord: Restore us, O Lord, God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved!

From June 12. 2012

St. Ignatius' Prayer

Dearest Lord, teach us to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing that I am doing your will.

St. Ignatius of Layola

First for the Father, then for us

We love to picture Jesus pressing forward, fingers punctured with slivers, hands wrestling with His cross, legs wobbling, now bending, stumbling, stooping, picking Himself up - we see Him force Himself to the site of His execution, His execution for us.

But did not Jesus also do what He did for someone else, namely for His Father? Was not Jesus motivated to fulfill His mission because He also sought to win for His Father the glory of salvation? An because Jesus came to work the will of His Father (John 4:34), can we not say that Jesus was motivated to fulfill His mission, despite the opposition He faced, because He enjoyed His Father's authorization?

"Motivation for Ministry," pages 154-155

Herman Sasse says...

Faith always deals with what is hidden.

God doesn't waste opportunities for growth

Becky Brown is a friend of mine.  She is a daughter of Gerry Schemers, one of our beloved Life in Christ church members who has gone to be with the Lord.

Becky has a grandson, Roman, who was born with a number of serious health problems.  He has lived longer than what his doctors predicted.  God's compassionate hand is blessing Roman and his family.  Every day is precious; with Roman they are enjoying "God's grace time."

Recently, Becky wrote of some health issues she's dealing with.  She had been a primary caregiver for Roman but right now it is hard to devote the attention she wishes to give to her grandson because of pain she is dealing with.

In a recently email, Becky recounted all the physical issues she's dealing with.  Then she signed off with the following words (which I added to my journal):

The Lord doesn't waste opportunities for growth (and I'm praying I won't either).  There are always purposes behind what we go through.

What first to do when receiving bad news

Let "throwing" be your first response to bad news.  As you sense anxiety welling up inside you, cast it in the direction of Christ.  Do so specifically and immediately.

Max Lucado, from his book, "Anxious for Nothing," calendar entry for June 9.

Count 'em, 3 services, uh, 4 services!

Don't want to forget about our Saturday service.  A small but loyal and faithful group of worshipers gather each Saturday afternoon to receive the gifts of God.  Join us this afternoon at 5 pm or tomorrow at 8, 9:30 or 11 am.  We just finished a wonderful VBS program and the children will sing at 8 and 11.  Hope to see you this weekend at LICL!

Apparently, the sermon was a little long

A pastor, known for his lengthy sermons, noticed a man get up and leave during the middle of his message. The man returned just before the conclusion of the service. Afterwards the pastor asked the man where he had gone.

"I went to get a haircut," was the reply.

"But," said the pastor, "why didn't you do that before the service?"

"Because," the gentleman said, "I didn't need one then."

A burst of praise!

What do you do when God answers a prayer? You respond with a song of praise!

That's what Hannah did.  As the wife of Elkanah, Hannah desperately wanted to conceive a child but had been unable to do so.  Still, she did not give up.  In chapter one of 1 Samuel, Hannah steadfastly prayed about her desire to give her husband a child.  And the good news, according to 1:19 is that "God remembered her."  Hannah did conceive and gave birth to a son, Samuel, who became a great Old Testament prophet.

In 1 Samuel 2:2, Hannah prayed, There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no rock like our God.

To pray that God is holy to acknowledge that there is no one whose majesty and glory is greater than God's.  He is above all things.  To pray there is no one besides You is to confess that our God is the one true God.  All others are just pretenders.  To pray that God is the rock is to point to the strong fortress of protection He offers His people.  We are moved to join the hymnwriter and sing, "On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."

Hannah sets a good example for us - in our prayers, in our conversation, in our singing - let's be sure to praise the rock that is our God!

A short word about faith

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

Frank Starr, "Light for the Way," Book, page 20

At the top of the world with my dear, sweet wife.

Through three children, four moves, and so many blessings too numerous to count, my dear, sweet wife continues to shower me with love and affection, patience and care.  Today, I praise and thank God for the 47 years we've had together.

With 4 opportunities how can you not come?

Count 'em - 4 opportunities for worship:

Today at 5 pm

Tomorrow at 8, 9:30 or 11 am

Choose one and join us at Life in Christ!