Don't let foolish pride get the best of you

John H. Holiday, who was the founder and editor of "The Indianapolis Star" stormed into the composing room of newspaper one day.  He was mad, ticked off.  He had been reading through his newspaper when he found a story where the word "height" had been spelled as "hight."  Holiday was determined to find the person who made the mistake and really let them have it.  A copy editor checked the original copy of the story and discovered that Holiday himself 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 often mirrors our own.  We find it difficult to sometimes admit our mistakes, don't we? At times, a three word sentence is the hardest one 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.  Anything but to own up to a mistake.

When Cain became jealous because his brother, Abel's offerings were received by God, while his own offerings were not received with God's favor, God gave him 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 his brother.

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 sins or we can humble ourselves before our Almighty God and, in repentance, tell Him that "I was wrong."  Like the psalmist David you can proclaim, "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!

Seal It In My Heart and Mind

Sometimes while working in the office, I like to have music on in the background.  Today, I decided to listen to some gospel and spiritual songs Johnny Cash recorded in his personal recording studio.  Just Cash and his guitar.  There are some good old favorites like "Have Thine Own Way Lord," and "In the 
Sweet Bye and Bye," among others.  But the disc led off with a song I did not know, a song Cash wrote.

As the Bible is laid open, and the Bread of Life I find

In the Words You have spoken, seal it in my heart and mind.

Seal it in my heart and mind, Lord, seal it in my heart and mind

Let me always take it with me, seal it in my heart and mind.

I find proof of Your forgiveness, and what wisdom there I find

And the strength for daily living, seal it in my heart and mind

Seal it in my heart and mind, Lord, seal it in my heart and mind

Let me always take it with me, seal it in my heart and mind

Words of love and inspiration, light to guide me when I'm blind

Keep me filled in preparation, seal it in my heart and mind

Seal it in my heart and mind, Lord, seal it in my heart

Let me always take it with you, seal it in my heart and mind.

Strikes me that this would make a very appropriate prayer when beginning a time of study and prayer.

Short and sweet church funny

I am working on a new typeface to be used for church bulletins.

It's call "Baptismal Font."

Have a blessed weekend!

Why bow your head at the mention of God's name?

Upon the Lord revealing Himself via His name, "Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshipped (Exodus 34:8).  More accurate than "worshipped," Moses prostrated himself before the Lord.  How do you respond to the presence of the Lord? Moses posture shows humility.  It is proper that we respond in this fashion when the Lord's name delivers His presence to us.  Moses' faithful response is echoed by many today who bow their head in humility at the mention of God's name, whether it be the triune name, the name of Christ, or any other name by which the Lord chooses to make Himself known.

Kevin S. Golden, "Blessed Be His Name," page 40 

The scoop on angels

Angel means "messenger." God frequently used angels to announce important events in the history of salvation including the birth of Jesus, the birth of John the Baptist, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

The angels are spirit beings who were created holy.  The Bible tells us that they are powerful and many and that they serve God and help us.  Hebrews 1:14 teaches, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Take a look at 2 Kings 6:15-17 to see how the heavenly hosts protected Elisha and his servant.

Some angels rebelled against God.  They are the devils or demons.  Evil angels are also many and powerful.  They hate God and seek to destroy everything that is good, especially faith in Christ.  In the first epistle of Peter, he wrote, "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

It is important to understand that evil angels made themselves evil.  Their disobedience got them thrown out of heaven.  For them there is no hope of redemption.  We cannot overcome such demons by our own strength.  They are overcome by the aid of Christ Jesus who is stronger than the strongest demon.  Christ crushed the head of the slithering Satan when the Lord rose victoriously from the dead.  Christ's disciples, who arm themselves with the word of God can withstand the deadly temptations of Satan.  The devil cannot stand up against the Holy Scriptures.  Frustrate the devil's evil plans - put on the Word of God today!

The story of the four fathers

Did you hear the story about the four expectant fathers who were in a Minnesota hospital waiting room while their wives were in labor?

The nurse arrived and announced to the first man, "Congratulations, sir, you're the father of twins."  "What a coincidence," the man said with some obvious pride, "I work for the Minnesota Twins baseball team."

The nurse returned a little bit later and said to the second man, "You sir are the father of triplets."  "Wow! That's an incredible coincidence," he answered.  "I work for the 3M corporation.  My buddies at work will never let me live this down."

An hour later, while the other two men were passing cigars around, the nurse came back, this time to announce to the third man who had been quietly waiting in the corner, "Your wife has just given birth to quadruplets!" The man was so shocked he could barely speak.  "It's not another coincidence, is it?" the nurse asked.  After finally regaining his composure, the man said, "I don't believe it! I work for the Four Seasons hotel chain."

After hearing this, everybody's attention turned to the 4th guy, who had just fainted, flat out on the floor.  The nurse rushed to his side and after some time, he slowly regained consciousness.  When he was finally able to speak, you could hear his whispering over and over again...

"I should have never taken that job at 7 UP.  I should have never taken that job at 7 UP!"

Anyway, Happy Father's Day!

The best VBS ever!

Last week at Life in Christ we wrapped up the 2021 version of Vacation Bible School.  We had a nice turnout of kids who were taught and cared for by a fantastic group of leaders and volunteers.  I was so impressed!

As I watched the happy children scurry around from station to station I was reminded of some of my VBS experiences.  And I remember one that had to be the best VBS ever.

Although I didn't feel that way at the beginning.  I wasn't keen to attend.  My best summer day was spent playing baseball with my neighborhood friends.  Going to VBS with the new neighbor kids, who I hardly knew, was not my idea of fun.

Boy, was I wrong!

It turned out the new kids in the neighborhood were pretty neat (I would have found that out if I had just taken a little time to get to know them).  Also, the people at their church were very nice.  We began each morning with singing songs and learning about some poor children who lived in a village in Mexico.  All of our offerings would be sent to help the kids in the village.  Our teachers taught us stories about Jesus, using flannel boards with cut-out characters (a far cry from all the audio/video stuff we have at our fingertips today).  We did some pretty neat crafts and ate all the cookies we could stuff in our mouths.

The closing service was that Friday night.  Our class was chosen to sing, "Stand Up, Stand Up with Jesus," and we sang it as loudly as we could.  During the week we learned that Jesus stands up for us - He protects us, comforts us, helps us and even dies for us so that we can be free of our sins and live with Him in heaven.  How could we not sing our best for Jesus?

Psalm 78:3 reads: That which we have heard and known and what our forefathers have told us, we will not hide from our children...so that they might put their trust in God and not forget the deeds of God, but keep His commandments.  If you have the chance, send your kids or grandkids to Vacation Bible School this year.  Who knows - they might come home and announce, "It was the best VBS ever!"

Give me an undivided heart!

Are you familiar with author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada? While in her teens she was paralyzed from the neck down from a diving accident and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.  

In her book, "Secret Strength," she wrote about facing temptation:

I was in my late 20's, single, and with every prospect of remaining so.  Sometimes lust or a bit of fantasizing would seem so inviting - and easy to justify.  After all, hadn't I already given up more than most Christians just by being disabled? Didn't my wheelchair entitle me to a little slack now and then?

When God allows you to suffer, do you have the tendency to use your very trials as an excuse for sinning? Or do you feel that since you've given God a little extra lately by taking such abuse, He owes you a "day off?"

Satan's temptations are designed to divide and conquer your heart and soul.  If the devil can get you and me to start justifying our disobedience and finding excuses for straying from God's way and will, he will burden our consciences so much that we'll find it easier to travel a path of sin and rebellion against the Lord.

The Psalmist prayed, "Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name."  An "undivided heart" is a disciple's heart, the heart of a person who wants to learn from the Lord and then to walk in the Lord's truth.  An undivided heart doesn't look for excuses to stray from following the way of Christ, the way of faith.  Instead, it expresses the words of the disciple, Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."  May David's prayer also be your prayer this week - Lord, give me an undivided heart!

The God of the second chance

"Everyone deserves a second chance,"  That's how then coach of the St.Louis Rams, Dick Vermeil put it when he drafted a certain player.  The player had shown that he had the talent to play in the NFL.  But he also had a troubled past.  His poor judgment and questionable behavior off the field seemed to cast a shadow over all of his on field accomplishments.  Other teams made a conscious decision not to draft the player.  But Vermeil believed that in the right environment and surrounded by the right players, the troubled player would flourish in the NFL.  In Vermeil's mind, the player deserved a second chance.

Psalm 85 is a prayer which asks the Lord for a fresh start.  "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation," is the plea that is made to "God our Savior."

When we begin each morning by making the sign of the cross that reminds us of our baptism, we begin with a fresh start.  We remember that we belong to God through Jesus Christ.  We remember that God views us as His righteous people as we claim through faith the merits of Jesus as our very own.  We can ask for a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and help us throughout the day.  We give thanks to the Father for the "second chance" He has given us by trusting in Jesus' sacrificial death and victorious resurrection.

The Lord never tires of hearing the faithful pleas of His people.  He gladly revives us through the Gospel, that Word of forgiveness and salvation that reassures us of our status before the Lord.  We can agree with the Psalmist that "the Lord will indeed give what is good."  He is the God of the second chance!

Back from vacation

Time to stretch out those fingers and see if I can still type? 

A couple of months ago my dear, sweet wife suggested that we celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary with a trip back to Hilton Head Island, SC.  She and I lived there for about four years while I served an LCMS church there.  It was a special time for us, in part, because we were empty nesters.

Now, unlike many couples who struggle after the birdies have left the nest, so to speak, Sherri and I loved the time we had, just the two of us.  We lived in a beautiful home off island.  It was on a golf course.  The church had many friendly and supportive people.  The beach was just a short drive away.  It was a great time in our lives.

We were able to rent a Condo at the HHI Tennis and Beach Club.  Our balcony looked out to the ocean and we never tired from the view.  We walked the beach each morning, enjoying the view and the breezes.  We were also taken with the dogs that came along with their owners.  The dogs romped through the waves having the best time.  And there was one dog who dug in the sand every day.  His little tail furiously wagged with joy as he sent sand everywhere.  It was a sight!

We had not been on the Island in 10 years and could not believe how much it had changed.  Growth is taking place both on and off island.  The traffic was much heavier and it took a lot longer to get around.  But we did get around.

We spent time at Sea Pines and enjoyed the views from the famous Lighthouse.  We spent the good part of a day on Daufuskie Island (something we hadn't done when we lived there).  We took a trolley tour in Savanah and ate at a nice place down at the waterfront.  We were particularly delighted to meet with the new pastor at Island Lutheran - Jeff Dorth.  The church is very blessed to having him as their lead pastor.  We also connected with dear friend, Steve White, my "Light Brother," (we used to do some music together - Steve is a great musician!).  Saturday was spent on the beach, relaxing and reading and listening to some music.  It was a great day for people watching with people from six months to 66 years or more having a great time.

Sunday we worshipped at Island Lutheran.  We were delighted to see some familiar faces.  People kept telling us that Sherri and I hadn't changed a bit.  We noticed that their eyesight wasn't what it used to be! Pastor Dorth led an outstanding Bible class on Gene Veith's book, "God at Work."  The worship tied into the "God at Work" theme with Pastor Dorth stressing the importance of seeing all the tasks and things we do in our every day lives as our vocation which then gives us the opportunity to glorify God and point others to Jesus.  Sherri and I left feeling refreshed and grateful to God for his many blessings to us.  

Sunday evening/Monday was spent in Charleston, SC., a place we had enjoyed visiting before.  We were disappointed to learn when we arrived at the airport that afternoon that our flight had been delayed several hours.  We got to Dallas around 9:30 and waited another two hours for our flight to Phoenix.  By the time we arrived home and got to bed it was about 2 am.  We were bushed!

Today we're catching up on laundry, mail and just taking it easy.  Jake, our dog and Glory, our cat were glad to see us and we were glad to be with them.  As Dorothy said, "There is no place like home.!"