Need a chuckle or two?

Years ago when my family and I became members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL., we very quickly became acquainted with George Kottwitz.  We learned that George was the resident humorist of the church.  He always had a story to tell and the punch line never failed to deliver a good laugh.  George regularly submits and is published in the Lutheran Witness magazine.  Here's a couple of samples of his humor.

Two elders drove to a nearby restaurant and bar after an early evening meeting at church.  While waiting for a table, they sat in the bar drinking a beer.  When their pastor walked by, one quickly said, "Oh, I hope Pastor didn't see us."  Asked the other, "What difference does it make? God knows we're having a beer."  "Sure," replied the first, "but God won't tell my wife!"

Or there's this one...

The new vicar popped into the church office with a printed copy of his yet-to-be-delivered first sermon.  Standing in front of the office's new paper shredder, he stared at the machine, a bit perplexed.  The church secretary, sensing he needed help, walked over and asked if she could do something for him.  "Yes," said the vicar, "can you show me how this thing works?"  She said, "Gladly!" She took the pages from the vicar's hand and began feeding them into the shredder.  "Thanks," said the vicar politely.  "But where do the copies come out?"

The Greatest Distance in the World

Read this great devotion this morning and wanted to share it with you.

What's the greatest distance in the world? Not the miles across the Atlantic or down to Antarctica, but the distance between the human head and heart.  Those 18 inches are the most difficult in the world.  Why? Because only God the Holy Spirit can travel them.  Millions hear about Jesus Christ as their only Savior, but only some believe.  The rest shake their heads in rejection or nod in seeming approval, only to go their own ways.  Their ears have heard but not their hearts.

What about me? Can I say with my heart, "Jesus is my Savior whom God raised from the dead?" Can I say with conviction: "His death counted for me.  His resurrection assures my resurrection.  Because He lives, I also will live, body and soul, in heaven some day?" Then thank God the Holy Spirit.  Through the gospel he carried the message from my head to my heart.  My faith is His gift.  Through that gospel He still works when my faith wavers to bridge the distance between head and heart.

The Spirit helps me travel another distance, the one between my heart and mouth.  When Jesus has moved from my head to my heart, then he'll also move from my heart to my mouth.  I'll proclaim gladly what I believe and thank Him for it.  I'll tell others what I believe and ask them to join me.  By God's grace it'll be head to heart to mouth, with the name of Jesus my precious Savior.

Richard E. Lauersdorf
"Together with Jesus - Daily Devotions for a Year"
Northwestern Publishing House 

A Word to Parents and Grandparents

As parents and grandparents we should never underestimate the influence we have upon our children and grandchildren.  They watch us carefully.  Our words soak deeply into their heads and hearts.  Studies indicate that even our teens watch and listen to us, yes, even when it seems that they have tuned us out.  Our example matters!

I don't know who penned the poetry below but the message is one worth pondering:

To hear my child at prayer, what a thrill it is to me!
There's a sweetness in the moment, as he speaks on bended knee.
And yet my heart is smitten, at this touching moment I see,
Has his faith and trust in prayer, depended much on me?

As I see him fold his hands, and bow his head to pray,
I trust he'll always love the Lord, the way he does today.
Then I hear a voice within me, speak in solemn words and true, 
How he lives a life of prayer, depends a lot on you.

So I kneel next to my bed, and lay my hand upon him,
After he has voiced his prayer, I add my own petition
May my son recall one day, that his father daily raised,
His voice to thank the Lord, and make the sacrifice of praise!

Dads and Moms, do you think much about the example you are setting for your kids? Do they see you in prayer? Do they find you reading your Bible? The next time you are tempted to "veg out" in from of the TV, try something different.  Gather the kids together and tell stories.  Talk about a favorite family vacation.  Share the funny story you heard.  Read Bible stories to your kids.  Tell them what Jesus means to you.  Share your faith in God and encourage your kids in their walk of faith.  Most of all, ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and His love so that you might always be that Godly example that your kids and grandkids need to see.

Almighty God is still in control

 Almighty God is still in control.

Almighty God is wiser and more powerful than death, war, suffering, inflation (fill in the blank)

We are still children of God.

We are still loved by the Father.

We are redeemed by the blood of the resurrected Son.

We are being made holy by the Spirit.

We will love one another.

We will stand on the truth of Holy Word alone.

We will confidently trust that the Lord will hold us up and lead us through any persecution the church might face in the future (just as He always has).

We will continue to pray, "Come, Lord Jesus."

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

God's peace and blessings be yours in abundance this week!

He is Risen Indeed!

The grave could not hold Jesus.  And it will not hold the ones who have faith in Jesus either.  He promises, "Because I live, you also will live."  (John 14:19)  The grave is where we were supposed to get what our sins deserve.  But instead, the grave is where the believer gets what our sins deserve - heaven, forever.  Instead of closing our eyes in death and opening them again to see even greater death, we close our eyes in death and open them to see Jesus.  Leave it to our Greatest Friend to take the devil's greatest weapon and use it as the believer's greatest blessing.

From "WELS.Net" devotional, April 5.

A Tradition Like No Other

If I have my facts straight, the legendary golfer, Bobby Jones, once said years ago of the new phenom, Jack Nicholas, "He plays a game of which I am not acquainted."

Bobby Jones might have said the same thing about my golf game.

However, unlike Nicholas, it wouldn't have been a compliment.

Anyway, the next two weeks of professional golf are the most enjoyable ones for me.  Later this week The Masters gets underway in Augusta, Georgia.  Next week, The Heritage tourney will be played at the Harbor Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, SC.

My wife and I lived in Hilton Head for almost four years.  I quickly learned that The Heritage was a very big deal.

I lost track of the number of folks from the church I served who came up to me and proudly said, "Pastor, I won't be in church this Sunday.  I'm (fill in the blank) at The Heritage."

It took lots of volunteers to make a golf tournament successful.  People from our church carried scoring signs, picked up pro golfers at the airport, worked concession stands, and helped run the parking lots.

My wife and I lived on a golf course so I had plenty of opportunities to get out and hit the ball around.  I remember a short time where I actually had improved my game to the point where I felt like I knew what I was doing every time I stood over the ball.

Then I went on vacation and didn't take my clubs.  When I finally got back to the course, the magic was gone.  It has never returned.

I've been pretty frustrated with my game I haven't gone out very much to play.  But I know how hard the game of golf really is.  So I like watching it (even if my wife says that watching a bag of popcorn cook in the microwave is more exciting).

Whatever...at my house on Sunday, it will be as quiet as it is when a golfer is lining up a putt.  Hey, it's The Masters!

To Whom Can You Offer Some Fruit Today?

In the late 1980's when our family moved from the Valley of the Sun to the Midwest, we didn't realize just how much we would miss fresh citrus.  However, my wife's Aunt Jean remedied the problem, at least a little bit, each Christmas.

Arriving at our doorstep would be a full box of fresh Arizona oranges.  For days afterward the only sound you would hear around our house was "Mmmmmm goooooood!"  The oranges were a delicious treasure.  Aunt Jean's gift was a blessing beyond compare.

When you arrive at the doorstep of a sick friend to provide a meal and a prayer...when you stand at the doorstep of a troubled friend to offer compassion and help...when you wait on the doorstep of a mourning friend to give comfort and love, you are demonstrating the fruit of Christian faith that the Holy Spirit produces in us and through us.  God uses you to be a blessing beyond compare to others.  And your faith in the Lord is nurtured as you trust more and more in your Savior God for forgiveness of sins, peace of heart and the gift of salvation.

Remember Galatians 5:22-23? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To whom can you offer some fruit today?

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is risen, and life reigns.

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.  Amen.

John Chrysostom

From "Treasure of Daily Prayer," page 185

By Love

 By love He took our place and died;

by faith we take His place and live.

Our sins were imputed to Him;

  His righteousness is imputed to us through faith.

From the devotional book, "Daily Bread," page 81

Good Friday worship at 6 pm

Sunday Easter Celebration at 9 am

Join us at Christ the Redeemer in Phoenix and have a blessed weekend!.

So You Want To Be A Sports Talk Show Host?

 I've had the opportunity to listen to the big sports talk station in town this week and I've discovered a few simple steps for hosting a sports talk program.  It's really pretty simple so if you've ever listened to such programs and thought to yourself, "Hey! I could do this!" I urge you to put these three steps into practice and soon you'll be rubbing elbows with Dan Patrick and Bob Costas and, well, probably not.

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.

What in the world?

The sainted John Jeske was a WELS pastor, author and seminary professor.  An Old Testament scholar, he had the wonderful gift of showing how those 39 books continually point to Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world.  I am using Jeske's "Peoples Bible" commentary for research with the daily readings found in our "Treasuring God's Word" daily devotional which we offer each week.  Here is a nugget I discovered the other day:

The world is not only Satan's playpen, but the workshop of our God.  (page 285)

Hope - you can't live without it

 \Hope - you can't live without it.  It's the thing that keeps us going during the darkest night of the soul. It's the power that keeps us moving when we're ready to give up.  It moved Job, who was tested and tried, to confidently write, "I know that my Redeemer lives."  Even as he faced death, it led the apostle Paul to pen, "Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day."  That's hope - pure and simple!

A favorite verse of my is Hebrews 6:19a: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  On this verse one pastor wrote, "Few things were more important to the sailor in a storm than a good anchor and a good ground for it.  Believers in Christ have both.  They have an 'anchor for the soul, firm and secure.'  Like some anchors whose strong flukes cannot be twisted out of shape,  so we have in Christ and absolute strong and reliable hope."

In Christ Jesus we have safe harbor.  The storms of life, while threatening to us, cannot destroy us. We flee to Christ. Anchored in the solid ground of His Holy Word, we can stand firm against the temptations of the old evil foe.  The devil can't steal our soul.  Christ's comeback victory on the third day ensures us of new life now and eternal life in heaven.  As Jane Fryer writes, "Flee for refuge to Him! Take hold of the hope He offers you! Live in great courage! You are His now and forever!

Coming Down With March Madness

 I feel a bad case of March Madness coming on.

All season long I've been following Grand Canyon University's basketball team.  The Antelopes won 29 games this year, won the WAC conference and tournament and were selected yesterday to be a 12th seed in the West bracket.

When I heard the announcement I was sky high...I imagined GCU beating their first round opponent, St. Mary, with ease.  Next, they toppled Alabama which sent the Havocs', GCU crazy student, cheering section into mass hysteria.  Those kids really pounded the Mountain Dew and emptied bag after bag of Doritos in celebration (it's a Christian university).

I could see it all...the Sweet 16, the elite 8, the final 4.  The Antelopes victorious in every game.  And just as GCU was tipping off for the National Championship... I fell back to reality.

And the reality is that GCU is probably facing a hill that they can't possibly climb to the top.

But they are well coached by Bryce Drew and have a potential NBA forward in Tyon Grant-Foster.  They play tough defense and don't seem to panic when they get off to a slow start.

My heart says GCU has a chance to make a run in the tournament.  My head says they lose in the first round.

Who knows? That's why they play the games, right?

Go Antelopes!

Before you can walk you have to be taught

The first part of Psalm 86:11 - Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth.

The psalmist makes it clear that before you can walk you have to be taught.

This make such perfect sense, right?

Before you can live out the truth of God's Word in your daily life, you have to know this Word.

I get frustrated with people, especially some parents, who say things like, "I don't want my child cooped up in some classroom going through a boring Catechism class.  I want my child learning how to serve other and help others.  That's how they learn the faith."

Wrong!

Our works and service are a result of our learning the truth of God's Word.  First, we are taught the truth and then we put the truth into practice.

Besides, if a parent's thinking about Catechism class that it's boring, it's not hard to know what their child's attitude toward the Catechism will be, right?

Don't despise the teaching of God's Word.  Pray with the psalmist, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth."

God bless your learning and your walking!

True Service Inspires Service

The principle of service is what separates true leaders from glory seekers.  Jesus, the leader, served His people.  Most religions teach that we are put here to serve God; yet in Jesus, God is offering to serve us.  True service inspires service.  The true attitude of serving is a softening agent that works on the hardest of hearts and situations.

Laurie Beth Jones, as quoted in "Cracking Your Congregation's Code" page 135
 

Walking in the wilderness

 .Ever find yourself getting distracted during your prayer time.  Does your mind seem to wander while offering your prayers and petitions to the Lord? One important admonition is to eliminate all distractions so that you can focus completely on God. The Psalm reading from the "Treasury of Daily Prayer" was portions of Psalm 63.  This psalm of David begins with these words: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water...."

We are told that David wrote this psalm "when he was in the wilderness of Judah."

Wilderness wanderings aren't much fun.  In fact, they can be downright devastating. The sense of hopelessness becomes overwhelming.  You can't see a solution to your problem.  You can't find a soul who can offer a pinch of hope.

But David stands that thinking on its head.

When he remembers God, when he meditates on all the ways that the Lord has been with him, helped him and blessed him, David finds a song in his heart.  "I will sing for joy."

In faith, David will do even more: "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."

In the wilderness of suffering and confusion, you always have a choice.  You can choose, with the hands of faith, to cling to the Lord.  When you believe that you can't take another step, the Lord will hold you up, give you His strength to keep on going and to keep on trusting.

Psalm 63 does not end with how the Lord led David out of the wilderness.  At this point, David has no idea what God's solution might be.  But David trusts that God has the solution and knows the way. That's is good enough for David.

May it always be enough for you.  Rejoice in God!.  

The Fifth Beatle?

I remember the first time I read it.  I had just purchased the latest Beatles record, "Magical Mystery Tour."  The album contained six new tracks from their TV special plus five other songs that had been released as singles.  At the bottom of the list were the words: PRODUCED BY BIG GEORGE MARTIN.

To this day I've never read an explanation as to why it was "Big" George Martin.

Were the Beatles poking fun at their producer for all the acclaim he was receiving for having produced the greatest pop record album ever made (IMHO), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?"

Or was the band simply acknowledging the big, huge, enormous influence Martin had had on their recordings and career?

Who could have ever predicted that a producer mainly of comedy records and a relatively unheralded pop band from the north in Liverpool would join forces to change the sound and the look of pop music forever?

Martin first liked the Beatles for their personalities and sense of humor.  Later he recognized the great song writing potential of Lennon and McCartney.

He changed the pace of "Please, Please Me" and gave the band their first number one hit.

He convinced McCartney that the use of strings on "Yesterday" would make the song.  And Martin was right.

He captured all the amazing sounds of "Pepper" on a four-track recording machine.  Unheard of!

And in the end, Martin was able to get the band to work together one more time to produce an album worthy of a career-ending flourish - "Abbey Road."

George Martin just passed away seven years ago on March 8, 2016 at the age of 90.

Since that time (and even before) folks have been attempting to analyze the influence of Martin on the Beatles career.

Let's just call it BIG!

Don't get even

Here's a Bible verse for you to chew on today: I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  Philemon, verse six.

It has been said that the six hardest words to say are: "I was wrong.  Please forgive me."

Many find it difficult to say these four words in return: "Yes, I forgive you."

One of the lessons the little letter of Philemon can teach us is the importance of practicing forgiveness.

I call it "practicing" because a forgiving nature doesn't come easily.

We can be hurt by the wrongs committed against us.  We might suffer loss.  We might feel pain.  We can be abandoned.  Our reputation might take an unjust hit.

The person inflicting such damage may come to their senses.  With sincerity of heart they approach you to seek reconciliation.  They speak to you the six hardest words to say.  They ask for forgiveness. How do you respond?

One thing you can do is to remember "every good thing (you) have in Christ."  You remember the humiliation of Christ: His immaculate conception and humble birth; His unjust suffering and His cruel death and burial.  You think of the price your Savior God paid so that you might receive forgiveness for the wrongs you've committed against the Holy God.  You remember the grace of God in your own life.  You think on how the resurrected Christ reached out to those who failed Him during His passion.  Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you extend grace to the person who seeks forgiveness from you.

Reconciliation takes place between you and a friend, just as it did between Philemon and Onesimus.

Grab some time today and read Paul's letter to Philemon.  Check it out and let the forgiving love of your Savior heal your hurts and give you strength to extend God's grace to others.

Today Put On Your Baptism!

Thus we see how splendid a thing Baptism is.  It snatches us out of the devil's jaws, makes God our own, defeats and puts away sin, daily strengthens the new man is us, keeps functioning, and remains with us until we leave our present troubles to enter glory everlasting.

Everyone should therefore look upon his Baptism as his everyday wear, to be worn continually.  He should at all times be found in faith and surrounded by its fruits.  He should every day suppress the old man and grow toward maturity in the new man.  For if we want to be Christians, we must carry on in the work that makes us Christians.

But if someone falls away from it, let him come back to it again.  For just as Christ, the throne of divine mercy, does not withdraw from us nor prevent us from coming back again to Him, though we sin, so also all His treasures and gifts remain.  As we once obtained forgiveness of sins in Baptism, so that forgiveness continues for us as long as we live, that is to say, for as long as we have the old Adam hanging about our necks.

Martin Luther, "The Large Catechism"
from "For All the Saints" pages 217-218

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Witnesses

 

            A few years ago I developed a Bible study around the word, “Witness.”  A witness is someone to testifies or tells what Jesus Christ has done in their lives.  If you’re not sure what a witness does, let me share these seven habits with you.

            First, WATCH for opportunities.  The Apostle Peter wrote: But always in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.  Today at work someone might ask you, “Hey, what did you do this weekend?”  That’s the perfect opportunity to tell them about your day at church, what the pastor preached about or what you learned in Bible class.  Don’t forget – God uses us to extend His church by telling others about Jesus.

            Next, INVITE family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers to worship and Bible study with you.  The psalmist exclaimed: I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”  I’ve read a number of times that people who don’t go to church would go if they were invited.  Who can you invite to church this Sunday? Pray about it.

            Third, pray with THANKSGIVING! The Apostle Paul encouraged the Colossians to: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Paul didn’t let a little matter like being thrown in prison keep him from giving thanks to the Lord for the blessings of salvation and eternal life.  We, too, can pray with thanks to the Lord for His blessings and promises.  And we can keep praying for those to whom we are witnessing.

            Next, beware of your NEMESIS! Paul advised the Ephesians and us all to: Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Satan is never pleased when you and I are testifying about the forgiveness and salvation we’ve received as a free gift from our Lord and Savior.  Ask God to give you strength so that you might resist the tricky methods of the devil.

            Fifth, exude ENTHUSIASM.  The Gospel writer, John, tells us: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  The Jewish people had been waiting for thousands of years for God to keep His promise to send a Savior to His people.  Andrew had spent the afternoon with God’s promise – Christ Jesus.  He couldn’t wait to tell his brother.  Tell your family and friends about the Lord with the same kind of enthusiasm.  People will want what you’ve got.

            Next, SOW the seeds of the Gospel.  How is this done? Paul explains to the Corinthians: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  You see, it is not your job to convert another person to Christ.  You are to be a gospel gardener, your testimony about Jesus is like a seed that goes in the ground with the hope that it will grow and produce a bountiful crop.

            Finally, let the Holy SPIRIT do His work! Paul wrote to the Romans: I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.  I remember a time when I witnessed quite strongly to a fellow.  However, he seemed to be indifferent to Jesus’ love and salvation.  But later he came to me and made a confession of faith and told me that he had embraced Jesus as his Savior and Lord.  I had given up on the fellow.  The Holy Spirit did not.  When we think our efforts have failed to accomplish anything, we need to sit back and let the Holy Spirit do His work in that person we’re witnessing to.  The Holy Spirit does good work.

            So there you have it, my friends.  Practice these habits, be faithful and watch what God does.  And then, give Him the glory for His might and salvation.

Spring Traning - Too Expensive!

 I grew up in Tucson, Arizona which, at that time, was the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians.

I remember the good old days when my Dad would take me to Hi Corbett Field for a spring training game.

To see in person ballplayers like Willie Mays and Willie McCovey and Rocky Colovito was like living a dream.

Tickets were cheap, food was inexpensive and parking was free.  As far as my Dad was concerned, life couldn't get much better.  And I had to agree with him.

That's not the case today.

It seems that spring training has priced itself out of the realm of the average family's budget.  Unless you're a die-hard fan of your team, how can a family of four afford tickets (no longer five bucks a piece), a hot dog (no longer a buck a dog) or park the car (I believe I paid 15 dollars at Peoria a couple of years ago).

So I'll stay home.  I can sit out on my back porch, out of the sun, and listen to the Diamondbacks on the radio.  There won't be any vendors selling peanuts, pop corn and Cracker Jacks.  I'll have to get up to get my favorite liquid beverage.

But I won't pay $15 for it.