God wants to give us all things

In Romans 8:32 the apostle Paul writes that God wants to give us all things.  Is that really true? This week's Gospel lesson about the Lost Son in Luke 15 may just provide the answer.  Learn more this Sunday at Christ the Redeemer, Olive and south of 43rd Ave.  Join us at 9 am!

Get ready to laugh, It's the Friday Funny!

Mrs. Smartt was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle.

The curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?”

“No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come with me this morning, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.”

Luther says, It's On You!

Therefore, when you view the nail's piercing through His hands, firmly believe it is your work.  Do you see His crown of thorns? Believe the thorns are your wicked thoughts.

"Martin Luther in His Own Words," page 117

So You Want To Be A Sports Talk Host?

 

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.

A prayer of confession

Back in 1948, Concordia Publishing House printed what they called "The Devotional Bible," a two volume set of devotional readings of the Gospels.  The devotions included a prayer and this particular one seemed to be meaningful for me on the day I read it because I wrote in down in my journal.  The prayer went like this:

O Lord, for Jesus' sake, remake me day after day, creating in me a clean heart.  I confess my sins to You.  They have bruised and wounded my soul.  You alone can blot all these wrongs and transgressions through Christ.  Make me acceptable to You and grant that every word and act of mine may please You.  Then You shall be the praise in Christ Jesus forevermore.  Amen.

Here's the Friday Funny!

A pastor is walking down the street one day when he notices a small boy trying to use the doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.
After watching the boys efforts for some time the pastor walks across the street up to the little fellow and rings the doorbell.

Kneeling down next to the child, the pastor smiles and asks, "And now what, my little man?" To which the boy replies, "Run!" 

It's time for the big dance!

I am, of course, referring to March Madness, the 64 team tournament to decide the best college basketball team in the country.

Yesterday, I puzzled over my brackets.  I wrote it in pencil so if I changed my mind, I could easily make corrections.  And also to change my picks back to where they were originally if I began to have second or third thoughts.

All season long my dear, sweet wife and I followed Grand Canyon University, led by their fine coach, Bryce Drew.  This is the third consecutive year that he has taken the team to the tourney.  Last year GCU won its first round game and had Alabama on the ropes, so to speak, before losing a close game.  

Again, I expect GCU to do a first round upset of Maryland.  After that, I'm not so sure.  I might pray for their success but I don't really think that God has His own bracket showing GCU winning the national championship.  I'm sure there are more important prayer requests that God must consider.

I've rearranged my office/man cave so that my recliner is set right in front of the TV.  All I need is a glass of iced tea and some pretzels and I'm ready to go.  May your brackets be clean and your wi-fi never go out!

Jesus, our substitute

From John Jeske's wonderful book, Connecting Sinai to Calvary

Because in our place our substitute lived a life of perfect obedience to the holy law of God, God considers us to be people who have given Him the perfect obedience He demands.  Because in our place our substitute died innocently under God's curse, God considers us to have been punished for our sin.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

We sin because we are sinners.  And God has every right to punish us fully and completely.  But the Parable of the Fig Tree reveals how great God's mercy and patience is toward us.  Come and learn more this Sunday at Christ the Redeemer, located at Olive and just south of 43rd Avenue.  God bless your weekend!

You got it...the Friday Funny!

Twin seven year old boys were always getting into trouble. Their parents knew if any mischief was reported in town, the twins were probably involved. Their mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. The mother sent one boy in the morning, with the other boy to see the preacher in the afternoon. The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?" The boy made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open. So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?!" Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!" The boy screamed, ran directly home and hid in his closet. When his twin brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" His brother replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time! GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!" 

Love Isn't Love Until You've Given 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! 

Saints Who Slip

(Referring to Genesis 19:30-32, Martin Luther wrote)

You might ask, "Why did God permit his people, whom He loved, to sink so low?" We shouldn't question God's motives for what He permits.  Still, in this case, we can easily find a probable explanation.  God wants us to recognize our helplessness so that we don't lapse into a false sense of security.  Lot and his family saw the sins of the people of Sodom and condemned them.  But then what happened? Lot's devout daughters disgraced themselves by committing incest.  This was so scandalous that it seldom occurred even among the people of Sodom.

So God's intent is clear.  He wants us to humble ourselves and find comfort in His mercy and kindness.  As far as humans are concerned, no one is better or more holy than the next person.  Thankfully, God protects us from sinning too seriously.  But if her were to withdraw His hand, we might fall into the very same sins.  So this story teaches us to humble ourselves in God's presence and continually pray for the Holy Spirit's guidence.

From "By Faith Alone," March 10.

A Sunday Nugget from Hammer of God

One ought not talk about oneself, it might hide Jesus from view.

page 179

The Showdown in the Desert

It seems that every good western movie ends with a showdown - the good guy in the white hat and the bad guy wearing black.  In Luke 4:1-13 we read of another showdown, one with eternal consequences for you and me.  How does it turn out.  Come and find out.  Worship is at 9 am at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Olive and just south of 43rd Avenue.  Hope to see you!

Final Basketball Update

My grandson's basketball season is finally over.  But it kept us on the edge of our seats to the very end!

His team won their conference and make it to the first round of the sectionals.  The school they played against was much, much larger than Luke's school.  This team was talented, tall and fast.  It was amazing how they quickly moved down the court for one layup after another.

But Luke's school stayed with them.  They trailed by four points at the half.  They stayed within striking distance at the end of the third quarter.  But with a couple of minutes left in the game they missed some easy shots under the basket.  The final score was 63-57.

As I wrote earlier, Luke did not play - he was a JV player.  But the coach thought enough of him and three of his teammates to dress with the varsity.  Luke's dad told me that although he didn't get in the game, he was urging his teammates on, imploring them to "Go to work!"

I haven't talked to him but I'm hoping Luke will continue to dedicate himself to work on his game and attend the regular weight lifting sessions.  He still has lots to learn.  But he made so much progress this year.  If I were wearing a shirt with buttons, they'd be bursting off right now!

Martin Luther on Faith

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace.  It is so sure and certain that a person could stake his our her life on it a thousand times.

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

From "The Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 26

Basketball update

Over the past few weeks I've been providing you with updates on my Grandson's high school basketball team.

Luke played on the JV team.  But when their season ended, the coach called him and three of his teammates up to the Varsity squad.  They were not eligible to play but they were able to practice and travel with the team.

Last Friday, Luke's team played for their conference championship.  It was thrilling to watch as Luke's team took an early lead and then held on all the way to the end.  They ended up winning the game by 8 points.

At the trophy presentation, the team and the students rushed the court, celebrating their first conference championship in 10 years.  And Luke was right in the middle of it! I was so happy for him and hope that the experience will motivate him and his teammates to contend for the championship next year.

Today I learned that Luke's team will be playing tomorrow night in a sectional tournament.  Should they win, they will play against the number one rated team in their division.  Should they chalk up another victory, they would play for a state championship with the game held at Michigan State University.

No matter the final outcome, it has been such a joy to watch our Grandson play, even though we here in Arizona.  I watched a few minutes of the Phoenix Suns the other night and it was BORING!  I'd much rather follow Luke's high school team or Grand Canyon University.  My front row seat at home is pretty sweet!

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart!

Author Eugene Peterson has some very interesting observations regarding "joy."  For example:

Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship; it is a consequence...it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience.

All suffering, all pain, all emptiness, all disappointment is seed: sow it in God and He will, finally, bring a crop of joy from it.

So often we believe that joy is something that we must muster up for ourselves.  Of course, we can't produce joy but how often do we fall for the lie that if we do something that makes us feel good (regardless of what God says about it) or if we obtain some new thing, we'll be joyous?

If we care at all about our relationship with God, living outside of His will won't bring a lasting joy.

And stuff can't make us happy.  Stuff breaks down or wears out or fall apart.  How much joy is there in all of that?

Where do we look for joy? Paul wrote to the Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!

Our joy is in Jesus.  He puts the bounce in our step, the smile on our face, the joy in our hearts.

Listening to Him in His Word...speaking to Him in prayer...being in His house to receive His gifts...sharing His gifts with the people around us - that where joy is found. 

We can't produce joy.  Jesus gives it as one of His precious gifts.

Worship the Lord faithfully and serve His people lovingly.  Watch and see if He doesn't fill your heart with joy overflowing!

From March 2013