tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15184721601848669562024-03-13T01:23:52.546-07:00Peace Lutheran of Jefferson CityWebsite and blog for Peace Lutheran Church, Jefferson City, MissouriPeace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-5421369408385167222015-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:002015-08-28T07:50:07.787-07:00Let us walk in the Light of God!
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">A young
woman walked into a church to talk to the pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told the pastor that although she did not
regularly attend church she believed in God, had a prayer life, was kind to
people, and tried hard to live by the Ten Commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite it all she could not rid herself of a
nagging sense of sin and guilt.</span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Why is
it,” s<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>he asked, “that my friends who do not believe in
God, who freely admit that they do not take religion seriously, are never
troubled by any consciousness of guilt?”</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Her
question was not a new one for the pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Tell me”, he said, “if I were to lay a hundred pounds of stone upon a
corpse, would it feel the weight?”</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure it wouldn’t”, she replied.</span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Why
not?”</span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Because
the corpse has no life in it and is unable to feel the load.”</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Exactly!”
replied the pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And that is why the
person who is indifferent to his spiritual needs can say that he doesn’t feel
the weight of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is dead,
spiritually.”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It has
always been true that the Christian has been more conscious of his personal
sinfulness in the sight of God than the careless unbeliever.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">King
David admitted, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”
(Psalm 51:3)</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The
Christian sees his sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A person who
walks in the darkness can’t see the smudges on his clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once he walks in the light he immediately
becomes conscious of his filthy condition.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">There
is nothing surprising at all in this young lady’s concern over her personal
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, her deep concern was a
sign that the Spirit of God was indeed working in her heart.</span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than
our heart and knows all things.” (I John 3:20).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God, who is greater than our hearts, looks at us, not in our sins, but
in Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of Jesus all of
your sins are forgiven!!!! As the book of Romans so wonderfully reminds us,
“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”</span></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-58234942372102506482015-07-29T12:24:00.000-07:002015-07-29T12:24:59.382-07:00TRUE FREEDOM…FOREVER!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tradition tells of a chime
that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from
the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear
the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There is
widespread disagreement about when the first crack appeared on the Bell, but
the final expansion of the crack—which rendered the Bell unringable—was on
Washington’s birthday in 1846.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
American citizens, we are the beneficiaries of the blood and treasure
sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today, but as Christians, we are the
beneficiaries of the greatest sacrificed blood and treasure the world has ever
known: the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who
left His throne in heaven to become one of us, to gain for us a different kind
of freedom . . . an eternal freedom that came at great cost to Himself: crucifixion on a wooden Cross!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
freedom is brought to us through the Gospel!
The Gospel is God’s Liberty Bell, ringing out the Good News of our
Savior’s death on the cross, where we learn of His shed blood covering our sins
and His resurrection from the grave, bringing us forgiveness, new life and life
everlasting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> All who believe in Jesus Christ have
been given the freedom <b><i><u>from</u></i></b> the curse of the law,
the power of sin, and the fear of death.
And thanks to Christ’s work of redemption, all believers have been freed
<b><i><u>for</u></i></b>
hearing and following His Word, serving Him and others, and proclaiming His
Gospel of <b><i>“spiritual freedom” </i></b>to all people, of <u>every</u> nation! Jesus Himself declares, <b><i>“If you hold to My teaching, you
are really My disciples. Then you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. If the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed.”</i></b> (John 8:31-32, 36) –
Now that’s TRUE FREEDOM!</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-8923937228525093122015-06-10T09:51:00.001-07:002015-06-10T09:56:56.867-07:00Questions You've Never Asked<div class="Section1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1518472160184866956" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1518472160184866956" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1518472160184866956" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe you never thought to ask. Or maybe you were too busy
considering other questions, and searching out their answers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One way or another there are questions that haven't been
asked, that are worth asking. There are mysteries full of meaning right before
our eyes, and under our noses, that beg the question. For instance: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do we have a seven-day week?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why are there such diverse languages in the
world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do people wear clothes, and eat meat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why after all this time is the "Missing
Link" still missing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do people die? (And by the way, then what
happens?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you peel the onion that far, it then becomes personal,
and important for us to find the answers to what comes up next! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is there a God? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Does He care about me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If God's loving, why do I have so many problems?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why does it seem that bad things happen to good
people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other than my own plans -- which often fall
short -- is there a plan for my life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TOO DEEP FOR ME. But before you drop this newsletter and
head out for a latte with your 'to-do' list -- what if you knew? What if you
had answers? Would that make a difference? Would it ease your mind, and
reassure you when you're afraid, or confronted with life's reversals? What if
you found peace and joy in it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone has answers: The One Who made the deaf hear and the
lame leap like a deer . . . Who announces good news to the poor . . . Light for
those who sit in darkness . . . Life for those living under the shadow of death
. . . forgiveness for sins and eternal salvation in a concrete, real-time,
truly present peace with God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While we're at it, why has Jesus, the Jewish Carpenter of
2000 years ago from the small-potatoes town of Nazareth, become the most
beloved, most despised, most controversial, most revered, most pivotal and
consequential person in all of history? Why not come and see? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-74910751045546096682014-03-05T09:27:00.001-08:002014-03-05T09:27:12.580-08:00Meditation on the Lord's Prayer<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Lord’s Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Our Father
who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into
temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever and ever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Am I worthy enough to offer prayer to God? When we think about our sinful lives and the
fact that we were born enemies of God, the answer to that question is a
resounding, “No!” But thankfully prayer
is not based upon a level of worthiness which we have fulfilled. As we continue our meditations on the
Catechism, the Lord’s Prayer teaches us the necessity of prayer and the
importance of it, but it also teaches us the proper way to approach prayer by
directing us to ask for specific things.
In the Lord’s Prayer we see that of the seven petitions, six of them
focus on spiritual blessings. All of
these blessings flow from repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as our one true
Savior. Daily bread is even granted to
the wicked, but forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are withheld from
those who deny the Triune God and refuse the gracious gift of salvation through
Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Prayer for the Christian is commanded, because we as
sinner/saints need to be reminded of the necessity of prayer and of the
promises attached to it. The admonition
to pray is included in the Second Commandment, “You shall not take the name of
the Lord your God in vain.” If we are to
use God’s name properly them we are to call upon Him at all times making our
prayers and requests known to him with thanksgiving. All true prayer proceeds out of faith in the
true God. We might reasonably assume
that if our faith is right, our prayer life is right also, but unfortunately
our prayers are far and few between.
Like the wicked who are given their daily bread, we assume that we are
content or that God will grant our needs without our requests. Our prayers are often lacking in abundance
and zeal, causing us to neglect a great blessing and promise that God has
given. God has promised to answer our
prayers, but we are often to busy to ask, or too ashamed, or too distracted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">We may even rightly feel that we do not know how to
pray, but for this there is no excuse.
Countless prayers of the faithful have been recorded in Scripture. Psalms is the prayerbook of the Bible. Jesus prayed many times throughout his
ministry as recorded throughout the Gospels, that we might know better how to
pray. There are countless prayers
throughout the Bible that teach us how we are to pray and for what we ought to
pray. God has indeed commanded us to
pray and promised to hear us. He has
given us prayers to pray that reflect our unworthiness but trust in the
steadfast mercy of God and His lovingkindness showered upon us by the blood of
His Son. This is why true prayer is offered through Jesus work of Salvation for
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Even our best prayers are translated by the Holy
Spirit so that they may be presentable to God in accordance with his will. Many of us have distress and troubles in our
lives that should be burdened by God, and not pressing down upon our shoulders
as though a great immovable weight is pinning us down. Many of these God allows to happen so that we
may more faithfully turn to Him in prayer and trust and rely upon His grace as
He told <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city></st1:place>,
“My grace is sufficient for you.” But
instead of letting our requests be made known to God, we unnecessarily shoulder
the weight and burden alone and become embittered. Rather we should learn to rely on our God and
Savior who desires to help us and lead us to everlasting life. “He who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also feely give us all
things?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Prayer is not just a command, but it is a gift that
God has granted to us so that we may learn to rely more and more on Him each
and every day for spiritual and earthly blessings. Prayer is one of the tools by which the devil
is kept at bay, because the praying Christian is relying not on himself but
upon God. May God grant us confident
hearts to trust in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">O Lord, let Your merciful ears be attentive to the
prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray that
our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-51536149322734141202013-08-09T06:48:00.000-07:002013-08-09T06:48:51.798-07:00Meditation on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Third Article<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
Christian Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of sins, the
Resurrection of the body, and the Life everlasting. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe
that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or
come to Him; But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me
with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; just as He calls,
gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and
keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly
forgives me and all believers all our sins; and at the last day He will raise
up me and all the dead, and will grant me and all believers in Christ eternal
life. This is most certainly true.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Babel</st1:place></st1:city>,
when the people began to erect a tower and make a name for themselves God
confused their language so that they would not be able to complete the
work. This resulted in many different
languages being spoken and the inability to continue consolidating their time
and efforts in one place. The confusion
carried the peoples into different parts of the world and they gathered with
others who spoke the same language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The only way it would now be possible to communicate
with those of a different language, would be to use a translator. Over time, some people would learn more than
one language in order to speak between the different cultures that now existed. In a similar manner, all people need a
translator in order to understand God’s Word.
Without a translator, the Bible remains a closed book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s not as if the English we use in our translations
is too far removed from the English that we speak today, but we really need a
translator to understand what God’s word is really saying…we need a translator
to help us see with the eyes of faith and not just our earthly
perceptions. This is the role of the
Holy Spirit. He translates God’s word so
that we can take it to heart and trust in it, even without seeing it. “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or
strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In John 14, Jesus said this, “The Holy Spirit whom the
Father will send in My name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said to you.”
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God’s word teaches us about Christ
and all that He has done for us. Through
the preaching of that Word, the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts to
believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This faith does not occur by some magical act, but
rather it is always connected with God’s Word.
Where two or three are gathered around His Word, there God is in their
midst. The work of the Holy Spirit is
always attached to God’s Word and Sacraments, and the word and sacraments take
place where people of like faith gather around that Word. This is why we believe in a Holy Christian
Church, because it is made “holy” by the Holy Spirit who works faith in the
hearts of those gathered to hear this precious word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Without the Holy Spirit the Word remains hidden to us,
and without the Word the Holy Spirit does not bring us to faith. The two are intimately connected in such a
way that where one is, the other is also.
This Gospel through which He brings us to faith is none other than the
work of Christ, revealed to us throughout Holy Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">When the Holy Spirit works on us through God’s Word,
he works forgiveness and salvation. He
assures us of God’s love for us in Christ and causes us to take that comfort to
heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">O God, You once taught the hearts of Your faithful
people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to
have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy
consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-37623846056351453982013-06-29T09:21:00.002-07:002013-06-29T09:21:47.377-07:00Meditation on the Second Article of the Apostles Creed<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Second Article<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son
our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into
hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He shall come
to judge the living and the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.35pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I believe
that Jesus Christ is true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also
true man, born of the virgin Mary; and that He is my Lord, Who has redeemed me,
a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death
and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy,
precious blood, and with His innocent suffering and death; in order that I
might be His own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting
righteousness, innocence and blessedness; even as He is risen from the dead,
lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Picture yourself falling into a deep dark pit. The only form you can make out at the bottom
is a ferocious beast that is ready at a moment’s notice to swallow you
whole. This is the condition into which
each of us is born. Dead in trespasses
and sins, all are moving headlong into the deepest depths of hell with no
ability of our own to escape what lies below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">When Adam and Eve fell into sin, the entire world fell
with them. “By Adam’s fall is all
forlorn, man’s nature and his thinking, The poison’s there when we are born, In
sin yet deeper sinking.” (ELH 430.1) In
our fallen condition, all of us are just dangling over the beast, waiting to be
devoured. Both our sin that we have
inherited from our parents and the sins that we continue to commit, earn us a
place as food for the devil’s appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Yet, the truth of who Jesus is, brought out in the
Second Article of the Creed gives us reason to spite the devil. Jesus, became man for us so that he might be
swallowed up by Satan in our place.
Jesus became our vicar or substitute, clothing himself in human
flesh. Much like a worm covers up a
hook, Jesus covered himself in human flesh, by being born of the Virgin and
entered our world in the likeness of mankind.
Bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. Jesus dangled himself within reach of the
ferocious beast, so that once He was seemingly devoured, He would defeat that
beast once and for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Because Jesus was perfect He had no reason to fear the
devil’s snapping jaws. The devil had no
hold over him. But so that we might be
saved, Jesus shows us what kind of a Lord we have…One who was willing to
experience death, so that we would not have to experience the terrors of hell. Jesus removed us from the clutches of Satan
and placed us safely at His side where he is able to nourish and strengthen us
through His holy Word...by assuring us of the forgiveness of our sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The Gospel that the Church preaches is based solely
upon Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection which has won for us the forgiveness
of sins. There is nothing we have done
to rescue ourselves, there is nothing we can do to be saved. Christ has done all of the work…while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. He
called us out of darkness, into His marvelous light. He requires nothing in return and promises us
the blessing of heaven when we, by His power, trust in Him as our Lord and
Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created
us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who
made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.</span></div>
Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-72399375609491013942013-06-29T09:20:00.001-07:002013-06-29T09:20:25.837-07:00Meditation on the First Article of the Apostles Creed<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The First Article<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe that God has made me and all
creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my
members, my reason and all my senses, and still preserves them; that He richly
and daily provides me with food and clothing, home and family, property and
goods, and all that I need to support this body and life; that He protects me
from all danger, guards and keeps me from all evil; and all this purely out of
fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for
all which I am in duty bound to thank and to praise, to serve and obey
Him. This is most certainly true.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Ten Commandments have taught us the proper respect we are to have towards God
and that we are to have only one God.
The question then that arises is “What sort of God do you have?” or “Who
is God?” The Creed then is that answer
and confession of the Christian arranged in respect to the first commandment so
that we know who the one true God is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Psalm
139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s
womb. I will praise You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul
knows very well. In the First Article of
the Apostle Creed, it focuses on what we know about God through the
creation. The opening words of Genesis
speak very plainly of our origins and the origins of all life in the universe
as we know it. “In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth.” It
stands to reason then that the God who created us continues to preserve and
care for us through the creation which he has made. This is called God’s providence. God still continues to provide for us through
everything that he has made. He gives us
every thing that we need to sustain our lives.
All that we have is from Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Nor
does God just let the powers of evil overtake us but he defends us from all
evil and misfortune. He directs all
sorts of danger and disaster away from us.
We have not earned any such divine assistance or protection, but God
does so simply because His nature is to love that which He has created. He has knitted us together in our mothers’
wombs, he breathed life into us in a special way and has promised to continue
caring for that life even amidst the struggles and trials that we face. Yet God’s love for us is not based on the
evidence of the material possessions we have, but our worth is derived out of
His love for us in Christ as we will learn more about in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Article.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Because
of His divine love for us in Christ, we could rightly say of ourselves that we
have a face only a mother could love.
Because of our sins, we were alienated from God and from each other. We have no worth of our own that would cause
him to love us, but because of God’s benevolence, he continues to love the
sinner, in spite of the sin. The
evidence of that love is found in the work of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet
our duty toward God is not done. Because
he has loved us in such a way as to provide for us and care for us in all
things we are duty bound to thank and to praise, serve and obey him. Without God providing our oxygen, we would
surely perish. God, by his gracious
hand, continues to provide those things necessary to sustain life and without
them we would perish. This article ought
to keep us humble and terrify us all, because we cannot earn God’s willingness
to preserve us. Yet we are to thank him
daily, even constantly for his blessings; the blessings of divine protection,
food and clothing, home and family, property and goods, and all that we need to
support this body and life. By
recognition of God as our creator and preserver, our hearts should be warm and
kindled to be thankful and to use all such good things to the honor and praise
of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Almighty God, through Your Word and Spirit You most
wonderfully created all things, and through the Word made flesh You brought new
life to fallen humanity. Grant that in
Your mercy we may be conformed to the image of Him who shares fully in our
humanity, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-77746646270525313602013-05-18T07:31:00.000-07:002013-05-18T07:31:14.724-07:00Peace VBS<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Peace VBS</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>VBS for this year will be held from June 2, 2013 through June 6. The week will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday with activities and a church picnic to follow. The students will meet from 5:30 to 7:35 on Monday through Thursday. Supper will be at 5:30, class begins at 6.<br />
<br />
This year we will be studying the life of Joseph and how it portrays God's will being done in the life of His people. Please contact the church for more details or to register. Children in preschool through 8th grade are encouraged to attend. (573)496-3893<br />
Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-51046860608339627312013-05-18T07:21:00.003-07:002013-05-18T07:21:52.705-07:00Meditation on the Conclusion of the Commandments<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Conclusion: What does God say about
these commandments?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I the Lord your God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth
generation of those who hate Me, and showing mercy to thousands of those who
love me and keep my commandments.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">God threatens to punish all who
transgress these commandments. Therefore
we should fear his wrath and do nothing against these commandments. But he promises grace and every blessing to
all who keep these commandments.
Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly do
according to His commandments.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In
the Ten Commandments we have the sum total of everything that God would have us
say and do. All of the commandments are
a reflection of the First Commandment: You shall have no other gods. When we serve the only true God, all of the
other commandments will follow from the right spirit. Yet St. James wrote,
“Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
breaking all of it.” (James 2:10) The
seriousness of transgressing God’s commands is severe. Because of our sins we are guilty. The primary purpose of the law is to accuse
us of our failings and inability to do what God demands…and under no
circumstances are we ever able to keep His law as we properly should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet,
as sinful human beings we are often tempted to invent other ways by which we
can please God. We make up other rules
that are not quite so difficult, not quite so plain. We desire elaborate works that truly show our
devotion to God and we treat His Commandments as passé, out of date. We invent
ways in which we can please God and unknowingly set aside the Holy Commands
that He has given to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As
sinful human beings we have a hard time stomaching the rigid requirements of
God’s law and would like an alternative to serve Him. For example, if we look at our sinful
understanding of the 3<sup>rd</sup> commandment, we say to ourselves “It is
important that I worship regularly.” But
instead of treating God’s Word as though it is the most important thing in our
lives we treat it as though it is just another requirement to fulfill. Instead of whole heartedly loving and
willingly submitting to all of His commands we look at them with fearful
drudgery or indifference. Instead of
feasting on the Gospel of forgiveness, we subject ourselves to the divine
service and the Word for the day and treat that act of obedience as good
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In
the Ten Commandments we see how easily we fail to fulfill them. When taken as a whole they form a complete
unit. Like a giant circle that begins
with devotion towards God and ends with devotion towards God. When we fail in just one area, our devotion
towards God fails. God wants us to love
and serve him alone because He shares allegiance with no one. This is an allegiance that belongs to Him and
is only possible through the One who has completed the Commandments in our
place. God’s love for you was so great
that He willingly sacrificed His Son, so that He would not have to punish as
our sins deserved. He extends His mercy
on all those who rightly fear Him…a mercy that is alone found in Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">While
we will never have the ability on this side of heaven to complete the
Commandments, we by the grace of God are given the faith to trust in Jesus work
in our place. This is a faith that
compels us to love and serve Him, not out of fear or compulsion, but out of
devotion towards someone who has graciously rescued us and set us free. In that freedom we use the Ten Commandments
again and again to review the best ways in which we can fear, love and trust in
God above all things, and love our neighbor as ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .1in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">To us God gave these Ten
Commands That you might learn, O child of man, </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Your sinfulness and also know To
live for God, as you go. Have mercy, Lord!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Lord Jesus Christ, now help us all, Our Mediator from
the Fall, Our works are all so full of sin, </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">But You for us heav’n did win. Have
mercy, Lord! Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary 490)</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-34390592188115777622013-04-13T08:44:00.002-07:002013-04-13T08:44:10.831-07:00Meditation on the 9th and 10th Commandments<br />
<div class="Section1">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Ninth Commandment:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You
shall not covet your neighbor’s house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does this mean?</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">We
should fear and love God, so that we do not craftily seek to gain our
neighbor’s inheritance or home, nor get it by a show of right, but help and
serve him in keeping it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Tenth Commandment:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You shall not covet
your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle,
nor anything that is his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What does this mean?</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -9.35pt; margin-right: -2.15pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">We should fear and
love God so that we do not tempt, force or coax away from our neighbor his wife
or his workers, but urge them to stay and do their duty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What
is it above everything else that God wants from us? He doesn’t need our things…they are His
already. If we outwardly keep all of the
other commandments and show ourselves to be truly pious by what we say and
do…all will fall short of the righteous requirements of God when it comes to
the commandments against coveting.
Coveting is sinful desire that occurs in our hearts and our minds. This commandment is not for the cheaters in
the eyes of the world, rather it is for the most pious, who want to be praised
and to be called honest and upright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The
difference between these two commandments may be subtle, yet they are given to
protect very different things. The ninth
protects a neighbor’s inanimate (lifeless) possessions and the tenth protects
animate (living) possessions. Houses
cannot be wooed away from their owner like a spouse or a servant can be, so it
was important for God’s law to differentiate between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">All
sin begins in the heart, and these commandments make that very clear. The ninth commandment prohibits us from
plotting to acquire with the intention of harming our neighbor. It also teaches us to be content with what
God has given us, and to be thankful for what I have by being generous with the
things I have been given. In the ninth
commandment we should recognize that God has truly given everything that we
need or that which is good for us.
Instead of finding ways to scheme against our neighbor we should find
ways in helping our neighbor keep what is rightfully his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In
the tenth commandment God desires to protect especially those living gifts and assets
which are beneficial and necessary for family life, providing services to
others through laborers, and the benefits which one receives from raising
livestock. Our desire should be for our
neighbor to keep those things that God has given him, we should encourage his
wife and his workers to stay in their calling, instead of encouraging them to
leave. No amount of things will ever
make us content until we understand that God has given us Himself. He is our God and his will towards us is good
and gracious at all times. Only in Him
will there be true contentment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Our
natural instinct is that no one wants to see someone else have as much as
himself. Each one acquires as much as he
can. Yet we pretend to be godly, know
how to dress ourselves up most finely and conceal our base character. There is no commandment that we are capable
of keeping, least of all commandments that require perfection even in our
thoughts. It requires us to serve those
who seem to us to have more than we do.
These commandments are especially directed against envy and miserable
greed, but God wants to remove all causes and sources from which arises
everything by which we harm our neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">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.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-48568639965384908272013-02-05T12:46:00.003-08:002013-02-05T12:46:39.776-08:00Meditation on the 8th Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We should fear and love God, so
that we don not lie about, betray or slander our neighbor, but excuse him,
speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A story is told of a young man
during the middle ages who went to a monk, saying, “I have sinned by telling
slanderous statements about someone.
What should I do now?” The monk
replied, “Put a feather on every doorstep in town.” The young man did as he was told. Then he returned to the monk, wondering if
there was anything else that he should do.
The monk said, “Now go back and pick up all the feathers.” The young man replied, “That is impossible!
By now the wind will have blown them all over the town.” The monk replied, “So has your slanderous
word become impossible to retrieve.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Next to one’s own body, spouse,
and temporal possessions, we still have another great treasure that God wishes
to protect – honor and good reputation.
As Solomon says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great
riches.” We cannot do without a good
reputation, for it is intolerable to live among people in open shame and
contempt. Once someone’s name has been
tarnished, it becomes almost impossible to restore it. If we learn something juicy about someone
close to us, it becomes almost impossible to forget, yet we have no right to
share it, unless called to do so in court.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
To bear false witness is nothing
other than the work of the tongue. It
doesn’t only mean that one should not share false things about one’s neighbor,
but not even sharing true statements about one’s neighbor. For if we are unwilling to go before a judge
with the same information then why should we be willing to share these unkind
statements with others. Unless our
speaking results in the building up of his reputation, one should keep his
mouth shut. Yet we cannot handle
this. We would rather make ourselves
look better than suffer the praise and adoration of one’s neighbor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There are times when the Christian
is called upon to admonish his neighbor, yet we would rather keep silent. Jesus says that if your brother sins go and
tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he repents, you have gained a brother. Unfortunately, I fear that we are all too
comfortable either keeping our mouth shut or too busy sharing the faults of our
neighbor with those who have no reason to know.
Instead we should only act when we have the reformation and love of our
neighbor in mind. The same still rings
true as we were told when we were kids, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t
say anything at all.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -1.8pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The law and its power have no
means to rehabilitate. It only
condemns. “Don’t lie.” it says, yet we
lie anyway. By the grace of God, there
is forgiveness for liars like us.
Forgiveness does not come about by giving it our best shot, but only by
the love that has been shown to us in Jesus Christ. “Father forgive them” Jesus said, “for they
know not what they do.” Jesus yearns to
give of Himself to you, so that you quit relying on your imperfect works and
trust only in that which Jesus has already done. Only then can you truly begin to love our
neighbor without the fear of the law.</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Almighty God, You have sent the Spirit of truth to us
to guide us into all truth. Rule in our
hearts, we pray, by Your grace and power, that we may be truthful in our
thoughts, words, and actions. Keep us,
merciful Lord, in Your fatherly care and protection, that no fear or sinful
ambition may make us deceitful in our speech or behavior. Cleans us, we ask, from everything false and
wrong, and bring us into the freedom of Your Good News in Christ Jesus our
Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-15934528005956340812013-02-05T12:45:00.003-08:002013-02-05T12:46:52.697-08:00Meditation on the 7th Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">You shall not steal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">We should fear and love God, so that we do not take our neighbor’s money
or goods, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and
protect his goods and means of making a living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Have you ever caught yourself
thinking, “he doesn’t need that” or “he could do without that”? Sometimes it’s hard not to think those
thoughts when surrounded by people who have plenty. It often turns into an argument with yourself
about how you deserve those things much more than the other guy. Besides, we know all of his faults and it’s
just not fair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
I often have to remind myself
that I’m not someone else. I am who I am
and there is nothing I can do to make me into someone else. Each of our callings have their rewards, not
all of which are monetary. God demands
that I work for my daily bread and beyond that it is up to Him to provide the
increase. If no man works, neither shall
he eat. Yet, everyone is guilty of stealing
in thoughts, words, and actions. Man has
stolen from others by failing to provide for those in need, he has mismanaged
time and left things undone that should be done, and he has stolen by treating his
belongings as though they were solely for his own benefit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
The Psalmist wrote, “The earth
is the Lord’s, and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell
therein.” It’s humbling to note that
everything which man claims as his own all belongs to God. It is not our own things or time that are
being misused, rather it is God’s things and God’s time that is being misused. Everything we have is on lease from Him. He still owns it. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away,
blessed be the name of the Lord. Whether
we eat or drink or whatever we do, do it all to the glory of God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Unfortunately, our actions often
only show how we would like to glorify ourselves. Our actions place us in the role of the
creator, not the created which we are.
We assume that we answer to no one but ourselves. Ultimately, though, we all have to answer to
God. It is God who says, you shall not
cheat your neighbor, your employee, or your employer. It is God who says we should always have the
best interest of everybody else’s belongings in mind…not the best interest of
ourselves. The psalmist says we are His
people, it is He who made us and not we ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Has anyone always thought of his
fellow’s property instead of himself?
Has anyone always used the goods entrusted to his care for the benefit
of his neighbor? No normal human ever
has, nor can we. We were steeped and
covered in sin when we were born, and for each sin we are deserving of
death. A punishment which is far to
painful for us to withstand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Yet, we have a gracious Lord,
who desired to love us, in spite of our sin.
He sent His Son to be perfect in our place, even going without in order
to help others. And not only did he do
right on our behalf, but God inflicted upon Him the punishment which our sins
deserve. Jesus willingly paid a price
greater than we can imagine so that God would not hold us accountable for our
sins. May the comfort of that gift
encourage you to give to others as you have been generously given.</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">O Lord our God, You have commanded that we should
receive Your may blessings with thankful and generous hearts. Give us your grace, we pray, to use all of
our talents and abilities for Your glory and for the good of others. Help us to respect the gifts and possessions
You have given to others, so that we might encourage all people to trust Your
mercy and love in Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-41709793119009640672012-12-04T11:31:00.003-08:002012-12-04T11:31:56.192-08:00Meditation on the Sixth Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">You shall not commit adultery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">We should fear and love God, so that we lead a chaste and decent life in
word and deed, and that husband and wife each love and honor the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">Marriage is the most beautiful earthly estate that God has established
on the earth. Marriage should be highly
treasured and given its proper place.
Just envision the bride on her wedding day, adorned with a glorious
wedding garment. The spotless garment is
a perfect picture of what wedded life should be like. The bride walks into the sanctuary to say her
vows to her soon-to-be husband and all eyes are on her. The beauty of marriage is typified in the
garment which the bride is wearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">Yet it </span>doesn't<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> take long before the wedding garment is soiled. By the time the festivities are over the
garment looks used and dirty. It no
longer holds that glorious radiance which was present just hours before. Usually the dress is then cleaned and boxed
up, it is put out of sight and out of mind.
The glory which the garment displayed is usually forgotten and the cares
of life begin eating away at the beautiful estate of marriage, like a mouse
eating away at the beautiful garment that was once part of the highlight of a
wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">Married couples soon forget that glorious day. They become wrapped up in the cares of life
and at times show bitterness and anger towards each other. Slowly but surely they lose that physical
attraction that brought them together in the first place and they find
themselves just biding their time together, trying to keep their families
together and doing their part to make ends meet. If their love towards each other is not
kindled, it will eventually go out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">If our children are fortunate, their parents stay together until death
parts them, but most of them see a much less appealing side of marriage. Two individuals come together to unite as one
flesh, yet they have done things their own ways for so long that they are
unable to adapt. Stress begins to mount
and the glorious wedding dress </span>doesn't<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> look very glorious anymore. Children perceive our thoughts through how we
act in our marriages. The young look to
us for guidance, but when we have given them a poor example to live by we
destroy the sanctity and beauty of marriage that God had established it to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">Sure it may keep the marriage bed pure for our generation, but when our
own marriages lack the splendor and appeal God gave them we show nothing but a
poor example for the next generation to follow.
It’s no wonder people are so willing to try other things that have been
condemned by God (co-habitation, homosexuality, or experiential love,
etc.). They see people failing every day
in the marriage that God designed, so they think to themselves, why not try something
else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">Yet, Christ’s marriage to His Church has never failed. Jesus united himself to mankind by taking on
human flesh and living a perfect life under the law. He sanctified our bodies by pouring out blood
from His side to wash all sin away. Then
He rose from the dead to prove to us that God had approved of His
sacrifice. This is the marriage we are
to look to when our own marriage is troubled.
This is the marriage we are to look to when our sins are weighing us
down. And this is the marriage we are to
aspire to imitate. Only Jesus’ marriage
to His Church succeeds against all odds.
Every time our wedding garment becomes soiled, we return to Him to be
washed and cleansed. We return to Him so
that we are not looking at our own imperfect human examples but aspiring to His
willingness to love us, even when we did not deserve it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">God grant us a willing heart and mind to be
chaste in all our thoughts, words, and actions, so that we treasure marriage as
we ought. Help husbands and wives to
love and honor each other, as Christ has so loved us, and to set an inspiring
example of marriage; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-18426383222038645532012-12-04T11:30:00.004-08:002012-12-04T11:30:49.656-08:00Meditation on the Fifth Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
You shall not kill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
We should fear and love God, so
that we do no bodily harm to our neighbor, but help and befriend him in every
need.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
God has given us the fifth
commandment so that all human life would be protected, built up and supported
by others. In this commandment we learn
how we are to live life among our neighbors and learn how we are to conduct
ourselves toward fellow human beings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
In the meaning to the
commandment Luther points out that to kill means to do bodily harm. Any infliction of pain that we purposely
commit against our neighbor is considered murder. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer
(1 John 3:15). One cannot even claim
that he is teaching his neighbor a lesson, because God has given the power to
punish wrongdoers to the government. It
is not the prerogative of an individual to get back at his enemies. Anger, reproof, and punishment are the
prerogatives of God and His representatives, and they are to be exercised upon
those who transgress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
All to often, the spirit of
revenge clings to each one of us. None
of us willing suffers injury from another, which is why God would keep this
commandment before us at all times.
Revenge is often easy to see in our children. They fight back and retaliate when things do
not go their way. The longer we harbor
hatred the harder it is to be rid of it.
Hatred clings to us. But God
reminds us that it should not be so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
This commandment also requires
us to be proactive like a sports team on offense, so that we help those who are
in need. If we fail to do good to our
neighbor when we have opportunity, or if we fail to prevent, protect, or save
him from suffering bodily harm or injury.
“If you send the naked away without clothes, you have let him freeze to
death. If you see anyone suffer hunger
and do not feed him, you have let him starve.”
Anytime we fail to befriend someone in need, we have contributed to his
death whether we directly caused it or not.
God rightly calls all persons murderers who do not offer counsel and aid
to those in need and in peril of body and life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
As we look into the mirror of
the 5<sup>th</sup> commandment, we lose heart because we have neglected those
in need, harbored hatred against our enemies, and loved ourselves more than
others. For all of this we should be
truly sorry and seek to amend our sinful ways, since the love of Christ compels
us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
All of our sins have been
punished in Christ. He loved his
enemies, even to the point of death. We
were his enemies and he willingly died for us.
“<i>For while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us; the righteous for the unrighteous.” </i>No sin has been
left for us to suffer punishment on our own, even our weakness and inability to
protect our neighbor’s lives as we ought.
Christ has paid for all of them and has held nothing against us. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Father, forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. When we pray the Lord’s prayer we ask God to
be gracious unto us and for Him to cause us to be gracious unto others so that
even though neither we nor they are worthy of forgiveness we forgive as we have
already been forgiven.</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">May God grant us His grace to live according to His
Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-91006891175581590202012-12-04T11:29:00.002-08:002012-12-04T11:29:58.467-08:00Meditation on the Fourth Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">Honor your father and mother, that it may be well with you, and that you
may live long on the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise our parents or
superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">In the Large Catechism Luther observes that “The thoughts of this
commandment are plain and simple words, and everyone thinks that he already
knows them well. So he passes over them
lightly, fastens his attention on other things, and fails to perceive and
believe how angry he makes God when he neglects this commandment, and how
precious and acceptable a work he does when he observes it.” (LC 1:140) <a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/Dropbox/Peace%20Documents/Peace%20Newsletter/October%202012.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>Luther
points out that “honor” includes not only love but also respect, humility, and
modesty that is directed at the estate or vocation of parenthood. We are to obey our parents as we are to obey
God because He has placed our parents over us.
God serves us through our parents and they are worthy of the same type
of honor (except worship) which we are to show towards God in all our thoughts,
words, and actions. And even though
parents fail at times, they are not to be deprived of their honor because of
such failings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">What is meant by parents? God
uses the fourth commandment to establish rule and authority on the earth. All earthly power stems from the estate of
our parents. It includes parents by
blood, parents by adoption or guardianship, it includes parents of civil
realm…city, state, and federal government, and it also includes our spiritual
fathers who watch over our spiritual care and feed us with God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">What have we received from our parents?
Most significant of all is life.
We have been given food, shelter, and clothing, we have been and are
being educated. A God-fearing education
is the responsibility of parents…not the Sunday School or public
education. As children we are to expect
to be reared in a God-pleasing and God-praising manner. An education that lacks a solid foundation
upon God does more harm than good because it undermines who God is. Children have a right to expect their parents
to act as the arm of God by training them and disciplining them through His
word. It is God who has given children
to us parents to care for and to bring up in the nurture and the admonition of
the Lord. That responsibility falls on
our shoulders as parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;">As apt as we are to fail at following the fourth commandment it is the
only commandment with promise clearly stated; “That it may be well with you and
that you may live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:2-3) It is through the arm of obedience to our
parents, superiors, employers, civil authorities and our spiritual authorities
that we are provided for. God uses each
one of these estates as a means through which he provides life and abundant
blessing…instead of cursing. If we would
only listen and be persuaded that works of obedience are pleasing to God, we
would be so overwhelmed with our blessings that we shall have all our heart’s
desire. But we cannot comply. Everyone does what they please and the world
is full of shame, misery, and murder. We
simply think we know better than our superiors and we set an example for our
children not to obey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">Yet, that did not stop Christ from obeying all
those in authority over him. As a child
he went with Mary and Joseph and was subject to them…and even then he was about
His Father’s business. All the way to
the cross he was about His Father’s business…not for His own benefit or the
benefit of His Father, but for our benefit He willingly obeyed even to the
point of death. Jesus shed His blood on
the cross so that we would not have to suffer eternally for our inability to
live up to the demands of the fourth commandment. May we, through the love he poured out on us,
strive to honor all those in authority over us. Amen.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
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<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/Dropbox/Peace%20Documents/Peace%20Newsletter/October%202012.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Tappert,
Theodore. <i>The Book of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Concord</st1:place></st1:city></i>. Fortress Press, 1959.</div>
</div>
</div>
Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-32610064817655791422012-08-24T12:21:00.004-07:002012-08-24T12:28:59.370-07:00How do we view the Ten CommandmentsTrust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5<br /><br />How do we understand God’s Law or his commandments? Over the past few months we have taken time to review the first three of the Ten Commandments which focus on our relationship with God. Before we move on to a review of the second table of the law that guides our relationships with our neighbors, we will look at God’s Commandments in general and what they mean for us.<br /><br />In our minds the Ten Commandments sound like commands, “You shall...” or “You shall not…” but according to the rules of grammar they are not commands in the Hebrew or in English. In English if we were to give a proper command we would say “Have no other Gods” or “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” These, properly speaking, would be commands. While it is important to understand the Ten Commandments in light of what God directs us to do they are not specifically written as commands so much as they are just statements about how His people act. We could almost picture it as though God is defining who we are. My children have no other gods or My children don’t take the name of the Lord their God in vain.<br /><br />This does not mean that we are to assume that we can fulfill them. Just because God describes His children in such ways, does not mean that we have the ability to carry out His description of us. We even end up making false gods when we think that we can live up to these requirements. Anyone who tries to take comfort in his supposed fulfillment of the Law is simply calling God a liar. God said, “there is no one who does good, no not one” (Ps 53:1). <br /><br />So what then is the purpose of the commandments? They are to show us our sin, tell us how we are to be, and what we are to do and not to do. They must show us our sin first, before we know we need a Savior. Without the knowledge of the written Law, we simply do not perceive our need for a Savior. But through God’s revealed law…we must come to the conclusion that we cannot fulfill them and are therefore guilty before God.<br /><br />When God gave the Ten Commandment to the Israelites, He prefaced it with this; “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” He prefaces His law to us in the same manner, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of your bondage of slavery to sin.” Because of Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of God’s law in our place, we have been freed from our servitude or slavery to the law. Because of Jesus’ holy death, we have been freed from the punishment which our sins deserve. Only because of Christ is there a new relationship with God’s commandments. It is not a relationship of fear but a joyful expression of being His people.<br /><br />Only in Jesus can we have a proper understanding of God’s description of His children according to the Ten Commandments. In Christ, God sees us as though we have walked according to all His commandments, not because we tried really hard or put forth our best effort, but because Jesus did it for us and therefore God regards us as though we have actually kept them perfectly.<br /><br />Dear heavenly Father, give us a proper respect and understanding for your law, helping us to acknowledge that only Jesus has fulfilled them and in that knowledge finding the strength to do Your will. Amen.Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-44168277344992510832012-08-03T07:12:00.000-07:002012-08-03T07:12:01.283-07:00Meditation on the 3rd Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You shall keep the day of rest holy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What does this mean?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise
preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does one honor the day of rest? If it is a day of rest, it must mean that we
should cease to work on that day right.
We should take time to stop our busy and hectic lives to enjoy life a
little more, to spend more time with family and friends and to enjoy “me” time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While rest is a necessary part of our workaholic lives and
rest serves a valuable purpose in rejuvenating our work ethics and our
motivation…it is not what the commandment is talking about. Certainly Jesus rested from his work of
preaching and teaching at times, because as a human He also needed time to recuperate…so
God is not saying that it is wrong to rest.
The Third Commandment speaks of another kind of rest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ultimate reason for a day of rest is so that we, as the
people of God may have the time and opportunity
to participate in public worship, that we may assemble to hear and
discuss God’s Word and then praise God with prayer and song, by proclaiming to
each other, what Jesus has done for us.
For Christians, Sunday has been the day appointed upon which we may
gather together and keep it holy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day, in and of itself, is not holy. It is holy because of what is customarily
done on that day. It is the setting
aside the mundane tasks of this life and gathering or assembling around God’s
Word so that we may be fed and refreshed by it.
Yet it is not just Sunday that should serve as a day of rest, but every
day. Every day the Christian should go
about his business with God’s Word in his heart and upon his lips. On Sunday, when the Christian gathers for
worship, he focuses on the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s
Prayer…so that every day of the week the Christian’s life may be regulated by
God’s Word.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We can never have enough of God’s Word. Even if the Christian thinks he knows the
Word of God, he will never know it well enough.
Where the heart stands idle and the Word of God is not heard, the devil
breaks in and does his damage before the Christian can realize it. The Devil, the world, and the flesh is at
work trying to pull us away from the Word of God. The Word is the only defense we have against
them. They are always trying to get us
to forsake God’s Word, but as long as we keep God’s word sacred in our hearts,
by daily learning and applying it…the Devil cannot win, God’s Word will defeat him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Christian will never regret spending time in God’s
Word. “It always awakens new
understanding, new pleasures, and a new spirit of devotion, and it constantly
cleanses the heart and its meditations.”
The word’s of God are not dead and idle words, but effective and
living. Only His words have the power to
put the devil to flight…if that was all it did that should be enough. Yet God’s Word gives us more…it gives us
Christ, through whom we have peace with God.
Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-78501999087471817592012-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:002012-07-17T09:00:21.159-07:00Devotional Meditation on the Second Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You shall not take the
name of the Lord Your God in vain.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear,
practice witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every
trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God’s name cannot be more grievously abused than for
purposes of falsehood and deceit. To use
God’s name in vain is to use it for useless purposes or more particularly to
use it to support falsehood or wrong of any kind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But how is God’s name used vainly? How is it used for false pretenses? It seems easy to understand the obvious
implications of this commandment. Don’t
lie while using God’s name, because God will hold you accountable. I’m not sure if in our everyday conversation
when we say, “I swear to God such and such happened” that people even take
notice, or actually are drawn to the image of God as witness to our foolish
statements. Nonetheless, God forbids us
from using His name foolishly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More often than not, there are so called pastors of
Christian churches that claim, thus says the Lord. Just because someone adds, God said it, many
people often fall pray to trusting in these false prophets. It is easy to see the decay of the Christian
Church over the past hundred years and the ill effects false prophets have had
on our society. Yet, the false teachers
can’t get all the blame. Too often we
let the pastor say whatever he wants and we rarely if ever go to the Source,
God’s Word, to determine if what he said was correct. We are just as guilty, for being negligent in
our studies, and letting the pastor lead us wherever he feels like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God instructs us through <st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place> to be prepared, <span class="text2tim-4-3"><i><sup>3 </sup>For
the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to
their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an
itch to hear something new. </i></span><span class="text2tim-4-4"><i><sup>4 </sup>They will turn away from
hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.</i></span> When churches begin
falling down the slippery slope of false doctrine, there does not seem to be a
bottom. Like a large snowball rolling
down a mountain, it continues picking up size as it moves faster and faster
towards the bottom (hell). The only real
Guardian we have against false doctrine is God the Holy Spirit, working through His
Word.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just think of the countless number of Christians today who
believe there is room in the account of Creation for millions of years. Pastor’s have swallowed their parishioners
inconsistencies and allowed God’s Word to stand along side of bad science. Evolution cannot be proven…it is a theory. Yet because it has been promoted as the most
reasonable option for so long Christians have fallen pray to an atheistic
worldview, that denies the existence of the God declared in Scripture.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Heavenly Father, forgive us for being so earthly
minded by swallowing the wisdom of this world and hoping it can coincide with
Your Word. Forgive us for misusing Your
Name and treating it as though it really doesn’t matter. Give us the confidence to live in the
forgiveness which Your Son has won for us and protect us from those who desire
to silence Your Truth. Amen.</span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-35032628229378695602012-07-17T08:55:00.000-07:002012-07-17T08:55:50.430-07:00Devotional Meditation on the First Commandment<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You shall have no
other gods.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A commandment that we have known since childhood. It seems so simple, right? There is only one God and we are to fear,
love and trust in him above all things.
We may often forget how easy it is to fail in keeping this commandment. When we hear it, we are often drawn to those
false gods like Buddha and Allah, or maybe the multiplicity of gods included in
the Hindu religion. We easily dismiss
thoughts of worshipping gods of that caliber because they often have no real
appeal to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if we really dig deeper into what it means to have
another god, we may have to re-evaluate how easily we let ourselves off the
hook. In the Large Catechism Luther
explains what a God is…<i>A god is that to
which we look for all good and in which we find refuge in every time of
need. To have a god is nothing else than
to trust and believe him with our whole heart.
As I have often said, the trust and faith of the heart alone make both
God and an idol. If your faith and trust
are right, then your God is the true God.
On the other hand, if your trust is false and wrong, then you have not
the true God. For these two belong
together, faith and God. That to which
your heart clings and entrusts itself is, I say, really your God.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in whom do you trust.
Do you really and truly rely on God for everything? We like to think that we do, yet we are
constantly drawn to trust in ourselves or the work which we do to earn us some
money. We trust in our car to keep us
safe, our insurance to provide in case of an emergency, or even our government
to bail us out when things go wrong.
While none of these things are wrong in and of themselves, we see how
easy it is to be drawn to trust in them for the blessings which only come from
God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the next several months I will take portions from the
catechism in order to give us an opportunity to review those teachings which we
have learned from scripture regarding the basic teachings of God’s Word. A review of the Catechism starts with the
commandments because it offers to us a needed opportunity to reflect on God’s
will for us in our lives. The law tells
us what we are to do and what not to do but it cannot save us. More often than not, the law simply reveals
to us our sinful condition and the inability of mankind to live according to
God’s will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first commandment directs us to the source of all
goodness and mercy. Only in the one true
God can we alone find comfort and joy.
Why? Because as the psalmist
says He forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, He redeems our
lives from destruction. When God
commands allegiance to Him and Him only, it is because if we place our trust in
something else…we have no God at all and are doomed to eternal death. But only in Him can there be full confidence,
because God cannot fail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He did not fail. He
sent His Son as promised and completed the way to make us right again before
His eyes. In the first commandment God
intends to tell us: “Whatever good thing you lack, look to me for it and seek
it from me. I am the one who will
satisfy you and help you out of every need.
Only let your heart cling to no one else.” </div>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-38529637962499290762012-05-15T11:27:00.001-07:002012-05-15T11:27:09.119-07:00On Christ's Ascension I Now Build<br />
The hope of mine ascension<br />
this hope alone has ever stilled<br />
all doubt and apprehension;<br />
For where the Head is, there full well<br />
I know His members are to dwell<br />
When Christ shall come and call them.<br />
Josua Wegelin, 1636; trans. Willaim Cxamanske, 1938.<br />
<br />
Christ was indeed raised from the dead on Easter morning...and forty days later we celebrate His ascension into heaven. There are many reasons to celebrate Jesus' ascension and they all have to do with the comfort which they afford His people here on earth, when we truly understand what his Ascension means to us.<br />
<br />
Christ left us for our good. As sad as it may seem that Christ visibly left the earth, it was better by far that he return to the father then that he would stay with us. We often wonder of what it would be like if Jesus were here. We are like the disciple who stood gazing up into the sky wondering what next. We act like St. Peter when he told Jesus that he should not be informing the disciple of His coming death...but what did Christ say, he said, "Get behind me Satan, you do not have in mind the things of God, but rather the things of men." We too are guilty of having in mind the things of men when we long for Jesus visible presence among us. If he were still on earth, how could he be present with all those who simultaneously gather around his word, how could he rule his church for the benefit of his people, how could he fill all things as St. Paul says in Ephesians.<br />
<br />
Christ told us he was going away for our good so that we wouldn't have any preconceived notions about a Christian utopia here on earth. Jesus did not come to rule Israel like David or Solomon. Rather He came to save us from our selfish ambitions that we have when we question why Christ visibly left us and why he didn't destroy evil in the world. Jesus ascended into heaven so that he would more appropriately rule like God, instead of like how we would have men rule over us here on this earth.<br />
<br />
He left so that he could be present every time Christians gather around his word. He left so that as our brother and fellow human he would be given power and might far beyond anything we could ever imagine so that as one of us he could rule on our behalf and in our best interest.<br />
<br />
He ascended into heaven so that our hearts and our minds would be drawn away from the things of this world and towards Him who rules all things and who went before us to prepare a place for us so that His people might spend eternity in His Father's house.<br />
<br />
He also ascended to leave us an image of hope, knowing that we to will ascend into heaven when we die and leave behind this world of sin, sadness, sickness, and sorrow. He left us a triumphant picture of our ascent into heaven as well, so that this world will be left behind us and we to will join him in heaven. Our heart rests on Christ's Ascension. Amen.<br />
<br />
Join us for our Ascension service on Thursday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. and let your heart be lifted up in the comfort of Christ's Ascension.Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-60925188169084370482012-03-29T11:04:00.001-07:002012-03-29T11:04:54.873-07:00During the last 6 weeks, Peace's Lenten theme has focused on following Jesus to the cross. The Lenten season culminates in Holy Week and of course the high point is His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Holy week gives us time to commemorate our Lord's passion as we again hear the account of how our King rode into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey and was hailed by those there. Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Then we hear again the account of how He <i>was </i>wounded for our transgressions, <span class="text Isa-53-5"><i>He was</i> bruised for our iniquities; </span><span class="text Isa-53-5">The chastisement for our peace <i>was</i> upon Him, </span><span class="text Isa-53-5">And by His stripes we are healed. </span><span class="text Isa-53-6" id="en-NKJV-18718">All we like sheep have gone astray; </span><span class="text Isa-53-6">We have turned, every one, to his own way; </span><span class="text Isa-53-6">And the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Isa-53-6">Holy week gives us a time to contemplate our sins and what they deserve, but it also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the love that God has for us through His Son Jesus Christ, who took all our bad thoughts, words and actions upon himself and gave us His holy and perfect life in return. By His suffering and death we are healed. Please join us for worship this next week as we gather to celebrate Jesus death for us.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Isa-53-6"><strong>Palm Sunday: 8:30 a.m.</strong></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-53-6"><strong>Maundy Thursday: 6:00 p.m.</strong></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-53-6"><strong>Good Friday: 6:00 p.m.</strong></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-53-6"><strong>Easter Sunrise Service: 7:00 a.m. service will be followed by a potluck breakfast</strong></span>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-81452107563609900152012-02-20T13:45:00.000-08:002012-02-20T13:45:38.156-08:00Peace Lutheran Church will be hosting Lenten services starting on Ash Wednesday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m. and continuing each Wednesday until March 28th. Then we will have a Maundy Thursday service and a Good Friday service the following week.Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-34193667990405107632012-02-01T16:14:00.001-08:002012-02-10T10:51:28.552-08:00Here is the on-line version of the Lutheran Sentinel. Enjoy<br />
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<a href="http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/our-work/publications/sentinel/2012/feb12.pdf">http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/our-work/publications/sentinel/2012/feb12.pdf</a>Peace Lutheran Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447797890082507691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518472160184866956.post-18481620417930096652012-01-24T14:55:00.000-08:002012-01-24T14:55:39.475-08:00Peace Lutheran Church began another chapter as they installed a new pastor on January 15, 2012. Pastor Jeffery Merseth officially took over the duties of his office during a 4:00 p.m. installation service. The service was well attended and was celebrated with a pot luck meal following the service.<br />
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Rev. Merseth's father, Pastor John Merseth preached the message and gave both the newly installed pastor and the congregation items to contemplate as they begin a new relationship together which will serve the spreading of the Gospel. Both pastor and congregation have manifold responsibilities to each other as they grow in their relationship with Christ and seek to spread the news that Jesus Christ died for sinners.<br />
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Pastor Merseth, his wife Megan, and their three children (Judah 4, Andrew 2, and Enoch 3 months) moved here from far northern Minnesota. They lived approximatly 30 miles from the Canada border. We welcome Pastor Merseth and his family into our family here at Peace Lutheran Church. We pray that his presence and work in our midst would be a blessing to us and to those with whom we come into contact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0