tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39158378611713238312024-03-12T22:38:22.315-05:00Baptized Into ChristBaptized into Christ: Seeing the world as a baptized child of GodBen Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-66483482765093852932021-04-20T07:37:00.000-05:002021-04-20T07:37:28.366-05:00Holy Spirit, please make us Longsuffering!Division in the church is always a concern for pastors. Often times we focus on big things, important things like doctrine and practice. True unity can't be achieved without unity of doctrine and practice. These things truly do matter.<div><br /></div><div>But often, too often, disunity comes about because of much smaller things. </div><div><br /></div><div>The old standard example is disunity and division over the color of the carpet. The carpet example is an old trope that is used to show how something so mundane can become a point of division in a congregation. </div><div><br /></div><div>How can such a small thing become an issue that brings terrible division?</div><div><br /></div><div>Pride. </div><div>Ascribing malice to the actions of others. </div><div>Failure to communicate with others, but "knowing" what they are thinking. </div><div>Anger. </div><div>Resentment. </div><div><br /></div><div>These feelings, these actions, can be stirred up by perfectly innocuous events. </div><div><br /></div><div>For instance:</div><div>Person A on the drive home from church: "Nobody even approached me to have a conversation at church today."<br />Person B also driving home from church: "I'm not really comfortable approaching people when they're wearing a mask. I figure they probably don't want me to get too close to them, so I tend to keep my distance."</div><div><br /></div><div>Now person B was absolutely not intending any harm to person A, in fact person B was trying to be considerate. But person A took it as person B being uncaring and cold. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another example:</div><div>Person A walking into church thinking: "I'm running so late! I have a million things to do. How in the world am I going to get everything done."</div><div>Person B greets person A, but barely gets a response. Person B thinks, "He doesn't even care that I'm here."</div><div><br /></div><div>Another example:</div><div>Person A thinks: "I wish someone would invite me over for coffee or lunch sometime."</div><div>Person B thinks: "I wish someone would invite me over for coffee or lunch sometime."</div><div>But neither person A nor person B takes the initiative to invite the other over. Both feel hurt, division and disunity find a foothold, and in pride neither ever will invite the other because they are both waiting for an invitation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I could go on and on and on.</div><div><br /></div><div>After this past year in which some division has been inflicted upon us by forces beyond our control, it is more important than ever that each and every Christian be willing to work to re-engage one another and that, as the catechism instructs, we "explain everything in the kindest way." How many of the issues above could be completely resolved by simply following the 8th Commandment?</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n1zLj9pPyUk/YH7KWogAxMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/70tcfpRv0RoTW1SRnKCTMXsE8Ol2_ZHhgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="828" height="263" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n1zLj9pPyUk/YH7KWogAxMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/70tcfpRv0RoTW1SRnKCTMXsE8Ol2_ZHhgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h263/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>But let us be patient with one another too.</div><div>Recently I heard a podcast in which a woman, who had been held in solitary confinement for week, we released into the general population of a prison. She said that it was overwhelming. Even though she had ached for contact with others, she had to reacclimate herself to being with others and it took time to adjust again. </div><div><br /></div><div>The temptation is to withdraw from others. The temptation is to self-isolate. But instead let us pour ourselves into others. Let us re-engage one another in small ways at first, but small things will lead to big things. Let us love as we have been loved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Covid has disrupted our natural social interactions. Be patient with each other as we reacclimate to life together. Be forgiving of one another as we navigate things together. Be considerate of each other and explain everything in the kindest way so that unity, not division, can prevail. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let us pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be abundant in us. In Galatians 5 we are told that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Patience, which the King James Version translates as "longsuffering" is fruit the church desperately needs today.</div><div><br /></div><div>May the Spirit make us patient, longsuffering, with one another and bring about even more good fruit by which we, our fellow members, and the world around us can be blessed. </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-42347010032450261612020-10-02T09:56:00.002-05:002020-10-02T10:08:23.326-05:007 Devotional Resources You Might Consider Using (including 1 that you should absolutely be using!)<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V1CiU1X7EA/X3dCWF09ZBI/AAAAAAAAE6E/fIiniSLsK0MVfm5IDKbClY5rIAO1Uc2HACLcBGAsYHQ/s709/devotion%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7V1CiU1X7EA/X3dCWF09ZBI/AAAAAAAAE6E/fIiniSLsK0MVfm5IDKbClY5rIAO1Uc2HACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/devotion%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />It can be difficult to know where to start with personal and family devotions. If you're a member at Hope, I'd encourage you to make use of our weekly VDMA Prayer sheets, but if you're looking for more, here are some suggestions. </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">1. The Bible</h2><p>You literally don't need anything more than your Bible. It is the Word of God! Take up and read!</p><p>What should you look for in a Bible? <a href="https://youtu.be/6hE5wHGzxyU"></a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>An accurate translation. I recommend ESV, CSB, or NLT (you can learn more <a href="https://youtu.be/6hE5wHGzxyU">he<br />re</a>) </li><li>A large enough type that it's not too much work to read</li><li>Size: do you want a smaller Bible that you can carry with you or one that will remain on your nightstand? How does the Bible feel in your hand? These might not seem overly important, but they are helpful in making for a more enjoyable Bible reading experience. </li></ul><div>Other things to consider</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Do you want a Bible without cross references or with cross references?</li><li>Do you want study notes? </li><li>Do you want a Bible reading plan included?</li><li>Do you want a hard cover, a synthetic cover, or a leather cover? (Avoid bonded leather)</li></ul><div>My favorite Study Bible is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Lutheran-Study-Bible-Hardback/dp/0758617607/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?crid=2IG5N44ENOOGT&cv_ct_cx=the+lutheran+study+bible&dchild=1&keywords=the+lutheran+study+bible&pd_rd_i=0758617607&pd_rd_r=621d3094-2616-4d91-93c6-9ecc1b3a0221&pd_rd_w=47aZt&pd_rd_wg=yiTnt&pf_rd_p=224b59c9-c98f-46fd-96d6-8e952866d6a3&pf_rd_r=WY0448V1N7GZJGKGH6Y8&psc=1&qid=1601645720&sprefix=the+lutheran+st%2Caps%2C200&sr=1-1-a14f3e51-9e3d-4cb5-bc68-d89d95c82244">The Lutheran Study Bible</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Good options for smaller Bibles are</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Large-Print-Personal-Reference-LeatherTouch/dp/1433647796/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5WJAR4GPD4EW&dchild=1&keywords=csb+large+print+bible&qid=1601645816&s=books&sprefix=csb+large%2Cstripbooks%2C157&sr=1-1">CSB Large Print Personal Size Reference Bible</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Letter-Imitation-Leather/dp/1107448107/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=nlt+pitt&qid=1601645939&s=books&sr=1-3">NLT Pitt Minion </a>(but only if you have good eyes)</div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Large-Thinline-TruTone-Ornament-Design/dp/1433550288/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=esv+slimline&qid=1601645997&s=books&sr=1-1">ESV Large Print Value Thinline Bible</a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6hE5wHGzxyU" width="480" youtube-src-id="6hE5wHGzxyU"></iframe><br />2. The Treasury of Daily Prayer </h2><div>The <a href="https://www.cph.org/p-11350-treasury-of-daily-prayer-regular-edition.aspx">Treasury of Daily Prayer</a> is a fantastic resource.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oT9pLvgKB08/X3cyJJYMt9I/AAAAAAAAE48/_91TFtHTyoMtp-6xSU6SFC0Fl6SR8Q_QgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="391" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oT9pLvgKB08/X3cyJJYMt9I/AAAAAAAAE48/_91TFtHTyoMtp-6xSU6SFC0Fl6SR8Q_QgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="188" /></a></div><br /></div><div>It contains</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Daily readings from the OT, NT, and Psalms</li><li>Suggested readings from the Book of Concord</li><li>A suggested hymn for the day</li><li>Daily prayer liturgies, including Matins, Vespers, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and settings for throughout the day </li><li>Prayers</li><li>Luther's Small Catechism</li><li>and more (you can see a <a href="https://www.cph.org/pdf/124318.pdf">sample here</a>)</li></ul><div><div>Here's a video that shows a bit about this wonderful resource. </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oAwzgKqH2Xk" width="486" youtube-src-id="oAwzgKqH2Xk"></iframe></div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">3. Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions</h2></div><div>Are you pressed for time? <a href="https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20201002">The Lutheran Hour Daily Devotions</a> are available to read on your computer or phone, but they're also available in audio form through pretty much all of the podcast apps. You can listen as you get ready in the morning or on your way to work. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">4. To Live With Christ by Bo <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lt3Khz5NSbU/X3c2NJdwZAI/AAAAAAAAE5c/tDQKKv8kbGwsHKUSHQGx2mh6Fw-uPM6vgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="315" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lt3Khz5NSbU/X3c2NJdwZAI/AAAAAAAAE5c/tDQKKv8kbGwsHKUSHQGx2mh6Fw-uPM6vgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="152" /></a></div></h2><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Live-Christ-Devotions-Bo-Giertz/dp/0758613822">To Live With Christ</a> is a devotional that is meat, not milk, yet it is easily understandable. The format is to read the daily Scripture reading, read the devotion based on the reading, and then pray the prayer at the end as a start of your prayers but to then add your own prayers to it. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">5. Living Planted</h2><div><a href="http://www.livingplanted.com/">Living Planted</a> provides resources for family devotions for every day of the year. It's another good option to consider for you and your family. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">6. Around the Word</h2><div>Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller puts out a weekly devotion sheet called "<a href="https://www.whatdoesthismean.org/devotions.html">Around the Word</a>." It is simple, yet deep. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">7. A Year with the Church Fathers: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year</h2><div>If you've ever been curious to read some of the writings of the church fathers, <a href="https://www.cph.org/p-18961-a-year-with-the-church-fathers-meditations-for-each-day-of-the-church-year.aspx">here's </a>a great way to do so. There's a daily Bible reading from the OT, NT, and Psalms, a prayer, and a teaching from the church father's for each day. (We have some copies of this available in the church office if you'd like to borrow one for the year). </div><p></p>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-73038206255758449972020-03-09T10:48:00.000-05:002020-03-09T10:48:26.893-05:00A Prairie Dog Parable There once was town of prairie dogs. The prairie dogs always had much to do. Burrowing, seeking out food, watching out for predators, and caring for the pups were always important tasks that needed to be done.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Prairie_Dog_Washington_DC_1.jpg/220px-Prairie_Dog_Washington_DC_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Prairie_Dog_Washington_DC_1.jpg/220px-Prairie_Dog_Washington_DC_1.jpg" /></a><br />
But one day some of the prairie dogs became disgruntled. They were tired of burrowing, seeking out food, watching out for predators, and caring for the pups.<br />
<br />
One of the disgruntled prairie dogs said the the chief prairie dog, "I don't want to burrow! I want design a whole new system of tunnels."<br />
<br />
"But we don't really need a new system of tunnels," replied the chief prairie dog. "What the town really needs are workers who are willing to maintain the tunnels we have. There may come a time when we need new tunnels, but that time ins't yet."<br />
<br />
But the first disgruntled prairie dog wasn't hearing it. "I was given a gift by the Creator and <i>you</i> are keeping me from fully using my gift of designing new tunnels. Why would I bother maintaining the tunnels? Other, less gifted prairie dogs can do that."<br />
<br />
A second disgruntled prairie dog stepped forward. "I'm tired of wasting my time seeking out food. What I'd <i>really</i> like to do is something really meaningful and important. Any prairie dog can search for food. <i>I</i> want to do something important. <i>I </i>want to do something memorable."<br />
<br />
A third spoke up. "I've been on predatory patrol for two years now and I'm tired of it. Shouldn't some of the younger pups be taking over by now?"<br />
<br />
One more piped, "And don't get me started about having to care for the pups. If I'm having to spend all of my time caring for the pups then when do I get to do the important work?"<br />
<br />
The chief prairie dog looked at them in disbelief. "You're all saying you want to do something meaningful and important, but you don't want to do the meaningful and important work that others <i>need</i> you to do. If you love your fellow prairie dogs and this town, then we need you to do those tasks!"<br />
<br />
One of the disgruntled retorted, "We were made for more than the mundane! We're tired of that kind of work. We're ready to do big, important things for the town."<br />
<br />
The chief tried once again to reason with them. "If you don't maintain the tunnels, they'll fall into disrepair and the whole town will suffer. If you don't search for food, the town will go hungry. If you don't watch out for predators or protect the pups, the whole town will be at risk!"<br />
<br />
But they weren't going to be persuaded. So they began to neglect the tasks the town needed them to do. Then others saw what was happening and followed their lead.<br />
<br />
The results were disastrous. Soon the tunnels were caving in while several prairie dogs spend their time planning new tunnels. Hunger was rampant as prairie dogs neglected gathering food. The number of prairie dogs began to plummet as predators picked off unalerted individuals. But the pups and the other most vulnerable prairie dogs suffered the most of all.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
Because the service to the town had become about the one serving rather than the ones being served.<br />
<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.<br /> -Philippians 2:3</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How can you do meaningful, important work for the Creator? By fulfilling your God-given vocations (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, worker, church member, etc.) and by selflessly serving for the benefit of others (church cleaning, serving on altar guild, regular tithing, teaching Sunday School, doing whatever needs to be done, etc.). </div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-31424082573440215102019-11-24T08:25:00.000-06:002019-11-25T08:53:32.581-06:00Ideas for Advent<br />
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<img alt="Christmas Lights, Secularism and the Season of Advent ..." height="237" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crossroadsinitiative.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F11%2FAdvent-candles-and-wreath.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" width="400" /></div>
<br />
Advent is a great season of the church year! Here are 15 ways you can make the most of it.<br />
<ol>
<li>Read a chapter of Luke each day. It’s 24 chapters long, so you’ll finish reading the reason for the celebration of Christmas on Christmas Eve.</li>
<li>Get an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=advent+wreath&ref=nb_sb_noss_2" target="_blank">Advent wreath</a> and light the candles when you sit down to eat.</li>
<li>Listen to Advent hymns: Listening to Christmas music is great, but you’ll find listening to Advent music to be a true blessing! Here are a few worth checking out. “<a href="https://youtu.be/cbrEfWaITpg" target="_blank">Life Up Your Heads, You Everlasting Doors</a>”, “<a href="https://youtu.be/mS2LmyWy194" target="_blank">Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates</a>”, “<a href="https://youtu.be/w9E_mcPALZ4" target="_blank">Prepare the Royal Highway</a>”, "<a href="https://youtu.be/X0bU5hje-Ik" target="_blank">On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry</a>”, "<a href="https://youtu.be/rTOeAl-Ph8I" target="_blank">Comfort, Comfort Ye My People</a>”, “<a href="https://youtu.be/t2dciFsApT0" target="_blank">Hark the Glad Sound</a>”, and “<a href="https://youtu.be/TtcyEA8acZI" target="_blank">O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide</a>”.</li>
<li><a href="https://weedon.blogspot.com/2007/02/return-to-mewith-fasting-joel-2.html" target="_blank">Fast</a>: Go without breakfast, breakfast and lunch, or fast for an entire day. Fasting is a way to discipline your body and remind yourself that what you need more than food is the spiritual food God gives.</li>
<li><a href="https://files.lcms.org/wl/?id=LTIbcCfgOs97sTJqdSatUq1klDIk1QwR" target="_blank">Give alms</a>: giving to those in need is an ancient practice of the church and has traditionally been part of observing Advent. If you fast, you could use the money you saved on food and give that to someone in need or a worthy organization.</li>
<li>Read through the hymns of Advent for your devotions.</li>
<li>Read the accounts of the birth of Jesus and check all of the cross references in your Bible to see what more you can learn.</li>
<li>Pray: Spend some extra time in prayer!</li>
<li>Attend Advent midweek services: Join your church family in preparing your heart and mind to celebrate Christmas.</li>
<li>Visit a shut in member and read God’s Word with them.</li>
<li>Start (or continue) having devotions as a regular part of the day. Family devotions and individual devotions are important and Advent is a great time to begin this practice.</li>
<li>Ask your neighbors how you can pray for them.</li>
<li>Invite your neighbors to join you at church on Christmas Eve.</li>
<li>Sing! Sing Advent hymns (or Christmas hymns) by yourself or with your family and/or friends.</li>
<li>Stop and look around at the world around you and consider the love God has shown in redeeming us and redeeming all of creation. </li>
</ol>
<br />
Happy Advent!<br />
Pastor Meyer<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-23172020076401916032019-09-25T09:20:00.001-05:002019-09-25T09:20:49.101-05:00Take up your arms! Satan is on the attack!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://d3kvsdrdan3wbb.cloudfront.net/img/70fac697/1013/For-we-must-know-this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://d3kvsdrdan3wbb.cloudfront.net/img/70fac697/1013/For-we-must-know-this.jpg" width="280" /></a>Things were going well in the congregation. Children were
learning and growing in the faith. Adults were helping children to mature in the
faith and were also growing and learning. The gospel was being heard and
believed and shared with those outside the walls of the church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course things weren’t perfect, but things were good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when things are good, Satan takes notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can’t stand when the gospel is proclaimed
and believed. He hates seeing Christians joyfully gathering together and
faithfully receiving the good news of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the devil got to work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“These people don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i>
like you,” he whispered to a middle aged woman. “You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> they talk about you behind your back.” And so the woman began
to distance herself from the church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next the devil saw a businessman. Things were going well for
the man, so Satan thought, “I won’t undercut him, but I’m going to give him so
much business that he’ll be so busy with his business that he won’t have time
for the things of God.” And so it happened. Business was good and increased so
much that soon the man was consumed with his work and started drifting from the
assembly of believers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now Satan decided he wanted to really cause some trouble. He
likes to isolate believers, but he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loves</i>
to cause division in the church. So he whispered in the ear of an older man, “The
leadership of this church is undermining all of the things you worked to bring
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t stand for that!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the devil whispered in the ear of a young
woman, “This church should be doing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so
much more!</i> Nobody here is serious about the gospel like you are.” And the
devil whispered to a married couple, “You didn’t agree with the decision the
church council made. Why should you put money in the offering plate? Hold on to
your money. If the church becomes cash starved, you can force them to do what
you want.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the older man became antagonistic towards the leadership
of the church. He gathered people to his side and the leadership gathered
people to their side and soon there was a cold war within the congregation. The
young woman became more and more angry with others in the church and others responded
to her anger with their own anger and soon, where there had been joy at the
church there was now a palpable tension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The married couple started holding tight to their money, their hearts
became hardened, and the work of the church was severely hindered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in the congregation in which things had been going well,
things were now devastatingly disastrous. Children became disillusioned by the
behavior of the adults and couldn’t wait to go to college so they could stop
having to deal with the church. Bible Studies became divided along “party lines”
and were often complaint sessions rather than time in the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attendance started to dwindle. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Those
outside of the church no longer heard the gospel, but now saw the infighting,
divisions, and tensions and they wanted nothing to do with being a part of
those things. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Looking on, Satan smiled. He hadn’t had to do much to bring
about this mess, but his plans had been completely successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isolation, division, tension, jealousy, and
cynicism had replaced the joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
and self-control that the Holy Spirit had brought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The devil smiled, knowing the damage he had done would be
generation…and even have eternal consequences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The story above illustrated the reality. Satan is at work
and he does desire to stir up trouble.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther writes, in explaining
the Seventh Petition of the Lord’s Prayer (but deliver us from evil),<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Flutheranreformation.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F08%2FPraying-Hands-Image.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dürer's Praying Hands - Lutheran Reformation" border="0" height="400" src="https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Flutheranreformation.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F08%2FPraying-Hands-Image.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therefore, we finally sum it all up and say,
“Dear Father, grant that we be rid of all these disasters.” But there is also
included in this petition whatever evil may happen to us under the devil’s
kingdom: poverty, shame, death, and, in short, all the agonizing misery and
heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth. Since
the devil is not only a liar, but also a murderer (John 8:44), he constantly
seeks our life. He wreaks his vengeance whenever he can afflict our bodies with
misfortune and harm. Therefore, it happens that he often breaks men’s necks or
drives them to insanity, drowns some, and moves many to commit suicide and to
many other terrible disasters (e.g. Mark 9:17-22). So there is nothing for us
to do upon earth but to pray against this archenemy without stopping. For
unless God preserved us, we would not be safe from this enemy even for an hour.
<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Satan seeks to kill and destroy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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However, clothed with the armor of God and led by the Spirit,
Satan can attack all he wants (and he will), but the Holy Spirit will sustain
us by His work through the Word and Sacraments, through the mutual conversation
and consolation of the brethren, and even as the devil assaults us with his
numerous attacks, the Holy Spirit will bring about His fruit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray. Let us pray
“delivers us from evil,” and trust that our loving Father will do exactly that.
Let us pray for our congregation and for the church at large, that the devil’s
attacks would be repulsed by “the Valiant one.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let us pray that Satan would not be able to isolate us or bring
division, but that the Spirit would bring unity and peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Satan will be on the attack, so let us take up our arms to
fight as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The above is my newsletter article for my congregation's October newsletter. </i>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-84895318532939343152019-08-26T07:42:00.002-05:002019-08-26T07:44:37.576-05:00The Narrow Door <br />
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<span class="text Luke-13-22" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Luke 13:22-30</span></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-22" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25532A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25532A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25532B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25532B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>journeying toward Jerusalem.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-23" id="en-ESV-25533" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>And someone said to him, “Lord, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25533C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25533C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-24" id="en-ESV-25534" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25534D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25534D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“Strive <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25534E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25534E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-25" id="en-ESV-25535" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25535F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25535F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25535G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25535G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25535H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25535H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>‘I do not know where you come from.’</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-26" id="en-ESV-25536" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>Then you will begin to say, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25536I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25536I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-27" id="en-ESV-25537" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>But he will say, ‘I tell you, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25537J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25537J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I do not know where you come from. <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25537K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25537K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-28" id="en-ESV-25538" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25538L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25538L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25538M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25538M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25538N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25538N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>you yourselves cast out.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-29" id="en-ESV-25539" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>And <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25539O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25539O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25539P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25539P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>recline at table in the kingdom of God.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-13-30" id="en-ESV-25540" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>And behold, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25540Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25540Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-30" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span>
<i>Below is a story I wrote for a sermon on Luke 13:22-30. You can listen to the sermon <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/hopelutheransunbury/ZOOM0119.mp3" target="_blank">here</a> if you wish. </i></div>
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<a href="https://safeguardingtheeternal.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/narrow-gate21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="335" height="320" src="https://safeguardingtheeternal.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/narrow-gate21.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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Imagine a door. It's not a particularly beautiful door at
first glance. It's rather well-worn and ordinary looking. The door is not
large, it's in fact rather small and narrow. In fact, the door is so small and
so narrow that to enter one must get down and his knees and leave everything
else behind in order to crawl through.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the door is also the only way into the King's Castle.
And each day the king would stand by the door and call out,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come one, come all, come big and come small,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my banquet hall<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my place and share in my grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come dine with me face to face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And occasionally someone would hear the call of the King and
gladly get down on his or her hands and knees and crawl through the door to
enter the castle. And when they entered you could hear the cheer go up from
within.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But most people took no notice of the King's call. They
ignored his call and simply passed on by.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the King still called.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Come one, come all, come big and come small,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my banquet hall<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my place and share in my grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come dine with me face to face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One young man, head held high and chest puffed out, heard
the call of the king and he readied himself to enter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But then he saw the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Where is the door for people like me?" he asked
the King.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"People like you?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"You know...people of pride...important people. I can't
be expected to get down on my knees to enter!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"That is the only way" replied the King.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Angry, the young man stomped away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again the King called, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Come one, come all, come big and come small,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my banquet hall<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my place and share in my grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come dine with me face to face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A woman loaded with numerous shopping bags and adorned
with beautiful jewelry heard the call of the King and she readied herself to
enter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But then she saw the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I can't get through that door!" she said to the
King.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The King calmly responded, "You can." <o:p></o:p></div>
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"I can, but not with all of my things! You surely don't
expect me to leave all of those things out here, do you?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I do." the King responded. "You won't want
or need those things once you enter anyway."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I highly doubt that!" the woman shot back. And
she left.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Once more the King called,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come one, come all, come big and come small,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come to my banquet hall<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my place and share in my grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come dine with me face to face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This time a young couple heard the call of the King and
considered entering.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But instead they went to the King and said, "We want to
enter, but if we enter the castle we'll never be able to live it up while we're
young!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"You won't miss out," replied the King.
"There is far deeper joy inside than outside."<o:p></o:p></div>
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"I'm sure you think that's the case," they said,
"but we'd rather not risk it."<o:p></o:p></div>
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And off they went.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again the King called,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come one, come all, come big and come small,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come to my banquet hall<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come to my place and share in my grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come dine with me face to face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time an older man heard the call and approached the
King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man's hands were calloused
from years of hard work and his skin was weathered from time in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man spoke to the King and said, “I'll
come through the door, but not just yet, there's work I need to do.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now is the time to enter,” replied the King.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the man shook his head and said, “I'll come in after
I've done my work and deserve to come in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The King kindly looked at the man and said, “I've invited
you. Your work can't make you worthy, only my invitation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just then the man noticed some bushes that clearly needed to
be trimmed…and off he went without another word. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this time the King no longer called out His invitation to
enter the castle, but He went inside and He closed the door. And inside the
castle the King's banquet began. There had already been feasting and
celebrating, but now an even greater feast began. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, outside of the castle a storm began raging. Those
who had rejected the King's offer to enter thought, "Well surely the King
will let me in now! After all, I did speak with Him that once."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the young man, the woman, the couple, and the old man
hurried back to the castle door and they knocked hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the King's answer was the same to each of them,
"The door will not be opened."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-18933976075002775902019-05-23T09:18:00.000-05:002019-05-23T09:27:33.042-05:00What is Churchmanship?<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img height="400" src="https://d3kvsdrdan3wbb.cloudfront.net/img/2ee45fe5/1006/Be-eager-to-maintain-the.jpg" width="315" /></div>
<br />
A while back I mentioned the word "Churchmanship" and had several people ask what I meant by that word; so, here's my attempt to explain.<br />
<br />
Churchmanship is the craft of skill of being a churchman.<br />
<br />
What then is a churchman?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A churchman is one who thinks about the good of the Church.</li>
<li>A churchman is a pastor who, when a member of a sister congregation comes to see him, directs that member back to his or her home church and to a conversation with the pastor of that church. </li>
<li>A churchman is a pastor who encourages members of a sister congregation to be faithful in serving that congregation.</li>
<li>A churchman is a layperson who loves sister congregations in addition to his or her own congregation and encourages them to be faithful to the Word of God. </li>
<li>A churchman is a pastor who, when he notices that a member of a sister congregation has attended his congregation for two weeks straight, calls the pastor of that sister congregation to let him know what is happening. He also will follow up, if necessary, to help bring reconciliation between the brother pastor and that member. </li>
<li>A churchman is a layperson who wants the Church to grow and be faithful, not just his church.</li>
<li>A churchman is one who gladly serves the Lord and has no need to be noticed, remembered, or recognized by others because his service is done in faith, thankfulness, and love for God. </li>
<li>A churchman is one who will not undermine the ministry of another pastor or congregation that is seeking to be faithful. </li>
<li>A churchman is a pastor who is open to God needing him elsewhere and is willing to serve in a situation that is far from his ideal. </li>
<li>A churchman is one who doesn't seek an elected office in the church, but is willing to serve if elected, for the sake of the Church. </li>
<li>A churchman is one who publicly backs his fellow pastor when that pastor has had to make a difficult decision (i.e. not doing a wedding or funeral, not confirming a student yet, etc.). If there is disagreement, he speaks to his brother pastor in private. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Now, it's also important to note what being a churchman does NOT mean. </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Churchmanship IS NOT covering up for the sins of others, but lovingly confronting them in that sin. </li>
<li>Churchmanship IS NOT covering up the disqualifying sins of a pastor so that he can continue to serve, but loving him enough to make sure he no longer serves as a pastor because doing so would be contrary to God's Word and would damage the Church. </li>
<li>Churchmanship IS NOT simply bowing the knee to bureaucracy, but it is, when possible, the willingness to work within the structure to bring necessary changes. If working through that structure can't bring the necessary changes, it is working to change the structure. </li>
<li>Churchmanship does NOT mean that a pastor or layperson must go along with the powers that be, but that where disagreements happen they are addressed a way that is faithful to God's Word. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I speak of being a churchman, I do not mean that we are to serve or love the bureaucracy or structure, but that we love and serve Christ's Bride!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject, whether you agree or disagree, because I think this is a conversation worth having.<br />
<br />
To close, I want to share a wonderful quote from the great Martin Franzmann.<br />
<i>The church that has forgotten her coming Lord will worship her own "image" instead of her Lord.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The Church belongs to the Lord. May we treat her and her people with love and respect and always serve in humility. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-55863886187658094662019-03-05T09:51:00.000-06:002019-03-05T09:51:47.577-06:0040 for 40Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season of the church year during which we are reminded to give extra focus to repentance and faith. Lent gives us the opportunity to clear out things that are hindering our life of faith and to add things that would be helpful.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://godmetea.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/lenten40days1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://godmetea.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/lenten40days1.png" width="287" /></a>Since the season of Lent is 40 days (Sundays don't count as part of the 40 days, FYI) I wanted to give you 40 different ideas that you could use during this season. The idea isn't for you to do all 40, but to pick one (or a few). Of course you don't have to do any of these and you are free to do something else if you would like. My purpose is to spur on your thinking about such things so that all of us can benefit from the season of lent.<br />
<br />
Many of the things listed are not unique to Lent and several should be things we do on a regular basis anyway!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Read Exodus. </b>It's 40 chapters long, so if you read one chapter per day you'll have read the entire book. Exodus is a great book for lent too, as the entire account points forward to Jesus!<br /></li>
<li><b>Study a few of (or all of) the books of the Minor Prophets</b></li>
<li><b>Study one of the major prophets</b><br />I suspect that if Christians were asked, "with which part of the Bible are you least familiar?" the answer would be the prophets and it wouldn't be close. The prophets can be challenging, so if you choose to do this, I suggest that you use a good study Bible (The Lutheran Study Bible is what I'd recommend) or a good commentary. A commentary that is both free and trustworthy is <a href="http://www.kretzmannproject.org/" target="_blank">Kretzman's Popular Commentary</a>.<br /></li>
<li><b>Read Through the New Testament</b><br />If you devote about 30 minutes per day, you can read through the whole New Testament in just 40 days. <a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/867-the-40-day-nt-challenge#!" target="_blank">Here is a plan</a> that you might follow.<br /></li>
<li><b>Read Through the Gospels</b><br />You can read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John if you read two chapters per day each of the 40 days plus the 6 Sundays during Lent.<br /></li>
<li><b>Pray the Psalms</b>Praying the Psalms is an ancient practice, but something I hadn't heard of until I attended seminary. So if you're not quite sure what it means to pray the Psalms, well you're not alone!<br />If you want to learn more, <a href="https://issuesetc.org/2017/04/24/1142-christian-devotion-praying-the-psalms-pr-bryan-wolfmueller-42417/" target="_blank">here</a> is a good place to start.<br /></li>
<li><b>Fast</b><br />Fasting is intentionally choosing not to eat. This can be helpful in several ways. I'll name a few here. First, when you feel hunger pangs it can remind you to pray. Second, instead of spending time preparing and eating food, you can spend that time reading God's Word or praying. Third, it reminds us of the truth that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."<br /><br />If you've never fasted before, start small. Skip lunch. Maybe try fasting for one or two days. Also make sure to drink a lot of water!<br /></li>
<li><b>Pray</b><br />Use Lent as an opportunity to deepen your prayer life! You might consider using a prayer book, as that helps you to pray for and about things that you might otherwise forget about. Pray regularly and often so that it becomes a habit that continues after the season of Lent is over!<br /></li>
<li><b>Visit Shut-in Members of Your Church</b><br />Make some time to visit, pray with, and encourage those members of your church who can't make it to church. They would love to see you!<br /></li>
<li><b>Send a Card to a Shut-In Member of Your Church</b><br />If you can't visit, send them a card to encourage them!<br /></li>
<li><b>Call a Shut-in Member of Your Church<br /></b></li>
<li><b>Invite Someone Over for Lunch/Dinner</b><br />Reach out to someone you don't know that well at church and invite them into your home for a meal. Or do the same with someone in your neighborhood or workplace. This is a way to love your neighbors, get to know them, and build towards opportunities to talk about things of eternal importance.<br /></li>
<li><b>Pray for Your Pastor</b></li>
<li><b>Pray for Your Pastor's Family</b></li>
<li><b>Encourage Your Pastor</b></li>
<li><b>Encourage Your Pastor's Family</b><br />Lent is a long, busy season for pastors and their families. Encouragement and prayer are a HUGE help!<br /></li>
<li><b>Pray for Your Church's Musicians</b></li>
<li><b>Encourage Your Church's Musicians</b></li>
<li><b>Pray for Your Church's Secretary</b></li>
<li><b>Encourage Your Church's Secretary</b><br />Often forgotten is the extra time put in by the church's musicians and secretary. They will be putting in a lot of extra time and energy during this season and your prayers and encouragement would be a great blessing to them.<br /></li>
<li><b>Thank those who serve at your church</b><br />Thank those who serve as Elders, ushers, officers, in the kitchen, etc.. Let them know how much you appreciate what they do.<br /> </li>
<li><b>Look in the Mirror or the Ten Commandments </b><br />Consider how you have failed to keep the Ten Commandments, confess to God, and ask Him to help you to do better!<br /></li>
<li><b>Sing Lenten Hymns</b></li>
<li><b>Memorize one (or more) Lenten Hymns</b></li>
<li><b>Listen to Lenten Hymns</b><br />The hymns of Lent are powerful, filled with Biblical truth, and wonderful for devotional use. If you're looking for a playlist of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1295614236/playlist/1AE6AL6PCgx3dH7R30IpUS?si=l2TcZRyBR7aADm1WtFT6nw" target="_blank">hymns, try this.</a><br /></li>
<li><b>Turn off the TV</b><br />Maybe you fast from TV entirely, maybe you limit your consumption, but turning off the television gives you the chance to have more time in prayer, in God's Word, and with your family.<br /></li>
<li><b>Meditate on God's Word</b><br />Meditation in Christianity is NOT about clearing your mind, but about thinking on God's Word. Meditation happens when we have heard or read God's Word and then we spend time thinking on it, considering it, asking how it applies to our lives, and praying about it.<br /></li>
<li><b>Make Sunday Worship a Priority</b></li>
<li><b>Make midweek Worship a Priority</b><br />Regularly attending services is a very basic place to start. If you've been irregular in coming to hear God's Word and receive His gifts, now is the time to change that!<br /></li>
<li><b>Invite a Friend or Neighbor to Church</b><br />Start praying now for the person or people you'd like to invite, then make it a point at to invite them to a service. Easter is especially a good time to invite someone to join you!<br /></li>
<li><b>Give Alms</b><br />We don't talk much about alms these days, but giving specifically to and for those who are in need is a Biblical practice that has always existed in the church. If you're fasting, or even cutting back on your spending elsewhere, use some or all of the money to help those who are in need.<br /></li>
<li><b>Take Up Love for Your Neighbor</b><br />Dr. Jeff Gibbs has encouraged Christians not to merely think of Lent as a time of giving something up, but a time of taking up what God would have us do. He writes, <i>What would it look like if Christians around the world took up during Lent the command to love our neighbors--even our enemies--as ourselves? Two things would happen, at least. First, people would get loved. Second, Christians would see themselves falter, and turn once again to Jesus Christ, the goal of Lent . . . and even more, the goal of Easter.<br /></i></li>
<li><b>Have Family Devotions</b><br />Parents have a bigger spiritual impact on their children than anyone else. If parents spend even a few minutes each day having devotions and praying with their children, they are making a HUGE impact. If you're not sure where to start, <a href="https://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2016/11/teaching-faith-to-children.html" target="_blank">try this.</a><br /></li>
<li><b>Memorize Scripture </b><br />Here are some good verses, that you might not yet know, but are very much worth memorizing.<br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A13-14&version=ESV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Colossians 2:13-14 </a> <br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A3-5&version=ESV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Romans 6:3-5 </a><br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A17-18&version=ESV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Revelation 1:17-18</a><br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A21-23&version=ESV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">John 20:21-23</a><br /></li>
<li><b>Ask Your Neighbors How You Can Pray for Them<br /></b></li>
<li><b>Watch "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Egypt-Val-Kilmer/dp/B00000JGOQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491505318&sr=8-2&keywords=the+prince+of+Egypt" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Prince of Egypt</a>" with Your Children or Grandchildren</b>This movie does a pretty good job of showing the account of the Exodus and will help children better understand the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.<br /></li>
<li><b>Watch "</b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-John-Visual-Bible-2-DVD/dp/B000FBHFL6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1491505278&sr=8-3&keywords=the+gospel+of+john" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Gospel of John</a><b>."</b><br />This is a very well done movie that uses only the words of the Gospel of John. It is quite long, but you can easily watch it little by little.<br /></li>
<li><b>Give Thanks to God </b><br />Take some time each day to name specific things and give thanks to God for them.<br /></li>
<li><b>Review the <a href="http://catechism.cph.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Catechism</a></b><br /></li>
<li><b>Remember, "It is Finished!"</b><br />During this season, don't fall into the trap of thinking that doing any of the things on this list are what will give you salvation. Remember that Jesus has paid the price for sin in full and that anything you do during Lent (or any other time) should be done with the purpose of helping you to trust more and more in Him, not so that you become self-sufficient apart from Christ. Jesus has already done everything for our salvation! We remember that and give thanks to God for it, especially during Lent. </li>
</ol>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-90703507351759964952018-09-25T09:33:00.000-05:002018-09-26T09:38:19.548-05:00A what if story: Jonah and the Captain <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’ve always wondered
if Jonah ever again saw the sailors and captain from the boat he had boarded when trying to flee from God. He'd told them that they had to throw him overboard in order for the storm to stop, so I imagine they figured he was dead. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’ve also wondered if God’s lesson really stuck for Jonah. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>So, below is what I imagine could have
happened in Jonah ever did again meet up with the captain of that ship.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It must be a ghost!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The old sea captain blinked and shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This couldn’t be, could it? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Standing before him was a man he had watched be thrown to
his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than that, the old
captain had been the one who had commanded his sailors to throw the man into
the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d never forgotten the man’s
name either. How can you forget the name of a person for whose death you are
responsible? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His name was Jonah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over and over again the captain had played things out in his
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hadn’t wanted to throw Jonah
into the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had jettisoned all of
their precious cargo first, throwing all of their profits overboard, before
throwing this prophet overboard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
captain had hoped that throwing the cargo overboard would be enough to stay
afloat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the storm had raged on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, that storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
old captain had been on the sea for nearly his entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been through storms of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But never had he seen anything quite like
that storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was clear this storm was
from a god. The storm tossed the boat to and fro, but it was as if the storm
was designed to trap the boat without destroying it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something only a god could accomplish.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The storm had raged on until they threw the man
overboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the only way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man had even said as much! "Pick me
up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know
it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here, in front of him, stood the very man they had cast
into the sea…the very man who had so angered his god that the only way to save
their own lives was to sacrifice his. The old captain was terrified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this the ghost of the man come back to
haunt him?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But soon enough the captain knew that without a doubt this
was not ghost as the prophet wrapped his arms around the old captain, embracing
him with a big bear hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve been
looking for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank God that I found
you!” he exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The captain didn’t know what to say or do. Finally, after
the man released him from the biggest hug he’d received in years, the old
captain managed to mutter, “How…how are you here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are you alive?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah smiled broadly. “That’s why I’ve been looking for you!
I want to tell you how it is that I’m still alive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to tell you, I think you’ll have a
difficult time believing it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The captain did indeed have a difficult time believing
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowed by a big fish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alive inside of the fish for 3 days?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fantastic story…and yet…and yet why
would Jonah lie to him? He’d seen with his own eyes that Jonah had been thrown into
the heart of the sea and there was absolutely no chance a man could have survived
that without a miracle happening. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah went on to tell the old captain of how he finally did
go to Nineveh and the people in Nineveh repented of their sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of destroying Nineveh with fire
raining down from heaven, God had mercy on the people and forgave them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And I was so angry about it,” Jonah said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Angry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would you
be angry?” The old captain was puzzled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah answered, with a laugh, “That’s what the Lord said
too! ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I was angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was angry
because I didn’t want God to be merciful to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted them to get what they deserved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I sat on a hill and watched, hoping that
God would punish them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://biblecommentator.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Jonah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="800" height="201" src="https://biblecommentator.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Jonah2.jpg" width="400" /></a>Jonah continued, “As I made a little make shift tent and sat
on the hill waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t long
before I noticed a plant had grown, faster than you can imagine, and was giving
me shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a true blessing to have
some shade from that plant and it really made me happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the next day God sent a worm to attack
the plant and just as quickly as it had grown up, it was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I was really angry!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jonah was quiet for a moment and looked down at the ground,
as if ashamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he softly said,
“That’s the other reason I wanted to talk to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted that day to be the day of
destruction for Nineveh but God intended it to be a day of mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> God said, '</span>You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. </div>
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And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?' He forgave the people of Nineveh who had been
truly wicked. But He forgave me too for
my wickedness. He forgave me for wanting
justice for others and mercy for myself.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking the old captain directly in the eyes, Jonah
concluded, “God was merciful to me, saving me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I want others to know of His mercy too. I want you to know the mercy
and forgiveness of God. That's why I came looking for you. I had to find you because I needed you to know what God has done for me and that His mercy is great, because I want you to know Him, trust in Him, and receive mercy from Him too.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Did Jonah ever have a conversation like this? Was his heart changed after God's lesson on mercy? Did he go out in search of the captain and other sailors so they too could know of God's mercy? I don't know, but even if Jonah didn't, we can share the good news of His mercy and love, sharing the good news of the story of the greater Jonah who wasn't in the belly of a fish for three days, but in the tomb, the story of the one who didn't come for vengeance, but to extend mercy. </i></div>
<br />Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-10062632082249764712018-06-14T06:21:00.000-05:002018-06-14T06:21:25.347-05:00Jesus is whipped The wicked sound of the whip flaying flesh resounded once again.<br />
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<a href="http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-488-488-90/70/7082/2H5V100Z/posters/paris-france-sculpture-in-saint-roch-church-jesus-whipped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="488" height="213" src="https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-488-488-90/70/7082/2H5V100Z/posters/paris-france-sculpture-in-saint-roch-church-jesus-whipped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a sickening sound. Some of the whips had bits of glass, metal, and stone embedded at their tips, so that when they hit flesh they would simply shred it.<br />
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The one on the receiving end was the same one who not too long ago had constructed a whip and used it to chase moneychangers out of the temple. He had done this for the purpose of purifying the temple.<br />
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Now He was being whipped unmercifully. The reason though, was the same. He was receiving justice.<br />
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This was the just punishment for wickedness; not for His own wickedness, but for ours.<br />
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The sound of the sizzle of the whip flying through the air sounded once again, followed by a sickening thunk, as the whips had now ripped through His flesh in some areas and were now drubbing his bones.<br />
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Years before, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied concerning the Messiah, <i>In faithfulness He will bring forth justice. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In order to bring forth justice, should't the Messiah be the one with the whip in His hand as He had when He cleansed the temple?<br />
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Yes.<br />
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And no.<br />
<br />
Yes, His cleansing of the temple, His driving out those who were exploiting God's people, was part of the work of bringing forth justice.<br />
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But so too was the flogging He received. Because the whipping he endured was only a small fraction of the just punishment we have earned for our sins. The painful flaying of His flesh was received by Jesus, not because He deserved it, but because we did.<br />
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And He endured it in our place. He took the just punishment for the sin we committed.<br />
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Why did this have to happen? Because God is just. He does and He must punish sin.<br />
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And yet, God is merciful. So God the Son willingly became man so that He could take our place and endure the just punishment for sin that we should receive, so that instead of receiving what we deserve, God can give us what we do not deserve; mercy, forgiveness, and the endless blessings of life everlasting.<br />
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The one who brought justice with a whip in His hand also brought about justice...and mercy, but allowing Himself to be on the other end of the whip.<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">But he </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">was</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> wounded for our transgressions, </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">he was</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">was</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. </span></b><span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><b>-Isaiah 53:5</b></span>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-92039113596423847702018-06-13T09:35:00.000-05:002018-06-13T10:19:48.767-05:00Jesus's Whip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nI3hoXnFTno/S7f04JXudNI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/aIOU344qaq4/s1600/cleansing+the+temple.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="419" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nI3hoXnFTno/S7f04JXudNI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/aIOU344qaq4/s1600/cleansing+the+temple.PNG" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>After reading about Jesus making a whip and then driving out the moneychangers, I wondered what ever happened to the whip. So I wrote a story of what could have happened to that whip. </i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Jewish Passover was near, so
Jesus went to Jerusalem. He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and
pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found moneychangers sitting there. He
made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out
of the temple courtyard. He dumped the moneychangers' coins and knocked over
their tables. He told those who sold pigeons, "Pick up this stuff, and get
it out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" His
disciples remembered that Scripture said, "Devotion for your house will
consume me." </span></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(John</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">2:13-17)</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What do I do with this this?</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The man looked at the whip and wondered what to do with it. He had just witnessed Jesus use the whip, which Jesus had fashioned with His own hands by taking some small ropes and binding them together. Jesus had used this whip to drive the merchants and money changers out of the temple, then overturned the tables of the money changers.</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“I’m glad He did this.” the man whispered. The merchants and money changers had made a living by taking advantage of people and had made something that God intended for good into a means for personal gain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The man continued to wonder, </span><i>What should I do with it?</i> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">After the excitement had subsided, he noticed that Jesus had dropped the whip and left it behind and since he had come to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed God’s promised Messiah, he now had to figure out what to do with the whip by which the Messiah had cleansed the temple of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The thought went through his mind that maybe he himself should use it. Maybe he should take up the whip of the Messiah and use it to administer justice whenever he saw an injustice happening. After all, the Messiah had come to bring about justice, right?</span></span></div>
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Maybe the Messiah had left the whip behind because He had wanted someone else to take it up and continue what He had started. </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The man envisioned himself coming to the rescue of the oppressed, whip in hand, administering justice and continuing the work Jesus had started. </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Suddenly the man blushed and hung his head, realizing that he was envisioning himself as the Messiah. He looked again at the whip, this time feeling shame. The Messiah had driven out the money changers and the merchants, but hadn’t he been driven out of the temple along with them? The man knew that he wasn’t guilty of making money from temple sacrifices, but that he was guilty nonetheless. He hadn’t taken abused the sacrificial system that God had put in place in the same way as the money changers, yet he had abused the system just the same. </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The man realized that he had often gone through the motions of bringing a sacrifice to the temple, failing to bring a heart of repentance. He considered, </span><i>How many times have I simply gone through the motions, but my heart and mind were elsewhere?</i></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As he picked up the whip and held it in his hands, he realized that he had started to think of bringing a sacrifice to the Lord as paying God off so that he could continue to do whatever he wanted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He knew now, without questions, that he shouldn’t use this whip; at least not as a whip. “Vengeance is mine” the Lord had said. Vigilante justice was out of the question. </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There was only one thing to do. </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Slowly and carefully the man began to deconstruct the whip, untying the ropes as he quietly spoke words of the prophet Micah that he had memorized as a child. </span><i>They will hammer their swords into plowblades and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, and they will never train for war again. </i></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When all of the ropes had been separated, he picked them up and carried them home. </span><i>I will use these ropes when I bring a sacrifice to the Lord,</i> he thought to himself. <i>In the hands of the Messiah these can be used to bring about justice. But not in my hands. </i></span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet when I hold these ropes in</i></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>my hands, when I use them to lead the animal to be sacrificed, I will be reminded that what the Lord desires isn’t just for me to go through the motions, but to come to him with a repentant heart.</i></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="chapternum"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Psalm 51 </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have mercy on me,</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> O God,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">according to your steadfast love;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">according
to your abundant mercy</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">blot out my transgressions.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14694" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">2 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and cleanse me from my sin!</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span id="en-ESV-14695" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For I know my transgressions,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and my sin is ever before me.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14696" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">4 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Against you, you only, have I sinned</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and done what is evil in your sight,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="text"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">so
that you may be justified in your words</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and blameless in your judgment.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14697" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">5 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and in sin did my mother conceive me.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14698" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">6 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span id="en-ESV-14699" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14700" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">8 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me hear joy and gladness;</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">let the bones that you have broken rejoice.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14701" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">9 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hide your face from my sins,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and blot out all my iniquities.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><b><span class="text"><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14702" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">10 </span></span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Create in me a clean heart, O God,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and renew a right</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> spirit within me.</span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14703" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">11 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cast me not away from your presence,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and take not your Holy Spirit from me.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14704" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">12 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Restore to me the joy of your salvation,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and uphold me with a willing spirit.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span id="en-ESV-14705" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I will teach transgressors your ways,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and sinners will return to you.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14706" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">14 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O God of my salvation,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><b><span class="text"><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14707" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">15 </span></span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O Lord, open my lips,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and my mouth will declare your praise.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14708" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">16 </span></span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14709" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">17 </span></span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.</span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span id="en-ESV-14710" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">build up the walls of Jerusalem;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-14711" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">19 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">then will you delight in right sacrifices,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">then bulls will be offered on your altar.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-7402493438715846612018-06-05T15:11:00.000-05:002018-06-05T15:16:23.870-05:00Are you like the Sea of Galilee or are you like the Dead Sea?<i>It is more blessed to receive freely and give generously than to receive freely and hoard.</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.bibleodyssey.org/~/media/Images/Maps/map-JordanRiver-spm-c-02.ashx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="270" src="https://www.bibleodyssey.org/~/media/Images/Maps/map-JordanRiver-spm-c-02.ashx" /></a></div>
<i>-Adolph L. Harstad</i><br />
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The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea both receive their waters from the Jordan River. The upper Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and the lower Jordan flows into the Dead Sea.<br />
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However, they are very different bodies of water.<br />
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Why?<br />
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<a href="http://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/tools/map-gallery/c/~/media/C0B4C1CEFFF1418DAFF5FB2F41C86A47.ashx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/tools/map-gallery/c/~/media/C0B4C1CEFFF1418DAFF5FB2F41C86A47.ashx" width="320" /></a>In his wonderful commentary on the book of<br />
Joshua, Adolph L. Harstad writes this:<br />
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<i>The Sea of Galilee receives freely from the Upper Jordan and in turn gives freely as it releases water to form the Lower Jordan. The result is that the Sea of Galilee is a living sea that teams with life in its waters and has productive land on its coasts. In contrast, the Dead Sea receives freely from the Jordan River but gives nothing in response. The result is that it lives up to its name. Nothing lives in its waters. Lifeless rock and sand make up its shoreline. </i><br />
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<i>These two seas of the promised land speak to Christians about their stewardship of God's gifts. It is more blessed to receive freely and give generously than to receive freely and hoard.</i><br />
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/3e/de/203ede6b50d742706f9c74ad9c14bedc--catechism-dead-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="236" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/3e/de/203ede6b50d742706f9c74ad9c14bedc--catechism-dead-sea.jpg" /></a>So the question is, since God has freely and generously blessed you, do those blessings then flow on to others and bless them? Or do you seek to keep them for yourself?<br />
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Or another way we could say it is this: Are you a Sea of Galilee or a Dead Sea?</div>
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Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-69709579969565668382018-04-05T09:42:00.002-05:002018-04-05T09:42:49.325-05:00I'm a sheepdog of the Good Shepherd <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the role of the pastor? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is he given to do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps the best explanation that I've come across was shared with me at Doxology by Rev. Harold Senkbeil. He shared the following quote.</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24.7520008087158px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Ansdell_Richard_Isle_of_Syke.jpg/1280px-Ansdell_Richard_Isle_of_Syke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Ansdell_Richard_Isle_of_Syke.jpg/1280px-Ansdell_Richard_Isle_of_Syke.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia";">"Now those sheep-dogs that afternoon gave me a much better address on the way in which pastoral work among souls should be done that I shall be able to give you. They were helping the shepherd to deal with a lot of very active sheep and lambs, to persuade them into the right pastures, to keep them from rushing down the wrong paths. And how did the successful dog do it? Not by barking, fuss, ostentatious authority, any kind of busy behaviour. The best dog that I saw never barked once; and he spent an astonishing amount of his time sitting perfectly still, looking at the shepherd. The communion of spirit between them was perfect. They worked as a unit. Neither of them seemed anxious or in a hurry. Neither was committed to a rigid plan; they were always content to wait. That dog was the docile and faithful agent of another mind. He used his whole intelligence and initiative, but always in obedience to his master’s directive will; and was ever prompt at self-effacement. The little mountain sheep he had to deal with were amazingly tiresome, as expert in doubling and twisting and going the wrong way as any naughty little boy. The dog went steadily on with it; and his tail never ceased to wag.</span></blockquote>
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What did that mean? It meant that his relation to the shepherd was the centre of his life; and because of that, he enjoyed doing his job with the sheep, he did not bother about the trouble, nor get discouraged with the apparent results. The dog had transcended mere dogginess. His actions were dictated by something right beyond himself. He was the agent of the shepherd, working for a scheme which was not his own and the whole of which he could not grasp; and it was just that which was the source of the delightedness, the eagerness, and also the discipline with which he worked. But he would not have kept that peculiar and intimate relation unless he had sat down and looked at the shepherd a great deal."</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">[Evelyn Underhill, “The Teacher’s Vocation,” </span><i style="font-size: 85%;">Collected Papers of Evelyn Underhill</i><span style="font-size: 85%;">, Lucy Menzies, ed. (New York: Longmans, Green and Co., Inc., 1946), pp. 182-183.]</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, how is a pastor to lead? He doesn't do whatever he thinks is best, he doesn't "cast a vision" according to his desires, but he leads as a sheep dog who always gets his instructions and directions from the Good Shepherd.</span></div>
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Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-20167621906241098912018-03-13T15:07:00.000-05:002018-03-13T15:07:40.454-05:00Please Read This Before Choosing A CollegeChoosing the right college isn't easy. Things like the size of the school, academic reputation, majors offered, and available housing are all considerations. The odds are good that before choosing a college, you've made at least one visit to get a feel for the campus and investigate things.<div>
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But there's one aspect of choosing a college that is far too often overlooked by parents and students and that is the spiritual life of the student.</div>
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Ah, but you think, "I'm sending my child to a Christian college, so they'll be good to go!" As much as I wish that this were true, it simply isn't. Many colleges that have a Christians heritage are now Christian in name only or far worse, they retain some of the outward appearances of being Christian while actively teaching things that undermine the Christian faith and can be detrimental to the spiritual life of students. </div>
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So before you choose a college, please consider the following.</div>
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1. Does the college claim to be a Christian college?</h3>
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Parents might think that if the college is a "Christian" college, that their child will be in good shape and well cared for spiritually. Students might figure that since they're at a "Christian" college, that what the school will teach and the values held by the school will be very similar to what they've grown up with in their home congregation. </div>
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However this is often very far from true.</div>
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If the college claims to be "Christian," you need to consider what they mean by Christian. </div>
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Do they come from a particular religious tradition (Baptist, Roman Catholic, Reformed, etc.)? </div>
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If so, is that religious tradition still an active part of the life on campus?</div>
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Do they believe that Scripture is the divinely inspired and inherent Word of God? </div>
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Do they hold to Trinitarian theology?</div>
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What do they teach concerning human sexuality?</div>
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Are students required to attend chapel? (It's not necessarily a good thing if they are)</div>
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These are but a few of the questions that need to be asked.</div>
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2. Does the college claim to be a secular college?</h3>
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<a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1488649_433084273460524_22894511_n.jpg?oh=7705af20b2be3db470cbca04ccb9c77a&oe=5B311C96" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="800" height="347" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1488649_433084273460524_22894511_n.jpg?oh=7705af20b2be3db470cbca04ccb9c77a&oe=5B311C96" width="400" /></a>It's not necessarily a bad thing if that's the case, since there won't be a mingling of false "Christian" ideas and practices with true Christianity. But if the institution is secular, are there religions groups that meed on campus or near campus?</div>
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For instance, I would want to see if there is an <a href="https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/campus-ministry" target="_blank">LCMS U</a> chapter in the area because that would allow me to be much more confident that my student would be receiving solid biblical teaching, rather than them having to sift through some good teaching and some not so good (or even heretical) teachings. </div>
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3. Where will the student attend church?</h3>
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Yes, I'm well aware that most college students don't actually get up and go to church on Sunday mornings. This was even the case when I attended <a href="http://www.concordia.edu/" target="_blank">Concordia</a>. But just because it's not the norm doesn't mean that we should excuse it. Frankly, I expect the college students from my church to get up and go to church on Sunday morning, even if they're away from home and have to attend another congregation. And when my children attend college, they'll be expected to attend too.</div>
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So, when you start checking out colleges, investigate the church options in the area too. Go to <a href="http://lcms.org/">LCMS.org</a> and see if there are any congregations in the area. If there aren't any, that might not be the best option for college, since college years are very vulnerable years spiritually. </div>
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If it's possible, when you go to visit the college, make it a point to attend worship at the church(es) you pre-identified and see if it seems like it would be a good place for the student to attend. </div>
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4. Is this college likely a place where the student can find a godly spouse?</h3>
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No, attending college isn't just about trying to find a husband or wife, but it does present the most likely time and place for a student to meet his or her future spouse. A godly spouse is a treasure well beyond anything that will be learned academically at college. This should absolutely be something to consider when looking at school options.</div>
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5. What are some good options?</h3>
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The <a href="https://www.lcms.org/cus" target="_blank">Concordia University System</a> is a group of Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod colleges. The greatest blessing here is knowing what to expect as far a religious teaching and practice. </div>
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Check out <a href="https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/campus-ministry" target="_blank">LCMS U </a>and see if there is a campus ministry at a school you're considering. </div>
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Use the <a href="http://locator.lcms.org/nchurches_frm/church.asp" target="_blank">find a church locator</a>. </div>
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Above all, parents, make sure that this is taken into consideration and impress on your child the importance of this aspect of their college experience. The college years don't need to be a time of drifting, but can be a time of spiritual growth and flourishing! </div>
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Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-52434629690337949322018-02-27T09:54:00.000-06:002018-02-27T09:54:16.443-06:00Who Cares About Membership?<img height="425" src="https://www.cph.org/images/topics/images/productextras/media-kit/connected-to-christ/Connected_FBOOK%20IMAGE%20POST.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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This year at Hope Lutheran Church, we're doing a study of the book "<a href="https://www.cph.org/p-30668-connected-to-christ-why-membership-matters.aspx" target="_blank">Connected to Christ: Why Membership Matters</a>."<br /><br />
The question might be asked, "Why are we bothering with this study?" It's a valid question, so here are some answers.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Very few people have any idea what it means to be a member of a church. In my years as a pastor I have observed that some elderly members have a good concept of membership, a few middle aged and younger members understand it, but the vast majority of Christians have no concept of what it means to be a member at all. </li>
<li>There's a myth that "membership" isn't biblical. It is biblical, but the word "member" does have a very different meaning than how the word is often used these days. </li>
<li>When we understand what it is to be a member of a congregation, then we are better equipped to faithfully live out that calling from the Lord.</li>
<li>If we're going to be doing outreach, we'd better understand what it means for us to be a member of Christ's church before we try to talk to someone else about being a member.</li>
<li>By doing this study as a whole congregation, we get to better know one another and are better prepared to take care of one another as we have been instructed to do by Christ.</li>
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I could add to the list, but this is at least a start.</div>
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Church membership is valuable and important and I'm thankful for <a href="https://www.cph.org/p-30668-connected-to-christ-why-membership-matters.aspx" target="_blank">this new resource</a> that will help us to better understand what it means to be a member of a congregation. </div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-17904599984836178772018-02-26T11:36:00.000-06:002018-02-26T11:40:16.482-06:00A Picture of Baptism<br />
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Yesterday, because of the heavy rain we've had recently, the prayer garden behind Hope Lutheran Church was flooded. As some of us looked at the flooding, I couldn't help but be struck by the visual of the cross in the water and how it reminded me of baptism; specifically it reminded me of these verses.<br />
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Do you not know that all of us who have been <b>baptized </b>into Christ Jesus were <b>baptized </b>into his death? We were buried therefore with him by <b>baptism </b>into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. <b>We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.</b> For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.<br />
-Romans 6:3-11</blockquote>
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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely <b>through water</b>. <b>Baptism</b>, which corresponds to this, <b>now saves you</b>, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.<br />
-1 Peter 3:18-22</blockquote>
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In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, <b>having been buried with him in baptism</b>, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. <b>This he set aside, nailing it to the cross</b>. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.<br />
-Colossians 2:11-15</blockquote>
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The cross and the water go together because the work done by Jesus on the cross is delivered to us by the Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism. And for those of us who have already been baptized, we go back to those waters of baptism each day by confessing our sins to the Lord so that our old sinful self can again be drowned and we can then go about our day as the new creation God has made us through baptism into Christ. </div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=5eddecf550&view=fimg&th=161d2bae9f0cc625&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-zq9N1te9WF-iairPsS2ZRm3RxDAwm4-yAr5Qt7jjbNW-HOlmWWUGLEdEgo17BujNOIPUsFWHAYxZQYR3ncGrYiCKKyVRsekshtKwXZbZ5I1ir3A2xqoqEHAU&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1519658927517&rm=161d2bae9f0cc625&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=5eddecf550&view=fimg&th=161d2bae9f0cc625&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-zq9N1te9WF-iairPsS2ZRm3RxDAwm4-yAr5Qt7jjbNW-HOlmWWUGLEdEgo17BujNOIPUsFWHAYxZQYR3ncGrYiCKKyVRsekshtKwXZbZ5I1ir3A2xqoqEHAU&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1519658927517&rm=161d2bae9f0cc625&zw&atsh=1" width="400" /></a></div>
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So if you want to come to the cross of Christ, the waters of baptism are just the way to do it.</div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-29084797271691428112018-02-15T09:55:00.001-06:002018-02-15T09:55:33.324-06:00Baseball/History Books: My Take<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love baseball and I love history, so books that have history and baseball are among my favorites. Below I've categorized several books I've read that fit into the category of history and baseball.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><u>Not Recommended</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Cobb: A Biography</span> </span><span style="color: #555555;"><span style="color: purple; font-weight: 400;">by Al Stump</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: inherit;">Al Stump was a hack. Actually that's putting things far too kindly. Stump made loads of money by making up stories about Ty Cobb that were entirely untrue, but have been widely shared as if they were fact. Book stores shouldn't even carry this book anymore, but they do. If you want to read about the shady work done in this book, check out <a href="http://sabr.org/research/georgia-peach-stumped-storyteller" target="_blank">this article. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig</span> <span class="a-size-medium a-color-secondary a-text-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85 , 85 , 85); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.255;">by Jonathan Eig</span></span></h1>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: inherit;">As I read this book, I had to ask myself, "Why does Eig dislike Lou Gehrig so much?" Eig takes every chance he can to diminish Gehrig and his words seem to indicate that he truly didn't like or respect Gehrig. I was very disappointed in this biography. </span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><u>Recommended With Reservations</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Red Legs and Black Sox: Edd Roush and the Untold Story of the 1919 World Series</span> </span><span style="color: #555555;"><span style="color: purple; font-weight: 400;">by Susan Dellinger</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many books in this category suffer because they are written by amateurs (and by "amateurs" I mean that in the truest sense of the word, they write about something because of their love for it). This book examines that "other" side of the 1919 World Series, which was made famous by the Black Sox scandal. Dellinger was interested in telling this story because she is a granddaughter of the great Reds player Edd Roush. Unfortunately, because of this relationship, the author often writes as if Roush was a complete saint who never did anything wrong, while everyone around him was shady.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even with that downside, the rest of the book has a lot of good to offer. It's interesting to hear about the rampant betting going on in baseball and how players like Hal Chase were known more for their betting than their play on the field. </span><br />
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Tris Speaker: The Rough-And-Tumble Life Of A Baseball Legend</span><span style="font-size: 21px;"> </span><span class="a-size-medium a-color-secondary a-text-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85 , 85 , 85); font-size: large; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.255;">by Timothy Gay</span></h1>
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Tris Speaker might be the most underrated baseball player in history. His play in center field was legendary, even in his own time. He is the all time record holder for doubles in a career and he has the sixth highest batting average in history. </div>
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I always wanted to learn more about this player, so I was excited to read this book. The book was well researched, but the storytelling is at times choppy and the book sometimes feels disjointed. However, there is much to commend in this book, so in spite of the shortcomings it is worth your time. </div>
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<span class="a-size-extra-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Ty Cobb</span> <span class="a-size-large a-color-secondary a-text-normal" id="bookEdition" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85 , 85 , 85); font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3;">by Charles Alexander</span></h1>
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<span class="a-size-large a-color-secondary a-text-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400 !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alexander's biography of Cobb is, for the most part, very well researched. His writing style is a bit dry, but not overly so. The biggest issue with this book is that Alexander simply accepted as fact the stories Al Stump made up in his "biography" and passes them along as fact. </span></span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville <span style="color: purple;">by Mark R. Millikin</span></span></h1>
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Jimmie Foxx is one of those names I always saw as a kid, when looking at the all time records, and was blown away at his career numbers, but a player about whom I knew very little. I was glad to find this book about Double X and have a chance to learn about the man. </div>
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The problem with this book is an issue found in many such biographies; it gets bogged down in details. Sometimes it simply reads as a list of events happening one after another, rather than as a story. But I was still glad to be able to learn about this legendary player.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Harry Hooper: AN AMERICAN BASEBALL LIFE </span><span class="a-size-medium a-color-secondary a-text-normal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(85 , 85 , 85); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.255;">by Paul J. Zingg</span></span></h1>
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Harry Hooper isn't a name most baseball fans know these days, but he lived a pretty increadible life. This book does a nice job of detailing the world of baseball on the west coast in the early 1900's. When Hooper made it to the major leagues, he was a rarity since he came from California. </div>
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This book, unfortunately, also suffers from some of the same problems as many other baseball biographies, as it will often list stats and events instead of telling the story. But this book was very helpful to me in understanding the minor leagues in California during that time and gave a few new insights to the great Boston Red Sox clubs of the 1910's decade.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><u>Recommended</u></span></h2>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by Charles Leerhsen</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Ty Cobb has a terrible reputation these days, but much of that is based on lies from Al Stump's book on Cobb. In this book, Leerhsen works hard to give a picture of the real Ty Cobb; a man who was far from perfect, but also was far from the monster he is portrayed to be these days. </span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The writing is clear, the storytelling is well done, and the evidence is presented fairly. </span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Summer of '49 </span></span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by David Halberstam</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This is one of the books that helped me to fall in love with baseball/history books. Halberstam writes about iconic players like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, but tells about the other players in equal detail. It is clear the this was a work of love fro Halberstam and this is a book that remains a favorite for me. </span></h1>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">October 1964</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by David Halberstam</span></span></span></h1>
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This was a follow-up to <u>The Summer of '49</u> and it was a good one. Halberstam tells of how the culture was changing in the 1960's and how St. Louis took advantage of the great talent available now that the Negro League was a thing of the past and baseball was fully integrated. The Yankees however, were very reluctant to embrace the newly available talent. </div>
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I didn't enjoy this one as much as <u>The Summer of '49</u> even though it involves my favorite team, but it is still an excellent book and well worth your time. </div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by Henry W. Thomas</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Big Train was the greatest pitcher of his era and one of the greatest ever, but because he pitched for the lowly Washington Senators and because of his funky throwing motion, he sometimes gets overlooked these days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas does a wonderful job in this biography of telling of Johnson's amazing pitching exploits, but also helping the reader to get to know the man. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Johnson and his Washington Senators teams.</span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">By Mike Sowell - Pitch That Killed</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by Mike Sowell</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: amazon ember, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Only once, in the history of major league baseball, has a player been killed by being hit by a pitch. Ray Chapman, while playing for the Indians as they were in the midst of a pennant chase, was hit by a pitch from submariner Carl Mays and died. The book shares the back story for Mays and for Chapman and tells of what happened after this terrible event. </span></span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Catcher In The Wry: Outrageous but True Stories of Baseball</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by Bob Uecker </span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: amazon ember, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When most people hear the title </span></span><u style="font-family: "amazon ember", arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The Catcher in the Rye</u><span style="font-family: amazon ember, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> they think of the book by J.D. Salinger. But when I hear or read that, I think of Bob Uecker's </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">hilarious</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> baseball book. I read this when I was in grade school and it's still a favorite. Uecker tells stories from his time in the minor leagues, in the military, and in the majors and does so with his famous humor. One of my favorite parts was when he was reprimanded by his commanding officer for throwing </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">grenades</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> like he throws a baseball instead of lobbing them. </span></span></span></h1>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend</span> </span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by Larry Tye</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Satch was one of the greatest pitchers to ever grip a baseball, but because of segregation he was unable to pitch in the major leagues until he was well past his prime. In this book we get to know Satchel Page the man and learn about the Negro Leagues and how they operated. This was a fun, but thought provoking book. </span></div>
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="color: #111111;">The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America</span><span style="color: #b00885;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Joe Posnanski</span></span></span></h1>
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<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like many others, I was first introduced to Buck O'Neil by Ken Burn's documentary <u>Baseball</u>. O'Neil showed himself to be a man of great humor and dignity. I was excited to learn more about the man, so I was thrilled to find this book. </span></span></div>
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This is a story that has baseball in the background, but is far more about a great man making his way in a society that was incredibly hostile to him. You will be challenged and touched by this book. </div>
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Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-44835409875284577772018-01-12T09:48:00.000-06:002018-01-14T04:13:34.224-06:00Recommended Reading For Christian GrowthRecently I was asked for recommendations for biblical study material. It's a good topic, so I thought I'd share a few resources and ideas that you might want to consider for your own reading in pursuit of growth.<br />
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First, you might want to check out this post on <a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-laypersons-thological-library.html" target="_blank">"A Layperson's Theological Library" </a>for a start in building your personal library. In this post I won't duplicate recommendations I made previously, but you'll certainly want to check out those recommendations in addition to what is shared below.<br />
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Now, on to the recommended reading. There's a lot more I could add, but this will suffice for now.<br />
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Bible Study</h3>
"<a href="https://www.cph.org/p-30876-reading-romans-with-luther.aspx" target="_blank">Reading Romans with Luther</a>" by RJ Grunewald<br />
I actually haven't read through this one yet, but enough trusted friends have done so that I feel confident in recommending it. The book of Romans can be intimidating and this book helps you to be able to understand the message of the book, using Luther as your guide.<br />
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The following are books by Martin Franzmann (one of my favorite authors) that walk through a book of the Bible.<br />
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Daily-Living-Martin-Franzmann/dp/B0012LZWF4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515692608&sr=8-1&keywords=new+courage+for+daily+living+Martin+Franzmann" target="_blank">New Courage for Daily Living</a>" is out of print and might be difficult to find (maybe Concordia Publishing House could make it available on demand?), but is a wonderful devotional walk through the book of Colossians.<br />
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"<a href="https://www.cph.org/p-6573-Follow-Me-Discipleship-According-to-St-Matthew.aspx" target="_blank">Follow Me: Discipleship According to St. Matthew</a>" walks through the gospel of Matthew, giving special attention to the idea of discipleship.<br />
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Franzmann's commentaries of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Romans-Commentary-Martin-H-Franzmann/dp/0570044316/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515692884&sr=1-4&keywords=Martin+Franzmann" target="_blank">Romans </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-John-Martin-H-Franzmann/dp/0570044308/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515692884&sr=1-11&keywords=Martin+Franzmann" target="_blank">Revelation </a>are also excellent for the layperson.<br />
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Doctrine</h3>
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"<a href="https://www.cph.org/p-17539-luthers-large-catechism-with-study-questions.aspx" target="_blank">Luther's Large Catechism</a>" by Martin Luther</div>
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If you've read and studied the small catechism, then it's time to read through the large catechism. The large catechism is simply fantastic and Luther writes in such a way so to always be teaching about the chief articles of the Christian faith. </div>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Way-Salvation-Lutheran-Church-Contemporary/dp/1491269618/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515693420&sr=1-1&keywords=G.H.+gerberding" target="_blank">The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church</a>" by G.H. Gerberding</div>
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This book was published about 100 years ago, but the material in it is just as relivant today as it was then. Gerberding wrote this, not for pastors, but for the average Christian. I very highly recommend that you check out the reprinting that was put out by Pastor Jordan Cooper's "Just and Sinner Publishing" only a few years ago.</div>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lutheran-Doctrine-Supper-American-Classics/dp/0615899943/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515693451&sr=1-6" target="_blank">The Lutheran Doctrine of the Lord's Supper</a>" by Henry I. Schmidt</div>
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This is another republication from "Just and Sinner Publishing" that is well worth your time. Schmidt helps the reader to understand what the Lord's Supper is, what it is not, and how to answer objections raised by those who do not share the Lutheran understanding. </div>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Make-Disciples-baptizing-Christian-Publication/dp/0911770666/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515770322&sr=1-2&keywords=Robert+Kolb+baptism" target="_blank">Make Disciples, baptizing: God's gift of new life and Christian witness</a>" by Robert Kolb<br />
In this little gem of a book, Kolb shows how baptism is more than a one time event. The book is broken down into four parts.<br />
1. The Biblical Teaching on Baptism<br />
2. Baptism: Tool and Goal in Evangelism<br />
3. The Rite and Ritual of New Birth<br />
4. The Incorporation of the Newly Baptized into the Christian Way of Life<br />
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"<a href="https://www.cph.org/p-20881-the-church-and-the-office-of-the-ministry.aspx" target="_blank">The Church and The Office of The Ministry</a>" by CFW Walther<br />
What is the church? How should individual congregations relate to other congregations? What is a pastor and what is he given by God to do? In this classic work, Walther helps the reader to answer these questions, showing that the answers given are from Scripture.<br />
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christs-Church-Biblical-Dramatic-Presence/dp/1608997030/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515771115&sr=1-4&keywords=Bo+Giertz" target="_blank">Christ's Church: Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic Story, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future</a>" by Bo Giertz<br />
This is an all time favorite book for me. In this book Giertz teaches what the Church is and what she is to do. In reading this book you will better understand the church, but also learn to love her more.<br />
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Christian Living</h3>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baptized-into-Christ-Guide-Christian/dp/0692699341/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515693451&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Baptized into Christ: A Guide to the Christian Life</a>" by Jordan Cooper</div>
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This is really a nice overview of what the Christian life should look like and how it is rooted in our identity as baptized children of God. </div>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loved-Sent-Words-Define-Matter/dp/1938840119/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515693784&sr=1-1&keywords=jeff+cloeter" target="_blank">Loved and Sent: How Two Words Define Who Your Are and Why You Matter</a>" by Jeff Cloetter</div>
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Jeff was a classmate of mine at the seminary and has put out a gem of a book. This book helps us to grasp who we are, whose we are, and how that changes what we are to do. </div>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Holiness-Historical-Systematic-Investigation/dp/1592448399/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515769847&sr=1-1&keywords=the+quest+for+holiness" target="_blank">The Quest for Holiness</a>" by Adolf Koberle </div>
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If you've ever struggled with the idea of what the sanctified life of a Christian should look like or the differences between justification and sanctification, then this is a great book to read. This is not a light read, but a challenge book that will cause you to reflect often. My friend Zach summarizes some of Koberle's points in a <a href="https://zachmcintosh.com/tag/adolf-koberle/" target="_blank">blog post</a>, noting Koberle's points that mankind tries to bridge the gap between who they are and who they want to be through moralism, intellectualism, or emotionalism, but that none of these approaches will suffice. This is a book that everyone serious about theology should read at least once. </div>
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Understanding Lutheranism</h3>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Great-Divide-Lutheran-Evaluation-Reformed/dp/1498224237/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515771013&sr=1-1&keywords=Jordan+cooper" target="_blank">The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology</a>" by Jordan Cooper</div>
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This is a very helpful book and a very easy read. I think the summary given from the book itself tells you what you need to know about it. </div>
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Since the sixteenth century, the Protestant tradition has been divided. The Reformed and Lutheran reformations, though both committed to the doctrine of the sinners justification by faith alone, split over Zwingli and Luther's disagreement over the nature of the Lord's Supper. Since that time, the Reformed and Lutheran traditions have developed their own theological convictions, and continue to disagree with one another. It is incumbent upon students of the reformation, in the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, to come to an understanding of what these differences are, and why they matter. In The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology, Jordan Cooper examines these differences from a Lutheran perspective. While seeking to help both sides come to a more nuanced understanding of one another, and writing in an irenic tone, Cooper contends that these differences do still matter. Throughout the work, Cooper engages with Reformed writers, both contemporary and old, and demonstrates that the Lutheran tradition is more consistent with the teachings of Scripture than the Reformed.</blockquote>
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Biography</h3>
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"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-letters-W-Passavant-D/dp/1172532362/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515771320&sr=1-4&keywords=GH+Gerberding" target="_blank">Life and Letters of WA Passavant, D.D</a>." by G.H. Gerberding</div>
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Passavant is probably not a man you've heard of before, but his life and story are fascinating. Passavant lived in the 1800's, helped found the first Lutheran congregation in Pittsburgh, started an ophanage, opened a hospital, edited a newspaper, and served as a pastor. This is an enjoyable and informative biography of someone you should get to know. </div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-56842079674647085402017-12-25T08:06:00.000-06:002017-12-25T08:06:44.387-06:001 Christmas Savior <span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I’ve been doing a countdown on different topics this week from 7 to 1. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Today is Christmas, so here’s #1 and of course #1 is Jesus. There might be a lot of reasons to celebrate on Christmas; family, food, health, presents, etc. However, without Jesus and what He has done for us, all of those things would have the shadow of sin and death looming over them. But because of Jesus we can have boundless, unhindered joy because He has conquered sin and death. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">What a blessing to again hear this truth: Unto you is born...a Savior. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Merry Christmas! </span></span>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-8400522207417311302017-12-24T04:27:00.002-06:002017-12-24T04:55:59.260-06:002 Christmas Prayers I'm doing a countdown beginning from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day, with each day having a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 2 Christmas prayers.<br />
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The prayers I'm sharing are uses as "collects" in the Divine Service. A collect "collects" the main theme of the service and brings it before God as a prayer. I am putting these here so that you may use them on your own as well, if you would like.<br />
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Prayer #1: The Collect for Christmas Eve</h2>
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.<br />
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Prayer #2: The Collect for Christmas Day</h2>
Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.<br />
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Previous Posts in the series:<br /><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/7-christmas-albums.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">7 Christmas Albums</a><br /><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/6-christmas-prophecies.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 Christmas Prophecies </a><br /><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/5-christmas-quotes.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">5 Christmas Quotes </a></div>
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<a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/4-christmas-songs-that-you-probably.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">4 Christmas Songs (that you probably don't know)</a></div>
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<a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/3-christmas-artworks.html" target="_blank">3 Christmas Artworks </a></div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-59897779788024530262017-12-22T09:37:00.004-06:002017-12-23T06:21:34.363-06:003 Christmas Artworks It's the week before Christmas, so I'm going to do a countdown beginning today from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day. Each day will have a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 3 Christmas Artworks.<br />
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Below are three different depictions of the nativity scene. None of them are what could rightly be described as "accurrate" insofar as showing what the setting and the people probably looked like, but that doesn't bother me at all. In fact, what I like about these is that the artists show people to whom their audience could relate and surrounding a Savior to whom they can also relate. It's a reminder that Jesus came to be the Savior for people of all colors and from all nations and cultures.<br />
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Here's a painting from Cameroon </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">JESUS MAFA. The birth of Jesus with shepherds, from <strong>Art in the Christian Tradition</strong>, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.<a href="http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48387">http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48387</a> [retrieved December 22, 2017]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://arthistoryunf.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/fig-4-durer-nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="623" height="640" src="https://arthistoryunf.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/fig-4-durer-nativity.jpg" width="497" /></a></div>
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"The Nativity"</div>
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A woodcut by German artist Albrecht Durer</div>
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<a href="https://thejesusquestion.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/nativity_woonbo-kim-ki-chang-korea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="580" height="532" src="https://thejesusquestion.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/nativity_woonbo-kim-ki-chang-korea2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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"The Birth of Jesus Christ" </div>
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A painting by Korean artist Ki Chang Kim</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Previous Posts in the series:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/7-christmas-albums.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">7 Christmas Albums</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/6-christmas-prophecies.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 Christmas Prophecies </a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/5-christmas-quotes.html" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #2196f3; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">5 Christmas Quotes </a></div>
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<a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/4-christmas-songs-that-you-probably.html" target="_blank">4 Christmas Songs (that you probably don't know)</a></div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-22708528128368873522017-12-22T08:09:00.000-06:002017-12-22T08:09:13.095-06:004 Christmas Songs (that you probably don't know)It's the week before Christmas, so I'm going to do a countdown beginning today from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day. Each day will have a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 4 Christmas songs that you might not know, but probably should.<br />
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#1 "Nations that Long In Darkness" Walked by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips</h2>
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This is a beautiful, newer song that is rich with the words of Scripture and the implications of Jesus coming into the world.<br />
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#2 "O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is" by Paul Gerhardt</h2>
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Paul Gerhardt is one of the greatest hymn writers in history, but few seem to know this beautiful song. The words of this are simply beautiful. Below are the words of the first verse.</div>
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1 O Jesus Christ,</div>
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Thy manger is</div>
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My paradise at which my soul reclineth.</div>
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For there, O Lord,</div>
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Doth lie the Word</div>
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Made flesh for us; herein Thy grace forth shineth. </div>
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#3 "From Heaven Above To Earth I Come" by Martin Luther</h2>
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This one might not be unknown to you if you're Lutheran, but if you're not Lutheran you probably aren't familiar with it. In this hymn Luther begins with the message of the angels and then moves on to the response of the shepherds (and our response) to Jesus coming to be the Savior. </div>
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#4 "The Camel Song" by Slugs and Bugs (Randall Goodgame)</h2>
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Okay, this one isn't serious but it is fun. Give it a listen and enjoy the Mark Hamill reference. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Previous Posts in the series:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/7-christmas-albums.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">7 Christmas Albums</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/6-christmas-prophecies.html" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">6 Christmas Prophecies </a></span><br />
<a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/5-christmas-quotes.html" target="_blank">5 Christmas Quotes </a>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-26666768385500655132017-12-21T09:18:00.000-06:002017-12-21T09:18:41.108-06:006 Christmas Prophecies <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's the week before Christmas, so I'm going to do a countdown beginning today from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day. Each day will have a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 6 prophecies fulfilled with the birth of Jesus or shortly thereafter.<br />
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Prophecies #1 and #2: Isaiah 7:14</h2>
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In this verse we actually get two specific and astonishing prophecies that are fulfilled by Jesus. First, the prophecy that He will be conceived and born of a virgin and second that He will be called Immanuel.<br />
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The virgin birth is indeed a miracle only possibly by God, but for God (as<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1%3A35-38&version=ESV" target="_blank"> Gabriel reminded Mary</a>) all things are possible. The virgin birth is important because it is the fulfillment of this prophecy, but also because Jesus was born without having the sinful nature passed on to Him as would have happened with a "normal" conception and birth. </div>
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That Jesus is called <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A22-23&version=ESV" target="_blank">Immanuel (or Emmanuel</a>, same word, different spelling) is maybe even more amazing than the virgin birth. Immanuel/Emmanuel means "God with us" and in fact the creator of the universe entered into the world as a helpless baby so that He could redeem His creatures. The very one who spoke all things into existence, the same one who's hands hung the stars in the sky, became a helpless baby inside of Mary, was laid in a manger, and was completely dependent upon Mary and Joseph for everything. And He willingly humbled Himself in that way so that He could be born and live under the law and keep it perfectly, then give us the perfection He accomplished. </div>
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Prophecy #3: Micah 5:2</h2>
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The Messiah (as <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-12&version=ESV" target="_blank">King Herod learned</a>) was to be born in Bethlehem. Now, Bethlehem was the city from which King David had come, but Bethlehem was a tiny town with little political significance. Jerusalem is the city that would have been chosen if it were up to people to decide...or maybe even Rome since it was the most important city of all. But as the prophecy of Micah said some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, it would be in Bethlehem that the Messiah would be born.<br />
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Prophecy #4: Isaiah 9:6-7</h2>
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A child who will rule over over an everlasting kingdom? A child who could be called "Mighty God?" The Christ child is the fulfillment of this prophecy.<br />
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Prophecy #5: Isaiah 11:1</h2>
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The kingdom of David will have fallen, prophesied Isaiah, as indicated by "the stump of Jesse" (remember that Jesse was David's father). But from that seemingly dead line will come forth a shoot. Jesus was that shoot that sprang up from the stump of Jesse. He established the greater Kingdom of which David's kingdom had only been a shadow.<br />
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Prophecy #6: Hosea 11:1</h2>
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This one comes a bit after Christmas, but still while Jesus was quite young. After the Magi visited, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A13-15&version=ESV" target="_blank">Joseph was warned in a dream </a>to flee to Egypt because Herod was going to try to have Jesus killed. Joseph quickly packed up the gifts received from the Magi, probably a few other possessions as well, and he and his family high tailed it to Egypt. But after word reached Joseph that Herod had died, they returned to the area, settling in Nazareth. This was the fulfillment, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A13-15&version=ESV" target="_blank">Matthew's gospel tells us</a>, of this prophecy. Jesus, you see, was the very personification of the people of Israel and so these words find their full meaning in Him.<br />
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If you missed Day 7, here's the <a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/7-christmas-albums.html" target="_blank">link</a>. </div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-34098676597896251862017-12-21T09:15:00.000-06:002017-12-21T09:20:06.514-06:005 Christmas QuotesIt's the week before Christmas, so I'm going to do a countdown beginning today from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day. Each day will have a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 5 Christmas quotes to reflect upon.<br />
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Quote #1</h2>
This is from Charles Porterfield Krauth's magnum opus, <u>The Conservative Reformation and its Theology</u>. It is a quote pertaining to Martin Luther.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">All days were Christmas to the great Restorer. He had found the Christ, and when he was not kneeling with the shepherds, he was singing with the angels. </span></i><br />
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Quote #2</h2>
Here is a quote from that great Restorer, Martin Luther.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">There are many of you in this congregation who think to yourselves: "If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby! I would have washed his linen. How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!" Yes, you would! You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem. Childish and silly thoughts are these! Why don't you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ himself. </span></i><br />
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Quote #3</h2>
Here's a gem from C.S. Lewis. It comes from his book, "The Last Battle."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world." </i></span><br />
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Quote #4</h2>
This is from St. Ambrose and reflects upon the willingness of Christ to humble Himself; to come down from the glories of heaven, be born of a woman, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Because of you, weakness; in Himself, power. for your sakes, needy; in Himself, rich. Don't judge that which you see, but acknowledge that you are redeemed. Lord Jesus, I owe to your poverty by which I have been redeemed more than the riches by which I have been created, for it would have been no advantage that I was born unless I also had the advantage of being redeemed. </span></i><br />
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Quote #5</h2>
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I'll finish this out with a fantastic though from St. Augustine. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Previous Posts in the series:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/7-christmas-albums.html" target="_blank">7 Christmas Albums</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://buriedandraisedwithchrist.blogspot.com/2017/12/6-christmas-prophecies.html" target="_blank">6 Christmas Prophecies </a></span>Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915837861171323831.post-7730166998639531492017-12-19T07:56:00.000-06:002017-12-19T07:56:53.504-06:007 Christmas Albums <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's the week before Christmas, so I'm going to do a countdown beginning today from 7 to 1, with 1 being on Christmas Day. Each day will have a different topic.<br />
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Today I'm sharing with you 7 Christmas albums worth listening to both leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas <i>and</i> throughout the 12 days of Christmas (which begin on Christmas Day and end on January 5th). I'm sure all of these are available on iTunes and Amazon, but I'm linking directly to the store of the artist when possible.<br />
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Also note that the order does not indicate any sort of ranking.<br />
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7. "<a href="https://www.saragroves.com/store/floodplain-36dha-gx4b3-drnfa-r9d27" target="_blank">O Holy Night</a>" by Sara Groves</h2>
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<a href="https://musicimage.xboxlive.com/catalog/music.album.8D6KGX5NGBPQ/image?locale=en-us&w=330&h=330" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="O Holy Night" border="0" height="400" src="https://musicimage.xboxlive.com/catalog/music.album.8D6KGX5NGBPQ/image?locale=en-us&w=330&h=330" width="400" /></a></div>
Sara Groves has a beautiful voice and on this album she gives new voice to some familiar Christmas hymns, including "O Holy Night," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." The rest of the album is great too, but parents will especially enjoy her song "Toy Packaging."<br />
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6. "<a href="http://store.bandfarm.com/fernandoortega/product/?catID=17&prodID=1872" target="_blank">Christmas Songs</a>" by Fernando Ortega</h2>
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Fernando Ortega is one of my absolute favorites. He has a fantastic voice and he sings songs of great substance and depth. This album has a mix of some Advent, some Christmas, and some songs that work for Advent and Christmas, but are really just wonderful songs of praise to Jesus.<br />
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5. "<a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/collections/jill-phillips/products/christmas?variant=5264515587" target="_blank">Christmas</a>" by Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn </h2>
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Don't let the differing last names fool you, Andy and Jill are married and this collaborative effort is quite well done. Some of the highlights of this album are "In the Bleak Midwinter" and a fantastic song based on one of Isaiah's prophecies about Jesus called "Nations That Long In Darkness Walked." You also won't want to miss a very amusing redoing of "Baby It's Cold Outside." </div>
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4. "<a href="http://www.shop.koinemusic.com/Anno-Domini-AD.htm" target="_blank">Anno Domini</a>" by Koine</h2>
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Koine is a fantastic band that takes traditional hymns and gives them an updated interpretation by using the familiar tunes, but playing them with electric guitar, drums, etc. This album mixes in a lot of Advent hymns to go with some Christmas favorites. "O Savior Rend the Heavens Wide," "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" and "Hark the Glad Sound!" are some of my favorites on this album.<br />
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3. "<a href="http://www.shop.koinemusic.com/Emmanuel-Lux-E-LUX.htm" target="_blank">Emmanuel Lux</a>" by Koine</h2>
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Yes, another album by Koine (they really are fantastic). On this one they do a great job with "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel," and "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful."<br />
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2. "<a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/collections/christmas-ideas/products/a-slugs-bugs-christmas?variant=4874228547" target="_blank">A Slugs and Bugs Christmas</a>" by Randall Goodgame (with Andrew Peterson)</h2>
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This is the album for parents who are tired of terrible children's music. The "Slugs and Bugs" albums were designed to be music that children would love, but parents wouldn't want to eject as soon as possible. This album is filled with humorous songs ("The Camel Song" is fantastic), some classics (such as, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear") and also teaches biblical truths if a fun way.<br />
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1. "<a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/collections/christmas-ideas/products/behold-the-lamb-of-god-2-cd-set?variant=4768578755" target="_blank">Behold the Lamb of God</a>" by Andrew Peterson </h2>
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Andrew Peterson is one of the true gems in the current Christmas music scene. His music is deep, thoughtful, and rich in theology, yet easy and enjoyable to listen to and sing along with. This album is actually a collaboration with several of his friends and it isn't your typical Christmas album, but is really an album that helps to share the story of the coming of Jesus and what His coming means. "Behold the Lamb of God" is a genuinely beautiful song that will help you to think about the reason Christ came into the world. </div>
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Bonus: "<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/handel-messiah-hwv-56/19299272" target="_blank">Handel's Messiah</a>"</h2>
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It's a Christmas tradition for me to listen to this while preparing Christmas services and sermons. This work is like a miniature theology course and has tunes and words that will stick in your mind for days. And yes, I do sing along with many of the songs, especially the Hallelujah Chorus. </div>
Ben Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509246881974520noreply@blogger.com0