This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "devotion"
Eucharisto
Perhaps the greatest single failure in the Christian life is the refusal to give thanks. Thanks that is dependent upon success or the fulfillment and pleasure of our own will is indeed thanksgiving – but is weak indeed. It is easy to give thanks for our pleasures and self-satisfactions (though even then we often forget to give thanks). Fr. Stephen Freeman (source) You could say that thanksgiving to God in every circumstance is the mark of a Christian; it is our daily activity, the source of our joy, the fountain from which our hearts beat and our days become something more than rote and given. They become life and joy and full. It is absurd and appears to be the height of foolishness to give thanks for the cancer, … Read entire article »
Filed under: The World
Dreams of Lonliness, Like a Heartbeat
I dreamed last night a terrible dream. It was one of those heart-pounders that, when you wake up disoriented in the darkened room, it takes a few moments to realize your mistakes and sins were not real, that you didn’t kill the person, quit your job in a colossally gruesome manner, that you didn’t abandon wife or child or make that phone call or say those things after all. I told my wife about it and she told me to repent. “But it was just a dream,” I said. “Repent anyway.” “But it wasn’t real. I would never do what I did in the dream.” “Repent anyway,” she insisted. But did I need to? Did I need to repent of what happened only in my mind while I slept? How could I be responsible for what … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
This is the Day
Here it is Holy Tuesday and what have we got? Me? Not much. This Lenten season was not so Great or Holy or marked by that much different for me. My fast has been puny and easily neglected. Having a lackluster Lent is not a bad thing, though, as long as we learn from it. We learn just how weak we are. Let’s face it: cutting down on food is pretty easy, all things considered. If we cannot do that, consider how hard it is to cut out the things that are in most important and dreadful, like judging and lust and coveting and sloth? It is the same with our positive Lenten devotions like increasing prayer and giving. So easy to say, so hard to do. “The spirit is willing, but … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Today’s To-Do
God is good and merciful and does not treat us as we deserve. Repeat as necessary several times an hour. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Adaptable
It’s still frozen here. Three degrees this morning. Seven degrees yesterday morning, though when it got up to 2o yesterday afternoon it felt downright warm. I can’t imagine what 40 degrees is going to feel like. Shorts weather. It wasn’t that long ago that 40 was ice-cold and twenty unthinkable. It’s amazing how we get used to relative temperatures, how much and how quickly our bodies adjust to the environment. But it’s more than our bodies. We are adaptable creatures, for good or ill. When we surround ourselves with beauty and light and goodness, we adapt to it, grow more into it. The opposite is also true. Mom was right: he was a bad influence on you and changed you. And so St. Paul writes, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
No Time Left for What?
My brother in Christ and Circuit neighbor Pr. Brown writes this about the need for devotion and meditation during busy seasons. I couldn’t agree more. At the seminary I heard an anecdote about Luther–the busier he was, the more he prayed and read Scripture. And Brown is correct in that the trick Satan plays is to make us believe we have little–no–time for God’s Word. Read his post. In other news, the voice is not-quite-so-silent this morning, but it still sounds like I’ve been channeling Tom Waits while gargling with rocks. And feels like it too. Other symptoms are still present, but I decided to come into church today and work…and only lasted an hour. Thank you for your prayers! … Read entire article »
Busy Times and the Disease of Busyness
Oktoberfest 2009 was a hit! Our attendance doubled from last year, the food was great, and there was nary a hitch. I was worried the day before when I saw that the city was hosting a ‘Fest the night before ours. Not to slight that one, but two separate people told me yesterday that folks who went to the first came craving for a second on Saturday and enjoyed ours immensely. What can I say? Redeemer folks know how to get together and make something happen when they want to. I’m still looking at a very long month of activities with a stewardship Sunday, LWML Sunday, Reformation Sunday/Annual Voter’s Meeting, a trip out of town to see a convalescing member, our Pastor’s Conference next week (and a sermon still to prepare for … Read entire article »
Geronimo Cars and Resurrection
The Geronimo Motor Company was founded in Enid, OK in 1917. It built two models of the Geronimo, a six-cylinder and a four-cylinder at the rate of one car per day. The original factory still stands in Enid: A few years later, the moved the factory to the (then) outskirts of town, which happens to be a block and a half south of my church. No sign of it remains. Business was going well with the Geronimo until a fire consumed the factory on August 14, 1920. The plant was only partially insured and the owner was unable to rebuild. Around 600 Geronimos were manufactured in total. Only one car is known to exist today. I thought I had heard or read about the Geronimo somewhere before. I was pretty excited to read about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
…And the Violent Bear it Away
It’s a strange verse in the Bible. The rest of it reads, “”And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matt. 11:12 NKJV) The Fathers understood this in a positive sense: the man finding a treasure in a field sells all to possess it. The Kingdom of God is the pearl of great price. Or as Steve Winwood sang, “While you see a chance, take it.” Lutherans do not do much with this verse or this idea. Lutherans emphasize that the saving power of Christ–salvation is outside of us. That is true. Christ has saved us from the power of sin, death and the devil. But at the same time we have been given the invitation, placed on … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Are References to Viagra Appropriate in a Devotion?
Pr. Rossow reports some sad news of the quality of the opening devotion at the Northern Illinois Convention, including sexual innuendos: The opening devotion of the Northern Illinois District (NID) convention included a couple of off-color references. When he was called on it, the presenter confessed the error before the whole convention and was given forgiveness by the District President. The whole thing was really weird. In the end, I think it illustrates all too poignantly how the new way of doing church promoted by President Kieschnick and many other leaders of the synod, has brought the world into the church. (Read the rest here) The opening worship at our Convention was LSB setting III. Chanted. Well, most of it chanted. Pr. Nehrenz (elected 2nd VP at the convention) did not chant … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
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