Edward Mote's Famous Hymn of Hope;

Today we remember Edward Mote as the author of the hymn "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness." Born in London early in 1797, he was a cabinet maker as a young man. Having become a Christian, he was baptized November 1st, 1815, at 18 years of age.

In the course of time, Mote became a Baptist pastor and served at Horsham, Sussex. His people loved him so much they offered him the title to the church, at which time he is reported to have said, "I do not want the chapel, I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, turn me out of that."

His famous hymn was first sung to a sick woman because a hymnbook could not be found. The words that we sing are different than the draft. For example, where we sing in the opening stanza, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness," the original read, "Nor earth, nor hell, my soul can move, I rest upon unchanging love..."

When Mote was dying in 1874, his mind was still fixed on the efficacy of the blood of Christ. "Precious blood, precious blood, that makes peace with God," he said. His church erected a plaque in his memory. It notes that Mote preached "Jesus Christ and Him crucified, as all the sinner can need, and all the saint can desire."

On This Day in History

Harvard Voted in.

"One of the next things we longed for, and looked after was to advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust." So said an early New England pamphlet.

On this day, October 28, 1636, Salem's general court "...agreed to give 400? towards a school or college..." If the sum of 400? seems trivial, remember that it represented fully 1/3 of Salem's town revenue. No action was taken that year because of the Anne Hutchinson controversy and an Indian war.

About that time, John Harvard a wealthy member of the English middle class migrated to the new world. He died in 1638, willing half his estate and his entire library for the establishment of a college. Harvard received about 850?, a very large sum by New England standards.

In 1639 Salem's leaders met again. In gratitude for Harvard's bequest, they named the college after him. It became one of the preeminent universities of the world although it soon lost sight of its Christian purpose. Fittingly, in light of John Harvard's donation of books, Harvard boasts one of the largest libraries in the world, with tens of millions of items.
Read more about Harvard at Christian History Institute. ©2004.

Today in History

Linguist Ken Pike Awarded Honorary Doctorate.
On this day, October 26, 1973, the University of Chicago awarded Ken Pike an honorary doctorate for linguistic work that enables non-experts to systematically crack foreign languages.

In 1928, when Ken was a shy, weakly teenager, his father nearly died. Ken promised God he would become a minister if his dad lived. When his dad recovered, Ken knew he must keep his promise.

Too nervous to write to colleges, he had his mother do it. Accepted at Gordon College, he worked in the kitchen to pay his way, even becoming crew chief.

However, when he applied to the China Inland Mission, he was rejected because he seemed nervous and failed their linguistics test. So Ken worked at spraying trees. Weak and terrified of heights, he inched his way upward with much prayer.

Wycliffe Mission accepted Ken, who enrolled in a phonetics class. He was asked to teach the class next year. Ken studied Mexican languages to share the gospel in them. During an illness, he read Language by anthropologist Edward Sapir. This formed his thinking.

His teaching successful, Ken was asked to prepare a manual on phonetics. Halfheartedly, he agreed, but didn't act. When he snapped a leg, he realized he was wrong and, despite being sick with malaria, wrote the book. This was a crucial step that led to his honorary degree in Chicago.
Read more about Pike at Christian History Institute. ©2004.

My first Chapel Sermon at a Lutheran High School

How Do You Fit In?
Chapel for October 25th 2005 @ Valley Lutheran High School Saginaw, MI

Main Text—Ephesians 4:1-4, 7-14
Goal—That the hearers may be able to see that we are all equal in Christ Jesus, all have one and the same LORD being in the same body of Christ. No one is left out in Christ’s body and it is important as believers to build one another up in Christ rather than tear down.

1. How do you fit in? That may be a question that’s hard for you to answer. Maybe you’re a jock, an actor or actress, a scholar, a band member, computer geek or party animal. I’m sure many of you are into different types of music, different sports, different after school activities. I know when I was in High School I was in many of these cliques or groups of people. I was in band, involved in theatre, a Boy Scout, Cross Country and Track and I had a job at a grocery store. That was 7 years ago. But, things haven’t changed. We all feel the need to fit in. We don’t want to be left out of the crowd. Many of you know the pressure that your peers can place on you. Believe me. I was in high school once just like you. In fact it was a Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN. I had a lot of good times there, but I also had a lot of bad times. Even though I was involved in a lot of these school activities I didn’t always feel that was I fitting in with the crowd. Maybe you’ve felt that way too sometimes.

2. The apostle Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians 4:1-4 & 7-14 “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

3. Here the apostle Paul tells us that we’re all one united in the body of Christ. Even though each of us have been given different gifts we’re all still one in the LORD. We were all given this at our baptism. Christ called us out of darkness into His wonderful light so that we may be made a child of God. Paul does say that because we’ve been called out by the Gospel we’re no longer infants tossed to and fro by the ways of the world. That means that we as Christians have a higher calling. We’re to be in the world, but not of the world. That can be hard. Especially in High School when people want you to do things you don’t want to do such as doing drugs, having sex before marriage, making fun of others to become popular, stealing or doing whatever thing you can do to fit into the crowd that surrounds you.

4. There’s a song by the rock group Fall Out Boy called “Sugar We’re Going Down.” Some of the words to the song go like this, “Am I more than you bargained for yet, I’ve been dying to tell you anything you want to hear, Cause that’s just who I am this week…They go on later to say, “Drop a heart break a name, we’re always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team. And Sugar, we’re going down swinging (take back what you said) I’ll be your number one with a bullet (take aim at myself) A loaded God complex, cock it and pull it. These words are sad when we realize that this is how the way people think and act today. The song seems to imply that if we don’t fit in then all is lost and we’re not worth living. But, I pray that none of you will ever feel this way. Some people feel that they don’t fit in and because they don’t some take their own life. I had a friend I knew in school at Mayer Lutheran who killed himself because he felt that all his life was a loss, that no one loved him. He felt that he didn’t fit in. But, he was a baptized child of God. I believe that he’s in heaven, because of the grace found in baptism and in the Word of God that was still a part of His life even though he tragically took his life. Sometimes life makes us want to take aim at ourselves. The devil wants us to feel like we are totally alone and that no one, not even God loves us. But, it’s not true. God does love you and He loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for you. In Him you do fit in.

5. There’s pressure in today’s world to fit in. No one wants to be left out. That’s partly what the lyrics to Fall Out Boy talk about. Some people may try to act like different people week to week. But, you may say that it’s boring to be who we are in Christ Jesus. The truth is that Jesus always accepts us no matter who we are. Some people may think that Christians are a bunch of boring people. They can’t have sexual relations outside of marriage, we can’t get drunk, smoke drugs, God doesn’t want us to steal, swear or gossip. Where’s the fun in being a Christian? I’m here to tell you that there’s a lot of fun in being a Christian. Because God has set laws to keep us safe from the pain that this lawless world brings. God gives us these boundaries for a reason. He wants us to keep away from sex before marriage because He doesn’t want us to deal with the pain and heartache that comes with it. He doesn’t want us to hurt our body by using drugs or getting drunk. He wants us to build one another up, not tear each other down by swearing at one another or gossiping. In fact Jesus says that the devil, the thief comes to steal and take us away from God. The devil doesn’t want us to fit in with Christ and His flock. Jesus says in John 10:7-10 “Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In Jesus we do have life to the full and we will have a wonderful life in Him. Not some boring one.

6. Have you seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite? I think that it gives to us a wonderful example of how we try to fit into the various groups of people that we’re surrounded by. The film is about a social outcast named Napoleon. Every high school has them: those kids who seem lost in their own world, tragically unhip and excluded from the ranks of the beautiful and athletic. Napoleon Dynamite paints a strange, humorous portrait of "them" as they try to make the most of their low-key lives in the rural community of Preston, Idaho. The skinny, bespectacled and nerdy Napoleon proceeds to wander through a random series of scenes involving his friends, Deb and Pedro and his older brother, Kip. Each character is focused on a particular goal and each must endure the mockery of those who oppose them. In addition to the jocks and popular kids, Napoleon also squares off against his Uncle Rico, a sadly misguided character who's living in the past and who seems determined to spoil Napoleon's best efforts. One hilarious scene has Napoleon lamenting his inability to attract girls because he lacks "skills": "Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills. You know, like nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills." Pedro reminds him that he likes to draw, and suggests that Napoleon sketch a portrait of the girl he wants to ask to the dance—putting his skills to work.

7. Yes, the movie Napoleon Dynamite is fun to laugh at and watch. But it does have a message for us as Christians about how we are to treat others who don’t seem to fit in with the popular crowd. In the movie we all can relate to these characters in different ways. We know people who are like Napoleon, Pedro, Deb, Kip and Uncle Rico. We also know people who act like the jocks and other popular kids in the school Napoleon goes to. Napoleon Dynamite is someone we can all relate to. We laugh at his idiosyncrasies even as we realize that we may be blind to some of our own. We're not invited into the film's world to mock these characters, but to relate to them and use them to reflect on our own weirdness, dreams and goals.

8. Jesus has given to us that special knowledge of Him through the power of His Word. We’re now enabled through the power of the Holy Spirit to get along with one another. Even if we have a little bit of Napoleon Dynamite within us. All of us were created equal in the sight of God. It’s awesome to know that we have a God who came down to us in human form so that we may be united in Him today and everyday. Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:6-11, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The truth is that in Jesus we do fit in and He continues to give us strength to follow Him each and everyday of our lives. He became nothing, taking the form of a servant, so that we may have the hope and joy of eternal life both today and everyday of our lives. May God continue to enable us to follow Him and treat others with respect so that we may be able to continue to build each other up in the body of Christ. Remember. In Jesus you do fit in!!! AMEN.

“I’m Third”
Sermon for 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (LWML Sunday)

Text: Matthew 22:34-40
Goal: that the hearers may be able to know how they can serve both God and their neighbor through the love that we receive from God Himself in faith.

1. What is love? In our Gospel lesson for today, taken from the book of Matthew, Jesus talks about the greatest commandment. The greatest commandment is to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind. God desires that we love Him because He’s the one who has created us. He knows more about us than we do. He even sent His Son to suffer and die in our place so that we may be with Him. As my favorite poet Robert Frost once said, “Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” God desires that we love Him and put Him first in all that we do, because He loves and desires us. He promises to cause within our hearts the ability to love Him, because He’s the epitome of love. 1 John 4:8-11 talks about love in this way, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." This is why we’re to love God first in all that we do. Only from Him and His power are we able to truly love anyone, for He’s the Creator and essence of love.

2. This leads us to ask how does love sum up all of the commandments. In our Gospel lesson for today Jesus answered one of the teachers of the law on what the Greatest Commandment is. Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." When we love God first in all we do, then we’re able to love our neighbor and serve them.

3. The Old Testament lesson for today taken from the book of Leviticus shows us that God wants us to be holy and in what ways God expects us to show love to our neighbors. God says to Moses in Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. "'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. "'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD. "'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

4. God expects a lot from us as His people. We’re called by Him to defend our neighbor in everything that we do by not spreading gossip, perverting justice or showing favoritism. God calls us to keep our neighbor safe, to rebuke our neighbors for their own sins and not hate them. He wants us to be holy as He Himself is holy and to show this holiness to our neighbor in all that we think, say and do. We know because of our sin that we haven’t always kept the commandments perfectly such as you shall not steal, you shall not desire what your neighbor possesses and you shall not gossip and spread lies about your neighbor. So how are we able to show love to our neighbor? Through God’s power. He’s the one who enables us to love Him through the power of His Word so that we can show love to others. This is why it’s so important to be in God’s Word daily so that we may continually have the power of the Holy Spirit working within us to do good deeds and show acts of love to the people God puts into our care.

5. God wants us to put ourselves third in all that we do. What does it mean to put one’s self third? It means that through God’s power we put Him first, others second and ourselves third. The story of Captain John Ferrier gives a great example of this Christian command. It was on the morning of June 7, 1958, and the Air National Guard’s jet precision team was headed for the famed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just outside Dayton, Ohio. The team was doing a routine maneuver for the crowds that had gathered to watch the airplane show. In the middle of the maneuver Colonel Williams glanced back over his shoulder in terror. Far across the sky to the east, Captain John Ferrier’s plane was rolling and it was headed right for a small town. Steering his jet in the direction of the crippled plane to race after it, Williams radioed urgently, “Bail out, John! Get out of there!” But, there was no answer. He understood immediately. John Ferrier didn’t have control of his plane, something was horribly wrong.. Suddenly a terrible explosion shook the earth. Major Win Coomer raced to the scene to find that Captain John Ferrier’s Sabrejet had hit the ground midway between four houses, in a backyard garden. It was the only place where he could have crashed without killing people. The explosion knocked a woman and several children to the ground, but no one had been hurt, with the exception of John Ferrier. He had been killed instantly. “A bunch of us were standing together, watching the show” an elderly man with tears in his eyes told Coomer. “When the pilot started to roll, he was headed straight for us. For a second, we looked right at each other. Then he pulled up right over us and put it in there.” In deep humility, the old man whispered, “This man died for us.”

6. A few days after this tragic accident, John Ferrier’s wife, Tulle, found a worn card in his billfold. On it were the words “I’m Third.” That simple phrase exemplified the life—and death—of this courageous man. For him, God came first, others second, and himself third. True to his Christian beliefs, John Ferrier sacrificed his life for people he’d never met. This story reminds all of us of the importance of human life. God wants us to show love to one another in whatever way we can and He enables us to do so through the power of His Word. Jesus said it best in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” He proved that to us through His death on the cross. He was willing to suffer and die in our place so that we may have that wonderful gift of eternal life. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross reminds all of us that He wants us to put Him first, others second and ourselves third. In this way we’re showing love to God and to our neighbors.

7. So how are the American people showing love to one another? In a recent article I read from CNN.com a survey finds that rudeness is getting worse among the American people. A full 79 % of the 2,013 adults surveyed in January of this year said that a lack of respect and courtesy in American society is a serious problem. 61% believe things have gotten worse in recent years. Poor customer service has become so extensive that nearly half of those surveyed said they have walked out of a store in the past year because of it. 50% said they often see people talking on cell phones in a loud or annoying manner. And 6 out of 10 drivers said they regularly see other people driving aggressively or recklessly. Many people admitted to rude behavior themselves. More than a third said they use foul language in public. About the same percentage confessed to occasional bad driving.

8. The people who were surveyed had some positive ways to react to rudeness and self-centeredness. 36 % said that when confronted with rude behavior, the right thing is to respond with excessive politeness. 20 % said it’s best to point out the bad behavior. But 42 % said the best thing to do is to walk away. We as Christians are called to be a light in the midst of a dark world. When we see rudeness and acts of self-centeredness in our area of influence God wants us to address what’s going wrong. We are to show acts of kindness to those who are around us, even if they’re giving us a hard time. In fact Proverbs 25:21-23 says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” Jesus also turned the other cheek when people were hurting Him. As He was being beaten and tortured before His trial He did nothing while the guards spat on Him, said curses and whipped Him, even though He’d done nothing wrong. Jesus really did turn the other cheek, but in order that the whole world may have the gift of eternal life through His death on the cross.

9. Today we celebrate and thank God for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League who have been about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ for many years. They’ve shown love to their neighbors. They’ve done this through acts of service in their communities, in funding missions at home and abroad and gathering around God’s Word for strength and instruction in all their years of existence. This organization of women of all ages has modeled self-sacrifice with their “Mite Boxes” and with bold mission directives. Their example speaks as a living parable of how unique individuals from all over the country and the world – women of God – work together to carry out the Great Commission. They’ve even shown God’s love and concern to me as a Seminary student and now a vicar. My home congregation, Our Savior Lutheran in Excelsior, MN has provided me with prayers and financial support while I’ve been studying to become a pastor. The LWML group here at Faith Lutheran is also showing love and support by helping me with their prayers and financial giving. The LWML truly is carrying out God’s commandment to both love Him and the neighbors that surround them.

10. The sermon hymn, “Serve the Lord with gladness” reminds us that we’re called to serve God and our neighbor. It describes what God wants of us. He wants us to build His Kingdom so that others too may have the wonderful joy of eternal life with Him in heaven. He wants us to put Him first, others second and ourselves third. We serve God in many ways and the words to the second verse of the hymn put it well, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” He gave us command to proclaim His Gospel now in every land so that fellow sinners may, like us, be blest. Leading them to Jesus, we can serve Him best. Onward, then, for Jesus! Let this be our aim: “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Glorify His name!” God wants us to continue to serve one another, even our enemies, because in doing so we’re showing love to God, which is the greatest commandment. God wants us to show love to our neighbors because Jesus Himself showed love to us by dying on the cross for our sins. In doing so we will be fulfilling what God has called us to do as His people. May He enable each and every one of us to show Jesus’ love to all that we come into contact with so that the body of Christ may be built up and strengthened for the Kingdom of God.

Blessing: Now may the peace that passes all understanding enable each of you to show that love of Christ in whatever situation you may find yourself in, in this life. May you go in peace serving the Lord with gladness and enabled through the power of the Holy Spirit to keep God first, others second and ourselves third.

My Second Sermon @ Faith Lutheran

God Never Stops Persevering for You!
20th Sunday After Pentecost
Preached at: Faith Lutheran Church Bay City, MI on October 2nd & 3rd
Sermon Text: Philippians 3:12-14

1. God never stops persevering for you. This message is so true. In the Bible readings for today we’ve heard how hard our Lord seeks to save us from our state of sin and death. In fact, the apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians 3:12-14 speaks about how we as Christians are enabled to persevere: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Ask yourself this question. How hard is it for you to forget what you have done wrong in the past? I know for me it has been difficult at times to persevere when I have failed so many times before. But, that doesn’t mean that we’re only called to forget the past mistakes we’ve made against God. Paul is also telling us to continue on in the race of life. He’s urging all of us, as well as himself to continue to look heavenward to Christ as the source and goal of our faith. The hope that we have in Him makes the struggle of this life easier to handle, even when life is good. God never stops persevering for you.

2. When I read this letter from Paul I began to think about my Cross Country and Track career that I had at Concordia University St. Paul, MN. There were many times when I felt like quitting when the practices and training felt too hard to handle. On the days I had to run 5-1000 meter repeats or 20-400 meter repeats I felt like giving up. There were also those long runs that we had to endure in cross country that seemed endless—10-12 miles of runnuing at once was crazy to me at first. But, it was worth it. God helped me through those tough practices and made me stronger because of it. Today I can reflect back on the many memories I have from college track and cross and country and see that through those tough experiences I am able to face the difficult challenges that life places before me now. It’s through perseverance that God disciplines us to serve Him. I thank God that He gave me that experiences even though it was difficult to balance studying for classes, going to Track and Cross Country practice and having personal relaxation time. But God enabled me to “press on” through it. God enables us through the power of His Holy Spirit to persevere even through the most difficult situations.

3. In spite of our failures and sins God continues to “press on” for us. The Apostle Paul even says that we’re enabled to persevere because Jesus Himself has taken hold of each and every one of us through the sacrifice that He made us on the cross. We’re called to follow Paul’s example to continue on in our faith as we follow Pastor Meckes’ example and of others in the faith who model for us how to lead a godly Christian life. Even when we’re going through a difficult time in our lives God is still there enabling us to persevere. He’ll never allow you to go through anything that will be too difficult for you to bear as the Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor. 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” God will enable you to persevere through any situation no matter how hard or difficult it may seem! God never stops persevering for you.

4. Perseverance. That word can be hard to envision sometimes, especially when we’re going through a tough time in our lives. But, it’s important to remember that God will go above and beyond the call of duty to get us through any difficult situation. This doesn’t mean that if we continue to persevere with God’s help that we’ll receive all the blessings we ask for. Such as a new car or house or that all our problems will be solved. As hurricanes Katrina and Rita have reminded us—sin is apparent in this world and because of it we’ll still have hardships in this life. But Jesus reminds us in His Word that He’ll still be there to comfort us during those hardships. He says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This is the hope our faith is built on! He will enable us to get through any difficult situation no matter how hard it may seem. And there is hope in knowing that this world is temporary, but Jesus has overcome it for us. He is our source of perseverance in this life. God never stops persevering for you.

5. Perseverance in this life isn’t easy as I’ve said before and I’m reminded of this fact from the movie Batman Begins. Maybe you’ve seen it this summer? In the movie there’s a scene where Bruce Wayne is a young child. He’s fallen into a well and been surrounded by bats after playing hide and go seek with one of his friends. Bruce’s father hears his cries for help and rescues him. Bruce is obviously scared, but his father asks him this question, “Why do we fall down Bruce?” The future caped crusader answered, “I don’t know.” “So that we can learn to pick ourselves back up again,” his father answered. Just as Bruce’s father picked his son out of the well, so too has our heavenly Father saved us through the power of His Son Jesus Christ. He enables us to continue to move on in the faith and to persevere for Him. Does this mean that we’re moving on in the faith by our own power? No. The Holy Spirit continues to enable us to “press on” through His Word, the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper that continue to provide for us faith and forgiveness. He even gives us encouragement through the fellowship we have with one another here in this congregation. Remember that God is always there enabling you to persevere in the faith.

6. Listen to this real life story from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church taken from one of his journals. It illustrates how God enables us to persevere each and every day of our lives.
Sunday A.M., May 5--Preached in St. Ann's; was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday P.M., May 5--Preached at St. John's; deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
Sunday A.M., May 12--Preached at St. Jude's; can't go back there either.
Sunday P.M., May 12--Preached at St. George's; kicked out again.
Sunday A.M., May 19--Preached at St. Somebody Else's; deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.
Sunday P.M., May 19--Preached on the street; kicked off the street.
Sunday A.M., May 26--Preached out in a meadow; chased out of meadow when a bull was turned loose during the service.
Sunday A.M., June 2--Preached out at the edge of town; kicked off the highway.
Sunday P.M., June 2--Afternoon service, preached in pasture; 10,000 people came.
We can see in the life of John Wesley that God is enabling us to persevere even when it seems that our life is a complete failure. However, when success does arrive that doesn’t mean that we’re to stop what we’re doing and bask in the glory of it. No. The apostle Paul has reminded us in Philippians that we’re to continue to strive towards the goal of our faith. To strive towards heaven through the Holy Spirit’s power and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who awaits us there. Jesus is the center of our faith who enables us to continue to persevere!

7. As James 1:4 says, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The faith we receive from God through His Word and the Sacraments continues to work within us. Through this faith we’re enabled to persevere in so many ways. It may be overcoming an addiction that you’ve been battling for a long time. Maybe it’s being able to get along with a co-worker that has given you a lot of trouble over the years. Or it could be the extra strength God gives to you to raise your kids up the right way. Whatever the trial or conflict you may be facing in life, God will enable you to persevere through it. God never stops persevering for you.

8. We as a body of believers here at Faith Lutheran Church & School are striving to persevere toward a goal that God has set before us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we know that God wants us to continue as His children of God to serve one another here in our own congregation and community. That’s exactly what we’re doing through our Ministry Readiness Study. We’re trying to “press on” with God’s help. To provide better worship. Better classrooms and meeting environments for visitors that are coming to our church, whether for school or personal needs. Larger offices and other badly needed building updates that are needed for our facility. We’re doing all this so that we may be better equipped to serve the community that surrounds us. It’s through all of this that God is enabling us to reflect upon what we’ve done in our ministry here at Faith in the past and how we can look forward in faith to the new ministries that Christ has called us to do.

9. So how do we continue to persevere towards the goal God has given to us? Much in the same way that an athlete goes through intense physical training so too our Lord wants us to go through training spiritually through the reading and hearing of His Word so that we may be prepared for the trials this life brings to us. In the same way that athletes meet for practice to prepare for a game, God calls us to meet with one another for Bible Study. It is there that we’re enabled to learn about how He wants us to live our lives in service to Him. God also calls us to encourage one another in the faith and carry one another’s burdens. We may do this by meeting together for prayer and fellowship. Worshipping as a body of believers in Christ as we’re doing now will also enable us to serve God in all that we think, say and do. Finally, having personal prayer and devotional time is also important. It is through all of this that we are enabled to keep Jesus first in our lives, who alone is the one who enables us to persevere through each and every trial that life may bring to us. God never stops persevering for you in and through the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To God alone be the glory! AMEN.

Blessing—May He who is able to keep you from stumbling enable each and everyone of you to persevere and “press on” in the faith that our God in Christ + has given you! AMEN!

Crazy Question

Do you believe that forks evolved from spoons?

Oh most definitely the fork evolved from the spoon. The intermediate form was the spork, which can seen today at many fast food restaurants, though this in no way supports Neo-Darwinian Evolution.


This was the crazy question possed to us as we set up our Blog, but since John and I are so windy in our profile, you never did get to see this. So I hope you enjoyed reading this. :)

September in Review

Well, we survived the first month of school. Really it was a good month. Only on the last weekend/first weekend of October, did John and I finally have some time to relax. I guess that is life. The leaves are changing color and the weather should be getting cooler, though not yet apparently. Atonement, my former school, resumed its school year today. You can check it out at www.alcs.org. You may want to click on the Hurricane Katrina link to see some of that info as well. John will probably add more to this later. We haven't taken any pictures recently so there's nothing exciting to look at. He did preach last Sunday. He did very well and even moved out of the pulpit to preach. It was the most calm I've ever seen him! Well I suppose I should get to that nap I've been wanting. Dern Kindergarteners share everything - even their germs! But I love them.