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Showing posts from August, 2017

Roots

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Romans 9:1-5   I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit—  2  that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.  3  For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood.  4  They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.  5  The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen. It happens all the time. When I attend a function where there are other WELS members, I introduce myself as Pastor Michael Zarling. Invariably, I will have someone ask me, “Are you related to …?” There are a number of Zarlings who are retired pastors in our Wisconsin Synod. Professor Mark Zarling is the President of Martin Luther College, the worker training school for the WELS. We share the same last name,

Inseparable

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Romans 8:35-39 35  Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36  As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37  No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 38  For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, 39  height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Divide and conquer is a great military strategy. An army will try to cut off a battalion from its supply force. Without ammunition, food, or reinforcements, the army will not be able to hold out long while under constant bombardment. Divide and conquer is a great attack strategy. Three or four wolves don’t try to take on a herd all at once. They separate one or two from the rest an

Chosen

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Romans 8:28-30 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  29  For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.  30  And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified. Have you ever heard about a little company called Foxconn? I don’t know if it’s been in the news much lately. Foxconn Technology Group is a multinational electronics contract manufacturing company based in Taiwan. It is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer. And, it is looking for a place to build its newest manufacturing plant. Out of all the places in the world that it could go, Foxconn chose the United States. Out of all of the states that Foxconn could choose, it has chosen Wisconsin. And, out of all of the areas in Wisconsin that Foxconn could choose,