I've had an Epiphany!

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. What would you say is your most valuable earthly possession? Home, career, income, investments, spouse, family, health? What are you going to do when that most valuable earthly possession is gone? “I don’t like money, actually, but it quiets my nerves.” The “Brown Bomber,” boxer Joe Louis, said that to laughing reports. The truth is that every last dollar, our home - whatever we worked so hard for and considered valuable – will be taken from us by force when death comes. Our heirs, lawyers and the govern...

Matthew 27:27-31 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. In June, 39-year-old James Edward Russell escaped from the Washington State Penitentiary. He remained at large for an entire day. He might have stayed at large longer if he hadn’t picked a cabin at random, knocked on the door, and asked for permission to use the phone. It was the wrong cabin. Out of all the cabins in the State of Washington Mr. Russell might have selected, he picked o...

Matthew 25:1-13 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the do...

This is the real “rhythm of heaven”: The multitudes of saints praised, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Rev 7:10-12) The actual praise of God’s saints on earth joins with God’s saints in heaven. It is 1 st Article of the Apostles’ Creed theology of God as Creator and Preserver. It is 2 nd Article theology of Christ as Redeemer. It is 3 rd Article theology of the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier.

Click on the link so you may listen to the Epiphany choir and congregation singing portions of our new liturgy for our festival services. Kyrie and Gloria KYRIE L: Coming together as the family of God, let us with assurance ask for forgiveness, for our God is a God of gentleness and compassion. Refrain Kyrie eleison, eleison Kyrie. Christe eleison, eleison Christe. Kyrie eleison, eleison Kyrie. Verse 1 Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Kyrie eleison, eleison, Kyrie. C: Refrain 1 Verse 2 Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christe eleison, eleison, Christe. C: Refrain 2 Verse 3 Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: Kyrie eleison, eleison, Kyrie. C: Refrain 3 (spoken) L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. C: Amen. GLORY TO GOD   L: Refrain C: Refrain   Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God in the high...

This parable in Matthew 25:31-46 does not teach that people are justified before God on the basis of works. The sheep receive their blessing and inheritance from the Father before a single word about their good works is spoken. Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’” Scripture teaches that people do good works in God’s sight only after they have come to faith and been justified by Christ. Good works are the result of salvation, not its cause. Only justified people, who are led by the Spirit of Christ, can do good works. Without faith and Christ as Mediator, good works do not please, according to Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession V 251) Verse 37: Interestingly, those called righteous by the Lord are surprised at what is being said about them. Far from being boastf...

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite ...