I've had an Epiphany!

How do we worship the Lord best?   Do we worship God best when we sing that favorite hymn with gusto?   Do we worship God best when we write out that larger than usual offering check and put it in Sunday’s offering?   Do we worship God best when we help our neighbor through a difficult time?   Do we worship God best when we share the good news of salvation with others?   All those are truly excellent ways to worship God.   We must always do them more and more. However, when it comes to worshiping God, we worship God best when we do nothing and let God serve us.   That sounds strange to us.   We want to do things.   We live in a world that says, “No pain, no gain.   You only get out of something what you put into it.”   But that’s not how God works.   Psalm 51:16-17 says, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.   The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;...

May 19 was Call Day at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. May 24 was Call Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon , WI . Like children waiting with eager expectation and then running to the tree on Christmas morning to see what presents they have received, so our future teachers, staff ministers and pastors have been waiting and praying and probably even running to the auditorium to see where they will serve the Lord in His Lutheran Church. It’s our form of the Draft. To be honest, I had this really nice devotion written about Call Day where I left blanks to fill in the information about our new First Grade teacher who would be assigned to us from MLC. But, the Lord of the Church had other plans. We did not receive a graduate from MLC. However, President Rutschow, the District President for the Southeastern Wisconsin District, has names of possible teachers in our area. She may be a teacher who is without a call at this time or possibly the wife of a ...

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews ...

A very interesting explanation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Acts 7:54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. Have you ever felt a little picked on?   Maybe some kids at school are harassing you because they don’t like your clothing choices or hair style? Or maybe you feel mistreated because y...

Luke 24:44-53 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:   Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."   Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.   He told them, "This is what is written:   The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem .   You are witnesses of these things.   I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."   When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany , he lifted up his hands and blessed them.   While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.   Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.   And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. ...

  THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD   A Joint Festival Service of Racine WELS Churches at First Evangelical Lutheran Church May 17, 2012 7:00 pm

The tune, “Wachet Auf,” is familiar, but the words of this hymn may be relatively new to you. The hymn is described by the German hymnologist Eduard E. Koch as “a call to arms for spiritual conflict and victory.” The author of this hymn, Pastor Wilhelm Arends, takes the idea of being a soldier of Christ Jesus, put it into the context of an epic battle scene, and gives us a solid dose of Christ-centered theology. 1. How is the devil pictured in the Bible? What is his whole purpose on this earth? Satan means “Accuser.” The devil means “Liar.” The devil is pictured in the Bible as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), a snake (Genesis 3:1), the ancient serpent and the great dragon (Revelation 12:9). His purpose is devour us, to lead the whole world astray, to lie to us about God’s truths and accuse us of our sins. Stanza 1 describes the work of the devil: “For Satan has designed your fall.” 2. Because Satan is constantly on the attack, what kind of weapons does God give you?...

John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. I’m not very good at math anymore. And so, the Budget Committee doesn’t invit...