Lent and Easter: Invitations to Honesty, Transparency, and Healing … for ALL

(As found in the May, 2011 issue of Michigan In Touch)

After listing the great heroes of the faith in chapter 11, Hebrews 12 begins with this grand encouragement:  1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

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Change Your Life: THINK (... on These Things)

Imagine with me, if you will, that you are in fact an Olympic caliber athlete. You are in training for 1,600 and 3,200 meter events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. With just a little over two years left for training and tryouts, how many of you would begin the Twinkies diet between now and the Games?

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A Season of MIRACLES - YES They Still Happen ... and We Need Them

MIRACLES … perhaps because of the age in which we live, have taken on the cloak of the fantastical, whimsical, or the special effect in a movie.  Maybe because of the very tough times in which we live they impossible.  Rarely, for many, do “miracles” embrace the category of “possibility” because of something supernatural, much less because of God.

Even those who “believe” in miracles have romantic notions of how and where they take place.  Too often we suppose that supernatural miracles only happen in special or splendid circumstances.  But part of the great Good News at Christmas is that God clothes Himself in the ordinary – and does amazing things!

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Not Then, Nor NOW, Can We Avoid the Cities

One of the great challenges for the Church today, and perhaps in particular for The Michigan District, is how to carry on vital and vibrant urban ministry.  More than half of the churches that were thriving in the mid 1950’s in Detroit are now closed, with those remaining  very challenged in their ministries and even in worship attendance.  It is possible that there will no longer be any Lutheran Schools in Detroit by the end of this year.

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What Are You Doing This Summer? SPIRITUAL GROWTH: MY JOB OR GOD'S?

Psychologists say one of the primary causes of conflict in households involves disputes over what's generally called “division of labor.” If the bed goes unmade, if the dishes go unwashed, if the diaper goes unchanged, who is responsible for getting the job done?  We’re all aware that many households have never had a calm, rational discussion about who is best equipped to do what.

I’d like to ask this question:  Whose job is spiritual growth?  (This really deals with what is known as the doctrine of sanctification.)  For many Christians there is confusion about the division of labor as it relates to spiritual growth or sanctification.  "Is it God's job, or is it mine?" 

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A Mighty Word of Encouragement to a Grandson from his Grandparents

Someone asked me recently about the “Health Updates” that used to be online from when both my son Joel and I were sick.  I know that they were on a different blog with a different company and I am not sure that I will be able to get them back.  However, this individual specifically asked about the letter we published that was sent from Joel’s grandparents (my parents) to encourage him after he could not attend a family gathering.  He was, at that time, very sick from his routine of daily radiation and still had roughly three more weeks of radiation treatments which closely followed upon his successful brain tumor surgery at the University of Michigan (and preceded his year and a quarter of chemo treatments).

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FAITHFUL!

Tomorrow is Confirmation Sunday at Our Savior.  The Scripture chosen for the mediation for this special day is Revelations 2:8-10:  8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:  These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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