Wednesday, December 30, 2009

decade in review

made it safely through y2k, cried on 9/11, prayed about the future, called by God to be pastor, left good church home and friends in kansas, enjoyed sabbatical in san diego, attended seminary in st. louis, somehow made it through, graduated and received call to bethany lutheran church in eldon missouri. (which is where i continue to enjoy serving as pastor, blessed with a great congregation, a wonderful family, and a loving God.)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Yeshua - The Lord Saves


"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." (Luke 2)

Saturday, December 26, 2009

what martin luther thought about christmas ..

"If it is true that the child was born of the virgin and is mine, then that means I have no angry God, and I must know and feel that there is nothing but laughter and joy in the heart of the Father and no sadness in my heart. For, if what the angel says is true, then he is our Lord and Savior. What can sin do against us? If God is for us, who is against us?"

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry CHRISTmas!


"Don't be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2)
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

jesus house?

A major archeological discovery could explain what life was like for Jesus and the Jewish community of Nazareth in which he grew up.
Just 100 meters from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, archaeologists have exposed the remains of several walls of a house that date to the first century. It is the first time that archaeologists have found remains of dwellings in Nazareth from this period.
"The discovery is of the utmost importance since it reveals for the very first time a house from the Jewish village of Nazareth and thereby sheds lights on the way of life at the time of Jesus," Dr. Yardenna Alexandre, excavations director at the Antiquities Authority, said on Monday.
"The building that we found is small and modest and it is most likely typical of the dwellings in Nazareth in that period. From the few written sources that there are, we know that in the 1st century, Nazareth was a small Jewish village."
The home consists of four rooms, a courtyard, a water cistern and a small camouflaged grotto, which is presumed to have been a hiding place for the occupants from the invading Roman army.
"It is highly probable that Jesus knew the Jewish occupants who lived in this house and in this community," Alexandre said.

Monday, December 21, 2009

first day of winter


Today is the winter solstice, the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year.
The daylight dims, the light fades, the night approaches, as the darkness encroaches.
During Advent we pray “Lighten our darkness by the Light of Your Christ.”
We pray this, not only because of the growing darkness outside, but because of the darkness inside as well, a darkness that settles upon the hearts of men that only the light of Christ can chase away. "The true Light that that gives light to every man is coming into the world" (John 1)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Brrr...


Blizzard Dumps Snow on Copenhagen as Leaders Battle Warming ...

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

watching and waiting


"A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Monday, December 14, 2009

as leaders and scientists meet this week in copenhagen...


... hundreds of others gather to protest global warming.

Friday, December 11, 2009

from the manger to the cross


It's not just about the manger, Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels, Who sang for him that day
It's not just about the shepherds, Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wisemen, Who travelled from afar
It's about the cross, It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born so that we could be born again
It's about the stone that was rolled away, so that we could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's not just about the presents, Underneath the tree
It's not all about the feeling, That the season brings to me
It's not just about coming home, To be with those you love
It's not all about the beauty, In the snow I'm dreaming of
The beginning of the story is wonderful and great,
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate
It's about the cross It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born, so that we could be born again
It's about God's love, Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him, when it should have been me
It's about the stone, That was rolled away so that we could have real life someday
It's about the cross
("Its About the Cross" - Go Fish)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

winter by robert burns


The wintry west extends his blast, and hail and rain does blow;
The stormy north sends driving forth the blinding sleet and snow.
While tumbling brown the burn comes down and roars frae bank to brae;
And bird and beast in covert rest, and pass the heartless day.
The sweeping blast, the sky o’ercast, the joyless winter day
Let others fear, to me more dear than all the pride of May.
The tempest’s howl, it soothes my soul, my griefs it seems to join;
The leafless trees my fancy please, their fate resembles mine!
Thou Power Supreme whose mighty scheme these woes of mine fulfil,
Here firm I rest; they must be best, because they are Thy will!
Then all I want, o do Thou grant this one request of mine!
Since to enjoy Thou dost deny, assist me to resign.

Friday, December 4, 2009


what is advent?

Some may ask - What is Advent?

Advent is when we watch and we wait in wonder.
Advent is the church's way of saying, "Not yet, but very soon."
Advent is the opposite of our culture's demand for instant gratification.
Advent is the season of waiting in expectation for God's promises to be fulfilled.
Advent is Jesus' way of saying, "Ready or not, here I come!"
Advent is the root of the word "adventure".
Advent is our wake-up call to remind us that the Messiah who came is also coming again, and not only that - He's already here!
Advent is the present reality of a past event that determines our future.
Advent is the time to remember, to repent, and to be ready...