THE FIVE SETTINGS!If you ever looked in the front of the hymnal, in addition to the other services, such as Matins, Vespers, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc. You’ll notice that there are five different settings of the Divine Service!  To understand these services, the basic pattern of worship is that it has both sacramental and sacrificial parts. Sacramental means that in these parts of the se...  Read More

“But God”Lessons from LiFest 2019Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21One of the most powerful lessons I learned at LiFest 2019 happened during the Danny Gokey concert.  He spoke about how he ...  Read More

What does Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:36-41, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:24-29, Ephesians 5:25-26, Colossians 2:6-15, Titus 3:4-8 and 1 Peter 3:18-22 have in common? Baptism! Baptism is the next part in my summer newsletter articles about the Small Catechism.  To begin, we need to ask an important question:Whose work is baptism?  There are two ways to answer that question:Our Work for God.God’s Work d...  Read More

What Can Worshippers Do in Case of a Violent Attack?What would you do if someone entered your church and began shooting? Hit the floor? Run? Try to reach your children? How quickly could you devise a plan for survival? “Your first option is to escape,” according to John Nicoletti, a security consultant who has co-written books on preventing workplace and school violence. Nicoletti, a police psycho...  Read More

Shelter Through the Storms “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33 NIV) Just a few days ago I decided to pick up and read an old devotional book I hadn’t looked at in years.  The description of peace given by the author, Alvin Rogness, caught my attention.  Here’s what he wrote...  Read More

“We are all beggars, this is true…” Those words were crumpled on a piece of paper in Luther’s hand as he died. This becomes the starting point and realization of all prayer and for the 3rd chief part of the Catechism: prayer must come from beggars. Want to have a better prayer life? Learn to first be a beggar who needs everything.   Read More

Praising the LORD with P.U.P.P.E.T.S.!!Let all that I am praise the Lord;with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.Let all that I am praise the Lord;may I never forget the good things he does for me.                                                                                  Psalm 103:1-2 (NLT)What a joy it is to celebrate 25 years of praising the Lord through our P.U.P.P.E.T.S. minist...  Read More

A BIT OF A BOOK REVIEW FOR YOUIt seems that in current political (and other) discourse, the name, Hitler, is thrown around a little too frequently.  Non-Christians point to him supposedly being a Christian, and Christians point to him supposedly being an atheist.  What is a person supposed to think of all this?  Rather than just make assumptions, I am in the middle of reading a book by Richard Wei...  Read More

God’s Word Works! “so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”Isaiah 55:11I have found these words from Isaiah to be a great comfort as I have prepared Bible studies and confirmation lessons over the years.  Here is how I grasp this simple, yet powerful message:  God is in control.  His W...  Read More

“Was ist dass?” “What is that?”  You might be asking as you read those first three words. And I would say back to you: “exactly!” “Was ist dass?” is German for “What is that?”  Or as it is translated in the small catechism, “What does this mean?”As the transition to summer approaches, we also transition here at Christ Lutheran.  Bible Classes and confirmation pause so we can pursue other valued av...  Read More

A little girl had been trying for months to learn the art of tying her shoes. She finally grasped the knack and was able to do it by herself. Her parents expected the child to be delighted but were surprised by her disappointment. Her father asked why she was crying. She sobbed, "I just learned how to tie my shoes." He said, "That’s wonderful, Honey, but why are you crying?" She replied, "Because ...  Read More

Wait a minute…I was first! “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45 NIVA few days ago I was on my way to an appointment.  I had just enough time to drive through the Shopko parking lot and place a letter in the mailbox.  Piles of snow from our recent snowfall surrounded the mailbox making it difficult to access.  Anoth...  Read More