Newsletter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Recently Toni and I with an assist from Karson painted our bedroom.  The preparation to paint took as long as the painting on that first day.

            Karson and I first had to move some of our furniture out of the room.  Then it was taking the electrical outlets, the cable outlet and the phone outlet out of the wall.  This was followed by dusting and wiping down walls – oh my the dust!  Then the vacuum got to see parts of our bedroom it had not been to in awhile.  It was now time to commence taping – the two windows, the three doorways (bath, closet, hallway) and the baseboards.  Was it time to paint?  Not so fast, my friend.  Preparations for what all were needed for this project still had to be done.  Do we have the roller and the brushes and the newspapers and the cloths for spills and the bucket of water and the toolbox and the music?  Oh, did someone get the paint?  Don’t forget the most important part.

            Don’t forget the most important part.  Advent is a time of preparation.  It is time to repent and meditate on the Word of God.  Isaiah and John the Baptist and others share this message with us.  Are you ready to paint/celebrate the Christ child?  Painting, as most of you know cannot be done unless you prepare first.  Advent prepares us for Christmas.  But don’t forget the most important part.

            Toni and I would have looked rather silly if after all this preparation we didn’t have the paint – the main thing for what we were doing.  In the same way, if all of our preparations for Christmas are secular and not Christ-focused we lose the main thing.  Prepare and worship the Christ child.  Meet Him in the manger and understand that Jesus was born to save us from our sins.  He comes to you in Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and in His Word.

            When painting you need to wait until the paint dries to see the end result of what was taking place.  Looks good dear!  Christmas affords us that opportunity.  The Advent prep becomes the Christmas reality.  Looks good Lord! 

            Come All Ye Faithful joyful and triumphant to worship your Lord and Savior.

In Christ,

Pastor

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Do you know what binge-watching is?  It is the act (though you hardly move) of watching episodes of a TV show one right after another after another.  Recent research is showing that 50% of viewers in their 20’s binge-watch weekly.  More in-depth research on this subject also shows that binge-watching is correlated to depression, loneliness, obesity, and loss of self-control.

            What is the escape?  What is the fascination?  What is missing in people’s lives that they need to make television and/or show their best friend?  What need is being fulfilled? 

            There is another place to look for drama (Cain and Abel, Moses and the Exodus, Noah and the Flood, the Crucifixion/Resurrection narrative, the story of Stephen, the Life of Paul and Abraham and Isaac.)  You can also find comedy (Peter is always good for a laugh, we can find humor in the other disciples, Jonah’s story, the Tower of Babel, Sarah.)  What about irony?  (The Book of Proverbs, what seems good is bad, what seems bad is good, you want to call Who into ministry?) 

            Binge-read, binge-listen (there are audio tapes of the Holy Scriptures), binge-watch the greatest script ever produced.  The ultimate director, the biggest stars, breath-taking locations and oh the stories.  It’s historical and provocative.  It’s timeless and contemporary.  Do you ever stop to think how much of life revolves around the Bible?  Major holidays, 1/7 of our days set aside for worship, commerce, rules of law, sayings and words we use in everyday conversation, prayer and devotional life, family, and salvation. 

            Written years ago but we read it and we are inspired.  We say things like, “That is just what I needed.”  “Those words of hope gave me the strength to go on.”  “Where would I be without my faith?”

            Fill your life with the Lord and His Words.  They were written just for you.

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I was recently watching a game show from the 1980’s and the lady won a golf prize.  The host asks, “Do you like golf?”  She says, “Yes.”  The host then asks, “Does your husband like golf?”  She remarks, “Yes he does and that’s why I like golf – it gets him out of the house!”

We all like our space, don’t we?  At our house when somebody is suppose to be gone for a certain amount of time and they return early, invariably the person sitting at home will ask, “What are you doing home already?”  The early bird returns said volley with sarcasm, “Thanks for the love!” or some other witty comeback.  Isn’t this what we love about being in families.

We all need space but it is getting harder and harder to find it in our ever evolving world.  We all made comments this summer on how crowded the interstates are getting.  Drive around town for any length of time and it seems as if people are everywhere.  Maybe that takes you to a crowded office or a school with kids and staff everywhere.

Notice in Scripture how many times the crowds surrounded Jesus.  By the lake, in the temple, walking along the road, greeting him on Palm Sunday, at His trial.  For the last three years of His life the disciples were always there as well.  “Can’t you guys go play golf!”

Jesus’ alone time gave him time to think and pray and ponder.  Isn’t it great just to ponder once in a while?  The Savior could then prepare His heart and mind for what was coming.

In this month we also remember another who prepared his heart and mind for what was coming – Martin Luther.  At times he was with the crowds but at other times he was imprisoned or would find time in a room by himself.  Most scholars believe he also spent a lot of time in the bathroom – another great place to think!  What did he ponder?  Who he was under the cross.  A poor, sinful human being in need of rescue.  He saw that he couldn’t save himself, there was no way out.  He had to turn to the Savior.  He had to trust in the mercy and grace and love of Jesus Christ.

He was alone, but not really.  Our Lord was with him the whole time.  You need your space but no matter where you are the Lord is with you.  He loves you and cares for you and is an ever-present help.

In Christ,

Pastor