Taking in all sorts of things
This was a part of my sermon two weeks ago. “When someone good-naturedly asked me the other day if a pastor can see a movie with an R rating other than “The Passion of the Christ” (we were planning to see '“Killers of the Flower Moon”) I somewhat facetiously responded that I need to know what the church is up against: what are the other things people are taking into their lives. For the very same reason I read “This Present Darkness,” the initial “Left Behind” book, and “The DaVinci Code” ages ago.”
Dr. Dale Meyer had a devotion, yesterday, which had much the same point. He was talking about reading some daily newspapers. “Why do I need old-style physical papers? Why do I need hundreds of non-religious books? If I presume to teach what the precious little we can know about God, I must try to know what’s going on outside my Christian life. Seminary professor Martin Scharlemann once said, ‘A pastor’s job is to interpret reality theologically.’ The 20th century theologian Karl Barth put it this way. ‘Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.’
Thank you for the input many of you have provided! That helps point out to me the ways in which I might better be a help to you in the living of a life of a child of God.
The Truly Creative
I was reading the work of Susan Sucher, who describes herself as a “domestic empress” when writing for the periodical, Gilbert. She was writing in the July/ August 2203, issue which was devoted to a treatment of artificial intelligence (AI), the technology looming on the horizon. Here is a brief quote wherein she relates where true wonder is to be found:
“Women have the natural ability to facilitate one of the most sacred acts on earth – the incarnation of a new human being with an eternal soul. Similarly, but in a lesser way, all people participate in human creation when they write a poem, grow a garden, or build a home. As Chesterton points out in The Everlasting Man, ‘art is the signature of man.’ It is the eternal soul that differentiates humans and allow us to participate with the Creator to bring new creations into the world. We are most fully human when we are co-creators with God to bring forth babies, art, poetry, and the work of human hands.”
“The power of a mother cannot be understated. Her ability to gestate, nurture, and educate her children is the closes thing to a superpower that humans possess.”
We are nowhere near Mothers’ Day, but this was too good to postpone. God bless all of God’s co-creators!
1 Corinthians 10: 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Ephesians 2: 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Life Changing Words
Preparing for chapel at Concordia Lutheran School this week I’ve been thinking about life changing words. What are some of the most life-changing words that come to mind for you?
For me, I’m going to start from more recent going backwards in time.
• “Krista is in labor…”
• “May I marry your daughter?”
• “Congratulations! It’s a girl!”
• “I now pronounce you to be husband and wife.”
• “Will you marry me?”
• “I love you.”
• “You made varsity.” Along with “You got the part.”
But the most important words that started an entire transformation have been “I
baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” These words professed God’s love for me and the plan He had for me. Thankfully, these words which welcomed me into the Christian faith and the family of God have been followed up with other words in such a way that this burgeoning faith has been enlightened, informed, and edified through the years.
Praise be to God for the words He continues to speak to us in Holy Scripture, forgiving us through the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus and strengthening us for the days ahead as we await Jesus’ triumphant return!
Isaiah 40: A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.