An Interesting Exchange

I had an interesting exchange this week with a Lutheran pastor friend regarding faith. I asked my friend about a Lutheran Church which is clearly out of the mainstream. The church is Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco. www.herchurch.org. This church is heavily influenced by feminist theology as well as alternate lifestyles. The church talks about God/dess and uses a goddess rosary. The goddess rosary has a silver goddess icon in place of the traditional cross . I stumbled on the website as I was reading other blogs.

I shouldn't be wasting time and energy on this church, but what was distressing to me was the response from my Lutheran pastor friend. His initial response was that there is room for all kinds of Christians in the Lutheran Church. I am in agreement on that. However, it took several emails before he admitted he was not very comfortable with the church and that the Lutheran Church which I am a member 0f (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) is 'judgmental with their orthodox theology' which excludes women from full participation in the church. By that I think he means that the LCMS doesn't ordain women. If you are familiar with the Lutheran Church than you'll guess that my friend is a pastor at an ELCA church.

Depending on how you handle the authority of Scripture you can come to different conclusions. So I am happy to be a member of a Lutheran church which follows orthodox theology. It's very plain for me: The Bible IS the Word of God and God didn't make mistakes. For my pastor friend, the Bible CONTAINS the Word of God which then puts him in the position of having to decide what part did God write and what is a mistake -- what is believable and what is impossible. Did God create the universe or did man come from apes or was Noah just a great story or was Mary really a virgin or did Jesus really rise from dead? How do you choose?

Stop and consider what it means to question the Bible!

In The Wilderness

Jesus begins his public ministry with 40 days in the wilderness. The story is recorded Matthew 4 (NIV):

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

I am challenged to reflect on what tempts me and how I will face the temptations. The temptations are numerous and often I forget to look to Jesus first and instead, I surrender to the temptation. Temptations can take many forms. It can be idolatry, pride, sexual, money, food, bad language, poor entertainment choices, and the list goes on and on.

The good news is that the High Priest, Jesus, in his state of humilation was truly hungry and tired. He never summoned his divine powers, but was human. He knows the full weight of temptation, but never surrended. He used the Word. My hope is that in times of temptation I can look to the Word for strength and guidance.

I now have a small rock with several of my toughest temptations written on it in a number 2 pencil sitting on top of a piece of paper with Scripture. It's a visual reminder. My prayer during the Lent and beyond is to feast on God's Word often.

Lent

As a Lutheran, I observe Lent. This is the 40 day period before Easter, excluding the Sundays. It is a time to feast on the Word of God.

It is a time of preparation for the celebration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Week. It is penitential and reflective as I prayerfully consider the meaning of Christ's suffering and death for my salvation.

The word "Lent" comes from the middle English "lente" (springtime) and the old Anglo-Saxon word "lengten" (the time when days grow longer).

By the second century, Christians were preparing for the festival of Easter with a two-day fast. In the third century this was extended to all of Holy Week and, by the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., a forty-day period of fasting was being observed. The Lenten period always had, and still has, an emphasis on baptism, for it was the period when new Christians were prepared for their baptism at the Easter Vigil. It is a time for us to affirm who we are, and whose we are.

Birthday Bash?????

An important letter from an anonymous writer....

Dear Friends,

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.

During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting close and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.

At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.

But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party was in his honor!

At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements.

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book.

Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon. I love you!

Jesus

' Twas the Night Before Jesus

‘Twas the night before Jesus came
And all through the house,
Not a creature was praying,
Not one n the house.

Their Bibles were lying on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to craw into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap,
Was watching the late show, while I took a nap.
When out of the east there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash.
I tore back the shutters and threw back the sash.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels proclaming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun, sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment, this must be the day.
The light of His face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus returning, just like He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life, which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as
He searched for my name.
And when He said, "It’s not here,"
I hung my head in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With all those who were ready, He rose without a sound,
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late.
I’d waited too long, thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rode out of sight.
If only I’d been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call,
We’ll find that the Bible was right after all.

-- Author Unknown

A Little Humor during Christmas

A little humor is helpful during the Christmas season as so many are ready to remove CHRIST from CHRISTMAS. Without Jesus we wouldn't have Christmas vacation (Winter Holidays seems the pc name) or a day off work if Christmas happens to fall on Mon -- Friday.

Enjoy this website and peruse a bit! http://www21.brinkster.com/Haptoon/101.htm

Christmas Day

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. There's interesting history behind December 25 being the actual date of Jesus' birth. As a Christian, the exact date is a non-issue. As an adoptive mom, I know that the exact date of the birth of my son is not critical, but the fact that he was born is. I feel the same about Christmas.

A little history --

Christmas, for Western Christians, was first celebrated on December 25 in A.D. 336, after Emperor Constantine had declared Christianity the empire's favored religion. As a theologian said in 320, "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it."

http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v