A great devotional for all us working stiffs.

One of the many daily devotions I receive in my in-box is one called "Prime Time With God" and is geared toward Christian men and women in the workplace.  I highly reccomend it for everyone--regardless of vocation.  It comes from a group called Ephesians 4 ministries who focus on helping congregations administer spiritual gifts inventories so that each member might live out their faith to the fullest.

As a Lutheran, I'm familiar with Luther's writings on vocation which I think is one of his greatest contributions to the church.  However, I think we sometimes have a hard time translating it to our own lives.  Perhaps we don't try too hard, perhaps we don't teach it enough.  Whatever the case may be I encourage everyone to become familiar with Luther's teachings on this topic as it really speaks to how each one of us lives as little Christ's in every aspect of life and the great impact that can have on others; both temporally and spiritually.

Today's devotion from TGIF (Today God is First) really illustrates the disconnect I'm talking about and shares some interesting ways in which various congregations have tried to bestow this sense of Chrsitian Vocation upon their membership in meaningful, tangible ways.  Some are pretty good.  I would tie them to baptism some how as that is where our Godly vocations begin.
Enjoy!

Workplace Minister

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
10-28-2009

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col 3:17).

Over 70 percent of our time is spent in the workplace, yet our training and teaching in local churches focuses on areas where we spend much less time. The workplace is the greatest mission field of our day and represents the greatest opportunity for societal transformation, yet we do not train workplace believers how to effectively integrate their faith life into their work life. The wall between Sunday and Monday still exists and most workplace believers do not understand that all of life is spiritual, not just life on Sunday.

Our studies show an alarming 90 percent of Christians do not feel they've been adequately trained to apply biblical faith in their work life. We have focused on the fringes rather than the center where most people spend most of their time.

God is removing the wall of separation by speaking to pastors and workplace believers all over the world. A pastor recently shared how his church ordains their workplace believers for their calling to the workplace. Another pastor described their church's commitment to integrating training for their workplace believers on the theology of work. Another told how they began a workplace ministry within their church for their workplace believers, and even integrated Sunday school programs specifically geared to help workplace believers understand their calling in the workplace.

We are entering a new era in the Church when workplace believers are seen as a remnant of the Body of Christ who need to be mobilized and trained for the work of the ministry to their own mission field?the workplace. We are changing the 80/20 rule in the 9 to 5 window from 20% of the people doing ministry to 80%.

Are you one of the men and women God is raising up for this task? Pray that God will help local church leaders understand and affirm this calling, and that they will respond by training their people for their own ministry in their workplaces.

The Alban Institute - 2009-10-26 Waltzing to the Eternal Rhythms

When a pastor follows the lectionary, its not because he's lazy; he's using an ancient pattern of teaching and preaching which keeps us focused on the Trinity and our relationship to that same Triune God. Alban's weekly article has a very cool spin on this which I haven't heard before where it considers the lectionary as a dance--specificaly, a waltz. As a person of German lineage, my ears perk up when I see the world Walz.

I think this article will help me better prepare myself as I prepare my hearers this upcoming church year to hear the blessings brought to us in each of the three major festivals; Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think. The link is below.

The Alban Institute - 2009-10-26 Waltzing to the Eternal Rhythms: "Waltzing to the Eternal Rhythms"

Senate Democrats: Discussing Moral Issues | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Senate Democrats: Discussing Moral Issues | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
Please note: I am not endorsing either side of the Healthcare debate.
Thought this was kinda crazy. I thought the "obstructionist" Repubs were just trying to make sure unethical stuff didn't get in the health care bill. Now the Dems are saying that going slow is immoral.
The funniest part was the last paragraph:

Stabenow asked faith groups to help legislators get “past the noise” and “beyond the rancor” and “call us to a higher moral authority.” If they don’t take up the cause of health care reform, said Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, religious communities will be called on to do more than they already do to meet the needs of the elderly, the poor, and the disabled. “I talk about this as a moral issue all the time,” said Cardin. “That is very much what this debate is all about.” (emphasis mine)

Oh No!!!! If we don't pass the health care bill the Church will have to love MORE people?!?! What will we do??? How can we do it? I just thought this article was quite humorous in just how clueless some congresspersons think people of faith must be. It seemed a little patronizing.

Calling All St. Louis Grads--who's blogging?

Brothers!
I've managed to catch up to a few of you, but I'm looking for more of you.  If you blog let me know and I'll put you on my blogroll.  Maybe you would return the favor as well.
Blessings to you in your preaching this week.

Commercials - Frontier Airlines

I used to love these commercials when we lived in Colorado. They're still fun to watch. Enjoy!

Commercials - Frontier Airlines: "television commercials

View some of the highlights from our TV campaign.
Still The One
Still The One (over 60 cities)"

Cyberbrethren » Banishing the Dead from Their Own Funeral

For my pastor friends... An interesting commentary:
Cyberbrethren » Banishing the Dead from Their Own Funeral: "Banishing the Dead from Their Own Funeral"
I've found that if you take the lead, the family will let you. Don't let the funeral homes take the lead in logistics or program, even if it might be easier. They aren't anti-church, their just looking out for the bottom line and what is easiest for them. Most funeral directors I have met appreciate it when I have a preferred way of doing things and guide them by it. Their whole business is based upon mitigating discomfort and if you take the lead in this it makes their job easier as they can then focus on flowers, grave sites, traffic, etc.

The Alban Institute - 2009-10-19 Stewardship and Simple Thinking

This excerpt is from the very end of a very good article. A good read for clergy and laity alike. Read the whole article before you judge it. It may stretch you a bit, but there are excellent points made in it.
The Alban Institute - 2009-10-19 Stewardship and Simple Thinking:
"If you are a clergyperson reading this as you prepare a fund-raising sermon, or a lay leader getting ready to make the fall pitch for money, I suggest you go ahead and pander. Tell them God rewards a generous giver (to your congregation) and that all your problems will be solved (with money).
But next time—or this time, if you have a few months' lead time—gather some of those wise heads and ask yourselves what challenges (other than a lack of dollars) face your congregation. Look beyond the need to maintain real estate, meet payroll, or continue customary programs: what changes in the world are gradually rendering your ministry irrelevant? What are the glimmers of a new ministry that need attention? What fresh ideas are your structures of decision-making squelching? What human needs cry out, and how could you respond?
By raising such disturbing questions early, with the right people, and at the right speed, you might find yourself, next time you prepare a fund-drive message, less tempted to take refuge in the simple answers and more willing to call on people to join in addressing the real challenges of stewardship."

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - New Family Ministry Logo

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - New Family Ministry Logo: "New Family Ministry Logo


The LCMS District and Congregational Services is pleased to reveal a new signature logo to promote Family Ministry.The logo is the creation of LCMS member, Jason Brauer, a professional graphic artist from Minneapolis, in consultation with Dr. Steve Christopher, Interim Associate Director for Children's and Family Ministry.
The logo spells out the word Family in flowing cursive letters giving a sense of forward movement, symbolizing that families are often in motion and moving toward the future. Each letter in the word family, if you look closely, is separated just a little, indicating that while a healthy family is united; they are made up of individuals living their own unique lives, yet connected with other family members.

The focus point of the logo is the cross, which dots the “i” and is in the color blue, representative of Christ as the focal point in the Christian home, rising up and drawing us close to him. The color blue is a reminder of Baptism, by which all of us become members of the holy Christian family, united with each other as the church on earth and with our Father in Heaven."

How do we keep 20 somthings in the church? Please comment!

The following was included in an e-mail from our church body today.  What are your thoughts?

FINAL THOUGHTS . . . Seems like every day there are new numbers to ponder as we consider how to respond to the challenges of youth and young adult ministry. And, it's really not a pretty picture. In the book, Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It, the authors note George Barna's finding that "six out of ten 20-somethings who were involved in a church during their teen years are already gone." They note that nearly 50% of teens in the U.S. regularly attend church - related services or activities. More then three-quarters talk about their faith with their friends. Three out of five attend a least one youth group meeting at a church during a three month period and one-third participate in Christian clubs at school. Yet, most disengage from active participation in the Christian faith after high school. Youth and Young Adult Ministry simply present a huge challenge to the church. What are we doing for them? What do we have that will keep them engaged? How are we encouraging them in the faith? What are we doing to support them? What do we offer that would attract them to our Gospel message? Sometimes we seem to simply assume that they'll be back when they get married and have children. While that might have been true in the 50's and 60's (last century) it's no longer true when young adults marry and have their children in their mid-to-late 30's. The fastest growing segment of church programming is for Baby Boomers and older adults. I'm thinking we need to seriously rethink that and recommit to ministry with children, youth and young adults. To quote my favorite words from C.F.W. Walther, "You cannot use your time to better advantage than by serving well the young people of the congregation." Perhaps those words, said more than 100 years ago, need to guide our efforts today.

Some people are just too cool for words

You have got to see this amazing video.  Have you seen the extreme runner/jumper guys in Russia?  Well, this is an extreme bicycler in England.  You won't beleive the amazing places he "rides"* his bike.  He uses a bike which he can pedal forward as well as backwards and the tires are the old baloon type.  In addition he has an amazing sense of balance.  Its also fun to watch the reactions of people when he rides off of bridges, walls, etc. into what would seem oblivian, yet, he just keeps on riding.  Enjoy!

* "Ride" is a relative term as he has no seat on this bike.

St. Luke the Healing Messenger

On October 18th we get to celebrate St. Luke the Evangelist on a Sunday. His is the example for us as we apply the balm of the Gospel to heal broken lives. The following excerpt is from a longer commemoration on the LCMS web page.

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Saint Luke, Evangelist: "One commentator writes: 'In St. Luke's Gospel our Savior is pictured as the merciful Physician of bodily and spiritual ills. It has, therefore, been called 'the Gospel of mercy and love.' The beautiful passages of God's loving-kindness touch us deeply, for example the parables of the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan, the account of the penitent woman, and the good thief on the cross. Of inestimable value are the first two chapters on the incarnation and childhood of Jesus. Here Luke preserved for us the three precious canticles…the Benedictus, the Magnificant, and the Nunc Dimittis' (Pius Parsch, The Church's Year of Grace, Vol. 5, Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1958, p. 295)."