Confessions in pocket book form...

It is a confidence builder! CPH has now came out with the Book of Concord in pocket size! During Seminary, the book of Concord seemed like an impossible task. The size was that of the titanic. However, with this new pocket size, my confidence is up and I am a quarter of the way through. Awesome.

The study of God's Word and the Confessions is a lifelong endeavor. It makes it easier and seem shorter when it can fit in your pocket! Check it out!

God Bless

Prays go out as the swine flu spreads...

Whenever there has been a break out of any sort of disease, there are many questions. What is the cause? How do we stop it? What can we do? How bad will it get?

Currently with the swine flu, there are many questions and many people very scared. Myself, I do worry about people with a lack of health care and in poor areas and with the many questions.

There are two things that I hope to see from this situation: 1) A trust that we are in God's hands and to lift it all up in prayer (we need to realize that our first move must be on our knees), and 2) The church will find an opportunity to show mercy as our Lord has called us to give.

Lord have mercy

Drafted number 1-"YOU!"

I love the NFL draft. The energy and excitement that each teams has before the big announcement of the number 1 pick, can not be explained. Each team has a party, the fans go nuts and tell everyone, "This is the year", and newspaper columnists run frantic to get the top story. Then the moment comes, "With the number 1 pick, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford." He will forever go down in history as a number 1 pick (whether successful or not). The Lions have spent millions on this guy who hasn't taken a snap yet and he will always be under the spotlight. Unfortunately, the Detroit fans and newswriters will not be real forgiving unless he wins.

This is much like God's draft. He makes a big deal about our draft in Holy Baptism and when the water hits our head, he says, "I select you as my number one pick." He spent more than money on us, it was the blood of His Son and we will forever go down in history in His eyes as His children. We are in the spotlight, and although we will not always win (or ever), his forgiveness is real no matter the win nor the loss.

Confirmation tomorrow morning...10:30 a.m.

Tomorrow morning five of our young people will confirm their faith in the one Jesus Christ and also in the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is probably by far the boldest statement that they will ever make, "I believe in this stuff and I will confess it even to death!" Holy man! That is awesome. Keep them and their parents in your prayers as they continue in their baptismal identity in Christ!

Small pool...huge refreshment...big promises

What an amazing day. 80 degrees, clear skies, and a day off with the family. Awesome!

Around 2:00 we realized how hot it was outside, so I ran off to Wal-Mart and bought it for $15. Then the endeavor began. The problem: It doesn't fit in a car. Amy brought the van, we took some rope to place it on top of the van, but a half a mile down the road, it almost fell off. We readjusted the tying, we drove slow and we got home. After all that joy filled ride, we made it home, filled it up and wow! The feeling of cool water on a hot day, especially after gardening all morning, was amazing. Cool, refreshing, and just fun.

When our girls got into the pool, I reminded them, "When did water cleanse you before?" They said, "Baptism." Everytime we get in water, may we remember what our Lord does every day: Cleansing in the Holy Spirit and renewal for our daily vocations! May God bless this Spring time in the Lord!

How does the Bible define marriage?

Here is the question of the day: How does the Bible define marriage? This questions was brought to us at the pastor's conference at Lake Geneva. Interesting enough, most of us really had not thought about it. We know what the state says, but is that the same? How many wedding cermonies have you heard of in the Bible? How many engagements with rings? I am going to think about this subject before I write more, but I think we have some teaching to do concerning marriage and discussing what the Bible actually says!

Examination Night for Confirmation students...

We brought them in front of the fellowship this evening and drilled them on the basics of the faith. What is the Sacrament of the Altar? What is confession? 10 commandments? The works.

It is incredible to see God at work in these youth and you end each year of confirmation with much optimism. Not that it was due to my great teaching, but due to the Word and the Holy Spirit working in their lives!

This Sunday is confirmation! Christ have mercy