Monday, February 7, 2011
Good news from GEO missionary Andrea Bolognini in Hong Kong.
"Christmas marks a special time in Hong Kong. In the United States, Baptisms often occur for individuals throughout the year. This is not the case in The Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod. One of the ways they celebrate the birth of our Savior is by celebrating new births in the family of Christ! I had the joy of attending two Baptism services this Christmas season. The first was held by Abiding Grace Lutheran Church. I work with its youth every week through a youth-led service, a disci-pleship training class and a new English class. Six of the youth who regularly attend the youth service, one mother and an infant were baptized. I thank God for each one who professed faith that day and I would like to share a few highlights.
"The infant who was baptized was born into a loving Christian family in which both parents are strong believers. This is excit-ing because many times in Hong Kong mothers believe but fathers do not. This little girl has a mother and father who will raise her in the family of Christ! Another highlight was seeing the youth that I teach weekly and have gotten to know over the past year and a half profess their faith! Many of these stu-dents displayed, through heartfelt and some tearful testimo-nies, the fact that faith in Jesus Christ is undeniably life-changing and salvation-giving.
"I also attended the Baptism service at Holy Word Lutheran Church. This was a special day for 14 people and their loved ones as some confessed their faith, others were confirmed and still others became new members. It was especially moving to see two mothers and their sons as well as a mother, father and son be baptized as a family. The son of this last family mentioned is Edwin. He is a fourth grader at one of my schools. His family has a special story. His grandmother, Susan, has been an active member of Holy Word for some time. When I arrived in Hong Kong, last year, I heard her share her powerful testimony of how God healed her from cancer. Sadly, her cancer is back, but this has not hurt her faith. I had an opportunity to visit her at her home, where she played the piano and we sang songs from the hymnal with other church members.
She trusts God, is a loving mother and grandmother and a powerful witness of faith. God is strengthening her and clearly working in her family also. It was a blessing she was able to witness her family's Baptism. Please pray for her continued recovery!"
"The infant who was baptized was born into a loving Christian family in which both parents are strong believers. This is excit-ing because many times in Hong Kong mothers believe but fathers do not. This little girl has a mother and father who will raise her in the family of Christ! Another highlight was seeing the youth that I teach weekly and have gotten to know over the past year and a half profess their faith! Many of these stu-dents displayed, through heartfelt and some tearful testimo-nies, the fact that faith in Jesus Christ is undeniably life-changing and salvation-giving.
"I also attended the Baptism service at Holy Word Lutheran Church. This was a special day for 14 people and their loved ones as some confessed their faith, others were confirmed and still others became new members. It was especially moving to see two mothers and their sons as well as a mother, father and son be baptized as a family. The son of this last family mentioned is Edwin. He is a fourth grader at one of my schools. His family has a special story. His grandmother, Susan, has been an active member of Holy Word for some time. When I arrived in Hong Kong, last year, I heard her share her powerful testimony of how God healed her from cancer. Sadly, her cancer is back, but this has not hurt her faith. I had an opportunity to visit her at her home, where she played the piano and we sang songs from the hymnal with other church members.
She trusts God, is a loving mother and grandmother and a powerful witness of faith. God is strengthening her and clearly working in her family also. It was a blessing she was able to witness her family's Baptism. Please pray for her continued recovery!"
Sunday School News
“Nothing but Net”
Little Things Make Big Differences
One bite from a mosquito that carries the parasite that causes malaria can be deadly, and in Africa, a child dies from malaria every thirty seconds. Malaria is a global epidemic and the Lutheran World Relief has teamed up with the LCMS to form the Lutheran Malaria Initiative to help end the 1 million deaths a year in Africa by 2015 .
This Spring’s Sunday School Mission project is to learn about malaria and raise funds to buy mosquito nets. $10 buys an insecticide-treated net and trains a family on its use. We hope to raise $200 which will purchase 20 nets through the Initia-tive. More information can be found at: www.lutheranmalaria.org/site
Please pray for those who suffer from malaria and consider giving to this worthwhile cause, because little things do make a difference!
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Sunday School Outing to Windsor Manor on Wednesday, February 16th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and make plans to join us for an afternoon of fun and games with the residents at Windsor. Transportation will be provided.
Do you believe in God? I suggest that you DO NOT say “YES.”
Do you believe in God?
I suggest that you
DO NOT say “YES.”
Here’s why! But first, “Yes” is a correct answer. But let’s strive for a better, clearer, more powerful answer.
To simply answer “YES” is to be put yourself on par with the devil. The devil “believes” in God. P.S. We won’t be seeing the devil in heaven.
You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James 2:19
Holy Scripture says that one’s belly can be one’s god. I like food. It seems Americans in general like food. We are told we have an epidemic caused by liking food. But for those who make food consumption their God, Scripture has some harsh words.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly,
and they glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19
I suggest that you not say “yes” because almost every one an-swers “YES” to the question “Do you believe in God?” People of the Jewish faith “believe in God”; people of the Islamic faith “believe in God.” Indeed, many people of no specific religion will say, “ I believe in God.” Did you ever stop to think that people can answer “Yes” just because ----well doesn’t everybody be-lieve in God? Only a wacko would answer said “No, I don’t believe in God!”
If you simply answer “yes” without being specific people might think you believe in the same god they believe in, when you actu-ally think their god is a false god. When confirmation students give the answer “god” in class, I frequently respond with “which God?” God Allah, God Buddha, God Confucius, God Dagon?”
I suggest you not say “yes” because at the present time in our so-ciety many people believe that all gods are the same. The church jargon term labels them as “universalists.” Or, they hold to the belief that, “There are many paths that lead through the forest, but they all get to the other side.” Obviously the inspired Scripture writers and even Jesus Christ himself didn’t get the memo on this.
[6] Jesus said to him (Thomas),
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 ESV)
or
You shall have no other gods
More than anything I suggest one not say “yes” to the question because in our present society sadly the word “God” is “worn out.” “God” is used so much that people don’t hear it when they hear it. Most certainly they don’t mean it when they utter it. If you don’t believe me, go around for one day with a hand held counter in your hand and click it every time you hear the word “god.”
When that word “god” comes out of people’s mouths they are clueless that they are calling upon a deity. They have no intention of actually calling a divine being who is Almighty, Omnipresent, Holy, Good, Gracious, and more! (see Catechism question #94 if you want to review the attributes of God).
This phenomena of the word “god” coming out of people’s mouths almost as automatically as they breathe reminds me of what the confirmation students have informed me is a game called “Ding Dong Ditch.”
The game is intended to irritate those whose door bell is pushed. When many people say “god,” they most certainly are not are expecting God to respond or answer. They would be shocked if God phoned, texted or spoke to them saying, “Hello, This is God. How may I help you?”
“My God” is just two meaningless words. I would guestimate that 95+ percent of the time, when someone says, “My God” they are not intending to call on, to claim or to confess God as the God they “fear, love, and trust in above all things.” It is doubtful they even realize they have spoken the generic term for a deity.
Three meaningless words would be “Oh My God.”
“OMG” are three meaningless letters.
The word “god” is vague, abused, overused, worn out and pretty much meaningless as it is used in our present society.
So, what is a better answer?
And after we respond with “I believe in.........recall your baptism and the answer you gave there. You likely don’t recall you were asked, “Do you believe in God.....the Father...........God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. So a better answer is, “I believe in God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.”
Or you might answer “I believe in Jesus Christ.”
You might even follow up by adding the word “because.” In fact, we really should add the word “because” and then say a whole lot more regarding how precious our God is to us!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Called to Live, Lead and Love in Christ
Individually called to:
Live even though we have died
Lead as we daily return to the cross of Christ
Love with the heart of God
Our Church Family has been called into a partnership in the Gospel to:
Live grace empowered lives
Lead others into the Word which calls them out of darkness into the Light
Love without end and without exception
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
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But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine.
(Isaiah 43:1 ESV)
WHAT? God can’t mean this, can He? Yes, GOD means it!
ME? Called? ARE YOU SURE? Yes, WE ARE SURE!
REALLY? Yes, REALLY!
HOW CAN THIS BE? God says this.
God does this. God promises this!
God has called you!
Each and every celebration of Christmas tells us again that our God didn’t/doesn’t give up. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son.” And we must not just say, God did-n’t/doesn’t give up. We must add “on me” and for good measure “on us.” So as we begin 2011, we again marvel God has called us, called us by name! Redeemed us! We belong to Him!
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1
This marveling increases as we look and look again at the specif-ics of this calling. We are called......
called . . . . from what?
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excel-lencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
called . . . .into what?
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excel-lencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glori-fied. Romans 8:30
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15
.... including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Ro-mans 1:6-7
called . . . .by what?
To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:14
called . . . .NOT because /because of what?
....... for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but be-cause of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 2 Timothy 1:8-9
called . . . .to what?
Our 2011 theme states “to Live, lead and love.”
Holy Scripture says the same and more, MUCH MORE
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 1 Thessa-lonians 4:7
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, con-sider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. Hebrews 3:1-2
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 1 Corinthians 7:17 (Vocation)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 (Yes, you and I are called to suffer should that be God’s plan for us.)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a man-ner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1
Called . . . .so what/now what?
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29
.....and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faith-ful.” Revelation 17:14
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 2 Peter 1:10
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV
----
Lord you created me.
Lord you say, “Don’t be afraid.”
Lord you say “I’ve redeemed you.”
Lord you say, “I’ve called you”
You even say, “This is a “by name” calling.”
(Think Holy Baptism)
Lord you say, “I belong to You.”
Lord, May your Holy Spirit, bless me mightily as I regularly hear of your gracious calling.
Only then, will, I Live, Lead and Love in Christ, through Christ and for Christ. Amen
New Year’s Eve Prayer
Dear Lord, where has the time gone? There were times this past year when we wondered whether You were walking with us or not. It appeared that You didn’t really care about us. Forgive us, Lord. You always kept Your promise. You caused all things to work together for our benefit. Please accept our thanks and praise for Your unfailing love to us in Christ Jesus.
Now we beseech You to keep us strong in faith. According to Your will, keep us safe each day. Watch over our family and friends. May Your life-giving Word be proclaimed freely to all peoples of the world. Amen
Now we beseech You to keep us strong in faith. According to Your will, keep us safe each day. Watch over our family and friends. May Your life-giving Word be proclaimed freely to all peoples of the world. Amen
Naming and praying for...
January 30th
Naming and praying for
......those we name in our hearts.
During the prayer of the church each Sunday we allow time a brief time in worship for private prayer for ......those we name in our hearts.
Within our circles of family, friends and coworkers, we all know, sometimes very intimately, folks who are on our minds and in need of our prayers due to a variety of health, job and other needs. Possibly, but probably not, our fellow congregation mem-bers are unaware of these near and dear ones.
We will be providing an opportunity for you to submit names and prayer requests so that we might publicly name those names and include a petition on their behalf in the prayer of the church. The specified Sunday’s for this are the 5th Sunday of the month. January 2011 has five Sundays so we are asking that you ...So we are asking that you fill out a form provided in the January 23rd bulletin or email by Wednesday morning, January 26th and we will include these petitions on the January 30th wor-ship service.
Prayer Request for Those we name in our hearts
Name/s _______________________________________
Relationship to Immanuel member ___________________
______________________________________________
Prayer concern _________________________________
______________________________________________
Example
Name/s Arlene Brandt and Yasuko Brandt,
Relationship to Immanuel member sister and sister in law of Pastor
Prayer concern who both will be undergoing knee surgery in early January.
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