It may seem like an intresting title.  It is sorta, but you'll need to read/lisen to the last weeks worth of The Lutheran Hour daily blogs and sermon (attached).

Here is a brife run down on my feelings of the mud & mirrors.  Mud is the mear fact that no matter how bad I am, how tough life is, and down in the mud we might be in our lives, HE still loves us, and is there for us.  If you doubt this, then what about the man next to HIm on the cross that friday, he was incrusted in mud, but HE washed him clean.  HE is there for us too.  It is HIS job to carry our transgressions on Himself, on that cross...rember Isiaha 53.

Ok, now here is the mirror, oddly this is the real problem for us, as humans.  This is when we get so full of pride that it blocks out reality.  This is the sin that comes, and did come before the fall.  The moral is this... Don't get a big head.  We need to accept the fact that being king of the mountain might have a great view, but usally also has a hard fall.  I don't think its a quincidince that the most down to earth sports stars are the NLH hocky players.  They are the only ones that actually have to give the trophy back each year.

Oh well, its good not to be mud, and to have a head smal enough to see it all in the mirror.

Peace

Dan

"Mirror, Mirror"

En Español

"A Stronghold"

October 1, 2008

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7

Yesterday's top story on the BBC was the U.S. House of Representatives had voted down the bail-out bill.

Reuter's banner headline read: "U.S. bailout rejected; fear seizes markets."

The Washington Post carried two stories, which topped the others. The first was this: "Lawmakers Scramble to Figure Out Next Move in Financial Crisis." The other was this: "Dow Suffers a Historic Drop, Falling 778 Points in Single Day".

But I'm not telling you anything you don't know, am I?

You are fully aware global markets are close to a panic, and Washington leaders seem confused as to what should be done, or what should not be done.

Now, I am not an economist and am incredibly ignorant in matters of global finance, but there is one thing I do know: the purpose of these Daily Devotions is to let the Lord speak to uncertain times. That is what He does through the reassuring words shared by the Old Testament prophet, Nahum: "the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble."

Those words came at a time when God's people had just found out they weren't as wise, as self-sufficient, or as in control as they thought. The unexpected arrival of the cruel and seemingly invincible Assyrian army had them despairing of their future.

In that dark moment, Nahum spoke the truth: human arrogance and greed -- not God -- was the culprit that had undermined their situation. To troubled minds, hearts, and souls, Nahum held out inspired words of comfort: "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble."

The Holy Spirit says the same to us who see our tomorrows as being grim and gloomy: God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.

He wants us to remember that even though the stock market might be bouncing around, His goodness is constant. He wants to reassure us that trust in Him is more secure than any stock. He wants us to believe that His Son, who came to save our souls, remains ready to be our fortress when financial institutions are failing. The risen Redeemer stands as the stronghold of hope to all who come to Him in humility, repentance, and faith.

At the beginning of this special devotion, I said I was not an economist. That is true. I am also not a prophet. Even so, I believe this financial crisis will be a theme touched upon in the weeks and months to come. If this proves to be the case then I, like you, should be thankful. Thankful about what? Thankful that when the headlines scream gloom and doom, we have a God who "is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble."

THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, the leaders of finance said, "Trust us, we know what we're doing." Apparently, they didn't. Now, people who had no part in big-business-boardroom decisions are paying the price. Today, I pray damage might be minimized and individuals may not give in to despair, but may be turned to You. Help us know that You are "good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

En Español

"Greater Love"

September 30, 2008

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

Ten-year-old Doug Zehner of Chesterton, Indiana, is alive.

Doug slipped into a rain-swollen creek and was pulled into a steel culvert. A next-door neighbor, Mark Thanos, jumped in to try and save the boy. When Mark had a difficult time getting out of the water, his 74-year-old father jumped in to provide assistance.

The boy, smaller than the grown men, was flushed through the three-foot-wide culvert and came to the surface about 20 feet downstream.

Both men died in their attempt to save the boy.

Doug's parents, moved by the selfless devotion of their friend, said, "He gave his life for my child. I can only hope that we live up to his memory. We'll do the best we can with our son for him."

Theirs is an appropriate and right reaction. When somebody gives his future for yours, a life well lived is the best and probably the only way to express your appreciation. You can't pay back the debt; all you can do is honor what has been done for you.

That's something we Christians understand.

We know that because of Jesus' sinless life we no longer live under the law; because of the Savior's sacrifice on Calvary's cross, we have been given eternal life. Now, to the best of our ability, we try to do our best to honor the Christ, the Savior who died for men and women who were sinners.

Oh, there is one other thing about this accident you might want to know.

Thinking about what had happened, young Doug, with a cracking voice, said, "I wish he (Mark Thanos) didn't love me that much."

As for me, I'm thankful there are people like Mark who can love that strongly, that selflessly, that sacrificially.

I'm even more thankful I have a Savior who loved a sinner so much that He -- fully aware of what He was doing -- traded His life, His hope, His all, so I might be forgiven and given a new life that will last forever.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for coming to this world to live and die for ungrateful, unappreciative humanity, my thanks. In dying so I might live, You have given me a gift I could never earn, and can never repay. But may I live a life that honors You. In Your Name. Amen.

..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links -->

En Español "Valuable" October 4, 2008 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 .. --> Body --> I can't tell you how many times I've let golden opportunities pass me by. That's why I've remembered for years the true story about a big lump of something, a stone supposedly, which lay for centuries in a shallow brook in North Carolina. The few people who saw the lump, paid no attention and passed by. That's the way it was until a poor man saw the heavy lump and thought it would be a good thing to hold his door open. He picked it up and took it home. It was only when a geologist happened to pass by and saw the lump by the poor man's door that the lump was transformed. The guest's expert eye identified the "lump" as a chunk of gold - the biggest lump of gold ever found east of the Rockies. Tiffany's judged the lump was worth over $100,000. Today, I don't wish to talk to you about your missed chances. That's too easy. Instead, I would like to ask if you have ever thought of yourself as being a valueless lump; a lump passed by and ignored by almost everyone. Do you think of yourself as a lump, which is useful only to be someone else's doorstop? If so, you should know that God doesn't think of you that way at all. The Lord saw the value of you and your soul and sent His Son into this world to save you. You were valuable enough for Jesus to spend His entire life saving you. As Isaiah said, we may appear to be a lump, but in the hand of the expert Potter, we can be transformed into something of great value. Which is just the Lord's way of letting you know: you are, in Jesus, made valuable, most valuable, indeed. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for sending Your Son to save me. I find comfort, as well as salvation in the knowledge that I am valuable to You. Now I ask that You will empower me to live my life in thanksgiving and praise. In Jesus' Name. Amen. http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081005 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20080929 http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20080928

http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081008

Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion

http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081007

http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20081006

..TR vAlign=top>

	In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries	..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE> Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: The Joshua Tree By U2 Release date: 1990-06-15 6:19 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Monday, September 15, 2008  Here it is...no more playing around... Current mood:  confident Have you ever just got fed up with the dancing around that so many do in the world?  You meet with someomne on businsess, and insted of just saying no, they start hem-hawing .  I just want the strait answer.  Thats it.  So the rest of this blog is going to be just that.  Here it is... I belive that Christ is my savior, and I also belive that I cannot in  any way convert you to this.  That isn't my job or something I am even capabale to do.  The only one that can is the Holy Spirt.  I also belive that Christ never sugar-coated it with peace, love, and happiness.  He said it strait.  Life is hard, life is full of trials and tribulations, and following HIM was not a guarentee of it being anything diffrent.  HE did preach one thing above all...HE said it over and over that HE is the only way, HE is the truth, and HE is the one and only entrance into heaven.  HE fufilled ALL of the 48+ profficies.  If you want to think that HE was teaching love, peace, charity, and all that stuff alone, you need to get that Bible out of your closet, or off the coffee table and start wearing it out. Ok, now that that is done, I need to also remind you that HE aslo promised that HE is always with us, that HE still loves us, no matter what we do, have done...HE is our great father.  HE is the light. May you have great peace, and joy in your lives, as only HE can give... John 14 Dan PS...the answer to the book in the last blog was Isiaha 53...700+ years Before Christ. Hear the last few weeks of The Lutheran (1/2)Hour below. "What God Has Done" ..TR> ..TABLE> Here are the last couple of weeks of Daily Devotions for you too. Sep. 7, 2008 "Who is Greatest?" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 Aug. 31, 2008 "Hold On to What Is Precious" Guest Speaker: Rev. John Schmidtke Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP ..TR> ..TABLE> I also found the following vidios on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMvaSAwL7_k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdfIEZwVWxY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucsrPgG1ac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDFmrbPNrzA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyopL3Q3KFo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cQyzv956rM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G15nKvPnKyA September 15, 2008 A Final Ministry September 14, 2008 He Is There September 13, 2008 Giving The Devil September 12, 2008 Facing The Lions September 11, 2008 Hospitality September 10, 2008 Jesus...Came Forward September 9, 2008 Enough September 8, 2008 Great Escape September 7, 2008 Believing September 6, 2008 Nicer September 5, 2008 There Is Much Good To Do September 4, 2008 Excuses September 3, 2008 False Advertising! September 2, 2008 Rise! September 1, 2008 You Are Valuable August 31, 2008 Ready To Listen August 30, 2008 The Lord's Day August 29, 2008 Joy Unstoppable August 28, 2008 Myths Currently listening: Legacy...Hymns & Faith By Amy Grant Release date: 2005-03-29 7:13 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Sunday, August 24, 2008  More than a rock upon which I stand. (puzzle included) Current mood:  thankful Category: Religion and Philosophy Ok, I think you've figured it out by now, if you have seen or read my blogs before that I am standing firm.  I am standing firm upon my rock, my salvation.  It is my rock that doesn't erode away.  The rock that holds me saafe in times of trouble, and of wich I stand firm and steady in the bright warm sunshine.  My rock is the rock that concoured Gogatha & rolled away the tomb stone.  My rock is the rock that became the world ruling stone of Daniel's dream.  It is The Christ, Jesus.  HE was before the world, whene ever it might have been, and will be after it finaly comes to an end.  This is the way that I had made it through the loss of my Forever Love, Tricia.  I know that she is now in such a better place, that I nor anyone can ever imagin it glory, and I will join her, someday. HE has been such a part of the world, both before & after HIS comming that we can hear HIS cries of suffering from the cross in Psalm 22.  HE is THE way.  While the buddha left the world telling his followers to "find your own way."  HE stated that "I am THE WAY...The TRUTH & THE LIFE..." in John 14. Ok I'm done preaching for this week, but I am going to post a chapter of scripture, and I challenge you to tell me 2 things... What book & chapter.  And when it was written (est. ok). 1 Who has believed our message        and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,        and like a root out of dry ground.        He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,        nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  3 He was despised and rejected by men,        a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.        Like one from whom men hide their faces        he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  4 Surely he took up our infirmities        and carried our sorrows,        yet we considered him stricken by God,        smitten by him, and afflicted.  5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,        he was crushed for our iniquities;        the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,        and by his wounds we are healed.  6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,        each of us has turned to his own way;        and the LORD has laid on him        the iniquity of us all.  7 He was oppressed and afflicted,        yet he did not open his mouth;        he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,        and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,        so he did not open his mouth.  8 By oppression [a] and judgment he was taken away.        And who can speak of his descendants?        For he was cut off from the land of the living;        for the transgression of my people he was stricken. [b]  9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,        and with the rich in his death,        though he had done no violence,        nor was any deceit in his mouth.  10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,        and though the LORD makes [c] his life a guilt offering,        he will see his offspring and prolong his days,        and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.  11 After the suffering of his soul,        he will see the light of life [d] and be satisfied [e] ;        by his knowledge [f] my righteous servant will justify many,        and he will bear their iniquities.  12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [g]        and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [h]        because he poured out his life unto death,        and was numbered with the transgressors.        For he bore the sin of many,        and made intercession for the transgressors. Please post your answers as a comment.  Lets see how many come up with it, and I will try to come up with a prize, OK? Peace Dan Here is this week, and last weeks Lutheran (1/2)Hour b-castings. "Mistaken Identity"    (8/24/8) ..TR> ..TABLE> Aug. 17, 2008 "A Great Faith" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> ..TABLE> En Español "Stop The Coach" August 23, 2008 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3 .. --> Body --> "God is great. God is good." That is the way the prayer begins. Unfortunately, there are times when we find that hard to believe. In the 1800's, a woman, along with her little baby, was riding in a stagecoach across western Montana. The weather was bitter, and the mother started to fall into the sleepy, numbing chill of death. Seeing her condition, the driver stopped the coach, took the baby and, wrapping it warmly, put it under the seat. He then set the mother down on the road. Without a word, he drove away, leaving her behind. The mother immediately switched gears. She shook off her lethargy and ran after the coach, crying for her baby. When the driver was sure the woman's blood was flowing, he stopped, let her get aboard once more and continued the journey. I don't know if that woman ever appreciated the driver and what he had done. I do know when God allows difficulties to come to His people, they very seldom catch on that those difficulties come from a loving, gentle hand. Most assume that God has become nasty, negligent, or both. The truth is, God, who sent His Son to save us, continues to care. He cares even during the difficult times and circumstances of life. If pains and problems arise, we can be confident they can be used by the Holy Spirit to bring us closer to our Lord. Which is why I suggest if your faith is cooling down, or you're finding yourself starting to fall asleep spiritually, do not be surprised if God stops the coach and sets you running on the road. If it happens, think twice before you get mad at God. He may just be saving your life. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes I don't see how much You care. I pray that the Holy Spirit will use even the most difficult circumstances to bring me closer to You. Give me trust in Your goodness and gracious hand which is most evident in the Savior's sacrifice. In His Name. Amen. En Español "A Bad Sinner" August 18, 2008 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Romans 7:19 .. --> Body --> Schadenfreude. Schadenfreude is a good German word. Roughly, it means taking pleasure over someone else's misfortune. A good example of schadenfreude would be when you are passed by a speeding driver and, four miles down the road, you see him pulled over by a cop and getting a ticket. What you feel is schadenfreude. I should also say schadenfreude is not an especially Christian virtue. Just a short time ago, the Minneapolis Star Tribune carried an article that showed me for the nasty-hearted villain I am. The story came out of Lebanon, Indiana. It was there, in Lebanon's Oak Hill Cemetery, that 36-year-old Katherine Gunther sort of stuck herself. Normally a person sticking herself would make me feel bad, but there is a rest of the story. Katherine is a witch, a follower of Wicca. She, with her coven, was in the cemetery after hours. Using candles, incense, and a sword they were performing a ceremony to give thanks for a recent run of good luck. When they reached a certain spot in the service, Katherine was supposed to stick the sword into the ground. She missed the ground and stuck the sword into her foot. This, I imagine, immediately ended the service of thanksgiving for good luck. When I read that story, I laughed. If I had been there, I would have been concerned and sympathetic, but I wasn't there. And before I could help myself, I laughed. Schadenfreude. Now please, don't write to me and say, "Pastor, that was wrong. You shouldn't have laughed." I know that. It was improper, and it was unchristian. I was improper and inappropriate, and I feel sorrow for what I did. All of this goes to show that Paul wasn't unique when he talked about not doing the good that he should and continuing to do the bad that he shouldn't. The truth is, if my heart can laugh at someone who stabs themselves in the foot with a sword, I am in need of a Savior. Every day I sin much and every day I am in need of the forgiveness that comes only through the Savior's sacrifice and resurrection. Understand, I wouldn't have told you all of this, if I didn't think you were almost as bad as I am. You may not have laughed at the sword-in-the-foot incident, but each of us have our moments, our sinful moments, moments when we need a Savior. Thank the Lord we have the Savior in the person of Jesus. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, why You should bother about a sinner such as me is a great mystery. I do not understand, but I shall praise You for the great grace I have received through the Savior's substitution. For forgiveness and today, I thank You. In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Every Day" August 24, 2008 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 .. --> Body --> Over the years I've had the opportunity to celebrate with a few people who had managed to reach their 100th birthday. Such a celebration would be incomplete without someone asking, "What is the secret of your longevity?" I've been amazed at some of the responses I've heard to that question. Some elderly have said, "I owe it all to good, clean living." Others have replied, "It's because I smoke three cigars a day and drink a quart of brandy before lunch." But the best answer I ever heard came from a little old lady. At her birthday party, one of her great-great-nephews asked the question. Without a blink, and with a bright twinkle in her eye, she replied, "I can't say for sure, but I kind of think it's because I didn't stop breathing. As near as I can tell, not breathing was what stopped most of my friends from living as long as I have." Both family and friends roared their appreciation of her light-hearted outlook at life. I wish there were more folks like her. Indeed, as I go out and talk with people, all too often I see them dwelling on the dark and depressing side of life. Physical ailments, troubles in the world, deflation, inflation, and a host of other difficulties make them grumpy and disheartened. If that's true for you, I encourage you, by God's grace, shake it off! The truth is, every day 'we're breathin' God gives us joy. Every day that God gives his forgiven and adopted children is an opportunity for them to share the peace and the hope which they have in their Savior. Every day is a day that the Lord has made and the Savior's redeemed can rejoice in it. So, folks, if the grumps have got you down, then let the Lord buck you up! The Lord is with you as long as you keep breathin' and because of His Son, will continue to be with you when you stop. THE PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for every day that You have given me. Help me rejoice in the little and big graces which come from Your hand. Let this be my resolve in the world, even as it will be my joy in the next. In Jesus' Name. Amen. HINT: its in both the Jewish & Christian Bible... August 24, 2008 Every Day August 23, 2008 Stop The Coach August 22, 2008 The Lord Who Loves Me August 21, 2008 What We've Seen August 20, 2008 Getting Along August 19, 2008 Under Our Noses August 18, 2008 A Bad Sinner August 17, 2008 A Good Example August 16, 2008 Not Stretchable August 15, 2008 How Does God Love Me As Father? August 14, 2008 Surprise! August 13, 2008 Like A Mom August 12, 2008 Don't Kill Them All August 11, 2008 Stealing Devoted Things August 10, 2008 Caring August 9, 2008 Champions  Currently listening: Boy By U2 Release date: 1990-10-17 7:40 PM  1 Comments (Add Comment) | 2 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Sunday, August 10, 2008  Sorry to tell you this, but... Current mood:  anxious Category: Religion and Philosophy A world of & in a state of peace is not possable.  We cannot make it so.  We will always have war, friction, trials & tribulations.  There is nothing we can do about it.  Its the way of our world, and our lives.  Ok, now that I have your attention, and your wondering how the guy that always closes with "peace" can say that peace isn't realy possable in this world?  The way and reason it isn't is that we can not live in peace is that we have sin in the world, and by the mear fact that we are all sinful we are then all without peace.  True peace can only come from the one that has come to bring it to us, and freely gives it to those that follow HIM.  HIS peace is the peace of the world, as the world gives, but something far better.  HIS peace is the peace that only comes when you know where your going, and can see the finish line.  The peace of those that were certin of death, but are saved.  That is HIS peace.  Some would like you to belive that they can show you how you can earn it, or buy it, or even ignore the trials & tribulations of the world away, but do you know anyone that has gone through life without such things as sickness, loss, or death in their lives?  I haven't.  The funny thing is that when Tricia died I had so many people ask how I was able to make it through so well.  The truth is that the only thing that keeps me going many days is my faith, and the knowelge of where I am going, and HE is there walking, sometimes carring, me.  I have recived, and live in HIS peace.  John14:25-27 25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I pray that you will all recive HIS peace, and be strenthened in it through HIS Holy Spirt. In HIS everlasting Peace. Dan Hear the Lutheran (1/2)Hour below. ..TR> This week's message ... August 10, 2008 ..TR> ..TABLE> "Why Do We Doubt?" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus This week's offer on The Lutheran Hour® So You Prayed For A Miracle... Download Sermon MP3 (4mb) Listen to streaming MP3* Sermon Text Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> ..TABLE> Daily devotions from The Lutheran Hour... Aug. 3, 2008 "I Can't Do It" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 July 27, 2008 "God's Vision Revealed" Guest Speaker: Rev. Ralph Blomenburg Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 July 20, 2008 "Looks Easy To Me" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 July 13, 2008 "The Agony of Defeat" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 July 6, 2008 "Seeing As God Sees" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> ..TABLE> ..TABLE> En Español "Bad Days" August 6, 2008 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 .. --> Body --> People have bad days. Recently, police officer Tim Pochron had a bad day. A few weeks ago, Tim was sworn into his new job in Bart, Indiana. The following Monday was scheduled to be his first day at work. Tim's excitement was visible to all. Tim was ready, eager, and able. He had the skills; he had the equipment; he had a new patrol car. Everything that could be ready was ready. Everything was ready until Tim Pochron's police vehicle was wrecked in a crash. No, it wasn't Tim's fault. Tim wasn't in the car; he wasn't near the car. Tim was still in his house when, one half hour into his first day of work, another car hit a tree and plowed into Tim's parked squad car. It hit Tim's car so hard it bent the rear axle. And Tim, rather than going to work, ended up at headquarters filling out an accident report. People do have bad days. Like the fellow who was arrested, after he tested positive for drugs, after he lost control of his vehicle, and after that vehicle rammed into the parked patrol car of officer Tim Pochron. Now I just mention Tim's story because his story seems like ours. Sooner or later, we all have bad days. You may, like Tim Pochron, be the person who is crashed into; you may, like the anonymous fellow who was arrested, be the person who does the crashing. Either way, it's a bad day. Our Lord Jesus recognized a sinful world would produce bad days, both real and imagined. Because of those bad days that come, and those that might, the Savior told us not to worry. Yes, He realized saying that was easier than doing that. But, so we could be given peace - - a peace that passes human understanding - - Jesus came into this world. Jesus came to forgive us, ransom us, redeem us, and rescue us from the worry of bad days. With every breath He took, Jesus showed His mastery over sin, devil, death, and bad days. Read through the Gospel stories, and you will be amazed to see the level of Jesus' concern. There was no problem too large or too small for Jesus. There still isn't. Look at the cradle, the cross, the empty tomb and believe. Believe Jesus has redeemed you and believe Him when He says, "do not be anxious about tomorrow. . . . " Jesus is in control. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for being willing to bear my sins and help me through my bad days, I thank You. Today and tomorrow, no matter what comes, may I believe You will get me through it. In Your Name. Amen. En Español "Better Than Expected" July 31, 2008 Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12 .. --> Body --> James Marshall was building a sawmill when he discovered gold in California. According to CNN, at a recent flea market a shopper, who wishes to remain nameless, bought a framed picture of a flower. The $10 spent appears to be a good investment. How good? Well, in a figurative way, the unknown buyer, like Marshall, managed to strike gold. When the buyer took the picture out of the frame, he found a handwritten manuscript of "America." Most of us know the song better by its first lines: "My Country 'tis of Thee; sweet land of liberty . . . ." The song, which was written in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith, was designed to help schools inspire and teach children. Sung to the familiar melody of the United Kingdom's "God Save The Queen," the song was first performed on the Fourth of July in Massachusetts, that same year. And now this manuscript has come to light. Could it be a forgery? A number of experts say it's not. If they're right, the piece of paper, once unknown and unnoticed could be worth tens of thousands. In some ways, I wish this story had come to light around Christmas. I see so many parallels between the finding of this manuscript and the shepherds' visit to the Savior. The first and foremost is that something once overlooked can be very valuable. Consider how the Savior's entry into this world was, for the most part, unheralded; His long-expected coming remained almost entirely unobserved. But what Jesus accomplished with His life, suffering, death, and defeat of the grave makes Him, to sinful souls, more precious than gold. That's what St. Paul was trying to convey when he wrote to the Ephesians. "In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, that He lavished upon us . . . " (Ephesians 1:7-8a). That's right - - the riches of His grace, and by this grace we are saved. By grace we are adopted in God's family of faith. By grace we are given eternal life. It is all done by grace. And this grace is better than gold, certainly better than any old, valuable manuscript. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, You give us many gifts we often do not see or acknowledge. Forgive us our shortsightedness. Grant to us a rich understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done. Let us, like the Christmas shepherds, look into His manger and empty tomb and see that same good news of great joy. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen. August 10, 2008 Caring August 9, 2008 Champions August 8, 2008 Love Your Enemies August 7, 2008 God's Name August 6, 2008 Bad Days August 5, 2008 Dark Clouds August 4, 2008 Getting Smart August 3, 2008 Lifeguard August 2, 2008 Risings August 1, 2008 Obedience July 31, 2008 Better Than Expected July 30, 2008 Unexpected July 29, 2008 The Right Path July 28, 2008 No Other God July 27, 2008 Not From The Cemetery  ..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links --> En Español "Dark Clouds" August 5, 2008 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 .. --> Body --> The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write those words many centuries ago. I know those words are true. I believe in them. There are times, however, when it's difficult for me to say, "Amen!" to them. For example, it's been hard for me to believe there's a lot of good that will come out of high gas prices. Thankfully, there are people who see things more clearly than me. There are folks who have managed to see good in gas that sells for more than $4 a gallon. If you're skeptical, I can understand. Still, according to an article in Foreign Policy, there are at least five advantages to high pump prices. 1. High gas prices are forcing people to use mass transit. 2. High gas prices are getting people into shape as they walk or ride their bikes. One Washington University scholar has said that for every dollar gas goes up, obesity levels will eventually go down, down by 16 percent. 3. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, high gas prices translate into fewer people driving. Those who keep driving will drive slower. That means fewer accidents. 4. High gas prices force people to make fewer and shorter trips. 5. High gas prices will inspire an increase interest in alternative energy. Now I don't blame you if you don't immediately see the silver lining in this dark cloud or, for that matter, any dark cloud that might be hovering over you. Even so, I would encourage you to take the Lord at His Word. We may not always be able to see God's goodness; we may not be able to anticipate how His grace is going to show itself, but as His children, we can be sure it is there. It is always there. We can be sure because of Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father, in the person of His Son, made a very great investment in our future. So we might know He loves us, wishes to bless us and save us, Jesus entered this world. So we might be taken through all our pains, Jesus carried our sins and drank deeply from a cup of horrendous suffering. How can we be sure of God's good intentions? Look to Christ's cross and His empty tomb. There you will see how much He cares. Then, confident of His caring, we can believe and join with Paul in saying, "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice that changes my world, I offer my thanks and ask that I may look past the problems of this world and see the love of Your empty tomb. In Your Name. Amen. Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion ..TR vAlign=top> In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries ..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>.. --> Body -->.. --> InstanceEndEditable --> .. language=javascript src="http://www.lhm.org/footer.js">..> Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map ©2008 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved. Toll free: (800) 876-9880 Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada Visit our friends at Concordia Publishing House   Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: I Can Only Imagine: Platinum Edition By Various Artists Release date: 2007-01-01 11:41 AM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Tuesday, July 29, 2008  Its good to be a fan... Current mood:  jubilant Category: Religion and Philosophy Especially when your team wins it all.  I know how that feels.  I live in Detroit.  Ok, I'm not talking about the Lions, but the Tigers did give me the best B-day present a kid could imagin 1984...The won the World Series on MY birthday.  My brother did me one better. He took a job with one of the local teams and before his first year of work was over, He was wearing a Championchip ring.  Life is good as a Detroit fan.  We get to share in our hero's work & glory. Ok, its not the same as actually winning it yourself, but i've won things too, not a world championchip, but I have won.  Its great for a day or two, then what...next year?  With being a fan, the joy of victory of our gladiators is enough to sustane us for years.  I see this each year as we realize that m generation will not see a Super Bowl appearance, none the less victory in our lives, then to see the gleam of glory that my dad still carries after 50 years when he saw his team...his Lions win it all.  Thats the magic of being a fan of a Champion.  We get to share in the victors glory, w/o doing anything more than chearing ourselves horse.  Life is good Isn't it great that we don't have to "win" our own victory over life, sin & all the worlds pain?  I love having a champion that has taken on all these foes and come away victorious & we get to celebrate HIS victory forus.  We get to hoist HIS victory cup.  Lord Stanleys drink was never as wonderful, or fulfilling as the sweet victory cup we Christians get to hoist because our hero won HIS victory just to share it with us...HE fought the fight just for us, HE was far more dead than the Gints in the last super Bowl, but like them HE also walke off the field the victor, and remains the victor...a victor worth celebrating. Go, and celebrate HIS victory...It was won just for you. IHP Dan ..TR> This week's message ... July 27, 2008 ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> "God's Vision Revealed" Guest Speaker: Rev. Ralph Blomenburg Download Sermon MP3 (4mb) Listen to streaming MP3* Sermon Text Download Q&A MP3 ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE> Previous Devotions: Please feel free to review the devotions from the previous three months. (To review devotions older than three months, please select the year : 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 ) ..TR> ..TABLE>   En Español "Who Has The Last Word?" July 24, 2008 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33 .. --> Body --> I remember the day the policeman came to the parsonage and asked me to go with him to break the news to a family their husband and father had suddenly been killed. I went and I believe as their pastor, my presence and, especially, the comfort of Scripture made a difference. Even so, it was not my favorite kind of home visit. Two weeks ago, ABC News ran a wonderful article about the soldiers whose difficult job is to notify families that their loved one has been killed. The story said it's not the kind of job every soldier can, or wants to do. It told of the training these personnel receive. It referred to the commitment these soldiers feel toward a fallen comrade and their willingness to do what is necessary so the family might be helped through the initial days of mourning. The article spoke about Casualty Affairs Personnel. That's right; that's what they're called. It told how these individuals must possess the utmost sensitivity. Those folks about whom I have never thought are on my daily prayer list now. May God give them the grace to do a necessary and unapplauded job. Even as I have been praying for these military personnel, I have also been offering up a prayer of thanks. You see, unlike the Casualty Affair Personnel, every time I have entered a home with news of a death, I was able to share the story of the Savior. Because of what the Christ has done through His life, His crucifixion on Calvary's crest, and His resurrection victory over death, I was always able to assure families that death would not have the last word. Most certainly there were tears; there was pain; there was a profound sense of loss and dark days of mourning. But the Savior's story of salvation made it possible for me to point these heartbroken families to that place where tears will be wiped away, where pain will be set aside, and where mourners will be comforted. I was able to quote the Savior who said, "Because I live, you shall live also" (John 14:19b). In short, the Savior gives Bible-believing pastors and congregations a message - - a message that military folks are officially not allowed to deliver: that Jesus and His resurrection make all the difference. It made all the difference. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, throughout the world death has created mourning families and grieving friends. Send Your Holy Spirit that, while there is time, the joy of Jesus and the salvation He has won for us, may take root in these downcast hearts. By Your power, may families know that in Jesus there is an unending reunion of joy. In His Name I ask it. Amen. En Español "Christianity Shaken? I Don't Think So!" July 17, 2008 Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. Luke 24:6b-7 .. --> Body --> Jesus just can't win. Really. For the last century or so, skeptical scholars have said the resurrection thing was a myth. Some have said it wasn't talked about in the Old Testament and that the disciples made it up. Others said it simply was too far fetched for anybody to take seriously. Now a three-foot-high tablet, which probably comes from the time immediately before Jesus' birth, may talk about the Messiah being raised after being dead for three days. I know that last statement has a lot of qualifiers, but in recent years many of these "findings" have proven to be hoaxes. Along with that, the translation of the tablet isn't entirely without interpretation. So what are scholars saying now? They're saying, "The disciples stole from established Jewish traditions when they said Jesus had risen from the dead." They're saying, "The faith of Christians should be shaken because this tablet shows their faith is not real or factual." They're saying, "The reality of the Christian resurrection is based on its uniqueness, and this stone says it's not original." So, if I get this right, the resurrection isn't real because it's too original, and it isn't real because it's not original enough? I have only five things to say about this attitude, which takes pot shots at the Bible and the resurrection account no matter what I say: balderdash and bunkum, hogwash, hokum, and hooey. The resurrection reality is based on the fact that Jesus' prophecy of resurrection in three days happened. It is based on the fact that a Man who had been whipped, beaten, crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross, and stabbed in the heart with a Roman spear was repeatedly seen alive by hundreds of people. It is based on the fact that those people who saw a risen Savior were willing to die - - some in terrible ways - - rather than deny what they had seen. It's as simple as that. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for Your personal prophecy fulfilled on the cross and at the empty tomb, my deepest thanks. Because of what You have done, I am saved. Now I pray the faith of others is not be shaken by the words and actions of those who wish to push You back into the tomb. In Your Name. Amen. En Español "No Other God" July 28, 2008 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are My witnesses! Is there a God besides Me? There is no Rock; I know not any. Isaiah 44:8 .. --> Body --> NOTE: THIS DEVOTION MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. PARENTS, TEACHERS: PLEASE READ THROUGH BEFORE SHARING. The Freethinker magazine calls itself "the voice of Atheism since 1881." Normally, I don't read the Freethinker, but I had to look at an article that revolved around Chaudhry Rashid, a pizza parlor owner in Jonesboro, Georgia. Chaudhry felt it was dishonorable for his daughter to want out of a marriage he had arranged for her. He felt it was more honorable to strangle her. He did. Understand, there is nothing in Chaudhry's Koran that encourages such an action. On the other hand, according to one Islamic professor: "Women are considered the property of the males in their family irrespective of their class, ethnic, or religious group. The owner of the property has the right to decide its fate. The concept of ownership has turned women into a commodity which can be exchanged, bought, and sold."* The first reason I share such a terrible story in the Daily Devotion is to encourage your prayers for women around the world who are caught not only in the slavery of sin, but are held in the bondage of their religion. Let us pray the Holy Spirit will lead them to faith in the Savior who gave His life so they might be free, the Christ who died and rose so there would be no Jew or Greek, no male or female, according to Galatians 3:28. The second reason I bring this story to your attention is to offer this reminder: there are many people who believe all religions are the same, that everyone believes the same thing and that our prayers, somehow, some way, are all petitioned to the same god. Such an all-inclusive approach toward God breaks down when the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, our Savior, is considered. He alone came down to earth to fulfill the laws we have broken; He alone forgives the sins we have committed; He alone died the death we deserved, and He alone rose from the grave. Jesus is one of a kind, and we should rejoice in what He has done, even as we share the salvation He has so graciously bestowed. We need to share the Savior, because there are people like Chaudhry Rashid who need to hear what Jesus has done for them. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You promised to send Your Holy Spirit upon this world. May He bring Your Light to those who know only darkness of mind and soul. May they be freed and turned to You who alone can save. In Your Name, I ask it. Amen. * (The quote is taken from "Chained to Custom", a review of honor killings, written in 1999 by Tahira Shahid Khan, a professor at Aga Khan University in Pakistan.) The story that I love the most in the Bible is that of true importance & great gift that is through HIS victory, and just the mear power of faith.  That is of the man on the cross next to HIM.  He asked just to be rember, but Christ didn't just just rember him, but gave him a full drink, a filling drink from HIS victory cup. July 29, 2008 The Right Path July 28, 2008 No Other God July 27, 2008 Not From The Cemetery July 26, 2008 Too Busy July 25, 2008 Our Mission July 24, 2008 Who Has The Last Word? July 23, 2008 The Most Important Decision July 22, 2008 Neither A Borrower Nor . . . July 21, 2008 They Were Wrong July 20, 2008 Change July 19, 2008 Face The Music July 18, 2008 Faith Is Pleasing To God July 17, 2008 Christianity Shaken? I Don't Think So! July 16, 2008 My Ears are Itchin' July 15, 2008 Happiest Place July 14, 2008 Misplaced Trust July 13, 2008 Destruction Currently listening: Some Hearts By Carrie Underwood Release date: 2005-11-15 3:21 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Thursday, July 17, 2008  It’s been awhile... Current mood:  calm Category: Religion and Philosophy Sorry about not writing anything new over the last couple of weeks.  I have been looking through a lava lamp eye.  The scar tissues of past laser surgerys have been breaking up, and its been a little nausing.  Doing much better now. This has also made me think a bit about life in general.  I am now, as when I had to lave the eye surgerys, that when you don't do what is the right thing for you may not have negative effects to much later.  I wasn't watching my sugars as well as I needed to way back when, thus leading to the surgerys, or at least making other causes much worse.  I hope you don't misunderstand what I'm saying.  Yes, there is a cause & effect aspect to life.  The funny thing is that with the after life it isn't a fig tree and the number of leaves of good stuff done in your life to determin our outcome.  Fortuantly we have a loving father in the Lord who came down here to earth, and took up all of our sinfull burdens to Himself, on that cross, then in a far more powerful way, came out of that grave.  That just makes me think of the hymn that goes... "Because HE lives, I can see tommorrow...Because HE lives"  I hope & pray that The Spirt will come & comfort you today. In HIS Peace. Dan Click below to hear the last couple Lutheran (1/2)Hour broadcast. "The Agony of Defeat" ..TR> ..TABLE> Here are links to all of the previous weeks (7/1-12 daily devotions. July 6, 2008 "Seeing As God Sees" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Sermon / Q&A Text Download Sermon MP3 Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> ..TABLE> En Español "Never Thirst Again" July 11, 2008 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in You." Psalm 87:7 (NIV) .. --> Body --> Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words. In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours, Kenneth R. Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Water. When it's plentiful and available, we rarely think of it. When it's in short supply, it's hard to get our minds off of it. All around the world people search out wells and water, especially those that live in desert areas where water is a scarce and precious commodity. Simply stated, people need water to sustain themselves, their families, and their animals. In the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to this matter of thirst. He contrasts the water we need for physical survival with a source of water that will slake our thirst permanently. "Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'" (John 4:13). The water we find in the natural world can never satisfy the thirst we have when Christ is not in our lives. Only those who receive the eternal water of the Savior will never thirst again. The living water the Father pours out in His Word is forgiveness of sins, new hope for life in this world, and the promise of life eternal beyond the grave. And all this is freely ours because Jesus went to the cross for us. Because Christ is risen, we, too, shall rise again. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, of all the needs we have, Your gracious provision for our spiritual thirst is the most important. Bless You for giving us Your Son as the living water. Amen. Biography of Author: This devotion was written by a volunteer from the Lutheran Hour Ministries' office in Hong Kong. As LHM volunteers, these individuals give their time, talents, and treasures to serve those who are hurting. As ambassadors for Christ, they share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ with people in more than 40 countries around the world. En Español "So We Might See" July 9, 2008 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 .. --> Body --> You have to respect a man like Captain Ivan Castro. Captain Castro joined the Army 18 years ago. After some time in service, Castro qualified to be a Ranger. After becoming a Ranger, he completed a yearlong training program to join the Special Forces. Castro entered that elite unit as a weapons sergeant; he eventually earned an officer's commission. For his past alone you have to respect a man like Ivan Castro. For what he's doing today, he also should be respected. In September of 2006, Ivan Castro was struck by a mortar that landed five feet from him. The round sent shrapnel through his body, broke his arm, and shredded his face. It also blinded him. You have to respect a man like Ivan Castro. After more than a year of therapy, he returned to duty. This was not sympathy duty, nor was it recruiting duty. It was active duty. Along with continuing his military career, this year Castro ran the Boston Marathon. He hopes to compete in Hawaii's Ironman Triathlon. As I read last week's Associated Press article about this courageous and committed hero, I wondered, once this guy sets his mind to do something, is there anything he can't accomplish? The answer is yes. There are things Ivan Castro can't do. For example, he needs someone to drive him to the gym and not long ago he needed someone to escort him to the front of a company formation where he promoted a supply clerk. Oh, there's one other thing Ivan Castro can't do. Ivan can't save himself from sin, Satan, or death. If Ivan is going to be saved - - if any of us are to be rescued from the darkness of sin that surrounds us - - it will happen only because of the redemption given us through the sacrifice, death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ivan's good, but he's not good enough to conquer sin. He's strong, but he's not strong enough to defeat the devil. Ivan's committed, but he - - like all the rest of us - - must depend on Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone if he is to be forgiven, if he is to be saved, if he is to be brought from darkness into the Lord's marvelous light. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for earthly heroes like Ivan Castro. Even more I rejoice in my heroic, one-of-a-kind Savior. May I praise Jesus for the sacrifice He willingly made, so I might be saved. In His Name. Amen. July 12, 2008 Spite July 11, 2008 Never Thirst Again July 10, 2008 Entertaining Strangers, Or Angels July 9, 2008 So We Might See July 8, 2008 What's For Dinner? July 7, 2008 Submitting July 6, 2008 Back To The Problems July 5, 2008 Sacrifice And Commitment July 4, 2008 Hope For The Downcast July 3, 2008 THE Way July 2, 2008 What's Best July 1, 2008 Much Better ..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links --> En Español "THE Way" July 3, 2008 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4: 12 .. --> Body --> Today's devotion begins with a simple question in mathematics. Here's the question: 2 + 2 = what? If you said, "2 + 2 = 4," I congratulate you; you're absolutely right. "Four" is the correct answer to the question. If you said a number other than four, you are wrong. Now, let me ask you a theological question. Are you ready? "What is the only way an individual can get to heaven?" I hope you said, "only by having faith in Jesus as your Savior." If "Jesus" was your answer, you are correct. If you said, "Jesus," you did better than most Christians. That's right. According to a major survey released last week, a majority of Christians, 57% of evangelical Christians to be exact, said other religions could get you into heaven. They believe Jesus is a way to eternal life, but He isn't the only way into heaven. I wonder where they got that idea? It certainly didn't come from the Bible, and it didn't come from the teachings of the apostles. The Scripture for our Daily Devotion, taken from the fourth chapter of Acts, lays things out pretty clearly when it says, "There is salvation in no one else." To me that seems pretty simple and completely straightforward. I don't see any wiggle-room in those words; I don't see any spot where another name might be added. When it comes to salvation, the Bible says 2 + 2 = Jesus. Always. And just so everybody could be absolutely clear on the point, the passage continues, "There is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." No matter what scholars may teach, no matter what a majority of Christians might believe, Jesus is the only One who has successfully managed to defeat death, sin, and devil. Only by Christ's blood can our sins be washed away; only with Spirit-given faith in the Savior can we be adopted into the family of faith; only through Jesus are we given eternal life. Period. End of reading. I mean, think about it for a moment. If there were other ways to heaven, why did Jesus come to earth? Why did He live for us, suffer for us, and die for us? If there were other ways to heaven, He really didn't have to bother. If there were other ways to heaven, Jesus went through a great deal of pain for no reason. But there are no other routes. As Jesus said, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). [emphasis added] THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, today I pray for my brothers and sisters. May they be brought to believe Jesus is their Savior, their only Savior. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen. Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion ..TR vAlign=top> In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries ..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>.. --> Body -->.. --> InstanceEndEditable --> .. language=javascript src="http://www.lhm.org/footer.js">..> Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map ©2008 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved. Toll free: (800) 876-9880 Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada Visit our friends at Concordia Publishing House   Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: Because He Lives: Contemporary Songs of Christ's Sacrifice By Psalm 150 10:59 AM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Tuesday, July 01, 2008  Misunderstood Current mood:  indescribable Category: Religion and Philosophy Ever do something to help someone only to have them think your doing just the opposite?  Its not easy to deal with when the people your dealing with just don't or can't understand what your telling them.  I guess its more common than anyone would ever admit.  Just try to have a professional from another field of work.  They all need interpiters...Sales people.  Its just a part of life.  I don't have a clue when my brother in law starts talking wheels, or my cousin goes leagal on me.  Its just the way of the world.  I could blow most of your minds with money & insurance talk, but I wont.  The reason I'm pointing this all out is that most of us have some issues with being Misunderstood.  Thats how it was, and is with Christ.  We all want HIM to be all peace and love, but HE was so much more, and a good part of it isn't.  HE even stated this very point in Mathew 10:34-36... (niv)  "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn    " 'a man against his father,       a daughter against her mother,    a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -     36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e]   HE knew what HIS roll in the world was...TO SAVE IT...US.  We want to think that HE is peace & love, but like many things in life, HE is so much more than that.  HE is the way, the truth and the life.  HE is much more than we can ever understand, but HE he does make it so much easier to be saved than anything we can ever do.  Like hiring a professional, HE does it right the first time, and we get all the benifits...Salvation, and it cost us nothing, but our faith in HIM.  For HE went on to say, just a chapter later the following... 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Its easy to see why we can get confused by Christ.  We like to think that a roof is just shingles and a few beams, but it is so much more, and takes so much more to make it work right.  With Christ, HE is so much more than peace & love.  HE IS GOD, and P&L is just a part of HIM.  The great thing is that HE knows our failing, and still loves us enough to make us whole again, by HIS own blood. In HIS peace. Dan Hea the best (1/2) hour on the radio/net below...The Lutheran (1/2)Hour "Conflict on Earth, Peace with God" En Español "Rest" June 29, 2008 Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 .. --> Body --> Summertime, with its hectic outdoor schedule, can leave us all exhausted. It reminds me of an old story about an Indian chief who was fleeing a prairie fire. With his tribe, he crossed a broad river, planted his tent pole into the ground, and cried, "Alabama!" For those of you who may find your Indian translation skills a little rusty, his word translates, "Here we may rest!" Unfortunately, the chief didn't have the gift of prophecy. Hostile tribes soon conquered them, and their lives ended in the spot they thought they would call home. There are quite a few of us right now who would like to say, "Alabama, here we may rest." Unfortunately, as soon as we plant our tent stake and think we've got everything organized, something unexpected sweeps over us. Rest is elusive. God thinks that life is supposed to be more than running away and trying to find peace. The Lord has promised that those who are brought to faith in His Son can truly and really say, "In Jesus we may rest." Now, I don't know how your life is going right now, but I do hope that if you feel you're continuously running, you will take a look at the rest God has promised, and, believing Him, trust He will bring about what he has promised. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Scripture tells me life is supposed to be more than running away. You have promised that those who are brought to You in faith will be given true rest. I come to You in prayer and rejoice that here - - in Your love and sure promise of salvation - - I may rest. In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Pull Over" June 28, 2008 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 .. --> Body --> The lady was driving along quite peacefully when a police car turned on his lights and siren and pulled her over. The surprise of being pulled over was increased when a cameraman pulled up and took a picture of the officer giving her a flower. The officer said, "Congratulations, you are the first woman to get an orchid for Safe Driving Week. We've been following you for some time and want to commend you for observing the law." Her picture, which appeared in the paper the next day, showed a nervous-looking lady. I'm not surprised. She hadn't been to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and she was driving with an expired license. Most of us are like that lady. As we look at the things we've done wrong, we fully expect God to pull us over and give us a very strong reprimand. How surprised we are when God stops us and, rather than writing us up for our wrongdoings, offers us a gift, the gift of salvation which comes through His Son's sacrifice and third-day resurrection. Now if God has, somewhere in your life stopped you and shown you His grace, I am glad. Even so, there are many who have had no such contact with the Christ. Indeed, there may be somebody in your life, someone special who needs to be pulled over by the Lord and be shown his Savior. Today, we pray for that special someone. Let's ask the Lord to pull him over, and let's pray this special someone doesn't put the pedal to the metal trying to get away from the Lord and His Gift. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I bring before you a very special person. (NAME.) Please, pull him over and touch him with Your great grace. Let him realize the depth of Your love and the special spiritual significance of the Savior's sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Freely Given And Undeserved" June 27, 2008 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) .. --> Body --> Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words. In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours, Kenneth R. Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Many of us are of the frame of mind we get something only by earning it. When I was in school, I worked hard to achieve good grades on my assignments and exams. I felt I could reach my goals through diligent study and making the most of my lessons. It made me feel good when I accomplished the results I strove hard to attain. The success I had in school made me proud. I earned it. Receiving something for free, on the other hand, can be a difficult concept to grasp. Some of us have a hard time accepting a compliment - - let alone something more than that. Give us something for free and we feel awkward, suddenly calculating how we should repay the favor. It's no wonder the thought of somebody laying down his life for us seems hard to grasp, if not absurd. Who would possibly do that for us? Who would possibly want to do that for us? We don't have to work hard or over achieve to have a relationship with God. He's already made it possible by coming to us. Jesus took on human flesh the apostle John tells us, "and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14b). God's grace is the free gift of life everlasting. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, but we can accept it and pursue a deep and meaningful relationship with God. The result of a relationship with God is a changed life - - freely given and underserved. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, it is only through Your Holy Spirit we can come to faith in Jesus. And it is only through Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection we know our sins are forgiven. On both counts, You have done it all for us. Create in us thankful hearts and a desire for righteousness. Amen. Biography of Author: Tanya Paschke is a director of youth and family ministry in the Lutheran Church in New South Wales, Australia. She is passionate about young people growing in their relationship with God and growing in their gifts to serve the church and the world. To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org. En Español "Drawing The Line" June 26, 2008 And (Satan) said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You,' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:6-7 .. --> Body --> About a month ago, I received a request from a Lutheran group in Florida. They wanted me to send them an empty bowl - - an empty bowl they would auction off to raise money for a good cause. Not having an extra empty bowl, I sent them a bowl with a handle, otherwise known as a beer stein from Munich. It was something I was glad to do. In Nebraska we auctioned off a sermon. I was glad to do that, too. In one of my churches, I got hit with three whipped cream pies. (That raised a few thousand dollars, and the people who won the auction let my wife throw one of the pies.) It wasn't very dignified, but I was glad to do that. Well, sort of. But there comes a point where a person needs to draw a line. For example, last week the Archbishop of York made a parachute jump for charity. That's right; he jumped at 12,500 feet and opened his chute at 5,000 feet. Evaluating the experience he said, "I was praying like anybody's business up there." Of course, nobody should believe jumping out of a plane is a sin. It's not. Even so, I'm not going to jump. Not even to raise $100,000 like the Archbishop was trying to do. We all have to draw the line somewhere. Even Jesus drew a line. Jesus drew a line when the devil tempted Him to make a free fall from the pinnacle of the temple. Satan assured the Savior it was for a good cause, and He could count on His angels to protect Him. In reply, Jesus indicated that it's not right to test the Lord. Jesus always drew a line and said no to the devil's enticements. He knew one slip into sin, and we would all be lost. Truly, all of God's people need to draw a line when it comes to temptation. We need to forget seeing how close we can get to Satan's scandalous suggestions without sinning. Such flirtation with temptation isn't very smart or healthy from a spiritual point of view. Far better for God's people would be to say right at the beginning of Satan's temptations, "I'm drawing a line here. I'm not going to listen to you; I'm not going to do what you suggest; I'm not going to take that leap to test God." THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks You drew the line and rejected every temptation set before You. By Your obedience, suffering, death, and resurrection I have been saved. Now may I also be enabled to draw the line against Satan. In Your Name. Amen.  En Español "Luck?" June 25, 2008 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Psalm 144:6 .. --> Body --> I tried to find a Bible passage that referred to surviving being struck by lightning as a good thing. I tried a long time, but I couldn't find a single one. Most of the time the Bible thinks of lightning as being a large demonstration of God's power. Sometimes, as in the above passage, God is called upon to use His lightning to show displeasure to His enemies. Not a single passage said getting hit by lightning was lucky. Even so, "lucky" is what a Fox News story called 16-year-old BreAnna Helsel. The article told how BreAnna, during a thunderstorm, had gone to the kitchen to shut an open window. It was there that the lightning struck her. BreAnna said she saw electricity shoot out of her fingers into the ceiling lights, which blew out the home's power. Now I'm not an expert on such things, but if we were to talk about luck, or better yet, God's protection and providence, the really blessed person would be the individual who didn't get struck by lightning. That makes sense to me. I may feel God is smiling on me when I survive an auto accident, but shouldn't I feel all the more special for the times He's kept me from any auto disaster? I may be blessed if I survive an illness, but shouldn't my heart be thankful for all the days my body has chugged along without any necessary maintenance at all? It's a different way of looking at things. Too often we need the bad, the sad, the troublesome, and the terrible to be reminded just how many blessings God has showered upon us. Consider this: That we might live forever in paradise, the Father sent His Son to live and die and rise for us. By God's grace and through the Savior's sacrifice we have dodged the damnation bullet. This is why, especially today, I would encourage you to give thanks for the lightning which hasn't struck, the cavities which the dentist hasn't drilled, the hunger we've never felt, the plague and pestilence which never came. Today and always, give thanks for a good God who wants the best for His children. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, how many accidents have never happened to me I cannot begin to imagine. Send Your Holy Spirit so I may develop a deeper appreciation of the height and depth and breadth of Your love. In the Name of my Savior, I ask this. Amen.      Currently listening: Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits By DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Release date: 1998-05-19 5:51 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Wednesday, June 25, 2008  What buggs me... Current mood:  confident Category: Religion and Philosophy Ever find yourself wanting to scream over what many would call trivial things.  The things that just bug you?  I have, and today I will share just a few of these things. first... Why do we call homosexuals Gay?  I know a few and there no happier than me, or anyone else I know. another thing... If your a martyr in Islam and tyou get 72 virgins, shouldn't they be asking  Why are they still virgins?    3rd... Christian Conservitaves?  Christ wasn't conserative...usally HE spoke out aginst the establishment,  HE was pretty progressive, from what I've read. 4... If the Budda's last words were "Go, find your own way."  and Jesus said (John 14) "I am the way..." Who shuld you follow? 5... How Can Rush Limball condem the ACLU so much when it was that same ACLU that save his butt from a long time behind bars. 6... How can a company actually get more money to take jobs out of america from our government, than being more than compleat freedom from taxes to keep those jobs here in the states? Ok...these are just a few of the things that bugg me...its also my tribute to Mr Carlin...RIP George.   The real reason that I bring some of these things up is because we sometimes need to stand up and state the ruth , and fight for what we belive in.  We need to draw a line in the sand, and don't back down. Thats it for this week.  I think that the following posting of the last broadcast of The Lutheran Hour from this last weekend, and the people of Frankenmuth, MI are my inspiration for my words. Be a Patriot... Stand up for what you belive, and don't back down. Ben Franklyn said it best.  "Those that are wiling to sacrfice liberty for security, deserve neither." Peace Dan "A Place for the Cross" En Español "Almost Truth" June 21, 2008 God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV) .. --> Body --> There is truth. . . and there is ALMOST truth. The most interesting example I can give you of an ALMOST truth is Rule 46 of London's very posh, very exclusive, and very rule-bound Oxford Union Society. Wishing to outlaw dogs from the building's premises, Rule 46 says: "Any member introducing a dog into the Society's premises shall receive a fine of £1. Any animal (who is) leading a blind person shall be considered to be a cat." Calling a dog a "cat" is an ALMOST truth. Amazingly, in our age of everything's-sort-of-right and nothing-is-totally-wrong, many people are resorting to the use of ALMOST truths. "Enhanced interrogation" masquerades for torture and a doctor writes on a dead patient's chart, "he failed to fulfill his wellness potentials." These things are ALMOST truths. In contrast to what we do, God doesn't pull any punches, He doesn't use ALMOST truths. God hates sin and He says so. He wants to save us from our sin through His Son and says so. Look at the verse which serves as the text of this devotion. God loved. . .God gave. . .He saves those who believe. It's all very simple and very direct. Following God's example, I think we need to be honest with others. No, I'm not suggesting we be abusive in our honesty. That's almost as bad as ALMOST truths. No, I'm encouraging our Daily Devotion readers to speak the truth with love. That's what St. Paul encouraged the Ephesian church as well as the rest of us to do when he wrote, "speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ," (4:15) Speaking the truth in love. That's what Jesus always did; it's what we need to try today. Won't you join me? From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Father in heaven, teach me Your ways. Help me avoid the world's double-speak and lead me to follow Your example. Help me speak the truth in love. This I ask through Jesus, Your Son, Who died so I might live. Amen. En Español "Are You Still Here?" June 16, 2008 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13 .. --> Body --> It's Monday, and you are reading today's Daily Devotion. I hope. I hope you are reading this devotion, because if you're not, I've done a lot of work for nothing. You see, according to a story carried last week by ABC News, prophet Yisrayl, also known as Buffalo Bill Hawkins, has predicted the beginning of a nuclear war on June 12th. So, are you here? As I said, I hope so. In truth, Hawkins, who is headquartered in Abilene, Texas, is just the most recent in a long line of modern-day prophets who predict gloom, doom, disaster, and the end of life, as we know it. That isn't amazing. What is amazing is people believe such self-appointed predictors of calamity. People believed Buffalo Bill when he promised the beginning of the end would come on September 12, 2006. Hundreds of his devotees in Kenya hid in basement bomb shelters and donned gas masks as they waited. When the war didn't happen, they went home embarrassed. This prediction has brought about hundreds of truck trailers loaded with food and water on the group's 44-acre compound. If you're reading this, they were wrong. Although history has produced a great many false prophets, we need to realize Jesus was quite definite when He said, "you know neither the day nor the hour." Jesus is coming. You can count on it. From the time God first gave the promise of a Savior to our first, fallen ancestors it took thousands of years before His prophecy was fulfilled. Now Jesus has told us He is coming. He just hasn't told us when. That day may be soon or thousands of years hence. This is why those who have been brought to faith in the Savior, who lived, suffered, died, and rose to save us believe in being ready for that unknown hour. It's better than trusting ourselves to the unprophetic utterances from men like Buffalo Bill. Of course, Hawkins' followers did one thing right: they did get ready. That is an example we should follow, but not by filling up truck trailers with stuff. Our readiness should be seen in a life of repentance and spiritual preparedness for the Savior's unknown returning. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, there will be a lot of people who have been disappointed the end hasn't come and nuclear war didn't start on June 12th. Although their faith in a man might be shaken, may they, like us, trust You and Your return. In Your Name. Amen. .. --> Title --> ..TR> ..TABLE>   En Español "World Have Changed A Lot" June 23, 2008 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings. Hebrews 13:8-9a .. --> Body --> In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King And I, there is a song whose words I have grown to appreciate. The song is called "A Puzzlement," and it begins with the king saying this: "When I was a boy World was better spot. What was so was so, What was not was not. Now I am a man; World have changed a lot. Some things nearly so, Others nearly not. There are times I almost think I am not sure of what I absolutely know . . . ." I can understand the king's puzzlement. Last week the Associated Press carried a story on how, in Columbia, South Carolina's Rock Hill School, people attending commencement exercises were told to "hold their applause." Some people didn't. Seven of them were arrested for cheering loudly. Although I'm sure there is more to the story, I remember when cheering for young people who had accomplished something was encouraged. Yes, I can understand the king's puzzlement about changing times. Last week the Associated Press carried another story. This one told how hundreds of homosexual couples were applying for wedding licenses in California. I remember when, legally and spiritually, marriage was reserved for a man and a woman who were making a lifetime commitment to each other. Like the king said, "World have changed a lot. Some things nearly so, others nearly not." Unlike the king who found the world changing all around him, with nothing secure or solid to trust, there are some things that I know and of which I remain sure. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of two things we can believe: First, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The sacrifice He made with His life, the blood He shed in His death, are still just as cleansing as they ever were. By the blood of God's Son, we are forgiven of sin and can be adopted as children into the family of faith. But there is more. I can also be sure the world will do its best to undercut the truth of God. That is the warning of this devotion's text: trust the changeless love of Jesus Christ and refuse to be led astray by diverse and strange teachings. As Hebrews says (10:23) "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." That's something, boy or man, I can be sure of. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks that in this time of changing morals, values, and what goes as "truth" You have given me salvation and something solid I can hold onto which I can believe. I thank You. In Your Name. Amen. Currently listening: Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel By Billy Joel Release date: 2004-12-06 4:19 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Tuesday, June 17, 2008  Are you ready...to die? Current mood:  blessed It may seem like a disturbibing question, but it does need to be asked.  Are you? Being ready to die might seem to be a bit morbid for most, but to me it is very comforting.  It gives me direction.  By being ready to die at any time leaves me in the position of knowing where I'm going with my life, and having more than an idea of how to get there...Through the strips of Christ.  I know that the way isn't easy, and will have its ups and downs, but it will be worth it. I know that Tricia knew & was ready to diewhen she did.  She was lucky in a way, and so am I, for by being ready to die I can live the Tim McGraw  song...Live like you we dieing...for I know that if not today, and hopfully not for 50 years, I will still be ready...you never know when HE will call you home. Today, I leave you with iwon.com's verse of the day for today... John 11:25-26 ..TR> New International Version Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"   ...I pray that you do, and/or  will, come that last day of your life, when HE calls you home be it today, or 50+ years from now. In HIS peace. Dan ..TR> This week's message ... June 15, 2008 ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> En Español "Are You Still Here?" June 16, 2008 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13 .. --> Body --> It's Monday, and you are reading today's Daily Devotion. I hope. I hope you are reading this devotion, because if you're not, I've done a lot of work for nothing. You see, according to a story carried last week by ABC News, prophet Yisrayl, also known as Buffalo Bill Hawkins, has predicted the beginning of a nuclear war on June 12th. So, are you here? As I said, I hope so. In truth, Hawkins, who is headquartered in Abilene, Texas, is just the most recent in a long line of modern-day prophets who predict gloom, doom, disaster, and the end of life, as we know it. That isn't amazing. What is amazing is people believe such self-appointed predictors of calamity. People believed Buffalo Bill when he promised the beginning of the end would come on September 12, 2006. Hundreds of his devotees in Kenya hid in basement bomb shelters and donned gas masks as they waited. When the war didn't happen, they went home embarrassed. This prediction has brought about hundreds of truck trailers loaded with food and water on the group's 44-acre compound. If you're reading this, they were wrong. Although history has produced a great many false prophets, we need to realize Jesus was quite definite when He said, "you know neither the day nor the hour." Jesus is coming. You can count on it. From the time God first gave the promise of a Savior to our first, fallen ancestors it took thousands of years before His prophecy was fulfilled. Now Jesus has told us He is coming. He just hasn't told us when. That day may be soon or thousands of years hence. This is why those who have been brought to faith in the Savior, who lived, suffered, died, and rose to save us believe in being ready for that unknown hour. It's better than trusting ourselves to the unprophetic utterances from men like Buffalo Bill. Of course, Hawkins' followers did one thing right: they did get ready. That is an example we should follow, but not by filling up truck trailers with stuff. Our readiness should be seen in a life of repentance and spiritual preparedness for the Savior's unknown returning. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, there will be a lot of people who have been disappointed the end hasn't come and nuclear war didn't start on June 12th. Although their faith in a man might be shaken, may they, like us, trust You and Your return. In Your Name. Amen. En Español "Slow Down" June 15, 2008 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25 .. --> Body --> Not so many years ago, I found myself with too many commitments and too little time to meet them. Although I thought I was the same happy-go-lucky, jovial husband and father I had always been, the family saw things differently. Big time differently. My narrow focus on "stuff" didn't allow me to see how meals were being eaten on the run, how conversations were being confined to grunts, how minor interruptions became major irritants, and how everybody was tiptoeing around me. How long this went on, I can't say. I can, however, tell you about the day things changed. It was my daughter who snapped me back to reality. Wanting to tell me how things had gone at school, very seriously she said, "Daddy, I'm gonna tell you somethin', but don't worry, I'll tell you really, really fast." Her consideration for a problem which should have never been a problem hit me like a ton of bricks. It slowed me down. It also changed me. On this Father's Day, there are a lot of dads who are probably making the same mistake I did. If you're not, don't worry, you're making mistakes of your own; which is why I encourage you to be changed. On this Father's Day, join me in the resolve never to let work obligations and other life demands keep you from your most important job: being the Savior's representative to your wife and children. To love your family as Jesus loved you. That's what St. Paul told us to do. That's why their wellbeing, their future, their shaping, and their future should be a prime priority. Remember, you're following Jesus; you're trying to love and lead the way He did. Look at Him. See how He gave Himself for others. See His long lasting love and His ongoing care. See how He was willing to listen to His children when they came to Him in prayer. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the compassion You daily show me is an example of how I should treat my family and friends. Help me to never let the obligations of work and life's demands keep me from being a caring, Godly presence in the lives of my loved ones. In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Symbols" June 14, 2008 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O LORD; You cover him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:10-12 .. --> Body --> In the United States, today is Flag Day. The symbol of our country, the flag is an emblem many people have died for in wartime... and an insignia most people forget in peacetime. Of course, the flag is not the only symbol of the U.S. We have another - - the bald eagle. I remember how, several years ago, reports went out that thirteen of those majestic birds were found murdered - - the handiwork of some twisted minds and hearts. When I heard that news, I could only shake my head in sadness. How tragic it is for a country when some of its citizens treat her symbols so poorly. The flag is spit upon and burned, National Parks are subject to the insults of vandals, and the eagle is poisoned and shot. A good country, most certainly. . . but also a country of sin and sinners. Which is why we need a Savior. We need THE Savior, Jesus Christ. He and He alone can rescue us from ourselves and redeem us from sin, death, and Satan. That is what Jesus did during the days He lived among us. And now, today, He sends His Holy Spirit to call us to faith, forgiveness, and a future. Describing His work, and without making many changes, the words of another U.S. symbol, the Statue of Liberty, could be put in the mouth of the Savior. I can almost hear Him say, ""Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" The only change I might make is the last line. Jesus would say, "I am the Lamp of life for those who lived in darkness before." From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, spread Your protection and blessings over our countries and their people. I pray that we may see Your Light and walk in that Light. Open our hearts so we may be appreciative of the countless blessings You have given us. In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Jesus' Victory" June 12, 2008 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 57-58 .. --> Body --> Years ago, Jim Croce came out with a song which listed some of the things a person shouldn't ever try. On that list were things like 'spitting into the wind, tearing the mask off the old, lone Ranger, and messing around with Jim.' Last week, the Associated Press carried a news story about another thing a smart person should avoid. That 'thing' is breaking into the home of 5'11", 218 lb., Green Bay Packer running back, Noah Herron. Still that's exactly what two men did. When Herron heard the glass being shattered in the lower level of his Green Bay Home, he called the police. When one of the burglars entered his bedroom, Herron clobbered the crook with a post he had unscrewed from his bed. That burglar was taken to the hospital, a second was taken into custody, and Herron? Well, Herron is doing just fine. Yup, there are some things a smart crook doesn't want to do. I think that story is a good one for God's people to remember. You see, from the outside we pretty much look like Herron's house - easy pickin's, ripe and ready for the pluckin'. Indeed, on our own, we ARE pushovers. But Christians, unlike other people in this world, are not on our own. Christians have the Savior living within their hearts. To steal from us, sin, Satan, and death first have to get by our Savior. And our Savior has shown, by His life, suffering, death, and resurrection that He isn't about to let any crooks steal from Him. Because that's so, St. Paul was able to write a message of comfort and encouragement to the Corinthian church. Those words serve as the theme for this devotion: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Because of Jesus we have been given a victory. Because of Jesus we are safe and secure. Because of Jesus our lives are changed. Yes, changed. How so? Paul says, because of Jesus and the power which comes from the Holy Spirit, we are able to aspire to being steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord." THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, because of what You have done, I am safe from those who would break into my life and try to steal my soul. Confident in Your victory, may I live my days with thanksgiving and abounding in the work of the Lord. In Your Name. Amen. "A Worthy House" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus This week's offer on The Lutheran Hour® A Rhyme and a Reason to Life Download Sermon MP3 (4mb) Listen to streaming MP3* Sermon Text Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links --> En Español "Failing Flesh" June 11, 2008 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73: 26 .. --> Body --> A "curve wrecker." In school, a "curve wrecker" was someone who did so good on a test nobody else came close. Usually the "curve wrecker" got an "A" and everyone else didn't. In the world of Texas high-school sports Bonnie Richardson is a "curve wrecker." Let me explain. Bonnie Richardson is the only athlete from Rochelle High School to qualify for the state ..1A track meet. Don't feel sorry for her. Bonnie is a curve wrecker. On a Friday, she won the high jump; then she placed second in the long jump, and finally she got third in the discus. On Saturday, she earned a first in the 200 meter and a second in the 100 meter races. All on her own. . .all by herself. . . Bonnie Richardson earned 42 points and won the state TEAM title. Impressive. Still, the Psalmist is right: flesh and blood will eventually fail. Curve breakers of the past, super athletes like Jim Thorpe and Babe Didrikson Zaharias are both dead now. Many of the other great athletes of yesteryear are confined to history books and the fading memories of fans. Which is exactly why we must hear the rest of what the Psalmist wrote. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." For every one of us, the time will come (if it isn't here already) when our bodies will refuse to follow the commands our brains send. The day will arrive when things won't work the way they used to. Thankfully, those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior will not find that day totally bleak. Because of their dear Brother, Jesus, they know that they can rely upon the Lord. Our loving Father Who sent His Son to save us from sin and the ravages of disobedience will always be by our side. He will always watch over us and help us. Confident of God's grace, when they are very young, we teach our children....: Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. But there is another verse to that song... a verse frequently forgotten, which is applicable to those who find their flesh failing. That verse reads: Jesus loves me! Loves me still, 'tho I'm very weak and ill, that I might from sin be free, bled and died upon the tree. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for the physical strength of youth, we give thanks. But we also give thanks that no matter what pains and problems may come to our bodies, no matter how old we may be, You still love us. In Your Name. Amen. Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion ..TR vAlign=top> In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries ..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>.. --> Body -->.. --> InstanceEndEditable --> .. language=javascript src="http://www.lhm.org/footer.js">..> Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map ©2008 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved. Toll free: (800) 876-9880 Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada   ..TABLE> Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: Live Like You Were Dying By Tim McGraw Release date: 2004-08-24 12:07 AM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Monday, June 09, 2008  I aint perfek... Current mood:Forgiven (happy) Yes, I know its mis-spelled.  Its what Tricia would say when she made a mistake, or wasn't perfect in some way, usally pretty minor, but still.  The reason I am writing this today is to say that none of us are perfect.  We all have our short comings, and we all need to be forgiven.  We need to know that we have.  The great thing is that we have been, and no sin is unforgivable. I know that we would like to think otherwise, but thankfully HIS view of sin is diffrent than ours, that is if you accept HIS forgivness.  If you don't, then all sins are equally condeming. I know that is hard for us mear humans to accept, but thak GOd we are not the final judge, and that HE has stepped in and  suffered the punishment of our sins on himself.  No sin is too great, no sin is too small.  we are forgiven for them all...We are saved by HIS stripes. So when you start thinkng that your not worthyu, your right, but also realize that you are forgiven, still, just by faith in Christ alone.  I think I came across the most beautiful verse in al the Bible this week...Luke 7:50, when HE was responding to HIS feet being washed with perfume by a very sin-filled woman...but more importantly to all of us... 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." That is the true message of Christ, not all the other stuff the world would love to limit HIM to.  HE did not come to be an example of how to live, for we can not be perfect, and HE knew it.  HE came into the world not to condem it, but to SAVE it, through HIM(self)...John 3:17.  So be thankful, and don't worrry about what HE would do, just be thankful for what HE did.    I now leave you to be thankful for that wonderful love HE has just for you, and don't forget that HE was & is so commited to you that HE died for you...now thats love...True Love Romans 5:6-11 (New International Version)  6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. In Peace, HIS peace... Dan "Bad Company" . ..TR>     ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> "Crying" June 7, 2008 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18-20 .. --> Body --> Crying is a bad thing. Generally. Long ago I visited in the home of a family who had recently been blessed with a baby. It was their first. You could tell. For a few hours, they showed off their child. They even mustered the courage to pass their baby daughter around for people to "OOOHHH" and "AAAHHHH." Then, when their little girl started to get crabby, they reluctantly put her down for a nap. That was around 1:00. It was a sad separation. An hour-and-a-half later, their baby hadn't stirred. Not a peep. Experienced parents usually call that a "good" baby. But, as I say, these parents were untried and untested. At 2:30, the mother, with concern in her voice, instructed her husband, "Honey, you had better get up and go see why the baby's not crying." With so much pain and hurt in this world, I am constantly amazed that everybody isn't crying all the time. The lack of tears can be attributed to some people who try to be strong and put on a brave face when confronted by life's difficulties. Others don't cry because they're simply strong by nature. Still others don't cry because they're clueless as to the tragedies which are flowing around them. Do you fit into one of those groups? I pray you're God's person who has found strength in Him. It is the Lord's desire that you know, as the ancient Psalmist knew, 'the Lord is near to all who call on Him to all who call on Him in truth." By the Holy Spirit's power, and with divinely given faith in the Savior you have found security in knowing the Lord will listen to your fears and help you when you feel like crying. Through the Savior's sacrifice and victory over sin, death, and Satan you know the Lord will give you the strength which will enable you to conquer your tears and move on past - to the joy of Jesus. I pray, most sincerely, trust in God is the reason you are smiling and not crying. From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are my strength and source of consolation when I feel like crying. Thank You for hearing and answering my pleas for assistance and aid. I rejoice in all that You have done and continue to do for me! In Jesus' Name. Amen. En Español "Divine Help" June 8, 2008 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4: 15-16 .. --> Body --> In Missouri, the state where the headquarters of Lutheran Hour Ministries is located, people enjoy telling stories about their native son President Truman. One of my favorite stories took place right after Truman had completed his last term of office. On the way home, right off Highway 40, Truman told his driver to pull over to the side of the road. He had spotted a woman who was trying to round up her hogs which had escaped from the farm. The ex-President decided to lend a hand in the round up. The news that an ex-president was willing to help a lady in distress got back to his hometown of Independence faster than he did. When doubting folks asked if he had indeed helped the lady collect her pigs, Truman replied. "Yes, somebody had to help her. Anyway, I was a farmer long before I became a president." Have you noticed; people always seem to be amazed when some "great" individual takes time out to help them? If that's so, and it is, how much more should we be astounded and impressed that Jesus became One of us so we might be saved. After humanity had sinned, the Father showed His love and grace for us by promising a plan of redemption. That promise was fulfilled in the Person of His own Son. The Gospels tell of how Jesus walked with us, ministered among us, and gave Himself as the ransom Payment for our salvation. As our High Priest, He allowed Himself to be sacrificed so that we, forgiven sinners, might be drawn near to God's throne of grace. There we receive mercy and help in our time of need. If the Lord were paraphrasing President Truman, He might say: "Yes, somebody ought to have helped humanity and I'm the only One Who could." From a devotion originally written for "By the Way" THE PRAYER: Mighty Creator, thank You for showing Your love for me by sacrificing Your Son to take away my sins. I rejoice in the fact that You are a God of love. Help me to share Your love with those around me. In Your Name. Amen. ..TABLE> "Bad Company" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus This week's offer on The Lutheran Hour® Unlocking the Prison of Guilt Download Sermon MP3 (4mb) Listen to streaming MP3* Sermon Text Download Q&A MP3 ..TR> ..TR> .. -->- ---> ..TABLE>.. --> Klaus and Links -->..TABLE> En Español "God Is Our Refuge And Strength" June 6, 2008 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NIV) .. --> Body --> Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words. In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours, Kenneth R. Klaus Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Life can come at us unexpectedly sometimes. Every day has the potential to bring us something good or bad, something shocking or pleasant. That's just the way life is: unpredictable. During the difficult times, we may find our hearts longing for strength, consolation, and encouragement. Sometimes we forget that God loves and cares for us. He takes on the responsibility for our security. King David remembered this in his own life. He put his trust in the providence of God. Today's text for our devotion captures David's thoughts wonderfully. God is our refuge. He protects us from all our enemies. Martin Luther, the famous fifteenth-century church reformer, wrote a beautiful hymn: "A Mighty Fortress is our God." Luther and his friends took great strength from Psalm 46. Whenever they encountered challenges in their lives, they would sing this hymn to remind them of the strength God provides to face and conquer these challenges. In the 21st century, there are many things that can threaten and unsettle us-unemployment, financial pressures, marital and family crises, substance abuse issues, and health concerns-to name a few. Even our closest personal relationships can turn sour and dishearten us. There is one thing in this world we can count on, however. And that is the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus. Our Savior loved us so much that He laid down His life to save us from the power of sin, Satan, and eternal death. He is our refuge; He is our strength. THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, remind me the weight of my burdens is not too much for You to handle. In fact, it is Your desire that I bring these concerns to You. Just as You showed Abraham and Moses, David and Solomon, and Peter and Paul-so, too, remind us today: You are an ever-present help in times of trouble. Bless You, Lord. Amen. Biography of Author: Rev. C. David has been the director of LHM-India since 2003; he has worked with LHM-India since 1994. He has a theology degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Nagercoil, India and a divinity degree from Tamil Nadu Theological College in Madurai, India. To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org. Read or Listen to Today's Advent Devotion ..TR vAlign=top> ..TR> Pastor Klaus returns again tomorrow. ..TR> ..TR> ..TR vAlign=top> ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>.. --> Body -->.. --> InstanceEndEditable -->.. language=javascript src="http://www.lhm.org/footer.js">..> Home | About Us | Jobs | Policies | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Site Map ©2008 Lutheran Hour Ministries, All rights reserved. Toll free: (800) 876-9880 Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141 Lutheran Hour Ministries is an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | Lutheran Church—Canada ..TABLE>..TABLE>..TABLE>..P> Print this page Get devotions by e-mail Forward this devotion to a friend Support this Ministry Visit 'The Lutheran Hour' Learn more about Pastor Klaus Subscribe to this Podcast! Currently listening: All That You Can’t Leave Behind By U2 Release date: 2000-10-31 12:00 PM  0 Comments (Add Comment) | 0 Kudos Translate Powered by English Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Older Posts  |  Newer Posts Help | Terms | Privacy Policy | Safety Tips | Report Abuse | Advertise | Developers | MySpace International ▼ | MySpace Latino Press Room | Music | Video | Sitemap ©2003-2009 MySpace.com. All Rights Reserved. Close Americas Argentina Brazil Canada Canada (Français) Latin America (Español) Mexico United States (English) United States (Latino) Asia Pacific Australia Chinese (Traditional) India Japan New Zealand Europe Austria Belgium (Nederlands) Belgium (Français) Denmark Finland France Germany Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Portugal Poland Russia Spain Sweden Switzerland (Deutsch) Switzerland (Français) Switzerland (Italiano) Turkey UK