| Making Pancakes and
Breaking Curfew |
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Instead of getting up and watching cartoons and eating cereal as usual,
six-year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents
pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the
counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister,
spilling it on the floor. He then got out the eggs carton and scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands. Then Brandon mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was getting frustrated. He was covered with flour and the pancakes didn't look right. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn['t know wat to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove--de didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. The pans made an awful racket as they to crashed down. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting himself white and sticky in the process. |
Or,
maybe we're like Brandon's older brother Billy. Billy just turned
14 and entered high school. There he found new friends with new
ideas and decided that his parents' ways and ideas were outdated.
These friends introduced him to the world of smoking, alcohol, sex and
grunge. Soon a gap developed between Billy and his parents.
Billy resented their rules and chaffed at going to church. There
was a party one night and Billy knew he had to be home by 11:00, but
the party was too much fun--until the police showed up to cite everyone
for under-age dringing. The police called his parents at 1:15
a.m. They were up anyway worrying about Billy. He thought
his parents would really chew him out and ground him till he turned
18. But when his Dad picked him up, Billy received a hug and
thanks that he was OK. Billy broke down and cried just like his
brother.
That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it often turns into a mess. Or we deliberately do things that are forbidden by Him and harmful to us. The result is the same. God forgives us. That's not to say that God doesn't care if we sin. He does very much. It's just that God is love and wants all people to be in heaven. The tears (hopefully) showed sorrow over sin that have lead to repentance. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. Whether we sin intentionally or unintentionally, God wants us to come back to him. That's what the season of Lent is all about. God wants us to realize our sinfulness, repent of it, and know and receive the forgiveness Jesus offers us in his sacrifice on the cross. "The blood of Jesus God's Son purifies us from all sin!" 1 John 1:7 |
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Something to think about
However, Patrick had no ties to the Roman
Catholic Church. In his
writings there is no reference to gaining Heaven by human efforts, no
worship of Mary, no purgatory and no submission to the pope. Most
of
the tridition linked with his name appeared beginning 345 after Patrick
died! St. Patrick was no Roman Catholic.The Real St. Patrick... Patrick was born about 389 A.D. in a middle-class Christian family in Britain. At age 16 he was captured by Druid militiamen and sold as a slave in Ireland. He escaped six years later and made his way back home, exhausted and hating the Irish. Yet one night several years later, Patrick had a dream in which he said he received a message from the Irish people, "We beg you holy youth, to come and walk amoung us once more." The land of Druid paganism (Druids believed in evil spirits and vexing by angry demons and so often offered human sacrifice to appease the spirits) now wanted to hear about forgiveness and Christianity. So in 432 at age 42, after studying the Bible carefully, Patrick set out for Ireland. A traditional account says that Patrick was summoned to appear before King Loigaire near Dublin (Ireland). They were in the middle of celebrating a Druid festival. Because spirits were frightened by light, fires were forbidden. Patrick came and built a large bonfire on top of the hill near town. When arrested, he told King Loigaire that he had come to dispel the spiritual darkness in which the Irish were living. He had come to bring them 'light of the world." The king was so impressed by his conviction and words that he allowed Patrick to preach in his entire land, figuring that if he were wrong, the spirits would attack/kill him. Patrick's teaching was similar to that of St. Paul: he dimply taught and followed the Bible with its central figure, the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus. He acknowledged his total sinfulness, put himself under the grace of God, and looked for forgiveness in the sacrifice Jesus made for all people. He believed in the Trinity, cited works as evidence of faith and nothing more, and saw all who believed as members of Christ's Kingdom. |
St. Patrick formally belonged to what was called the Celtic church
which remained from 420 to 890 A.D. This church taught that "all
Scripture is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16 and gave foremost attention
to its means of grace, the Gospel, the power of God for
Salvation. The Celtic Church began in France and was a rival to
Rome. The two churches differed widely in form of church
government, rituals and many teachings. The Celts had no
hierarchy, Papacy, intercession of saints, transubstantiation, or
work-righteousness. In fact, the first Catholic missionary came
to Britain in 597 A.D., more than 200 years after Patrick. The traditions associated with St. Patrick, like four-leaf clovers, green beer and leprechauns, are mostly additions well after Patrick lived. Let us all zealously hail the Bible's central message of redemption, the gospel of Jesus Christ. By such dedication we render St. Patrick's Day a memorial to the great teaching of God's 'not guilty' verdict by faith in Jesus along Pastor Armin Keibel My Sunday School Teacher Knows Him Not so long ago I clipped this Wesleyan episode: A neatly dressed boy was whistling along the street one Sunday morning, when he abruptly interrupted by a question, "Where are you going, my boy?" "I'm going to Sunday School," came the quick and cheerful reply. "Tell me, why are you going to Sunday School?" "To learn about God." "But how do you know there is a God?" "There is, because my Sunday school teacher knows Him." Can every Sunday School scholar say this of his or her teacher? If not, get back into the Bible. |
| MORNING SMALL GROUP
will be moving to Wednesday mornings, still at 11:15 beginning on March
15th. We meet at Michael & Tine Smith's house. We're
looking at the Ten Commandments currently. In the Sunday Morning Adult Class, we will begin a study of the Book of Galatians March 12th or 19th. FRIDAY NITE FELLOWSHIP DINNER will be held March 17th at either the Eckley's or Daune Belongia's. We'll follow the St. Patrick's theme with corned-beef and cabbage. Church Bowling: At Granada lanes, there's a 'church challenge' bowling even monthly on the 2nd Saturday. Five bowlers are needed; cost is $9.00/person (3 games & shoes). Talk to Fritz Rittmann. In the first event of the year, we took 4th place. |
WORLD
MISSIONS
Albania: Even without a pastor, the lay-led church in Durres has 50 people in church listening to sermons on tape or being read. 10 adult confirmations were just completed. (We had 10 here last year which is a lot for us, with our average attendance at 82.) Russia: Russian Churches held their first ever yough rally for 35 teens. This was an outgrowth from our ESL classes in the public schools and the elective Bible Classes held after school in Omsk and Iskitim. BIBLE QUIZ...on a Gentile of Faith (Matt. 8:5–13) 1. The Centurion (commander of 100+ men) came to Jesus asking for his help. He wanted Jesus to A. Help prevent a riot and innocent blood-shed B. Heal his suffering servant C. Instruct him in the ways of heaven D. Show him how to program his new DVD player and computer, neither of which he could understand. 2. The Centurion told Jesus he was not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof. He said this because A. He was too much of a sinner to have Jesus come there B. He believed Jesus could heal his servant from where they were C. Whatever Jesus said would happen D. His house was a mess since they had had a wild party there the night before 3. Jesus said of the Centurion that A. He had not found anyone in Israel with such great faith B. He was sent only to the Jews C. He was a great man who deserved a favor D. Jesus would charge him $50/hour to have Peter fix his computer and $100/hour if he had to come to do it. |
| Humor A couple had two very mischievous sons ages 10 and 8. There was a visiting pastor who had a great reputation for straightening out such youth. So, the parents called him up and scheduled an appointmen t. He aggred, but asked to see the boys separately. The younger sone went first. The pastor was a hugh man with an intimidating voice. The pastor sat the boy down and asked him very sternly, "Johnny, Where is God?" The boy stiffened in the chair but did not reply. The pastor edged even closer to the boy and even more sternly asked, Johnny, Where is God?" The boy was petrified, but did not answer. The pastor again roared, Johnny, Where is God?" as he pointed his large finger in the boy's face. Johnny screamed and bolted from the room. He ran home as fast as he could and shut himself in his closet in his room. His older brother saw him go in there and talked him into opening the door. He looked at Johnny and asked, "Johnny, what happened!?" Johnny, still gasping for breath, replied, "We're in BIG trouble this time! God is missing--and they think we took him! |
LENT
WORSHIP: Lent is a six-week season leading up to Easter. In
the ancient church it was a time for repentance which lead to Baptism
and a giving up of something valuable to ourselves, as Christ gave up
His life for us. Traditionally, we have a midweek worship service
to help us focus on the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. We
will continue that tradition. Pastor will be exchanging pulpits
with other area WELS pastors. Service will start at 7:15; a
potluck dinner will be held before each one at 6:15. We hope you
will make plans to attend! The theme is "7 TIMES HE SPOKE" a
focus on the sayings of Jesus on the cross. Holy Week Worship Service will include our Maunday Thursday Communion Service at 7:30 April 13th; and Good Friday Service of Darkness at 7:30 April 14th. BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS is meeting on Monday nights at 7:15. This class is the best one to take to begin a journey into Christianity. It goes through all the main teachings of the Bible in an easy -to-understand discussion format. I strongly encourage everyone to take it every five years. |
