The title of this article sounds like one of those goofy riddle questions.  You know;  Like ‘what’s black and white and re(a)d all over?  Answer: a newspaper.  This one could be worded ‘what’s done but is never done?  Answer: Getting married. It depends on how you define the word ‘done’.  The first done means ‘occurs’ and the second one means ‘completed’.   [Having kids would also be true but let’s stick with marriage here.]
    
    Think about that for a minute.  Is a couple ever more married than they are on their wedding day?  The day before the wedding there was no Mr.& Mrs. Pookie-poo.  Starting that day, there was/they were.  The ceremony was solemnized, the license was signed, the reception was… received?  Well, it was.  Done—definition two.
     So the Pookies began their lives together.  Years passed. Four kids, more dids, a mortgage, graduations and gray hairs.  After 50 years they finish each others sentences and their dinners.  The license has yellowed and their skin has wrinkled.  They start to look like each other (of particular concern for my wife).   They are no more married on day 1 or on day 13,001. 
      But they are different.  They have grown (and I’m not just talking about the waist size).  They have matured (or they have divorced if they haven’t).  Marriage is a done deal and a daily development.  It is something you did and something you do.  It’s something that’s in the past and something that’s in the present. 
   For that relationship to be truly blessed and beneficial, people need to grow.  Little effort brings little results. Love grows or it folds. 
Something else is a done deal and a daily development.  That would be our faith in Jesus Christ.  The day the Holy Spirit led  you to faith through the Bible and Baptism, you were saved.  Not partially, not

Something to Think About…
     Is God Punishing Me?
“The doctor says it’s cancer.”  “They’ve eliminated my job.”  “My spouse is having an affair.”
    When storms like these come into our lives, even the most stoic person may wonder, “Why is this happening to me?  Is God angry with me? Is He somehow punishing me?”
God isn’t punishing you
    Actually such a reaction is not illogical.  If we assume that God is all powerful (i.e., he controls everything in the universe) and that God is just (i.e., he hates sin), then it is only natural to assume that when troubles and hardships enter our lives, it happens because God is sending them to punish us for our past sins.
    Unfortunately, that line of logic ignores one important component in God’s judicial system:  Jesus.  Even though God Almighty has every right to punish us for our sins, he chose to send a substitute in our place.  God laid all our sins on his sinless son.  When Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me/”, he testified that he was enduring the most excruciating punishment possible, namely, absolute separation from God – hell!
    So what does Jesus’ death mean for our lives?  It means that God cannot and will not punish us for our sins – because he has already punished Jesus in our place.  The apostle Paul says it, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
    As long as we cling to Jesus as our Savior, we can be sure that God will continue to pour out his love on us.  Again, Paul makes that point:  “God who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32).
God is training you
    Yet, maybe that still raises a question.  “If God is not punishing me, then why am I experiencing all these troubles in my life?”  The short answer to that question is simply “because I’m not in heaven yet.”  God never promised that the believer’s life on earth would be a bed of roses.  Quite the contrary, Scripture says, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God?" (Acts 14:22).     Yet, no matter what hardships Christians face, we have the assurance that our loving Father in heaven will use all of them for our eternal good.  The Bible promises, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.”  (Romans 8:28)

 

 

WORLD MISSIONS… IN THE UNITED STATES (The following was written by Cal. Lutheran High School sophomore Yuli Lee who is from Korea.)      August 28 I ran into my parents room.  “Mom & Dad, do I have to go to America?  I won’t be able to see you guys for a year.  I will miss you so much!”  The answer I got was beyond expected.      “Yuli, if you really don’t want to go, then you don’t have to go.”      What a surprise!  This was the answer I received just 7 hours before my flight.  Somehow, I was not happy.  I could say nothing.  I left their room in tears.  I really didn’t know what to do.  The choice was all mine and even I didn’t know the answer.  I wished my parents had told me what to do.  I didn’t want to decide my future and mess it up.      Finally, I brushed my tears from my eyes and told them “I am going!  If I go to America it does not mean we cannot see each other anymore.  Right?”  I got ready to go.  While I was packing my mind was thinking about a bunch of different things.  “Will the kids in America think I am weird for coming here?  What will happen to my future if I go to America?”  I made up my mind.  I will not disappoint my parents.  I will be strong and I know I can do it!        After a lonely 11 hour flight, I arrived at LAX.  All the people were busy.  I compared myself to them as I waited for someone I didn’t even know to pick me up.  I just felt lost.  I looked at a mirror and told myself again that I could do it despite the tears in my eyes.      During the drive to CLHS I thought I was alone.  I was already homesick, wanting to go back to Korea.  Negative thoughts were going through my mind.  I was even regretting coming to America.  I saw the kids on campus.  As soon as I got there they knew who I was and hugged me.  Those hugs made me feel so much better.  I almost forgot I was even in America.  That was how comfortable I was with my friends who were so understanding and nice.       The next week I started school.  I had to take a Word of God class.  However, I had never opened a Bible.  The first day was embarrassing.  Mr. Peters passed out a paper with the question on it: “Who is Jesus?”  I had no idea to answer it.  I thought every else could answer it.  Is it only me that cannot answer this question confidently?  I wanted to ask a friend, “Hey, Who is Jesus?!”  But I couldn’t ask and I didn’t know.

Now think back how ridiculous it was that I didn’t even read the Bible before and I came to a Christian high school!  At first the Word of God class was really hard.  I could not understand it.  Whenever we had a test I tried to memorize everything without understanding any of it.  Later on I learned that I had to understand what God’s Word was by focusing on God’s love for us      We learned Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.”  So in the end I am very glad to have made the choice to come to America because I learned of Jesus.  If I didn’t come to America, would I have gone to Heaven?  No, so this passage tells me that I made a great choice!  Whenever I was in a sad mood, I usually thought about my family so far away.   But at that time this Bible passage made me feel better.  Now wheneve3r I am alone and sad, I remember what the Bible says that God will be with us wherever we go and God will never leave us alone. NEW SHED COMPLETED: Our 8 x 14 foot shed has been installed, shelving put in place and areas designated.  In addition to storing outdoor and flammable material there, we can take your donations for the garage sale anytime.  Thanks to one of our members for donating the costs. DAILY DEVOTIONS AT YOUR COMPUTER:  Our church body makes available practical uplifting devotions at the click of your mouse.  Go to www.wels.net and click on ‘Devotions’  in the upper right hand of the page.  I think you’ll really enjoy these.