Here I Stand, I Can Do No Other

Here is Martin Luther’s Prayer the night before standing trial as a heretic and facing certain death unless he recanted of his teaching:

O God, Almighty God everlasting! how dreadful is the world! behold how its mouth opens to swallow me up, and how small is my faith in Thee! . . . Oh! the weakness of the flesh, and the power of Satan! If I am to depend upon any strength of this world – all is over . . . The knell is struck . . . Sentence is gone forth . . . O God! O God! O thou, my God! help me against the wisdom of this world. Do this, I beseech thee; thou shouldst do this . . . by thy own mighty power . . . The work is not mine, but Thine. I have no business here . . . I have nothing to contend for with these great men of the world! I would gladly pass my days in happiness and peace. But the cause is Thine . . . And it is righteous and everlasting! O Lord! help me! O faithful and unchangeable God! I lean not upon man. It were vain! Whatever is of man is tottering, whatever proceeds from him must fail. My God! my God! dost thou not hear? My God! art thou no longer living? Nay, thou canst not die. Thou dost but hide Thyself. Thou hast chosen me for this work. I know it! . . . Therefore, O God, accomplish thine own will! Forsake me not, for the sake of thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, my defence, my buckler, and my stronghold.

Lord – where art thou? . . . My God, where art thou? . . . Come! I pray thee, I am ready . . . Behold me prepared to lay down my life for thy truth . . . suffering like a lamb. For the cause is holy. It is thine own! . . . I will not let thee go! no, nor yet for all eternity! And though the world should be thronged with devils – and this body, which is the work of thine hands, should be cast forth, trodden under foot, cut in pieces, . . . consumed to ashes, my soul is thine. Yes, I have thine own word to assure me of it. My soul belongs to thee, and will abide with thee forever! Amen! O God send help! . . . Amen!

Watch this great teaching video about Luther's stand for truth from R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries: Progress to Worms

The Election: A Word (or two) from The Lord

Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, Democrats?
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me. (Jeremiah 27:5)

Red States or Blue States?
For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. (Psalm 75:6-7)

The Electoral College?
And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings... (Daniel 2:21)

...the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

Polling Places?
...the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. (Daniel 4:25 and 32)

Political Ads?
He loosens the bonds of kings, and binds their waist with a belt. (Job 12:18)

The Debates?
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" (Daniel 4:35)

Political Plans?
[God] works all things according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11).

America Decides?
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33)

Four More Years?
Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my just claim is passed over by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:13-31)

Plans for Progressive Change?
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void [literally, fruitless], but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:8-11)

The Election that REALLY Counts:
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10,11

The Fourth Estate's Failure

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Bitter, Not Better

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Feelin' Your Pain

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The Good Samaritan

We just completed several weeks of study at our church in the 10th chapter of Luke culminating in the story of The Good Samaritan.  Jerry, Elaine, Castanza and Kramer were not in attendance.

Attracting Old People to Church

The question no one is pondering:

With the emphasis lately on youth bands, inane repetitive singing, casual dress and positive thinking talks, the Church has been overrun with youth. For a more fair and balanced congregation the top priority for the local church should be to address this question: “What can we do to attract old folks?” Here are my top ten suggestions:

1. Hire Tommy Dorsey, Lawrence Welk, or Glenn Miller type big bands with only ONE unnoticeable, seated rhythm guitarist as worship leaders. (Pentecostals: provide area for ballroom type “dancing in the spirit”)

2. Acceptable Dress style: Men---sandals with dark knee socks; Bermuda shorts pulled up under chest with suspenders optional. Ladies---Hair dyed blue and old sweat pants.

3. In place of standard seating....rocking and/or reclining pews, w/electronic control should be provided.

4. Schedule social dinners with plenty of oatmeal w/raisins, tapioca pudding, hot and spicy deep-fried prunes and fruit flavored jello.

5. Keep service under 45 minutes, as restroom breaks occur more frequently.

6. Keep sermons simple. There’s not much time left for newly found wisdom, and the old adage is true, “you can’t teach an old dog new wisdom” .

7. Above all else use “grandkids” as sermon illustrations. Old folks will awake immediately.

8. All sermons should include parishioner’s main interests: eating, sleeping, bowel movements and complaining about young people (grandkids excepted).

9. Open up special senior parking spaces near the front door for those over 65 with a 10% discount on tithes.

10. Utilize old folks as front door greeters as they are used to saying “Welcome to Walmart” anyway.