Morning at the Office

General Convention

Saturday, September 27, 2008

so draw our hearts,,,,so fill our imaginations

This is a prayer of the Church.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

If we truly pray this how can we not bring the teachings of the Church into not just our daily 24/7 lives but also our political lives ?

If we are Christians our political decisions whether at the voting booth or as legislators should reflect the teachings of the Church ( i.e. of Christ Jesus) .

That is if we sincerely pray this prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Pastor Kerry Luke 6:27-31

Good morning. Welcome to Thursday, September 11th.

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse
you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and
from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your
goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have
them do to you.” Luke 6:27-31

There are two things I want you to know before reading today’s
devotion. The first is that I am very well aware that today is
September 11th and I am very well aware of what is on the minds of
all of us in the United States today. And the second is that I am
using a list of Bible passages this week that have been assigned as
daily readings in the “Prayer 21” program our congregation is doing
with our young people.

This means that again today I am experiencing what so often happens
when I am preparing for Sunday worship using the Bible texts assigned
to that particular Sunday – the remarkable way that the Holy Spirit
both challenges and comforts us through the power of God’s Word.

Today our nation remembers the heartless and merciless deaths of over
three thousand people – trapped in the stairwells of two remarkable
buildings that no one could conceive of toppling, let alone in front
of their eyes so quickly, trapped in an airplane flying over the
beautiful countryside of Pennsylvania, trapped at the desks and the
hallways of the Pentagon. Over three thousand people who were guilty
of nothing more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Killed by men in a cold, calculating manner who, there is little
doubt, sincerely if insanely, thought they were doing God’s will.

Those horrific scenes, on that otherwise normal Tuesday morning, are
etched in our memories. They still speak to us, but what do they say?

Immediately they gave rise to a bloodthirsty cry for revenge. I
remember my racing heart as I listened to the reports while driving
down the interstate through Houston. I remember thinking, “This
feeling I have is the reason why men like me raced to the recruiting
offices on December 8th, 1941.” Those scenes told me that morning,
“Something horrible has happened and something has to be done.”

But I, like most Americans, did nothing but plan a prayer service.
There were some who mistreated Moslems in an twisted expression of
collective guilty, but not many. And there were some with the power
to unleash the power of our military and they did so quickly. Too
quickly. And there were others who had volunteered to put themselves
in harm’s way out of duty and patriotism and the promise of a better
life once their service was through. And they did what they were
told.

Now here we are this Thursday morning, remembering again that darkest
of Tuesdays. Two wars still raging. Tens of thousands dead. Over
4000 American soldiers, all doing as they were told to do. Billions
of dollars spent and billions more yet to spend. And what are we
learning? What voices still speak to us? Which ones do we heed?

There is one voice that still speaks as it has spoken all along. It
comes to us like that still small whisper outside of Elijah’s
hurricane troubled cave, out of the terrifying wind comes that voice.
It comes to us through God’s Word, spoken from the lips of Jesus,
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse
you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and
from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your
goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have
them do to you.”

Let us pray: Dear Lord, today is a day of grief and mourning. For
those whose earthly lives are gone forever and for those still
mourning their loss. For the brokenness of the human community and
for the many ways we pervert our faith to justify our most vile
hatreds and prejudices. We pray today for those whose lives remain
on the line, for their safety and for the advent of peace. And we
pray that your Spirit might work in the lives of those who turn to
you in prayer, that love might conquer hate and fear. In Jesus’
name. Amen.


________________
Pastor Kerry Nelson
http://www.fitandfaithful.com
http://www.covenantlutheran.org

Permission is granted to use these devotions any time, in any way you
wish, with no need to attribute anything to Kerry.

To see an archive of previous devotions, click on
http://www.ymlp87.com/pubarchive.php?RevKerry

September 11, 2008 Justice and Peace

Around this time of year the picture below is my desktop background. I call it "Cross Before Flag" and that's the way it should be.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.

What is true religion?

What are the two greatest commandments?


BCP page 816

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

John McCain's Acceptance Speech Republican National Convention '08

"Finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We’ll go at it over the next two months. That’s the nature of these contests, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other."

Senator McCain says he's a Christian.
The "association" that means more to him than any other should be that to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Where is Senator McCain's true allegiance?

Monday, September 01, 2008

Family Values

Jaime Lynn Spears - Southern Baptist - pregnant out of wedlock at 16

Bristol Palin - Assembly of God - pregnant out of wedlock at 17

Monica Lewinsky - 22 -
sexual contact but that sexual intercourse did not occur.

If Bristol Palin had simply had an affair with an older man say in 40's or 50's would the Party faithful be so forgiving?

"Republicans will look at this like it's their primarily their family's business and the fact that they're keeping the baby underscores Palin's personal commitment to life issues," said Matthew Dowd, a former top strategist to President Bush and an ABC News contributor.

Several delegates contacted by ABC News said they were not bothered by the fact that Palin's daughter is pregnant. Several said the revelation -- and particularly the fact that Bristol Palin plans to have the baby and marry the father -- gives them more respect for the Palin family.
"It's a situation that many Americans have faced, she just happens to be on the presidential ticket," said Texas delegate Russell Martinez, 40. "Situations like this can affect you no matter who you are."

Wearing a button with flashing red lights that reads "the LIFE of the party, Republican National Convention 2008" Donna Crocker, 69, a Texas delegate, said it's good Palin came out early with the revelation.

"I think the fact that Palin's out in front with it is really a very god thing. My prayers are with the family," Crocker said.

"The fact that her daughter's keeping it and marrying the father is wonderful. It's a human life and she is respecting that," Crocker said of Bristol Palin.

"This is absolutely the best thing they could do," said Oklahoma delegate Angie LaPlante, 46, of Bristol Palin's decision to keep the baby. "This is the best thing, pro-life decision and it shows Palin is being supportive," she said.



Matthew 23:25-33 (King James Version)

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

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