Below I had a mild critique of Lifestyle Evangelism.
Here is an approach to evangelism with a more Lutheran character.
Wayne Drehs has a profile piece on Arizona Cardinal's quarterback Kurt Warner. The article focuses on his off-the-field life with his family and the work that he loves to do for foster children and others. At the heart of it all is the fact that he is a committed Christian. In the middle of this well worth reading article you find this hint at the difficulty he faces trying to witness for Christ.
During a visit to the "Oprah Winfrey Show" to honor Masters champion and fellow Iowan Zach Johnson a couple of years ago, Warner purposely mentioned Johnson's faith in the second of three sentences, believing the show's editors wouldn't be able to cut the sentence and eliminate the religious reference. But when the show ran, the second sentence was gone.
"Anytime you mention Jesus or faith, people are turned off," Warner said. "I think it scares a lot of people."...
"He's a devout Christian, but it isn't like he forces it on anybody," Fitzgerald said.
McCown believes Warner has changed since St. Louis. "He's learning to share his faith without having to talk about it as much," McCown said. "Instead, he leads by example."
Warner said he leads by carrying his Bible with him to every news conference. He leads by being one of the hardest workers on the team. And he leads by treating every single person -- a first-round quarterback or Brenda's ex-husband -- with respect.
"Who does that?" Brenda said. "Who's friendly to their wife's ex-husband ... He is."
To Warner, that's his way of preaching.
"By understanding what my priorities are and never wavering, that's how you influence people," Warner said. "It isn't standing on my chair with a Bible and yelling out scripture or condemning people for being sinners. It's about living your life with a certain sense of excellence. And when people start to scratch their heads and wonder what it is that makes me different, that's when I tell them the answer is Jesus. And then I let him do the hard work."
Oprah opposing Christian witness? You should have expected it.
Although I do not think that lifestyle evangelism is always the best or most effective way of getting out the gospel message I applaud him for his faithful efforts and example. Even so, Warner nails it with regard to conversion, when he says that Jesus is the one who does the hard work. May God bless his witness efforts and ours.
Thank you to pericope.org for hosting this valuable resource. Dr. Harold Buls exegetical notes.
Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel TLH 62 (Choir sings some stanzas)
Savior of the Nations Come LBW 28
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending LSB 336 (Choir, during the offering)
Lo, How a Rose is Growing LBW 58
O God of God, O Light of Light LBW 536
At the Name of Jesus LBW179 ss. 1-2, 5-6 (click here to listen to a midi of the tune, albeit a bit slow)
At seminary, they don't tell you (can't really tell you) what will be some of the coolest experiences in being a pastor. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know members' extended families when we are invited over for family gatherings. Becoming an important part of members' families is rewarding evidence of the close bonds of the family of Christ.
This weekend a member called to let me know that all but one grandchild had come to his house. He didn't need anything from me. He just wanted to share this with his pastor. Later, my family had the joy of sharing time with their family at two separate parties across the weekend.
Our church secretary was cleaning out the file cabinet that includes choir music. She found some debris from past approaches to worship and Sunday School music.
After afflicting countless friends and members with "Jesus is a Friend of Mine" and "You Spin me Right Round, Jesus, Right Round" via Putting Out the Fire, I thought I would submit my nomination for Worst Praise Song Ever and challenge others to submit their favorites (or least favorites.)
I put my faith in money,The problem with making Church music "contemporary" like this, is that it makes it disposable, rather than timeless.
and the stock market went broke.
Thought I could trust my bicycle
till I caught my toe in the spokes.
There must be times when even Dear Abby
doesn't know what to do,
But I put my faith in Jesus,
and I know he's gonna see me through.
I ordered ham and eggs in the rest'rant
and they served me eggs and Spam.
Thought I could trust the government
till they sent me off to Vietnam.
I can't put my faith in science.
Scientists die like me and you,
But I put my faith in Jesus,
and I know he's gonna see me through.
Jesus is waitin' on you.
He wants to be your friend.
He'll be there whatever you do.
His love will never end, will never end, will never end!
If you put your faith in people,
people gonna let you down.
If you build your life around politics,
remember Caesar's walls came tumblin' down,
and if you put your faith in yourself,
you're trustin' your life to a fool.
But if you put your faith in Jesus
I know he's gonna see you through.
Yes, if you but your faith in Jesus,
I know He's gonna see you through.
Do not buy Rick Warren's latest Book, The Purpose of Christmas until you listen to this podcast from Pirate Christian Radio's program, Fighting for the Faith.
The book is evenhandedly reviewed by Tim Challies:
While I applaud the idea of having a bestselling Christian author produce a book written specifically to present the gospel message and to do so in a book created specially as a Christmas gift, I am sorry that Warren did not present the gospel in its full and pure form. The Purpose of Christmas is, sadly, a wasted opportunity. It could have been so much more.Consider instead, A Case for Christmas, by Lee Strobel.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus LBW 30
The Only Son from Heaven LBW 86
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding LBW 37
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed LBW 87
I have added Aardvark Alley's Big Blogroll O'Vark in the sidebar. The list is very long, so I have put it in a scrolling window, and I invite others to swipe the code or request it and I can send it to you.
There are wonderful blogs of many and varied interests here. Click around when you get the chance and you will doubtless find some wonderful blog that interests you.
As the darkest days of the year creep up on us, the Church celebrates the Sun of the Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings. The Divine Service for the first week in Advent always features one of my all-time favorite hymns: "Savior of the Nations." It was a hymn that St. Ambrose (whose commemoration is fast approaching) originally wrote, and which Luther loved so much he put into German. We have it, thus, from Ambrose through Luther and finally Englished. Here are some of its beautiful stanzas:
Then stepped forth the Lord of all
From His pure and kingly hall,
God of God, yet fully man,
His heroic course began.
God the Father was His source,
Back to God He ran His course.
Into hell His road went down,
Back then to His throne and crown.
For You are the Father's Son
Who in flesh the victory won.
By Your mighty power make whole
All our ills of flesh and soul.
From the manger newborn light
Shines in glory through the night.
Darkness there no more resides,
In this light faith now abides. (LSB 332:4-7)
You can hear a stunning organ rendition of the hymn here:
via OneNewsNow.com
Bristol University scientists in England have created a living bandage from adult stem cells that will be used to heal common sports injuries.
Dr. David Stevens of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) says knee injuries have, until now, been limited to surgical treatments such as removal of torn tissue and transplantation. However, he believes this new medical success could make knee and hip replacements obsolete.
"What they're doing with this living bandage is actually creating a collagen framework, putting adult stem cells from the bone marrow directly on that and using it as a patch in the leg, in the knee joint," Stevens explains. "And what happens is that it grows in and heals a tear that usually is unhealable in many patients."
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry TLH 63
Ye Sons of Men, O Hearken TLH 75
Hail to the Lord's Anointed TLH 59
O Bride of Christ Rejoice TLH 57
Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People TLH 61
Paul McCain introduces the old question of what we should do with Christmas decorations during Advent. It seems everyone has their own ideas. I will submit some too.
Some prefer to have no Christmas decorations until Christmas -- thus keeping Advent pure.
Other prefer to stretch Christmas back to mid-October. (Not many, but plenty are found putting up their decorations the day after Thanksgiving.)
Mutual condemnations ensue.
The Palm household has attempted several scenarios.
First, we simply selected an appropriate time at the beginning of Advent and put up EVERYTHING. It followed the LCMS rubric of "get 'er done" but failed to have any differentiation between Advent and Christmas.
One year, we tried the old German custom of putting up the Christmas tree on Christmas eve. (Keeping Advent pure.) This turned out to be entirely too stressful for a pastor's family, as Christmas eve already has a couple things on the schedule. Perhaps non-clergy may appreciate this approach more.
Since, we have settled in a sane, scheduled, liturgical pattern.
