1John 5:9-12 NO MIDDLE GROUND: Just The Facts

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Good morning Family!

This is the close of the Easter Season in the Christian Church. We’re winding down the readings in 1John, which was part of the readings during the Easter Season this year. As St. John does throughout this letter, he assures his original readers that there is no middle ground when it comes to God and eternal life. It’s all about Jesus and only Jesus.

St. John ends his letter by having them, and us, take a look at the two testimonies–or facts–available. The facts from God are greater than the testimony of humans. God’s testimony are the grounds for the Christian’s faith and certainty.

Readings: Acts 1:12-26, Psalm 1, 1John 5:9-15, John 17:11-19

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I love you guys! Dad

1John 5:4 NO MIDDLE GROUND: Christ’s Victory Is Our Faith

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Good morning Family!

This is the Sixth Sunday/Week of Easter. And every day is Christmas and Easter for the Christian.

Do you ever have those days where you feel a sense of defeat? Life seems blah. The world’s events are out of control and you think to yourself, “Is anyone in control of what’s going on?” Do you wake up some days (or MANY days) feeling defeated and deflated? Well guys, the Bible gives us certain hope including VICTORY. The Christian lives each day in and through the victory of Jesus’ Easter resurrection.

Readings for Easter 6B: Acts 10:34-48, Psalm 98, 1John 5:1-8, John 15:9-17

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Have a GREAT DAY Family! I love you guys! Dad

1John 4:1-12 NO MIDDLE GROUND: 2 Spirits–Antichrist and Christ’s

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Good afternoon Family!

It’s been a few weeks since posting, and I apologize. I will try to get some recent ones to you. the last few weeks we’ve been going through 1John. John writes to his fledgling congregations to encourage them to remain in the true Christian faith. There were a lot of charlatans back then preaching and teaching a Jesus that was contrary to Who God said His Son was. This led John to tell his people that they must test the spirits because the spirit of the antichrist was here right now.

The same goes for the world 2000 years later. John writes in binary terms: light and dark, life and death, kingdom of the devil and Kingdom of God, children of the devil or children of God. He continues his binary in this letter reminding his people–and modern Christians as well–that there are only two spirits and powers at work in the world–the spirit of the antichrist and the Spirit of the crucified and risen Christ. Which one influences you? How do you test the spirits to know which way to go? Christianity is not a 1-hour/day thing on Sundays. Christianity entails putting one’s trust in Christ Jesus alone. It’s living out the Christian faith in a Christianly way that’s the challenge. That’s why John says that we are to test the spirits.

Readings for Easter 5B: Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 150, 1John 4:1-21, John 15:1-8

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I love you guys! Dad

Encounters With Christ: Palm Sunday; Mark 14:1-11

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Hello Family!

This week is Holy Week, and it begins this Sunday–Palm Sunday. This is the holiest week in the Christian Church. It begins with Jesus being hailed as King. But by the end of the week this Jesus was not the kind of King the people thought He was nor what they wanted. By the end of the week they crowned Jesus with a crown of thorns and enthroned Him on the sinners’ throne of the cross. Yet God used the evil and sin in this world to save you from your and my sins.

There are plenty of opportunities this week to go to church and worship Jesus, thanking God for what He has done, and continues to do for you. There’s Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (comes from the Latin meaning ‘mandate’ as Jesus gives us His Body and Blood in Bread and Wine), Good Friday, and of course Easter Resurrection Day!

This week I created a series called Encounters With Christ. Here’s the Palm Sunday message the encounters with Jesus. I also put together a little devotional book for daily thoughts and meditations each day until Easter. I’ll hyperlink a copy. It’s in book-fold if you choose to print it.

Palm Sunday Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12, Psalm 118:19-29, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1-11

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I love you guys! Have a blessed Holy Week! Dad

Irish Proverb: May Your Cup Be Ever Full … (Mark 10:38-39)

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Top of the marnin’ to you Family!

Yup. It’s St. Patty’s Day–the day when everyone is Irish. Fortunately, we have Irish in us thanks to Grandma Redeker, so every day is St. Patty’s Day.

The Irish are know for many things including their sayings and proverbs. These have been recounted and rehearsed for hundreds and hundreds of years. One of them is May your cup be ever full, may the roof over your head be always strong, and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”

Jesus has something to say to the disciples about a cup. And Jesus has something to say to us about the cup as well. This isn’t only for the Irish, and this isn’t only for St. Patty’s Day. Jesus’ words and promises are for everyone and every day.

Readings for Lent 5; Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 119:9-16, Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:32-45

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I love you guys! Dad

Hello Family!

We’re journeying through Lent, and we’re about midway through it. What a wonderful time to reflect on God’s Creation as we not only march through Lent, but we’re also marching on toward spring.

God reveals Himself to people in two ways. One way is through Creation. This is called the natural knowledge of God. The other way God reveals Himself to people is to reveal His will for all human beings through His Law. The world “law” is from the Hebrew word “Torah,” which means “instruction.” These are God’s instructions for people. They’re not suggestions, but rather His law. This is called the revealed knowledge of God. Psalm 19 gives voice to both with Creation pointing toward the true Source, namely the One True God in Jesus.

Reading for Lent 3: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1Corinthians 1:18-31, John 2:13-25

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I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 19:1,14 God’s MARVELOUS Creation!

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Romans 5:3-5 What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

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Hello Family!

Well, we’re in the Lenten season. The Christian Church, as always, has eyes set on the cross. There is where Jesus suffered for all humanity.

But what about suffering in this world? And what about suffering in your own life? Christians aren’t exempt from suffering. However, the Bible tells us what the purpose of suffering is and what that means for the Christian.

EVERYONE suffers somewhere along the line. Can we find purpose in suffering? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Except for bears. Bears will kill you.

Lent 2 Readings: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:22-31; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38

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I love you guys! Dad

Faith Is A Lonely Journey (1st Sunday In Lent)

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Hello Family!

Have you ever felt all alone? Isolated? Separated? Wondering? Everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives for various reasons: financial, health, relationships, facing death.

The 1st Sunday in Lent always begins with the Temptation of Jesus. Jesus knows the lonely road. Jesus knows the journey. Jesus knows loneliness first hand. At the end of His lonely journey of faith was the cross.

Lent 1 Readings: Genesis 22:1-18, Psalm 91:9-13, James 1:12-18, Mark 1:9-15

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I love you guys! Dad

Welcome Aboard! Prepare For Takeoff. Mark 2:9; Transfiguration Sunday

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Hi Family!

I know you’ve flown at least once or twice. I like flying. No. I LOVE flying. I flew a gazillion time when I worked at Concordia Seminary when we lived in St. Louis. It also meant that I was away from you guys a lot, which I regret. Mom held down the fort and did a fantastic job with you guys. You’ve got the BEST Mom!

Does flying and The Transfiguration of Christ Jesus have anything in common? What does this mean for you? Listen to find out.

Readings for Transfiguration Sunday-B: 2Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2Corinthians 3:12-18, 4:1-6, Mark 9:2-9

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I LOVE you guys! Dad

Isaiah 40:21, 28-31 Back to the Basics

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Hello Family!

Well, it’s Super Bowl season. And what better coach is there but the legendary Coach Vince Lombardi! He is arguably the best coach of all time and in all of sports. He’s truly a legend

This legend needed to have his team get back to basics: “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Then Max McGee quipped, “Slow down Coach. You’re going to fast. We can’t keep up.”

The world was topsy-turvy for God’s people who were in refugee camps during their exile in Babylon. They had wondered if God was around, if God had been defeated by the Babylonian gods, and if they had absented themselves from God because of their sins. People today wonder the same thing, and Isaiah has a word for them, “Get back to the basics.”

Readings: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, 1 Corinthians 9:16-27, Mark 1:29-39

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I love you guys! Dad