Author: The Redeker Respite

Luke 14:26 Love Your Enemies & Hate Your Family. What Kind of Gig is This?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Hi Family!

Being a disciple–follower of Jesus–isn’t easy in this world. It can also be a bit confusing when we hear what Jesus has to say to the Christian in today’s Gospel reading. There is a cost to following Jesus. The cost is that the Christian is broken away from the world. Jesus did the breaking in His death and resurrection. Jesus did the breaking for each of you in your Baptisms. Now the life of Christian existence in this world takes place. And like it was for Jesus, it’s not always easy for you, His disciple.

Readings for Proper 18, C: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Philemon; Luke 14:25-35

Click Here for the sermon

A little note on Philemon as it relates to today’s theme; Philemon was a Christian who had a non-Christian slave named Onesimus. Onesimus ran away and found Paul. One thing Onesimus understood is that Philemon and Paul had a unique relationship with one another that was different from what he observed in other people. He fled to Paul, and during his time with Onesimus, God worked His power and promise. Onesimus became a Christ follower! Now, he had to go back and face Philemon. However, now these two were Christian Brothers because of Jesus.

Philemon had every right according to the legal system to punish Onesimus, and Paul for that matter for harboring Onesimus. Paul appeals to Philemon to go against the grain and live out a life of mercy and forgiveness toward Onesimus. I’m sure that Philemon’s non-Christian friends and associates thought he was nuts, and ridiculed him because of this.

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 50:7, 14-15 Not Everyone Receives the Trophy

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment
Is Life Like T-Ball?

Hi Family! It’s nearing the end of the regular season for baseball. Question: Will the Brewers finally win a World Series? Shouldn’t they, after all, since they participated in the entire season? That would only seem fair.

Not everyone gets the trophy. Yet, that’s how many people view life after death; everyone should go to heaven. The readings today reflect this. And yes, there is the Way to receive God’s eternal Trophy!

Readings: Isaiah 66:18-23, Psalm 50:1-15, Hebrews 12:4-29, Luke 13:22-30

Click here for the message Not Everyone Gets The Trophy!

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 119:83 Do You Ever Feel Like a Wineskin?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Hello Family!

This week we’re looking at —– Wine! Well, sort of. King David writes in Psalm 119:83 that he feels like a wineskin. That’s weird. But it has to do with the way the ancients used to make wine.

As Christians we still feel the heat and smoke from a culture that really doesn’t understand the One True God. When the Christian stands on God’s word and commandments, His statutes and His promises, then the Christian is going to be in the heat and smoke of things. When this happens the Christian continues in prayer, which is usually the first casualty when suffering occurs.

Readings for Proper 15C: Jeremiah 23:16-29; Psalm 119:81-88; Hebrews 11:17-12:3; Luke 12:49-56

Click here for the message!

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 33:18-20 Do You Keep An Eye On God?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Hi Family!

Do you ever feel like you’re swamped and swimming up stream? Does it ever seem like God may never keep His word? The unbelieving world has a lot of answers for the Christian. They ridicule Christians for putting their hopes, dreams, and desires in something so futile as “this Jesus.” The newest label for the Christian here in the US is “Christian Nationalist,” and it’s not a term used for flattery. Nevertheless, the Christian presses forward.

This is nothing new. God’s people have always been challenged in various ways. And the Christian has the added burden as we, too, wrestle with anxiety. Psalm 33 has the answer!

Readings for Proper 14-C: Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-16; Luke 12:22-40

Click Here for the Message

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 100:3 Are You Storing Up?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Good day Family! It was GREAT having you all with us last week for the wedding!

You’re feeling it at the gas pumps. Right? Feeling it at the grocery store. Right? As of Thursday, July 28th, our country is officially in a recession. It looks like we could be heading for stagflation as well. You’re way to young to know about this because the last time stagflation happened, it was under the Carter administration in the late 70s.

Times like these are challenging for every person, Christian and non-Christian alike. However, the Christian handles things differently than the rest of world does. Yes. We’re to store up, but what are we to store up on?

Readings for Proper 13-C: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-26; Psalm 100; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Click here for the sermon/radio program

I love yous guys! Dad

Psalm 27:1, 4, 14 How’s Your Oxygen Level?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Hi Family! Mom and I are REALLY looking forward to having you all here for your sister’s wedding!

As you prepare to travel by plane and automobile, this is a good time to check your levels. Not the gas level, your tire pressure levels, or radiator levels (though these are important!). Rather, check your oxygen levels!

Readings: Genesis 18:1-14, Psalm 27, Colossians 1:21-29, Luke 10:38-42

Click here for program

I love yous guys! Dad

Psalm 41:1 Where’s Jesus?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment
He’s always hard to find!

Hi Fam!

Do you like working through the Where’s Waldo? puzzles? I do, but I often get frustrated because he’s hidden so well. For me, he’s hard to find and detect.

Is this what Jesus is like in this world? Is it easy or hard for an unbeliever to “find Jesus” in this world? Is it difficult or easy for a non-Christian to find Jesus in you?

Readings for Proper 10: Leviticus 18:1-5; 19:9-18, Psalm 41, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37

Click here for the radio program message Where’s Jesus?

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 66:5 E Pluribus Unum

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment

Constitutional Convention 1787

Hi Fam! It’s Independence Day Weekend! The 4th of July, 1776. The birthday of our country and the birthday of our freedom! I hope you all love your country and what it all means.

E pluribus unum is our country’s motto officially adopted by the Act of Congress in 1782. It’s Latin for Out of Many, One.

Psalm 66 calls many into One freedom as well—in Jesus only.

Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14, Psalm 66:1-9, Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18, Luke 10:1-20

Click here for the radio message

I love you guys! Dad

Psalm 16:1-2 What REALLY is your relationship with God?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment
Pity Parties. We all have been invited to one. And we’ve held them ourselves. What does God say about pity parties?

Hi Fam!

As your Dad, I’ve experienced pity parties in our home. Sadly, I’ve hosted some of them as well. What does God say about pity parties? Puddles doesn’t have the answer, but God does!

Readings for Proper 8: 1Kings 19:9-21, Psalm 16, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62

Click here for today’s message

God turns our pity to praise!

I love yous guys! Dad

Psalm 8:3-5 How do you explain …?

/ The Redeker Respite / Leave a comment
How do you explain and analyze a sunrise?

Good morning Family!

This is Trinity Sunday in the Christian Church. We celebrate Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, as I was raised). God is soooo awesome and great and majestic! His Creation is wondrous and marvelous. It’s easy for people, individual peeps, to get lost in the vastness of the universe. Without the Triune God in one’s life, life will be empty, not complete. A person will try to fill the void to find purpose and meaning in life. However, apart from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there’s a huge hole. It can only be filled with Jesus.

Readings for Trinity Sunday: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Psalm 8, Acts 2:14, 22-36, John 8:48-59

Click here for the sermon/program on Psalm 8

Remeber guys; GOD DON’T MAKE NO JUNK! You each are important and loved by Mom & me. More importantly, you are known, created, important and loved by God–the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

I love you guys! Dad