Hope Lutheran Church

I woke up this morning and was confronted with two things.  The first thing I woke up to was a hymn verse.  The second thing that confronted me was a string of either silly and worthless news about Oscar stars, or gloom and doom reporting about how our world is on the brink of ruin and destruction. 

I suppose my stuffy head from the latest incarnation of the cold that is taking up residence in my nose and throat didn't help either, but I am tired of the litany of woes and triviality that passes for news these days.  Can't we catch a break and get something real, positive, uplifting, practical, and worthwhile to run through our minds?  The answer to that question was given in the hymn verse that God was circulating in my mind this morning:

How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said

To you who to Jesus for refuge have fled?

Let the world engross itself in all its silliness and doom.  We have a rock-solid foundation on which to stand, a Word of Gospel cheer and delight - a most excellent Word, and we have a Refuge in Jesus!

May you find your Refuge in Jesus today!

 Don't forget there's Homework:

+So, what's nagging you today?  How can you run to Jesus for your Refuge?

+If your life is pretty OK today, find someone who needs refuge and give them Jesus!

For your prayers today:

+Liftup our Haiti Mission Team as they serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  Pray for their safe return.

+Pray for our Men's Retreat this weekend that it will bolster the faith of all who attend.

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John + 

I have often heard people say that they don't know how to pray, or that they don't know what to pray for.  Now, I know that praying is to be as natural as a child talking to their father, but it can be intimidating for some.  Somehow a certain amount of legalism has crept into prayer teaching.  Some believe and teach that praying has a special formula that needs to be followed, if one wants to pray correctly.  There are even those who would say that if you get the prayer formula down right, then God will hear you better.

Such thinking is not just nonsense, it is dangerous.  Any prayer a child of God offer to the Father in Jesus' name is received into God's presence.   Any prayer offered in such faith is heard and answered by God.

While there are no secret formulas to prayer, Jesus did give us some direction when His Disciples asked Him how to pray.  He gave them (and us) the Lord's Prayer.

The Lord's Prayer is both a prayer to be recited by His followers, and a model prayer to teach and guide in our prayers.  Yesterday, the Lutheran Hour Lenten Devotion offered a great idea for using the Lord's Prayer.  It suggested that we use one of the 7 parts of the Lord's Prayer as our prayer theme for each day of the week.  

Take a look:

+Sunday - that we keep our great God's Name holy

+Monday - that we give thanks for the Kingdom, & pray for its coming

+Tuesday - that we faithfully do God's will as it is done in heaven

+Wednesday - that we recognize and give thanks for life's bounty

+Thursday - that we forgive as we are forgiven

+Friday - that we be tempted to no sin, great or small

+Saturday - that nothing separate us from God

Why not consider using the Lord's Prayer as a weekly prayer guide?  Then we can pray with confidence knowing that we are praying the prayer our Savior Himself gave us, and that our Father in heaven both hears and and answers us! 

(NOTICE:  The Biblical Creationism Seminar will be this Sunday from 2-5pm, not on Saturday.  Pardon the typo last Sunday.)

 Don't forget there's Homework:

+If you have not been very good at praying, then pray the Lord's Prayer all week long. 

+Pick one person and pray for them all week long too.

For your prayers today:

+Lift up our Haiti Mission Team as they leave tomorrow morning to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

+Pray fo rthe nation of Chile as they seek for some stability following the devastating earthquake and tsunamis.

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John +

From: Pastor John

Well, it snowed yesterday.  I mean it actually snowed.  A good 6-7 inches fell around my house, and it was good to see the white blanket covering the grey and brown of winter.  It is always cheery to me to see the white blanket of snow.  It reminds me of God's promise to wash away my sin and make me white as snow.

Then...as I went about the task of snowblowing and shoveling the walks around my house, I noticed something.  Under the blanket of pure white snow the grey and brown of winter were still there.  They were merely hidden by the snow.  That got me thinking about God again.

Isn't it wonderful that God doesn't just cover over our sins with some kind of snowy white-wash?  Jesus' blood removes our sins, "As far as the east is from the west!"  Dig under Sunday's absolution, and it is pure, white, and holy all the way through us!  Now if only we would believe it.  Too often we act like our sins still remain (under the forgiveness) and have a hold on us.  That's one of those lies of the Devil intended to hold us in fear and bondage.

This is Lent!  Claim the power of the cross - forgiveness all the way through and through!  You are not sinners frosted with grace.  You are holy, children of God!  Now go live today in that glorious confidence!

Don't forget there's Homework:

+How can this Tune-up help you Live with Cross Purposes the rest of this week?

+Who around you needs to know this message of freedom in Christ?  How can you give it to them?

For your prayers today:

+Lift up Pete Bede who is facing more treatments following the recurrence of cancer.

+Pray for the holiness of God, that He has graced to you, to lead you to a life of gratitude and love

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John

From: Pastor John

Yesterday we celebrated Presidents' Day.  I remember when we celebrated George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's individual birthdays.  Then they lumped them together in a generic Presidents' Day.  I liked it better when we remembered Washington and Lincoln individually, because they were known for their honesty.  "Honest Abe," and "I cannot tell a lie.  I cut down the cherry tree," recall a day when politicians put a premium on trust and honesty - something we seem to miss today.

That's also why I like Ash Wednesday and Lent.  They call us to be honest with ourselves and God.  Normally we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are OK, and that others are to blame for our shortcomings.  Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent call us to be honest with ourselves.  We are sinners, and corrupt from head to toe.  Why is this kind of honesty good?  It drives us into the loving arms of God - the very God who paid for our dishonest corruption with the precious and innocent blood of Jesus.

Tomorrow I invite you to do something very unusual and out of character for modern man.  Be honest.  Come and honestly receive your ashes of repentance, repent of your sins, and then begin the 40 day march to freedom - the march to the cross and open tomb!  It is worth the effort - honestly!

Ash Wednesday Schedule:

5:30-9:00am - Receive early Ashes in the Chapel.

11:00am - Early Ash Wednesday Service in the Chapel.

7:00pm - Late Ash Wednesday Service in the FLC.

Don't forget there's Homework:

+Examine your life and look for signs of honesty in the midst of deception. Can you tell one from the other? 

+Bring your family into the freedom of honesty by making Lent an observance of honesty in your home.

For your prayers today:

+Lift up the Waller family as we bury Keith's father this morning.  

+Pray for the refreshing winds of honesty to blow through our lives and church. Lord have mercy for Jesus' sake!

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John

From: Pastor John

 "Snow Day?"

Well, here it comes...or not.  The first big snowstorm of the year is bearing down on us, and we have questions.  Will we get 10 inches of snow or only 4?  But, the more important question, "Will there be a snow day tomorrow?"  Along with the trials of a large snow fall also goes the hope of a snow day - a day free from school, and possibly even work. 

That is the way it is in this world.  In a world cursed by sin there is going to be trial, and it will be hard (Just ask our members who have been ill or out of work). But, there is also the hope that God works His will even when the curse of a broken world comes to our house.

If you are facing more than just a big snow in your life, then look to God for the hope and strength to get you through.  You are not alone!  Not only are God and His angels with you, but millions of your brothers and sisters in Christst and by you and struggle and hope  just as you do.

For a little more encouragement, click on the link below.  It will take you to the Focus on the Family website where you can watch an interview with Bob and Pam Tebow, Tim Tebows parents.  Tim Tebow is an All-American, Heisman Trophy winner, and national champion in football at the University of Florida; but he almost didn't make it into this world.  Hear their story of faith and hope during trial. Then put yourself squarely into God's gracious hands and trust Him with your now as well as your forever!

  http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ 

Don't forget there's Homework:

+Not sure what tomorrow is going to bring?  Trust the One who is already there to lead you to and through it! 

+Look around, there may be someone close who could use your support during unknown trials.

For your prayers today:

+Lift up Chris Steffen who is going to have serious surgery this morning at 11am.  

+Pray for all who face trials - known and unknown.  Ask God to let His will be done and His strength prevail in them.

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John

From Pastor John

 "Phil and A Convenient Truth"

Today is the day! Punxsutawney Phil will be plucked from his burrow and given the light of day.  Will he see his shadow, scurry back into his hole, and doom us to alonger winter; or, will he stay out to usher in an early spring?

I have no clue, and who believes that stuff anyway?  Oh, we all would like a peek into the future,and a bit of control over what's to come, but a groundhog will not be of much use. 

Life has too many twists and turns for us.  Sometimes things sneak up on us, and we're not prepared.  Sometimes we see the things coming from a distance, and we must live in dread till they arrive.  Yes, a little control over the future would be welcomed, but Phil doesn't have the answers, Jesus does!  He says,

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

Last Sunday I said that we often make the truth of Jesus an inconvenient truth for us.  Today let me speak of the eternally convenient truth of Jesus!  Jesus has faced the worst this world can dish out, overcome it, and promised us a glorious future.  How's that for convenience?  Jesus faced sin, death, and the Devil, and overcame them all ... for us!

 Take heart! Whatever is coming your way, Jesus loves you and will care for you.  If fears about the future are filling your mind, take heart!   Jesus has promised you a bright future.  Take heart!  The world may have a groundhog, but we have a living Savior who has overcome the world for us!

Don't forget there's Homework:

+What does it mean to "Take Heart in Jesus," and how can you do that today?

+How can you help someone else "Take Heart" this week?

For your prayers today:

+Lift up those suffering in Haiti, and all who are working to bring them relief and hope.  

+Pray that God the Holy Spirit bring Gospel comfort to our members who are suffering through pain and grief

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John

From: Pastor John

 "I'm Sorry...Really, I am!"

OK, so you are getting the Tuesday Tune-up on Wednesday - I'm sorry!  Yesterday I was at a Board of Directors Meeting in Grass Lake, and with the different schedule, I forgot to send out the Tune-up - I'm sorry.  I mean, I feel really badly about this.  Iam really sorry!  I know many of you look for the Tune-up each week, and wondered where it was.  I am very sorry!  Do you think you can forgive me???

OK, do you get the drift?  I'm sorry...or am I?

My oversight this week got me thinking. Are we sorry - truly repentant, or are we just trying to get God not to be mad at us?  Sometimes we apologize over and over, because we are not really sure that we are forgiven, and we do not wish the ire of the offended to fall upon us.  So, we apologize profusely, over and over again.  hoping to escape the wrath we deserve for our sins.  The focus of our apology becomes escape instead of true repentance.  The focus selfishly becomes me and my comfort not you and your hurt. 

It's bad enough when we do this kind of false apology with each other, but it is much deeper when we do it with God.  I may do this with you because I don't trust that you will really forgive me.  God, however, has already forgiven our sins in Jesus' body on the cross.  If we over-apologize to Him we are exposing a doubt, a lack of faith in God's forgiving goodness.

Let's practice repenting in faith.  Take that sin to the cross, repent, and never look back.  That sin was forgiven 2000 years ago, and God loves you.  Now believe it and move on with acts of love and faith in His name. And...if you didn't get the gist earlier...I am really, really, sorry!  Will you forgive me?  Pretty please?  Huh?

Don't forget there's Homework:

+Practice repentance that is followed by faith not doubt!  Then live in the freedom of the Gospel of Jesus! 

For your prayers today:

+Lift up all who are working to bring relief and hope to the suffering thousands in Haiti.  Ask God to bless our efforts at Hope.

+Pray that God the Holy Spirit bring Gospel comfort to our members who are suffering through pain and grief

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John

From: Pastor John

"The Unwrapped Christmas Present"

I suppose we have pretty well left Christmas behind.  Maybe we have a few decorations to take down, but practically, Christmas is over. It is with that thought in mind that I want you to look around your house for the unopened Christmas present.  It is there.  It gets unopened and unused every year.

Did you find it yet?  It is right there between the selfishness and the hurtful words.  It sits right out in the open in every Christian home.  It begs to be opened during every argument, each secret sin, and all of our misguided ego ventures.  Maybe it is because the wrapping is not so attractive.  No fancy bows or red and green paper adorn this present.  It is not the wrapping that makes this present valuable.  The value of this present is in the power it has to change and free the soul.

It is a present bought by Jesus with blood - His blood pure and precious.   There are no charge bills coming later.  It is a gift that is freely and truly ours.  This present, once opened and used generously will change hearts, lives, and families.  It will turn war zones into homes of peace and love, twisted hearts into springs of living water.

Onec aution - this gift can only be received.  It cannot be given by us to another.  It comes from Jesus alone to each of us for our exclusive use.  We cannot re-gift this gift.  It will destroy this present.

Have you found the present yet?  It is right there in the midst of your faith.  It is repentance - the gift of gifts.  The ability to honestly confess sin and be freed from guilt and shame.  Why not unwrap it and use it with your God and with each other?

Don't forget there's Homework:

+How can you use repentance to change the mood, attitude, and temperature in your home?

+Why are we so reluctant to unwrap and use this gift?

For your prayers today:

+Lift up Nancy Bandemer as she begins another round of chemo, and waits more test results.

+Pray that God the Holy Spirit empower us to use repentance to subdue our pride and shame, and make within us streams of living water in a thirsty world.

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John