THE Lutheran Study Bible

IT'S HERE!

I received my copy last week and have been enjoying it ever since! I'm so happy that CPH.ORG was able to get them to us faster than expected. :o)

There is a wealth of information in this Bible...almost more than I can handle in one sitting/lesson each day. I started the 2 year Bible reading plan that is in the front of the Bible and the notes on Genesis have already blown me away. After reading Gen 1:1 and the notes that accompanied it, I just sat and stared off into space while my mind digested all of the information and then started visualizing just what happened during Creation!

The thought that Jesus = The Word was never a problem for me. John said it in his Gospel and, since it's the inspired Word of God, I believe it. But to read the study notes and realize that when it says "God Spoke" that JESUS was the "SPOKEN" part of that!!! It just...man...it was incredible to FINALLY figure out where all three persons of God were in those first verses. I TRUSTED that they were all there...totally faith...but...it was just way cool.

If you're Lutheran and want a great Study Bible, GET THIS NOW! If you're NOT Lutheran (and how come you're not? HMMM?? just kidding!) Get this Bible and see just how Lutherans REALLY interpret Scripture by using Scripture. It will totally blow your mind!

Stewardship and Me

Stewardship and me

When I was 19, I found myself spinning my wheels. I had gotten home from Concordia, in Ann Arbor, and was working at Kings Island with no real plans for the future. My idea, my dream, of being a Deaconess had taken a hard hit and I didn’t know what God wanted me to do when I “grew up”.

My faith in God was being tested during this time as well. I’d read the Bible and go to Church, mostly every Sunday when I wasn’t working at KI but I felt like something was missing, something I was supposed to be DOING but wasn’t and I was getting restless. Stewardship Sunday had come around again and I didn’t give it much thought. After all, what could *I* do?

Well. God showed me exactly what He wanted me to do for that particular summer. I received a call from the VBS director, I’m not even sure who it was that year, asking if I’d like to “take on the task” of teaching the 7th and 8th grade kids. I said yes without really thinking about what I’d be taking on. I mean, I wasn’t much older than these kids! It would be fun, right?

When I look back on it, it was fun but it was also one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had no clue what I was doing and figured the kids knew it. But I had really good kids, for the most part. Tony Creeden, Heather Ufford, Jason Goolsby, George Summers kids from the neighborhood. I’d come home each day wiped out, although my Mom would tell you that’s because I’m just NOT a morning person and having to be UP at 9 in the morning is really just not my thing, it was more than that. I didn’t know it then but, I was feeling fulfilled by the daily Bible study.

After that week, I said I wasn’t going to do it again. Yeah I had fun but I didn’t feel like the kids got ANYTHING out of it and that I just wasn’t a good teacher.

Then the next summer rolled around. Stewardship Sunday came again and I started getting that itchy, “I should be doing something about this” feeling again. Yep, I got the call…”Can you teach again this summer?” I quickly said yes and proceeded to have an even better, and harder, time than the year before. But something was different - and I realize now that it was my faith in Jesus. It was growing. I was eager to plan out each day’s lesson and I looked forward to the questions the kids would ask me. And believe me, they asked some very interesting questions.

So I eagerly agreed when I was asked to take on the 7th and 8th grade Sunday School class. It couldn’t be much different from teaching VBS one week a year, right? Believe me when I say it was night and day. Sure I only had them one hour a week but it was every week! I had to be awake! And *I* was in charge!

That first year was full of learning. Mostly on my part, I’m afraid. But even as I would rant and rail about “these kids are driving me nuts!” I loved them. I loved that they were full of questions and that they would challenge me to answer something. They became my friends and they helped me in ways they probably will never know.

21 years later, as I look back on that first VBS week, I realize that through God, these kids have given me something more precious than gold. Through all the questions, the Bible Studies, the lesson planning, the hours I’ve spent researching this or that topic, they’ve given me my rock solid faith in Jesus Christ. This faith in Jesus keeps me going in the dark days of depression. This faith that, when I was diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago helped me to realize and truthfully say “At least it’s a win-win situation. Either I get better and I win or I go HOME and I WIN!”

Through the innocence of these kids, the Holy Spirit has given me comfort, joy and peace to know in all situations, God is there.

So, don’t hesitate when you get that call that says “hey, can you do “whatever” for St Mark’s?” because through it, God WILL strengthen you even as He uses you to strengthen others.

Jello Salad of the week

Today's Jello Salad comes from Nikibone.com again. Really, this woman has TONS of interesting Jello Salads. Really. This one even combines the two things Lutherans seem to love...Jello Salads AND Coffee.

Cappuccino Jello

1/2 cup cold water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup double strength coffee
1/2 cup milk
5 packets Equal or artificial sweetener equal to 10 teaspoons sugar

Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and allow to stand for two minutes. Place in microwave on high for 40 seconds. Stir and let stand until completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile mix coffee, milk and artificial sweetener in a medium bowl. Stir in dissolved gelatin. Pour into 4 individual custard cups and chill until firm. Serve as is or garnish with sugar free whipped cream and cinnamon. 4 servings

WHY can't it be Reformation Day???

Take a look over at the right side of my blog.

Cool huh?


PLEASE CAN I HAVE A TARDIS SO I CAN GO TO REFORMATION DAY AND GET MY BIBLE?????

Jello Salad of the week

Today's Jello Salad comes from Nikibone.com. You can find the address in last weeks Jello Salad of the week.

Pumpkin Jello

3 ounce package lemon Jello
1 cup hot water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup canned pumpkin; not pie mix
1 small tub Cool Whip
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Dissolve Jello in boiling water; add sugar and spice. Add pumpkin, mixing well. Chill until slightly thickened. Fold in Cool Whip and nuts. Pour into mold or clean bowl and refrigerate until firm.

Jello Salad of the week

Today's Jello Salad is actually just a website.

Heh. "Just" a website. Nah, this is probably one of the most comprehensive lists of jello salads I've seen...and I've seen a LOT being, you know, Lutheran and all.

Nikibone.com hosts hundreds of recipes in all categories. Her Jello Salad Recipe index is truly amazing. She even has things on there that I'd like to try!

Come on Kieschenick!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/trademark/

The LCMS is continuing their attack on The guys of Issues Etc, a Lutheran daily radio show. Now Kieschenick and the Board of Directors is SUING Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz over trademark infringement...over a trademark that expired in 1999!

Kieschenick and the BoD are using OUR tithe money to further this unBiblical and unChristian lawsuit. As taught by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, this is a SIN!

Please sign the above petition so that Pastor Wilken and Mr Schwarz can go on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ the way our SYNOD is supposed to be doing!

If you've never heard Issues Etc, you can find their podcasts at http://www.issuesetc.org/ They are WELL worth the time to listen each day.

The Lutheran Study Bible!

From the "ground" up, this new Study Bible (coming Reformation Day 2009) has been completed by Lutherans only! TLSB will be in the ESV version and will have all the study references that are expected in a Study Bible plus new Theology Icons, Law and Gospel Application notes and Quotes from Church Fathers.

Mine is already on order and I can't wait! I wish I could teleport to Reformation Day and pick mine up!

Indulgences are back

Come on Pope Bennie! Didn't y'all learn the first time?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/nyregion/10indulgence.html?_r=2&em

The question is now, will we have a modern day Luther? I don't think we need one since Luther's words are just as pertinent today as they were 400some years ago.

I ache for the Roman church. :o(

Jello Salad of the week

Today's Jello Salad comes from Foodgeeks.com and the talented hands of Kathleen Morrison.

Red Hot Salad

Ingredients:

2 pkg. (3 oz. each) cherry Jello
4 oz. Red Hots candy *
3 cups boiling water
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, undrained
2 cups applesauce
Directions:
Dissolve Jello and red hots in boiling water. Cool to room temperature. Oil an 8 cup mold. Add pineapple and applesauce. Pour into mold and chill.

Blueberry Jello Salad

Today's Jello salad comes from southernfood.about.com


Ingredients:

* 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice
* 2 packages (3 ounces each) blackberry or black raspberry Jello
* 3 cups boiling water
* 1 can (15 ounces) blueberries, drained
* 8 ounces sour cream (1 cup)
* 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* chopped nuts

Preparation:
Blueberry Jello Salad Directions
Drain pineapple; reserve juice. Dissolve Jello in boiling water; stir in reserved pineapple juice. Chill until slightly set, about the consistency of unbeaten egg white. Stir in pineapple and blueberries. Pour into a 9 1/2 x 6 x 2-inch pan; chill until firm. Combine sour cream, cream cheese, and sugar; mix well until smooth and well blended. Spread over blueberry Jello salad and top with chopped pecans or walnuts.
Blueberry Jello gelatin salad serves 6 to 8.

Bible Study WG 02/09/09 Trust

Trust in the Lord

Times are getting tough here in America. People are losing their jobs, the government is looking to spend more of our hard earned money, Christian persecution is on the rise and folks are getting fed up with it all. Some begin to wonder “just where IS God in all of this?” Others feel that God has “let them down” because He’s not giving them the blessings He promised. Some feel that God is punishing them by “letting” them lose their job or come down with a life threatening disease or disorder. Still others are losing their faith because times are hard and “God said we’d have it easy if we believed!” so they push Him away because, to their eyes, He’s not living up to the promises they’ve made up in their own minds.

But did He? Did he say that “once you believe, everything will be hunky dory”?

Matthew 5:10-12
Luke 21:12
John 15:20

Jesus specifically says that we will be persecuted for Him. But by being persecuted, we gain life in Him.
He also promises that He’ll always be there with us. Even when we feel like we’re all alone and no one could ever understand just what we’re going through, Jesus’ words can give us comfort…

Isaiah 41:10
Matthew 29:20b

He’s not going away. WE are the ones that “go away”, turn from Him and reject His very presence and love. Even in these tough times, even while we’re being persecuted for our beliefs, our God is there holding us in His hands and strengthening us with His Holy Spirit.

I am trusting you to guide me;
You alone shall lead,
Every day and hour supplying
All my need.
I am trusting you for power;
You can never fail.
Words which you yourself shall give me
Must prevail.
I am trusting you, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting you forever
And for all.

Amen

another idea for devotion

The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. (2 Timothy 2:24).

Idea for next Bible Study

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)