Are We Better Than Other Countries?

Amos 6:1-7; Maybe we make too many decisions for others that are not our decisions to make...

Faithful and Joyful Worship

Worship is to be God focused. We worship God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
No man or woman should be lifted up in worship;
but, only Christ alone who was lifted up on the cross for us.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.
                               Psalm 33:1-3 NIV

Thanks be to God, yesterday I had the opportunity to worship with two congregations that were focused on giving thanks and praise to God. These Yoopers definitely know why and who it is that we worship. The preaching was God centered. The music; those old hymns (that so many find so boring) were played and sung as though the people really meant it. It was awesome! Bertha Hommer can make the keyboard at Zion and the pump organ at Aura praise the Lord like you've rarely heard before!

Both Zion Evangelical Lutheran in Skanee, MI (NALC/LCMC) and Aura Lutheran, L'Anse, MI (Independent Lutheran) are small congregations. A Lay Pastor Peter Suomela is a member of Zion and leads the congregation at Aura. Pastors Peter Gunderson and Jimalee Jones are the interim pastors at Zion. Zion is looking for a pastor. I served then for eighteen years and I can tell you for certain that if you are a pastor looking for a call and would like to serve in a spirit-led congregation, you might want to give this congregation consideration. It is ideal for a retired pastor as the congregation itself is very active in ministry. They will not expect you to do everything. In fact, if you think you're going to do it all, they will probably be offended. Their focus is on reaching out to all people in word and deed.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends and neighbors yesterday. I even more enjoyed seeing their love for the Lord in their exuberant worship.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shout For Joy!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,  
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 98:4-6 NIV

We had a few visitors at Worship this Sunday. It was a joyful celebration which included an affirmation of her baptism by one of our beloved sisters in Christ. One of our visitors mentioned, with tongue in cheek, that we could not possibly be Lutherans. After all, Lutherans do not sway to the music nor do they tap their feet. And, yes, we were singing hymns from a Lutheran hymnal. Traditional hymns do not have to be somber all of the time. Traditional hymns can be joyfully played and sung.  After all, we do have much to celebrate!

When I think of joyful music, I usually think of David joyfully dancing through the streets as the people celebrated the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. David was definitely excited. We gather together each Sunday to worship and celebrate the awesome things that God has done for us. We who were not His people are now His beloved children.

By the blood of Christ shed on the cross for us, we have been reconciled to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Our sins are forgiven and we have been made whole in Christ. That's should be enough to make us want to sing joyfully and even tap our toes before the Lord!

Shout for joy before the Lord, our King!

God's Peace - Pr. J