Michigan District, LCMS - People of Hope ... Vigorously Making Known the Love of Christ

Sanctified Living (Because We Are Saved)

Richard J. Wolfram — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:30:52 +0000

An obligation to the Holy Spirit? … The good news is that we are under obligation from within, by the Holy Spirit. Do you understand that?

The Holy Spirit within us helps us to fulfill our obligation to Him. The Holy Spirit makes us alive by the power of the Word of God working through what we call the means of grace – the Word and Sacraments – to enable us to fulfill our obligation.

So, right here and now, let’s be specific as to what that obligation is exactly. It is to keep disciplining what we do. Our obligation is penitential. It involves sorrow over sin (contrition) and our repentance (wanting to change our ways). The result is that we live with our entire being subject to our regenerated spirit that the Holy Spirit has worked making all our members slaves to God. It’s a wonderful slavery, too, because it means we are heirs of God, co-heirs of Christ and life is what He offers us.

Who wants to die? As Christians we have escaped death. So, can we live as if that wasn’t the case?

The world is full of people who live according to their sinful human nature. They lie, steal, cheat, lust, etc. They think that’s really living. Unfortunately, if people live that way, they will die. It’s a certainty due to themselves. If you let the doings live, you will die. You’ve killed yourself. That applies to every one of us. We are all guilty. The truth of Romans 8 bears that out. To live to the flesh is to die. To die to the flesh is to live. That only happens by our faith in Christ. It has numerous applications for every one of us who is part of the family of God in Christ with the Holy Spirit inside.

Consider this one application that I read many years ago from an Emphasis magazine.

Things can really seem dull and dead after a rainy weekend, so you can understand how it must have been on Noah’s ark. They couldn’t play cards because Noah sat on the deck.

Well, the tiger suggested to the giraffe that they could choose up sides for a football game. The giraffe’s team won the toss, and on the first play from scrimmage, the monkey handed off to the rhino who charged up the middle for ten yards. On the next play the rhino scrambled all the way for a touchdown. It seems the giraffe had made all the best picks because at the half his team led 42 to nothing.

Early in the second half the monkey handed off to the rhino. The rhino saw a hole in the line, but suddenly a ten-foot-long centipede, playing defensive tackle, reared up into the hole, grabbed the rhino and shook the hole ark when he threw him to the deck, causing the rhino to fumble. The rabbit, playing free safety, picked up the ball and scored for the tiger’s team spiking the ball over the goal post.

The tiger ran over to the centipede shouting, “Fantastic tackle! We’ll turn this game around right now! By the way, where were you in the first half?” The centipede, “Well, I had to tie my shoes.”

Where were you when we needed you? Things looked so dead without you. Now we can win! All of us with the Holy Spirit inside have a family obligation. The family asks, the church asks, God asks each of us who are His own to get the Word out. Are you active and vibrant or lazy and fat when it comes to exercising your faith? With the Holy Spirit inside you can make the choice. Salvation is yours. The obligation is yours, too.

This post was a continuation from last month's A Family Obligation

Seminary Candidates and Vicars Headed to Michigan

Debby Fall — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:14:31 +0000

Here is a list of the Seminary Candidates and Vicars coming to Michigan in 2012. This year's call services were held on May 1 and May 2 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. respectively.

Please keep them in your prayers as they move forward in their ministries.

SL = Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
FW = Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

Candidates

Dennis Matyas (SL) - St. Paul, Albion

Caleb Adams (SL) - St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth

A. Trevor Sutton (SL) - St. Luke, Haslett

Andrew Johnson (SL) - St. Paul, Lapeer

James Rolf (FW) - Hope, Linden

Edward LeClair (SL) - St. Peter, Three Rivers

Vicars

Harrison Parker (SL) - Messiah, Clio

David Mews (FW) - Guardian, Dearborn

Joel Eden (SL) - St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth

William Hooper (SL) - St. Paul, Hamburg

David Appold (FW) - St. Paul, Hillsdale

Douglas Bender (SL) - Immanuel, Macomb

Blaise Marin (FW) - Trinity, Reese

Mitchell Vogeli (SL) - Nativity, St. Charles

Joshua Schultz (FW) - Trinity, St. Joseph

Image credit: Eric Fischer via Flickr

Fire at New Hope, Flat Rock

Debby Fall — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:22:56 +0000

On Thursday, April 26, New Hope, Flat Rock was totally destroyed by fire around 7:30 a.m. Firefighters battled flames for about two hours to bring the blaze under control.

Larry Rockensuess, vice chairman of the congregation, stated, "The entire roof was gone but the walls were still up. It looked like a mess. It was definitely a total loss."

Rev. Frank Martin said, "The heat inside, even if something didn't burn, the heat melts so much, there is not very much inside that we're going to be able to use."

Martin reported that the church had a digital backup of the computers, so most records will make it out unscathed. He said the church also has insurance. The fire has been ruled accidental in nature by the local fire investigators. Arson has been ruled out as a possibility. According to Fire Chief William Vack of the Flat Rock Fire Department, the fire started from a discarded cigarette butt into a flower cart that was located outside the front doors on Wednesday night. In his estimation, the cigarette smoldered through the night in the flowers and eventually ignited a fire catching the side of the building on fire. Once up the walls, it ignited the roof overhang and it spread very quickly. With God's protection over the firefighters, no one was injured by the fire.

Despite the loss, Rockensuess said the church community will remain strong. Worship services for Sunday, April 29 were held in the Council Chambers of Flat Rock City Hall. A devotion and 'Fire Update' were presented. Services are scheduled for the same location on Sunday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. Prior to service, all are welcome to attend a devotion and another 'Fire Update' starting at 9:30am. A future worship site is being considered.

Rev. Martin shares, "I wish to thank all of the many LCMS pastors and congregations who have offered to help in many ways, especially adding us to your prayer lists."

How You Can Help

To help New Hope rebuild, donations can be made to:

Benefit for New Hope Lutheran
Monroe Bank and Trust
P.O. Box 616
Flat Rock MI 48134.

Story and video as covered by the The News-Herald

Photo and story credit: Larry Rockensuess

Go on a Mission Right Here

Roosevelt Gray — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:39:50 +0000

Where do we go from here?

This seemed to be the question of many of Jesus’ disciples during his arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Simon Peter said, “I’m going out to fish.” The other disciples said, "We’ll go with you" (Jn. 21:3). Cleopas and his friend headed out for home to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13) Many just settled back down to their day to day routine of life and living. Most had forgotten about everything Jesus had said and done while with them in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.

How soon do we forget?

His promise was to make the disciples, and future disciples, “fishers of men” (Mt 4:19; Mk 1:17), but that was then and this is now. Not unlike them, we find ourselves, as disciples, oftentimes wondering, “Where do we go from here?” as the world turns and changes so quickly around us. What were the great promises of yesterday have become the challenges of today, and we look for refuge in a safe and familiar place and time.

Whitney Hopler,a freelance writer and editor who serves as both a Crosswalk.com contributing writer and the editor, suggested 10 things to keep in mind as we follow Jesus on the mission field. The following is adapted from Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People, copyright 2011 by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. Published by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Mich., www.bakerbooks.com.

Follow Jesus on a Mission Right Here, Right Now

Join God in His redemptive work in the world through His Son, the Savior! There is no special training or traveling to a foreign country needed or necessary as a missionary to do so. [Your baptism has made you a missionary.] God has a mission for you right now, right where you are – in your neighborhood, workplace, school, and wherever else you go every day. Your work sharing your faith and helping others is just as important as the work that vocational missionaries do. You are priest and priestess, with the saving power of the gospel at your call. So be alert to the many opportunities God gives you to reach people who need Him.

Remember who you represent. As a Christian, you represent Jesus with every person you encounter, and if you intentionally build relationships with people designed to help them grow spiritually, you can point people to Him in powerful ways. [Especially to the place where you encounter Him the most, in worship.] Luther said, we are little Christ’s to the world. Question, when people see you, do they see Christ?

Pray for perspective. Ask God to give you His perspective on the world immediately around you and the people within your sphere of influence. Realize that God has sent you as a missionary to everyone you interact with, right where you live. Every day, wake up with your eyes, mind, and soul wide open to hear what God has to say to you and to notice the opportunities He is giving you to touch people’s lives with His love. Don’t let the enormity of the needs you encounter overwhelm you; remember that God will help you do everything He asks when you rely on His strength to do it; [the power of the Gospel, Romans 1:16-17].

Pray for compassion. Fight the sinful selfishness that hinders your mission work by keeping you focused just on your own comfort, security, gratification, and convenience. Ask God to give you the compassion that you need to love and serve other people in the ways He calls you to do so. Pray for the ability to recognize God’s image in each person you meet, and remember that you’re serving God by serving others. (2 Cor. 5:19-21)

Go beyond belief to obedience. Don’t stop at just believing in Jesus; believe what Jesus said about how to live by obeying His guidance and really living that way. (Romans 6:1-4) Actually pursue the changes that Jesus wants you to make in your life so you can respond well to His callings to love and serve others. Whenever you read the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit to help you see how you can put those words into action in your life right away. Aim to keep growing in obedience to God. [That’s called sanctified living.]

Move out into the culture around you. Get to know what issues matter to the people around you and how they’re searching for meaning in their lives. Once you understand what they’re searching for, you can help them make connections between their needs and the fulfillment they can find in a relationship with Jesus. Talk with people that you meet in various places, and ask God to show you what good news would sound like to them. People who go to movies are looking for stories that move them, and Jesus connects them with the big story into which all people’s little stories play a part: the story of God’s redemptive work in the world. People who go to sports events are looking for a cause to belong to, and Jesus offers them a cause that can really change the world for the better. Rather than trying to get people to come to you to talk about faith, go to where they are and engage them in conversations about faith as you build friendships with them. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your conversations and work in their souls to draw them closer to Jesus. [That’s what Jesus did! Mt. 9:35-38]

Be the change you’d like to see. Challenge the destructive forces in your culture by intentionally living contrary to them so you can show the people around you the difference that Jesus can make in their lives. You can counter materialism by living simply and giving generously to others. You can counter the culture’s unhealthy emphasis on social status and image by building friendships with people that others neglect, such as disabled people and poor people. You can counter the judgment that sexually immoral people often encounter from Christians (which distances them from the faith they need to change their lives) by relating to them with love rather than fear and hostility, while modeling a sexually pure lifestyle to them. [The women at the well, John 4; the Tax Collector, Mk 2:13-17; Mary Magdalene, Mk15:40]

Be kind to people. Speak kind words and do kind actions for other people as frequently as you can – even when they’re being unkind to you. Keep in mind that even a simple smile can powerfully encourage people. Your kindness will help others notice the difference that Jesus can make in their lives. [Romans12:9-13]

Be a peacemaker. Defuse tense situations by interacting with people peacefully and helping to solve problems. When peace distinguishes you as a person and people know that you’re a Christian, they’ll be drawn to Jesus. [Romans 12:14-21]

Develop a missional lifestyle. Change your focus in life from consumption to contribution. Concern yourself less with what you can get and more with what you can give, to make the world a better place. Manage your money and possessions in ways that will free you up to do the mission work God calls you to do. Pay off debts and avoid incurring new debts so you can give more money to your church and charities rather than wasting it on interest payments. If you have extra space in your home, use it by inviting people in need of housing to live with you, or move to a smaller home so you won’t have to spend as much time, energy, and money maintaining your home and can use those resources for mission work instead. If you have an extra car, make it available to people who need help with transportation, or sell it to save money that you can then donate to support God’s kingdom work. Manage your time in ways that help you invest in other people’s lives. Arrange your work schedule so you’ll have time to spend regularly building new friendships with people. Shop in the same stores and eat in the same restaurants regularly so you can get to know the people there and talk with them often. Invite people like students, elderly neighbors, and single moms and their kids to enjoy meals with you at your home. Meet with other Christians committed to living missional lifestyles, and encourage each other as you pursue reaching people for Jesus right here and now. [Matthew 25:35-36]

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:9-12).

Photo courtesy of puroticorico via Flickr

Easter Assumptions

Robert E. Kasper — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:08:04 +0000

We all live with a variety of assumptions. Some are silly and some we wish we could ignore: “Red-heads are hot-tempered.” “The only sure things are death and taxes.” “Germans are proud and stubborn.” “Building projects always take more time and money than expected.”

“Early on the first day of the week…” (John 20:1) Mary’s assumption was “Crucified men don’t rise from the dead.” Mary and the disciples assumed the stone stood in their way to care for the assumed corpse of their presumed Christ. But the rock was rolled and the tomb empty! Still, “Crucified men don’t rise from the dead.”

“Living” with her assumption, Mary makes a second assumption: “This man who interrupts my grief must be the gardener; and probably knows where Jesus’ body has been placed.”

“Tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Then… “MARY!” He knew her name! The voice…the inflection…the compassion she had heard before…the grace…the restoration…the authority!

“RABBONI!” New assumption! The Crucified Christ did rise from the dead! His promises are sure!

Like Mary, when the Risen Lord calls us by name, in our Baptism, in the Holy Supper, in the pages of Scripture, His Spirit opens our lives to a whole new world of assumptions. His death on the cross was not cruel circumstance, but cosmic salvation! Jesus was not a poor victim, but a purposeful Victor in God’s battle to purchase people back from sin and Satan!

Susan assumes her marriage is beyond hope. Mary’s hope was renewed as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

George assumes the grief of the grave will forever grind away. Mary’s grief was turned to gladness as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Tony assumes he’ll never beat the bottle or drop the drugs. Mary was possessed by her past until the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Cheryl assumes this life is all there is, and then the funeral. Mary was left with a bag of embalming spices when the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Jan assumes she is insignificant. Mary felt alone and abandoned until the Risen Jesus called her by name.

Dominic assumes his sin is too sinister. He’s too deep and can’t get out. Mary saw the cross in the context of an empty tomb as the Risen Jesus called her by name.

What assumptions are you “living” with?

Thanks be to God that He in His grace gives us a new assumption through the cross and empty tomb as He calls us by name in our Baptism.

You Lost Me - Part 1

Galan Walther — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:28:48 +0000

The Findings

One of my assignments on vicarage was to do a study of the past 10 confirmation classes to compare their church attendance before confirmation and after confirmation. Since our congregation had the friendship pad in the pews, I also tracked the confirmands through their high school years into their first year of college. Perhaps you can guess the findings: about one-third of the confirmands’ church attendance dropped off or stopped completely after confirmation (many beginning the Sunday after). Of those still attending through their high school years, there was another decline of about one-third after graduation from high school.

It’s something I observed during my years in the parish, and it bothered me – it still bothers me when I hear pastors and youth workers talk about young people who just stop attending.

This is the topic of a book by David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Research Group, entitled You Lost Me (Baker Books, 2011). The research indicates that 59% of young people ages 18-29 with a Christian background reported they have dropped out of church after going regularly. However, they are not necessarily leaving the faith – “Most young Christians are struggling less with their faith in Christ than with their experience of church” (p. 27). While historically young people often returned to the church when they have children, the new social and spiritual realities of this generation make it less likely they will come back in the same numbers as previous generations.

Question: Have you observed this in your congregation or ministry?

Mosaics / Realities

Three realities are identified that describe this generation, which Kinnaman calls “Mosaics”:

1) Access to information. This generation has unlimited access to non-biblical worldviews at their fingertips, which has caused many to question the nature of truth.

2) Relational alienation. This generation is the most connected (electronically) but the most alone (personally).

3) Deeply skeptical of authority. Everybody has an opinion, and each opinion is valid, so it’s hard to know who is trustworthy.

Question: What is the impact of these realities for you or the young people you know?

6 Top Reasons for Dropout

Kinnaman also identifies six top reasons for their dropout:

1) Overprotective – To young adults, creative expression is of inestimable value – they want to reimagine, re-create, rethink, and they want to be entrepreneurs, innovators, starters. But the church is seen as a creative killer where risk taking and being involved in culture are anathema.

2) Shallow – Young adults often perceive churches to be boring. Easy platitudes, proof texts, and formulaic slogans have anesthetized many young adults, leaving them with no idea of the gravity and power of following Jesus. Few young Christians can coherently connect their faith with their gifts, abilities, and passions.

3) Anti-science – Many young adults have come to the conclusion that faith and science seem incompatible. They see the most helpful role science plays in the world they inhabit – in medicine, personal technology, travel, care of the natural world and other areas. Science seems accessible in a way that the church does not; science appears to welcome questions and skepticism, while matters of faith seem impenetrable.

4) Repressive – Religious rules – particularly sexual mores – feel stifling to the individualistic mindset of young adults.

5) Exclusive – Young adults have been shaped by a culture that esteems open-mindedness, tolerance, and acceptance. Thus Christianity’s claims to exclusivity are a hard sell.

6) Doubtless – Young adults say the church is not a place that allows them to express doubts. They do not feel safe admitting that faith doesn’t always make sense. In addition, many feel the church’s response to doubt is trivial and fact-focused, as if people can be talked out of doubting.

Question: How have you observed these six reasons among young adults in your congregation?

Kinnaman notes that the core issues of why kids are disengaging are both truth-related and relational: “I think the next generation’s disconnection stems ultimately from the failure of the church to impart Christianity as a comprehensive way of understanding reality and living fully in today’s culture” (p, 114).

Question: What has been helpful for you in connecting Scripture and the Christian faith to daily life?

He also says we have failed to help people develop a Biblical worldview: “It is a modern tragedy. Despite years of church-based experiences and countless hours of Bible-centered teaching, millions of next generation Christians have no idea that their faith connects to the life’s work.” (p. 207)

Question: How do the young adults in your congregation connect their faith to their life and life’s work?

But Kinnaman also emphasizes the importance of mentoring this generation. Sadly, a majority of the young adults interviewed reported never having an adult friend other than their parents. More than 80% never had a mentor. Kinnaman says truth must be passed relationally to the next generation through the same discipleship model of Jesus and the disciples.

Question: How have you connected the younger generation with an older generation?

Question: Are there any mentoring stories to share?

Photo courtesy sethdickens via Flickr

Lutheran Schools Celebration Video

Bruce Braun — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:46:13 +0000

A Lutheran School Week Riddle

What has 6,000 legs, 3,000 mouths and jumps up and down while singing loudly and enthusiastically?

If you answered 3,000 Lutheran school students gathered at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) for the “Equipped to Serve” worship event and “Lost and Found” concert, you’re correct!

Tuesday, March 6 saw a steady stream of yellow busses pulling up in front of SVSU’s Ryder Center. School after school, 24 in all, was greeted by guides from Saginaw Valley Lutheran High School as they approached the front entrance. Classroom after classroom were led to their seats as they anticipated a worship time which featured traditional hymns, contemporary worship led by Peace, Saginaw’s praise band and the “Girls of Grace” liturgical dance group from St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth. The Ryder Center was filled from the nose bleed section to the arena floor with students who shared the common bond of attending a Lutheran school.

Retired Principals, Brian Young and Les Altevogt, led a dedicated team of teachers and adults who planned a “Celebration of Lutheran Schools Week” event to be shared with schools from St. John, Rogers City in the north to St. Paul, Lapeer and St. Paul, Flint in the south. In the east, Zion, Harbor Beach shared the farthest trip with St. John, Port Hope. St. John, Midland represented the western most school. Over 3,000 students, teachers, volunteers, adult drivers, and others who love Lutheran schools heard from Michigan District President Rev. David P. E. Maier on the theme for National Lutheran Schools week, “Equipped to Serve” from 2 Timothy 3:16-17. This joyous event culminated in the musical styling of “Lost and Found” performing for students, and helping them experience the joy found in their relationship with Christ.

Watch the Highlight Video!

A Family Obligation

Richard J. Wolfram — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:44:24 +0000

Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation …” (Romans 8:11-12a NIV).

Paul was writing to Christians in Rome. They lived surrounded by other Romans who lived according to the flesh, ruled by their sinful natures. One need only peruse the historical record of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to gain an understanding of how a Roman’s sinful nature played out in daily life. And surprise of surprises there are striking parallels with American society today, as we find ourselves living in what is accurately being called the post-Christian era.

The other consideration to note is that the Christians in Rome had received little if any instruction in the Christian faith. Paul, by means of this letter to them, attempts to fill that void in anticipation of his future visit. So, the implication is that the average Roman Christian’s Christian beliefs were entangled with secular Roman philosophy, and/or were quite infantile and so easily swayed. That seems similar to many American Christians today.

This letter from Paul is a revelation from God to people who have the Holy Spirit inside. It is a word to all believers who have new life in Christ. In my mind that raises the question, “Do I want to keep this new life in Christ and so live in the blessing of the resurrection to eternal life?” What believer with the Holy Spirit inside would say no? Paul says then we must not live our lives giving in to our sinful nature. We should “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (v. 13) which will destroy our life in Christ.

There is one added feature that plays in to this death blow to the misdeeds of the body. It is a necessary feature because without it, our own sinful natures rule and we are worldly and live without God. So we take ourselves to hell which is living without God eternally. This feature is a major feature. In fact, it is the enabling power that brings about life in Christ—the Holy Spirit inside!

That is what makes Christians different from everyone else—the Holy Spirit inside. That is also what makes us a family, members of the body of Christ. All of us with the Holy Spirit inside are part of the larger family of believers scattered over the face of the earth. The unity that we share is that the Holy Spirit has led us to see Jesus. He is God’s son, who although perfect, suffered the penalty of a sinful nature, which He did not have, by dying on the cross. The result is that He is our Savior because He has appeased the wrath of God toward sinners and provided forgiveness; and, by His resurrection, shows His victory over sin, death, and the devil.

In the forgiveness provided by Jesus, we are family and by Paul’s words instructed that we have an obligation—to the Holy Spirit. What does that mean to you? Consider that until next month.

Update: This series is continued with Sanctified Living: Because We Are Saved

What is National Lutheran Schools Week?

Bruce Braun — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:43:33 +0000

What is National Lutheran Schools Week?

A time when Lutheran Schools celebrate the unique philosophy that allows us to strive for academic excellence while operating under Biblical principles that promote a Christian Worldview. Nationally about 9 percent of students attend faith-based schools so we attempt to communicate the message of a common unity shared across 81 schools in Michigan that vary in enrollment from 20 to over 540. Our philosophy is rooted in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) belief of “Faith Alone, Grace Alone, and Scripture Alone.” These beliefs help shape our philosophy that God blesses us to be a blessing to others.

How is Lutheran Schools Week Celebrated?

There are 81 Lutheran schools in the Lower Peninsula and 81 different ways to recognize this week. Under the theme “Securing Each Child’s Future – Equipped” Lutheran schools will celebrate their uniqueness March 4-10, 2012. Over 242,000 students in LCMS schools from Hawaii to Florida, and from Maine to California will celebrate their unity. In Michigan this will vary from the 3,500 students gathering together on March 6 at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw to have a combined worship service and a concert by the Christian duo “Lost and Found,” to the 20 students at St. John, Port Hope gathering for a Wednesday chapel.

Equip Four Unique Characteristics

We will attempt to equip students with four unique characteristics, as we mark this week:

Christian Service: Many schools like Concordia Lutheran, Redford on March 9 will be packing meals for “Kids Against Hunger.” In conjunction with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans they package high nutrition, low-cost meals for people living in third world countries. Many Lutheran schools support local food pantries, women shelters, and other community agencies.

Christian Worship: 3,500 students will gather for worship in Saginaw and Bay City and about 650 students on will gather at Lutheran High School Westland for worship followed with a performance by a Christian comedian.

Sharing: Students from St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth will Skype with students in other states. March is also when Accelerated Reader has a Lutheran School Challenge to see who can read the most books.

Fun: Many Lutheran schools offer fun activities such as crazy hair day, popcorn and a movie in the afternoon, a special person’s day, or invite grandparents to school.

40% Gone – How do we engage our young people?

Bruce Braun — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I was reading my February issue of the Reporter and noticed a headline article where LCMS President, Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, is quoted saying that “the attrition rate in the Missouri Synod for youth – from some dozen years ago until now – is 40% or more.” I have read books like Already Gone and guessed that our Synod is no different than other Protestant denominations, but to see that statistic in black and white still caused me to pause.

Information like this is a catalyst for our upcoming Confirmation Symposiumto be held Saturday, March 10 at Concordia University Ann Arbor. This symposium is designed to equip confirmation leaders (Pastors, Family Life Directors, Teachers, Volunteers Leaders) so they can impact congregations with relevant tools to strengthen confirmation ministries as part of the life-long faith and discipleship journey. The cost of $20/person allows congregations to collaborate and gain a fresh perspective on how confirmation instruction is changing and why! Experts from around the district will be presenting on questions like:

How can parents be involved in confirmation to ensure daily discussions about faith development?
How can we make confirmation part of a life-long faith development process and not a graduation or end to faith development?
Are there new resources which teach old truths in relevant yet challenging ways?

Your church is invited to be part of this discussion hosted by CUAA. Our speakers include:

Michigan District President,Rev. David Maier, talking about the current needs and state of confirmation
Professor Ben Freudenberg, CUAA Family Life Program Director, leading a discussion on “The Nuts and Bolts of Confirmation Instruction”
Michigan District Web/Media Director, Seth Hinz,andJosh Kauffman leading a discussion on new resources and technology that can enhance confirmation instruction
David Frank from Faith, Troy will be talking about how their congregation involves parents into the faith development of their children through confirmation instruction

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with opening devotions at 9:30 a.m. The day concludes at 3:15 p.m. as participants head home equipped with information and encouraged to continue to address how confirmation instruction can be used to drop the attrition rate in Synod’s youth from 40% to 0% over the course of time.

Your prayers for this event are desired. Please invite your church to be part of this discussion as we seek best practices and success stories of congregations engaging their young people in life-long faith development. Please contact Bruce Braun, Assistant to the President- Superintendent of Schools, if you have questions about this event at bruce.braun@michigandistrict.org.

Is God in Your Future Plans? Cont'd

Richard J. Wolfram — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:09:38 +0000

The 3rd Common Mistake

James writes in chapter 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” The 3rd mistake to be aware of is procrastination (see others below). Let me illustrate by the following that I read somewhere:

Procrastination is my sin, it only caused me sorrow.
I know I ought to change my ways, in fact I will – tomorrow.

Remember that strategic planning process I spoke of in the December blog? Ministry planning that is done with God in the mix of it, through Word and prayer, might be outstanding. However, if the resulting plan sits on a shelf and is not ever implemented because of procrastination it is worthless.

While it’s true that people of all ages procrastinate, my observation is that teens seem to do it best. I am not sure why that is. While you can procrastinate in all there is to do in life, when you know the good to do and don’t do it, that’s sin. So, one can do absolutely nothing, and sin.

Jesus told a story about talents. The master gave one talent to one man, five to another, and ten to another. He left and came back sometime later. The first two men had doubled the master’s money, while the third had buried his in the ground. The master said he could have at least invested it so as to get interest on it. He said, “You wicked servant!” Why? What had he done wrong? The servant's sinfulness was in doing nothing at all.

The Solution

The solution to procrastination is like the Nike ad says, “Just do it,” with an emphasis on today and an attitude that looks to extend God’s love that you have freely received to someone else.

James focuses on numerous things to do in terms of living a Christian life and it’s important to keep them in the proper context as it relates to future plans. Why should we do what we do? Because of the Gospel, the good news of what Jesus has done to save us. He did everything in terms of salvation. When it comes to being saved there is nothing more for us to do. But that is not the end of the story. We now live in the expectation of the new world Jesus is preparing, and by faith we are his agents to help prepare others for it. Our future plans should encompass that.

Common Mistakes Blog Series:

Photo courtesy fredthechicken via Flickr

Detroit: The City of Hope

Roosevelt Gray — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:58:45 +0000

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).

Jeremiah and Isaiah painted a glorious promise to the people of God who were living in captivity in a foreign land, who hoped for a brighter future that seemed so far off from their promised land. Yet, hope is held out as a distant light with a promising future. Too often we focus on the pundit-painted picture of hopelessness as we see the canvas of despair in our communities and urban cities. We talk of decay, disease, and death. Our sight is limited by our own fears and bias. Yet God is not a God of decay, disease, and death, but a God of life, liberty, and eternity in Christ. (John 10:10)

Hope is a powerful thing – perhaps the most powerful thing of all. But the real strength comes from the source of hope, God’s one and only Son, the world’s Savior, Christ the Lord, and the hope of Glory. When we place our desires and dreams into the hands of Christ, nothing is impossible.

5 Reasons to Consider Detroit in 2012 as The City of Hope!

1. God is still the God of Hope and has called His Church as a People of Hope, a confident and favorable expectation for His people and the cities where they live, especially Detroit. As He has reclaimed His people throughout history, God is still in the mission of reclaiming cities and its inhabitants as we, “Trust in God!”

2. The Church has been gifted and equipped with the mission and ministry of diakonia, marturia, and koinonia – service, witness, and fellowship. Let’s get beyond our fears and bias and get on with being, “Christ to the city.”

3. The Church has been given the stewardship gifts for affective change for people and communities as no other institution created by humanity as we, “Live as stewards of the mysteries of God.”

4. The Church has been blessed with faith, faculties, and facilities to serve and salvage communities and its people, “As you did it unto the least of these.”

5. The Church has been blessed with the wonderful message and opportunities to be faithful to the great commission, “As we disciple the nations.”

As many peer into what the world perceives to be the deep dark night of hopelessness in our urban cities, God’s people – the Church – are called to a life of faith, hope, and love. In our belief that God is for us, we know that no matter what is against us, God’s will for His people will prevail as we trust in the Lord and rely upon Him. For He has said to His people and their cities, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).

A Time to Think

“Hope is a good thing; maybe the best of things and a good thing never dies.” - Shawshank Redemption

A Time to Act

Pray and show hope as you release your worries and encourage others to a life of hope.

A Time to Pray

Oh, Lord, teach me to have hope and share a word and life of hope in all things, every day of my life.

Picture: Bernt Rostad via Flickr

Regarding Intentionality

Robert E. Kasper — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:26:51 +0000

Intentionality

My mother often told me, “If you are going to get in trouble, get in trouble for trying to do something right.” That was pretty good advice 40+ years ago; and I think it’s pretty good advice today.

Her point, and mine, is about INTENTIONALITY, or, “doing stuff on purpose.”

I am constantly amazed by the number of times I "get in trouble" without even trying. I injure a family member, friend, or co-worker with words, lack of words, actions, or lack of actions, without any intent to cause harm. Sometimes, just showing up can cause a problem…or not showing up! Set aside the fact that some people, sometimes, are just plain “difficult” personalities; and we are still left with the reality of un-intentional “trouble”. (In no way am I advocating that “sins of omission” are less damning than “sins of commission”. Sin is sin! I’m just talking about the day to day “stuff we step in” when it comes to relationships.)

Applied to the Church

Apply this to the Church’s ministry, and in particular to leaders in the Church, i.e. pastors, teachers, DCE’s, and other staff or lay leaders; and there will be plethora of illustrations for this “troubling truth”. We’d like to think that there is a little more grace in the church, but often the opposite is true…especially when it comes to leaders. The Apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus experienced fickle folks and gossipy groups. Why should we expect anything different?

But here’s the rub: The testimony of Scripture is that the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus (especially Jesus) lived their lives with INTENTIONALITY. (We could widen the scope to include Moses, David, Nehemiah, all the prophets – my favorite example is Amos – Luther, and other reformers whom God used at various times and places.)

So I’m thinking…and please track with me…I’m thinking my mother was right! “If I’m going to get in trouble, get in trouble for trying to do something right.” Stated more clearly, “get in trouble for trying to do some right thing!” The challenge then becomes to prayerfully discern what the right thing is and seek to do it INTENTIONALLY. I’ve read in numerous places that the difference between “leadership” and “management” is that leadership seeks to do the “right thing,” while management seeks to “do things right.” (Both have value, but I am advocating in this rumination for leadership in our personal lives and in the life of the Church.)

Trouble With Avoiding Trouble

My observation of most people and many (if not most) ministries is that they would be best described as a pinball. They simply bounce from one bumper to another with no real sense of direction or purpose. It is a life of reaction rather than response. I’m not suggesting that we go out and look for trouble as we aggressively seek to intentionally do the right thing; but my observation is that seeking to avoid trouble is just as troublesome…and then one has to live with failure to do the right thing…unintentionally.

What if we took some direction from Scripture? Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1). Again Paul writes earlier in the same letter, “Be imitators of me” (I Cor. 4:16). Paul described his life as “Pressing on toward the goal…to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12, 14). The Apostle lived out his life in Christ with great intentionality! He encouraged his fellow Christians to do the same. He didn’t do it “so that” God would accept him, but “because” God had already accepted him by faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.

God's Intentionality

What about the Lord Christ? God surely demonstrated intentionality when sending His Son into a sin-soaked world. How often have we heard sermons declaring God’s long-range plan of salvation, reaching back to Genesis 3:15 and pressing forward through people and places, prosperity and poverty, priests and prophets, punishment and promise? And the inspired shorthand is simply, “When the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born under the law, to redeem those who were under (the curse of) the law” (Galatians 4:4).

We cannot read the Gospels without identifying the intentionality of Jesus as He goes about His ministry of teaching, healing, praying, confronting, and forgiving. And his death on Calvary’s cross? What made that crucifixion different from the thousands before and after by Roman hands was His sinless INTENTIONALITY! Already in Matthew 16, after the confession of Peter, “Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” He even calls Peter “Satan” for trying to keep him “out of trouble” in His effort to do the right thing!

And after His resurrection, what does Jesus say to His disciples and all Christians? “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21). “Go, make disciples of all people groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19). “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness will be preached in His name to all nations…” (Luke 24:46-47). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

God’s intention in Christ was to redeem the world; and in particular, to redeem me from the slavery to sin, death, and Satan. His intention for me is now to live with intentionality…to try to do “some right thing.” That “some right thing” is to be His Spirit-empowered witness of His intention in Christ for all people.

Christ-Centered Intention

Stay with me now. What would happen if life was lived with Christ-centered intention?

If I loved my wife intentionally?
If I parented with intention?
If I spoke to the bank teller with intention?
If I used my time with intention?
If I greeted my neighbor with intention?
If each local congregation planned ministry with intention?
If every service of worship was planned with intention?
If every lesson plan in the classroom was done with intention?
If every email or text had intention?

You are free to add to this list as it serves your rumination and life in Christ.

Now before me is a choice in this New Year, 2012. I am fully aware that it is impossible to “stay out of trouble.” Therefore, by God’s grace in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I choose to get in trouble for doing “some right thing.” I pray that other Christian brothers and sisters will join me in such “trouble-making” as we live with Spirit empowered INTENTIONALITY. I believe God will bless His Church as we reflect His intentions for the world in Christ Jesus.

Photo courtesy Ed Yourdon, Flickr

What to Do With the Commercialization of "Our" Holidays

Guest Blog — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:15:10 +0000

This time of year, many of us look around and feel a little post-holiday bloat. After Christmas, we have fuller closets, toy boxes, and waistlines. We sigh, and wonder where to put the extra stuff, or how to whittle away at that credit card debt.

Last year was my first Christmas in my own home. There was something different about decorating for a home that we really owned. I would be lying if I said there were not a couple of trips down the holiday aisle that did not result in embarrassment at the resulting receipt total. I asked myself later, “Why did I think I needed so many decorations?” Of course, just like anyone in advertising will tell you, the stores sell more than greenery and lights; they are selling an ideal.

For me, decorating is wrapped up in nostalgia. I have memories of listening to Christmas music while hanging ornaments on the tree and watching my mother fuss with decorations until even I was surprised to see how beautiful the home you see everyday can look. These memories emerged in the Christmas aisle, and I fell prey. I wanted to reproduce that ideal for my family.

Even if you do not have similar childhood memories, “falling prey” to these emotional advertising appeals is easy. You desire to recreate some sort of ideal, whether it is the perfect home or the perfect look. This is something that sales professionals know—if you can tap into the emotional ideal that matters to the customer, you have made your sale. For example, the idea of purchasing a huge television causes you to think of being the house where everyone wants to hang out. What about a new car? The sales pitch is that a car makes a statement, that you are one who does not compromise on performance or safety (but never mind that both could be accomplished in a more moderately priced vehicle).

There is a different kind of nostalgia taking place, one more primal to the human experience, and the reason this tactic works on some level in all of us.

C.S. Lewis argues in his book, “Mere Christianity,” that the very yearning for an ideal speaks to the reality of God.

“A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”

Clearly, the nostalgia we yearn for is not of our creation. Our recoil at the injuries of this world points us to Him, as 1 Chronicles 29:11 says,

“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”

We might take a tip from St. Paul in handling the commercialization of the holidays. When he visited the Athenians, he used something they had created, a statue “To an Unknown God,” as his starting point. He did not condone their idolatry, but it was a place of understanding from which he could begin to witness.

Perhaps we can do the same. It is something of a miracle – that in a world claiming no need for God and where much idolatry flourish – that families who have never attended church celebrate Christmas or Easter.

What do our non-churched neighbors celebrate? Hope, generosity, and special traditions with friends and family are present in every “ideal” celebration of these holidays. That “nostalgia” for something good that has been lost is present even if they do not know Christ. Everyone was created in His image, and all have failed to remain in it.

Do those sound like starting points?

Recently, the Michigan District started an “A2E” initiative that aims to witness to our cities, comparing our age to that of early Christians in Acts 2. We live in a post-modern, post-Christian world, and while that may be frightening (not unlike selling “Christmas” with cheap manufacturing) it provides a fertile opportunity for planting seeds of faith.

We know that there is more to “our” holidays; just like we know that there is more to Christmas than Santa, or more to Easter than a bunny. At times, we may have failed to preserve the sacred nature of our Holy Days, just as we have failed to preserve the ideal in which we were created. The solution is the same, and the truth of Jesus' incarnation, death, and resurrection thankfully does not rely on our abilities to keep tacky “Christmas” products off the shelves or anything we could possibly do ourselves. Christ has done it all.

Praise God that we are made “ideal” through the work of Christ. Praise Him too, that earthly discontents and nostalgia for the true “ideal” holiday have the potential to lead others to the foot of the cross where all our debts were paid in full.

Rachel Tapling teaches current events and language arts to middle school students at Peace, Shelby Township. She is a graduate of Concordia University Ann Arbor and working on her Master's Degree in Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction. She and her husband, Dave, are involved with "GodTalk" ministries in Detroit and are members of St. Peter, Eastpointe. They have been blessed with one child, 3-year-old Mason.

7 Ways Members Can Use Social Media to Give Back to the Church this Christmas

Seth Hinz — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:22:37 +0000

"How can I help?" "Does the church need volunteers?" "I can lift things ... anything."

In your ministry, you may come across individuals looking to serve the church even more, to go further, to almost overdo it, and to give ... and give ... and give even to the point of organizing a Free Hug Day (which is great!). With social media and new technologies, you can equip these spirited cheerleaders like never before.

Here are a few quick and simple ways you can celebrate the Season of Giving by equipping your members to "Give Back" via social media, all of which require little effort on your part.

These ideas assume you have set up a Facebook Fan Page and Twitter account for your church. Foursquare and Google Place recommendations are a matter of claiming venues (we'll get into that in a later post).

1. Donate a Tweet

Ask your members to "Donate a Tweet" per week. Here's one way to execute: start a Twitter account for the church, make sure members know about it, and get them to "follow" your account.

Make your ask: In the bulletin, in pre-service announcements, or on your website show members how they can "Donate a Tweet" by simply taking one tweet out of the regular posting to invite people to church, join the fellowship, etc. Have members "Mention" your church in the tweet and it will instantly tag your church twitter profile, which will be seen by all of your member's followers.

For example, to mention the Michigan District, LCMS in a tweet a person could write, "The staff at @milcms really knows their stuff! Thanks!" By using @milcms in the tweet, the message will be connected to our profile, and followers of that person will be able to click through and view the Michigan District profile.

It's simple, and if your members are passionate about your minstry, it will shine in that tweet. With one tweet a week given by members, you will immediately increase the potential reach of your church's Twitter account by hundreds, if not thousands.

Ready to set up a full-fledged Tweet Donation tracking program, check out JustCoz (http://justcoz.org/).

2. "Share" a Worship Service on Facebook

Utilize the Events application on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events) to post upcoming worship services and church events. Show members how easy it is to "Share" it on their own timelines and "Invite" friends to attend.

Events on Facebook can be shared in many ways: on one's own timeline, on the timeline of a friend, in a private message to a friend on Facebook, as a link sent in an email to a friend, etc.

3. Write a Google Review

Get the honest truth. Ask your members to write a review for your church on Google Places (http://www.google.com/places/). Of course, make sure your business is properly listed on Google prior to encouraging reviews.

The more positive reviews your organization receives from members and even visitors, the higher your organization will rank on Google.

So when a visitor to the area searches Google for "Churches in Frankentrost," your church will be near if not at the top of the list.

Let's face it, in this day in age, many people only have time to consider the top two or three choices. Positive reviews can help!

4. "Like" Church Updates on Facebook

Plain and simple, status updates, photos, and videos that have more "Likes" get more attention. Recruit a few of your most enthusiastic supporters to keep an eye out for your updates. Every time someone clicks "Like" on a Facebook post, it then shows up in their timeline and even their friends can see that member's "likes."

Research has shown that the posts, where organizations or people ask for "Likes" as part of the post, get more "Likes." Let members know that they can help the church spread the message with a quick click. It may seem a little forward, but try it out sometime.

*Note: If you include a request for "Likes" in EVERY post, it will get annoying and become less effective. Use this method sparingly.

5. Forward a Worship Invitation via Email

If you've signed up with an email service like MailChimp, you are no doubt already sending a high quality e-newsletter out to your members.

Every so often, send out an email that is simply an invitation to a church service. Include a very noticeable "Forward to a Friend" button, and encourage members to invite friends and family to worship.

Many people want to invite people they know to church, but they don't know how to bring it up. Help break the ice with an email strictly geared on inviting others.

6. Text an Invite to a Friend

Create a "plain text" QR code at http://www.qrstuff.com/ (yes, they are free to make and use). Enter the invitation text along with a link to your church's website.

Here's what I entered to create the QR code to right.

"I'd like to invite you to church this Sunday. Let me know if you're interested!

9:00 a.m. at http://www.michigandistrict.org"

Try scanning that with your smart phone's QR code reader or barcode scanner and the text should appear. On some smart phones, if not all, the text with a link will appear and provide options to "Share via SMS." The member can then pick out the contact they would like to invite and just click "send."

Once you create the QR code, you'll be able to download the image, which means it can be placed just about anywhere. Include the unique QR code in this week's bulletin with a note on how members can use it. Put up a poster in the narthex, so members can scan it on their way in or out of church.

*If you don't want to go to the extent of creating a QR code, just offer up some sample messages that members could text to their friends.

7. "Check in" at Church via Foursquare and Post to Friends

Foursquare basically takes your day to day life and adds a game element. When someone visit venues, stores, churches, etc., they can "check in" via a Foursquare smart phone application and earn points and unique badges. After checking in, there are options to add a photo and/or a note about what's going on at that particular venue. Once the check-in is complete, a person can elect to share that check-in with friends via Facebook and Twitter.

You may have seen the Foursquare window cling (pictured left) at stores and restaurants. A few ways to encourage members to check in are to place a sticker in the narthex, put the image in the announcements section of the bulletin, on the website, and/or in email newsletters.

Encourage your members to add a note along the lines of, "Please join me every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.!" When friends of your members see the check in on Facebook or Twitter, they'll also receive the invitation to church.

Learn more about claiming your church page on Foursquare at https://foursquare.com/business/merchants.

Ongoing Discussion

How are you equipping your members to "give back" to the church beyond the tithe and standard volunteer activity?

Any unique ways not listed here? We'd love to hear about them!

Photos/Images courtesy Lars Plougmann, Sean MacEntee, Travelin' Librarian, Lamerie via Flickr

Just a Thought #3 - God's Calendar & the Furnace

Just a Thought Series — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:35:33 +0000

I know God doesn’t have a calendar because He doesn’t need one. He’s already present everywhere and He knows all things. But it is an interesting thought and I’m going to get to that later.

You know, so often we, as Christians, wonder about “Where is God?” especially when we face the difficult moments and the trials and temptations in life. I just want you to remember that God keeps His promises and Jesus made some very clear ones to us. “Lo (he said), I am with you always even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). And again, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

I’d like to take you back to the story of the three men in the fiery furnace; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Here were three young men taken from their families, moved into exile into a foreign country. They were all by themselves – literally – and yet we see somehow that they continue to trust and know the promises of God, so much so that there were many of the wise men, the magistrates, the governors, and the prefects of the day that looked at these men that were gaining in influence and they were jealous. And so, they encouraged King Nebuchadnezzar to set up a gigantic idol on the plane of Dura and there Nebuchadnezzar then would issue the decree that everyone was supposed to fall down and worship it. And if you didn’t, you would be thrown into this fiery furnace.

All these other rulers and governors couldn’t wait to tell Nebuchadnezzar that these three men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – these young men had not obeyed. So King Nebuchadnezzar calls them into his presence and their words are truly inspired. Here we see ordinary guys trusting in the promises that they already had – we have far more, by the way, in the New Testament – and they would not bow the knee; they would not say the word. “O king, we want you to know,” they said, “that our God can save us. Our God is able; He is capable. But even if He does not save us, we are not going to bow down to this idol.”

What a wonderful faith. They were trusting in God and God was going to greatly bless them in a very unique way. Nebuchadnezzar said, the Scripture said, his countenance changed toward them; he was filled with rage. And he had some of his strongest soldiers bind these young men up. I kind of picture them wrapped up in duct tape – turbans, robes, everything – and had them carried to this furnace, heated seven times hotter than before, and thrown into the furnace. So hot was this furnace that the soldiers that carried them died. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t even seem to care about that. But what takes place is truly amazing. It’s awesome.

Not only was there a miracle that these three men lived, but there was a divine encounter that took place. Can you imagine what it was like for these three men in the furnace wondering what the pain was going to feel like? The searing pain; how long they would feel it, when would they die, when would their lungs be filled with fire, would their life be extinguished? And yet, when they opened their eyes, they’re in the fire. They’re no longer tied or bound. There’s not even the smell of smoke, we find out later, on their clothing. Nothing is even singed. That’s a great miracle. But the divine encounter that takes place is even more awesome.

King Nebuchadnezzar says, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire? Don’t I see four? And the fourth one shines like a son of the gods.”

I believe that that fourth person was the pre-incarnate Christ. It was Jesus Himself. First of all, it’s just kind of like something that He would do, be with His children in the most difficult of circumstances. And it’s also really kind of set up in the Hebrew to make one believe, I think, that it was Jesus Christ.

Luther believes that. So many other commentators do as well. Here they have, perhaps, the best small group meeting ever, Jesus and these three men. What an awesome time they had together. You know these are three ordinary men that had great conviction. They trusted the Word of God, were empowered by God to continue to believe in Him, and God never left them or forsook them. I hope you hear the echoes of God’s promises to us, “I will never leave you or forsake you. Lo, I am with you always even until the end of the age.” As those three men were there, it’s kind of interesting to remember that they were not going to worship that idol. They were only going to worship the true God. And they end up in the fire not worshiping the idol but worshiping, I believe, the true God. What they thought would be the most dangerous place to end up, because of their faith, yet trusting, turned out to be the safest place of all because Jesus was there. I believe that this encounter with Jesus marked them forever as every encounter with Jesus Christ does.

I want to get back to that thought. I know that God doesn’t have a calendar, but just imagine with me that He does. And what if that calendar on His refrigerator said at 10 a.m. on that Friday, or whatever day it was, “meet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace”? What if they hadn’t shown up? God is always present with us. We need to endure whatever comes our way. Jesus never promised us an easy life. None of the heroes of the faith ever had it easy before God. Rather, they experienced really the truth of all of Jesus’ teaching; if you believe in me you will have a great big God. You will have outrageous joy but you probably will always be in trouble. But this God will never leave us or forsake us.

Friends, I want to encourage you that no matter what difficulty you are going through, to remember to keep going forward in the faith, holding onto the promises that you have, and know that God will meet you in the furnace. I believe that these men held onto one of the great promises in the Old Testament that we find in Isaiah 43 (1-3). “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid I am with you.”

What a marvelous promise from God. God makes the same promise to us. May we be found faithful as we continue to walk with Him. I think our names probably are on God’s calendar at different times. And I pray that we show up.

Just a thought.

Chess and Checkers

Bruce Braun — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:00:46 +0000

Growing up, one of my favorite ways to pass the time was playing checkers. It was a quick game with little set-up needed, and I could find and train willing opponents easily. There were no fancy rules or tricky movements; each checker piece did the same thing. When I reached the middle grades, I became excited about using my same checker board but with new pieces to play chess. This game took more skill and thought because each piece had a different strength and movement pattern. I enjoyed learning how to deal with all the differences and possibilities in the pieces I maneuvered.

My belief is that relationships are the key to school ministry. Watching leaders in the church, I can see how these two games are reflected in philosophies about people.

On one hand, there are many leaders who still treat everyone the same, ignoring the differences in personality, learning styles, and communication that make the individuals they serve unique. Disregarding these differences can have a major impact on their ability to minister to those that God has called them to teach, lead, or minister.

On the other hand is the chess-like approach to relationships. When I accept people as different, I save time because I don’t waste it trying to change them to be like everyone else. Rather, I ask God to help me use their uniqueness to build the Kingdom. This recognition helps them to feel accountable for their unique role and it helps to foster a “sense of team” because we acknowledge (and appreciate) that others often do things we are not skilled to do.

When I watch how Jesus relates to people in Scripture, I see Him using the chess approach and not the checkers approach. He knew Peter’s personality when He asked Peter to walk on water. He knew John’s bond with His mother when he talked to them from the cross. He didn’t tell every disciple to do the same thing, but instead gifted them uniquely to be used differently in Kingdom work.

Teachers in Lutheran Schools are encouraged to learn about their children and use each child's God-given traits to help them develop and grow. God offers us insight into how we might encourage each child to work in the Kingdom. Some children need a hug, others a challenge, some a carrot, and others encouragement. Not all need the same thing at the same time because they were created different.

This Advent we look at shepherds and wise men who reacted differently to the same message, “A Savior is Born!” May you and I use different approaches as we share that same message with the unique people we encounter during this Advent season.

The above thoughts are based on an illustration from “Habitudes “ by Dr. Tim Elmore.

Photo courtesy Mukumbura via Flickr

10+ Ways Churches Use Social Media

Seth Hinz — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:19:57 +0000

Okay, it's really a list of 15 ways to use social media.

Utilizing Social Media Tools

Let me start by saying that social media is simply another tool in your toolbox that can be used to communicate with your congregation and community. Similar to phone calls, emails, and good old fashioned face-to-face interaction, social media offers you ways to connect with others.

Caveat

You will most likely not get 5,000 fans on your Facebook fan page in the first week. You may never even reach 500. What is important is that you are using communication tools that make sense for your audience. Building a community and making your efforts worthwhile takes time. Much like any communication effort, social media needs a strategy. Because there is no “one way” to use social media tools, your church will need to consider the ways in which you want to reach out and connect with the online world.

10 15 Tech & Social Media Uses

When evaluating your communication strategy, I encourage you to consider the following ways in which churches are using social and new media.

#1 Post sermon audio

Upload files to your own web host OR use a service like Sermon Cloud to host your sermon audio files. They offer a free plan that will host up to 52 sermons (upgraded plans cost extra).
From there, Sermon Cloud integrates directly with iTunes by offering an RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed, which creates a podcast for people to subscribe to and receive every sermon to their portable device. You can also link to the file from or embed a player on your website.
To learn more about these processes, I recommend the following resources:
- Sermon Cloud - http://www.sermoncloud.com/
- Sermon Podcasting Tutorial - http://www.faithengineer.com/2007/01/sermon-podcasting-tutorial-for-small.html
- Podcasting - http://churchcommunicationspro.com/2006/11/sermon-podcasting-made-easy/

#2 Post welcome / announcement video messages

Recording video messages can be done with even the most basic cell phone these days. To get quality image and audio settings, you’ll need decent video, audio, and lighting equipment. At the District, we use Canon handheld cameras with Rode Mics for inputs (these have been used to film videos like those in the "Just a Thought" Series).

For a simple, barebones, inexpensive recording solution you could use the following setup.

Video

Basic, Barebones
- Logitech 1080p Webcam Pro C910 - Microphone comes built-in
District setup
- Video - Canon Vixia HF S21
- Audio - RØDE Videomic
- Lighitng - Kit from CowboyStudio
- We used the Canon Vixia HF S21 because we record longer conference presentations and there are time limitations on single takes.
- If you are shooting shorter takes, you can look at the Canon DSLR series to get that "film" effect with great focusing features. Here's a video shot with Canon 7D and here's a video tutorial.

Lighting

When shooting video, lighting is perhaps the most important element
Controlling lighting with a setup similar to this would be great.

Are you recording videos at your church? Please share your video tech setup in the comments section below!

#3 Stream worship services over the Internet

Broadcasting worship services over the Internet has become a very popular way for churches to reach beyond the building (we understand this does not take the place of true Word & Sacrament) . This is a popular option for shut-in ministry, worship archives, and sermon series catch-up for families that may have missed a service.

Some of the popular services include

#4 - Post a playlist of videos to songs from Sunday’s service

Creating a playlist of YouTube videos is easy. This tutorial will show you how.

#5 - Post a blog

Start up a free blog at wordpress.com - with a few clicks of the mouse you are up and running in no time. Wordpress blogs automatically generate an RSS Feed that can be shared and subscribed to in a variety of ways (e.g. email digest, RSS feed readers, etc), ensuring that your members receive the messages in a way that works for them.

#6 - Conduct polls via Questions on Facebook

Questions is an application on Facebook that allows you to create a question, input the possible responses, allow for additional responses, and share with anyone.

Facebook Questions - https://www.facebook.com/questions/

Conducting polls can be a great way of learning more about your congregation's members. Ever wonder how much they know about the Book of Concord? Ask them!

#7 - Send out weekly & monthly e-newsletters with MailChimp

We touched on the simplicity and “freeness” of MailChimp in a previous post. MailChimp lets you add up to 2,000 emails for free and allows you to send up to 12,000 emails each month. Even if you max out at 2,000 email addresses, you can still send up to 6 email messages each month.

Churches can use this avenue to share weekly thoughts on a current sermon series or Bible study. You could also share prayer notifications, ministry updates, volunteer opportunities, and event reminders.

E-newsletters should remain consistent, if possible, always appearing on the same day and around the same time to maintain a sense of continuity from week to week, or month to month.

Try not to send out too many emails. Members might start to think of it as spam / junkmail.

#8 - Schedule e-newsletter info to also go out throughout the week or month via Facebook & Twitter

Rather than saving all that good content for a once a week/month e-newsletter blast, you can also schedule your announcements to also go out via Facebook and Twitter using a social media management tool like Hootsuite.

Hootsuite is free to setup and connects to all major social networking platforms. From the Hootsuite dashboard, you'll be able to post messages immediately to your social network profiles or schedule posts to go out on a certain date and time. Putting space between your posts will help your ministry to avoid the "clutter" that would overwise fill a member's Mini-Feed and potentially influence them to "unlike" your Facebook page.

#9 - Discuss & highlight one of the church’s ministries

Highlight a ministry in your posts – Is your men’s ministry working at a Habitat for Humanity project this weekend? Take pictures, get interviews, and upload everything to Facebook.

Have an amazing choir? Record them singing some Christmas, Lenten, or Holy Week hymns, post them to YouTube, and share them on Facebook and Twitter.

#10 - Post upcoming event reminders

Not only can you have calendars on your website, but Facebook has calendars for fan pages too. Post all of your events to your Facebook fan page to allow members to set Facebook reminders about events and even share the events with friends.

https://www.facebook.com/events

An RSVP to Facebook events does not (and should not) replace a normal RSVP, if required. It does, however, allow a member to have the event appear their Facebook events list. Once there, it serves as a continual reminder about the upcoming event.

#11 - Provide venue for members to connect with each other

Posting volunteer opportunities, carpool information, and other opportunities on Facebook will provide an open door for conversation and engagement for members and guests.

#12 - Follow-up with new members (can be combined with teaching)

Send a private message to a new member on Facebook. Let them know you’re available to talk. Send them links to helpful resources. Basically, make yourself available without going overboard.

#13 - Start a Facebook Group for New Members, Small Groups, and Ministry Efforts

Facebook Groups gives group members a private space to interact. Updates, questions, photos, and events posted within groups will only be shared with those who have access to the group.

Controlling visibility: Groups can be set up as Secret, Closed, or Open. If "Secret," the group and its posts will only be visible to those are are members. "Closed" groups mean that the group can be searched for and seen by the general public, however, non-members will not be able to see any posts within the group, just that it exists. Finally, "Open" groups can be searched for and seen by everyone, including all the posts that have been made.

https://www.facebook.com/groups

#14 - Connect with other church leaders RE: social media topics

Every Tuesday, there is a Twitter chat using the hashtag #chsocm - Read previous chats at http://churchsocmed.blogspot.com/.

When Twitter users put a hashtag (the "#" symbol) before a word in a tweet, it automatically links to other tweets that have included that same hashtag. By utilizing a unique hashtag you can start to build a dialogue on Twitter. Setting up a scheduled time for users to join in and use the hashtag creates a chat environment. One example of this would be Church Social Media, which uses the hashtag #chsocm. Every Tuesday night, users tweet with that hashtag to discuss issues relevant to social media and the church.

Join in at 9:00 p.m. EST every Tuesday night!

#15 - Post links to videos and blogs created by others that share the same theology and doctrine

You don’t need to generate all the content yourself!

Grab a direct link to a YouTube video you want to share and post it to Facebook. The video will now play within Facebook and your friends can see the video without having to click over to YouTube to see it. It makes sharing videos much simpler.

Ongoing Discussion

These are just 15 ways to use social media tools to help connect with and engage your membership via social media and new technology. To be completely honest and cliche, there are an infinite number of possiblities that exist in social media, and new ways to connect arrive every day.

My recommendation would be to sit down with your communication strategy, target some new opportunities and TRY ONE. Test the waters. See if that one new type of communication works for you. If it catches on, make it sustainable, and then build from there.

You can't do everything. It's just not possible. But you can try one and go from there.

As always, if you have comments, suggestions, or questions, please post them in the comment section below or contact me directly at seth.hinz@michigandistrict.org.

God's blessings on your ministries!

Photo courtesy Kevin Krejci via Flickr

Get Creative! 6+ Free Resources for Religious Artwork & Videos

Seth Hinz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:22:08 +0000

Creating high quality artwork for a sermon series is easy… if you have a full-time staff of talented creative types, whose sole job is creating graphics and videos for worship.

Up to a few years ago, we were left with very few options: we could freelance a member, pin all of our hopes and dreams on motivated volunteer, or just accept that the sermon series would be completely text based.

Today, however, the “world wide web” is giving us creative freedom. There are dozens of high quality, FREE church graphics and videos websites at our disposal (as well as thousands of paid options).

Let’s hone in on the FREE.

CreationSwap

What it is

CreationSwap describes its offerings in this way

“Church media shared or sold by thousands of Christian artists. Search photos, logos, church bulletins, sermon graphics and more. Download our media or have it customized, printed and shipped to you, or print your own.”

While there are graphics for sale, many artworks are available to download for free.

Here’s what you can do:

Download, Print, and Project to Screen

Photos
PowerPoint Slides
Postcards (limited free options)
Bulletin Covers
Banners (no free options.. yet)
Invitation Cards (limited free options)
Logos
Vector Art

While you're browsing graphics, be sure to remember that just because something is labeled as a “Bulletin” doesn’t mean it can’t be used for a PowerPoint slide. Find the artwork that works for your church and message.

Sample Resources from CreationSwap


Example 1: Christmas Bulletin		Example 2: Thanksgiving Art

Example 4: Welcome Slide		Example 3: Prodigal Son Slides

Example 5: Logo Leaf		Example 6: Logo Diamond

Prior to using artwork, be sure to review the Terms of Service to ensure you are in compliance.

NLC Creative

What it is

NLC Creative is a database of resources created by the team at newlifechurch.tv. At some point, the creative team determined it was more blessed to give than to receive and began graciously offering up excellent sermon series artwork as well as quality motion background videos (motion backgrounds are those videos that are typically played behind the words being projected onto a screen in the front of church).

Sermon Series Artwork Bundles

The artwork bundles from NLC Creative include not only graphics, but web banners, slides, road signs, bulletin shells, and more. Explore!


Example 1 - Kingdom		Example 2 - The Holy Bible

Example 3 - Silent Night		Example 4 - Christmas

Example 5 - The Chase		Example 6 - Balance

Motion Backgrounds



View all the motion backgrounds here

More Free Resources

List from this blog

Seeds - Download series artwork, videos, and other resources

Graceway Media - Limited number of "Freebies" and you'll need an account to access them

Muddy River Media - Lots of free stuff, you'll need an account.

Flickr Creative Commons - Using Advanced Search, you can browse thousands of images and videos that are in the Creative Commons (most require some sort of attribution)

For a much longer list of free ministry tools, check out the Free Church Graphics and Resources Toolbox

Disclaimer: Each site has its own terms of service and usage policies, check to make sure you are in compliance.

Michigan District, LCMS Disclaimer: As many of these resources are not generated by LCMS organizations, artwork and videos should be reviewed and approved prior to utilizing, in order to remain doctrinally sound. Please use discretion or consult your pastor on doctinal issues.

Getting Creative

CreationSwap and NLC Creative are two examples of the great resources out there to help you "get creative" on a church-friendly budget. I hope these resources are useful to you and a blessing for your ministry!

Are you utilizing any other resources that others should know about? Please share them in the comments below!

Photo courtesy smohundro via Flickr

WWJD - What Would Jesus Do?

Roosevelt Gray — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:42:28 +0000

WWJD - “What Would Jesus Do?”

Do you remember that acronym from over 10 years ago? Seemingly everyone had it on their bumper stickers, t-shirts, bracelets, and readily available from their lips during a conversation or as a motto. It was one of those phrase fads that are common among Christians as we seek to make known who we are and what we confess in Jesus. It came, it spoke, it blazed, and then it faded.

Christ, Christianity, and Christian confession are not phrase fads we put on billboards or market for a generation of current Christians to proclaim who we are and what we confess. Christ, Christianity, and Christian confession are the foundations of the faith life of Christian believers as we live out our lives in relationship with the Triune God.

“The Christian religion is faith in the Gospel, that is, faith in the divine message that through the substitutionary satisfaction of Christ God is already reconciled to all men,” (Christian Dogmatics, Francis Pieper, Volume 1, pg. 9).

The Gospel!

“We shall now return to the Gospel, which offers counsel and help against sin in more than one way, for God is surpassingly rich in his grace: First, through the spoken word, by which the forgiveness of sin (the peculiar function of the Gospel) is preached to the whole world; second, through Baptism; third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar; fourth, through the power of keys; and finally, through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren. Matt. 18:20, ‘Where two or three are gathered,’ etc,”(The Book of Concord, the Smaldcald Articles IV, pg. 310).

What Would Jesus Do?

He would do “The Gospel, because He is The Gospel,” not a passing phrase or the latest fad. Jesus would be rich in mercy and forgiveness toward all sinners as they confess their sins to God. Jesus would wash sinners in the waters of Baptism, rebirthing and renewing them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus would dine with sinners in His New Covenant as He feeds and sustains them with His Body and Blood for life, liberty, and pursuit of temporal and eternal happiness. Jesus would hear sinners’ confessions and offer His forgiveness as His authority from God and as He has given this authority to His Church. Jesus would empower His Church to have concern, care, and compassion for all people in daily living from death and the devil.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1-2).

Four Evangelistic Approaches

Richard Phillips’ book, Jesus the Evangelist, looks at how Jesus encountered the woman at the Jacob’s well (John 4:1-42) and draws out several features of the evangelist approach of Jesus.

The FIRST approach - Jesus cared for the lost. Jesus cared for this woman so much that he made a great detour in his route simply so he could encounter her. He was weary after his journey because he expended himself in journeying to her. “For many of us, the first step in doing evangelism is simply to care enough for the lost to become weary in the gospel,” says Phillips.

“Realizing sacrificial care for your soul ought to inspire you to care for the salvation of people you know and love, that He might send you as His witness to them.”

The SECOND approach - Jesus crossed a boundary that separated this woman from God. This Samaritan woman would never have come to Jerusalem where Jesus did much of his ministry. She may eventually have heard of him, but would never have ventured into the city to witness his teaching and miracles. As a Samaritan and a serial adulterer, she was hated and reviled. She was not welcome in Jerusalem. So Jesus crossed the boundaries and went to where she was.

The THIRD approach - Jesus connected with people on a personal level. We see Jesus making a real and a deep personal connection with this woman, not regarding her as just anyone—just another person, just another face—but caring for her specifically.

The FOURTH approach - Jesus communicated good news to the women. Jesus offered to this woman the good news in her world of bad news—he offered himself, the one thing she needed most.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“… that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

During the Reformation, Luther brought back to the church a simple witnessing tool—Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone in Christ Alone!

WWJD! What Would Jesus Do? – He would Care, Cross, Connect, and Communicate. JDI! Just Do It!

Witnessing principles we can learn from Jesus in His Word:

Text: John 4:1-42

Theme: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at [Jacob’s] Well

Read vv.1-9

1. What was the background of Jesus going through Samaria?

a. Context - i.e., environment, framework, situation

2. What was the purpose of this conversation?

a. Conversation - i.e., immediacy, rationale, motivation

3. What barriers did Jesus cross in speaking with this woman?

a. Contextualization - i.e., culture specifics, language, indigenous[indigenization]

4. What were the Transformational Results?

a. Communication – i.e., change, alteration, conversion

Five Principles

Principle 1: Seize the God-given opportunities to give away your faith

Principle 2: Ignite interest in spiritual matters

Principle 3: Be a friend, not a judge

Principle 4: Stick to what is important

Principle 5: Present Christ openly and directly

“Take time to pray for and share Christ with each other”

“Andrew Principle” - Download

Additional Resources

Outreach Magazine: Evangelism Books & Media

Outreach Magazine: 8 Ways Your Church Can Ignite Outreach

Photo Courtesy Tobey_Cat via Flickr

2012 Michigan District Convention

Debby Fall — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:28:01 +0000

On June 24, 2012, delegates to the 100^th Regular Michigan District Convention will convene on the campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor.

2012 Theme

The theme, “Imagine … Living as God’s Forgiven and Forgiving Family,” is based on Ephesians 3:20-21:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

The convention logo was designed by Michigan District Art Director Jenna Szpara and encompasses the convention theme and Bible verse. It was also inspired by The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s three-fold emphasis for the church “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.” The convention logo highlights the Life Together portion in which the church lives together as God’s forgiven and forgiving family.

Special Guests

Special convention guests include Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Harrison will preach at the opening service and provide presentations and a question and answer period during sessions. Rev. Mandla Khumalo of St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church in South Africa will be the essayist. From its humble beginnings in the late 80s, St. Peter’s has baptized over 21,000 people and now includes 10 churches, seven preaching stations, and schools educating over 1,250. The congregation also began an AIDS ministry to patients and orphans who have lost both parents and provides an AIDS prevention program for teens. Khumalo’s testimony of God’s grace and mercy as a youth and his work in pointing others to Christ in South Africa is sure to inspire.

Nominations, Forms, Etc.

A call for nominations for elected positions was mailed to congregations, and overtures may be submitted online. The Nomination Committee Chairman is Rev. Dr. Scott Sommerfeld. An overture template, forms, and other pertinent information can be found by clicking here.

Please begin to pray, plan, and prepare for the 2012 Michigan District Convention, “Imagine … Living as God’s Forgiven and Forgiving Family.”

Remembering the Eighth Commandment

Bruce Braun — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:18:03 +0000

Stick & Stones

Growing up, I repeatedly heard

“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

This statement has been proven false with some of the latest research on “bullying” saying just the opposite. Physical wounds often heal quicker than emotional wounds caused by those who we thought were our friends, or at least friendly acquaintances.

E-Bullying

Bullying, especially over the Internet, is being discussed in many school settings—including Lutheran schools. It seems the anonymity of the Internet has led students to believe they can often say terrible things about their classmates and expect few consequences in return. Often, this instant and wide spread electronic bullying causes severe harm and disruption to the victims and their families. Many children report being “bullied” electronically and many students admit to using the Internet to cause harm to another.

Lutheran schools attempt to revisit the meaning to the eighth commandment. What does this mean? “We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him and explain everything in the kindest way.”

The Cultural Norm

Imagine being a child and looking at the examples seen in our culture. Politicians attack each other through half truths and innuendo, celebrities and sports stars verbally spar using the worst case scenario to describe each other.

How about the adults they know and love? What example do children see when they watch mom and dad, teachers and pastors, members of their congregation, and their family? Often times, adults forget the teachings of their youth (eighth commandment meaning) but revert to how our culture handles things. Shouldn’t we all try to speak well about our neighbor? How would our culture be different if we explained everything in the kindest way?

Value Added

It is often said, “values are caught not taught.” We daily have the opportunity to reflect how the Scriptures influence our life by how we treat others. Perhaps, the adults in the church need to review the meaning of the eighth commandment. Maybe the cases of bullying would lessen if we saw more examples of the positive, and concentrated less on how Satan would have us act. If our beliefs do not influence our behavior, why do we have our beliefs?

Lutheran schools are not perfect. They face challenges from the culture, the media, and the accepted norm. Perhaps it is time we adults looked at the eighth commandment and its meaning for the benefit of the Kingdom and our children.

Talk to your school about what they are doing to combat bullying and about what you can do to help.

We are “Blessed” to be a blessing. May you and I, powered by the Holy Spirit, be up to that challenge on a daily basis.

Photo courtesy Marco Gomes via Flickr

Michigan In Touch: Reimagined, Redesigned, Refocused

Debby Fall — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:53:27 +0000

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - The Michigan District is excited to announce the delivery of its first redesigned issue of Michigan In Touch! We pray that you will find the magazine inspiring, challenging, and a catalyst for your spiritual life and ministry.

A Little History

In 1999, the District communications department was established and began to define, strategize, and implement three major communication avenues. These included: changing the printed newsletter and District newspaper (The Michigan Lutheran) into a magazine, using email to develop an e-bulletin for timely news, and expanding the current website for resources. Throughout the next 10 years, several adjustments and revisions were made according to needs.

Communications Evaluation

In 2009, the District conducted a communication's evaluation to assess its strategies. Broad-based surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations (some of which you, the reader, may have been part of), had a major role in this process. Over the course of two years, with the evaluation recommendations, progress was made in implementing several new approaches which included the hiring of a Web/Media Director, adding social media (Facebook and Twitter), redesigning the e-bulletin (aka Michigan Minute), launching a new website, and undertaking an extensive branding initiative. This initiative included the design of a new logo, the development of a tagline, and the art and content redesign of Michigan In Touch.

New Michigan In Touch Purpose Statement

The purpose of Michigan In Touch is to engage readers through articles that:

point to Christ's work in and through us,
challenge growth in faith through continuous study of God's Word,
increase awareness of present-day issues,
motivate readers to action,
build community among believers,
and encourage and inspire.

Michigan In Touch Features

Some of the magazine's new features include: a reorganization of regional news; further department focus such as Mission Outreach, Encouragement, Apologetics, New Media, and the cross marketing of communication avenues by integrating Internet opportunities. Also new to the magazine, all front section articles are online in blog format encouraging conversation with potential opportunity for networking.

Professional church workers, congregation leaders, and laity of the District continue to contribute most of the magazine's content. A more concise description of writer guidelines has been established, and stories, images, and photographs can be submitted online. We certainly will continue to accept story and new author leads.

Michigan In Touch continues to be underwritten by its advertisers and subsidized by the District budget. Affordable rates and display size options allow advertisers the flexibility they need to reach new clients and customers. The magazine's circulation of over 31,000 increases the potential rate of return for new and existing advertisers.

A bulk subscription is delivered, at no cost, to each congregation based on its average worship attendance or as changed by request on the District's yearly database update forms. All professional church workers receive home delivery. Subscriptions are also available to other interested parties ($10 for six issues).

The website houses an archive of past issues and the MIT blog will serve as the new archive for future issues.

As always, this magazine is written for you and by you and strives to be a compilation of articles that point to Christ, share God's Word, and celebrates the journey, joys, and challenges of the ministry that He has entrusted to His people in the Michigan District, LCMS.

May God bless us all to that end!

Debby Fall
Assistant to the President - Communications
Michigan District, LCMS

How to Develop a Stewardship Culture

Richard J. Wolfram — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:37:10 +0000

As defined, stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." How does this play out in our churches? How can we develop stronger cultures of stewardship within our congregations?

"The vision for stewardship in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is that the stewardship culture in every congregation would be one where every professional church worker, every man, women, and child would know that they are God’s steward by His grace, live as His disciples, and manage the gifts He entrusts to them with joy and generosity—all so that His purposes would be accomplished and His mission enhanced." (source)

Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees

To help churches affect change in their congregations, the Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees program was established.

Audience:

Pastors, Professional Church Workers, Congregational Leaders

Purpose:

To provide a stewardship event for stewardship leaders in Michigan District congregations so that they might have a greater awareness of their own stewardship life and provide meaningful stewardship education in their congregations.

Goals:

Attendees will …

1. Understand that the Gospel is what makes stewardship distinctively Christian in content, in method, and in motivation.
2. Have an appreciation and understanding of what it means to be God’s steward.
3. Have an appreciation and understanding of the stewardship role of the church in participating in God’s mission.
4. Be encouraged to model and teach stewardship in their congregation.
5. Be provided fundamental and practical tools to begin implementation of a strategy for stewardship education in their congregation.

Assumptions:

1. That individual Christians struggle relating stewardship to all of life.
2. That congregations struggle in intentionally providing whole life, year round stewardship education.
3. That congregations struggle in funding their mission and maintaining their facilities.
4. That congregations struggle at getting people actively involved in service.
5. That congregations struggle to maintain adequate compensation and care support for their professional church workers.

Benefits:

1. Congregations operating from a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity.
2. Congregations experiencing a renewed mission focus.
3. Congregations receiving increased funding for God’s mission.
4. Congregations having renewed ability to identify and mobilize resources.
5. Congregations availing themselves to effective stewardship resources.
6. Christians are experiencing the joy of a stewardship life “Following Christ.”

Process:

Four Components:

Theological
Missional
Transformational
Practical

Basic Structure:

Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees is a stewardship education process. Materials are available for stewardship events that will take place over a six year period. Each event will include the following:

A Bible study begins each session.

Two stewardship questions are asked to get the participants thinking about the issues presented.

A teaching time is provided where the leader focuses the attention of the participants on the stewardship issue.

A time for small group discussion is provided so participants have an opportunity to react to the material presented and respond to specific questions regarding a stewardship issue.

A stewardship prayer is provided as well as a listing of the Biblical Stewardship Principles. Definitions and quotes are provided in boxed sidebars to give further information.

More Information

If you would like more information please contact me at the Michigan District Office at 734-213-3237 - visit the Faith Aflame webpage

Photo Courtesy nist6ss via Flickr

Friendship Ablaze! Evangelism

Roosevelt Gray — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:56:11 +0000

You have just received some really good news. You are engaged to be married! You got the position for which you interviewed! You are going to be a grandparent! You are "ablaze" with desire to tell a friend the good news. Who would that friend be?

Think about your friend.

What is the history of your friendship?
What qualities in that relationship make the friendship special?

Consider a few more questions:

Does the history of your friendship include a spiritual connection?
Are you and your friend members of the same church?
Did you have an influence on your friend coming to faith in Jesus Christ, or did the friend have an influence on your faith development?
Did the words “lost” or “Christian,” “unchurched” or “churched” enter into your thoughts about your friend?

The reality is that friends and family members significantly influence how most people become Christians and find a church home. To ignore the spiritual dimensions of a friendship is a significant oversight in terms of outreach and spiritual growth through the church. The Holy Spirit fills all our friendships with spiritual power and spiritual opportunities. The Spirit wants us to have friendships Ablaze! with His fire.

The calling of the first disciples, Peter, his brother Andrew, John, and his brother James, by Jesus were the calling of family and friends and colleagues. (Mark 1:16-20) Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house and a large crowd of tax collectors and others came. (Luke 5:28, 19)

Friendship evangelism begins from the inside out. Friendship Ablaze! begins with a relationship of faith in Jesus Christ. (John 15:14-15)

Friendship with God begins and continues with a focus on the cross of Jesus Christ. It is sustained by the confession of sins and the wonderful assurance of forgiveness. (1 John 1:8-10) It is the mercy, grace, and love of God which you have received that you also share with friends in order to make spiritual connections. This is truly Friendship Ablaze! with the Spirit's power. It is the source of all our friendships Ablaze!

Here are five Bible studies to help get started with Friendship Ablaze!

May God graciously bless all of us as we seek to grow in Friendship Ablaze!

Photo courtesy Ed Yourdon via Flickr

The Value of a Mirror

Bruce Braun — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:07:28 +0000

For most of us, the first person we see every morning, besides our spouse, is that strange looking person in the mirror. The mirror is a wonderful tool that allows us to see what areas look okay and what areas need to be addressed for us to successfully make it through the day.

NLSA - Facing the Mirror

National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) serves as a mirror for Lutheran schools. This rigorous self-study process allows a congregation to spend months looking at its Lutheran school to determine a "future course of action" to follow.This self-study is then validated by a visiting team that seeks to affirm that "future course of action" needed to continue to be an effective school ministry. NLSA looks at many aspects of school life, but especially focuses on mission and striving for excellence. NLSA asks questions such as, "Does this Lutheran school intentionally 'Share Jesus' with those who don’t yet know Him?" and "Does the school build disciples with families of those who do know Him?" The second part investigates whether or not a school has built a strategy that allows for ongoing improvement in developing skills needed to be a good citizen and experience academic success at the next level of education.

Perry Bresemann, Associate Director of Lutheran Schools, talks about six words for a Lutheran school:

Christ Centered
Academically Excellent
Responsibly Operated

NLSA looks at all areas of the school to determine if these six words are valid in the culture of the congregation’s school.

Six Michigan Schools Recognized in 2010-11

In the Michigan District, we celebrate six schools, which were recognized by the LCMS for their accreditation study and visits completed in 2010-11.These six are:

1. Guardian, Dearborn - Website

2. Immanuel, Frankentrost - Website

3. Immanuel-St. James, Grand Rapids - Website

4. West Shore, Muskegon - Website

5. Trinity, Port Huron - Website

6. Trinity, Traverse City - Website

We thank God for the NLSA process that allows us to study ourselves and continually challenges us to improve. We give Him the glory for the recognition given His schools in the Michigan District.

Photo Courtesy cwmeek via Flickr

How to Setup a Free E-newsletter with MailChimp

Seth Hinz — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:40:03 +0000

Church and School E-news

If your church or school is considering or already sending out an e-newsletter to members or parents, I’d suggest you consider MailChimp in your discussions.

Link to MailChimp

MailChimp for Churches Guide

MailChimp is one of the most feature-rich email newsletter programs on the market today. Best of all: they offer “The Forever Free Plan”.

MailChimp's Forever Free Plan

MailChimp offers users a free plan, which allows for 0-2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. This means for churches and schools that if you have a church membership of 500, you can send about 24 emails a month. I would never recommend sending out 24 emails a month to your subscriber list, but for a weekly or even a monthly e-newsletter, you’re pretty much guaranteed to stay in the “Free Zone”.

For full pricing details and gain further understanding about the features offered to free plans, visit MailChimp Pricing.

*Note: If you go over 2,000 subscribers, you'll need to pay to use MailChimp. That being said, if you're at 2,000 subscribers, you're doing pretty good!

Extra Features

MailChimp’s feature list is divided into seven categories: Design, Publish, Share, Track, Manage, Integrate, and Mobile. Here are the most interesting features within each category.

Design
- Template Gallery – Hundreds of customizable email templates that will allow you to maintain your branding and create amazing-looking emails.
Publish
- Dynamic Content – “Build one email, then display different content based on criteria you specify.” For example, a newsletter about church activities could be set up to show different activities to parents than it would to seniors.
Share
- Social Sharing – One cool feature within Social Sharing allows you to display your Facebook profiles in your newsletter, and include your most recent status updates.
Track
- Tracking - In addition to social network tracking, MailChimp has powerful Open and Click Tracking, which allows you to see who is clicking through links and what the most popular content is.
Manage
- Email Delivery – MailChimp stays on the frontline of deliverability by tracking their whitelist status, predicting bad behavior in an email newsletter, and monitoring bounce activity constantly – all of which ensures your messages can reach your audience without delay.
Integrate
- MailChimp integrates with hundreds of third-party apps and programs. You’ll need to check out the integration pages for full details. One example is Survey Monkey integration, which allows you to create in-depth, high quality surveys within Survey Monkey and then connects with MailChimp to deliver your survey invitations to your constituents.
Mobile
- MailChimp offers a few features for mobile use as well. Chimpadeedee, for example, allows you to gather email addresses on a Mac or PC. The program can be set up and run much like a kiosk.

I hope these features get you excited about your potential e-newsletter campaigns. Best of all, remember that MailChimp is FREE for 0-2,000 subscribers and you can send out 12,000 emails a month!

Not Sure Where to Start?

Whether you are already a pro or simply wanting to reach your congregation and parents with one monthly update, MailChimp has an extensive resource library of guides that will help you hone your skills quickly. Guides include: Getting Started with MailChimp, Email Marketing Field Guide, MailChimp for Nonprofits, and many more!

Discuss

Join the conversation... click below and comment on these or other questions.

Is your church or school already sending out an e-newsletter?
How often are you sending it out?
What features seem to get the most positive feedback/reception?

What is Your Choice?

Richard J. Wolfram — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Are you a Christian? Are you a Disciple? Are you a Steward?

"A Christian is a child of the Holy Spirit, an heir of eternal life, a companion to the holy angels, a ruler of the world and a partaker of God’s divine nature. He is a wonder of the world, a terror of Satan, an ornament of the church, a desirable object of heaven with a heart full of supplications and with hands full of good works." - Martin Luther

A disciple is simply "one who follows Christ and learns from him.” “What we do as Christians is always secondary to, and a result of, who we are as children of God. Our actions flow from our attitude, an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ." - Robert Kolb

A steward is a child of God who realizes his/her role in life as a partner, a trustee, a manager, a caretaker or temporary custodian of gifts that belong to God. The Christian steward receives God’s precious gifts gratefully, manages God’s precious gifts carefully and responsibly, shares God’s precious gifts with others generously, and returns God’s precious gifts joyfully with increase. – Faith Aflame 360 Degrees, Year One

Personal Spiritual Discipline

When we talk about our identity as Christian stewards it presupposes that we are Christians and disciples. It also implies a level of personal spiritual discipline with law/gospel implications.

PERSONAL: 1) Of, pertaining to, or concerning a particular person; individual; private

SPIRITUAL: 1) Pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature. Ruach (Hebrew) - pneumatic embrace, God embraces me and I tune in to His will (that impels me to action/Gospel imperative). I choose to bear fruit (good works/active righteousness/sanctification).

DISCIPLINE: 1) Training to act in accordance with rules; drill 2) Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill (something you do).

TWO FORMS OF DISCIPLINE

Imposed discipline: Do it or else (there will be consequences if you don't - law oriented). In the military, that's where basic training begins.

Self discipline: I do it because I want to. I have learned to do it (it's second nature – Gospel oriented).

When you choose God (third use of the law, or active righteousness) it is because He first chose you (gospel), and then enabled you (by working faith in you) to choose Him (sanctification), or not. That's the choice!

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15 NIV).

The choices we make as disciples and stewards are related to our personal core values, our bedrock beliefs, those things we would die for. How passionate are you for Jesus and the Gospel? Would you choose to die for him? If "yes" is your answer it translates into action (active righteousness), which is being about the Father's business. That business involves your relationship with God, with yourself, with your neighbor, and with creation. That is what being a steward is all about. It means that you are about the task of helping to prepare people to live with Jesus in the new world He is preparing and will bring when He returns in glory. That is the new heaven and new earth where "all is forgiven, all is free, and all is restored." - Pete Steinke

Photo Courtesy: bsabarnowl on Flickr

Family Ministry

Galan Walther — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:52:15 +0000

It Starts at Home

Everyone knows the importance of "family." "Family" brings to mind many memories. For many, it is where love is first experienced; where values – the difference between right and wrong – are first learned; and where there are feelings of safety and acceptance and being "at home." And, in the Christian home, family is the place where we heard about Jesus and God's love for us, the place where Jesus is seen and the Gospel is lived. Families should be that kind of place – a place where children learn to fold their hands and bow their heads and talk to God. A place to learn Bible stories. A grace place. A home where Jesus lives.

Many people, unfortunately, never had the chance to experience that kind of home. For them, the word "family" brings memories of arguments, fear, violence, and tears. Families are not always the safe, grace place as they should be. Jesus does not live in many children's homes today.

How to Respond to Today's Culture

The culture of the day no longer embraces God's values. Many families are buckling under the pressures and burdens of everyday life as they face significant struggles in communication, sexuality, finances, and faith. Many are expressing concern about the crumbling foundations of the home in today's society. Today's families need help.

You share that concern. Your reading of this article confirms that you desire to be a partner in building stronger homes – homes solidly based on Jesus Christ and His Word. How does the church, and how can you, respond? Several things come to mind…

1) By faithfully proclaiming and teaching the truths of Scripture in a culture that does not know or understand that truth regarding marriage and the family.

The Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 picture of the divine institution of marriage between one man and one woman mutually submitting to, and loving, one another is modeled after Christ's love for the church and the church's submission to Christ her Lord. God's intention for the relationship between parent and child and the Deuteronomy 6 picture of the home being the center of faith formation and teaching.

2) By faithfully proclaiming and teaching the truths of Scripture in a culture that does not know or understand that truth regarding sin and grace.

The Genesis 3 account of the fall gives the backdrop for the turmoil we face. It's a recurring theme: rebellion, repentance, and return. The rebellion is all too clear. And we, the church, God's people, have a wonderful message that God has reconciled and restored us: "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV). The restoration is complete. We now know how to live and love in the family: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us" (1 John 4:10a NIV). And that message, through Word and Sacrament, we must clearly proclaim and apply in our ministry to families.

3) Prayer

Remember the admonition of James: “You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 2:2 NIV), and "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b NIV). Pray for the Lord's blessing upon the marriages and families of those you serve. Encourage them to pray as well for their own marriage and family, asking God to forgive them for their sins and failures as spouses and parents, seeking His mercy through their Savior Jesus Christ. Pray for God's guidance to those who serve congregations in family ministry.

4) Share with my office

Family ministry needs within your congregation or community – or you personally – which could be addressed. Also share what you have learned in ministry to families in which you could share with other congregations to strengthen their ministry ("best practices").

5) Encourage attendance in the Family Life Ministry program of study at Concordia University Ann Arbor

Identify and encourage those with gifts in ministry to families – parents, children, youth, couples, etc. – to pursue preparation for ministry as a Director of Family Life, or other church worker.

6) Consider a financial gift to support family ministry

Recognizing the need and the opportunity, consider a gift to support the Concordia Center for the Family being formed at Concordia University, Ann Arbor to provide advocates, support, encouragement, training, and resources to strengthen ministries to families. If you know someone who is able to consider giving such a gift, refer them to my office.

7) Take a stand

In parliamentary procedure, a "division of the house" is a form of voting method in which votes are cast not by a voice vote or written ballot or electronic voting, but by a rising vote, where the one voting literally stands to indicate their position in favor or in opposition of the matter at hand. It seems to me that it's time to take a stand.

There is a spiritual battle being waged today that impacts families and parents and children and youth and adults. The battlefields include the influences of society, websites, media, social media, friends, life circumstances, and world situations.

Families need what your congregation has to offer: God's Spirit working in Word and Sacrament to strengthen them for the battles they face (which Jesus has already won for them) and empower them to pass on the faith to the next generation.

Will you take a stand?
Will you speak for family ministry?
Will you seek to strengthen marriages?
Will you model the faith in the family of faith?
Will you equip parents to teach their children?

Building Strong Families

Congregations, like yours, can do much to build strong, Christ-centered families. It does not matter what type of families are in your church. Be they single parent, step, traditional, or, for that matter, any other form of household. All family types need strengthening and equipping to face the attacks of today's world and the onslaught of Satan, who continues to wreak havoc against the basic building block of society: the family.

Ministry to families is more than a program or event or even a series of events. It certainly includes these things, but at its heart, it is a matter of the heart – it is a concern, and emphasis, and attitude – toward families – and toward ministry to families with Word and Sacrament, that they may be the grace places God intends them to be, where Jesus is seen and the Gospel is lived in and through His children, as His love and will is, to paraphrase Deuteronomy 6, constantly "upon your hearts. Impress[ed] upon your children. Talk[ed] about when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Carried with you and seen in you and constantly before you."

Prayer for Family Ministry

St. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians seems to be an appropriate prayer for us in the ministry to families that we share and the ministry to families that is carried out in your congregation and in congregations throughout the Michigan District and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV).

God grant it in our congregations and ministries, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

Photo Courtesy: m!les on Flickr

9/11 Devotions for Use

Bruce Braun — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:57:40 +0000

Devotions provided by Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw, Michigan. "We at Valley Lutheran along with our nation remember the events of 9/11 as we near the 10th anniversary of that fateful day. Our school is recognizing the events of that day through various activities. One of those activities is to hear a devotion written by one of our faculty. As a member of the VLHS family, we wanted to include you in on this activity. Below is the first of four devotions that will be emailed to you September 8, 9, 12, and 13."

To sign up for the VLHS Community Connection E-news visit http://www.vlhs.com/community_connection/

Devotion #1

Courage to Live for Christ

As we remember the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September, 11, 2001, we will most likely be reminded of countless stories of extreme courage in the face of extreme danger. Stories of investment brokers who reenter the twin towers, after they had safety within their grasp, to rescue others; stories of firefighters and police officers giving their own lives so that others could live; stories of ordinary citizens banding together to prevent a plane from reaching its intended destination. As we read or hear more and more of these stories, we encounter some, like that of Todd and Lisa Beamer, that tell of Christian men and women who exemplified this school year's theme verse from Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

What about us?

When we encounter stories of heroism in extreme circumstances, many of us wonder if we would have "sufficient courage" to risk or give our lives so that Christ can be exalted. Many of us will never be put in that extreme of a situation, but does that mean that our theme verse isn't applicable to us? Look at the verse again. It says, "whether by life or by death." Christ can be exalted in your body by the way you live your life, but living in this way takes courage. It takes courage to stand up to friends and relatives who belittle your faith, and it takes courage to do so in a way that is gentle and loving. It takes courage to share the love of Christ with a world that so often seems hostile to the message. It takes courage to conduct yourself in a God pleasing manner as the culture around you becomes increasingly permissive. It doesn't just take courage to die for Christ; it takes courage to live for Him. It's a courage that you'll have to find everyday–at home, at school, and out in the community–as you face obstacles that are spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and psychological in nature.

Living for Christ isn't easy, but it comes with great reward, as we are told in the book of Revelation, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

~Jeanette Weilnau

Devotion #2

Be Prepared

He was a security expert following years in the military. After the service he took a job as head of security for the world headquarters of an investment firm located in the Twin Towers. He expected a rather quiet second career.

After the first car bomb attack on the Towers, he realized his job had become much harder. As you might expect, after the first attack occupants of the Towers developed and practiced evacuation plans. As you also might expect, it wasn't too long before those plans were placed on the shelf and drills were stopped as they became too disruptive to business.

This was not true for our friend. He understood that if the enemy attacked once, they would attack again. For 8 years his firm continued to practice. Sometimes the "drills" were announced but other times they were surprises. The stock brokers would have to interrupt calls with clients and walk down flights of stairs. You can imagine the difficulty in convincing people this was necessary as they calculated the cost of missed stock trades.

When the second attack arrived on September 11, his firm was ready. Quietly and quickly without panic they headed down the stairs. Every person from that office survived that day except one - the security specialist who called his wife telling her that he was headed back up to help others.

2000 years ago St. Paul warned the Thessalonians to be spiritually prepared - ¹Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,^[a] you have no need to have anything written to you. ²For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

There are plenty of warnings to always be spiritually prepared. Some warnings are personal like illness or the loss of someone close to you. Some warnings are evident on a global level such as wars, tornadoes, tsunamis, or earthquakes. Each event, like the first attack on the Twin Towers, should remind us to be prepared for the day when we meet Jesus.

So instead of dutifully evacuating a building, how can we prepare spiritually? Celebrate Easter every Sunday with regular worship. Read the Bible. Pray. Like exiting the building, they all seem pretty simple, but they will make all the difference in the end.

Prayer: Lord God you are a loving God who wants us to be with you. Thank you for the gift of your son Jesus whose death and resurrection assures us that we will be with you. Help us to be diligent in our preparation as we faithfully worship, study your word and come to you in prayer. Please use us to help others experience the hope we have in you. Amen.

~John Brandt, Ed.D.

The Evangelizing Church

Roosevelt Gray — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:28:41 +0000

Euagelion + Euangelizomai

The word evangelism comes from the words euagelion [good news, gospel] and euangelizomai [to proclaim good news]. The Good News is the news of and about Christ, God’s one and only Son and Savior of the world. This news was proclaimed by God throughout the ages and brought to reality in the Incarnation of Christ 2,000 years ago. This Good News came to people who had real personal needs; "felt needs" as we would say in today's vernacular.

Jesus identified with those needs as he went out and met people where they lived. Consider how Christ met the needs of the wedding party at Cana, the woman at the well, blind Bartimaeus, the Centurion’s son, the paralytic man, and many more. That was 1^st century evangelism, serving the specific needs of people where he found them. He shared God's love and grace in specific ways to meet the needs of people and communities as he went about his evangelistic missions. (Matthew 9:35-38)

Through ministering to them, he taught them to have faith in God’s grace and mercy. Meeting their needs didn’t bring salvation, but they were grace-filled moments or random acts of kindness that gave people an understanding of a God who was not just somewhere in heaven, but who was here on earth and cared about their daily lives.

Marks of an Evangelistic Church

Perhaps 21^st century evangelism should mimic 1^st century evangelism; engaging people where we find them, sharing with them God’s means of grace, and identifying with them according to their needs. A resource called Engaging Evangelism, part of the Building Church Leaders materials published by Leadership Resources, gives an in-depth look at the nuts and bolts of evangelizing to people today. Among other topics including 4 Myths about Evangelism and How to Share Your Faith, is one entitled Marks of an Evangelistic Church.

This article identifies five qualities against which your church can measure to see how focused you are on evangelism. They are:

Salvation of lost people is the church’s top priority;
Leaders lead;
Evangelists are identified and unleashed;
Every believer is coached in sharing his or her faith;
The church members get frequent reminders of the importance of sharing their faith.

Once again, the questions we must ask are:

What are the specific needs of the community we serve?
What resources are needed to meet these specific needs and how do we get them?
What agencies can be accessed for help in meeting those needs?
How do we empower the people in using those resources?
What effect does this empowerment have on the community?

There are no magical tools that make evangelism effective. Fifty years ago, effective evangelism centered on the extended family with worship, Christian education, and family fellowship as key components. Perhaps some of those ingredients are the same today, but no matter whether our evangelism uses repeating ideas or tries something new, may we always seek to be faithful in living and sharing the Good News of Christ to the world.

Resources

MissionInsite - as part of the Michigan District, LCMS you have free, unlimited access to MissionInsite, a demographics program whereby congregations can study the population, economic, and cultural trends of the area around them.
The 72 - Partners on the Road - Born of a pioneering effort in 1996, the ministry has served nearly 215 congregations in diverse cultures in each of the LCMS districts across the United States. Congregations partner with a team of two to four individuals from The 72 to accomplish specific evangelism goals that the congregation has identified.
Planting Gospel Seeds While Serving Human Needs - this program, started by the LCMS, helps congregations develop ways to enable their neighbors to break the cycles of poverty and struggle. On-site consultations are available.
LCMS Resources for Mission and Outreach - Partnering with the 35 LCMS districts throughout the United States, the LCMS national office is poised to connect you with helpful outreach resources from entities across the Synod, as well as encourage you in personal and congregational outreach. Resources include Rural and Small Town Mission, Ethnic and Specialized Ministry RSOs, MISSION U - School of Witnessing / Equipping to Share, and more.
Have a resource you would like to share? Post in the comments below!

Image used under Creative Commons from marclandavis

Just a Thought #2 - The Row Boat Story

Just a Thought Series — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:31:13 +0000

Watch on our Vimeo Channel at http://vimeo.com/channels/justathoughtseries

[transcript of video]

One of my fond memories is taking my father for classes at the seminary. He was a seminary prof[essor] – taught the Pauline Epistles and other exegetical courses. I can remember being at the seminary in my father’s Ephesians class. Of course, you come to Ephesians 1 – and you immediately hit this doctrine of election. God in eternity choose the very people that he would save ... and in time through the Gospel brought them to faith, kept them in the faith, and granted them a blessed death in the faith.

But the God in time, brought about the people who would believe and come to faith. One of things that we learn is that you hold different things in tension. Yes, there is a doctrine of election. God choose the very people that he would save, but there’s not a double election. God didn’t choose some to be saved and some to be condemned. You will never find the latter. This scriptures do not say that he chose anybody to be condemned. Rather we have these passages … that God wants all men to be saved. He wants them to come to the knowledge of the truth. God is patient. That they would repent of their sins, that all men would repent of their sins. God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son. This is a universal redemption for all mankind and yet we have this doctrine of election. And it’s holding these truths in obeisance – it’s holding these truths in tension.

And then I can remember my father telling the story, so as we kept questioning these things, telling the story of the boat and fisherman. Some call it the row boat story.

He made it very real…

“There was guy that bought a brand new boat, the reason he bought the boat was that it was guaranteed never to sink. You know, special sidewalls that had some type of foam in it that wouldn’t sink. An engine, a new Mercury engine that would starts always on the first. Guaranteed to start all of the time. And those were the reasons that man bought the boat and the motor and spent the extra money that he did.

So, he’s out on Lake Erie and he’s walleye fishing. And was doing very well that day. Probably stayed out longer than he should have. And as is true in some of the shallower lakes, like Lake Erie, a storm comes up – it’s intense, it’s vicious and he did not get back in time. So he is the very throws, the very horrible part of the storm: lighting, deluge of rain, winds, it’s just back and forth.

He goes to start the engine. First pull … it doesn’t start. Second pull … doesn’t start. Third pull … doesn’t start. And he’s beginning to panic because the waves are starting to fill the boat. And the boat is beginning to sink. You know, this is the unsinkable boat. This is the engine that will always start the first time. This is why he spent the money that he did to get them. And nothing is going right.

Well, the coast guard knew that there was going to be some fishermen caught out, some recreational boaters caught out on Lake Erie. So they had already launched. They saw the severity and suddenness of the storm. So they’re out there looking. So they find this guy. The guy is going to give the boat, the engine one more pull. Cause he’s sinking the boat is almost completely under, the unsinkable boat. The engine does not start. In a few seconds, the boat sinks. The coast guard happens to be there and they’re getting ready to shoot this lifeline across the bow so he can grab on and they can pull him to safety.

Tell me if you think this would happen.

The man says, “You know what. Before I grab that lifeline I want you to tell me why this boat that I spent this amount of money on with this guarantee that it would never sink, sunk. I want to know why. I’m not going to grab that lifeline. You tell me why. I also want to know, before I grab that lifeline, why this engine that was guaranteed to always start on the first pull – guaranteed – lifetime! Didn’t start. I’m not going to grab that lifeline until you answer these questions.”

You think that would happen?

Obviously not. The man grabs the lifeline. And I don’t doubt. That when he is home, when he is on shore, when he is grateful for his life. That he would go to that marina, that store, that owner. And say, “You know what? Wait a second, this was an unsinkable boat. This was an engine that didn’t start. What happened?”

Here’s the point.

You know we may not perfectly understand everything here on earth. Like that doctrine of election. It’s got to be held in obeisance. You can’t go too far one way or too far the other. You let the Scripture speak for itself. But everything we need to know for our salvation. Everything that we need to know for peace and well-being for guidance and direction in life is very clear in scripture. And even the doctrine of election has a point. It has been given to us as a great doctrine of comfort and even of direction.

Jesus talks about the true sheep in John 10. He says, “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. And no one will be able to snatch them out of my hand.” That’s how we know it’s the election. No one can snatch them out.

What are the two marks of those true sheep?

My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.

You know what? We may not understand everything but we can know the voice of Jesus in the scripture. What we can understand ... the clear teachings of scriptures, we can obey, we can follow. We may not understand everything. But what we do need for our life, for the lifeline to get to heaven with Jesus has been given to us.

Just a thought.

The Michigan District, LCMS Undertakes Branding Initiative

Debby Fall — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:01:59 +0000

"People of Hope ... Vigorously Making Known the Love of Christ"

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – The Michigan District, LCMS Administrative Office announced the release of its new logo and tagline this week. This project was undertaken by the District’s Communications Department as a result of an extensive evaluation of all of its communication avenues and the recent changes to its Vision and Mission Statements and Outcomes by the Michigan District Board of Directors.

President David P. E. Maier states: “It is exciting to experience the Michigan District’s new logo and tagline ‘unveiled’ and finally come into use. The Board of Directors’ work on our District’s Mission Statement (see below) and their acceptance of the Vision Statement (see below) set a strong direction for, and allow a unified purpose for, the ministries of our churches, schools, and RSOs. The logo – centering in the cross, with its fluid lines for our Great Lake State, and the easily identifiable Missouri Synod cross – and the tagline, ‘People of Hope … Vigorously Making Known the Love of Christ,’ reflect this unified sense of direction, purpose, and identity. We are Missouri Synod Lutherans, living in the state of Michigan, who, by God’s grace and great mercy have been given a “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 NIV).Michigan needs this HOPE! Michigan needs JESUS!”

The new District logo was designed by the District’s Art Director, Jenna Szpara. The logo and guidelines can be downloaded for use at www.michigandistrict.org/logos.

The Communications Department also recently published the Michigan District’s Stylebook & Letter and Grammar Guidelines. This publication includes information from the LCMS Stylebook & Grammar Guidelines and incorporates the District’s own styles and guidelines where applicable. Other helpful information, such as postal addressing standards, LCMS and Michigan District logo guidelines, and telephone and email tips, has been included. Professional church workers, congregation leadership, and administrative staff are encouraged to view and utilize this publishing guide in its regular communications. The publication can be downloaded at www.michigandistrict.org/logos.

In 1999, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. C. William Hoesman, who was serving as president of the Michigan District, the communications department began to define, strategize, and implement three major communication avenues. These included an email newsletter (E-bulletin), a bi-monthly magazine (Michigan In Touch), and website (www.michigandistrict.org). In 2009, a communication evaluation process commenced. In 2010, as part of the evaluation recommendations and under the leadership of the current Michigan District President David P. E. Maier, an extensive branding initiative was undertaken. This initiative included the design of a new logo, the development of a tagline, and redesign of the current website and magazine.

As a result of the communication evaluation and the branding initiative, the new District website, designed by Web/Media Director, Seth Hinz, was launched early this summer. The new logo, tagline, and stylebook are our most recent undertakings. An artwork and content redesign of Michigan In Touch will take place with the October/November 2011 issue. Other print and web materials will follow and be completed by the end of 2011. The entire District staff is to be highly commended for its team effort in research, development, and implementation of this branding initiative.

Maier concludes: “May God bless what we are doing, and may He lead us to do all that He wants to bless, as together – congregations, schools, RSOs, and District Office – we are known as ‘People of Hope … Vigorously Making Know the Love of Christ.’”

The Michigan District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is comprised of 380+ congregations, over 211,000 baptized members, 76 preschools, 83 elementary schools, and 7 high schools. For more information, visit www.michigandistrict.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/milcmsand on Twitter at www.twitter.com/milcms.

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The Mission of the Michigan District, LCMS

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches (congregations), communities, and world.

The Vision of the Michigan District, LCMS

Our congregations are filled with people[1] of HOPE! … who continually give joyful, confident witness to the miraculous Christ. Our joy and confidence comes from our faith in the transforming power of the Gospel and the empowering Christ. Living transformed, empowered lives of faithfulness, harmony, and integrity, we display an ever increasing dependency on, devotion to, and commitment to Worship, the Word of God, prayer, and each other which moves us to take the love of Christ to the lost in word and deed.

Does Early Learning Matter? ECC11 Round-Up

Bruce Braun — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:28:56 +0000

The Importance of Early Childhood Centers

Did you know that many states predict their future prison population based on reading levels of third graders? Clearly, Early Learning is important to individuals, families, and our society!

Many Lutheran congregations in our District operate Early Childhood Centers. These centers are under intense pressure to push the academic curriculum and eliminate play in exchange for structured learning. Many parents hear about four-year-olds reading at the end of preschool and naturally believe that it is ideal. Two recent presentations heard by educators at the Michigan District, LCMS 2011 Early Childhood Conference extoled the value of play and movement; and the education of children at the appropriate development level.

Bob Sornson, Ph.D.

Dr. Bob Sornson of Northville Schools is an advocate for Early Learning Success. He encourages teachers to deliver lessons that avoid a students frustration zone (less than 93% accuracy), but instead use material that stretches them, makes them grow and does not frustrate them–especially at the level of preschool through third grade. He believes a confident reader reads more and thus improves the skill. He advocates that children who build upon prior success in the proper sequence have a much higher rate of becoming lifelong learners. He believes we need teachers who don’t teach to the whole class but instead study their children and match a lesson to the child’s level at the "Appropriate Level of Challenge." He argues that there are currently too many benchmarks for the time allotted, and we should consider covering topics more in depth. He believes that diving deeper into subject matter will give students a stronger chance of reaching levels of mastery.

Bob presented this formula for Maximizing Learning. Children learn best when:

Essential learning outcomes are clearly defined.
Given sufficient time to clearly understand.
Working at the appropriate instructional level.
In a safe place.
Doing meaningful work.
With a teacher they love.

Katy Held, Brain Gym

Katy Held of Brain Gym encouraged teachers to understand the connections between learning and movement. She stressed that certain movement activities in young children enhance the skills necessary to become a good reader. Activities like throwing and catching, balancing, and the cross crawl are not done just for exercise, but instead to help the brain build up essential connections needed for future learning. She also stressed the importance of water for hydration (since the brain is largely fluids). Movement through Brain Gym increases focus, memory, and self-confidence and quickly reduces stress.

When you consider the different opportunities for children to learn in one of our Early Childhood Centers that include prayer, Christian Living and developing a lifelong connection to Jesus, you see that Early Learning Really Matters!

Further Discussion & Resources

Handouts, powerpoints, and other resources are available on the 2011 Early Childhood Conference event site. Be sure to utilize these amazing resources!

What was the biggest 'take-away' for you from this year's conference?

What did you think of the keynote presenter, Micah Parker?

Body Language

Richard J. Wolfram — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:45:50 +0000

Timmy & His Lord's Treasury

At church on Sunday Morning as the offering plate is passed, little Timmy puts in a couple of coins. They represent 10% of his weekly allowance. It’s an activity he was taught by his parents since he was little. They gave him a little bank called his Lord’s treasury. Any time he received money, he put 10% of it in his Lord’s treasury to give to Jesus on Sunday at church. His parents also modeled that for him and shared with him their steward stories.

Timmy’s parents were taught about giving to the Lord by their pastor and congregation. Their pastor helped them to understand biblical stewardship principles as they apply to a believer’s response to God for his love in Christ. He shared his own steward story with them. The congregation modeled for them these principles, as they gave at least 10% of their offerings to their District/Synod, because they were part of the body of Christ called LCMS and were walking together with other congregations. They also gave to support a missionary.

The District they were members of sent at least 10% of their receipts on to Synod to support the Lord’s work of national and international ministry. They were modeling for their congregations a Biblical stewardship pattern.

Parts of the Body of Christ

The Biblical pattern of first-fruit/sacrificial/percentage/systematic/all giving very much aligns with the body language talk of 1 Corinthians 12. We all are part of the body of Christ. This belonging says that we need each other. No one part of the body can say to another I don’t need you. That’s not an option!

Suppose a part of the body, your little finger, wanted to be supportive of itself. So it cut itself off–draining its life-giving resources. There are two outcomes: One, the pinky dies, and two, the body is weakened. The body needs the pinky and the pinky needs the body for good health’s sake.

The Synod needs her districts as the districts need Synod. The districts need congregations as congregations need districts. Congregations need workers and families as workers and families need congregations. We belong to each other; the family of Christ called the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Further Discussion

What does our body language say to each other, to those beyond Synod, and most importantly to the Lord?
What can you personally do to make it more positive?

Photo Credit: bbrown6

Just a Thought #1 - Understanding the Trinity through a Wooden Pail

Just a Thought Series — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:37:43 +0000

Watch on our Vimeo Channel at http://vimeo.com/channels/justathoughtseries

[transcript of video]

You know getting back to some things we don’t always understand from the Scripture, it’s just kind of you have to walk by faith no matter what. I am well reminded of the story – and I believe it was of the church father Augustine – who was writing about the Trinity. He knew that tension of not going too far and creating this false doctrine or going too far and getting involved in that false teaching. And so he was really struggling with writing about the doctrine, the teaching of the Trinity. That is that there is one God, one God, and yet three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So he decided to take a walk.

And so as he’s walking he goes down by the ocean, he’s walking on the shore and he is just contemplating, he’s kind of lost in all of these thoughts. And he wakes up to what is taking place before him. And there is a little boy that has a wooden pail, and he’s dug a hole in the sand. He’s made a rather large pit in the sand. And he wakes up to the little boy taking his wooden pail and running to the ocean, filling the pail up and coming and dumping it into his hole. Back and forth. Takes the pail, fills it up, dumps it in the hole. Back and forth and back and forth and finally he [Augustine] says, “what are you doing, little boy? What’s going on here?”

And the little boy says, “Well, mister. I’m emptying the ocean into my hole.”

Well, he kind of laughed and went on as he walking, he stops and then he writes later… “That’s what I knew was happening with me. I was trying to take the immensity of God – everything about God that the scriptures share with us – and put it into my finite mind in a way in which I could just write about it. God is too big for that.”

And later on he even makes an additional comment: “If, in fact, we understood everything about God – He wouldn’t be God.”

Everything that we need to know about God for our salvation, and I probably think even more than that, has been revealed in the Scriptures. There are certain things there, you know, that we just can’t give a reasonable, plausible, rational explanation. But the Scriptures are very clear about those truths. One of them being the Trinity: three individual persons – One God. There will be a time when we will understand. That will be in Heaven. There will we know perfectly even as we have been perfectly known, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13.

Just a thought.

KISS - Keep it Short and Simple

Roosevelt Gray — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:07:19 +0000

Is it possible that effective evangelism could be short and simple? On the surface, that notion might seem strange, especially since it took Jesus three years to prepare the 12 to be leaders, disciples, and apostles. Many believe a church is active when there are many programs going on that reach a broad range of people. Some believe you should do a few things well as you prepare people for discipleship.

Much of Jesus’ ministry with the disciples and to the communities they served was short and simple. When asked about which of the commandments were greatest in the law, Jesus broke the commandments down to two basic ingredients: Love God and Love your neighbor as you love yourself. When healing someone, often times Christ would touch them or simply speak a word of healing; short and simple.

KISS!

The other day I came across a website that had 10 Simple Outreach Ideas. As you look over these ideas below, think of how you can reach your community in simple ways that will impact the lives of the people God has called you to serve.

Pastor Bob Barber at Journey of Faith Lutheran Church in Byron Center, MI has a simple way of serving community through what Journey calls their 3C Events: Care, Compassion, and Community. Check it out at www.JourneyWired.org.

10 Simple Outreach Ideas

Jerusalem Mailing Campaign, Acts 1:8
- A six-week mailing campaign to friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. Give away a free Bible and How to Study the Bible Guide Book. Invite them to a walk through the Bible Study
Community Block Party/Christmas Festival
- Free games and activities for all ages open to community with food and prizes.
Parents’ Night Out
- One Friday of each month, offer low-cost child care from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.
Latchkey Program/After-School Tutoring/Weekend School
- Adopt a local school and offer after school care.
Backyard Bible School
- Take Bible school to the kids in church member’s communities.
Servant Evangelism Projects
- Help community people with service activities like grass cutting, house painting, yard cleaning, senior trips, nursing home lap blankets.
Prayer Booth
- Offer a prayer booth at community events, fairs or festivals with a banner asking “How can we pray for you?”
Welcome/Open House Class
- Invite new people to see the church, provide church information, food, and fellowship.
Fellowship Meal Feasts
- Invite un-churched friends to a potluck meal, international food festival, fish fry, etc.
Candy Cane Christmas Story Giveaway
- In a public place, share the Christmas story on one side of a card and information about Christmas services on the other side with free candy canes.

Further Discussion

What outreach methods has your church successfully utilized?

Has your church been able to successfully reach out with social media networking, community news internet outlets, etc?

Resources:

"Ten Outreach Ideas for Smaller Churches" by Ronald W. Waters

Ideas That Work from New Life Ministries

Bible Studies on Mission from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Sparkler Mission Projects - Kid-friendy Mission Support Opportunities from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Photo: Junior High Youth Gathering '11 - Servant Event Saturday. A group went to the Huron Woods senior center and visited with the residents and pitched in with some light gardening in the courtyard.

Pennies, Nickels and Dimes

Bruce Braun — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:08:15 +0000

Change is something a lot of people must not like. Whenever I walk my dog around our home I inevitably find mostly pennies, but often nickels and dimes laying on the street or sidewalk near our community school. A lot of us throw our change into a jar saving it for a big purchase, but don’t always value its use in everyday life.

MY attitude about change is reflected in my purchases. I always bought foam shaving cream until I was forced to buy a gel, which I now like better. I like certain salads at Applebee's but they changed the menu and forced me to widen my options. Most people struggle with change! Many dislike the change brought on us by technology like fewer newspapers, more blogs, constant updating, tweets, and the like. But we are all learning how to adjust to change and even enjoy it. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (NIV).

Lutheran schools are changing how we identify with people. We are seeking to use technology to let others know about the Christian worldview and excellent academics available in our Lutheran schools. During the upcoming school year we will be using Facebook and the Web to introduce ourselves to new families. We are encouraging students, teachers, classes, and alumni to make brief videos about:

“Why I Love Lutheran Schools”

These one-minute videos can be uploaded to YouTube and tagged (iHeartLutheranSchools) and then a link posted on the FaceBook.com/LutheranSchools page. The video that has the most “Likes” receives a prize. Why change? Isn’t word of mouth good enough? We change because God places us in a changing dynamic world. We use the items of our culture to share Christ with new people and a younger generation that views technology differently then more experienced generations. We change because it’s time to reflect the relevancy found in a Lutheran school.

Consider making a video! Consider voting “like” for a video. Please share this with those you know who have something good to say about our Lutheran schools. Change... I’ll still look for it on the sidewalk but more importantly we need to embrace it in our congregations and schools as means to tell more people about Jesus.

A Pentecost Moment!

Roosevelt Gray — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:43:55 +0000

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesas the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken” (Acts 2:1-6).

When God-fearing Jews from every nation were staying in Jerusalem, God used this as an opportunity to fulfill the promise of sending the Holy Spirit upon the church to be a witness to the world. There were converts there from everywhere, and God used the disciples to proclaim the mighty deeds of God.

God’s mighty deeds are “forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death and the devil, and eternal salvation to all who believe in Christ as Savior of humanity.”

Many received the proclamation of Peter and the other disciples on Pentecost day and “about three thousand were added to their number that day” Acts 2:41.

What about 21^st Century Pentecost moments? President Milton Castillo is a 21^st Century Pentecost moment. He is the Presidente and Sembrador of the Iglesia Evangelica Luterana De Panama, IELPA. President Castillo visited the Michigan District office on Thursday, June 30 with James and Christel Neuendorf, missionaries to Latin America. They tell the mighty deeds of God for the Panama and Dominican Republic Church in serving those communities with the Gospel of forgiveness, deliverance, and eternity. It is a mighty work indeed as many hear the Gospel message and the work of the Holy Spirit bringing people to faith in Christ. May God be praised for our partnership in the mighty deeds of God. The Michigan District is delighted in supporting the mission work of James and Christel Neuendorf through The Future is Now in partnership with Fan into Flame.

President Castillo and I visited the work of LATINO and Pan De Vida Lutheran Church in Southwest Detroit during his visit. What a Pentecost moment, as you hear and see the Gospel’s mighty deeds spoken, believed, and served in Spanish. Deaconess Teresita Rodriguez, President Milton Castillo, Deacon Robert Brooks, and I broke bread together and visited the mighty deeds of God working through LATINO and Pan De Vida in Southwest Detroit. May God be praised!

How can you get involved?

1. Daily pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into the harvest field.

2. Pray that God will give you the opportunity personally to witness to people of other languages and cultures.

3. Seek to get involved in servant events locally, nationally, and internationally for cross-cultural mission work.

4. Support the work of the great commission financially through The Future is Now in partnership with Fan into Flame.

Four Pillars of an Effective Stewardship Ministry

Richard J. Wolfram — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:48:55 +0000

To help church members grow as Christian stewards, stewardship leaders should incorporate the four pillars listed below as part of their overall stewardship ministry:

#1 - An annual stewardship program with a commitment process
#2 - Year-round stewardship education
#3 - Capital campaigns
#4 - Planned giving/ Christian estate planning/ Endowment funds

Pillar #1: An Annual Stewardship Program with a Commitment Process

Three or more Sundays each year should be set aside for the purpose of intentional stewardship education. God’s people will hear, apply, and be challenged by Biblical stewardship principles. Because God has given His followers the wonderful privilege of being His stewards, annual stewardship programs are an important time to educate people about God’s purposes for time, talents, and treasures. Stewardship programs can inspire people to become more committed, involved, joyful and generous. An important part of each program is asking members to make a commitment of their time, talents, and treasures.

Pillar #2: Year-round Stewardship Education

An essential part of the stewardship ministry of each congregation is to provide ongoing stewardship education. Through a year-round emphasis, church members will grow in their understanding of stewardship. People will understand that stewardship is an expression of their faith. Year-round stewardship education is an educational process that will be ongoing. This process will use every opportunity to teach members the principles and practices of the stewardship life.

Pillar #3: Capital Campaigns

Capital campaigns are beneficial for two reasons. Because the focus is based on Christian stewardship principles, your members will grow in their understanding of what it means to be a Christian steward. In addition, your congregation will receive the funding that is needed to expand its mission and ministry.

Considerations:

Purposes for a capital campaign
Conducting the campaign yourself or using an outside consultant
Which consultant/ capital campaign organization to use
How often to undertake a campaign

Pillar #4: Planned giving/ Christian Estate Planning/ Endowment Funds

Church members have a wonderful opportunity to continue their faithful stewardship by leaving a portion of their accumulated assets for the Lord’s work at death. Unfortunately, many congregations do little to educate their members about Christian estate planning or planned giving.

Endowment funds can enhance and the further your church’s mission and ministry.

He Knows Your Name - Reaching Out to Youth

Galan Walther — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:35:00 +0000

From Cheers to Ministry

Do you remember the theme song from the television show Cheers? – it described the bar where Norm, Cliff, Frasier, Woody, Sam and the rest of the gang gathered as the one place in Boston where you were “somebody,” where you “counted,” where you “belonged,” where “everybody knows your name.” In 20+ years of parish ministry, nearly all of them focusing in youth ministry, I discovered that Cheers, while they were not focused on ministry, got it right with their emphasis on the importance of “everybody knows your name.” The most important thing about youth ministry – no, about ministry – is PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS!

Consider the first 7 days after the resurrection:

Easter morning (John 20) – the women go to the tomb, find it empty, run to get the men, come back and find it empty – and they are confused and don’t know what to make of the situation. So they return to Jerusalem, but Mary remains at the tomb, weeping outside – Jesus talks with her, but she doesn’t recognize him. Jesus said, “Mary!” – and she recognized Him – personal connection!
Easter afternoon (Luke 24) – Emmaus disciples returning home from Jerusalem. Jesus joins them, listens to their confusion and wonderings – and teaches what the Scriptures (Moses & prophets) said about the Messiah – He blesses the meal, as He had done so often in their presence – and they recognize Him – personal connection!
Easter evening (John 20) – In the Upper room, Jesus appears to the followers (apostles + others + the two Emmaus disciples) gathered discussing the events of the day and greets them as He had so often over the past 3 years – “Peace be with you!” – personal connection! But Thomas was not there, and when told of Jesus’ appearing, wants proof – he was hearing confusing information.
Easter + 7 (John 20) – Again in the Upper room, Jesus appears once again to the gathered followers, including Thomas this time and greets them once again as He had so often done – “Peace be with you!” – and then said to Thomas: “Here you go!” (KJV: “Thomas, reach out…”) – personal connection!

The Biblical Pattern & Purpose

Jesus meets Mary, the Emmaus disciples, the Disciples and Thomas where they were – personally – to take them to where He wanted them to be. That was His pattern – Nicodemus (John 3); Matthew (Matthew 9) + tax collectors and sinners; Zacchaeus (Luke 19); the woman at the well (John 4); the woman caught in adultery (John 8); the Pharisees (throughout the Gospels).

He met people where they were – personally – relationally – to take them to where He wanted them to be: in relation with Him in faith.

That’s why Jesus was born, why He lived, why He died, why He rose, why He ascended – so that all would have the Way to heaven; our loving, heavenly Father welcomes children of all ages, forgives them and wants all people of His creation to come home to Him in heaven. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and there is room for everyone. That is the message that we live and share – this wonderful plan for eternal life that our loving heavenly Father has provided for all His creation!

The Impacts We Face & Our Response

The things that impacted the followers of Jesus those days surrounding Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter are the same things that impact us – and are the same things that impact young (and not so young) people today: a yearning for significance, purpose in life and that evasive “something more.”

Why are young people so gullible?

First, as with every person and thing in our post-Genesis 3:16 world, they are lost and broken. Second, they each feel horribly alone. We’ve all seen what happens to kids when they’re abandoned, forgotten and left alone with their aching spiritual hunger and thirst. They’ll grab onto anything that promises (albeit falsely) to fill their hunger, quench their thirst and ultimately redeem.

While it’s important to keep up with rapidly changing trends that influence young people, it’s even more foundational and necessary for those of us who minister to youth to know that spiritual yearning is a cultural constant that touches every life across all times and places.

As one 16-year-old put it: “I have everything but have nothing. I want something, but I’m not sure what it is.”

In today’s youth culture, you don’t need to look very far or hard to see and hear these universal echoes of yearning written, spoken, sung and portrayed in music, television, books and film. The fact that the emptiness can never be filled by the false gods of fame, fortune, sex, power and influence is evident time and again as lives are crushed in high-profile train-wrecks. It highlights the yearning that runs so deep and wide, in cries that can be heard virtually everywhere.

Points of Reflection

As you minister to young people, remember:

Behind every set of eyes is a soul for whom Jesus died.
No one is beyond hope. In fact, the people that look the hardest on the outside are often the people who are the softest and neediest on the inside.
Assume a posture of looking at them and listening to them before talking with them.

Meet youth (and children and parents and older adults and all) where they are – personally – relationally – to take them to where God wants them to be – with Him forever, in the home prepared by Jesus’ death and resurrection, won in His atoning blood, guaranteed in His victory over death and the grave.

“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

When people see us, they see Jesus – not only on Sunday morning, in our “official capacity” of proclaiming the Word / administering the Sacraments / pronouncing the Absolution – but also on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… We are, as Luther describes, “little Christs” – when people see us, they see Jesus Christ in our words and actions.

God bless your ministry to and with young people, and not-so-young people, as in your personal connections you point them to Him who knows your name and their name and calls you and them His own, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Learning From Each Other

What are some of the greatest challenges we face in ministering to today's youth? How are you approaching these challenges?

What are some of your successes and failures? What did you learn from that?

The Un-, De-, and Under-Churched

Roosevelt Gray — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:08:00 +0000

The word “church” is used in the New Testament 12 times. The Augsburg Confession VII defines “church” as, “The assembly of all believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel.”

What do you think happens when you put the prefixes un- and de-, or the preposition under, before the word “church”? Now we have words that represent something completely opposite from the Augsburg Confession … a world of non-believers among whom God seeks to be made known through the Gospel confession of all believers.

What the Trends Tell Us

Research tells us that Americans are becoming more and more un-, de-, and under- churched. In the past 50 years, church membership dropped by more than one-quarter to roughly 20 million people. Church attendance indicates that only 15% of all American adults today associate themselves with a mainline church. (Barna Update, 2009)

While most Americans value their faith and regularly engage in faith practices, surprisingly few say they have specific challenges related to the development of their faith. A survey discovered that four out of every ten Christian parents with children between the ages of three and 18 said they do not face any spiritual challenges in their life. Among those who did identify the presence of spiritual challenges, the most common issues related to the spiritual development of their children. (Barna Update, 2007)

That spiritual challenge is definitely real. The most unchurched generation is made up of those born between 1977 and 1994, called the “bridger generation.” Only 4% of this group is Christian. By comparison, 65% of the generation born before 1946, called the “builder generation,” is Christian. (Rainer, 2001) As the church seeks to be faithful to the Lord’s command of discipling the nations, how do we reach an increasing un-, de-, and under-churched population in America with our Christian faith and value system?

Four Activities to Help Engage

Here are four types of activities that churches use as a first step toward engaging people in a meaningful relationship with a fellowship of believers:

Personal Communications: invitations to friends, relatives, and acquaintances;
Mass Communications: invitations to people that your members do not know personally;
Event Marketing: drawing the attention and eventually the involvement of outsiders through invitations to specific worship services or other church functions;
Community Service: activities that both minister to hurting people and attract worship visitors. (Parish Paper, July 2007)

The road ahead is not an easy one as we continue to see decline in our churches. But it is our Christian responsibility to be the voice of Christ to those who are un-, de-, or under-churched. We have the Good News of the Gospel. We are privileged to share the joyful news that, through the means of God’s grace in His Son, the Savior of the world, sins have been forgiven, deliverance from death and the devil has been handed down, and eternal salvation has been promised to all who believe in the church’s confession that, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Resources:

“Report Examines the State of Mainline Protestant Churches” (The Barna Update, December 2009)

“Attracting New People: Are We Building the Bridges?” (The Parish Paper, July 2007)

“Americans Not Concerned About Their Spiritual Condition” (The Barna Update, August 2007)

“Nine Habits of Churches that Reach and Keep the Unchurched” (Thom Rainer, 2001)

Image Courtesy: Crowd people on Public Domain Images

Home and Congregation Serve as Stewardship Nursery

Richard J. Wolfram — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:57:14 +0000

What is taught in God’s nursery of stewardship will be lived. What is lived is also taught.

Remember…In Christian homes through Christian parents, God touches children and their faith. Not only directly by Word and teaching, but also indirectly by parental example. We parents have the responsibility to teach our children about God’s love, demonstrated by Jesus, and to then guide the appropriate response. That’s stewardship training. We teach our children by how we, as parents, live our faith…or don’t.

As we go to church, weekly participating in the joy of worship, we convey that to our children. As we are not involved in regular worship we convey that too.

As we give our 10 percent tithe/proportion to the Lord, a response to his ownership and love, we teach our children to do the same. As we give irregularly of our leftovers, as we complain, as we rein in our commitments, we teach our children that too.

Taking time in our family life for prayer, Bible study, devotions and so on, our children learn that joy. If we don’t, they don’t. As the teaching in the nursery goes, so goes the home life and other relationships.

Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

Reaching Families with Children: 18 Traits of Effective Churches

Roosevelt Gray — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:40:47 +0000

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, baptism and catechesis were integral aspects of His command. Serving families with children through baptism and Christian education continues to be an important aspect of the Great Commission today.

Some people think youth programs should be the main focus of the church. Strong youth = strong church. Others think the focus should be on young adult parents. If they bring their children and youth, a strong church will result. Both schools of thought are valuable, but no single ingredient guarantees a strong, healthy outreach to those who need it most.

Individuals aged 25-44 are said to be part of the “Opportunity Group.” For the church, opportunity means the possibility of reaching them with the Gospel. Church sociologists say that the Opportunity Group is the most receptive to a spiritual connection with Jesus Christ. Today’s young adult parents insist on quality children and youth ministries, plus desire meaningful Christian relationships for themselves.

Herb Miller, publisher of The Parish Paper, gives 18 characteristics often seen in churches who effectively meet the needs of the Opportunity Group:

Excellent facilities and staff for infant care
Sensitivity and friendliness toward newcomers
Worship music that connects with young adults
Sermons that communicate what the Bibles says about how to live a meaningful life with Christ
Spiritual experiences that draw people closer to God
Opportunity for positive interpersonal relationships
Discussion of life concerns and faith questions with other young adults
A sense of belonging
Guidance with family issues
Caring ministries that help people deal with various life stresses
Efforts to help heal the hurts of people in the community outside the church
Activities that recognize young-adult diversity
A young-adult athletic program
Opportunities to make a difference
Opportunities to lead
Well-staffed nursery for all church meetings
A more theologically conservative orientation than their parents and grandparents
Organizational structures that stress equality and participatory democracy.

In their book, The Family, A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home, Jack and Judith Balswick identify four areas as a theological basis for family relationships: Covenant: To Love and Be Loved; Grace: To Forgive and Be Forgiven; Empowering: To Serve and Be Served; Intimacy: To Know and Be Known.

Scripture has a lot to say about God’s relationship to children and families. “Let the little children to come to me….” “The promise is unto you and your children…” “Teach them to your children….” It is obvious God cares about children and families – it should also be obvious that the church cares and serves children and families by seeking missional opportunities to connect them to Christ and His Church.

Resources:

The Family, A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home (Jack O. Balswick & Judith K. Balswick, 1991)

“Are We Connecting with the Opportunity Group?” (The Parish Paper, September 2005)

Using Social Media to Reach a New Generation of Believers

Roosevelt Gray — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:31:42 +0000

The word “social” has many connotations.

When linked with words such as science, security, welfare, or work, it can imply that something is being provided for the good of humanity. But if you combine the words social and Gospel, it suggests something entirely different. It could mean you are seeking the common welfare of people in order that you may receive the Gospel, and that is not a good thing. The Gospel is a free gift, given without merit or worthiness on humanity’s part. Jesus paid for the sins of the world without any help from anyone. He and He alone paid the atoning sacrifice for sin. (Romans 5:8)

When it comes to sharing that message, social plus Gospel can be a marvelous thing. It brings the message of the Gospel to a place where we can build relationships, interact, network, and encounter people in places where the Church of Christ and the Gospel are not physically present.

Social media is all the buzz these days. It is defined by Wikipedia as media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Did you know, though, that social media was already significant 400 years ago? Martin Luther used social media to unite the community through the freedom of the Gospel. He wasn’t using Twitter or Facebook, but a contemporary equivalent - the Guttenberg Printing Press. Imagine how long it would have taken Dr. Luther and the reformers to get the true message of the Gospel in the hands of the masses without the printing press.

Today’s social mediums include the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, blogs, e-mails and podcasts. In fact, at least one half of the adult population in the U.S. currently creates content for Web. Consider just a few other facts:

1. Facebook’s US user base grew from 42 million to 103 million in 2009, a 144.9% growth rate! From the Director’s Desk: Using Social Media to Reach a New Generation of Believers A quarterly newsletter from the Mission Department of the Michigan District – LCMS

2. The 35+ demographic now represents more than 30% of the entire user base.

3. The 55+ audience grew a staggering 922.7% in 2009.

Internet social media provides a wide variety of communication opportunities not otherwise available to the church. Here are a few ways a congregation could benefit from social media:

• To strengthen relationships: Through social media tools, members can take part in celebratory events (births, baptisms, weddings, anniversaries) or learn about others’ challenges (deaths, illness, job loss).

• To expand outreach opportunities: Interactive environments provide a way for friends, family, and the community to learn more about the congregation’s mission and activities.

• Build and share resources: The networking function of social media allows users to share ideas, resources, encouragement, and build friendships.

• Community service activities: Congregations can use social media to highlight issues, encourage community volunteerism, and raise awareness that both minister to their community and hurting people.

Just like the printing press in Luther’s day, the array of social media outlets of today hold huge potential for any congregation by bringing existing members closer together, reaching out to the local community, and most importantly, sharing Christ’s abounding love in an exciting new way.

Resources:

1. www.istrategylabs.com

2. "Should Our Congregation Use Internet Social Media?" (The Parish Paper, July 2010)

3. Photo by mrlerone via Photoree

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Bruce Braun — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:43:51 +0000

Earlier today, I discovered an amazing animal I never knew existed, the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus (PNTO). I consider myself pretty well versed in animals, yet for 55 years the PNTO had eluded me. I stared at my computer screen; stunned at the beautiful website that described the animal and its habitat. I would've encouraged you to “Google” this endangered species and consider giving a financial gift to help save this eccentric critter, except... I discovered it was all a lie.

I was devastated. The website was a hoax, meant to appear real but instead mislead. The information was false; my hope to visit this beautiful habitat destroyed by a lie. Many people in our world have built their hope on a lie. They believe that money, looks or power brings strength, but instead we find the recipe for strength in scripture. "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:25-27 NIV).

Lutheran Schools teach a unique worldview that begins with God’s Word. This Biblical worldview is built on the truth and never comes crashing down. The family, church and faith-based Lutheran Schools are in the minority when presenting a worldview. Many schools advocate a secular humanist worldview that begins with evolution and describes behaviors that go against Scripture as acceptable and engaging.

What is your foundational belief built on? God’s Word or, instead, on man’s wisdom?

Over 80 Lutheran schools in Michigan help families to build a Biblical worldview. They present students with God’s word as the source of wisdom. They challenge views daily accepted in our world.

Parents have so many choices today in providing education for their children. What do you want your child to build on? A Lutheran school starts with a foundation built on the unchanging Word of God. Help a child you love avoid the lies of life. Pray for Lutheran schools; support them with engaging conversation and by encouraging others to start with a strong foundation.

The PNTO hoax will not have a major impact on our eternity, but we all know other lies can. Please share ways in which you might help someone “know the truth” today.