November 6th, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Ready or Not

The following is a 10 minute worship for November 6th, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Ready or Not. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. 

November 1st, All Saints Day

The following is a 10 minute worship for November 1st, All Saints Day. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. 

Opening Litany based on Psalm 34

Pastor: I will exult the Lord at all times in my life. The Praise of the Lord will be forever on my lips.

Congregation: We too will glory in the Lord. Let all who are afflicted hear the good news of the Lord and rejoice with us as we exult the name of the Lord together.

Pastor: In my time of need, when I sought after the Lord, the Lord answered me and delivered me from all my fears. The Lord will do the same for you!


Congregation: Those who dwell in the presence of the Lord… their faces are radiant and never covered with shame.

Pastor: The ones that the world rejects who call upon the name of the Lord.. the Lord will save them from their troubles.

Congregation: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who live in awe of the Lord and the Lord delivers them from all the woes and cares of this world.

Pastor: As we gather around the table of the Lord this day, taste and see that the LORD is good and blessed is the one who takes refuge in the Lord.

Congregation: As the Holy people of God, we will live in awe of the wonders of the Lord, for those who live this way lack nothing of importance in this life.

Pastor: the strong and mighty may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. So come my children, listen, and learn to live in awe of the wonders of the Lord. Whoever loves the Lord, and desires to live in the blessings of the Lord, keep your tongue from evil, your lips from telling lies, turn from evil and seek peace in this world.

Congregation: For the Lord looks upon the righteous and hears the cries of their hearts, but the God of Grace turns a deaf ear to those who seek evil.

Pastor: The righteous cry and the Lord hears them, the brokenhearted and those for whom the world has crushed their spirit wail and the Lord delivers them from their troubles.

Congregation: The righteous may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers them and protects them from being broken.

Pastor: Evil will slay the wicked and the foes of the righteous will be condemned but the Lord will rescue those who love the Lord.

Congregation: All who take refuge in the Lord will live surrounded by the greatness of God’s grace.

All Saints (2)
Matthew 5:1-12

In a world that is often cruel
I find myself on the outs
Not making the buck
(Blessed are you)
not having the things
I am told I must have
To be me
(Blessed are you)
and in the fast flowing lanes of this world
I am often in the slow lane
Stopping occasionally to smell the flowers
And see the creation
God had made
(Blessed are you)
and when the bus stops
and I never get the good seat
because I am helping someone who is having trouble
with old age
or weak limbs
I wonder at those who do
(Blessed are you)
---- and Christ said
---- let the little children come onto me
---- and forbid them not
---- for to such belongs the Kingdom of God
(Blessed are you)

Cartoon from Nakedpastor.com

All Saints Matthew 5:1-12

 Blessed are we
Blessed in the midst of God’s love
Blessed in the midst of our world
Blessed in what we feel
   See
              Do
                       Blessed
Even in the times we find it hard
To see
        The blessing
Even then
We can know ourselves
As the children of God
Especially then
We can know
             See
                           Feel
God’s presence in our lives
           Blessed
God’s love in our lives
Given by the One
Who came to save
Blessed are you
In the name of Christ

Cartoon from Nakedpastor.com

Matthew 25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Being ready
Is different
That getting ready
In the Rapture Racket
Everyone waits for the end
Missing the joy of now
Lamps ready waiting for the day
Nothing in them
Empty
Grey
Others fill them day by day
Never knowing any other way
Helping neighbor
Caring for earth
Praying for enemies
And bringing to birth
The kingdom among us
Full and alive
Just the way life is lived
Not just a moment to strive
In the end
Never realizing
The ones raptured off
Miss the bridegroom

cartoon from nakedpastor.com

Sunday November 6th, Who are all these people?

Revelation 7: "9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Part of Jesus’ ministry on earth was to reach out and draw new people, those who had been rejected, into the kingdom. The task of the disciples was to announce that the Kingdom was near. That message, that ministry, landed Jesus and the disciples in a great deal of hot water. By and large, the church doesn’t want new people. I see it all the time in our congregation, it might like more people who are just like us, but not new people who might change the way we respond to God’s love. We tend to like the arrangement of us and them with us on the inside and them on the outside. When you start inviting the “them” in, the next thing you know the “us” have to face change. Other languages are spoken on our street corners. Other foods are cooked and served in our restaurants, other music, thoughts, ideas and problems begin to invade our sensibilities and we become uncomfortable. In order to include these “others” we have to change even though it is our church or our country. I think that was God’s plan all along. The Saints help us see that God vision of the Kingdom through the clouded vision of our own version of the little kingdom where we gather for worship.

Monday November 7th, It's the vision thing

Revelation 7: 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." This is a part of the final vision in Revelation that gives us a glimpse of what a God centered world would look like. After all our wheeling’s and dealings over the ages, I think we have ask the question, how are we doing on accomplishing this vision for the kingdom in which we¸ you and I, live here and now? This is not just a vision to read about in the book of Revelation, or to plan for in some future heaven up there somewhere. It is a vision of what we, the children of God, are to be about here and now, in this kingdom, on this earth, at this time, with these people. There are more than a few warnings, as in the sheep and the goats, along the way that points to the consequences of not working on this vision to help keep us on the right path. So with all that in mind, how are we doing? Personally? Culturally? Nationally?

Tuesday November 8th, They will know we are Christians by our love

1st John 3: 1 Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don't know who we are. Sunday November 6th, was All Saints Sunday. When you think of the saints in your life, who are they? I don’t mean the ones officially recognized by the church, I mean the ones who brought to you the reality that Jesus Love You and let you know that the kingdom is right here with you. Was it a Grandma or Grandpa? Was it an Aunt or Uncle? Maybe it was someone whose name you can’t even remember. Jesus Loves me this I know for God’s people tell me so (the song says the Bible tells us, but the reality is that it is the people of God). Most often how they tell us is not by the words they say but by the love they show. You are a saint of God in this time and in this place, what does your life show? How does that equate to who and what you support?

Wednesday November 9th, Holy Surprises

1st John 3: 2 My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. With our children, many of us ask the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Perhaps we should rephrase that a bit to say “What does God want you to be when you grow up, what wonderful gifts and talents has God already given you for your journey in this life?” For the adults, what plan do you think God had for you back then and how can you get back on the path now? From where you are at now, what plan do you think God has for you now and in the future? How have you been called to go about “being” a child of God in all that it means? What we will be in the fullness of the kingdom has not yet been made known, and what we are called to be is ever unfolding before us. It is kind of exciting when you think about it. Every time we think we have turned “the” corner we find God standing at the next bend in the road calling us on. Life is full of surprises and when you ride with God at your side, they become holy surprises. Living into your Holy Surprises is the thing of saints.

Thursday November 10th, this "Little" light of mine

Matthew 5: 3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. As a person gets up in years and looks back over their lives, they are sometime amazed at the times when God seemed most present in their times gone by. Often these were times when things were not going so well. Does that mean that God does not want things to go well for us? Not at all. What it does mean is that when things are going well we tend to become so busy shining our own light, we forget that Christ is the light of the world and the source of light in our lives. Sometimes we even forget that outside of ourselves there is another light altogether, a light for all people. But the darkness in our lives is just an illusion. These are simply the times when our own light is either dim or almost out. And these are the times when we can look back and see that we truly are bathed in the light of Christ all the time, throughout all of our life. We just tend to forget when our own light has a little glimmer to it.

Friday November 11th, Care for and Cared for

Matthew 5: 7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "care-full,' you find yourselves cared for. Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and love you neighbor as yourself. This is the how we live out “the kingdom is near” in our lives. When we care for others, we find ourselves cared for. When we, out of fear or anxiety or simply selfish pride, care only for ourselves, looking out for good old, “number one”, we find the big holes in our lives just waiting to be filled, with, …. Caring for others and in the process, God. Kind of funny the way that works. Loving yourself is loving your neighbor in the broadest of senses.

Saturday November 12th, Peacemakers

Matthew 5: 9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. Who was your peacemaker teacher, the one who taught you that you don’t get someone to stop hitting by hitting them? Who was your peacemaker preacher? Your peacemaker parent? Your peacemaker mentor? I don’t see anything in Jesus writings about blessed are the war makers, they are the ones of our economy and our politics. It is the peace makers who get the Lord’s attention however. I think that is because we are created in God’s image and Jesus taught us that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Our call is for peace, not war. There seems to be a large learning curve on that one.

Eating and drinking damnation

1 Corinthians 11: ¹⁷ In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. ¹⁸In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. ²⁰ So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!


 ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.


 ²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

October 31st, Reformation Day

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 31st, Reformation Day. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

October 30th, the 20th week after Pentecost, Light in the Darkness

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 30th, the 20th week after Pentecost, Light in the Darkness. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

October 28th, The Festival of Simon and Jude, Apostles

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 28th, The Festival of Simon and Jude, Apostles. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Reformation Day John 8:31-36

The little child cried
Looking at the father
And the spilt milk
--one
----more
------time
cried for fear that she had again offended
simply by being
--the
----little
------child
and the fathers arms went around her
and held her
and loved her
loving not the spilt milk
but cleaning the mess
and drying the tears
in love
you are my child because of who you are
and who I am
and in trying not to spill the milk
you live out what my child is
and does
soar my child
soar with the freedom
that comes with knowing who you are
soar with the freedom
to spill milk
and know who you are
soar to the freedom of love
that together
we may soar

Reformation Sunday II John 8:31-36

It is not a matter of belonging
not a matter of doing
or doing better
Christ has come into this world
and saved us
and called us to be
the children of God
not to be saved
but
because we are
God has loved us
Christ has saved us
we are now called to run
and enjoy
and be
the children of God.
That’s Grace.

John 14:21-27 St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles

In my striving
To be the child of God I am called to be
I am short of the call
Short of the wonder waiting there for me
Short of the glory you have given me
And yet
In all I fail to do
I am yours
Your child
Through what you have done
Through your claiming of me
And in that
I am free
Free to be your child
                   (Peace I leave with you)
To grow and do what you have called me
To be and do
                 Your child
                 (My peace I give you)
In the hard times
When ease calls us
To live
           Be
                     Do
The beckoning of the inner
                              Child
                                          Self
And yet I know Your peace
              (do not let your hearts be troubled)
And can live for no other

Opening Litany based on Luther's Small Catechism

Pastor: Welcome to Worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.


Congregation: Where we are inspired by God’s Love to Praise, Nurture and Serve (our church mission statement)


Pastor: We will serve no other gods


Congregation: we will fear, love, and trust God more than anything else.


Pastor: We will not misuse God’s Name.


Congregation: We will use God’s name to call upon God in prayer, praise and thanksgiving.


Pastor: We will honor sacred time


Congregation: We will not take the preaching and the studying of God's Word lightly, but consider it holy, participate in Holy time willingly, and learn and study the word of God.


Pastor: We will honor those in authority


Congregation: We will not look down on our parents, superiors or elected officials, but rather we will honor, serve, obey, love and value them and participate in making the system better


Pastor: We will honor life


Congregation: We will neither harm nor hurt others, but rather, help them and care for them when they are ill and honor and respect their life decisions.


Pastor: We will honor our relationships


Congregation: In matters of sex our actions and words will be clean and respectful toward others and we will do all we can to encourage long term loving relationships.


Pastor: We will not steal.


Congregation: We will neither take another’s money or property, nor acquire them by fraud or by selling them poorly made products or by working the system to our advantage, but to the disadvantage of others. Rather we will help others improve and protect their property and careers and support decent wage and benefits for all.


Pastor: We will not tell lies about others.


Congregation: We will not deceive by lying, betraying, slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation, but will defend others, say good things about them, and see and speak about the best side of everything they do.


Pastor: We will not desire anything that is someone else’s.


Congregation: We will not use trickery or stealth to try to get anything that belongs to someone else, rather we will work for the betterment of the community and help our neighbors keep and improve all they have individually and as a community.


All: This is most certainly true.

The Reformation Polka by Robert Gebel

[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

an excellent version by the create team on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwOuZm1g-9I

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
"Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,
"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

The Church Song

The second best Reformation Song by the Jay Beech Band.  The Church Song, We are the church, the body of our Lord, We are all God's Children and we have been restored.

All the music and rights can be purchased at: http://store.baytonemusic.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BTM&Category_Code=CHURCH

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT 

There is only one God.

What does this mean for us?

God should be first and foremost in our lives, more important than anything else. (Exodus 32)

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT


Do not swear or misuse God’s name.


What does this mean for us?

We are to respect and love God and not to use the name of God to pump ourselves up, bring others down or practice deceit. We should however call upon God in all aspects of our lives and thank God always for all we have. (Leviticus 24:10-16)

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT


Keep Sabbath Time.


What does this mean for us?

We are to live in connection with God and set aside time to be with God. Even when busy lives tear us away from Sunday worship, it is important for your spiritual health to find other ways and times to stay connected to God’s love, God’s word and God’s people through things like our web radio broadcast of the services or through the daily use of 10W. (Luke 10:38-42)

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT


Show Honor and Respect for parents and those in authority.


What does this mean for us?

We are called to live our lives in such a way that our lives show honor and respect for our parents, those in authority and elected officials. Even when you disagree, be the best God has called you to be in your family, community, nation and do not let negativity rule the day. (Luke 2:41-2)

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT


Do not take another’s life from them.


What does this mean for us?

We are called to love all of creation and out of self-giving love, care for others and the environment in which they live. We are called to honor all of life and to offer dignity and respect for all life’s stages. Be creative and loving as you find ways to support all of life’s needs and respect for others decisions in life. (Genesis 4:1-16)

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT


Show respect for your relationships.


What does this mean for us?

We are to love one another in our prayers, words and deeds, especially those special relationships in our lives in ways that honor those relationships. We are also to work for health, and to help legitimize the healthy loving relationships of others God has created and called good . (2 Samuel 11)

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT


Do not take what does not belong to you.


What does this mean for us?

We are to respect our Brothers and Sisters in Christ so that we do not take things from them or find ways to rip them off, sell them false goods or cheap junk, deceive or entice them to purchase those things they don’t need. We are also called to help others maintain and protect their jobs, benifits and property. (Joshua 7:1)

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT


Do not lie about your friends and neighbors ether in the court or on the street.


What does this mean for us?

We are to show respect for one another so we do not spread false information about them, but rather do our best to put the most positive construction on all we say about one another. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. (Luke 22:54-62)

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT


You should not crave your neighbor’s house.


What does this mean for us?

We are to respect our God and our Neighbor such that we do not try to swindle others out of their house or property, but help them keep it up and in good shape as well as keeping the commons that we all use in good shape.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT


You should not lust after your neighbors spouse or family members or any of your neighbors things.


What does this mean for us?

We are to be respectful around our neighbor’s family and belongings and conduct ourselves in ways that help them maintain long term loving and healthy relationships and lifestyles.

THE CREED

The First Article


I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.


What does this mean?

I believe that God has created me and all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. God provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also walks with me in times of danger and guards me from every evil path. God does out of loving and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not always deserve it. Therefore I am called to continually offer thanks and praise and service to God and God’s creation. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ—true Son of God from all eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary—is my Lord. At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and doomed person. Jesus has freed me from the power of sin, death, and the devil—not with the riches of this world, but with his precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. All this Christ has done that I may have the honor to be called a child of God, live with Christ in the Kingdom here and in the Kingdom to come, and live a life of service and everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. I know that for me and for all humanity Christ is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article


I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.


What does this mean?

I believe that I all I have is a gift from God and that I cannot even by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him. But through the grace of God the Holy Spirit has called, and continues to call me through the Gospel, enlighten me with grace gifts, and sanctifies me daily and keeps me in a life of faith. In the same way, the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies all creation and the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in faith. In this Christian church day after day the Holy Spirit fully forgives my sins and the sins of all. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and give us the grace gift of eternal life in Christ. This is most certainly true.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Our Father, who art in heaven

What does this mean?

Here God encourages us to believe that God is truly rules over all of heaven and all of earth and we truly are God's children. We therefore are to live in a loving relationship and pray to God with all of our life in complete confidence just as children speak to and live in a loving relationship with their family.

THE FIRST PETITION

hallowed be thy name,


What does this mean?

God's name certainly holy in and of itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy in our lives.

When does this happen?

God's name is hallowed whenever God's Word is taught without deceit and we as the children of God live in harmony with God’s word and God’s kingdom. Help us to do this heavenly Lord! But we dishonor God when we live lives contrary to the Word of God. Help us avoid this heavenly Lord!


THE SECOND PETITION


thy kingdom come,


What does this mean?

God's kingdom comes and surrounds us even without our praying for it, but we ask in this prayer that we may live in total awareness that the Kingdom is near.

When does this happen?

God's kingdom comes through the gift of the Holy Spirit and that same Spirit calls us to live life here on earth fully aware that the Kingdom is near and to live longing for the fulfillment of the Kingdome to come in its eternal fullness.

THE THIRD PETITION


thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.


What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is a reality even without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it we may live fully aware that God’s will is done among and also through us.

When does this happen?

God's will is done when evil in the world, and in our hearts, is overcome with the love and grace of God. God’s will is done when the Kingdom is announced in word and deed and people hear and live in presence of the Good news. And God’s will is done when God strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in God's Word as long as we live. And God’s will is done when we live as a child of God in loving harmony with all of God’s creation. This is God's gracious good will.

THE FOURTH PETITION


Give us this day our daily bread


What does this mean?

God provides for this world all that is needed every day even without prayer, but we ask in this prayer that God will help us to realize this and to receive that which we need with thanksgiving and work toward a just distribution of God’s gifts in this world.

What is meant by "what we need for today"?

This includes everything needed for this life, such as food and clothing, home and property, work and income, a devoted family, an orderly community, good government, favorable weather, peace and health, a good name, and true friends and neighbors and a healthy earth.

THE FIFTH PETITION


and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;.


What does this mean?

We ask in this prayer that God would not hold our sins, those we are aware of and those we are not, those we commit by doing and those we commit by not doing enough, against us. And we thank God for the gift of grace by which we receive our much needed forgiveness. We also commit to do our part and heartily forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

THE SIXTH PETITION


and lead us not into temptation


What does this mean?

We ask in this prayer that God would watch over us and help keep us from sliding into the temptation to live self centered and sinful lives. We ask God to help us keep our focus on God and God’s calling in our lives to live as a child of God. And we pray that even though we are often tempted and often fall that God would continue to guide us and help us to live as we are called to live in this world and will be with God forever in the world to come.

THE SEVENTH PETITION


but deliver us from evil.


What does this mean?

We ask in this inclusive prayer that God would keep us from all that would bring harm to our selves or to others in this wonderful creation and in our last hour would take us in the glorious kingdom to be with God forever.

THE DOXOLOGY


For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen


What does "Amen" mean?

Amen means Yes, Yes, Yes!!! And we say Amen because we live in the certainty of God’s loving grace and know that God is with us, and hears us always.

Gay marriage isn't revolutionary. It's just next.

January 9, 2011
By Stephanie Coontz

Opponents of same-sex marriage worry that allowing two men or two women to wed would radically transform a time-honored institution. But they're way too late on that front. Marriage has already been radically transformed - in a way that makes gay marriage not only inevitable, as Vice President Biden described it in an interview late last year, but also quite logical.

We are near the end of a two-stage revolution in the social understanding and legal definition of marriage. This revolution has overturned the most traditional functions of the institution: to reinforce differences in wealth and power and to establish distinct and unequal roles for men and women under the law.

For millennia, marriage was about property and power rather than love. Parents arranged their children's unions to expand the family labor force, gain well-connected in-laws and seal business deals. Sometimes, to consolidate inheritances, parents prevented their younger children from marrying at all. For many people, marriage was an unavoidable duty. For others, it was a privilege, not a right. Often, servants, slaves and paupers were forbidden to wed.

But a little more than two centuries ago, people began to believe that they had a right to choose their partners on the basis of love rather than having their marriages arranged to suit the interests of parents or the state. Love, not money, became the main reason for getting married, and more liberal divorce laws logically followed. After all, people reasoned, if love is gone, why persist in the marriage? Divorce rates rose steadily from the 1850s through the 1950s, long before the surge that initially accompanied the broad entry of women into the workforce.

Adopting love as the basis for marriage meant other changes, too, especially greater acceptance of the idea that men and women had a fundamental right to marry, even to people of whom their parents - and society - disapproved. By the 1940s and 1950s, many state courts were repealing laws that prevented particular classes of people from marrying. In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for states to prohibit interracial marriage. In 1978, that court struck down a Wisconsin law prohibiting marriage by parents who had not met prior child-support obligations. In 1987, it upheld the right of prison inmates to marry.

But huge as the repercussions of the love revolution were, they did not make same-sex marriage inevitable, because marriage continued to be based on differing roles and rights for husbands and wives: Wives were legally dependent on their husbands and performed specific wifely duties. This was part of what marriage cemented in society, and the reason marriage was between men and women. Only when distinct gender roles ceased to be the organizing principle of marriage - in just the past 40 years - did we start down the road to legalizing unions between two men or two women. 

The Rest of the article at:  http://www.stephaniecoontz.com/articles/article55.htm

Who would pay under Cain's 999 plan?

October 23rd, the 19th week after Pentecost, Love one Another.

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 23rd, the 19th week after Pentecost, Love one Another. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

October 18th, The Festival of St. Luke, Evangelist

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 18th, The Festival of St. Luke, Evangelist. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

St. Luke Evangelist Luke 1:1-4, 24:44-53

The words of Jesus
presented by one who knew
who loved
who cared
Feed the people
he heard Jesus cry
Heal the sick
Cloth the naked
Uphold those in need
were the worlds of Jesus he presented
through Luke we learn to find Christ
in those around us
in those in need
in our being the children of God
in this world
Go forth into the world
and let them know
we are Christians by our love

Opening Litany based on Psalm 1

Pastor: Blessed are the ones who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand with sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but rather whose delight is in the ways of the LORD.

Congregation: Blessed are the ones who meditate on the way and the word of the Lord day and night for they are like trees planted by streams of water.

Pastor: They yield their fruit in season and their leaves do not wither. Whatever they do, the Lord is with them and they seem to prosper.

Congregation: It is not so with the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Pastor: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

Congregation: For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the ways of the wicked will perish and they will see the errors of their ways.

Matthew 22:15-22 only on the coin

What is this
In God we trust? Stuff
As if
We really trust in god
My party yes
The army yes
As long as they don’t question me
The people, yes
As long as they vote the right way
But
In god
We trust
The next thing we know
God
Will be asking us to love
Loving God I understand
Getting all gushy inside
Letting the high waft over me during worship
Getting excited as hating the sin
And loving the sinner
Under the condition of the sinner giving up
Sinful ways
And seeing the world as I do
Because I am Right
But loving others as ourselves
That only work when they
Become
Like
ME
The perfect example of god’s perfection
By my standards
In this world
In God we trust?
Only on the coin my friend
Only on the coin

Lord of the dance

Sunday, October 23rd. Leviticus 19: 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. We are made in the image of God. When called to be holy, it is not finding something outside yourself. It is not putting on the holy. It is calling up that which is already within you. It is calling up the Godness within you and connecting with that Goddness in whatever you do, whatever you think, whatever you say. And the answer is “no, you will not succeed.” After all it is not about doing or not doing holiness. It is about a dance with God. Hearing the music of God’s love and grace and letting it inform your every movement throughout the day. It is not a matter of following this rule or that precept, this theology or that liturgy, it is about hearing the music of God’s love and letting the holy within you dance.

self-absorbed

Monday, October 24th, Leviticus 19: 18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. There are lots of rules that sound like do’s and don’ts between Leviticus 19:1 and 19:18, but they all add up to the same thing; love God, love others. The stuff in the middle are simply some how-to’s on how to love God and love others. When our focus is on the how-to’s we tend to miss the love part and therefore get them both wrong. This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Anything else is just self-absorbed self-righteousness.

a bit too scary

Tuesday October 25th, 1 Thessalonians 2: 1 As you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, our visit with you wasn’t a waste of time. 2 On the contrary, we had the courage through God to speak God’s good news in spite of a lot of opposition, although we had already suffered and were publicly insulted, as you know. 3 Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception. 4 Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. When you speak the good news of the Gospel, expect to receive some opposition. Christian churches in the US are doing OK as long as they preach a message of limited grace and a bit of self-righteousness. Listen my children, you are following the right path and are not like those heathens who are going to hell because they accept the homosexual agenda, woman’s choice agenda, healthcare for all agenda, anti-war agenda, etc….. The Good news of Jesus is that you are loved and they are loved, salvation has been taken care of by Jesus now go into the world and live it. It is the good news, but it doesn’t sell well. We are still looking for a way to beat out the neighbors whether it be through war, acquisition of things, or self-righteousness and a gospel that says to love God and love others is just a bit too scary for most.

added to the equation

Wednesday October 26th, 1 Thessalonians 2: we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children. 8 We were glad to share not only God’s good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much. When we love God and love others, there is a gentle spirit about it. It is not about hitting someone over the head with the Bible, but rather putting food on their table. It is about binding up the broken hearted and proclaiming and participating in the release of the captives, whether their captivity be internal or external. It is to declare in word and actions the Year of the Lord’s favor and work toward an economic leveling of society where everyone has enough and no one has too much or too little. It is not about simply proclaiming these Gospel traits with our words, but to work for them with our deeds. The good news becomes the good news when action is added to the equation.

test time

Thursday October 27th, Matthew 22: 34After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together.35One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus. How do we try to test Jesus? Jesus I want a good parking spot!?! Jesus, help me pass this test I didn’t study for!?! Do we try to test Jesus by trying to get Jesus on our side by hook or by crook and prove that Jesus is opposed to those I am opposed to? Whether it is Herman Cain claiming Jesus was a conservative and was put to death by a liberal jury, or Rush claiming that sending troops to help put an end to the murderous Lords Army in Uganda is another example of President Obama being opposed to Christianity, the motive is the same. We test Jesus by trying to prove that Jesus is on our side as opposed to that other side over there.

it all starts

Friday October 28th, Matthew 22: 36"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38This is the first and most important commandment. A very Rabbinical answer. Also a very correct answer. Everything in life starts with loving God with our heart, with our soul and with our mind. Everything starts with loving god with our hearts, feeling the love, longing for time with Jesus the way we long to spend time with a loved one. Everything starts with loving God with our soul, our very being wrapped around the love of God and dancing through life with the music of grace in our ears. Everything starts with loving God with our minds, our thoughts and our intellect, understanding the complexities of this world through the love of God. It all starts with loving God because God first loved us.

love others

Saturday October 29th, Matthew 22: 39The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself." 40All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments. The other half of the first and greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves. To love God is to love others and to love others is to show your love for God. All the rules, all the hot button issues hinge on this one dual commandment. Think of how the political issues fit into loving God and loving others. Whether the issue be voter suppression or border suppression, how does it fit into loving God and loving others.

10W for October 16th, the 18th week after Pentecost, Give to Caesar

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 16th, the 18th week after Pentecost, Give to Caesar. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

10W for October 13th, Canadian Thanksgiving Day

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 13th, Canadian Thanksgiving Day. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Matthew 22:15-22 in God we Trust?

What is this
In God we trust? Stuff
As if
We really trust in god
My party yes
The army yes
As long as they don’t question me
The people, yes
As long as they vote the right way
But
In god
We trust
Forget it man
No way
I mean
That would mean change
Not just who is in charge
But how we do things
We would be forced to face
Honesty
Integrity
No way will that work
No way will in God we trust work
In this world
In What god do we trust?
Self?
Time?
Talent?
Self preservation?
What god do we trust in?
Give me the coin
Oh
I see
In God we trust
In GOD
We are asked to
Set the priorities
In our life
Set the priorities
That will guide us
And live
In God
Trusting
In that God we claim to trust

Opening Litany based on Psalm 96:1-13

Pastor: Sing to the LORD a new song; let all the people of the earth sing a new song unto the Lord.

Congregation: We will sing praises to the Lord and proclaim the salvation of the Lord all our days. We will proclaim the glory of the Lord to all the nations and the Lord’s marvelous deeds to all peoples.

Pastor: For the Lord is great and worthy of praise above all gods.

Congregation: Our idols in this world are only that, just idols, but the Lord God created the heavens and the earth. Splendor, Majesty and Glory surround the presence of the Lord.

Pastor: Let all the peoples in all the nations of the earth ascribe to the Lord the glory and honor due the name of the Lord of all creation.

Congregation: We will worship the Lord with praise and say to all people, “The Lord Reigns” For the justice of the Lord will be established over all the earth.

Pastor: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Congregation: Let all creation rejoice before the Lord who comes to judge the earth and all people with righteousness and loving kindness.

Music in the air

Sunday October 16th, Psalm 96: 1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise the Lord’s name; proclaim the Lord’s salvation day after day. 3 Declare the Lord’s glory among the nations, and the marvelous deeds among all peoples. Do you go through the day singing or at least humming to yourself? I do and it drives my wife nuts. I don’t actually sing or hum, which might be part of the problem, I sort of breathe the melody, forming different notes in my head, and making an annoying sound in hers. Once she knows I am singing and not having a heart attack, she is better with it, and I can go on in my joy. It is sort of like a meditation; a mindful presence; letting the words, the sounds, the thoughts, and the being swirl around in my head in prayer. Sing to the Lord a new song, an old song, any song that tells of the wonders of the Lord. And spend your day, living in prayer and mindful presences with you God. It is not that God is not always with you, but music in your head is sort of like reaching up and taking God’s hand as you walk through life. For a little musical version of this try the following by Ruthie Foster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl3xuJ0DWQY&feature=related

Whose voice is that in my head

Monday October 17th, Isaiah 45: 1-7 God's Message to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom he took by the hand To give the task of taming the nations, of terrifying their kings— He gave him free rein, no restrictions: "I'll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I'll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances. I'll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables— Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Cyrus was not a man of God, Cyrus was an opportunists. God however used Cyrus and led him to bring freedom to the Israelites held in captivity in Babylon. Whether you believe in God or not, God is in charge, even of you. God’s plan will prevail in the world and in your life, end of story. There are failings and wonderings in our lives for sure, but ultimately God is in charge and even the nastiest dirtiest rotten thing that can happen is not beyond God working with you to turn to the good. Many of the psalms and praises about a coming savior in the Old Testament are not about Jesus, they are about Cyrus and were later reinterpreted to be about Cyrus. So if God can use Cyrus, and if so much of the Old Testament praise is heaped on Cyrus, why do we have such trouble honoring those who, by our standards are outside our understanding of the faith, for their faith? Perhaps it is because in the back of our minds, we might just think we are still in charge. Ha!! Fat chance!!! God is in charge! Our job is to learn to live with that. When we do, we get a glimpse of Heaven.

words or deeds

Tuesday October 18th, 1 Thessalonians 1: 7 You became an example for all the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 And because of you, the Lord's message has spread everywhere in those regions. Now the news of your faith in God is known all over the world, and we don't have to say a thing about it. I wonder if they became an example because of what they thought, what their theology was, what they said, or what they did? Given those choices, my money would be on what they did. After all we say and do it is what we do that is read by most people. Being a child of god is about changed lives, not changed thoughts or changed theologies. And changed lives are what others see. It is the deeds that people read. In reading your life, what would others say about your church? What would cause someone to say about your church, because of you, the Lord’s message has spread and God is known all over the world? What is stopping you from being that change?

big “G.

Wednesday October 19th, 1 Thessalonians 1: 9 Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. Most of us want our idols and our gods (small “g”). The only trouble is that if we have our idols, all we have is our gods, not our God. God is about changed lives, god is about small lives that remain unchanged and a world that remains unchanged around them. So welcome others and in doing so, help them and you turn away from idols and little “g’s” into the changed lives of a big “G.”

Strange bedfellows

Thursday October 20th, Matthew 22: 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Strange bedfellows!! The Herodians were the supporters of the Roman occupation and were in favor of paying the tax, the Pharisees were popular with the people because the resisted paying the tax. Opposites united for a common purpose, to keep up the fight and get rid of the rabble rousing new guy. It is unclear who does the talking, but it also matters little, they are both trying to butter him up for the kill. Jesus is a threat to both their power bases. Their questions remind me of the political discourse where someone is asked a question and gives an unrelated political spin as an answer. Jesus, and the Kingdom of God offends both sides, just as the church should be willing to offend both sides of the political spectrum in today’s world. What is your opinion? Are you willing to share it?

democratic socialism

Friday October 21st, Matthew 22: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Take one hot button issue, add two opposite parties and one question, and you have potential trouble. Jesus responds with trouble of his own by naming what is happening, letting a little Gospel light shine on the dark and murky intrigue. How often do we try to trap Jesus by claiming him for one side or the other in a hot button debate? Jim Wallis has a book and a blog (http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics) “God’s Politics, how the right gets it wrong and the left doesn’t get it” where you can get a bumper sticker that says “God is neither a Republican or a Democrat.” Bob Marley, the father of Ragee once said, "Me don' understand politics, me don' understand big words like "democratic socialism." What me say is what de Bible say, but because people don' read de Bible no more, dey tink me talk politics. Ha! It's the Bible what have it written and it strong, it powerful." Perhaps we need to “name” what de Bible say a bit more in our lives and let its strong and powerful message ring out into a world enamored with hot button arguments. For a little Bob Marley and the Bible try: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/davebulow/wow/artist_bob_marley.htm

“In God We Trust?”

Saturday October 22nd, Matthew 22: 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." O my, how we hate to pay taxes. But name me one politician who has actually cut taxes. There have been politicians who have shifted taxes from the poor to the rich and from the rich to the poor, from local to national and from national to local, from government funded to private funded and from private funded to local funded, but no one has ever actually cut the cost of a civil society. When you cut everyone’s taxes all you are doing is cutting services. When you insist on tax cuts for the wealthy, it is so they will support your campaign for re-election and the poor pay the price in cut services. So let’s finally cut the b.s. about cutting taxes and talk about what it cost to maintain a civil society. Let us talk about a society where roads are built and maintained, where children are educated and to what degree that would be a benefit to society, where health is maintained and to what benefit to society and how, where military is maintained at what level and for what purpose and at what cost to society and why. Let us have real conversations about real societal needs. Our currency has the words on it, “In God We Trust.” Until we get to that point, all the rhetoric is just b.s.

a slight disconnect

October 13th, Canadian Thanksgiving Day

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 13th, Canadian Thanksgiving Day. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church

October 9th, the 17th week after Pentecost, Banquet Time

The following is a 10 minute worship for October 9th, the 17th week after Pentecost, Banquet Time. You can either listen on the flash player below or download it to your favorite music program to sync with your mp3 player by clicking on "DOWNLOAD" or play it on your smartphone's music player by clicking PLAY . You now also have the option of receiving these notices each week and on festival days by signing up for the 10W constant contact email list on the right or on your phone by texting 10W to 22828. Please help fund this ministry by clicking on the donation link on the right and making a small donation to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. 

Matthew 22:1-14 The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

This gift of life
So busy
I have to slop the hog
Walk the dog
Wash the car
And drive very far
So busy
With this life you have given me
I just don’t have time
To live it
There is church work to do
Have to bring others into
My
Fold
I don’t have time
But thank you very much
Some other time perhaps
But who are all these people sitting in my pew
And how did they get in
And the music is different
Pot luck food not the same
I don’t know why you made life so hard Lord
Too much to do
I have to get ahead if I am to enjoy
This gift
Of life

We are not alone

Sunday October 12th, Psalm 23: You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe. There are times when life can be a bit scary. For many, the current financial situation is one of those times. It is no help that our media seems to be stoking the fires of fear, but usually for some ulterior motive. In the midst of the fear and fear mongering, the Lord is with us. We are not alone. In the midst of the fear in our lives, whether fake or real, we are not alone. Our Lord is with us. In the midst of some of our screw ups in life, whether they be big or small, the Lord is with us. In the midst of the good times and a life filled with glory, the Lord is with us. In this famous psalm, we hear that in the midst of the deepest darkest of times in life, and in the midst of the greatest most glorious times don’t be afraid, we are not alone, the Lord is with us. God is with you and with me. God’s people are with you and me. Church is a place where it is ok to receive the blessing of God’s presence in life as well as a place to give and be an instrument of God’s presence and blessing in life. It is in our giving and in our receiving the Lord is with us. Go into your world and live as if the Lord is with you this day.

sticks to carrots

Monday October 13th, Isaiah 25: 3 Therefore strong peoples will honor you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you. 4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. Both those nations who are friends and those nations who are enemies will be impressed and drawn into the act of caring at seeing a nation who cares for the poor and needy. Funny how so few in politics get that. The recent shout-outs of joy at the number of inmates receiving the death penalty, the let him die shouts in response to the hypothetical man without insurance, the drive to cut safety net programs in favor of tax breaks for big business and wall street are all the antithesis of the reality God calls us to bring about in our nations. When it comes right down to it, God is simply calling us to follow very simple rules of life, the ones most of us try to teach our children. It really is kindergarten stuff, if you are nice, you will have friends, if you are mean, you won’t. The U.S. military budget is slightly more than all the other military budgets in the world combined. Now I am not saying that we should not supply and pay our military well, I think we should, I also think that there needs to be some perspective, and placing this much emphasis on the stick over the carrot is not a good thing. A heaven balance in the other direction is what God calls us to. Every great empire that has ever fallen in the history of the world has done so because they have overextend themselves militarily and/or shifted the wealth to a very small group at the top, both of which are our current situation. An no, Reagan did not bring down the Soviet Union, it was the Soviet Union that brought down the Soviet Union the same way our current policies and the policies of those who cry for increased power and wealth to the top 400 and the military, if left to continue, will bring us down. If we don’t switch our priorities from sticks to carrots, our financial crisis will be the least of our worries.