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"Dust or Diamonds"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:54:10 +0000

"Dust or Diamonds"

June 18, 2013

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. Isaiah 26:19

Gathering in convention at London, Ontario, Canadian funeral directors have noticed times are changing.

For example, 50 years ago less than five percent of all Canadians were cremated. Today that figure is almost 60 percent. Apparently, there are a number of reasons for the change. The biggest of those reasons is price. Cremation is about one fourth the cost of a traditional burial. Other reasons cremation is happening with greater frequency are cultural beliefs and because it is supposed to do less damage to the environment.

And if a person doesn't like having a large urn filled with cremains, there are alternatives to that. For example, Remembrance Diamonds Corporation will take an individual's ashes, subject them to high heat and pressure, and make them into a diamond. Another company, DNA Memorial, can take an individual's DNA and place it into a pendant. Then there's Skytree Smith of Glen Williams Glass who can take some of a person's ashes and transform them into colorful jewelry, vases or paper weights. The alternatives for disposing of a body or its ashes are almost endless.

The ideas are endless, but not always acceptable. When I've shared these ideas with some of my friends, the reactions have been mixed. Some folks said, "Wow! That's really neat. What was the name of that company?" Others have said, "Yuck! That's sick." Quite possibly you would agree with them or have an opinion that fits somewhere in between.

But what does God think? What does God want?

It needs to be said that Christians have customarily and traditionally buried the bodies of loved ones. Even so, in Scripture God says nothing that prohibits cremation or turning them into diamonds, pendants or paperweights.

On the other hand, God does care about the condition of a person's soul before they die. So Judgment Day might be a blessed time -- rather than the beginning of eternal punishment -- is why He sent His Son into this world. Jesus fulfilled the Law, rejected temptation, and defeated death so, when our bodies and souls come together, we will go to heaven as forgiven children of faith.

And, if you will allow me to say so, knowing that I am going to see my Lord and my loved ones in heaven is a joy that transcends funerals, cremations, and is longer-lasting than a diamond.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that -- because of Jesus' death and third-day rising -- the day will come when our dead shall live. Their bodies shall rise, and those who dwell in the dust will awake and sing for joy. For that day and that joy I give thanks to Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

33 Years

Jeff Fletcher — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:52:31 +0000

The Lord is leading me to share a little about my life. After my Mother divorced my father she remarried and my stepfather almost immediately started taking the family to church. I loved going to church but it was actually more of a social event than it was a worship experience.

By the time I had turned 15 I had lost interest in church and gave in to peer pressure from friends at the high school that I attended. I wanted to be "cool" like the other guys so I started experimenting with marijuana. Soon afterward I was smoking cigarettes and then I also began drinking alcohol. Regardless of what some say, marijuana is a gateway drug, meaning that it leads to other, harder drugs. I began using cocaine, LSD, taking pain pills, and drinking more and more.

For the next 3 decades I was addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol. I was in and out of rehab several times over the years and I tried to quit using and drinking by going "cold turkey". I was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol 3 times and was busted for marijuana possession also. Needless to say, my life was miserable with each day consisting of trying to find drugs and drinking myself into oblivion. Day in and day out. My family was extremely concerned and my Mother waited for that late night call telling her that I was in jail again, or worse.....that I was dead from an overdose or auto accident.

Then something miraculous happened. The Holy Spirit of God began convicting my heart right before my 49th birthday. My Mother asked me what I wanted for my upcoming birthday and for reasons that I couldn't explain at the time, I said "A Bible". My birthday fell on a Sunday that year and on the Saturday prior my Mother and stepfather presented me with a brand new Bible. The next day I attended church for the first time in nearly 25 years and that same night, with the Spirit leading me, I got down on my knees and turned the drug and alcohol addiction over to the Lord, and accepted Him as my personal Savior!

I am happy to say that by the grace and mercy of God I have been clean and sober for 2 years now and I'm learning more about my Lord and His Word. I am currently enrolled at Liberty University as an online student studying the Bible, at the age of 50. God has given me a new life and I am so grateful to Him for saving my soul after 33 years of drug and alcohol abuse. God still works miracles. How do I know? Because He worked one in my life!

Jeff Fletcher

Animated Gospel Tracts for Kids Video

James Harrison — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:20:45 +0000

Saw this cool video on sharing the Gospel with Kids using these animated tracts for children. They're by a child evangelism company called Let the Little Children Come. If you are ever looking for a way to share the gospel with children, try these out!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Tracts from http://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com

"Pretty Snaky, No Sneaky"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:34:14 +0000

"Pretty Snaky, No Sneaky"

June 11, 2013

(Jesus said) "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

It wasn't the crime of the century.

The thieves knew after their robbery was completed the Mona Lisa would still be safe in the Louvre; Fort Knox would still hold its treasury of gold, and the crown jewels would remain out of harm's way in the Tower of London.

Even though this was not a major heist, Jeremy Lovitt and Gabriel Gonzales made sure their getaway car was running and their pistols were loaded when they entered the Stockton, California, Burger King to demand the eatery's cash. As management had trained them to do, the staff began to fill the robber's bags with the money.

All except for one.

This fellow saw, and took, a chance to slip out unnoticed.

I just love what that unnamed escapee did next. The very first thing he did was get in the robber's car and move it. He moved it around the block where it could neither be seen nor accessed. When the successful robbers burst through Burger King's doors, they found, well, they found they were going to have to make their escape on foot. End result: Lovitt and Gonzales were arrested and the money was recovered.

In short, the Burger King hero was as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove. When the robbers came in, he (or she) didn't get all macho and oppose them; he didn't refuse to hand over the cash. On the contrary, he faded into the woodwork and then did the one thing that would foil the heist.

As I look at Jesus, that is what He did. When Satan challenged Him to turn stones into bread or to float down from the temple spire or worship him, Jesus turned aside those temptations with a simple word of Scripture. When witnesses lied about Him at His trial; He didn't defend Himself. When His accusers hit Him, He didn't name the person who had rained down the blows. When they nailed Him to the cross and challenged Him to come down, He could easily have done so.

But Jesus didn't do any of those things. What Jesus did do was resist temptation, fulfill the Law, carry our sins, and die on the cross so that all who believe on Him would be saved. In doing as the Father had asked and not as Satan suggested, Jesus showed Himself as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove.

We can learn from His example. Too often Christians get suckered into shouting matches and trading verbal insults with the world. When the story is told, often we end up looking silly, stupid and inane. Far better for us to wait until the right moment and then do or say that unexpected Christian thing, which will turn the tables on the devil and make a positive witness for the Christ.

When this happens, we will be doing as Jesus encouraged, for we will be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the world expends a great deal of time trying to tempt me and trip me up. Grant that I may have the wisdom to identify their shenanigans and then do that which will make a powerful, positive witness to Jesus who has saved me. In His Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Judging the Judge"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:37:46 +0000

"Judging the Judge"

June 10, 2013

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:11-12

The way the news people reported the story, it seemed as if the jury had treated Willie Smith Ward in an unfair way.

At first I had to agree. After all, being sentenced to 50 years in prison for stealing spareribs worth $35 does seem to be a tad excessive. But then the rest of the article shared some of the evidence, which had been presented in the case.

For example, when a store employee tried to stop him, Ward said that he had a knife.

Then there is the fact that previously Ward had been arrested for burglary, and attempted robbery, and aggravated assault, and for leaving the scene of an accident, and for possession of cocaine, and a number of other misdemeanors.

By the time the story was completed, I understood why the jury called Willie Smith Ward an "habitual criminal."

Over the years I have heard a great many people accuse God of treating the human race in an unfair and shabby way. Indeed, whether He sends rain or shine, cool breezes, snow, or a hot summer sun, somebody thinks God is being unfair and has singled them out for abuse. And if someone dies, more often than not the first question which comes out of people's mouths is "How can God be so cruel?"

In case you have ever wondered about the Lord's intentions, there are two things which I would like to share. The first thing we need to think about is what the Lord has said in the 29th chapter of Jeremiah. There He tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, (they are) plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you."

That doesn't sound like someone who has a malevolent attitude, does it?

The second thing we need to recall is what the Lord has done. When humanity rejected Him, He continued to reach out to us. When we disobeyed, He continued to love. When we had broken the covenant He had established, He promised to send His Son.

Yes, look at what the Lord has done. Stop by for a moment at the Bethlehem manger and see how God's Son has become one of us, so He might carry our sins and receive our condemnation. Walk with Him, listen to Him, observe how He cares for those who are downtrodden and rejected. Go to the cross and see the Son of God dying, so we might be freed from the terrors of eternal death.

Yes, if we pay attention to everything the Lord has said and done, there will never be any doubt that He has loved us in the past, and is continuing to love us now. It's something to remember when life seems sad, sorrowful, and has more than its fair share of stumbling blocks.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I always be kept in the faith and live in Your grace. Forgive me for past doubts and grant that my faith may know and appreciate the power and strength of Your love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Nothing Short of A Savior"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:43:22 +0000

"Nothing Short of Savior"

June 8, 2013

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6

My father was a great judge of character. Me, I'm not so good. In under and overestimating people I am not alone.

More than a century ago, in the village of Bedford, Ohio, there was a family which was blessed to have two very charming and attractive young ladies. One of these girls was wooed by a suitor by the name of Hayes. Unfortunately, the father thought the young man's prospects were not good enough to support his daughter. He put down his foot and sent the lad packing.

But as I said there were two daughters in the family. The other girl was also pursued by a young man. His name was Garfield. Sadly, the young man was from a poor family and had no wherewithal to support a wife or children. Once again the father voiced his objections to the relationship, and once again the young man faded out of the life of the man's daughter.

As I said, I'm not good at judging people, but almost all of us are better than was this father. I'd be interested in having someone calculate the odds of one family, in a town of less than 500 souls, refusing to allow their daughters to marry men who eventually became presidents of the United States.

The odds must be incredible.

Although I've never heard, I do hope those two girls eventually got over their heartbreak, found men to love them, and lived happily ever after.

Sadly, I have no such hope for the millions who misjudge Jesus. Islam considers the Carpenter from Nazareth to be a prophet, but nothing more. Modern skeptics think Jesus may have been a brilliant Teacher, a first-class Philosopher, and a Teller of wonderful stories. But if that is all Jesus is to them, they are making a very big miscalculation.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who was born into this world to save us. Only through Holy Spirit-given faith in Him can we be forgiven of our wrongdoing and be offered eternal life.

It is only when Jesus becomes our Savior that we see Him as He is: the one and only who can rescue us from sin, Satan and death.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, may I always see You as my Savior. Grant that I may let others see the blessed and eternal change You and You alone have given to them. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"A Royal Invitation"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:27:41 +0000

"A Royal Invitation"

June 7, 2013

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

In October of 2012, the former king of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk, died.

Our office wrote a letter to the royal family expressing our condolences. We then received an invitation from the royal government to attend the funeral.

Ten of us, including our staff and friends, went to the funeral. When we arrived at the gate of the royal palace, the palace's guards checked our paper to ensure we were invited to attend the funeral. After we were cleared, the guards led us to a waiting room. After 30 minutes of waiting, we were led to another room through a metal detector door. We waited there for another 30 minutes before we were called to line up with our flower bouquet to be presented to the king's coffin. When it was our turn to present the flower bouquet and pay our respect to the king, the royal announcer announced us at the entrance door as guests from an organization, and then we walked into the room where the king's coffin was. As we approached and faced the coffin, we bowed our heads, knelt, and silently said a prayer for the royal family.

Getting permission to attend King Sihanouk's funeral was not easy -- and yet how much more difficult it will be to approach the holy and living God. By our own effort, we will never be allowed to get our foot in the door of the heavenly kingdom.

But, thanks be to God that through His mercy, His Son Jesus Christ has made all things possible for us to approach Him. We don't have to write letters to ask for permission to see Him. We don't have to wait for hours to approach Him. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross on Calvary, we can approach our Living God at any time: "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

When we approach God, we are not approaching Him as guests, but as sons and daughters. In our baptisms we are born of God and heirs of the heavenly kingdom. So, go ahead and approach Your Heavenly Father. Visit Him in His Word. Talk to Him in your prayers. We have a royal invitation to do so; and He has promised to listen to us.

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making us Your children and heirs of Your kingdom in our baptisms. Because we are Your loving children, You invite us to approach You with freedom and confidence. Help us, Father, to be faithful to You and trust You above all things. In Jesus' Name we pray it. Amen!

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Rev. Fungchatou Lo. Dr. Lo graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2007 and is an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod (LCMS). He served as a pastor for a Hmong Ministry in the U.S. for three years and was a missionary to Indonesia for two years. Currently, Dr. Lo and his family are serving the Lord in Cambodia, where he is the country representative for the LCMS. His wife, Kalia, is the branch manager for LCMS' human care organization out of Hong Kong. Dr. Lo and Kalia have two children: a 14-year-old daughter named Faith, and a three-year-old son named Mercy. In Cambodia, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Cambodia is known locally as Cambodia Christian Media Center. It was established in 2000 in Phnom Penh City. Using both Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and Equipping the Saints (ETS), this ministry center is active in evangelism training and educating this county's citizens in Christian teachings. Also, through music events, films, and the Internet, young people are learning about their Savior and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.

To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"A Long Line"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:27:15 +0000

"A Long Line"

June 6, 2013

We know that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ. ... Galatians 2:16a

For eight of the 12 years I studied for the ministry I lived in a dorm and ate all my meals at the school's cafeteria. That's eight years of standing in line for breakfast, eight years of standing in line for lunch, and eight years of standing in line for dinner.

That may explain why I hate standing in any kind of line.

It may also explain why taking my children or grandchildren to Disney World is a battle. On the one hand is my love for the kids and seeing them have a good time; on the other hand is my distaste for standing in the lengthy lines, which seem to accompany any Disney ride worth riding.

Apparently, I am not alone in this love/hate relationship. I say that because right now Disney is investigating people who are paying disabled strangers over $1,000 a day to go to the park with them. By having such an individual with their family, the entire group can get on a ride in a few minutes, rather than waiting for three hours like everyone else.

The reaction to the practice has been mixed.

The vast majority of people have said the deception is "unfair," "awful" and "despicable," and only a very small percentage have confessed, "I wish I had $1,000 to rent a disabled person to help my family get on those rides more quickly."

And what do I think?

I think that story is a good lead-in for this devotion: a devotion which begins with you and me in a very long line of people wanting to get into heaven. This line, composed of humanity's sinners, stretched out further than the eye could see. Even worse, this line was not moving. As we waited, it became obvious we were never going to get into heaven.

That's when a fellow, a fellow named Jesus, came up to the line and said, "Forget the line. Come with Me. I can get you into heaven."

When someone asked, "And just how are You going to do that?" He replied, "I will take your place and carry your sins. I will be lied about, beaten, whipped, crowned with thorns, mocked, crucified and murdered. Then, three days after I die, I will rise again."

The reaction to His offer was mixed. Some folks wanted to get into heaven on their own, so they didn't get out of line. Others said they thought they would wait to see if the line started moving. More than a few said, "It is too good to be true," and they stayed put.

As for me, although I thought it was terribly unfair for Jesus to suffer and die for me, I was incredibly thankful He had. I was overjoyed I was going to get right into heaven, and I no longer had to stand in that lengthy line ... that eternally lengthy line which, without Jesus, was going nowhere.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for rescuing me from death, I give thanks. For doing what I could not do, I give thanks. For taking my place and opening heaven, I give thanks. I do so in the Name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Unsure Footing"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:49:09 +0000

"Unsure Footing"

June 5, 2013

I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. ... Psalms 40:1-3a

"Then the bottom just seemed to drop out from underneath me."

That's an expression many of us have used to describe a totally negative and unexpected event. When most of us use that line, we mean it in figuratively.

Dan Sligh and his wife say it literally.

The husband-wife team was going camping. They were crossing a bridge which spanned the Skagit River when something unexpected happened. Unbeknownst to them a truck had hit one of the overhead girders on the bridge, weakened the structure, and caused a massive structural failure.

Speaking from a hospital room where he and his wife were recovering from minor injuries, Sligh explained "the bridge in front of us disappeared in a 'big puff of dust.'"

Sligh reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. The truck slid over the bridge's edge and fell 50 feet into the water. As they fell, Sligh and his wife braced themselves for impact and hung on.

In writing this devotion I am fully convinced most of us will never find ourselves on a bridge where the road disappears. That being said, I am just as sure most of us will encounter times when we are on unsafe and unsure footing, when it seems the bottom has dropped out from under us.

The arrival of a painful or terminal illness, the betrayal of a friend, the loss of a job or loved one, can all put us on some unsure footing.

When that happens, I hope you will hang on. No, I don't expect you to try and hang on to whatever is causing you sadness and hurt. When something underneath you is failing and falling away, it is no good trying to hold on to that thing; it will just drag you down with it.

The smart and spiritual thing to do is ask the Holy Spirit to brace your faith in the crucified and ever-living Savior. Brace yourself and, by faith, hold on to the Lord who

1.has promised to be with you in difficulty;

2.has promised He and you can carry any problem which comes your way;

3.has promised to take you through your problem or take you away from that problem.

That's what King David did. From experience he tells us what will happen when we trust our Lord. He wrote, "I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the world is a sinful place and even Christians experience times when the bottom seems to be dropping out from under us. At such moments may we remember that You will lift us up and put us on the Rock of Safety: Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Unto God"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:49:02 +0000

"Unto God"

June 4, 2013

... Then He (Jesus) said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:21b

If it looks like a duck and it swims like a duck, then it probably is a, well, it could be a duck, but it could also be a coot, or a loon, or a grebe.

In short, it ain't necessarily a duck.

The truth of that twisted expression was recently shown in the Arizona House of Representatives where an atheist lawgiver, Juan Mendez of Tempe, decided to take his turn and give the daily prayer.

What he said was beautiful like a prayer, and it used lofty words like a prayer, and it expressed concerns of his heart like a prayer but, well, it wasn't a prayer.

Thanks to Professor Rupprecht who taught me grammar at Concordia, Milwaukee (now Concordia University Mequon), I was able to identify the words of Mr. Mendez as being an "hortatory paragraph."

And for the less-than-a-handful of you who are a trifle curious about knowing more about an hortatory paragraph, I can tell you it is a figure of speech used by a speaker to move his listeners to do something. Very often, at the end of his sermon, your pastor will probably use a hortatory paragraph in which he says something like, "Let us then go forward and witness to the neighborhood" or "Let us strive to balance the budget" or "Let us do our best to use the gifts the Lord has given us."

In this case, Mr. Mendez was encouraging Arizona's legislative body to be good leaders and do that which would be of benefit to the people of the state. It was a noble effort on the part of Mr. Mendez, and I hope he accomplishes his objectives.

Yes, they were beautiful words, but beautiful words don't miraculously transform a paragraph into a prayer.

It wasn't a prayer because it was addressed to the legislature and not to God, and while I have nothing but the greatest respect for the lawgivers of Arizona, I am still compelled to confess that there are some major differences between the two.

Jesus was speaking about those differences when He told His followers to give God that which belongs to Him and offer the government that which fits under its sphere of influence.

And prayer is something which belongs to God -- not the government.

That is why when Jesus taught us to pray, He began, "Our Father who art in heaven" and not "Our emperor who art in Rome" or "Our legislature which art in Tempe." Jesus knew, and He wants all of us to know, that government receives its authority from God and not the other way.

And this devotion would like to add we are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ and not by any law enacted by any legislature.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today we pray You will bless our land, so we might follow Your will and be a blessing to a sin-encumbered world. This we ask in the Name of Jesus who died to take away our sins and rose to show us we would live forever. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"An Honest Man"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:25:23 +0000

"An Honest Man"

June 3, 2013

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

The ancient Greek philosopher, Diogenes, was a man on the self-appointed mission of pointing out the flaws and failures of others. Although we have none of his writings, history tells how, fulfilling his mission, Diogenes challenged Plato and made fun of Alexander the Great. His most famous escapade was walking around in the daylight with a lit lantern as he tried to find an "honest man."

To the best of my knowledge, he never found such an honest individual.

If that is the case, Diogenes might be pleased to read a recent edition of Scientific American, which tells of a study made by psychologists from the Universities of Chicago and Virginia. According to them, "most of us think that we are better than we actually are -- not just physically, but in every way."

And how did the psychologists come to such a conclusion? Simple: they showed people varying pictures of themselves. One of those pictures had been left untouched, while the others were doctored to make them look better or worse. Amazingly, when people were asked to pick the "honest" photograph, they almost always picked one which made them look better.

Scientific American says this is a self-preservation phenomenon called "self-enhancement." Self-enhancement is what makes 93 percent of people say they are better-than-average drivers; it is what makes 94 percent of college professors say they do "above-average work"; it is what makes most people think they are less likely to catch the flu than are others.

Now I should tell you this self-enhancement is not a new thing. Although Jesus didn't use the word, He certainly understood the concept. When the disciples were arguing as to which of them was the greatest, Jesus reminded them that if anyone had a claim to greatness it was He. Still, Jesus pointed out He had come into this world as One who was dedicated to serving others, and they would be wise if they did the same (see Luke 22:24-27).

Amazing! Both Diogenes and Jesus agree the world doesn't have any truly and totally honest people. You should also know that with this agreement the similarity between the two ends.

Diogenes received his satisfaction, his positive strokes, from pointing out the faults and failings of others. Every generation in history has seen many other such self-appointed judges. These judges feel good by making others feel bad; they think themselves tall by showing others as being small.

Jesus was not like that.

Using the Law of God, He let people know they were lost and on their own, were helpless to change things. He held up God's Law as a mirror, so we might not hide behind any false and faulty attempt at self-enhancement. He let us see the condemned creatures that we were.

But then Jesus did something quite unexpected. He did something no self-respecting Greek philosopher would ever do: Jesus offered Himself as the payment price to win our forgiveness and to change our lives now and forever.

All of this means that if Diogenes would begin his search today, he still might not find any honest men, but he would -- because of the blood of Jesus -- find many forgiven souls.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that You not only have shown me my sins, Jesus has died to remove those sins. May I live my life in thanks. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Falling in Love

Vessel of Honor — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:20:07 +0000

This week, I have been dealt with by the Lord about relationships. Looking back over my thought process I realize that sometimes when one places a confinement or restriction around their ideal match... it can lead to idolization or a form of idol worship. Looking back at Adam and Eve... understand that God made woman for a helper or a helpmate for Adam.

Hollywood has painted a picture that we fall in love with this person and live forever in love. NO. You live forever in LUST. Do not let it be a physical attraction that draws you both together. At times opposites attract; what one is in lack of... the other completes and that is what makes it beautiful hence why I believe they call them "peas in a pod". Women are not as they pointed out in the past meant to be house wives.

Example: A man may have the ability to cook and clean but because he has to go out and work so that he can provide to pay bills since children have now become involved within the relationship... the woman is at home to pick up the slack by making food to serve the whole household and also tending to the child which has now become a priority.
And lets say that the one job he has is not making ends meet; the woman as the helpmate (suggested) should go out and find a job to help make ends meet if circumstances permit her to.

Now you may be saying where does it say that men should be providers and where does it say that a woman is a help mate... In Genesis 2:18 it says:

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
["help meet" Definition]: "a help as his counterpart" = a help suitable to him), a wife

1 timothy 5:8 it says:
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I am not saying that people cannot fall in love or have this "love at first sight" experience. It can happen. It is just a rare thing. Understand also that fights do happen and arguements do happen however, who doesn't have their disagreements. At times when the disagreement begins take time to analyze what one is saying and listen... not with your ears but digest it and wrap your head around it.

Off topic however, I felt the need to say that.

I pray this tiny spot of Word will help and move you to a clearer understanding and better judgement in your walk with Christ in Jesus name. Amen.

"Mosquitoes and Mountains"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:22:16 +0000

"Mosquitoes and Mountains"

June 1, 2013

(Jesus said) "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10

Jesus wanted His listeners to know that little things make a difference.

That's true in religion as well as in construction. Did you know the first modern attempt to dig a canal across the Isthmus of Panama was made by a French company? It did a pretty good job. Dedicated men and special machinery tackled the mountains and the jungles.

Even so, the project had to be abandoned. Amazingly, it was mosquitoes, not the mountains, which caused the company to shut things down. Yellow fever carried by the mosquitoes killed thousands.

The project was picked up again when American doctors found ways of protecting people against mosquitoes. Although the project was still incredibly difficult and complicated, when the mosquitoes were taken care of, the mountains were conquered.

Now the point is this: there is a great difference between the size of mountains and mosquitoes, yet the small mosquitoes did more damage. More men perished from the bite of the mosquitoes than from danger in the mountains.

That was the point Jesus was making when He talked about being faithful or uncommitted.

He wanted His people to know they should strive for faithfulness in their day-to-day activities. In so doing they would be training their minds, their bodies, and their souls to be obedient to Him and their Holy Spirit-given faith. The individual who lives his life by being faithful in all these little things will find himself prepared for the great unknown challenges and catastrophes which may come.

On the other hand, if God's people look for an easy way out -- if they're trying to find shortcuts, if they work at avoiding commitment -- they will not only minimize their witness, they will also weaken their faith and find themselves unprepared to carry the crosses of life. Indeed, they might lack the courage to make any kind of commitment to the Christ.

St. Paul said it this way: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Commitment to the Christ, in small things and large, is what the Savior asks of us. It is a response we should be glad to make.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me a stronger faith and dedication to You. May I, in large ways and small, show my appreciation for what Jesus has done to save me. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

In The Morning

Luonne Abram Rouse — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:05:56 +0000

There is freshness in the morning.

Existance is breezing through creation in the morning.

Awareness is ushering reality in the morning.

Movement is essential to life in the morning.

TEAM: The Existance Awereness Movement

In The Morning!!!

New opportunities arise with the rising of the sun. More opportunities pass by than one individual can comprehend or obtain. Together human beings are able to do more to fulfill opportunities in humanity. The one opportunity important to optimum success each day is the ability to reach maximum potentials. Where there is potential to unite in the morning, seize the moment. Tomorrow, even tonight, may be too late.

In this morning, let the best bring unity in the midst of diversity, so the highest potential is reached In The Morning, every morning.

TEAM

"A New Lease"

Ronald Lehenbauer — Thu, 30 May 2013 12:33:52 +0000

"A New Lease"

May 30, 2013

If a man dies, shall he live again? ... Job 14:14a ~ Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? ..." John 3:4a

The questions of both Job and Nicodemus are probably rhetorical; that is, they didn't really expect to receive an answer.

They didn't expect an answer because the answer to both questions is obvious: if you're dead, you're not going to live again -- at least not in this world. If you're old, it's impossible for you to be physically reborn.

Even so, 34-year-old Brighton Dama Zanthe of Gweru, Zimbabwe, may not think those questions are all that rhetorical. Let me share a bit of his story. Zanthe had been sick for a long time. Eventually, the time came when he "shuffled off this mortal coil." The coroner was called, and he was declared dead.

His mourning family made the necessary funeral arrangements.

Zanthe's funeral was all perfectly normal, until some of the folks at the service noticed his legs were still twitching. The funeral was instantly stopped, and Zanthe was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where a skilled medical team, not surprisingly, overturned the coroner's report.

In an interview with the local papers, Zanthe claims he can only remember being sick at home and then waking up in the hospital. Regretfully, he doesn't recall any of the fine and complimentary things the people said at his funeral.

Looking back at what has happened, Zanthe says, "I was given another chance, and now I am alive."

Now I have to confess, Zanthe wasn't totally and completely dead as Job talked about ... and he really wasn't born again the way Nicodemus meant. Still, Zanthe's "almost death" and "almost re-birth" is just about as close to a second lease on life as any of us are likely to get.

Although the article doesn't say so, I would imagine Zanthe will be seeing and living his life in a different way. By that I mean some of the things that once seemed important are now inconsequential, and that which was insignificant is now of prime importance.

It's a shame it often takes an emergency, a tragedy, or a death before our priorities get reordered. I pray that is not the case for you and that your loyalty is first and foremost to the Savior, whose life was given so you might have life.

On the other hand, if you have a few items which might need to be tweaked, the story of Zanthe's almost death and almost rebirth might just give you the inspiration you need.

In other words, Brighton's second chance might be yours as well.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in gratitude to my Savior, today's prayer asks that You will create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. In the Savior's Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries