Pastor Davis' Weblog
THE LONGEST DAY
THINK ABOUT HELPING
The flooding is terrible. Think about helping.
Lutheran World Relief http://www.lwr.org/ and LCMS World Relief and Human Care are both involved in relief efforts http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=891.
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THE LONGEST DAY
Do you know whose birthday we celebrate this week? John the Baptist’s.
We do not know the actual day on which John was born. Nor do we know the actual day on which Jesus was born. We do know John was born six months before Jesus.
Over time Jesus’ birth came to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year (although things have shifted just a bit—check an astronomer or a mathematician for the details). Six months before Christmas is June 24, the date on which we now celebrate John the Baptist’s birth (although things have shifted just a bit, so it’s not exactly the longest day of the year—check again with that astronomer or mathematician).
The upshot of it is this. John said of his connection with Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease.” The days after John’s birthday get shorter; they get longer after Jesus’ birthday.
Word to live by: He must increase and I must decrease. As we enjoy the longest day of the year and as the daylight each day (already?!) begins to decrease, think how Jesus is increasing in your life and how your own wants and desires are decreasing.
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WE’RE NOT ALONE
Over these last ten days or so I have been involved in the Ablaze Torch Relay: Coast to Coast. We have had well over 1,000 people involved in some way as we seek to praise the name of the Lord from one coast of Michigan to the other. http://www.ablazerelay.org
It has been one of those experiences that reminds me that there are more working with us than we think!
As you follow Christ day by day, remember there are countless others walking with you. Look at all the churches in our community! Consider all congregations of our church body!
The Apostle Paul found encouragement in thinking about others who were following Jesus in different locations. We should too.
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IT’S IMPORTANT
Make sure that summer doesn’t go by without you having a chance to get away for a few days somewhere. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
We all need a few days away by a lake or in a cottage or on the road to reflect, relax, recharge.
Remember, the root word in recreation is creation. That’s God’s specialty! So plan to get away and let God work on you to re- create your spirit, energy, hope, outlook.
(That’s what worship is for too! Don’t let a week go by this summer without worship!)
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DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THIS?
A good summer book is What’s So Great About Christianity. The book helps to answer some of the criticism recently leveled against Christianity by “angry atheists.” Very helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/Whats-So-Great-About-Christianity/dp/B000WW0LDW
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Enjoy the long days!