Almighty and ever-living God, you have given great and precious promises to those who believe. Grant us the perfect faith which overcomes all doubts, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
FREEDOM!!!
We live in a country where I am free to express my belief… THANK YOU GOD for having me be born in Harrisburg Hospital… My mom has told me that the doctors that were present were listening to a football game… a Penn State game… Yet another reason why I am a Penn State fan for life.
Anyway, back to the freedom to express myself… Under man’s law…
US Constitution First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances…
This is man’s law, which coupled with religious beliefs brings me much hope. Hope in a brighter tomorrow. The First Amendment protects me from governmental intrusion when worshiping God with other Christians is right.
I want to share with you something that happened to me this morning while I was working on my relationship with God (reading the bible and creating some MS PowerPoint Slides)… I was reading the 56 Chapter of the book of Isaiah found in our old testament in the Holy Bible… Isaiah testifies that the people that recognize the Lord’s reign with pureness of heart will be welcomed in His house. (Please excuse my paraphrasing) I then followed a reading I found for the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost in the Lutheran Book of Worship (Hymnal) and continued to add my creativity to a PowerPoint slide. This second reading was written in the 11 Chapter of the book of Romans through life experiences of our brother Paul.
*IF YOU ARE VIEWING VIA MOBILE PHONE… CLICK “REPLAY” UNTIL IT GOES AWAY…
Romans 11:29-32
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
HOWEVER, I WAS TO LAZY TO REFERENCE THE WHOLE SCRIPTURE IN MY POWERPOINT SLIDE… I conveniently forgot to record the 13-15 verses in Romans Chapter 11…
*IF YOU ARE VIEWING VIA MOBILE PHONE… CLICK “REPLAY” UNTIL IT GOES AWAY…
IT READS…
Romans 11:13-15
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Isn’t that just like being human??? Our flesh makes us jealous of one another and lazy sometimes… BE SPIRITUALLY GUIDED not GUIDED BY THE FLESH…
I will continue and revise this entry for Sunday… TILL THEN… WEAR THAT CROWN!
I am off to watch the 31st Olympiad… God Bless Team USA!
USA! USA! USA!