Cutting Corners or Deceit?

Periodically we will look at real life news stories from the headlines and ask, "Where do Faith and Life meet?" 2 Real life stories and a Gospel response.

$20K of casino winnings seized at border crossing. A Birmingham man one near $20,000 gambling at a casino, but lost every dime. He went home empty handed not because he got mugged, but because he was deceitful. Trying to avoid the $10K currency reporting requirement at the border two men split the money between them. The authorities verified truth during an investigation that one many LOST at the casino and the other won nearly $20K. The civil punishment for inaccurate declaration ... you loose it all. (http://www.freep.com/)

Proverbs 14:17-18, "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving"

US border police find a drug smuggling tunnel the length of six football fields. The tunnel had a light rail system, lighting, and ventilation to assist in moving drugs underground from Mexico to the US. 25 tons of marijuana seized. Reuters reports, "Mexico is in the grip of a raging drug war that has killed more than 30, 000 people south of the border since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on powerful drug gangs."

Proverbs 11:18a, "The wicked earns deceptive wages."

Regardless of your view on marijuana, this form of earning a living has caused a blood bath of killings. Is their a connection between recreational use and killings in Mexico? I'll leave that for you to debate....But this I know... that whether you call it "Cutting Corners" or "Lying" or "The Gray Area" or "Deceit" there is a much better way, a more clear path, a more fruitful path in life.

Hopefully our response to these events go deeper than, "Serves 'em right! What a dumb idea? Toss 'em in the slammer." Or worse yet continue to think that our actions or lack of actions don't affect other people."May these stories cause us to ask... "Where am I cutting corners? Speaking/Doing half truths?"

Our prayer then is like that of the writer of Psalm 120:2, "Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue." Let us repent.

Receive this promise! Take it home!

Proverbs 11:18b, "...But one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward!" You are being renewed in the knowledge of your creator (Col. 3:9-10). Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the truth, and the LIFE." (John 14:6)

Identity

It appears everyone at the amusement park gets mesmerized with those "fun house" mirrors. you know, they make you look tall and skinny, or make you look short and fat, ans still others make you all twisted and bent. You know the truth is we all too some degree or another have distorted images of ourselves. Another truth is that how we see ourselves is really important. If we see ourselves as a victim we will tend to play the role of the victimized. If we see ourselves as unlovable, changes are that others will fund us more difficult to love. But if we see ourselves as valuable then we will feel more valuable. We spend much of our lives trying to earn acceptance: acceptance from parents, classmates, friends, and even in childhood when we followed through on the, "I dare you", snarl from the other kid on the playground. On this, the issue of identity, Dr. Charles Cooley the Dean of American Sociology, wrote: "Your self worth is determined, to a large degree, by what you think the most important person in your life thinks about you." So, what determines value? Well, something is worth however much one is willing to pay for it. Another way to determine value is by who owns it. Christian, "What is your value and identity?" Christian, "Who owns you?" and "What is that someone willing to pay for you?" In the middle of a letter in the Scriptures, Peter wrote this to a people who could use some reminding of their true identity,

" But you are a CHOSEN people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people BELONING to God, that you may declare the praises of HIM who CALLED you out of darkness into His wonderful LIGHT. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Before the world began I was choosing you. (Ephesians 1:3-4) Jesus says again, You did not choose me, I chose you. (John 15:16) Jesus has earned the right to be that most important person in you life. And what is Jesus' view of you? You are acceptable, valuable, capable, and forgivable. May you see yourself, your identity, your value in the light of the one who choose you to belong to Him, who called you into His wonderful light, Jesus the merciful one. thanks to Dr. Reed Lessing for his foundational thoughts which led to this devotion.

Anger: A God Given Emotion

Everyone of us has experienced it... that low-grade boiling point of anger. What was the last thing you got angry about? Why did it make you angry? Where did your anger lead? Jesus got Angry! Some religious bigots stood silent after Jesus essentially asked them, "Is it wrong on the Sabbath to do good instead of harm or to save life instead of kill?" "And he looked around at them with Anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' He stretched it out , and his hand was restored." -Mark 3:5

His anger was temporary. His anger was channeled not to destruction, breaking, or harm. Jesus' Anger leads to an act of healing and restoration! In Mark 3:5 a man's hand is restored.

Jesus' mercy is for all people including you and your anger which leads to destruction of things, breaking relationships, and harming the future. The Father's Anger leads to your restoration, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34

So is all anger wrong? What do we do with it?

Thinking through your future people often ask, "What do you Love?"

Maybe we should ask, "What makes you Angry?"

Jesus' Anger led to healing and restoration. So can ours.

Let's become aware it.

Learn how to channel it, direct it, and center it so things are made better.

Lead it to healing and restoration.

New Life

Twitter, Facebook, TV News, and Internet newspapers today all "ticked" the same message... "All 33 Chilean miners rescued after 70 days in a mine..." Millions across the world watched it unfold over the course of 22 hours via the internet. Billions in total were captivated by this rescue. Praise to God!!! What is it about this story that is so captivating? It has captivated Billions of people of all races, creeds, and economic status. Is is just simply our desire for a positive happy ending? I would suggest not. It's so captivating because it gets to the core of who we are as humans. It's so captivating because it gets to the core of what makes us "tick". 33 Chilean miners rescued! 33 miners rescued to... life. The scene of saving life. Instinctively we know the precious gift of life. We will go to extreme measures to rescue life. 33 miners came up from the depths to new life. How about the child who is hiding in their room as their alcoholic or abusive parent goes at a loved one? How about that loved one beaten, still laying there motionless? What about the person cowering, in the fetal position, weeping to the point where there are no more tears? What about the father of five who loses his job, is behind on the families rent, and tonight wondering where the food to feed them will come? What about the marginalized stuck in the worse part of town with drug laden streets and gangs, and a broken school system? What about a the child who will come out of the womb dead, aborted? What about the child and/or adult who won't hear greatest story of rescue, about being saved from the depths and given New Life in the Risen Savior Jesus Christ? Miner Mario Sepulveda said, "I have been with God and with the devil. I seized the hand of God, it was the best hand. I always new God would get us out of there." For more on this new life see... Romans 8:10-11; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:3-5

Texting God?

Wouldn't it be great if God operated by texting? Life would be less stressful, more convienent, and I'd be more effecient checking off items on the 'to do' list. Text over the concern about that project...check! Ask God for safety as I head home... check! Ask for wisdom with that neighbor and finances... check! I mean if God texted he'd reply to my concerns. project taken care of... angels sent ahead for ur trip...i care for the birds and flowers, i'll care for u (Matthew 6:8-14) -God

Texting is instant, convienent, no time wasted chatting, and brief. I mean life would be simplier if God was just a text away.

Yet texting can be incredibly frustrating. I was a bystander yesterday and heard two friends going at one another. "Text me, later." The friend said,

"No, u never responded to mind yesterday." "You didn't send one." "Yes I did." "I never got." Sometimes u don't know if the receiver actually got it or is avoiding you. You don't know if the receiver understood what you were saying. Or say your with a group of friends and someone starts texting. You don't know if the person next to you is texting about you to someone else or multitasking.

What a great gift that God give us His communication system to use and not our faulty texting. God's powerful communication of prayer has been given to us. Available 24/7, not just when there is battery life. Our messages are always received (1 kings 9:3 " I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me...). We have guaranteed delievery and guaranteed answers. Maybe in His time, Maybe in His way, Maybe for His benefit, certainly He knows what is best for us! Our all knowing God hears our prayers, those spoken and those on our hearts (Romans 8:26). So "I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my sprit, but I will aslo sing with my mind" 1 Cor. 14:15

Hello My Name Is...

My answer is always the same= Ted.

Now that you are far past roommate introductions (e.g. the “honeymoon” phase is over already. You live great together or working on it.)

Orientation week is over and you have been introduced too so many you can’t keep ‘em straight. You’ve started classes and now there are classmates, professors, and by the end of week two you have almost forgotten your own name.

So what is it with names? I mean is there more to them than just an identifier? What is YOUR name?

For thousands of years names have carried some deep significance. Take from Scripture: Hannah, which means “grace”, or David, which beans “beloved”, or Abigail, which means “Joy of the Father”.

What does your NAME mean? Mine…. Ted, just a family name. But there is heritage, history, and family remembrance there. It reminds me that I represent not just me, but those before me. Life is far beyond just me.

But I got another name too... Christian.

Sometimes in the midst of meeting new people, new situations, and new opportunities we forget who’s we truly are. And when thrilled or discouraged, excited or frustrated, we often ask “Why me?.... Why now?... Why this?”

Our Name Christian, Christ’s, directs us! It means “little Christ”. That is no easy or smooth journey, but full of Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness for us and to share with others!

The journey of being a Christian on campus is Awesome. I think as we come in contact with Christ Himself more and more (e.g. Prayer, Devotion, Conversation, Gifts of Grace…) He shows us more and more clearly WHO WE REALLY ARE.

Hello my name is….

Summer Happenings!!!

Quite a few of us are still in Fargo/Moorhead for the summer.

Tuesday Nights @8pm we'll meet in the Our Redeemer parking lot and go to OLD CHICAGO for $1 pizza and just hangout.

Bring a friend along!

Questions email Pastor Ted at lsfmoorhead@gmail.com

Roundtable Creation Conversation

Open to Every College Student! Your friends, roomate, and etc.

So what about... evolution? creation? dinasaours? dating methods? the fossil record? death origins and implications? life origins and implications? Bring all these questions and all the others you have always wondered about...

Join us for this open conversation and dialogue concerning the issues around the events of creation and the implication for our lives today. This roundtable conversation and open QA will feature Answers in Genesis' Dr. David Menton. Dr. Menton served at one of the top medical institutions while at Washington University in St. Louis.

Free Dinner and Dessert!!!!!

Friday, April 16th @ 5:30pm-7:30pm at Our Redeemer Fellowship Hall Upstairs.

EXPELLED- no intelligence allowed

Now Showing------ TUES. Night (4/13) at 7:30pm. Our Redeemer Lutheran Fellowship Hall (upstairs). Ice Cream will be provided during the viewing. This Friday @5:30pm Creation Speaker David Menton will also be meeting with college students for a roundtable conversation on issues of creation. Come with all your questions; dinner will be provided for you. More to come later this week.

Mercy...not sacrifice

Christianity is about mercy...it's not always easy... Check out these thoughts from Dale Meyer.

What would you do? You are in Chile or Haiti. The earthquake has devastated your life. You hear the people are looting nearby stores. Do you join in the looting? The commandment says, "Thou shalt not steal." That's clear...But in life and death situations, what would you do?"

Before the construction of the temple, the tabernacle was Israel's most hly place. In the tabernacle were loaveds of bread, the "showbread," and only the priesets were permitted to eat the showbread. Still, David, who was not a priest but was hungry, asked the priest for theh forbidden bread. The priest obliged and David ate the "looted" showbread. (1 Samuel 21:1-7; Matthew 12:1-8)

Jesus used that story to try and show reliegious legalists that love is the supreme command. He quoted Hosea 6:6, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." mercy is doing acts of kindnes for others. It's not looting plasma TVs, as the news reports that some people in Chile are doing. But take a loaf of bread or some water to feed your starving family? I think that's doing mercy. Wrong? Technically, yes, but "love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Moral questions are not always easy. Neither is the life of Christian love.

What are your thougths? What are your reactions? Where is our Christian love providing mercy?

Trajedy

Haiti- Earthquake New Orleans- Flood Phillipians-Tsunami All are incredible trajedies that have cost great destruction to infrastructure, thousands of lives, and have left communtities devistated for years. Why? Why do they happen? The earth cries out with disorder and caios; people are broken and lgrieving. We could speculate forever over the question, "Why?". People give all sorts of answers, but no single answer to the "Why?" it happend, brings healing or hope. So "I can't answer why, but I can tell you there is hope." "I don't know, but what I do know is..." 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with getnleness and respect..." Sharing this hope with g e n t l e n e s s and respect is what Jesus calls His followers to do. Is there really Hope? Yeah, I think there is HOPE, real HOPE. First, Jesus came and died and rose from the dead so that disorder, caios, and even our sinful selves could be restored. The first HOPE is that He desires to have relationship with all people, to give His forgiveness to all people. 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous and the unrighteous, to bring you to God." So their is HOPE found in Jesus for our own disorder, caios, and sin. Jesus rising from the dead was not just some religious act, but a literal victory over the destructive forces of the world and sin. In baptism He gives us the Holy Spirit, who is known as the Counselor and prays constantly on our behalf. That is Awesome! Secondly, their is long term HOPE. Christ said He'd come again to restore His creation so disorder and caios wouln't dominate. "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. ... He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more deth or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4) Imagine a time where Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Tornados, Cancer, Unexpected Deaths will no longer exist. Jesus came to restore life!! He rose from death to LIFE! He comes now to offer you LIFE and HOPE! An answer to "Why?" we may never know. But an answer to the HOPE which can heal those who are mourning, crying, grieving, angry, lost, confused; It is Jesus.

NEW Opportunities

Happy New Years! Another decade is past and a new begins! Is it "two-thousand and ten" or "twenty-ten" or "o-ten"? Regardless it is a new year with new beginnings.

With the new year a new semester roles in to your lives and so does many new opportunties to gather as a community. Let me run down our regular gatherings for 2010... stay tuned for more details.

Sundays-

NEW-----Beginning with fellowship at 9:15am in ORLCs (starting 1/17/10) College Room we will begin our first College Specific Study on Sun. mornings.

NEW-----Beginning (1/10/10) at 6:00pm at Concordia College Ivers 210, Dave Mork will facilitate "The Truth Project". Which focuses in on Truth (suprise!), Worldviews, and asks "Do you believe what you believe, is really real?" Topics range from science, government, labor, God, man, and how they all itersect in our lives.

Tuesdays-

NEW TIME/LOCATION-----Beginning (1/19/10) at 8:00pm at MSUM's CMU room 218. This shifts our fellowship and Bible Study that previously was on Wed. nights.

A lot of new events, classes, opportunities, and the like on the horizon this semester.

Join us as we seek the face of Jesus in our relationship with Him and

His Community, living-out our lives for Him with others.