Katie is beautiful, talented and I love her with all my heart! She is truly a gift of God!

At 8000 x 8000 pixels, this “Blue Marble” image of the earth is NASA’s highest resolution image to date. It was composited from several pictures taken from Suomi NPP, the newest earth-observing satellite.

May the Lord be praised for such a view!

Deuteronomy 18:15-20
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

In the Gospel Lesson for Sunday, a crowd at a synagogue made an observation which has been described as “incongruously understated.” The event began with Jesus teaching in the synagogue and the crowd observing that He “taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”

Jesus did not hand down lessons based on previously recorded laws. He revealed life-changing truth–truth that made people free. Suddenly, a man who was possessed by an evil spirit disrupted everything. The spirit knew who Jesus was and didn’t like Him being there. Jesus told that spirit to be quiet and come out of the man.With a violent but pointless display, the spirit obeyed.

Then the people made their strange observation: “What is this?” they asked. Now that was a good question! If we were in the presence of the possessed man when he started his disruption, we would probably have backed away, giving him plenty of space. After Jesus spoke and was obeyed, we would even more likely back away from Him! Nobody in that synagogue was unaware that they were in pretty fast company.

It is the answer to their question, however, that is curious. Someone answered with “A new teaching– and with authority!” We see the authority, but this was a Person–not a teaching. The observation reveals another piece of Jesus’ freeing truth. God’s teaching, His Word is not a sterile lesson, but a spirit-moving power.

Missionary Tim Heiney, in Guinea, Africa, told a story about a group of Guineans and Liberian refugees from a village named Bawa who went to a neighboring village, Kolobengu, to share the joy of their salvation. Many other churches had attempted to bring the Word there before, but their services had been disrupted by fighting children, drunken men, pouring rain, etc. A group of soothsayers called “zoos” (pronounced zôz) claimed to have caused the disruptions with black magic.

Many people were afraid to even enter the village because a “long devil” lived there who was known to have strange powers. The long devil dances about on stilts in a bizarre costume. Some said he once sat on a leaf on a tree branch, lifted both legs in the air and danced for some time–supported only by that leaf.

The group from Bawa led a joyful worship service with an attendance of over 100. The preaching and singing continued well after midnight. When the missionaries and evangelists finally headed home, the zoos told the people to follow them because “their God has great power!” The zoos had tried over and over to disrupt the service, but had failed. Tim learned that the “long devil” himself, without costume or disruption, attended a later meeting!

Tim attributed this to the many prayers which had prepared this place and others for the coming of God’s Word. He once called it a “carpet bombing” of prayer in advance of God’s marching soldiers.

What is this? A new teaching–and with authority!

Here is some information that may or may not change your mind. Jill Schensul, Travel writer for the Bergen Record in her blog, Open Road offers advice for those who feel the need to be in Indy for the game. There’s lots of information that Jill provides but there is one constant theme–going to this year’s Super Bowl will require an amount of money equal to most home loans. Goodness, things aren’t cheap to attend this event.

Almost makes me wish I still lived in Muncie IN and I could offer my former house for rent for the week. We lived about 1 hour away from downtown Indy and I bet I could find some fool who would be willing to part with his money. Where would I go? I don’t know, but I would certainly figure it out. At least I could afford alternate living arrangements considering what I could charge out of towners who didn’t know any better.

In the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25, the master entrusted three servants with different amounts of talents (talents represent any of God’s gifts including abilities or money). Although each was given a different amount, the master expected each to use his talents faithfully. Two of the servants did just that; each of them doubled the amount he was given to manage. The master was pleased and rewarded his servants for their service and gave them even greater responsibility. The third, however, did nothing with his share and received condemnation instead of a reward. His share was taken from him, and he was required to leave his master’s service. The master made each servant accountable for what he did with his talents.

We are like those servants, and God is our Master. He makes us accountable to multiply and use the talents He has given us in service to others.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the desire, faith and wisdom to use my talents for Your purposes. Amen.

Blessings on your journey as a steward!

Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

Our Lord Jesus Christ, True God in the Flesh, Cleanses Our Consciences from Sin

As He promised, the Lord our God has raised up “a Prophet” like Moses, namely Jesus, our brother in the flesh. “To Him you shall listen,” because the Word of the Lord is “in His mouth” (Deut 18:15–18). Indeed, He is more than a prophet and more than a scribe of the Scriptures; He is the incarnate Word, and He speaks “a new teaching with authority” (Mark 1:22, 27). He enters “the synagogue” of His Church and provides true Sabbath rest, using His authority to silence and cast out “even the unclean spirits” (Mark 1:21–27). By His Word of the Cross He removes the accusations of the law and of the devil, and He cleanses our consciences before God the Father, “from whom are all things and for whom we exist.” Hence, we are now set free from bondage and commended to God by the one Lord, Jesus Christ, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Cor. 8:6). Therefore, use your freedom to care for your brothers and sisters, neither causing them to stumble nor wounding their consciences (1 Cor 8:9–12), but cleansing and strengthening them with the Gospel.

These are the hymns we will sing:

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (LSB 395) verses 1-3
Son of God, Eternal Savior (LSB 842)
Where Charity and Love Prevail (LSB 845)
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (LSB 395) verses 4-6

How about you?

The author looks at the battery vs. value comparison matrix in several different ways and it appears that if you’re comfortable buying cheaper batteries, go for it. If not, you’ll be happy too.

Interesting that he didn’t bring up using rechargeable batteries. Maybe that’s next on his list of things to try.