Jan
25
Following is my sermon given at the recent funeral of Garrett Steven (January 15, 2008 - January 18, 2008), my great nephew, who was born with a condition called “anencephaly.” My thanks to those of you who prayed for Garrett, his parents, Brian & Kristine, and the family. - MAJ
A verse of Scripture that has taken on special meaning for Brian & Kristine in this season of their lives is …Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Last August, Brian & Kristine received the news that would both rock their world and change them forever. The precious child growing in Kristine’s womb had anencephaly. This term, unfamiliar to most of us, immediately catapulted to the forefront of our awareness as we scrambled to make sense out of this new reality. But no amount of understanding would erase the pain of this stark revelation. Read more
Jan
17
God’s Love in a Shoebox
Filed Under Commentary | Leave a Comment
Once again this past Christmas season Community of Joy Church participated in “Operation Christmas Child,” sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, a relief organization led by Franklin Graham. In addition, our youth group joined forces with other Lutheran Brethren youth groups (a total of over 200 teens) to prepare shoe boxes for distribution at a regional distribution center in the Twin Cities. It was indeed a special time for all who took part. The entire effort reached some 8 million hurting children all over the world who received gift-filled shoe boxes. According to Franklin Graham, “Not only will these be the first Christmas presents many of them have ever received, but this will also be the first time many have heard the true meaning of Christmas - God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world from sin.” Graham urges us to pray for the girls and boys who have received these boxes, trusting God to reveal his saving grace to them and their families. Read more
Jan
9
Sharing Christ Incarnationally
Filed Under Commentary | 2 Comments
Does the thought of sharing your faith with someone make you feel petrified with fear? What if someone asks you a question you can’t answer? What if befriending a person whose life is “a mess” ends up dragging you down? 
Rebecca Manley Pippert wrote a book on evangelism years ago entitled, “Out of the Saltshaker and into the World.” She still travels around the globe conducting “Salt Shaker evangelism training conferences” and has found that everywhere she goes Christians feel inadequate when it comes to sharing their faith in Christ with others. In order to overcome our fear and sense of inadequacy in sharing our faith, Pippert says we should “look at the incarnation of Christ.”
We’ve just come through the Christmas season in which we’ve celebrated Christ’s incarnation, the fact that “the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God came down to us from His lofty throne in heaven in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, and humbly took on the form of a servant. Becoming a man, Christ loved humanity, leaving us an example of how to relate to others.
Pippert says, “God doesn’t require perfection to be able to use us. In fact, His power is glorified through our weakness.” We don’t need to come across high and mighty, or have pat answers to every question. In fact, it’s a turn off to others if we do. Many are attributing Hillary Clinton’s recent comeback in the New Hampshire Primary Election to the fact that she expressed a moment of emotional vulnerability to a voter who simply asked her how she was doing. People want to see the reality of the struggle more than a polished pat answer. Read more
