Little Childrenof Heaven [Belated Post

Welcome to heaven, dear Little Children of God!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 16TH Sunday after Pentecost, click here:
Pentecost16.2009.LittleChildrenofHeaven.mp3

Have a blessed week living in the love and care of your Father in heaven.

Faith at Work

Greetings dear people of Trinity!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 17TH Sunday after Pentecost, click here:
Pentecost17B.2009.FaithatWork.mp3

For a brief bio of James click on his graphic.

Have a blessed week living in the life and works of faith.

Lifted Up to New Life

Greetings dear people of God!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 15TH Sunday after Pentecost, click here. Lifted Up to New Life.

Have a blessed week living the new life in the body of Christ.

Look for Good Preaching and Reward It

According to the Word of God proclaimed by His apostle, Paul, good preaching is to be rewarded. "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17

Rewarding good preaching while marking and avoiding the opposite is perhaps the most important and effective thing the layman can do to combat false teaching and practice in their congregation and synod.

The sainted Lutheran professor, Dr. Harold Buls gleaned a list of 24 preaching proverbs during his lifetiome of service to the Church. Some Homiletical Maxims
Collected by Prof. Harry Buls and found in his exegetical notes.

Among them, the following struck me as having been discarded and set ABLAZE! with the rest of our grandfather's baggage. Laymen would do well to take note of and action on them.

2. Nothing keeps people with the church as does good preaching.
[While this is absolutely true in terms of the invisible church, it no longer seems true in terms of the visible church. It seems most people are looking for everything but. I.e. the preaching and teaching is great but we are looking for a bigger youth group, more activities, livelier music, etc.]

4. Preach the Word. Keep at it whether convenient or not. 2 Timothy 4:2.
[This has become a good way for an LCMS pastor to get fired.]

7. Avoid generic sermons.
[CG, Purpose Driven, Willow Creek etc. seem to thrive on just that--even amongst "Lutherans." We must mark and avoid them.]

11. If you can't preach repentance, you can preach nothing.
[What's repentance got to do with saving the lost?]

18. Fifty years ago the composer of these Notes heard the sainted Dr. Theodore Engelder preach on the theme: "We Need Repent of our Shabby Repentance." It still lingers in the writer's memory. Good sermons stick.
[Perhaps now we need to repent of shabby, repentance free sermons.]

20. God's law can only curb outburst of sin, show man his sin and guide the Christian in godly living. It cannot make people better, more spiritual or more godly. Only the Gospel can and does do that.
[CG, Purpose Driven, Willow Creek etc. do just the opposite--even amongst "Lutherans." We must mark and avoid them.]

21. Never waste peoples' time with sermons which neither warn nor comfort.
[There is a lot of wasted time on Sundays around the LCMS. Don't waste yours and encourage preachers who do neither.]

22. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said: "Repent ye" He meant that the whole life of the Christian should be one of repentance. (First of the 95 Theses in 1517)
[Note that growth and success are notmentioned. Why is that? And why can't we take the hint?]

An Army of One

Greetings to you, the Church Militant of Christ!

If you would like to hear, "An Army of One," the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 13TH Sunday after Pentecost, click here:
http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/Pentecost13.AnArmyofOne.mp3

The audio recording begins with the Hymn of the Day, "By Grace I'm Saved," LSB #860. The sermon starts at the 4:`15 mark.

Have a blessed week marching together as the redeemed of Christ's Church militant.

The Aborted Legacy of Ted Kennedy

Listening to daytime conservative talk radio this morning for the first time since the election last November, I was reminded both of why I stopped listening and why I used to be a daily listener.

After about 5 minutes I was reminded that my frustration and blood pressure levels were heightened by my listening. But since I was out walking the dog I continued listening and was glad I did. It seems one misses a lot of interesting information that is conveniently omitted in the daily newspaper, radio, and television news reports.

Here is a letter written by Senator Ted Kennedy that I would have missed had I not tuned in this morning. It is in response to a constituent during the nascent years of the abortion rights movement.

Edward M. Kennedy
Massachusetts

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

August 3, 1971

Mr. Thomas E. Dennelly
34 Baker Hill Road
Great Neck, New York 11023

Dear Mr. Dennelly:

I appreciate your letter containing your views on abortion. There are many moral and legal aspects arising from this complex issue which is gaining the acceptance of large numbers of women faced with unwanted pregnancies, while disturbing the consciences of a great many other Americans.

Opponents maintain that abortion is wrong from every theological, moral and medical aspect. Proponents are firmly convinced that the woman, alone, has the right to decide.

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain right which must be recognized - the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

On the question of the individual's freedom of choice there are easily available birth control methods and information which women may employ to prevent or postpone pregnancy. But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire.

I share the confidence of those who feel that America is willing to care for its unwanted as well as wanted children, protecting particularly those who cannot protect themselves. I also share the opinions of those who do not accept abortion as a response to our society's problems - an inadequate welfare system, unsatisfactory job training programs, and insufficient financial support for all its citizens.

When history looks back on this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the moment of conception.

Sincerely,
Edward M. Kennedy

Since the generation of which he wrote and who controlled his vote fell a tad short, perhaps we can be the generation to bring this baby full term.

Thy will be done, Lord. Please deliver us from this evil.

The Mystery of Marriage

Greetings dear members of the Bride of Christ!

If you would like to hear the sermon, "The Mystery of Marriage," preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah today, click on the following link:
http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/PENTECOST12B.2009.TheMysteryofMarriage.mp3

The audio recording includes the last two verses of the Hymn of the Day, "Gracious Savior, Grant Your Blessing," LSB #860. The sermon begins at the 2:05 mark.

Have a blessed week as the beloved bride of Christ.