New Year's Seeds of Faith

Happy New Year!

So when will the resolutions start? After all the Christmas cookies are out of the cookie jar? Or maybe when all the family goes home? Or is your response… “what resolutions?”

The New Year has been a popular time to try and change our own lives. Resolutions come and go and few actually become permanent

So in this time of out with the old and in with the new, it might be a good time to ponder a change that is good and does happen without any effort on our part. “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Being a forgiven child of God is a great way to begin the new year!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Christmas Seeds of Faith

Bells are ringing, gifts are being given, family and friends are celebrating, songs are being sung. It is a joyous occasion.

Really, it is, despite whatever disagreements you’ve had over what to get the kids or who’s family to spend more time with.

What? You still don’t believe me? I’m sorry to hear that. I guess you’ll have to try harder next year.

Don’t want to wait until next year? Tired of the Christmas frustrations? Then stop what you are doing for a moment and hear God’s Word on the topic. “The Virgin will bear a Son and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

That infant in diapers in the manger is God himself. He is bigger than any disagreements you will have this Christmas, for He has taken away the world’s sin.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on an uninhabited island. He prayed daily for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for an answer to his prayer, but nothing appeared. Eventually he managed to build a shelter from driftwood for his few things. One day after scavenging for food, he returned to find his hut in flames with smoke filling the sky. He stared in grief and anger. Everything was lost. He cried out to God, “How could you do this to me?” Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of an approaching ship. “How did you know where I was?” “We saw your smoke signal,” the rescuers replied.

In the midst of pain and suffering, is our Savior, Jesus. He never promised life would be easy, just that He would rescue you even in the midst of the pains of this life.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith November 27, 29

The end is near! Will it be chaotic? Dark? What will bring it to an end? You say I need a Savior now. What good will this Jesus do for me? After all, He just started some religion of good teachings 2000 years ago. How will that help me now at the end?

If all that were true, then you would be right. But this is Jesus our Savior… from Colossians 3

“For by [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together…. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things… making peace by the blood of his cross.”

That makes a world of difference at the end.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith, Thanksgiving

Stop! Before you carve that turkey. Put that fork down! Fold your hands and bow your heads. On this day of National Thanksgiving it is easy to be thankful for the food on the plate and the family that is there to share it with you. But before you say grace and move on, hear God’s Word through Paul to Timothy:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”

Yes that is right, all people. Those government officials that you want to vote out of office. That schoolyard bully. Our nations’ enemies. Pray for them. This is good and pleasing to our Savior Jesus for He gave His life for them as well. Give thanks for that good and perfect gift!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith Nov 15 &20

The temperature is getting colder. The leaves are falling. Harvest is done or almost done. Wars and worldly strife. Broken families. Wildfires, earthquakes, and hurricanes that tear the world apart and take life.

What do all of these things have in common? They tell us a change is about to take place. Unfortunately the change isn’t as tame as fall turning into winter. But it is just as obvious. When we see all the pain, suffering, and death, Jesus says then we know that the Kingdom of God is near.

But for those who are in Christ, they need not fear all of the calamity. Jesus says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” His words of promise and salvation are for all who trust in Him. When you are in Him, eternity is yours.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith Nov 8-13

A talking bush? Really? You don’t say, Moses. It was on fire and it never burned up? Right. Tell us another tall tale. Oh that bush gave you a message that God has seen our suffering under the heavy handed Pharaoh of Egypt and now he’s going to do something about it.

We can imagine why Moses was uncertain about bringing this message to the Israelites. It seems ridiculous.

So God took Moses’ fears and sealed them off with God’s own personal name: Yahweh. The one who IS. The God of their forefathers.

As we live out our lives in our own personal Egypts of sin, suffering, and death, Christian’s lives are sealed with the personal name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That name makes us his own, for it is sealed in His own Son’s death and resurrection.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith, All Saints

We have all seen those commercials that advertise the latest cleaning products. “Get’s out dried in stains, wine, and even blood.” Blood is something to be cleaned out, not cleaned with. But John writes in Revelation 7:

“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”

The blood of the Lamb, Jesus, is the greatest detergent of all. It cleanses every filthy stain of sin from our life. Jesus delivers that cleansing blood to us through water and word, bread and wine.

For this we rejoice for those whose robes have been washed in the blood of the Jesus; who’s trust was in the true Christian faith and now rest from their labors in death.

But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of Glory passes on His way.

Alleluia!!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith Oct 25-30

We are coming upon the celebration of the posting of 95 statements of debate on a door at a church in Germany some 490 years ago. Who could imagine that a German monk named Martin Luther would still have an impact today. Time magazine placed him in the top ten most influential people in the entire world!

But if it were really about a man named Luther, we would have forgotten about him long ago. The day labeled the Reformation is really about Jesus. Romans chapter 3 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. And later, For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

This Reformation salvation message is still for you and me today.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Increase our faith! Is the call of the disciples. Forgive your neighbors. If he keeps doing things against you and he keeps admitting it, keep on forgiving him.

Don’t lead anyone astray with your actions.

Indeed! Increase our faith because surely I don’t have enough to do that.

And what is Jesus’ response to the plea of increase our faith? If you have faith the size of a mustard seed. In other words, “Size doesn’t matter!” Faith receives the gift Either you have faith or you don’t. No faith building exercises can make it bigger or better.

Faith in Jesus grants you forgiveness and a new life with His good gifts given to you. No special mathematics can increase it. It’s as good as it gets. If this faith in Jesus is good enough to sustain you into eternity, how much more for the trials of this world.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Surely if my long dead relative just came back and told me what I needed to know, or whispered comforting words then….

Jesus tells us in the story of the rich man and Lazarus that, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

Once this physical life ends, earthly work is done. Any messages that need to be given won’t come from the grave. No ghost will come back to tell you to straighten up your life to give you an earthly second chance.

But someone did rise from the dead with a perfect message and people still don’t listen to Him! Jesus offers eternal life as a free gift won for the world on the cross. Nothing more, nothing less. Are you listening? This message is for you!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

To climb up the corporate ladder, sometimes you have to walk on a few people. It’s not really stealing if it is their mistake. It’s so much work to take care of Grandpa, let’s just let him die.

Such is the wisdom of the world. It makes our hearts yearn for more and take advantage of whoever gets in our way to get ahead.

The prophet Amos proclaims, “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end…” “I will turn your feasts into mourning….”

The things of this world must pass away and their sins punished. The day is coming and indeed has come where all of our taking of advantage of people has been punished on the cross of Jesus! We are now free to look after all of our neighbors well being.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

That’s all well and good, Pastor, but I live here and now! The poignant words of someone who is struggling with their current situation in life.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

And hear also further words of God from Hebrews, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today, and forever.”

What this means is, O fellow believer, is that the things hoped for and not seen are given to you even today, in the midst of all your struggles in life. Jesus Christ is there, even today, forgiving your sin, through Word and Sacrament, and carrying you through all the joys and sorrows shared.

There will be many things that attempt to place your faith in something else, resist them, for Jesus is the only one who never changes.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

“This hurts me more than it hurts you!” is the cry of the father disciplining his child. Really? Are you so sure, dad? Discipline is never pleasant for the giver or the receiver. But whether a child will acknowledge it at the time or not, discipline is for their own good.

Right discipline is only ever given because of the loving relationship between parent and child. If our parents can discipline rightly, even though they are imperfect, how much more our Heavenly Father, who is perfect, will discipline His children.

Since He disciplined His one and only Son, Jesus for all of our errors, we need not fear His earthly discipline now.

The discipline is a continual call back to our God’s grace and mercy in Jesus, so that we will remain in faith and not lose the unshakable kingdom prepared for us.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Maybe you’ve heard about some of the people of the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, David. Were these people better than anyone else? Wanderers, laughers, adulterers, and those who boldly turned their back on God.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

These are the great cloud of witnesses? You bet they are! In their failures, they were given faith in the promises of God, who forgives all their sin through Jesus Christ!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

George Michael sung boldly, “I gotta have faith.” His song was about breaking up with a girlfriend. He just needed to have faith that he made the right decision. He knows that ultimately there will be no hard evidence whether his decision was right or wrong. He just wanted something better.

Scripture defines faith in Hebrews, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Much greater than any hope for a better girlfriend, true faith clings to the One who gives the best. Though there is pain and suffering now, there is something better.

By faith we believe that God spoke this entire world into being out of nothing in 6 literal days. By faith we receive the promise that Jesus died for all of our sin. By faith we believe that He will come again and take us in our glorified bodies to our heavenly home.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Luther Quote of the Day

"Note well that the real freedom is freedom from sin….How does it come about? When we hear His Word—for instance, that Christ was born of Mary, suffered, was crucified, died, was buried, rose from the dead on the third day, etc. “Oh,” it is said, “I know all this very well! It is an old story….But learn this lesson of the children, for these words tell us how we are redeemed and set free. “Yes,” they say, “these sayings and words are so common that they do not do the work.” The children are to be highly commended for praying these words and also for understanding them sooner; for the more learned and the smarter we old fools claim to be, the less we know and understand about this subject. To become free implies that you fix your thoughts on something else than that which lies in you… Note well that you will really be pious and free from sin if you believe that Christ makes you free by dying for you, shedding His blood, rising from the dead, and sitting at the right hand of God….

This is a message which must be preached again and again to fill and satisfy people with this doctrine. My hunger, however, has not yet been appeased. This doctrine is like bread, of which the body does not weary. We can be gorged with other food, but not with bread, unless a person is sick and unable to eat. A healthy person does not tire of bread. Likewise, to the end of his days a Christian never finishes with the study of the Creed. Neither will you or any saint, whether it be Mary or John the Baptist.

Therefore it is fitting that we sit down beside the stove with the children and learn this lesson. Of course, some among us have learned from one sermon all there is to know! But when they are confronted with trials, these people are in sore need of having someone recite these words to them and of having a four-year-old child recite the Creed to them."

Luther, Martin: Pelikan, Jaroslav Jan (Hrsg.) ; Oswald, Hilton C. (Hrsg.) ; Lehmann, Helmut T. (Hrsg.): Luther's Works, Vol. 23 : Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 6-8. Saint Louis : Concordia Publishing House, 1999, c1959 (Luther's Works 23), S. 23:409

Seeds of Faith

If all the world’s greatest dignitaries appeared on your doorstep and asked to come in, what would you do? Of course, invite them in!

And then they began to discuss issues that were important in your neighborhood and community, would you go make coffee? Pretend not to listen? Act busy? Sit at their feet?

The greatest dignitary ever in the world did visit a humble home in Israel. Two ladies resided there; one sat and listened to the great dignitary between heaven and earth, and the other busied herself at the work of hosting the dignitary.

That greatest dignitary between heaven and earth was Jesus. His response was “you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”

That one thing is to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear His Word and receive His gifts of grace and forgiveness.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

What happens when I die? Will I wander around chatting with a few select people who can understand me? Will I share messages from the afterlife reassuring my loved ones? Will I become an angel, like one of those cute little cherubs that sit on my mantle?

While all those spirit shows on TV try to point us to something solid that gives us hope after we die, those things are not good enough in God’s plan. The work He has given us to do, we need to complete now, before we die. He doesn’t desire us to be disembodied spirits floating around, or to change us into what we are not.

Instead, all those who believe in Jesus as their Savior are only to rest after they die, eagerly awaiting when we will be reunited with our bodies in perfection.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

The old saying goes something like this. Nothing good in life is free.

So that means if you want quality, you better be ready to shell out the dough, put in the blood sweat and tears and work your tail off.

Surprise! Free gift for you!

The unerring Word of God states, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

That means that there is something good in life that is free for you. It cost our Savior his entire life. But for you, it is a free. Don’t try and buy it. You can't afford it. Don’t try and add to it. It is perfect as it is. For you, there is nothing left to work for. Surprise!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

You think you’re so smart!

You think you’re so good!

You think you’re so …. __Fill in the blank.___

These snide comments usually come in the middle of an argument. And usually imply that they think you think you are better than them.

Paul says to the “Galatians, For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Still think you’re something? Think again. “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

Is that message a downer to you? Boast in this.

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Crucified in Christ, we are now something! Forgiven, redeemed, children of God.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Do I have the right equipment? This is the most important question for backpackers to ask before they head off into the wilderness plodding along with the bare minimum that they need to survive.

They need water filters, shelter, water proof matches, and lightweight high energy food.

Do you have the right equipment for the daily plodding you do in the wilderness of this life?

All Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.

The difference between the hiker and you is that you don’t have just the bare essentials, but rather ALL the equipment that God has provided to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. His holy unchangeable never erring Word in the person of Jesus gives you all you need.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Fireworks! Explosions! Celebration! Grilling out! Family and Friends! Party!!!

Let freedom ring!

We pour much of our summer energy into celebrating this all important day for our country. Independence from someone over a distant sea ruling our land. Waving flags and banners, parades and carnivals. The victory that gives freedom.

And then we go back to our daily lives feeling as if freedom from ourselves and our addictions and bad habits and behaviors seems far away. Is the freedom given in this country enough?

No, it isn’t. But there is a greater freedom.

Paul says to the Romans “We know that our old self was crucified with (Jesus) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”]

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Seeds of Faith

Feel over worked? Overloaded? Overwhelmed? Do you feel the demands of living a “good life” are too great? Boy, you can’t even imagine how right you are. The work in the garden of this world is difficult after sin entered the world.

Wish you had just one moment to catch your breath, but even your day off seems to produce more work? Want to expand your faith life but even going to church is just one more chore to do on a Sunday morning?

Hear the word of the Lord, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Every mother eagerly awaits the day when she can say, “I felt the baby move.” That movement is a concrete testament that the life inside is actually a human being. Kick, punch, twirl, and swim.

Now imagine if you could actually know what your baby was responding too.

After Mary found out she was bearing the Savior of the world, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who also was having a child in her old age. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby, John the Baptizer, leapt for joy in her womb.

Our Savior’s presence in the womb of Mary caused joy to the infant John in the womb. Why? Because salvation is being fulfilled and he came into contact with his Savior.

Come into contact with our Savior Jesus and even infants in the womb can leap for joy!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many who put flags or flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Thanks be to God for those who die in service!

This past Sunday was another memorial day of sorts. It was the Feast of Pentecost, the day a gathering of believers were filled with the Holy Spirit enabled to declare the wonders of God in their own native languages.

What wonders of God were they declaring? That Jesus, the one who was put to death on the cross, rose from the dead three days later, and ascended into heaven to fill the world with His forgiveness.

Thanks be to God for the One who died in battle of your sin and rose victorious for you!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Gifts are so often cherished by those who receive them. The best gifts are the ones that will be used. But even the strongest toys will wear out or break and the prettiest flowers will whither and die.

John 17 says that our Heavenly Father has given us to Jesus. Does this mean we will be used by Jesus until we wear out?

We have been given to Jesus, not to be worn out with doing Jesus’ labor. Rather we have been given to Jesus so that we may have His glory. Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven, “The glory that You have given me I have given to them…”

Jesus gives us the glory of a right relationship with our Heavenly Father through the forgiveness He won for us on the cross. You continue to be His most cherished gift.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Today is the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.

After all, isn’t that the appropriate place for him? Jesus’ tour of duty on Battlefield Earth is done. The General of the Army has declared victory and now he returns to His throne in heaven through the clouds to sit back and look at what a good job he has done?

Actually, it is quite the opposite. Indeed, Jesus has gone back to where He came, the Father’s right hand of authority and power. The God/Man now reigns on the throne in His earthly body.

That is good news for you and me. He reigns as Your King of Kings, continuing to prepare a place for you in His kingdom. Jesus still keeps His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

All who believe in Him long to see Him in His heavenly glory. Yet now we must see Him hidden in Word and Water, Bread and Wine.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Don’t pull on the plant, honey. As the 18 month old topples the pot off the stand. You just wish they understood your words completely. Oh, they hear them, and they may even grasp that you are communicating something important. But for the 18 month old, the details are sketchy. Mother’s understand it so well, lack of understanding fades. Disobedience lay around the corner.

Our Savior, Jesus, understood this so well. His disciples walked with him for 3 years and still didn’t grasp that Jesus must die to take away all sin, and must rise to new life to give us His eternal life. But it can’t be any clearer. Jesus said, “I have said these things to you that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Months upon months of knowing what is coming. Hours upon hours of preparation. You know the outcome. A bouncing baby boy or girl. But the woman knows what comes first. Pain. Birthpain. No one looks forward to that kind of pain. No it is the joy of the newborn child that is remembered months, weeks, and years to come.

So it is now. We live in a world of school shootings, natural disasters, broken homes, and the list goes on for each person who feels loss.

Jesus used the image of childbirth in John 16 to assure all those who put their faith in him. These are pains that lead up to a greater joy that no one can take from you. A joy of eternal life Jesus has prepared for you.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Lassie! Come here Lassie! Come home! And the image of that ever faithful collie running through the woods or field all the way home into its master’s arms.

Do you hear your Master’s voice calling?

In the middle of all the cacophony of other voices and noise that distracts,

sometimes His voice seems to get lost.

Do you hear His voice? It is the one who calls out with truth and forgiveness and love. It is the one who knows your inner most heart and still gives himself for you so that you may have life.

Hear His voice now:

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice,

And I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,

And no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

You have heard of the man. He persecuted Christians and watched them die. What a horrible wretched man that he was. You may be happy to hear, he died on the road. His name was Saul.

The amazing thing is: Saul kept on living after he died to his sin, because he had an encounter with Jesus. Jesus used His Word and turned Saul’s life around and gave him a new life.

You also can be certain that when you hear our Lord Jesus speak,

your life will never be the same.

He speaks just as clearly today to you as He did to Saul on the road.

You will still encounter heartache and frustration,

but your life will never be the same as you live in the hope of salvation

in your living Savior Jesus.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Seeing is believing. To see removes any doubt and makes certain any belief. Thomas heard the good news of a bodily resurrected Jesus that first Easter Eve but just couldn’t believe it without seeing it. So Jesus showed Thomas.

John writes, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but THESE ARE WRITTEN so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that BY BELIEVING YOU may have life in His name.”

Now we have the eyes of faith that see even without seeing physically. The eyes of faith make it certain that “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We are truly blessed with a new life in Jesus; life in His Name.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

Alleluia! Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

There have been a lot of men who have died over six thousand or so years. The cross has been the instrument of death for many of them. Some men have even claimed to be a savior of the world.

Only one man has risen bodily from the dead and proved it by showing himself to over 500 people. That man is Jesus, God’s only begotten Son. Jesus rose physically from the dead because He cares about your physical body both now and into eternity. His physical resurrection is the victory march over the effects of sin, disease, infection, cancer, death. His physical resurrection is His promise to you that these things will not plague our bodies into eternity.

Alleluia! Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Seeds of Faith

It seems foolish. What self respecting Savior would die on a cross?

And besides, can any one man die for the punishment of the entire world’s guilt?

Only God is big enough to make that kind of sacrifice. But then, how weak must God be?

The Word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

He was weak so that we would be strong. Jesus’ death, God’s death, is our life.

to those who believe, Jesus was the power of God who forgave their sins and would raise them up to everlasting life.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Seeds of Faith

“I don’t get no respect.” We all believe Rodney Dangerfield’s catch phrase could be our own. It seems as if our culture hasn’t a clue what it means to respect anyone anymore. Respect your elders. Respect your boss. Respect your body. Yeah right. Disrespect abounds.

You would think if God came down and walked the earth there would be a little more respect.

God did walk the earth and alas, no we still don’t respect. He gave us His Holy Word every time we fail to listen to, we give the greatest disrespect.

and that is why Jesus, God’s only begotten Son was sent to the earth, to get no respect.

With all of our lack of respect heaped on Jesus’ shoulders, He was rejected, by us and by His Father, so that you and I are now respected by our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Seeds of Faith

I cannot imagine the hurt and the pain that go along with having a pigheaded child. Especially one that would be so bold as to demand, “Give me all the money I will get when you die! Give it to me now, because I am leaving home never to return again!”

What a slap in the face.

Yet that is what we have done to God. We boldly walk in and say, “give me my life the way I want it now. I am venturing out on my own with no regard for you.”

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus tells us about our God who is willing to run out to us when we have pigheaded schemes of doing it our own way. He runs out to us through Jesus our Savior, who humbled Himself to death to bring us back into God’s Family

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Seeds of Faith

If you own an extended cab long box pickup, pulling a cattle trailer,
you may have said this.
“It takes a 40 acre field to turn it around.

The bigger it is, the larger the space it takes to turn.
But when you are going the wrong direction, you still have to turn.

That is the problem with our sin. No matter how small they may seem, they make us too big for the space that we have to turn in. That’s a problem, because if we don’t turn and head the other direction, we are headed down a path of destruction.

If that sounds hopeless, hear the Good News. Your sins are no more. Your load has been taken away but the blood of our Savior, Jesus. Turning is now no problem. Believe the Good News!

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Seeds of Faith

I must go. Often these are words that come after a nice, long, pleasant visit with a friend. We have had a good chat. I’m sad it is over, but I must go home now.

I must go. These words can also be uttered when you are dreading the appointment ahead. I must go to the doctor and get the test results.

Our Savior from sin, Jesus, also lived these “ I Must Go,” moments. No matter what lay before Him, whether a joyous feast with His disciples or a conversation with those who didn’t believe Him to be the Savior, Jesus must go. He must go to the cross. He must go to His death.

Not because Jesus’ pleasant visit to this world was over. But because His love for us was so great, Jesus must go to the cross to take away our sin.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Seeds of Faith

“The devil made me do it!” cries the child, trying to convince his parents why he shouldn’t be punished. Parents quickly see through that charade knowing that the only thing that made their child disobey was their own selfish desire to do what they should not do.

Temptations to do what we should not do abound. They come in forms as subtle as TV commercials and as blatant as friends saying, “c’mon give it a try.” Jesus as He walked this earth was not exempt from temptations. And He even had a batch handed out by the Devil himself.

Jesus overcame all of these temptations by using God’s Holy Word to live a spotless life in our place. When we succumb to our own temptations, cling to God’s Holy Word of promise of forgiveness of sins in Jesus death and resurrection.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Feb 20, 2007

Even though we are in the midst of cold temperatures and snow, we are coming upon a dusty season. No, I’m not predicting another dry spring. Instead I am talking about the dusty season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday.

God cursed our first parents Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, “for you are dust and to dust you shall return.” We also live under that same curse. Ash Wednesday then is a reminder of our mortality caused by our first parent’s sin and yes even our own sin. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Death.

And God sent His Son, Jesus into the dust of our flesh so that the dusty mortal’s curse would be placed on Jesus, leaving us with His immortality.

These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska.