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Monday, March 29, 2010

Palm Sunday

A military tank. An armored car. Air Force One. A military war horse. These are all fitting modes of transportation for a ruler of a country or kingdom. But the King of the Universe, Jesus, rides in… on a young donkey. A beast of burden.

The crowd doesn’t even seem to notice. The palm branches and cloaks are strewn none the less. Maybe they remember the prophecy, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

The parade will not deter Jesus from His lofty goal, to be humbled and obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The King of the Universe will ascend His throne of the cross so that you and I will be heirs of a kingdom that will never fade.

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

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

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Lent 5

“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.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Lent 4

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. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Lent 3

What do you do with a fruit true that hasn’t produced fruit in three years? If it is in your yard, maybe you’ll keep it around for some nice shade. What if you make your livelihood from fruit trees? Then you have only one choice. Cut it down. It is taking up the space and nutrients from the other trees.

Our Savior told this parable in regards to humanity. We are the fruit trees that don’t bear fruit. He pleads with our heavenly Father, “Sir, let it alone this year also until I dig around it and put on manure.”

By this warning, the Lord would turn us away from wickedness and bring us to life in Himself. For He is patient with us, that we not be cut down in our sin but live and bear fruit in Him.

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

Lent 2

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. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn