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.

Reformation

Reform. Change. Take something and make it different, better, more pristine. Key words this election year.

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.

You can add nothing to your salvation or your earthly holiness. Jesus has done it all.

This Reformation salvation message is still for you and me today. There is no adding to it or moving on from it and we never grow out of it. It is the one central truth of the Christian faith on which all others stand or fall. Remain in this Word of Truth forever!

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

Proper 24

“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) Who ever said Jesus had nothing to say about money and taxes?

Yes, that’s right. Pay what you owe. No matter which politician is going to try and save you the most money this election season, whether your taxes go up or down, we have a God given responsibility to pay our taxes. Don’t seek loopholes and a way to bend the truth.

But there is a greater, equally true message that has to do with a lot more than money. “Give to God, what is God’s.” What can we give God, after all, He has it all? He doesn’t need your money. What He needs is what you need; for you to believe that Jesus has taken away all your sins.

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

My apologies

I apologize for there not being updates to the blog. I will give you a nice backlog of them shortly.

Proper 22

Let’s say you own some choice land. You put all of your time, effort, and money into making it produce a perfect crop. When the time comes to harvest the crop, your tenants who you entrusted with this prized land refuse to respond to your communications with them. You send some of your hired hands. Some return beaten and bloodied, others don’t return at all. You know they are dead. Surely they will respect your son. Yet those tenants have delusions of grandeur. They think that if they kill your son, then they will inherit this prized land all for themselves.

And so we have delusions of grandeur whenever we think we can take the eternal life that isn’t ours on our own merit and kill the very Son of God with our sin.

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

Proper 21

And being found in human form, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2.

What does it mean for God in human flesh Jesus to be exalted? Simply this: He did what no one else could do, that is die for the world’s sin. And this is the very same exalted name placed on you in your baptism. Your name is with His. You are forgiven all your sins. So we boldly confess with our lips and our lives all that Jesus has done for us!

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

Proper 20

It seems unfair that if someone puts in more work on a project that they would get paid the same as someone who does less work. At some point in time many have felt that way over those who lead such a scandalous life, yet as the scandal’s life draws to a close, he confesses with his lips that Jesus Christ died for his scandalous life as well.

We can relate to the parable that Jesus tells in Matthew 20 when those who had labored long and hard get the same wage as those who had just been hired.

Yet we must rejoice that Jesus has indeed chosen to reward all who do the good work of believing in the one God has sent, even Jesus Christ our Lord, receive the same gift, forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

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

Proper 19

It is easy to get fed up isn’t it, especially when they keep doing it to you over and over and over again? Enough is enough. If they do it one more time, I’m never speaking to them again. Peter thought he was being pretty generous when he asked Jesus if he should forgive a brother in the faith seven times.

How it is that we so continuously sin against our holy God. Not seven times in a life or seven times a year or even seven times a day. So great is the debt that we owe our heavenly Father that we could never repay it.

So great is God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. He has forgiven us in Christ that which we could never repay, not seven times or 70 times. For everyone in Christ he forgives us each and every one of our sins, now and into eternity.

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

Proper 18

It is impossible to forget that it is an election year. Once again we will put the next few years of our lives into the hands of our newly elected officials. It is easy to think that we are in control. Paul’s letter to the Romans gives a different image of our election year.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

Those whom are elected to office are there under God’s authority. They are to act on His behalf. Whether they make good decisions or bad, our ever faithful God will work His glory.

May our elected officials always know that they too are to ever seek God’s will and that Christ died for them so that they may have His eternal home.

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

Proper 17

What is the work of Satan? To create havoc in the world? To spread horrible outward acts of violence? To be a visible embodiment of evil? Many of these things can come from the hand of Satan. But it is not his greatest work.

We learn a lot about Satan’s work when Peter and Jesus have an interchange in Matthew 16. Jesus is telling his disciples that He must suffer and died and be raised from the dead. That this is His primary work of salvation.

Peter vehemently disagreed with Jesus and told him it would never happen. Jesus’ response? Thanks for looking out for me. NO! “Get behind me Satan.”

The primary work of Satan is to prevent Jesus from forgiving your sins. To stop the benefits of Jesus’ cross from being delivered into your life.

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

Proper 16

How do you get into your locked house? You need a key! But not just any key, you need the RIGHT key. That key lets you into the safety and security of your own home. Without it, you have nothing. But that key does something else. Those who don’t have it, the thieves and the intruders, are kept out.

Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

He has given the church on earth the keys to our eternal home. The forgiveness of sins won by Jesus on the cross is shared to all who confess Jesus’ name and all He has done for us. Thanks be to God for Jesus’ forgiveness shared through His Church!

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

Proper 15

What do you feed your dog? His own special food? Table scraps? Or maybe your dog is a canine vacuum cleaner gobbling up anything that touches the floor under your table.

Your canine vacuum doesn’t deserve to eat those crumbs. It happens to be one of the benefits of being in your household. Some days he reaps greater rewards than others. But none the less, his presence in your house is of tasty benefit to him.

This is the understanding of a woman who approaches Jesus to heal her daughter. She trusted that even the food that fell from the Master’s table was enough to sustain her.

Jesus then said to this woman something He never said to even His chosen disciples: “Great is your faith!”

Great is the faith of those who trust in Jesus’ undeserved care.

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

Proper 14

Jump in! The water is fine! The sounds of summer at the pool. Peter in Matthew 14 made such a jump; from the boat to the sea. At Peter’s request, Jesus bid him to walk on the water to meet up with his Lord. And in did he jump without a splash.

If we would pause the frame right there, life is pretty good for Peter. He’s living a miraculous life standing on the water. But there is no pause button in life. The wind and the waves began to crash and Peter began to sink because he was afraid.

In reached his Savior’s hand. Thank you Peter, for what you experienced, so do we. The wind and waves do crash in on our miraculous lives, and we are afraid. And in reaches our Savior’s hand and pulls us out of the drowning water into His marvelous eternal arms.

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

Pentecost 11; Proper 12

How precious are you in the sight of God? How about a treasure that He hides in a field to keep you safe and then sells everything to buy the field?

Or how about he compare you to a fine pearl that He is willing to sell everything to acquire you?

It may sound strange but that is how our heavenly Father views all of you. Jesus told these parables in Matthew 13 to show us that God is willing to give everything so that He may have you. Everything, that is, His own dear Son to pay for you, so that you may be in His kingdom forever.

Don’t feel that precious or valuable? Look at yourself through the fountain of the blood of the Son of God and see the reflection of your Savior.

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

Pentecost 10, Proper 11

Before the advent of the use of weed specific chemicals to take care of a sugar beet or bean field, it was common to walk out with a hoe and chop out as many weeds as you could. But it was inevitable that you would end up chopping some of the crop along with the weeds. Call them casualties of war.

Our Savior Jesus, uses weeds in a field as an image in Matthew 13 to communicate that there will always be evil in this world. But our Savior doesn’t want any casualties of war. Those who are against Jesus are so entwined with the believers that separating them in this world is impossible.

Jesus will send His angels to take care of that when He comes again in all His glory.

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

Pentecost 9, Proper 10

What do you think of a farmer who plants his seed in good soil? You think he is simply a normal farmer. What if this same farmer planted his seed along the road? Now you wouldn’t think he is very wise, would you? What about a farmer who didn’t prepare the soil first by getting rid of all the large rocks? Or what about a farmer who saw an extremely weedy plot of land and planted his seed there? Not very smart?

Although you might not think much about that earthly farmer, our heavenly Father is just that liberal with the seed of His Word. He doesn’t just give the Word to faithful believers, He casts it among those who get choked by the cares of this world. He throws it out even amidst all those who are hard hearted like rocky ground. This is how gracious He is for our salvation.

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

Freedom

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.

Pentecost 7; Proper 8

“Do not think that I have come to ring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

These words are shocking to hear from Jesus’ mouth in Matthew 10. Yet since Jesus said it, it must be true. It is true that Jesus stood and never fought back as people wrongly accused him and told lies about him. It is true He never fought to prevent himself from going to the cross.

But Jesus is a fighter when it comes to sin on earth. Sin cannot stand next to holiness. Jesus cannot stand next to any other god. So the earth is divided. Those who follow Jesus by confessing their sin and being given His forgiveness and those who do not want forgiveness from Jesus at all.

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

Pentecost 6; Proper 7

It is reported that one day Abraham Lincoln went to a slave auction and noticed a young woman glaring at everyone with hate and contempt. When the bidding started, Lincoln offered a large sum and kept bidding until he won. After he paid the auctioneer and received her title, the young woman followed but looked at him with contempt.

The young slave asked Lincoln what he was going to do with her. He said, “I’m going to set you free.”

“Free? Free for what?” she asked.

“Just free. Completely free.” Lincoln replied.

“Free to do whatever I want to do?”

“Yes.”

“Free to say what I want to say and go where I want to go?”

“Yes.” Lincoln answered her flood of questions.

“Then,” she finally said, “I want to go with you.”

We are free from the slavery of sin. Completely free in Jesus Christ.

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

Pentecost 5, Proper 6

We fear genetic diseases because there is little we can do to prevent ourselves from getting them. Romans 5 says that sin is in all of our genes.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned….

It sounds like a pretty bleak outlook for all of us. God’s Word continues.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

If you think your genetic sin seems great, God’s love in Jesus is greater. Christ’s sacrifice gives the freest genetic cure for you, forgiveness of all of your sin.

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

Pentecost 4, Proper 5

An envelope comes in the mail. It looks very official with it’s gold seal on the outside. It seems almost too expensive for who you are. As you open the envelope you see an invitation to the grandest banquet given in your honor.

Someone must have made an error because it is being held because you had given of yourself sacrificially to benefit the world. But you never made this gift so how can a banquet be held in your honor?

“It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

Jesus sacrifice for sins is counted as yours and you receive all of the benefits, even though you did nothing to deserve them. Christ did!

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

Pentecost 3

Now that the school year is over, the conversations of reading, writing, and arithmetic will go into extinction for the summer. But what about your conversations of God’s Word?

Deuteronomy 11 says: “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Formal education in the faith is great, but more invaluable is your everyday conversation about the things of God in the life of your family. Teaching all that Jesus has done FOR YOU in His death and resurrection does not have a beginning and ending date. That forgiveness is worthy of talking about every day, spring, summer, winter and fall. Do not graduate from God’s Word. Remain in it forever.

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

Pentecost 2

How will we pay the bills? What are we going to do with Grandma? We can’t afford to put her in a nursing home? We can’t afford all the fuel costs this year!

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

If Jesus would give you eternal life by His dying and rising, how much more will He care for you in the midst of worldly anxiety?

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

Easter 6

What saved Noah, his family, eight total, and every kind of animal? It would be easy to answer, “God’s grace.” Or “God’s plan.” These are true statements, yet they don’t really tell the whole picture. How about this question, what makes anything float?

Water.

God’s Word tells us in 1Peter 3:

God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you,

Noah, his family, and all the animals were saved by the water that rushed and killed everything evil around them. It is that same water, empowered by Jesus’ death and resurrection and given the power to forgive by Jesus’ promise that kills all the wickedness in your life and raises you to new life.

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

Easter 5

It really hurts when you stub your toe. You would think that it would be easy to know where your own feet are going. But somehow, no matter how cautious you are, you will stub your toe. For those of us who are exceptionally clumsy, it might be quite frequent, and you may even fall.

God tells us in 1 Peter 2 that a stone of stumbling exists.

"The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,"

and

"A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense."

That stone of stumbling is Jesus Christ. Many stumble over Him because by Jesus’ death and resurrection, salvation is just plain easy. They stumble because they wish to add something to Jesus life giving Word and promise of forgiveness.

No need to stumble. Salvation in Jesus is that simple.

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

Easter 4

The 60’s produced gatherings of like minded individuals that would pack themselves into one location, supporting each other in their “new” free beliefs.

While the radical 60’s wouldn’t exactly be what we would consider appropriate behavior in their communal situations, the book of Acts speaks of a communal situation.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. … And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

This communal living is called the church, where we are to learn the one true faith together, receive God’s gifts in worship together and have everything in common.

This is true communion with God and with one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Easter 3

Have you ever had all the facts laid out for you, yet it still didn’t make any sense? When I was a linear algebra student oftentimes all the formulas were on the page, but the problem just didn’t make any sense. It would take the teacher to reveal it to me.

As the Emmaus road disciples walked with a man whom they didn’t recognize, they had all the facts laid out. We had hope Jesus would be the Messiah. He said he would be put to death and He was crucified. He said He would come back from the dead three days later, and the women at the tomb said it was empty.

They had all the facts, but the Truth hadn’t been revealed to them, that is until Jesus opened their eyes and gave Himself to them in the breaking of bread.

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

Easter Week

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

Holy Week

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 is the power of God who forgives their sins and raise them up to everlasting life.

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

Palm Sunday

It is time for a parade! The most important dignitary of the whole wide world is coming to your town. Break out the banners! Strike up the band! Don’t forget the streamers. He’s right around the corner. Wait, he doesn’t seem to be all giddy with excitement. Oh he seems to be trying to smile, but are those tears in His eyes? Hmm… Oh it’s time to shout… Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Yes indeed, Blessed is He who continues to come to us in the name of the Lord through, Word and Water, Bread and Wine. That first Palm Sunday to enter to pay for the sin of the World. Now He comes to bring that forgiveness to you. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Jesus our Savior King!

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

Lent 5

Crime shows have a fascination with finding bones subtly hidden in the wide open. There is one thing that is guaranteed when they find bones. The person is dead. No need to call for an EMT. Mouth to mouth won’t help.

Spiritually, we are like those bones found, long dead. There is no getting up and walking on our own accord. But the Holy Spirit through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can give you spiritual mouth to mouth

St. Paul says in Romans 8, “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

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

Lent 4

I only need to take off my glasses to know what it is like to not be able to make out any detail in the world. But the total darkness of blindness terrifies me. One thing that I do know for certain… even in earthly blindness, “the works of God will be displayed.” (John 9:3)

We need not try and find what causes each hardship in our lives. Instead, how will the work of God be displayed?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame…(Hebrews 12:2)

And that is the greatest work of God that He has done. He sent Jesus to endure the cross to take away our sin. That is the greatest work of God displayed in our lives.

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

Lent 3

“Is the Lord among us or not!” cried the children of Israel while they were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. They were hungry. They were thirsty. At least that had something when they were slaves in Egypt.

If God is with me why??? “It would be better if…”Sound familiar? especially when it seems things are not going your way.

St. Paul says “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

In the midst of your worldly sufferings, drink deeply of the stricken rock, Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him is the only true nourishment.

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

Lent 2

Born again. Right Jesus. You want me to get back into my mother’s belly and be born again. Wouldn’t that be silly? How could I even fit, I’m all grown up. As if being born once isn’t traumatic enough.

Jesus’ response to Nicodemus. “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

This being born again must be pretty important that Jesus would describe it and connect heaven to it! Water, Spirit, and heaven collide in Baptism. Out with the old birth, in with the new. The sinful child from conception is gone. The new man given birth in water and the Spirit, whether your 1 day or 100 years. With the new man comes heaven given to you. Thank you Jesus.

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

Lent 1

“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. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Ash Wednesday

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, I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.

Transfiguration of Our Lord

One more happy time. One more glimpse of glory. One more precious moment to make a memory last forever. These are things that people wish for when they are in the midst of sorrow and suffering. One last hurrah.

In the church calendar we get one more high point before going into the somber season of Lent. We see Jesus standing on a mountain with his clothes as white as light hearing a booming voice from the Father, “This is my beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

Why the glimpse of glory before the slew of sadness? So that we, who live most of our lives in the valley may know that we can listen to the Word of God and trust that He ascended the mountain of the cross for you and me.

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

Epiphany 3 Seeds of Faith

It can be one of the most heated battles in childhood games. To be the first to get that checker all the way across the table and get to cry out…. “King Me!” Your kingdom is at hand.

In Matthew 4:17 Jesus says, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This isn’t some childhood game of checkers where Jesus marched across a table and claimed an earthly crown.

Although the world was seeing some earthly consequences to the kingdom of God being at hand in Jesus. The deaf hear, the lepers cleansed, the blind see.

This is just a small glimpse at the true Kingdom of God. Jesus did march, not across a table but up a tree, to die to take away all sin. By doing so He opened up the eternal Kingdom of God to all believers where there is no more sickness and death.

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

2nd Sunday after Epiphany Seeds of Faith

During the Civil War a company of Confederate irregulars known as the Bushwackers were arrested by Union soldiers. Because they were not in uniform, they were not recognized as prisoners of war but were sentenced to be shot. A courageous boy in the Union Army touched his commanding officers arm and pleaded, “I know one of the condemned men. He has a large family who needs him badly. Please let me take his place. My parents are dead and I have few friends. No one will miss me. Let me take his punishment.” Hesitant, the officer finally consented. His marker reads: “Sacred to the memory of Willy Lear. He took my place.”

Behold the Lamb of God, Jesus, who takes our punishment of eternal death onto himself so that we no longer must face the wrath of God, but rather have his good pleasure. He took my place.

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

The Baptism of Our Lord Seeds of Faith

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Which one? The one standing in the muck of the Jordan River? The one who had water wash over his head by God’s servant, John? The one who the Spirit descended on in the form of a dove? Yes this one! The Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present there to attest to it!

Well, that’s nice Jesus, just go and dry off now and let us ponder more important things.

Woah! Put on the brakes for a moment. Let us not hurry too quickly past this seemingly small event in Jesus’ life. If the Father is well pleased with His Son, that means he is pleased with all those who are baptized into Jesus. You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.

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

Epiphany Seeds of Faith

On Sunday was the celebration of Epiphany*, that is, the coming of the Wise Men to see the infant Jesus. It was made clear to them that God had indeed brought about everything He had prophesied would take place. The Wise Men were shown the King of the World wrapped in diapers. God told it. They saw it with their eyes and their eyes of faith. It is certain.

We call these men wise, not because they had any greater knowledge than anyone else but rather because they knew to listen to God’s direction to see Jesus. Oh to be wise like the Wise Men who followed the light of the star.

We don’t need astronomical skills to be wise like the Wise Men. Simply put, open God’s Holy unerring Word. It’s light will always point you to your Savior, Jesus.

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

*To make clear or certain by showing or displaying

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