Welcome Victoria Garcia!

January 30, 2008 | 1 Comment

Victoria Garcia was born on January 27th at 9:20 a.m. and weighed 8 lbs and 7 oz. She is very beautiful and most of all healthy. Congratulations to Cynthia and Lorenzo on their little angel. If you would like to help by providing meals to the Garcia’s, please contact Brandi.

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, News 

Spaghetti Dinner 2008

January 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Tom Singing In the RainTeens SingingWe had a great time at the annual Spaghetti Dinner and Cake Auction supporting the youth group in their quest for Winterfest. Good food, good cakes, but most of great fellowship. Thanks to Trinity Lutheran for allowing us to use their facility. Check out the videos below.

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, News 

Reality Bites

January 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

There once was a golfer who was experiencing a terrible slump. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to get his game back. He put in extra time at the driving range; he tried golf lessons. Nothing worked. Finally he heard about a psychiatrist in town who specialized in treating golfers and, thinking he had nothing else to lose, he made an appointment.

At his first visit, the psychiatrist made a radical suggestion. “I want you to go play a round of golf this weekend,” he said. “But this time I want you to use an imaginary ball. And I want you to see yourself returning to form. I want you to play one of the best games you’ve ever played, only do so in your mind.”

The golfer was desperate enough, so he determined to give it a try the next time he hit the links. It went splendidly. By the time he reached the 18th hole, he was 2 under par and headed for his best round ever. As luck would have it, the player in front of him was also playing without a ball. Turns out he had also gone to see the same psychiatrist. Since both of them were “playing” well, they agreed to play their final hole together and place a friendly wager on it.

The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, "Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win." "No you don’t," said the second golfer. "You hit my ball."

What’s the moral of the story? It’s much easier to live by your own rules if you don’t have to face reality.

This morning we’re going hear the story of a man who’s convinced he has all the answers until he is confronted by reality. More precisely, he’s confronted by the real Jesus. And in a strange twist, this is the only instance we know of when a man is struck blind by Jesus. But then again, this all happens so that he can regain his sight later on. It all happens so that he can say the same thing as the man in our theme verse: “…One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

My prayer for you today is not that you be struck blind, but that you encounter a living and very real Jesus Christ.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

Stay Close

January 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment

  • Let all the study of our heart be from now on to have our meditation fixed wholly on the life of Christ…
  • How great a vanity it also is to desire a long life and to care little for a good life…
  • Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

                 –Thomas à Kempis,

The Imitation of Christ

Some time, in the late 1300’s a young German named Thomas Haemerken, the son of a blacksmith, joined a religious group devoted to a simple proposition. They were “simply determined as nearly as possible to live their lives in imitation of the lives of the early Christians.” This group called themselves the “Brothers of the Common Life.” They did not ask for alms. Instead, they sought occupations in order to feed themselves. They were critical of the lavish lifestyle of the clergy of their day. They were dedicated to learning and teaching others about the way of Christ.

All of this happened during a time of great turbulence. Europe was steeped in various conflicts between church and state. Rulers of different countries across the continent vied with the popes of the 12th and 13th centuries for power. In the midst of this, the Brothers of the Common Life called for a return to a simple life of learning and devotion. They sought to abandon quests for power and riches in exchange for a simple Christian life.

On of the byproducts of that quest is The Imitation of Christ one of the most widely read pieces of devotional literature ever written. It has been published numerous times and in countless languages. It features the statements quoted above.

My question for this morning is this: What would happen if we were to follow in à Kempis’ footsteps? What would happen if we were to renew our devotion to following and imitating Christ, even if just for 2008? What would we discover about ourselves? What would we change about ourselves in an effort to be more like Him? How would our priorities change? What would we be passionate about? What things would this congregation start doing? What things might we decide to stop?

I don’t know the answer to any of those questions. But if we are going to Change Lives Through Jesus, I can’t think of a better way to start the year than by renewing our commitments as followers of Jesus. This morning begins that renewal. For the next few months we are going to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We will watch and learn. Who knows how we will be changed. It is our job only to be his followers.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

Challenge Sunday

January 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment

How about a little word trivia to get your day started?  (Cause I’m sure you woke up this morning worrying that you might not be getting your Recommended Daily Allowance.)

Have you ever heard someone say that they are going to “throw down the gauntlet?”  It’s an expression meaning “to issue a challenge.”  Do you know where it comes from?  According to my friends at Wikipedia, gauntlets are gloves that extend past the wrist and cover some or all of the forearm.  These days they are decorational rather functional.  But they were created to protect a person’s hand and arms during hand to hand combat.  They were constructed of various materials—leather, chain mail, or even armor.

A knight who wished to challenge someone to a duel would take one of his gauntlets and throw it to the ground before his opponent.  If his rival wished to accept the challenge, he would pick it up.

This is not to be confused with “running the gantlet/gauntlet.”  (The spellings are so prominently interchangeable, either is now acceptable.)  Running the gantlet refers to a form of execution practiced by various cultures throughout history, including the Roman legions and Iroquois Indians.  People armed with sticks and clubs form two lines facing each other.  The convicted person is then forced to walk the “alley” between the lines, receiving blows from those on either side.

Finally, there’s the expression “kid gloves.” Here it is in a sentence: “Due to his fragile state, we’re treating him with kid gloves.”  Kid gloves are ultra soft gloves made from lamb skin or the skin of a baby goat, or kid.  To treat someone with kid gloves is to go out of your way to be gentle with them.

So what does all of this have to do with today’s activities?  Today is Challenge Sunday, the day where we introduce our theme for the year in some detail.  One of our elders, Mike Roman, and I will be sharing our hopes for this year as it pertains to our theme: “Changing Lives Through Jesus.”

So here’s my promise to you: Today, Mike and I are going to throw down the gauntlet.  We are going to be challenging you in 2008 to allow your lives to be changed for the better by Jesus Christ.  This challenge is not to be taking lightly.  We will not be treating you with kid gloves.  At the same time, we have confidence in you.  What we’re asking is not impossible.  We are not asking you to run the gauntlet.  I hope you are as excited as I am about being transformed more into the type of person God is calling you to be.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a nap.  All of those verbal gymnastics wore me out.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

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