The Calm Before The Storm
Jesus enters with all the pomp of a future King and departs as the butt of the joke.
Jesus enters with all the pomp of a future King and departs as the butt of the joke.
Read the whole article at The Calm Before the Storm - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
What experiences do you have on your bucket list? You know, that list we humans make of those things that we want to do before we die — whether it’s skydiving, seeing that band we’ve always loved (I see you U2), stepping our foot in Fenway Park, traveling abroad, or visiting all 50 states. This next Tuesday I am checking off the bucket-list item at the top of my list. I’m going to the grandest cathedral in American sport, Augusta National, and the Masters tournament. I joked with my Dad on Sunday night when I called to share the good news that there’s the beautiful experience of “telling your dad you’re having a child,” and just a sliver under that it is“telling your dad you’re going to the Masters.”…………….
Week 5 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Holy Subversives
Together Group Video Week 5
Discussion Guide | Week 5
![Grace Hello, Welcoming New Members to Grace [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677256986267-XJMFJGCSL9HHR3PQX0Y1/PXL_20230219_142746481.jpg)
Grace Hello, Welcoming New Members to Grace [Photos]
Inviting 16 new Members!
Great New Member Sunday at Grace. We invited 16 new people.
Tempted By an Unexpected Evil
The Trials of Job, Jesus, and Us
Read the entire article at Tempted by an Unexpected Evil - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
Along time ago in a heavenly court far, far away, God made a cosmic wager with the Devil. God was boasting to the Devil of the faithfulness of his servant Job, who was blameless, upright, and turned away from evil. The Devil was unimpressed, believing Job was faithful because God protected him and blessed him with everything he could ever want. The Devil seemed to have found such an arrangement unsatisfactory, believing t…………………….
LCMS President Harrison de-nounces "disturbing ideologies"
Over the last few weeks I have mentioned some troubling things, like friends of mine who are active LCMS Pastors have been openly threatened by people online who have “disturbing ideologies.” This statement from President Harrison addresses some of these issues and gives encouragement in Christ.
Statement from Pastor Cris:
Over the last few weeks I have mentioned some troubling things, like friends of mine who are active LCMS Pastors have been openly threatened by people online who have “disturbing ideologies.”
This statement from President Harrison addresses some of these issues and gives encouragement in Christ.
Statement on recent online unchristian teachings
Feb. 21, 2023
Dear friends in Christ,
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, its president, vice-presidents and all 35 district presidents, along with its ministerium and congregations, categorically reject the horrible and racist teachings of the so-called “alt-right” in toto (including white supremacy, Nazism, pro-slavery, anti-interracial marriage, women as property, fascism, death for homosexuals, even genocide).
The Synodical explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism teaches that the Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” includes the prohibition of “hating, despising, or slandering other groups of people (prejudice, racism, and so forth).” The Scriptures agree: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Every human being is precious to God and as valuable as the very blood of Jesus Christ shed for all, “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).
We were shocked to learn recently that a few members of LCMS congregations have been propagating radical and unchristian “alt-right” views via Twitter and other social media. They are causing local disruption and consternation for their pastors, congregations and district presidents. They have publicly stated that they seek the destruction of the LCMS leadership. They have made serious online threats to individuals and scandalously attacked several faithful LCMS members. Through these social media posts, even our wonderful deaconesses have been threatened and attacked.
This is evil. We condemn it in the name of Christ.
These “alt-right” individuals were at the genesis of a recent controversy surrounding essays accompanying a new publication of Luther’s Large Catechism. This group used that opportunity to produce not only scandalous attacks and widespread falsehoods, but also to promote their own absolutist ideologies.
Anyone trying to sully the reputation of the LCMS based on comments from a small number of online provocateurs does not know the loving, faithful, generous, kind and welcoming Synod that I have met all across the nation. Our people are delighted to gather with sinners of every stripe to receive full and free forgiveness from our crucified Savior and are not represented by these few men with their sinful agenda.
I am not speaking about the individuals who may have expressed theological concerns about the essays published alongside the Catechism. I’m talking about a small number of men who based their opposition upon racist and supremacist ideologies. The former we welcome. The latter we condemn.
The LCMS is a robust Christian community under the absolute authority of the inerrant Scriptures as the very Word of God and bound together in subscription to our Lutheran Confessions. Theological dialogue is good. We have clear processes for registering concerns over published materials, and we encourage such theological critique. The biblical confession of the LCMS on doctrine and life is true and unchangeable.
LCMS congregations agree to uphold our biblical standards. We are not a top-down institution. That said, I will work together with our pastors and district presidents to address this matter wherever it arises among us and reject it. We issue the cry of Jesus: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). We are confident that the same Law and Gospel that broke the hard heart of St. Paul, himself a murderer and blasphemer, can and will do the same today. We are all called to repentance daily. “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Where that call to repentance is not heeded, there must be excommunication.
Of all the things I’ve seen as LCMS president, this is the most bizarre. I am informed that other conservative denominations are experiencing similar challenges. This horrid attack of the devil drives us to be firm in our confession. Our message of Christ the Savior for all, our local and global mission that serves the entire human race with forgiveness and joy stands firmly opposed to Satan and all evil. Our steadfast message of love and biblical fidelity on the cultural issues of marriage, sexuality, race, and life is an assault on the devil and his minions to no end. Our steadfast witness and assistance to our global Lutheran friends has the devil fuming.
Do not be discouraged! Stand firm! Speak of Christ and His Gospel! “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). And if Jesus so carried our sins and the sins of the world, though He never sinned, shall we expect not to bear a few splinters of the cross in this age?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:31–39).
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Seder: From Bitterness to the Lamb (Lent Wednesdays 23)
Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb
Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb
Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday
2/22/2023
Ash Wednesday
Exodus 2:1-102
Corinthians 5:16-21
Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18
Maror and Chazert Bitter Herbs
3/1/2023
10Exodus 3:1-14
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-28Charoset Sweet Brown Mixture/Fruit
3/15/2023
Exodus 14:1-29
Matthew 11:25-30
Karpas Vegetable/parsley dipped into salt water
3/22/2023
Exodus 16:1-8,
Exodus 17:1-7
John 6:35-40Unleven bread
3/29/2023
Exodus 32:1-14
1 Corinthians 10:5-8
Matthew 5:27-30Beitzah roasted egg
![[Wednesday Lent] Matzah - The Seder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1679455050370-GBLOV036WTS1GF65VGVZ/seder+4a.jpg)
![[Wednesday Lent] Karpas- The Seder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1678887163301-GTRUJMGEKUXVQSJ9TEAR/seder+3a.jpg)
![[Wednesday Lent] Zeroah- The Seder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1678285116286-8UL7RCGU3KQ4IPHRVJZW/seder+2a.jpg)
![[Wednesday Lent] Charoset - The Seder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677513069393-XHCDWK9PVCMCKJQ7MTUN/seder+1a.jpg)
![[Ash Wednesday] Bitter Herbs - The Seder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/4fef5a15-d08d-4f6d-80a9-4c65ebe5bc66/ash+wednesday+23.jpg)
Cris and Ed Bock to Tallahassee
Trip To Florida Capital.
Eb Bock and Pastor Cris Escher went to Tallahassee with Alzheimer's Community Care to promote Alzheimer's care in Florida.
The Way: Finding Meaning in the Gospel of John (Teaching Series)
There are certain indicators that we are on The Way with Jesus Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. But what If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration that divide us from ourselves and from God. Come and see how The Way seems broken but how easter vision can bring many along the way of Hope.e. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
There are certain indicators that we are on The Way with Jesus Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. But what If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration that divide us from ourselves and from God. Come and see how The Way seems broken but how easter vision can bring many along the way of Hope.
Our Wednesday Series through Lent
Amazon Link
Purchase the Book
Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday
2/19/23 - Justice
Exodus 17:1-7
Hebrews 12:12-15
John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - Love
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Spirituality
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
1 John 3:11-18
Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Beauty
Isaiah 52:7-12
Hebrews 13:1-16
Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Freedom
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Truth
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Power
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - John’s Easter
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
![[Sunday] Easter - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1680725834707-BIIP0Y3OAE93OLBUY6HR/The+Way+8a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Power - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1680273080629-XCV03Y9J57O6AZ9Q0D3X/The+Way+7a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Truth - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1679616916854-2SW43Y0ZWQFJ8JWG9YPX/The+Way+6a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Freedom - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1679016998737-8F39VJCCXSE89XCE58XL/The+Way+5a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Beauty- The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1678411008531-8LTP7MHK3L9CDMJJY8SQ/The+Way+4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Spirituality - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677863150736-K2MBOAAKGOBDEMD0ZHAQ/The+Way+3a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Love - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677255701713-WZETVGX0FTZQ559BHJQO/The+Way+2a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Justice - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676572574242-6TYC4KD192DUXY8WVVK9/The+Way+1a.jpg)
Vanishing Grace (Teaching Series)
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
Amazon Link
Purchase the Book
Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday
2/19/23 - Justice
Exodus 17:1-7
Hebrews 12:12-15
John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - What Can We Do About It
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Who are the Grace Dispensers
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
1 John 3:11-18
Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Is it Really Good News?
Isaiah 52:7-12
Hebrews 13:1-16
Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
![[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676040883793-OD2GX6M3TC5TEP1VCAOL/VG5a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1675435076313-HR5466XIU5C13G4RWG6A/VG4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Love Laid Down - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1674835948785-FT4PCOB9XY8UQMPGCZPP/VG3a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Uncomplicated Love - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1674230189454-CL2E9LS648I57WDNKNFC/VG2a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Wells of Grace - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1673530020140-DF98JJAF79TFM4TK0BCN/VG1a.jpg)
![The Urgency of Grace - Family Relationships [Video]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676044047321-GWJKZZSUZXGT96WH4CY1/FNL-family.2.1%5B1%5D.jpg)
The Urgency of Grace - Family Relationships [Video]
How to Parent Sinners With Law and Gospel
Week 4 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Is it Really Good News?
Pastor’s Thursday Together Group
Together Group Video Week 4
Discussion Guide | Week 4
Week 3 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Who Are the Grace Dispensers
Together Group Video Week 3
Discussion Guide | Week 3
I Like It, So God Would Too
Egocentrism in Believers’ Estimates of God
Egocentrism in Believers’ Estimates of God
Read The Whole Article at I Like It, So God Would Too - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
eligion is often seen as a moral compass — it is frequently used by believers as a guide to doing and believing the right thing. People may disagree on social issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and the death penalty and back their opinions by invoking God as the ultimate advocate of their beliefs. But how do people reason about God’s beliefs? In an interesting set of six studies by Nick Epley and colleagues, it was argued that people are remarkably egocentric when asked to infer about God’s beliefs — that is, people seem to draw on their own beliefs about these issues when asked to infer what God’s beli……………………………………..
Read The Whole Article at I Like It, So God Would Too - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
Week 2 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
We have a Problem
Pastor Cris Together Group [Bible Study]
Together Group Video Week 2
Discussion Guide | Week 2
Mark Driscoll and My Desert Temptation
It’s not every day that I’m near the church of a man whose rise (and fall) was the topic of so much controversy.
Read the rest at Mark Driscoll and My Desert Temptation - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
We were driving our rental car around cactus-lined streets on the first day of our snowbird getaway to Scottsdale, Arizona when we realized exactly where we were. We were only a few blocks away from a place of podcast infamy and evangelical intrigue: Trinity Church — AKA, Mark Driscoll’s new church.
It’s not every day that I am near the church of a man whose rise (and fall) was the topic of thousands of Twitter threads, blog posts, and podcast episodes about podcast episodes. That Sunday, we learned, Driscoll was starting a new sermon series titled “Real Romance: Sex in Song of Songs.” Perfect…………………………….
- This week is the Beitza. Remembering those incomplete. Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb