Politics? Family? I'lm going with family!

Walking in the Truth

Today's Truth from Scripture

"Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.' And He said to them, 'When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name     . . . '" (Luke 11:1-2a)

Today's Devotional Thoughts

Knowing me like you do, you may find this hard to believe, but I have really, no, REALLY, felt compelled to write about the recent RNC & DNC. * However, two weekends ago Lois & I were privileged to participate in what proved to be a true family highlight of our summer, as my brother Mark's dual parishes in Garrison & Shellsburg, IA, celebrated his 20th anniversary of pastoral ministry in those places.

And not his only! I know that they were celebrating his wife Christy's 20th anniversary of ministry in those places, too. Care to engage me in debate about the nature of "The Call?" Sorry . . . that's another topic for another time.

Back to family . . . It all starts with our heavenly family, doesn't it, and our heavenly family all starts with our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ, God's Son, begins the familiar words of the Lord's Prayer with the intimate "salutation" of "Father." Implication? We have been called by God's grace into a familial relationship with the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator of the Universe. Our God is an Awesome God! **

And then there's our brother Jesus. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7)

The Lord & Savior, Redeemer of all humankind, submitted to His Father's Will. Our faith in Jesus was "taught" to us by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior was our "role model" as He walked upon the earth & embodied the life of a servant.

See . . . Mark, & Carolyn, & I had a wonderful role model in our earthly father . . . who was not without his faults . . . but for which I will always be grateful. He & our mother brought us to the baptismal font . . . Taught us to pray . . . Had devotions with us from as early as I can remember . . . & provided for our Christian education. 

Called to be role models? Yes, I think we are . . . role models for our children . . . role models for our grand-children . . . role models for our parishes. 

Today's Prayer Thought

Give thanks for a Heavenly Father who loved us enough to send His only Son to redeem us. Give thanks for a Savior who loved us enough to submit to His Holy Father's Will. Ask Jesus to bless His people with parents & grand-parents who take seriously their task to raise up children & grand-children "in the nurture & admonition of the Lord."

* My quick appeasement to "devotional" musings about politics today. Psalm 146:3 says, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men who cannot save."
** Go to YouTube & search for a live version of Rich Mullins performing, "Awesome God," one of my favorite contemporary Christian praise songs.