CALLED-OUT ONES

"For if anything is to be believed about the collection of people who follow Him, it is that we were called by Him. The word church, ekklesia, means 'the called-out ones.' Our crew of comedians from central casting is the group God wants." Paul Brand, Men's Devotional Bible

LIVING A DISCIPLINED LIFESTYLE

"This intimate relationship that Jesus has established with us & through which we are enabled to grow & to live each day as stewards is further nurtured by a disciplined lifestyle that incorporates spiritual disciples. Examples of spiritual disciples are praying, worshiping, fasting, serving, & giving. Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, writes 'God has ordained the disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where He can bless us.' The spiritual disciples that we develop will put us where Jesus can work within us to transform us & use us. By grace, God works through these disciples to mold us & change us into stewards who can bless others as we've been blessed." Steward Builders:  A newsletter to help you grow as a steward

EQUALITY

"The Equality Act is before Congress. It sounds innocent. All Americans should enjoy equality & the protections of the U.S. Constitution. But in elevating sexual orientation to a protected class, the Equality Act will bring sweeping changes to current laws, to the great detriment of the religious & constitutional freedoms of biblically faithful churches, institutions, Christians schools & individuals.

"Jesus referred to Gen. 2:24, when He stated:  'Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male & female, & said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father & his mother & hold fast to his wife, & the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' (Matt. 19:4-6)" Pastor Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, April 2021

TODAY'S HYMN OF PRAISE & ADORATION

All Creatures of Our God & King, LW #436, St. 7

Let all things their Creator bless And worship God in humbleness. Oh, praise Him! Alleluia! Oh, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, Three in One, Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!