Mt Calvary Lutheran Church-ELCA

09/07/2026

Psalm 119:40 - Behold, I long for your commandments; by your righteousness enliven me.

I assembled a Television stand last week. Upon opening the box I was confronted with Wooden panels labeled A - L and two packs of various screws, bolts and other small parts sealed in individual plastic packs labeled with numbers. I realize there are some who might have just been able to visualize how the parts all fit together, picked up a screwdriver and gotten started. I, on the other hand, encountered difficulty in assembling the table even while trying to follow the instructions to the letter. I missed a point where I was supposed to switch from using a screwdriver to using an allen wrench. At the end of the project I was successful but it would have been much easier if I had really, carefully followed the instructions. Perhaps a similar observation could be made about life, and the instructions can be found in God's commandments.

08/31/2026

Romans 12:20 - Instead, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads."

I have always read this verse as if the burning coals was a punishment inflicted on enemies. Kill them with kindness if you will. But I read a commentary which suggested something completely different. When cooking is done over a hearth fire, keeping a burning ember alive overnight is essential to the next day's cooking. If your fire went out the obvious solution would be to obtain a burning coal from your neighbor, which would be carried in a bowl held on the recipients head. So perhaps the message here is enemies don't have to be enemies forever. It might be possible to turn them into neighbors.

08/26/2026

Saturday, October 17th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. the Southern Conference will gather for this same fun event at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marion.

Register online by September 28th. $10 per person or max. $25 per family covers lunch of chicken and dumplings from a Taste of Bev.

08/23/2026

Matthew 16:18 - And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

We have a corner of the house showing signs of a sinking foundation so we asked for estimates from a couple of companies who specialize in foundation repair. One of the technicians was describing how they would sink metal pipe into the ground until they hit bedrock. He observed that dirt can more, bedrock can't. The wise man built his house upon a rock to stand up against storms. God's love is solid. Mercy abounds and storms cannot touch me.

Familiar children's Sunday School song.

08/16/2026

Isaiah 56:7 - these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offering and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

There are no outsiders among God's people. Everyone can find joy in God's house, on God's holy mountain . Enjoy the hymn, some lyrics are extracted below.

In Christ there is no east or west,
in him on south or north,
but one community of love
throughout he whole wide earth..
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZryHm3IFLMg&list=RDZryHm3IFLMg&start_radio=1

08/09/2026

Matthew 14:33 - And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

The Disciples just participated in feeding more than 5,000 people, have seen Jesus approaching their boat on the water in the midst of a storm and seen him calm the chaos. Of course they recognized Jesus as the son of God because they were right there, seeing it in person. The disciples did not always display the same faith and confidence in Jesus, but they did share the good news which ultimately reached all nations. The good news is for you. Jesus truly is the one of God. Jesus died on the cross to provide for your salvation. Romans 10:13 For "everyone who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

08/03/2026

Matthew 14:14 - When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.

Jesus wanted to withdraw to a deserted place to be by himself after learning John the Baptist had been executed. When he saw a great crowd he did not get back onto the boat to try again to find a place to be alone. He exhibited compassion. The boundless compassion of Jesus is good news for everyone in the crowd.

07/26/2026

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor thing present, nor thing 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.

The letter from Pau is addressed to the church in Rome which has internal division regarding what it takes to be righteous. The message to the Christians in Rome is the same message we can hear today. I too am convinced that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us (all of us) from God's Love because Jesus Christ acted to make me righteous.

07/20/2026

Matthew 13:43 - Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Being simultaneously saint and sinner, I can be righteous only through the grace of God. At the end of the age I will be saved from the fire and gathered into the barn not because of what I did, but because of what Jesus did for me.