Christ Our King Lutheran Church

09/04/2026

God's richest blessings in Christ Jesus. ~Pastor Don

A Lap Full!

In May 2026 the One Voice Gospel Choir provided a concert at a church in Saline, Michigan. Following the beautiful music, a reception was provided. The crowd was bigger than expected. There was enough food, but the seating area was full. Trish Bowers was sitting on one side of me and Karen Peters on the other. We were waiting for everyone else to go through the serving table line. As we patiently waited, one of the choir members whose name is Hazel walked by us. She had her food, but could not find a seat. Being the gentleman that I am, I told her that she could sit on my lap, as long as she also had a fork that I could use. She looked at me, and then quickly walked to the other side of the room and sat in a corner. (I’m sure that the only reason Hazel did not accept my gracious invitation was because she was so hungry!)

After the serving line had gone down, Trish, Karen and I got some food and returned to our table. I placed my plate on the table and sat down. And that’s when it happened. Karen and Trish both sat on my lap! And they had forks! And the food on my plate? Fortunately, we were laughing so hard that none of us could eat. They left my food alone, even the last thin slice of Key Lime pie. Truth be known, I would have deserved it if they had eaten all my food.

A Lap Full!

Jesus warns and also promises full laps. He advises us to be very careful about what we are giving to others. It is easy to judge others and point out the wrong things that they are doing. And what should we expect in return? A Lap Full of judgement!

Jesus directs us to give what we have received. God has indeed forgiven us, guilty as we are. And His forgiveness for us motivates us to extend forgiveness to others, especially when they realize their guilt. And what we often unexpectedly receive back is A Lap Full, filled to overflowing, with the grace and mercies of Christ Jesus!

Loving Father, thank You for refusing to give us what we deserve. Instead, You gave Your perfect Son to provide the grace and mercy that we need. Fill our laps, and our hearts, minds and hands, with Your forgiveness. Forgiveness that You want others to graciously receive from You through us. Amen.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:37—38

09/03/2026

Sunday 9/06 Livestream service
We go live at 8:10 am for the 8:15 am service. You can watch the recording of that service using this same link at any time after the service is over.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/01/2026

God's richest blessings in Christ Jesus. ~Pastor Don

New Definition of Wrinkle Free

I was shopping for dress shirts when I found several that I really liked. One of the main reasons why I purchased them is that the tags said that they were “Wrinkle Free”!

As I usually do when purchasing new clothes, I ran them through the washer and dryer before wearing them. When I removed them from the dryer, they looked like two dogs and three cats had used them as wrestling mats! There was hardly a place on any of the shirts that was free of wrinkles. Evidently there is a new definition of wrinkle free!

Our society enjoys making new definitions of words that have long histories. And sometimes it seems like the new definitions are totally opposite of reality.

The more important the word, the more important it is to see if the Scriptures use that word. And if they do, then to see how the Scriptures define it.

A good example is the word “Love”. We most often use the word to refer to an emotion which begins from within human hearts, and that emotion then results in kind and thoughtful actions.

But the Scriptures approach the word from a totally different perspective. When defining love, the Scriptures begin with God’s care and action for us. Love begins with Him. He is the One who initiates love. We love because He first loved us!

And that love is not just an emotion. It is demonstrated in the reality of Christ Jesus giving Himself totally and completely as a sacrifice in our place to provide forgiveness of all our sins. Not a partial sacrifice for partial forgiveness. Totally and completely available for any person, regardless of who they are or what their background has been.

That’s “Love”! And it’s our privilege to imitate God’s love in our lives.

Loving Father, because You want the best for us, You gave Your best in Your Son, Jesus. Not because we earned it or deserve it. But because we need what He alone can give. Thank You for His sacrifice which provides the real definition of love, a love which springs from Your heart. May Your Holy Spirit help us to imitate that definition. Amen.

“And this is love, not that we have loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (the total and complete sacrifice) for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

09/01/2026

🍂 Fall is a great time to connect, grow in faith, and build friendships at church!

Wednesday night classes start September 9th from 6:30-7:30 PM. Sunday School classes begin September 13th at 9:45 AM!

We’d love for your children to join us for Bible lessons, activities, and time with friends.

Register your children today and help them start the fall growing in God’s Word! 👉 REGISTER with link: https://www.cognitoforms.com/ChristOurKingLutheranChurchOfSalineMI/_20262027SundaySchoolAndWednesdayClassRegistration

08/29/2026

Come join us tomorrow at Christ Our King Lutheran!

08/26/2026

𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟲:𝟯𝟬-𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟮!
The death of loved ones is one of the most difficult challenges to walk through, but it is not impossible to navigate through these times with God’s help and direction. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙬𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. Our Grief Share leaders have experience, both personally and as facilitators. Please contact Pastor Don at 734.355.0662 for more information.

08/26/2026

Sunday 8/30 Livestream service
We go live at 8:10 am for the 8:15 am service. You can watch the recording of that service using this same link at any time after the service is over.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/26/2026

Sunday Morning Bible Study
Intergenerational Bible Study: 2026-08-23
Greg Witto

Sunday Morning Bible StudyIntergenerational Bible Study: 2026-08-2...

08/21/2026

God's richest blessings in Christ Jesus. ~Pastor Don

Held Together by Wax!

I enjoy washing, waxing and polishing my ‘68 Camaro. Its black and white stripes definitely glean in the sun! Shiny as it is, it’s probably best to view it from a distance. You see, it has a number of dings and small dents, scratches and chips, that are easily seen when you are up close and personal! And even though it is mostly made out of good old American steel, the reality is, it’s basically being held together by wax!

Held Together by Wax!

What’s holding us together?

Most people give the appearance that they have it all together. But we may often feel as though we are barely holding it together. It is as if we are being held together by appearances rather than what is inside us. Held Together by Wax!

The truth is—We are Held Together by A Word!

God is not only the Creator of the universe. He is also the One who keeps the universe, and our lives, going by His Word and Promise. Our lives are not held together or governed by an impersonal Force or Fate. Instead, we are held in the hands of God who keeps His word and promises, even when it meant having His perfect Son, Jesus, suffer and die on the cross in our place. His Word gives us life each and every moment and for all eternity.

Loving Father, You give us Your word that we have life each day and for all eternity with You. Give us faith and confidence in You so that our lives can be held together by the power of Your Word, Jesus. Amen.

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the power of his word.” Hebrews 1:1—3