Baby Bump Update

I figured I'd take a moment to show some progress on the baby bump


Holly is 30 weeks along, and she is due July 26, although we (along with her grandma) think that she is further along than the doctors think.


If she doesn't mind me saying, I think pregnancy has looked really good on Holly. She just has that glow. She always has.

Thesis #5: “Serve the Lord” trumps “Feed the World”

For the first 25 years of my life, nearly every church service I’d ever been to ended with these words: “Go in peace. Serve the Lord” (or “Go in peace. Love and serve the Lord.”)

That was, until I moved to Virginia and decided to try out my local ELCA church. The congregation was very small, mostly elderly and led by a woman in her 50’s. I was one of two people under the age of 35 in the crowd (which only numbered 20 or so). This didn’t necessarily bother me, but I had some reservations about becoming a regular, because – for no other reason - I wanted to worship with people closer to my own age. Nothing against these folks; I just didn’t think I’d make a good fit. However, the final words of the morning certainly ensured that I would never return to this congregation: “Go in Peace. Feed the World.”

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Chill out. That’s harmless. God wants us to feed the poor.” That’s true, but there was something very unsettling about “Feed the World,” and it wasn’t because of a change from my status quo “green jello” Lutheran experience. There was something subtly disturbing and bothersome about replacing “Serve the Lord” with “Feed the World.” Forever, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but with a little research and a lot of scripture study, I think I finally figured out why.

I submit to you the two following pieces of information/wisdom:
1. “As for me and my House, we will SERVE THE LORD” – Joshua 24:15 (emphasis added)
Encapsulated in this verse (and the other parts of Joshua 24) is the idea that a true disciple of the Lord does not serve other gods. In the context of this passage, people were warned not to serve the false gods of the land they entered, but to instead serve the true God who led them out of Egypt. In today’s context, this is often taken to mean not only shouldn’t we worship false gods, but we shouldn’t elevate other things (money, activities, work, etc.) above God. This is an example of how “Serve the Lord” isn’t just limited to feeding the poor.
2. Since the formation of the ELCA, the number of missionaries supported by the church has dropped 80%. Whilte the ELCA is very active in world relief, they have severely de-emphasized "actual" global mission work. (By “actual,” I mean going into an area where Christ is not known - or where Christians are persecuted – and spreading the word, i.e. actually convincing people to become followers of Christ.)

“Feed the World” is a significant but small subset of all that is required of us when we “Serve the Lord.” To the congregation in Virginia and, in general, the larger ELCA family, “Feed the world” has been singled out and elevated above all other aspects of “Serve the Lord.”

Absent from the concept of “Feed the World” are the many other important parts of “Serve the Lord”: repentance, avoiding sin, striving to be like Christ, discipleship, spreading the Gospel, witnessing, loving the Lord with all your heart/mind/strength…just to name a few.

Without these, the church is nothing more than a glorified Rotary Club. Anyone can “Feed the World.” Atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans and Sun-Worshippers can all donate clothing, collect cans for a food drive or build shelters for the homeless.

But what is the one thing that a Christian – and ONLY a Christian – can do? “Love and Serve the Lord.”

Thanks be to God.

Thesis #4: The Sanctity of Unborn Life should be protected

As I’ve researched more into the grievances lodged against the ELCA, a litany of flagrant positions/actions by the synod has come to light. Perhaps none was more shocking to me than the following: For many years, the ELCA’s health plan has covered abortions for its female pastors and that a female pastor is permitted to get an abortion for nearly any reason, including gender selection (“I wanted a boy, but I got a girl. I want to abort it and try again”)

That is sick and abhorrent and has no business being a part of any Christian church’s policy.

Now, does this mean that Lutherans have to form their own Moral Majority? No. Does it mean they have to march lock-step with Pro-Life groups in Washington every year? Not necessarily, and I can certainly respect (or even admire) any Christian’s desire to keep their church relatively apolitical.

But, can we at least start with this: most abortions, though legal, are not moral. Killing your unborn baby because it’s not your favorite gender, you wanted a Summer baby instead of Fall baby, or just because you felt like it – That is immoral.

Whether abortion is legal or not shouldn’t matter within the Church. Many things are legal. Gambling your life savings away is legal. Leaving your wife and kids for your secretary is legal. Having sex before you’re married is also (usually) legal. But God holds you to a higher standard.

Ethics is not enough. Holiness is what God has called you to do.