Comments for Zion Lutheran Church

Comment on Day 17, Monday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Karen

Karen — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:12:05 +0000

Indeed that is our goal-to let others know that we love them and at times it proves a formitable task! I’m being challenged these last few days to put my love into action by someone who doesn’t really want me around. Today I pray that she will have the love of God in her heart, that she will be a bit more welcoming. Today I pray that I can smile and be kind and caring. To show God’s love in myself and perhaps in doing so, change her attitude towards me and even my siblings. Life is after all what we make of it. We can see our glass half empty or half full. I’m hoping my half full attitude will be a blessing and I humbly pray that God supports me in the day ahead. I’m already feeling better. Thanks be to God!!

Comment on Day 16, Saturday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Karen

Karen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:03:39 +0000

My heartest congratulations to you, Gramma and the rest of the family. Isn’t it a blessing!! God is good indeed!!!

I had comments in my head when I walked yesterday and read the Bible Study but this morning I’m starting anew. As I read “Return to me, for I have redeemed you” I think to myself how blessed I am that I have my faith again. Life is at times a struggle but on the other hand we are so blessed as well. And not just the birth of a wonderful grandson but with the mere fact that we get to feel the sunshine on our face, we get to witness the blue of the sky and the green of the trees against that sky. We get to say “good morning, did you sleep well” to those that we love for one more day. God is indeed good and life is a blessing if we but recognize all that we have been given.

Today’s lesson asks us to think about the times and places when I feel closest to God. For me that’s while I’m walking, it’s when I’m at worship and it’s especially when I listen to those around me sharing their faith and their daily experiences with me such as the Bible Study taking place today, or our discussions about Biblical readings. If I let myself go and truly relax and calm myself God seems to fill me and I feel such contentment, peace and love. I am so very thankful I have Zion in my life. I am a better person because of it.

I’m sorry I won’t be with you today. I’ll be worshipping at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton here in Green Bay but know that I am praying for all of you.

Comment on Day 16, Saturday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Nancy Benchley

Nancy Benchley — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:17:58 +0000

Good morning fellow posters! I have some catching up to do – my new grandson – Grady Steven Huber – was born Friday, March 5th and I must admit, he and his mommy and daddy have been foremost in my mind. He is quite the future Packer player, weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz. He and mommy are doing great and we are all so very happy and thankful!

Comment on Day 15, Friday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Karen

Karen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:10:11 +0000

And as I was reading this Bible Study today I thought what a wonerful place this world would be if we human beings could be kind all the time. There would be no gossip and no unkind thoughts. If everyone was kind there would be no road rage, no bomb threats, no back stabbing, or hatred. What a world it would be. It’s almost more than I can imagine!!

I know that God is kind. I feel his forgiveness deep inside of me and believe me I’ve got more than my fair share of things to be forgiven of. What was really hard for me was to forgive and yes, continue to forgive. It’s nature to dredge up hurts but I have to remind myself that they are in the past and I’m expected to forgive and to love. I try – I do. What more can I say. If everyone was kind all the time to everyone would not love follow? I think so.

Comment on Day 13, Wednesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Karen

Karen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:14:33 +0000

WOW… you took the words right out of my mouth! The first thing I thought of and actually said to myself as I was walking today was “love” – we should love as Christ first loved all of us!! I could say great minds think alike, but lets be truthful here – my mind isn’t all that great, sharp, with it, whatever. There are times when I wonder if it isn’t on hiatus!!!

Seriously though, I do think that love is the answer. If we truly loved one another wouldn’t we treat each other differently. Wouldn’t we give ourselves away more freely because someone needs a service we can provide, wouldn’t we give of our possessions more freely because someone needs something that we have an abundance of, wouldn’t we be more forgiving because a characteristic of loving is to forgive. It certainly is something to aspire to – loving everyone – unfortunately we are by our very nature sinful human beings. BUT if we truly make the effort to try and we pray for guidance I think we can all get a bit closer to the goal.

Comment on Day 12, Tuesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Pastor Keith

Pastor Keith — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:06:01 +0000

I like your family reunion image. It is similar to the Biblical image of the wedding feast, and surely for similar reasons.

Comment on Day 12, Tuesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:53:03 +0000

To “keep myself honest”, I don’t check in here until I have read and commented in my journal. I’m going to backtrack a little to the last section. My image had a great deal to do with our family reunions, which unfortunately have become a thing of the past. But, they were a marvelous time of love and joy and sharing, comradery and bounty! And today I thought of the musicians coming together to re-record “We are the World” and the sense of brotherhood it presents.

Today, when I came to the question “now or not yet?”, my first thought was to say “now”, but before I could write it down I thought to myself – “is it? Is it really?” I asked myself. “How much do I do to make it a kingdom of God on earth?” Or, do I think and act more in generalities – thinking in a larger sense – “If I believe and live the right way, I’ll go to heaven. ” ?

I’d like to think I know the answer, but, if I don’t, then there must be more to do……

Comment on Continuous Communion – What do you think? by Delores Konrad

Delores Konrad — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:27:08 +0000

We at Good Shepherd in Peshtigo have partaken communion in various ways as a congregation. We have communion by intinction, continuously, with home-made bread, and around a “kitchen table” with a bottle of wine. These for me act as a reminder that it is not the elements or ritual that are the communion, but the presence of Christ who comes to us. He is there in the bread or wine when we gather in his name, however that may be.

Comment on Map by Pastor Keith

Pastor Keith — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:21:31 +0000

Well, we used to. I’m not sure where it went. We have a special address just for the site because of the spam that occures when it is listed. I thought that address had been pretty quiet. Now I know why.

Comment on Day 12, Tuesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey by Karen

Karen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:58:57 +0000

When I read that question I said absolutely positively for me the “now” gets my attention more. Yes, I’m absolutely looking forward to “not yet” but I feel God has given me and yes, all of us, a lot to do before the “not yet” gets here. I believe it is our “duty” if you will, to further the kingdom of God here on earth by being kind and loving, caring, sharing, serving rather than being served, praying and worshiping. These are all things that Jesus did when he was physically walking on this earth and they are things that he wants all of his disciples to be doing now as they wait for the “not yet” to come. Every trip we take requires preparation; why should this one be any different?