Genesis

Woodbury Lutheran has some great sheep in its midst.  Many people serve in so many different ways.  What are some of the ways that you have served in the past, the present, or plan/like to serve in the future?  Why do you serve?  What are some of the joys or struggles that come with serving?  Do you feel that it is important that we all serve "the least of His brothers?"  Why or why not?

 Chad

Matthew 25:1-13 - If Jesus came back today would be ready?   

Matthew 25:14-30 

 Everyone has a talent, a gifting, a unique way that God has built them for a purpose.  This parable emphasizes that Jesus, our savior and maker, expects us to use this treasure to give him glory.   Key to understanding this is to see that all we have is not our own, and one day we will be held accountable for how we used it.  Will the words be, Well done good and faithful servant, or why did you bury and hide what I gave you?  

 Quote of the day from John A. Shedd, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are made for."  

Are we willing to take a risk?  Do something bold? Put our own fears and apprehensions aside and live loudly in the name of our Lord?  

 ben

There is so much going on in recent news that I'm not even sure what would be the best for discussion.

There is the obvious election results from yesterday. It seems that the Rebublican party took a huge hit. Is that because of Bush's supposed "failings", because of years of media push in one direction, because of a sea of discontent people or is this just part of the natural give and take swing of politics? The most recent story link, click here. How much does this affect faith issues, life issues and the moral future of our nation?

Second recent news story has been the Pastor Ted Haggard scandel. A sought after leader in the Christian church who has fallen hard, been labeled forever as a hypocrite and beyond proffesional trouble must have a shattered home and personal life. How do we reconcile this? How do we pray for our leaders? How can a guy like that, hide something so dark for so long? We probably all have stories of fallen pastors, priests or religious leaders. Here's a link to the story. Here's a link to his written confession.

Thirdly, I noticed a story floating around yesterday that has potential deep moral implications. The mixing of cow eggs and human DNA to form living embryos (babies) for the sake of harvesting new stem cells. How far is too far? As if doing this with humans wasn't causing controversy. Now, blending cows and man? What do you think? Here's the story.

I know, a lot to drop out there at one time. But, somebody has got to be talking about it.

It seems like the parables we've been looking at lately keep coming back to similar themes.  

 Today there were a couple of questions to ponder... 

What if today was my last, does that bring excitement or fear?

Are we comfortable Christians, living in a comfortable world, unwilling to take any real risks for the sake of the gospel?

One other main point today was that we deserve nothing... absolutely nothing.  Everything that we have is by grace, and in the end when we face judgement day it will be unavoidably obvious that we have nothing to stand on but his grace alone.  

ben 

This last week we heard about plans for a new church plant. This would involve Brian and myself Ben, leading a group of people to Cottage Grove to plant a new church.

I thought this would be a good place to share any comments, questions, insights ect. on the movement ...