It’s Friday
So … so far… it is still black smoke above the Purple Palace (that is what we used to call the International Center of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) in St. Louis…
No president yet for the LCMS.
And we are in the same way… ours is retiring so we will be electing another man for the office of our Synod in just a couple of weeks.
But don’t trust in princes…
Are they still to be thought of as this?
We can put our hopes in electing the right guy… all so our church will be saved…
But that is not good.
He… is not our savior. He is not Lord of the Church—any church is not run by its president, pope, archbishop, or king…
No. Christ Jesus is the head of the church, lest we forget. He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, no matter what they call themselves or what they claim they are!
But…and at the same time…
That does not mean we elect just anybody. We do our best to make sure the man we put forth is in line with the Scriptures and our Lutheran Confessions…
… as best we know how… with a lot of prayer… and wrestling… not with the guy, but with our intentions and motivations for selecting said Lars Norske.
We do demand a lot from them… in the wrong areas, usually.
So I do entreat you to be in prayer for us as Pete and I do labor in a little over a week at convention for these very things… among others. This event each year is not just a chance to see our old friends and socialize.
It is the Lord’s business we are, and will be on about.
Help us dear Lord… Lord have mercy!
Well, this will be my last Friday Reflection for a few weeks. I am on vacation next week (well more like a week of being prodded! 4 doctor’s appointments to ready me for the 29th shoulder surgery!) Then there will be convention. Then the surgery. Then some recovery time. Please keep me in your prayers.
But… I may surprise all of us and be able to punch out a message in there somewhere…one handed even!
Until then… the Lord be with you all…
But remember, even though this is Friday, thank God that Sunday is only 2 days away…
Where we will once again see the Mercy and Grace of God come to us in answer to the many prayers that came before….
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Second Sunday after the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity – June 14th 2026
Readings – Old Testament – Isaiah 25:6-9
Epistle – 1 John 3:13-18
Gospel – Luke 14:16-24
Theme – LOVE IN DEED AND IN TRUTH – Based on the Epistle Reading
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Prayers: For a lasting peace that would be established and would remain between the people of Israel and Gaza as well as for the People of Russia and the Ukraine. Between the US and Iran. For our congregation that it would please our Lord that we would increase in numbers and there remain in this place a congregation that calls upon Him rightly, practicing the faith according to the Scriptures. For those who are being persecuted and murdered because they call upon the name of Jesus—especially in Africa. For the end of violence in our cites and that our schools and congregations would be protected from those who wish them harm. For our families that parents would courageously discipline their children and raise them in the fear of the Lord, teaching them about salvation in Jesus alone.