Children Live By Example Of Others !

Children live by example of others.

Parents pray that their children will follow the RIGHT examples and not the wrong ones.
When Jesus said, “Follow me,” he was inviting everyone to live by his example.

And so we pray for the strength to follow Jesus.
Nothing helps more to follow Jesus than the example of those others who are following Jesus. They set a good example, and they are setting that RIGHT example that is God’s own gift to us. They inspire us in the way that Hebrews 12:1 puts it, “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” and so we can follow Jesus—by their example.

In the Christian community, we are literally surrounded by many others who are following Jesus.
Sometimes YOU are the one who is inspired, and that is wonderful!

When you are inspired by persons of faith, thank God for their place in your life that you may live a committed life of faith.
At other times YOU are the one who is able TO BE AN INSPIRATION for someone else.

Thank God for that privilege.

Ask for God’s help that you will be up to the privilege.

Pastor Jerry Castleman
Christ Lutheran Church

You are Cordially Invited to Join Us for the Dedication of our New Sanctuary & 40th Anniversary Worship Services-Christ Lutheran Church-Valparaiso, IN

The members of

Christ Lutheran Church

2610 Campbell Street - Valparaiso, IN 46385

Invite you to

The Celebration of our 40th Anniversary

and the dedication of our new Sanctuary

On Sunday, September 19, 2010

40th Anniversary Worship Services

8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 am

Sunday school is at 9:30 am

Please join us any Sunday at these times!

Dedication Worship Service

at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary on 8/19/10.

Hors-d’oeuvres served in the Gathering Space

Following the Dedication Worship

For more information please contact us @

219-462-6660 (ask for Paula Starek)

Or email:

clcvalpo@verizon.net

Feel free to visit us on the web at the following sites:

http://www.clcvalpo.org/

http://www.clcvalpo.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/people/Christ-Lutheran-Church/1383698108

www.twitter.com/clcvalpo

www.youtube.com/clcvalpo

Livin' on a Prayer

Livin' on a Prayer

I was relaxing the other day and studying the prophet Bon Jovi (Very New Testament:).
His most popular song is "Livin' on a Prayer".
As I sat listening to my iPod, I realized how little "quiet time" I allow myself.
My typical day (especially if I go back about a year) may have some similarities to your typical day. It starts with me getting up early and immediately turning on WGN News.
A) It is imperative to know what the weather is going to be. That way I know that when I put on a suit and tie, I'll be too warm, too cold, too wet, etc. (rarely is it Goldilocks' third option), and
B) how embarrassing would it be to not know something world-changing that happened over-night? "You're kidding? Lebron signed with Miami?" So, I get ready for work with Robbin Baumgarten giving me all the latest Chicago news in the background and then kiss my wife goodbye. She mumbles something resembling "iuvu2" - which professionals have interpreted as either "I love you too" or "that was a funny video on uTube".
I drive to work while eating a bowl of cereal, responding to an email message (only while at a red light if there are any law enforcement officers reading this), changing my out-going voicemail message, and listening to Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio - crucial for staying up-to-date on any banking news).
My first audible exchange is generally in the McDonald's dive-thru - "medium black coffee, please"; "will that be all (cheapskate)?"; "yes, thank you".
I arrive at work and dive into whatever work-related meetings, issues, fires, appointments, and discussions the day has to offer.
I drive home listening to sports-talk radio, generally with work still on my mind. Lanie and I have dinner in front of the TV (with any luck, a re-run of The Office is playing), clean-up the kitchen, watch Piniella stammer though a post-game explanation of why the Cubs lost another one-run game, get ready for bed, and repeat of the cycle.

There are many things wrong with this typical day (besides the Cubs losing again), the biggest being, when am I talking to God? Is it that important to have something filling the space of every potential quiet moment?
I'll catch myself sometimes during the day.
For instance, I'll be in the car (you may be able to relate to this as well) and think, "this would be a good time to pray". I'll turn down the radio and attempt to clear my mind. "Dear Lord, please be with my brother-in-law as he struggles with his health. Wow it is a pretty nice day. Should I try and play nine after work? Please be with my nieces and nephew as they face important decisions in their lives. How can you POSSIBLY drive that slowly in the left lane?! Also, please be with OH BIRD POOP. Why is it always right in the middle of the window?" You get the picture. It is better than not praying, but it is nearly impossible to avoid the distractions.
I want to be able to blame someone or something, but mainly setting some time aside is within my control.
That presents a great opportunity, and I am trying to improve.
My favorite time to pray is first thing in the morning. I try to remove myself from as many distractions as I can so that I can have a real dialogue with God. Sometimes I jot bullet points so I do not forget to include something (Lanie has taught me to love lists).
My parents pray as a couple every morning. They are a great example.

The chorus of the song includes the line, "take my hand and we'll make it I swear". I don't think Bon Jovi visualizes the Lord's powerful hand reaching out towards us, but that is a great way to think about it.


- Livin' On a Prayer.

Scott Steinwart

Weeds among the Seeds...being Still and hearing God...

Photo Courtesy of Wikepedia

It was another long night and I just could not sleep.

Although it was late and I was tired, my internal clock still was off a few hours. Some of my colleagues have no trouble with the seven hours change, but for me it takes at least a week.

I was laying in bed listening to my iPod thinking about Kelly and the girls at home. They were getting ready for Thursday’s Lenten service. The Lenten season just started a week earlier and I was feeling more melancholy than usual because these are my favorite services and hate missing them.

Then I decided to grab the gift in the night stand that was left by the Gideons of the Netherlands. It was the New Testament written in four languages. English was nestled between German and French. I flipped to Matthew and started at chapter 12 where I left off a few days ago. I read for a little while and then decided it was time to stop reading, turn out the light and sleep.

As I laid in bed staring into the darkness, a parable in chapter 13 was running through my head. It was the parable of the weeds. For whatever reason, my mind was spinning around this parable. It seemed pretty simple and in addition Jesus even explained it to his disciples later in the chapter.

I got that the farmer (Jesus) sows seed of wheat (word of God) in the field (the world) and then the enemy (Satan) comes along sowing seeds of weeds (people belonging to the evil one). Ultimately the weeds are collected and burned and the wheat is collected into the barn. I had many questions some rational and others not. Can only the farmer tell the difference between the seeds? Since the weeds and wheat grow together can they tell the difference between each other? And lastly and most troublesome is that the grass and wheat both grow together but end in completely different places.

Maybe I was reading too much into this parable. Maybe each plant is only the difference between the word of God’s and Satan and not people. People around me, people that I know and love, people that had the seed of weeds planted inside them.

After what seemed to be hours of staring into a black ceiling a voice came to my mind. At the time I felt I was just talking with myself. I started asking the voice the many questions. Then the voice said, “You’re missing it”. Focus on what you can control.
The voice asked what is the purpose of wheat? I responded well to grow and bear fruit. Exactly! And how does that happen? I responded Uhh? OK. I will go slowly for you.

I remember smiling because I was having a conversation with myself. So I just insulted me.

The seed is the word of God right? Yes,Once the seed is planted what does it need to grow?
Water and nutrients in the soil. Very good and who provides the water and nutrients? Jesus. Yes again.

I was feeling pretty good now.

What else is needed?
Sun light and air.

OK and who provides these? Well God is the light and the Holy Spirit provides the air.
Yes. So wheat is only wheat when it first starts with a seed of wheat. Then the seed must take in the water and nutrients provided by Jesus, the light of God and the air of the Holy Spirit.

When the seed uses all of these it turns into a plant and if it continues using the soil, water, light and air it will ultimately bear fruit. The wheat’s health along with amount of fruit depends on the amount water, nutrients, light and air are used by the plant. Although both are plants, the fruit is what distinguishes the difference between the weeds and wheat. When these plants come to maturity all that look into the field can easily tell the difference between them.

So Chris you need to focus on taking in what you need so that the fruit will come. You do not want to be confused with a weed that is bearing no fruit.

Focus on being wheat and not worry about the weeds. Let us take care of everything else.

Sleep finally came and I slept a good three and a half hours.

Chris Aiken

Ladies Tuesday Night Bible Study @CLCValpo starting a NEW Study soon ...New Members Welcome!

Ever thought about joining a Ladies Bible Study?

We are starting a new study topic soon (see announcement below), and if you are interested and able to join us - please let us know ladies, we'd be happy to have you join!

The Ladies Tuesday Evening Bible Study Group at CLCValpo is starting a NEW Study!

Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler –> A 26 week study exploring the Hebrew names of God revealed in scripture.

Each week we will look at a different name – so come when you are able!

Enjoy fellowship, prayer time and learn that "the names of God given us in Scripture aren’t just ornamental, accidental or even historical…they are given us to confirm attributes of God that address our “very time of need”.

Our 1st session will begin Tuesday evening 8/24/10 @ 7:15pm -8:45 in room 120. at Christ Lutheran Church, in Valparaiso, IN.

The 1st name we study will be: ELOHIM = God, Mighty Creator!
The following week 8/31/10 we will learn about EL ROI = The God who sees me –(one of my personal favorites).

Facilitated by Grace Safrin
Come Join us ladies – all are welcome here!

Contact Paula Starek email@ clcvalpo@verizon.net
or call 219-462-6660 for more information.

A Note from our Social Ministry Chair at CLCValpo....

I love our new worship and fellowship spaces--so much more room, without feeling all spread out and lonely! And I've loved seeing and feeling the energy and investment of all the people working, sharing, giving... Not that that's anything new here. It's just more visible in one particular spot right now! Some less visible sites:

-- New Creation Men's Center, where CLC members provide meals every second and third Friday

--The Lutheran Deaconess Association, where we'll be providing workers to help with some prep and painting at the end of July.

There are sign-ups and more info in our new fellowship areas for each of these service projects. It's humbling to know that God wants to use us as Jesus' hands and feet every day, wherever we go!
In His love,
Lisa Owen

It was an Awesome Event - Thanks to You all.....

Counting myself, there were 70 people who attended the Musical Dramatization of Mary Magdalene on Tuesday evening (6/1/10) @CLCValpo in the New Sanctuary.

Keri Burman's performance was spirit filled.

The fellowship that followed among all who lingered and enjoyed refreshments and each others company in our gathering space was priceless.

A big thanks to those who assisted in any and all ways to make this event come together!

God Bless you all

Sincerely,
Grace Safrin
Evangelism Chair
Christ Lutheran Church
Valparaiso, Indiana

p.s. for those of you who missed this event, and for those who enjoyed it so much to want to come again....watch for the Women's Bible Study group announcement in winter (before Christmas) as we plan to have Keri back to perform the story of Mary of Nazareth!