Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,
Words, Words, Words!
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."--John 3:3
American English uses hundreds of idioms, both helpful and just plain ridiculous. It’s entirely possible to slink through a whole day without expressing a single original phrase, if we try hard enough. It’s not rocket science, I mean. You can blow your top, or go overboard, or feel like you’re an emotional rollercoaster, or wind up between a rock and a hard place, or hit the wall. Maybe it’s a cloud nine day, and you’re walking on air. And no, I’m not pulling your leg. There’s a method to my madness.
You can probably think of a dozen more idioms that I omitted. Nowadays, we overuse all those phrases and stick them into our conversation as a substitute for original thought. But once upon a time, all those things we call clichés resonated with meaning. Consider just a few:
That’s a load of hogwash – This wholesome little phrase comes straight from the farm, where “hogwash” designates a concrete mess of garbage and refuse that’s only fit for the pigs. The good-for-nothing stuff certainly isn’t a compliment; in fact, it’s downright nasty.
Catch-22 – We use it now for any situation with a lose-lose outcome, but the original phrase actually comes from a 1961 novel by the same name. The plot highlights the result of bureaucratic regulations that take their validity from each other but can’t stand alone. The bewildering, circular logic keeps characters from any good outcomes, thanks to the nonsense to which they’re subject.
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” – Shakespeare would probably roll over in his grave if he could hear us butcher this one so royally. The phrase actually comes from the lips of Queen Gertrude, who rather hastily marries her husband’s brother after her husband dies. Gertrude was actually sneering at the faithful promises – the protestations – of the queen in a play, who promised eternal love and faith to only one man. And so, her inconstant character announces itself to Hamlet and the audience.
Your John Hancock – As president of the Continental Congress, Hancock’s name appeared before all others on the first copy of the Declaration of Independence. By that action, Hancock marked himself among the primary traitors if the War for Independence failed. He risked his life, his fortune, and indeed, his sacred honor. Is that what you think of every time you sign a credit receipt?
We all use language, and it’s a hop, skip, and a jump from a meaningful metaphor for a dull catchphrase. After that, real meaning gets lost in the hubbub of “words, words, words,” as Hamlet would say.
I mention these cultural amusements for a simple purpose.
Do you remember how totally radically it is to be “born again”?
Christians – myself included – so easily wear down the language of grace into simple catchphrases. When Jesus told Nicodemus that he “must be born again,” he was conveying a radical idea, and Nicodemus knew that much. “How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (John 3:4) Jesus goes on to explain the obvious changes that come from being born again of the Spirit, so that a person changes completely. “Born again” meant so much more than a hidden identity. You might as well ask, “Is that baby new?” as ask, “Are you born again?” The answer should be obvious to all. Is it?
REFLECTION The slip from authentic faith to rote “Christianese” is sometimes nothing more than a wandering mind, and sometimes as much as complete forgery. As you pray and read the Bible this week, take time to meditate on what simple phrases like “mercy,” “born again,” “repent,” genuinely mean. Find names or attributes of God that you don’t usually use and meditate on them. As Jesus said to his disciples (ironically, right before he gave them the Lord’s Prayer, which far too many of us utter by rote), “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7) The fight against complacent muttering finds success when it’s joined by a genuinely appreciative heart, so let’s skip the babbling and get down to praising God for the radical way He has saved us!
PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of February 7, 2010 * indicates a new or updated prayer request
FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING: *Pastor Don Dengler Diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, undergoing additional testing to assist in determining treatment plan.
*Mim Hawkinson Hospitalized with fracture of lower lumbar vertebrae
*Leah Robison Recovering from a broken foot
*Pat Otten Recovering from a broken foot
*Johanne Thonney [Friend of Kathy Baki] 25-year old diagnosed with brain tumor, undergoing surgery this week
Alice Puckett [Sister-in-law of the Puckett’s] her colo-rectal cancer has spread to her spine
Lois Lohmeyer Recovering at home from a serious collar bone fracture, healing process will be long, pain is severe
Karen Shorter Recovering at home from surgery
Alice Bacon Recovering from surgery to repair a fractured wrist.
Nora Horecny Fracture of vertebrae, having pain
Craig Lowry [Father of OSLS preschool childcare student, Marissa] serious health concerns
Dominique Lupo [Step-father of Lisa Smith] diagnosed with myeloma and undergoing treatment
Shirley Atkins Continued healing of a broken foot
Frank Walker Recovering from another surgery attempting to save his leg
Lara Webster [Daughter of a friend of Pastor Fausel] brain tumor, taken a turn for the worst
Maddie Garvue recovering from pneumonia
Debbie Garvue Recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at her home
Brock Douglas [Brother-in-law of Melanie Douglas] Advanced cancer, in hospice care
Solissa Arms [Friend of Pat Kuecker] Recovering from injuries from auto accident
Rosina Walker Strength
Barbara Roberston [Mother of Debbie Novak] hospitalized due to advancing lung cancer
Pauline Rye [Mother of Noble Rye] recovering from a stroke
Lt. Daniel Berschinski [25 year old fellow soldier and friend of Matt Kuecker] at Walter Reed fighting infection in his amputated legs, which were the result of injuries sustained in and IED explosion.
Sarah Austin [Family friend of The Mueller Family] undergoing testing
Brooke McGrew [Sister of Scott Smith] Diagnosed with Cervical cancer, awaiting treatment
Linda White [Sister of Sharon Coleman] Cancer, praying for comfort and peace, and for God’s will to occur
Joanne Leeming [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Healing from a stroke and Lymphoma
Hannah Dirkse [Friend of the Detroy’s] 18 yrs. old diagnosed with Leukemia
Bob Wolke [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain
Orval Bestian [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems
Kay Mitchell [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] major health concerns
Kim Hunter [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns
Karen Jackson [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant
Mary McKenzie [Friend of the Kaulitz Family] small child with a heart defect
FOR SPECIAL CHURCH MINISTRIES: *Remember Resurrection Lutheran Church in your prayers. Pray that God would continue to guide and bless them as they desire to carry out His will and be used by him to grow His kingdom. Pray that God would bind the power of Satan as he tries to derail this effort to enlarge the kingdom.
*Lutheran Hour Ministries
*This coming Monday a proposal is going to be presented to the church council regarding Our Savior participating in the DCE Internship Program in conjunction with Concordia University, Seward. We are asking you to pray that God’s will be done as the council considers this proposal. We need to see what it is that God wants us to pursue and what His priorities are for this congregation and its ministries. Please lift up your prayers this week for your church council.
FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER Thomas Davidson, Phil Sanders, Barbara Robertson, Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Laura Webster, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Joan Beck, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Sue Sexton, Jana Maher, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim Siegfried
FOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESS Bill Berger, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer
FOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTER Ray Wahlbrink, Eldon and Isabella Tappendorf, Dorothy Ordel, Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Virginia Alexander, Helen, Dennis Krause
FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY Matthew Kuecker, Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey Davis, Erik Sheldon
FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER OR CHRONIC ILLNESS Ty Hassler, Jr. [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns
Phil Ritz [Friend of Joe and Doris Deuth] recovering from a heart attack
Barbara Robertson [Mother of Debbie Novak] recovering from heart attack and cancer treatment
Thomas Davidson [14 y.o. neighbor of the Coleman’s] Responding well to treatment
Christian Mehl [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma
Lorna Benkendorf [Friend of Tony Arnold] Undergoing treatment for cancer
Leona Walker [Friend of the Belza’s] Recurrent lung cancer that has spread to her brain
Jim Ashley [Brother of Larry Ashley] suffering from health concerns
Ruth Smith [Mother of Scott Smith] In remission
Phil Sanders Suffering from throat cancer, in discomfort
Lara Webster [Daughter of a friend of Pastor Fausel] brain tumor
Dennis Krause [Friend of Diane Rowan] suffered stroke and is in ICU in Iowa
Lu Aiella Undergoing chemo treatment for breast and brain cancer
Kay Mitchell [Friend of Barbe Lankin] suffering from cancer
Jim Bush [Father of Julie Yeager] diagnosed with cancer, undergoing testing for treatment options
Brock Douglas [Brother of Tom Douglas] infection and pain associated with cancer
Bill Berger [Father of Billie Detroy] Alzheimers
Joan Beck [Mother of Karen Young, a friend of Caron Fausel] diagnosed with a serious brain tumor
Kim Phillips [Cousin of Steve Lindgren] breast cancer
Karen Gardner [Daughter of Jean Pillischafske] breast cancer
Roger [Uncle of a friend of the Lindgren’s] cancer
Jana Maher [Friend of the Belza’s] Recurrent breast cancer, has young children at home
Judi Rice [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] cancer of spine
Jack Quinlan [Friend of the Haller’s] Leukemia
Mark Hayden Neighbor of Our Savior with cancer
Joanne Leeming [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Lymphoma
Venessa Brady Hodgkin’s Disease
Joey Eckler [Grandson of the Kendt’s] cancer
Jim Siegfried [Friend of Larry Ashley] Lung cancer
Lance Muessle [Friend of Nelson’s] paralyzed from an accident
Erin Brady Worsham [Friend of Marty Belza] Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
Nick Zimmer [Nephew of the Coleman’s] MS
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. --Hebrews 13:20-21
In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
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