Trinity Update – Pastor Krenz

Devotion-“Live as the Saved, not as the Savior”

Church Work Careers

Loan be Gone

Christian Web Sites

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ god forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Friends and Members of Trinity,

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to attend a District Pastor’s Conference at Rend Lake.    At this conference a conservative Bishop from the Episcopal church named Peter Beckwith was asked to speak on the church’s role in government.    As an aside,  we also heard from John Shimkus, our congregational representative in Washington.   During one of his talks the bishop stated that Christians are called to “live as the saved not as the Savior.”    I found this short  statement quite helpful in a couple of ways.   First, we already have a Savior and so having a “Messiah complex”  is a role we simply cannot carry out.    While we are to influence others and proclaim God’s Word, we cannot change hearts and minds especially when it comes to the gospel (The Holy Spirit does that).   Second, we are not called to change others but we are called to love them.   Often there is disappointment because others do not meet our expectations or we don’t meet their expectations.  Yet, if these expectations have at their center the desire to change or control  others rather than love and forgive others,  we may have switched from living as the saved to living as the Savior.  Living as the saved does not mean less responsibility or “effort”,  for loving others means self sacrifice, but it does mean the responsibility for change rests on God and not us.   What a relief.   Just some food for thought. 

Blessings,

Pastor Krenz

Church Work Careers (Vocations)-  Do you or someone you know have an interest  to serve the church on a full time basis as a Pastor, Teacher, Director of Christian Education, Deaconess or Director of Parish music ?  If so please consider setting up an appointment with a representative from either Concordia University in Chicago or Concordia Seminary in St. Louis on Sunday, November  22nd  at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman.  The representatives will be here at 6:30pm and will continue to meet with individuals throughout the evening.   If you are interested call Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman (495-2545). 

Special Loan has been Paid in Full-  On October 22nd the three month $25,000 operating loan was paid off in full.  All praise to God alone for His continued care shown toward  our congregation and school. 

Christian Web Sites- Here are some web sites that I have found helpful and would recommend. 

A daily word/devotion for the day.   

http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp

Insights on parenting and family issues.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/

The best Creationism web site I have run across.  It is also has good material defending the Christian faith. 

http://www.answersingenesis.org/

What does the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod think about……. (Frequently Asked Questions)

http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=71

A newly established Christian Men’s Network from Lutheran Hour Ministries.

http://www.lhmmen.com/

A Ministry to Christian Women from Lutheran Hour Ministries.

http://www.womantowomanradio.com/

High School Youth

http://www.youthesource.com/