JANUARY 2008

Don’t Delay It, Say It!

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

During my Seminary Internship, I preached a terrible sermon. As soon as I said AMEN and finished speaking, I knew it was bad. I didn’t even want to greet the people at the door after the service.

My Internship Supervisor knew I was upset and while the offering was being received, he came over to me. I said to him, "That was bad wasn’t it?" He nodded, "yes" in agreement. But then he told me, "Just remember that God has said that His Word never returns to Him void, but that He uses it for His own purposes." The closing liturgy quickly continued.

As Pastor Hageman and I walked down the aisle to the back of the church, I was feeling better. I am happy to say that the people of Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine, Iowa, were very kind and did not say a word about how bad the sermon really was.

Are you hesitant to teach Sunday School because you think you might not know what you need to know?

Are you hesitant to talk to someone about their faith because you may not know the right words?

Are you hesitant to be a part of a Bible Study Group because you might say something wrong, or that you think you don’t know enough?

DON’T DELAY IT, SAY IT!

I wonder what great changes could take place in our world if all who claim to be Christians would speak about Christ. Possibly the only way someone might hear the word "Jesus" other than profanity will be if you say it, and then let the Holy Spirit work in the life of the hearer. God’s Word spoken by you is never wasted; there is no such thing as a bad sermon or a faltering stumbling word of faith, so...

DON’T DELAY IT, SAY IT!

Ron Claussen www.ramblingsfromron.com

WELS Kingdom Workers Katrina Clean-Up

Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of WELS volunteers, Crown of Life Lutheran Church in New Orleans has been completely restored from the damage of Hurricane Katrina.

More volunteers are needed to help rebuild the homes of church members as well as the home of other people in the community. This important service to our God is a way to witness and reach out. We are in need of construction and handyman folks (men and women), especially those with their own RVs. It would be great it you can spend several weeks or more.

The rebuilding effort continues in New Orleans through April 30, 2008.

This rebuilding effort will need dry wall hangers, finish carpenters, plumbers, insulators, general laborers, and clean-up volunteers.

You may contact Matt Sauer, WKW Twin Cities Chapter chairman, at 952-472-9313 with any questions.

To volunteer directly with the national WKW organization, contact Pastor Richard Warnecke from Faith In Action. You may contact him at 1-800-466-9357 or <fia@wkw.wels.net>.

Meditate On God’s Word

Most Christians have had very little experience with meditation. Following is an outline that may help you get started.

How to Meditate on God’s Word of Truth in Jesus Christ:

Take a single verse such as, “You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light,” Samuel 2:29.

•Keep thinking about what it means for the next week.

•Ask Jesus to show you how to apply it to your life.

•Ask Him to turn your darkness (sin, confusion, anger) into light.

•Do this every day for a week and write down what you see, learn, and understand.

While meditation turned off many Westerners during the 60’s and 70’s, we need to comprehend its value and use in Christianity. Instead of reading through an entire chapter of the Bible there is great value in pausing, focusing on one verse, and spending time with that verse asking the Lord to reveal what it means for us and our lives today.

Tom Parrish

A Time To Laugh...

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married -- for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered. "Interesting," the newsman thought.

He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on, a preacher when in her 60's, and now in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

There was the person who sent twenty different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh.

No pun in ten did.

The Bible on the Square - A unique museum in Tennessee is showcasing the truth of God's Word.

"We Don't Know Nothin' About The Bible."

Those words have been ringing in Don Bassett's ears since the day he spoke to a class of seventh-grade students near Memphis. Showing slides and explaining the customs of Near Eastern countries, Bassett mentioned important Bible sites and great Bible characters, assuming he was on common ground with his young audience. "Here is the valley where David fought Goliath" or "This is the Land of Goshen where Joseph's father and brothers came to live," he would say. Soon Bassett found himself looking over a sea of puzzled faces. Not one child in the public school class understood his references.

That incident confirmed to Bassett, chairman and CEO of the Biblical Resource Center and Museum (BRC&M) in Collierville, Tennessee, that the work he is doing is more vital today than ever before. "A whole generation of young Americans is growing up ignorant of the Bible, the world's greatest book—God's book," says Bassett. "Our children are not reading the Bible nor having it read to them. The atmosphere in our public schools is hostile toward it. Public communications media scoff at its morality and ridicule its miracles. Its very Ten Commandments are no longer welcome in the halls of our public institutions."

Tracy Crump, online exclusive
www.christianitytoday.com

A College Classroom

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?" "Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

received via email

The Lutheran Home Association Update

I am pleased to share these highlights:

Our Hope Residence in Belle Plaine has received national recognition for family and resident satisfaction.

Construction is moving along at Kingsway Retirement Living in Belle Plaine. We are now shingling and have a Lutheran Home Association flag fluttering from the top of the third floor roof! We have reservations of 50% for both the independent living and assisted living homes and remain on track for a spring 2008 opening.

Another wave of construction and renovation is set to begin soon at our Belle Plaine campus. The nursing home will experience a dramatic change which will enable a new living experience for the people needing this care. Residents and direct caregivers participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking on our 109^th anniversary, November 6. 

The four living units at Hope Residence will also be included in this project.

Heritage Homes in Watertown, Wisconsin, is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. Five years ago this coming December it joined our association.

St. Michael’s Lutheran Home is celebrating its 60^th anniversary of providing Christian services in Fountain City, Wisconsin. This home became part of our ministry 10 years ago.

Change in annual meeting location--date set for January 15, 2008

Trinity Lutheran Church (500 West Church Street) will host the annual meeting of our association in 2008 due to the renovation projects occurring at The Lutheran Home Campus.

The day will follow the usual format and times: Lunch begins at noon, followed by a 1PM worship service and business meeting.

Michael R. Klatt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Piano Lessons

Is there a budding church musician in your family? Piano instructor Carolyn Baumann will be offering lessons to grade school age students, beginning in January. Lessons will be held in the Fireside Room. For more information contact Carolyn at 651-414-9120 or kidskeys@comcast.net

Progressive Dinner

Mt. Olive Congregation is cordially invited to the 2008 'Peruvian' Progressive Dinner. The date is Saturday, January 12, 2008. The time is 5:30pm.

This year's dinner will be somewhat different from the norm. Instead of going house-to-house, we will progress from the Mt. Olive Fireside Room to the Mt. Olive Fellowship Hall, and back to the Fireside Room for dessert and our always popular "white elephant gift exchange." The reason for the change is three-fold:

1. We'd like everyone to feel comfortable coming out on a winter Saturday evening (this way you will only have to get to church and home, not drive from one house to another, and we'll even furnish transportation to those who wish it),

2. We are using this as an opportunity to raise money for the Peruvian church family and friends of Pastor Terry and the Peruvian national pastors (the money will be matched up to $800 by Thrivent - please see poster in narthex), and

3. You will not have to cook any of the food for this year's Progressive Dinner. Pam and Darryl Folkens and Linda and Lee Petersen will be cooking the entire meal, which will be of Peruvian influence. The food will not be spicey, but will be some of the most-loved Peruvian dinnertime staples. Since you will not be spending money on ingredients, and you will not be spending time on cooking, we are hoping that all who participate will feel generous with their donations to these very needy Peruvian people.

Thank you, and please consider joining us for this year's Peruvian Progressive Dinner.

Linda Petersen

New Limbs For 2008

In this issue of the Olive Branch you’ll find the newly organized Limbs for the coming year. Please find your name and remember to which Limb you belong and the names of your Limb Leaders. Mildred Rilling has graciously offered to serve as this year’s Limb Coordinator.

It is hoped that each Limb will be able to get together periodically for fun times – just to get to know each other better.

Because Lent begins so early this year, here is the schedule for the Lenten suppers:

February 6: Pine Limb
February 13: Oak Limb
February 20: Cedar Limb
February 27: Almond Limb

Sincerest thanks to you all!

Sunday School News & Notes

The staff and I would like to thank all the parents of the Sunday school children for their cooperation and help in preparing for the Christmas service. The children were well prepared to share the message of the birth of Jesus. We deeply appreciate your help with the memory work and songs necessary to tell the story of our Savior’s birth.

On behalf of the staff, I would like to thank all those who remembered us at Christmas time. Your kindness is appreciated.

We are working on making the children’s library a reality. Thanks to Joel Meier, we have a white board on casters with limited storage underneath that can serve as a temporary place for the library. We need a book cart on casters so that the library is portable. We also need more Christian books for our older children from age 8 on up. We are urging our parents and members to either buy Christian books for the children’s library or donate toward a children’s library fund. The staff feels that it is essential to provide good Christian literature for our children to read to offset all the garbage the world offers. Please consider helping us in this endeavor.

Sunday school will resume on January 6^th, Epiphany Sunday. We will be sharing the story of the Wise Men with the children. We will be starting to learn Lenten songs to sing at our Midweek Lenten services which begin the first week in February. I would like the children to sing for two Lenten services this year. We will plan to sing on February 20^th and March 12^th. Please mark these Wednesdays on your calendar as we need all our voices when we sing.

It is very important that your child continue to regularly attend Sunday school. This is the time of year when we struggle with regular attendance. We are studying the stories of the life of our Savior and learning songs and memory work to strengthen our understanding of our Savior’s great sacrifice for us. Please make every effort to be with us each Sunday. If you know that you will be out of town, a call to your child’s teacher would be greatly appreciated.

We pray that the glow of Christmas will illumine your new year with joy and peace.

In Jesus, Linda Henkel, superintendent

Financial Report

This month’s Financial Report is a review of the Trust and Escrow Receipts and Disbursements. The special envelopes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve are not totaled so the amounts listed are incomplete.

Trust Fund contributions are those funds designated to assist in areas of ministry other than at Mt. Olive. The exception is the Altar Guild. This fund occasionally receives checks intended for the Altar Guild but made out to Mt. Olive, which are deposited in the General Fund and transferred at the end of the month.

Where the Trust Funds go to is designated in the outflow categories. The Sunday school offerings went to Antigua last year. The receipt and disbursement amounts do not match because the amount disbursed is based on the school year and this report is based on the calendar year.

It is good that the congregation cares for others as well as seeing to our own needs.

The two Trust Disburse-ments not listed go to LIMA (Lutheran Institutional Ministry) and the Lutheran Home Association. Those are the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day offerings respectively. The Food Shelf and Camp Croix amounts include matching funds from Thrivent Financial.

The Escrow Funds are used here at Mt. Olive and are part of the Special Funds account which is separate from the General Fund. That full report will be completed at the end of the year.

The year-end General Fund Report will be reported next month as there is one Sunday yet in December. I am optimistic that we will have a positive year end balance as most of December’s expenses are already paid.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Harold Rufledt, treasurer