Thanks.
 
Thanks?
 
Thanks,
 
Thanks…
 
Thanks!
 
Which of the above is the thanksgiving that flows from our thankful hearts on a daily basis?
 
Thanks with a period seems rather flat, declaratory, a shrug of the shoulders.
 
Thanks with a question mark borders on sarcasm. Really? Thanks for this? At the very least, uncertainty is present.
 
Thanks with a comma indicates something to follow. What? A “but?” “Thanks, but?” Less than enthusiastic.
 
Thanks with the … almost seems mumbling, a trailing off of what should be gratitude expressed with much more enthusiasm.
 
Thanks with an exclamation point – now there’s the overflow of a thankful heart!
 
God’s Word isn’t always clear on exactly where to put exclamation points. Translations vary. But I have a hard time reading these passages without “exclamation point thanksgiving.” I can’t imagine reading or sharing these words in a deadpan, emotionless manner, so I’ve inserted a few exclamation points:
 
“Give thanks to the LORD! Proclaim his name! Make his deeds known among the peoples. Sing to him, make music to him. Meditate on all his wonders!” (Psalm 105:1,2  EHV)
 
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name! Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits!” (Psalm 103:1,2 NIV)
 
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 100:1  NIV)
 
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15  EHV)
 
May exclamation point thanksgiving flow from your heart and home! A blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!
 
Giving thanks with you,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand 

Health History. Blood Pressure. Vital signs. Respiration Rate. Temperature. General Appearance. Heart Exam. Saying “ah.” Reflexes.  Skin exam. Blood draw. Lab work. Must be time for a physical. If you haven’t already done so, this is the time to get a physical. If insurance covers all or most of this, there are no excuses.

 May I also offer this encouragement? Get a spiritual! Take an honest look at your life and ask:

•  Are you in balance?
•  Are there areas of your life that are healthy?
•  Are there areas of your life that are unhealthy, even out of control?
•   In the “car” of your life, is the Savior riding shotgun or is he in the driver’s seat?
•   Are worship (weekly) and Bible study (daily) priorities for you?

Go to the Great Physician, Jesus, for a spiritual check-up, diagnosis, and prescription. Since he is also the Good Shepherd, his bedside manner will be comforting and loving. While you’re at it, be on the lookout for others in need of spiritual encouragement.

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:22-25)

Grateful for grace,
​
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

When you are undergoing great suffering and pain, you long for relief to come. Remember the commercial maybe 40 years ago in which people were asked “How do you spell relief?” and then they answer R.O.L.A.I.D.S.  Today a plethora of products promise relief. But it’s temporary, lasting only until the next bout of indigestion or other discomfort.
    
How do we spell relief? It is J.E.S.U.S. It’s more than temporary, more than physical relief. It’s spiritual. It’s eternal. Jesus said “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) It was Jesus who spoke about a giving us the peace that this world cannot give. Jesus is the one who gave his life as the ransom for our sins, offering forgiveness and life. He is the shepherd who carries us in his loving arms. He is the one who holds us in his arms when our day of death comes or when judgment day comes. It was Jesus who told us to lift up our heads when he returns because our redemption is near. The Bible ends with these words from Jesus, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20a)
 
He brings more than relief, more than rest; he brings eternal life and eternal rest. This is hardly a passive cloud-sitting, harp-playing existence. On the day that Jesus returns we will join our fellow Christians and lift up our voices and shout for joy when we see Jesus face to face. “On that day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:10)
 
We will praise him because of our joy that that our parents and our loved ones and husbands and wives and children who died in Jesus will not miss out on that great day when Jesus returns. They will be raised to life and see him come on clouds of glory. They will hear the sound of the trumpet. They will join us in this shout of joy that comes from God’s people and the excitement that we will share.
    
Oh, how Jesus will be glorified in the praises of his people when that day comes! The songs of praise we sing in our worship and all the prayers we pray together in Jesus’ name are a foretaste of the future glory that we will someday offer to Jesus when he returns. Revelation says of the people who are with Jesus when he returns, “And they cried with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:10)
 
Relief is spelled J.E.S.U.S. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20b)
 
Grateful for grace,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

I remember a place from years ago, maybe you do too – a calm, peaceful place, a wonderful little neighborhood where there were no raised voices, no angry outbursts, no temper tantrums, no conflict that I can remember.  In this magical place, there were no desperate households. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He would walk in the door singing his happy, “Won’t you be my neighbor” song, take off his suit coat, put on his cardigan sweater and just make you feel like everything was OK. There was always a sense of peace and serenity, of stability, joy and happiness in Mr. R’s neighborhood. Children were safe, parents didn’t have to censor or filter and everyone got along.
 
I mean if Fred Rogers was still alive today and had a Facebook page, everyone would want to be his friend… wouldn’t you? If he twittered or tweeted or blogged, wouldn’t you want to follow him? If you got an invitation to be LinkedIn to Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood and be socially connected through the Internet – as so many are – wouldn’t you jump at the chance? He would never diss you, or write an email in all capital letters and exclamation points, he would always find a way to encourage you and teach you a lesson, while making you feel appreciated and safe.
 
Sounds great, but there was one problem with Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood. Our world doesn’t look that way. If you remember the opening sequence to the television show and the miniature model city of Mister Rogers’ neighborhood, the one thing that was missing was people. There were no people there, which is why there was no conflict because people are filled with conflict. People are filled with things like resentment and anger and bursts of violence and unforgiveness.
 
And this conflict that’s in the real world – let’s call it what it really is, sin – makes it difficult to communicate. This is true wherever we look. It’s true for husbands and wives, parents and children. It’s true between friends and between colleagues. It’s true between leaders. It’s true between politicians. It’s true between communities. Even nations stand against each other in conflict. Question for you…how many of you have ever been mad at anyone? Raise your hand…The rest of you are lying…
 
Encouragements from Romans 12: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves…Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited…Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice (literally, pursue) hospitality…Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn…Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
 
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was fantasy. In the trenches of real life, things are much more difficult. Probably a lot more like Eddie Murphy’s skit on the old Saturday Night Live, entitled Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood, a ghetto parody of the PBS show. But it is worth the effort to communicate love. God’s love to us which flows through us to others in actions and in our words. Put in the effort – every day, every moment, with God’s help – and our households/relationships will become less desperate and more Christ-like.
 
In Christ,
 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand