“Thanks a lot, Canada!”
Such expressions, often flavored with colorful, not-fit-for-print language, have been the norm in Wisconsin’s Northwoods this summer. Wildfire smoke drifting over (down?) from our neighbor to the North has obscured our skies, caused watery eyes, and exacerbated breathing conditions.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted outdoor air is and the associated health effects that may be of concern. The chart below spells it out. We’ve already spent time this week around 150, as shown in the picture that accompanies this article. This summer, we’ve spent considerable time with similar and even worse AQI values.
Air Quality Index Level of Health Concern Colors
0-50 Good Green
51-100 Moderate Yellow
101-150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Orange
151-200 Unhealthy Red
201-300 Very Unhealthy Purple
301-500 Hazardous Maroon
So, how’s your spiritual AQI? What spiritual “air” are you breathing? What spiritual nourishment are you taking in? Are you going directly to the source – the Word of God – or are you relying on secondhand sources, i.e., what others say or share via conversation, books, or online browsing?
It matters where you get your spiritual intake! Word and Sacrament are the purest form of spiritual sustenance. Consider this: An orange vs. a Vitamin C pill – which nourishes better with Vitamin C? The vitamin absorbs better when you eat the orange. Our bodies work better by taking things from the whole/source, not just in extract, like a pill. Especially beware of the utter garbage that’s available online!!
The Word is best received/absorbed/studied in its purest form – the source, the Word itself. The Word in extract – someone else’s take in a song or devotion or commentary can encourage, but be sure to be in the Word itself. There is power here. The Word works to save, strengthen, refresh, revive. We have the Lord’s promise: “My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty. Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
We can’t do much about Canada’s wildfire smoke affecting our AQI. Sounds like Canada doesn’t even do much about it. But we can monitor our Word and Sacrament intake, and seek to increase it at every opportunity. “Hey, all of you who are thirsty, come to the water, even if you have no money! Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1) The pure Word is free, and it is essential.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Such expressions, often flavored with colorful, not-fit-for-print language, have been the norm in Wisconsin’s Northwoods this summer. Wildfire smoke drifting over (down?) from our neighbor to the North has obscured our skies, caused watery eyes, and exacerbated breathing conditions.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted outdoor air is and the associated health effects that may be of concern. The chart below spells it out. We’ve already spent time this week around 150, as shown in the picture that accompanies this article. This summer, we’ve spent considerable time with similar and even worse AQI values.
Air Quality Index Level of Health Concern Colors
0-50 Good Green
51-100 Moderate Yellow
101-150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Orange
151-200 Unhealthy Red
201-300 Very Unhealthy Purple
301-500 Hazardous Maroon
So, how’s your spiritual AQI? What spiritual “air” are you breathing? What spiritual nourishment are you taking in? Are you going directly to the source – the Word of God – or are you relying on secondhand sources, i.e., what others say or share via conversation, books, or online browsing?
It matters where you get your spiritual intake! Word and Sacrament are the purest form of spiritual sustenance. Consider this: An orange vs. a Vitamin C pill – which nourishes better with Vitamin C? The vitamin absorbs better when you eat the orange. Our bodies work better by taking things from the whole/source, not just in extract, like a pill. Especially beware of the utter garbage that’s available online!!
The Word is best received/absorbed/studied in its purest form – the source, the Word itself. The Word in extract – someone else’s take in a song or devotion or commentary can encourage, but be sure to be in the Word itself. There is power here. The Word works to save, strengthen, refresh, revive. We have the Lord’s promise: “My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty. Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
We can’t do much about Canada’s wildfire smoke affecting our AQI. Sounds like Canada doesn’t even do much about it. But we can monitor our Word and Sacrament intake, and seek to increase it at every opportunity. “Hey, all of you who are thirsty, come to the water, even if you have no money! Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1) The pure Word is free, and it is essential.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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