The Most Important Words in the World

To most people, the most important words for them are THEIR FIRST AND LAST NAMES. We can talk about sports, politics, and the weather all day long, but when someone mentions our name, we perk up because the conversation has suddenly become personal.

Introduce yourself to the person next to you waiting to get your car serviced, or the checker at the grocery store, and ask them their name, and you will see their countenance light up.

They light up because when we ask someone their name, it communicates that WE SEE THEM – as unique persons, who are special and have their own life story. And asking their name is the first step to exploring WHO THEY ARE.

This takes on particular significance when we realize that 52 million people – over 20 percent of the American population, experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. With over 340 million people in the United States, somehow they have fallen through the cracks; no one sees them or recognizes them as unique human beings. They may be surrounded by people, but THEY STILL FEEL ALONE. Reaching out to them may even save their life.

Do you like adventure? What if you could travel to an unknown country and experience life in another culture, with different customs, values, and religious beliefs, and see the world from a totally different perspective? Wouldn’t that be exciting?

This is the promise when we meet another person. Not only have we not lived in all the places they have lived in, we have not met the people they have met or had their life experiences. Furthermore, they have a unique personality, so they will have seen the world from a different perspective, like someone who sees the world from an airplane or through rose-colored glasses.

Let’s take this to the next level. There is a name above all other names, because it has profound, eternal significance. It is JESUS CHRIST, because “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, three things happen. First, our identity changes, and we are no longer focused on self, but on the Lord. This takes time to become fully manifested, but the Word of God says we become new creations, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. So because our identity has changed and we have the Holy Spirit living within us, the most important words in our life become JESUS CHR IST. We are to die to self so we can live with Christ.

Secondly, we become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. If traveling to another country to experience life in new ways is exciting, the ultimate travel adventure – going to the Kingdom of Heaven, should be absolutely thrilling. We marvel that we can send people into space and reach the moon. But the Kingdom of Heaven is not even in this universe! It is BEYOND SPACE in a different sphere of existence – the spiritual sphere.

When Jesus said “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), He communicated that the very presence of God – the Son of God and King of Kings – had arrived on earth. Furthermore, He declared a precondition to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – repentance for our sins, for the Kingdom of Heaven is holy, and no sin is allowed into that Kingdom.

Thirdly, we begin to see others differently. They are no longer just the homeless guy down at the intersection, or Bob and Mary, neighbors across the street. They are image-bearers of Christ, created with meaning and purpose, even though they may not be aware of that.

So remember their name, and speak their name, for it is the key to a deeper, personal conversation that may be an extraordinary gift to you and to them. And if we ask about and listen to their story, they will be more willing to listen to our story, and to His story – the story of Jeus Christ, Savior of the world.

As Christians, we have been called, redeemed, equipped, and sent forth to share the love and truth of Christ with all who come across our paths. And reaching out to them with the love and truth of Christ may not only save their bodies; it may save their souls. So let us do so with boldness and courage, for time is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

To God be the glory

LifeintheSpirit.net

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH’S TRADITIONAL REFORMATION DAY SERVICE AND OCTOBERFEST DINNER

October 27 at 3 p.m.

First Lutheran Church Download

On October 27, First Lutheran, Little Rock, Arkansas will be celebrating its Annual Special Reformation Day Service followed by our true German themed Oktoberfest Dinner. Our Guest Speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and in charge of the Director of Church Ministries Program at Concordia College, Wisconsin.

Area circuit pastors will be assisting First Lutheran’s Pastor Ronald Bacic for the special Reformation Service. Also, we will have choir members from area churches joining the First Lutheran choir to offer special dedicated music

Immediately following the service, the First Lutheran Men’s Club will be sponsoring the Oktoberfest Dinner with the traditional offering of German Bratz, Potato Salad and Sauerkraut. A heartfelt donation will be requested to help cover our costs.

Water, tea, and coffee will be available along with a true German Beer; “Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen” which was brewed in Munich this year for their very own traditional ‘Oktoberfest’ celebration. Note: This brewery started in 1417. The desert table will be outstanding with many sweet selections from the women of First Lutheran. We will have ‘live’ toe-tapping polka music to enjoy with the dinner! See you there!

World War III is Coming – PART I

War is coming to America unless we as the people of America repent and cry out to our Lord for mercy. Just as there were steps leading up to World War I and World War II, there are steps leading up to World War III, and we are seeing them unfold before our very eyes.

This blog post will focus on one of the most pressing issues in the world now – the Russian – Ukrainian war, its spread to the West, and how to prepare. To gain insight into what is coming soon and how to prepare, take a look at this issue of Life in the Spirit.

World War III Is Coming – PART I Download

In I Chronicles 12:32, the sons of Issachar were commended for understanding the times and knowing what they should do. So let us be like them, seeking understanding of the times and what we should do to live at this time and serve our Lord. As in all things, question everything and take it to the Lord for confirmation.

Finally, there was much speculation about the eclipse that took place earlier this year. For a report on what really happened on that day, click here.

This blog is for the remnant Bride of Christ and all who seek The Truth. You won’t want to miss it.

Blessings on your day,

Mark

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.

LifeintheSpirit.net

Education is Not THE ANSWER –

Two Incredible Stories

Source of image: unknown

Is education important? Of course. While we may expect a better educated public to address complex and serious issues more effectively than an uneducated public, in my many years as an educator, I concluded that it is not THE ANSWER to the many critical challenges facing our nation, such as drugs, poverty, homelessness, corruption, and crime. Ironically, it may even provide greater capability to promulgate evil. Here are two incredible stories that shed light on this matter:

Story #1: The Einsatzgruppen in Nazi Germany – Educated Murderers

Prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939, Heinrich Himmler, Chief of the German Police, created the Einsatzgruppen to identify, combat, and eliminate suspected enemies of the German Nazi government in areas taken over by the Nazi army. They were paramilitary death squads that engaged in mass murder, primarily by shooting many of the cultural, religious, and intellectual elite of Poland, including Catholic priests, Freemasons, Jews, local political leaders, communists, partisans, and Romani people.

These units, supported by SS units, killed over 50,000 Poles, including 7,000 Polish Jews by the end of 1939. Himmler recruited highly educated Germans to lead the Einsatzgruppen, with OVER HALF OF THE EINSATZGRUPPEN LEADERS HAVING PH.D.S. Their advanced education did not provide them with a moral compass to forbid mass murder.

Story #2: Craig Marlatt – From Prison to Street Ministry

Craig Marlatt’s life started out rough, then took a radical turn for the Lord. Sent to prison THREE TIMES for drug offenses, the third time he was in prison, Marlatt volunteered to assist with a prison ministry as the chaplain’s clerk because it was easier than working out in the hot cotton fields. There he met a homely preacher who preached the Word of God. The Holy Spirit convicted Craig, and he came to the Lord. When he left prison, he started a coffee house in the toughest part of downtown Orlando. Here is an ex-con with a high school education, ministering to drug addicts, prostitutes, and street people, as well as writing books and recording Christian songs that inspire people to live lives of honesty, virtue, and service.

These stories demonstrate that education, while important, can be used for good or evil, and that our Lord can and does use ANYONE who is yielded to His Holy Spirit and is willing to carry out the work of the Lord. God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.

Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 The word “life” in Greek is “zoe” which means a life expressing the highest and best, a life of service to God and to mankind. As just one example, the early Christians were known for rescuing unwanted babies off the trash heaps of the Roman empire. In contrast, communist regimes that explicitly rejected God have killed over 100 million of their own people. Christ brings life; communism – rejecting God – brings death.

So let us seek the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, that we may discover God’s calling upon our lives and experience the abundant life – the life of joy that He promises to all who follow Him.

To God be the glory

LifeintheSpirit.net

Mansions of the Lord –

A Memorial Day Observance

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The hymn “Mansions of the Lord” expresses of our deep appreciation and respect to them and to all who have served our country in our military. The hymn:

“To fallen soldiers let us sing, where no rockets fly nor bullets wing; our broken brothers let us bring to the mansions of the Lord.

No more bleeding, no more fight, no prayers pleading through the night; just divine embrace, eternal light in the mansions of the Lord.

Where no mothers cry and no children weep, we will stand and guard through the angels sleep; all through the ages safely keep, the mansions of the Lord.”

The 2002 movie “We Were Soldiers” and the 2004 funeral of President Ronald Reagan featured this hymn. It was based on the Gospel of John, Chapter 14:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3

You can see the Mansions of the Lord hymn performed by the West Point Band and West Point Glee Club in an extraordinary performance by clicking here. (Youtube: “Mansions of the Lord” from We Were Soldiers | West Point Band and West Point Glee Club)

To God be the glory

Lifeinthespirit.net

Incredible Short Video and the Story of the RMS Titanic

Sometimes the most profound/compelling messages are communicated without words. A great example is the Youtube video developed by a Navy veteran: “This is Not a Drill”, which speaks about our nation and the war that is coming to our shores. “It took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes,” states author Glynda Lomax after reviewing this short video.

While that video speaks about our nation, “Icy Waters – the Story of the RMS Titanic” speaks about the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic and how it relates to our lives on a personal basis. You won’t want to miss it.

Icy Waters – the Story of the RMS Titanic Download

Life in the Spirit blog is for the remnant Bride of Christ and all who seek The Truth. As in all things, question everything, test it against His Word, and take it to the Lord for confirmation. We were created to live at this time and be a witness to our Lord to all who He brings across our path. So let us be bold, be strong, be courageous, and walk with our Lord.

Have a blessed day, and always remember Who is really in charge.

Mark

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.

A Higher Calling and Purpose

No matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem, God is up to something deep in our lives, calling us to a higher calling and purpose in our lives:

a love for us to experience that can transform us,
a battle for us to engage in that is worth fighting, and
a story for us to live in that is far bigger and better than we have known.

A beloved son [or daughter] of God is one who experiences the unconditional love of his Father in a way that deeply impacts him and leaves him with:

nothing to hide,
nothing to prove, and
nothing to fear.

Michael Thompson

The Heart of a Warrior

Inflation Will Eat Our Lunch

Dear Friends:

Greetings in the name of our Lord. I hope this note finds all is well with you and your family.

Inflation will eat our lunch (and our dinner, and empty out our refrigerator) if we just stand by and don’t take action to understand it and counter it.

That is the theme of this July 8 newsletter, which will includes action steps you can take and these topics:

The Inflation Rate is Going Even Higher
How Much Is A TRILLION DOLLARS?
80% of all US dollars in existence were printed in the last 22 months
US Is “Beyond Bankrupt”
Putin Announces New BRICS Global Reserve Currency Project to REPLACE the Petrodollar
The Dollar DIES When Energy Exporters ABANDON the Petrodollar Status
The 2022 Market Disaster – More Pain to Come

You won’t want to miss it. You can see it here:

Inflation Will Eat Our Lunch Download

As always, question everything, do your own research, and take this to the Lord for confirmation.

Blessings on your day,

Mark

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.

Is the Russian-Ukraine War a Just War – Three Perspectives

This issue of Life in the Spirit will address the question: “Is the Russian-Ukrainian War a Just War?” from three perspectives – from the perspectives of U.S./NATO, Russia, and our Lord.

The Ukrainian people are experiencing tremendous suffering with this conflict, as they battle for their lives, their homeland, and their future. And Ukraine has cried out to the West for assistance in beating back the Russians. (I visited Ukraine many years ago, and fell in love with the Ukrainian people and the natural beauty of their country.)

Two critical questions confront leaders of Western nations:

Is this a just war (i.e. is it justified for us to become involved)?
Should we be involved, and if so, in what ways? (Do we set any limits?)

This June 14 issue of Life in the Spirit addresses these questions, as well as how our Lord sees this situation, and how it will affect our daily lives. You can see it here:

Life in the Spirit JUNE 2022 Is the War Just Download

Jesus chastised the Pharisees for not understanding the times, so we too need to understand the times, so we can act responsibly, always drawing close to the Lord for peace and guidance.

Blessings and love to you this day,

Mark Peterson, Ph.D.