Northwoods Table Talk

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today's post is a bit of a rant. I purchased a "readers Bible" a couple years ago. I was intrigued by the advertisement that stated it gets rid of things that often get in the way of reading the Bible smoothy, with the verse numbering removed, the text place into a single column,  into what we understand as paragraphing.  OK, all that is wonderful, but... I was looking at getting another one, because the first one I had gotten was disappointing. I didn't get it because - 1) my wife said, "Do you really need another Bible?" 2) keep reading and see if you can figure it out. I examine it online, and I found something else that I'd like to see removed, personally, something that seems even more invasive to the reading of the text than either verse numbers or whether or not there are 2 columns of text per page. Of what am I speaking? The ridiculous headings that have come to be f

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I posted on the blog a few days ago. Not sure what motivated me to do that, but now I almost sort of have the bug to do so regularly - ALMOST...SORT  OF... So, this came across my desk (AGAIN) and thought you might enjoy reading it. It is timely, with the thoughts about gardens and the greening up of lawns. I will say this, what we want and what we think is pretty, or appropriate, isn't always what....OK, I'll just be quiet. I do not know where this came from, but I think it will bring you to chuckle. AND maybe, cause you to stop and ponder. (No, those who have gone before us into glory do not look down and see what is going on. It is a joke!) Imagine the conversation The Creator might have had with St. Francis on the subject of lawns: God: Hey St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Midwest? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thist

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has been a while since I have posted on this blog. Why? Good questions! Best response? OK, how about the most honest response? I got lazy! I was putting a lot of energy into writing decent devotions. I don't do some of the special stuff, cute graphics, wonderful pictures, and all that sort of stuff. I don't have the technical know-how to do such things. And to be frank, I don't want to take the time to learn. OK, having said all that, I thought I would write something new - if for no other reason than to say, "Hello! Who's out there?" Now that we're here though, maybe a few thoughts might be in order, they may be devotional, they many not. The other day I packed up a couple rods and headed out to the river. While I was driving, I was listening to Jeremiah. As I have done for a few years now, I challenge people to join me in reading through either the New Testament, or the

Lectionary for January 13 Ezekiel 36:13-28        Romans 4:1-25 Let us take a moment to look at the last few verses of our Old Testament reading. 22  “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  23  I will vind icate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  24  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and

  Lectionary for January 12 Ezekiel 34:1-24       Romans 3:19-31 This Old Testament lesson is truly amazing. I do not know how many Christians believe that the Old Testament is all about the Law, and the New Testament is about the Gospel, but the numbers must be staggering.   It is incredible how many times Christians will say something like, “We’re people of the New Testament, not the Old Testament.”   And yet, the merciful heart of our Lord is so vibrantly exposed and brilliantly expressed in this text from Ezekiel. Let me reprint here verses 11-16.   11  “For thus says the Lord  God :  Behold, I, I  myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.   12  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on  a day of clouds and  thick darkness.   13  And I will bring them out from the peoples  and gather them from the countries, and will bring

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Since shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19 I began writing a daily devotion in this space. With the weekend after Thanksgiving I simply ceased doing so. I could give a bunch of reasons why it happened, but they are all so much hot air.  So, at this point, I simply ask for your forgiveness. I am thinking of returning to writing them again. Yes, that means I am not sure if I will or not. If I do not have the internet accessible I cannot post them. Someone might say, if you know you will be away from the internet, write them ahead of time.  I could do that! But, for you to get them daily (this is to those who subscribe) I still need to get online and publish the night before so that you receive them. Here is where I request your assistance. I am wondering if there are any out there who are missing what I am writing and would like me to return. If that is you, please reply to me in some way to let me know

Devotion for Friday after Last Sunday  Isaiah 1:1-28         1 Peter 1:1-12 In our text from Peter's pen, God reveals: 10  As to this salvation, the prophets who  prophesied of the  grace that  would come  to you made careful searches and inquiries,   11  seeking to know what person or time  the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He  predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories  to follow.   12  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who  preached the gospel to you by  the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which  angels long to  look.  What salvation is this? That salvation that is yours in Christ Jesus. Do you understand what this text is declaring? That salvation in Christ was that which was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. That the events of Christ's life, suffering, death, and resurrection were proclaimed throughout the Old Testament.  Christ&

Devotion for Thursday after Last Sunday  Daniel 6:1-28          Revelation 22:1-21 The Epistle lesson for today (at Thanksgiving Day worship service) is 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Because of the fact that some will not get to church today, I am posting in this space a meditation   based on that reading, and reflecting “Thanksgiving Day.”   1 Timothy 2:1-4… First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth . ( The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by  Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. )   Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. We celebrate all that goes with that.   As many gather around a massive feast,

Devotion for Wednesday after Last Sunday  Daniel 5:1-30         Revelation 21:9-27 Have you ever been to a wedding? One of the highlights is to see the bride and marvel at the glorious dress she is wearing, at Christian weddings it is to be white. In the US, it is usually delicate and beautiful. Oftentimes, people are excited to see the bride. They want to get a look at her. They want to see the dress – ooos and ahhhhs abound when she appears. John is taken aside in this first verse of the New Testament lesson above reads: Then one of the seven angels who had the  seven bowls,  full of the  seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “ Come here, I will show you the  bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Who is the bride? That’s the first question many people ask. The bride is the people of God. Throughout the Old Testament, we read about how God considered the people Israel his bride – and He the bridegroom. When the Israelites worshiped other gods with the only True God, the Lord the

Devotion for Tuesday after Last Sunday  Daniel 4:1-37          Revelation 21:1-8 This is the week of Thanksgiving, maybe you will read this before that day of celebration. 2020 is a bit unusual, some might say there is less for which to be thankful. If we take God at His word, we are supposed to be thankful in all circumstances, including the things that might not be so wonderful.                                                Dog eat dog at the office.  Two people out sick from your team and you have a deadline to meet - no ifs, no ands, no buts - it must be done by 3:30.  Given there are only 3 people on your team, it means you have to do it all alone.  Add to this the fact that the prep work is on the computer, and it has now crashed...  Is it any wonder that you know have the world’s greatest headache?  As you take the two Advil the secretary hands over, you offer a prayer to God, “Please Lord, let this headache go away, and help me to get this proposal done on time.   Later, as yo

Devotion for Monday after Last Sunday  Daniel 3:1-30          Revelation 20:1-15 Is this a devotion? Or is it more of just a blog post? Good question! It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it will hopefully get you thinking. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was privileged to hear a wonderful Gospel sermon at the funeral of a pastor friend not too long ago.  Unfortunately, the Gospel that had been proclaimed was severely clouded when a church official got up a few moments later and extolled the virtues of this pastor.  By the time he was done, you would have thought that my departed friend could walk on water, still the storm, and heal lepers.    I knew this pastor, and he was not without sin.  I knew how his sin affected his family and how they thrived richly on the grace of God. Their marriage and family life was lived in the forgiveness they each received from Christ, and through Him, they were able to forgive and love one anothe