here is some inspiring messages from this morning's Omaha World Herald's weekly from the pulpit section

(OWH is a secular paper by the way)

what From the Pulpit is:

weekly column on saturdays with Excerpts from messages being presented at area places of worship this weekend.


p.s. I wish they would have more of these 3 and Thomas Schmitt in the FTP section of the paper.

they and Rabbi Levin (who isnt a believer in Yeshua) but still has great columns are great.




love the weekly From the Pulpit column in the OWH btw:

(dont like as much when Jane Florence or Barry Vennard is in it cause they are basically pushing new-age and universalism stuff.




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The Rev. Larry Harrold of Center Baptist Church of Omaha Nebraska

Every weekend of the fall season, football fans get to watch their favorite gridiron warriors battle for pigskin supremacy or at least do their very best against the opponent. Win or lose, every fan expects an all-out effort, to “leave it all on the field.” Beyond the sports venue, this kind of effort and willingness to face up to any opponent, challenge or adversary is a key part of what most regard as “manliness.” What it comes down to in practical terms is the warrior attitude that seeks to exert power, win the day, to remain unbowed before whoever or whatever is confronting us in our quest for personal objectives.

So, when Paul tells the church to “Stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), it might be natural for modern minds to think of this in similar terms to what we expect in sports, business or war. The modern stereotype of a man includes things like aggression, bravery and a willingness to stand up to any opponent. Most boys play some form of “King of the Hill” and take this assertive, power-play mentality into their grown-up life.

Those who can’t or won’t are usually branded with some kind of negative label, like “wimp,” “cupcake” or “momma’s boy.”



But such images and expectations come into direct conflict with the example of Jesus Christ, who openly and unapologetically declared, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).


I don’t think anyone who knew Jesus of Nazareth would have thought of Him as a “wimp” or one who would back down from a confrontation with evil. But the difference is that He stood up for God’s rights, not for His own. He bravely faced the cross without a hint of self-pity or reluctance but stood silent before the accusations of Jerusalem’s leaders.

The “power-play” kind of manliness accounts for a great many church splits, many broken homes and other impaired relationships, and stands in stark contrast to the Bible’s image of “acting like men” (or mature women, for that matter). Paul puts the whole matter of real maturity and strength as he concludes his short exhortation in saying, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).


Real men know how to live with real love, just like the greatest Man who loved the world in the greatest way, when He went boldly and powerfully to the cross for sinful mankind.




The Rev. Daniel Delzell of Wellspring Lutheran Church of Papillion Nebraska

Has a relationship with someone brought pain and heartache into my life? Here is the path to healing: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Those words from Jesus describe a powerful reality. God will not heal my heart and show mercy to me if I am unwilling to show mercy to others.



Holding a grudge against someone blocks the wellspring of the Holy Spirit from healing my heart. If I refuse to forgive someone who has wronged me, I am choosing to live outside of God’s “river of grace.” Within that river, compassion flows freely. Up on the banks of that river, there are only bitter feelings of anger and resentment.



Jesus said, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). In other words, I can choose whether or not I am going to live within God’s river of grace. Am I ready to bring my own sin to Jesus and believe that He died on the cross to save me when He had every right to hold a grudge against me instead?


The wellspring of God’s love will start flowing in my heart when I choose to stop holding grudges against others and then trust in Jesus to cleanse me from my sin. My healing cannot take place until my grudges get replaced with the beauty of God’s grace.









Dr. Arnold Peterson of Calvary Baptist Church of Glenwood Iowa

Joel 2:28-32

God governs the world much like parents use rules to govern our children. Rules that make sense are more effective than punishments that are not explained. Good rules, whether God’s or parents’, are not intended to punish. They are intended to guide us toward a safe and peaceful life.

Joel the prophet told his people that locust swarms that destroyed their economy were not punishments but reminders that they had wandered away from God. When we ignore God things usually go badly wrong. Joel says “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32).

In Acts 2, Peter tells us that this prophecy speaks of Jesus. Things do go wrong in the world. Disasters like locust plagues or earthquakes will always happen. Instead of seeing them as God’s punishment, we should see them as God’s reminder that our only safety and peace is found in harmony with God and His son, Jesus




Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Living - FROM THE PULPIT