Just in time!

God's greetings to you all.  So I almost used the excuse that since yesterday's post was longer and had two "thoughts for the day" I would let that be it for the week.  However, I decided to write another one and keep my goal of three times a week true.  Today was a great day.  I slept in until brunch, ate, played cards with the guys, and then went to the basketball game.  I have been working on a project the past two days and I am finishing it now as I type this.  My friend gave me the entire New Testament on CD's.  I have been busy putting them all on my computer so I can upload them to my IPOD to listen to as I work and exercise.  I have been listening to them already and am already loving them.  My goal is to not let them become my daily devotion or only study of our Lord's Word, but simply another way to listen to them whenever I can.  It is a production done by Zondervan and is dramatized which makes it interesting to listen to.
The Preacher's game was a very close and an exciting one, but they lost in the last minutes.  It was a blown call by the referee, but they are only human too.  The cards I played with the guys were Pinochle. We hadn't played cards much lately, so it was a blast to pick them up again.
My thought for the day is from a discussion I had with a friend today.  He asked me if I will send my kids to a Lutheran school if one is available.  I answered that I would.  After discussing some more I realized that he was thinking about his own education.  He went to public elementary and high schools and then a state school for college.  He expressed that he sometimes felt behind other students here because he has never been to a Lutheran school until now.  However, he had also had people tell him that he will make a better pastor for not having been "Lutheranized" by only attending Lutheran schools.  I have actually heard someone say that statement before too.  Sometimes I actually agree with it.  When I see students who have been to Lutheran elementary's, high schools, and colleges, I feel like they are not even aware that there are non-Lutherans in the world.  I have seen these students struggle to answer simple questions because they turn immediately to Lutheran doctrine.  Now please do not think I am against Lutheran schools; however, I also do not think students who have attended Lutheran schools are the only ones who are prepared for church work.  Most of you know I attended public schools through high school, because Adair, Iowa does not have the option of a Lutheran school.  Then I did attend Concordia, Seward, a Lutheran college.  So I have experience with both types of schools.  I would say both have their benefits and both have their flaws.  I will always support a Lutheran school when given the chance with my children someday because I will want them to have the freedom to learn about Christ in school.  I will hope they choose a Concordia for college.  It may be more expensive, but I truly appreciated the professors we had at Seward, as a number of them had perish ministry experience.  Also, New Testament and Old Testament were required which I believe was good for all students.  So yes, I will hope they go to Lutheran schools.  But I will encourage them to have friends, jobs, and experiences outside of church and our Lutheran realm.  I believe everyone needs to understand how the "real world" outside of the church works. I also believe that Christians need to know how to have friends and co-workers who aren't Christians.  I think this teaches a person a lot of valuable skills on how to have a peaceful, civil conversation about God to someone who does not believe the same thing as that person.  This is where I feel the bad reputation comes from for those who have grown up in Lutheran education all their lives.  They get so used to only being around those who believe the same thing as them, they forget how to talk about Jesus in a way that is understandable and capable for all people no matter where their faith life stands.  However, I also know students here who have been in Lutheran education their entire lives and are some of the best outreach people I have met, and are perfectly capable of talking to anyone about Christ in a beneficial way.  This is where I think it up to each individual to shape his or her life how he or she wants as he or she is growing up.  And yet, each individual can and is used by God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  So I will support the Lutheran education system because I do believe it is certainly a good thing, and then put my trust and prayers in the Lord that all Christians will always be a Christian witness to their faith every chance they get.  We should all have one common goal in this world, and that is to share Jesus Christ with everyone of His children.  All Praise be to Him who does not leave us on our own to fend for ourselves, but sends us His Holy Spirit to strengthen and nourish us in our faith, just as He sent His one and only Son to be our Savior and Redeemer.
Dear Heavenly Father, 
You have chosen us as Your children. We sinners were not even able to chose You as our Lord.  After You claimed us and put Your name on us, out of Your grace and mercy, You sent us Your Son as our Savior and Your Spirit as our keeper of faith.  For all of this we most certainly thank you as we know we are unworthy and undeserving of such blessings and promises.  Please keep us strong in our faith, let us share our faith with all of those who You put in our lives, and never forget to make time to be in Your Word, be in prayer with You, and be in praise and worship of Your holy name.  In the same name that makes us Your forgiven children, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.