"The Chapel"

October 18, 2009



(Jesus said) "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer. . . .'" Luke 19:46b



Ain't technology grand?

You just never know what science is going to come up with and what need it's going to answer. It seems as if there's nothing man can't do when he sets his mind to it.

Indeed, from what statistics say, there are many people who think of God as being irrelevant.

This reminds me of a time, years ago, when Long Island's Camp Upton was converted into a research base. The job of the scientists employed there was to discover new uses for atomic power.

The camp really became quite a show place -- important enough for a herd of reporters to be given the 25-cent tour.

The scientist serving as host proudly pointed out the various buildings and explained how they were being used. He did an excellent job until the tour came to the chapel. That's where the group stopped and there was a silence.

Eventually, the scientist confessed, "We haven't found any use for that chapel."

One of the newsmen there that day later commented, "I saw Hiroshima. Maybe they ought to use that chapel."

That reporter hit the nail on the head. God has given many gifts to humankind. But no matter how far we may have come, no matter where we go, there are some things we just can't do.

We may prolong life, but we can't stop death. We can give medicine, but we can't offer eternal hope.

The truth is obvious: we need God.

He can do things for us nobody else can do. Through the sacrifice of His Son He has given us forgiveness, freedom, contentment, hope, and eternal life.

Maybe that chapel should have been used as a chapel back at Camp Upton.

And maybe, just maybe, our friends and family members, our neighbors and our coworkers, ought to use the church in their neighborhood too.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we give thanks for the blessings of technology. They, like all other bounties, are gifts from You. Now we pray that humanity may see its limitations and how much the world needs the Savior and the salvation His sacrifice bestows. Grant us humility and hope in Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Most Influential Man"

October 19, 2009



Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2



Many thanks to Mr. Ian Adnams, director of Communications for Lutheran Church-Canada for supplying this idea.

There is an Internet magazine that is rating the world's most influential men.

I wasn't surprised to see rulers, athletes, artists, and politicians on that list. I didn't even object when Simon Cowell from American Idol showed up in spot number five.

I did have a problem with the man who is holding the number one spot of "Most Influential Man."

Are you ready? No, you're not. You will never guess who it is.

Really, you won't.

According to this survey, the number one spot goes to Don Draper.

See, I told you. You didn't guess Don Draper because you probably don't know Don Draper. Actually, nobody knows Don Draper. Nobody knows Don Draper because Don is a fictional character on a TV program called, Mad Men.

Don Draper is supposed to be influential because he is a man's man -- a hard-working, hard-drinking, semi-moral, tries-real-hard kind of guy. He's the guy the rest of us guys are supposed to want to be like.

If I want to see someone worth emulating, all I have to do is look at the Savior. It is He who endured the cross and gave His life so I might be forgiven.

And if Jesus is out of range -- which He is -- I can give thanks for the cloud of witnesses who have surrounded me since I was young. There is my father, the Christian blacksmith; that's him in the picture above. There is Mel Rotermund, Al Dutcher, and a host of other Christian men who were also Christian teachers. There are retired pastors who gladly shared their wisdom, were always supportive, and never pushy. And the laypeople . . . well, I can't begin.

No, if I'm going to look for influential men, I don't have to go very far, and I certainly don't have to go to TV and made-up characters.

That's because I'm blessed I've known Christian men.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks You have surrounded me with Christian men who have not been ashamed of the Gospel or their Savior. They were not perfect, but they have been Your powerful witnesses. By the Spirit's power, may their numbers increase. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Peace Prize"

October 20, 2009



For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6



The list of names is an impressive one.

Let's see, there's the U.S. General George Marshall, and the organist-doctor from Africa, Albert Schweitzer. The Quakers are there as an organization, and John Raleigh Mott, chairman of the YMCA was not forgotten. Teddy Roosevelt would have been pleased to see his name wasn't left off the role call. Yes, Teddy is there, as is Jean Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross.

Now President Obama has had his name inscribed with the others who have also won the Noble Peace Prize.

The reaction to that news has been mixed.

There are those who say, "He doesn't deserve it," and others who reply, "Not yet."

As far as I'm concerned, the only important part of that news story is this: it pointed me back to the passage from Isaiah, the one that serves as our text for today's Daily Devotion.

Centuries before the Christ's birth in Bethlehem, Isaiah prophesied Jesus would be the heaven-sent Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

That's the part I want to zero in on: Jesus is the Prince of Peace -- the only Prince of Peace.

Truly, the Savior is unique. While these other individuals and organizations may dedicate their lives trying to bring about world peace, the results of their efforts have not proven to be successful in the long term.

On the other hand, the peace that comes to sinners through faith in Jesus' life, suffering, sacrifice, death, and resurrection is unique.

The forgiveness the Christ gives to troubled minds, the contentment He brings to hurting hearts is permanent, complete, and it is total.

And no other person on that list of Peace Prize winners -- not even the greatest -- will ever be able to lay claim to that prize. Jesus is -- and will always remain -- the one, the only, the divine Prince of Peace.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, Isaiah prophesied Your sacrifice would result in peace of mind, heart, and soul for all who believe. When You rose from the dead, You bestowed peace upon Your fearful disciples. For Your great gift of grace I give thanks. Now may You send Your Spirit as a powerful force that will touch lost souls. Grant them faith, forgiveness, and permanent peace. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Imagine That"

October 21, 2009



For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. . . . no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16; 20b-21



I admire the faith of French-British anthropologist Maurice Bloch.

Bloch, of the London School of Economics, believes that of all the animals, humans alone practice religion. They practice religion because humans alone have evolved imagination.

Bloch further believes our imagination evolved about some 50,000 years ago. This newly evolved imagination allowed people to believe in things like an eternal soul and other imaginary things -- like God.

Finally, Bloch also believes that "Once we realize this omnipresence of the imaginary in the everyday, nothing special is left to explain concerning religion. . . . "

That's just a nice way for Maurice to say that all the things I believe in are a figment of my imagination -- or a lot of people's imaginations.

Truly, I admire Bloch's faith. I don't agree with any of it, but I admire it. I admire it because, in his eagerness to explain away all that is spiritual, he is willing to make one giant leap of faith after another.

As for me, all I have to do is believe the Holy Spirit-inspired, eyewitness reports of the disciples. Long before Bloch and his doubts were ever born, the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write, "we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. . . . "

So, if I understand rightly, the choices are these:

1. I can believe Maurice Bloch who, without any tangible proof, is telling me what happened 50,000 years ago.

Or

2. I can believe the disciples who lived less than 2,000 years ago and wrote down what they had seen.

Yup, I admire Bloch's leap of faith, but I think I will believe and follow the holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, if it be possible, let the wisdom and the creativity of the world be redirected to promoting the Savior rather than tearing Him down. This I ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Do-Overs"

October 22, 2009



For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:10-11



It's been 200 years since he was born and 160 years since he was found aimlessly wandering the streets of Baltimore.

Obviously sick, he was taken to a city hospital, where he died a few days later.

A funeral was quickly arranged and the penniless man was buried. Seven people came to his farewell.

Over the years, friends of the ghoulish, the ghastly, the gruesome, and the grisly have concluded this was a poor way for Edgar Allan Poe to leave this world.

That's why Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe Museum in Baltimore, recently arranged a "do-over" for Poe's funeral. That's right; a new funeral was given the deceased author. A life-sized model of Poe's body was put on display so visitors might pay their respects. The casket was loaded onto an old-style hearse and driven to Westminster Burying Ground. That's where the real Poe has resided for more than a century and a half.

It was a funeral do-over. Now I know a lot of folks who would love to have a funeral do-over for Jesus.

Irreverent rulers, other religions, atheistic and agnostic thinkers -- they have all expressed their willingness, their eagerness to stuff Jesus' body back in the tomb.

Indeed, in the early days of the Church the emperor Diocletian set up a stone pillar on which he had inscribed this prideful achievement: FOR HAVING EXTERMINATED THE NAME CHRISTIAN FROM THE EARTH. Today, it's not much different.

Of course, every enemy of the cross has been confronted by the same problem: Jesus died once, and that was it. He's not going back in His tomb. That's what Paul said to the church in Rome. It's what God says to this dying planet.

The Lord sent His Son to give His life as our ransom. Now, all who believe on Him as Savior are forgiven and redeemed. Those who don't believe . . . well, they'll keep trying to stuff Jesus back in His grave, and He - just - won't - stay - there.

THE PRAYER: Dear Savior, living Lord, for having lived, died, and risen for me, I shall always be grateful. You have given me eternal life. Now, please send Your Holy Spirit upon those who don't believe. Let them see that because You live, they can live also. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Letting The Hands Of Jesus Shape Our Lives"

October 23, 2009



Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6b



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



An auction of used items was being held. Among them was an old, scratched guitar. When the auctioneer lifted it up and offered it to the audience, no one bid anything for it. The room remained silent.

Just then, a famous guitar player from the area came to the front. He was the owner of the guitar. He stepped forward, took it in his hands, blew off the dust and tuned it. After doing this, he performed a beautiful music piece on that dented guitar, leaving the audience elated, and letting them see the guitar was a great instrument if played in such a masterful way. When he was done, the audience gave him a standing ovation.

So the auctioneer tried again. He presented the old, worn guitar to the audience. This time one of the participants offered a lot of money for it, and it sold for a very good price.

Many times in the course of our lives, we think we know everything about a given situation. Of course, with our limited and imperfect knowledge that's not the case. As a consequence, our arrogance often leads us to bad decision-making and faulty conclusions. In humility, we must recognize we need God and, by the power of His Spirit, yield our lives to His direction.

Today's Scripture reminds us that God -- and God alone -- is in total control. Through His infinite love and the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, He molds and shapes the lives of His children. He gives us the strength necessary to serve Him obediently, even as we are renewed daily to accomplish positive changes in our lives and improve our personal relationships.

Through His grace and forgiveness, Jesus gives us the only peace we need, which turns us into helpful people for ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let the hands of Your beloved Son, Jesus, touch our lives and fill us with His beautiful blessings and love. Amen.

Biography of Author: Alexander Jesus Perez Leon, the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries' Venezuelan office, wrote today's devotion. Established in 1953 in Caracas, LHM-Venezuela or Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (CPTLN) meaning "Christ for All Nations," operates a radio and print ministry addressing issues like anxiety, sex, drugs, depression, occultism, and family relations. These programs are broadcast to more than 30 million people over 40 stations in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Cuba.


To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.



Pastor Klaus returns
again tomorrow.

"Contentment"

October 24, 2009



We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19-21



It's been a good many years ago since Pam and I visited some friends who had a whole herd of cats. Yes, I know, "herd" is probably not the right word to use when it comes to describing a bunch of cats, but "flock" didn't seem right, either.

At any rate, when it was time to go we began to round up our children. We found our youngest sitting on the porch swing, petting one of their very, very contented, purring cats.

We told our daughter to get ready as we were on our way.

Although she didn't argue with our decision, Kris also didn't move. When we asked what was holding her back, she confessed, "I don't know what to do with the cat. He has his motor running."

Since then I've found that what sometimes works with a cat -- love, care, and attention -- almost always works on people. It's a rewrite of that old proverb, "We can capture more flies with honey than we can with vinegar."

Sadly, the Church doesn't always dispense love, care, and attention as freely as it ought. There are times when we demand people meet some arbitrary and unnecessary rules before we accept them. There are times we refuse to forgive as we have been forgiven. There are times when . . . well, I don't have to go on, do I?

It's sad we act like that. It's sad and it's wrong. Look into the manger of Bethlehem, gaze upon Calvary's cross, enter the empty tomb -- you must be impressed at how much undeserved love, care, and attention the Savior has given us.

Now, all He asks is that we love others because He first loved us.

If we did, it would be deafening -- what with all of those ex-strangers and ex-enemies of the Savior beginning to purr.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have given me a love I never deserved. May I be thankful and moved to share Your love with others. By my actions, deportment, and words, may those around me see I know the wonders of the love, care, and attention You have given this poor sinner. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministrie

"The Truth"

October 25, 2009



. . . and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrew 13:5b-6 -



It was in the last century, that a very poor, young man went to London.

In that city he became acquainted with a young lady of the nobility -- a young lady who also happened to be wealthy.

They fell in love.

At her insistence, she was the one who went to her father to ask for permission to marry the young man. With considerable -- and understandable -- concern her father replied, "He's got no background, you don't know where he's come from." "That's true," she admitted, "but I know where he's going and I want to go with him."

So, do you know where you're going? And if you do, how many of you think your destination is good enough that others would like to travel by your side?

The truth is most people don't know where they're going.

Oh, we know if we're going to work or to the market. But where are we going with our lives? It can get pretty confusing. We start out heading one way, then we lose a job, or a friend dies, or our plans fall through, and everything changes.

Thankfully, we have a God who knows where we're going, even if we don't. Even more than that, He promises to be by our side. His love, as it comes to us in Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, is there in our accomplishments and failures; it's there when we are detoured from our destination and present when we reach wherever our destination may be.

It's a comfort, isn't it?

It's such a comfort that those who have seen the Savior's sacrifice, who believe in the greatness and purity of His love, are glad to say to Him: "I know where He's going, and I give thanks He's taking me with Him."


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for watching over and being with us. Because of the Savior we know there is no place where You will ever leave us or forsake us. For that reason, we will not fear the future or the opinions of others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,



Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Mischief"

October 26, 2009



Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth. John 17:17



Linda Brown is a generous soul.

A week or so ago, she got out of her Hummer limousine, walked into a store in Columbus, Ohio, announced she had won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases -- up to a maximum of $500.

People immediately called their friends, family, and neighbors! Soon 500 folks were standing at the cash registers and 1,000 people were waiting to get in the store.

After an hour or so, the storeowners realized Brown hadn't paid any bills yet. When they went looking for her, they found she had left to go to the bank to get her cash.

Sadly, Linda Brown didn't have enough money in the bank. She didn't have enough money to pay for the store purchases. She didn't have enough money to pay for the limo rental. She didn't have enough.

When the people in the store found out they had been lied to, they went nuts. They wanted their free stuff. Some fled the store with stolen merchandise; others began throwing clothes all over. By the time they were done it looked like hurricane Katrina had ripped through the building.

At the end of the day everyone was disappointed. Everyone!

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised. Lies have a tendency to let people down, don't they? Satan lied to our first ancestors in the Garden and he's been lying to humanity ever since.

The Lord says, "My Word is truth" and Satan says, "There is no such thing as 'truth.'" God says, "Forgiveness, faith, and salvation is found only in Jesus," and the devil lies by saying, "There are many ways to heaven, if there is a heaven."

Somebody is lying here and I pray you know that somebody isn't the Triune God. And if you're not sure, please, take Him at His Word and search the Scriptures. There you will find He has always told the truth.

And the folks who believe Satan's lies . . . well, they are going to find themselves incredibly disappointed. One might say, eternally disappointed.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord I give thanks for Your truth and my salvation which comes only through Jesus. Now, I pray others may see past Satan's lies and be brought to faith in the Savior. In His Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Justice Delayed"

October 27, 2009



How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:1-2



British statesman and Prime Minister William Gladstone once said, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

Remember that. It will be important before you finish this daily devotion, which deals with a picture drawn by Antonio Peck, a kindergartner in Baldwinsville, New York.

The class assignment had been to draw a poster on how to save the world or save the environment.

Peck drew a picture of Jesus.

Although Peck's choice makes sense to me, it didn't do much for his teacher, who folded the picture and displayed it so Jesus was hidden.

Peck was devastated and his mother was outraged.

She was so outraged at the censorship of her son she sued the school district.

Do you remember Gladstone's quote about justice delayed? It is at this point in the story those words become applicable. Peck's mother has been in court for ten years now and Antonio is now a junior in high school.

I share his story with you not because it is a landmark case, nor because Antonio Peck will become a multi-millionaire if he wins the suit.

This story is shared because some people still believe in taking a stand. Peck's mom could have said, "Don't worry about it, son. Your teacher doesn't understand about Jesus and how He carried our sins and died on the cross or rose on the third day." She didn't say, "It's not important what your teacher believes as long as you and I know what we believe."

She didn't do that. She felt it was important to stand by her son and his simple childlike faith in the Christ who is the Savior of the world. For a decade she's stood by him and, although I'm not a great lover of lawsuits, I'm glad for her stand.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You, better than anyone, understands that justice doesn't always come. Although You were innocent, You were still condemned to death on the cross. For Your stand, Your sacrifice, I give thanks today. Now may we, when possible, take a stand in sharing Your salvation story with the world. In Your Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

.......... "Don't worry about it, son. Your teacher doesn't understand about Jesus and how He carried our sins and died on the cross or rose on the third day." She didn't say, "It's not important what your teacher believes as long as you and I know what we believe."........

That is probably what I would have done....good for her to stand up TALLER! :)

"Keep Going"

October 28, 2009



As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13



Jarrette Schule owns some property in Comal County, Texas.

It was while he was cutting some trees on that semi-remote piece of property that Schule came across something that looked like a missile launcher.

Actually, it was a missile launcher, its identity being determined by the words on the side of the weapon that said, "Guided Missile and Launcher, Surface Attack."

Sure enough, Schule had found a Dragon surface-to-surface missile. It's the kind of missile, which, when a soldier points it at an enemy's tank, it makes the tank and the enemy go away.

Being a good citizen, Schule tried to turn the missile in to the authorities. That's when his story got interesting.

Schule called the FBI; the FBI didn't want it. He called Homeland Security. They didn't want it. He called the sheriff and every agency he could think of. He talked to the military police at Fort Sam Houston, but their authority didn't extend beyond the base. Nobody wanted the weapon.

Finally, and at long last, Schule's request was passed on to an Army criminal investigator who, along with an ordinance disposal team from Lackland Air Force Base, picked up the weapon that was, at that point in time, sitting on Schule's dining room table.

When I read Schule's story last week, I was impressed by how hard it was for him to do the right thing. I know a lot of folks who would have said, "forget it," and thrown the launcher in the dumpster. I am acquainted with more than one person who would have been glad to use the launcher at a Fourth of July celebration.

But Schule didn't get tired of trying to do the right thing, and we shouldn't either. That's what St. Paul said to the church in Thessalonica.

After all, we have a Savior who in spite of being hated, mocked, misunderstood, and rejected, still gave Himself as the ransom that buys our forgiveness and earns our salvation.

In short, we have a Savior who didn't tire of doing the right thing. It is an example we should follow. It's the right thing to do and more importantly; it's the Christian thing to do.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord I give thanks I have a Savior who did not falter or fail on His gracious mission to save me. Now may I, as the Holy Spirit gives opportunity, also prove myself faithful. May I try to do that which is right, and make a witness to my long-suffering Savior. In His Name. Amen.


In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Maybe So, Maybe Not"

October 29, 2009



You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance. Psalm 32:7



Anne Frank's Diary.

In our high school German class at Concordia, Milwaukee, we had to translate The Diary of Anne Frank. Back then, as I concentrated on the intricacies and subtleties of the language, much of the emotion of the young lady's book escaped me. It was only much later that I grew to appreciate the deep feelings and thoughts of a young woman who, along with most of her family, died in the **** extermination camps of World War II.

In truth, I haven't thought about Anne Frank for years. That changed last week when I read an article carried by CNN.

The story spoke of a newly posted Internet video -- a video that showed the 12-year-old girl.

Curious, I took a look at the black-and-white, silent film. For just a second or two, it showed her leaning out of a window so she might be able to watch the wedding of a couple who lived in her building.

That short bit of movie saddened me.

It touched me because I knew the rest of Anne Frank's tragic story. Looking at the movie play, I knew what was going to happen to her. And I also knew that when this film was shot, there would still have been time for her family to escape the ****s.

It saddened me I couldn't warn the girl, that I couldn't help her family escape the coming holocaust. For Anne Frank and her family, the time of warning had come and gone.

Of course, it is not too late to tell the millions of unbelievers in this world how they can escape the holocaust awaiting them if they die without faith in Jesus. There is still time to tell them ****'s holocaust is far worse than the most terrible of **** concentration camps.

There is still time to tell the lost about the Savior who gave His life so they might live. There is still time to speak of the Christ, who alone has paid the price that rescues sinners from the law's condemnation.

But this time to give warning will not last forever.

The time will come for them, as it did for Anne Frank, when it will be too late for us to speak, or for them to believe. This is why we must share the Savior's story today. Today, we must tell others of the Lord's birth, His life, and of His suffering, death, and resurrection.

We must let them know that in Jesus there is salvation and life.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord we are only given so many opportunities to tell others of the salvation Jesus offers. Bless those opportunities. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.



In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Fragrance On The Hand Of The Giver"

October 30, 2009



Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



The owner of a large estate once gave his gardener some red roses to take home to his wife. The flowers, however, never made it to their intended recipient. On the bus that afternoon, the gardener sat next to a widow who spoke of her loneliness. Knowing his wife would understand, he gave the roses to the lonely widow and brightened up her day.

But the widow didn't get home with them either. At the grocery store, she came upon a tearful young girl. The girl's mother was very ill. "Here," the widow said, handing the flowers to the girl. "Give them to your mother; tell her I'll be praying for her tonight."

Gratefully, the girl accepted them and took them to her mother. The roses cheered the bedridden woman, but even she didn't keep them. "They're too beautiful not to share," she told her pastor when he came to visit the next day. "I'd like the church to have them." So the pastor took them and placed them in the sanctuary where his congregation could see and enjoy them. After the service, the minister gave single roses to some of the church members as they left. The beauty of the flowers was extended once more before they wilted.

There's a beautiful poem entitled, "Flowers Leave Their Fragrance on the Hand of the Giver," and the words are true. Every good deed, every selfless kindness, every thoughtful action which comes from a heart full of faith -- a heart touched by the abundance the Lord has freely given -- has a way of blessing the giver and multiplying the gift. Like the ripple effect of a stone tossed into water, the circles that emanate can reach many unseen shores.

So it is with the greatest love of all. Jesus' redemptive work on the cross comes to us through God's Word. By the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, we are made clean and acceptable to God through faith in the salvation Christ has won for us. God's fragrance, the perfect sacrifice of His Son, is offered to everyone.

It is free. Share it the next chance you get.

THE PRAYER: Thank You, Father, for Your love. Help me today and always to have the courage to pass it on. Amen.

Biography of Author: Pastor Charles Bameka has directed LHM-Uganda since 2002. From an office in Kampala, volunteers and staff help people in need through Equipping the Saints, (ETS), Bible Correspondence Courses, (BCC), and the This is the Life TV program. Ministering to those living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda (more than 500,000 are afflicted with this disease) is a critical aspect of LHM's mission there.

Makes you wonder doesn't it? If we could see where the seeds we plant "grew"...would we plant more than we do? :)