St. Michael and All Angels

Christ, the Lord of hosts, unshaken
By the devil's seething rage,
Thwarts the plan of Satan's minions;
Wins the strife from age to age;
Conquers sin and death forever;
Slams them in their steely cage.
Michael fought the heavenly battle,
Godly angels by his side;
Warred against the ancient serpent,
Foiled the beast, so full of pride,
Cast him earthbound with his angels;
Now he prowls, unsatisfied.
Long on earth the battle rages,
Since the serpent's first deceit;
Twisted God's command to Adam,
Made forbidden fruit look sweet.
Then the curse of God was spoken:
You'll lie crushed beneath His feet!
Jesus came, this word fulfilling,
Trampled Satan, death defied;
Bore the brunt of our temptation,
On the wretched tree He died.
Yet to life was raised victorious;
By His life our life supplied.
Swift as lightning falls the tyrant
From his heav'nly perch on high,
As the word of Jesus' vict'ry
Floods the earth and fills the sky.
Wounded by a wound eternal
Now his judgment has drawn nigh!
Jesus, send Your angel legions
When the foe would us enslave.
Hold us fast when sin assaults us;
Come, then, Lord, Your people save.
Overthrow at last the dragon;
Send him to his fiery grave.
Peter M. Prange. b. 1972

Excuses, excuses

(as seen on facebook) I’m too tired to watch the ballgame. The day of the ballgame is the only day I have to myself. Everybody else will be there and I don’t want to see everybody else. There are hypocrites at the ballgame. All they want at the stadium is your money. I wish the ballgame would go faster so I could get home soon. I can think about the ballgame from home. I like ballgames, but I don’t have to go to one to like ballgames.

Sound familiar?

Sermon on 9/11

+ 13th Sunday after Pentecost +
11 September, 2011
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 50:20
Faith sees even in the progressive judgments of God His guiding hand of providence that orders all things for the strengthening and growth of His kingdom.
1. The example of Israel’s 430 years in Egypt
a. Joseph’s unjust suffering and his response
b. The people under a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph – enslaved, first-born thrown into the Nile, bricks without straw provided and their response of crying out to God.
2. America also under the chastening hand of God
a. Terrorist attacks and endless wars – trust not in chariots and horses!
b. Unprecedented, out-of-control debt, economic turmoil wrought by those who control our so-called government.
3. The Christian response?
a. Turn to God and change the way we think and act, daily, seriously as never before on both a personal and corporate level.
b. Serve the King and all that advances His kingdom, of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

nativity hymn

September 8
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1. With the choirs of saints and angels,
Let the Church be joined as one,
Binding earth to highest heaven,
Praising Jesus, Mary’s Son-
Son of God-the Father’s glory
Who took flesh that we might be
Reconciled, reborn, forgiven,
From the pow’r of sin set free!

2. On this solemn, joyful feast day
Let us sing a song of praise,
Thanking God for Mary’s witness
Faithfully kept all her days.
From her birth to blessed Anna,
Mary listened to God’s word,
And, when summoned by the angel,
Lived in faith what she had heard.

3. Glory now to God the Father,
Who has made us for his own;
Glory now to Christ our Savior,
Who has raised us to his throne;
Glory now to God the Spirit,
Who renews us in his grace:
Laud and honor, never ceasing,
Be to God from all our race!

J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2009, World Library Publications

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PLEADING SAVIOR, or IN BABILONE
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