Paraclete September 2011

Past issues of the Paraclete can be found on the RFL site in the Life Advocate Training section.

Devotional Thoughts

by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb

It was never there before, but now it is, and it is beautiful—a flowered forest floor. Amazingly, this lush, multi-colored foliage came about through death.

After skipping a year to go to Alaska, our family headed back this year to our usual vacation spot in the Rocky Mountains west of Fort Collins, Colorado. For several years now the mountain pine beetle has devastated the lodge pole pines in this area. Millions of dead trees cover the mountainsides and stretch into the sky like dried up telephone poles with branches. But in the last couple of years something has happened. These dead trees started losing their needles. As if a giant shade had been rolled up, the sun shone upon the forest floor making flowers and other plants thrive. (The moose is a nice bonus, but look at the trees!)

I counted six different kinds of flowers just in one area. The colors were diverse—yellow, white, purple, blue, red. My very amateur pictures really do not capture the extent of the carpet-like beauty seen in many places. There were also scores of little spruce trees two and three feet tall stretching toward the sun. Spruce trees are not affected by the pine beetle so they, along with the Aspen, will thrive. Life because of death!

Hmmm–sound familiar?

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

“[A]nd which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

The Holy Spirit uses strong and conclusive words here. Jesus’ death “destroy[s]” the devil and the power of death. Jesus’ death “abolished” death. Because of those strong actions by our Savior, the Holy Spirit also uses beautiful words. Jesus’ death “brought life and immortality to light.”

In the Colorado forest, when you look up you see dead trees. When you look down, you see life brought about by their death. When we as Christians look up, we do not see dead trees but a dead man hanging on a tree. When we follow His blood as it trickles down, we see life and immortality for it flows into our lives through His Word and the waters of holy Baptism and in Holy Communion.

“Life through death” gives us the certain hope of our immortality.

“Life through death” also gives us the certain hope that God works in the lives of His loved ones here and now. I repeat this verse often, but it is the foundation to the hope in which we live. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) We live in the irony of “life through death.” The world turns to death as its god for hope and rescue from problems. We turn to the death of our God in Jesus Christ for hope and rescue from our problems.

Sometimes we do not feel rescued and life can seem very dark like walking through the shadows of a canopied forest. We do not always see or feel the hope God promises. Satan uses feelings to lie to us. The truth does not change, however. Through the death of Jesus on a tree, the Holy Spirit assures us that the light of God’s grace shines into our lives. We constantly walk in it. As this light shines upon the darkness of our grief or pain or struggles or sufferings, the Spirit constantly works and–more irony–even brings about beauty and good according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Not always, but sometimes God gives us a glimpse, and we realize that because of the cross, we walk on a flowered forest floor.

I do not need to tell you how the message of “life through death” applies in the life arena. So many people are trapped in the darkness of the world or in the darkness of their own sin. We have the only message that shines light upon them, the only message that can bring beauty back into their lives. I know I am biased, but no other ministry connects the message of a crucified and risen Savior to the life issues as does Lutherans For Life. Once again, thank you for your consistent and prayerful support.

Renewal For Life Resources

“Sin brings death and destruction. The sin of abortion brings death to a unique, unborn child. It also brings destruction to other lives-destruction of relationships, of families, of faith. Abortion is a life-shattering tragedy. It devastates women, men, grandparents, brothers, and sisters who carry sorrow for a child they will never know, or guilt for a child they rejected.”

The resources below can be found in the After the Abortion section on the RFL site.

Audio/Visual section: Hope for the Broken Hearts is a video that touches on the signs of post traumatic stress caused by an abortion, and tools we can use to help those who are suffering from it.

Bible Studies: Abortion Healing by Linda Bartlett. Linda says, “Abortion may bring an initial sense of relief (“my problem is over”). But abortion is a violent and traumatic experience with full consequences that may not be felt long after the event.”

Essays and Articles: Forgotten Fathers, by Dr. James Lamb and Grace Kerns. “For every woman that participates in an abortion, there is a man. Although men are less likely to seek recovery, they suffer many of the same emotional feelings as a woman.”

Brochures: LFL offers a number of brochures, booklets, and Bible studies on post-abortion healing through Concordia Publishing House.

Worship Resources: After the Abortion Prayers, Sermons, and Services

Other resources:

Word of Hope is LFL’s post abortion ministry, which offers confidential post-abortion referral, counseling, reconciliation. Check out the FAQ’s section on their website for information on RU*486 to Symptoms of distress.

Note: Every category on the RFL site now has references to outside sources for more information and resources for your use. Look on the main page of each section in the right hand corner for more information.

New Resources available through CPH

Christ and Adoption brochure

Life Issues and the Pulpit booklet

Confessions of an Executive Director brochure

Amor Real Vidal Real brochure (a Spanish edition of Real Love Real Life)

On Sale! – GOD’S WORD for Life – On Sale!

LFL and RFL News

LFL would like to welcome three new Board members to our team!

Laura Davis

Stephanie Hovland

Rev. Evan McClanahan  

We are excited to announce our first Renewal For Life Regional Director in Texas! Jean Amundson has accepted the position as part-time regional director. Jean will be the mentor and go-to person for our RFL congregations in Texas. She will help form Life Teams and provide the necessary training, help and resources needed to establish a For Life ministry in each congregation. Please pray for Jean and for LFL as we begin this new phase of Renewal For Life.

We mentioned in our last issue of Directions that we are now in partnership with Churches For Life(CFL). Churches For Life will provide in-depth, Gospel-focused, training for our RFL churches. If you would like more information on CFL visit their website at www.getintolife.org or call the Life Center at 888-364-5433.

2012 LFL National Conference

Equipping the Saints For Life – Ephesians 4:11-12
 

LFL’s 2012 conference will provide a variety of ways to become equipped “For Life” personally and also to learn how to participate in the equipping of others.

There will be a special emphasis on Renewal For Life®, LFL’s initiative to equip Lutheran congregations to be Gospel-motivated voices for life.

Mark your calendars! Come ready to be equipped! You will leave ready to equip!

August 3-4, 2012
Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Itasca, Illinois

Keynote speaker: Rev. Ken Klaus, speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Check out our 2012 conference page for more details and registration information as they become available.

One-Cent Sale on Selected Life Sunday and Just For Kids Bulletin Inserts!

Our remaining stock of selected Life Sunday and Just For Kids inserts are on sale! Stock up now and save―and share the For Life message all year long! The Just For Kids inserts are a great way to share the For Life message with children. They are a great resource for Sunday school, VBS (stock up for next summer!), children’s coloring bags, and more!

Order today! When these inserts are gone, they are gone. Finished. Done. No more. Out of stock. Order today!

Life Sunday Bulletin Insert Sale

In Life, in Death, Abide with Me

In the Hand of God

Jesus Loves Children

Just Imagine … what will this baby be?

Cherish the Children

Good News For Life

Life Under the Cross

Just For Kids Bulletin Insert Sale
 

Good News For Life

Welcome A Little Child

Life Under the Cross

Time To Speak

Just Imagine

In the Beginning

Abide With Me

Cherish the Children

In the Hand of God

50% Off on LFL Promotional Products!

All of our remaining stock of promotional products are on sale at 50% off! Order today and share at local fairs, events, VBS, and Sunday school! Quantities are limited.

PENS (“God Loves Life”) – This popular and comfortable tri-sided pen has different Lutherans For Life information on each of the three sides including “God Loves Life – John 3:16.” This pen will never roll off the table! Black ink, medium point, blue translucent coloring, black ergonomic grippers, metal tip.

LFL LOGO PIN – Simple design on blue enamel.

TOTE BAGS (Plastic) 11″ x 15″ – Great for fairs and conventions.
 

Click on the links above or go to www.cph.org.

Life Quotes

Life Thoughts

Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library.

Life Tube®

Life Blog

LFL 2020 on Facebook