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Knoxville, TN July 2018
H ave you ever heard someone say, “I am proud of my humility!”
That’s funny, but it also illustrates what a tricky topic humility
is. As the saying goes, “pride comes before a fall” which is
illustrated over and over again. People get big in their own eyes,
feel entitled, and then get tripped up by their own feet. Pride is
not just one of the seven deadly sins (wrath, greed, sloth, lust,
envy and gluttony) it is the chief one. Pride will lead you away
from God quicker than any sin you can commit. Pride can ultimately
convince you that you don’t need God; you don’t need a Savior,
because you are good, wise or successful on your own. But,
hopefully, you know this is utterly false – a Satan inspired kind
of thinking. God wants us to be humble. In James 4:6 we are told,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” In Isaiah
66:2b God tells us: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and
contrite in spirit and trembles at my word .” Paul warns about
pride in I Corinthians 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take
heed lest he fall.” So what is humility? My favorite definition
comes from C.S. Lewis who put it this way: “Humility is not
thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” C. J.
Mahaney writes in his book Humility: True Greatness, “Humility is
honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our
sinfulness.” Humility is knowing that everything we have and are
that is good comes from God. As Moses told the Israelites as they
were about to enter the Promised Land, ‘your prosperity and wealth
and victory over enemies will come not because you are wiser,
stronger or work harder but because of God’s grace to you.’ How
then shall we attain humility? Well, one of the quickest ways and
not the most desirable ways to become humble is to experience
humiliation. When you are brought low it may be a blessing in
disguise. You recognize your dependence and need for God. Many who
end up in prison, for instance, will see their lives in a much
different way. They will see their need for God and his mercy.
Desperation is often a highway to the arms of your Savior, Jesus.
But there is another way to humility. It is to take God’s Word to
heart and to sincerely believe it. It is to tremble at His Word and
see yourself accurately. Through the mirror of God’s Word you not
only see your sins but you also see Jesus on the cross in the
background and God’s incredible love which He showed to you through
Him. Being humble is a great way to live. It leads to joy, peace,
hope and love. Since pride is at the root of all our relational
conflicts, humility then is the foundation for godly and loving
relationships. To be married to a humble spouse is a truly great
blessing. To work under a humble boss is a great boon. If you have
a humble mother or father, you have a great advantage in life. This
list could go on. Seek to be humble! Place yourself under God’s
gracious hand and thank Him for all His benefits!
~ Pastor Rich
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Page 2 July 2018
GraceNet is published monthly by
Grace Lutheran Church – LCMS
9076 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 691-2823 Fax: (865) 691-4895
E-mail: [email protected]
Reverend Richard M. Elseroad, Senior Pastor
Reverend Travis Ferguson, Associate Pastor
Website: http://www.visitgrace.org
Articles for GraceNet are due by the 1st of each month for
the
following month’s edition.
GraceNet Staff Debbie Booher, Editor
Linda Jaekel
Nancy May
Joan Scraggs
Email to Editor: [email protected]
If you have a spe-
cial event you
would like to
have publicized
in GraceNet,
please submit the
information to
Debbie Booher by the 1st of each
month for publication in the follow-
ing month’s newsletter.
W e landed at the airport in Munich, Germany with a list of
things we wanted to see throughout Southern Ger-many. Prominent on
my list was Germany's big technical museum on an island in the
middle of the Isar Riv-er near the central part of the city. The
most amazing exhibit in the museum hands down was a simple
homebuilt airplane. In 1981 an engineer named Dr. Gerhard Wagner
decided to fly his family about ten kilometers (6 ¼ miles) over the
East German border to freedom in the West. He did not want to raise
anyone's suspicions, so he built his airplane en-tirely from common
materials not at all aircraft specific. He bought common lumber
from a lumber yard and ordinary drapery fabric to cover the wings.
Two engines from a popular model of motorcycle were mounted behind
the two struts for the main landing gear and were fitted with
relatively short wooden propellers. Wheels from the motorcycles
became the landing gear. It would be a tight fit, but the plane was
made to hold the five members of the Wagner family. Dr. Wagner and
his sons did extensive testing in a gravel pit on the power
produced by the engines and propellers us-ing a pickup truck as a
test bed. All construction was done inside the family's small
house. In East Germany someone watched everyone constantly for the
least sign of disloyalty. Those watching and report-ing on daily
activities of ordinary people could be neighbors or close friends,
even members of one's own family. Signs of disloyalty could end
one's career or land someone in prison, whether the accusations
were true or not. (Sometime, find a way to view the 2006 Sony film
“The Lives of Others” [Das Leben der Anderen] for a better
understanding of life in a recent totalitarian state. It will be a
very sobering experience for you.) Someone had become aware of the
Wag-ners' plans. The day before they were to fly to freedom, the
authorities came and they were arrested. They were tried and
convicted. They spent a year in prison before the Austrian
Government negotiated their release. The East German Government did
testing on Dr. Wagner's airplane and determined it was airworthy
and would have flown as intended. But, it has never actually flown.
The Wagners named it “Pfeil 5” (Arrow 5). The East German
Government gave it the designation DOWA 81. If you search the
Internet for the East German Government designation you can read
more about it and see photos of it as it is today in the Munich
museum. In Christ we are free from sin, death, and the power of the
devil. The founders of our nation believed the freedom God wants us
to have in the spiritual realm indicates we ought also be free of
government oppression, and they de-signed our Constitution to
enshrine and guarantee that freedom. But, there will always be
small-minded tyrants who believe people need to be controlled by
others for their own good. Maintaining our freedoms requires
constant watch-fulness.
~ Rev. Phil Bohlken
Freedom Is Not Free
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Page 3 July 2018
Summer Parents Day Out – Wednesdays in July Dates: July 11, 18,
& 25. There is no Parents Day Out the week of July 4. Summer
rates are $20.00 registration/supply fee and $175.00 for the entire
sum-mer. It is open to children ages 13 months –pre-k. Please
contact the Children's’ Ministries Office to sign up.
Summer Parents Day Out
Watch your church bulletin and website for more activities and
details throughout the summer months.
www.visitgrace.org
July 8
Last Day to Register for Grace Summer Camp
F or Summer Camp 2018, join us in Baby-lon, where we’ll explore
what life was like for Daniel and his friends, captives in a
strange land. You’ll craft cool projects in the Marketplace, play
games, visit with Daniel, and eat some interesting food. PLUS,
you'll get to swim, practice your archery skills, take a turn on
the ropes course, and so much more.
This 7 day overnight camp at John Knox is for rising grades 3 to
9.
If you need more detailed information about the camp, please
check out the Grace website at:
www.visitgrace.org
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Page 5 July 2018
DATE THEME VERSE July 1 Show Jesus’ love in our families. “A new
command I give you: Love
one another. As I have love you, so must you love one another.”
(John 13:34)
July 8 God wants us to do what is right.
“Dear children, Let us not love with our words or tongue but
with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
July 15 We can serve God anywhere. “Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
(Colossians 3:23)
July 22 God wants us to forgive. “Bear with each other and
forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
I n an attempt to connect the adults and children of Grace just
a bit more, I will be letting people know the theme and verse of
the week in our children’s Sunday school classes. I would love it
if the adults would join in memorizing or at least talking about it
to the children as they see each other in the halls. Listed below
are the themes and scripture for May.
~ Frieda Guthrie
July Children’s Curriculum Themes
Benjamin Ryan McCay
Born: June 6, 2018
Proud Parents:
Michael and Morgan McCay
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Page 5 July 2018
Fiction
Room on the Porch Swing by Amy Clipston (Fic Cli): It is less
than a year since her mother’s death, and Laura Riehl is faced with
the death of her best friend, Savilla. To honor her friend’s
memory, Laura agrees to care for Savilla’s baby. As she spends more
time with the baby and Allen, the ba-by’s father, the situation
becomes more complicated.
Together Forever by Jody Hedlund (Fic Hed): In this sec-ond
story in the Orphan Train series, Marianne and her fellow agent,
Andrew, team up to place orphans along the small railroad towns of
Illinois. Marianne hopes to discover whether her younger sister was
on an orphan train earlier.
Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke (Fic Goh): Claire is a French
resistance fighter who enlists the aide of her es-tranged British
aunt to take her in along with five Jewish children she has
smuggled to safety across the English Channel. But Claire may not
be ready for raising children nor dealing with emotions brought on
by her aunt’s fellow boarder, David.
Honeysuckle Dream by Denise Hunter (Fic Hun): In this second
installment in the Blue Ridge series, Brady Collins is juggling the
demands of his booming auto repair business and caring for his
9-month-old son, Sam, following the sud-den death of his ex-wife.
Added to the shock of her death is learning that Sam is not his
biological son.
The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin (Fic Sun): Journeying back to
1944, Sundin introduces readers to Dorothy Fairfax who creates
detailed maps of Normandy for Lt Wyatt Pax-ton leading up to the
D-Day invasion. They have developed a deep friendship, but Wyatt
fears his efforts to win the war will destroy the land Dorothy
loves.
Storm Front by Susan May Warren (Fic War): Book five in the Park
Rescue Team series, The team is called to a small Minnesota
community ravaged by a tornado. Ty will stop at nothing to rescue
his mentor Chet who has fallen into harm’s way. What Ty was not
prepared for was finding his former girlfriend, Brette, who is also
being pulled into the twister’s path.
Non-Fiction Jerusalem in the Time of Nehemiah by Leen &
Kathleen Ritmeyer (222.09 Rit): Those who are curious about the
history of Jerusalem near the end of the Old Testament, may find
the focus of this book on the archaeological finds of Nehemiah’s
Jerusalem of interest.
Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees in Palestinian Society by
Anthony J. Saldarini (296.8 Sal): During Jesus’s days on earth, He
was often in contention with the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees
. This book takes a look at these
groups from a sociological perspective and places them in the
context in which New Testament readers “meet” them.
Man’s Best Hero: True Stories of Great Ameri-can Dogs by Ace
Collins (636.7 Col): Among the stories in this volume are daring
rescues of a dog who saved a drowning man in freez-ing water, a dog
who pushed a toddler away from a moving truck, and a dog who led
office workers toward safety in the Twin Towers on September 11,
plus more.
Service Tails: More Stories of Man’s Best Hero by Ace
Col-lins(636.7 Col): In this volume, Collins tells the stories of
dogs who are committed to duty and service to those whose lives are
limited in some fashion. These canines can even teach us how to
love and serve unconditionally.
Ten Books Every Christian Should Read Frequently asked about
what books every Christian should read, Christian booksellers and
librarians devised the fol-lowing list: (Those titles found in the
church library are followed with their Dewey Decimal location
number) Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer Circle Maker by Mark
Batterson (248.3 Bat) Where On Earth by Rick Warren Jesus Calling:
Devotional by Sarah Young Have a New Kid by Friday by Kevin Leman
(649.1 Lem) Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman (248.2 Idl) 90 Minutes in
Heaven by John Piper (236 Pip) Crazy Love by Francis Chan (231 Cha)
5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (306.87 Cha) Heaven by Randy
Alcorn (236 Alc) Other Notables: God’s At War by Kyle Idleman
(248.4 Idl) The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller (231 Kel) Wild At
Heart by John Eldridge 306.87 Eld) Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas 921
Bonhoeffer Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster Find all the
titles covered here on display throughout the month.
~ Mary Schultz
Newly Added to Our Library’s Collection
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Page 7 July 2018
HealthLine
A little over a year ago, I retired after 38 years, from my
weekly televi-sion show. However, in retirement, I still read
“many” research papers, studies, and articles pertaining to health
and well-being. Now, through a monthly column in GraceNet, I will
have the opportunity to continually share this information. Please
note that everything written in this column will be backed by
research, various studies, and facts. There will be no personal
opin-ions. So, with that being said, here is the first of what I
hope to be many helpful articles.
~ Sheila Wittke
* * * * * * * * * *
Thumb-Sucking, Nail-Biting—Healthy Habits
In a recent study, scientists found that thumb-sucking and
nail-biting were linked to less risk of allergies to things such as
dust mites, animals, and common colds. The study’s hypothesis was
that children who are exposed to some germs early in life develop
immune systems that can tolerate contact with different allergens.
In the New Zealand study, about 1,000 children participated,
re-ceived a skin-prick test, and were assessed periodically from
age 3. The children were found to be less likely to test positive
for many allergens when they were 13 and 32 years old. The
researchers recognized concerns of gum injury and social stigma and
made no recommendations. Findings did show reduced risk for
developing sensitization to common allergens. Other research has
shown that children who own pets, attend daycare, live on a farm or
have many siblings tend to be less prone to allergies. (Study in
Journal of Pediatrics.)
Destination Devotions
Planning a summer trip? Take along a Scripture passage befitting
your vacation to use for devotions and prayer time (all NIV
below):
• In the mountains: “The mountains and hills will burst into
song before you” (Isaiah 55:12).
• At a lake, perhaps on a fishing trip: “They were casting a net
into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, fol-low me,’ Jesus
said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people’” (Matthew
4:18-19).
• Near an ocean or river: “Let the sea resound . . . Let the
rivers clap their hands” (Psalm 98:7-8).
• In the desert: “They looked toward the desert, and there was
the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud” (Exodus 16:10).
• In the woods: “Blessed is the one . . .whose delight is in the
law of the LROD . . .. That person is like a tree planted by
streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (Psalm
1:1-3).
• In the flatlands: “’My food, said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of
him who sent me . . .. I tell you, open your eyes and look at the
fields! They are ripe for harvest’” (John 4:34-35).
• On a “staycation” close to home: “Love the LORD your God . .
.. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your
hears. . . . Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk
along the road . . .. Write them on the doorframes of your houses
and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
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“Connect ~ Grow ~ Serve”
TO:
Grace Lutheran Church-LCMS 9076 Middlebrook Pike Knoxville, TN
37923-1557 (865) 691-2823 Fax: (865) 691-4895 E-mail address:
[email protected] Sunday Worship: 8:00 a.m. (Traditional) and 9:30
a.m. (Blended)/11:00 a.m. (Contemporary) Wednesday Worship: 6:30
p.m. (Blended) Sunday School & Bible Classes @ 9:30 a.m./11:00
a.m.
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
