"The Glimpse Project: Taiwan" Preview 10:32 AM

A short preview of the third installment of the Glimpse Project. Shot in Taiwan in May 2010. Due to be released September 2010.

The Glimpse Project: Japan is online 9:27 PM

We are excited to announce that episodes of The Glimpse Project: Japan are available online! The episodes have been uploaded to the International Mission group on the CLB Vimeo account.

Click on the episodes below and you will be directed to the video.

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE
An overview of the cultural environment in Japan as it relates to the spiritual condition of the Japanese people.

PATH OF BELIEF - TAKANOSU
A segment featuring the varied aspects of Arnie and Bonita's ministry in Takanosu.

PATH OF BELIEF - SENDAI
A focus on the Dean & Linda's ministry in Sendai in reaching people with the gospel.

TAEKO’S STORY
How God is using a weak woman to spread His gospel.

HIKARI’S STORY
The awe-inspiring testimony of Hikari K., complete with supernatural signs from God.

HEART FOR THE JAPANESE
The missionaries share their heart for the people of Japan .

KEIKO’S STORY
The testimony of how Keiko came to understand God’s love for her.

CHURCH CONDITION
The many challenges that the Lutheran Brethren Church of Japan faces today.

MISSIONARY KIDS
Some of the things MKs deal with as they grow up in a culture that is different from their parents, though it has always been their home.

FOOD IN JAPAN
Ever wonder what missionaries eat?

BEING MISSIONARIES
Dean and Linda highlight some of the cultural differences of living in Japan and share about what it’s like to be a family on the mission field.

Visit the International Mission website here. Learn more about The Glimpse Project here.

A Parable of the Talents 5:14 PM

Watching this video I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I firmly believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. So I sort of cringed at some of the implications of what Chan was saying. On the other hand, as I watched, I couldn't help but think about this word from Jesus:

Matthew 25:14 “For it (the Kingdom) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

And then there's this: "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruits bad, for the tree is known by it's fruit."

What do you think? Is Chan right about the implications of 'living too safe a life?'

Here's how Luther explains the situation-

All who boast of works to justify themselves in the eyes of God show that they understand nothing about Christ or faith. We confess that good works must follow faith, yes, not only must, but follow voluntarily, just as a good tree not only must produce good fruits, but does so freely. Just as good fruits do not make the tree good, so good works do not justify the person. But good works come from a person who has already been justified beforehand by faith, just as good fruits come from a tree which is already good beforehand by nature.

John Pless: Handling the Word of Truth

On the Shoulders of Giants: Justification 11:45 PM

I recently did a baptism for two infants and received a video as a gift from their parents titled, "On the Shoulders of Giants." While I haven't seen the full DVD and can't vouch for the whole video, I did appreciate the opening section on Justification.  Enjoy the following segment as the commentator brings forth the history of our Lutheran Culture/Theology and our hope in "justification by grace through faith." 

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Jesus wants the Rose... 1:45 PM

Why is it so much easier to tell people what they need to do or don't do?

1. Our natures are hardwired to believing that the way to get right with God is by obedience (witness every other religion in the known universe!)

2. We think if we just know what to do, we'll naturally do it (witness Greek philosophy)

3. We think if people are just made aware of the potential consequences of their actions, logic and reason will take over and they'll surely stop. Though this can happen outwardly, internally, their desires will remain the same. Usually, then they'll continue the behavior, believing that the consequences discussed won't really happen to them (witness Teenagers).

There are many other reasons I'm sure for preaching what Edmund Clowney called "Synagogue Sermons," but the only message that can truly change a person from the inside out (the only change that truly matters) comes from the preaching of the Gospel.

The good news is, though you are a sinner (Rebel by nature), have sinned, failed, will continue to fail and never fully in this life, "Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength" as you should, Jesus, God's own Son has done it for you. He has lived perfectly in our place, bore the penalty of our sin on the cross, and rose again for our justification. He became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

As I thought about this, I couldn't help but remember a short snippet of a sermon I watched not long ago. In it, Chandler describes sitting through a very typical Synagogue sermon, with a very sinful friend next to him. Here after all is why this matters:

Same Mission. Together. 10:51 AM

This video has been sent as a DVD to all Lutheran Brethren congregations. 
We are encouraging pastors to show the video and hand out the bulletin inserts that accompany the DVD.

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren is a family of churches. On the same mission. Together!

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