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| Once upon a time there was a robust penguin named IceBox. IceBox lived in a magical land called Antarctica. He enjoyed rock climbing, swimming, ice fishing, snowboarding, and water skiing. He was black and white and he had eye lashes. When he was cold, he turned blue. When he was hot, he turned red. When he had to go to the bathroom he waddled in circles quickly and sang "I'm a Little Teapot" twice.
He had several friends, most of which were other penguins in Antarctica. There was Steezy, his best friend who was tall and athletic and loved ice skating, candy canes, elves, and antique lamps. Weezer was short and pudgy and delighted in ham sandwiches, BLT's, meatloaf sandwiches, turkey sandwhiches, sloppy Joes, popcorn, cotton candy, and dogs. Flips was short and aerodynamic; she liked chasing sea lions, digging holes, inventing flying machines, and health food. Ralph was the quietest penguin in Antarctica. He only spoke twice since he was born: the first time was because he was on fire and the second time occurred because he started Steezy on fire. Ralph likes warm weather.
IceBox also knew a sea lion named Wolfgang Osha-Osha Tom, or Woot. Woot was big; he had big flippers, a big tail, big eyes, big whiskers, and big teeth. His favorite food was penguin alfredo with fresh grated parmesan cheese and asparagus chunks. But Woot never wanted to eat IceBox. And he only tried to eat Steezy twice a year.
IceBox's parents died when IceBox was very young; they were in a car accident in Ironwood, Michigan. It was in the summer and IceBox's parents were traveling through. They had stopped at McDonald's and noticed the kids taking the cruise route, so they decided to follow. Now it just so happened that it was 80 degrees that night and their air conditioning went out. Well, penguins do not do well in 80-degree weather. The parents started to sweat and get nauseous. Soon the car was swerving back and forth and they hit the bowling alley on US2. The car, a 1997 Geo, was found in lane 7 of the bowling alley turned sideways. The car was lime green with red racing stripes and purple polka dots. The police report reported that a Better Than Ezra CD was found
in the CD player, a pocket knife was in the passenger glove
compartment, a picture of IceBox was above each visor. A later investigation showed that the parents were driving under the influence of 100% pure whale blubber imported from Kuwait. The blubber was found in the driver's side air vent.
When IceBox heard of this claim, he was shocked and mournful. He could not believe the claims. He set out to find what had actually happened to his parents. And he took his friends with him. He would soon travel to Ironwood, Michigan...
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| Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
Teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
-- Psalm 25:4-5
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| Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
-- Jeremiah 17:7-8
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| Upon being asked why he teaches the Gospel every Sunday of the year, Martin Luther replied that he teaches the Gospel, God's living word, Sunday after Sunday because the people come to church Sunday after Sunday looking like they don't know it.
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| "...repentance is not an emotion. It is not simply feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be your own god. It is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had or could get the strength or the education or the training to make it on your own. It is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about yourself your neighbors and yourself and your world. And it is deciding that God in Jesus Christ is telling you the Truth. Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God is not going to be achieved by doing the same old things and thinking the same old thoughts. Repentance is a decision to follow Jesus and become His pilgrim in the path of peace. Because whenever we say, "No!" to one way of life that we have been long used to, there is pain. But when that way of life is, in fact, a way of death, a way of war, then the quicker we leave it the better. It's what happened to Saul on that Damascus road, and he never forgot it. It's what happened to me, and I've never forgotten it...
"Maybe you've settled for an understanding of God that is little more than keeping a list of rules and regulations. Maybe you've never heard the invitation of Jesus to something better than that, an invitation to his forgiveness and grace and a brand new life. Maybe you've never known what it's like to enjoy a relationship of fidelity to God, to live life purposfully from the inside out. Maybe you've been hanging around at the perimeter of a relationship with God, or even running from Him. You just haven't been willing to be embraced by a God who loves you unconditionally..."
-- Pastor Will Healy
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We're singing a great arrangement of this hymn.
My life flows on in endless son;
Above earth's lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Savior liveth;
What though the darkness gather round!
Songs in the night He giveth:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of Heav'n and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smoothes
Since first I learned to love it:
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing:
All things are mine since I am His--
How can I keep from singing?
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