Pastor Smith and I had an extended conversation about church worker incentives in years past, e.g., status, growth, and addressed the question what incentives there might be to enter church work today.  He and I agreed that one near the top of the list is the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters in ministry.  What a joy it is to serve with fellow church workers, loving one another and caring for one another and engaging in fruitful conversation that edifies one another!

Last Sunday’s Collect asks God to “give us eyes of faith to see Your Son that we may follow Him on the way that leads to eternal life.”

The level of debt one can reasonably manage is related to the level of income. Obviously, the higher your income the more debt you might reasonably expect to manage.

The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS) has recently added a Debt-to-income Analysis Calculator to their web site (http://www.lcms.org/ca/cmgs/debtcalc/debtcalc.asp). To get a rough idea of your own level of financial balance, click on the link, insert your financial information in the boxes and click on “calculate” to receive information about your own “financial balance.”

Check out the Consumer Purchase Payment Calculator (http://www.lcms.org/ca/cmgs/purchasecalc/01/). Click on the link, put in the information requested, and then calculate to get an idea of the monthly payments for a larger purchase. Also, find out what the total cost of the item will be when including the interest charged for the loan.
Visit the CMGS web site (cmgs.lcms.org).

If you are concerned about your debt level and desire competent counsel and assistance contact, Eustolio Gomez, Concordia Plan Services, 314.965.9000 or Eustolio.Gomez@lcms.org

Today I was working on the idea of vocation, and I read Gene Veith’s “God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life.” I recommend it. He will give you a fresh and inspiring take on your life. For anyone trying to “find” their vocation, how about asking yourself, “What is God calling me to do?” And please note, that vocation is probably multiple callings in different realms–the workplace, the family, the society, and the church. Serve God and your neighbor!

Talk about ENCOURAGEMENT, this is what MO District President Ray Mirly wrote,

“Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven…” Matthew 10:32 (ESV)
Encouragement (Additional thoughts based on Mt. 10:32)
The words above are preceded by Jesus telling us to “fear not.” In the fear not statements He tells us that God knows so much about us and the world in which we live that he counts the number of hairs on our head and even knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. He watches over every little detail regarding things we do not pay much attention. For me, this is an important section of Holy Scripture, especially when I am struggling in my ministry, in my personal life or with all that is happening in the world. To think, God knows all about me and you!
In verse 31, Jesus tells us we are more valued than a sparrow. This is His way of encouraging us, strengthening us and pointing us to the only one who, as Luther says, “provides us with all that we need to support this body and life.”
Fellow church workers, we are never outside of God’s grace! We are always enveloped in His mercy! Through Christ we have His forgiveness for all of our sins of omission and commission. Even when we are weak, He makes us strong.

Thanks, Ray!