I've seen this on Facebook a lot the past few days, so today during lunch I took the time to watch it.

I agree with a lot of what is says...

I'm Lutheran, through and through. Born, raised, and will more than likely die Lutheran.

However, I believe that we are called to go and make disciples, not Lutherans. Or Catholics, or Baptists, etc. Nothing in the Bible tells us to make these denominations, man has told us to do so.

I couldn't leave my Lutheran ways. In my opinion one of the coolest things about being Lutheran is the idea of Grace. When I try wrap my mind around how awesome Grace is, it makes me excited, joyful, thankful, and leaves me in awe. How cool is it that no matter how many times we mess up or how bad we mess up, we have a loving God who is willing to take us back, not because of what we did, but because of what His Son did for us on the cross.

My favorite part about the video is the very first part... JESUS > RELIGION. Jesus is greater than religion. It doesn't matter what faith we follow, it matters WHO we follow.

Me, I'm Lutheran, but more importantly I'm saved by the blood shed for me on the cross when Jesus died.  I will celebrate in heaven one day because after His death, Jesus rose from the dead claiming victory over death.

Yay! Jesus!!

I have the cutest god-daughter!

Today Ryan and I traveled over to Faith Lutheran in Denver (really close to Emmaus).  The reason we went over there was to celebrate Maddie's life.  Yesterday was her 6th birthday!  And this year she has been cancer free for 5 years!  Friday I met up with Mona, Katie, and Maddie and we all got pedicures.  Since it was her birthday, they gave both her and Katie cute flowers on their big toes.  When I got to Faith today, she told me that her flower didn't wash off in the bath.  I guess she was nervous about that.  I, being the horrible, but maybe great, god-mother that I am could not think of anything to get Maddie.  I usually give her baptism birthday gifts rather than birthday gifts so that the other three don't wonder why I don't bring them  gifts on their birthdays.  But today I wanted to do something as being cancer free for 5 years is a pretty big deal!  I remembered how Grama used to take us kids to lunch and then wherever we wanted to go.  So I pulled Maddie aside later and told her that I just couldn't decide what to get her so she was going to have to go shopping with me to pick something great out.  She was super excited about it.  She was even hoping that it could happen today or maybe tomorrow.  She told me that she wasn't going back to Colorado Springs until tomorrow afternoon.  But we have a silly voter's meeting tomorrow, so I told her that I would make plans with her mommy to come and get her sometime soon.  I can't wait to hang out with her for the day!

Here we are right before I left.

Love It!!

Ryan's Baptism

About 12 weeks ago Ryan and I started going to a class at church called, Didache. This class went through the six chief parts of the catechism and other various parts of Lutheranism. I started calling the class Lutheranism 101.

Well, last week was our last class and on Sunday Ryan was baptized and confirmed!! After Thursday's class Ryan asked me to pick out his confirmation verse because Pastor had told us that he (Pastor) would pick out one or they could pick their own. We went to Starbucks and started sifting throught the Bible to find a good verse.

In the end Ryan picked Ephesians 2:4-5, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." I was very impressed with his choice. (Secretly--though it won't be secret after he reads this--I wanted him to pick Ephesians 2:8-9, he started reading all of chapter 2 and liked the beginning.)

After church we had a small party at my house that included sandwiches, macaroni salad, bean salad, veggies, chips, queso, and cake. The rain held off long enough for us to socialize outside (since there's not alot of room in my house). It was a great day.

(So sorry, the pictures uploaded backwards and I don't want to mess with changing them around.)

Ryan, me, and Amy
The Books and Ryan

RJ, Megan & Matt, Paul and Sandy

Ryan's dad, Earl, his friend, Jason and his sister, Alyssa

Being confirmed with other members of Didache

Being baptized

Ryan at the beginning of the baptism service