We Serve A Radical God

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”                                                                                                                        Acts 11:18

My dear fellow children of God:

We live in a time of radical changes. Hyperinflation eats away daily at our retirement reserves and causes us to rethink how we would normally spend. Unrest in Ukraine leaves us wondering once again why tyrants continue to come into power in a world which is supposedly getting more civil. Moral decay has revved up at a rapid pace. Change surrounds us, radical change.

 But none of these changes can ever compare to the radical changes our God has effected. He created all by simply speaking. He rescued his people from Egypt with powerful plagues. He became human to be our substitute in death. He sent the Spirit to the disciples at Pentecost so they could proclaim Jesus in a multitude of languages. And in our first lesson for Sunday, we hear how God sent the Spirit upon the Gentiles so that they would be granted repentance that leads to life. That is radical change.

Consider now how radical is the change God makes in baptism. In baptism, a child of sin, an enemy of God, is transformed into a child of God, his dear and beloved daughter or son. That is indeed a radical change. Or consider how radical is the change God makes in the Lord’s Supper. The penitent believer comes to the supper burdened and sorrowful, broken by falling into the evil one’s snare of temptations. But after receiving Christ’s body and blood, the penitent believer leaves free and unbounded by sin, forgiven, and at peace with God. That is indeed a radical change.

Thanks be to God that he has granted us repentance that leads to life. Thanks be to God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings as you live your life radically changed by faith.

 Frank Van Brocklin

 Principal/Staff Minister

 Coming up in the near future at Immanuel Lutheran School:

 ❖ Wednesday, May 11 ILSA Meeting - 6:00 PM

 ❖ Tuesday, May 17 Church Council - 6:00 PM

 ❖ Wednesday, May 18 Early Release - 1:40 PM

❖ Wednesday, May 18 Faculty Meeting - 2:00 PM

 ❖ Thursday, May 19 LLAM Board Meeting on ECM Director Transition - 6:00 PM

❖ Thursday, May 26 Accelerated Reading Field Trip - 12:30 PM

 ❖ Thursday, May 26 3K,4K, K Celebration - 5:30 PM

❖ Friday, May 27 Last Day of School - ½ Day - NO AFTERNOON BUS SERVICE

 ❖ Sunday, May 29 Graduation - 10:30 Service