5:17

5:17AM

I took the screen shot below 

 at Midway Field, Chicago

as my phone alarm went off while

I stood in line at Dunkin Doughnuts

at 5:17 AM.

Yep, a delayed flight caused me 

to miss a connection the night before, 

so I got to stay overnight 

in Chicago and fly out early.

That's why I was standing in line 

at 5:17 AM this morning.

I'm sharing my Dunkin Doughnut story with you
because I'm getting ready to ask you 
make a commitment to set your alarm 
for either 5:17AM or PM 
for the next 30 days.

I think I hear you asking,

"Why should I set my alarm for 5:17?

I'm looking for people in the Southeastern District 

of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod 
(and beyond)

who will band together 

to pray a bold prayer of faith for 
the people living next door to us in our neighborhoods. 

Specifically, I'm asking you to make a commitment 

to pray once a day (5:17AM or PM) 
to the Lord of the Church.
We are praying that 
by our May 2021 District Convention 
our 216 congregations will have the joy of
welcoming 50 new chartered congregations
into our fellowship.  

Why 50?

Through our neighborhood ministry outreach 

we hope to have ministry activity in 

500 new neighborhoods across the SED

over the next three years.

We are praying that 10% 
of the 500 new neighborhood ministries 

will become new church plants. 

But why pray at 5:17?  

It was in I Thessalonians 5:17 

that Paul encouraged the people to:

"pray without ceasing."

Some translations say: "pray continuously."

Here's what he said: 

So set your alarms and join us 

as we pray for 50 new church plants.

At least try it for the next 30 days.  

I'm hope that our Lord Jesus 
receives these prayers so frequently and so continuously 
that He says to His Father,

"It's them again in the SED." 

Kingdom Lessons - Blessing Our Children

 On Sunday, June 10, 2018, 

I accompanied four LCMS pastors as we

worshiped at this amazing church:  

Tabor Mekane Yesus Church.

Awassa, Ethiopia.

The sanctuary was closed for roof repair.

So worshippers gathered in another space, 

adjacent to an even larger outdoor sanctuary,  

where thousands participated in worship.

On a normal Sunday, 7000 people 

come to worship Jesus in one worship service.

But that's not what amazed me that day . . .

Children praying at Tabor Mekane Yesus Church,
Awassa, Ethiopia
Like many of our churches,
there was a special time for children
who eagerly came running
 to surround their pastor.

Some were sitting, others standing,
and still others splayed out on the floor.

But then something different happened.
Rather than a children's sermon,
the pastor invited the congregation to
bless the children.

I heard the beautiful cacophony of people praying.
Each offering prayers for these little lambs
with their own words and expressions. 
Children who normally would have been 
fidgety and out of control
easily took on their own postures of prayer.  

And I wondered -
what impact the weekly blessing time
might have on the trajectory of a little life.

What might happen to a church
that took time to bless their children?

Paul's Imagine Prayer Ephesians 3:21

Remembering -- The Disciples Sea of Galilee Sunrise Surprise

Standing on the shore, I looked across the water

imagining Jesus on that early morning

 only days after his resurrection

as he watched disappointed disciples
 pull in empty nets yet again.

Calling to them across the water, 

Jesus made them face their fish-less fact:

"Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No"

"Throw your net on the right side
 of the boat and you will find some."

Finding a net full of fish . . .

now that was far beyond anything
 they could imagine.

But then a few minutes later 

they embraced the new facts of life:

153 large fish filled their nets and

 breakfast with the Risen Christ!

While a full net of fish surely reminded them of 

that other surprise catch three years earlier

Greater yet - They were caught up his resurrection call:

to catch people in the net of Jesus' love.

As I remembered this scene--I remembered 

Paul's imagine prayer:

 a prayer for all our empty net moments

Now to Him who is able to do 

immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

 according to his power that is at work within us, 

to him be glory the church 
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

forever and ever!  Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)