Monday, October 26, 2015

ORDER TODAY AND ORDER MANY!

      This week I am sending everyone on my WEEKLY MESSAGE list an email ad for my three Daily Devotionals. I am sure you will understand its purpose and accept its intent. I send it out now because ordering from the printer at this time will insure prompt and timely delivery for Christmas as gifts.
      I began publishing my writings five years ago and have adopted three principles:  1) Write about what I know, 2) Write with a specific purpose, and 3) Write to a specific audience. My devotionals and other works generally fulfill those principles.
      There is also a fourth principle. A writer writes for others to read his/her writings. The only way that happens is to "market" one's work, and that can be done at many levels of expense. I have chosen to do my own marketing - by email ads, personal book signing sales, or by word-of-mouth. I am pleased so many friends and family enjoy and recommend my works. Keep it up!
      It all started about twenty years ago with the first "WEEKLY MESSAGE" I sent to the members of the congregation I was serving at the time. Except for some minor omissions, there has been a WEEKLY MESSAGE sent out every week to members, friends, colleagues and family since then. Many of those weekly devotions have been included in my three Daily Devotionals. Some also make it into church newsletters, and I think that's great, Keep it up!
      Sometimes my devotions have drawn criticism, and I have come to expect that. I do hope, however, that people realize an opinionated person like myself will let his opinions show.
      Christians have been doing something like that ever since Jesus told us to speak up for Him and the Gospel. Remember His words: "Let your light so shine, that people may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
      So when you open a second email from me this week (and I hope you will open and not just toss it), I hope you will consider ordering copies of one or more of the daily devotionals as gifts to friends and family. Order now and they'll be here in plenty of time for gift wrapping them.

Not only are the prices right, just think how fast your Christmas shopping will get done!

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com

Monday, October 19, 2015

THE COLORS OF AUTUMN

                         (This is the October 19 devotion in Day By Day With Jesus)

         While autumn is a favorite season of mine, I can see why some do not like it as much as I do. Its changing lovely colors, crisp blue skies and unique smells are a “rush” on my senses. But they also signal the rapid change from verdant life to the seeming lifelessness of winter.
        Each season has its positives and negatives, and I welcome the changes. Living in a tropical climate where there are only two seasons, wet and dry, or living in a Pacific island where the temperature rarely changes 20 degrees during the year would seem uninteresting.
        The changing seasons of nature challenge our minds and bodies to adapt to our surroundings. Temperature extremes require us to create things that will help us live and thrive. True, extremes of cold or heat can make us invent heaters or coolers. Or we might move to other areas for a time. But those of us who have lived most of our lives in four seasons enjoy and even look forward to the changes the seasons bring us. Variety in life is a blessing from God.
        Variety in worship is also a blessing. Psalm 150 is a song of joy and variety in our worship of God.
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
        Note the variety of ways of worship God gives us in Psalm 150. Not all will be included in all church services, but the joy and exuberance noted here show how God appreciates the variety of ways people can praise Him. The means of worship is not as important as faith and attitude of the heart.

What do you prefer in worship? Has your preference changed during your life?

Rev. Bob Tasler 
www.bobtasler.com

Monday, October 12, 2015

THINGS THAT SURPRISE US

        Sometimes things just aren’t what we think they are. A recent Reader’s Digest article poked holes in several “facts” I was sure I knew.
        For instance, did you know that an English Muffin is not a muffin and is not from England, but was a biscuit invented in a New York bakery in the 1880’s? Did you know that garlic bread as we know it is not Italian but was first made in Michigan at the request of returning WWII soldiers from Italy? Or that the Fortune Cookie is not from China but was dreamed up a San Francisco tea house in 1914?
        This one just about crushed me: German Chocolate Cake is not a cake recipe from Germany, but was first made in 1852 Boston by Sam German who worked at the Baker Chocolate Company. 100 years later it was labelled “German Chocolate Cake” by a recipe printed in a Dallas newspaper!
        I suppose the next thing they’ll say is that the Apostle’s Creed was not written by the Apostles! Which, of course, it was not. It does contain the Apostle’s teachings about God, but it was written about 200 years after they’d all died.
        But that doesn’t make garlic bread, English Muffins, fortune cookies or German Chocolate Cake any less tasty. Nor does it make the Apostle’s Creed any less an accurate statement of the Triune God.
        There’s even a debate over the name of our Lord. Was He known as “Jesus” (Greek) or was it “Yeshua” (Hebrew)? Was His ministry 3 years or 4? And does it really matter?
        The truth we know and believe is that God sent His only Son to save us from the destruction caused by our sins. So we call Him Lord Jesus, or Savior, or Redeemer, or Lamb of God. And while these names are different, they all speak of the same God-man who walked the ancient land of Israel 2,000 years ago. And whoever believes in Him will be given eternal life with God in heaven.

“And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Written by Isaiah the prophet over 400 years before Jesus was born.)

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com

Monday, October 5, 2015

LOVING THOSE WHO COME AFTER US

         (I dedicate today’s devotion to my niece Jayne Arvidsen who was laid to rest after a ten year struggle with cancer. Her 35 year career as teacher and her life as daughter, sister, loving wife, mother and grandmother have encouraged all who knew her)

        “I have learned that there is nothing more satisfying than the love of those who come after us,” said Dr. Leonore Goldschmidt, a brave Jewish teacher who defied Hitler.
In 1935 when the Nazis began their policy of officially persecuting the Jews, most Jewish children were locked out of German schools. Rather than run or despair, Dr. Goldschmidt began a school of her own in Berlin with an estate and funds from a deceased cousin. “The Leonore Goldschmidt Private Jewish School” quickly expanded into four buildings with over 500 students and 40 teachers. In plain sight of Hitler and the Nazis, it became a refuge of safety in the midst of systematic Jewish persecution.
With the aid of Walter Huebner, a German official who risked his career, her school was granted a license by the German State. Knowing persecution would increase, she insisted all students learn English to enable them to emigrate to other countries. She got her school licensed by the University of Cambridge and started a chapter there. When her school was shut down by the Nazis in 1939, she and her family emigrated to England with 80 students and teachers. She taught in London until 1968 and died in 1983, always being dedicated to those who came after her.
All capable people, especially Christians, need to be dedicated to those who come after, not just themselves. Our children and grandchildren are those for whom we work and serve. It is only natural that we should value and love them so they will come to know Jesus and walk in His ways.
Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord.” God loves His children and bids us do the same.

Who has shown you love in your life?