Run, Don’t Walk!

I attended a renewal CPR  + AED course yesterday.  Things have changed!  Rescue breathing is no longer a part of CPR.  The new guidlines, just a year or two old, emphasize compressions and are designed to reduce the hesitation by responders.  If you’ve been a bit squeemish about leaning CPR because the idea of mouth to mouth with a stranger, now is the time to get trained and certified.  You may save a life.

While you are at it … consider becoming an organ donor.

Pondering Pastor

God’s Grace: So much more than what Mormons teach

I’ve been involved here and on Rusty’s Blog comparing Mormon and classic Christianity and challenging the Mormon’s (LDS) claim to be Christian.  Sometimes that discussion has been civil and informative.  On occasion, there have been some stress and strain.  As we engage in conversation, we quickly learn that we do not mean the same things by the exact same words. This is a very significant challenge, which means that we have to go slow and carefully explain what we mean by the very words we use.

Recently, there was a posting on Rusty’s Blog titled “Picking the Lock of Salvation”.  Briefly, it was a description about how Mormons understand the role of obedience to our salvation.  Part of what Rusty writes:

Reflecting on the whole thing, I couldn’t help but draw the parallel to those who somehow think they can “slide” into heaven, somehow opening the “doors” of heaven without actually going through the mandatory prerequisite steps.

I did not post a lengthy response on Rusty’s Blog, but rather have chosen to present the Christian (and especially Lutheran) perspective here.

Life in the slow lane

It is a steamy morning, the air heavy with the aftermath of the morning’s gentle rain.  Driving into the parking lot at work, I’m listening to the morning.  The wet tires on the pavement.  The birds singing.  Even the sounds of my footfalls on the ground seem to be accentuated.

Suddenly, my attention is drawn to a buzzing sound, and movement across the pavement.  It takes me as long to recognize the cicadia as it does for this monster of an insect to become airborne, its heavy body making its flight seem impossible.  Gradually it gains altitude, buzzing along, conjuring images of a mouse with wings.

I’m not the only creature noticing the heavy, slow flight.

Like a hawk swooping down on prey, a robin zeros in on the cicadia, and with deft movements, snatches the insect out of mid-flight.  All is quiet.

Pondering Pastor