Let’s review!  Here is summarized and highlighted timeline: 

1. Mary is the first witness Jesus chose to reveal himself alive, early Sunday morning. (Mark 16:9-11, John 20:11-18).
2. Jesus appeared with two men on the way to Emmaus Sunday afternoon.  (Luke 24:13-33)
3. Thomas doubts disciplines’ word (John 20:26-27, 29).

On Sea of Galilee Shore
Jesus reveals himself to seven of his disciples while they are fishing on Lake Galilee (John 21:1-24). Those who witnessed him were Peter, John, James, Thomas, Nathanael, and two other unidentified disciples (likely Philip and Andrew, who lived in the general area).

During this appearance Peter miraculously catches 153 fish in his net, then has Jesus questioned him three times if Peter loves him. Peter then realizes he will die a martyrs’ death. Christ also indicates that John will stay alive long enough to write about the end of the age and his Second Coming in the Book of Revelation

After these events, Jesus again showed Himself to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias…And Jesus said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the ship, and you shall find some.” Then they shed the net, but they did not have the strength to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.   Jesus instructed to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up to the shore and drew the net to the land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three . . . (John 21:1, 6, 10-11).

Special Appearance to James
Jesus make a special appearance to James his biological half-brother (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Galatians 1:19). This appearance, according to Paul, took place between Christ’s appearance before 500+ people and a time he was seen to all the apostles (1Corinthians 15:5-7). It is not clear whether Paul is referring to Christ’s first meeting in Galilee or his last appearance when he ascended into heaven.
 
Jesus Ascends to Father
Jesus meets with the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1). Just before his ascension, he gives them what we call the Great Commission. He also instructed them to wait in the city of Jerusalem, so that they may receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Acts 1:4-5).
​
The disciples ask Jesus if he will now restore the kingdom to Israel. He says that it is not for them to know when this will happen. He emphasizes that they will soon receive  power from God. He blesses the disciples and starts to ascend above the mount, as he returns to heaven.

Two angels in white show up as the disciples stare at the Lord rising above the clouds. The angels tell them that Jesus will come back to the earth in the same way they saw him leave (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11).

After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.” (Acts 1:9-11).

Pentecost - Receiving the Holy Spirit
Per Christ’s instruction, the disciples wait ten days in Jerusalem for the promise of God’s spirit.  On the day of Pentecost, the birth of the New Testament church begins, when God delivers his Holy Spirit to more than 3,120 people (Acts 2).  Jesus’ ministry after his resurrection sets the foundation for the perfect beginning of the Christian church.

Facts about Thomas

1. Is it true that Thomas gave one of the strongest declarations of Jesus’ divinity?
       True or False

2. Is it true that Thomas demonstrated courage before the Crucifixion?
       True or False

3. The Apostle Thomas is also called________?
      a. Didymus
      b. Twin
      c. Both a and b

4. Is it true that Thomas was no more doubting than the rest of the disciples?
      Yes or No

5. Thomas met Jesus how many days after the Resurrection? 
      a. 3
      b. 5
      c. 1 week

“Be angry and do not sin.”

Perhaps the most toxic ingredient in prison life is anger – not just anger against those who were responsible for your conviction. Anger and rage are all around you, day and night. For the slightest cause, prisoners lash out in anger against each other. Inmates are angry with Correctional Officers. Some COs are always grouchy, as if it’s part of their job description. When rival gangs commit acts of violence, the whole prison population suffers.

Anger in prison is so pervasive, I grieve when I see my Brothers in Christ respond with the same emotional and behavior patterns as everyone else around them.
​
I find that the root of most anger is that something happens that does not match our expectations.

Many times and in many ways Scripture tells us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you” (Eph 4:31; Col 3:8).  “... for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

But, you may ask, didn’t Paul say, “Be angry, and do not sin”? (Eph 4:26, quoting Psalm 4:4). Notice that verse is just five verses before Paul’s command to “put away all anger.”  So what’s up with that?

Some modern English versions translate Eph. 4:26 as “In your anger do not sin,” or “When you are angry, do not sin,” which is how most commentaries and preachers explain the verse. That’s nice, but wrong. I checked the Greek text. It’s an imperative command: “Be angry!” Which begs the question: About what are we supposed to be angry?

We find the answer in the context (Eph 4:17 – 5:8). What Paul wants us to be angry about is sin, the sin that infects each one of us, sinful attitudes prevalent in those who do not know Christ. Paul lists them: sensuality, greed, deceit, stealing, profanity, selfishness, bitterness, slander, and yes, anger. 
​
So how should you respond when someone barks in anger against you?  Proverbs 15:1 offers practical advice that absolutely works:  “A soft answer turns away wrath.”

The International Lutheran Deaf Association
Convention
June 11-14, 2026
Hilton Cincinnati Airport
Florence, Kentucky

Click here for registration and information.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was a Jewish Lutheran Pastor in Romania, who endured imprisonment under Nazi occupation during World War II, and then 14 more years of imprisonment and brutal torture under the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Pastor Wurmbrand has observed that many Christians come to Jesus Christ as His customer, not as His disciple.

Wurmbrand compares Christ to a baker, to whom people come to buy bread and other good things that the bakery has to offer. ...much like we come to Christ to receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life.  And while we are at it, we take advantage other blessings that Christ offers – provision for our bodily needs, protection from danger and sickness, and care for loved ones.

In that sense, we are Christ’s customers, but that does not make us His disciples, any more than a person who buys bread in the bakery is a disciple of the baker.

The one who wants to become the baker’s disciple will not simple buy his bread, thank the baker, and leave to eat the baker’s produce.  Rather, the baker’s disciple comes around behind the counter, puts on the baker’s apron and learns the baker’s craft, as is he taught and mentored by the master himself.
​
So it is with one who wants to be a disciple of Jesus.

For a long time something in the story about the crucifixion of Jesus has bothered me.  The two men who were crucified with Christ – What were their offenses?  What crimes did they commit that deserved the death penalty?
​
The Gospels, in most of our English versions, call them thieves or robbers. And for a long time that has puzzled me.

In the Roman justice system, was simply stealing actually regarded a capital offense, deserving the death penalty?  That didn’t see quite right.

What did these two men do that was so bad that one of them would say, “We are receiving what we deserve for our crimes.” (Luke 23:41)?

The ancient Greek language had two different words for thief or robber.  A kleptes was a person who simply took things that belonged to other people.   But a lestes was bandit, a person who used violence against their victims.  This is the word we find in the Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan:

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers [lestais]. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30)

Matthew 27:38 says that these were the kind of men who were crucified with Jesus – not mere pickpockets, shoplifters or porch pirates.  These guys inflicted bodily injury or even killed people to get what they wanted.

John 18:40 also identifies Barabas as a lestes – a violent robber, a bandit.  Both Mark and Luke further tell us that Barabas “committed murder in an insurrection”  He is the one whom the crowd asked for Pilate to release, instead of Jesus.
 
Based on what we now know about the two men who were crucified with Jesus, I wonder if these two men were associates of Barabas.  I wonder if the Roman officers had already scheduled three crucifixions for that Good Friday, three crosses – one reserved for Barabas. But Jesus took his place.

This is a fitting illustration for how, on the cross, Jesus also took our place.
In my study of this word lestes, I discovered that in some contexts this word can also mean rebel, revolutionary, one who engages in insurrection, as Barabas did.
​
It is WE who have rebelled against God and His authority.  But Jesus, by His submission to His Father’s will, wins us back.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He met with His disciples in Galilee.  And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; however some doubted. (Matthew 28:17)  That’s an odd statement.  They saw Him, they worshipped Him, but still didn’t believe He was alive? ​

No, the Greek word that is translated here as “doubted” is not the word that means unbelief.  Rather, the word distazo literally means trying to stand in two places at the same time.  This is similar to English idiom “sitting on the fence,” or as we express it in ASL, “standing on the fence.”  The word means to hesitate, not ready to commit.

After all the disciples had seen and heard and knew to be true, some still hesitated to fully commit to Christ.   It seems amazing.  But... what about us?

These last two articles are from a series of studies which Pastor Ron has published on YouTube: Digging for Gold.  www.christdeaf.org/gold

January 4th is National Trivia Day.  Some of us love playing trivia.  During our office holiday parties, we often have trivia games.  Sometimes, we check our knowledge against others.  It might improve our mental sharpness. 

However, if intellectual arrogance makes you an atheist, your attitude is ill-advised.  Someone may think he knows everything so as to beat the IBM computer “Dr. Watson” on Jeopardy, while defying God.  I am telling you, if you trust in your intelligence alone, you will lose it for sure.  For instance, in a mathematical equation, you miss one piece, it will fail.  Even 1+1 = 2 can be an error if you use the wrong fonts in in an Excel spreadsheet!  It sounds unfair, right?  When you prepare your arguments against the existence of God, you feel you are 100% right.  However, you are not, because we as humans, we might overlook one tiny unknown piece in a scientific equation despite of checking “millions of” times.  Can you afford to get an error for your life’s sake? 
The main point is that God is omnipotent.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Understanding God is very complex.  Nobody understands the “Three in One Trinity” concept fully, but we accept what God says even it sounds illogical to us. Remember that He is OMNIPOTENT, and we are not!

The following are some former atheists:

Hugh Ross – Astrophysicist Converted by the Bible’s Accuracy
“The Bible proved to be the most scientifically accurate book ever written.”

Albert Einstein – God Behind the Order
“The more I study science, the more I believe in God.”
 
Paul Davies – Physicist Awed by Cosmic Design
“The impression of design is overwhelming.”

Wernher von Braun – Rocket Scientist and Bible Believer
“The vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator.”

C.S. Lewis – Oxford Atheist Turned Defender of Christ
“A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.”

Psalm 14:1 says, “Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’ Fools are evil and do terrible things; there is no one who does anything good.” But even the world’s brightest minds can’t escape the truth:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
 
A Scientist's Journey to God - Krister Renard's story - C.S. Lewis Institute
Top Scientist Explains WHAT Convinced Him Of JESUS 
Oxford Mathematician DESTROYS Atheism In Less Than 15 Minutes (BRILLIANT!)

Facts about James Son of Zebedee
1. Who is James’ brother?  (Matthew 4.21)

• Nathanael
• John
• Phillip

2. Was James among ones who eye witnessed the raising of a young girl from the dead?  (Mark 5)

• No
• Yes

3. Which three followers witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration?  (Matthew 17:1-9)

• Peter, Andrew, James
• James, John, Peter
• Peter, Andrew, Matthew

4. What is another word of the “Sons of Thunder”? (Mark 3:17)

• Brazenness
• Boisterous
• Boanerges

5. Was James the first Apostle to be martyred?  (Acts 12:2)

1. No
2. Yes

6. Was James among Peter, John, and Andrew who asked “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:3-4)

1. No
2. Yes

“The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9

Things happen that drastically change our lives, which we neither expect or want. Sometimes these events happen as a result of our own decision.  Sometimes these life-changes are forced on us by others.  And things can happen outside of human control which radically change the direction of our lives.  At times like that, we might ask, “Has God lost control?”

The answer is, “No!”

When it appears to my eyes that people in power are fighting against the plan and purposes of God, I must remember that God uses people in authority, even when their decisions are absolutely wrong, to guide my life in directions that I have not planned to go.  Eventually I might be able to look back, see a bigger picture, and understand what God was doing.

Life in prison is like that. 

One way men in prison keep up their hopes is to make plans for what the will be doing when they get out, which is a positive thing to do.  But for some, their obsession with the future blinds them to lesson God is trying to teach them now and the opportunities God is giving them to be His representatives to others who are in prison with them.
A word for those of you who are hoping – even expecting – that you will be released soon: Remember that God is preparing your way before you, just as He did for the new nation of Israel as they left slavery in Egypt and marched to the Promised Land. 

God did not abandon you when the judge’s gavel fell and you landed in prison.  God has been with you in prison.  He will certainly not leave you when you see freedom again. You may have messed up your life, or others messed it up for you – right now that doesn’t matter.  He has a purpose and plan for your life.  He can take that mess you’re in, and give that mess an eternal purpose.  He will do the same when you get out.

Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3

Twelve days after Christmas, January 6, is the traditional celebration of the visit of the Wise Men. “Epiphany” is its official name.  This is a beautiful story that has a sad ending.  (Matthew chapter 2)

King Herod was a very sick man. He eliminated anyone whom he felt was a threat to his power.  He executed his wife, three of his own sons, and several relatives, all of whom he feared were plotting against him.  He even ordered to have the religious and civic leaders of Jerusalem killed after he died, so the people would grieve his death. (After Herod died, his soldiers let everyone go free.) 

Herod’s order to kill the male children of Bethlehem was consistent with his sick evil character.

One of the long forgotten heroes of faith in the history of the Christian Church is Saint Quodvultdeus.  (His unusual Latin name means “What God Wants.”) 

Around the year AD 430 Quodvultdeus wrote a short, but inspiring sermon giving honor to the children who died in Bethlehem.  The title of this sermon is

Children, Yet Martyrs.
They cannot speak,
yet they bear witness to Christ.

A tiny child is born, who is a great King.
Wise men are led to Him from afar.

They come to adore One who lies in a manger
and yet reigns in heaven and on earth.

When they tell of One who is born a King, Herod is disturbed.
 
To save his kingdom Herod resolves to kill Him, although if Herod would have faith in the child, he himself would reign in peace in this life  and forever in the life to come.

Why are you afraid, Herod, when you hear of the birth of a King?  He does not come to drive you out, but to conquer the devil.

But because you do not understand this, you are disturbed and in a rage, and to destroy one child whom you seek, you show your cruelty in the death of so many children.

You are not restrained by the love of weeping mothers or fathers mourning the deaths of their sons, nor by the cries and sobs of the children.

You destroy those who are tiny in body because fear is destroying your heart.

You imagine that if you accomplish your desire you can prolong your own life, though you are seeking to kill Life Himself.

Yet your throne is threatened by the source of grace,
so small, yet so great, who is lying in the manger.

He is using you, all unaware of it, to work out His own purposes freeing souls from captivity to the devil.
 
He has taken up the sons of the enemy [Satan] into the ranks of God’s adopted children.  These children die for Christ, though they do not know it.

The parents mourn for the death of martyrs. The child makes of those as yet unable to speak fit witnesses to Himself.

See the kind of kingdom that is His, coming as he did in order to be this kind of king.
See how the deliverer is already working deliverance, the Savior already working salvation.

But you, Herod, do not know this, and you are disturbed and furious.

While you vent your fury against the Child, you are already paying Him homage, and do not know it.

How great a gift of grace is here!

To what merits of their own do the children owe this kind of victory?

They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ.

They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle,
yet already they bear off the palm of victory.

“Didn’t you know that
I must be in my
Father’s ________?”

 The very first words of Jesus recorded in the Bible  appear in Luke chapter 2, when at the age of 12, Jesus went with His family on their annual visit to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

As Mary and Joseph headed back north to Galilee with their friends and family, at the end of their first day of  travel, they realized  that Jesus was not with them.  Mary and Joseph hurried back to Jerusalem, and spent the next three days anxiously searching for Him.

Finally, “they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

Mary was very upset. “Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!”

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me?  Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. (Luke 2:41-49)

It’s not only Mary and Joseph who had difficulty understanding Jesus’ answer.  Bible translators have the same difficulty. 
 
The problem is that the Greek word for “house” does not appear the text as Luke wrote it.

So what did Jesus actually say? For those of us who are responsible to accurately translate Scripture into Sign Language, this is an important question which we need to investigate and answer.

A literal English translation of Jesus’ answer looks like this: “Didn’t you know that I must be in the ________ of my Father?” 

This is a common kind of sentence in the Greek language.  The context normally gives readers enough information to know what “the ________” refers to.  

Bible translators assume that since Mary and Joseph were concerned about where Jesus was, “the _______” here obviously refers to the place they found Him – in the temple, or “the house of my Father.”

But the problem with that assumption is that the Greek word here that we translate as “the ________” is plural, meaning many or several (“the things”), not singular, meaning one (“the thing”). 

An accurate translation of Luke 2:49 would be,  
“I must be in the things of my Father.”

Now many modern English Bible translators add a footnote to the verse to explain that Jesus’ answer could mean, “I must be about my Father’s affairs.”  ....or “I must be about my Father’s business.”

Dr. Martin Luther, in his 1545 German translation of the Gospel of Luke, translated the verse this way: 

If we again read Mary’s question carefully, we see that she did not ask, “Where have You been?”  She asked, “Why have You done this to us?” And that’s the question Jesus answered.  “I must be in the things of my Father.”

And so must we.

This lesson is from a series of studies which Pastor Ron has published on YouTube:
Digging for Gold in the Hebrew Old Testament, and
Digging for Gold in the Greek New Testament.

What is a Saint’s Day?
Almost everyone knows when Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day is.  However, what about St. Matthew’s Day?  St. Joseph’s Day?  Many notable people in the Bible have dates for their celebration,  however, which ones should we as Lutheran celebrate?  That’s why we reflect on All Saints’ Day.  As the list of saints and martyrs grew larger, Saints’ Days developed in the second century.   Some regions are strongly associated with a saint being in their areas, such as St. Patrick in Ireland.  All Saints’ Day is on the first Sunday of November. 

Since there are too many saints to honor, we don’t want to prioritize All Saints’ Day over  Christmas and Resurrection Day (Easter).  Martin Luther declared, “But we in Wittenberg intend to observe only the Lord’s days and the festivals of the Lord.  We think that all the feasts of the saints should be abrogated (abolished), or if anything in them deserves it, it should be brought into the Sunday sermon.”  The LCMS does not have strict rules governing which saints we should celebrate and which ones we ignore.  It is under the discretion of the pastor of the congregation.  In my sermon planning book, it mentions numerous dates that recognize certain saints.  In general, Lutherans don’t want to obscure the work of Christ or detract from the main message of the gospel.  We certainly should not spend more time emphasizing the saints than Jesus.

Well known martyrs also died for testifying to the Gospel. Rachel Scott courageously shared the Gospel to students at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado.  However, a shooter ignited a massacre in 1999.  Rachel was the first victim killed.  You can learn more about her from the movie I'm Not Ashamed.*

Countless martyrs, who were not well documented, died for sharing the Gospel.  Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” — John 15:18 & 20.

Not only the well-known saints died testifying about the Gospel, we also reflect about our loved ones at our Deaf Lutheran community, such as a recent one, Dawn Werth, who was a devoted Lutheran dedicating her time in working with the International Lutheran Deaf Association and as a deaconess of both Deaf Lutheran churches in Wisconsin and Texas.  There are more dedicated Deaf Lutherans in our congregation members whom we can list such, as Agnes Sutcliffe, Don Peterson, Ted Hagermayer, and countless other members. 

Again, we emphasize the importance of Jesus Christ’s work for our salvation via faith in Him above all other saints.  Note that the saints who have died worked for Him. 

~~Pastor Andy

Facts about Andrew

1. Name the town where Andrew came from. What is its name?  
    Hint: John 1:44

• Bethlehem
• Jericho
• Bethsaida

2. What was Andrew’s occupation? 
    Hint: Matthew 4:18

• Architect
  
• Lawyer
  
• Fisherman
  

3. Andrew, along with Philip, introduced some Gentiles to Jesus. What nationality were these Gentiles?   
    Hint: John 12:20-22

• Romans
• Greeks
• Hebrews

4. Which quote did Andrew say?
    Hint: Mark 13:3-4

• “People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be blessed.”
• “Everyone else may stumble in their faith, but I will not.”
  
• “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are going to happen?”

5. Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, Andrew was a disciple of a man who is known by some Christians as the “last of the Old Testament prophets.” Can you name him?  
     Hint: John 1:40

• Peter
  
• Paul
• John the Baptist 
  

Our prison is closing!

A few weeks ago the Governor of Maryland announced that the Maryland Correctional Institution – Jessup (MCI-J) is scheduled to be closed in June 2026.  This is the prison that provides ADA compliant support services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing incarcerated men in the Maryland prison system.  This is the prison where we serve every week.
     
The reason for closing the prison is because of the never-ending expense of repairing infrastructure problems.  The Governor and his advisors have decided that the time has come to stop wasting money and to shut it down.
     
The current 700 residents of MCI-J will be moved to other Maryland prisons. The State is preparing to relocate the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population to MCI-H in Hagerstown, along with their ADA equipment and services.  We plan to continue our ministry with them there.
     
Other inmate cohorts (the printshop, the college) will be allowed to relocate as a group to other prisons where they can continue their work and education.  Deaf and Hard of Hearing men who are in those programs have a hard choice to make.
     
Prison administrators are moving inmates around in other institutions in order to make room for the sudden influx coming their way.  Many details are still being worked out. 
     
The initial announcement came as a shock to most folks at MCI-J, and it caused a bit of sadness among the inmates.  What will their new setting be like?  Will any of their friends from MCI-J also be there to give them support?  How will inmates at their new facility treat them?  Will they be able to continue to have worship and Bible study as they enjoy now?
           
Christian inmate leaders are encouraging their brothers in Christ to remember that God is going with them; they will not be alone.  And God can use them in their new home to share the love of Jesus.

As a boy growing up in the Friedrich home, we always began our meals with a prayer:

Then, after the meal, before we left the table, we prayed together a familiar Scripture verse:

This verse appears several times in the Bible.  This sentence appears exactly in this form five times in the Psalms  (106, 107, 118 [twice], and 136).  Each one of those psalms opens with this prayer, and then the psalm continues by telling about

• God's wonderful work in creation,
• His great acts of salvation for Israel,
• His protection for His people,
• and His blessing for all of His creatures.

     
Every verse of Psalm 136 is a statement of God's character or God's action, telling us who God is and what God does.  Then, in response to each of these statements of praise, every verse ends with “Because His love continues forever!”
     
The people of Israel were very familiar with these thanksgiving psalms.  They often sang them for memory in their worship assemblies.
     
On two occasions when the people together praised God with these psalms of thanksgiving, strange and wonderful things happened.  The first was at the dedication of the new temple in Jerusalem. 

Think about our Sunday morning worship.  Has it ever happened that God has responded to our praise to Him by filling the room with His glory so that we must stop the service?
     
About 370 years after that dedication service, the army of Babylon destroyed the temple. Then 130 years later, Jews who were able to return home to Jerusalem started rebuilding the temple.   As they did, the people worshiped God with the same thanksgiving prayer: “O give thanks to the Lord, because He is good; His faithful love continues forever!” (Ezra 3:10-11)
     
The second strange event related to this thanksgiving prayer is the story of King Jehoshaphat. 
     
Three enemy kings made a pact to combine their armies to attack Jerusalem. Three against one! In response, Jehoshaphat asked all the people to pray and beg God for His help. God sent a prophet to tell the people: “The Lord says to you, Do not be afraid.  Do not lose hope because of this huge army.  The battle is not yours. It is Mine.”  The next morning the people of Jerusalem marched out to the battle field.  They stood, watch, and prayed: “O give thanks to the Lord, because He is good; His faithful love continues forever!”
     
While they sang this thanksgiving prayer, they watched all three enemy armies marching toward them.  Then something very strange happened.  Two armies joined together and started fighting against the third army.  After the two armies destroyed the third army, those two armies turned to fight against each other, while Israel still watched and sang, “O give thanks to the Lord!”   When the battle was over, all three enemy armies had destroyed each other, and the only thing left for Israel to do was to pick up the loot and bury the dead. (2 Chronicles 20)
     
In the New Testament we see Jesus pause to give thanks in prayer to His Father – before feeding the 5,000 and at the Last Supper.
     
The Apostle Paul frequently reminds us to give thanks to God:  Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. (Colossians 4:2 NCV)
     
Whenever you feel sad, depressed, or afraid, think of things that you are thankful for, and then tell God, “Thank you!”  Your sadness will turn to peace and joy.

~~ Pastor Ron

During the month of December we will be in the season of Advent, looking at stories that lead us to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  In two of those stories, we see the angel Gabriel appearing to the priest Zachariah, and also to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
     
Gabriel gave Zechariah and Mary very similar messages, and Zechariah and Mary gave the angel very similar responses  ...or were they?

Zechariah’s story
Zechariah was a Jewish priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were old and they had no children.  When Zechariah was in the temple in Jerusalem, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and you will name him John... He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah... to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.”
     
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news. Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen.” (Luke 1:5-20 NCV)

Mary’s story
Six months later Gabriel appeared to Mary, and said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace. Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
     
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I am a virgin?”

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:26-35)

“How...?”
When Zechariah asked “How...” it seems that the angel became angry with him.  But when Mary asked “How...” Gabriel joyfully answered her question, and he explained more about who her baby will be.
     
So what’s the difference?
     
Notice that Mary and Zechariah asked two very different questions.  Zechariah asked, “How can I know what you say is true?”  In other words, “I don’t believe you!”
     
But Mary’s question did not express unbelief.  She didn’t doubt that God could do what Gabriel said would happen.  She was just confused.  She was not married and never had sex, so how would God make her pregnant?  She simply asked for clarification.
     
Mary had great trust in God.  Her last words to Gabriel were, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” (Luke 1:38)
     
When God the Father chose the young woman to be the mother of Messiah, He chose well.  As for Zechariah, nine months later he had a whole new attitude.

Concerns about Muslims’ Spread
Throughout the World

The last chapter of the New Testament warns not do add any new to the Bible as the Word of God.  The Lutheran Confessions focus on John 8.31-32, emphasizing that the word of God will guide us to find the truth.  Now with Muslims, their Koran deviates from stories in the Bible and they reject Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus’ death on the cross, and His resurrection.  How can I believe in Koran as it largely deviates from the Bible?  One pastor mentioned, if you recognize the real U.S. Dollar, you will be able to tell which dollar papers are fake or not. 

How can Muslims reject Jesus as the Son of God and a true God, while saying that their way of salvation has been preserved?  They believe in works, while the Bible says that Jesus is true God who DOES our works in salvation.  Jesus converts us and gives us faith we need for salvation.  Muslims believe that you must follow Islam’s the five Pillars of Faith. on the earth order in to go to heaven.

In my mind, I would ask politely them tough questions.  Since Muslim say Jesus will come again to create kingdom for Islam, how can they determine that Muhammad, prophet in their faith, as a mere human, is greater than Jesus? Jesus was a prophet and a Messiah of Israel before Muhammad, so how can Muhammad emulate Jesus?   Ask them, name one miracle that Muhammad did, such as healing people and resurrecting people? 

It would be best to demonstrate the main differences between Islam and Christianity: 

Islam: Work to earn life in Heaven = dissatisfied, bitter, praying doesn’t give peace, a lot of energy in hating. 

Christianity: Grace and mercy via Jesus Christ = forgiveness, love, and peace from God.

~~ Pastor Andy

Facts about Luke
1. Who wrote the Book of Acts in the Bible?
     (Hint: compare Acts 1:1 with Luke 1:1-4)

• John
• Matthew
• Luke
  

2. What was Luke’s occupation? 
    (Hint: See Colossians 4:14)

• Architect
• Lawyer
• Physician
  

3. Among the New Testament, was Luke the only New Testament writer clearly identifiable as a non-Jew?
    (Hint: See Colossians 4:10-14)

• Yes or No?
  

4. Did Luke ever mentioned himself in the books in the Bible that he wrote?
    (Hint: See Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1; Acts 16:10-17; Acts 20, 21, & 27)

• Yes or No
  

5. Who was Luke’s main companion?

• Peter
• Paul
• Timothy 
  

We normally go into prison two or three days each week – once for Bible study; then again to help Deaf inmates teach ASL to their hearing and Hard-of-Hearing friends and cellmates; and then we often return for special programs in prison.

In all our years working in prisons, we have never met anyone who wants to be in prison, although several have told us that they are grateful that prison was the place where they met Christ.  But still they miss their freedom and their family connections outside.  The day when they will be able to go home can’t come soon enough.

Several men who have become mature in their faith see their present situation as the place where God wants them to be at this time in their lives.  They have come to understand that their lives are fully in God’s hands, and that God is using life in prison

• to help them grow in their faith,
• to teach them specific lessons about their life in service to Him,
• to use them to encourage fellow inmates who are struggling in their faith,
• and to show the love of Christ to fellow inmates who still living in darkness.

For many Christian inmates, their roll model is Joseph in the Old Testament.  Joseph was betray by his own brothers, he was falsely accused, falsely convicted, and falsely sentenced to life in prison.  However, the day came when he could look back and see the Hand of God in everything that happened to him.  He could say to his brothers, “You meant to hurt me, but God meant it for good.”  ...good which Joseph could never have experienced without the injustice he endured.  (See Genesis 37 – 50)

May God give each of us eyes to see and faith to trust that He knows what He is doing in our present circumstances.

July 4th cookout at Pastor Andy’s house

ILDA Great Lakes Regional Conference
July 11 – 13, Rochester NY

Click on any picture to see it full size.

Congratulations Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf!

On Sunday, August 29, Pastor Vince Mroz was ordained into the holy ministry to serve as pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

From left to right: Rev. Edwin Bergstresser (Columbus, OH), Rev. Vince Mroz (Pittsburgh, PA),
Rev. Dr. John Reinke (St. Louis, MO), Vicar Dan Wallis (St. Louis, MO)

Reformation Day

October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses
to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany

Are Lutherans, Methodists, and Baptists
​considered as cults?!?

A well known vlogger announced that Episcopalian, Baptist, and even Lutheran religious groups are considered as cults.  Wow! 

Wait a minute...What is a definition of a cult?  According to the official definition: Cults are groups that deny the central articles of Christian faith, such as the Trinity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ.  Although some Christian churches have minor theological differences, that doesn’t mean that they are cults.   The main point that they don’t reject the Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit).  Most cults deviate significantly from Christian teachings. 

Some arguments point out that the churches have ritual rules.  In the Bible, Jesus really referred to religious groups like Pharisees, who don’t believe in Jesus Christ, forced the members to follow the burdening man made rules rather than God’s and further made unnecessary rules that outweighed God’s rules.  We have customs that guide our worship procedures to serve God’s will.  Some rituals are optional like wearing a tie in church or not.  It is up to churches to decide, but they don’t overrule God’s rules. 

Now, why there are too many cults?
It looks like that people are not satisfied in life and in world.  Churches don’t serve their needs and interests.  They need security and a sense of worth such as community support to heal hurts and share joys.  Many people think that church doesn’t give healing, so they go to a cultic group for healing.  Their thinking is irrational and untruth.  They believe whatever they want.  It causes cult groups to form.  Although they say to “follow OUR truth,” the main issue is who has authority to teach truth? 
 
Jesus gives us true worth. He gives us ways to serve in His kingdom. We need to show that. If we don’t, the cults will try to satisfy peoples’ needs. We need to be ready to show right interpretation and teaching of the Bible. We must recognize people need to see how God says their life is important.

1 Thessalonians 5.21 says, “Test every.  Hold on to the good.” The Bible warns us that we will see conflicting information from many new religious groups like cults after John wrote the last chapter in the New Testament. The last chapter of the New Testament warns not do add any new to the Bible as the Word of God.  The Lutheran Confessions focus on John 8.31-32 that emphasizes that the word of God will guide us to find the truth.  One pastor mentions, if you recognize the real U.S. Dollar, you will be able to tell which dollar papers are fake or not. 

Examples of modern cults even though they look friendly and “Christian-like” appearance:

• Jehovah’s Witnesses: Rejects the doctrine of the Trinity.  Jesus is not God. 
• Christian Science: Replaces the Trinity by the triple divine principle: Life, Truth, and Love.
• Mormons (Latter-Day Saints): Believes that some will succeed in becoming gods by their works and will rule on rule. 
• And sadly many more cult groups...

​Can you find wolf in this pack of sheep?  It is work of Satan to promote the cult groups:

~~ Pastor Andy

Facts about John
1. Who were John's parents?

• Joachim and Anna
• Zebedee and Salome
• Clotilda and Clovis

2.  In what business did John and his brother James work? 

• They were farmers
• They were fishermen
• They sold cloth

3. After John and his brother answered Jesus' call to follow Him, which was the first major city in which they stopped in the Gospel of Mark?

• Capernaum
• Lod
• Tel Aviv

4. In Mark 5, John, along with Peter and James, was present when Jesus performed a miracle. Which of the following miracles was it?

• Jesus made a mute boy able to speak
• Jesus healed a man who had been injured in a fall
• Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead

5. While Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, What did James, John and Peter while Jesus prayed?

• They fell asleep
• They were attacked by a badger
• They got hungry and started to eat

6. John spent many years in Jerusalem. In what city of Asia Minor did he spent the last years of his life?

• Damascus
• Ephesus
• Riyadh

Letters From Prison (part 6)
In the New Testament we find five letters which the Apostle Paul wrote in prison.  We have already touched on the first four of those letters:

• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• Philemon

​Paul’s 5th letter from prison is his 2nd letter to Timothy.  It is also the last letter Paul wrote which appears in Bible. (The New Testament does not give us Paul’s letter in chronological order; they are in the order of size – longest to shortest. That is why Paul’s letters to Titus and Philemon appear after 2 Timothy.)

Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy is in some ways a sad letter.  Paul says that he expects that he will soon be executed for his testimony for Christ. “My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day—not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NCV)  Paul also begs Timothy to come visit him in prison (probably in Rome) ASAP, “Get Mark... bring my coat... and come before winter.”

Paul again encourages Timothy to continue to trust Christ with all his heart, to endure suffering for Christ, and to teach the Scriptures faithfully. “Since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:15-17)

Reprinted from July 2011 Mustard Seed

It's too hot to think about writing a column this month.
Have a great and blessed summer!

See you in September

​Deaf Culture of Maryland

Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD) was officially founded in 1956. Many old-timers like myself have fond memories of the first ten presidents who are not living today.  In our May-June issue we published Ruth Peterson’s 1998 illustration of Mount Rushmore with these first ten MDAD presidents added.  I challenged you to identify them by name.

Answers:

US Presidents (left—right)
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln

What picture of fatherhood comes to mind when you think of God as your heavenly Father?  Cruel dictator or kind Father?  Laissez-Faire style?  Easy or difficult figure? 
The story about “The Parable of Prodigal Son” will shed light on your view of our heavenly Father. 

Read Luke 15:11–32
Summary: A prodigal son wanted inheritance money from his father right away, then he spent all of his money.  When he had no choice but go back to his father, he admitted that he was not better than his father’s servant.  Perhaps, his father might disown him.  In realty, it became the opposite.  He father gave his full love for this son because he had thought his son was dead or no longer in his life anymore.  He forgave him, even though the son treated his father with contempt. 

That is kind of our heavenly Father.  When we give our life to Him, our heavenly Father gracefully lavishes his love for us.  God’s grace came at Christ’s expense.  The parable teaches us about the son’s repentance that he learned.  God is joyful when a lost child turned back to Him like the prodigal son.  Jesus has found, redeem, raised, clothed, and forgiven you. Because of Jesus, the Father loves you and embraces you and welcomes you. . If you repent, God will be joyful.  You deserve none of it, because that’s the kind of heavenly Father you have.

However, if you don’t repent to put faith in Jesus, you will have severe consequence.  Fortunately, if we do repent to serve Him, our wonderful heavenly Father is merciful.  We look forward to living with Him eternally in heaven. 

Examples of loving heavenly Father’s actions:

• “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”  Psalm 103:13
  
• My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”  Proverbs 3:11-12
  
• “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:18
  
• “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”    1 John 4:9-10

God’s sacrificial love is presented by sending Jesus to die for us, reflecting the fatherly love.

~~ Pastor Andy

Facts about Matthew 
1. What was Matthew’s occupation prior to becoming an apostle of Jesus?

• A priest
• A tax collector
• A fisherman
  

2.  Matthew is called by another name in the New Testament. What is it?

• Simon
• Nathanael
• Levi
  

3.  Matthew's Gospel is specifically listed for including a genealogy of Jesus.
     How does this genealogy begin?

• Abraham
• Adam
• Moses
  

4.  What important teaching of Jesus is found exclusively in the Gospel according to Matthew?

• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
  
• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
• The kingdom of God is within you
  

5.  Which of the following is NOT a theme discussed in the Gospel of Matthew?

• The creation of the world
• The teachings of Jesus on the kingdom of heaven
• Jesus's role as the awaited Messiah
  

Letters from Prison (part 5)
In previous articles, we looked at two letters that Paul wrote from prison to his Christian friends in the city of Colossae – one letter to his friend Philemon, and the second letter to the church that met in Philemon’s house. 

There was at least one more letter (possibly two) that batch that Tychicus delivered for Paul. That third letter appears in the Bible as Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  (The cities of Ephesus and Colossae were about 120 miles apart, and Tychicus would probably travel through Ephesus to get to Colossae.  Check the map of Paul’s missionary journeys in the back of your Bible.)

The message that we read in the Ephesian letter is very similar to what we read in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.  It is a powerful letter of faith and encouragement.  Paul directs our attention to Jesus and all that Jesus did to save us.  “It is by grace through faith that you have been saved,” Paul wrote, “and that is not your own doing.  It is a gift from God.  So no one can boast.”(Eph. 2:8-9). 

This letter also has important advice to help us in our family relationships – husbands and wives, parents and their children, and even the relationship between slaves and their masters (which we may apply to our relationships as employees and job supervisors). (Eph 5:22 – 6:9)

The Ephesian letter closes with a description of how we stand against the devil’s temptations and tricks with “the armor of God.” (Eph 6:10-20)

Paul told the Colossian Christians that that he wrote another letter to the church in the city of Laodicea, which is about 15 miles from Colossae.  There is reason to believe that the Laodicean letter may be the same letter that we now call the Ephesian letter.
The New Testament has one more letter that Paul wrote from prison, which we will look in the next issue.

FOLDA–MD are Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action. They get a free library card from the libraries of Maryland’s 23 counties and the City of Baltimore.  They have equitable access to deaf culture information through the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL).  

FOLDA–MD may be interested in offering a program or event at Maryland libraries at any time during the year.  The library staff would also welcome their suggestions for fund raising events and new items to add to the MD DCDL collection.   E.g. ASL Book Festival held at MD School for the Deaf and New Book Series for children and young adults called “Walk in Deaf Shoes” featuring Laurent Clerc, Sophie Fowler Gallaudet (first Deaf lobbyist), and others from Maryland  like Dorothy Casterline (ASL researcher) to Agnes D. Sutcliffe (ASL Senior Citizens)   “Whenever America and all states have needed heroes, someone has always been there.”

 FOLDA–MD also give back to communities. Time and shared resources!  Resilience, Learning and Connection.  Authors, artists, writers, speakers, performers, leaders, advocates, and inventors (both Deaf and Hearing with ASL in heart) . 

In 2026, FOLDA–USA  will celebrate the following two anniversaries:

• The 250th anniversary of America's Independence from England, July 4, 1776
• The 210th anniversary of the first school signed into America's law of public education, 1816.

Incidentally, this school was Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons (later the American School for the Deaf) which opened on April 15, 1817 in Hartford.

Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) was established in Frederick in 1868 by the MD general assembly. It opened in the Fall 1869.  George W. Veditz, the 7th president of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) went to MSD.  He was born in Baltimore on August 13, 1861 and died in Colorado Springs on March 12, 1937.   

Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD) was officially founded in 1956. Many old-timers like myself have fond memories of the first ten presidents who are not living today.

How many FOLDA-MD can match names with profiles? Test yourself and with your friends.   (Answers will appear in the next issue: names, years served, and which deaf school attended; and a short story about ten MDAD presidents of the 20th century .

Members and friends of Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf
attending the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
April 20, 2024

What if you encounter Christians who claim that the earth is flat? 

I viewed a well-known deaf Christian vlogger who believes that the earth is flat.  Remember, Chris Columbus who was headed for North America instead of India?  While rejecting the reliability of the Bible, a few Christians claim that the Bible describes a flat earth.   They just question the validity of the scientific evidence and argue that the earth is indeed flat.

Based on the Bible:

• Revelation 7.1: four angels standing at the four corners of the earth.
• Psalm 75:3: which says God holds “the pillars” of the earth firm.
• Deuteronomy 13.7: of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you, or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end).

All these verses refer to the “ends” of the earth.  Does that mean the earth is flat?  The answer is no. The Bible doesn’t say about the shape of the earth nor that the earth explicitly is flat. 

Based on Revelation 7.1: I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth.  Apostle John wrote to refer “four corners of the earth” to every far distance location.   The basic analog is when we had global leaders like the G-20 summits from all over the world to come for discussing the political issues.  The book of Revelation is difficult to interpret accurately due to non-literal and symbolic language.  If we interpret these passages in the book into literal (direct), then it will make no sense.  John stated that at a time during the tribulation, God will stop all wind…. from  the four corners referring to north, south, east, west.  The Bible does not mention on the physical flatness of the earth. 
 
Next verse, Psalm 75.3:  When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. It sounds like earth’s pillars, but we should not take it as literal.  That book is filled with many songs such as poetry to compare like a metaphorical message instead of literal.  The main point is not that the earth is flat, but the earth is owned by God who constructed it and stabilize it as the pillars will not move. 

Now what about the “ends of the earth” in Deuteronomy?  Clearly, the term ‘ends” of the earth educate that the earth is not flat, but just the passages.  The “four corners of the earth” is idiomatic instead of literal like mapping the earth.  Actually, “ends of the earth” was mentioned 28 times in the KJV meaning the most far distance in the world. 
Ultimately, the Biblical passages pertaining to the “ends of the earth” and “the four corners of the earth” are just symbolical.

~ Pastor Andy

Suggested by one congregation members, I am going to offer fun matching quotes.
Match the following quotes.  Hint: Find answers in the Bible – Matthew 5:3-10.

Letters From Prison (part 4)
In our previous study we looked at a short letter that Paul wrote from prison to his friend Philemon, asking him to accept back Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus – “no longer as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.”  Since Onesimus and Paul’s helper, Tychicus, were making that long trip to deliver that letter to Philemon in Colossae, Paul took advantage of the opportunity to also write a letter to the church that met in Philemon’s house.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is only four chapters long, but it is a powerful letter of faith and encouragement.  Paul directs our attention to Jesus and all that Jesus did to save us.  Paul also reminds us of our position in Him:

In this letter Paul explains how our life in Christ changes the way we think and act, and changes the way we live in our families and work with our business relations.
At the end of this letter Paul gives important information about people on his team.  Here we learn:
•     Mark is a cousin of Barnabas
•     Luke was a medical doctor
•     Luke was Gentile, not Jewish
•     Names of the leaders of the Colossian church and other people on Paul’s team

When you read this letter to the Colossian Christians, you also will receive a boost to your faith.

In part 1 of this study we saw that the history of Israel’s exodus from Egypt has important connections to the life of Jesus:

1. Mary & Joseph’s sacrifice on His behalf when he was a one-month old baby (Luke 2:21-24)
2. Their escape to Egypt and return to Israel (Matthew 2:13-14)
3. When Jesus was 12 years old, visiting the temple (Luke 2:41-51)
4. His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17)

Connection #5 – The Temptation of Jesus
Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, just as God led the people of Israel from the Red Sea into the desert, where they wandered 40 years.  God tested them and let the experience hunger so He could miraculously provide for them.  Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness and the devil tempted Him.  Jesus answered each of the devil’s temptations by quoting a verse from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy – Moses’ final message to Israel, just before he died.  (See Matthew 4:1-11)

Connection #6 – The Last Supper
God gave Moses detailed instructions for the first Passover (Exodus 12).  It is now clear that our Lord designed that event to point to the day of His crucifixion.

In Jewish life, the annual celebration of the Passover is a time when the community tells again the story about how God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt and made them His covenant people.  When Jesus me with His 12 Disciples for His last Passover meal with them, He turned that meal into the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, which tells the story about how God saves us from slavery to sin, death, and hell.  The unleavened bread of the Passover – Jesus said, “This is My body…”  The cup of wine – He said, “This is my blood, the blood of the New Covenant, shed for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Connection #7 – The Lamb, the Blood, the Cross
In first Passover in Egypt, each family must choose a lamb without any defect, a perfect lamb, kill it and cook it for their final meal.  They must also use the blood of that lamb to paint the outside doorframe of the house – the top and side panels.  When the meal was finished, the whole family went through that doorframe, painted as a cross in blood, as the left their house of slavery into freedom.

By Jesus’ death on the cross during the Passover celebration, He became our perfect Passover lamb.  As in the first Passover when the Jewish people ate the meat of the lamb, when we eat the bread in the Lord’s Supper, we eat the body of the Lamb of God.  And it is through His blood shed for us on the cross, we pass from eternal death into eternal life.

Connection #8 – The Promised Land: Heaven
Israel, at the end of their 40 years of wandering, entered the homeland that God had promised to them.  We also wait for our entry into the homeland that God has promised to us – Heaven.

Albert J. Rose was a proud member of the Gallaudet Athletic Hall of Fame.  His image hangs on the wall of the Hall of Fame in the Fieldhouse – the only one of many in the wall of Fame with multi-sport honors!
 
Willie Moers, the eldest of four children and the son of Betty and Jerome Moers, never forgot Albert, his maternal grandfather.
 
 Albert along with his wife Ruth lived with the family in Wheaton, MD for three years from 1964 to 1967. 

All family members are Deaf, including Willie's sister Diana, and two brothers Cliff and Rex.  All graduated from Deaf schools.  And only one of them, Ruth never attended Gallaudet.
 
Willie said he always enjoyed listening to Albert’s experience of the past.  He also never forgot his grandfather patiently teaching him when he was around six years old about the difference between a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and even silver dollar.  Albert had Willie doing math computations to ensure that he understood and became able to delineate the differences.  Willie said this was one of his best memories of Albert.
 
Willie, now 66 years old, still sees images of Albert floating across his mind now and then.

March 13 is the day to celebrate the anniversary of Deaf President Now (1988).

April 8 is the day to celebrate the anniversary of the US President Abraham Lincoln signing the charter. Now Gallaudet University (1864).

April 15 is the day to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the first state school for the Deaf in America’s history of public education (1817).

Epiphany is 12 days after Christmas.  It means “appearance.”  Many countries called it as “Three Kings Day.”  The Magi were the ones who gave gifts to the Lord.  According to tradition the first was Melchior who offered gold to the Lord as king. The second was Gaspar who honored him as God by his gift of incense, and offering worthy of divinity.  The third one was Balthasar who gave Jesus the gift of myrrh, the ointment used for Jesus’ burial.   The three Magi visited the child Jesus and showed how God’s gift of the Gospel is for everyone.  Epiphany cheers God revealing himself to the world. 
     
The Epiphany celebrates Christ’s birth, the honor of Magi, his baptism, and the first miracle at Cana.  The Christians began observing the events below:

• First century: the earliest Christians set aside one day a week as the Lord’s Day.
• Second Century: Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
• Third century: Epiphany.
• Fourth Century: Christmas.

     
The six-month period from Advent to Pentecost comprises all six major events: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. 
     
In some countries there are various traditions on Epiphany, such as eating a “Kings Cake” with a trinket baked inside. Whoever discovers the trinket, is King or Queen for the day. It would be thrilling to be royalty for the day, right?  However, Christ turns our hearts to a status as a royal priesthood, as Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2. France treats Epiphany as the Feast of Kings, while Spanish-speaking countries called “Three Kings Day” and the kings delivered gifts, not the Sana Claus.
     
Today, on Epiphany some people take down their Christmas decorations and store them away for the next year.  One time I left a Christmas tree in the living room until July and nobody reminded me! 
     
The physical reminders of Christmas are  everywhere.  For instance, the twinkly lights on a tree represent of the angels announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds. The star ornaments direct my mind to the star that led the wise men on their two-year journey.  The tree is shaped like a triangle reminding us of Trinity.  Epiphany, the appearance of God, is an opportunity to rejoice that Christ has shown up for all men regardless of race or status.  Epiphany is also part of revelation.  Jesus revealed himself to the world.  May we open our hearts to retrieve revelation of God. 
     
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you; All assemble and come to you; your sons and daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy,” Isaiah 60:1-5.

~~ Pastor Andy

Facts about Peter

Who was Peter’s brother?  (Matt. 4:8) 

While Peter and Andrew became part of Jesus’ inner circle, there was another disciple who came from Peter’s hometown. Who was that disciple?   (John 1:44)

What was the name of the person whose ear Peter chopped off as Jesus was being arrested? (John 18:10)

Which member of Simon Peter’s family had a illness that was cured by Christ?
(Matt. 8:14-15)

Who greeted Peter at Mary’s house when he escaped from prison after being arrested by King? (Acts 12:3)

After Peter’s speech at Pentecost, about how many persons were immediately baptized?  (Acts 2:41)

Peter advised Christians everywhere to be encouraged because "there is ___ ____ ahead..." What is ahead, according to 1 Peter 4:13 in the New Living Translation? 

Humans are compared to what animals in 1 Peter 2:2?

Where is the well-known church as St Peter’s basilica located?

Who was the man who had been bedridden for eight years but was healed by Peter in Lydda? (Acts 9:33)

Letters From Prison (part 3)
Onesimus was a run-away slave.  His master had become a Christian.  But as long a Onesimus was enslaved, he had no interest in his master’s God.

When Onesimus had the chance, he escaped.  He sought his protection with the person who led his master to Christ – the Apostle Paul – whom God then used to lead Onesimus to Christ. 

Now Onesimus had a moral dilemma.  He knew that slavery was wrong, and he didn’t want to be a slave, but he felt that he needed to go back to his master, ask his forgiveness and make restitution.  That could be a very risky thing to do.  Under Roman law, Onesimus’ master could have him executed.  Regardless of the cost, he knew it was the right thing to do.

Paul wanted to go with Onesimus, but he couldn’t.  Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Emperor Nero.  So Paul sent his helper, Tychicus, with a personal letter from Paul to Onesimus’ master, Philemon. 

In that letter Paul urged Philemon to forgive Onesimus and receive him back, “no longer as a slave, but as a dear brother.”  It was a short but powerful letter that is now part of the New Testament.

Did Philemon forgive Onesimus and give him his freedom?  The Bible does not answer that question, but early Church historians reported that, yes, Onesimus became a free man and eventually he became the pastor of the church that had met in his master’s house.

Paul also gave Tychicus two other letters to deliver, which we will examine next.

Normally we associate Passover with the life of Jesus during the season of Lent, which this year begins in the month of March.  It was during the Passover celebration that Jesus had the Last Supper and then He was arrested and crucified.
     
But when we carefully study the life of Jesus in the Gospels, we find connections to the Passover beginning at the time He was a very young child.

Connection #1 – Sacrifice for the Firstborn
Luke 2:21-24; Exodus 13:1-2,11-13

When Jesus was one month old, Joseph and Mary took Him to the temple to offer a special sacrifice on His behalf.
     
After the people of Israel left Egypt and they were going to cross the through the Red Sea, God gave them two important commandments to help them always remember how He saved them.
     
he first commandment was that they must celebrate the Passover every year and tell their children the Passover story.
     
The second commandment was “Consecrate [give] to Me every firstborn male. The first baby of every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, whether man or animal.” (Exodus 13:2)
     
That means they must sacrifice the firstborn lambs, goats, and calves, or offering another animal as a substitute.  Firstborn human babies also belong to God.  Since God does not permit human sacrifice, the parents must offer an animal as a substitute.
  
What was the point of that sacrifice?  God wanted Israel to never forget the price that Egyptians paid. The firstborn of the Egyptians gave their lives for Israel's freedom. The Firstborn Son of God gave His life for your salvation.

Connection #2 – Return from Egypt
Matthew 2:13-14
When King Herod tried to kill the child Jesus, God told Joseph to take his family to Egypt until Herod died.  The Bible says that their return to Israel parallels Israel’s escape from Egypt.

Connection #3 – Boy Jesus in the Temple
Luke 2:41-51
Every year Joseph and Mary went with their children to celebrate Passover at the temple in Jerusalem.  When Jesus was 12 years old, He stayed behind at the temple after His family left.  It took three days for Joseph and Mary to find Him again.

Connection #4 – Jesus’ baptism
Matthew 3:13-17; Exodus 14:21-22

When a Gentile (non-Jewish person) wanted to join Israel under God’s Covenant, one of the things he must do was become baptized, as a sign that the person joins Israel passing through the Red Sea.  John the Baptist told the Jews who came to hear him that they also must repent and be baptized.  Then Jesus came and asked John to baptize Him.  At first John said no, because Jesus didn’t need to repent. Jesus had no sin.  But in His baptism, Jesus took on our sin, just as He did again on the cross.

To be continued.

Deaf  Culture – Annual Events

• Every Family Has a Story – Welcome to Ours.
• Every Nonprofit Organization Has a History – Welcome to Ours.
• Every Senior Citizen Has a Fond Memory – Welcome to Ours.
  

 
The public  just celebrated the 50th anniversary of Clerc-Gallaudet Week, December 3-10, 2024. formerly Deaf Awareness Week (DAW).  
     
I had a fond memory of the first week of December 1974.  A small group of employees of the DC Public Library system, were all being taught ASL by Ida Mapes and myself, who then worked in the Catalog Department.  We were honored to host the first ever Deaf Culture Event at the DC Public Library. 
     
I was a part time MLS graduate student at that time. The group invited Mary Jane Rhodes, a volunteer at the NAD with her Deaf Awareness Project to help us with the event.  The week was a huge success.  (DC Archives)
 
Mary Jane Rhodes was a hearing mother of a Deaf Adult son, Ronald, who had attended the Indiana School for the Deaf, and then transferred to Model Secondary School for the Deaf. (MSSD is a branch of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet DC)
     
Mary Jane Rhodes died at age 85 on July 7, 2018.  Her son Ronald Rhodes is current president of the .Arizona Association of the Deaf.  (DC Archives)

Belonging
The great thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.  –  A quote from Michel de Montaigne, 1533-1592. He was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance.

I know I belong to Deaf Culture of my language, both sign and written English.
I belong to my immediate family, both Deaf and hearing.
And I also belong to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the oldest and the first known national membership organization in America that builds a culture of civility.  Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD) and some others are state affiliates of the NAD.
 
Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) - a culture of education - is a national affiliate of the NAD
 
Maryland School for the Deaf - a member of CEASD - is not a state affiliate of the NAD
 
National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) - a culture of government - is a national affiliate of the NAD.
 
Maryland Government's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) - a member of NASADHH, is also a state affiliate of the NAD

Source  www.nad.org/members

Alice Hagemeyer is the Task Force chair of the MD Governor's Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  The Objective:  To establish the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) nationwide
 
To be continued.

In the months of November and December provide a good time to rest your mind from busy summer and winter.  In the old days, I was always busy with sailing and physical activities during summers and skiing in winters.  While resting, I love to watch true story-based movies about Christmas and faith-based stories.

The On a Wing and a Prayer movie narrates a faithful man whose family attempted to return to Archibald, Louisiana, after visiting his brother’s funeral.  In 2009, Doug White, a 56-year-old pharmacist and his family found out that the pilot had died of a heart attack after ascending into the sky.  Doug had to contact the Fort Myers air traffic controllers and flight instructor for guidance in flying safely.  Doug successfully landed the plane safely.  While he was a licensed pilot in the old days, he never flew at an elevation higher than 7000 feet. 

Doug White had started questioning everything he believed in. He had first lost his father, and now his brother, and he had started feeling that God had abandoned him.  But during the crisis, he had no choice but depended on God for His strength and guidance.  He prayed for a miracle for his family’s sake.  Ultimately, the family landed successfully. 

Beware that not all movies that mention “based on true story” are not 100% true and accurate.  Hollywood directors/producers often deviate for more dramatic plots.  For instance, instead of flying through a storm during the filming, in reality, Doug White had blue and sunny skies during the ordeal. While arriving at Fort Myers, there was “no wind.”  The movie took liberty to exaggerate the story by adding the family flying into a storm with thunder and lightning, which never happened in real life. They didn’t lose communication with the air traffic control. 

However, the movie demonstrated how great faith the pilot had to endure the crisis. When you watch Bible movies, it is critical to refer to the Bible for verification.  Some Biblical movies don’t’ reflect accurately.  The Noah movie casting Russel Cowe is an example in not matching the Biblical plots. 

~~ Pastor Andy

Link for the movie: 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13929998/
 
True-Fiction comparisons:
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/on-a-wing-and-a-prayer/

Are there any events that the church will host?
Yes, the church will host a movie fellowship in Columbia, MD on November 10.  The Deaf actor will join us.  Come and enjoy watching the movie and fellowship with us!

Flyer:

Jesus - A Deaf Missions Film
Come and have lunch and fellowship with us.  Free to watch the movie!  Space is limited to 40 persons. 

Registration link: 
JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film - Columbia, MD - Faith Content Network | Brushfire
(https://brushfire.com/faithcontentnetwork/jesus-adeafmissionsfilm/587128)

Location:
Grotto Pizza
7075 Minstrel Way
Columbia, MD 21046

Date: November 10 @2pm.

Price:  Free!   

One of the movie actors will be there.  Come to meet him!  Questions: [email protected]

See you there!

Letters From Prison (part 2)
Six books of the New Testament were written by incarcerated individuals. Those six books are:

• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• Philemon
• 2 Timothy
• Revelation

In our previous article we read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, thanking them for their concern and support for him during his incarceration.

Next we will look at a batch of three letters which the Apostle Paul wrote to Christian friends in western Turkey.  Paul wrote one letter as a personal note to a close friend.  He also wrote a public letter to the Christians who met for worship in that friend’s house.  The third letter Paul addressed to Christians in a nearby city.

Where was Paul incarcerated when he wrote those three letters?  He didn’t say, but there is evidence that he wrote them while he was under house arrest in Rome (see Acts 28:16, 30), but we can’t be certain where he was.

In these three letters we find familiar names of people who were there with Paul as part of his support team:  Timothy, Mark, Luke, and others. Paul also identified the one who carried all three letters to his friends: Tychicus (see Eph. 6:21 and Col. 4:7).  Remember that the Roman Empire did not have a federal postal delivery system as we enjoy today.

That’s our introduction to Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and his friend Philemon.  Next we will take a look at each of these letters.

 Laurent Clerc will celebrate his 239th birthday on December 26, 2024.

MiniFlatLaurent (MFL) just began his new journey globally. 

Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (FOLDA) in Maryland was fortunate to have MFL join the MD Lt Governor Aruna Miller and her guests last September 30, 2024, to celebrate new Deaf Culture Awareness Month after 52 years of Deaf awareness. 1972-2024.

FOLDA in other states are also welcome to share their stories here about their Deaf Association. Deaf School and Governor's Office/Commission of the Deaf and HH/ whenever they celebrate Deaf and appropriate annual events during the year.    www.nad.org/members

Abbé Charles Michel de lʹÉpée
Father of the Deaf, 1760s

The French deaf people loved Charles-Michel De l'Epee - Father of the Deaf.  Every year on the occasion of his birthday, they gather together at banquets and festivals to show their appreciation that this man was born on earth.  They loved him because he was their first teacher. But they loved him more for being the father and inventor of their beautiful sign language.

The Preservation of the Sign Language, 1913
By George W. Veditz, Film maker.

George W. Veditz, 7th NAD president (1904-1910) and an American hero, was a graduate of Maryland School of the Deaf (MSD, est 1869).  In 1892 Veditz founded the MD School for the Deaf Alumni Associ-ation, which then led to the founding of Maryland Association of the Deaf by Leon Auerbach in 1956. 

MSD is a member of CEASD (Conference of Educa-tional Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf).

Maryland Governor's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was established in October 2001 through legislation. It is a member of the National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) an affiliate of the NAD.

American Hero:
Dr. Edward E. Corbett, Jr.
Born, Oct 26, 1942, in Streveport in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
Died Oct 12, 2012, in Galena, Ohio.

After Dr. Corbett retired as Superintendent of the Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD), he gave his last lecture in May 2011 at the Ohio University, Columbus.  He passed away one and a half years later.

Ed shared his vast experiences leading OSD for 20 plus years through change and growth as he faced the political, fiscal, and legal challenges.

More about him in Maryland Toolkit for libraries. 2025 and beyond by Alice L. Hagemeyer, in collaboration with the NAD (MDAD) and Maryland librarians.

Should we cancel Columbus Day?

This October, Federal government employees like I will have a day off on Columbus Day.  As a biased Viking family member, I would rather to view that Leif Erikson as the first explorer from Europe to reach North America.  However, that is not a point here.  We honor Christopher Columbus for his courage in both reaching North America and evangelizing the Gospel to Native people there.

Even though some people have threatened to cancel the Columbus Day holiday because it has become for them a symbol of European greed and genocide, in his defense, several historians have shown that Columbus was not a villain. 

What is the Festival of Purim?

Purim is a Jewish holiday that remembers the victory against Persian King Xerxes’s highest official named Haman.  He loathed the Jews, especially Mordecai (a relative of Xerxes’ wife) who had refused to bow down to him.

Haman created a decree that could not be reversed, to have every Jew in Persia annihilated. The king agreed to his plan to kill the Jewish people on a specific day.  Mordecai heard about the plot and sent the message to Queen Esther.

Esther invited Xerxes and Haman to a banquet where eventually she exposed her Jewish heritage to the king, as well as Haman's evil plot to have her and her people annihilated.  Furious, King Xerxes executed Haman on the gallows — the very same gallows Haman had built to kill Mordecai.

Haman’s plot was thwarted, and Mordecai's act of kindness prevailed in the chronicles of the king.  Mordecai was promoted to Haman's high position and Jews were given protection throughout the land. The people celebrated God's tremendous action in protecting the Jews.  The joyous festival of Purim was created.   
          
You can watch the movie about Esther below.  However, the movie is not 100% identical to the Bible.  I highly recommended that you read the Book of Esther in the Bible.  Pray that antisemitism in the world will be significantly reduced. 
https://tubitv.com/movies/708192/the-book-of-esther

Letters From Prison (part 1)

The Apostle Paul was confined in prison for several years, but he used that time in productive ministry.  We see some of the fruit of that ministry in his prison letters that the Bible has preserved for us.

Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians to thank them for a financial gift they sent him for his care and comfort in prison.  Ancient prisons were very different than the prisons we know today.  There was no prison commissary.  There were no prison jobs where inmates could earn a little money.  Food, clothing, medicines, and essential supplies all needed to be provided by friends and family (see Acts 24:23).  Without outside help, inmates suffered miserably. 

Christians in Philippi were aware of Paul’s incarceration.  Although they were not wealthy people, they donated what they could.  They put their gift into hands Epaphroditus, of one of their members, to deliver to Paul hundreds of miles away.  While on his way to visit Paul, or after he arrived, Epaphroditus became sick and almost died.  After he recovered, Paul dictated a letter for Epaphroditus to carry back home to Philippi, thanking his friends for their gift. 

In his letter, Paul also reported on his life in prison:  “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. All the palace guards and everyone else knows that I am in prison because I am a believer in Christ.  Because I am in prison, most of the believers have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God.” (Philippians 1:12-14)

In spite of Paul’s incarceration, his letter to the Philippians is perhaps the most joyful and encouraging letter in the Bible.  Paul continually points his readers to Christ Jesus, as he reminds us of all that Jesus has done for us.  And Paul reminds us how our relationship with Jesus affects the way we think and act in our daily life.

On September 17, 1862, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, under the command of General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army of the Potomac, under the command of General George McClellan, engaged in battle at Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg, Maryland (near Harpers Ferry, MD).  It was the first battle of the war on Union soil.

History looks back on that day as the deadliest battle of the Civil War.  Over 3,675 men died that day (2,108 Union solders; 1,567 Confederate); 17,301 were wounded; and 1,771 were captured or missing.  The combined total losses for both sides was 22,727 men.

Even though more soldiers died and were wounded on the Union side, General Lee and his Confederates were driven back south.  The Battle of Antietam was an important turning point for the Union army.

On that day, September 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, giving the rights of life, freedom, and citizenship to all people, regardless of their race, origin, and circumstance, which took effect on January 1, 1863.

September is Deaf Culture Month.
We don’t call it “Awareness Month” or “History Month” because the public already observes two other Deaf annual events being observed at different times during the year.
 
The first is National Deaf History Month (March 13 – April 15), proclaimed 52 years ago, November 1972, by Colorado’s governor, with the support of Colorado Association of the Deaf and the late David Anthony and Jerry Moers, the two first Deaf movers and shakers and heroes ever in American history of Annual Deaf events.   National Deaf History Month.  was endorsed by the American Library Association in  2005 and National Association of the Deaf in 2006.
 
December 3-10, 2024, Clerc-Gallaudet Week, was first proclaimed 50 years ago, December 1974, by the DC Executive Office (now Mayor) with the support of DC Public Library former ASL students, in cooperation with the DC Deaf community and NAD.  It was then called Deaf Awareness Week.  The week now honors the first two visionary leaders in the American history of public education.  Laurent Clerc (Deaf) and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (hearing) were born in the month of December, on December 26, 1785 and December 10, 1787 respectively.

Our state of Maryland was the first state in America that had its governor signed Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) into state law ten years ago on May 15, 2014, thanks in large part to the efforts of Alec McFarlane, one of several members of the Maryland Governor’s DCDL Task Force.

Then, Librarian Susan F. Cohen of the Montgomery County Public libraries was appointed as the first Coordinator of the DCDL.  The rest is history.

Deaf Culture Trivia
Who was the founder of the first national Deaf convention in America?