Happy Father's Day
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.
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:
God’s sacrificial love is presented by sending Jesus to die for us, reflecting the fatherly love.
~~ Pastor Andy
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?
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?
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.
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.
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3
FOLDA–MD
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) .
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) .
American History
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.
Deaf Culture of Maryland
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.
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 .
|
Leon Auerbach
Thomas Cuscaden Alexander Fleischmann Gertrude Galloway Rudolph Hines Frank Hutchinson John Kubis |
David Neill
Robert Nicol William Stevens Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln George Washington Theodore Roosevelt |
Members and friends of Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf
attending the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
April 20, 2024
attending the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
April 20, 2024
