His Time - Lutheran Senior Services, Historically Speaking, "A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit"

1. Lutheran Senior Services

Annmarie Wallis from Lutheran Senior Services shares the latest news, along with special guests Kristina and Audrey from Laclede Groves in Webster Groves, MO.

Lutheran Senior Services is a faith-based, mission-driven not-for-profit network that specializes in enhancing life for seniors, ages 62-plus. With 21 locations in Missouri and Illinois, LSS offers quality choices and exceptional support for retirement living. Through affordable housing locations, home and community based services, and senior living communities, they provide a person-centered approach to a comprehensive continuum of life choices. Building upon a tradition of excellence for more than 155 years, Lutheran Senior Services is fulfilling its Christian mission of Older Adults Living Life to the Fullest. Find LSS on Facebook!

2. Historically Speaking

Hosted by the Concordia Historical Institute.

Learn more at ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org.

3. Daily Lectionary

Rev. Samuel Wirgau from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harrold and Trinity Lutheran Church in Iowa Park, Texas, studies Matthew 12:22-37.

4. Morning Prayer Sermonette

Today’s sermonette is given by Rev. Samuel Wirgau from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harrold and Trinity Lutheran Church in Iowa Park, Texas.

Matthew 12:22-37

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

²²Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. ³⁰Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

³³“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Andy Bates, DCE

If you haven’t had Associate Executive Director's Andy Bates’s smoked mac and cheese from scratch (yes, including the noodles), you’re missing out on a magical food experience. Although he’ll gladly go venturing through the woods in his Vivobarefoot Trail Freaks (those are shoes), he’ll also stay happily busy automating every possible thing in his home while eating cherry cheesecake brownies made by his wife, Lauren. As a Theatre major, don’t ask him to pick a favorite play, but you may find him hanging out with his adorable son watching Trolls or listening to bluegrass or the latest audiobook on biomechanics.