THE OLIVE

PRESS
BRINGING GOOD NEWS TO PEOPLE
THAT THEY MAY TAKE THIS SAME
GOSPEL TO THE WORLD

February 2017
Ancient olive press in Capernaum

Mount Olive Lutheran Church

10310 Scarsdale Boulevard
Houston TX 77089
281-922-5673
Pastor Randy Ledbetter
(c) 713-818-7629

www.mountolivehouston.org
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Jettison the Junk"

January 20, 2017
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which
clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1
In 1874 Jules Verne published a novel called The Mysterious Island.
For those of you who haven't read it, the book is sort of a cross between Robinson Crusoe and Gilligan's Island. In the
book, Verne tells of five Union soldiers who manage to escape a Civil War prison camp by using a hot-air balloon.
According to the storyline, a great storm catches the balloon and carries it over the sea and across countless miles. Horror
comes upon the men when they realize their torn balloon will be forced down in the midst of the ocean. If they are to
survive, they must lighten the load. The first choices are easy: the bags of ballast are emptied.
That buys some time, but not much.
Very soon the balloon finds itself in danger again. More choices: the men throw over all unnecessary provisions: guns, extra
clothing, almost everything goes. It's a losing battle. Each choice buys them time, but only for a while. Eventually, the men
agree to jettison their food, then their gold and, finally, with the men clinging to the netting of the balloon, even the gondola
in which they had been riding.
The men live. It would have been a very short novel if they hadn't.
But what I want you to understand here is that these men figured out what was important and what was not. Things that
once seemed to be indispensable necessities were reduced to being nothing more than excess baggage. Although he didn't
know it, Verne was putting into fiction the Scripture verse which says, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles."
In other words, let's keep God first.
This is why this devotion asks, how are you doing in keeping God first?
By that I don't mean almost first, or close to first, or most of the time first. I mean first -- 100 percent of the time. Probably
not too good, I'd guess. Not so long ago when a national magazine took a poll of the things we couldn't live without, 63
percent of the people said they needed a car; 54 percent said light bulbs were important; 42 percent wanted to keep their
telephone; 22 percent couldn't give up their TV.
You will note that God isn't in that list, and although He isn't a thing, He should be at the top of every list put together by
everybody.
But He's not.
The world, the devil, our own sinful natures -- do all they can to push God to the background and something else to the
front. What something else? Goodness, I don't know. I do know every time God says, "I want to be first," you can be
absolutely sure that something is going to pop up to move God -- ever so gently, ever so slowly, ever so unnoticeably -- to
the side.

This is wrong, The Lord who gave His Son to be sacrificed in our stead is worthy of being held in the highest admiration,
respect, reverence, honor and worship. In short, God deserves to be first -- always and forever.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive me for those times when I have demoted You. Grant that I may always see Your love and
appreciate the Savior's sacrifice as being more important than anything else. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

It's a little early for the February Olive

Branch.....
I wanted to remind you of upcoming conferences that
may be of interest to our members....at least I hope
so.....
February 4th
The first one is at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in
Palestine, TX. "Aging and Dying Well in Christ
Jesus: End of Life Issues and Ministry." In an aging
congregation this is an important topic. I've heard the
Professor Rev Doctor Robert Weise on several occasions.
He's is spell binding in his presentation..... Most
excellent!
February 11
Every One His Witness. This seminar is at St Mark
Lutheran Church in Lake Jackson. This should be of
value to all of us, especially the members of Mount Olive
as we seek to make contact with our family, friends, and
community.
February 17-18
Steadfast Lutherans Conference, Zion Lutheran

Church in Tomball. This is a very strong conference each

year with very conservative presenters from various
locations. I'm looking forward to hearing these
presenters this year since I've not heard them speak
before. I have read much of what they have written. My
brother and sister-in-law travel all over the country to be
at these conferences. I attended the first one myself last
year. Several from Mount Olive are going. We plan to
"over-night" at the Holiday Inn in Tomball.