AMEN to SOLA

A 22 hour road trip in three vehicles with 18 people from Our Redeemer Lutheran Church from the U.P. of Michigan to the Poconos Mountains in PA...all to hear HIS Holy Word.  Perfect.

We had such an awesome week in Scranton PA attending the Higher Things Conference this year..."AMEN" '08.  It was rich in liturgy, Law/Gospel preaching, sound teaching in HIS Holy Word and filled with Grace.  Forgiveness, absolution...thank you Lord! 

How refreshing in such a hostile world!  The setting was beautiful, the Poconos Mountain Range is incredible and there were NO BUGS!  I don't know how that happened, but we sat outside every evening without one mosquito bite! WOW!  

Next year the theme is "SOLA" which means alone... 

Grace alone: God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love.  He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith alone:  By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them.  Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers.  God creates faith i Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

Scripture alone:  The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.  It is the sole rule and norm of Christian doctrine.