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Three Minutes To Get Their Attention

DirectMailMail targeted to pastors is among the most interesting advertisements I get. Likely because I’m a pastor. It is interesting how direct marketing really is direct. I just received an advertisement claiming that “70% of people give a preacher 3 minutes or less to get their attention.”

Wow, that’s a lot of pressure.

It’s possible that’s true. I don’t find any science data to back up this claim, but if it’s true, what should I do? Show a clip from a popular movie? Tell a story? Give every one in the audience a $5.oo bill? Or maybe as Martin Luther was once pressured to tap a good barrel of beer so people would come with all their hearts and hear?

I suppose every public speaker should give careful consideration to how they speak. I want to be a clear communicator and help the listener hear and engage with God. But not as a circus leader.

On to the better news of this direct mail… If it only takes three minutes to get their attention, it won’t matter if I preach for 45 – 50 minutes this coming Sunday.

I like Luther’s reaction to people pressuring him to give them what they want… “The gospel is like unto the rain which, falling upon a river, produces little effect; but descending upon a dry, thirsty soil, renders it fertile.”

 

Free Will

Why don’t we call it what it is? “subverted, perverse, fickle, wavering…” I know why, Free-will sounds so much more attractive to our subverted, perverse, fickle, wavering, sinful nature.

“The very name, Free-will, was [extremely unpleasant] to all the Fathers. I, for my part, admit that God gave to mankind a free will, but the question is, whether this same freedom be in our power and strength, or no? We may very fitly call it a subverted, perverse, fickle, and wavering will, for it is only God that works in us, and we must suffer and be subject to his pleasure. Even as a potter out of his clay makes a pot or vessel, as he wills, so it is for our free will, to suffer and not to work. It stands not in our strength; for we are not able to do anything that is good in divine matters.”

Martin Luther – Table Talk

Katherine Von Bora

The first of “50 People Every Christian Should Know”, Warren Wiersbe publishes a short biographical sketch of Katherine von Bora. I did not recognize the name immediately, but within moments I recalled the beloved wife of that courageous reformer, Martin Luther. I enjoyed the short essay on Katherine more than I first expected. I expect that there is more to the great reformer in Katherine than is commonly known.

In this biography, Wiersbe addressed Luther’s love for Katherine as an adoring kind of love. If you’ve ever read a biography on Martin Luther you would recall that he was likely a difficult man to get along with. Making the relationship with Katherine endearing.

Because Luther refused to receive money from books, Katherine accepted that she would likely live in some level of poverty. When they met, Luther was already in trouble with the Roman Catholic Church for his teaching and publications that called the pope into question and the churches methodology as in conflict with Scripture.

Katherine was a manager of Luther’s affairs with care and dignity. She was a productive gardener. She managed a successful farmers market of sorts that helped her barter for other needs the family needed.

Katherine not only took care of their children, but also extended family’s children and others in the community. Luther regularly had other ministers living in their home as well.

The Table Talk of Martin Luther, is still among the most successful publications of Luther over the years. It is largely a collection of conversations between Martin and Katherine around the table at meal time. I have just started reading it.

It must have been a complicated thing to be married to such a man as Martin Luther. Wiersbee, shared some insightful conversations between them.

Luther about Katherine: “Have I not at home a fair wife, or shall I say boss?”

His nickname for Katherine was, “Kitty, my rib.”

They regularly bantered about the timing of meals and the food getting cold. Katherine would say; “Doctor, why don’t you stop talking and eat?” He would often reply, “I wish women would repeat the Lord’s Prayer before opening their mouths.” All sources lead one to believe that Martin Luther adored his “Kitty, my rib.” All sources lead one to believe that Kitty loved Martin.

I’m glad to know more of Katherine von Bora. She’s an example of a godly woman. You should get to know about her too.

Katharina-von-Bora

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