Thanksgiving is a unique holiday with a long tradition in the United States - it actually pre-dates the US by over 100 years!

How did Thanksgiving come about? How did the traditions surrounding the holiday pass down to use today?

William Federer of Amerisearch, Inc. tells the story of American Thanksgiving on this special episode of the Reflection podcast.

For further reading and research:

The Treacherous World of the 16th Century & How the Pilgrims Escaped It: The Prequel to America's Freedom

Miracles in American History-32 Amazing Stories of Answered Prayers

Prayers & Presidents - Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past

The First Amendment of the US Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Today, Greg Seltz of The Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty talks about Christian Nationalism and the upcoming presidential election.

Resources from today's episode:

Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson by Mark A. Beliles and Jerry Newcombe

https://a.co/d/9ZdoKdI

Liberty Action Alert Podcast with Greg Selztz and guest Eric Metaxas

https://www.lcrlfreedom.org/blog/calling-the-church-to-step-up-to-its-moral-and-gospel-voice-in-the-culture-for-the-sake-of-the-culture-and-the-mission

Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty

https://www.lcrlfreedom.org

Each of us is the owner of a random collection of theologies, doctrines, and superstitions. It’s a junk drawer of religious ideas and influences. It’s the witticisms your grandmother tossed around with ease that sounded like they came from a religious text. It’s an insight gleaned about God from a half-heard sermon at a friend’s church. It’s the mental screenshot of a meme shared on social media. It’s the empowering idea you underlined in a book and wrote on a Post-it Note now forever affixed to your laptop.

These are the things stuffed in our spiritual junk drawers. And as with that stash of old phone chargers, empty pens, and half-used batteries sitting in your kitchen drawer, something in us says, “I might need this.”

And so we hold on. But should we?

For many this junk drawer spirituality has become burdensome. We are worn down by the religious experience it creates and frustrated by a collection of traditions and “truths” that fail to deliver on their many promises.

Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church at www.stmatts.net

Junk Drawer Jesus by Matt Popovits

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3jaaveE

1517.org https://shop.1517.org/collections/coming-soon/products/9781956658491-junk-drawer-jesus

Tough Call by Matt Popovits

https://a.co/d/0VENNEi

Seculosity by David Zahl

https://a.co/d/j6I9L6x

What Matters Most Podcast with Matt Popovits

https://open.spotify.com/show/42pQWZS0UirWPNDA8XNfYx?si=6d3fc013a340440c

Make It Simple Podcast with Matt Popovits and Rachel Ryder

https://open.spotify.com/show/5DgcGJkqIGLLsFKO2bcIWH?si=56604b27c81149e4

Hesham Shehab grew up in Beirut, a world of bitter animosity between Muslims and Christians, which he experienced personally in a physical attack when 7 years old. By age 13 he was recruited by the Muslim Brotherhood (Lebanese Chapter) and later fought against Christians in the 1975 war in Lebanon.

His brother was killed by a Christian militia and his response was to study by day, and by night seek to take revenge in attacks on Christian members if the militia that killed his brother.

However, hearing the Sermon on the Mount in a course of cultural studies (at American college in Beruit), the Holy Spirit brought him to faith. He heard the words “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Today, he's the founder of Salam Christian Fellowship in Chicago and reaches out to refugees and new immigrants from eight Middle Eastern countries, and shares the Gospel with Muslims in three languages.

This is Hesham's story! ---- To find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church www.stmatts.net

Salam Christian Fellowship

https://salamchristianfellowship.org

To contact Hesham Shehab

hicham@salamchristianfellowship.org

Guidelines for Sharing the Faith with Your Muslim Friends: The Dos and the Don’ts – Bernie Lutz

http://pubsearch.lhfmissions.org

Christian Witness Among Muslims – Earnest Hahn

https://www.ffmna.org/product-page/christian-witness-among-muslims-a-guide-to-understanding-the-muslim-religion

Between Allah & Jesus – Peter Kreeft

https://a.co/d/hISrWcu

The Bible is not some dusty textbook, but a veritable circus of humanity, with high-soaring saints, back-talking donkeys, left-handed kingslayers, and all the glory and gore you can fit inside the big top of this biblical tent.

And everywhere in this story is God who, in his wild and passionate love for humanity, is shepherding history toward the birth and ministry of Jesus the Messiah.

Chad Bird talks about his latest book and also reads an excerpt!

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Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church www.stmatts.net

Explore the 1517.org website

https://www.1517.org

Hitchhiking with Prophets by Chad Bird

https://shop.1517.org/collections/paperback/products/9781956658866-hitchhiking-with-prophets

The Christ Key – Unlocking the Centrality of Christ in the Old Testament by Chad Bird

https://shop.1517.org/collections/paperback/products/9781962654876-the-christ-key

40 Minutes in the Old Testament podcast

https://www.1517.org/podcasts/40-minutes-in-the-old-testament

Hidden Streams podcast

https://www.1517.org/podcasts/hidden-streams

Jesus Died and Rose For You with Chad Bird – audio podcast

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/8O7HxUeQTLb

Jesus Died and Rose For You with Chad Bird – video podcast

https://youtu.be/V4RmaDlry7c

Connection between Passover & The Lord’s Supper with Chad Bird – audio podcast

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/80aa6TeQTLb

Connection between Passover & The Lord’s Supper with Chad Bird – video podcast

https://youtu.be/AE1x89HUQJ8

Ryan Ferguson was married one year ago and ordained two weeks later.

Ed Blonski checks in with Pastor Ryan one year later to see how things are going!

Find out more about St. Matthew at www.stmatts.net

Check out these recommendations from Pastor Ryan:

A Skeleton in God's Closet by Paul Maier

https://a.co/d/2t7Gkop

More than a Skeleton in God's Closet by Paul Maier

https://a.co/d/1pINX8g

Sacred Duty by Tom Cotton

https://a.co/d/bvlDwj0

How does a pastor or other church leader actually become an effective and successful leader?

Ben Haupt is the Global Executive Director of the Pastoral Leadership Institute, a uniquely equipped organization that provides immersive leadership development for pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses to lead out the mission of God with grace, joy, influence, and impact, specific to a leader’s context.

The Reflection Podcast is produced by St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

To connect with St. Matthew go to www.stmatts.net

Ben Haupt’s social media contacts

https://linktr.ee/benhaupt

PLI – Pastoral Leadership Institute

https://plileadreship.org/

Books Recommended by Ben

Concordia – The Lutheran Confessions

https://www.cph.org/concordia-the-lutheran-confessions-a-readers-edition-of-the-book-of-concord-2nd-edition

Book of Concord – Tappert Edition

https://www.cph.org/p-1065-book-of-concord

The Spirituality of the Cross – Gene Edward Veith

https://a.co/d/gVbUrOa

Grace Upon Grace – John Kleinig

https://a.co/d/dx6BWdo

The Square and the Tower – Niall Ferguson

https://a.co/d/dx6BWdo

The Great Debate – Yuval Levin

https://a.co/d/fYtRKxG

Answer God's call sometimes doesn't go as expected but usually leads to an adventure beyond imagination.

That's the story Tim Hetzner tells on this episode.

Our Podcast music was provided by ⁠The Podcast Host⁠ and ⁠Alitu: The Podcast Maker app⁠.

Books mentioned by Tim:

This Is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival - Bishop Robert Barron

https://a.co/d/4FyMRIQ

New Testament Church Dynamics - Stephen E. Atkerson

https://a.co/d/2mZczU4

The Politics of Persecution: Middle Eastern Christians in an Age of Empire - Mitri Raheb

https://a.co/d/2Hk6zLe

The Dash: Making a Difference with Your Life - Linda Ellis

https://a.co/d/eQedM3S

The Cross and the Cries of Human Need: Messages for Lent and Every Season - Robert Howard Clausen

https://a.co/d/4E8avEg