LUTHERAN PASTOR'S NEW BOOK TO BE GIVEN AWAY
"Christ the Life-Saver: 33 Promises from Jeremiah to Jonah Fulfilled by Christ" is being dedicated on Sunday, May 21, at the 9am service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Taylor. The book is a month-long devotional. Each day focuses on an Old Testament promise or foreshadowing which is fulfilled by Christ, together with suggested application to the Christian’s life, a prayer, and opportunity for self-reflection and journaling. The 72-page book is part of a projected volume of 366 such prophecies & fulfillments by St. John’s pastor, Dr. Richard Zeile in collaboration with Timothy Dussia, member of the evangelism board. A generous anonymous gift has made it possible for everyone attending the dedication to receive a free copy. Book-signing and refreshments will follow the service of dedication and the public is invited. If you cannot attend but still desire a copy of Christ the Life-Saver, you may telephone the church office 734.287.2080, or drop by between 9am and 1pm weekdays.
The theme of these devotions, promises fulfilled, addresses a key issue in our day of cheap talk and false promises. These Old Testament promises fulfilled by Christ show that God can be trusted, even if the present circumstance seems to belie the promise. God promised David a king who would reign forever, a promise that appeared void during the 400 years that followed the dethronement of David’s family by the Babylonian Empire. Yet in the 4th empire to succeed Babylon, Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God and Himself as that King, a claim believed by a billion people today. Dr. Zeile’s devotions demonstrate not only that this is true as history, but also what it implies for those who become part of that kingdom and accept Jesus as Lord.
Rev. Dr. Richard Zeile has served St. John’s since 2001, during which time he served on the State Board of Education, elected by the people of Michigan in 2011, retiring in 2018. He is Speaker on radio’s "Martin Luther’s Evening Prayer," heard on ten stations coast to coast, and locally on am560 WRDT (“The Word”) on Sundays at 6:00pm; and on am1440 WMKM (“Reborn”) Mondays at 8:00pm. As a Vine Reviewer for Amazon, he has posted 200+ substantive book reviews. Dr. Zeile holds degrees from Valparaiso (IN), BA in history & humanities; University of Michigan’s Rackham School, MA in education, Harvard Divinity School, MTS in church history; Concordia Theological Seminary (IN), MDiv in pastoral theology; Wayne State University, EdSpec in educational administration; and a Doctor of Ministry from Detroit’s Ecumenical Theological Seminary. He has published Sunday school curricula, devotions for Portals of Prayer & Higher Things, articles on school law in Lutheran Education, and a study of Detroit parochial school closings, When Lutheran Schools Close (Lambert Academic).
Timothy Dussia grew up in Wyandotte, discovering faith in Jesus at St. Elizabeth Church of Wyandotte. He has worked as an independent contractor for 40 years and his faith deepened when he discovered Bible recordings which he could listen to as he worked as a plasterer. His path led to membership at St. John’s and collaboration with Pastor Zeile on this devotional project.
"Christ the Life-Saver: 33 Promises from Jeremiah to Jonah Fulfilled by Christ" is being dedicated on Sunday, May 21, at the 9am service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Taylor. The book is a month-long devotional. Each day focuses on an Old Testament promise or foreshadowing which is fulfilled by Christ, together with suggested application to the Christian’s life, a prayer, and opportunity for self-reflection and journaling. The 72-page book is part of a projected volume of 366 such prophecies & fulfillments by St. John’s pastor, Dr. Richard Zeile in collaboration with Timothy Dussia, member of the evangelism board. A generous anonymous gift has made it possible for everyone attending the dedication to receive a free copy. Book-signing and refreshments will follow the service of dedication and the public is invited. If you cannot attend but still desire a copy of Christ the Life-Saver, you may telephone the church office 734.287.2080, or drop by between 9am and 1pm weekdays.
The theme of these devotions, promises fulfilled, addresses a key issue in our day of cheap talk and false promises. These Old Testament promises fulfilled by Christ show that God can be trusted, even if the present circumstance seems to belie the promise. God promised David a king who would reign forever, a promise that appeared void during the 400 years that followed the dethronement of David’s family by the Babylonian Empire. Yet in the 4th empire to succeed Babylon, Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God and Himself as that King, a claim believed by a billion people today. Dr. Zeile’s devotions demonstrate not only that this is true as history, but also what it implies for those who become part of that kingdom and accept Jesus as Lord.
Rev. Dr. Richard Zeile has served St. John’s since 2001, during which time he served on the State Board of Education, elected by the people of Michigan in 2011, retiring in 2018. He is Speaker on radio’s "Martin Luther’s Evening Prayer," heard on ten stations coast to coast, and locally on am560 WRDT (“The Word”) on Sundays at 6:00pm; and on am1440 WMKM (“Reborn”) Mondays at 8:00pm. As a Vine Reviewer for Amazon, he has posted 200+ substantive book reviews. Dr. Zeile holds degrees from Valparaiso (IN), BA in history & humanities; University of Michigan’s Rackham School, MA in education, Harvard Divinity School, MTS in church history; Concordia Theological Seminary (IN), MDiv in pastoral theology; Wayne State University, EdSpec in educational administration; and a Doctor of Ministry from Detroit’s Ecumenical Theological Seminary. He has published Sunday school curricula, devotions for Portals of Prayer & Higher Things, articles on school law in Lutheran Education, and a study of Detroit parochial school closings, When Lutheran Schools Close (Lambert Academic).
Timothy Dussia grew up in Wyandotte, discovering faith in Jesus at St. Elizabeth Church of Wyandotte. He has worked as an independent contractor for 40 years and his faith deepened when he discovered Bible recordings which he could listen to as he worked as a plasterer. His path led to membership at St. John’s and collaboration with Pastor Zeile on this devotional project.