Article: The Christmas Story as Told by Children

Did you see this news article about the 5th graders who righted a 60 year wrong? It reminds me that the power of grace will always be stronger than hate. Here is that story from CBS News… Reverend Gilbert and Grace Caldwell were overjoyed about tying the knot 60 years ago. They were then immediately heartbroken,…

2020 has been the year of unwelcome change. (That may be an understatement!) Change can often produce anxiety, sadness, anger, apathy, listlessness and sleepless nights. I am sure we all have experienced at least one of those symptoms this year. I know I have. This may be the most difficult year of my ministry because…

As most of you know, the evangelist and pastor Billy Graham died earlier this year. Some saw him as a saint and others saw him as a sinner. As a Lutheran, I see him as both saint and sinner. He was a child of God and he had the same struggles with sin and being…

One of the most compassionate moments in Jesus’ life happened while he was dying on the cross. The criminal crucified next to Jesus pleaded for God’s mercy when he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 At the moment this man begs for grace, he had already admitted to fact…

If I asked a 100 people, “What is the Church?” I might get 100 different answers. Everyone has an opinion. There is nothing wrong with a personal view on any subject. Regarding questions related to God, ‘what I think’ doesn’t really hold a lot of weight. When questions like these arise, I have one place…

Most of you know I am a voting member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (our church body) churchwide assembly. We gathered in Phoenix, AZ for this important work. The “national church” does its business every three years in an assembly format. In between those three years, the ELCA church council acts on behalf…