Author: Ben

Maybe that title is a little misleading. This isn’t a story or a tale. If I had named this article, “An Observation of Two Churches” most of you wouldn’t take the time to read it. (Just kidding, I hope.) I am being transparent up front about this… so if you want to stop reading, this…

…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive… 2 Peter…

If you are not signed up for the Sierra Pacific Synod e-newsletter, here is what Bishop Mark Holmerud wrote about “hate” and the events of this past week. I hope you find it helpful as we discern who we are and what our response should be to those who hate. God bless, Pr. Ben “Could…

I read quite a few books over the course of a year. Most of them, I listen to. I try to be productive in the car. On average, I go through (read/listen) about 84 books a year or 7 books a month. I don’t actually count or keep a list but this is fairly accurate…

I don’t want to be a Pharisee. You know, the religious authorities and teachers of the Law of Moses that Jesus tangled with during his earthly ministry. I know that may sound like a silly thing to say but the day I entered the seminary to become a pastor, I began my training as a…

Most of you know where I am this week. I am at a summer camp called “Leadership Lab.” I am one of the directors of this 55-year-old camp. For the past 32 summers, I have returned to this place to serve. But it isn’t a place. Yes, we do rent Augustana College in Rock Island,…

I ran across another great article this week that I wanted to share with you. I found it both helpful and enlightening! Enjoy! 10 “SPIRITUAL” WAYS TO RELAX THIS SUMMER Even when you’re not on vacation! By Pastor Kathy Hawks of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington Summer — such a delicious time of…

I ran across this article in our ELCA publication “Living Lutheran” written by Rod Boriack. Boriack is a writer and editor living in Des Plaines, Ill. I learned a little bit, maybe you will too! 1 The word “Protestant” was first used formally around 1529. “Protestant” originates from the Latin word protestari, meaning “declare publicly, testify,…

Today (Thursday) is the last “kind of” day of vacation before flying home Friday. I say “kind of” because I am working on a number of things today including a sermon for Sunday. “Winging it” is not in my vocabulary when it comes to Sunday morning although it may seem like it at times! Yet,…