I am in the middle of a book about Abraham. Abraham is the ancestral father of all Israel. Indeed, he is our adopted father as well! (See Romans 11:17-18) Three major faith traditions find their roots in Abraham. Judaism and Christianity through Isaac the son of Abraham. Of course as a Christian, we are adopted…
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be…
Does the thought of 2024 excite you or scare you? Or is January 1 just a date on the calendar with no significant meaning? I can remember struggling to write the correct year on checks back when I wrote checks for everything. Luckily, using a debit card eliminates that worry! For me personally, a new…
Last weekend, I preached a message on overcoming shame. I mentioned an article that landed on my phone which is very helpful in terms of processing negative feelings of any kind. Below is that article in its entirety. By Stephanie Harrison As a researcher on the psychology of happiness, I’ve seen how this can create problems for…
For God’s anger lasts only a moment, but the Lord’s favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 These words reflect the thoughts of a songwriter in ancient Israel. This psalm could be almost 3000 years old. Their experience of God tells them God’s goodness…
What do these things have in common? Taking a trip A home cooked meal Taking a test Getting married Welcoming a newborn into your home A new school year Throwing a party Christmas This appears to be a random list without a thread connecting them, but there is an association. All these things either take…
I am back from Chicago where I attended my first Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Church Council meeting. I now am on the church council for the entire ELCA. I am honored to fill this role for the next two years. I am happy to report that it is good that Community Lutheran Church…
In 2015, the smartphone company Samsung came up with an idea for new advertising campaign emphasizing connection through communication. The commercial revolves around Muaharrem, a deaf man in Istanbul who uses sign language to communicate. Muaharrem spent every day communicating with people in his town the best he could. He may have gotten by in…
I have an announcement to make… No, it is nothing bad. Earlier this fall, our bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod asked if I would be willing to serve on a committee. A very special committee. Before I tell you what it is, I want to explain a few details first. Our church is affiliated…
During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances. Prussia was one of the few countries to resist Napoleon Bonaparte’s quest to overtake all of Europe and beyond. King Frederick William III felt the…
