Ran across this article at Living Lutheran. Does this sound like us? – or can we relate? https://www.livinglutheran.org/2017/04/church-rural-america/ “’There has been a lot of consolidation in other industries within many of our [rural] communities too. A lot of school districts have had to consolidate. Many of our services have been consolidated—rural hospitals have had […]
What do you do after God goes up to heaven? Most of us stand there figuring out what to do next – and yet in this text two angels tell them “What are you just standing around for?” – And in response the disciples of Jesus don’t just go back to work or try to […]
We are a people who are about bringing light into darkness, hope into despair, and life into places of death. From the cross and the tomb comes Resurrection. From death and despair comes hope. We get to live this in our own lives, and towards those around us, so all might have life and have […]
Every 13 minutes someone takes their life from suicide – and we often don’t talk about it, or the mental illness that nearly 1 in 5 Americans struggle against. In my own life, I have known four people who have taken their lives, and another half dozen that have attempted. My guess is there are […]
Our society has lots of talk. From news reporters to politicians to ads on TV, radio, Pandora, Hulu and Facebook, everyone it seems is trying to sell you on something. Everyone it seems has an angle or a catch. The other day I walked into a US Cellular to have them look over my bill […]
Death is taboo. Even though we each will die, most of us will avoid talking about it. Probably because it’s unpleasant to be reminded that we aren’t immortal. We can dislike talking about it and yet I wonder if our lives wouldn’t be better if we did. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday in the church. […]
The church is a gathering of people who are following God. And for many of us that involves worship on Sunday. It also is the way that we live the rest of the week…. We get to search God with all that we are, no matter what day of the week! We get to pray […]
Dear President-elect Trump, As representatives of many different faith communities, we are writing to convey our hope and prayers that you will robustly defend the dignity of all people and strive to advance democracy, human rights, and rule of law both here at home and around the world. We live in an era when fear […]
Yesterday, Dylann Roof was sentenced to death for the murder of nine people at a prayer service in Charleston South Carolina. What he did was horrid – and news agencies report that he seems to show no remorse or repentance. What I wonder is does he deserve capital punishment? Or to put it thru a […]
“Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing a life which was begotten, not made, which always existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. […]