Category: Luther
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All Things Made New
This past weekend, we celebrated the Reformation. Reformation Day, which is actually today, October 31st, gives us the chance to pause, and reflect not only on our heritage, but to think forward, and to wonder about how God continues to work in the world and in our lives today. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his…
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100%
Admiral James Stockdale was the highest-ranking American POW held during the Viet Nam War. He was a prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton from 1965 to 1973 and during his imprisonment, was tortured over twenty different times. In an interview, Admiral Stockdale was asked, “Admiral, how did you make it? How did you survive so long in such…
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Why We Vote…Not How We Vote
Americans head to the polls tomorrow for an election that many believe will be one of the most significant elections held during a non-presidential campaign year. Our nation has become increasingly polarized, and this election will be critical in determining the future course of our national policy. Stepping into this election, there are two important…
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Romans in 29 Days
In Trinity’s “Messenger” newsletter for August, I wrote about the experience of re-discovering the Book of Romans this summer as a part of our “Love Letters” summer sermon series. Here is a 29 day plan for reading the whole book. You can get it done before the school year begins and still have a few…
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Who To Vote For?
I’ve noticed an almost universal reaction when the topic of the elections, especially the presidential election comes up. There is a sigh…sometimes the rolling of the eyes, and the statement: “I can’t WAIT for this election to be over.” Election exhaustion. We’re all there. It’s a long enough process as it is, but this year…
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Luther’s Prayer for a Charitable Disposition
This is Martin Luther’s prayer “for a charitable disposition.” It seems that it is especially appropriate during this election season. Please join me in this prayer: “God, give us true obedience and perfect resignation in all things temporal and eternal. Preserve us from the cruel vice of slandering, defaming, judging and condemning others. Oh that…
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Luther’s Kitchen
I returned home last night from Germany. I was there to see and study the sites of the reformation and the life of Martin Luther. It was an amazing trip, and over the next couple of months, I’m looking forward to sharing some of the stories with you. (And I’m very excited to bring a…
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From Darkness to Light
Thoughts from Germany: From the Service of Light, in “The Order of Evening Prayer.” “In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening, and the day is…
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Looking for Luther
Tomorrow, I will begin a journey from Owatonna to Wittenberg, Germany. I’ll leave home around 8am. 17 hours, Four airports, 1 bus ride and 4,813 miles later I will arrive in Wittenberg. Once I land in the Berlin airport, I’ll be joining up with a group of pastors and church leaders and we’ll begin a 7…
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Finding Balance
This is another in the series of posts responding to “Faith and Life Questions” that were asked last fall. This is a 2-part question: 1) Q: “How do you find balance between fully using the talents God gave and being exhausted?” 2) Q: “Packers or Vikings?” Great questions. And in your first one, you nailed…