When I read the story of Jesus calming the storm, I can’t help but think about those disciples in that boat. Remember, this was not a luxury cruise ship with shuffleboard and a breakfast buffet. They were on a small boat…it would hold maybe 8 or 10 of them. Most of them were fishermen, sure, so … More When the Winds Won’t Quit
One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up was “The Twilight Zone.” Remember that show? I loved all the stories. But there was this one episode that I’ll always remember. This episode was set in the future. It centers on a man, who was sentenced to a year of punishment for committing a crime. … More Seeing What Can’t Be Seen
Have you ever wondered what people really think about you? I mean like, after the meeting is over…after you leave the room…after you run into someone at the grocery store, or at a restaurant. After you walk away, do you wonder what they may be thinking or saying about you, behind your back? Or have you ever … More The Gospel According to Facebook
Here at church, almost every afternoon, we see student drivers practicing their driving skills under the watchful eye of their instructors in the church parking lot. They will practice winding through the rows, parallel parking and angle parking. It makes sense to me; It’s a big lot with plenty of room. I did the same thing when we … More The Middle Place
You probably know this already, but just in case you don’t, let me break some bad news top you: That Magic 8 ball you had as a kid? It didn’t really work. Sorry. Crystal balls, fortune tellers, tarot cards? They don’t work either. I’m sorry. They don’t. There are so many ways that humans try to predict…and understand the future. Because we want … More Peace, Be Still
Have you ever found yourself in the situation where you have to make a hard decision? Maybe you have to decide between doing what the rules, or the expectations say…and doing what you know in your heart, is right? When I find myself in ethical dilemmas like this, when I have to make a difficult or challenging decision, I … More What’s Your Why?
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! I’m guessing that most of you are familiar with the story of Jesus’ resurrection. After his death, Jesus was put into a tomb, and a giant stone was rolled in front of the entrance. Three days later, disciples go to the tomb, but find that it has been opened and Jesus … More The Rest of the Story
Last spring, Lori and I were in Fort Lauderdale, doing the best we could to absorb, in just a few days, enough sunshine and warmth to compensate for the Minnesota winter we’d just experienced. (Remember lastwinter?) One afternoon, we decided to take a boat tour through the canal system that ran from the ocean, to where the … More When We Are Raised Up
Humans want to be included. In fact, we have a fundamental need to be accepted, welcomed, even wanted. We long to be invited. We hope to be included. We want to belong. And so we gather. We get together in groups, or neighborhoods, or clubs, based on things we share in common. We gather in stadiums (Skol!), in arenas, in homes, … More The Day the Sky Was Torn Open
In the late 1800’s, the Union Pacific Railroad was being built. Rail tracks were being laid across the whole country to connect passengers and goods from coast to coast. It was a massive construction project. As a section of track in the western United States was being laid, the construction team came to a large canyon. It … More 40 Days
Test Driving Theology 