At the end of last week’s Gospel reading, Jesus seemed to be on the verge of starting a social revolution. He had just said, “Blessed are you who are poor, hungry, sorrowful and despised,” and then “Woe to you who are rich, fat, happy, and famous.” To the crowd who was listening, most of whom were poor…this … More When It Is Hard to Love
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
28 of us were driving up the North Carolina coast in two large vans. I was a youth minister and Habitat for Humanity was moving our youth group from one work Habitat site to another. Our two vans stopped at a drawbridge that had been raised to let a boat through…we were in a line of … More The Things That Unite
One of the books on my sabbatical reading list is “Not In It to Win it” by Andy Stanley. Stanley is the pastor of NorthPoint Church in Atlanta Georgia, a large mega-church with multiple campuses around the southeastern United States. Stanley is an author and hosts “The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast.” I am planning on … More “Not In It To Win It”
The very first person who knew that Lori and I were engaged was the sound guy at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It is true. It was Memorial Day weekend, 1994, and Lori and I had first hiked down from Minnehaha Falls to the spot where the creek enters the Mississippi River. We were sitting there, by the … More Questions Jesus Asks
One day, this will all be over. The majority of people will have received the vaccine, and we will again be free to sit close to each other, to take our masks off, and to shelve the term “socially distance.” I’m not sure when yet, but it will happen. One day. One day, this will … More One Day…
As election day approaches, the intensity of the rhetoric will continue to dial itself up. In this extremely polarized election year, there are only a small number of people who consider themselves “undecided.” And both major campaigns are pulling out all of the stops to try and get these people’s attention, and to persuade them … More Neighbors First – Politics Second
10,000 steps every day. That’s what they that we should walk to maintain health and fitness. 10,000 steps every day. It’s common now to see people wearing Fitbits, Apple watches and other devices on their wrists that count their steps, monitor heart rates and remind people to get up and move. Wellness is a good … More 10,000 Steps
“Everything is Holy Now” Matthew 6:19-24 Pastor Todd Buegler October 12 & 13, 2016 Trinity Lutheran Church Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, and from Jesus, the Son of God who gives us all we need! Amen. You may have heard, that we elected a new president this past week. I think … More Everything is Holy Now
Test Driving Theology 