“Resurrected” people are the ones who have found a better way by prayerfully bearing witness against injustice and evil—while also agreeing compassionately to hold their own complicity in that same evil. It is not over there—it is here. It is our problem, not theirs. The Risen Christ, not accidentally, still carries the wounds in his hands and side. The question becomes: … More A better way…
My first car was a 1978 AMC Concord DL (DL for DeeLuxe!) For those unfamiliar with the AMC Concord, it was a small car, a compact, but it was a bit of a beast. I think the bodies were made out of cast iron. But the thing that my particular AMC Concord DL was known for, besides … More The Moment That Changed Everything
I think that one of the most profound phrases in all the scriptures can be found in our Gospel reading today. It is six, simple words: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” It is a humble, respectful request, made to the disciples by a group of travelers, people of Greek origin, who have apparently come a … More We Want to See Jesus
As I write this, we have daffodils blooming in our garden and the crocus plants are popping up out of the ground in front of our home. It’s a sign of spring. As I write this, our middle-school and high school students are back together in the school building, all together, for the first time…in a … More Signs
He is risen! He is risen indeed! On a normal Easter Sunday, before the worship begins, the pastors and the choir would be gathered at the back doors, the lights would be darkened. There would be a brass fanfare in the balcony and then I would shout out the words that Christians have been saying … More Not Your Average Easter
Guest blog: Pastor Cindy Halverson, our amazing and gifted visitation pastor, shares a word today… “Pray for our country. This will be the first Easter in the history of our nation that churches will not be fully operational.” The ache in his voice was real. The loneliness for worshipping together in the ways he had … More A Word of Hope
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! I hear those words and they stir memories. I remember hearing the pastor say those words when I was a child at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church. And it draws me back to memories of getting up really early for that sunrise service, the Easter lilies, and of the … More Remember…
This is our dog’s favorite position. While Kennedy does enjoy walks, car rides and the occasional opportunity to bark at and chase squirrels, deer and rabbits, we will often walk into our living room to find him down and sleeping on his side, sometimes on the floor and sometimes on a chair. I’ve got to … More A Dog’s Life
Every year, around 6 weeks before Easter, the Christian church celebrates Ash Wednesday. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on March 6. Tomorrow. You will see people walking around with black smudges on their foreheads. It is an ancient tradition that the church practices to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a season when Christians … More Ashes on our Forehead
When I was writing this sermon on Monday, I wrote about how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying on the cross for us. This is true, however when reading what I just wrote, I realized that he saves us from so much more than just our sins. This past November my mother and … More Jesus Changes Everything!
Test Driving Theology 