Welcome to “Campfire Stories,” our summer sermon series. I want to think together about the power…and the importance…of stories for just a moment. Stories are central to who we are. Stories teach us important lessons…the stories we remember…the stories we tell…they say something about who we are as a people…they say something about our hearts. I have always … More Pick it Up
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
It was late at night and our caravan of cars was driving back to the camp where we worked in northwest Wisconsin. I was probably 20 or 21 years old. We’d been to Duluth for our “end of the summer” camp-staff banquet. My good friend, Brent was driving, I was riding shotgun, and 3 other camp counselors were … More Created to Tell Stories
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
Mary said, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1:49 It is one thing to name God in our lives. It is another to describe…to turn that into a story. That is what Mary does in this text. Mary acknowledges the greatness of God, calling God “The … More See & Tell
William Willimon, who is a retired bishop in the United Methodist Church, tells a great story about a friend of his who, in mid-life, decided that he wanted to learn how to fly a small plane. So William’s friend went out to their local airport and signed up for flying lessons. He was given this great … More Whisper in Their Ear
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 only remember having one conversation with my father about race. When his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps was complete, he returned home to Minneapolis, found work, and married my mom. As a veteran, he was eligible for benefits that included the GI Bill, which he used to purchase their first home. Mom and dad … More Critical Race Theory: Nothing to Fear
Human beings, by our very nature, don’t like things that are “unfinished.” We like things that are complete…whole… done. When we experience things that are left unfinished, it makes us feel like something is off-kilter…or missing…or incomplete…and it can make us feel uncomfortable. I don’t like it when walls that have been painted don’t have the trim … More Write the Next Chapter
I recently read an article about a project called StoryCorps. StoryCorps was the brainchild of a man named Dave Isay, who is a documentary film maker. Isay got permission to set up a video booth in Grand Central Station in New York City. People could sit down in this little booth, a video camera would … More From the Rooftops
Test Driving Theology 