From the Pastor Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound(John 1:16-17) It’s a cruel irony that Girl Scout cookie sales and March Madness always seem to coincide with the season of Lent. Just when I’ve convinced myself I’m a person of modest self-discipline, it all...
From the Pastor When “More” Can Never Satisfy(Ecclesiastes 5:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:7) Juli and I had the opportunity to have some time away this past month. Many thanks to Pastor Zach and to those who filled in (Pastor Jim Stoltenberg, Mark and Megan Mantey, Bob Hirt) for me during...
From the Pastor Though the Earth Give Way(Psalm 46 ) This month marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I was too young to remember where I was and what I was doing the day that JFK was assassinated. But I’ll never forget the day the twin towers came down. Our family was in St. Louis at the...
From the Pastor A God Who Speaks(John 10:27-28) August is that traditional time of year that all thoughts turn to the new school year. After a brief time of a well-earned rest and recreation, educators and students alike jump back into their school routine. This year, those preparations are...
From the Pastor Communicating the Message(Psalm 96/Romans 10:14 ) It can seem at times that technology is not our friend. Habitual smart-phone use has been linked to diminished cognitive function. Social media postings can promote hate and be a vehicle for bullying activity. The list goes on...
From the Pastor The Need for a Quiet Place(Mark 6:30-32) We’ve all had times that life’s balance has gotten a little lopsided and out of control. I remember when I first started serving as a pastor at a small, multilingual congregation not long after Juli and I were married. I had...
From the Pastor Bearing One Another’s Burdens(Galatians 6:2a; Philippians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Many years ago, when I traveled to Europe for the first time (before Juli and I were married), I heard and read about all kinds of horrible things happening to unwary foreigners there...
From the Pastor Open Up Your Eyes to the Easter Surprise(Mark 16:6-7; Ephesians 2:4-5) It is Holy Week as I put the finishing touches on this newsletter article for April. It is not yet Easter… but considering the month ahead it is hard NOT to think about that season of the church year...
From the Pastor Is Sacrifice “Necessary”?(Hebrews 10:18/Romans 12:1/2 Cor. 9:7-8) There’s a question I used to ask those who were relatively new to the Christian faith, to test their understanding of Christian doctrine. (I no longer ask the question; it’s a sort of...
From the Pastor Under-Shepherds and the Good Shepherd Something we pastors don’t talk about very much is… well… what it means to be a pastor! The word “pastor” comes from the Latin word for “shepherd.” In the Scriptures, concrete images —not...
