A thought: The Christ
John A. Braun Christianity is not just a label, a category, or a space to be filled in for some pollster. We are named after Christ. The shepherds heard the…
A thought: Trusting what we cannot see
Trusting what we cannot see Seeing the little baby in the manger at Christmas fills us all with joy and wonder. It is a universal experience because we have all…
A thought: Partners
Partners I admit that sometimes when I read the epistles of the New Testament, I easily skip over the first couple of verses. In those verses, Paul, who wrote most…
Heirs of heaven
John A. Braun What does God see and know about us humans? We often think that he has forgotten us, but God sees all that we have done, all that…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 7
Christians have dual citizenship. We are children of God and part of his kingdom, yet we still call this world home. John A. Braun We got off the plane and…
Hope
John A. Braun The presence of Thanksgiving at the end of every November helps us to pause and count our blessings. That exercise will be repeated this year as we…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 6
God warns us about being drunk and encourages us to practice self-control. John A. Braun Some say the Bible is ancient, out of touch, and old-fashioned, but they have not read Paul’s two lists in Galatians. Read the section again (Galatians…
The Avengers and two lions
John A. Braun Captain America; Thor; Iron Man; and of course, Thanos. Along with a host of other comic book heroes, they have helped Marvel create one of the most successful and lucrative series of films. This…
Confessions of faith: Bush
The message of Jesus finally starts to grow after years of neglect. John A. Braun “My family was not religious. We rarely, if ever, attended church,” Richard Bush remembers. Sundays meant something other than going to church. Yet Richard’s…
Faith in Jesus
John A. Braun I believe. I say those words regularly with others as we confess what we believe. I believe in a specific God who has stepped into history for all humanity. When…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 5
Dissentions and factions create roadblocks along the Christian Way. John A. Braun Paul’s acts of the flesh include some hazards we must avoid on our journey. He lists them as dissensions, factions, and envy. But he does…
Pray for workers
Jesus reminds us to pray for more workers in his harvest of souls. John A. Braun Northwestern Publishing House hosts a luncheon every spring honoring graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary,…
God’s policy of love
John A. Braun The song “Jesus Loves Me” has come from the voices of little children for as long as I can remember. Their voices move us to smile and to appreciate the lesson they are…
Walk by the Spirit: Part 4
Solomon wrote, “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). Yet sadly those on the Christian Way easily turn down the road to jealousy and anger. John A. Braun Road rage is a relatively…
Lord, have mercy!
John A. Braun On most Sundays, after we are reminded that we begin worship in the name of the almighty holy and majestic Triune God, we confess our sins. Together we begin, “Holy…
Walk by the Spirit : Part 3
Quarrels and hatred come so naturally from our sinful nature. Yet our patience comes from Jesus. John A. Braun On our Christian journey to heaven, signs often point us to paths that lead away from our destination. Paul…
Light in the darkness
John A. Braun The longest day of this year will be June 21—the day of the summer solstice. In the United States, we will have about 15 hours of light. The sad realization is that…
Christian roots
Old photos lead to a special golden wedding anniversary moment. John A. Braun The journey all started early in their marriage with a box of old family photos in the attic—a big box,…
Walk by the Spirit : Part 2
In spite of the First Commandment, idolatry still persists in our world. John A. Braun Idolatry? Today? Yes! And in familiar and unfamiliar forms. Paul walked the streets of Athens and noted the statues of idols…
Why?
John A. Braun From the beginning of his life, Jesus was the focus of opposition. Herod wanted to rid his little part of the world of this child whose birth had been…
Walk by the Spirit : Part 1
We are surrounded by immorality, but we are different. In the love of Jesus, we find strength to love. John A. Braun When the Holy Spirit brings us to faith, he sets us…
The shroud
John A. Braun On more than one occasion we have been delayed by a serious accident on the freeway. At some of those scenes, emergency personnel erected canvas tarps to…
A Lutheran Lent
John A. Braun On Ash Wednesday in some churches—some Lutheran churches too—ashes are placed on foreheads as a sign of repentance. For many, Lent is giving up some indulgence—like candy, greasy food, or even red meat—for 40…
Where is God?
John A. Braun We were at a restaurant for breakfast with family after church. As we talked and waited for our food, I noticed two women in a booth nearby.…
Turning pages
Our lives are a succession of pages filled with many events and people. At the beginning of each year we turn to a blank page and stare at it, wondering…