You can own a red car
It was definitely the most unusual church parking lot I had ever seen. While driving past it at highway speed, it looked like all the drivers of the 50-plus car...
Another manger
One of the destinations in “From heaven to your heart” is a manger. Over the years, hymn writers and artists have portrayed Jesus’ manger in Bethlehem as ...
From heaven to your heart
When Jesus carried out his work as the promised Savior, he took a journey that ended in your heart through faith in him. “Next stop, Junction City!” the con...
God didn’t have to do that
A few years ago, on a beautiful afternoon in northern Wisconsin, I spotted some spectacular fall foliage and remarked to my wife, “God didn’t have to do tha...
Growing in grace and knowledge
True or false? On Oct. 30, 1517, Martin Luther went to sleep with the overall faith of a Roman Catholic and woke up on Oct. 31, 1517, with the overall faith of ...
God’s people grow
Continuing education offers opportunities for called workers—and the people they serve—to grow. “Faithful gospel ministers always seek to hone their skill...
Dark days in life
People of my generation will tell you they can pinpoint where they were on Nov. 22, 1963, when they heard the shocking news that President John F. Kennedy had b...
Billboard theology
Along with my wife, Cathy, I was embarking on a 1,500-mile road trip. What to do for hours and hours? How about looking at billboards along the interstate and e...
Workers working together
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Helen Keller’s observation of life in general certainly rings true when it comes to congregatio...
Will pray for food
A man stands at the end of an interstate off-ramp holding a cardboard sign. “Will work for food,” it pleads. It is a simple offer, but many people ignore it...
Examined and confirmed
If you were confirmed as a youth, what stands out about that day? Excitement? Nervousness? Relief? What about Examination Sunday? More nervousness? Suspense? Wh...
The heavenly gardener
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colo. Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, Fla. Queen Mary’s Gardens, London, England. Villa d’Este Gardens, Tivoli, Italy....
Jesus wept
It is known as the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Actually, in many Bible translations, two other verses are just as short, contain...
Confessions of faith: Quinton Jones
A Mormon’s faith journey leads him to South America and back home to Utah, where he finds the biblical truth he had been seeking. On some Sunday mornings, you...
He loves me, he loves me not
Was I imagining things, or did I read the message accurately? The bumper sticker on the car ahead of me had only a few words on it, but driving at highway speed...
Practicing Christian freedom
In the first installment of “Free in Christ,” you learn how two congregations offer adult Bible classes to their members. The approaches are diffe...
Opening doors in Advent and beyond
I grew up with Advent calendars. You know, the kind that are printed on thick stock paper and have little doors that, when opened, reveal a lamb or a shepherd o...
Thankful saints
November can be a cruel month. For people who live in the northern climes of our country, November is the bridge from the colorful landscape of fall to the cold...
Pastor and wife appreciation month
Praise Martin Luther? No, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for what he accomplished through reformers like Martin Luther. In our praise to the Lord, it is commo...
Remembering a rite
Imagine a Lutheran pastor beginning a baptism service by blowing three times under the child’s eyes and then commanding the unclean spirit in the child to dep...
Sympathy +
“I’m so sorry.” “I’m sorry for your loss.” “You have my sympathy.” I’m sure you recognize those statements, and you can probably picture a ver...
A heritage of Word and song
Can you imagine a pastor not being able to recite the words of the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles’ Creed? What would you think of people who identified thems...
A memorable Trinity Sunday sermon
My first year as a pastor was coming to an end, and I was working on a sermon for Trinity Sunday. There was just one problem: I had writer’s block. I could no...
Appreciating the clouds
A cloudy day or a sunny day? What would you rather have? I think most people would choose a sunny day. If that is you, I am hoping that by the end of this colum...