First Hand Witnessing “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.” (1 John 1:1) We begin 1 John with this verse about witnessing. ...

The Trouble With Wanting “You shall not covet your neighbor’s stuff.” Exodus 20:17-18 (paraphrased) One sign of maturity is knowing when enough is enough (and when too much is too much). People who have recently moved or are contemplating moving in the near future become very aware of just how ...

Walking the Extra Mile One thing Lutherans are clear about. We don’t do anything because it will earn a reward from God. We don’t have to. God who is gracious and good simply loves us and offers life to us because God is gracious and good. That’s the end of ...

Can You Unplug? “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.”  Exodus 20:11 We live in a busy world. People work seven days a week. Part of the work done ...

Indeed, the whole earth is mine. But you will be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6) This week we turn to our summer scripture. It will be a chance to explore a few series of texts and dig deeper into a few important themes. It ...

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2) Jesus had told them to wait for the Spirit to come. They didn’t know what to expect – they just went where Jesus ...

Paying Attention to the Right Things When Jesus had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of ...

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6) I do a lot of ministry coaching and I find that often people who I am coaching feel a bit overwhelmed about ...

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. Acts 17:22 Life in our time is not so different from life in other times. Sure, there are new technologies and things look different. And yes, the pace of ...

And Lydia said, “If you have judged me to be faithful, then come and stay with me and my family at my house.” And she persuaded us.  Acts 16:15 With faith comes the call to new relationships. People who would likely never meet encounter each other in Christ and become ...

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;” Acts 9:13 Perhaps you have had something like this happen to you. There is something that you just know God wants you to do. And you don’t ...

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so now I send you…. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23) Easter has come and gone for the world around us. ...