Posted on Wed 20 May 2015 in misc •
How would you describe the Holy Spirit?
Of course, we have some ‘official’ definitions in the Creeds that Christians have taught each other for many years. I think it’s safe to say, though, that most of us don’t think in terms of creeds all that often.
In the …
Continue readingPosted on Sat 16 May 2015 in misc •
The first thing to notice about these words of the Gospel —- as confusing as they might seem to be —- is their context: what kind of words are they? Who are they said by, and whom are they said to? When were they said? How do we receive them?
A quick …
Continue readingPosted on Sun 10 May 2015 in misc •
There’s a neat moment, as recorded in our first reading from the book of Acts, when Jesus, who has been appearing to his disciples after being resurrected, does the next unexpected thing which is that he ascends into heaven — he’s taken up in a cloud, leaving the disciples …
Continue readingPosted on Thu 30 April 2015 in misc •
I’m going to bet that you have a story about an amazing coincidence about some connection that you discovered between you and someone else. You know, a story that makes you saw, “Wow. Small world.”
[Milwaukee story]
I really like to find these connections when I talk with people …
Continue readingPosted on Tue 21 April 2015 in misc •
I’ve had shepherds on my mind for a little while now. I guess it all started a few months ago when I began to prayerfully consider accepting a call to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Names are always interesting to me…I like to think about what role …
Continue readingPosted on Sun 19 April 2015 in misc •
You, my friends, are witnesses of these things. So, let’s examine for a bit the things that we are meant to be witnesses of.
The words that I just read aloud from the Gospel of Luke describe the first disciples of Jesus, and what they were thinking, feeling, seeing …
Continue readingPosted on Sun 12 April 2015 in misc •
I was once at a workshop on legal advice for clergy, and the speaker was a former attorney who had become a baptist pastor. He was disgusted by a recent article that he had read about pastors who secretly admitted to being what the article called “secret atheists.” So, these …
Continue readingPosted on Sun 05 April 2015 in misc •
They said nothing to anyone for they were afraid.
You must be wondering, “Is that it?” I mean, it’s Easter, isn’t it? Of all the Sundays of the year, shouldn’t today’s Gospel end on a happier note? I once had a congregation member come to me …
Continue readingPosted on Fri 03 April 2015 in misc •
On Good Friday, we draw near to the cross by telling the story of the Passion from the Gospel of John. There is a balance to this. On this darkest day on the Christian calendar, as we approach the lowest point in human history, the Gospel of John, more so …
Continue readingPosted on Thu 02 April 2015 in misc •
Welcome to the Great Three Days.
Today/Tonight begins this time together that we turn our attention to the central story of our faith — the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The three days are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter which form a whole… They are connected. Together they …
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