Memorial Memories
My Godmother was born on Memorial Day – the traditional one. Thus, I always remember her around this time of the year. She has been in heaven for many years now, but back in the day when I was growing up, she lived next door with my grandfather. Their…
Our Laughing God
Yesterday morning I went to Belle Tire at 8:05 a.m. to get a slow leak in a tire fixed. They asked if I planned to leave the vehicle there for the day. I said, “No,” for my plan was to work on my laptop in their waiting area for an hour or two, and…
Our Judgmental God
It is a phrase we are all familiar with. In fact, sometimes I think these might be the most well-known – and most often quoted – words of Jesus. “Judge not, that you be not be judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged.” (Matthew…
Our Two-Handed God
Some classic Lutheran theology that is often overlooked or misunderstood describes how God rules in our world with two different hands. With his left hand he rules the world through governments. In this way he provides general order (peace)…
Cellar Dwellers
fter Tuesday night’s ninth inning debacle the Tigers woke up Wednesday morning in the cellar of the American League Central Division. Their play thus far has been disappointing to me. Meadows was a nice last-minute addition, Javy is back in the lineup,…
Afterglow
Holy Week and Easter are such a special time that I am still glowing with an emotional high nearly a week later. It is partially the nearly 400 people who worshiped with us on Easter (when you add together Sunrise, Festival, and 144 online views) – the…
Sweet Squeeze
What an 8-day week this is – more good to great stuff than one often finds in a couple months! It starts with Palm Sunday, one of my favorite annual celebrations. Then comes our Maundy (Holy) Thursday Journey to the Cross at noon and in the evening…
Patience
Thirty or forty years ago – or perhaps even longer – Roy Odgers (no, not Roy Rodgers) told me that “church work is slow.” Over the years it was often repeated to me by John H Smith (no, not John L Smith). Yet, still today, I have to keep repeating it…
A Word of Thanks
As I was making a variety of home visits over the past couple days, I started thinking about how privileged I am – that you have entrusted me to serve as your representative, and our Savior’s ambassador – in all I do as pastor of STL.
Stretching
Over the years I have always preceded my morning walk/run with a variety of stretching exercises. I twist my trunk, spread my legs and touch the floor, rotate my shoulders, etc. Years ago a doctor friend of mine emphasized how helpful and valuable this…