Now, as we sit here on Reformation Day, 502 years later, we may be able to celebrate these theological doctrines to be true, but something else has happened over the same course of time that has had an even greater influence on humanity as a result of Martin Luther’s reforming acts. We can think of this as the unintended consequences of the reformation.
Read MoreWe make tough decisions on a regular basis. Do we stay or do we go? Do we let go or do we hold tight? No matter the decision we make, it can often be the wrong one from some perspective. With that said, no matter what decision we make, God is with us.
Read MoreWe lie because we cannot often handle the truth about ourselves. What this says to me, and hopefully to you, is we need more grace than we realize. We quickly realize we do not have the capacity to follow any commandments and thus fall very short of God’s expectations.
Read MoreThe significance of the story this week is the focus on God’s ability to provide love, grace, and forgiveness, even to the black sheep of the family. For many who have caused great harm or pain to others, especially family members, the opportunity to reconcile or to atone for their mistakes can be incredibly powerful.
Read MoreThe key moment that changes cynical laughter to joyful laughter is when God says in Genesis 18:14: “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Our Lord is a restoring and life-giving God. God is about doing wonderful things for us and for others.
Read MoreIn a culture of the hierarchy of the past, as well as today, it is good to be the host and the ones near the head of the table. A few questions Jesus wants his fellow guests to consider are: what about those not on the guest list, or those not invited, and those not even “worthy” to be in the presence of the host?
Read MoreWhile following the rules of Sabbath is important, there has to be a rule above all other rules and that is the law of love. If someone is in need of care, and you or I have the opportunity to help, then the law of love is our greatest commandment.
Read MoreFollowing Jesus has always been a difficult challenge, but the road in front of us is like nothing we have seen before. Therefore we are to continually be reminded of our baptism, its importance, and the unique perspective it gives us on the world and our small and large decisions.
Read MoreThe bigger problem we have in our modern context is the fact that we trade time for money to fill each of these barns/accounts at the expense of developing meaningful and lasting relationships. Work, work, work takes the place of face to face conversations and long talks.
Read MoreReflect a moment on who taught you how to pray?
Was it a parent,--- a teacher, ---a pastor, ---a friend? Learning to pray is not like learning how to drive a car or to play an instrument. It is most likely not something, you can learn from a YouTube video. Learning to pray is something you do by watching others and practicing. Perhaps it’s like learning how to kiss.
Read MoreAfter landing on the moon, before the first steps, Buzz Aldrin paused for a moment with God. He asks the world to give thanks in their own way and then opens the communion kit his pastor gave him. “It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements."
Read MoreThis love for the neighbor that Jesus mentioned just before telling this story is not a friend-kind of love or an intimate-kind of love, it is the love for the other that is expressed by sacrificing one’s own resources for the well-being of another.
Read MoreA little over 365 days ago I walked through the front doors of Holy Trinity for the first time. Little did I know that much of what I experienced in the sanctuary that day would be a perfect preview of who you are.
Read MoreWhy, we do we do all of this? Why do we lift each other up, why do we reach out to others who in some cases have little to no relevance in our lives. We do it because Jesus lifted us up, in our brokenness, pain, sin and struggles.
Read MoreBut here is the dangerously tricky part. In all things worship, we are able to point to God doing the work, God’s love and gifts, God’s action and grace. But, when we leave here, and sometimes when we are still here too, the pointing shifts from what God is doing in the world to what we are doing in the world. #G2GA
Read MoreAs we wrap up our Easter season of dreaming it is time to consider how we might turn these dreams into reality. How do we go out and meet all the possibilities we see being created around us?
Read MoreLet me tell you a story of discipleship… A 70-year-old, seriously mentally ill woman with a long history of homelessness, reappeared after being missing for six months. She was in terrible shape. For days we tried to engage with her, to encourage her to bathe and change, to go into a shelter and get a bed, all to no avail.
Read MoreEmphasizing the importance of God’s encouragement for us to take the moments we have now to embrace, love and forgive the people in our lives.
Read MorePaul’s message is to not let anybody underestimate or devalue your worth because of your age. However, Paul forgot to include specific criteria, so I, a youth, will provide my thoughts on what he probably meant.
Read MoreEaster, much like Christmas, is a unique time of year full of a lot of different emotions. We are spending time together with family, eating good food, and enjoying the return of warmer weather. It can also be really hard.
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