Everyday Lutherans

Today throughout the church, people around the world are stopping to honor the Saints who have gone before us.  It is on this Sunday that the church has set apart to be reminded that the church is made up of the people throughout time.  It is a reminder that each and every one of our journey’s of life and faith has an impact on others not only in our lives but for generations to come.  However, at that same moment, if we do not learn and grow into that faith, it can only take one generation to fall away from the church. For each and every one of you that are here today had someone in your life tell you that faith was important.  Perhaps that person sat down with you over the course of years to remind you over and over again, the meaning of God in your life, the depth of God’s love, and the unending grace that comes from God.  Or perhaps you merely had someone who gave you the line, “You are going!” Whatever the situation you have had, I want you to think of that person. Think about it ...

A recent article really got me thinking. ( NPR - Boot Camp for Mormon Missionaries )  How is the Lutheran church sharing their faith with others? I began to think about what would the classes that we could teach our missionaries before they went out. Law & Gospel Grace Scripture Baptism & Communion Care for our Neighbor Culture of the nation you are going to.... Language Classes How will this experience impact your faith? And Resources to help you during this time. What else would be important for a missionary to know? Just think of the experiences that our youth could be a part of.  How they could be shaped and even shape the future of the church.  We do some of this work with Young Adults in Global Missions.  Yet what if we were able to expand that and help all our members become disciples and missionaries within their own homes.  (Please understand, I am not advocating we also dress in white shirts, black pants with a black tie or other modest dress t...

Walking in to a coffee shop, you know that you will go in there to pay for a service.  The person behind the counter will make a coffee beverage of your choice with a variety of flavors, sugar, or milk to go with it.  There is a menu placed on the board that clearly notes the cost of that beverage that you choose.  From the cost of that beverage, you know that you are paying the farmer for the coffee beans, the farmer for the sugar and even the farmer who gathered the milk.  You are also paying the wage of the person who served you along with anyone who is part of the path that brought all of these things together.   When you go into a bookstore, it is much of the same thing.  You know that you shall purchase a book.  The cost of the book will cover not only the paper and printing cost, but also part of the of money will go to the author, the person who works at the bookstore, and even some to the company. Along with anyone else who may have been a par...

The results of the Ballots are in.   In the category of:   the top preachers of 2013 is  William Willimon In the category of:   t he top Christian book of 2013 is  Pastrix by Nadia Bolz-Weber In the category of:    the top Christian teacher of 2013 is  David Lose In the category of:    names that we should be looking to in the new year?  Elizabeth Eaton. Thank you so much for all who contributed in sharing your insights and opinions with their ballots. 

Have you seen the new movie entitled "The Son of God".  It is a movie that shows the entire story of Jesus life from birth to his death.  It is coming out on February 28, 2014. Will you be taking your youth group? Will you be having a Bible Study on it?

I was talking to someone following the Christmas Eve worship service.  The person was so frustrated after going to church.  They were telling me about all the changes that they witnessed.  As they entered into the church, everything seemed the same.  There was a Christmas tree, the nativity scene was sitting there with a plaque telling who donated it.  He was a handed a candle,a bulletin, but that is where he noticed the changes.  There were giant screens that had been installed so that pictures, announcements, and other things were being shown.  The music he heard was from a CD and not the organist.  He thought maybe he had entered into a different church or something weird.  He looked down at the bulletin, there was the name of the church, First Lutheran Church.  (Not the actual name of the church)  He looked around with wide eyes, hoping not to see anymore changes.  He came there to experience the same worship service that h...