Everyday Lutherans

We don’t know the day or the hour.  Oh, how different we would live our lives if we did know the day and the hour of the end.  The rhetoric that we hear on the even news stirs within us a reminder that we are mortal. That even here in the United States of America, we are not free the power of death.  The tragedies of fatal shootings, stabbings, and other violence comes over the news and we are stricken with fear. For many of us, we begin to look back at the good old days.  It was not like this years ago. Remember the days when the children would play down at the park, that people would get together and really care about their neighbors and those days when everyone went to church.   Why is the nation so bad right now and what it we can do to take it back there? Then comes the finger pointing of where are we to point the blame. Who or what is the problem in our nation. Yet, none of this truly solves the problem.  None of this truly brings about a change for the better in our community, n...

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...

  Have you ever had questions about the Christian faith?  Why this is so important to some and why others regard it as nothing?  Gail Ramshaw composes a wonderful book that helps answers many questions that people have regarding the Christian faith.  Ramshaw writes in such a way, a person is easily able to understand.  In this way, Ramshaw helps the reader grasp different perspectives of understanding.  Ramshaw offers countless definitions to clarify what the meaning of each word is as they are typically used within the church.     This book provides great insight for anyone who is part of the Christian faith, helping them understand more about the gathering of the books that make up the Bible.  Ramshaw discusses the different denominations that have formed, and the roots to our modern church.  This book would be ideal for any college course looking at the topics that are covered.  I could see great potential in a high school study ...

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...

In watching the Grammys, the Oscars, the Tonys, and other award shows got me thinking.  What if the church had something like this? What if we got together and celebrated some of our news worthy preachers, writers, teachers, disciples and found ways of encouraging others in their ministries? Loading... As names are added in the "Other" section, I will try and add them to the list.  Please know that you can edit your submissions.

The Apostle's Creed is one of those creeds that we continue to recite within many congregations.  Yet it is filled with old language and ideas that we do not typically think of anymore.  The early church developed this creed as a statement in which each person wanting to be Baptize would agree with before their Baptism.  This was a creed that would unite all the Christians with all the same understanding of what the three parts of the Trinity related to humanity. The first part helped people understand God as Creator.   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.  Why is this important? That God created all things within the world, things that are seen and unseen.  Things that we encounter and things that we hope for.  God is the creator and sustainer of all things. _____________________________________________ The second part helped people understand what Jesus has done and the important aspects of his life. I believe in Jesus ...

There are many conversations and understandings that relate to the Lord's Supper.  Even at the time in which Jesus was sharing the meal with the disciples, they did not fully understand what Jesus was doing and what it all meant.  Truly the meal that they were gathered was a Jewish Seder, a meal that helps the Jewish people remember and be within the history that God saved them from their time in Egypt from slavery and led them to the promised land.  The people wanted to remember the vast power and strength that God displayed to the Jewish people and the Egyptian people. It was this meal that Jesus was celebrating with his disciples.  Yet as Jesus was leading them in this meal of remembrance, when it came to certain parts, he changed the meanings.   When Jesus spoke of the unleavened bread, the bread that was prepared hurriedly to sustain the Jewish people on their journey from Egypt without yeast that would normally cause bread to rise.  Jesus said: "This ...

For some people, Baptism was something that happened when they were an infant.  They do not remember it.  They do not understand what was happening.  For others, they remember the day and event as it was something that they had a part in. Within Baptism, water is used upon the person's body.  Water is one of the most abundant resources upon the Earth and it is something that is vital to our very life.  With this resource that you use within your daily life, God combines God's own Word.  Then God commands us to share and give this gift. In Baptism, God calls us by name to be God's very own child.  As a beloved child of God, you are given forgiveness of sins, delivered from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation to all who believe in this promise of God.   It is not water that does this but God's promise and work on the cross that delivers all that is promised for you directly to you. You do not need to remember the day that the way was plac...

The Hebrew people were living in a life in which things were decided for them, their work, home, food and much was all dictated to them. The Ten Commandments were given to the people to help them with order within their life, how they should be an individual within a community and understand good and healthy relationships. Good relationships between God and you along with you and those around you. The people would need these in order to function and operate, make good decisions and ensure that God was important within their life. 
These Ten Commandments are something that can with stand the test of time. They are lessons can impact our daily life. Here is my attempt: First Commandment Honor God and what God has done for you Why is this important? God is the one who created you and sustains you. God has helped you become the person that you are today, getting through the struggles, giving you the good things, and reminding you that tomorrow is secure and taken care of. We fear God bec...

In recent years, I have noticed a growing number of larger congregations. Congregations where there are more programs, more people and more focus on keeping more people caring for the institution that is the building and not really the Gospel.  (Please note, I am not saying that all large congregations fit this but there seems to be a growing trend.)  You may notice the features: Young pastor - cause young pastors can relate to the youth and our church does not have any. Band - cause the old songs do not speak to the people that you are trying to get into your building. Focus on Life - most of the messages, classes and general direction of the congregation is helping people in their physical journey.  Right living and morals are the dominate messages being given.  Less emphasis on Jesus and more emphasis on 'What Scripture teaches us' becomes the language in which we hear more and more with the messages. Now you may be saying but our congregation has some of these th...

When you think of church, what do you think of? Honestly, write it down.  It all down.  Maybe even draw a picture, to help you capture all that you are thinking of. Now think of the church that you attend.  How are the same? How are they different? Now for the truth:  That ideal church that you first wrote about, can not happen.  For one thing, it is in your mind.  It would only happen if everyone did what you did.  You would be the god of that church. The church that you attend is not perfect.  Why?  The people who attend there are sinners and saints.  Yes even you.  Don't get me wrong you are not a bad person but within our lives, things happen, we make choices that we find out later, hurt someone else or even ourselves.  That's ok, you are human.  Along with that, when you get more than one person in a room, there are different ideas, concepts, and thoughts of what this church should be.  When that happens, there a...

I had a conversation with someone the other day and something really stuck out. "People just need to commit to the church and choose to follow Jesus."  The conversation continued and the person was longing for a church that was only within their mind.  Longing for more people to follow the message of Jesus Christ and the life that he has given to them.  This person hoped and longed for more to gather with them. The person had watched movies about what the church should be, important practices, along with studies that were published online by Biblical teachers that had their own TV show.  These teachings, movies and voices, are loud within the society, the people who cling to it are willing to put money, energy and passion behind it.   As a church leader, I have heard a lot of this, it seems that this understanding of God and the church resonates well with the people.  It makes sense, it is clear, and it explains a lot about this world.  Yet I wonder, j...

Ever since the beginning when Adam was given the power to name the creation, we have continued to label, name and define.  Now a name is a powerful thing, it is our identity, it is how people recognize, call us, and remember us. I believe it was Shakespeare who said, "A rose by any other name is just as sweet." Which is true, I mean the name that we have does not really define our characteristics. If I would list the name of a person, you may have someone come to mind because you know a person by that name.  You can think of their hair color, their height, if they are a good friend, good in school or some other characteristic about that person.  Or even an item, if I say a chair, you may think of a flat surface with a back rest with four legs for support. Yet even when we think we know of what something is does not mean that it is always that way or can not be changed.  Let's talk about a chair. A chair does not need four legs. There are times that our definitions ne...

When I have a question about something, one of the first things that I do is go to a search engine to find an answer.  My preferred one as of late has been Google.  Yet I know that there are other places to search for answers.  Within our modern time, Google or other search engines (Bing, Yahoo and really the list could go on) are the gurus that people go to for answers.  Whether it is finding a definition, explaining how to do something or even finding out the latest news.  One of the main reasons that we turn to this is because it is quick and the answers are generally the most sorted through by experts and others who have done what we are searching for.  Most of the time, thousands of results are found in less than one second. Yet when I want an answer about faith or even my relationship with God.  When I pray to God, I do not get an instant answer.  Something that satisifies my longing, calms my spirits or even gives me guidance to what I shou...