Everyday Lutherans

Today is a very special day in the Lutheran church.  Today, we are commemorating 500 years since the time that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses.  This was a monumental occasion that even still influences us today. From worshiping in our own language, going to school, and even some would argue, the way that we live as a society.  As we are here today, we also look back. We have been learning about the historical events of the Reformation. However, Luther was not the last of the Reformers. Truly any Christian denomination that is not Catholic has formed because of the work that Martin Luther did.  He laid the groundwork that is still the Re-formation of the church and society today. Yet the reason that Luther wanted to have these changes or their rippled effects was because he felt that the people in the pew were not actually understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They did not understand what does it mean to be a Christian. Which makes me wonder today, do you as people in the pew u...

Today we bear witness to one of the most important days of anyone’s life, our Baptismal day.  This is the day that we are called, claimed, and declared a child of God. Just as the disciples were called by name, so are we. It is from this day and forward that we are on our journey of life and faith   It is also from this day, that we begin with the question, ok, now how am I supposed to live differently? I still need to eat, sleep, have a job, and so much else so truly what is different about me and how I shall be living my life? Now growing up, we learn from others what is right and what has worked for them.  It is Jesus himself who takes the disciples with him to show them and teach them. Today, within our gospel, we hear of the way that Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray.  This has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. Yet we often speak the words, but we should also be reminded of what those words really mean for each and every one of us that say them. Martin Luther emphasized and...

How many of you have children or ggrandchildren who are constantly staring down at a device?  During the time of driving from one place to another, spending time for the holidays or perhaps some other event?  A person’s attention is on their phone and not the people who are surrounding them. The person may be talking to someone in the room through the device, perhaps several thousands of miles or even just in the next community.  Now relationships are important, to connect with another person and be able to share your thoughts, your dreams, your emotions, and who you are as a person is important to be healthy. However, when you are so busy with something that you are not honoring the people who are around you or the aspects of the world that may harm you, you are just too busy.  Especially when all of your truly does not lead to anything that productive. So perhaps you take a look at your own calendar.  What is it filled with? Work, meetings, sporting events, time with friends, time to...

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...

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...

When I was a kid, I grew up thinking that God was this old man with a long white beard.  He sat on a big throne and had a lot of people who were singing around him.  But I was always afraid, I thought that God was one who looking out for the things that I was doing wrong.  Yet then Jesus would come and tell me things were going to be ok.  That God had been sitting on the throne for a long time but really he meant well and loved me.  As time went on my understanding of God grew, as it should because my relationship with God grew as well. I began to realize how that understanding of God was so true.  God wanted what was best for me and wanted me to realize the LOVE that He truly shared for me. Yet in my teen years, while your whole body and world seem to be put into this blender of reality and nothing seems to work out right.  You can also begin to wonder, doubt, and be down right frustrated with God.  For these two voices of God looking out for wha...

Within the Bible, the beginning says that God created the heavens and the earth along with that, God parted light from darkness. In the beginning….Here we are brought to the very beginning to understand how and why God created this universe and even you.  Within recent years, many have declared that the Big Bang Theory is the most probable theory of how the universe came into being.  However, these two theories then are not in opposition with one another but these two understandings of creation. Couldn’t God create this universe through the means of the Big Bang? What if God started the Big Bang and also created the various life forms within the world?  (How much time determines which theory but then again does time really matter in understanding the world compared to ones lifetime.) So what does that creation have to do with us?  EVERYTHING!! The creation is still happening all around us. Each year, we bear witness to the birth, life, death, and even resurrection wi...

It is very important for a church to have a website, something simple and basic for guests and visitors who are new to the area and are not familiar with how the church functions. In order to do this, you don't need to spend a lot of money, in fact, you really don't need to spend any but you do need to spend some time on it.  Before you do anything, you will need to decide what you want on the webiste.  Do you want times of service? Contact information?  Directions to the building?  Perhaps some of the things that are going on that the person could get involved in.  Now that you have an idea of what you want to have on your website, you will need to figure out what is going to be the best means of being able to update the information.  There is nothing worse than a website that has out of date information.  With these two factors in mind, you can then figure out what is going to be your best way of creating the website. Weebly - This is a great option...

Three days after Jesus' disciples witnessed him dying on the cross, the women went to go and care for his body and prepare it for final burial.  However when the women went to the tomb, they found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus gone.  A messenger, an angel of God, told them that Jesus was not among the dead but is now among the living.  Jesus had been Resurrected. How did they react?  Like many of us do, they were shocked, amazed and basically confused.  Even among the disciples there were those who did not believe.  Not until Jesus appeared to them and they were able to see the wounds upon Jesus with Jesus living right before them once again. Then Jesus tells these men and women to go and share this news with everyone.  They do even when they were confronted with death, they would not go against the message that they knew to be true. So what was accomplished here within the resurrection?  Well that depends greatly on the faith tradit...

The Lord’s Prayer is one of those all encompassing prayers that you can pray whenever you need to.  The prayer was taught to the disciples within the Garden of Gethsemane. However, the prayer is one that embraces Jewish teaching from many of the Old Testament books.  With Jesus giving this prayer to the disciples, we bear witness to full knowledge that Jesus holds of the teaching from God. Even the unique relationship that we have with God now, that he is present among us.  Within this great prayer, there is one line that I would like to focus on for this season.  “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” First, we should probably talk about the word trespasses.  We often think of it in the verb form: Enter the owner's land or property without permission.  Yet it is also a noun: A voluntary wrongful act against the person or property of another, especially. unlawful entry to a person's land or property without ...

I am sure many people wish a burning bush moment within their life.  A time in which things are clear and God is calling you to do something.  However, think about that, what God was calling Moses to do was to stand up against people whom he called family and release the new family that Moses just realized he was a part of.  Moses was able to do wonders within the world but through those wonders thousands of people suffered. Alright so let's try a different way, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Well then that would you mean that you have to take the time, read the stories, understand them and figure out how they can help you in your current situation. Not only that but make sure it is actually God's Will and not your own that is guiding you. There are many helpful resources to help you as a church figure out what it is God is calling you to do within the community.  It is also important for you as God's people to pray and reflect to unde...

This question was raised by a confirmation student. While I wrestle with this question, it is one that all people wrestle with. There are evil things that happen all around our life. A fire will destroy someone's home, a flood will destroy farm lands and the death of a loved one. These are all terrible things that happen within the world around us. Yet is God the one who causes these events? I would argue that God does not however, God has the power to stop them. This is quite the distinction. For the original cause did not come from God, such that we know. For God knew the difference between good and evil. This was something that God did not intend for us to know. Yes God created us, happy, healthy and enjoying the world around us. It was not until we disobeyed God and learned the difference between good and evil that suffering truly began. For the punishment for disobeying God is death. However, God had mercy on us. Instead of killing us out right, God allowed us to l...

Have you ever thought about Jesus looked like?  I have seen many paintings of Jesus.  Sometimes with flowing brown hair, like he had just had it shampoo and conditioned along with trimmed at a salon.  I have seen him in paintings with no dust or even a scratch on him.  These paintings were not of the actual person.  Let's be honest, Jesus was a peasant, a commoner who would not be worthy enough or have the wealth enough to actually afford an artist to do the work of painting him.  However, more importantly, painting of people was not something that they did during the life of Jesus   People were more likely to have their faces carved into coins, statues or other mediums in which actual likeness could be achieved.  So none of the paintings that we have of Christ are actually of him but that does not mean that they do not give us insight into the person of who Christ is and what he did look like. Jesus probably did have a beard, long hair ...

Growing up, I had always seen corn and soybeans.  While I spent the year in Wisconsin, I got to see the tobacco being harvested.  Well this year came another treat. I got to see the Beet Harvest.  These beets would be picked, piled and then taken to the factory so that they can be processed into sugar. So here is my experience.  I talked with one of the farmers in the congregation and he said I could see it.  I arrived out in the field when they had just loaded a semi.  That's right the semi drove right next to the tractor and was loaded up with the beets.  Since the tractor was at a stand still, I hopped into the cab of the semi and road along to see where the beets go after they are done in the field. Getting in to the cab, I started to talking to the driver.  He is also a member at the congregation.  So after catching up on what's new at his place, he started telling me about the process.  He takes his load over to a big pile.  E...

Have you ever wondered what the purpose a sermon is suppose to be? I mean this man or woman is standing up there, talking to a crowd of people.  What gives them the authority?  Why do they talk and talk about things that don't necessarily make sense or interest me?  What's the point? I have a confession to make, when I was growing up, I was that kid who did not always pay attention during the sermon.  It would not hold my attention.  I would either look at the stained glass windows, draw on the bulletin or there were some Sundays that I would actually do the head bang. (You know that time when you are trying to stay awake but are fighting falling back to sleep and your head falls down and whips back up. If you don't know what I am talking about, go to your next service and sit in the back and look around more than likely there will be one.)  Sadly this is still the case, although not when I am preaching.  For even when I hear some preachers, I still be...