Everyday Lutherans

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...

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...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

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...

Check out this great article posted by a friend, Pastor Frank Johnson. http://pawntoking4.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-we-rarely-go-to-church-pascals.html?spref=fb

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...

The hymnal is something that you find in nearly every church.  As one enters into the worship area of the sanctuary, a person finds the hymnal that contains liturgy, hymns (songs) and even important teachings of what the congregation believes in their understanding of the church, God and the individuals.  Within these books, people are able to learn the songs that shape their faith, begin to wrestle with important questions of God and their relationship, but also having a connection between the church and their home. For hundreds of years, people would memorize the parts of the service that were repeated over and over again, it was these parts that shaped their faith and understanding of God.  For they were on their minds and they were able to reference them as they worked, talked with others, and reflected upon their life. For hundreds of years this was the foundation of faith formation.  Then came the arrival of the printing press and also the Reformation.  On...

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...

Social Media is all around us.  It is the way we connect with friends or family.  We can share photos, videos, and even what we enjoy.  There are a variety of social media platforms and each one offers a means in which the person can present themselves or even what they want to share.  Facebook, Twitter, and wikipedia are all places in which people can share ideas and information.  Instagram and Tumblr allow you to share images with a caption.  (This feature is also on facebook.) Regardless of what interface you or other use.  It has a profound impact upon a person's life.  A person will engage their device which allows them to share with others around them or at a distant who are following them.  When Christ came to his disciples he told them to "Follow Him".  Christ engaged these men and brought them into relationship with himself and one another.  Yet that is what the church is, the very body of Christ.  Allowing people to g...

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...

How often do you pray?  And when you pray, what do you say?  Talking with people they will pray at meals and before they go to bed.  Often giving thanks for the food and the good day that they were able to enjoy.  This is a good habit to have.  However, talking to people they are also interested in praying for more.  They want to pray for others and for things that they do not know about. Sometimes it can be helpful to pray a prayer from someone else. A prayer that someone else has written to God.  By reading this prayer, by entering into this prayer, you are able to enter into some of their understanding and even get you to think about another person's perspective.  There are many devotional books that can be helpful.  I have been reading the prayers of Martin Luther.  It has given a lot of great insight into some of the teachings and understandings that this great theologian had during his life.  Surprisingly enough, they are some...

After my last post, Tom commented and brought up a different angle to the question.  "Another level to this discussion is what clergy wear and what that communicates. You mentioned the guy in the big white dress :)   There are many practices that work in theory, less well in practice.  I appreciate the symbolism of clerical swag and the theology that undergirds the pastoral calling, but in practice we are not viewed simply as "Pastor" but as a specific person. Does our garb create barriers to our message?" The garments that are worn by clergy vary within different denominations.  The garments have been changed to show the distinct understanding of a group and even what they hold as sacred.  For me as a Lutheran Pastor, I will wear the Roman cleric collar, the alb, stole and even a cross around my next.  Now each one of these garments or accessories holds great meaning.  For most though that meaning is not understood unless it is explained.  Otherw...

Within the world there are many religions. A religion "is  a   set   of   beliefs   concerning   the   cause,   nature ,  and   purpose  of   the   universe,   especially   when   considered   as   the   creation  of   a   superhuman   agency   or   agencies,   usually   involving  devotional   and   ritual   observances,   and   often   containing   a  moral   code   governing   the   conduct   of   human   affairs. or  a   specific   fundamental   set   of   beliefs   and   practices   generally  agreed   upon   by   a   number   of   persons   or   sects:   the   Christian  religion;   the   Buddhist   religion.  Each one has it's own understanding a...

Ever wonder about those really big questions about life and the Bible.  Well I had another theologian ask the question: " without saying the person is going to hell, "why do I need to do what the Bible says?".  This question really intrigued me so I simply gave answer and a small conversation followed, and here it is.   My Answer: Well this answer may use different words depends on the situation that the person is in and their age: You do not need to do what the Bible says, however, by studying the Word of God, we are able to hear what God has done for us and understand how it is that we are called into this world.   The theologian replied with:  The question on my mind is that Christians ought to live a certain way, and the problem with society is that most believe in Jesus but do not feel compelled to do anything or change the way they live. Thus, the Bible tells us we ought to do these things. As you  put it "how we are called into this world." Being cal...