Everyday Lutherans

Comics are one those powerful things that often can convey a thought, idea, a full story and even render a complex situation seem simple.  Yet it is also through just a picture that a person can bring in to a story elements that were never even included but have been brought into the understanding of the reader because of the society in which the story or event is taking place.   Here is an example within the first comic.  There is no real truth to each one of us having a devil or evil figure or an angel or good figure attempting to influence within our lives.  By the way, if you do see these, please let me know.  However, this understanding does draw us into the understanding that within the world, we face choices and decisions that are good and bad. They can help us, harm others, or anything in between the two or combination.  This understanding has since been a part of people's reading because it makes logical sense.  They may even follow into the w...

The whole concept of church planting was one that I explored while I was in seminary.  I joined in the various conversations and understood many of the necessary things that needed to take place. For often, a new church is started within an area with the help of the synod (the larger church organization that is right above a congregation).  It takes a lot of work and time to build the relationship and organize the various events to invite those who are either never been to the church setting or have been hurt by the church.  Within a church plant, there is often a planting of seed within a given community and hopes that with nurture, the leader would be able to reach out to people and build a sustaining community. . A popular model that has been happening in a number of places as well is that a congregation will actually give birth to another congregation within the same community.  This often comes around when either the facility that current congregation is unable ...

The Future of American Religion | Via Meadia : I have seen a lot of the same articles.  Not that they are the exact same but their message is the same.  While I agree that the culture has changed. I think that the basis is still the same. People are looking for a genuine relationship with not only a community but also with God. I think that we need to get back to a wholistic approach to be Christians. That we realize that every part of our life has to do with our Christian journey. So while the "old ways" are not going to look the same. I think that we can learn a great deal about them so that while we are cutting off the fat from the meat, we are not throwing away a lot of the good meat along with it. I mean if we continue to talk about how we are shrinking and the church needs to change or it will die.  Then we begin to grasp for anything that draws people.  However, more often than not, these messages display that we are not being faithful and placing our tr...