I was recently asked what I thought being Lutheran was all about. Here’s my ever-evolving answer. Compassion for the Human Condition Lutherans understand humans as simultaneously saint and sinner, meaning that no one is perfect, no one can boast of being better than anyone else. Instead, we know that we are all complex, imperfect human […]
Sunday, September 8 – Mark 7:24-37 also Isaiah 35: 4-7a, Psalm 146, James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17 “Eraser” by David Hayward | Naked Pastor You may have seen one of my favorite cartoons. It’s just a black and white sketch created by David Hayward (who goes by “Naked Pastor”) that shows a bunch of people with
Sunday, August 25, 2024 – John 6:51-58, also Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:9-14, Ephesians 5:15-20 In the early to mid-1800s, large groups of people left their Eastern and Midwestern homes to migrate west to California and Oregon looking for opportunity. They’d arrive in Independence, Missouri and form wagon trains of multiple families to travel together. Almost
Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Gospel John 6:51-58, also Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:9-14, Ephesians 5:15-20 Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk and religious teacher, born in 1863 who introduced Hinduism and yoga to the West. He traveled to the United States in 1893 and spoke at a huge event in Chicago called the Parliament of
Sunday, July 28, 2024 – Gospel, John 6:1-21, also 2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-18, Ephesians 3:14-21 We’ve recently started a Healthy Eating group here at Redeemer. Several of us meet each week to learn about healthy eating and support each other in our health goals. One of the topics that has come up is the
Sunday, July 21 2024 – Gospel, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, also Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Ephesians 2:11-22 What draws people to Jesus? That’s the key question I want us to think about today. Now when I was last with you, two weeks ago, remember that Jesus had just gone back to his hometown where he experienced
Sunday, July 7 – Gospel, Mark 5:21-43. Also Ezekiel 2:1-5, Psalm 123, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 How do you handle rejection? I must admit that I don’t handle it well. I’ve felt rejected so many times over the years that whenever I feel like it might happen again, I just want to curl up
Sunday, June 30, 2024 – Gospel, Mark 5:21-43. Also Lamentations 3:22-33, Psalm 30, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 One of the most amazing stories of healing I ever heard came from a medical doctor named Norm Shealy. It was in a workshop in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a place known for its healing waters, that Dr. Shealy shared
Sunday, June 23, 2024 – Gospel, Mark 4:35-41. Also Job 38:1-11, Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 In 1991, a fishing boat called the Andrea Gail set out for the Great Banks of Newfoundland from Gloucester, Massachusetts, for a late-season sword fishing trip. Having just returned with an empty vessel, Captain Billy Tyne convinced his crew
Sunday, June 9, 2024 – Gospel, John 3:1-17. Also Gen 3:8-15, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1, Mark 3:20-35 One of my first jobs when I moved to Marietta, GA after college was in sales. Our product was halon fire extinguishers, and we learned a very impressive way to demonstrate their effectiveness. We used to pour
