This Changes Everything The theme for this year’s ELCA National Youth Gathering is “This Changes Everything.” We have five young people preparing to go to Houston, Texas at the end of June. It is interesting that the organizers of this national event chose to use the demonstrative pronoun “this” without a clear antecedent. I hope […]
The Promising God [Romans 4] 13The promise that he, Abraham, would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, that is through any action, but through the righteousness of faith or trust. 14If it is the adherents of the law, be they Jews or Judaizing Christians, who are […]
O Little Town of Bethlehem How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend […]
Faith and Good Works For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand […]
Grow Into Christ “The human soul is like a ship going up stream; it is not allowed to stay still in one place, because it will drop away to the lower reaches unless it strives to gain the upper.” The care of souls is like guiding a ship going up stream. The current is strong. […]
A New Course for Personal and Spiritual Growth Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, What is the Church, really? At least one answer to that question is this: The Church is the body of Christ on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians […]
My Soul Thirsts for You O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is […]
Motivation and Discipline I have been thinking recently about “motivation” as part of Empowering Leadership. “Motivation” is sometimes misunderstood, and is closely connected to the discipleship to which we are called by the Great Commission. To Christians who came before us Jesus said, “Make disciples of all by going, baptizing, and teaching them to obey” […]
No judgment. Yes, grace and growth Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word. When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your […]
Resolution [re-zə-ˈlü-shən] noun 1 : the act or process of resolving . . . 3 a: something that is resolved ; b : firmness of resolve (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resolution) Do people still make New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps that is not what they are best called. Maybe they should merely be called “goals” or “plans.” What are your […]