Let’s be a John 3:17 People! – A stewardship sermon

This weekend (March 11th & 12th), I had the joy of visiting First Lutheran Church in Kearney, Nebraska. Pastor Sylvia Karlsson invited me to come, preach, and visit, as part of the congregation’s stewardship season of focus during Lent. Over the course of the weekend, I preached the following sermon, visited with many different people, and also had a fun evening of a barbecue stewardship dinner … Continue reading Let’s be a John 3:17 People! – A stewardship sermon

How might we show the #Fruit of the Spirit?

As part of my Lenten journey this year, I will be blogging daily using the themes or words created by the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin in partnership with other ELCA synods for “Lent Photo a Day.” The word for today, March 7th, is “Fruit.” Did you grow up hearing the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” I’m not sure I ever believed … Continue reading How might we show the #Fruit of the Spirit?

Gift

As part of my Lenten journey this year, I will be blogging daily using the themes or words created by the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin in partnership with other ELCA synods for “Lent Photo a Day.” The word for today, March 3rd, is “Gift.” I recently had a birthday, and I heard from many friends and family through cards, letters, phone calls, text messages, emails, … Continue reading Gift

How are you #Called?

As part of my Lenten journey this year, I will be blogging daily using the themes or words created by the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin in partnership with other ELCA synods for “Lent Photo a Day.” The word for today, March 2nd, is “Called.” On this second day of Lent, now that the ashes have been washed from our foreheads, I am thinking about what … Continue reading How are you #Called?

Building Bridges, Not Walls

This past weekend, I was consecrated as a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It was a wonderful day, full of celebrating the work of the Holy Spirit. I was excited to write all about it and share my joy this week here on the blog. That will have to come in a later post. Because today, I am about as a joyless … Continue reading Building Bridges, Not Walls

The “Yes, And” Church

There’s been a great deal of discussion over the past couple of years online, in teaching, leading, and writing, about the the distinction between a “Yes, and” and a “Yes, but,” culture and approach. This morning it hit me, that I feel called to serve a “Yes, and” Church, and not a “Yes, but” Church. I believe I am part of a “Yes, and” church … Continue reading The “Yes, And” Church

Reconciliation and Repentance

I went to bed last night with the terrible news of yet another young black man being shot and killed by police. What made this worse was that this was basically from the neighborhood I called home for five years in Minnesota. In the following, I am sharing a post from Bishop Patricia Lull, Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran … Continue reading Reconciliation and Repentance

You Are Witnesses to These Things

The following is the majority of my sermon for this past weekend at Messiah Lutheran Church. We celebrated and observed the Ascension of Our Lord, hence my sermon is based on the ending of Luke and the beginning of Acts.  “You are witnesses to these things…” You are witnesses. The apostles were witnesses, and so are you. What Happened? On that day, the apostles stood looking … Continue reading You Are Witnesses to These Things

Why I Stayed

About a year ago, there were a series of posts and articles written about Millennials and the church. Many times they were titled, ‘Why I Stayed.” Though this post might be related to that conversation, this isn’t my focus.  A few months ago I was asked a simple but profound question by another ministry leader. He knew of my story and the patience needed to … Continue reading Why I Stayed

130 Years of Ministry

My home congregation, First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo, Washington turned 130 today. That’s quite a history. As it celebrates its birthday, and continues to serve in changing ways and a changing context, I wanted to share a quick post of gratitude for this congregation that God has led and continues to call and guide in Kitsap County. It is the congregation where I was baptized … Continue reading 130 Years of Ministry