Seeing Emmanuel- Our God who has come into the world and is with us!

This post first appeared on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 on the Nebraska Synod Blog. Merry Christmas, People of God!!! What joy it is to think about God’s presence with me and with all of you on this most holy of days. Admittedly it’s been a hard year. It’s been a weird year. It has not been one that anyone could have dreamed of, imagined, … Continue reading Seeing Emmanuel- Our God who has come into the world and is with us!

Living in Gratitude- in at least 7 personal life ways

If you read this blog often, you know that gratitude has become a regular sub-theme of sorts here for me. So when I saw a friend ask the other day for strategies for promoting gratitude in daily life, I decided to think about what my daily gratitude practices look like. I’ll admit, I am human. Some days I lose sight of, or at least take … Continue reading Living in Gratitude- in at least 7 personal life ways

God’s Story, Our Stories, and God’s On-Going Story for Us

It was a great joy to be invited to preach today (March 11, 2018) at Salem Lutheran in Fontanelle, by my wife and the congregation’s pastor, Allison. What follows is the majority of the manuscript I preached from, based on the revised common lectionary’s appointed gospel, John 3:14-21, and epistle, Ephesians 2:1-10 for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Lent 4B). Grace and peace from God … Continue reading God’s Story, Our Stories, and God’s On-Going Story for Us

Christ’s Invitation to Rest, Abundant Life, and our Response

Today I had the privilege to be invited to preach and lead worship, as well as a Bible Study on part 3 of the five gifts of discipleship, by my friends and colleagues Pastors Rebecca and Rich Sheridan at Bethel Lutheran Church in Omaha. Thank you for the invitation friends! What follows is the majority of the manuscript that I preached from. It is based … Continue reading Christ’s Invitation to Rest, Abundant Life, and our Response

The rain falls & the thunder shakes

I was able to be home today worshipping at Salem Lutheran. That means that I was also able to help out a bit for worship on piano. Our organist had the idea to play and sing “God Bless America” as the postlude today acknowledging Independence Day in the United States on Tuesday. She invited me to join and help lead the song on piano while … Continue reading The rain falls & the thunder shakes

Preaching on Stewardship- July 2, 2017

Every Monday I share a few tidbits, nuggets, or ideas for incorporating some stewardship themes in your preaching. This week’s stewardship nuggets based on the appointed readings by the Revised Common Lectionary and Narrative Lectionary are as follows: Sunday July 2, 2017: Revised Common Lectionary- Time after Pentecost 4A Lectionary 13 First Lesson: Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 Second Lesson: Romans 6:12-23 Gospel of Matthew … Continue reading Preaching on Stewardship- July 2, 2017

Life as a Disciple, is Life as a Steward- a joyful one, but not always easy!

I was invited to lead worship and preach today at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah, Nebraska by Pastor Tyler Gubsch. Thank you Pastor Tyler for the invitation, and to the whole congregation for the warm welcome. I shared some words of gratitude about mission share and greetings within the announcements earlier in worship, and therefore, omitted them in the sermon that follows. The message was … Continue reading Life as a Disciple, is Life as a Steward- a joyful one, but not always easy!

Reflect, think, pray, and be

On this week that we move from the shouts and songs of Hosannas, to an Upper Room and a garden, to a sham of a trial and shouts of “Crucify Him,” to the cross, the tomb, and then another garden around the tomb… Allison and I took a little time yesterday afternoon to revisit a beautiful place that is special to us. With my mother-in-law … Continue reading Reflect, think, pray, and be

Clean

As I have done in previous Lents I am sharing a daily reflection as part of my Lenten discipline. This year I am using the “Wilderness Wanderings” theme compiled by the “Lent Photo a Day” group. The word appointed for February 25th was  “Clean.” Growing up at my home congregation we used to sing a version of “Create in Me a Clean Heart O God,” after … Continue reading Clean

The Fox, Hen, and Vulnerability- a sermon for Lent 2C

The following is the majority of the text that I preached from at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hazel Dell and North County this past weekend, based on the revised common lectionary passages appointed for the Second Sunday in Lent (Lent 2C). The primary text was the Gospel of Luke 13:31-35, with some references to Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, and Psalm 27.  “Go and tell that fox for … Continue reading The Fox, Hen, and Vulnerability- a sermon for Lent 2C