I step out of the blinding, scorching summer heat and enter the second set of steel doors into the prison chapel. Takes a minute for my eyes to adjust enough to take in the room. There's a guy by the altar. His back was to me and he didn't look up, but then again the … Continue reading The Prison Chapel Porter
Vacation! All I Ever Want Is…
"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will … Continue reading Vacation! All I Ever Want Is…
The Tom Sawyer Approach
"Tom Sawyer... skips school to swim and is made to whitewash the fence the next day as punishment. He cleverly persuades his friends to trade him small treasures for the privilege of doing his work. He then trades the treasures for Sunday School tickets which one normally receives for memorizing verses consistently, redeeming them … Continue reading The Tom Sawyer Approach
Spiritual Meals-Ready-to-Eat
Old school Lutheran pastors were taught to prepare their sermons by first translating the texts for themselves. I'm not even 50 yet, and already I find myself among the last living generation of those taught by such old school means. We barely had VCRs when I was in seminary. Blockbuster movie rental (the kind you … Continue reading Spiritual Meals-Ready-to-Eat
Faith Alone Works…In Freedom and Delight
God has given us great Freedom by faith in Christ and works in us a new Delight in the Law of the Lord. These two he joins together: Christian Freedom and Delight. Yet some separate them from one another, with devious and dismal result called Antinomianism. Antinomianism ends up denying the identity of God and … Continue reading Faith Alone Works…In Freedom and Delight
Faith Alone Works…
God doesn't need our good works, but our neighbor does. Now the 2017 Lenten season arrives in this 500th Anniversary year of the Lutheran Reformation. Martin Luther restored the pure preaching of the Gospel to the people of God: that we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone--apart from works of the Law. … Continue reading Faith Alone Works…
Why Tithing Will Never Impress Jesus
This isn't a Sunday School lesson about money. This is about Jesus, and the generosity of faith. The quote above is often ascribed to Luther, though I was unable to trace down the exact source. Authentic or not, the principle holds that a genuine faith in Jesus changes more than our personal philosophy or sentimental … Continue reading Why Tithing Will Never Impress Jesus
Forgiveness and Life in The Aftermath of Evil
Review of Sunday School lessons on 2 Samuel 12:1-23 for Sunday, 29 January 2017 The Bible simply allows no room for pretense that God's people are inherently better than others. Still, some promote a sort of Christian fantasy life. They teach a cartoon version of our faith, a fairy tale lie often boldly told in … Continue reading Forgiveness and Life in The Aftermath of Evil
Blog Articles, Essays and Study Thoughts
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Isaiah 50:4 Blues 