If you could fix one thing that is wrong about our world, what would it be? I recently asked groups of middle-schoolers this question, and here are a few of their answers: “Violence in schools” “Climate change” “Terrorism” “World hunger” “Deforestation” “Communism” “Nuclear Armageddon” I’m not sure what I was worried about in middle school,…
The Gospel Truth: My Sermon on October 27, 2019, Reformation Sunday
If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.John 8:31-32 Today we celebrate this truth, the freeing truth of the Gospel, a truth which broke free again 502 years ago, when Martin Luther began the Reformation. The truth of the…
Pondering “Thoughts and Prayers”
As a former economist and current pastor, I was intrigued by an article in the news with this attention-grabbing headline: “Not everybody wants thoughts and prayers after a disaster, according to a study of hurricane survivors.” (https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/health/thoughts-prayers-study-wellness-trnd/index.html) One of the authors of this study said this: “The idea came from the mere observation of how…
Pray Always: My Sermon on October 20, 2019
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart ... Luke 18:1 Pray always, Jesus tells us, and do not lose heart. I find it strangely encouraging that Jesus knew that his followers would be in danger of losing heart. He knew that that there would be…
Let’s ponder our way together
Thanks for visiting my blog! Here you can find my sermon manuscripts, along with my pastoral ponderings on a variety of other topics that are important to me. I hope you find something helpful as we ponder our way together through God's beloved world.