By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley I think we can all agree that it’s easier to stay awake at night if you’re with other people. When 11 o’clock hits, my eyelids start to droop, which is a demonstration of the fact that I’m no longer a college student. But if I’m with my friends, I can…
A Jesus Centered Community of Scripture, Faith, and Grace
Church Blog (Page 63)
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley Often when I pray, I thank God for the gifts he’s given to me, personally. If I thank him for other people, it’s typically very simple: “Thank you for giving me family and friends who love me.” Rarely do I thank him for something specific he has given to someone…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley The Israelites of the Old Testament knew what it was like to be in the presence of God. They remembered the story of Mt. Sinai, where God caused the mountain and his people to tremble. They remembered the story of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Matthew 25:31-46 As a kid, one of my favorite camp songs was called “I Just Wanna Be a Sheep.” I think the title of that song pretty much sums up Matthew 25:31-46. This passage, ominously titled “The Final Judgment,” describes what will happen on the Last Day. Jesus will…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st Corinthians 15:20-28 Have you ever wanted something? Silly question, I know – we want things all the time. For example, as I write this on Tuesday, I’m wishing for someone to appear and clean my apartment. I’m hungry for ice cream. I want the rain to stop. I…
Every year University Lutheran adopts an “Annual Focus”. The annual focus is both a plan and a touchstone for our congregation. This year’s annual focus is “Wise Unto Salvation” and comes from St. Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 – “From childhood you have been acquainted with the Sacred Writings which are able…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 There’s a very good reason that sheep need a shepherd. They can’t survive on their own; they need to be led, or they’ll panic. There’s also a very good reason that we are compared to sheep. We can’t survive on our own, either. If we don’t…
Florida State University, the campus that I serve, is caught in confusion and mourning after a gunman shot three people at our main library. There are roughly 45,000 people at Florida State. About 400 of them were in the library at 12:30am when the gunman attacked. Almost everyone goes to that library at some timeduring…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Matthew 25:14-30 As I read through the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, I’m struck by the third servant. I almost feel sorry for him. After all, what did he really do wrong? He just wanted to make sure that nothing happened to his master’s money. He had…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st Thessalonians 5:1-11 In this passage of 1st Thessalonians, Paul is describing the way we defend ourselves against the devil. “Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (verse 8).…