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).…

By Campus  Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Psalm 90 Moses and the Israelites spent 40 years wandering aimlessly around the wilderness. Therefore, when Moses said to God, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations” (verse 1), I imagine the Israelites were rather confused. After all, they had been without a home for years…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Zephaniah 1:7-16 You’re sitting in the back of the class, whispering to your friend next to you. You’ve grown experienced at making sure the teacher doesn’t notice, but this time, your overconfidence has betrayed you. Suddenly you hear a voice from behind you. “Do you have something to share…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Matthew 25:1-13 I have a friend who is constantly worried about being prepared. Before she leaves a room, she insists on turning back and looking around to make sure she hasn’t left anything behind that she might need. She calls it “scanning.” Sometimes she does this more than once.…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 I had a professor at Concordia – Wisconsin who was adamantly opposed to the phrase “please rise” when used during worship. To him, this phrase meant “please float above the ground.” He insisted that his students say “please stand” instead when they were assisting in worship.…

By campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Psalm 70 As a child, I loved being outdoors. Every morning during the summer I would run out to the sandbox in our backyard or beg my mother until she took me to the playground down the street. I had so much fun – but being a kid, I…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Amos 5:18-24 During our staff meeting last week, Pastor Jay, Matt and I made many a joke about this Amos passage. We were looking for the Gospel and didn’t find much. Our repeated refrain was, “Don’t read Amos!” And it’s true, this passage is rather depressing. It includes the…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st John 3:1-3 When a baby is born, there’s nothing more exciting for a mother or father than meeting that baby for the first time. It’s a moment of utmost joy and excitement. However, there’s another moment that’s very similar – when that baby is baptized. After baptism, that baby…

By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Psalm 149 “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song!” This is the first verse of Psalm 149. As I read it, I started humming a tune. The words “new song” had sparked up a memory. Eventually my humming turned to singing: “Earth and all stars, loud…