“The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.” Depending on your level Sunday School education, that song might give you flashbacks, or maybe even a little tick, or maybe I’ve just put an earworm into your head for the rest of the day. That earworm…

James Kimmel Jr (not the “Jimmy” of late night fame) spent years researching something that might feel natural to us, revenge. In his study of revenge he found that “grievances,” his umbrella term for things like real or imagined slights, injustices, betrayals, or victimizations, these grievances make our brains respond in a way that is…

This week ends my sabbatical. I’ll be back in the office on Friday, back in the pulpit on Sunday. It has been good. I am very thankful for the time that I have had in this “sabbath” experience, but God’s design for the world was not 7 days of sabbath, but one day of sabbath…

I’m writing this on the 22nd of July – probably about 2 days before you will get it. But the 22nd has been a big day for me for the past 18 years, because for the past 18 years I have been blessed to be called into the office of pastoral ministry. Not only have…

In the past week there was an armadillo carcass at the bottom of the hill. I noticed it walking to the gym, and boy o’ boy, did I notice it. Yuck. I did my best not to retch too badly as I walked past it. On the way back from the gym, I held my…

Happy July everyone. That means there is officially one month left of my sabbatical. It’s been an interesting experience for me as I’m sure its been an interesting experience for you all. During this last month, I am dedicating time to “re-entry” meaning some reflection and planning for when I’m back to ministering full time…

It really shouldn’t be a surprise, we do live in Florida, after all. But, just in case you hadn’t noticed: It’s hot outside.  And maybe rainy too, which just means that it’s steamy hot. Again, we do live in Florida. We should expect this. But that doesn’t keep us from complaining about it. It doesn’t…

Grace and peace to you from St. Louis, Missouri. We are up here for some days as we reconnect with family and see some sights. Just yesterday, my girls got to see Concordia Seminary, where I studied to be a pastor. They were sweet about it, but I don’t think they were terrifically impressed –…

Do you want to be healed? It’s an odd question that Jesus asks a man in John 5. Our initial response is, “of course I want to be healed, Lord.” But soon after our initial response, some other things can creep in. After all, the Bible tells us that this man had been under this…

This week I get to do a little sabbatical breaking and go to the convention of the Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. If you’re unfamiliar, this is a business meeting of the churches in our District. Just under 200 churches will be represented, each with two votes – one for their pastor,…