Nicodemus was a mixed bag, some say. First, he was a Pharisee, which, made him a critic of Jesus. True, not all Pharisees probably were as adamant about the Lord, and, it seems that Nicodemus proves to be a “moderate’ in this case. He has come to talk with Jesus;...
Psalm 30:11 – “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…” Our God is many things. In some ways, He appears passive and aloof; in other ways in this life, He is active and involved. During this 40-day stretch of...
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John13:34) This Sunday’s bible readings are all about love. They point in a number of directions but all point to the compassion and caring we are to...
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14) Who doesn’t like chocolate? Who doesn’t have a craving for cocoa every once in a while? I know I do! I saw on Facebook today a quote about St. Valentine: how he suffered and was mistreated...
“You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13) Life can be very flavorful. It can be very beautiful. But—as we discussed in some of our worships Sunday, we still live in a world that is dark and not so pretty. There’s good and plenty and kindness and helpfulness, but...
“Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8) Yes, this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday. It is a fun and exciting day for the football enthusiast as it is the culmination of the National Football League’s season. There’s lots and lots of hype; there’s lots and lots of...
“Go therefore and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19) Bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, Dr. Ron Warren, used to speak freely about the “Great Commission” as a foundational call for every Christian. He once preached that “Jesus calls for the church to go out to the world, not for...
“…(John said) and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God…” (John 1:34, The Message) From the beginning of the Gospel of John, John the Baptist has been focusing on his relative, Jesus of Nazareth as the Lamb of God, forgiver of sins, and...
