In the Fall of 2000, my father, his only living uncle, and six cousins, travelled to Gotthun, Germany, a tiny village in the northeast corner of the country. They went there to visit the place our ancestors, August and Augusta Stier, left in 1875 to come to America. Our connection to […]
3347) “But What Will You Do in the End?” Read More »
(…continued) The story then goes on to say God established in our midst a ‘Kingdom’, the Church, and gave to the Church the Holy Spirit. And He gave to the Church the Word and Sacraments. Again, in some strange and unaccountable way, the Holy Spirit working through these means, would recruit from out
3346) God’s Big Story (2/2) Read More »
Alvin Rogness (1906-1992) was a Lutheran pastor, author, and seminary president. In his sermons and books he would often retell the ‘big’ story of the Bible, summarizing the whole story of God and His world in a single narrative. The following reading is a blend of several of those narratives. —————————– Colossians 1:21-23a — Once
3345) God’s Big Story (1/2) Read More »
In my sermons, Emailmeditations, and conversations, I quote C. S. Lewis more than anyone else, other than Jesus Christ. Other than the Holy Spirit, the writings of C. S. Lewis were the most significant influence in my decision to continue to believe in Jesus and not abandon my faith. For almost one hundred years,
3344) The Most Reluctant Convert Read More »
(…continued) Salee learned that Christians feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and we do so because our Lord Jesus has commanded it. Sam Kinison wondered why the photographer didn’t just give the child a sandwich. That is what Christians are always doing, all over the world, through international relief organizations and in
3343) Steve Job’s Question for His Pastor (3/3) Read More »
(…continued) I once knew a Cambodian refugee named Salee. Salee was a young man when the communist dictator Pol Pot came to power in Cambodia in 1975. Pol Pot was a ruthless tyrant, and over the next four years, two million Cambodians were dead as the result of his rule, many of them murdered
3342) Steve Jobs’ Question for His Pastor (2/3) Read More »
Steve Jobs was truly one of the greatest geniuses the world has ever known. He has been called the Henry Ford of our time. Not only was he a brilliant inventor and innovator, he was also an incredible businessman, marketer, and leader. Along with a couple friends, he started the Apple Computer Company
3341) Steve Jobs’ Question for His Pastor (1/3) Read More »
Based on a devotion by Chris Brekke, July 15, 2026 on his blog at: https://pcbrek2020.wordpress.com —————————— Conversations often begin with a friendly “Hello,” and then go on to some form of the question “How are you?” or “How goes it?” Unless you are at an appointment with your therapist, you will usually not go
3340) “How Goes It?” Read More »
From A Sermon on Preparing to Die, by Martin Luther (1483-1546), Luther’s Works, volume 42, pages 99-100: Since everyone must depart from this earth, we must turn our eyes to God, to whom the path of death leads and directs us. Here we find the beginning of the narrow gate and of the straight path
Use soft words and hard arguments. –English proverb ———————— If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap… for a day, go fishing… for a year, inherit money…. for a lifetime, give to others. –Chinese proverb ————————– Proclaim the word more and argue about it less. –William Cameron Townsend (1896-1982) ———————— A general dissolution
3338) Wise Quotes and a Few Funny Ones Read More »
