Dr. James Burtness (1928-2006) was one of my toughest professors in seminary, but also one of my favorites. I liked him as a teacher, and did good work in the classes I took from him. But Dr. Burtness did not like my senior paper. The senior paper was to be a 40-50 page […]
3358) Sticking to the Basics Read More »
I was cleaning out an old storeroom in one of the churches I served many years ago. Under a pile of junk, covered with dust, I found a big book of old sermons. The sermons had been discovered and published in the 1950’s by the descendant of a pastor who served that congregation
3357) Give Your Preacher a Break Read More »
“No clue” is an informal idiom that signifies a complete lack of knowledge, understanding, or information on a topic. —————————– I’ve seen several YouTube videos of ‘person on the street’ interviews where people are asked the big questions of life. Random people are approached, the interviewer puts out the microphone, and asks, “Why
Adapted from my sermon the day Brad, age 29, was baptized. ————————– (…continued) There was one more necessary step. Church was not yet a part of Brad’s life. A few months ago, Brad and Sheila met Mike and Patti from our congregation, and they became good friends. Brad said he was
3355) Baptizing Brad (2/2) Read More »
Adapted from my sermon the day Brad, age 29, was baptized. ——————————– Do you remember your baptism? If you are a Lutheran, like me, you probably don’t. If you are a Baptist, you probably do. Lutherans, like many Christian denominations, baptize infants; infants, who are sinners from their mother’s womb (Psalm 51:5),
3354) Baptizing Brad (1/2) Read More »
Image above: A witch doctor. —————– My friend Mark was a missionary for several years in the western African nation of Guinea-Bissau. He and his wife Cindy had an exciting ministry there. He tells the story of a woman named Maladu in one of the remote villages that he and his wife visited. Maladu
3353) Missionaries Read More »
Romans 12:18 — If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. John 13:34 — A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Colossians 3:13 –Bear with each other and forgive one another if any
3352) Prayers on Getting Along Read More »
Randy Pausch (1960-2008) was a Computer Science professor at Columbia University. What made him famous was a lecture he gave at his university, a lecture that has now been viewed by millions. Columbia University has what they call a ‘Last Lecture’ series, an ongoing series of lectures in which professors appear in a large auditorium
3351) How to Apologize Read More »
Many people do not like Charles Murray (1943- ). On March 2, 2017 he was invited to speak at Middlebury College in Vermont. Hundreds of students showed up to protest his presence, chanting and shouting “Shut it down.” He had to move to a private room and livestream the lecture. After the lecture
3350) Taking Religion Seriously Read More »
The Lutheran preacher and poet Gerhard Frost once illustrated what it means to trust God by telling a story about a friend’s family. The friend was married and the father of four children. He was planning a three week family vacation to Europe. He spent many hours with maps, itineraries, and other travel
3349) Trusting in Someone Bigger Read More »
