    When was the last time you said, “There’s nothing on TV tonight”?     At our house we have Dish Satellite TV (300+ channels), Netflix (5,000 movies), Amazon Prime (20,000 movies, tens of thousands more to rent, and 3,000 television series), and the internet (and its endless opportunities to go down one rabbit hole after […]
3392) Something to Watch Read More »
     There is an old fable that tells of three novice demons who are on their way to earth to finish their apprenticeship in the art of temptation. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt people to live only for themselves and keep God out of their
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a British author, linguist, and lexicographer. Â He produced the first major dictionary of the English language. Â He is regarded by many as the greatest man of letters in English history. ———- A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer
3382) Wisdom from Samuel Johnson Read More »
 Blaise Pascal  (1623-1662) was a mathematical genius and inventor. He suffered from many ailments and died at the age of 39. Pascal became a Christian as an adult. When he died he was in the middle of writing and assembling his Pensees, a Christian classic. Pensees is a collection of thoughts on the Christian faith
3378) Wisdom from Blaise Pascal Read More »
   “When Rick met Lisa for the first time the sparks were flying.” That’s what we say when two people meet and there is a powerful romantic attraction. Well, scientists have discovered that when two lovers consummate their love, and a child is conceived, the sparks really do fly.    Have you heard
3361) Sparks Flying Read More »
   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 »
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 »
   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 »
      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 »
