   (…continued)  In 1810, Lewis Conger was a first year student at the newly established Andover Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts.  Soon after classes began, he became seriously ill.  He was told that he would probably not recover.  One of his professors, Edward Griffin, wrote to the family of the sick boy, to inform […]
1089) Meeting Your Maker (b) Read More »
Ephesians 3:12 Â — Â In Jesus Christ, and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ***************************************** Â Â Â What does it mean to approach God? Â When do you approach God? Â Â Â We are, of course, always in the presence of God. Â God knows all and sees all and is always
1088) Meeting Your Maker (a) Read More »
Above: King Richard III  (1452-1485); then, and now (discovered in 2012 under a parking lot) ————————- William Shakespeare, from Richard II, Act Three: For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground And tell sad stories of the death of kings: How some have been deposed; some slain in war; Some haunted by the ghosts they
1057) Farewell King! Read More »
Painting above:Â The Parable of the Rich Fool, Rembrandt, 1627. ******************************** By Alvin Rogness, The Word for Every Day, page 15, Augsburg Publishing House, 1981. Â Â Â I hadn’t seen him in two years. Â During the years I had lived in this Midwestern city I had often eaten in his cafe. Â We became close friends.
1053) Take Time for Your Soul Read More »
By A. Branch in World magazine, February 6, 2016 issue, page 58. Â (www.wng.org ) Â Â Â Andrew and Samantha Smith were always an unusual couple. Â The shy but goofy Butler Bulldog basketball player was 6 feet 11 inches. Â She was 5 feet 1 inch. Â Â Â But Andrew died on Jan. 12 at age 25
1028) “I’m Not on This Earth to Play Basketball…” Read More »
The idea for this meditation came from a sermon by Methodist pastor, bishop, and author William Willimon (source lost).    A while back a friend of mine overheard someone say, “I don’t think Christmas is as much fun as it was when I was a kid.”  There is nothing unusual about a remark like
979) Bodies and Spirits (1/2) Read More »
 From a funeral sermon:    As you all know, Cheryl suffered a great deal in these past several months.  All that time in the hospital, all the tests, all the reports (usually bad), all the pain and anxiety, all the uncertainty, the surgeries, and everything else she went through.  And for you the family;
905) God in Control? Read More »
   Late at night on April 26, 2006, a man fell asleep at the wheel of the truck he was driving down an Indiana highway.  The huge truck and trailer crossed the center line and crashed into the front of a van of college students and staff returning from a banquet.  Five people in
886) In An Instant Read More »
   (…continued)  Our greatest fear is the fear of death, because death means the end of all our earthly connections.  Only when all those other connections are already severed by ill health or loneliness does death begin to look like a friend.  But as long as we are still in relationships that give life
755) Abide in Me (part three of three) Read More »
 Funeral sermon for Albert, who died a few years ago at the age of 88. ——————    Last evening at the funeral home I had the opportunity to meet several of you, and everyone I met was from a different state.  Welcome to Minnesota.  Grandson Ryan and I talked a bit about Garrison Keillor
747) Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust Read More »
