18th century linguist Samuel Johnson often said that in the area of morality we do not so much need ‘instruction’ as we need ‘reminding.’ Most of the time, he would say, the problem is not that we don’t know what is the right thing to do, but, for whatever reason, we often do what we […]
480) Samuel Johnson on ‘The Need to be Reminded’ Read More »
In his book Prairie Parables Lutheran pastor Dave Johnson writes: It is now easier than ever to get to Oldham, South Dakota, my hometown. The old Meridian highway, now called Highway 81, has been much improved over the years. I can remember when it used to take a wide circle around sloughs, when
385) Don’t Take it Easy (part one of four) Read More »
One does not grow in faith spontaneously. What we believe about original sin tells us that sin is what increases spontaneously. Sins, like weeds, will grow unattended and without effort. This is how we get into some of the habits that we don’t want and would like to get rid of. And when we
361) Faith and Habits (part three of three) Read More »
To speak of the habit of going to church is looked upon by many in a negative way. It sometimes said with disapproval, “They just go to church out of habit.” But we must be careful about judging other people’s motives. Do we ever fully understand even our own motives? Besides, even if someone
360) Faith and Habits (part two of three) Read More »
Occasionally I would question my eighth grade confirmation students about their worship attendance. I’d ask them to tell me how often they attended church and why. I’d then ask some other questions to help me understand their attitude towards worship and the church. The results were always interesting. The reason almost everyone at that
359) Faith and Habits (part one of three) Read More »
A vast majority of the American people believe there is a God. God is all powerful. He holds all the cards. You are here because he put you here. If he so chooses, God can decide how long you will stay here; and, if there is to be anything else for you after
331) Paying Attention to God Read More »
(…continued) Lisa started playing piano in the first grade. Her eagerness soon turned to boredom and frustration with the daily practice of dull routines. Yet, her mother insisted on and enforced the daily discipline of 45 minutes of practice. By the time she was 20 years old, Lisa had become an excellent pianist.
208) Discipline and Freedom (part two) Read More »
In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked the disciples, as he asks each of us, the most important question in life. “What about you,” he asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Our answer to that question makes all the difference in the world, because the New Testament tells us that saving faith depends
207) Discipline and Freedom (part one) Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 There is a world of difference between the strict, monastic life of Thomas a Kempis, a monk in the
83) Pay Attention (part two) Read More »
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… –II Peter 1:19 If someone believes in God at all, it would be only logical for that person to wonder what it is God
82) Pay Attention (part one) Read More »
