Monthly Archives: September 2016

The other day, my wife, Annie, said: “You never retire from ministry.”  I wondered if that were true.  I thought of Pastor Roy, leading not just any church but one church after another through tough transitions, long after most folks … Continue reading →

A week ago we had the privilege of welcoming several new members to Joy Lutheran Church. As always, it was an uplifting moment to hear these new members affirm their faith in loud and clear voices with the words, “I … Continue reading →

Of all the apostles, the one we most associate with love is John; he called himself “The One Whom Jesus Loved,” and his writings focused on love. The Gospel of John mentions the word “love” more than the other three … Continue reading →

Watching seedlings grow into plants and then vegetables, I am, once again, amazed by creation, the Author of life, and God’s provision.  I’m also amazed by how good it feels to “play” in the dirt.  There’s something healing and “grounding” about … Continue reading →

September marks the start-up of many ministries at JOY.  Snow birds return, attendance in worship increases and JOY resumes two Sunday morning services; study groups and tables of 8 reconvene, ministry teams meet again, registration for JOY sports begins, and our … Continue reading →

So you come to the end of the prayer. What do you do? Even a beginner would retort, “You say Amen.” All right, but why? It’s a word that expresses truthfulness and certainty. Jesus used it before he spoke some … Continue reading →

Last week I was thinking about what I wanted to say in my blog, when I got quite sick and ended up in the hospital.  I have not ever felt pain like that.  After some tests, they determined that I … Continue reading →

“Go down to the Franklin Street intersection and note the item of religious significance.” This was the last question on my first college religion final exam. Many of us stood there, open blue books in hand, looking all over the … Continue reading →

A very dear friend of mine is living through the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease.   I see firsthand how this ugly disease robs a person of the very essence of life.   Our lifetime of warm and caring friendship is gone; … Continue reading →

 One of my favorite movies is the academy award winning Chariots of Fire. The film is based on a true story about British sprinters Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell and the struggles they faced as members of the 1924 British … Continue reading →