Author Archives: joyocala

A dimension of Christianity that is not “of” the world is transcendence. That is, there is something that is beyond the ordinary, physical world. There is God who is actively involved in this world. In dealing with the “in the … Continue reading →

I’ve never written a blog for Wednesday, Monday is my day.  So, this week I found myself focusing on that strange week day name, Wednesday, not pronounced like it’s spelled.  Wondering where on earth that name originated, I found it … Continue reading →

Like many husbands, I suppose, I put enormous pressure on myself anticipating February 14th. It’s hard to forget any more. The stores, TV ads, and internet keep us reminded. I put pressure on myself to try to come up with … Continue reading →

Tomorrow is the Day!  They say you should never give your wife a gift that has a cord and a plug. I understand. That’s why I’m getting my wife a cordless vacuum cleaner for Valentine’s Day. Just kidding! Just kidding! … Continue reading →

My boys’ dad died when they were young.  At fourteen and ten years of age, their world as they knew it was over. Their dad was so active in their young lives, though busy with his own company, there was always … Continue reading →

For God so loVed the world       That He gAve             His onLy            BegottEn                    SoN                  ThaT whoever         Believes In Him           Should Not perish        But have Eternal life. God gave us the most wonderful VALENTINE … Continue reading →

Is this name familiar to you? Me neither. The Reverend Jehu Jones, son of slaves, became the first black American ordained in the Lutheran Church. Pastor Jones was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1786 to Jehu Jones, Sr and … Continue reading →

I was walking down a street in the Coconut Grove when I was accosted by several men who wanted to talk about being a Christian. I was wearing my clerical collar so I thought at first they wanted to find … Continue reading →

One of my favorite Bible passages concerns Jesus calling the Galilee fishermen Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John and promising to turn them into fishers of men. The passage brings back many memories of Galilee from a tour of Israel … Continue reading →

I surmise that you, dear blog reader, are facing some, shall we say, life transitions? We as Christians, many of us reading this Lutheran Christians, do not like the word or the thought of the word change. We soft-pedal it, … Continue reading →