There are times when I go through a rough patch and battle discouragement. What do you do when your mind is a battle ground? The key for me is to take back control of my thoughts. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive…
Read More
Have you ever been disappointed by a parent, teacher, or leader (including me)? Have you ever felt like a “lesser Christian” because your job was not part of a ministry? The early church faced both of those issues as early as Acts 6. Jewish widows were receiving needed food, but those from Greek backgrounds (Hellenists)…
Read More
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about value, worth, and people-pleasing. For a long time, if I was honest, I found my value and worth in what other people thought of me. I guess you could say I was a doormat, someone others walked all over. There’s an old family story from when my little…
Read More
Everyone will occasionally have sinful thoughts and actions during their Christian walk. Sometimes the most challenging sinful thoughts come when someone else sins against us. Forgiveness can be hard. Sometimes it seems impossible. How do we forgive others when they don’t deserve it? A good example is when the Apostle Peter denied Jesus during His…
Read More
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? What are my goals in life? Do all of these goals match how God wants me to spend my life? How do I live a completely humble and abandoned life to God? How do I continue to learn and grow in this walk with God? In addition to…
Read More
What do you think of when I say “worship”? Do you think of smoke machines, colored lights, a band (with drums), and a few people holding microphones? Do you think of a grand cathedral, robes, incense, and hauntingly beautiful music with no instruments? Do you think of a group of people happily singing through a…
Read More
Free will means we have a choice. God gave us this gift. When we choose not to obey God, that is called sin. The first sin recorded in Scripture and its consequences is called “original sin.” When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are set free from sin and death. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, and we get to live with God forever. How does predestination work with free will?
Read More
The following is copied with permission from the August 2021 “From the Pastor” section of the Zion Lutheran Church Newsletter. Who are You? This month many of you will be starting school again, and one of the first things you are asked in a new classroom, whether in Kindergarten or High School, is what is…
Read More
Most Christians are familiar with the Great Commandment. Matthew 22:36-40 says this: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it:…
Read More
Have you heard this old adage? “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It’s true. Think back for a minute. Who was your favorite teacher in school? Why were they your favorite? Did they make you feel special somehow? My guess is that you knew they cared about…
Read More
