Preachrblog

Check out this quirky story, just in time for Reformation Day:

Sermon John 8:31-36 “Free at Last” “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last” So ends the famous “I Have a Dream” speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the well-known civil rights activist. I don't know if you have ever listened to that speech, but it was part of my studies in a public speaking class long ago, and to this day, when I hear it, it gives me chills. What a powerful case King made for the freedom – the true freedom – of African Americans from discrimination and institutional racism. Today, we celebrate Reformation Day. And we have on our minds another Martin Luther – the original one. He too was concerned with freedom, but of a different kind. He too had some powerful words to share. His famous speech, the “Here I Stand” speech, was uttered before the Roman Emperor who told him to recant or face the consequences. For Luther, a different kind of freedom was at stake. And then there is Jesus Christ himself, whose words in John 8 tell us what true...

On November 4th I leave for a tour of Israel with a small group from our congregation. We will be sharing a bus and tour guide with a group of Roman Catholics from Hawaii and some Presbyterians from Pittsburgh. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, right? "So a bunch of Catholics, Presbyterians and Lutherans get on a bus..." Anyway, as I make preparations for the tour, I was wondering if any of my kind blog readers had ever been to the Holy Land and could offer some advice, like.... Any "must see" attractions? Anything to avoid? Anything I should take that might not be obvious? A food or beverage I should try while there? (I am looking forward to some good falafel and Israeli beer) Or other advice for my trip? Thanks....

“Struggling With God” Life is tough. Everybody's got their story. Some are better, or worse than others. But even people way better off than you have their problems, their struggles. Jacob was just trying to do his thing, make a good life for himself. Maybe he thought it was easy street once he tricked his brother out of the blessing. But then he had to flee for fear of Esau's vengeance. Maybe he thought he had it made when he met that beautiful woman at the well, but then he learned he would have to work 7 years for her hand in marriage. Of course, then he was the one that was tricked when he had to marry her sister Leah first, and then work another 7 years. More struggle. Maybe he thought he had it made when his flocks and herds were so successful, but his Father-in-law couldn't take it anymore, and so Jacob had to pick up his life, his stuff, and his family, and flee again. But as he came to the Jabbock River, Jacob would have the struggle of his life. He met a man, and...

The movement has begun . No, not Ablaze! The Anti-Mauve Movement.

oh man.. this is wrong on so many levels.

I just finished posting some resources to our church website , including "Faith Facts" blurbs and a collection of FAQs . The Faith Facts are short blurbs, a sentence or two, with a "did you know?" flavor. The FAQs are longer, sized for bulletin inserts, and mostly adapted from the LCMS FAQ collection. Check it out, use it as you wish, and let us know what you think!

Sermon Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 “How Long, O Lord?” Every parent who's ever taken a car trip with a child has heard that infamous and nagging question, “Are we there yet?” Only slightly less annoying to the parent is the persistent question, “How much longer?” Just as children have asked these questions of their parents since the dawn of time, so too have God's children asked their Heavenly Father the same. Go back to Habakkuk, and we hear the question. “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” In fact these two passages from Habakkuk chapters 1 and 2, are called “Habakkuk's first complaint” and “Habakkuk's second complaint” They represent the cry of a faithful man of God who is frustrated that God hasn't answered, hasn't answered him quickly enough, and hasn't answered the way he wanted him to answer. Habakkuk lived in a time of increasing danger in the world. About 600 years before Christ, he and the Israelites watched the fall of the As...

Check out this website recommended by Yahoo! Daily Picks: Defective Yeti - The Cliche Rotation Project They list new and improved versions of tired old cliche's. Lots of fun here, and you can also submit your own!