Tomorrow is a day where many of us will resolve to not only start the new year fresh but to keep our slate clean as we improve on the things we didn’t quite get right this year. But no matter what your New Year’s Resolutions might be, I think you’d all agree that when it […]
Download Life Guide Steering wheels gripped white-knuckle tight, as drivers navigate interstates turned ice rinks. Anxious hours pacing by the window, waiting for precious family cargo to arrive. Desperate, suitcase-laden sprints through the airport like a Home Alone movie. Holiday travel is often stressful because of so many uncertain, uncontrollable circumstances; will the roads be […]
Here’s a Christmas Day quiz for you: Of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, how many contain an account of Jesus’s birth? Do you know? Let’s go through them. The first one is easy. The most complete account of Jesus’ birth is recorded in what book? Yes, the gospel of Luke, Chapter 2. […]
For the past few weeks I’ve been following with some interest the way people greet one another at this time of the year. For example, I’ve noticed that if I say to a store clerk, “Merry Christmas!” the clerk is usually quite ready to echo my greeting: “A Merry Christmas to you!” If, on the […]
The murderer stood there soaked in his own sweat and sprayed with blood. He held his weapon of choice in his trembling hand as his victim’s blood dripped off of it and onto the old books he had knocked off the shelf during the struggle. If he cleaned himself up quickly he could probably get […]
Download Life Guide So, are you counting the days until Christmas? I expect that some of you are. I expect that for some of you, especially the younger ones among us, Christmas can’t get here soon enough. You can’t wait to open those presents. For you, there are like too many days between now and […]
“Your King is coming!” Few phrases in a kingdom could produce such a flurry of activity as those four words. Men called “heralds” relayed the message, messengers sent ahead by kings to prepare people for their arrival. When a herald announced “Your King is coming,” townspeople went to work. They filled in potholes and leveled […]
Download Life Guide Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone… December is upon us… and it’s that time of year again. It’s time to get ready for…that’s right… Christmas. For millions of Americans, and I’m sure for many of you here today, the Christmas preparations are already underway. Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, and Cyber […]
Download Life Guide If you look at our Reformation banner, you may be thinking that our Reformation Celebration has now gone into overtime. After all, during the past three weeks we’ve covered the three “solas” of the Lutheran Reformation as they are so beautifully displayed on the banner: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone. […]
Tell me, what does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it a big Butterball turkey? Or maybe this year it’s a ham. Or a goose. Or some grilled duck breasts on the side. For you, maybe it means stuffing—do you like it with raisins or without? And how about the veggies? Will it be green bean […]
On April 18, 1521, standing before an imperial court called the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther felt the pressure. He’d traveled to Worms, Germany to defend his faith before the Catholic church, but he quickly realized there would be no discussion—just a verdict. If he recanted– denied his teachings– he could go free. If he […]
Download Life Guide 500 years ago, as Martin Luther wrestled with his standing before God, it was the book of Romans that finally opened his eyes to the truth about how God views sinners and saves them. And for Luther it all had to do with the word: righteousness. It was in the year 1519, […]
Download Life Guide It’s a question that you’ve maybe been asked before. A question that you’ve maybe asked of others. On the other hand, it may be a question that you’ve never really thought about. A question that leaves you feeling a little uneasy. The question is simply this, “If you were to die […]