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The Good Shepherd, and the Valleys of Shadow
One of the first memory verses of Scripture I ever learned was Psalm 23:4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Even in times when it seemed as if God was far…
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The Crucifix and the Empty Cross (We Need to See Them Both)
The First Commandment comes to us from Exodus 20:1-6. Some Christians have issues with the use of liturgical art (especially statuary, including images depicting Jesus or crucifixes) based upon these verses of Scripture. And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of…
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There is a God…and He Ain’t You- or Me.
I am looking forward to walking with middle school kids through the Small Catechism again. It’s been a long time. The demographic of the kids is different than when I taught catechism before. These aren’t wealthy kids who live in trendy suburbs and go to the best schools and who have parents who actually care about their…
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Advent-the Promise, the Here and Now and the Not Yet
I don’t normally participate in Black Friday. I don’t request the day off work. This year I couldn’t have joined in the Black Friday foray even had I wanted to. I like a bargain as well as anyone, but for me the lure of discounts can’t seem to trump dealing with my anxiety in crowds. The rancor and distress that can…
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Deep-Dish Hypocrisy (Guilty as Charged)
Tradition for tradition’s sake isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. But sometimes, it is. I have to admit I was deeply disturbed over the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding gay marriage. I’ve never been one to interpret Christian freedom as condoning or validating homosexual behavior, and I still don’t. I believe one’s expression of sexuality…
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Vulnerable, Sensitive and Emotional- The Challenge of Authenticity
I have spent most of my life in denial- denying (or at least failing miserably at coping with) my emotions, never sharing any sort of sensitivity, and hiding my vulnerabilities at almost any cost. Part of this was a survival tactic. If I pretended as though nothing could penetrate my thick skin, then maybe it…
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Isaiah 53:6- Broken Humanity, Missing Pieces, and Who Can Repay?
A Beauchene skull. Fascinating. I have a hard time taking the creation narrative in Genesis literally, (who is really getting down with talking snakes?) For a long time I wanted to take it as allegory, but it is clearly taught as a literal event in Scripture. Humanity wants to believe that humanity evolves and progresses, but the truth of the…
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John 7:20-26 That They May All Be One
(Jesus said:) “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have…
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2 Timothy 4:1-8 Itching Ears and the Crown of Righteousness
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For…
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Here I Stand 