Lutheran
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Building Bethel: Overcoming 18 Inches
From September 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ~ James 1:22 I once heard that the most difficult journey is 18 inches. That’s the approximate distance between your brain and your heart. Rally Day (September 13) helps us come together and worship in one service at 10:00am,…
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Building Bethel: Waking the Sleeping Giant
From August 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up,” says the Lord; “I will place them in the safety for which they long.” ~ Psalm 12:5 The Lutheran church has been referred to as the “sleeping giant.” Some people attribute this phrase to the Reverend Billy Graham, but I…
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Building Bethel: Focusing and Re-Focusing
From June/July 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ~ Matthew 6:33 Vicki and I enjoy watching TV … it’s a guilty pleasure. We recently stumbled upon a reality show on CNBC called “The Profit” (www.cnbcprime.com/the-profit). I admit…
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Building Bethel: Grace
From April 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He…
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Reflecting on morning devotions – 8/6/2014
Sometimes when I do my morning devotions, I read through them hurriedly and barely pay attention because I want to get on to other things. This morning, I really read them (see Scriptures below). Two words stuck out for me in relation to the “new creation” from 2 Corinthians 5:17. Those words are “realities” and…
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Devotion: Mediocrity, Excellence and Jesus’ Teaching on Humility
Humility isn’t really a prized cultural value, is it? That’s what makes the reading from Luke’s gospel so difficult. Take a moment and read through the gospel. You may also want to listen to this week’s sermon to get a feel for the breadth of the gospel reading. When we speak of humility, doesn’t it…
Epicurious Lutheran 