Prayer
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Devotion: Sharing?
We know that being a Christian is not just about winning our own salvation, and, once that’s “done” – checked off the list – then we can go on about our lives, occasionally going to church or doing something good and charitable so that, at the end of our lives, people can say that we…
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Devotion: We Remember
We begin this week by celebrating Memorial Day as we remember all who have died in the service of our country. For those of us who have not lost family or friends in service, we may observe this day in some way, but then go on about our business. In war the number of fatalities…
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Devotion: Gifts from the Holy Spirit
Pentecost Gifts from the Holy Spirit As we celebrated Pentecost Sunday (5/19/2013), we read the Acts 2 account of the Pentecost event. The Bible says “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4). After reading this, it occurred to me that…
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Devotion: Will Jesus’ Prayer Be Answered?
In worship on Sunday, we read a portion of John 17. This entire chapter is known as Jesus’ “high priestly prayer.” In it, He prays specifically for His disciples, but, by extension, for all of us …. that we would be one as Jesus and the Father are one. The language can get a little…
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Devotion: The Future – What’s Next?
What lies ahead for you this week? Staff meetings, a round of golf, recitals, out-of-town trips, child care arrangements, anticipation of certain news? We all have plans for the week. Almost all of them involve some choice or action on our part. I had a great conversation last week about “determinism” versus “free will” –…
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Devotion: What does love look like?
In worship on Sunday, I challenged the congregation to read two of our Scripture readings every day for this entire week – the reading from Acts and John’s gospel listed below. As you read these, try to resist rushing through them. Give yourself plenty of time to let these words wash over your soul. Even…
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Why, Lord?
What a week! This past week, I was glued to the TV. Horrific images of explosions and the stories in their aftermath were being played over and over again. First, the Boston Marathon. Then, the explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, TX. One disaster was man-made and of nefarious intent. The other an accident.…
Epicurious Lutheran 