Some more thoughts on what Autumn can teach us…thank God for his many blessings. The land yields its harvest; God our God blesses us. Psalm 67:6 Autumn is also a season of thanksgiving. It’s a season of praise. It’s a season to gather with family and friends to thank God for the many blessings He
Read MoreEver since I was young, Autumn has been my favorite season. There’s something nostalgic about the scents of autumn, the foliage with rich changing colors, the foods and holidays, traditions like apple picking and leaf piles, and cooler weather after a hot summer. Joseph Rhea, director of ministries for Soma Church, has written an article
Read MoreSo… for our final post on fearing God… let’s view this from our historical approach as Lutheran Christians. As Lutherans we learn in confirmation class that fear and love go together, from Luther’s Small Catechism. In the first commandment, Luther explains we should “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” In the commandments
Read MoreSome say that to “fear God” is simply to have a sense of awe, wonder, reverence, and respect for Him. But if that’s the case, why doesn’t the Bible simply tell us to “revere” or “respect” God, rather than “fear” Him? Evidently, the word “fear” is still most fitting to describe this biblical concept in
Read MoreLast week I mentioned that when we lean into this idea of fear as understood to be vulnerable to God… something magical happens. It is then that fear is quickly transformed by a gracious love that bubbles up as we share of ourselves with another person or with God. As the Bible says, perfect love
Read MoreChristians say that God is good. They say that God is our friend. That we can draw near to Him because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. So why, then, we are supposed to fear God? Let’s discuss! There are two prominent themes found in the Bible. One is that God is an unconditional
Read MoreWhen I was in Grade Two, my teacher noted on my report card: “Terry seems to daydream in class.” The report card came in a sealed envelope that we were asked to leave unopened until we gave it to our parents. Of course, none of us did. I remember reading my teacher’s comment on the
Read MoreWell, the end of August in Canada signals the time to go “back to school.” And while this blog is aimed at students returning to the classroom…it applies equally to everyone who desires to keep learning how to live the Christan Faith. Whether you’re a freshman or senior, you’re going to need more than notebooks,
Read MoreIn the last two blogs we’ve looked at our use of time. Today we will look at how to model Christ with our time at work. Remember…All work done well and for God’s glory is Christian work. This means we model Christ in the workplace best when we perform our work so well and with
Read MoreWell, it’s almost the end of summer and many families are planning that last holiday before school begins. I was listening to one of my favourite “Boomer” stations on the radio recently, and was surprised to learn that many of us are planning “staycations.” A staycation is simply taking time off…but staying put at home.
Read MoreWe all have exactly the same number of minutes in a day. The question is, how will we use them? Most people today are either too busy – or not busy enough. Either our schedules are so hectic we can’t get everything done, or else we are bored and restless, constantly looking for something to
Read MoreLet’s look at the last three common misconceptions we may have about those who are depressed. Misconception: It’s shameful to discuss mental illness openly. Reality: Church community should be a safe environment for people to discuss mental health without judgment. Sadly, some Christians can be very judgmental about mental illness, but that is not a biblical response.
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