Date: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, June 27th, 2021 Texts: Lamentations 3:22-33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43 Context: The lessons for today don’t appear to work together very well. The reading from Lamentations is a brief ray of sunlight in an otherwise very dark and sorrowful book. The psalmist rightly directs praise to… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – June 27, 2021
Author: mrpaulnelson
I've been blogging for over twenty years on one platform or another, and my favorite topics are cross-sections of faith and culture and everyday life. I'm an ordained minister with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - among other things. Welcome!
A Busy Day!
Today was our busy day – and a great one at that! It began with Bible study at 8:45 am at Grace Lutheran in Norfolk. We had the chance to share about LCMS work around the world and my anticipated work as a Theological Educator in Southeast Asia. Afterwards were some questions and discussion. Then… Continue reading A Busy Day!
A Quiet Day
Introverts tasked with meeting people and sharing about our lives present and future need quiet time in between to recharge. It’s not that we don’t enjoy time with others and meeting new people. In fact, ironically, we love it. But it exacts an emotional and even physical price that we try to take into account.… Continue reading A Quiet Day
In the Air
Incredible, that we can in the span of 2 hours of actual air time move halfway across the country, leaving behind the brownscape of the southwestern desert to land in the lush greenery of the mid-west. What a blessing our technology is in so many ways, and what an amazing example and fulfillment of our… Continue reading In the Air
Midwest Locations & Dates!
Friday we fly from Phoenix to Omaha to begin a week-and-a-half visit to the Midwest. While we have meetings scheduled throughout that time, there are also opportunities to meet still open – just let me know when and where and I’ll let you know what we can do! Our major visits & dates are as… Continue reading Midwest Locations & Dates!
One-on-One
A lot of how we were prepared to build a network of partners focused on meeting with large groups of people – congregations. I’m sure from one angle this makes a lot of sense. If you talk with a lot of people at one time it’s a more efficient use of your time and there’s… Continue reading One-on-One
Reading Ramblings – June 20, 2021
Date: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – June 20, 2021 Texts: Job 38:1-11; Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 Context: At least in America, there is a stream of Christianity that emphasizes that life in Christ is a life victorious. Not victorious solely over sin and Satan and death – which we are very definitely victors over… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – June 20, 2021
Touching the Future
Think about today. Or tomorrow? How does it look? I used to know what each day of the week would look like, more or less. Waking up to have breakfast with the family before heading to work. Thursdays up extra early to prep for in-depth Bible study. A bagel and black tea to help me… Continue reading Touching the Future
Visits?
As we work to line up opportunities to share the work of the LCMS internationally and our anticipated work in Southeast Asia, the going is slow. What’s a priority for us is (understandably!) not so much of a priority for other pastors and leaders. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t visit with you! Thanks to… Continue reading Visits?
Reading Ramblings – June 13, 2021
Date: Third Sunday after Pentecost ~ June 13, 2021 Texts: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 1; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Mark 4:26-34 Context: The season of Ordinal/Ordinary Time focuses us on the ongoing work of God the Holy Spirit in the world, the Church, and our individual lives. The readings today collectively point us towards the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – June 13, 2021
