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
Move Completed!
Well, the first one at least! Monday afternoon we completed packing and left Santa Barbara. By Tuesday evening the truck was unpacked, with our few remaining belongings in a storage unit and access to where we’ll be staying for the next three months accomplished. We’re grateful that the massive sell-off and give away of most… Continue reading Move Completed!
GetReligion
Not intended as evangelism per se, but rather a shout out to a great web site I’ve been following for years. Getreligion.org has been around for close to 20 years with the goal of finding “ghosts” in mainstream media reporting. Here, the term ghost refers to either a missing religious angle or relevant discussion, omitted… Continue reading GetReligion
Fun With E-Mail
So we completed our first newsletter and were all ready to mail it out today. Then we discovered that the mail program recommended to us didn’t allow you to attach documents to your e-mails! Aaack! We reached out to someone with more experience with us in this area and she directed us to another mail… Continue reading Fun With E-Mail
Reading Ramblings – May 16, 2021
Date: Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 16, 2021 Texts: Acts 1:12-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-15; John 17:11b-19 Context: The lectionary designates this the final Sunday of the season of Easter. While technically accurate, it’s unfortunate that by falling on Thursday, the Ascension of our Lord is generally overlooked by the Church. The readings emphasize our relationship to our resurrected… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – May 16, 2021
First Visits
We’ve been blessed to make three congregational visits this month as we finalize our time in California and prepare to pack and move away. Two in-person visits and one online presentation to congregations we are somewhat familiar with, and that I’m friends with the pastors of. We’ve never been worried about the visitation and presentation… Continue reading First Visits
Reading Ramblings – May 9, 2021
Date: Sixth Sunday of Easter ~ May 9, 2021 Texts: Acts 10:34-38; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-8; John 15:9-17 Context: We near the end of the Easter liturgical season. The readings become more and more pointed – what is the response of God’s Easter people, how do we live who wait the return of our Lord in… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – May 9, 2021
Reading Ramblings – May 2, 2021
Date: Fifth Sunday of Easter ~ May 2, 2021 Texts: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 150; 1 John 4:1-21; John 15:1-8 Context: To appearances, Satan and the world continue to gain the upper hand over Jesus and his followers. Stephen has just become the first Christian to die for his faith. Yet Luke does not take the… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – May 2, 2021
Virtual Meets
As we move further into the process of building a network of partners to support our work overseas, we are limited by time and responsible use of finances in terms of how many different places we can physically visit. However thanks to COVID, ironically, we’ve all learned better that when we can’t be together in… Continue reading Virtual Meets
The Nelson Family Indonesia 