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
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
The Nelson Family Indonesia 