Sermons

Amos 6. 1a, 4-7God saves from sin … both evil and easy! It was the first summer at my first congregation. And I wanted to do something different. Something outside the box. Something that would give us a change of…
Read more

reflecting on the journeyFaith isn’t trying harder and doing better, it’s trusting that god loves! The first time, it was unexpected. Coming out of the clear blue. I was about to start up the aisle, on a Sunday morning, to…
Read more

Exodus 32. 7-14Faith isn’t we-regretting-our-sin, but god-regretting-god’s-wrath. “Hoisted on your own petard!” Growing up, that was one of the phrases my mom used … a lot! Well, that and a few in German that are, probably, best not repeated. Here….
Read more

Deuteronomy 30. 15-20“Life and prosperity” isn’t a reward; it’s a gift! As Americans, we believe in work. Long. Hard. Sweat of our brow, strength of our arm, kind of stuff. You’ve seen the billboards. Read the bumperstickers. “If you want…
Read more

reflecting on the journeyThe church is not created for heaven, but for the world! It was a last-minute thing. I heard the mountains calling, again, and, this time, I had to go! So, I packed a duffel, picked up Nate,…
Read more

Jeremiah 23. 23-29Church is rooted in promise and proclamation, not practice! If only … If only we were a little more outgoing … If only we were a little more friendly, a little more welcoming … If only we worked…
Read more

Genesis 15. 1-6Not because. Not if. Not when. God just loves! It was the November Luther turned twenty-seven. He and a fellow monk were traveling from Erfurt to Rome on official business. He’d been a priest for three years. A…
Read more

smallCatechism, the Creed, article 2The reason for believing isn’t, simply, to believe; it’s to love! July 19th was a Tuesday, that year. I’d finished up a third year at Arizona State. It was that night when a chain of thunderstorms…
Read more

mark russell, synodically-authorized worship leaderchrist’s lutheran church, odessa texas Luke 11. 1-13 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of each heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Songwriters Richard Marx and…
Read more