At the college I went to, Concordia-Nebraska, every student had to take a class called Human Relations. The course was all about learning how to care for other people. The professor was Herman, a quintessential wise older man, who had written the literal textbook about how to encourage others in your life. Herman taught us...Continue Reading
Easter Sunday was yesterday. This year, Easter was a huge relief. Yes because we got to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. But not only that. This year Easter also marked the end of a really hard Lent. Lent wasn’t hard in the penitential, sacrificial sense. Lent was hard because the last six weeks have...Continue Reading
So, this is really brilliant. I am a Bible study writer, who keeps forgetting about the Bible. How does this happen? How am I so selfish and forgetful and lazy that I want to write inspirational ideas about Jesus, but I can never remember to START WITH THE BIBLE? The really fantastic pattern goes something...Continue Reading
Can I get an AMEN on how hard it is to get the family to church on Sunday morning? For real, y’all. It’s no picnic on school mornings either, but the difference there is that the grown-ups aren’t sticking around at school. As soon as the kids are settled, we’re free to get breakfast or...Continue Reading
Today begins Lent: to give something up or not to give something up? The pendulum keeps swinging, doesn’t it? For a while there, fasting from something was only a Catholic thing. Then a Christian thing. Then the fasting was scorned by Christians everywhere. Shortly after that it was celebrated. No matter what your decision, critics...Continue Reading
The end of this story is that Sam did, in fact, turn around before the escalator reached the bottom. He did not fall over those people or crack his head open on that tile floor. His habit of riding escalators backwards is just another nerve-racking adventure of parenting young kids. While he’s doing this, and...Continue Reading
This morning I gave chapel at the kids’ school. Let me tell you, kids are a tough crowd. Groups of grown-ups have sort-of made up their minds about me as a speaker before I even start. Some people in the audience are rooting for me. There’s also those in the group who are distracted or just...Continue Reading
It’s only Monday morning, and this week is already wearing. me. out. For real, y’all. All the volunteer commitments and kid nurturing, wifing, housekeeping, writing, speaking, email-answering and befriending have clustered up into BIG DEADLINES this week. I’m not complaining, but as I look at this week, I’m seriously wondering… Who will do all that...Continue Reading
5. It’s National Lutheran Schools Week! For one week a year, Lutheran School kids get to ditch their uniforms for to dress up like their Favorite Storybook Character and like a hippie from the ’60s. The really good news about this? If your kid goes to a Lutheran School, they probably wear a uniform the...Continue Reading
If you have ever worked at a ministry that can’t make payroll, you know the disastrous effect this has on employee morale. One week without compensation and employees start complaining. Their work becomes sluggish and negativity rules your workspace. Without a paycheck, employees feel unappreciated and unmotivated. This is exactly how volunteers feel when no...Continue Reading
