Until last night, I hadn’t been to an Indianapolis Colts game since the breath taking AFC championship in January of 2007 in the now extinct RCA Dome when the Colts came from far behind to beat the New England Patriots on the way to Super Bowl XLI and a victory over the Chicago Bears. Continue reading “Never Give Up! Colts 35, Patriots 34” →

The Old Testament book of Ezekiel is probably the least known of even the Major Prophets of the Bible; Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel.  It has much in common with these other prophets in declaring both the judgment of God on the nations and the people for their sin and rebellion against God, as well as God’s ultimate plan of saving his people by giving them a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26; see Jeremiah 31 as well as Ezekiel 36, 37). Continue reading “Then you shall know that I am the LORD!” →

It was Sunday morning.  I was supposed to preach at Faith Church from the Sermon on the Mount, but instead, I was lying in a hospital bed with a case of cellulitis that required IV antibiotic infusions. Looking for a biblically faithful sermon on television was useless; Charles Stanley was about done with his message when I looked; the only others I could find were Joel Osteen and Sheila Schuller Coleman.

 

So I resorted to the Internet, looked for Alistair Begg at Parkside Church in suburban Cleveland and was blessed with a great sermon from Mark 5 on the raising of Jairus’s daughter. Pastor Begg started his sermon by reading an article from Newsweek by Lisa Miller, “We Are All Hindus Now.” Continue reading “Are We Hindus or Christians?” →

I was in Minnesota last week.  Beautiful late September weather. I only wished I’d had my bicycle with me to ride on the wonderful trail system throughout the Twin Cities area. I saw no evidence of any storm damage.  The only hassle was that MSP International Airport is down to one active runway due to construction so that a minor sprinkle makes it tantamount to the horrors of Chicago O’hare.

This may be old news for you, but I first heard last week what happened one month earlier on August 19 as Minneapolis was hit with a tornado. There was no foul weather in the forecast. It was another beautiful day. But with no warning, a tornado hit and did roof damage to the downtown convention center where the Lutherans (ELCA) were meeting to vote in favor of allowing active homosexuals to serve as ordained ministers in their churches. Central Lutheran Church, right across from the Convention Center had its steeple split and the cross left hanging upside down.

Coincidence? Continue reading “Minnesota Tornado” →

A couple of weeks ago as I preached on Worry from the Sermon on the Mount,  I confessed that I am a life long chronic worrier. My mom was a worrier.  My dad was a worrier. I worry. Continue reading “Worry Reprise – Is it sinful to worry?” →

”O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1)

 

In late July/early August, we were in the Rocky Mountain National Park for a family reunion, an area of creation that shouts the power and glory of God.  We were surrounded by beauty and holy fear – driving up Trail Ridge Road was not a pleasant experience, but when we got to the top and I relaxed and got my heart rate back to normal, I sat there and watched a herd of Elk nearby and there was snow and mountains and valleys and upper lakes and lower lakes and sunlight casting shadows off the mountains and flowers growing up there where the air and soil is thin, and the air is cool.  And everything shouted, “Glory”.

  Continue reading “How Majestic Is Your Name! Guest Article by my brother, Wes” →

Another mainline American denomination has approved openly practicing homosexuals to serve as clergy. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has followed in the steps of the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church in rejecting a biblical view of marriage and minimal godly standards for pastors. United Methodists, United Presbyterians and American Baptists are all battling out this issue as well. Continue reading “Jeremiah the Prophet Speaks – Will America listen?” →

An amazing woman left us on Tuesday morning, June 9. Her name was Elfie*, but to us it was always Elfie Alice. She claimed nine children, eighteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and one great, great grandson. Yet she married for the first time at age 49, was widowed after six years, remarried at 62. Continue reading “Elfie Alice Bowen Messenger Tolle 1929-2009” →

Before it hit most of the national media, I received a phone call from a friend in Wichita, Kansas with news of the Sunday shooting death of George Tiller in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church as he served as an usher, while his wife sang in the choir.

 

It wasn’t long until my daughter in Omaha called, asking if I had heard the news. Why were we so affected? Continue reading “The Tragic Life and Death of George Tiller” →

Upon returning home from an overnight trip to Kentucky to see my son and family, my wife, Linda, informed me that the latest performance of Britain’s Got Talent sensation, Susan Boyle, was now available on YouTube.  No problem finding it.  USA Today had the link right under the headlines and I was in awe again as my emotions were manipulated and overcome. Continue reading “Susan Boyle tops North Korea” →