In his book Ordinary Saints: An Introduction to the Christian Life, Robert Benne compares the Christian life to the natural act of breathing. He writes, “The Christian life is like breathing in ( pulling our souls into the life-sustaining power of the Spirit) and breathing out (expending that life-giving power to others). The Christian life […]
In our fast-paced and wordy world, the bombardment of white noise often masks the voice of God calling to us. Kurt Senske adds; “But even hearing does not mean we are listening, which results in being obedient and having the courage to accept what God has in store for us.” Catholic theologian Henri Nouwen once […]
In his book The Calling: Living a Life of Significance, Kurt Senske says he believes people make with regard to their calling: (1) asking what I want to do with my life instead of what God wants me to do with my life; (2) focusing on obtaining some distant or future goal as opposed to […]
In his book The Calling: Living a Life of Significance, Kurt Senske says that God shapes our calling through our daily routines, and in the process “transforms ordinary life into extraordinary existence. He adds that while Christians face the same pressures as non-Christians, our success is measured by “whom we are: redeemed people of God, […]
Coming soon to an Annotated Bibliography near you (much more dramatic than saying “over the next several months”): (1) The Calling: Living a Life of Significance by Kurt Senske; (2) The Peace God Promises by Ann Spangler: (3) If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat by John […]
In his book A Better Way to Think, H. Norman Wright asserts: “Many people use their thoughts to guide them, to give them direction. We need something more than this because we really don’t always have a good sense of direction within us. . . .We need God’s Word.” Jeremiah 10: 23 reminds us: I […]
In his book Living above the Level of Mediocrity, author Chuck Swindoll states: “Vision is the ability to see God’s presence, to perceive God’s power, to focus on God’s plan, in spite of the obstacles. . . . I sometimes think of vision as looking at life through the lens of God’s eyes, seeing situations […]
In her book When Am I Going to Be Happy? author Penelope Russvanoff points out that “while negative emotions stick to us like tar, our positive, healthy, happy feelings are often fleeting and fragile. Good moods are shattered by the mildest reversals and instantly replaced by bad moods.” Commenting on this quote in his book […]
Do you find yourself having unexpected and inexplicable hostile responses to certain people or situations? In his book A Better Way to Think, author H. Norman Wright says that some people refer to this phenomenon as “emotional ghosts”. These ghosts cause us to hear remembered toxic statements over and over again. The author continues, “When […]
The attached document was prepared by the School Ministry Team specifically to enable congregations in the LC-MS handle potention or actual reduction in force situations on their staffs. However, it also is extremely useful for church workers facing the loss of their positions to understand the recommended procedures that are consistent with Synodical doctrine and practice. […]
The following hymn verses were written by Rev. Larry Hauser, who just retired as the pastor of Berea Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Based on Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus Walks on the Water) and sung to the tune O Waly, Waly, Rev. Hauser’s hymn addresses those emotions common to anyone in a period of transition, what […]