This morning is the fourth week of our Lenten journey: Deep Healing. In the last few weeks, we have explored those parts of our lives that are deep and true: relationship, commitment, wisdom, and now healing. We know that deep relationship requires deep commitment accompanied by deep wisdom. Maintaining relationships also requires deep healing because… Read More »
Deep Wisdom
It has been 3 months since Morgan, Vivienne, and I made the trek with all of our belongings to the little community of Freeman. Though we have had some time to get to know the area around Freeman well, we still have a lot to learn, a good amount of local wisdom to glean from… Read More »
Deep Commitment
Morgan and I got married in April 2014. We will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary this spring. Last August in the midst of frustrating Illinois COVID-19 restrictions, I had the blessing of officiating my little brother’s private wedding ceremony outside of his home. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon. The wedding only lasted… Read More »
Deep Relationship
Deep and True! As I was preparing for this Lenten season, I came across a statement from the folks at Mennomedia in their Leader publication. They wrote about how this new season might be a time to grieve all of the things and people that we have lost over the past year with COVID, especially… Read More »
Our Hope
Our text this morning, Isaiah chapter 40 marks a transition and dramatic change from the first 39 chapters of Isaiah. At the end of chapter 39, the prophet Isaiah tells Hezekiah, the king of Judah, the southern kingdom, that the Babylonians will one day take the resources and the people of Jerusalem into exile to… Read More »
Remember Me
When I was growing up, I remember watching the communion plate pass by me, wondering when I would get to participate. I don’t remember the reasons. Maybe something like you can when you’re ready. I’m not even sure when I first took communion. Several things that I do remember learning, though not necessarily because people… Read More »
Jesus and Renewal
I wrote the following for one of my seminary courses Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish rabbi who lived in first-century Palestine, is our clearest example and most effective leader for joining God’s cosmic project of setting creation aright. Jesus is the herald of God’s in-breaking kingdom, the prophet, priest, and king who not only connects… Read More »
Discerning the Harvest
The following is a part of my “Rural Insights: Reflections from Pastor Randall” page in our church newsletter. Hope you enjoy Benson, IL is similar to Freeman, SD. Farm ground had been carved into big mile by mile squares with random fence posts marking property lines. What marked one person’s land from another in my… Read More »
Follow Me
A couple of weeks ago, my sermon centered on the beginning of the gospel narrative of Mark with the baptism of Jesus by his cousin John and a reflection on how my faith journey may have begun most profoundly with my own baptism when I was in 6th grade. I made a few comments in… Read More »
Listening Well
I like to talk. I know you might be hearing this and thinking, “of course, that’s why you’re a pastor.” But I cannot speak for all pastors and say that we all like to talk, but I do. I describe myself as an external processor. I often need to speak ideas and thoughts flowing through… Read More »
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- Next Page »
