He Knows My Emotions Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-80 Meditation Expectant mothers, more than others, are filled with emotion. As they sit next to the empty-but-ready cradles, they dream God-sized dreams for their unborn children. They glow with anticipation. As the due date draws close, each mother-in-waiting rocks anxiously. But when the baby is born, joy […]
He Knows My Questions Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Meditation Up until today, the only questions that have kept Mary’s mind racing are the ones that have to do with her upcoming wedding to Joseph. “Who should we invite? How many? Where should we have the banquet? What should I wear?” But when Gabriel, the archangel […]
He Knows My Family Tree Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17 Meditation When the Father sent his Son into the world, he placed him in the care of a frail, human family. Though he was the only begotten fruit of the Father, Jesus fell from the limb of Abraham and David’s family tree. At his birth, the […]
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, […]
Me? God? and the World? (Scribbles and Doodles and PowerPoint Presentations) We’ve started our “Saturday in the Scriptures” class at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit. If you’d like to follow along with our study you can access the supplemental materials at the “eXPlain it” online learning portal. Here’s a couple of videos to show […]
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and […]
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me … John 5:39 (NIV) Three Opportunities to Study the Scriptures During Lent (2020) During this Lenten season (2020), I’d like to invite you to come and study the Scriptures in three different […]
This is the second of a two part update. So much has occurred during the last nine months that I thought our “Missionary at Large Update: 2019 Year in Review” would be best served with two separate posts. This first post focused on the mission work done in, at and through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church […]
This is the first of a two part update. So much has occurred during the last nine months that I thought the “2019 Year in Review” would be best served with two separate posts. This first post will focus on the mission work done in, at and through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The second post […]
Fifteen Children Baptized at East Bethlehem As the Triune God willed, appointed and worked, fifteen (15) children were baptized at the 10 am service at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 27th. Many prayers, hours of service and countless volunteers from all over the Tri-County area were spiritually invested in this magnificent and sacred sowing of […]
It has been four months since my installation at East Bethlehem and my deployment as a “Missionary at Large” to the Metro Detroit Area. The days have been filled with many challenges and matching blessings. Praise be to the Triune God that He is faithful and true. All of His promises remain the same. Not […]
“Ekklesia” is a greek word that refers to the Church as a “gathering”, an “assembly”, or, as the Apostles Creed states, “a communion of saints”. In the New Testament it describes those who have been … called out (1 Peter 2:9-12) gathered (Acts 2:42-47) and going in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20) In the early church, these “ekklesias” met […]
We are beggars; this is true! Martin Luther Martin Luther described the life of the Christian as “vita passiva” (Latin for “the receptive life”). When it comes to the forgiveness of sins, a clear conscience and reconciliation with God, we offer nothing. No works. No merits. Rather, through the gift of faith, we cling solely to the […]
What Does a Missionary Do? That’s a good question. Best answer (and example that I currently have) is what Philip does when the Holy Spirit directs him to go and listen, and then speak, to an Ethiopian sitting in his chariot. In Acts 8 the Holy Spirit instructs Philip to go up to a chariot […]
Grace and peace to you in Jesus. In His passion our Lord Jesus revealed to us that He is our Brother in the flesh, like us in every way except the sin. Today, in His resurrection, He has shown Himself to be Lord, Savior and King over sin, death and the power of the Devil. […]
