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Allegiance
I love July 4, fireworks, patriotic songs, movies about the Revolution… all of it. That cop that sings “God Bless America” at Yankees games gets me every time I hear his wonderful tenor voice. But my allegiance isn’t here. It is in another land. Another place. Another kingdom. The country of my birth is a place I love. The Kingdom…
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Scariest Thought About the Tenderloin
As we leave San Francisco, we have joy in our hearts. God is doing such an amazing work in the Tenderloin district through wonderful ministries like City Impact. Here is the scariest thought, though. What would this place look like WITHOUT the salt and light of the Church? It’s rough now. It’s a bit scary now. But without great people…
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Heroes
This is a day of remembrance. It is to honor those who serve our country. It is to remember those who have given their lives in the defense of this country. I am so deeply thankful for those who put on the uniform and give themselves to serve. I have a nephew finishing up his basic and advance training and…
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Prayers for Trinity Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us you servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal…
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What is the Church?
From NT Wright’s book, Simply Jesus. The church is not supposed to be a society of perfect people doing great work. It’s a society of forgiven sinners repaying their unpayable debt of love by working for Jesus’s kingdom in every way they can, knowing themselves to be unworthy of the task. And this: Jesus has all kinds of projects up…
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The Conversation of Depression
While we’re not having another needed conversation (this one about depression), let me just go ahead and bring it up again. WE NEED TO TALK. A fellow blogger, Jeff, is a strong believer and battles depression. He puts some of his thoughts HERE. Let’s not talk about other things while we’re at it. 😉 We truly need to see the…
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Two Numbers: 15 and 25
This week brings together two significant passages of time in my life. This month I celebrate 15 years as pastor of Heights Church in Columbia Heights, MN. Next month my wife and I celebrate 25 years of marriage. And this week we get the privilege of celebrating those events with a special trip put together by our church and city.…
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Words from Francis I
From Pope Francis I’s first homily: “We must always walk in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, always trying to live in an irreprehensible way,” he said in a heartfelt homily of a parish priest, loaded with biblical references and simple imagery. “When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and…
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The New Pope
A southern hemisphere pope, recognizing the shift of the church. Is he named Francis I for Francis of Assisi or Francis Xavier? Maybe a little of both? The thing I find interesting is that the picture below looks a bit like James Cromwell, which means Cromwell can now play two popes in his lifetime.
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The Vatican, the Pope, and Conspiracy Theories
Journalists really like to throw out the intrigue… even if there might not be any. So, read about the battle royale over “reformers” and “Romans” HERE. But don’t forget to fill out your bracket!
Category: Church
