Apprentice 2 Jesus

People

  • Saying Farewell (for now) to a Saint

    Yesterday we held a memorial service for an incredibly well-loved lady. It was the kind of service where I come away thinking, “What a life!” It was a celebration of a dear lady who served our church with incredible faithfulness for many years, and the last couple of years did so while battling cancer. No… Read more

  • Why the “generation of promise” may not be JUST 25 and under

    I work part of the time in a college environment and we have a growing number of young adults in our church. I have three young adult sons. I can actually remember the “fire in my belly” coming out of college. (My memory isn’t completely gone.) So, it’s natural to hear about motivating the generation… Read more

  • Thinking about thoughtfulness

    For all of my love for things tactile, like real books and real pens, I’ve lost touch in this fast paced culture. I still get Christmas cards from people… and haven’t sent one out myself for years. Well, Christmas is past, but I want to start something up again in my life: I want to… Read more

  • Here is to the future

    For those friends around the world who’ve already had the new year… how is the future? Here is to what lies ahead! GREAT SCOTT! Read more

  • A Lament

    I don’t write poetry or songs. I can barely write sentences. But my heart is broken and I need to let loose in a lament. I’m not the psalmist and it isn’t inspired. The feeling of loss is overwhelming at times. I believe in healing and ask for healing and yet I watch people lose… Read more

  • The Book of Esther, Egypt, and Syria

    When Haman was able to convince Xerxes to annihilate the Jews, the end of Chapter 3 says this: “The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.” Another translation read: the city was in an uproar. There was confusion. Looking at the text notes of the NET Bible, I… Read more

  • The Capacity of Growth in the Kingdom of God

    “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt. 6:14-15, NLT) These are a couple of verse we like to skip when we go through the Lord’s Prayer, but they are two of the most… Read more

  • Why I Love My City

    I need to tell you about my city. It is the city I pastor. It is not the city where I pastor. It is the city I pastor. And it’s a great one. I call myself their biggest cheerleader. I LOVE this city! Columbia Heights, MN is an inner ring suburb, which means it has “issues.” One… Read more

  • Our Feel-Good Approach to Social Justice

    Quite simply, READ THIS ARTICLE. For me to say these things (which I have thought for years) would not carry the same weight as someone who actually lives it out. This is eloquent and bold. I have never understood our mentality in the West for buying one pair of poorly made shoes so another pair… Read more

  • It might be spring!

    The weather is amazing… finally. It means a couple of things. 1. People are really in a good mood today! 2. It also means the end of the semester for me as adjunct faculty. This year I am finding is a bit tougher. I know quite a few students who are graduating. It is rewarding… Read more