File PhotoPastor Erin Armstrong, Trinity Lutheran Church. ■ Pastor Erin Armstrong / Contributed “The heavens are telling of the glory of God, and the earth proclaims God’s handiwork,” Psalm 19:1. This is how the Psalmist begins one of the great praises of God’s creation and how it relates to the work of God among human beings. God’s work is intimately related to the beauty of creation, and God’s existence and intentions are written into the very fabric of what we can see throughout the universe. And if creation can reveal God in its beauty, perhaps that means we should care for it as much as we claim to care for God. (more…)

File PhotoDr. Rick Puls. ■ By Rick Puls – Contributed I talked to a young man once who had once been a member of a very large church. In everyday life he had difficulty being alone, so he enjoyed spending time with the people that he met in the church and felt secure in their fellowship. He relied on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support. He had difficulty making decisions on his own and looked to the church for precise guidance. This church fit his need. As he became deeply involved in the congregation, church leaders begin to dictate his behavior both in minor and major aspects of his (more…)

File PhotoSusan Beckett. ■ By Susan Beckett / Contributed How many of you would love to own a beachfront home? And when I say beachfront, I mean right on the beach – sand and all. I sure would; I love the beach. But really, how smart is it to build a home there? A while back I heard reporter John Stossel speak on this very issue. Apparently, there’s a government program that helps bail out beachfront homeowners whose homes suffer damage or are destroyed when storms come. According to Stossel, these programs actually help homeowners build and rebuild on beaches. One government program pumps sand back onto beaches year after year, (more…)

FIle PhotoReverend Ron Ritter. ■ REV. Ron Ritter / Contributed The basic mission of the Christian church that has endured throughout the earth for over 2,000 years was given to Jesus’ disciples immediately prior to His ascension into heaven. It is recorded in the New Testament’s Book of Acts, Chapter 1 and Verse 8. It says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ESV. The Judeo-Christian roots of America testify that this mission was executed faithfully with excellent results from its colonial period through (more…)

File PhotoPastor Michael Falgout strikes a pose with his family. ■ Michael Falgout / Contributed All families have their problems. More than a century ago, Thoreau wrote, “Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.” I’m sure you’ve also seen such short sightedness in youth. But, I have also seen as much generational prejudice among those of us who ought to be mature. Many despair about the future that will be in the hands of our youth. Such pessimism is, for me, an even greater cause for concern. Some say our problem is that the family unit isn’t what it used to be. They point to the (more…)

Photo FilePastor Rick Puls ■ By Rick Puls / Contributed I remember filling out Valentine cards for every person in my class at school in the third grade and handing them out on Valentine’s Day. All the students in my class did the same, so I got back as many as I handed out. Then we ate those little candy hearts made out of something that looked like chalk, which had writing on them. Now I give cards to close family and friends and the candy is expensive, but much better tasting, chocolates. I have no trouble loving my wife, my children, and my grandchildren, and expressing my love to them. (more…)

File PhotoSusan Beckett. ■ Susan Beckett / Contributed Has anything like this ever happened to you? You’re out shopping and find this amazing new outfit, on sale no less. You wear it for an entire day – at work, seeing a few friends for lunch and finally ending up at the grocery store before heading home. You walk through your front door and happen to glance in the mirror and see it. A big ol’ sales tag hanging down from under your right armpit. Then you’re like: you’ve gotta be kidding! Your entire day flashes before your eyes – how could you have missed this oversight and just how many people (more…)

File PhotoRev. Kent Leydens. ■ Rev. Kent Leydens / Contributed 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4 NRSV (more…)

Pixabay.comMartin Luther King Jr. ■ Jason Lee Layton / Contributed Martin Luther King Jr. had support from, marched with, and defended the rights of people from all different faiths. This is due to his willingness to reach out to them, to offer them his support, and to ask for their support in return. This can be seen with his over four-year correspondence with Israeli officials to schedule a visit for Dr. King to lead a pilgrimage which, because of the six-day Arab–Israeli-War, never happened. Still, the bond was forged and in March of 1965 rabbis and others from the Jewish faith joined Dr. King during the March on Selma, as well (more…)

Photo FilePastor Rick Puls ■ Pastor Rick Puls / Contributed I facilitated a weight loss class once. We not only focused on diet and exercise, but also looked at family of origin issues that can impact the way that we view ourselves regarding weight, and spiritual issues that determine our perceptions about God. For example, some individuals who were sexually molested as children or youth gain weight in an unconscious effort to make themselves “less attractive” to the perpetrators of the abuse. The weight can stay on, despite the fact that the abuse occurred decades ago, as a defense against others maltreating them. One of the participants in the weight loss (more…)