Changing Relationships for the Better

So practical...and, from my experience, so true.

If you're not praying...

...you're dying inside. It's as simple and as true as that.

Antidote to Worry

These brief thoughts presented by my colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot, from a John Ortberg book and the passage of Scripture that inspired them from Philippians 4:4-8, is worth the short time it will take you to read them.

We human beings can weave all sorts of horrible scenarios with the gift of imagination we have from God.

Or, we can focus on what is true and real and noble.

Doing the latter can make a huge difference in our lives and in the lives of those we touch every day.

By the way, if you haven't read the book from which Glen quotes, The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg, I recommend it highly!

"What We Can Learn from a Thief"

Fantastic Good Friday thoughts from my colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, can be found here.

"Food for the Journey"

This is the Maundy Thursday sermon of my colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot. It's helpful and inspiring.

Trusting God

"Trusting God," or maybe more imperatively, "Trust God!," is the theme that emerges from several inspiring things I've read over the past week or so.

First, there's today's installment from Our Daily Bread, called The Penny Syndrome. Never underestimate what God can and will do through you when you trust Him!

My colleague and friend, Pastor Glen VanderKloot, in his daily devotional, shared thoughts from John Ortberg's fantastic book, The Me I Want to Be. You can find them here. God has an adventure planned for you; live it!

Also, inspired by the Bible, Bill Hybels' book The Power of a Whisper, the experiences of many faithful Christians, and his own walk with Christ, Glen has been sharing a sermon series on the power of God's communication with His people. I've linked to previous installments. Here is the link to the sermon of April 3. 


And here is Glen's sermon from yesterday, April 10. As you read it, put aside your skepticism and world-weary wariness. Glen is an intelligent, knowledgeable man who trusts in Jesus Christ with every fiber of his being. I'm excited by the vision for his congregation that Glen here shares! As many of us  were reminded by the first Bible lesson for worship yesterday, Ezekiel 37:1-14, by the power of His Word, God can give new life to dead, dry bones. Pray for Glen and for Faith Lutheran Church of Springfield, Illinois as God brings the vision of renewal into being! 

More on Hearing from God...

from Pastor Glen VanderKloot. Really good.

"The Power of a Whisper"

Pastor Glen VanderKloot of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, is preaching a series, The Power of a Whisper, in which he shares on how we can get better at hearing God's voice and get better at having the faith and courage to respond. As Glen explains:

There are crazy people out there who will tell you that

God told them to do all sorts of things, often horrible

things.  Every dream, thought, idea is not from God. 

It is essential that we learn to test each whisper we

receive to discern whether it is from God or not.

So far in this season of Lent, Pastor VanderKloot has presented two sermons. As always with his sermons, they're great! Here are links to the first two:
The Whisper-Led Life
Divine Input for the Day to Day

As Christians, We Always Have a Call

This was shared today by Pastor Glen VanderKloot. Glen is a fellow ELCA pastor. He serves a congregation in Springfield, Illinois.

This is What Love is Really Like

Here.

"Is Your Dream Too Small?"

That's the title of this great sermon by Pastor Glen VanderKloot. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Getting It Straight

Here.

Mother Teresa

...right again.