Home of the Darkwater Author
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached this morning, the Fifth Sunday in Lent. The gospel reading was John 11:1-45. If you would like to see this sermon, you can click here. Our fifth Lenten discipline is repentance. And I need to define what that word means. We often think of the … Continue reading Repentance, Death, and Life (Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. It was the Third Sunday after Epiphany, and also the second Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign. I preached on the Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18. You can view the sermon here (it starts around 25:40). By God’s great mercy, we are refreshed with … Continue reading Refreshed with the Power of God (Sermon)
A few days ago, I was at a Zoom meeting with other pastors in my synod. As part of the opening devotion, the meeting facilitator asked the question, "How do you want to be remembered?" Many people gave answers like, "I want to be remembered as someone who loved God and did my best." Or, … Continue reading On being remembered
This is the conclusion of a novella I’ve written. It will be published here one chapter at a time, roughly twice a week. Trigger warning: this story is very dark, and may be triggering for those with suicidal ideation. It’s also not the kind of thing you’d expect your pastor to write. So, fair warning. … Continue reading “The Lepers in Your Head” / Chapter Eleven: The Bridge
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. The gospel text was Luke 20:27-38. As Lutherans, we don’t tend to talk about heaven very much. We usually focus more on how Christ affects us in this life. But in November, as we approach the end of the church year in two … Continue reading What on Earth is Heaven? (Sermon)
I buried a cat yesterday. It was a very difficult process. I don't mean emotionally -- although I'll get to that part soon enough. I mean physically difficult. The house where I live is adjacent to several acres of woods, and there is an abundance of spots in the woods to lay the body of … Continue reading Cat-Sized Hole
This entry in the "Numbers" series was written by guest writer Pete Barry. Pete is the screenwriter of the upcoming film Marian. He is also an award-winning playwright, as well as the other half of the non-award-winning film studio "Pinewood Men.” Follow his upcoming comedy podcast Mission: Rejected on Twitter and Instagram at @missionrejected. Thanks for giving me the day … Continue reading Twenty-Seven (Guest Post)
So in a way, today's post is a sequel to yesterday's. You'd think it would take place right after it. Yesterday's post was about the year I was eighteen, so you'd think this one would be about when I was nineteen. Well, it sort of is. But most of the action took place long before I … Continue reading Nineteen
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, All Saints Sunday. The gospel text was John 11:32-44, the raising of Lazarus. One day, not long after Halloween, a day not unlike today, a monkey came upon a jar filled with Halloween candy. It’s not important how this jar got into the … Continue reading Clinging
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. The text was Mark 9:30-37. I am going to die. It’s true. I don’t like to think about it too often, but a day is coming, perhaps a long way off, or perhaps not, when I will die. That’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? And … Continue reading “I am Going to Die”
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