This past week, the person we once affectionately called Mother Teresa was declared a saint by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Wow, how amazing to be declared a saint along with Peter, Paul, and John! Hey mom and dad, look at me now!
Category Archive: Joel A. Hess
By Joel A Hess –
Dear parents, your kids will be catechized whether you like it or not.
For many churches, autumn marks the beginning of confirmation classes for young people. The season also witnesses many a pastor’s struggles to convince families to make instructing their children in the faith a top priority. Understandably, after spending long hours in school and extracurricular activities, even families that make Christian education a priority find little time to do it seriously.
By Joel A Hess –
In his commentary on Galatians, Luther makes a big deal of the call as he comments on the first couple of verses of the letter. Of course, the apostle Paul does too! He hangs his hat on his call as he begins the letter, stating, “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead!” Paul drops some credentials to remind his readers that he is an official ambassador of the king, unlike the wolves in shepherd clothing who were trying to put the shackles of the Law back on the Galatians.
By Joel A. Hess –
Western society is obsessed with living here for as long as possible. The manifestations of this focus at first seem grand and hopeful. We spend tons of money to cure diseases. We spend billions putting people on Mars. We can talk to our parents in Michigan while living in Prague. We can watch the Olympics in Rio from our living room in Ann Arbor. We have done so many cool things that many truly put all their hope in our endeavors, whether explicitly or subconsciously. “The sky is the limit,” exclaim the progressive achievements of man! Yet what a limit it is!
By Joel A. Hess –
It’s OK to help that old lady across the street. It doesn’t mean you are trusting your own works for salvation.
It’s OK to buy a box of peanut butter to donate to the food bank. It doesn’t mean you are parading your righteousness before others.
By Joel A. Hess –
Since seminary, I have been told by seasoned pastors and “expert” first timers that pastoring is a tough, thankless job. They encouraged me to set boundaries so I don’t get lost in the work and forget about myself and my family. They scared me stiff, perhaps hoping I would not be overwhelmed by surprise when I went out on the front lines. The dark forecast was cast with even more doom and gloom for my wife. At seminary, there were groups for pastor’s wives that met like AA, all bellowing, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen…”
By Joel A. Hess –
A couple of weeks ago, I had a fantastic conversation with one my faithful members at Emmanuel. He had something to say to me. As St. Paul makes clear to Timothy, I needed to listen and respect my elder. Quite frankly, my stubborn pastor heart has been #blessed frequently by the words of my mothers and fathers in Christ. I love it.
For some time, he had perceived that I taught that one had to have evidence of God’s claims in Scripture in order to believe. As he said quite eloquently, “God says it, I believe it!” How happy I am to hear God’s children speak like that!
By Joel A. Hess –
Pokémon Go is enjoying the last of its fifteen minutes of fame. But don’t worry, gamers. More similar, sophisticated, and exciting games are on their way. I’m looking forward to chasing down stars in my car as I play MarioKart Go.
Pokémon Go and similar games are grabbing people’s attention by employing what gamers call augmented reality.
By Joel A. Hess –
Recently, a friend posted something on Facebook that we all probably think from time to time. She wrote, “The World must be coming to an end!” She then listed a number of examples from the news headlines and concluded by pleading to her audience, “Turn back to God!”
Things do look bleak. Everything is falling apart. Worse, we don’t seem to have any competent leaders in whom we can place our hope.
By Joel A. Hess –
Rodney King famously exclaimed in the 1990s, “Why can’t we all just get along?” Recently, after witnessing the horrific shootings of the past week, a number of people have asked me the same question. Seems simple, right?