By Joel Krogen –
I once had a phone interview with a congregation that revealed to me the length to which some people will go to avoid Scripture in the pursuit of being “relevant” to those around them (because, of course, the Word of God isn’t “relevant”—unbelievers around you are supposed to think you’re cool, then you’ll be ‘relevant’).
By Paul Koch –
Once a month, all my colleagues get together for a regular meeting of all the pastors in our circuit. We sit around and talk shop over coffee and breakfast type foods. We undertake some sort of theological study and catch up on any important news from our district (though it’s never as important as they think). Yet the pinnacle moment of our time together and the thing I enjoy the most is worship. That’s right, we gather together to receive the Word and Sacraments of our Lord, and it is something I cherish.
By Joel Hess – John R. Cash on why your pastor wears black. Yeah, there is more to […]
By Bob Hiller –
There seems to be an inordinate amount of literature on pastoral leadership these days. Some of it is good and helpful. I have personally benefited in wonderful ways from a leadership program I was involved with some time back. But other leadership material is not as useful. I worry that some may even be harmful. I’ve recently found myself thinking: Are pastors actually called to be leaders?
By Paul Koch –
There is great comfort found in the traditional liturgy of the Church. When you wander into a congregation gathered around the gifts of Christ, the liturgy of their worship provides a rhythm and focus to the things that are happening. There is a movement and purpose that aids in carrying the individual from whatever was going before that moment into a genuine experience with the Almighty located in Word and Sacrament.
By Bob Hiller –
Something rather significant happened in the NCAA championship this past Monday night. No, it’s not that I filled out the winning bracket in my pool. That dream died on the second afternoon of the tournament. No, the significance lies in how Villanova won. This is their second championship in the last three years. It wasn’t so much how they won on the court—basically manhandling Michigan for a 79–62 victory—but how the program is run off that makes this victory significant.
By Joel A. Hess –
Keith was bent over with the pain. “Pastor! I’m scared.” They came in with cords and needles and tied him up as if they were tying up the illness. I held his hand and prayed. He squeezed tightly. All he saw was illness, pain, death, hopelessness.
By Joel A. Hess –
In Jocko Willink’s wonderful book, “Extreme Ownership,” he begins with a story of the first significant time he failed as a leader of SEAL time expedition. He talks about it as a turning point in his understanding of taking ownership as a leader. More precisely, he realized the importance and necessity of taking blame as the leader. Not ceremonially or officially, but truly receiving blame for the failure!
By Paul Koch –
Let’s be honest, sometimes the preaching sucks.
As a pastor, I am fully aware of the terrors and struggles associated with the preaching task. I will never forget those first months: showing up way too early on a Sunday morning, fretting over every word in the manuscript, wondering about the emotional and spiritual and physical baggage that my congregation would carry into the sanctuary that morning. I wasn’t afraid of public speaking or even that I would somehow lead the flock into heresy. Rather, my fears rested in prideful arrogance that my sermon would simply suck, that it would miss the mark completely and be of little to no consequence to those who gathered around Word and Sacrament.
By Bob Hiller –
If there is anything we know about rhetoric on social media, it is that it is well-reasoned, thoughtful, and constructive. I’ve found Twitter, for example, to be a safe space for people to share views and exchange ideas. Slow to judge and quick to build the best possible construction, even of one’s opponents, that’s the name of the game. Social media has done nothing if it hasn’t elevated the level of discourse in our society.
By Jeff Pulse –
The Old Testament text for this Sunday, November 26, 2017, comes from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. The text is Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, which is one of the best-known chapters from this book. Chapter 34 begins with a strong admonition against the evil and wicked “shepherds of Israel.” In these verses (1-10), the litany is of all the things these false shepherds do or do not do and how they bring harm to the sheep. This is a frequently used text for ordinations/installations of pastors as it details what NOT to do! Then the chapter moves immediately into our text beginning at vs. 11 as the LORD God declares that He Himself will shepherd His sheep.
By Paul Koch –
There is a change coming, a brutal and heartless change that will reshape the human experience.
It comes in small increments, often imperceptible until it’s already become an accepted reality and there is little that we can do other than longingly speak of the “good old days.” But with a slow and relentless march, it will redefine our interactions and how we understand the world in which we live. I’m speaking of course about our use and reliance on technology and its role in human connections.
By Ross Engel –
Recently I watched the 2006 Kevin Costner/Ashton Kutcher movie, “The Guardian.” The film centers on the training of the U.S. Coast Guard’s elite rescue swimmers. Kevin Costner is the seasoned veteran—a legend with more rescues than one can keep track of—and Ashton Kutcher is the talented yet cocky recruit who yearns to make a name for himself. Both men are running from tragedies and brokenness and the movie is dripping with themes of self-sacrifice and coping with loss. There is appreciable depth to this movie.
By Paul Koch –
I’m writing this in my hotel room in Palm Springs on the concluding day of our annual pastors’ conference for our district of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Now, pastors’ conferences can often be quite the grab bag of competing experiences—of fun, disappointment, encouragement, depression, laughs, and silent tears. It is a place where I get to gather with my brothers in the ministry to speak openly and honestly about the task set before us. This can be refreshing and uplifting on the one hand and upsetting and discouraging on the other. To be sure, there are difficulties facing the Church on which we need to have open and honest reflection. So, the tone of the thing (like the tone of this opening paragraph) can fluctuate between confidence and fear, joy and discouragement.
By Paul Koch –
This week, I gathered together with a decent-sized group of my colleagues for a monthly meeting in which we receive the gifts of our Lord together, study theology, and discuss matters pertaining to our district of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. We have a good group of guys, and I always do my best to try and attend these gatherings. After all, there will usually be passionate disagreements about practice, heartfelt please for future endeavors, lots of laughs at the expense of some brother who didn’t show, and certainly a beer or two during lunch.
By Paul Koch –
Being a pastor affords the privilege to be involved in people’s lives at very intimate moments. From sitting beside a dying grandmother to presiding over a wedding or welcoming a new member into the congregation I have cherished these events. As I’ve attempted to proclaim he Word of God into that moment, time and again, I have found that I’ve been changed and impacted by what is happening. From the look of pride and joy on a father’s face as his child confesses the faith of the family before the congregation. Or the final worlds of assurance from a saint that is longing to meet her Lord face to face. These moments leave their mark. They serve as vivid reminders to me of just what this life of faith is about.
By Bob Hiller –
She is very attractive for you, isn’t she? And you can’t seem to leave her alone. You love being the center of her attention. When she compliments you, you feel like you can conquer the world. You’ve even become an expert on wooing those compliments out of her. You know what she likes to hear. Sure, there are times when she’s not happy with you, and it drives you crazy. You grow self-defensive, yet you obsess over winning back her love. But you know exactly what you need to do to make her love you again; you just need to tell her what she wants to hear. There’s just one problem with all of this: She’s not your wife, pastor. She belongs to Jesus.
By Bob Hiller –
Well, if my calculations are correct, by the time you read this blog (I am writing this on Tuesday night), the Golden State Warriors will be on the brink of completing their undefeated playoff run by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the NBA Finals. (Though, if you read my blog, you know my calculations are rarely correct…) Chances are that LeBron James will carry Cleveland to take one game. But I don’t think it will matter much. Golden State is stacked. The overindulgent signing of the great Kevin Durant in the off-season made the already incredible Warriors a near lock as this year’s champions. Handily winning every single playoff game may not make for great viewing, but it does make the Warriors rather impressive.
By Graham Glover –
I know you don’t like him. It’s obvious every time we talk about him. It’s also apparent on your social media accounts. Some of them are direct attacks. Others are a little more subtle, but still, we all know who you are referencing. You’re clearly no fan.
By Bob Hiller –
One of the great joys of the sports bar is what we might call the “greatness debate.” You know how it goes: “Who is the greatest point guard in the league right now?” “If you could start a franchise with three players in the league, who would you take?” “Give me your top five post-season quarterbacks after 1980.” Beer-induced passion sets in producing delightfully aimless arguments with no real answers. Everyone has a chance to flex their sports-trivia muscles and pile on the guys with the worst answers (a position I know all too well).
