Hope-Full Living

His given name was Joseph, but most of you know him as Barnabas — the Son of Encouragement — what a title! Our first reading outlines this wonderful spiritual gift of his. He sounds like the type of person everyone would want to be around, doesn’t he? Barnabas would uplift, hearten, inspire, enrich, cheer, and fortify others — a glass-half-full kind of man! While some may dismiss our senior insigh...

Just words. Eggs. Oatmeal. Paprika. That’s what I thought our chalkboard was for — grocery reminders. We had a slice of wall in the kitchen between the pantry and the bookshelf that I thought would be a good chalkboard. All I needed was a quart of black chalkboard paint, and, voila: a handy chalkboard. But our chalkboard became something else when my husband starting writing Scripture verses on it...

Every day — not just on Sundays — we have a greeter at our church who welcomes anyone who comes to our campus. Matt is our building supervisor. He doesn’t just mop floors and clean windows. Matt cares about every person who enters “his” building. He calls them by name, he knows what they need, and he helps them. Matt visits people in their homes, runs errands, and drives people when they need a ri...

We begin every year exactly where the salvation story ends. Jesus, “the God who saves” was given that name because ]the Angel Gabriel told both Mary and Joseph to name him so. Soon, others found his saving name as well, including Shepherds, Wise Men, and even you. Will this be a year others find Jesus? Yes, if they hear of him. Perhaps it’s time to share the name of Jesus with others. He is much m...

“O, God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.” These are the opening lyrics to a hymn I sang every New Year’s Eve growing up. I love how these words bring God into context for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Written by Isaac Watts, this hymn is based on Psalm 90, a psalm designated as a prayer of Moses. How fitting, because it...

On their way to church for the New Year’s Eve service, the wife (unwisely) let her mind wander back through the troubles, trials, and tragedies that had marred the year. “It’s tempting to look ahead with dread,” she commented. Wisely, the husband responded, “Then you’re not looking far enough ahead.” Ah, yes. Remember the words of Jesus, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1) and the inspir...

Paul was in the winter of his life. He knew his time on earth was short. He was feeling lonely and forlorn. Only Luke was with him. He pleads with Timothy to come before winter. When we transition from the autumn to the winter of our life, it may be a time of loneliness and lament. We may struggle with health or mobility issues. Our beloved spouse may have gone to be with the Lord. We may long for...

Good friends are a blessing, yet we know that humans, no matter how well-intentioned, are imperfect and fallible. God, however, is faithful ALL the time. God does not lie. He is our refuge. God preserved faithful Noah and his family in the flood; he led and protected the Israelites with a cloud and a column of fire; he rescued Daniel from the lion’s den; Jesus healed, preached, taught, and forgave...

The gifts under the Christmas tree flooded the room. Everyone spotted the large box, wrapped in red holly berry paper, standing upright against the wall. With seven siblings, I never considered that the massive box held my name. To my surprise, someone handed me the largest gift. The box contained a doll house, three stories high, with cardboard walls and a plastic elevator. As I grew, I learned o...

In the Lutheran grade school I attended, I always had a part in the school’s Christmas Eve service about the birth of Jesus. Back in the 1950s, we had to memorize the lines we were going to say. Even though one of my strengths in school was memory work, I did worry that I would forget my lines in front of the congregation. With God’s help, I never did. To this day, I am thankful that my teachers m...

Christmas Eve was the children’s service. Our parents had us 8 kids open gifts before church so we would have new clothes to wear. We gave simple gifts to Mom and Dad — a lopsided exchange. At the heart of the Christmas story is a far greater exchange. God sent Jesus to take our sin and give us his righteousness: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become t...

Memories of Christmas Eve: Around 1950, speaking from the pulpit of Trinity, Indianapolis, in my role as little Isaiah at our Children’s Christmas Eve Service ... In the 1970s, as a Pastor, going Christmas caroling with a couples’ group from St. John’s, Peru, IN, singing “Stille Nacht” in the home of a German couple which brought tears to their eyes and ours ... Gathering often in the 2000s on Chr...

Every year, as Christmas approaches, I ask my daughters to provide wish lists for their family members, so I know how to shop for their gifts. We all agree, however, that while it’s nice to exchange presents, the best gift of all is when we can be present with one another. Our God likes giving gifts too. In fact, he knows our needs and our desires before we even tell him, and never fails to delive...

Read the verse, “My times are in your hand” (Psalm 31:15). Is there any statement, anywhere, in any context, truer than that one? I am a retired pastor. I’ve been a pastor for 63 years. The last time I led worship in a church was on Christmas Eve, 2023, at age 90. What one learns, what I learned over the years, is the wisdom of what the Psalmist wrote about so long ago. Our time and our length of...

While reading through a Christmas supply catalog, I noticed a nativity set with the description, “The Way in the Manger.” At first, I thought it was a misprint, and then I realized how profoundly accurate it was! When Jesus told his disciples he was going to prepare a place for them and they knew the way, confused Thomas said they didn’t even know where he was going, how could they possibly know t...

While reading through a Christmas supply catalog, I noticed a nativity set with the description, “The Way in the Manger.” At first, I thought it was a misprint, and then I realized how profoundly accurate it was! When Jesus told his disciples he was going to prepare a place for them and they knew the way, confused Thomas said they didn’t even know where he was going, how could they possibly know t...

One meaning of the word “present” used in the Bible is that it means now, current time, not far away, being present at a certain time or situation. Psalm 46:1 indicates that God is present. The word “present” is used with another meaning. The word “present” is referred to as a gift given to someone. It also refers to someone who is being introduced. It is interesting to note that this word “presen...

Memory is a gift. Our dear friend, Betty, was well into her nineties when we began visiting her. When she died at 104 her memory was “sharp as a tack,” by her own admission. Betty could recall details, incidents, and people from decades ago as easily as she brought back short-term memories. “This body may be wearing down,” Betty would say, “but God has given me a good memory, and I’m grateful.” Wh...

As a fairly young pastor, I attended a conference where the leader said something like this: “The Lord willing, I’ll see you next month.” I wondered, why wouldn’t the Lord be willing for us to get together again. Now in my late 70’s, a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Events that impact the lives of a few, hundreds, and even thousands upon thousands have taken place. Regardless of our age,...

By nature, I’m a past-focused person. There is some benefit to being wired this way, as it helps me recall good things in the past. Yet it also causes me to ruminate on failures, hurts, regrets, and things I wish had gone better. Looking back isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The best purpose for looking back is focusing on God’s faithfulness to us, even in our hard times. I gain comfort when I look...

How many of us like waiting? Yet here we are observing Advent, waiting for the birth of the Christ, the promised Messiah. The Israelites heard this promise throughout their lives and didn’t see the Savior. Neither have we. They believed a promise; we believe the witnesses in God’s Word. Isaiah’s invitation is from God, free for the taking, yet hard to believe. Harder to believe is God’s patience w...

Illness, relationship difficulties, or circumstances beyond our control are part of life. In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, we read about David’s circumstances when enemies wanted to kill him. In his challenge, David did the practical thing — hiding in caves to save his life. He also did what was necessary: seek God, express his lament, and praise him for who he is. David wrote several Psalms...

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18), and then he goes on, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus has all authority, and throughout his life he healed the sick, raised the dead, and did many other miracles. He even came back from the grave, showed himself to many, and by his presence comes to save and to restore us. Because of this,...

First spoken to Zachariah by the angel Gabriel, these words speak to us also: “Stand back and watch, God’s going to do something here!” Things happen in God’s presence. Gathered at the font, kneeling at the table, or reading the Word, we “stand” in the presence of our almighty God. We “stand” with the people we meet in baptism, communion, church sacred spaces, and even secular communities. Along w...

Throughout our lives there has always been a plan. Our parents raising us, striving to be a good student, getting a job, getting married, and raising a family. Plans are just that. We have no guarantees that our plans will turn out the way we expect. There is an old Yiddish adage that says, “Man plans, and God laughs.” We need to realize that our plans are not always God’s plans. Aging of a body w...