For My Friends Prayers from a Santa 28 Nov 202328 Nov 2023 From a Fellow Traveler Today marks the start of Week 4 in the chemoradiation phase of my wife’s cancer treatment. It’s getting hard. The physical pain is difficult, of course; but…
For My Friends Facing the Simul of Cancer 7 Nov 20237 Nov 2023 From a Fellow Traveler As All Saints' Day rolls by I imagine a few folks might have heard preaching about being both saint and sinner at the same time. If…
Disciple LIke You Mean It… Wednesdays are for Walking With 01 1 Nov 202329 Nov 2023 The Next Step PodcastSeason 7: Wednesdays are for Walking WithEpisode 01 (20 min)Date: 01 November 2023Guests: Deanna Rossow and Lexie Brown Also available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Vurbl,…
For My Friends Called to Listen, Commissioned to Speak 17 Jul 202317 Jul 2023 By Justin Rossow “What am I supposed to say?” For people who follow Jesus, that question can come up in all kinds of different circumstances. That question can turn a…
Lent Either FROM or THROUGH 29 Mar 202329 Mar 2023 By Jamie Wiechman I begrudgingly made my way to the front of the church that Wednesday evening. It was Ash Wednesday. My church family joins many believers in marking this…
Cultural Studies… Ozymandias 26 Feb 2023 By Kim Longden Ozymandias is one of my favorite poems to use as an interpretive reading exercise with the kids. In it, a traveler describes the ruins of a statue…
For My Friends… Lord, to whom shall we go? 22 Feb 202322 Feb 2023 By Rachel Hinz “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter says this to Jesus after hearing some really difficult stuff. Confusing, hard stuff.…
For My Friends Rosemary 10 Jan 202310 Jan 2023 By Kristeen A. Bruun By the rivers of Babylon I sat and wept...How could I sing the song of the Lord in a foreign land? Paraphrase of Psalm 137:1, 4…
Uncategorized Christmas Lights in the Dark 15 Dec 202215 Dec 2022 By Kim Longden I have always loved Christmas lights. Some of my most treasured childhood memories are driving around as a family oohing and aahing at houses all decked out…
For My Friends The Christmas Cardinal 13 Dec 202211 Dec 2022 By Raelyn Pracht Growing up, we always decorated the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. My father would string the lights on the tree and wrap it in shiny, silver…
Exegetical Study… Walk in Newness of Life 17 Nov 202217 Nov 2022 By Justin Rossow We use Romans 6:5 at funerals all the time, but to paraphrase Inigo Montoya, “You keep using that verse; I don’t think it means what you think…
Cultural Studies Your Eternal Life Starts Now 8 Nov 20229 Nov 2022 By Justin Rossow In his famous allegorical narrative, The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis has his most reliable character say: “Both good and evil, when they are fully grown, become…
Lasts 7 Nov 2022 By Kim Longden I was surprised at church yesterday when my six-year-old daughter asked me to hold her during the liturgy. I almost told her no, that she’s too big;…
How are You Doing? 13 Oct 2022 OR The Roller Coaster of Transition By Jamie Wiechman “How are you doing?” is the innocent question that leaves me fumbling for words. Some people are blessedly able to offer…
Disciple LIke You Mean It… Non-Judgmental Noticing 7 Oct 202215 Nov 2023 The Next Step PodcastSeason 6: My Next Step, Vol 1: Getting StartedEpisode 2.3: Non-Judgmental NoticingDate: 06 October 2022Guest: Jamie Wiechman, Cofounder of Breathe Life Ministries Also available on: Apple Podcasts,…
Cultural Studies Great (and Not-So-Great) Expectations 17 Aug 20221 Nov 2022 By Ted Hopkins Expectations are a funny beast. On vacation this summer, we ate at a restaurant that was a bit sketchy when we first walked in. They had open…
Exegetical Study The god in My Pocket 15 Jun 20222 Nov 2022 By Justin Rossow A friend of mine has a collection of artifacts from the Holy Land in his office, including a woven basket full of household gods. These crude figurines…
Exegetical Study… It is Finished; and … 6 Apr 20221 Nov 2022 By Justin Rossow The last words of Jesus on the cross hold deep comfort and promise. And Jesus is still at work, for us. I recently received some concerned feedback…
