Yes, it is true, I have resigned my call here at Salem, and on September 1, I will begin a new call as Bishop’s Associate of the Central States Synod.
This past Sunday, you all were so kind with your words of support, and for that I am truly thankful, but in our conversations, I also sensed a genuine concern for Salem. I heard words like, “What are we going to do?” and “It just won’t…
Posted by hlewis |
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” Isn’t that the truth? What makes this quote even more fascinating is who said it: millionaire Malcolm Forbes! I imagine most people he encountered could “do nothing for him,” and yet he makes a valid point: we are to treat each other with respect, no matter what we get in return.
Jesus…
Matthew 25:35-40 Common English Bible (CEB)
“I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
“Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry…
We have talked a lot this year about the “new commandment” Jesus gave his disciples the night before he died, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). It isn’t easy to love this world as Christ loves it,…
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This is my favorite week of the summer. Every morning, I get to spend 90 minutes with incredibly energetic, creative, thoughtful kids bringing a story from the Bible to life. This week we’re chasing spies, marching around the sanctuary, shouting “Hallelujah!”, and knocking down walls. But we’re also explaining the promises that God fulfills, wondering if He could really love us no matter what,…
Synod assembly was last weekend and I got to work on the committee that helped pull it off. My job was to work with the youth that came to the assembly meeting. Clearly, I had the best job on the committee!
We met with the youth a few times, played games, sat together at meetings and worship, and I got to know some really cool and thoughtful youth in our synod.
One piece of feedback…
This Sunday, June 9, is Pentecost Sunday. In the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21), we are told that all the disciples were together that day, “And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with…
Posted by hlewis |
If you know me, you’re probably not surprised that I am an extreme optimist. I look for the good in people and situations. This can be … ahem … annoying, as I like to “romp through my field of daisies” instead of looking at things in a more realistic light; I leave that up to my auditor husband!
God obviously created us to be different from each other, and I find it so interesting…
John 14:23-29 Common English Bible (CEB)
23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 “I…
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The Jews in Jesus’ day had been waiting for their Messiah for a very long time. This Sunday, we will hear them ask Jesus again if He is the Messiah; but when they don’t like his answer, they want to stone Him. He tells them they don’t believe because they are not one of His flock, and they don’t recognize His voice.
“But the voice of truth tells me a different story: the voice…