Posted by jbrudvig |
Dear Partners in Ministry,
When facing a daunting challenge or entering an uncertain time of transition I am reminded of the phrase, “Every long journey begins with a single step.”
After four years of serving as your pastor, I am amazed at the steps that we have taken together. And now, as I say goodbye, my heart overflows with gratitude. Your generosity in the face of uncertainty…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Jesus’ directive to Simon Peter in Luke 5:4 to “put out into the deep water and let down your nets” may have hit a nerve this week, especially in light of the news that my time serving as your pastor is ending.
“Really, Jesus?” some may ask. “You want us to do this … AGAIN?”
During my ministry, I have learned an important truth. Ministry is not, nor should it be about,…
Posted by jbrudvig |
In Luke’s account of the start of Jesus’ teaching and preaching ministry, the tradition of the Hebrew prophets looms large. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returns to his hometown (Nazareth), attends worship in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and reads from the scroll of Isaiah proclaiming good news to the poor, liberation for captives, sight for the blind, and freedom for the…
Posted by jbrudvig |
I have a confession to make. As a child, I thought Christmas was all about presents, especially the ones with my name on them under the Christmas tree. Brightly colored packages that I hoped included items on my Christmas list. By making Christmas all about the presents, I now realize that I overlooked the gift that Christmas brings, the gift of presence.
The older and wiser version of myself…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Recently, while reading The Broken Way: A Daring Path into The Abundant Life by the bestselling author Ann Voskamp, I was challenged to consider the claim, “Learning the art of living is learning the art of giving.”
Then it dawned on me, “Isn’t this what God does for us?” A reality proclaimed loud and clear in the familiar refrain from John 3:16,…
Posted by jbrudvig |
As we prepare to remember and give thanks for the blessings in our lives this November, I am reminded of the text from Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Yet, the invitation to generosity can make a lot of us uncomfortable. Is it because the truth of God’s abundance challenges worldly messages of scarcity?…
Posted by jbrudvig |
The comment, “The Gospel knows no borders,” underscores what it means to be the body of Christ in the world. Though territorial boundaries, political divisions, and differences of language, culture, and ethnicity may separate us, our Christian faith proclaims that we are part of something much larger — the body of Christ united in God’s mission for the world.
The opportunity to travel…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Recently, children and youth from Salem and Overland Park Lutheran churches proclaimed the word through song, recounting the power and might of the God of Israel who answered the Prophet Elijah’s prayers with fire from above, consuming a water-soaked altar and the prophets of Ba’al.
Unfortunately for Elijah, upon hearing the news, Queen Jezebel vowed to kill God’s prophet. Fearful…
Posted by jbrudvig |
Although I love history, I am beginning to learn that nostalgia is a pipe dream. When we select idealized memories to fit the current narrative of our lives, we risk oversimplifying the challenges, struggles, and complexities of the past.
Reflecting on the powerful lure of nostalgia, Brené Brown, professor, author, and podcaster, says that when we compare the “good old days” to today,…
Posted by jbrudvig |
“To say that we are one in Christ is more than a pious platitude,” writes Michael Casey. “It is a mandate that we are called to make a reality.”
Only unity seems almost impossible these days, doesn’t it? Our world is coming apart at the seams. Wars rage, people seem more interested in shouting at one another instead of listening for understanding, societal ills continue to grow,…