All Blog Posts (42)

The Power of a Thank You

I arrived in the airport in Brazil, touching ground for the first time in South America. It was a scary yet thrilling experience. With two suitcases, a carry-on and a year ahead of me, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. And my limited vocabulary of “Hello,” “goodbye,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in Portuguese didn’t ease any of the nervousness. But, following the crowds, I somehow managed to make it from the plane to the luggage pick-up and, eventually, to my hotel. My first month in Braz… Continue

Added by Erin Daubert on October 21, 2009 at 10:17am — No Comments

The Plot Thickens: Our Story and God's Story

Every Sunday the People's Press of Owatonna (the local newspaper) prints a small section written by one of the local clergy members of the town, called "Pastor's Perspective." This week is my week to write something, so here is the scoop - early, to boot! Pastor’s Perspective Intern Pastor Lydia Nelson The Plot Thickens: Our Story and God’s Story Sometimes I think that my life is one big story, and I have yet to figure out if it’s a comedy, tragedy, drama, fantasy, or all of the abov… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on October 8, 2009 at 3:46pm — 1 Comment

what is the one thing that would or does keep you in a community of faith?

If you could choose just one experience that makes you want to be part of the church (as a young adult) what would it be? Continue

Added by Lori A Cornell on October 7, 2009 at 1:29pm — No Comments

Better Questions Blog - Dive (Life on the Way)

I’m Diving in, I’m going deep, in o’er my head I want to be… Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in o’er my head I want to go… The river’s deep, the river’s wide, the river’s water is alive… So sink or swim I’m diving in. (Stephen Curtis Chapman – “Dive” from Speechless) Vida en la via (I think) – “Life on the way” – that’s where I am. I don’t know where I’m headed and so much seems to be changing and opening up. I’ve… Continue

Added by Nate Porter on September 9, 2009 at 1:17am — No Comments

help

I have been taught that you do not build faith on experience. I have been taught that God is going to clean your soul so that it is pure and righteous for His purpose. I have learned not to stress over the small things. I have learned that God will never let me down. That I do not know God's plans, nor do I have His wisdom. Recently I have been going through some sort of cleaning, a spiritual cleaning. I can honestly say that it is rather painful. I am being given circumstances that is testing e… Continue

Added by Dennis J. Klinzing Sr. on July 1, 2009 at 7:10pm — No Comments

incrediably confused

As of late I have been very confused. I have been arguing with God. I know he has been hearing me, however he does not believe my argument. I say with utter confidence and conviction that he has enabled me to hear his whisper for the call of serving. I am learning the consequences of his calling. It is not just a call to serve, but a call to a new and radically changed life. When I first started noticing the call, I was and still am amazed with it. I will be candidaly honesy, I have been fightin… Continue

Added by Dennis J. Klinzing Sr. on June 24, 2009 at 11:37am — No Comments

A poem I heard in a sermon yesterday

In memory of Oscar Romero (1917–1980) A Future Not Our Own It helps now and then to step back and take a long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection,… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on June 15, 2009 at 7:25pm — No Comments

Doubt

"The process iincorporates the whole person - head and heart, passion and logic, faith and doubt, challenge and mystery." That one sentence has bothered me ever since I read it. I read a little bit more in the book. Thought to myself that I reach out to my family to get some help on what I am reading, what I am experiencing. Instead of sharing in the excitement, I got just the opposite. I was doubted at every turn. At the end of the conversation, I was telling God I need someone to talk to. God… Continue

Added by Dennis J. Klinzing Sr. on May 16, 2009 at 3:57pm — No Comments

Discerning God's call and God's Gifts

I have continued reading "What Shall I Say?" I have come across a passage that is confusing. I am in dire need of help. I quote directly from the book. "Discernment is the dynamic procoess of discovering God's call in ever dimension of life. The process incorporates the whole person - head and heart, passion and logic, faith and doubt, challenge and mystery." "God does the choosing not the individual". The very notion of self-appointed and self - proclaimed leaders contradicts what it means to b… Continue

Added by Dennis J. Klinzing Sr. on May 15, 2009 at 7:50pm — 1 Comment

The beginning

WOW!!! I have started my journey of discernment. I had no idea what I was getting into, and honestly I still have no idea. What is refreshing though is that I am not scared. I had wondered from church to church and had for a time lost contact with my Father. I had bounced from different denominations and never really feeling or even knowing that I was supposed to be there. I then turned my heart to my Father, and He lead me home. I found home at a small church in my own neighborhood. I was so ha… Continue

Added by Dennis J. Klinzing Sr. on May 14, 2009 at 9:04am — No Comments

Better Questions Blog - If You Wanted Me

All right, no videos out there for this one so you'll have to track down the song yourself if you want to hear, but this is my current challenge from Todd Agnew (If You Wanted Me, from Better Questions): I'll admit I'm glad we're not disciples Out on a lake paralyzed with fright 'Cause I'm afraid I might have laughed at Peter Until he stepped into that stormy night If You wanted me to walk on water Why'd You make this solid ground seem so right? I'll admit I'm glad I'm not King David Rulin… Continue

Added by Nate Porter on May 13, 2009 at 11:30am — 1 Comment

Walk to Empower

Hey all, My mom is participating in the Walk to Empower, a Breast Cancer awareness and support walk taking place in 16 cities across the US on Mother's Day. She experienced a breast cancer scare herself. My grandmother had a mastectomy because her breast cancer was so widespread. My grea… Continue

Added by Jenna on April 25, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

My Further Thoughts on Atonement

This is a paper that I had to do for my Jesus the Savior class. The premise is: write a 6-8 page paper that is a talk you are giving to a women's retreat. The talk is called "The Reason for the Cross." Keep in mind that some of these women have experienced abusive situations. The footnotes are all referring to the first chapter in Christianity, Patriarchy, and Abuse: A Feminist Critique by Joanne Carlson Brown and Carole R. Bohn , which we had to read in class and reference in this paper.… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on April 20, 2009 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

Better Questions Blog - Forgiven and Loved

Alright, this song is less challenging in itself for a Lutheran at least, but I just heard it for the first time and it is Easter and Grace all over. Except read on past the lyrics:

Forgiven & Loved :
Tell me I’m forgiven and loved
‘Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and how man can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I’m forgiven and free

CH… Continue

Added by Nate Porter on April 15, 2009 at 4:29pm — 3 Comments

Better Questions Blog - Peace on the Earth

This is a new blog that will take songs (which may or may not be considered Christian) and ask difficult questions related to them from my own perspective. I hope you will take the time to listen, think, and take up the challenge to respond. The first post is below: "As long as we say prayers for our children
That we do not pray for others
There won’t be…
And as long as we take offerings for those in need
To appease our guilt over our greed
There won’t be…

There wo… Continue

Added by Nate Porter on April 15, 2009 at 4:27pm — No Comments

My (brief) thoughts on atonement.

Teenagers, my peers, gathered around their youth leader, listening to gruesome details about Jesus' crucifixion and death. Every lash, nail, and insult pierced our consciences. My stomach does flips, and I want to throw up. How could I have done this to my Lord? Fast forward a few years. In our Jesus the Savior class this week we discussed critiques of the common atonement theories, especially feminist critiques. The women we read from stated that the Christian Church was not worth staying in -… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on April 10, 2009 at 2:21pm — 6 Comments

God is at My Lake Today.

A poem, by me. God is at My Lake Today God’s at my lake today! My lake is one of those lakes that Are high in the mountains – you Know, the kind that are dark and clear and Are surrounded by verdant green Peaks and blue sky and sun and clouds And a cool breeze. It’s a deep Lake, calm with a few waves With plenty of space to canoe or To sailboat around. Let’s sail around – it’s so easy That you can steer with your feet! Look at that – so much Freedom and vastness, enveloped in Blueness a… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on March 30, 2009 at 9:35pm — No Comments

A really great poem

Our Deepest Fear By Marianne Williamson Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us. We ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small Does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all mea… Continue

Added by Lydia Nelson on March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

Buying positive

Lately, I've been trying to become more aware of what I'm buying. I try to buy items that are fair trade. But, I especially want to stay away from items that have been made in sweatshops. I was happy to stumble across an article on Slate.com that addressed this issue. For anyone else who might want to be a bit more conscious in their buying, here's the list of retailers they found online: Planet Threads: http://www.planetthreads.com/ Fair Indigo: http://fairindigo.com/ Indigenous Designs: htt… Continue

Added by Beth on March 1, 2009 at 4:08pm — 2 Comments

Call for Change, In Response to the ELCA Women's Conference

Preface: This gets sermon-like...it's just how my heart responded. In Response to the Women’s Theological Conference January 24, 2009 & January 30, 2009 The Transformative Lutheran Theologies Conference on Womenist, Feminist, and Mujerista Lutheran Perspectives in Chicago last weekend was overwhelming. I had no idea what to expect, but it was definitely more than whatever I thought I was getting myself into. It was advocacy, justice, paradigmatic theology, process theology, network, interg… Continue

Added by Mariel Vinge on January 30, 2009 at 3:30am — 2 Comments