Faith during a Pandemic Crisis Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayI have a friend who had contact with someone who had contact with someone who now has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. He has been watching and waiting to see if anything has developed. “Nothing yet?” “Nothing yet!” “Well, great, then the two weeks have passed!” “No, Phil. It has barely been a week.” […] Read More
Education for Life (part 4) Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayQuestioning our knowledge of the One who is Mystery If I was overlooking the Chippewa River and an impressive wind blew me off balance, I could not capture that wind in a box in order to show its power to the kids gathered at our children’s sermon. Wind in a box is no longer wind. […] Read More
Learning for Life, Faith asks Questions (part 3) Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayPeople of faith ask new questions in every age. We ask questions about the faith because we encounter issues in life that the faith-filled people of yesterday never faced. Think of all the new possibilities and challenges which you witness that your grandparents never knew. My own grandparents grew up in a world that did […] Read More
The Word in Our Own Language! Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayFrom the beginning of Christianity, the faithful held a commitment that people should hear the story of God’s love for the world in the language that is closest to their heart. This was rooted in their deep understanding that God did not wait for us to learn God’s language; in Jesus God translated Godself into […] Read More
Learning for Life, faith asks questions (Part 2) Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayLast week we shared Jenna’s witness to the importance of continual questioning and learning. Men and women of faith embraced what Jenna discovered long before she was shown this possibility. Anselm of Canterbury, an archbishop, monk, and theologian of the eleventh century offered a definition of theology that is still important today: Faith seeking understanding. […] Read More
Learning for Life, faith asks questions! (part 1) Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayWhen a former professor turns to write about life long learning in the Christian faith, he might could go on for several blog posts. That is what I’m about to do. (Much of this entry is a revision of a chapter I wrote called “Faith Asking Questions” in The TLU Reader.) Many people assume that […] Read More
Children and Youth Loved Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayChildren and Youth Loved Jesus welcomed children, declaring that God’s kingdom comes to such as these. We love the children and youth who come among us as family, even as we enjoy our extended biological family members. We support organizations that help in the development and growth of young people who hold a special place […] Read More
Arts Celebrated Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayWe continue exploring the Core Values we have identified at Grace. This week we look at the Arts celebrated. The original paragraph describing our commitment to the arts is: God the Creator made human beings in God’s own image and called us to creative work in the arts. We celebrate the profound beauty created by […] Read More
Restoring Creation Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayToday we look at the second of our Core Values at Grace, one upon which the future of the planet depends. The original summary of this value reads: Restoring Creation God who is Creator of all wishes us to care for the web of creation that sustains life. We trust the broad consensus of climate […] Read More
Opening up God’s Grace For ALL Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the DayThe next six weeks I will explore the Core Values of Grace Lutheran. The summary I wrote two years ago went like this: “God’s grace extends to all people without exception. As a community of faith claimed by Jesus, we ask how to live in this world that God so boundlessly loves. We welcome all […] Read More