A couple of weeks ago my wife and I left town to enjoy a few days in the sun. When we registered at our hotel we were offered discounts on certain hotel services--if we listened to a time-share presentation! We shouldn’t have given in to that temptation because we’re not interested in time shares but we went to the presentation anyway. If any of you have sat through a time-share presentation you know it’s just non-stop pressure to buy into a vacation property. We didn’t buy anything but we … [Read more...]
Keep Moving
by Jerry Buss Great to be with you: greetings...mission starts...thank you (Frances) In Jesus’ name. Amen. Remember George Burns and Gracie Allen—comedy couple? -my wife likes to quote a line from them—asked in an interview: -secret to getting older: in the morning, when you wake up, get up -how do we call to people in morning: Rise and Shine KEEP MOVING—life is about moving, and movement -exercise involves moving, and then a little sweating -and again, when we sweat, we shine That … [Read more...]
Shining Like the Sun
by Leigh Weber For the last year almost I’ve been working with the homeless folks in Renton as their community pastor. In that time, I’ve heard a lot of stories. I’ve been told about prison life, I’ve walked in on a guy shooting up heroin, I’ve held the hand of a schizophrenic man while he sobbed that the man staring in the mirror at him wanted him dead. I’ve watched very young women deal with pregnancies for which they had no plan, no support and no healthcare. I’ve crawled under bridges, … [Read more...]
Gold Medal Winners
It’s been an amazing week for local sports fans! Last Sunday the Seahawks became, for the first time ever, Super Bowl champions! Then, on Friday, the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony kicked off two weeks of international competition; once again, we have local athletes who will be competing. The Super Bowl was a blast to watch. My wife and I love the Olympics. We even traveled to Vancouver four years ago to take in some of the competition. Big-time sports competitions can generate a lot … [Read more...]
A Seahawks Kind of Team?
This past week may go down in history as “Richard Sherman Week.” For any of you who may not be football fans or who don’t read the news, Richard Sherman is a Seattle Seahawk. He plays on defense and this past week, off the field, he was very defensive. Last Sunday, near the end of the win against the San Francisco 49ers Sherman taunted receiver Michael Crabtree. Sherman felt that last year he’d been insulted by Crabtree. To make matters worse, he launched into a verbal attack against this player … [Read more...]
Buster the Lamb
by Melody Kroeger The gospel writer John has many titles for Jesus - Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd and the True Vine. In fact John begins his gospel “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In today’s reading, John introduces us to Jesus, not once but twice, as the Lamb of God. I can’t hear today’s gospel reading without recalling my own encounter with a lamb. Many years ago, my parents purchased farm property in northern Colorado where I grew … [Read more...]
You Are My Beloved
“A Beastly Day.” That’s the headline for this morning’s paper! Seahawks fans, how are you feeling today? Every empire has its gladiators and coliseums, and football happens to be our empire’s version. We’ve all heard it said that “it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.” But that’s not true, is it! In pro sports, it’s all about winning! I get sucked into the excitement like many other people and I wonder, What is that all about? And I realize that it’s not really … [Read more...]
Perfect Love
Last Sunday we welcomed Leigh Weber to worship. Leigh is a seminary student and our preacher for the day. Later that day I got an e-mail from Leigh that read: I had a WONDERFUL time worshiping with your congregation. The light streaming through those beautiful windows, the hymns you chose and being able to celebrate the Eucharist with you all...God was at work in the blessings! Thanks so much for the invitation to preach and to meet your gracious community. I look forward to seeing you in the … [Read more...]
Building Shelter
In 1946, on this high place overlooking Lake Washington, a Lutheran congregation was founded. In the beginning, it was called Lakeridge Community Church. It was a name far ahead of its time. Today many congregations call themselves “community churches.” Later, it became Lakeridge Lutheran Church. A building was needed and the first worship space was constructed, next door to this worship space, what continues to serve as our library and meeting place. Later, when the congregation outgrew the … [Read more...]
Growing Into Love
If you were here at worship a couple of weeks ago you may remember the children’s message. The second reading for that day was about spiritual gifts. There were half a dozen kids up front and I asked them what they’re good at—what gifts they have. There were different answers but one three year-old replied, I’m smart! And I thought to myself, “This child has a bright future.” If, at age three, he can already start to understand his God-given gifts and without embarrassment celebrate those … [Read more...]