All Saints Sunday—11/5/17 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 Pr. Scott Kramer Last Sunday we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. I have learned that this is an event with which my family has a close connection. I have here this morning a large volume that is a summary of family history on my dad’s side. My dad is our family genealogist and he has traced his ancestors back to Germany 500 years ago, both the time and the place of the Lutheran Reformation. This book is only … [Read more...]
Reformation to Transformation
Reformation Sunday—10/29/17 Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36; Matthew 22:34-46 Pr. Scott Kramer (Below in italics is content provided to the congregation as a reference for the sermon following) Christian Formation Personal faith: God’s love for me and mine Work: Christian basics of prayer, Bible study, worship, service Emphasis: Keeping laws and following rules Goal: Personal salvation Christian Reformation (RE-formation) Public faith: God’s love for me and many others Work: Changing or … [Read more...]
Imitators of Christ
20 Pentecost A—10/22/17 Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 Pr. Scott Kramer This past week I made a pastoral visit to one of our own who as some of you know is recovering from a fall she experienced a few weeks ago. She is at a physical rehab center for at least the next six weeks; at the time of my visit she gratefully pointed out that the TV in her room plays the country music she enjoys. As a country music fan, she would no doubt recognize the name Billy Ray Cyrus. He’s … [Read more...]
A Gracious Feast
19th Sunday after Pentecost Lakeridge Lutheran Church Matthew 22:1-14 Nathan Black Most of the time, when we contemplate the words of scripture, especially the words of Jesus, the message seems clear, the good news is directly declared, the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation is right there in the text, clear as day. And sometimes, the text leaves us conflicted, questioning, wondering. That has been my experience with this morning’s text. Is this really what the kingdom of … [Read more...]
Peace On Earth
Peace on earth, goodwill to all. Our church lawn features a traditional-looking sign that displays the church’s name and web page. It’s nothing fancy, just an old-school variety with an open field on which messages have to be manually created, letter by letter. That’s part of the reason the message doesn’t change very often! Last fall, in anticipation of the Christmas season, we posted a simple message that’s often associated with Christmas: Peace On Earth. It hasn’t been changed … [Read more...]
Every Knee Shall Bend
17 Pentecost A—10/1/17 Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 Pr. Scott Kramer Last Sunday we began our 9:00 a.m. study of “Living Buddha, Living Christ.” The book is written by a Buddhist monk who describes the many things that Buddhism and Christianity have in common. As I ponder these similarities I’ve reached the same conclusion as many other Christians that this is one of the most Christian books I’ve ever read! One of many teachings the Buddha and Jesus have in common is warnings against … [Read more...]
Judged Worthy of Love
Pentecost 16A—9/24/17 Jonah 3:10--4:11; Matthew 20:1-16 Pr. Scott Kramer When I was a child, one of my favorite Bible stories was the tale of “Jonah and the Whale.” What little kid wouldn’t love the story of someone on a ship who was thrown overboard, swallowed by a huge fish, and spit out unharmed onto dry land? As an adult, this story is still one of my favorites, but not because of the big fish. The story of Jonah represents a very grown-up and difficult truth that all of us eventually must … [Read more...]
Power to Choose
15 Pentecost A—9/17/17 Genesis 50:15-21; Exodus 14:19-31; Matthew 18:21-35 Pr. Scott Kramer This past Friday my wife and I returned from a visit to Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. Over the course of the week we put almost 1800 miles on the car! Turns out that it was more than just a road journey. For me, it was a spiritual journey, as well. I’d like to share some of that road-trip with you this morning because a lot of what we experienced over the past week ties in with our … [Read more...]
Love or Fear
13 Pentecost A—9/3/17 Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:19-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Pr. Scott Kramer In the September issue of National Geographic magazine is a short interview with Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States. This month’s issue is dedicated to the “Science of Addiction” and Murthy was asked what it means to be healthy, and he speaks specifically about emotional health: I am deeply concerned about the level of stress that our country is experiencing…I have long … [Read more...]
Ultra-Light Backpackin’ Tips 2017
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. –Matthew 11:29-30 A few weeks ago, I returned from an eight-day, 90-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT runs 2600+ miles from our Mexican border into Canada. Last year a friend, his adult children and I hiked the 70-mile section of the PCT from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass. We enjoyed it so much that we chose to … [Read more...]
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