Today I finished teaching on online masters level course on marriage and family relationships for Concordia University, Wisconsin/Ann Arbor. I had an excellent group of students who fully grasped, adopted and have begun sharing Jesus’ way for relationships. They especially appreciated the “Thumbs Up” model for relationship prioritization, putting Jesus first, spouse next, family next, fellow believers next and then all other...
Posts Tagged "hope"
This past Tuesday I had the challenge and privilege of preaching and leading the funeral service for a dear friend, the wife of the previous senior pastor at the congregation I now serve. Lorna was a wonderfully faithful woman who lived for the Lord Jesus in all that she did. She truly exhibited a “Thumbs Up” attitude in all of life. Sadly, her faith and love could not stop the assault of sin on her body. A terrible blood disease and...
Hope is elusive for many people. It will ALWAYS be out of reach if we rely on the promises and power of men. However, in Jesus Christ there is ALWAYS the sure and certain hope of wonderful things ahead. We KNOW we will be with Jesus in heaven for eternity. His death and resurrection guarantee it. The gift of faith received in Baptism and the Word of God assures us that Jesus’ gift IS ours for free. We also have certain hope that Jesus will...
Sadly, many couples believe their marriage is beyond hope. They’ve been married for 5 or 20 or 40 years and they feel the troubles they have are too deeply ingrained. “There’s no way it can be fixed!” I say…BALONEY! In God’s way, there is ALWAYS hope! I have never encountered a marriage that could not be moved from imminent doom to stability to positivity to real joy. This can and DOES happen when the...
Following the U.S. elections last week, many people, all around the world, are rather unsettled, worried and maybe even fearful. This particular election process was filled with so much hostility that it seems the hurts can never be healed. That’s why it’s more important than ever for us who know Jesus as LORD over all to make HIM known to all. Jesus is the only source of true comfort and real hope for the future. Sinful humans will...