Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being...
Philippians 2:3-4
posted by DJL
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. I’ll be honest – I struggle with this passage as much as anything in Paul’s letter. Not the first part; I...
Philippians 2:1-2
posted by DJL
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Sometimes we mean more than we say. That’s what’s going on...
In Praise of Church Camps
posted by DJL
We’re spending this week at Outlaw Ranch Lutheran Camp, located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. I’ve been fortunate that over the years I’ve been invited to teach at a number of our summer church camps and always look forward to spending time with family and with friends old and new learning about and worshiping God in the beauty of God’s creation. In fact, let me say that a little more forcefully. I don’t just look forward to this time, I long for it, as I’ve come to have a tremendous appreciation for what our summer camps do for our youth and families and, indeed, for the whole church. The Lutheran Church of which...
Little Free Library
posted by DJL
My kids and I came across this a few days ago while walking our dogs and thought it was both cute and cool. I mean, what a great idea: a little library right in your own neighborhood that encourages you to both take and read what you see and share what you’ve got. We love the sense of...