The Salt Shaker
flavoring the world with justice and loveJune 13-19 Read Your Bible
June 12/13: Paul as an Apostle Reading: Galatians 1:11-2:10 Acts 9:1-15 Background: Lutheran Study Bible (Introduction to Galatians, paragraph 3) [Paul] first provides a strong defense of his authority as an apostle sent directly by Jesus Christ and God (1:11-24; see...
Wingtips 6.9.21
First of all I'm thankful for all of the wonderful birthday blessings! I'm so grateful for the gift of community and you all are the best present one could hope for! Second- a reminder that this Sunday, from 9:00-10:00 am, we will have a reception in the Gathering...
Read your Bible: June 5-11 Letters from Paul
Readings: Galatians 1:1-10 Romans 1:1-15 Background: Lutheran Study Bible (Introduction to Galatians, paragraph 2) Other Jewish leaders who were believers in Jesus had come to Galatia. They insisted that to be acceptable to God the non-Jewish believers must observe...
Easing our Way Forward
Caution: Data ahead! But also information about changes coming to worship and other activities at Saint Michael. So read all the way through. The good stuff is at the end! This graph from the Douglas County Health Department, shows the number of...
Justice is more than a verdict
When George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020 there was broad condemnation of the actions of Derek Chauvin and the other police officers. Only two days later, on May 27, 2020, Omaha police chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement: We are deeply disturbed by what we...
Alleluia! Giving thanks for Easter!
The Alleluias have returned! Like a bright, yellow daffodil announcing spring’s arrival, the refrain of Easter is punctuated by a Hebrew word that means, “Praise the Lord”. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! During Lent, we fast from saying that word...
Lamenting Anti-Asian Racism
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. - Gal. 3:28 Even before the senseless murder of Asian Americans in Atlanta this week, the ELCA had designated this Sunday,...
Holy Week and Easter Worship
...we are going to have an outdoor sunrise service! I grew up doing these every year and I've wanted to find a way to have one in Omaha for the past five years! This year feels like the perfect time to make it happen but don’t worry, it won’t be exactly at...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 5
Law and Gospel: How do we pray for God’s kingdom to come in a broken world? The Arrests As of now, over 275 arrests have been made in connection with the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol. News sources report more than 400 investigations have been opened based on some...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 4
The two hands of God. Are church and state really separate? The scene Minutes after Senators were rushed out of the Senate chamber, part of the mob that stormed the Capitol made their way into that now empty room. Some riffled through desks while several men made...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 3
What exactly is the "freedom of a Christian"? A Story I intended to begin this post with my own story about that common, human experience of asserting our individuality over and against the “parental system”. The standard conversation goes something like:...
The Cross, The Gallows, and the Capitol: Part 2
Can a sinner/saint DNA help address “the truth” issues we face? A story In the fall of 1984 I was a freshman at the University of NE when the foundations of everything I thought I knew nearly crumbled. I was walking past the student union one day when I noticed a...
The Cross, the Gallows, and the Capitol. Part 1.
A Story I sat once in the visitors gallery of the United States Senate. While visiting relatives in DC, my father and I thought, “Here’s a chance to listen to the Farm Bill debate in person!” Ignoring my uncle’s advice to not take the Metro downtown after dark, we...
March 13 Update on COVID-19
Attention members of Saint Michael, Much has changed since last week when I sent a message about the COVID-19 outbreak. Much has changed since last night when the church council met. It seems all at once, we have awoken to the seriousness of the issue before us....
S1E1: CAUTION! Spiritual Speedbumps Ahead!
If I don’t believe in the “supernatural”, why is coming to church important?
If I don’t believe in the “supernatural”, why is coming to church important? As a part of the learning in the confirmation program, we ask students to fill out “worship notes”. They don’t have to outline the “three points of the sermon” but they are encouraged to be...
Where is God in an Ash Wednesday Massacre?
In January, I wrote about the uniqueness of Ash Wednesday coinciding with Valentine’s Day and suggested both crosses and hearts are appropriate shapes for ashes on foreheads because: “at the center of the cross beats the very heart of God, entering into our suffering...
By Heart: Conversations with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism
We will dust off Luther’s Small Catechism and wrestle with his ever-relevant question “What does this mean?” What does it mean that God is for us? What do the ten commandments mean, or the sacraments, the creed, or the Lord’s Prayer? Join Pastor Tim on Tuesday...