“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one…

“This is how we know that we live in him and he is in us: he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. I anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so,…

 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of god and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is…

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever know God listens to us; but whoever is not…

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every that does not acknowledge Jesus is not…

   Upon entering the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, one is confronted by a stained-glass window whose central panel bears the inscription “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.” In light of the circumstances we now face it is foremost on my mind how to serve those that are in need. Some, especially the infirmed and elderly are reticent to…

Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”    When we have an authority over us that is righteous, we are made glad. Wickedness grieves the hearts of men. Our world is filled with injustice and violence and corruption. Our…

Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”    What does a Christian life look like? I have heard that question in my pastoral life numerous times and have found answering it both difficult and even embarrassing. Difficult because it is a bit complicated and embarrassing because it must…

The Word Made Flesh / St. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Became flesh. Belief in the pre-existent Christ is a deep struggle for some Christians.  The tireless attacks, of current cultural values, against…

2 Corinthians 4:1 “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart”    The scriptures, unfortunately, are often misunderstood because of the segmenting of the text. Remember the epistle was written as a letter. It was not written with chapter and verse. We must be careful to watch for words like “therefore”.  The preceding verses have much…