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Faith

Make a point to come in contact with creation this week

When was the last time that you scooped up a handful of lake water? Felt the cool, refreshment of one of nature’s most vital gifts? When was the last time you got your nose into a handful of soil? Enjoyed its earthy aroma! Felt its velvety nature as it slipped through the cracks of your fingers. When was the last time you stopped still to enjoy the scenery of a forest, prairie, mountainscape? Let the majesty of the enormity of it all whisk your imagination away! I’ve been blessed this summer to spend some time on a small lake in northern Minnesota, and I have been struck by how ...

Joyous parking lot moment reminds that some holy work looks different

The other night I was leaving work, just as the evening sun was taking its turn downward. Another 12-hour day at the emergency shelter, a typical schedule these past 10 months as we’ve worked to turn things around. I was pulling out of our parking lot, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of our emergency shelter guests gesticulating wildly out my driver’s side window. But not in a menacing way. Rather, you could see their broad smile as they waved their arms over their head to get my attention. I braked and rolled down my window, and heard the guest shout, “I get ...

Politically motivated violence doesn’t come from Jesus

We are living in the most politically violent period in our country since the deadly 1960s. Assassinations, shootings, physical and verbal intimidation. The list is long. Just in recent history, an extremist shot and killed a Minnesota state representative and also shot another state legislator and his wife in one shooting spree. The home of the governor of Pennsylvania was set on fire while he and his family were inside. A man was charged with attempting to kidnap the governor of Michigan. Another politically motivated man tried to assassinate the candidate who would become our ...

When it comes to friendship, nothing beats a good stick

I’ve written about our 3-year-old husky mix rescue before. About his anxieties which make him seem less than friendly, and frankly which have inspired a curse word or two around home. But the other night I witnessed him make a new friend in the most beautiful of ways. I walk our dogs on the same route I have used for the past 11 years. So, Howie has walked by this particular house hundreds of times. And it just so happens that our neighbor living there often is coming and going to his car or working in his yard on the same schedule as our evening walks. Well, Howie can come off ...

Faith Briefs for June 13

Support group June 25 at Carlin Hall A support group for miscarriage, stillborn or early infant loss will be from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, in Carlin Hall at Holy Redeemer Church. Come listen, share and be supported wherever you are in your grieving process. St. Leo church dinner The annual church dinner at St. Leo will be on Sunday, June 22. Mass will be at 10 a.m. followed by a dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, glazed carrots, coleslaw, dinner roll, dessert and a beverage. The meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adults — $20, children 5 to 10 — $12, ages 4 ...

Thank heaven for Grandma G. and her candies!

This past weekend our synod held its annual assembly. Hundreds of Lutherans journeying across northwest Minnesota to a Lutheran liberal arts college in my hometown, our regional version of Mecca. Three days of electing a bishop, big meetings, theology lectures and breakout workshops. At one of the big group gatherings late in the day Saturday, I was sitting at a table in the back of the room when I noticed a root beer barrel candy on the table. Placed there, of course, by the skilled assembly organizers who know distractions are necessary. With no more reason than I was fidgety ...