Grace Lutheran Church

A Soul Well Watered

Last week during a sunny June afternoon I took a couple hours and launched an assault on the dandelion population that has invaded the lawns in front of the church. It was such a gorgeous day; being outside was refreshing, and pulling up dandelions by the root has an oddly satisfying effect on me.

More than one person stopped...

Shared Spaces
During the winter when it’s cold and dark, we stay inside much of the time, in private spaces. We live in houses, condos, behind doors that lock and in the comfort of our own homes. But during the summer months, Edmontonians come outside, and flock to shared spaces like parks, markets, streets, and squares. There are so many amazing shared spaces to enjoy in our city, and this presents an opportunity to meet new neighbours, joining in the conversation and sharing the gifts that God has given.

Running Water”

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV)

During February and March this winter, prolonged extremely cold temperatures made Edmonton (and most of Canada) into a hard, frozen place. Though there...

Hard Words; Good Words

There are some words which are hard to hear.

For example, when the doctor comes to give us the truth about our condition, and the prognosis is not good, those are hard words to hear.

Or when we’ve acted irresponsibly, or disobediently, and someone in authority informs us of the consequences of our behaviour, those...

Astonishing!

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:7-8

Jaw-dropping. Extremely surprising. Overwhelmingly impressive.

What do you find astonishing?

“Safety Last”

As a parent of young children, I have lived in a world where safety precautions sometimes seem like the most important concern of life. Whether it’s trying to buckle winter-dressed children into car seats, ridding the house of any cleaning products that could be eaten, or getting decked out in helmet, knee, elbow, and wrist pads for rollerblading, many parents live by the rule: “Safety First!”

But recently, a trend has emerged which has challenged the wisdom of “Safety First.” For instance, Brett and Kate McKay published a list of “23 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do.”
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/23-dangerous-things-let-kids/

 

The November Project

On November 1, 2017, one year ago, I took a friend’s advice and went to “The November Project,” a fitness movement that meets three times a week at 6am for a morning workout. We ran up and down the wooden stairs over by the high level bridge and did push-ups and sit-ups and burpees in the fresh fallen snow, and gave high fives and hugs, and commended each other for “just showing up.”

Thankful

“...not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

The Apostle Paul claimed to have discovered the secret of being “content in all circumstances,” but for me it’s a stretch. I struggle to find gratitude in my heart when September snowstorms cut a short summer even shorter. 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not yet see.”

These are the first words of the famous “faith chapter” Hebrews 11. The author of Hebrews goes on to list some of the heroes of faith whose lives are recorded in the stories of the Bible: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and more. In addition to being part of the unfolding plan of salvation that God orchestrated down through the ages, these individuals all had something in common. They had an ability to be certain of some things even without proof. They had an ability to hope with confidence. They had faith.

“Root Growth”

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14–19(ESV)

If you walk around in the neighbourhood of Grace Lutheran church these days you will hear the sounds of spring. Birds singing, squirrels chattering, bugs buzzing, runners hitting the sidewalk, and lawn-mowers tending to the growing grass!