Jami M. Murray October 17, 1977 – December 4, 2022 Jami Murray, 45, passed away from metastatic breast cancer on December 4, 2022. Jami was born on October 17, 1977 and raised in Alpena, Michigan. Jami enjoyed school attending St. Anne’s Catholic Grade School and Alpena High School, graduating in...

Wilbert H. Rusch, Jr. February 19, 1940 – July 29, 2023 Wilbert H. Rusch Jr., peacefully passed away on July 29, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of faith and compassion.    Wilbert was born on February 19, 1940, into a family deeply rooted in their Christian beliefs. His parents, Professor...

Moses and Joshua And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.  Deuteronomy 34:9 The devotions for August will be focused on examples of raising up future servants...

Early on Sunday morning, July 30, there was a fire at Mount Olive Lutheran Church off of Shaw Boulevard in St. Louis. Fire crews were called to the scene in the 4 a.m. hour.  Significant damage was done in the education building.  While the main sanctuary doesn’t appear to have...

The Blessing of Work The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.   Genesis 2:15 Work may be a four-letter word, but that does not mean that it is bad.  In Genesis chapter 2, God’s creation of man and...

Resting in God’s Gifts Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29 The summer months find pastors, teachers and other church workers scattering to the four winds as they escape the demands of their...

The Burden of Being Unneeded I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak,...

The Burden of Being Needed Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?  Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you...