“And [Jesus] said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” —Luke 10:2 There are many contributing factors that lead someone to consider church vocations. One sainted Lutheran school teacher once told me...

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” —Galatians 5:1, 13 The movie, “Saving Private Ryan” is an intense and...

“And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”—Mark 4:38-29In 1959, Frank Sinatra released what was generally regarded as his most...

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” —1 Corinthians 3:21-23The unity that we share...

“O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” —Psalm 71:17-18A few weeks ago, I sat with...

“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” —John 13:5The Gospels are a unique genre of literature in the Scriptures. They include both Jesus’ words and actions and ultimately His saving action on...

I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. —Psalm 18:1-2The inscription for Psalm 18 notes that David wrote it after the Lord...

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress my God, in whom I trust.” —Psalm 91:1-2 Basements are quite unusual in certain parts of the country, like Texas and California. But for those of us who...

“I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.” —Numbers 11:17 Moses was overwhelmed by the burden of leading God’s people. More than...

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” —Malachi 3:7 The writer to the Hebrews says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. But one could also say that we are surrounded by a great cloud of changes. While many crave consistency, we...