New Year’s Resolutions

A Church article with View Comments posted 26 December 2009.
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This article ran in the January 2010 issue of The Messenger, the newsletter of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.

As we look past Christmas and into January, many people are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you’re thinking of losing weight, eating more healthily, or exercising more. Perhaps you are going to read more books or take a night class. I even know people who are thinking about giving up late night TV in favor of more sleep. What all of these goals have in common is self-improvement. The fresh, unblemished year stands before us, and we naturally want to make the most of it – and the most of ourselves.

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Advent Waiting

A Church article with View Comments posted 1 December 2009.
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This article ran in the December 2009 issue of The Messenger, the newsletter of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.

As you read this, we have entered the season of Advent and the time in the church year where we wait with expectation for the birth of Christ at Christmas. I don’t know about you, but waiting doesn’t come naturally to me. I want things done, done right, and done right now. The idea of waiting stirs up for me notions of impatient foot tapping and watch glancing. Most of us don’t wait because we want to wait, but instead because we have to wait. We don’t choose waiting, waiting is chosen for us.
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Beyond Justice

A Church article with View Comments posted 1 October 2009.
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This article ran in the October 2009 issue of The Messenger, the newsletter of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.

In September, I attended the Tri-State Forum at Wartburg Theological Seminary, where I had the opportunity to hear Prof. Kathryn Koob of Wartburg College in Waverly, IA speak on the topic “Love your enemies… expect nothing in return.”

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Church World Service and CROP Walk

A Church article with View Comments posted 18 September 2009.
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This article ran in the September 2009 issue of The Messenger, the newsletter of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.

This month I want to share with you an organization and event that I am passionate about: Church World Service, and their annual CROP Hunger Walks. I first found out about CWS as a college student, where the campus ministry I was a part of sponsored a CROP Hunger Walk in the Kirskville, MO area. When I heard all about the amazing things that CWS does around the world, I was hooked – and I’ve been actively involved in CROP Hunger Walks ever since.

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