Go & Tell the Story

By Rev. Bob Bryan, Retired,  former pastor of Followers of Christ Prison Ministry of the Nebraska Synod ELCA All around Humble Texas, as an outreach of one of the local mega-churches, members’ homes proudly display yard signs declaring, “He is Risen!” My first thought in response, was, “So what does that practically mean to anyone?” Yes, I know in my head that Jesus died on the cross for our sin and rose from the dead to show defeat of sin, death, and the devil and, if we believe this we will be saved….but you can’t fit all that on a yard sign.  Not only that, but if the knowledge of what Jesus has done for us doesn’t move from our head to practical application in our lives, what good is it? Hear it again….Jesus died for our sins when we didn’t deserve it! That is grace! We’ve been forgiven, the tomb was empty, He is risen!  Still, what does this mean for everyday life? An experience of mine as pastor of Followers of Christ Prison Ministry an...

By Rev. Paula Lawhead   Resurrection! It is the central promise given by our good God who formed us and breathed life into us.   It is the foundation of our hope – tied to our baptism into Christ.   It is the collective litany of the global Church in the season of Easter. “He is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen! Alleluia!”   And, truthfully, it is the echo that permeates every gathering of God’s people where the good news is shared – not just for a season of the year – but in every time and place.   New life has come for God’s beloved.   This is the truth we live into every day!   Or do we?   What does it actually look like to live into resurrection? I served as pastor in a community devastated by twin tornadoes five years ago.   In the midst of the stark landscape literally stripped of all color, I saw resurrection.   Not immediately, mind you, but it was there.   Just as the first disciples did ...

By Lisa Kramme, Director of Faith Formation Once upon a time, people told stories to each other.   They were face-to-face, maybe around a dinner table, maybe around a campfire.   Once upon a time, people told stories to each other because they couldn’t read, let alone write the stories down.   Stories were handed down like clothes, Grandma’s wedding ring, and the family farm.   Then more people started learning how to read.   Then machines like the printing press were invented so the stories people told could not only be written down, but they could be mass- produced and shared with so many more than just the number of people that could fit around a table.   But just like there’s such a thing as eating too many jelly beans at Easter, there’s also such a thing as having too many words to read every day.   A typical day for me includes reading Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts; work emails; personal emails; e-newsletters...