Today’s readings: Haggai 1:1–2:9; Acts 18:24–19:7; Luke 10:25-37 In the telling of the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus asks, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” Just three? I count four men in this story who had the opportunity to care for this man

Today’s readings: Ezra 4:7, 11-24; Philemon 1-25; Matthew 12:33-42 Have you ever noticed that what you seek is often right in front of you? The keys thought to have been misplaced by a mischievous three-year-old, lying in plain sight on the kitchen counter. The illusive hope for contentment and satisfaction in life, sprawling before you in the demands and

  The 2017 Advent Devotional, written by Pastor David Wendel, is now available. Download your printable, one-sided, 8.5″″ x 11″ large print version by clicking here. The 2017 Advent Devotional is also available for your smartphone or tablet by downloading the free NALC Walk of Faith app from the App Store or Google Play. You also

Today’s readings: Ezra 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 16:10-24; Matthew 12:22-32 Jesus has performed an exorcism. It is another sensation. The crowd murmurs his praise. But the Pharisees, seething and at their wits end for a fresh denunciation, blurt out: “It is by the Prince of Demons that he casts out demons!” Jesus lets a moment pass as the crowd

Today’s readings: Ezra 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 16:1-9; Matthew 12:15-21 In 2014, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, a 27-year-old Sudanese Christian woman, was sentenced to death, accused of renouncing the Islamic faith. Meriam was given the option to recant her Christian faith and “live,” but she never did. The expecting mother and wife was, thus, in prison with her young son,

Today’s readings: Lamentations 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Matthew 12:1-14 “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” That is a real question! I once left the church after the police searched from top to bottom to find the mystery person who was lurking around the building while I was studying. Seven police officers and two K-9s worked to

Today’s readings: Lamentations 1:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:41-50; Matthew 11:25-30 No matter how fine we think we are or think we look, we are decrepit—and getting more so every day. These natural bodies are the ruins of sinners. They are dying faster than we care to admit. We are each that lonely city of Lamentations. But

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 44:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:30-41; Matthew 11:16-24 A retiree sat at church with his nose glued to his cellphone screen. His pastor joked, “Oh, these kids and their phones these days…” We also seriously complain about a great many things. The subject of our grumbling may be the younger generation, a political party, the president, even