"Be Still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) was one of Jesus' favorite verses in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament). Well, of course I have no idea really, but I think it might have been. And I'll tell you why.  Jesus often rose early in the morning and went to a quiet,Continue reading "May your candle burn brightly, flickering less & less…"

Jesus didn't stumble in front of the divine bullet meant for you. He stepped in front of it. -- John Piper   Pastor Pastor Alan Rosnau is the Pastor of the Shepard of the Desert Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ.  This summer he is preaching a series of sermons on some of the great truths andContinue reading "Would you give your life to save a drug lord?"

  Today I went out again with the team on the Hope Coach, one of the ministries of the Phoenix Rescue Mission. We traveled to a park in west Phoenix, a place where people on the streets are known to hang out. As soon as we arrived at the small "City of Phoenix" park, weContinue reading "“Pray for me,” Sunny Bear said…"

  I like the challenge of trying to figure out what makes people tick.  At one level, it's rather "easy." We all make quick judgments when we meet people. I do; you do. But what don't we know?  Oh my goodness. As you know from all the levels of your own life -- many levelsContinue reading "You may know me at one level, but not at the next"

Out here in Phoenix on my study break, I exercise early. Most mornings I am out the door by 5am, heading out for a 22-mile bike ride along the Indian Bend walking and bike path. The path runs nearly 20 miles from the north side of Scottsdale down to Arizona State University in Tempe. AboutContinue reading "New friends on the Indian Bend bike path"

The Last two Fridays I have been hanging out at the Phoenix Rescue Mission in So. Phoenix. This is a multi-level outreach to the estimated 20,000 homeless people in Phoenix, with thousands of them sleeping on the streets every night. (About 10 days ago it was 106 degrees @ 10:20pm.) The Rescue Mission describes theContinue reading "Riding in the Hope Van"

In helping people discern between spirits, I often consider St. Ignatius and his rules of discernment.  Ignatius calls discernment simply the process of knowing one thing or idea from another. When Ignatius talks about discerning different spirits, he refers to "discerning of spirits". The phrase --  "of spirits" -- is that which is being discerned.Continue reading "St. Ignatius and discerning spirits"

At least 3 times Jesus physically turns his body to get the attention of the person or persons to whom he is speaking. Turn as in, "Let me turn, face you and speak to you directly." Once is when Jesus has just announced his impending death, recorded in Matthew 16. Peter, one of his closest disciples,Continue reading "Jesus might just turn toward you, if he wants to get your attention"