Gobble Gobble Word From Wiese November 26, 2025 Dear Fellow Turkeys, Gobble Gobble. What if a turkey translator revealed “gobble gobble” meant “grateful, grateful”? Then turkeys would be some of the happiest creatures around. For in our gratitude, we experience peace, perspective, and positivity. Scripture states, “from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the …
Turkey Dinner Prep Word From Wiese November 19, 2025 Why do dogs take such a long time to sniff a patch of grass while out on a walk? Why do flies buzz around so sporadically? It’s because most of what a creature actually senses is invisible to us. Pulitzer Prize winning science writer Ed Yong wrote a book about these …
King Tut & the Other Guy Word From Wiese November 12, 2025 Last week, my friend Elias was there. The official opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt. (Elias runs the tour company helping COS venture to the Holy Land and St. Paul’s Footsteps . . . and maybe someday Egypt?) While several royal tombs of the …
Your Last Day Word From Wiese November 5, 2025 If you knew tomorrow would be your last day of life, what would you do? Rally a party with your family and best friends? Pig out on your favorite food and desserts? Catch a flight to your favorite location to snorkel, ski, or hike? Grab your loved ones and walk bare …
Are You Peaking? Word From Wiese October 29, 2025 My dentist tells me I need two crowns. For the first time in decades, due to a troublesome back, I didn’t run in an organized race last year. Am I over the hill? Amid such discouraging health realities, I was heartened to read a report from The Times (United Kingdom) which …
What Do They Mean Today? Word From Wiese October 22, 2025 Friends in Faith, Boy, Martin Luther blew it! Why did he choose October 31 to post his 95 Theses? Well, how could Martin Luther ever have guessed that posting his calls for church reform, lodged on the doors of Wittenberg’s Castle Church, would launch a world-wide Reformation? Furthermore, how …
Bending Iron 15 October 2025 Dear Faith Friends, As a kid, while touring historic Williamsburg, I was fascinated watching the blacksmiths shape horseshoes. The fires were scorching hot! Those blacksmiths, were required to heat iron to over 1500°F before hammering it into new forms. The transformation required unrelenting persistence. That image comes to mind as we reflect on the recent …
The Weaving: Windows to Heaven 8 October 2025 Dedicated! So many of you are passionately DEDICATED to Jesus’ mission in the world. As complementary inspiration, I’m thrilled that last Saturday, in a special ceremony, we dedicated a stunning weaving as the latest feature in our Sanctuary Renewal Process. Commissioned by an anonymous donor in honor of a loved family member, …
Let the Ideas Fly, But Keep the Fists Down 1 October 2025 Ugghh. In Michigan Sunday night, congregational worshipers went to bed not humming beautiful hymns from the morning’s worship–but removing their bloodied and smoke-saturated clothing after the latest troubled American unleashed violence and terror. (Note: On behalf of COS, on Monday morning, I connected with five different leaders of …
Wow – What a Celebration! 24 September 2025 Wow! What a fantastic Golden Celebration of 50 years of Christian ministry for Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church this past Sunday! Music from different decades, including a commissioned choir anthem written and arranged by Bill Pasch. A “cold open” ala Saturday Night Live from 4 of our 5 pastors over 50 years. …