Tunes of 1975 September 17, 2025 The auspicious day is almost here! It’s not every day that you’re privileged to celebrate a golden anniversary. That’s exactly what we’re blessed to do this Sunday–give thanks and praise to the Lord for launching, loving, and leveraging Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church for the purposes of our Triune God for five marvelous decades. …

Barnabas Encouragement September 10, 2025 Friends in Faith, Usually, my Sunday sermon and Wednesday email explore different territory. But today, I really want to emphasize my challenge to all of us to be Barnabas-like encouragers each day. Since we live in a world that knocks us down, lifting others up is an essential duty for ones Jesus commissions to be …

Working at Waffle House 3 September 2025 Dear Friends in Faith, Waffle House. The beloved Southern classic eatery might not make the Top 10 list of best family reunion spots. But on the morning of Labor Day, it was the perfect choice. Morgan was driving to the airport after a wedding in Athens, and Luke was hitting the road after …

Roses 27 August 2025 Can you spot the 8 rose petals in the picture? On my day off last Thursday morning, I was hiking with my dog Breezy through Line Creek Nature Area, one of the special treasures of Fayette Country. As we came upon the shoals, I spotted a brilliant red petal. Such color was unique for that area, …

Weep with Those Who Weep 20 August 2025 Dear Faith Friends, Can I share a story about 3 groups of people? You’ve got your own version about these 3 groups, but here’s mine. The first group are European Jews. Over the years, on our faith trips to Germany, we’ve walked through the gates of three concentration camps: Dachau, Sachsenhausen, and …

Jaws & COS, Both 50 13 August 2025 In the summer of 1975, two very different forces were unleashed. One was a movie. The other was a church. Both center around water. The blockbuster movie Jaws featured a New England beach community’s offer to enjoy the s-u-n-shine by the ocean. Christ Our Shepherd called folks to gather around their baptismal …

ELCA Bishop Update: A Longer Table 6 August 2025 Thomas Edison – first successful electric light bulb. Neil Armstrong– first man on the moon. Marie Curie – first person (and still the only woman) to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Amelia Earhart—first transatlantic solo flight by a woman. First non-white, second-career Presiding Bishop of the ELCA… Bishop …

Bishop 30 July 2025 On the chess board, the bishop is a powerful player. How impactful to be able to move diagonally in any direction! How about the Bishop of the ELCA? This week at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix Arizona, a new presiding bishop is being elected for a six-year term. Unlike our brothers and sisters in the …

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers? 23 July 2025 Have you ever lost anything? Yesterday, I spotted a hat on a pole. Apparently, while riding a bike or golf cart, a lady’s beautiful summertime hat had inadvertently fallen to the ground. A Good Samaritan, rather than taking the lovely chapeau home for themselves, expended some energy to help. By posting the hat …

14 Hours & 9 Minutes 16 July 2025 14 hours, 9 minutes, and 19 seconds. That’s how much daylight we enjoy today in Atlanta, Georgia. How will you take advantage of the sunshine? Come this February, will you be like me, cursing the fact that it’s dark as we drive home from work? Heaven help me if I had to …