Last week I wrote that Christians are mandated to care for God’s creation and that the over-use of fossil fuels results in harm both to his creation and to people – especially the poor and marginalized. This week I would like to share two other caveats on the use of God’s gifts of coal, oil and natural gas: Our use... READ MORE >
It’s hard to comprehend the enormity of the impact of fossil fuel on our world. Fossil fuels have driven amazing advances but the demand for more and more has led from one environmental disaster to another. The science is clear that something has to change. Some Christians argue that reducing our reliance on coal and oil is like refusing a... READ MORE >
Shortly after we arrived in Cook County in 2015, Skip Lamb convinced my kids that they should be downhill skiers. He told them all about the amazing junior program at Lutsen Mountains. Tina and Don McKeever helped us outfit them for their first year on the slopes. John Oberholtzer and other NJRS coaches taught them how to ski a slalom... READ MORE >
For the last six weeks I’ve been engaged in a study of the Ten Commandments for a series of messages at Zoar Church. Rather than seeing the Ten Commandments as ways God wants to keep his thumb on our freedom, I’ve been interested in how Jesus reflected on them and how Christians might view them as guidelines for living life... READ MORE >
Musicians Dave Anderson and Roger Walck will present a free concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Zoar Church in Tofte. Everyone in the North Shore community is invited to attend. Dave and Roger’s music is a blend of contemporary, gospel, hymns, and lots of old-time Sunday school songs. The audience will be invited to sing along but, as... READ MORE >
On June 25 summer workers in the Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder area are invited to join local residents for a “Minnesota Nice Potluck Welcome Dinner.” Featuring the staples of a Minnesota potluck (hotdishes, Jello, fresh baked bread, and bars), this welcome dinner is sponsored by Lutsen Lutheran and Zoar Church in Tofte, two congregations eager to welcome workers from around... READ MORE >
Winters are long here. With long winters come the winter “blahs.” I struggle with the darkness of the mornings and the evenings and long for the warmth of a summer day relaxing on a BWCA lake. I long for the “happiness” that seems to arrive when summer comes. Happiness was a topic Jesus addressed in the Gospel of Luke. The... READ MORE >
Growing up in the middle of the state where lakes just always freeze, I’d never give a thought to the idea of waves lapping against the shoreline as the mercury dips well below freezing until we moved here. Today, though, I found myself mesmerized by the vast expanses of ice off Tofte Park, the ice heaves standing almost like frozen... READ MORE >
I run into some folks from time to time that I get into great discussions with about this topic or that. They’ve thought deeply about life and sometimes the shape of eternity. I’ll say, “Hey, why don’t you come to worship on Sunday, my message this week is about this very thing…etc.” A few of them have shown up, a... READ MORE >
My son turned 15 not too long ago. He’s on the “road” to becoming a responsible driver. The other day we were making some “back of the envelope” calculations regarding what it actually costs to operate a motor vehicle. One of our vehicles is a 2008 Honda Pilot with about 270,000 miles. It gets about 18 mpg, a little below... READ MORE >
