Weekly Devotions

Hope – It’s a New Day
By Brian Becker, Vice President for Ministry Programs, Wheat Ridge Ministries

I hope you get that job. I hope our new pastor can preach. I hope my daughter marries a good man. I hope the roads aren’t icy. I hope that place my son is moving to is in a safe neighborhood. I hope … I hope … We hope.

And all of this hoping can, at times, turn to fear, anxiety, worry or even despair. A job is lost, a child gets cancer, a marriage is...

Baptismal Beginning
By Rev. Jenn Moland-Kovash, All Saints Lutheran Church, Palatine, Illinois 

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11 

During Advent at the congregation I serve, we had three...

Willpower
By Mark Schoepp, Church Relations Representative, Wheat Ridge Ministries

Dr. Luke here, with a song echoing in my head. Someone recently introduced me to the song “40” by U2. It is a gentle, melodic repetition of Psalm 40:1-3: “I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned and heard my cry … He set my feet on a rock … He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” Those are good words to remember these days as I see many people taking part...

‘Tis the Day after Christmas…
By Margaret Hinchey, Englewood, Colorado

‘Tis the day after Christmas and at least in THIS house, not a creature is stirring, not even my spouse! In many church worker families like ours, the day after Christmas is reserved for rest and relaxation after a challenging but joyful Advent/Christmas season. However, we need to take note of the important tasks of this day, December 26! Many of us know it as St. Stephen’s...

Christmas Transplant
Rev. Tom Zehnder, Baileys Harbor, WI

A Seasonal Quiz:

What do these people all have in common … Ronald Herrick; Joseph Murray; Louis Washkansky; Christiaan Barnard; Jesus, son of Mary?

The answer is: They are all linked forever to the history of organ transplantation. 

In 1954, Ronald Herrick gave one kidney to his twin, Richard. Joseph Murray was the surgeon. In 1967, surgeon Christiaan Barnard took the heart of a 25-year-old mortally...