What is Jesus talking about? I thought I was supposed to honor my father and mother? Aren’t I supposed to love my siblings, even though I don’t always get along with them? Doesn’t Dr. Luther teach us that everything we have comes from God? He taught me to say that God has given me my body and soul and then follows a long list of everything God gives me. Didn’t he also teach me that daily bread includes everything I need for this body and life, and that even includes good weather and good government? What is Jesus talking about? . . .

What do you worry about? We all worry. Maybe you worry about your grades. Maybe you worry about being liked. Maybe you worry about being the best-dressed kid on campus. Maybe you worry about any or every part of your life. Today Jesus tells you: don’t worry, trust Me! . . .

I don’t own sheep, but I’ve heard what they’re like. They can easily get lost. They can easily get killed by a predator. A normal shepherd would never leave 99 totally alone to go after another. He would leave somebody with them, at least a sheep dog. He might never leave them, but just figure the other sheep was dead and not worry about it anymore. . . .

Death and resurrection. That’s what Christianity is all about. Death and resurrection. Everything else just focuses in on those two things: death and resurrection. . . .

Here’s a couple things I remember from my youth in a Lutheran church–did you have the same experience? Every Sunday we sang 441:1-2 after the offering; every November was Stewardship month. Pastor Gieschen preached about giving money to church every Sunday, and on the concluding Stewardship Sunday everyone walked up to The Altar to put their pledges in one of the offering plates during a special service following a meal following the regular Sunday morning service. I’m told that’s what this box is for. . . .

Why do we go to church? Why do we have chapel every week? Why do we have devotions in our classrooms? Have you ever wondered that? Why do we have these things? . . .

He was a rich man. God had given him plenty in clothing and food, house and home, land, cattle, and all he owned. He had the best clothing, the best house, the best family, the best respect, of anyone in the community. Everyone wanted to be like him. No one could be like him, but they all wanted some glimpse, some recognition, something from him. . . .