Our Saviour's Lutheran Church

In his classic novel Brothers Karamazov, Feodor Dostoevsky tells the story of Father Zossima, a wise and humble Russian monk.

In the story people travel from nearby towns and villages, seeking the good Father's spiritual advice. One day a woman arrives at his cell to talk to him. She has a big problem, the woman explains.  Slowly, over the course of many years, she has lost her faith, and therefore, her reason to live.  Father Zossima must give her a reason to believe again, she says, or she will kill herself.

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For as long as I can remember I have loved to read.  When I was in elementary school I read through the entire series of Hardy Boys detective stories.  I can still recall finishing the last one.  I savored each and every page with a bittersweet feeling.  I wondered what I would read next.  I worried that I would never find a book that I would enjoy as much as I had enjoyed the Hardy Boys adventures.    

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Have you ever felt like your prayer life was in a rut? 

Sometimes I feel this way personally, and as a pastor.  

Have you ever known someone who prayed with passion and conviction?  Have you ever had the privilege of hearing someone put their heart and soul into their prayers? 

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This morning I thought of a new message to put out on our church sign.  This might seem like a simple task, but it's not.  Let me explain. After all, what can you say that is meaningful and honest in ten words or less?

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Mondays are my day off.  Normally I like to head out to Phalen Lake early in  the morning for a walk to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air.  Yesterday I had a change of pace.  I traveled to Winona to help our daughter Jenny as she prepares to move home from  college for the summer.   After loading up the car, we had some free time on our hands.  And so we decided to go for a walk.  It was nice to have a traveling companion.  Lately, I have mostly been walking alone. 

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