St. Luke's Blogs

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

We were on our way to Branson, Missouri for a family vacation. I took the wrong exit and, the next thing you know, we were almost to Arkansas. We had no intention of visiting the Natural State before we arrived in Missouri, but a wrong turn, great family conversation, and a little bit of inattentiveness led us off our predetermined path.

This trip was before GPS and iPhone that could tell us where to go. Now we were off schedule and off our printed map. It was not a great way to start our vacation. It was a setback to our schedule.

Life is full of setbacks. Some are small, like a wrong turn in Tulsa, and some are big…

My first full-time job was in Altus, OK. It was a fantastic place to begin my ministry. When I first moved to Altus, I was single, and I did not know one person in the community. As great as the ministry was in this new community, it was tough being the new guy in town. I had left behind my family, my fiancé, my friends, and I did not realize how much I would miss them.

One evening, while I was at home alone, my doorbell rang…

We recently had confirmation Sunday at St. Luke’s.  It was a day filled with joy. We had 37 students make their profession of faith and take the vows of membership. It is always a joyful celebration when our young students take the faith for themselves. It was also a special day because this was the first time that we were able to have this celebration in worship since COVID kept us from meeting in 2020. It was a powerful day for our family of faith as we gathered to welcome our newest members.

Personally, this day was extra special for my family, as our daughter, Mary Beth, was part of the confirmation class. Our hearts were filled with joy as she professed her faith publicly and beca

In the book of Numbers, chapter 13, Moses is commanded to send twelve spies into the promised land. These spies were leaders from each of the tribes. They were commanded to see if the people who occupied the land were “strong or weak” and to see if the land was filled with “good fruit.” The spies went into the promised land and did just as they were commanded. When they returned from their mission, they brought back evidence of good fruit. It was true, the land was flowing with “milk and honey.”

When two vehicles were traveling late at night in Billings, Montana, their plans were interrupted. The unforeseen collision caused fire, ambulance, police and two trucks to be dispatched. Two families were suddenly found standing on the side of the street in disbelief.

During all the chaos, there was a young girl who was a part of the accident.  She was checked out and was fine. She was now standing and watching as her parents were interviewed by police. A firefighter noticed the young girl as she stood there scared. He went to the fire truck and got out a book…

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.  Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

The book of James is one of the more practical books of the New Testament.  Filled with small bits of wisdom, this book offers significant and practical ways to live out our faith.  The book of James is much like the book of Proverbs.  It offers real-world teaching on ways to live out our daily lives; ways that positively reflect our faith.

There are few things more tangible to the practical living of our faith than how we speak to one another.  James was aware of this and dedicates more of his writing to how we speak than just about any other subject.  In the first chapter, James makes it clear that people of faith should be, “quick to listen and slow to speak”…

The situation at Southwood High School was serious. The school was becoming known for having a violent culture. Suddenly, the fights stopped, and no more arrests were made. It was not because more police were sent to the campus. It was not because more staff were cracking down. It is because a group of men from the community organized and began volunteering in the school.

They call themselves “Dads on Duty.”