St. Luke's Blogs

Most of us have travel stories to tell.  Most of my stories involve my kids when they were growing up and we would take summer vacations together.  I remember one trip when my youngest girls were maybe ten.  The first leg of the trip took us to Kansas City where we took the kids to Worlds of Fun and a Royals baseball game.  It was lots of fun.  My wife, Kelly and I had just married, and we had actually used part of a wedding gift certificate to buy the girls some new pillows.  We took them on the trip figuring the girls could enjoy them instead of some of the rock-hard pillows in certain hotels.  After a few days, we left Kansas City and headed to Branson for some time on the water at Table Rock Lake.  When we got to our lodging at Branson, we quickly noticed the pillows were nowhere to be found…

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

The Story of Cain and Abel is filled with daily struggles. Both Cain and Abel work hard. They wanted to please God. Cain especially struggled with anger, jealousy and selfishness. Cain worked in the fields, growing crops. Able managed animals, working hard to increase his flocks. Each understood that giving a portion of their crops or flocks to God was the right thing to do. After Cain’s crops had been harvested, he brought a small offering to God. Around the same time, Abel selected “Fat portions from the firstborn of his flock.” Abel’s offering pleased God, but Cain’s offering did not find favor with God. Cain made several decisions that led to the tragedy of the death of his brother. Most notably, Cain forgot his duty to others.

For most of us, time at the lake is a relaxing getaway from the business of life. For Peter, the lake was life. He was a fisherman who grew up on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Most likely he learned his trade from his father. He spent his days and nights fishing and selling fish to the community. The lake was work for Peter. The lake was the only life Peter had ever really known. When Jesus approached Peter, and his brother Andrew, his invitation to follow would truly disrupt their lives…

I was in high school when I was told that The Chronicles of Narnia were much more than just great books of fantasy. They were, in fact, C.S. Lewis’ vision of the Christian faith for Children. Lewis wanted to share the foundations of the faith in an exciting way. He succeeded! Along the way, the children experience wonderful adventures, while learning deep truth…

Hahnville High School required that students wear dress clothes for their graduation. Daverius did not realize that his expensive sneakers did not meet the dress code. He was turned away at the door for his dress code violation. Daverius was shocked, to say the least. As he walked away from the graduation that he had worked so hard for, Daverius was stopped by John Butler. Mr. Butler was a staff member at Hahnville High School. He knew Daverius and had no intention of letting him miss his graduation…

Often, when we first start our families, it is a challenging time. Young couples are not quite financially secure. When money is tight, it often causes additional stress. Krystal and Patrick Duhaney understand the stress a lack of income causes. When they had their first child, they had very little funds. Now that they are a little older and doing better with their careers, they are working to bless new families. Recently, the Duhaneys went to a local store. Taking with them a large amount cash, they began sneaking the money into diaper boxes.

After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I have been saved from my enemies.