Frank the Hippie Pope and Bart the Patriarch


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Be still – A funeral sermon for Jason Lopez, Jr.

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Psalm 46:1-3, 10, 11 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. … 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. The question that all of us are asking today is “Why?”. Why was Jason Jr. born so early? Why did he appear healthy until he wasn’t? Why did God give you a baby, allow you to love him, only to take him away so quickly? Jason and Heather, you’ve been asking “Why?” since Sunday. We can ask the question. It is a fair question to ask the Lord. But, don’t expect an answer. If you are a parent, you know how often your children ask you “why” questions. Many times, because they are children who can’t begin to comprehend complex issues, you simply say, …
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Funeral sermon for Susan P. Tangerstrom

Last Thursday, God called home to heaven Epiphany's beloved and faithful secretary, Sue Tangerstrom. It was a tough week, but God's Word and resurrection comfort brought joy in the midst of our pain and mourning. If you missed the funeral service, you can read the sermon that was preached for Sue's Christian funeral.

Grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

How odd those words sound on a day like today. “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How strange those words sounded last Thursday as we stood by Sue’s side or heard the news.

Let’s be serious. We can’t really rejoice and be glad today. Think of what we lost. A beloved wife, mother, daughter, aunt. A faithful friend, coworker, godmother. My boss.

Shouldn’t the Bible verse say for funerals, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us mourn and be sad in it?” That makes mu…
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Water into blood and water into wine

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Here are some thoughts that didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon.

The Old Testament lesson for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany is the account of Moses turning the water of the Nile River into blood. The first of the ten plagues God used to get the Israelites out of Egypt.

Exodus 7:14-24 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert. But until now you have not listened. 17 This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not b…
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