Faith column

It is a rough time in our world right now, isn't it? We know that images of violence and heart-rending stories of people's tragedies come at us more frequently and easily than ever before. But we also know that the world is boiling right now.

Dear People of God, From St. Luke's gospel account, we hear Satan say to Jesus: "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here..." For forty years the Hebrew people were led by God in the wilderness. They were tested repeatedly along the way toward the Promised Land...

As I drive around this time of year, I see yards full of gaudy displays: multiple nativity scenes, Santas with sleds, lights galore and bright angels all in one yard! And then there are the cards, the gifts, the Christmas letters we send to people we haven't seen in years, the parties,...

With the onset of winter we welcome the arrival of a truly American holiday. Thanksgiving finds its roots in the early settlers of our nation. Their gratitude was not grounded in superabundance but rather in recognition of God's gracious hand in their survival. Unfortunately this...

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~G.K. Chesterton In these weeks of early November, much of our society is gearing up for Thanksgiving. In some ways it really is an odd holiday. It centers so much...

In 1968, the original science fiction thriller Planet of the Apes told the story of several astronauts who crash-land on a strange planet. At first the planet appeared desolate until they stumble upon a society of apes claiming to be created in God's image. They also find other men,...

My granddaughter is 19 months old. She uses phrases and sentences already. And I am astounded at how she is able to process language and concepts. However, one concept that is not so strongly developed is the one that has to do with 'waiting.' You wouldn't expect a young toddler to...

There is something amazing going on at our church this summer. Our small congregation of under 100 members has been building a church friendship hall. Nearly everything is being done by volunteers. This may not seem like such a big deal, except that most of our volunteers are all...

Fishing and northern Minnesota are inseparable. Some fish for sport while for others it is serious business. Enter any bait shop and the conversation quickly turns to "where are the fish biting"? Anglers spend countless dollars on equipment hoping to catch the prize — the big...

When writing an article for Focus on Faith, it's important for me, the writer, to consider my audience. Is the reader a believer in Jesus? Probably. After all, if one is an atheist or agnostic, he or she may not be particularly interested in reading something about religion or spiritual...