Posts by Senior Vicar Phil Valdez
What keeps you connected?
Luke 9:51 “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” “Jesus’ face was set toward Jerusalem,” as the original Greek says, in other words, he was determined to reach Jerusalem. He had a strict schedule to follow, and he was right on time. Jesus was…
Read MoreFair-weather Faithfulness
I think it’s safe to say that most of you here are either Packer fans, Brewers fans, or Bucks fans, probably fans of all three. And that makes sense because most of you are from Milwaukee or somewhere else in Wisconsin. You have this hometown pride, so to speak. So, how would you describe your…
Read MoreListen to your shepherd!
John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” What’s your favorite podcast, YouTube channel, political pundit, or sports broadcaster? Who do you follow? Interestingly, there seems to be…
Read MoreAre You Listening?
John 10:22-30 To whom do you listen? To whom do you subscribe to? Who do you follow? The younger generation these days has to contend with all the voices vying for their attention among social media. But even those of us who are older still have to make choices as to who or what we…
Read MoreWhy worry?
John 20:19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” If you follow any kind of newsfeed, you know that crazy things happen just about…
Read MorePointless! || Chasing the meaning of life in the book of Ecclesiastes
A “Pointless” Bible Study
There is a time to study… This time around, we’re digging into the book of Ecclesiastes. Come—it definitely won’t be “meaningless.” (If the jokes and references here are meaningless to you, you’ll have to come see for yourself what they’re all about!)
Read MoreWhere’s the proof?
1 Corinthians 15:55-56 “Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” “BZZZZ.” It’s a wasp. If you’re allergic to bee stings, that “BZZZZ” sound can bring unease, fright, even terror. “BZZZZ.” It’s death. (That’s the picture God’s drawing in the…
Read MoreBecause he lives…
Devotion for Easter Sunday Job 19:25-27 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! We are all familiar with pain and suffering. It…
Read MoreNothing would stop him.
Devotion for Holy Saturday Matthew 27:62-65 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the…
Read MoreT.G.I.F.
John 19:17-30 TGIF. Do you remember that acronym? Thank God it’s Friday. Back in the 1960s, there was a man who set up this restaurant, and it was supposed to be a bar with a fun atmosphere, and he called it TGIFridays. Then in the late 80s and into the early 90s, the ABC Network…
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