Ask a group of people to list ten words that come to mind when hearing the word “home,” and some common themes might emerge: family, house/apartment, warmth, security, belonging, etc. Ask enough people, though, and you’d discover that not all the words and thoughts are positive. Words like conflict, uncertainty, strain and regret might appear […]

During the month of November, we’ll have several opportunities to express our thanksgiving to God for his goodness and love, by focusing on people near and far who find themselves in times of need. As a congregation, we’ll continue the tradition of partnering with Covenant World Relief, as we fill up repurposed soup cans with […]

I want to open this article with a heartfelt expression of THANKS to all of you who make our shared ministry possible through your generous and sacrificial gifts of time, talent and financial resources. So many of you serve in creative, dedicated ways and places within our congregation, and I need to tell you that […]

This August marks two years since my arrival at Redeemer as interim senior pastor. It’s been an incredible blessing to lead and serve among this congregation and to have been called as senior pastor. In two years, I’ve gotten to know many of you individually, and I’ve gotten a sense of who we are as […]

I’m writing this article (thankfully, in an air-conditioned space) in the midst of a crazy late-May heat wave that has seen the earliest 100-degree reading in Twin Cities history. It’s hard to imagine a more unmistakable reminder that summer is once again upon us. Summer provides most of us a change in our schedules. For […]

As human beings, many of us have a tendency to want the good stuff now. We desire good health (perhaps without excellent self-care), good grades (with a minimum of studying), great jobs (ideally, without having to put in time in more menial positions), and amazing friends and spouses (without having to go through all the […]

Even though I’ll rarely name spring as my favorite season (autumn typically grabs that distinction), every time the vernal season rolls around, I find myself in joyful anticipation. The whiff of fresh earth in the air, the peeks of greenery and the receding snowbanks all conspire to generate excitement about warmer days ahead and the […]

At Redeemer, our answer to that question is… Nope! We seek to be whole people who are wholly transformed by God, and so we acknowledge that it’s not just a matter of believing the right things (having our intellect and doctrine in order) or doing the right things (choosing righteous actions); God also wants our […]

Every time I read through one of the Gospels, I’m struck by the rollercoaster ride that Jesus’ disciples seem to be on. Some days, everything seems to be going their way. Other days, they face unexpected setbacks and perplexing situations. There are times when Jesus seems gracious and friendly to them, and other times it […]

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebration with friends and family. We Peases were very thankful and blessed to have our family together, including some from out of town. It’s hard to imagine a better reason to gather and celebrate, than to remember again the gift of Jesus Christ from a loving God at […]