Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

 (Next week the Tuesday Tune-up is beginning it's annual summer break.  It will return at the end of July!)

Last Sunday the sermon was based on the account of Jesus confronting the "Legion" of demons that had possessed the man in Luke 8:26-39.  We talked about the reality, the truth of a real Devil, real demons, and Jesus' victory over them. In light of that sermon, I share this newsy tidbit wi...

 I remember one day when I picked up my daughter Laura from kindergarten, she burst into tears.  I asked what was the matter.  After some composure, she looked at me and bursting intoa nother round of tears said, "They called me a "Lucky Duck!"  I tried to reassure her that when her classmates called her a "Lucky Duck" it was a good thing, but she just wouldn't believe me. 

Indra Tamang is a "Lucky Duck."&...

We often think of God and think of a Father's love. We think of the great love that God has for us and it moves us.  However, maybe we underestimate what that love does for, in, and to us. Let me explain.

The Father's love for us changes us.  Our love back to Him - our love for Him grows and grows as we live in his love forus.  We may not always be aware of it, because we hide it away.  We hide it away because we cannot express i...

There are many things that you might wish to hear people say, but never really expect them to say. Here are a few:

From my car mechanic,

"The quote I gave you is way too high; I was able to do the job for $200 less than I quoted you."

From a policeman,

 One of my pet peeves is the course, callous, rudeness of daily life.  People (that may include you and me many times), seem to thrive on being rude. In fact, a rude one-up-man-ship seems to rule the day.   Note the story below by Ken Klaus of the Lutheran Hour:

Traffic can be a problem  in a big city. This is true especially when a pedestrian encounters a rude automobile driver.

If you ever have had a hard waking up in the morning?  I did this morning.  It was raining and the wind was blowing.  I wanted to snuggle back under the covers.  But the reality of the day began to take over.  I knew I had to get up.  But, how would I go about it, and how would I take on the day?

Then the strangest thing happened.  I heard voices in my room.  No, my wife was fast asleep.  It couldn't be her. I shook my ...

 How do we see Jesus?  Do we look for Him in a beautiful sunset, in a moving worship service, in the birth of a child, or in a feeling deep inside?  Might I suggest that we see Jesus as the writer to the Hebrews saw Him - in glory and a graveyard.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man."  Hebrews 2:9

...

How many times have we tried to excuse our behavior with the excuse, "But, it was an accident"? 

That reminds me of a cowboy out west who had experienced a few rodeo-type injuries the past year, and decided he needed some insurance:

This story begins with a rodeo cowboy applying for an insurance policy.

The agent asked, "Have you had any accidents in the last year?"

The cow...

Today I want to relish the Grace and squelch the Pride. To do that, I want to share this little poem that was sent to me.  It points out our pride, and magnifies God's grace:

I was shocked, confused, & bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the...

OK, so what do I talk about this morning?  There is a smorgasbord of topics form which to choose.  A volcano brings the world to it's knees, a judge declares the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, politics have run amok, the entire leadership of Poland is wiped out in a plane cash, sports fans are focused on playoffs and the NFL draft, and then there is this tidbit of news this morning.

From the AP -  DALLAS -- After the joy of a wedding and...