As summer fades and Labor Day signals the return to school, work, and the routines of fall, the message of our “Complete Joy” series on 1 John offers timely encouragement. Throughout this series, we’ve explored how faith, love, and assurance in Christ shape our lives and bring us true joy. Now, as our focus shifts from summer’s leisure to the demands of the coming season, John’s message reminds us that joy is not confined to carefree moments; it is found in the everyday rhythms of life rooted in God’s love.

As we enter the sixth and final week of our summer series, “Complete Joy,” we conclude our reading of 1 John with a passage that offers profound assurance about our faith and eternal life.

We’ve now explored the First Letter of John five weeks and have one week to go. I love the picture we’ve used for this series. Is there a better example of complete joy than a belly rolling laugh, especially when it comes from a child? Many have probably seen Michael “Bubs” Roe come to see me at church. That’s definitely a “complete joy” in my life.

Yesterday in my sermon on 1 John 5:1-6, our third week exploring how John sees love as the central quality of our faith in God, I suggested that love is both the command and the “victory” of our faith. Like Olympic athletes, we accept the challenge and we train for results.

It’s that time of year again… time for the great Minnesota Get Together, time to enjoy the sweetest corn and the juiciest garden tomatoes, time to load the backpack with a fresh box of crayons. The end of August, is the very definition of bittersweet. Summer wonders are on full display but their end is looming all too large.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Jim Armstrong. upsplash.com I love beautiful sunsets. So...

Because God just can’t help it.

Yesterday, we continued to reflect on the nature of God’s love. John’s powerful message reveals that love is not just an action but the essence of who God is. Understanding this holds the key to reshaping our entire approach to life and faith. When we grasp that God’s love for us is not conditional on our goodness but rooted in God’s own nature, it frees us from the burden of striving to earn that love.

This week, the Apostle John expands on his teachings about love. Last week, we read from the previous chapter where love is emphasized as a sacrificial action rooted in faith. Now John delves into the very essence of love itself, revealing its divine origin. He proclaims that love is not merely something we do—love is who God is.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Anne Haugan. 1 John 3:16-24 “We know love by this, that...

Yesterday, we continued our exploration of 1 John and we saw how John intricately weaves the concepts of love and faith, showing how they are inseparable in the life of a believer. John frames love as an outflow of our faith in Jesus, asserting that true love cannot exist apart from this foundational relationship. So, how’s your relationship with Jesus?

Even got to listen to my son preach. #proudpastormoment I'm back in Roseville after two weeks in...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. Today I continue to share some important...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. See what love the Father has given us,...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. 1 John 3:1-7 Back in my Lutheran Camp...

Yesterday’s featured reading from 1 John continues to explore two crucial themes: our relationship with God and the impact of sin on that relationship. John reminds us of the incredible reality that we are children of God, an identity that should shape every aspect of our lives. Yet, he also acknowledges that we live in an “in-between” place, where the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet realized, and sin still exerts its influence.

As we move into the second week of our series, “Complete Joy,” I’m reflecting on the powerful truths we’re encountering in 1 John. The apostle’s letter invites us to consider the nature of our relationship with God and the transformative power of divine love.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Deb Cordes. Joy and peace to you. Joy in church was not...

As summer fades and Labor Day signals the return to school, work, and the routines of fall, the message of our “Complete Joy” series on 1 John offers timely encouragement. Throughout this series, we’ve explored how faith, love, and assurance in Christ shape our lives and bring us true joy. Now, as our focus shifts from summer’s leisure to the demands of the coming season, John’s message reminds us that joy is not confined to carefree moments; it is found in the everyday rhythms of life rooted in God’s love.

As we enter the sixth and final week of our summer series, “Complete Joy,” we conclude our reading of 1 John with a passage that offers profound assurance about our faith and eternal life.

We’ve now explored the First Letter of John five weeks and have one week to go. I love the picture we’ve used for this series. Is there a better example of complete joy than a belly rolling laugh, especially when it comes from a child? Many have probably seen Michael “Bubs” Roe come to see me at church. That’s definitely a “complete joy” in my life.

Yesterday in my sermon on 1 John 5:1-6, our third week exploring how John sees love as the central quality of our faith in God, I suggested that love is both the command and the “victory” of our faith. Like Olympic athletes, we accept the challenge and we train for results.

It’s that time of year again… time for the great Minnesota Get Together, time to enjoy the sweetest corn and the juiciest garden tomatoes, time to load the backpack with a fresh box of crayons. The end of August, is the very definition of bittersweet. Summer wonders are on full display but their end is looming all too large.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Jim Armstrong. upsplash.com I love beautiful sunsets. So...

Because God just can’t help it.

Yesterday, we continued to reflect on the nature of God’s love. John’s powerful message reveals that love is not just an action but the essence of who God is. Understanding this holds the key to reshaping our entire approach to life and faith. When we grasp that God’s love for us is not conditional on our goodness but rooted in God’s own nature, it frees us from the burden of striving to earn that love.

This week, the Apostle John expands on his teachings about love. Last week, we read from the previous chapter where love is emphasized as a sacrificial action rooted in faith. Now John delves into the very essence of love itself, revealing its divine origin. He proclaims that love is not merely something we do—love is who God is.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Anne Haugan. 1 John 3:16-24 “We know love by this, that...

Yesterday, we continued our exploration of 1 John and we saw how John intricately weaves the concepts of love and faith, showing how they are inseparable in the life of a believer. John frames love as an outflow of our faith in Jesus, asserting that true love cannot exist apart from this foundational relationship. So, how’s your relationship with Jesus?

Even got to listen to my son preach. #proudpastormoment I'm back in Roseville after two weeks in...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. Today I continue to share some important...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. See what love the Father has given us,...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. 1 John 3:1-7 Back in my Lutheran Camp...

Yesterday’s featured reading from 1 John continues to explore two crucial themes: our relationship with God and the impact of sin on that relationship. John reminds us of the incredible reality that we are children of God, an identity that should shape every aspect of our lives. Yet, he also acknowledges that we live in an “in-between” place, where the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet realized, and sin still exerts its influence.

As we move into the second week of our series, “Complete Joy,” I’m reflecting on the powerful truths we’re encountering in 1 John. The apostle’s letter invites us to consider the nature of our relationship with God and the transformative power of divine love.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Deb Cordes. Joy and peace to you. Joy in church was not...

As summer fades and Labor Day signals the return to school, work, and the routines of fall, the message of our “Complete Joy” series on 1 John offers timely encouragement. Throughout this series, we’ve explored how faith, love, and assurance in Christ shape our lives and bring us true joy. Now, as our focus shifts from summer’s leisure to the demands of the coming season, John’s message reminds us that joy is not confined to carefree moments; it is found in the everyday rhythms of life rooted in God’s love.

As we enter the sixth and final week of our summer series, “Complete Joy,” we conclude our reading of 1 John with a passage that offers profound assurance about our faith and eternal life.

We’ve now explored the First Letter of John five weeks and have one week to go. I love the picture we’ve used for this series. Is there a better example of complete joy than a belly rolling laugh, especially when it comes from a child? Many have probably seen Michael “Bubs” Roe come to see me at church. That’s definitely a “complete joy” in my life.

Yesterday in my sermon on 1 John 5:1-6, our third week exploring how John sees love as the central quality of our faith in God, I suggested that love is both the command and the “victory” of our faith. Like Olympic athletes, we accept the challenge and we train for results.

It’s that time of year again… time for the great Minnesota Get Together, time to enjoy the sweetest corn and the juiciest garden tomatoes, time to load the backpack with a fresh box of crayons. The end of August, is the very definition of bittersweet. Summer wonders are on full display but their end is looming all too large.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Jim Armstrong. upsplash.com I love beautiful sunsets. So...

Because God just can’t help it.

Yesterday, we continued to reflect on the nature of God’s love. John’s powerful message reveals that love is not just an action but the essence of who God is. Understanding this holds the key to reshaping our entire approach to life and faith. When we grasp that God’s love for us is not conditional on our goodness but rooted in God’s own nature, it frees us from the burden of striving to earn that love.

This week, the Apostle John expands on his teachings about love. Last week, we read from the previous chapter where love is emphasized as a sacrificial action rooted in faith. Now John delves into the very essence of love itself, revealing its divine origin. He proclaims that love is not merely something we do—love is who God is.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Anne Haugan. 1 John 3:16-24 “We know love by this, that...

Yesterday, we continued our exploration of 1 John and we saw how John intricately weaves the concepts of love and faith, showing how they are inseparable in the life of a believer. John frames love as an outflow of our faith in Jesus, asserting that true love cannot exist apart from this foundational relationship. So, how’s your relationship with Jesus?

Even got to listen to my son preach. #proudpastormoment I'm back in Roseville after two weeks in...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. Today I continue to share some important...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. See what love the Father has given us,...

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson. 1 John 3:1-7 Back in my Lutheran Camp...

Yesterday’s featured reading from 1 John continues to explore two crucial themes: our relationship with God and the impact of sin on that relationship. John reminds us of the incredible reality that we are children of God, an identity that should shape every aspect of our lives. Yet, he also acknowledges that we live in an “in-between” place, where the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet realized, and sin still exerts its influence.

As we move into the second week of our series, “Complete Joy,” I’m reflecting on the powerful truths we’re encountering in 1 John. The apostle’s letter invites us to consider the nature of our relationship with God and the transformative power of divine love.

Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Deb Cordes. Joy and peace to you. Joy in church was not...