This is Tim Watkins and I am truly excited to be heading on the trip to El Salvador next month!

We are all created for unique purposes and I have spent a lot of time pondering over the question, “What is my purpose in life?” Not until the first mission trip that I took to Pennsylvania, did I discover an answer to this question. That the ...

A blog post from Colleen Umphrey:

Early morning flight, lumpy pillows, fighting illness (three times might I add), heat and the unknown!  Some people might say, "Why would you go back to El Salvador? Why would you go there when there is so much to be done here? Aren't you nervous leaving your kids for so long?"

The answers to these...

Hi All—Hannah Graham here.

Somehow, quietly and slowly, spring has arrived and summer is finally in sight. Summers are a time for vacations and travel (amongst other things), and I am particularly excited because God has called me to travel somewhere very exotic and exciting for my summer vacation: El Salvador!
 
Last year, my husband had ...

In John 13:34-35 Jesus said, “A new command I give to you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love another.  By this all men will know that you are disciples, if you love one another.”
 
There are two parts to this “new” command to love as Jesus loves us.  First is His gift of love to us.&...

 
I am very excited to be heading back to El Salvador with 7 other people from Our Savior this June 22-29!  On our mission trip this summer we will be formalizing our partnership with a Lutheran Church in El Salvador.  After much prayer and discussion with the group of people who went to El Salvador last summer and the pastor and ...

This last week in church we asked the questions “Why does my life matter?” and “What makes your life relevant?” There are many different ways to answer this, but I will give you 3 things that do not make your life important. Now, before you write these off as obvious, understand that these things are the primary drivers of ...

I was struck by a challenge that Rev. Torkild Masvie presented in his sermon on Palm Sunday, “If this congregation is not good enough for you to invite people to, it is not good enough for you.”  In my reflection on his comment I wondered how that plays out for the members at Our Savior.  The church has grown through all ...

“I will praise you, O Lord.  Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.” Isaiah 12:1
 
“I give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” Isaiah 43:21
 
People who experience miracles respond by praising and ...

The Barbie family. You know who I’m talking about, that family that looks like they came straight out of a holiday magazine, where every member is model-quality good-looking and they always seem to be happy. Ken is successful and drives nice cars, Barbie wears all the best clothes and never has a bad hair day, and their 2.4 kids are perfect ...

Actually I did not give donuts up for Lent this year, but I did the year our son Mark was in first grade.  He came home one day and announced that our whole family was giving up donuts for Lent, because when his teacher had asked her students what they were giving up for Lent Mark decided on donuts.  Now for me giving up donuts is a ...

The 40 days of Lent are a reminder of the 40 days of Jesus’ temptation by the devil in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13) as He began His journey to the cross after His baptism.  Along the way He endured temptation, rejection, confrontation and deception. These are all assaults by the devil that he hurls at us daily as well.
 
One of ...

Happy Fat Tuesday! I’ve just finished eating my paczki! Before I came to Chicago, I had never heard of paczkis, but I must say I enjoy these donut-like treats marking the last day before the Lenten season.
 
As we know, Lent starts tomorrow with Ash Wednesday (service is at 7:00 pm). It is a somber season, where we journey with Christ ...

Contentment can be a dangerous thing.
 
Yes, there are times when it is good to be content. When you are eating dinner with the family, give thanks to God and be content. When you have a stable job, a roof over your head, and good health, give thanks to God and be content. Be content and at peace with God when you are in despair for He sent ...

As I had the blessing of holding my grandson or at 20 months holding his hand in my hand, I was reminded of the touch of life that God gives us.  Life from God began as he formed (as a potter uses his hands) Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden.  Ever since life comes from life (an elementary life scientific law of nature).  God...

In the book the Hunger Games, the capital city of Panem (post-apocalyptic America) is oppressing 12 districts who provide them with goods. While the capital is wealthy and powerful, the districts are poor and enslaved. The capital citizens care little for the fate of the people in the districts. They are fine with sacrificing the children of the ...