Baptists don't exactly bless each other very much.

When I started going to a Lutheran church with my darling wife, all of the formality felt a bit odd.

But it has grown on me. I like saying "The Apostle's Creed" and "The Lord's Prayer" every week -- they remind me, respectively, what is the core of my church's beliefs and how to pray.

Until we sang "Jesus Love Me" in church last weekend, I didn't remember all of the verses. It's nice to look back on what seems like a childhood song and realize that it still means a lot to me today. So here goes: 

Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so;

little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me,

yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! he who died heaven's gates to open wide;

Inspired by the deeply spiritual movie "Into the Wild," which was based on a book by Jon Krakauer, I have a good mind to delve into some other books by the avid outdoorsman.

Today, I picked up an audio copy of "Eiger Dreams." It's a book of short stories about mountain -- and boulder -- climbers and their search for the next, more risky climb. My personal suggestions are "Into Thin Air," "Into the Wild," but so
far I've also liked "Eiger Dreams" and I'm definitely interested in
reading "Under the Banner of Heaven."

Along with other members of my church congregation, I have been going through a simple exercise -- reading a daily Bible verse, making a request of God, and then praying for various people in the congregation.

Today is the last day of a month-long process, and I'm sorry to see it go. I've felt like a difference maker by being devoted to a joint cause with the rest of my church body. They surely will benefit from my work, and we all will be better for our collective prayers.

The verses assigned for today and yesterday hit me square in the heart.

A musical lyric about God that I heard on the radio today: 

"In all this world, you're all that's true. I'll always stand for you."

On a daily basis, believers and nonbelievers alike struggle with one main demand made by God -- he requires his followers to live on his terms.

Recently, a friend told me he plans to live on his own terms, not necessarily by what the Bible teaches. Although he professes a belief in Christianity, he knows that his lifestyle isn't focused on God. His plan is to repent on his death bed.

Lifelong Belle Plaine resident Larry Bratsch fought off cancer once, but it’s back.

Sometimes, don't you just want to drop everything and tell God how in love you are with him? I do. 

Last week, one of my Bible readings was Ephesians 6. Boy, what a powerful reminder of God. Here's part of what I read:

During the past few weeks, my friend Justin and I have taken a hiatus from our Bible study on Titus.