Author Archives: Dave Thomas

Electing a bishop, electing a president

I just returned from the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly, where we elected a new bishop. I can’t help but compare the process sadly to the ongoing process for electing our next president. Seventeen clergy had submitted their qualifications and vision … Read More

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Pastor James Gonia elected bishop of Rocky Mountain Synod

Pastor James Gonia was elected to be the next bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA. Pastor Gonia was elected on the fifth ballot on Saturday morning, April 28, 2012, at the Synod Assembly meeting in Colorado Springs, … Read More

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Electing a new bishop

 I’m in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the next three days as the male voting member to the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly from Elim Lutheran Church in Ogden. The Assembly is the governing body for the five state, 166 congregation Rocky … Read More

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Making Malaria History

“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” (Psalm 30:2, NIV)            The World Health Organization estimated that in 2010 there were 655,000 malaria deaths. 90% of these deaths were in sub-Sahara Africa, where disease … Read More

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He suffered under Pontius Pilate

“So the chief priests and elders bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.” (Matthew 27:2) — Since 1978 on every Palm Sunday at Elim Lutheran Church, we have done a reading of the Passion … Read More

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The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is one of the three creeds stating what Christians of many religious denominations believe. The Nicene Creed states the beliefs of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Anglican, Episcopalian, and Methodist religions. This is not an … Read More

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Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent

This week will mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day before Lent. What are these days and seasons, what are they for, … Read More

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The dime

            I can’t remember how old I was when this took place, but I could not have been very old, maybe somewhere around seven or eight years old. Every Sunday when we went to church, I was given two dimes. … Read More

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Put Christ back in Christmas, you say? Well, excuse me!

 Last week, I was looking for a Christmas related image to use in my email and Facebook Christmas cards. So, I did a Google search for images. I selected an image of Mary and Joseph looking at Jesus lying in … Read More

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Why don’t they just all go get jobs?

The names in this article, , with the exception of Ebenezer Scrooge, have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals mentioned. Janice married right out of high school and had six kids with her husband. He had a … Read More

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