Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s thoughts and feelings from his or her point of view rather than from one’s own. It is a crucial force for building friendship, unity and good will in human relationships and important for developing emotional intelligence. In recent years some neuroscientists have advanced the concept of mirror neurons,…
It’s always puzzled my why US Highway 218 ends at the intersection of US Highway 14 and Steele County Highway 45 along the southern edge of Owatonna. The highway comes up to Owatonna from the south, joins Highway 14, heads west for about one mile and then ends. It would seem to make more sense…
On a recent road trip we got to see part of Cindy Peters’ collection of antique sewing machines. Clearly this woman had a passion for these old machines and we wish we had been able to get to know her before she died. These are some of the very first electric sewing machines. Most…
The first three doors of this series were from the Old Testament. Now we look at doors in the New Testament, starting with Jesus as the door of the sheep. Jesus speaks of this in John, chapter 10: [Jesus said] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the…
We install locks and security cameras on our doors to keep intruders from coming in. But what if the intruder was not some crafty thief but was God? What would keep God from coming in? As we continue with our series Doors of the Bible, tonight’s door is the Passover door. And we see that is…
Part Two of the Doors of the Bible series looks at the door to Noah’s ark. We read in Genesis 6:13–16, 7:11-16: [13] And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.…
As one who takes playing with my grandchildren very seriously, I was glad to see new research supporting the importance of play in the development of children. Research conducted by Olga Jarrett, a professor emeritus at Georgia State University, shows the importance of recess. Dr. Jarrett draws on her experiences as a mother, civil rights…
The recent disasters involving church buildings around the world have drawn attention to the Christian faith but not for the right reasons. Several weeks ago three historically Black churches in a small area of Louisiana were set on fire. Police have arrested a suspect who they believe is responsible for all three fires. Then the…
This series looks at the many door that are mentioned in the Bible and celebrates what a blessing it is to know Jesus, the ultimate door and entrance to life eternal in heaven. In part one of this series we look at the door to our hearts through the story of Cain and Abel found…
Ordination and installation worship service in my Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod denomination are joyous, reverent celebrations marking the completion of years of hard work and training. God has provided another shepherd for a flock of his sheep. The recent ordination and istallation of Gatluk Reat at Trinity Lutheran Church, Faribault, Minnesota was the culmination of…
Mirror Neurons 