People / Faith & Religion
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On Faith: Easter offers reflection on our joys and sorrows
As someone who has attended my fair share of funerals, I have often found them to be bittersweet. Funerals can be joyful, as they are frequently filled with wonderful stories about our loved ones, encounters with long lost relatives, good food, and... Full story
On Faith: It was God who pulled off the ultimate heist
Have you ever seen the movie, “Oceans 11”? If you haven’t, you should. It stands as one of Hollywood’s better renditions of a heist movie. Its characters set out to do the impossible — to rob the shared vault of three casinos on a fight night, wh...
On Faith: Finding some good in our weedy existence
Why do bad things happen to good people? A couple of years ago, Andrea and I started a vegetable garden. Since then, we've learned at least one thing: we're pretty lousy gardeners. Or, at least, I... Full story
There's a new church in Esko
Seven years after it was purchased in 2016, a prominent property in Esko is nearly ready for its big reveal. "We're basically starting over," said Mike Blanchet, who, with his spouse and fellow... Full story
ON FAITH: Evil can strike anywhere; stay vigilant
I am not sure about you, but the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel this past weekend woke me up. For a long time after Sept. 11, 2001, I was concerned about terrorist attacks. But more recently that concern has dissipated. First of all, because... Full story
Welcome back!
The month of September is always an exciting time of year, filled with all kinds of returns. Throughout this month, our schools have been filled with returning students, faculty, and staff while our... Full story
On faith: Messed up family dynamics can change
My congregations have been reading from the book of Genesis this summer and focusing on the story of Jacob. Some might know Jacob from songs about "climbing Jacob's ladder." Others might recognize... Full story
Church remodel aims to ease way to 'encounter Christ'
A new accessible entrance and buildout of a youth center are the focus of a significant expansion at a prominent church in Cloquet. Journey Christian Church associate pastor Fred Goldschmidt called...
Faith: Bringing forward all the beauty within us
Is beauty a religious value? The ancient Greek philosopher Plato spoke of the good, the true, and the beautiful as a kind of philosophical “trinity.” If a thing was good, he said, it was also nec... Full story
On Faith: Bring a love that heals
It has been good to be here. For almost 10 years, Cloquet, Esko and Carlton and the surrounding lands have been home for me and my wife, Sandy. We have lived here and worked here, played here and... Full story
Zion Lutheran: Imagine a Lenten season reimagined
There is a story in the fourth chapter of John's Gospel about a woman Jesus meets at a well. We don't know much about her, but we do know that she has been married to five different men and was now... Full story
Grieve well and thrive now and always
I used to love Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I still love Christmas, but bear with me for a minute. What I have always loved about Christmas was the warmth of the season. I love that people gather wi... Full story
On Faith: Finding empathy in angry times is worthy work
It was one of those appointments I wasn’t looking forward to. The confirmation program had made a big change and the kids and parents weren’t happy, to put it mildly. Tension had been building for... Full story
Area church youth gather in Cloquet
Approximately 200 people gathered at the Common Ground building in Cloquet last week to gear up for the fall church season. Pastor Brandon Monson, youth pastor at Grace Baptist in Cloquet, said 10... Full story
FAITH: Look before you let go a 'like'
House to House Heart to Heart Carlton County Church of Christ Before you hit “share” or “like” on that post, consider Paul’s admonition from Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever th... Full story
On Faith: Find a good place for your emotions
I'm hearing people are having all the emotions. Are you hearing this as well? Maybe more importantly, are you experiencing this? Several weeks ago, I read about the rise in airline incidents with...
Christian music festival goes back to its roots
After missing last summer due to the pandemic, a new version of an annual Christian music festival will return to Cloquet's Veterans Park on Aug. 14. The Wood City Music Festival will now be known as... Full story
On Faith: Vaccination is the Christian thing to do
In the Lutheran tradition we affirm the idea of now and not yet. This is particularly important as we bask in the post-Easter glow. God's promise of new life and resurrection has come to pass and yet... Full story
On Faith: It's planting season!
The parable of the sower has always been one of my favorites. Found in Matthew 13 and Luke 8, it should come as no surprise that a farm boy from Iowa would relate to the imagery of planting. As I... Full story
On Faith: We need to break down the walls of bias
I find myself saddened by a painful change in our community: It is harder to listen to each other and to understand each other. That difficulty then makes it harder for us to care for each other. As... Full story
On Faith: Power lies in people when it comes to freedom
When Sunday school students see beyond the superficial details of the story of Adam and Eve, they begin to reflect on the reality of sin. A typical response appeals to their sense of justice. “Well, that’s not fair,” they will say. They under... Full story
Think of new year as an opportunity for kindness
For 39 years my family and I have been engaged in this area. I am blessed to have had the good fortune to have wonderful opportunities to engage with thousands of area people over the years. My involv... Full story
On Faith: Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving
Merry Christmas and God's blessing on you and your families. The Bible, in Isaiah 9:6, says "for to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his... Full story
On Faith: Take stock of how you use your time
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." - J.R.R. Tolkien,... Full story
On Faith: Freedom derives from faith
I once had the opportunity to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts. The trail is a red line painted on the pavement and guides people from the central city park to many of the historic... Full story
