Author Archives: patellison

A text – Matthew 16:21-2816:21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebukeContinue reading “Faithful Workers or Obstructors – Matthew 16”

A text – Exodus 3:1-15 3:1 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, andContinue reading “God for All Generations — Exodus 3”

A text — Romans 4:13-25 4:13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.4:14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.4:15Continue reading “I Reckon — Romans 4”

A text – Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.”17:3 Then Abram fell on his face; andContinue reading “Living in God’s Promises — Genesis 17”

A text — Mark 8:31-38.       8:31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.8:32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and beganContinue reading “Faith in the Darkness — Mark 8”

A text — John 6:24-356:24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”6:26 Jesus answered them,Continue reading “To Believe or Not to Believe – John 6”

A text – Ephesians 4: 1-16. 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,4:3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in theContinue reading “Gifts and Vocation – Ephesians 4”

How I started writing short reflections on Bible texts and why you might like them… I am a layperson who really loves thinking and talking about Biblical stories and passages with others. The COVID pandemic hit my congregation, St John Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, hard. When we could not meet in person, ourContinue reading “Why read Short Dwellings?”