Central Lutheran Church - Elk River

Ever wondered why rituals matter? In this thought-provoking exploration, Ryan dives into the transformative power of church community and how it fundamentally shapes who we become.

Drawing from Aristotle's wisdom that "we are what we repeatedly do," they unpack how our regular practices—whether exercise, complaining, gratitude, or worship—slowly mold us into particular kinds of people. The episode reveals th...

In this episode, Pastor Ryan unpacks the powerful story of the bleeding woman in the Gospels—the moment she reaches out to touch Jesus’ garment and is instantly healed. What seems like a simple act of desperation is actually a profound display of faith, courage, and restoration.

Ryan explores how Jesus’ question, “Who touched me?”, isn’t about ignorance but about bringing her healing into the light—transforming private pain into pub...

Ever wonder why church still matters in our digital age? This episode tackles the profound human need for meaning and belonging that church uniquely addresses. Through personal stories and thoughtful reflection, we explore how the church provides a tether to something larger than ourselves in an increasingly disconnected world.

The Latin word for religion—"religio"—literally means "to be tethered to somethin...

What if the most powerful spiritual practice isn't finding answers, but asking better questions? 

When Jesus encountered his first followers, he didn't greet them with a sermon or statement of faith. Instead, he asked a deceptively simple question that cuts straight to the heart of human existence: "What are you looking for?" 

This question—the first words Jesus speaks in John's gospel—rev...

Revelation might be the most misinterpreted book in the Bible. Far from being a cryptic code predicting modern events or a Rubik's cube of end-times prophecy, this mysterious text reveals something far more powerful: a vision of hope for believers facing persecution.

Ryan unpacks how Revelation functioned as apocalyptic literature—not predicting distant futures but "unveiling" present realities from a divine...

What happens when our lives don't unfold according to plan? When we make mistakes or choose wrong paths? The ancient metaphor of a potter and clay offers profound insight into how God works with our imperfections and redirections.

Through Jeremiah's visit to a potter's house, we discover a revolutionary perspective on divine guidance that challenges both ancient Greek fatalism and our modern anxiety about &q...

Ever found yourself on the brink of becoming a "voracious monster" after a stressful day? You're not alone. This profound exploration of emotional regulation delves into the fundamental question: how do we behave according to our values when everything inside us wants to explode?

We begin by acknowledging the complex reality of human emotions. As Carl Jung noted, much of what drives us operates beneath the s...

What happens when we truly see one another? Not as objects, categories, or problems to solve, but as living souls bearing the divine image? In this thought-provoking exploration of Leviticus 19, we discover the ancient command to "guard the ger" — to protect and honor the foreigner, the stranger, the other among us.

While this passage is often wielded in modern political debates about immigration, its deeper mess...

Ever wonder why you sometimes act completely out of character? Those moments when you snap at a coworker or make an impulsive decision that leaves you thinking, "That wasn't like me at all"? This episode dives deep into the hidden emotional forces that drive our behaviors without our awareness.

Starting with the famous Richard Sherman "You mad, bro?" meme, I share my personal journey of emotional a...

What does it mean when Paul warns against "obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking" in Ephesians 5:4? Contrary to some interpretations, this isn't a blanket prohibition against humor and joy - God clearly has a sense of humor! Just look at the platypus, the grumpy black rain frog, or the bizarre blobfish.

Diving into the original Greek words reveals Paul's true concern: speech that wounds rather than h...

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself who you truly are and what you're really doing here? In our milestone 100th episode of Reflections, we dive deep into these two deceptively simple questions that have the power to transform your entire life.

The episode opens with a powerful story about a rabbi who, while lost in thought one evening, encounters a Roman guard who challenges him with these very questions. Rather tha...

What if the most extraordinary claim in human history—that a man died and rose from the grave—was actually true? And what if we could examine the evidence for this claim the same way we evaluate any other historical document?

The Gospels stand at the center of Christianity's most profound assertion: Jesus of Nazareth conquered death. But in our skeptical age, can thoughtful people actually trust these ancient accounts...

Ever found yourself wondering about the boundaries of Christian living? In this thought-provoking episode, Ryan tackles the frequently asked question "Should Christians drink alcohol?" – but quickly reveals that the real issue runs much deeper than a simple yes or no answer.

What begins as a specific inquiry about alcohol consumption transforms into a profound exploration of our relationship with substances, habi...

Growing pains aren't just physical – they're relational too. That moment when you realize someone doesn't need you the way they once did can be simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful.

Ryan opens up about watching his 21-year-old son Logan transition from complete dependency to emerging independence. Where once Ryan was the source of food, wisdom, and guidance, now their relationship is evolving into some...

What if the most profound theological concept in Christianity was actually an invitation to the most beautiful relationship in existence? When a community member asked "What is the Trinity?", it opened the door to exploring not just a doctrine, but a divine dance that has existed since before time began.

The Trinity finds its roots in the tension between ancient Israel's monotheism (expressed in the Shema pr...

Ever been told that heaven is just floating on clouds and playing harps for eternity? A young confirmation student once confessed to me that this common image was exactly why she didn't want to affirm her faith. "I just don't want to sit on a cloud and play the harp all day," she said with complete sincerity. Her honest admission reveals how deeply our cultural caricatures of the afterlife have distorted the ric...

The resurrection of Jesus stands as the bedrock of our hope, promising that no matter what chaos surrounds us, we will ultimately be okay. This powerful conclusion to our Philippians series reveals how Christ functions as the cosmic glue binding all creation together—from quantum particles to human relationships.

Paul's tender description of the Philippian church as "my joy and my crown" (stephanos) offers a...

Death touches us all, prompting the universal question: what happens when we die? As someone who conducts many funerals, I've sat with countless families grappling with this mystery. While no living person has empirical evidence, Scripture offers a rich tapestry of understanding that evolves throughout biblical history.

The journey begins with the ancient Jewish concept found in Ecclesiastes—the body returns to dust w...

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" These words, penned by the Apostle Paul from a Roman prison cell, stand as either the most audacious command in scripture or the most profound key to unlocking a life of genuine joy. What does it mean to rejoice when circumstances are anything but joyful?

Pastor Sonja Knutson tackles this apparent contradiction head-on in this compelling exploration of P...