Associate Pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Husband to Oby Ballinger. Progressive. Math nerd. Gustavus Adolphus College and Yale Divinity School alum.
One of the most important lessons we learned during the pandemic is the same lesson Jesus taught those first disciples when he sent them out empty-handed to do his work in the world: When we find ourselves caught by surprise, unsure how to proceed, stretched beyond our limits, God will provide. … More God Will Provide
This storm represents the forces of chaos doing battle against humankind. What’s being described is a cosmic battle in which evil, demonic spirits are attempting to sow death and destruction and Jesus has come to cast these spirits out once and for all. … More We Are Not Alone in the Boat
Friendship entails more than just nice feelings. We know someone is a friend by their actions–and the actions that most clearly demonstrate friendship are actions that entail sacrifice. … More Friendship, Love, and Sacrifice
When the world makes us believe we don’t have a place in the community, we are known to God. We have a place in God’s flock–which I have to believe is just as true for the Derek Chauvins of the world, universally scorned, locked up and removed from the community, as it is for the George Floyds and the Daunte Wrights, victims of extrajudicial executions at the hands of law enforcement. One flock, one shepherd, by the grace of God. … More One Flock, One Shepherd
Jesus insists that we don’t need to go looking for God in a building. But almost one full year after moving our worship services online, I feel more certain than ever about the value of being together in our sanctuary. Maybe we do still need the building. … More God Is Where We Are (But We Still Need the Building)
