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Travel Light?

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: We moved. Again. That’s been a pattern in our lives for the past number of years (I won’t say just how many), but suffice it to say, my good wife and I have learned a few things about moving as a couple and as a family called to congregational and para-church ministry. Allow me to […].

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“Please, Be Seated?”

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I did it just a couple days ago: We were moving into the closing song of the service, and I decided to sit and sing. It was fine. Not just fine, I found my closing expression through the lyrics of the song and the melody that we sang together was enhanced by not standing up, […].

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What Are You Reading These Days?

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I get asked this question from a few friends whenever we see each other long enough to sit down for a good chat. Typically, the person asking is reading something he or she wants to recommend to me but, wanting to be polite, asks me first before they get into the book or books they […].

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A Matter of Balance

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: As I went through the joys of physical therapy following a knee replacement, the therapist was always attentive to my need to keep my balance as I worked through various exercises. I soon discovered that his attention to my ability to go up a flight of stairs or simply walk down a hallway was warranted. […].

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Let's Make a Deal?

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: Do you ever get so busy that you neglect important things for the sake of just getting through what’s on your desk or plate? That’s the way it has been for me and my relationship to this Blog emphasized on our CLB Forge website. I’ve let the Blog part of this just stop…not even simmer…it […].

What is Good?

By: Tim Collins
Church: Inspiration Lutheran Brethren Church - Breckenridge, MN

Description: There are many good things happening here at Inspiration Church. I have to tell you about an outstanding idea which has become a reality after all kinds of consideration: our Kids’ Choir. While considering how to bless our families here at Inspiration, I had initially thought about starting a Wednesday night children’s program. However, there […].

Feeling a Little Lost?

By: Mark Johannesen
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: When I was in high school, my friends and I played this game where we blindfolded a passenger and then drove them to an unfamiliar place. Once we arrived, the blindfold was removed, and that person now had to guide us back to where we started. I remember being the blindfolded person and having it […].

You Gotta Pay Attention

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: When playing a certain card game, my friend Harley likes to remind me that it’s important to pay attention to what’s going on—what’s “trump” and what’s not. If I make a misplay (usually causing me to fall far behind or to lose completely) he’ll cheerily look at me across the table and announce, “Bruce! You […].

LONE RANGER?

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: The show always ended something like this: “Who is that masked man?” “Why, don’t you know? That’s the Lone Ranger!” and the final scene would see The Lone Ranger and Tonto riding away with a hearty “Hi O, Silver, Away!!” The thing of it is, is, that the Lone Ranger, was not alone. Oh, I […].

It is in his name!

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: Have you ever noticed? The first two letters of God’s name spell… GO Just sayin’, Bruce Stumbo – North American Mission Ministry Lead.

We need to go

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: In the past couple months, my whole department has been “all hands on deck!” working through how to best approach the encouragement of the disciple-making mission of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) among our congregations. I think the Advent Season is a perfect time to remind all of us that making disciples is […].

GOD WANTS HIS WORLD BACK

By: Bruce Stumbo
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: “God wants His world back.” Greg Finke’s statement included in his book, “Joining Jesus: Show Me How” landed on me like a ton of bricks. Here’s the rest of the paragraph: “God wants all things made new, the ends of the earth saved, all things reconciled to himself. This is the mission of God. This […].

You Matter!

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I have a confession – I am a grown man that loves hugs. I love them from my wife, my kids, my parents, my friends, or anyone else that wants to hug me. I love the comfort and the warmth a hug delivers. I love everything that is packed into that embrace. I believe that […].

Hope is a Beautiful Word

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: There is a cloud of apathy, anger, and angst that seems never to go away these days for so many people. Smiles, joy, and peace just don’t seem as common as they once did. An underlying tone in many conversations I have is a sense of hopelessness. For a couple of minutes, let’s reconsider what […].

Parenting Generation Screen

By: Mark Johannesen
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: Parents, as you read Jonathan McKee’s newest book, “Parenting Generation Screen,” you might be inclined to cancel your kids’ cell phone service, but be encouraged to keep reading it for many great practical insights into helping your teens manage the responsibility of technology. In it, you will hear tons of gospel-based relationship building tips for […].

Congregational Vitality and Revitalization

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: What is Vitality? Congregational vitality is about dying to self and about new life, it is about living life together intentionally, it is about God’s “stuff” being the stuff we want for our lives. It is a journey that is both adventurous and treacherous. Vitality is not a program; it is a pathway… a transformative […].

I Didn't Get It

By: Ryan Nilsen
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I didn’t get it. Years ago, when I was a parish pastor, I first heard about a group of CLB pastors in my area that were passionate about planting CLB churches in cities. I remember not understanding why they were driven to start city churches. Why so focused on cities? I didn’t get it. The […].

Ministry in a Culture of Fear

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: Sex still sells in our context, but I believe the prominent tool to get attention today has become FEAR. It sells, draws hits, and we seem to be drawn to it even though we claim we are tired of reading about it. We are fed it continuously from the vantage point with which we are […].

JOY: The Tone of God’s People

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: Thanks so much for engaging the Forge and this blog. I wanted to give you a quick overview of what to expect from this blog in the near future. Our hope is to encourage you with useful information as you serve the Lord and your congregation in our unified call to make disciples. Our goal […].

Why We Start New Churches

By: Ryan Nilsen
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I’m excited to start contributing articles to the CLB Forge Blog. As the Associate Director of North American Mission my primary responsibility is to oversee our church planting efforts. God has a place for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) on the mission field of North America and engaging in this calls for us […].

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The CLB as a Disciple-Making Movement

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: I’m very excited that the CLB Forge is up and running; we announced our launch during our U.S. regional conventions. This will be a place of communication and connection for all things “North American Mission [NAM].” Please take a look around and engage in our ever-expanding platform for NAM communication, vitality, and planting resources. Your […].

Welcome to the Forge

By: Nick Mundis
Church: Church of the Lutheran Brethren Denominational Offices

Description: It is with excitement and high expectations that I welcome you to the CLB Forge. Thank you for taking the time to check it out. We get to all be a part of the development of this important resource for our North American CLB congregations. It is with great anticipation and a sense of expectancy […].

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