Don’t confuse weeds with wheat. That might sound like strange advice, as if there’s some epidemic of people weeding out fruits and vegetables from their garden instead of dandelions and thistles!
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-07-19 10:41:502026-07-20 10:48:44“Don’t Confuse Weeds with Wheat”
This weekend’s holiday gets us thinking about fathers, and one of my favorite things about being a dad over the years has been building the “legend of dad”.
Today, the Apostle Paul addresses the topic of what we should think of pastors, but not by looking at any of these things we tend to look at.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-06-14 13:14:422026-06-15 13:17:40“What do you think of your Pastor?”
Happy Pentecost! Today we celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church. It’s a day that gets us thinking about the church growing with all those amazing events in our reading from Acts.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-05-24 10:39:272026-05-27 10:43:14“The Only Requirement is Thirst”
Today we are celebrating that Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after rising from the dead. It sounds pretty important! We’d probably all agree this is a significant event.... But WHY? Sure, Jesus is in heaven, that’s great! What DIFFERENCE does his ASCENSION really make for our lives here on this earth?
The next time you are in Berlin, Germany, take a trip to the Pergamon Museum and marvel at the Ishtar Gate. What is the Ishtar Gate? It was one of eight gates that surrounded the ancient city of Babylon.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-04-26 08:02:072026-05-01 08:07:15The Gateway to God
I don’t know if you pay attention to religious trends. I do, it kind of comes with the territory as a pastor, and one I’ve heard lately is to essentially treat doubt as a good thing.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-04-12 11:38:452026-04-13 13:31:26“Doubt Your Doubts” (John 20:19-31)
Have you ever been in a situation where you wondered, “Where is God?” If so, you’re not alone. Even us pastors feel like that at times.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-04-05 14:17:232026-04-07 14:21:53The One Place God Isn’t
The Israelites’ heads must have hung toward their feet much of the time. They must have felt defeated. Sure, they had returned from exile in the East.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-03-29 14:49:252026-03-30 15:01:45Look Up to See Your King
ONLY THE BEST. It’s kind of a motto for our lives. As Americans, we expect our country to have the best standard of living, the best military, and the best medical care.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-03-01 10:34:352026-03-05 10:37:32“Only the Best”
Are you familiar with Edward Martin Grylls, better known as Bear Grylls? Born in northern Ireland he served in the British Special Forces and has made a name for himself as a tv reality show host and outdoor adventure enthusiast.
https://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cross-on-bible-green.jpg11551732Amanda Petersenhttps://www.eastsidelutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/eastside_lutheran_logo-300x117.jpgAmanda Petersen2026-02-22 10:00:242026-02-27 10:26:16Hope Held in Holy Hands