https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/lutheran-podcasts 2026-04-13 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/companionship 2026-04-13 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/to-fast-or-not-to-fast%3F 2026-02-05 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/light-and-life 2026-01-14 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/what-are-the-12-days-of-christmas%3F 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/in-november-we-enter-the-final-days-of-the-church-year.-unlike-the-secular-calendar-year-which-begins-in-january%2C-the-church-calendar-year-begins-in-advent.-at-the-end-of-the-church-year%2C-our-thoughts-are-turned-toward-the-last-things%3A-death%2C-judgment%2C-heaven%2C-and-hell.-the-appointed-readings-draw-our-attention-to-the-second-coming-of-christ-and-of-his-judgment-of-all-flesh.-watch-and-pray-is-the-order%2C-for-you-know-neither-the-day-nor-the-hour-in-which-the-son-of-man-is-coming.--jesus-will-come-again-to-judge-the-living-and-the-dead%3B-the-faithful-will-enjoy-eternal-life-with-him%2C-while-those-who-have-rejected-him-will-be-sent-into-the-outer-darkness%2C-where-there-is-weeping-and-gnashing-of-teeth.--we-need-not-face-this-judgment-with-fear%2C-for-christ-is-with-us.-he-has-promised-that-we-are-sinless-before-the-father%3A-his-death-has-paid-the-debt-that-was-owed-to-god-because-of-our-sin.-now-we-can-rest-secure-in-the-peace-that-we-have-with-god-through-his-son.-just-as-we-do-not-worry-when-we-see-leaves-fall-from-the-trees-because-we-know-that-spring-is-coming%2C-we-do-not-worry-when-we-think-about-the-judgment%2C-for-we-know-that-the-resurrection-is-coming.-as-the-leaves-and-flowers-burst-forth-in-all-their-glory-to-face-the-springtime-sun%2C-so-too-will-the-bodies-of-the-dead-burst-forth-from-their-tombs-to-face-the-everlasting-son-of-man.--the-end-of-the-church-year-also-reminds-us-that-we-do-not-run-the-race-of-faith-alone.-we-are-surrounded-by-a-great-cloud-of-witnesses--that-have-gone-before-us-and-run-the-race-of-faith-to-the-end.-they-have-attained-the-glory-of-the-heavenly-kingdom-and-now-rest-with-god%2C-beholding-his-face-for-eternity.-we-are-not-the-first-christians%2C-and-unless-christ-comes-back-in-our-lifetimes%2C-we-will-not-be-the-last.-future-generations-of-christians-will-run-the-same-race%2C-face-temptation-and-trial%2C-and-in-the-end-will-emerge-victorious%2C-aided-by-the-holy-spirit.--this-is-the-reality-of-the-communion-of-the-saints.-saints-are-those-who-have-faith-in-christ-and-have-been-baptized-into-his-bride%2C-the-church.-saints-are-both-living-and-dead%2C-on-earth-and-in-heaven.-those-saints-who-have-died-have-joined-the-church-triumphant%2C-and-are-currently-in-heaven-with-god.-they-pray-for-us-as-we-fight-temptation-and-wage-war-as-part-of-the-church-militant-here-on-earth.-all-saints-are-joined-together-in-the-unity-of-the-body-of-christ%2C-his-church.--as-members-of-christ%E2%80%99s-body%2C-we-know-that-we-are-acceptable-to-him.-his-death-has-covered-our-sins-and-given-us-eternal-life.-as-christians-we-do-not-fear-his-judgment%2C-but-look-for-it-and-prepare-for-it.-we-look-forward-to-the-time-when-we-will-stand-with-former-generations-as-members-of-the-church-triumphant%2C-praising-our-lord%E2%80%99s-name-forever.- 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/a-light-shines-in-the-darkness 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/what-is-confirmation%3F 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-lutheran%3F 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/jesus-loves-me%2C-this-i-know 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/only-christ-can-satisfy 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/new-life 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/the-splendor-of-creation 2025-12-10 https://www.oslcabot.org/articles-written-by-pastor-pope/daily-habits 2025-12-10