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Bob Ove

Robert S. Ove is a retired Lutheran pastor who serves as interim pastor where and when needed. He has written for various publications, including Guideposts, Reminisce, and Lutheran Partners. A native of Wisconsin, Ove received his BA from Carthage College and did a year of graduate work at the University of Iowa. His first job was teaching on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Ove's first book, Geronimo's Kids, tells of this experience. Following a brief career in film and photography, he left his business to attend Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University for his M. Div., becoming a pastor. During his pastoral career, Ove has served churches in nine different states from New York to California and Canada. Upon "retirement," Bob served as a missionary to Nepal. His latest book, In the Shadow of Everest, relates many of his Nepalese adventures. He is a member of Christ the Ray of Hope Lutheran Church where he does some supply preaching, teaching, and writing.
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2015) -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2015
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King Sunday (Proper 29) (2015) -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 23:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (2015) -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2015
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving (2015) -- Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2015
Joel 2:21-27
There are some who would eagerly sign up to kill Muslims... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2015
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 1 (2015) -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, R. Robert Cueni -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
Jeremiah 33:14-16
John had done his job... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2015
Mark 1:14-20
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 3 (2015) -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, R. Robert Cueni, Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 (2014) -- Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2014
Genesis 45:1-15
How many times... -- John 4:5-42 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
How many times has God put us in situations that we might not think are kosher?
Shechem was appropriate for... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2014
Shechem was appropriate for this meeting since it was the place where they had the first covenant af
The word "virgin" in Hebrew... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
The word "virgin" in Hebrew can also mean "young woman." But if we translate this passage "young wom
How can God bring good... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2014
How can God bring good out of evil? What the brothers did to Joseph was still wrong but
My wife and I are helping... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
My wife and I are helping a girl in prison near our residence.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2014) -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
1 Samuel 16:1-13
This passage seems to say... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2014
This passage seems to say that there is a time value in our faith.
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas Day (2014) -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2014
Isaiah 9:2-7
Aren't we like Peter... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2014
Aren't we like Peter in some ways? We have to have Jesus' parables explained to us. That
Sermon Illustrations for Passion Sunday (2014) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2014
Isaiah 50:4-9a
We were once darkness... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
We were once darkness before we gave ourselves to the Lord.
How hard it is to remember... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2014
How hard it is to remember that most important rule.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2014) -- Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2014
Judges 4:1-7
The grace of God has... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- Bob Ove -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2014
The grace of God has appeared to all men but not all men (people) can see him.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 (2014) -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2014
Exodus 1:8--2:10
One of the most important... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Bob Ove -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2014
One of the most important lessons we learn from our Lord is humility. No one is higher than God.
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
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This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

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Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

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Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.

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