Before you start reading this, open up your Bible and read John chapter 5. John 5 is an absolutely critical text for understanding the interrelationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus builds on the foundation that has been laid in the previous chapters. He begins the discourse with the statement “Truly, truly,” drawing the […]
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;When other helpers fail and comforts flee,Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;Change and decay in all around I see—O Thou who changest not, abide with […]
This is quite true, but what about Jesus? There are two options that churches commonly take, when it comes to the centrality of Jesus as their mission: Either Jesus is firstly your example, or he is firstly your Savior. I propose that if these are in the incorrect order we will get many things wrong! […]
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, years ago Pastor Timothy Mowry began the task of creating a Christian Funeral planning guide. My previous congregation had this. The work sheet was simple. It included hymn suggestions, Bible verses, and Baptism and Confirmation verses. While these worksheets provided guidance in funeral planning they also served as testaments to […]
Part of the Book of Concord The Augsburg Confession is one of the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord of 1580. This collection of confessional statements has been adopted by Lutherans worldwide as a true and faithful exposition of the Holy Scriptures, and includes the following: The Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. The […]
Recently Laura and I started team writing for a ministry called 1517. I would like to share with you our first post. “The truth is, of course, that what one regards as interruptions are precisely ones life.” -C.S. Lewis Arm over arm I make my way to the other side of the pool. Mentally I […]
This month I want to share with you a story that I find powerful. Ragman by Walter Wangerin, Jr. I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for. Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it […]
Isaiah 46:3-4 (ESV) 3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; 4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I […]
500 years ago this year Luther penned the Heidelberg Disputation. He delivered it at a pastor’s conference of Augustinian Monks in April. While the 95 theses, only nailed about 6 months prior, clarified and brought to light many things, they are quite far from being “Lutheran.” But here in the Heidelberg Disputation, we have all […]
Do you want to be more adept at expressing your love to your spouse? Here are 10 suggestions. by Victor M. Parachin Reprinted with permission from the February, 1997 issue of The Lutheran Witness During an interview, Joseph Hodges Choate, former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, was asked whom he would like to be if […]