The reasons for Communion every Sunday are surprising. The reasons Lutheran churches fell away from this practice also are surprising. Pr Klemet Preus, the author of the article republished below, was surprised about the reasons for and against. After visiting … Continue reading
A while back I was contacted by a man who was curious about the difference between the Roman Church and the Lutheran Church. Initially I sent him a copy of my brother Rolf’s short essay on justification but the man … Continue reading
Rev. Dr. Matt Rueger of the Iowa East district has written the following: I think it is well considered, well expressed and certainly very timely. Klemet Preus Equity or Christological Equality? By Rev. Matthew Rueger, Ph.D. July 1, 2010 … Continue reading
10. “Pastor, after the breakout today I have decided I want a Christ centered wedding and not a bride centered wedding.” Where do kids get these thoughts? HT. 9. Fabulous preaching. Top honor goes to Rev. Mark Buetow who preached … Continue reading
I spent two days last week in dismal humidity teaching about the Augsburg Confession to a small but enthusiastic group of Lutherans from Marion Ohio. Currently I am drinking coffee and looking out at the mountains of Utah where … Continue reading
Ever since Rev. Matt Harrison got 600 more nominations for president that his closest rival I have heard, through the grape vine, some “reasons” why people might want to be careful about electing Matt for president. The first reason is … Continue reading
The nominations committee of the LCMS, elected at last year’s district conventions, deserves our thanks for pouring over the various nominations for the various board positions and putting before the convention those candidates for office who, in their judgment seem … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with a young woman who wondered whether it was proper or godly for a Christian to receive communion from the hands of a woman. She wondered whether there are any specific … Continue reading
This is the fourth and final post analyzing why President Kieschnick showed so poorly in nominations. Perhaps his greatest weakness is that President Kieschnick has a very difficult time working with people who do not agree with him. Before I … Continue reading
I am analyzing the factors which lead to President Kieschnick’s poor showing on synodical nominations. Last time we looked at President Kieschnick’s strong tendency to get bogged down on the administrative aspects of his job and ignore the theological. Today … Continue reading
I am analyzing the mistakes which President Kieschnick has made in the last nine years which lead to his poor showing on synodical nominations. Last time we looked at his apparent inability to recognize and address our theological divisions. The … Continue reading
The nominations have been calculated and Rev. Matt Harrison has received 75% more nominations than his closest rival. Never, in synodical history has an incumbent president received so many fewer nominations than other nominees. What do these numbers indicate? First … Continue reading
When I was a young mission pastor I helped start a church which organized on Good Shepherd Sunday (this year April 18 or April 25 depending on which series you follow). We called the congregation “Good Shepherd Lutheran Church” and … Continue reading
I hadn’t seen Matt Harrison’s picture lately in either the Witness or the Reporter. I figured that he was too busy traveling to Haiti and had not gotten the Haiti/photo-op memo. So I was pleased to see him on page … Continue reading
Analysis of the 1977 convention elections And a correction Far be it from me correct my colleague Mollie Zeigler Hemmingway, but… she has repeated an inaccuracy which has been floating around since the announcement of the nominations was made last … Continue reading
Yesterday I offered my own words upon which the reader might meditate in anticipation of the observance of the death of our Lord. Today I offer to you the words of Luther. All citations are from Martin Luther’s Easter Book … Continue reading
Here are my thoughts regarding the seven words of Christ from the cross. Tomorrow I will share thoughts of Luther and the next day thoughts of Johann Gerhard. I trust that these brief meditations will aid the reader in preparing … Continue reading
Every so often there is a text for the sermon that has something in it really worth analyzing but other more seasonal emphases in the text force me to preach the text in a different direction. Such was the case … Continue reading
President Al Barry is perhaps best known for his pithy aphorism: Keep the message straight Missouri, Get the message out Missouri. These two imperatives were clearly seen as inseparable. Why keep the message straight if you don’t intend to speak … Continue reading
Just when I want to rise above the rancor and politics of past discussions about worship and actually argue the issues reasonably and openly with the type of candor and self conscious vulnerability that might possibly lead to something helpful … Continue reading
Dear Brother Forke, Allow me first to apologize for not having responded earlier to your thoughtful letter which was posted on the Brothers of John the Steadfast site on November 14. I was in the Philippines from November 12 until … Continue reading
In my previous blog I discussed one of the proposed changes to Article II of the LCMS Constitution and the reductionistic nature of attempting to state the faith in one short sentence especially if this sentence makes no reference to … Continue reading
The final report of President Kieschnick’s Blue ribbon task force is on the synod’s web site and the conversation surrounding it has continued. Much ink will be invested during the next nine months discussing the relative merits of the far … Continue reading