Examination. Who Does That?
Remember when you used to have to register for Holy Communion the day before? Probably not. It was at one time a common…
Author: Scott Diekmann
Scott is a lifelong LCMS layman. Some of his vocations include husband, dad, jet driver, runner, and collector of more books than he can read. Oh, and also chocolate lover. He’s been involved in apologetics for over a decade, is on the Board of Regents at Concordia Portland, and is a column writer for the sometimes operational Around the Word Journal. He’s also written for Higher Things Magazine, The Lutheran Clarion, and has been a guest on Issues Etc. as well as the KFUO program Concord Matters.
Not Worth Fighting About?
At one time in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, every congregation was united in doctrine and practice. Scripture’s teaching on Holy Communion were taken…
Hiding Life in Death
Quoting Rev. William Cwirla from his article “Suffering, Death, and the Hidden God” in Modern Reformation, Sept/Oct 2002, v. 11, no. 5., pp….
Proud Members of the Religious Left
We all saw the coverage of the 40th anniversary of the Seminex debacle last month, including a couple of related articles on BJS…
Thrivent: We Don’t Need Your Blood Money
“Think of the things you can do with that money, Choose any charity – give to the poor. We’ve noted your motives –…
My Little Black Book
I keep it in the den drawer – my little black book. It reminds me of what I once was. I know what…
Freedom of Worship? Attend the 2014 Lutheran Concerns Association Conference
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free…
Christmas Treats
Here’s a few tasty morsels for you to snack on from the Winter 2013-2014 edition of Around the Word. ATW is a quarterly…
Negative Impact?
I was running on the Centennial Trail outside Woodland Park, Colorado – a practice I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re in shape and at…
New from the CLCC: New Testament Houses of Worship
For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Confessional Lutherans for Christ’s Commission (CLCC) is an organization which fosters “a united and coordinated…
The Center for U.S. Missions: Incarnational and Sacramental?
Lutherans are incarnational. We believe that God is not somewhere up there, where we climb a ladder to reach Him with our good…
With Great Liberty Comes Great Responsibility
Quoting C.F.W. Walther from the 16th Central District Convention in 1871: We would emphasize particularly that confession by deed and action is here…
District Presidents Who Tilt at Windmills
Is this quote… …As traditional Christians are driven from the [public] square, the door is also closed for the Gospel. …synonymous with this…
Critical Thinking — It’s an election year.
You likely read Jim Pierce’s post on the email sent out by Northwest District President Paul Linnemann to LCMS presidential electors in his…
Let the Games Begin
Pardon my less-than-pious title. As Pastor Henrickson pointed out, the Convention Workbook for the upcoming July LCMS Regular Convention is now available online…
The Death of Christ is the Life of the Godly
What follows is Johann Gerhard’s Meditation XI from the book Gerhard’s Sacred Meditations, written in 1606, and translated by Rev. C. W. Heisler…
The History Channel’s The Bible, Parts 3 & 4: Fire the Narrator
Last night featured the next installment of Executive Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downeys’ docu-drama The Bible on The History Channel. Theirs is…
Are You Missional Enough?
Heard on Issues, Etc. during the February 20 segment on catechesis, confession, and absolution, featuring Rev. Peter Bender, Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church…
Joy!
There were tons of reasons to be joy-filled at the Brothers of John the Steadfast conference this past weekend. Here are a few…
Resisting the Court of Public Opinion
We Americans vote on everything. We vote on who will be our next President, all the way down to who will be the…
All the Company of Heaven
Our son’s grade school and high school friend, Cameron, was killed in a car accident a couple of days ago. Of course, great…
Unionism: What Is It?
In the comments section of Friday’s post by Pastor Rossow titled “Per DP’s Advice LCMS Pastor Cancels Participation in Joint Service but Still…
Building a Poorer Concordia
At Concordia University Chicago, Dr. Jodie Dewey is in the process of being tenured. This process is in its final stage, the Board…
The LCMS Convention: Floor Committee Intrigue, by Scott Diekmann
And so it begins. An overview of the 104 convention resolutions prepared by the eight floor committees for the 64th Regular Convention of…
A Church Divided
The parishioners of St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville, Indiana are blessed as they sing hymns during the Divine Service in their beautiful…