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…
Category: Uncategorized
Our Language is a Confession
“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,” goes the well-known cliche, first written by Gerald Seymour in 1975 in his book Harry’s…
You commune whom?
Recently the topic of Infant Communion has come up on BJS. There is a world of difference between practicing first communion before confirmation…
What’s a meme?
This is a question I asked for a while. A meme is, well, I am not sure, but many of them we see…
A False Dichotomy: Going To versus Being Church
Here’s a graphic that goes around in various versions online that expresses a way of thinking evidently at work among us: Now…
The Father Mulcahy Syndrome
In the TV show M*A*S*H, Fr. Mulcahy wonders if he really is useful in his pastoral/priestly duties, compared to “Hawkeye” and “Trapper” and…
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…
Lutheran in Name?
From the Guidelines for LCMS Congregations found on the Church Office Administration Resources page: III. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTITUTIONS The following are subjects that…
The Spirit-Filled Church Is Known By Hearing, Eating and Drinking
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it…
What is Pentecost All About?
This article was originally published in the Huntington Beach Wave, my local paper here in HB, CA, on May 23. And while it…
“What Does it Mean to be a Lutheran?”
Intro: The following citation is from Rev. Sasse’s Here We Stand (translated by Theodore G. Tappert), published in 1937 when the armies of…
“O Day Full of Grace”: A Scandinavian Hymn for Pentecost
What a joyous, happy event a birthday is! When a child is born, the family rejoices. A birthday is something to remembered in…
The Bible Tells Me So.
Since becoming a dad, one of my favorite things to do is listen to my daughter sing. She often messes up the lyrics…
A Case for the LCMS Having a Government Information Office
There is no doubt that while we must distinguish between the two kingdoms, since it is essentially distinguishing between the law and the…
Redeeming Christian Holy Days From Pagan Lies: Walpurgisnacht
The evening of April 30th through May 1st is a significant date in the modern neo-Pagan and Wiccan calendar. It is called: Beltane,…
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…
Lutherans In Africa Capital Campaign and Leadership Team Announced, by Pr. Rossow
Lutherans in Africa is launching a half million dollar capital campaign to strengthen its work by building a Lutheran Center for catechesis and…
Guns, Commandments, and a paper Caesar.
Gun control seems to be a big topic politically in our nation. Among the fallout from the horrid shooting in Newtown, politicians have…
Steadfast in Song: An Easter / Quasimodogeniti Hymn
Tune: FAR, VERDEN, FAR VEL (The Sun Has Gone Down, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary 574) My Savior still lives, And I too will live…
Review of “The Bible” Mini-series Part 5: Where’s the Beef?
Growing up my dad always used the old Wendy’s commercial line, “Where’s the beef?” when coaching basketball (balance, eyes, elbows, follow-through). Now, Dave…
Christ is Risen!
A most blessed Easter to all of our readers. Click here to see the picture in a larger size.
Homosexual Marriage is an Insult to Homosexuals
The following was originally posted at Pr. Lovett’s blog. Before I begin, I will lay out some parameters for my position. I will…
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…
Simon Peter Syndrome: A Maundy Thursday Sermon
Maundy Thursday; John 13:1—11 Faith Lutheran Church – Wylie, TX 28 March 2013 – Pr. Mark Preus Today we celebrate the night our…
The Lord’s Supper as Christ’s Last Will and Testament
We hear the words during the consecration, “this cup is the new testament in My blood.” However, most English Bibles will translate the…