The stories about “God’s Design for Marriage” in your August issue were of interest, but as a divorced Christian, I am concerned that the issue of divorce was not addressed. Almost 50 percent of all marriages, including Christian ones, end in divorce. There is so little constructive information about how to survive a divorce and
“Shedding Some Light” in the August issue reminds us of the importance of a nativity set in our home at Christmas. Does your church give gifts to the poor at Christmas—toys, food, or clothing? Why not purchase an inexpensive nativity set at a craft store or dollar store and add it to the family’s gifts?
An unpleasant farm chore on a wet afternoon leads to thoughts about the prodigal son and the saint-sinner tension in our Christian lives.
I was pleased to see the Family Counselor column, “Confronting Suicide,” in the August 2008 Lutheran Witness. Thank you for covering so sensitive an issue. As one who suffers from severe major clinical depression with suicide ideation, I applaud the answer that Theresa Shaltanis gives. Families suffer along with their loved ones who have a
Text Me? During Lenten family devotions, we shared with our grandchildren the story of Jesus’ appearance before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Our son led the devotion, and he included the story of Pilate washing his hands before the crowd and saying he wanted nothing more to do with Jesus. During discussion time, Cory, age
I greatly appreciate Rev. Kevin Palmer’s letter (August 2008) in which he acknowledges “the first time [he could] remember seeing a pastor prominently displayed [on the magazine cover] wearing the full Eucharistic vestments.” Rev. Palmer went on to applaud the accompanying comment of the featured pastor, Rev. Dien Ashley Taylor, “on the need for a
by Rev. Terence Groth The old saying proposes: “One picture is worth a thousand words.” True enough. At the same time, some words of Scripture are so rich that it may take a thousand “pictures” to display their richness and depth. The word Gospel, the shorthand term for Scripture’s teaching of what God has done
Audrey Kletscher Helbling’s “Something Old, Something New” (June/July 2008) brought back memories of our wedding dress. However, our dress never had “something new.” Our dress remained the same for all of our weddings. When Mom and Dad Brandt bought the dress, they never dreamed that it would be worn seven times! … by Evelyn (Brandt)
What a blessing it is when those who labor among us and those among whom that labor is accomplished live and work peacefully among one another.
Distinctions between U.S. and international missions are diminishing, says Dr. Robert Scudieri, LCMS World Mission associate executive director of National Mission. “In the 21st-century, we should be thinking about this as a circle, with immigrants to the United States reaching back to their homelands and then receiving gifts of talents and treasures for their work here.”
Click here to read the story and further explore this concept.
I read with interest “So, This Is Sainthood?” (Searching Scripture, August). August 29, the beheading (martyrdom) of St. John the Baptist, is Sept. 11 on the Julian calendar. My paternal grandmother’s family is from the Carpathian Mountain region of present-day Slovakia, where that calendar is still used for liturgical dates. This date (Gregorian, Aug. 29/Julian,
The ancient Romans called the spirit that guides something and gives it its character a “genius.” [Luther’s] view of God and human beings served as the “genius” for his thinking.