by Rev. Jeffrey Sippy An old adage says polite gentlemen do not speak poorly of another man’s bride. Can you imagine? Can you imagine someone speaking poorly about your spouse? Yet the Bride of Christ is often maligned and insulted by reckless and thoughtless words—sometimes by its own members. Criticism, complaint, and gossip are the
I struggled with your editorial on funerals (Feb. 2008 Q&A). Serving in a congregation that regularly does more than fifty funerals a year, it becomes clear that our issue is not so much truth as love. A funeral or memorial service is for the living, and the focus is on proclaiming the gospel of Jesus
I enjoyed your article about St. Paul’s Lutheran High School; however, you made no mention of their wonderful choir. This group puts on an extended tour every year. This year, they were here in Roswell and gave us a wonderful concert. Two of the young women stayed in our home over night–they were the best
Regarding February’s Family Counselor, “Playing Second Fiddle”: One might point out to the husband who feels like a second fiddle that life is a matter of the choices one makes. He may choose to feel like a second fiddle and put pressure on his wife, making her defensive, and at the same time inducing an
I find it ironic that in the very first paragraph of the article “A Hand of Life-Giving Love,” it speaks about the Great Commission in Matt. 28:18-20 “being caught, thought, and taught incompletely and even inaccurately” when the article itself incompletely presents that very Scripture. Finger number 4 on the outstretched palm and paragraph no.
I must express my profound disappointment and sorrow that you chose to print such a mean-spirited letter from a reader (who I will leave nameless) in your April issue directed towards Paine Proffitt’s illustrations (appearing in the December issue). It was a serious lapse in judgement. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another,
In his article “No Longer Captive: Alleluia!” in the March Lutheran Witness, Rev. John T. Pless speaks of the sting of death, that is, sin, but he fails to address the power of sin, that is, the Law. Yet, the Holy Spirit teaches us through His servant, the apostle Paul, in Rom. 7:6: “But now,
I read with interest President Kieschnick’s article, Pastors Wanted, projecting the synod’s need for pastors in the next 10 years and appealing to congregations and pastors “to think of men to whom the Lord has given such gifts (for the pastoral ministry)” … and to “encourage these men to consider the ministry.” This past April,
Being in the seventh decade of my life, I have long wondered why you so frequently choose such grotesque, repulsive covers for The Lutheran Witness. The March special issue was no exception. It just made me shudder. No wonder we are losing so many of our youth. It is as if we are stuck in
Our seminaries in Fort Wayne and St. Louis continue to prepare messengers to proclaim God’s Word faithfully worldwide. Read the inspiring stories of four “messengers.”
Thanks for the free copy of the January Lutheran Witness. Our former congregation’s pastor chose to discontinue the blanket congregational subscription offered through the New Jersey District in a cost-saving move. The savings are minimal, but I suspect this attitude is prevalent among many pastors and congregations. I feel this to be very foolish. The
As the Lord calls workers for the harvest, the whole church has a role in identifying, encouraging, and assisting men as the consider and pursue pastoral ministry.