Lutheran Witness: June/July 2008
As with last month, we are overflowing with feature stories, beginning with our Reformation cover story by Dr. Robert A. Kolb and Dr. Charles P. Arand.
“A Hand of Live-Giving Love”
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. …
On Funerals
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 …
Captivating compassion
Regarding the story “50 Faces of Mercy” in the March 2008 Witness, you highlighted 50 lives changed by compassionate Christian action. Captivated, I read each and every story. Well done. Paul Koch Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to “Letters,” c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; …
What God wants us to see
I enjoyed so much the article “Seeing what God wants us to see” in the April edition of The Lutheran Witness. It brought to mind a personal experience that I had some years ago. I had always had a fear of flying and was dreading my upcoming flight to Toronto on business. I had only flown …
Keep up the good work
Bravo! The April, 2008 Lutheran Witness deserves a gold star. This is the best edition in a long time. The articles are relevant, fresh, and thought provoking. May God bless this ministry! Glenna OsbornMember of St. Matthew Lutheran ChurchLee’s Summit, MO Thanks for the free copy of the Witness. Our former congregation’s pastor chose to …
Four Writers Reflect on Their Call to the Ministry
by James Heine Because we focus on pastoral recruitment, education, and support in the May issue of The Lutheran Witness, we asked our clergy contributors this question: Who first encouraged you to consider the pastoral ministry, and what effect did that encouragement have on your life and on your desire to become a Lutheran pastor? …
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Starting Anew with a Seminary Graduate
by Roland Lovstad Graduating seminarians anticipate seminary “Call Day” as a time to move from preparation to active ministry. At the same time, congregations like Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hampton, Va., anticipate the day when their hopes will be met with a new pastor. “Here we are going into 2008 after four years without a permanent …
Our Seminaries: Responding to Needs, Addressing Costs
by Roland Lovstad It’s fair to say no two ministries–or congregations–in the LCMS are alike. They may be small churches in rural America, “megachurches” in the suburbs, or historic congregations in urban settings. Surrounding these congregations are wonderful opportunities to bring God’s Word to immigrants, ethnic groups, blind or deaf people, families, children, military personnel, …
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Sharing Our Faith
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 …
Positive covers, please!
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 …
No Longer Captive
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, …