Lutheran Witness: November 2008
For many of us, 2008 has provided a roller-coaster ride: the cost of gas has been up—way up! Our stock portfolios (and job prospects), down—way down.
The Magazine
Shedding Some Light
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
World Mission Includes the U.S.
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.
Gospel: One Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures
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
Those Who Labor Among You
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.
So, this is sainthood?
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,
Be joyful! Celebrate life!
I am responding to the September letter-writer who took issue with the bathing-suit ad in the June/July issue of The Lutheran Witness. In that ad, four elderly women in bathing suits are enjoying the water. I am disappointed that the letter-writer failed to see the significance of such joy. As an employee of a major
The ‘Genius’ of Luther’s Thinking
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.
God’s design for marriage
Christopher Mitchell’s article, “God’s Design for Marriage” (August), was very good and a much-needed perspective of God’s will for our married lives. However, Dr. Mitchell misquoted when he wrote that “one holy catholic and apostolic church” comes from the Apostles’ Creed. It is, as Dr. Mitchell would agree, from the Nicene Creed. Thank you, Dr.
A New Era
Our Synod is engaging 21st-century mission with an international force.
Preventing child abuse
“What about the Children” in the August issue reminded me that a few years ago one of our congregation members, Baker Kittelson, in cooperation with Director of Christian Education Bob Brantsch, was instrumental in forming a Prevention of Abuse of Children (PAC) Committee, which resulted in a policy manual for our congregation. I would invite
Helping Blind People See Jesus
Over the past 85 years, The LCMS’ ministry to blind and visually impaired people has evolved from simply producing materials to training blind missionaries.