Regarding “Degrees of Glory” (“Q&A,” June/July): Jesus’ parable, “Laborers in the Vineyard” (Matt. 20:1–16), does not support the response to the question. See verse 12: “‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the
Several times I have listened to sermons about the prodigal son and have been disappointed that the older son’s reaction is either ignored or taken to such an extreme it is hard to personally relate to his reaction toward the return of his younger brother. Once again, in June’s “Searching Scripture,” the older brother was
Thanks for the beautiful article “When at Last I Near the Shore” by Edie Sodowsky in the May Lutheran Witness. Mrs. Esther Wilke was a member of the church we have attended for many years. She was a quietly faithful and dedicated servant of the Lord in church, in the LWML, in helping with the
by Dr. Randy Schroeder I found out recently that over a six-month period my husband had an affair with one of his co-workers. I was so devastated and heartbroken that I told my best friend. She said I should divorce him because I have biblical reasons. I don’t know what to do. I thought we
As you can see from this contents page, we’re bursting at the seams this month—with stories about Katrina, the flooding this summer in the Midwest, and Mission Central, to name just a few.
Some days, it seems, our 24/7 news cycle brings us little but glum news. Fuel is at an all-time high. The stock market is in the doldrums (or worse). When will the housing market recover? For Christians, each day also seems to bring a new challenge to our faith. Among those challenges: differing assertions about the structure of marriage.
Thank you for your cover on the May 2008 issue of The Lutheran Witness. I have waited for such a cover for years. This is what God’s people are all about: 2008, new life, Baptism, joy, sharing, calling to confession, receiving forgiveness, vibrant, full of the power of the Spirit, and, you guessed it, it
Dorothy Staub writes concerning “grotesque, repulsive covers for The Lutheran Witness” (“Positive covers, please!” May 2008, Letters), specifically in apparent reference to the March 2008 issue featuring the painting The Three Marys at the Tomb, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905). In response to Mrs. Staub’s concern, I would like to offer a couple of points. First,
While individuals and groups today assert a variety of definitions for marriage, our heavenly Father always intended it to be the lifelong union of one man and one woman.
Having extensively researched the history of cremation and then published my book Ashes to Ashes or Dust to Dust: A Biblical and Christian Examination of Cremation (Regina Orthodox Press, 2005), I was deeply saddened to read Dr. William Knippa’s April “Family Counselor” response to a question about cremation. His counsel simply reflects our secular culture’s
The new DVD “Children Making Music” highlights music as a gift from God that enriches life in the church and beyond.
Mormon polygamous sects such as the FLDS believe spiritual benefits are attached to having multiple wives, including a higher level of salvation.