The Magazine

Shedding Some Light

Why Go to Church? A reader wrote a letter to the editor of his local newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I’ve heard perhaps 1,500 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember

Peace in Anxious Times

We are living in a time of anxiety, conflict, and concern. People are anxious today about employment and job stability; about the price of gas, other fuels, and food; and about the future leadership of our country.

Luther’s Journey with Paul: For Further Reading

Books on Luther and Paul, or on the history of Pauline interpretation, are often quite technical (and often in German). However, here are a few possibilities for further reading that are relatively accessible and provide broader background for the topics touched on in my story that appears in this issue of The Lutheran Witness.

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.

Ashes to Ashes?

Dr. Knippa suggests [in the April 2008 Family Counselor] the questioner look at www.lcms.org for a “historical and scriptural perspective” regarding cremation.  He then refers to this with no scriptural references. I would suggest that LCMS add the Bible reference of Joshua 7:15, 25, where we are told that an accursed criminal had to be purged

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

Rural revitalization: a good idea, but is something missing?

The idea of the rural community as a mission field is right on!  For more than 30 years, Dr. Hunter, a rostered LCMS pastor, has been helping churches big and small work toward the effective transformation of the Lord’s Great Commission to make disciple of all peoples.  I have heard him say time and time

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?

Spoiled ending

Pastor Borst’s article about stumbling into the wrong movie was intersting enough, but did he have to tell everyone the ending to a movie a lot of us have NOT seen? Respectfully, C. Richard   Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to “Letters,” c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis,

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

Missing the mark on reconciliation

I disagree with Rev. Gleason’s April Witness letter (Be reconciled) that recommends ‘commune now, reconcile later.’ He stated, “They know it [reconciling] is what God wants and calls us to do. But that person cannot yet do it.” Communing in such rebellion will not make a person stronger as Rev. Gleason suggests, but weaker. We

One Message, Many Messengers

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.”

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