The Magazine

God creates calamity

Thanks to Rev. Larry Vogel (January 2012) for addressing a difficult subject that bothers many (if not all) of us as we struggle to make sense out of disasters. I will recommend this article to many who are tempted by the devil to question God and His goodness in the wake of disasters in their

Taking a bet

Iwas interested in the article written by the Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz especially due to a recent experience as a young couple left a casino. My wife and I had some friends who wanted to see the inside of a casino, so we stayed inside the car outside and waited for them. As we

Pastoral Care in the Country

We were so pleased to see the article on Rev. Josh Lowe in the latest Lutheran Witness. The article captured Josh perfectly! I always read your magazine cover to cover and then share it with a friend. Thanks for your continuing good work. Carol Ann Sander Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to

Lutheran Witness: March 2012

Unpack Lutheran education and the philosophy from which it stems, focusing on the joy of residential seminary education, instructing Christ’s little ones and teaching the faith in the home.

Q and A

by Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz  Q: Do the Lutheran churches have an opinion concerning the Masonic Lodge and other similar organizations? A: Lutheran churches in the United States in varying degrees and at various points in their history have taken positions opposing lodge membership (particularly the Masonic Lodge), although some have relaxed or even removed their

Special Occasions

by Rev. Dr. Greg Wismar Many events in the worship life of every congregation happen on a regular basis. Each year, it can be expected that Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and the other major festivals will be celebrated as they occur on the annual Church Year calendar. The weeks from the First Sunday in Advent to

Shedding Some Light

404 ErrorAfter the Divine Service ended on New Year’s Day, I greeted the four-year-old great-granddaughter of a member of my congregation. “I have a purse,” she told me. I responded, “That’s wonderful. All I have is a wallet and a couple of pockets.” She then observed, “Yeah, but you’re wearing a dress!” Rev. Philip HouserPapillion,

About Joy

President Matthew C. Harrison looks at the topic of joy in the life of the Christian, reminding us that our ultimate cause for rejoicing comes from Christ Himself.

What Does the Bible Say About Pastors?

by Rev. Matthew Zickler Upon His resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples and sent them with a particular, unique sending, making them apostles. However, as He did this, He also instituted the apostolic office that we still recognize in the Office of the Holy Ministry (see John 20:1923; Matt. 28:1620; Mark 16:1416; Luke 24:4649). Under

To the Reader

It’s not difficult for us to think well of ourselves and what we’ve accomplished in this life. We’ve gone to the best schools, we tell our friends, the most well-known colleges, the most prestigious universities. Never mind that our friends, who went to different schools and colleges and universities, say the exact same thing. But

Try Before You Buy: The Dangers of MaterniT21 (Web-exclusive Story)

by Dr. Debra L. Grime A new prenatal blood test called MaterniT21 can now evaluate the DNA of a baby before he or she is born and determine if the child has Down Syndrome with 99 percent accuracy. But now that the option is available, will more women opt for such tests? And more importantly,

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