Be Near Me, Lord Jesus
Death isnt pretty, and it isnt easy. But in the midst of my grandmothers death, God gave me one of the greatest gifts ever: the comfort of eternal life in Christ.
Death isnt pretty, and it isnt easy. But in the midst of my grandmothers death, God gave me one of the greatest gifts ever: the comfort of eternal life in Christ.

by Adriane Dorr Christmas is not about presents, trees, reindeer and eggnog. It is not about travel plans, fruitcake and ugly sweaters. It is about Christ. It is about God becoming man in the child Jesus. But Christmas does not leave Jesus in the manger. Indeed, Christmas would have no meaning if Jesus never grew

By Theodore Stolp Christ will be cradled. Agitation may ban the Christmas crche from some public place. Yet the cradled Christ is still before men. “Away in a manger,” sing children’s voices. An art print of a famous crche adorns a national magazine. Homes vie in creating the most attractive manger scene. Even live actors

The LCMS unique gift and task is to bear witness to Christ. How can you take part?

Meet St. Nicholas, the Christian bishop who gave rise to the modern-day Santa Claus.

by Dr. Gene Edward Veith What with gay marriage, single parenthood, just living together and soaring divorce rates, its little wonder that 40 percent of Americans think that marriage is obsolete. Most Americans no longer think marriage is necessary for having sex. (60 percent believe its morally acceptable to have sex before marriage.) Or necessary

by Sheryl Schmeckpeper Clayton Andrews lives by these words, “Don’t let your mind tell your body how old it is.” So far, the motto has served him well. While many senior citizens are hitting balls around the golf course, the 90-year-old Norfolk, Neb., resident is running two corporations that have worldwide impact. Andrews was just

by Rev. Gregory Alms Advent is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Church Year seasons. It gets no respect. In the mad rush to Christmas, the season of Advent can get pushed aside like hapless shoppers in the way of a bargain at Wal-Mart. When churches try to keep this time of preparation for the birth

Join with us in celebrating the incarnation—and Christ’s death and resurrection too—in the December issue of The Lutheran Witness.

by Dr. Jerald C. Joersz I grew up in the Lutheran faith and attended church regularly for many years while our children were growing up. Unfortunately, I never took the Gospel to heart and served the Lord like I should have. I became addicted to pornography and finally quit going to church. I am now

Read about the Synod’s financial blessings and challenges.

Commentary by Rev. Dr. Mark J. Schreiber Military planners have often remarked that the best of battle plans never survive first contact with the enemy. No matter how thorough the military strategist, no matter how penetrating the intelligence, no matter how long the experience of the war-gamer, all contingencies and possible responses can never be