The Magazine

Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance

The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance is preparing the final report of its work. The report will be presented to the Office of the President Oct. 15. For more information on the work of the task force, click on the link below. Task Force Web Page: www.lcms.org/lcmsfuture

Foolish Things of the World

Working with autistic children can lead one to doubt one’s faith. Yet, in scripture, our heavenly Father reassures us that such doubt is misplaced.

Blest Halloween!

It was no coincidence that Martin Luther chose Oct. 31 as the day to nail his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. by Rev. Mark Loest For most people, October means cooler weather, raking leaves, and, at the end of the month, celebrating Halloween. For Lutherans, October includes the commemoration

Worried about Whom?

When our children go away to college, we worry. As parents, we all have the same questions: Will our child make the right choices? Will she be strong enough to say no? Will her Christian training be enough to guide her? But deep down it is not them we are worried about; it is us.

The Man Luther–Reformer

by Dr. David P. Scaer October 31, 1517, the day on which Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, is remembered as the beginning of the Reformation. Luther protested the sale of indulgences, the then common church practice of selling the forgiveness of sins. His 95 Theses must rank with

Show what God’s love is

I appreciated Dr. Richard Eyer’s article, “Our Gay Neighbors,” in the August issue of The Lutheran Witness, and I affirm everything he said. I would like to add a biblical principle not often cited when discussing the subject: God’s positive affirmation of marriage and its purpose: To reflect His love for the church in Ephesians

Lutheran Witness: October 2009

We cover a lot of ground in this issue of The Lutheran Witness, from an overview of the current work of LCMS World Mission to stories about “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther’s most famous hymn

God’s grace at St. Paul’s

I just read “Uncovering History,” the June/July Lutheran Witness article about Rev. Franz Julius Biltz and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, Mo. In July, our granddaughter, Layla Denine Oetting, was baptized at St. Paul’s, becoming the sixth consecutive generation of Oettings to be baptized there. Layla’s great-great-great-great grandparents, Christian and Marie Knigge Oetting, homesteaded

Maintaining Perspective

by Dr. Leslie (Jack) Fyans Earlier this summer, the news was filled with stories about the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. The international attention this generated was astounding, even for a former Jackson fan like me! I have compassion for the loved ones of these celebrities, but I wonder how we can help

Shedding Some Light

An Errant Quest A badly bruised knight returned to the castle of his lord after a long and arduous quest. He was a mess. His armor was dented, his helmet askew, his face scarred, and his lance broken. His horse limped, and the knight himself listed slightly in the saddle. His lord saw him coming

Getting Less in the Land of Plenty

by Rev. Thomas E. Engel Imagine it is 1840. Like many others, you have escaped a famine or a revolution in Europe. You and your family are now immigrants in New York, and you live in a cramped apartment. The summer is hot, the city is dirty, and it stinks from overcrowding. You are working

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