Don’t turn away
Journeying with Jesus to the cross is not a pretty sight. It’s uncomfortable. It’s necessary. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. As a school-aged girl, I attended a passion play with family…
Journeying with Jesus to the cross is not a pretty sight. It’s uncomfortable. It’s necessary. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. As a school-aged girl, I attended a passion play with family…
“Really? You’re going to church again? Didn’t you just go last week? Don’t you know all that stuff already? Are you really going to learn anything new or different? Why…
Many people enter conversations about vaccines with trepidation because opinions can vary widely. However, we at Forward in Christ think that it’s important to have conversations about places where your…
“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee’ ” (Matthew 21:10,11). There…
Jesus’ actions during Holy Week provide an example of how we can honor him through the sacrifices we make to honor our government. “Not my president.” “Not my governor.” “Not…
Why do nonscientists trust science more than scientists do? The media portrays scientific consensus as if it were irrefutable fact. And when searching for certainty, much of the public turns…
Perhaps Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, brought the idea of the Ides of March to English speakers. Without his play, it seems that March 15 might not be remembered as the…
Through homemade signs he created, a man reflects on God’s blessings in his life. Signs have become a part of our everyday life. The roadsides are filled with billboards on…
“But he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven,” she cried, as tears rolled down her face. She was right. He didn’t. He had cheated on her. He had ruined their marriage.…
Every sin earns death. Every sin makes the sinner guilty before God (Romans 6:23). However, the Bible does describe different types of sin. Some theologians have divided these types of…
As a Christian physician and as a parent, I ask questions and seek out accurate information about any medical treatment. Vaccines are no exception to this. Are vaccines safe? The…
My fiancée and I are living together and plan to get married in a year, but my parents say it’s still wrong. Doesn’t the fact that we are planning to…
After years of questioning membership in the church, a father joins his daughter on confirmation day to confess his faith in Christ. Jon-Michael Blowe can jump into high-stress situations with…
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their…
Jesus decided to continue on his journey to the cross for us. A moment of decision. As Jesus’ disciples argued about who was the greatest, would the Savior of the…
Verbal inspiration means that God inspired the authors of the books of the Bible to record not just the thoughts but also the very words God wanted recorded. First Corinthians…
A former detective-turned-pastor shows the importance of reaching individuals with the gospel—one by one. In my former life, there were times if someone did not step up to lead, people…
For many people, it’s an Old Testament Bible story that is confusing, even alarming. For every Sunday school student who has colored the picture of Abraham lifting his knife over…
Why do we say that the Bible is God’s Word when people wrote it? The Bible is God’s breath The Bible teaches the doctrine of plenary verbal inspiration. Literally, the…
A friend recently joked that he was going to legally change his name to “The Science.” With so many people claiming they “follow the science” these days, my friend would…
My handwriting is bad. So bad, in fact, that even doctors—infamous for the unintelligible scribbles—look at my handwriting and say, “What did you write?” With that mea culpa (or if…
Lenten traditions help us focus on Jesus. Lent is a time to concentrate on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In preparation we contemplate our own sins and why we need…
A few weeks ago when I was taking a walk, I passed a car with the license plate “PVB 3V5.” It dawned on me that the plate was a Christian…
Recently my six-year-old came home from his Lutheran elementary school, and I overheard him ask his older siblings, “What is ‘adultery’?” Apparently his class was memorizing the Sixth Commandment, and…
A college student learns the truths of God’s Word and discovers a church family for the first time. In her early years, Kaitlin Lamb felt the tug of the Holy…
As Christians, our first allegiance is to God, but we also owe the government obedience, honor, and respect. A few weeks before last fall’s election, a homemade sign on a…
As Americans become less interested in church, showing our neighbors sincere love and genuine friendship can offer opportunities to share the gospel. The American Christian church seems to be unraveling.…
The Christian church year is the story of what God has done for us. It is our story to repeat and remember. At the Passover table when generations of Jewish…
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions. . . . But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he…
I saw a sign that read, “You were created to make a difference.” What is your opinion of that message? What does making a difference mean? God did create us…
Memorizing brings an opportunity to witness and comfort. “Have you seen my keys?” “Mom, where did my Avenger guys go?” Most of the time I can easily answer the questions…
When all the social and relationship issues of our nation came to a head in the summer of 2020, citizens in our nation and members of our synod had mixed…
Early one morning, the team gathered on the open plain. Staring at the tower in the distance, they waited. All of their intense, combined efforts over the past many months…
Man’s best friend leads to a new friend, a new church, and a renewed faith in Christ. On a routine visit to the dog park with her German shepherd, Cheryle…
The Bible is God’s revelation. It’s not speculation. God’s revelation focuses on one person—Jesus Christ. Many have asked why an itinerant preacher two thousand years ago is important to us…
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” God has given each of us “vocations” (literally, “callings”).…
For a prisoner walking out into the light after a long jail sentence, freedom can be overwhelming. He can go anywhere he wants, but he has nowhere to go: no…
I have seen many calls for 2020 to end so that we can start fresh in 2021. Yet let’s be honest. By the time January 1, 2021, ends, we’ll already…
A teacher remembers an encouraging message that helped guide her decision to continue studying for the ministry. It’s a tedious job, but one I knew needed to be done. So…
A Ukrainian mother chooses life during dire circumstances. Recently, with much joy, Elizabeth Huida, the daughter of Oleksandr and Khrystyna Huida, was baptized at St. John and James Lutheran Church…
I have a friend who is caught in a sin. I care about her, so I try to talk to her about it, but she just says, “The Bible says…
Following God’s voice is better than following all the voices of the world. Whom are you following? Fifteen years ago, the answer to this question would be drastically different than what…
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24). Joseph has become one of my…
Lives battling anger and addiction are met by God’s grace. “She’s always taking on another project,” Jim says with a smile. Brandee and Jim Cranfield had spent the morning moving…