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She was lying in the hospital bed awaiting the test results. She was facing surgery and a long recuperation. As I stood by her bedside, she asked, “Why is God…
My neighbor is super kind and always treats others well. He wants God to do the same. Every time we speak about the Bible, he always asks, “How can you…
Technology offers opportunities to teach a woman from Peru more about God’s grace How does a native of Lima, Peru, become a confirmed member of a WELS church in Wisconsin?…
Universalism says that the biblical teaching of eternal damnation is incompatible with the concept of a loving God. Universalists believe that God will eventually destroy all sin and save all…
Each phase of childhood comes with its own unique set of blessings and challenges, doesn’t it? Teenagers get a bad rap, but as my daughter enters high school, I have…
It’s been a test for us all. It included self-quarantine and social distancing. All the while businesses were closed, and contacts with friends and family became digital. Churches stood empty…
What’s a book like James doing in the New Testament anyway? Quickly reading through its 108 verses, we find no direct mention of the Christmas manger, the Good Friday cross,…
Good job and thank you! I thought this but couldn’t say it to everyone I thought should hear it. As I write this, we have been asked—mandated—to avoid unnecessary contact…
Using Bible stories to examine characteristics of God that we never thought about, characteristics that apply to what we’re facing right now. You are not what you have done She…
All of my life, I have heard the phrase “Death is natural.” I never questioned its truth until I watched my grandma pass away. Even though she believed in Jesus,…
This month’s column might not be what you are expecting. It doesn’t include endorsements for the latest security apps to keep your child safe online or to measure how much…
How are you doing in the midst of this epidemic? I’m not talking about the COVID-19 epidemic, but another one which has been around much longer. It doesn’t claim as…
After attending a Lutheran school and getting a chance to study God’s Word in depth, two brothers become members to prepare for adulthood. “At the time, I didn’t appreciate it…
All believers have a ministry, but we call it “public ministry” when believers ask or call someone to serve them. To understand what public ministry is and why it matters…
First, it is important to answer the question, “What is death?” Very simply, death is separation. The Bible speaks of three types of separation: physical, spiritual, and eternal. Physical death…
Have you ever found yourself on your own: leaving home to launch your adult life, traveling in a foreign country, or losing a spouse or parent? What did it feel…
When I didn’t feel safe anymore Feelings are not facts. Yet sometimes those feelings of anxiety are so real. Sometimes they are crippling. They keep you glued to your bed…
As I write this thought, we are all concerned about the spread of a virus that has already killed thousands. Events and responses change day to day and sometimes even…
Simeon carried baby Jesus in his arms. John reclined next to Jesus during their last Passover together. Others reached to touch him. What a blessing it was for Jesus’ family,…
By the ordinary means of the Word and sacraments, the Holy Spirit has made us believers and children of God. Aaron H. Goetzinger If only we had been there. If…
We stand secure in the storms of life when we stand on Christ. I’ve had the experience of traveling to both the East Coast and the West Coast of the…
Seeing God’s grace through the struggle of mental illness. I struggle mightily with my mental health. To most people I look healthy; I am a vegetarian who runs about 40…
As the editorial staff developed the May issue of Forward in Christ, the mandatory quarantines had just begun. We had no way of predicting what would be taking place when…
There is a story about a much-loved pastor who carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed years before. He had repented but still had no peace, no…
I know I need to forgive my wife because in the Lord’s Prayer we ask that God forgive us “as we forgive those who sin against us.” But how can…
A Buddhist discovers the truth of God’s Word, a message he now shares with others. “When I preach the gospel to people, people say, ‘You’re a stupid man.’ I just…
Life is busy for your future pastors as they study for the ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Micah Koelpin 5:30 A.M.—I reach over to turn off the alarm on my…
Going to Camp BASIC is a family affair for volunteers and campers. Laura Schaefer Picture, if you will: wheelchairs being pushed on grassy paths by hardy counselors so their campers…
Grieve . . . but with hope Gregory C. Lyon From time to time, we face realities that we simply can’t do anything about. God chose Mary to be the…
Warning: The two articles this month are a completely accurate portrayal of life with children. Tantrums happen. Parents lose it. If we’re being honest, most of us will admit that…
I have been going through a string of bad luck lately. It seems like everything I do ends up in failure. I have a friend who shared the encouragement: “Just…
David Scharf Recently in a stadium packed with people, these words were preached: “If you continue to say something, eventually it will become a reality. Whether you realize it or…
The seed of the Word fell on rocky ground but over time sprouted and grew. Amanda M. Klemp In 2005, an agricultural expert grew a date palm tree from seed…
John A. Braun “Don’t forget, you’re going to die,” the message on the screen read. It was from an app that sends five e-mails each day with the sober reminder…
Though we die—really die—we really will live again, all because of Jesus Christ . . . all because of Easter. Jonathan D. Quinn Do you want your Savior to fix…
Why can’t my sister have communion with us? Gary A. Pufahl How do I answer that question “Why can’t my sister have communion with us?” without knowing either the person…
A pastor reflects on his battle with cancer as a teenager and how his experiences helped shape him and his ministry. Growing up, Paul Jansen fondly remembers a great home…
Should I or shouldn’t I? It’s a question I ask myself each Lenten season. Should I give something up? I know I don’t need to, but would it help me…
Longing for the mountaintop, sitting under a shrub: Depression Gregory C. Lyon Loneliness. Hopelessness. A lack of motivation. A lack of purpose. It’s been described as a black cloud that…
A modern-day Job story reminds us of God's grace and love. For most people, it would have been the worst day of their life. Maybe it was for Spencer Beach,…
When you feel at the bottom with nowhere to go, turn to the Lord. Emmilee S. Hillier Empty. Forgotten. Worthless. Defeated. Hopeless. Alone. I feel all these things when I’m…
Whom do we blame for bad things? Jeffrey L. Samelson It’s a question the disciples asked Jesus, and it’s not an unusual one: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his…
The God of the Old Testament wiped out the world with a flood, sent plagues on the Egyptians, and commanded his people to kill the Canaanites. He revealed himself only…
The Holy Spirit used individuals, life circumstances, and a yearning for clarity to draw three friends around God’s Word. Rachel Hartman More than 20 years ago, Holly Vaden and Anna…
David Scharf God certainly showed himself to be holy and willing to punish sin and disobedience in the Old Testament. At the same time, he also desired the salvation of…
John A. Braun Christianity is not just a label, a category, or a space to be filled in for some pollster. We are named after Christ. The shepherds heard the…
Lenten Bible readings and hymns remind us of God’s love and our opportunity to reflect that love. Mark W. Tiefel Each year, as winter yields to spring and as February…
David Scharf Imagine you are stepping out onto the streets, and you ask this question to a cross-section of people: “How would you describe God and who he is to…
How to stay close to Jesus when college life threatens to pull you away. Hannah White Where is Jesus in your life? It’s a good question for every Christian and…
The new hymnal will help us plan worship, sing, and grow in our Christian faith. The phrase “just the tip of the iceberg” existed long before 1912, but the sinking…