Examined and confirmed
If you were confirmed as a youth, what stands out about that day? Excitement? Nervousness? Relief? What about Examination Sunday? More nervousness? Suspense? What would you think of going through…
Fear, fellowship, facts, and freedom
Online worship is truly a blessing. So, is there a curse? As with most things, there can be. My first Sunday of in-person worship since our move back to Arizona…
Pick up the proper sword
“ ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword’ ” (Matthew 26:52). It was a natural…
Confessions of faith: Jon-Michael Blowe
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…
Please explain: Why can’t my sister have communion with us?
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…
Jesus’ last will and testament
“And he took bread, . . . saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ . . . He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup…
President’s message: What’s love got to do with it?
From time to time I receive questions about why our synod puts a particular doctrine into practice the way we do. I had such a question recently about closed (or…
What it means to be truly Lutheran: Lord’s Supper
Teachings about the Lord’s Supper separate most of the various branches of Christianity. When true Lutherans accept this teaching of the Scriptures, they stand apart from other Christians. Roman Catholicism…