Please explain: Why do I so often fail to do what God wants?
I think you already know the answer to the question, Why do I so often fail to do what God wants? The problem is not so much about what you…
President’s message: Thoughts about the new hymnal
After years of careful development, our synod now has a new hymnal. Someone may well ask the question, “Why a new hymnal? What is wrong with the one that we’re…
The book of James: Avoiding loveless judging
A blueprint for living out our life of faith Did you know that the snail has teeth on its tongue? Under the microscope, hundreds of tiny teeth show up. With…
Parent conversations: How can families use the hymnal in their worship life at home?
True confession: I’m not much of a singer or musician. Yet I enjoy belting out a great hymn of praise, and it makes my heart soar when I hear my…
Bible study: Interpretation practice
HERMENEUTICS COMES from a Greek word that means “to interpret.” Therefore, hermeneutics refers to the study of biblical interpretation, determining the meaning the writer intended for the original reader. We…
A thought: Hope
When we think of Christian hope, we quickly turn to the passages from God’s last revelation to us. We long for the time when God will “wipe every tear from…
Granny’s cross
An unexpected discovery from the past has a message for today. I remember my Granny. That’s what we respectfully called her. She was a small, determined woman with gray hair…
Waging the war for godly sexuality
“Abuse. Divorce. Abortion. Pornography. People want to talk about these issues; they’re just scared to go first. We’re trying to help people go first.” Caleb Schultz, pastor at Cross of…
Love and care for called workers
It all started with a phone call from the church president to the pastor: “What if we remodeled the parsonage to fit your daughter’s needs?” In early 2020, Steve Schmidt,…