Blessings in tragedy
Sometimes a tragic event can result in great blessings. That was the experience of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). This year marks the 50th anniversary of “Seminex,” an event that…
Confusion or comfort?
There are few doctrines in the Bible that are as misunderstood as the doctrine of election. This isn’t because the Scriptures are not clear. It happens because one of the…
Never take it for granted
Religious freedom—the freedom not only to believe and worship according to one’s conscience but also to proclaim publicly and faithfully what God’s Word clearly teaches is never something that we…
A season of miracles
We tend to use the term miracle incorrectly. “It was a miracle that our football team won the game in the last seconds!” “It was a miracle that I didn’t…
Don’t miss the point
Sometimes it’s easy to miss the point. Jesus was talking to people who asked him about some Galileans whom Pontius Pilate had killed while they were worshiping. Jesus asked them,…
Another humbling experience
The year was 2007. I had just completed my 18th year as president of one of our synod’s ministerial preparatory schools. I had the privilege of being part of the…
Our cross and crown
A portion of the “President’s report” that President Mark Schroeder presented to synod convention delegates on Aug. 1. As we embrace the cross and anticipate the crown, it’s fitting to…
The public ministry and the divine call
What does it mean when an individual receives a call to share God’s Word with other people? Every Christian has been given the task of sharing and proclaiming the message…
No fear of bad news
You can’t escape it. Bad news is everywhere. Open the newspaper or turn on the TV, and the bad news will come at you with full force—about the economy; a…
