Topic: lcms

22 May AD 1688 After Martin Chemnitz and Johann Gerhard, Johannes Andreas Quenstedt may have been the ablest theologian of the Lutheran church in the period following the death of Martin Luther. A shi ... discuss

14 May AD 1565 Nikolaus von Amsdorf was one of the members of the German nobility who came to follow Martin Luther and to support his reforms. While some questions remain, it's likely that he was bor ... discuss

7 May AD 1887 Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was a founding father of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He served as its first president from 1847 to 1850 and again from 1864 to 1878. O ... discuss

4 May AD 1876 Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken stands along-side C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler as one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He was born to Pa ... discuss

21 April AD 1109 Known as the father of medieval Scholasticism, Anselm was born in Italy in 1033. Most closely associated with England, he first served as prior and abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in ... discuss

20 April AD 1558 Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), was from Pomerania in northern Germany. Because of his ancestral region, he took the Latin name Pomeranus and Martin Luther often called him "Doctor ... discuss

Over the past couple of years I've been contacted by people from some other church body that are interested in Lutheranism. They want the liturgy and Lutheran preaching. Unfortunately, although there ... discuss

The Third Sunday of EasterActs 9:1-22Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA“The Chief of Sinners; The Greatest Missionary” It is fitting, perhaps, to host a missionary visit on this Sunday in w ... discuss

This article was originally posted at Steadfast Lutherans.Thank you to all of you who have donated so far to the colloquy fundraiser campaign that began March 22nd on Brothers of John the St ... discuss

SermonThe Second Sunday of EasterJohn 20:19-31St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Oconomowoc, WI“Signs and Wonders”“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are no ... discuss

Q: Is it okay to “bless” things in the Church? I’m thinking specifically of things like ashes, palms, or even wedding rings. A: Our current Agenda for Lutheran Service Book and its predecessors ... discuss

Sermon – Reminiscere – February 24th, 2013Grace Lutheran Church, Dyer, INMatthew 15:21-28“Feasting in Faith when Yes Looks like No”I suppose there's a misison theme today in that the ... discuss

15 February AD 1621, transferred to 17 February Lutheran musician, composer, and musicologist Michael Praetorius (Prätorius) was born in Kreuzburg, Thuringia to Pastor and Mrs. Michael Schultheis (o ... discuss

By Adriane DorrOne of the largest Lutheran church bodies in the world, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), announced Feb. 5 that it had broken fellowship with “those churches who ... discuss

26 January AD 1915; transferred to 28 January* Matthias Loy (1828-1915) was born on 17 March to Matthias and Christina Loy, a pair of German immigrants. The family lived in near-poverty in Cumberland ... discuss

It all began in 1930 at the Anglican Lambeth Conference:Resolution 15The Life and Witness of the Christian Community - Marriage and SexWhere there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid pa ... discuss

Basil the Great of Caesarea, 1 January AD 379with Gregory of Nazianzus, 9 May AD 389and Gregory of Nyssa, 9 March AD 395 Saints Basil and the two Gregorys, collectively known as the Cappadocian Father ... discuss

The days following Christmas are sometimes called the "Witness Days." The Greek word for "witness" is "martyr" and these days remind us that this sinful world hates the Gospel message of forgiveness i ... discuss

Sermon – Advent 4 – Luke 1:39-45Grace Lutheran Church, Racine, WI“The Visitation”Dear friends in Christ, it's good to be here this morning with my favorite congregation. Since I ende ... discuss

ca. AD 1469 - 28 December 1524 Today we remember Johannes von Staupitz, vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany. He befriended the spiritually troubled Martin Luther on numerous occasions, ... discuss

On July 4, 2010, the National Archives announced that they had just discovered an original draft of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. In it, the young member of the Continental Congres ... discuss

2 November Also known as All Souls' Day, this commemoration goes hand in glove with yesterday's remembrance of All Saints' Day. In the early Church, feasts of apostles and evangelists were soon cele ... discuss

1 November The first day of November (or a Sunday close to it) is traditionally observed as All Saints' Day. On this day the Church — particularly Western Christendom — remembers ... discuss

29 SeptemberOn the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels (or Michaelmas) we thank God for the many ways in which He lovingly watches over us, both directly and indirectly. We also remember that the rich ... discuss

In his opening letter for the September 2012 issue of The Lutheran Witness, President Harrison continues his message about the Missouri Synod's low birth rate:"The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is so ... discuss

14 September AD 258; Transferred to 16 SeptemberCyprian (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) was born around AD 200 in the north African city of Carthage to a well-established pagan family. Most scholars be ... discuss

Consecrated Bishop of Rome on 3 September AD 590Living at a time when political and religious leadership in Europe often depended upon force of arms or strength of will more than the rule of law, Greg ... discuss

28 August AD 430 Saint Augustine was one of the greatest of the Latin church fathers and was among the most significant influences in the formation of Western Christianity, including Lutheranism. He w ... discuss

27 August — Transferred from 4 May AD 387 A native of North Africa of Berber descent, Monica was the devoted mother of one of the great theologians of early Christianity. She was born to a ... discuss

Trinity 11Lamb of God, Pleasant PrarieAugust 19, 2012Luke 18:9-14Grace, mercy and peace.... Dear Christian friends from Lamb of God, what a joy to be with you this morning. Many of you know me, as o ... discuss

Died 20 August AD 1153 ernard of Clairvaux, a leader in Christian Europe in the first half of the 11th century A.D., is honored in his native France and around the world. Born into a noble Burgundian ... discuss

17 August AD 1637 Born 17 October 1582, Johann Gerhard, a Lutheran theologian in the tradition of Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522-86), was the most influential 17th Century dogmati ... discuss

29 July AD 1028; transferred to 27 July Ólafr Haraldsson (also known as Olav, Olafe, Oláfr hinn helgi, and Olavus rex) was born in 995 to Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter. Snoore says that h ... discuss

2 July, New Testament (One Year Lectionary) This major Christological feast commemorates the joyous visit Mary paid to her relative (probably her cousin) Elizabeth, following The Annunciation. Inspire ... discuss

25 June AD 1530 Note: Please see Ask the Pastor for more on the history and theology of the Augsburg Confession and its presentation. The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the ... discuss

Note this data: http://concordiatheology.org/2012/06/a-glimpse-into-the-past-and-future-of-the-lcms/"Throughout the 1950s and 60s we averaged well over 80,000 infant baptisms per year. At the same tim ... discuss

31 May, New Testament (Three Year Lectionary) This major Christological feast commemorates the joyous visit Mary paid to her relative (probably her cousin) Elizabeth, following The Annunciation. Inspi ... discuss

22 May AD 1688 After Martin Chemnitz and Johann Gerhard, Johannes Andreas Quenstedt may have been the ablest theologian of the Lutheran church in the period following the death of Martin Luther. A shi ... discuss

14 May AD 1565 Nikolaus von Amsdorf became part of the German nobility who came to follow Martin Luther and to support his reforms. While some questions remain, it's likely that he was born in Torgau ... discuss

7 May AD 1887 Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was a founding father of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He served as its first president from 1847 to 1850 and again from 1864 to 1878. O ... discuss

More thoughts on ethics and contraception... It seems to me that God's law is intended to be something the average person can discern.  Almost without exception, it is only when legalism and Pharisai ... discuss

4 May AD 1876 Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken stands along-side C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler as one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He was born to Pa ... discuss

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Catholic bishop 'overwhelmed' by Lutheran support ... discuss

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Catholic bishop 'overwhelmed' by Lutheran support ... discuss

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Catholic bishop 'overwhelmed' by Lutheran support ... discuss

21 April AD 1109Known as the father of medieval Scholasticism, Anselm was born in Italy in 1033. Most closely associated with England, he first served as prior and abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Be ... discuss

There has been a great deal of attention given to the controversy over the Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive insurance mandate for religious groups. Millions of Americans, includin ... discuss

20 April AD 1558Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), was from Pomerania in northern Germany. Because of his ancestral region, he took the Latin name Pomeranus and Martin Luther often called him "Doctor Po ... discuss

So, let's talk about pastoral salaries.  Are they too high?  In the case of some prosperity teachers and mega-church pastors, that may be the case.  However, for this post we are not go ... discuss

Here is a statement I have composed for study by my fellow Lutherans.  I welcome your comments.  I hope what I have written makes it clear that this is a much more complicated issue than mos ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel And Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. B ... discuss

Though a somewhat unwanted opportunity, nothing gives Christians a better occasion to be the hands and feet of Christ than tragedy—and tragedy is exactly what many experienced this past weekend as s ... discuss

But what is the price when Caesar fails to abide by the Constitution?  When does the Congress begin to act against a regime that has no authority to compel the purchase of anything? From LifeSite ... discuss

1 March AD 601Dewi Sant (also Degui or David), Bishop and Confessor and patron of Wales, is usually represented standing on a little hill, with a dove on his shoulder. From ancient times, the Welsh ha ... discuss

Some time back I was given the opportunity to write a bible study for the “Circuit Winkel Bible Studies” series that is hosted by the LCMS Praesidium and the Council of Presidents.  Some ... discuss

Born 26 February AD 1530; transferred from 25 JuneDavid Chytraeus (Chyträus) was born in Ingelfingen, Württemberg on 26 February 1531 to Matthew and Barbara Kochhafe. Kochhafe (German) and χυτρ� ... discuss

I'm not a huge fan of Lutherquest, but the following linked discussion has some excellent points and exchanges regarding whether or not there is a synodical position on this question.Is Birth Contro ... discuss

    Please feel free to use this for your own congregation, circuit, or district:Resolution to Oppose HHS Mandate on the Provision of Abortifacient Drugs and IUDsWhereas, the Holy Scrip ... discuss

I have great respect and admiration for our synodical president Rev. Matthew Harrison's bold defense of our religious liberties.  It is my prayer that Pastor Harrison will now be just as bold a ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel And Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. B ... discuss

These are the words from LCMS President, Pastor Matthew Harrison.  I can only say Amen and Amen! “Mr. Chairman, it’s a pleasure to be here. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a body of some ... discuss

15 February AD 1621, transferred to 17 FebruaryLutheran musician, composer, and musicologist Michael Praetorius (Prätorius) was born in Kreuzburg, Thuringia to Pastor and Mrs. Michael Schultheis (or ... discuss

WASHINGTON—As Congress begins moving forward on legislation to counter the Obama administration’s contraceptive and abortifacient mandate, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hel ... discuss

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday, Feb. 16., to discuss the recent U. S. Health and Human Services Ruling r ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel And Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. B ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel And Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. B ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel And Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. B ... discuss

Tom Baker is the host of Law and Gospel on KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO. Several years ago he conducted a "Law & Gospel and Theology of the Cross" presentation over several sessions in Jamestown, ND. ... discuss

1 February AD 1855German pastor and theologian Klaus Harms was born at Fahrstedt, Schleswig-Holstein on 25 May 1778 and baptized the next day in the neighboring community of Marne. Before entering uni ... discuss

26 January AD 1915; transferred to 28 January*Matthias Loy (1828-1915) was born on 17 March to Matthias and Christina Loy, a pair of German immigrants. The family lived in near-poverty in Cumberland C ... discuss

Basil the Great of Caesarea, 1 January AD 379with Gregory of Nazianzus, 9 May AD 389and Gregory of Nyssa, 9 March AD 395Saints Basil and the two Gregorys, collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers ... discuss

2 January AD 1883; translated to 3 January*Charles Porterfield Krauth was born in Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), on 17 March 1823. He was son of the noted Lutheran pastor Dr. Charles Phili ... discuss

2 January AD 1872Christened Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe, he established a reputation already as a young pastor for being "too" theologically conservative and "too" politically progressive. This le ... discuss

Christmas Joy Meets Satanic SlaughterThe ancient calendar followed by most of the Christian Church for almost two millennia intersperses beauty and awe with violence and death. Aside from Holy Week an ... discuss

20 December AD 1552Financial and marital circumstances led Katharina von Bora's (b.1499) parents to place her in a convent when she was but a child of five. In 1515, she became a nun. Later, she and s ... discuss

19 December, Old TestamentAdam was the first man, made in the image of God and given dominion over all the earth (Genesis 1:26). His name may be variously translated "earth," "dust," or "clay," all of ... discuss

 These were given to me by one of our parishioners, a great-grandson of Rev. H. Ruhland.  Rev. Ruhland was a seminary student at the time when he made these sketches of his professors.  ... discuss

“Lutherans are Evangelical Catholics.” That’s how the late Richard John Neuhaus described our church body, before he entered into communion with Rome and became a Catholic priest. He never said ... discuss

ca. AD 1469 - 28 December 1524Today we remember Johannes von Staupitz, vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany. He befriended the spiritually troubled Martin Luther on numerous occasions, se ... discuss

For those of you who did not have time to watch the video posted below, I have transcribed President Harrison's comments about the Missouri Synod's dismal birth rate and the divine ordinance "Be fruit ... discuss

In his monthly Lutheran Witness article, President Harrison writes:"Our LCMS birth rate mirrors that of the broader population of the U.S., which is at an all-time low.  So, how do we best encour ... discuss

At a recent symposium on Lutheran schools, Rev. Mark Zarling (president of Martin Luther College) drew attention to the declining birthrate of his synod (Wisconsin) as well as others (Missouri and ELS ... discuss

Set the little ball at the bottom of this youtube video at 9 minutes and 20 seconds into this video and listen to President Matt Harrison recommend giving heed to the divine command to "Be fruitful an ... discuss

1 NovemberThe first day of November (or a Sunday close to it) is traditionally observed as All Saints' Day. On this day the Church — particularly Western Christendom — remembers ... discuss

14 September AD 258; Translated to 16 September Cyprian (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) was born around AD 200 in the north African city of Carthage to a well-established pagan family. Most scholars b ... discuss

29 July AD 1028Ólafr Haraldsson (also known as Olav, Olafe, Oláfr hinn helgi, and Olavus rex) was born in 995 to Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter. Snoore says that he was baptized in 998 in ... discuss

Consecrated Bishop of Rome on 3 September AD 590 Living at a time when political and religious leadership in Europe often depended upon force of arms or strength of will more than the rule of law, Gr ... discuss

A Saintly Sampler Along with today's commemoration of Joshua, there's a nice list of upcoming hagiographies for September. I've included everyone listed by The Lutheran Church — Missouri S ... discuss

28 August AD 430Saint Augustine was one of the greatest of the Latin church fathers and was among the most significant influences in the formation of Western Christianity, including Lutheranism. He wa ... discuss

27 August — Translated from 4 May AD 387A native of North Africa of Berber descent, Monica was the devoted mother of one of the great theologians of early Christianity. She was born to a Ch ... discuss

Died 20 August AD 1153 ernard of Clairvaux, a leader in Christian Europe in the first half of the 11th century A.D., is honored in his native France and around the world. Born into a noble Burgundian ... discuss

17 August AD 1637Born 17 October 1582, Johann Gerhard, a Lutheran theologian in the tradition of Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522-86), was the most influential 17th Century dogmatic ... discuss

The Aardvark "Nose" the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©Every time I nose around in what seems to be the outer limits of the confessional Lutheran internet, I discover more activity in the blog ... discuss

Q: What are some of the reasons why we celebrate saints’ days?A: Scripture commends our remembering the lives of earlier believers. The writer of Hebrews cites examples in chapter 11. Chapter 12 con ... discuss

Today we commemorate Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. According to the LCMS website: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany were disciples with whom Jesus had a special bond of love and friendship. John's Gos ... discuss

A question for my fellow pastors, especially:We regularly use the LCMS "Let Us Pray" resource for our Prayer of the Church.This Sunday, Pentecost 5 year A, the provided prayer includes this petition: ... discuss

The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© Serves Up Some Hot New MembersStar Date 1024.780: By hook or by crook, your humble Aardvark boldly goes forth, seeking out new blogforms and new unsettlizat ... discuss

-Pastor as Prophet, Priest and King Introduction While in many ways the Office of the Holy Ministry is diminished or undermined in modern Christian circles, there are still those of us who cherish th ... discuss

25 June AD 1530Note: Please see Ask the Pastor for more on the history and theology of the Augsburg Confession and its presentation.The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the th ... discuss

A Mid-May Update of the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©As soon as I was sure that the world wasn't ending, I prepared to pass along my most recent findings.Credit (or blame) Facebook for these ... discuss

7 May AD 1887Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was a founding father of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He served as its first president from 1847 to 1850 and again from 1864 to 1878. Ot ... discuss

From the ArchivesI’ve learned any number of things since leaving school for the “real world.” If you’re out of school, you’ll probably say the same for yourself. If you’re still in school ... discuss

4 May AD 1876Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken stands along-side C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler as one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He was born to Pas ... discuss

4 May AD 1876Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken stands along-side C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler as one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He was born to Pas ... discuss

I think it is good for Christians to state their faith. As a Lutheran, I state, or confess, my faith freely and publicly. I say what I believe, for my own benefit and for others. And because, frank ... discuss

From the ArchivesQ: I’ve read that call yourself a “confessional” Lutheran. What does this mean?A: Most of us are familiar with conservatism. In the case of our church (and many others), it mean ... discuss

21 April AD 1109Known as the father of medieval Scholasticism, Anselm was born in Italy in 1033. Most closely associated with England, he first served as prior and abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Be ... discuss

20 April AD 1558Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), was from Pomerania in northern Germany. Because of his ancestral region, he took the Latin name Pomeranus and Martin Luther often called him "Doctor P ... discuss

6 April AD 1528Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), a native of Nuernberg, Germany, was one of the most learned of Renaissance artists and ranked among the great minds of Humanism. His paintings and woodc ... discuss

Click here to view the embedded video. Download (ctrl-click to save) What a Way! … to make a difference! … to serve the Lord! … to serve others! … to use your gifts! … to go to work! … to ... discuss

The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©This update comes partially from referrals and partially from my keeping my eyes open on Facebook. I found some of these gems either through Networked Blogs ... discuss

The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©This update comes partially from referrals and partially from my keeping my eyes open on Facebook. I found some of these gems either through Networked Blogs ... discuss

1 March AD 601Dewi Sant (also Degui or David), Bishop and Confessor and patron of Wales, is usually represented standing on a little hill, with a dove on his shoulder. From ancient times, the Welsh ha ... discuss

Here follow the upcoming commemorations and feast days that I hope to post. For those wanting to look ahead, I provide a dated list of the March sanctorial calendar. Most of these are observed by The ... discuss

The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©Thanks to all those who continue to blog, particularly to our new additions and to those who keep me posted about changes. After our extended hiatus, we boas ... discuss

There are two Lutheran churches in America, writes Peter Berger. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), aka Aunt Elka. There are two kinds of ... discuss

Be sure to check out this new CPH book due out January 7, 2011: Natural Law: A Lutheran Reappraisal. Pre-order your copy today!Natural Law: A Lutheran Reappraisal presents engaging essays from cont ... discuss

Tomorrow I will be at New Life Church (LCMS) in Miramar to preach at the 9:45 am service. With the November 2 election right around the corner, I will be speaking on \"God, Government & Your Vote.\" J ... discuss

Earlier this week I saw an SUV with one of those bright yellow \"Choose Life\" Florida license plates and three, that's right, three Obama bumper stickers on the back of the vehicle. A sick feelin ... discuss

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). What tremendous words of comfort these are as our nation, indeed, our world, faces the potential of an influ ... discuss

The following is from page 10 of the Spring 2009 edition of Caring, from LCMS World Relief: Free Resource Explores Clergy and Depression LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s newest resource reflects ... discuss

We are living in a rapidly changing world, presenting us with new challenges and new opportunities on a daily basis. You may be pondering some changes in your own life. Perhaps you are considering how ... discuss

I don't try to ignore tags, I just forget. I also have a draft that I am working on about Tessa's birth. It is just taking too long to finish because who wants to nurse and type at the same time? OK.. ... discuss

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). What tremendous words of comfort these are as our nation, indeed, our world, faces the potential of an influ ... discuss

We are living in a rapidly changing world, presenting us with new challenges and new opportunities on a daily basis. You may be pondering some changes in your own life. Perhaps you are considering how ... discuss

We are living in a rapidly changing world, presenting us with new challenges and new opportunities on a daily basis. You may be pondering some changes in your own life. Perhaps you are considering how ... discuss

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). What tremendous words of comfort these are as our nation, indeed, our world, faces the potential of an influ ... discuss

The following is from page 10 of the Spring 2009 edition of Caring, from LCMS World Relief: Free Resource Explores Clergy and Depression LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s newest resource reflects ... discuss

Just a quick update. I was at our pastors’ conference and returned home quite enthused with our presenter, the Rev. Matthew Harrison, author of several books, including the just completed At Home in ... discuss

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). What tremendous words of comfort these are as our nation, indeed, our world, faces the potential of an influ ... discuss

The following is from page 10 of the Spring 2009 edition of Caring, from LCMS World Relief: Free Resource Explores Clergy and Depression LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s newest resource reflects ... discuss

Fellow South Wisconsin LCMS pastor from my district, Rev. Dan Torkelson, has posted the following insightful thoughts regarding the sale of KFUO-FM radio station in St. Louis. (posted with his permis ... discuss

Q: Are we ever entitled to show “righteous anger”? What would be its Biblical definition?A: Entitled — now there’s a word we Christians need to use carefully. Claiming entitlement often e ... discuss

An In-depth Review of the Pop Christian NovelThanks to Jim Pierce of Confessional's Bytes, the Luther Library has a thorough theological review of the best selling "Christian" fiction book The Shack. ... discuss

If not, why has Women Pastors? The Ordination of Women in a Biblical, Lutheran Perspective vanished from Concordia Publishing House? This collection of essays edited by synodical executive Matthew C. ... discuss

Q: I have a set of rosary beads that were given to me as a gift. Are there many Lutherans that use the rosary on a daily basis? I have found Lutheran prayers for rosary. Does the LCMS support the rosa ... discuss

Compare the Bush Administration, as described in the Wall Street Journal:Set aside the fraught question of when human life begins. The new debate: When does pregnancy begin?The Bush Administration ha ... discuss

It is disheartening that some confessional Lutheran leaders, those who would gladly call themselves pro-life, would also happily call folks who have expressed reasoned, biblical, and historical concer ... discuss

This news comes on the heels of our recent discussion of the LCMS Sanctity of Human Life Committee's report on contraception.According to the New York Times, the Bush administration has made a move to ... discuss

Q: Last week I tried to witnesses to some Jehovah’s Witnesses and I ended up learning more about what I do not know then being able to effectively witnesses to them. One of their positions was t ... discuss

I don't try to ignore tags, I just forget. I also have a draft that I am working on about Tessa's birth. It is just taking too long to finish because who wants to nurse and type at the same time? OK.. ... discuss

Q1: I worship at an LCMS church in Minnesota. Here, the ELCA “branch” of the Lutheran Church is dominant. My understanding is that many of their positions are unbiblical, including, their ... discuss

There have been some misnomers out there that describe deaconesses as “nuns” or “mini-pastors.” This blog post hopes to develop a primer discussion of what a deaconess is and ... discuss

LCMS World Relief and Human Care's Life Ministries has finally come out with the long anticipated position paper: Christ in Your Family: Thoughts on Christian Marriage and Contraception.Read it and we ... discuss

Praise be to God that Pastors and deaconesses will be reaching all corners of the United States (and world) this summer to proclaim the Gospel and serve, as they embark on their new vicarages and inte ... discuss

Two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral visit to the US, both seminaries of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod placed pastoral candidates in Lutheran congregations across the US. Stra ... discuss

The front page of Synod’s website includes an ad for a KFUO Radio “Sharathon” that runs from April 17 – 19, 2008. The little blue box includes “Listen Now” and ... discuss

Over the last 9 months of my internship, I have fielded many a questions from prospective students about Deaconesses, our program, etc, and I thought it might be helpful to put some of the FAQ’s ... discuss

Rev. Terry K. Dittmer - LCMS Director of Youth Ministry - had these comments to make when a concern was brought to him about the number of youth in the LCMS. (This was part of a larger interview done ... discuss

One flock, one shepherd, many sheep It's difficult to keep track of the battles ongoing among Lutherans--never mind all the other Christians. And don't think for a moment just because they give allegi ... discuss

Rachel Thompson is a CTS deaconess intern who has special interest in the Lutherans in Kenya. Below is an update, via Rachel, from Rev. Dennis Meeker (CTS 07) who serves a congregation there. The ph ... discuss

Has anyone seen this new game show, “Moment of Truth,” yet? Its twisted and not-so-secret reality entertainment on Fox, has people at home asking thems ... discuss

Epiphany 3“Us and Them and Truth in Christ”1 Corinthians 1:10-18Since I've come to Wisconsin and been converted as a Packers fan, I've enjoyed watching them play. (Sadly the Packers' season ended ... discuss

This blog is not generally political. But since we did publish a post by Rev. Robert Smith called, “Why I’m Troubled That Mitt Romney is a Mormon,” I figured it was fitting to publi ... discuss

Apparently babies aren’t eco-friendly. They consume too much, create too much waste, and take up too much space. They’re costly and inefficient and unproductive. And if that wasn’t enough, they ... discuss

With great interest, and some sadness, I read the results of the 2007 LCMS Youth Gathering survey here.My first thought - wouldn't it be interesting to compare the results with a smiliar survey done a ... discuss

Basil the Great of Caesarea, 1 January AD 379with Gregory of Nazianzus, 9 May AD 389and Gregory of Nyssa, 9 March AD 395Saints Basil and the two Gregorys, collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers ... discuss

Valparaiso University Names Mark Heckler, ELCA Member, Its Next PresidentThus continues the odd relationship of Valpo with the LCMS. ... discuss

2 January AD 1872Christened Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe, he established a reputation already as a young pastor for being "too" theologically conservative and "too" politically progressive. This le ... discuss

20 December AD 1552Financial and marital circumstances led Katharina von Bora's (b.1499) parents to place her in a convent when she was but a child of five. In 1515, she became a nun. Later, she and s ... discuss

19 December, Old TestamentAdam was the first man, made in the image of God and given dominion over all the earth (Genesis 1:26). His name may be variously translated "earth," "dust," or "clay," all of ... discuss

Title of article: "Synod colleges see record enrollment"Buried at the bottom: "This year's 2,237 church-work students include 1,294 teachers (down 8), 356 directors of Christian education (down 64), ... discuss

ca. AD 1469 - 28 December 1524Today we remember Johannes von Staupitz. Martin Luther's father confessor was vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany. He befriended the troubled young man on n ... discuss

"The Fertility Gap: More Christians on the Way" is a recent piece by conservative Christian pundit Chuck Colson.Colson is mostly commenting on the effects such demographics will have on the future of ... discuss

Q: Do you know anything about Lutherans or other post-Reformation Christians having “home altars”? I first discovered this idea in Bo Giertz’s The Hammer of God and recently read abo ... discuss

Most of us in the LCMS are well aware of the publication known as "Christian News". Check out their website, as the most recent issue has several of its stories actually posted to the web! As I read ... discuss

MEMOTO: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod FROM: Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President SUBJECT: Statement regarding 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly ActionDATE: ... discuss

Michael MillerRELIGION BEATPeoria Journal StarSaturday, July 21, 2007The Vatican's statement last week on the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church has riled some non-Catholic Christians in the ecumeni ... discuss

Too tired to blog much about the convention. A little frustrated, and a lot bored.You can get the daily summaries from lcms.orgI would commend to you another two bloggers who have been commenting:The ... discuss

The report takes a comprehensive look at a myriad of birth-control options, offering both medical and spiritual perspectives. It was prepared by the Sanctity of Human Life Committee, a program of LCM ... discuss

Welcome to the Lutheran Carnival of Blogs LIV.Preface and IntroductionMeet this carnival’s un(der)known Lutheran, the Reverend August Ludwig Christian Kavel. Somewhat like Walther, Grabau, and o ... discuss

Erin Bode is a young woman who looks like Michelle Pfeiffer and sings like Nora Jones. She has also recently partnered with the Lutheran Church (MS) World Relief to assist poor girls in South Africa. ... discuss

As our circuit's pastoral delegate, I will be attending the LCMS convention in Houston next week. As I've told many, "I expect it to get hot in Houston, and the temperature should be pretty warm too!" ... discuss

As the July LCMS convention approaches, I have been pondering the struggles of the Synod and my place in it all.  I have been thinking for some time about the two camps in the LCMS and how I� ... discuss

Q: I’ve been a senior pastor at my current location for three years now. Here is my question: How long should I stay at the viewing at the death of a lady in the church? Thanks.A: I don’t ... discuss

I finally got with Dr. Carlson regarding his Touchstone article mentioning LCMS clergy size decrease from 1890-1920. He pointed me to the Alan Graebner, "Birth Control and the Lutherans: The Missouri ... discuss

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter or the Optional Memorial of Saint Rita of CasciaSaint of the Day: St. Rita of Cascia: Religious, Patron of Desperate CausesToday in Catholic History:337 Constanti ... discuss

Pr. Todd Wilken interviews Dr. Allan Carlson then has open lines on the subject. Click here for the MP3. The interview and beginning of the open lines segment go quite well. But then near the end of ... discuss

Q: Is cremation anti-Christian? Where in the Bible does it state you must be buried? I have found cremation mentioned in 1 Samuel 31:12, Amos 2:1, and 2 Kings 23:20. These sounded like statements ... discuss

4 May AD 1876Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken stands along-side C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler as one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He was born to Pas ... discuss

The following essay is reprinted by permission from CAT 41 News."I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstai ... discuss

Welcome to the 47th Lutheran Carnival of BlogsDan @ Necessary Roughness broke an internal tie by suggesting that I feature "unknown" Lutheran Rosa Young. She's one of a couple people I'd been wavering ... discuss

The Center for American Progress has an article on embryonic stem cell research and the differing viewpoints in some of the major religious denominations. What position does your church hold? Assembl ... discuss

The Center for American Progress has a list of different faiths and their stance (or lack thereof) on embryonic stem cell research.  It is certainly an interesting read.  Here are some highlights:A ... discuss

A Media Fraud - Old News RecycledSays Lutheran Western Michigan University Professor enter">Considered naked hype, baseless sensationalism, and nothing less than a media fraud—“more junk on Jesus ... discuss

Q: My history class is studying the Renaissance. Marriage is one of the topics. Renaissance women were supposed to obey their husbands because the men had the ultimate authority over them. When and wh ... discuss

2 January AD 1872Christened Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe, he established a reputation already as a young pastor for being "too" theologically conservative and "too" politically progressive. This le ... discuss

20 December AD 1552Financial and marital circumstances led Katharina von Bora's (b.1499) parents to place her in a convent when she was but a child of five. In 1515, she became a nun. Later, she and s ... discuss

19 December, Old TestamentAdam was the first man, made in the image of God and given dominion over all the earth (Genesis 1:26). His name may be variously translated "earth," "dust," or "clay," all of ... discuss

In light of the Roman Catholic dearth of followers of Humanae Vitae reported by Pr. Curtis below, I thought I would post on the fact that the media is picking up on the relative growing movement ... discuss

Just a fun quiz to while away the weekend: Just copy and paste the questions and answer inbetween. 1. If you could name a church that you would attend any name at all, what would it be?"Transfigurati ... discuss

"...only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarrie ... discuss

The Alley shamelessly swipes this list from the Ask the Pastor post And in This Corner. The only changes either are cosmetic or else involve a few shifts to reflect this being hosted here at the Alley ... discuss

Lutheran Minister with the Disease Opposes Amendment 2As noted in a previous post with the video clip against the cloning initiative, we face a daunting task in saying "NO" to any political initi ... discuss

A Response to Senator Danforth on Amendment 2 and CloningDoctors and nurses, sufferers and survivors ... anyone living in Missouri or one of the surrounding states receiving its radio and televis ... discuss

November 7th our state will include on its ballot a proposed constitutional amendment. The language will read as follows: “Marriage. Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be creat ... discuss

Okay, I'm gone. I'm outta here. No offense meant to anyone, but I really can't keep blogging anymore.This announcement will probably surprise ... um, nobody. It's not like I've been an active blogger ... discuss

Congratulations to another round of "winners" of the AARDIE (Aardvark Aaward for Raillery, Doctrine, or Intellect in Exposition) — a continuing response to the glut of awards shows and shal ... discuss

28 August AD 430Saint Augustine was one of the greatest of the Latin church fathers and a significant influence in the formation of Western Christianity, including Lutheranism. He was born to Monica a ... discuss

Look what I found lurking the in LCMS — the self-confessed Ugly Pastor. It's new, it's raw, it's right on target. F'rinstance, check out Is It Ethical to Recommend a Young Man to Become a P ... discuss

In the Image of God: A Christian Vision for Love and Marriage I think all of you should attend this conference from the Cranach Institute on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wa ... discuss