Beloved in Christ may God open our eyes to see what is before them! May we understand what it means to gather as "the Great Congregation" (Ps. 22:25). May we apprehend the utter, unique and overwhelming power of Divine Goodness that is unleashed in all the earth as we commune with our Lord Christ, on his Holy Day, in his Father's Holy House. Christ is "all in all". He...

Few Christians today are aware of C.S. Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis). He was born on November 29, 1898, but his death on 11/22/63 was overshadowed by the JFK assassination. Lewis was an Irish born scholar, novelist, theologian and Christian apologist, who had a gift of making complicated things simple. Of cutting through all the string, and getting to the prize. Below yo...

Solomon, inspired by the Spirit of God, said 3,000 years ago that there is, "Atime to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." (Eccl. 3:7) The last several months have proved themselves "a time to tear". Some have torn, and we have all been torn. But we will not engage in either the politics or the science of viruses. Only in the Christian re...

This lection from Isaiah is the Old Testament reading for Pentecost 6 (Series A)....

The epistle for Pentecost 4 (Series A) is Romans 7:1-13 which I see in a new light. I translate it thus: "You likewise, my brothers, have died to the Law through the body of Christ so that you might belong to Another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God!" Lutherans almost always think of the word nomos / law in terms of the Deca...

While we are talking about the gift of discernmentlet me mention two more items. First please wipe the idea of white guilt out of your brain. You, whoever you are, have real guilt for real sins against God and for which you stand under his judgment. Sins which you yourself must pay for, unless you are baptized into the payment that Christ made for you on the cross. Then y...

Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way or life. Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with...

This article leads me to make 2 pastoral points.First, Scripture says that, "God is not a God of confusion but of peace." 1 Cor. 14:33. Therefore any action that breeds confusion, or perpetrates aggression against innocent people does not proceed from a holy source, but an unholy. While we, as Christians, are free to protest what we think is inequity we must not condone (m...

A Psalm for giving thanks. Acclaim the LORD all earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him with singing. Know that the LORD he is God! He made us (and not we ourselves). We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise! Give him thanks; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfas...

The chaplain business has been swift of late. In the past week members of Cleveland EMS and Cleveland Police have been assaulted, as well have safety forces across the country. Major cities are talking about closing their police departments altogether. What! That is something that I cannot wrap my brain around, but the all out hatred of Law Enforcement has taken morale...