“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). After considering these words of Paul, I wrote the following lines as part of a hymn. O father, mother, listen well, And Scripture will the secret tell: To keep them from a bitter […]
“…in whatever situation I am to be content” (Phil. 4:11). “Nothing is better than to walk in the Word and the work of God and so to fashion one’s heart that it is quiet and satisfied with the present state of affairs…. The true despisers of the world are the people who accept what God […]
Does the Lutheran Church have a birthday? I say it does, and it was yesterday. But it’s not too late to celebrate! You have probably heard that we are marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. This is based on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses. The date may be used to […]
Out of the Twelve Apostles, I think I have learned the most from the one we know the least about. “James the son of Alphaeus” (Matt. 10:3). Two of the Twelve Apostles are named James. First, the prominent, well-known James the son of Zebedee. His brother was John, and together with Peter they made up […]
“The child is not dead but sleeping” (Mark 5:39). We could live without death. It wouldn’t be missed. Woody Allen said, “I’m not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” But Benjamin Franklin wrote in a 1789 letter, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” He […]
“A time to be silent…” (Eccles. 3:7). Memorial Day is much less a day for words and much more a day for silence. One exception I’ll make to that rule is “Hymn to the Fallen” by John Williams. Turn up the volume a little and watch The Price for Freedom. Pastor Matt…