What does it mean to have a joyous marriage? Does it mean that husband and wife never argue? Is it that compromise is never a thought because both parties are always holding their tongues and just living with something they hate? What does a joyous marriage look like? Is it constant smiles...
In his treatise, Against the Heavenly Prophets, Luther asserted that it is essential to know that God comes to us both outwardly and inwardly. Outwardly God comes to us in the proclaimed Gospel and the blessed sacrament. Inwardly He comes to us through the Holy Spirit and faith. Both are given...
One of the greatest things that brings me joy, and I pray it brings you joy as well, are the words of Holy Absolution. Luther speaks about this in the Small Catechism concerning the Office of the Keys saying, "What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers...
No one likes being disciplined. No child wakes up wanting to get a spanking, nor does a teenager want cellphone privileges taken away. No young adult wants to get fired, and the veteran at work doesn't desire to get yelled at for making the same mistakes over and over again. In short, no one...
For the last few Wednesdays we have looked at Sanctification. This is the end of posting about sanctification, just taking a different approach today and going forward one Wednesdays. For the foreseeable future, Wednesday will be known as Joyous Wednesday. The blog will be about something joyous...
Luther wrote in the Large Catechism saying, "Meanwhile, since holiness has begun and is growing daily, we await the time when our flesh will be put to death, will be buried with all its uncleanness, and will come fourth gloriously and will arise to complete and perfect holiness in a new, eternal...
Are you ready to die? There's a question that some Christians ask people when they do door-to-door evangelism which goes, "If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven or hell?" This question is supposed to open a discussion on how one can prevent going to hell and go to heaven instead...
Psalm 116 prays, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15). These words are usually read in light of things like martyrdom or death at the end of life, when the saints of the Lord are ushered from this valley or sorrow and into the joys of heaven. However...
There is a scene in the movie, The Predator, staring Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which Arnold is running away from the alien predator. The alien does see like we do, but sees body heat and therefore it is almost impossible to hide from him. But in one scene Arnold covers himself completely...
St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to the churches in Galatia saying, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are...