A few days ago I started reading the bible for a 90 day plan. This has me reading the entire Bible every 90 days, about four times in a year. After a few days, a few things have occurred to me. First, it does not take that much time to read fourteen chapters of the Bible every day. You...
Today is the 501st anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. In the Treasury this morning, we are blessed by one of Luther's writings, taken from his sermons on the Gospel according to St. John, in which Luther preached saying, "Furthermore, what is a beggar's filth or stench compared with the...
Have you ever asked that question, "Why God?" Why God, did you give me or my loved one cancer? Why God, did you get me fired from my job, or empty my retirement by destroying the economy? Why God, did you send that hurricane that destroyed so many people's lives? Why God, did you do this or...
This blog post today is personal, but I do believe it can apply to both pastors and laity alike. I have great joy in being the pastor of the saints of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. I am not the pastor of any other church in Tomball, or in the great state of Texas. I am not...
The Augsburg Confession asserts the doctrine of repentance saying, "Our churches teach that those who have fallen after Baptism can receive forgiveness of sins whenever they are converted, and that the church ought to impart absolution to those who return to repentance. Properly speaking...
President Harrison closes one of the chapters in his book on joy with a Walther quote which says, "Remember when you become ministers, you become helpers of the Christian's joy." (Little Book on Joy 123). Your pastor is called by Jesus and placed into the Office of the Holy Minister to...
The Psalmist, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). The Word of God also says, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine...
Today is the feast of St. James the Elder. He was one of the pillars of the Apostle's, along with his brother St. John and St. Peter. He was martyred for the faith by beheading by Herod Agrippa I in either 42 or 44 A.D. This doesn't seem like the best way to end a career. Remember James and...
Ecclesiastes says, "9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). There is great joy in having...
Does a Christian love doing the things the Law demands, like loving God and loving their neighbor? Yes. The Christian loves doing the things written on our hearts and revealed in the 10 commandments. Why though do the baptized love to keep the commandments? Well, it's because they are baptized...