Our western church, as we mentioned last month, is absolutely awash in old-fashioned philosophical dualism. At a deep, mostly unconscious level, we have come to picture the world in terms of “sacred” and “secular,” “spiritual” and “material” – two vast, … (read more)
I remember the scene quite clearly. Nathan, my son, was approximately eight years old – now more than twenty years ago. He and I were participating in some gathering of his young friends. It was a group of Cub Scouts, … (read more)
Working in the business office is encouraging in many different ways. There is the contact I have with our missionaries. Even when finances are especially tight, I am amazed to see how many of my colleagues are unfazed. They do … (read more)
Back in December I wrote a little bit about the recession and the effect that it might have on the World Mission Prayer League. At that time there was quite a lot of fear concerning the future. It was on … (read more)
Like so very many of our human family, Lutherans can get lost in the woods. We saw evidence of the frailty a few weeks ago here in Minneapolis. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gathered in our city in August … (read more)
Paul’s Letter to the Romans is a mighty missionary tract. Over the course of the summer, we have outlined its powerful themes. For the Apostle Paul, as we said in June, Spain matters. The Letter to the Romans makes clear … (read more)
Over the past few months we have presented Paul’s Letter to the Romans as a first-rate missionary tract. The Apostle designs the document with a particular purpose in view: he aims to enlist the church in Rome for planting … (read more)
The month of May ended with the general fund $38,897 short of the amount needed to pay all of our missionaries 100 percent of the target allowance. We used $20,860 from the estate fund to supplement allowances. Sixteen of our … (read more)
I have been spending some time over the summer in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. The letter is a missionary tract in many ways. Paul asks the sisters and brothers in Rome to join him in mission to Spain. … (read more)
Over the past few weeks, I have been spending some time in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. What a document! Luther considered it “the most important piece in the New Testament.” Melanchthon judged it the “summary of all Christian doctrine.” … (read more)