The IRS defines a dependent as one who relies on his parents or someone else for more than half his support. According to God’s family design “growing up”, in most cases, involves moving from a state of dependency to a state of independence. Yet even the most independent among us realizes that term is purely…  Read More

Across the CLC we are privileged to have a number of large families who for a long time have anchored our CLC congregations and church body. Their blessed tentacles extend far and deep, going back to the very establishment of our churches and synod, reaching forward to the next generation of faithful that will fill…  Read More

(This is a portion of an address given as part of the 1994 Area Reformation Festival Service at Immanuel, Mankato, Minnesota — Ed.) …Against (the) assaults of Satan we must pray for the spiritual strength to continue contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. For the cause and strength are not ours, but…  Read More

It makes for a captivating, albeit often tragic, story or TV drama. A seaworthy vessel with supposedly capable seamen at the helm loses its power or moorings while at sea and soon finds itself adrift — at the mercy of the currents, the elements, the wind and waves. Compounding the problem are a scarcity of…  Read More

There is one very powerful, influential figure whose name is rarely mentioned in many circles this time of year — and that is the devil or Satan. Eminently successful throughout the year in his efforts to turn the hearts of people away from God, one may wonder where he spends Christmas. At first glance it…  Read More

“Blessed are the dead which die in the LORD.” Rev 14:13 Some years ago a TV movie was shown, entitled “Death Takes A Holiday.” In this film Death, which was personified, felt that people simply did not understand the wonderful purpose it served, but instead clung to “life” at all costs. Seeing no other recourse,…  Read More

Many of our eyes in recent weeks have been fastened on Atlanta — and the 1996 Summer Olympics. The sight of some of the world’s greatest athletes from 150 countries displaying their finely-honed skills has left us filled with awe and amazement. Any involved in sports well knows that these performances are products not just…  Read More

District delegate conference in preparation for the convention.) A MODEL CONFERENCE Although most CLC members will likely never attend a CLC Convention, we hope that interest in what happens there reaches deep into all of our CLC congregations. We all recognize the importance of these gatherings–to fellowship with and encourage one another, to discuss scriptural…  Read More

Chancel Triptych As part of its new church, Berea Lutheran of Inver Grove Heights, Minn. asked one of its members, Jim Doring, to develop a chancel wall design to cover several organ and audio speakers. With the help of his family, Jim designed and built what is pictured and described below. The three panels behind…  Read More

God’s Wonderful Marriage Math Equation There are more than a few Bible numbers that for many just don’t add up. The numbers 6 (days of Creation) and 6,000 (approximate age of the earth) present insurmountable obstacles for the evolutionary mind and society; 5 (barley loaves) and 2 (fish) cannot be multiplied to feed 5,000+ people.…  Read More

Second In A Series In our November Spokesman we spoke of God’s Wonderful Marriage Math Equation: 1 + 1 = 1. Even though our amoral society and our own sin-nature would emphasize other “new math” marriage equations: 1 + 1 = 2 (independence) or 1 + 2 = 3 (extra-marital relationships) we do well to…  Read More

Christian Marriage: A Sacred Spiritual Commitment It is significant that Holy Scripture speaks of Christian marriage as much in terms of commitment as it does in terms of love. And even the term “love” (which the world sees primarily as romantic love), when used in Scripture (agape) includes something greater. The “love” in Christ’s relationship…  Read More

Christian Marriage Faces Sin-Pitfalls It is no surprise that Satan’s strategy for winning souls would focus on those institutions God has established for the propogation and preservation of the Christian faith–the church, the family, and Christian marriage. In recent generations all of those sacred institutions have come under relentless siege and, to no one’s surprise,…  Read More

CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IN AND WITH CHRIST Much can be learned about Christian marriage by observing one in action–especially from within the perspective of the Christian family. How blessed are those children who are reared in the wonderful atmosphere of a truly Christian marriage and family! There, in spite of the sin-weaknesses and struggles of all…  Read More

LIVING OUR FAITH IN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE One of the great faith-challenges facing us as Christians is to live and practice our faith. Within Christian marriage this means translating the God-desired, ideal “love” of Ephesians chapter five into a language of feelings, attitudes, and behavior which prove pleasing to God and a blessing to our spouse.…  Read More

Luke 14:25-35 Cost-Counting The scenario is all too familiar. A young person with no significant or permanent income source is bombarded with almost irresistible offers from the credit card companies. “Buy now, pay later” is simply too tempting to resist, and the spending spree begins. The joyride is wonderful, until the harsh reality of burdensome…  Read More

Luke 16:1-13 The Parable Of The Unjust Steward To retell Jesus’ parable in a modern setting: “A wealthy businessman had an administrator whom he had hired to manage his financial affairs. Through poor decision-making the administrator had ‘managed’ to squander some of the businessman’s financial empire. “About to be called to account and soon fired,…  Read More

Luke 18:1-8 KEEP ON PRAYING We’ve all seen this familiar parable ‘scenario’ played out in our own lives. As children we at times played the role of the persistent widow in relentlessly pestering until we got what we wanted; as parents we may have assumed the judge’s role in ultimately being worn down by the…  Read More

Luke 19:11-28 STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL “MINA” (From the Greek word “mna”) Although there are similarities to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the different context, audience, and mina* distribution clearly establish it as unique. A short time earlier, Jesus had spoken in plain language of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, but to…  Read More

Football And Faith If spring is the time when a young man’s fancies turn to . . . , then fall is the season when watching the great American pastime of football takes over the spare time of many armchair quarterbacks. In tough times and in good, Americans have found escape and enjoyment in sports–playing,…  Read More