The perfect and eternal rest the Savior promises to all His believers (see Matt. 11:28-30) received the focus of attention at the funeral of Karl Brandle on Tuesday, February 21, 1995. The funeral service was conducted by Pastor Mark Bernthal whom Karl had so ably assisted for many years as assistant pastor at Gethsemane, Saginaw,…  Read More

HELP THE SPOKESMAN SPEAK! IT’S RENEWAL TIME! The Lutheran Spokesman is printed in just one language, but it speaks both near and far. The monthly fun is just short of 2500 copies. Thirty-four states and seven foreign countries (Finland, Nigeria, Australia, Denmark, West Germany, Canada, Japan) are included among the addresses to which this magazine…  Read More

A word of clarification perhaps needs to be given regarding violence, and even murder, at abortion clinics by pro-life activists. No, we are not for it! In “The Diary of a Fetus” in our January issue we used what some might call inflammatory rhetoric when we quoted Revelation 21:8 which says: “But … murders ……  Read More

Those who keep abreast of what is going on within the churches know that the larger Lutheran synods are often recipients these days of many thousands of dollars of fraternal grant monies. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS — and its little…  Read More

Sign Posts Six young people formed the 1995 graduating class at Immanuel Lutheran, an area CLC High School in Mankato, Minnesota. Their graduation service was conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Pentecost Sunday, June 4. Pastor L. Dale Redlin served both as liturgist and speaker. His encouraging remarks to the graduates, their family and friends, were…  Read More

With this issue we are happy to take note also of the graduation of four young men from our Bible School (Seminary) in India as well. Two of these men — Binoy and Mani — completed their studies last December. The other two, Mark and Paul, were scheduled to graduate at the end of May.…  Read More

Worth Looking Back At It was 1965 when then editor of the Lutheran Spokesman Winfred Schaller Jr wrote a provocative series of articles entitled REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD The following words from the first article in the series (May 1965) help to explain the authors purpose: In several articles we wish to explore our…  Read More

Behind An Editorial Groan Almost as soon as last month’s issue arrived at our home in finished form I knew I was in trouble. My wife asked me if I looked closely at the cover. I said: Why? and looked at it again with critical eye. Immediately I knew what she meant, and sank back…  Read More

A Truly Anonymous Army When it was suggested that the Spokesman might feature our retired pastors and their long-time faithful work in behalf of the Lord and His Church, a couple of those pastors sought to broaden our focus. “Aren’t we a little heavy on attention to the clergy?” one asked. “We have had, as…  Read More

Faith Lutheran Church of Nicollet, Minn. and Faith Lutheran Church of New Ulm, Minn welcomed their new pastor, Dr. Gregory L. Jackson, in an installation service held in the New Ulm church on Sunday, July 30, 1995. Pastor Jackson succeeds Keith Olmanson who recently retired from the ministry and from his position as shepherd of…  Read More

(Adapted from the February 1995 Newsletter of Grace Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota) The pastor of the ELCA church in our city recently took his turn writing an article for the church page of the our local paper. In connection with something called “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” he called for all denominations…  Read More

Readers may recall that a recent issue of the Spokesman (Sept. ’95)) referred to work being done by some of our retired pastors and professors. We noted that when opportunity presents itself, and health and strength allows, they continue to preach the Word in sister congregations. When these servants were invited to tell of their…  Read More

Last fall Newsweek magazine used this headline to tell of the latest inclusive language version of the New Testament and Psalms. In this new version God is no longer “Father” and Jesus is no longer “Son.” The hierarchical title of “Lord” is excised, it is said, as an archaic way to address God. Nor does…  Read More

We have been studying the Psalms in one of our study groups. In the eleventh Psalm, v. 3, we came upon a question to which the community of Christian believers can easily relate in our day: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” We needn’t take much time to make a…  Read More

“For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” — 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 Notice in the Bible passage above how the apostle calls “death” an “enemy.” By contrast, I clipped an article from a magazine a few months ago. It said: “Once…  Read More

Most people, Christian or not, are aware of the debate about the identity of Jesus Christ. Most recently the Holy Week 1996 issues of three national news magazines — TIME, Newsweek, US News & World Report — featured Jesus Christ on the cover. The cover stories featured the latest attempts of the self-appointed Jesus Seminar…  Read More

“Your Calling In Life” Ten students were graduated from Immanuel Lutheran High School, Mankato, Minn. in a worship service/concert on June 2, 1996. The senior class, whose colors were royal blue and white, chose Proverbs 3:1-2 as their class verse: “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for…  Read More

* BROADENING THE BASE Instead of being called “Editor’s Smorgasboard” this occasional column with comments on happenings in the church and the world will be broadened by dropping the first word. The intention is to print other people’s good comments (full name given) as well as the editor’s (initials: PGF). You are invited to pass…  Read More

* OLD TESTAMENT/NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES Our staff writers for “Lessons From The Old Testament” have led us through Genesis, the Book of Beginnings, which ends with God’s people in Egypt. A last article covered lessons from the book of Job. We come next to the last four books of Moses (Exodus to Deuteronomy) which treat…  Read More

Last fall your pastor and/or church office began receiving colorful flyers announcing “the newest 50-Day Spiritual Adventure (which) will help you and your congregation!” Pastors were invited to attend one of 128 nationwide Training Conferences between October 1, 1996 and January 9, 1997 to help implement the Adventure in their local church. The topic was…  Read More