(First of three: Philemon 1-7) THE EPISTLE OF PHILEMON 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and… TENT MAKER/HOME BUILDER Read More

 THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST  “…The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.” (John 10:25) “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying,  ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’… Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Son Read More

“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God…holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught…”  (Titus 1:7ff) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for… Life In the Gap Read More

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried… How’s your “Wow” doing? Read More

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Timothy 4:17-22 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. … The Lord is Faithful Read More

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the… Stay Healthy Read More

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to… Go to it! Read More

When you read the following Bible words, you can be certain they are talking specifically about your heart—that it “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” (Jeremiah 17:5). At first you might feel insulted. It’s normal—just your sinful flesh acting up. The original Hebrew words are frightening (the English is bad enough!). The situation… Living For Christ Read More

No, this writing is not intended to be a promotion for a bedding or mattress company! Rather, it has to do with Jesus and the comfort He sends from heaven where He reigns as our King.Actually, though, the gospel allows us to go to bed and sleep in peace and comfort (Psalm 4:8)! The word “comfort”… King Comfort Read More

I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I Corinthians 2:2 I wonder how many outsiders and non-members read these pages. I hope there are some, because we have a message for you. And it should offend you in at least two ways. Read More

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 The passage (right) is a favorite of millions the world over. It is only for sinners. Self-righteous people don’t get the point of the invitation. It’s from Jesus who also said: “I am not come to… Guess Who’s Coming! Read More

Studies in Second Timothy (Please read 2 Timothy 1:1-7) Since Christ’s Ascension, millions of people have died for His sake, and thousands of people throughout the world become martyrs in His Name every year. But it sure is easy to be a Christian in our land–even in our Lutheran congregations. Is there something wrong with… The Big Test Read More

THE BEST WAY TO DIE Take yet another look at the cross–the best way for Jesus to die, and the best way for you to die–and to go on dying, as Galatians 5:24 shows: “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The Holy Spirit creates a willing obligation in… The last of three devotions on . . . Read More

THE BEST WAY TO DIE Take another look at the cross. It was the best way for Jesus to die. Crucifixion turns out to be, by far, the best way for other people to die! Seriously. Let’s go to the cross on Calvary and find out. In Luke chapter 23 you hear Jesus make two… The second of three devotions on . . . Read More

THE BEST WAY TO DIE Take a look at the cross. It was the best way for Jesus to die. The method was gruesome, horrible, painful, criminal, torturous, full of anguish. You could easily make a list of over thirty extreme ways that history has shown by which people were executed. Crucifixion ranks up there… The first of three devotions on . . . Read More

It’s a clear day up here in the Northwest. Within a few hours’ drive are dozens of beautiful mountains in the Cascade Range, which stretches from British Columbia right out through Washington State. They are beautiful in the spring sunshine! One wonders if they were here prior to the Flood. Possibly not. There is something… ONE HILL HOLDS LIFE Read More

Business and Industry are out to make a profit. But the Church is called a “nonprofit organization”. In a way that’s too bad. NonProfit Organization Think of the Church as a “profit” institution — for herself and others. The profit is spiritual and eternal — the best kind, a Bible notion. In Mark 8:36 Jesus… Prophets And Profits Read More

Your newspaper carried articles about it — on Saturday, August 26th — about Women’s Equality Day and the 75th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage). The next day, Sunday the 27th, we did something special in West Columbia, South Carolina. We inserted a “Mother’s Thanksgiving Service” into our morning worship. God’s Loving Care A… Women’s Equality And Mothers Superior: A Thanksgiving Read More

Do you remember hearing anyone asking, back around the middle of February, if you had “gotten shriven yet?” The 3-day pre-Lent season of “Shrovetide” and the custom of “getting shriven” then, are forgotten customs most everywhere. Once in a while you might hear of “Shrove Tuesday.” “Shrive” and “shrove” go back to the Latin work… YOU ARE SHRIVEN Read More

Here is something Strom Thurmond would say. Go into his office and ask the 93-year-old Senator from South Carolina where he expects to be at this time next year. He will probably say “Ratcheer!” This is an old saying. Gregory Peck used it in the 1946 film “The Yearling.” Clint Eastwood sneered at its use… “RATCHEER!” Read More