Blog Feed: Ask the Pastor

Don’t Forfeit Your Banquet Invitation What if you held a feast and no one came? Jesus dealt with this in the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24). He told of a rich man who “invited many” but kept hearing excuses. Dismayed with the responses of his friends and acquaintances, the man had his servants invite “the poor and crippled and blind and lame” but there was “still room.” So he sent them out again to compel strangers to join the party and declared that no one who’d f [..] > read more

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

Published on 2011-12-28 15:12:00

Christmas Joy Meets Satanic SlaughterThe ancient calendar followed by most of the Christian Church for almost two millennia intersperses beauty and awe with violence and death. Aside from Holy Week and Easter, this is nowhere more apparent than during the days of Christmastide.Following the joyful celebration of our Savior’s nativity, the Second Day of Christmas commemorates Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, on the 26th. Saint John, the only apostle believed to have avoided a violent death [..] > read more

Help Me, Mr. Wizard!

Published on 2011-10-23 21:33:00

Many of us who watched television as children in the early 1960s included King Leonardo and his Short Subjects (later renamed The King and Odie) in our Saturday morning schedule. One recurring segment involved Tooter Turtle, a young turtle living in the forest who wasn’t content with being a young turtle living in the forest. Because of this, he regularly (over 39 episodes) visited the lizard known as Mr. Wizard, asking him to change the time and place of his circumstances.Tooter thought that [..] > read more

Sexually Pleasuring Yourself

Published on 2011-09-27 19:24:00

From the ArchivesQ: Is masturbation a sin?A: I receive this question with a fair degree of regularity. It’s true that the Bible does not specifically prohibit it. However, I believe that Scripture generally speaks against the thoughts and feelings involved in the action.Among Christians and many Jews, masturbation often is called “onanism,” after the sin of Onan, who would not fulfill his responsibility with Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law. His was only one of several transgressions commi [..] > read more

A Hug Is Just a Hug ... or Is It?

Published on 2011-09-19 20:45:00

If a man allows himself to be hugged by his ex-girlfriend is he committing adultery?Normally, I'd say no. However, if he finds himself still desiring her, then yes. Of course, the desire would probably be there before the hug. I think that most men and women probably hug at least one former boy- or girlfriend after they've started dating, become engaged to, or married someone else. The vast majority of these are, likely, completely innocent.You should also ask yourself why you want the answer. I [..] > read more

Blessed Virgin Mary: Mother of God

Published on 2011-08-15 10:37:00

Q: You refer to Mary as “God’s mother.” Is that the same as saying “Mother of God”? A: This question came in response to one of last week’s posts, Jesus Is Immanuel, concerning matters of Christmas and Epiphany, wherein I wrote, “Immanuel means that the Virgin conceived and bore a Son without human father; God assumed our flesh and joined Himself to mankind; a human woman became God’s mother.” If Mary is not the “Mother of God,” [..] > read more

Remembering the Saints

Published on 2011-08-03 10:07:00

Q: What are some of the reasons why we celebrate saints’ days?A: Scripture commends our remembering the lives of earlier believers. The writer of Hebrews cites examples in chapter 11. Chapter 12 concludes this catalog of faithfulness by saying, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our [..] > read more

The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

Published on 2011-06-25 10:07:00

As a Lutheran pastor and theologian, I continually receive questions about my church: Who are we, where do we come from, what do we believe? Since we Lutherans have a very special remembrance today, I thought this a good time to share a bit of our hi > read more

Doing the Judgment Day Math

Published on 2011-05-18 20:57:00

According to certain people, if you don’t read this column before the weekend, you’ll never have the opportunity. That’s because they’ve been spreading the word that the world will end on Saturday. They do this by tallying certain selected nu > read more

Why Doesn’t Easter Settle Down to One Date?

Published on 2011-05-07 22:22:00

From the ArchivesQ: Some people have told me that the way the day Easter is determined is by what day there is a full moon in March. Is this true? I also wanted to let you know that I find your “Ask the Pastor” wonderful and for all denominations > read more

The Good Book and Good Books

Published on 2011-05-04 00:58:00

From the ArchivesI’ve learned any number of things since leaving school for the “real world.” If you’re out of school, you’ll probably say the same for yourself. If you’re still in school and haven’t yet discovered this truth, I’ll br > read more

A Loving God in a Disaster Filled World

Published on 2011-05-02 20:23:00

From the ArchivesI thought this a good time to bring this question out of the archives as we continue our Easter celebration even in the aftermath of earthquakes, tsunamis, and killer tornadoes.Q: Why do evil things happen to good people?A: This ques > read more

The Jesus Seminar

Published on 2011-04-24 23:57:00

From the ArchivesQ: What is the “Jesus Seminar?” I’ve seen them mentioned in the news from time to time, usually suggesting that our understanding of the Bible is wrong.A: The “Jesus Seminar” is a group of people who’ve come together unde > read more

Confessional Lutheranism

Published on 2011-04-24 23:21:00

From the ArchivesQ: I’ve read that call yourself a “confessional” Lutheran. What does this mean?A: Most of us are familiar with conservatism. In the case of our church (and many others), it means those unwilling or unlikely to make hasty change > read more

Come, Join the Easter Parade

Published on 2011-04-24 00:01:00

(Bonnet Not Needed)Sitting high on Dad’s shoulders ... watching a parade ... wishing to be part of it.... Grand and glorious ... beautiful floats ... bright costumes ... flags and horses ... thundering bands. Only year > read more

Christ’s Humiliation Ends in the Tomb

Published on 2011-04-23 00:09:00

Reposted Thoughts for Holy SaturdayQ: An elder in my church said that Jesus is a little lower than God. Where is Jesus in relationship to God?A: Sometimes the Bible uses “God” and “Father” almost interchangeably. At other time > read more

Maundy Thursday

Published on 2011-04-21 00:01:00

RepostedQ: Where do we get the term Maundy Thursday?A: Also known as “Holy Thursday,” the Church uses this fifth day of Holy Week to remember the institution of the Lord’s Supper. From the account of the Upper Room in John 13:1-15, > read more

Holy Week: The Passover of Our God

Published on 2011-04-20 00:01:00

RepostedWe now stand in the heart of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the Vigil, and Easter Sunday lie ahead. These next few days are intimately and intricately connected with the Old Testament feast of the Passover. Back ar > read more

Do All Dogs — and Cats — Go to Heaven?

Published on 2011-04-17 23:04:00

From the ArchivesQ: I recently had to put down a beloved pet cat. Is there any hope from Scripture that she is in heaven or do animals just cease to exist?A: I am truly sorry to hear this. I’ve always been more of a dog person (please don’t throw > read more

Hosannas and Palm Branches

Published on 2011-04-17 00:01:00

Reposted“Everyone loves a parade.” This old expression indicates that whenever there’s some sort of festivities, all are happy to join in. Of course, “everyone” is an exaggeration. There’s almost always someone who > read more

Cursing God

Published on 2011-04-08 21:23:00

Q: I have had these bad thoughts about cursing God. I love Him with all my heart, I believe in Him from my heart, yet I can’t control these thoughts. Please help. I think I’m going to hell. I’m scared and crying; I pray about it — I don > read more

Lutheran Carnival of Blogs

Published on 2011-04-01 22:45:00

Pastor Alex Klages bids you Welcome to the Carnival! at his blog A Beggar at the Table. For the first time in several years, someone has compiled a cross-section of the confessional Lutheran blogosphere, featuring a number of posts involving the seas > read more

Stations of the Cross

Published on 2011-03-31 20:43:00

Q: I’m curious about the “Stations of the Cross.” What are they and are they found in Scripture?A: The Stations of the Cross remember various stages of the Passion. Some Lutheran, Episcopal, and other churches set them up, although > read more

Shrove Tuesday

Published on 2011-03-07 20:42:00

Q: What is Shroud Tuesday?A: I believe that you are thinking of “Shrove Tuesday,” the last day before Ash Wednesday and Lent’s beginning. This day marks the end of the Carnival celebrations in Latin America and elsewhere. “Shr > read more

Dirty Secrets of the “Pure” Church

Published on 2011-03-03 13:32:00

You can’t vacuum the Church. No, I don’t mean that you won’t be able to clean the carpet, dust the corners, or otherwise tidy up your building. What I mean is that you cannot practice true Christianity apart from Christ, Christians, and the wor > read more

Alcohol, Marijuana, and the College Student

Published on 2011-02-23 20:27:00

Q: I’m a college student that has never smoked and has never been drunk. I feel strongly against getting drunk so I always stop drinking when I feel myself begin to drift off a little bit.I have two questions. First, is it wrong to drink and not ge > read more

Revamped Blogroll and Links

Published on 2011-02-08 21:04:00

I just updated my links, using The Big Blogroll O’ Vark®™© from Aardvark Alley as my main source. One of the largest lists of active bloggers among confessional Lutherans, the BBOV also includes other Lutheran and Christian links, plus othe > read more

Life!

Published on 2011-01-22 00:01:00

On Facebook, a Pro-life Virtual Protest runs all day on 22 January. If you have a Facebook account, I encourage you to participate with a pro-life status message and, if you wish, a pro-life profile picture.If you are looking for life resources or if > read more

Levels of Heaven and Hell

Published on 2011-01-17 20:24:00

Q: Are there different levels to heaven or hell? If so, what are they?A. Regarding hell, unbelievers will suffer condemnation and eternal separation from God in both body and soul (see Matthew 18:8; 25:46; Mark 9:43; John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1 > read more

Epiphany

Published on 2011-01-06 00:15:00

Q: Is Epiphany an important part of the Church calendar?A: Epiphany is both a specific day celebrated in the Church and the season which follows. Literally meaning “appearance, manifestation, showing,” the day celebrates the visit of the > read more

Epiphany Hymn

Published on 2011-01-02 19:09:00

Baby Jesus Got Lojack

Published on 2010-12-16 15:18:00

In many mysteries and crime dramas, a missing person is part of the problem that investigators must overcome. Was it a voluntary disappearance, a kidnapping, or a murder? Without a person — or a body — how can we discover what happened? > read more

Logos Owners: Last Chance for Cheap Upgrade

Published on 2010-01-29 16:49:00

Owners of Logos Bible Software have until the end of the weekend to take advantage of steeply discounted upgrade costs to move to Version 4. They provide a handy Upgrade Discounter tool to help with your decision. If you’re wavering — or com > read more

Matt Harrison and LCMS World Relief

Published on 2009-10-21 20:13:00

Just a quick update. I was at our pastors’ conference and returned home quite enthused with our presenter, the Rev. Matthew Harrison, author of several books, including the just completed At Home in the House of My Fathers.I wrote a bit in response > read more

Showing Righteous Anger

Published on 2009-10-02 15:14:00

Q: Are we ever entitled to show “righteous anger”? What would be its Biblical definition?A: Entitled — now there’s a word we Christians need to use carefully. Claiming entitlement often equates to seeking an excuse. It may lead us to sel > read more

A Blood Donor Saved My Life

Published on 2009-09-18 15:39:00

Some readers might recognize this post’s title from a popular Christian t-shirt. However, Christians who wear these shirts (and those among us who eschew theology by slogan) might stop and consider the earthly reference in this clothing parable.Is > read more

Time to Move

Published on 2009-08-21 16:01:00

No pressure, no guilt, but ... the move imposed upon us is here and we’re ready for assistance.Over the past couple months, several people have offered to help, if possible, when we packed, cleaned up, and left the house. We need to be out of the E > read more

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