Archive

This is the listing of all Fish Hooks published so far, arranged by the date each was published at Emmanuel (oldest at the bottom). Click the link to view the Fish Hooks article. (Click here to see a list organized by category & topic.)
(* Dates marked by an asterisk indicate a rerun from an earlier date.)

Judas – *June 4, 2023 – So you think you know Judas? Take the quiz!
Why Do Lutherans ‘Apologize’ ? – *May 28, 2023 – Perhaps we should ‘confess’?
REJECTED – *May 21, 2023 – The pain and the promise
Starting the Day Right – *May 14, 2023 – The Breakfast of Christians
The Pastor and ‘Ewe’ – *May 7, 2023 – It’s all about tending the flock
The Mighty Mite and the Trusting Bite – *April 30, 2023 – The joy of stewardship
Monkeys in the Minster – *April 23, 2023 – Critters in church
A Saint for the Sometimes Somnolent – *April 16, 2023 – Just like us?
How Did Jesus Descend Into Hell ? – *April 9, 2023 – Puzzling phrase in the Creed
Hanging Out with Jesus – *April 2, 2023 – Not what many folks expect
In the Boat – *March 26, 2023 – Sailing together in the nave
The Elementary of Elements – *March 19, 2023 – What makes it communion?
The Importance of ‘U’ – *March 12, 2023 – What your chrch needs
The Gift of Appreciation – *March 5, 2023 – Perhaps the finest gift of all
Do I Have the Holy Spirit? – *February 26, 2023 – If you’re concerned, it’s Yes!
The Lord’s Prayer – *February 19, 2023 – Why our Catholic brethren say it differently
A Diet of Worms ? – *February 12, 2023 – Not as gross as it sounds
Confession Confusion – *February 5, 2023 – Same word but two meanings
Are Lutherans ‘Organic’ ? – *January 29, 2023 – Yes, we do love our organ music!
God’s Rhymes – *January 22, 2023 – Seeing God’s patterns
The Cornerstone – *January 15, 2023 – The only sure foundation
Fish Hooks: Looking Back and Ahead — January 8, 2023 –How this began & time for a change.
Body Parts – *December 25, 2022 – Membership in His Body matters!
Stairway to Heaven – *December 18, 2022 – The universal longing to rise above it all
Wait for the Lord! – *December 11, 2022 – The true spirit of Advent
Can a Believer Fall Away? – *December 4, 2022 – A point of disagreement between Christians
The Invisibility Paradox – *November 27, 2022 – Why doesn’t God make Himself obvious?
What We Can Do – *November 20, 2022 – When the sky seems to be falling!
Selah – *November 13, 2022 – What does this obscure word mean?
Numinous & Ineffable – *November 6, 2022 – A pair of unusual but useful words
Concordia – *October 30, 2022 – A very important book/name for Lutherans
The Bible’s Longest Chapter – *October 23, 2022 – A remarkable composition
Predestined ?? (!!) – *October 16, 2022 – Embracing the paradox
Plausible Deniability? – *October 9, 2022 – The paradox of God’s deniability
Forgiveness – *October 2, 2022 – A good one-word answer
Baptism: Why we DO it – *September 25, 2022 – It’s a simple answer with deep impact
‘Dispensations’? – *September 18, 2022 – A Bible theory popular among fundamentalists
Why is Jesus ‘the’ Christ? – *September 11, 2022 – The only one who can wear the title
The Offertory – *September 4,2022 – A small ritual that tells a rich story
Word AND Sacrament – *August 28, 2022 – Why we emphasize both Means of Grace
Sadducees and Pharisees and Scribes (Oh my!) – *August 21, 2022 – Who were these guys?
You Did It To Me – *August 14, 2022 – The unmistakable mark of the true disciple
Turn Around ! – *August 7, 2022 – What God commands (and enables) us to do
Why Believe? – *July 31. 2022 – What our own hearts tell us
The Filioque – *July 24, 2022 – An obscure clause in the Nicene Creed
A Window of Grace – *July 17, 2022 – When God redeems our tragedies
Gospel – *July 10, 2022 – A familiar word that replaced the real meaning
The Can’t-Miss Prayer – *July 3, 2022 – It’s what God always wants to give you!
Why ‘Eucharist’? – *June 26, 2022 – An odd name that describes perfectly!
Moderately Christian? – *June 19, 2022 – The danger of complacency
Why Do They Rage? – *June 12, 2022 – This cannot end well!
Tale of Two Consciences – *June 5, 2022 – Very different paths taken
A Little Knowledge … – *May 29, 2022 – Understanding the truth about the Bible
Deism/Theism/Meism – *May 22, 2022 – Three (plus) philosophies about god
Fatal Distraction – *May 15, 2022 – When we forget what’s important
Can Babies Believe? – *April 24, 2022 – Why do we baptize infants?
O Sacred Head … – *April 17, 2022 – A favorite hymn with a unique back-story
Where in the World are the Lutherans? – *April 10, 2022 – By the numbers
No Wiggle Room – *April 3, 2022 – The reality that may make us squirm
WANTED DEAD AND ALIVE – *March 27,2022 – Death and life through Baptism
Paschal – *March 20, 2022 – An unusual word with great significance
Covenant vs. Contract – *March 13, 2022 – Not the same thing!
Playing Church ? – *March 6, 2022 – It’s not ‘cute’ when grownups do it
Chosen! – *February 27, 2022 – How we experience the truth of God’s commitment
Amazing! – *February 20, 2022 – The relentless pursuit of our loving God
Only Sinners Need Apply – *February 13, 2022 – The truth about church members
Lead Us Not – *February 6, 2022 – Why did Jesus teach us to pray those words?
When Morning Dawns – *January 30, 2022 – The wonderful assurance of God’s new day
More ‘Birds in the Hair’ – *January 23, 2022 – When we are sources of temptation
What About Cremation? – *January 16, 2022 – What is the position of the church?
Data – Theory – Application – *January 9, 2022 – The danger in trusting our theories
A Woman’s Place? – *January 2, 2022 – The role of women in the Church
‘Churchy’ Words – *December 26, 2021 – Some obscure terminology that your pastor may use
God’s M.O. – *December 19, 2021 – God’s distinctive way of accomplishing His ends
The Trinity – *December 12, 2021 – The perplexing mystery of God’s nature
Earning a Pass? – *December 5, 2021 – A misplaced sense of confidence
Just a Speck? – *November 28, 2021 – The incredible improbability of God’s interest in us!
Eyes Fixed on the Way – *November 21, 2021 – The recipe for avoiding disaster
Gourmet Jesus ? – *November 14, 2021 – Sticking to the ‘original recipe’
The Big Split – *November 7, 2021 – The one 500 years before the Reformation
Cotton Candy – *October 31, 2021 – There’s no substitute for real nourishment
Saints AND Sinners – *October 24, 2021 – The true state of things for Christians
The Divine ‘And’ – *October 17, 2021 – When ‘either/or’ isn’t the answer
Two and a Half Martyrs – *October 10, 2021 – A burning commitment to God’s Word
Trust or Sink! – *October 3, 2021 – Floating on God’s grace
At the Right Time – *September 26, 2021 – When God’s plan came together
Adversity and Glory – *September 19, 2021 – Bearing the ‘cross’ of others
“Sin Boldly” – *September 12, 2019 – Did Luther REALLY Say this?
Choosing the Books – *September 5, 2021 – How did the early church do it?
Pastors or Priests? – *August 29, 2021 – Does the name matter?
Illumination – *August 22, 2021 – The light that gives confidence and meaning
Righteous! – *August 15, 2021 – When it all comes together!
Emptyhanded – *August 8, 2021 – How we approach God’s salvation
Was Jesus Born in a Stable? – *August 1, 2021 – Rethinking the traditional story
Flaming Letters in the Sky – *July 25, 2021 – The tragedy of hardened hearts
Did Jesus Go To Church? – *July 18, 2021 – Countering a mistaken impression
Is Hell a Real Place? – *July 11, 2021 – Confronting an awful reality for some
He Got This One Right! – *July 4, 2021 – A notorious atheist hits it on the head!
The Ninety-five Theses – *June 27, 2021 – The list that changed history
The ‘Christian Litmus Test’ – *June 20, 2021 – A basic test of ‘Christian’ belief
The Readings – *June 13, 2021 – There’s a plan!
Agony and Victory – *June 6, 2021 – When a cry of despair is fulfillment
The LXX Bridge – *May 30, 2021 – The ancient translation that connects the Testaments
Broken – *May 23, 2021 – The painful reality of the human condition
The Multiverse? – *May 16, 2021 – Why some want to believe in this idea
Vacuuming? – *May 9, 2021 – Preparing for Jesus to visit?
Pay It Forward – *May 2, 2021 – God’s own practice of generosity
The LXX – *April 25, 2021 – The ‘Bible’ that the earliest Christians read
Tipsy in the Saddle? – *April 18, 2021 – The problem with human reason
Changing the Wor(l)d – *April 11, 2021 – How Christianity influenced writing
Confession Confusion – *April 4, 2021 – Same word but two meanings
Monograms of Jesus – *March 28, 2021 – Some logos explained
The Right Fuel – *March 21, 2021 – What goes into your tank matters!
Adiaphora – *March 14, 2021 – An unusual word with important application
Many Names – One Meal – *March 7, 2021 – It’s what God makes it, not what we call it
Birds in the Hair – *February 28, 2021 – Living with all those pesky temptations
Apostolic – *February 21, 2021 – What does this term in the Creeds mean?
The Date of Easter – *February 14, 2021 – Why does it move so oddly on our calendar?
Sola – *February 7, 2021 – Luther’s legacy expressed in one word
What’s With All the Greek? – *January 31, 2021 – Readers wonder about this!
Responsivle Living – *January 24, 2021 – Being a true disciple of Jesus
What’s in a Name? – *January 17, 2021 – ‘Christian’ wasn’t the first choice
Two Wolves? – *January 10, 2021 – The battle that rages within
Prayer Partners (#2) – *January 3, 2021 – A second aspect of effective prayer
Prayer Partners (#1) – *December 27, 2020 – An important aspect of praying
Mystery of the Trinity – *December 20, 2020 – How did this belief come to be?
Big Guns? – *December 13, 2020 – Let’s talk about canon
Gift Wrap – *December 6, 2020 – Wrapping and unwrapping God’s good gifts
Do Jews Read the Same Bible as Christians? – *November 29, 2020 – Are they the same?
God’s Plan to Save the World in Five Minutes – *November 22, 2020 – A bit compressed!
Those Herods – *November 15, 2020 – The notorious dynasty spanning the New Testament
Holy Cow! (Again) – *November 8, 2020 – More About the Four Evangelist’s Symbols
Holy Cow! – *November 1, 2020 – Why would a church hang an ox over the altar?
A Father’s Love – *October 25, 2020 – Why does God give us the option of failing?
Do God’s Laws Ever Become Obsolete? – *October 18, 2020 – Some have wondered
Tradition! – *October 11, 2020 – Apostolic tradition is different from the ordinary kind
Law and Gospel – *October 4, 2020 – One of Luther’s most distinctive teachings
Out of Tune – *September 27, 2020 – The fatal discordance of the human condition
Are You Born Again? – *September 20, 2020 – A question sometimes asked
Mobile Homes – *September 13, 2020 – One of God’s favorite inventions
Sand in the Gas Tank – *September 6, 2020 – When a little is too much
The Altar – *August 30, 2020 – Why do some object to the presence of an altar?
Regret vs. Repentance – *August 23, 2020 – Being “sorry” isn’t enough
Fighting for Jesus? – *August 16, 2020 – Christianity’s sorriest spectacle
Incarnate – *August 9, 2020 – Perhaps Christianity’s most shocking belief
Salt and Light – *August 2, 2020 – Living “in” the world, but not “of ” it
Comfort and Affliction – *July 26, 2020 – Keeping us on course
Old Testament/New Testament – *July 19, 2020 – Sorting out those terms
Ten Things the Bible Doesn’t Say – *July 12, 2020 – Common non-Biblical ideas
Should Only the Baptized Commune? – *July 5, 2020 – Is this a good rule?
Liturgy – *June 28, 2020 – Thinking about ‘the work of the people’
The Languages of the Bible – *June 21,2020 – Hebrew , Greek & more
I-dolatry – *June 14, 2020 – Fabricating a false god
What’s An Epistle ? – *June 7, 2020 – Take the quiz!
Was Jesus Mistaken? – *May 31, 2020 – People have wondered about this.
To ‘Cap’ or Not to ‘Cap’ – *May 24, 2020 – It really doesn’t matter
“The Devil Made Me Do It” – *May 17, 2020 – Not a joking matter
Does God Have a Gender? – *May 10, 2020 – Divine pronouns aren’t arbitrary
The Same Ten Commandments? – *May 3, 2020 – Same content, different numbering
The Left and the Right – *April 26, 2020 – God’s Two Kingdoms
The Benediction – *April 19, 2020 – The most ancient part of our worship service
Connecting the Dots – *April 12, 2020 – Seeing the Messiah in OT prophecy
Refuge – *April 5, 2020 – Should Christians try to escape from the world?
Elijah’s Return – *March 29, 2020 – Why were people expecting Elijah to come back?
Conversation and Consolation – *March 22, 2020 – Building each other up in faith
What was Jesus’ Last Name ? – *March 15, 2020 – Hint: it isn’t ‘Christ’
How Wet do You Have to Be? – *March 8, 2020 – It’s not how we do it
Melchizedek – *March 1, 2020 – An obscure OT figure with a big NT significance
Two Hymn Books – *February 23, 2020 – The Bible’s ancient hymnal
The Invisibility Paradox – February 16, 2020 – Why doesn’t God make Himself obvious?
Smalcald – *February 9, 2020 – A strange word with an interesting place in Lutheran lore
‘Word’ vs. ‘words’ – *February 2, 2020 – An important distinction about the Bible
How the Bible got ‘Versified’ – *January 26, 2020 – How chapters and verses came to be
Stairway to Heaven – January 19, 2020 – The universal longing to rise above it all
The Elementary of Elements – *January 12, 2020 – What makes it communion?
Selah – January 5, 2020 – What does this obscure word mean?
All About ‘Beth’ – *December 29, 2019 – Deciphering some common place names
Christmas vs. Culture – *December 22, 2019 – Not a new clash of values
REJECTED – *December 15, 2019 – The pain and the promise
Sanctuary – *December 8, 2019 – How this word got its modern meaning
Monkeys in the Minster – *December 1, 2019 – Critters in church
Can a Believer Fall Away? – November 24, 2019 – A point of disagreement between Christians
The Third Day – *November 17, 2019 – An assertion of Jesus that’s perplexed many
No Rules? – *November 10, 2019 – How Lutherans traditionally understand God’s Law
Do I Have the Holy Spirit? – *November 3, 2019 – If you’re concerned , it’s Yes!
What We Can Do – October 27, 2019 – When the sky seems to be falling!
Numinous & Ineffable – October 20, 2019 – A pair of unusual but useful words
That Damn(ing) Virus – *October 13, 2019 – It makes you want to swear!
‘The Church’ vs. ‘a church’ – *October 6, 2019 – Not the same thing!
The Cornerstone – *September 29, 2019 – The only sure foundation
Concordia – September 22, 2019 – A very important book/name for Lutherans
Judas – *September 15, 2019 – So you think you know Judas? Take the quiz!
The Bible’s Longest Chapter – September 8, 2019 – A remarkable composition
Why Do Lutherans ‘Apologize’ ? – *September 1, 2019 – Perhaps we should ‘confess’?
Plausible Deniability? – August 25, 2019 – The paradox of God’s deniability
How Do You Raise an Ebenezer? – *August 18, 2019 – How indeed!
Forgiveness – August 11, 2019 – A good one-word answer
Baptism: Why we DO it – August 4, 2019 – It’s a simple answer with deep impact
How Did Jesus Descend Into Hell ? – *July 28, 2019 – Puzzling phrase in the Creed
Are Lutherans catholic ? – *July 21, 2019 – A ‘capital’ distinction
Bread & Wine or Body & Blood? – *July 14, 2019 – Discerning Christ’s real presence
Sadducees and Pharisees and Scribes (Oh my!) – July 7, 2019 – Who were these guys?
Top Knot Come Down ! – *June 30, 2019 – How to read (and NOT read) the Bible
Why is Jesus ‘the’ Christ? – June 23, 2019 – The only one who can wear the title
You Did It To Me – June 16, 2019 – The unmistakable mark of the true disciple
‘Dispensations’? – June 9, 2019 – A Bible theory popular among fundamentalists
Are Lutherans ‘Organic’ ? – *June 2, 2019 – Yes, we do love our organ music!
The Lord’s Prayer – *May 26, 2019 – Why our Catholic brethren say it differently
Turn Around ! – May 19, 2019 – What God commands (and enables) us to do
Fishing With Pickles – *May 12, 2019 – It’s not as crazy as it sounds
Why Believe? – May 5, 2019 – What our own hearts tell us
A Window of Grace – April 28, 2019 – When God redeems our tragedies
Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead ? – *April 21, 2019 – The historical challenge
O Sacred Head … – April 14, 2019 – A favorite hymn with a unique back-story
Gospel – April 7, 2019 – A familiar word that replaced the real meaning
Starting the Day Right – *March 31,2019 – The Breakfast of Christians
Why ‘Eucharist’? – March 24, 2019 – An odd name that describes perfectly!
A Saint for the Sometimes Somnolent – *March 17,2019 – Just like us?
A Little Knowledge … – March 10, 2019 – Understanding the truth about the Bible
The Elementary of Elements – *March 3, 2019 – What makes it Communion?
The Can’t-Miss Prayer – February 24, 2019 – It’s what God always wants to give you!
Moderately Christian? – February 17, 2019 – The danger of complacency
The Filioque – February 10, 2019 – An obscure clause in the Nicene Creed
The Pastor and ‘Ewe’ – *February 3, 2019 – It’s all about tending the flock
Deism/Theism/Meism – January 27, 2019 – Three (plus) philosophies about god
Fatal Distraction – January 20, 2019 – When we forget what’s important
Why Do They Rage? – January 13, 2019 – This cannot end well!
In the Boat – *January 6, 2019 – Sailing together in the nave
Building it Right – *December 30, 2018 – How you build it dictates how it lasts
Wait for the Lord! – December 23, 2018 – The true spirit of Advent
Holy Things – *December 16, 2018 – Do Lutherans believe in them?
Can Babies Believe? – December 9, 2018 – Why do we baptize infants?
No Wiggle Room – December 2, 2018 – The reality that may make us squirm
The Gift of Appreciation – *November 25, 2018 – Perhaps the finest gift of all
WANTED DEAD AND ALIVE – November 18, 2018 – Death and life through Baptism
Predestined ?? (!!) – November 11, 2018 – Embracing the paradox
The Mighty Mite and the Trusting Bite – *November 4, 2018 – The joy of stewardship
Covenant vs. Contract – October 28, 2018 – Not the same thing!
The Importance of ‘U’ – *October 21, 2018 – What your chrch needs
Body Parts – October 14, 2018 – Membership in His Body matters!
Playing Church ? – October 7, 2018 – It’s not ‘cute’ when grownups do it
Chosen! – September 30, 2018 – How we experience the truth of God’s commitment
Amazing! – September 23,2018 – The relentless pursuit of our loving God
Only Sinners Need Apply – September 16, 2018 – The truth about church members
Participation Optional? – September 9, 2018 – Examining church membership
Hanging Out with Jesus – *September 2, 2018 – It’s not what many people expect
Gourmet Jesus ? – August 26, 2018 – Sticking to the ‘original recipe’
God’s Rhymes – *August 19, 2018 – Seeing God’s patterns
A Diet of Worms ? – *August 12, 2018 – Not as gross as it sounds
The Bible’s ‘Backstories’ – *August 5, 2018 – Things we’d love to know
Lead Us Not – July 29, 2018 – Why did Jesus teach us to pray those words?
The Big Split – July 22, 2018 – The one 500 years before the Reformation
Paschal – July 15, 2018 – An unusual word with great significance
Cotton Candy – July 8, 2018 – There’s no substitute for real nourishment
‘Churchy’ Words – July 1, 2018 – Some obscure terminology that your pastor may use
When Morning Dawns – June 24, 2018 – The wonderful assurance of God’s new day
Data – Theory – Application – June 17, 2018 – The danger in trusting our theories
Word AND Sacrament – June 10, 2018 – Why we emphasize both Means of Grace
Just a Speck? – June 3, 2018 – The incredible improbability of God’s interest in us!
God’s M.O. – May 27, 2018 – God’s distinctive way of accomplishing His ends
Mercy and Grace – May 20, 2018 – The two sides of God’s gift of salvation
The Trinity – May 13, 2018 – The perplexing mystery of God’s nature
A Woman’s Place? – May 6, 2018 – The role of women in the Church
At the Right Time – April 29, 2018 – When God’s plan came together
Eyes Fixed on the Way – April 22, 2018 – The recipe for avoiding disaster
Saints AND Sinners – April 15, 2018 – The true state of things for Christians
Two and a Half Martyrs – April 8, 2018 – A burning commitment to God’s Word
Trust or Sink! – April 1, 2018 – Floating on God’s grace
The Divine ‘And’ – March 25, 2018 – When ‘either/or’ isn’t the answer
Earning a Pass? – March 18, 2018 – A misplaced sense of confidence
More ‘Birds in the Hair’ – March 11, 2018 – When we are sources of temptation
What About Cremation? – March 4, 2018 – What is the position of the church?
Adversity and Glory – February 25, 2018 – Bearing the ‘cross’ of others
Pastors or Priests? – February 18, 2018 – Does the name matter?
Choosing the Books – February 11, 2018 – How did the early church do it?
“Sin Boldly” – February 4, 2018 – Did Luther REALLY Say this?
Where in the World are the Lutherans? – January 28, 2018 – By the numbers
Emptyhanded – January 21, 2018 – How we approach God’s salvation
Illumination – January 14, 2018 – The light that gives confidence and meaning
Righteous! – January 7, 2018 – When it all comes together!
Flaming Letters in the Sky – December 31, 2017 – The tragedy of hardened hearts
Did Jesus Go To Church? – December 24, 2017 – Countering a mistaken impression
He Got This One Right! – December 17, 2017 – A notorious atheist hits it on the head!
Was Jesus Born in a Stable? – December 10, 2017 – Rethinking the traditional story
Is Hell a Real Place? – December 3, 2017 – Confronting an awful reality for some
Agony and Victory – November 26, 2017 – When a cry of despair is fulfillment
The ‘Christian Litmus Test’ – November 19, 2017 – A basic test of ‘Christian’ belief
The LXX Bridge – November 12, 2017 – The ancient translation that connects the Testaments
Broken – November 5, 2017 – (An accidental repeat of October 22, 2017)
The Ninety-five Theses – October 29, 2017 – The list that changed history
Broken – October 22, 2017 – The painful reality of the human condition
The Multiverse? – October 15, 2017 – Why some want to believe in this idea
Vacuuming? – October 8, 2017 – Preparing for Jesus to visit?
The LXX – October 1, 2017 – The ‘Bible’ that the earliest Christians read
Tale of Two Consciences – September 24, 2017 – Very different paths taken
Pay It Forward – September 17, 2017 – God’s own practice of generosity
Monograms of Jesus – September 10, 2017 – Some logos explained
The Right Fuel – September 3, 2017 – What goes into your tank matters!
What’s With All the Greek? – August 27, 2017 – Readers wonder about this!
Tipsy in the Saddle? – August 20, 2017 – The problem with human reason
Changing the Wor(l)d – August 13, 2017 – How Christianity influenced writing
Birds in the Hair – August 6, 2017 – Living with all those pesky temptations
Many Names – One Meal – July 30, 2017 – It’s what God makes it, not what we call it
The Offertory – July 23, 2017 – A small ritual that tells a rich story
What’s in a Name? – July 16, 2017 – ‘Christian’ wasn’t the first choice
Two Wolves? – July 9, 2017 – The battle that rages within
Apostolic – July 2, 2017 – What does this term in the Creeds mean?
Sola – June 25, 2017 – Luther’s legacy expressed in one word
Adiaphora – June 18, 2017 – An unusual word with important application
Gift Wrap – June 11, 2017 – Wrapping and unwrapping God’s good gifts
Big Guns? – June 4, 2017 – Let’s talk about canon
Those Herods – May 28, 2017 – The notorious dynasty spanning the New Testament
Mystery of the Trinity – May 21, 2017 – How did this belief come to be?
Do Jews Read the Same Bible as Christians? – May 14, 2017 – Are they the same?
The Priest’s Underpants – May 7, 2017 – Precedent for propriety in worship
God’s Plan to Save the World in Five Minutes – April 30, 2017 – A bit compressed!
Responsivle Living – April 23, 2017 – Being a true disciple of Jesus
Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead ? – April 16, 2017 – The historical challenge
The Date of Easter – April 9, 2017 – Why does it move so oddly on our calendar?
Tradition! – April 2, 2017 – Apostolic tradition is different from the ordinary kind
Out of Tune – March 26, 2017 – The fatal discordance of the human condition
Do God’s Laws Ever Become Obsolete? – March 19, 2017 – Some have wondered
Law and Gospel – March 12, 2017 – One of Luther’s most distinctive teachings
Prayer Partners (#2) – March 5, 2017 – A second aspect of effective prayer
Prayer Partners (#1) – February 26, 2017 – An important aspect of praying
Mobile Homes – February 19, 2017 – One of God’s favorite inventions
Are You Born Again? – February 12, 2017 – A question sometimes asked
The Altar – February 5, 2017 – Why do some object to the presence of an altar?
Regret vs. Repentance – January 29, 2017 – Being “sorry” isn’t enough
Holy Cow! (Again) – January 22, 2017 – More About the Four Evangelist’s Symbols
Sand in the Gas Tank – January 15, 2017 – When a little is too much
Fighting for Jesus? – January 8, 2017 – Christianity’s sorriest spectacle
Incarnate – January 1, 2017 – Perhaps Christianity’s most shocking belief
Comfort and Affliction – December 25, 2016 – Keeping us on course
Ten Things the Bible Doesn’t Say – December 18, 2016 – Common non-Biblical ideas
Salt and Light – December 11, 2016 – Living “in” the world, but not “of ” it
The Languages of the Bible – December 4, 2016 – Hebrew , Greek & more
Christmas vs. Culture – November 27, 2016 – Not a new clash of values
The Left and the Right – November 20, 2016 – God’s Two Kingdoms
The Meaning of ‘Means’ – November 13, 2016 – How we receive God’s grace
Old Testament/New Testament – November 6, 2016 – Sorting out those terms
Should Only the Baptized Commune? – October 30, 2016 – Is this a good rule?
A Father’s Love – October 23, 2016 – Why does God give us the option of failing?
I-dolatry – October 16, 2016 – Fabricating a false god
To ‘Cap’ or Not to ‘Cap’ – October 9, 2016 – It really doesn’t matter
“The Devil Made Me Do It” – October 2, 2016 – Not a joking matter
The Readings – September 25, 2016 – There’s a plan!
Refuge – September 18, 2016 – Should Christians try to escape from the world?
Was Jesus Mistaken? – September 11, 2016 – People have wondered about this.
Liturgy – September 4, 2016 – Thinking about ‘the work of the people’
Connecting the Dots – August 28, 2016 – Seeing the Messiah in OT prophecy
The Benediction – August 21, 2016 – The most ancient part of our worship service
Conversation and Consolation – August 14, 2016 – Building each other up in faith
Elijah’s Return – August 7, 2016 – Why were people expecting Elijah to come back?
All About ‘Beth’ – July 31, 2016 – Deciphering some common place names
The Third Day – July 24, 2016 – An assertion of Jesus that’s perplexed many
The Same Ten Commandments? – July 17, 2016 – Same content, different numbering
Holy Things – July 10, 2016 – Do Lutherans believe in “holy objects”?
Melchizedek – July 3, 2016 – An obscure OT figure with a big NT significance
Top Knot Come Down ! – June 26, 2016 – How to read (and NOT read) the Bible
Holy Cow! – June 19, 2016 – Why would a church hang an ox over the altar?
What’s An Epistle ? – June 12, 2016 – Take the quiz!
What was Jesus’ Last Name ? – June 5, 2016 – Hint: it isn’t ‘Christ’
Smalcald – May 29, 2016 – A strange word with an interesting place in Lutheran lore
Building it Right – May 22, 2016 – How you build it dictates how it lasts
Two Hymn Books – May 15, 2016 – The Bible’s ancient hymnal
‘Word’ vs. ‘words’ – May 8, 2016 – An important distinction about the Bible
No Rules? – May 1, 2016 – How Lutherans traditionally understand God’s Law
Sanctuary – April 24, 2016 – How this word got its modern meaning
How Wet do You Have to Be? – April 17, 2016 – It’s not how we do it
How the Bible got ‘Versified’ – April 10, 2016 – How chapters and verses came to be
How Do You Raise an Ebenezer? – April 3, 2016 – How indeed!
The Bible’s ‘Backstories’ – March 27, 2016 – Things we’d love to know!
That Damn(ing) Virus – March 20, 2016 – It makes you want to swear!
Does God Have a Gender? – March 13, 2016 – Divine pronouns aren’t arbitrary
Bread & Wine or Body & Blood? – March 6, 2016 – Discerning Christ’s real presence
‘The Church’ vs. ‘a church’ – February 28, 2016 – Not the same thing!
Judas – February 21, 2016 – So you think you know Judas? Take the quiz!
Fishing With Pickles – February 14, 2016 – It’s not as crazy as it sounds
Are Lutherans catholic ? – February 7, 2016 – A ‘capital’ distinction
Why Do Lutherans ‘Apologize’ ? – January 31, 2016 – Perhaps we should ‘confess’?
The Pastor and ‘Ewe’ – January 24, 2016 – It’s all about tending the flock
REJECTED – January 17, 2016 – The pain and the promise
A Saint for the Sometimes Somnolent – January 10, 2016 – Just like us?
Starting the Day Right – January 3, 2016 – The Breakfast of Christians
Hanging Out with Jesus – December 27, 2015 – Not what many folks expect
The Mighty Mite and the Trusting Bite – December 20, 2015 – The joy of stewardship
The Elementary of Elements – December 13, 2015 – What makes it communion?
The Gift of Appreciation – December 6. 2015 – Perhaps the finest gift of all
In the Boat – November 29, 2015 – Sailing together in the nave
Modern Martyrs – November 22, 2015 – The sobering fact of Christian persecution
The Importance of ‘U’ – November 15, 2015 – What your chrch needs
Do I Have the Holy Spirit? – November 8, 2015 – If you’re concerned , it’s Yes!
How Did Jesus Descend Into Hell ? – November 1, 2015 – Puzzling phrase in the Creed
A Diet of Worms ? – October 25, 2015 – Not as gross as it sounds
Confession Confusion – October 18, 2015 – Same word but two meanings
God’s Rhymes – October 11, 2015 – Seeing God’s patterns
Monkeys in the Minster – October 4, 2015 – Critters in church
The Lord’s Prayer – September 27, 2015 – Why our Catholic brethren say it differently
Are Lutherans ‘Organic’ ? – September 20, 2015 – Yes, we do love our organ music!
The Cornerstone – September 13, 2015 – The only sure foundation

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