Dear Christian friends,      Do you see each other–fellow Christians–as “friends”?  The love that is ours in Christ is love that we ought to have for one another.  Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Of course, that’s the kind of love Jesuss showed […]

Dear ones, bought with a price, The Holy Spirit declares: “You were bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23). You have been redeemed by the price of something unearthly–by which I mean not by anything temporal or worldly–not silver, not gold, not the works of striving sinful beings; you have been redeemed by that which is […]

Dear redeemed, Listen to Jesus.  “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) Jesus instructs us that following Him in discipleship comes with a price–a life of changed priorities and values–a life of sacrifice.  Following Jesus means radical change in a person’s daily life.  […]

Dear beloved in Christ, Luther said, “God created the world out of nothing; so as long as we are nothing, God can make something out of us.”  In other words, if we are hanging on to our own righteousness and pride and works (our attempt to reduce the truth about our sin and that we are […]

Loved ones…you who are loved by our Lord,   Valentine’s Day is Friday.  But that day is more than just remembering your loved one (spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend…).  It is remembering what St. Valentine represented to the church at large in his day–and through the ages since.  Here’s just a tidbit of information. A physician […]