Creation and Humankind
The origins and existence of everything are fundamental questions to which humans have sought an answer through the ages. Religions and science have approached these questions in various ways and from various viewpoints in attempts to find answers to these ultimate questions. Some c ..
Christ Is Risen!
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it c ..
A Lamb Goes Forth: A Listening Guide
Musicians from congregations across southern Minnesota recently recorded an album, A Lamb Goes Forth, at the Elk River church, which is now available for purchase in congregation bookstores or on the LLC website. It is also available online wherever you buy or stream your digital albums, such as ..
Prayer and Faith
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disci ..
My Grief Journey
Nearly 22 years ago, on a beautiful, sunny Memorial Day Sunday, our daughter Annette was in a car accident. On our way to the hospital my husband Elmer and I talked little, numb with worry. Images of a funeral with us seated in the front row flashed through my mind, clashing with thoughts that w ..
God of Christianity
In these times, many a secularized person thinks and also says out loud, “I believe in God, but not as the church teaches.” Belittling biblical and Lutheran doctrine has become a catchphrase-like norm. The significance of the national Lutheran church [Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland] has ..
Unmerited Grace
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing ..
Theology – What Is It?
Theology, the study of divinity, means on one hand the systematic examination of the fundamentals and concepts of Christian faith. On the other hand, it means the analysis and comparison of different religious understandings. Nowadays theological work is scientific in nature. Theology examines s ..
Christian Doctrine Teaches Us about Endeavoring
In the life of a Christian is God’s peace and joy, but also the weakness of faith, temptations, and oppression. God guides His own along the narrow way of the cross. With sufferings, He wishes to try their faith, keep them humble, and draw them into ever closer fellowship with Him. God also ofte ..
Grace
What is grace? What does it mean? Oxford Dictionary defines it this way: Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. Grace is God’s unmerited love for us. When I think of the word “grace,” I also think of the ..
