What do you do with old Bibles?
A parishioner recently informed me that she bought the new "The Lutheran Study Bible" from CPH (Concordia Publishing House) and then she asked me what she should do with her old bible. This is an interesting question for me as I have often wondered what exactly is the appropriate way of disposing of an old bible. First I should probably clarify a few things. I am not trying to promote a fundamentalist view of scripture here. That is why I deliberately differentiate between a bible and the Bible. If I am talking about a specific bible, as in the book on my shelf or the one in the drawer of your hotel room, I use "bible" because we are talk

A Reformation of Information
As we are on the eve of Reformation Day, I find myself pondering the way the original reformers spread their message of grace. The methods employed seem quite significant. As I look at the tools they used to perpetuate the reformation spirit it seems that they were on the edge of a cultural shift in the way people utilized and received information. They were experiencing a shift from an aural/verbal society to a visual/printed society. This can be seen in rising rates of literacy (not that a huge percentage were literate but numbers were increasing) and by the pressure the reformers were under to publish and print their new treatises, sermons, and theses

A Church that burns Bibles!?
Have you seen this? (video below) I know there are fundamentalist groups out there but I think this is a bit extreme. There are various KJV (King James Version) only groups out there but I have never heard of any of them condemning other translatiosn as satanic or burning them. I think it is important to try and find the strengths of other denominations so we can work together to bring the gospel to the whole world, but I don't know if I can find a strength here. To think that the KJV is the only Bible you can consider the Word of God is ridiculous. It requires an unfounded view of what constitutes the Word of God. If you are going to limit God'

Can Christians have common ground with Humanists?
E. O. Wilson, author of The Creation, was just given an award for his efforts in preserving the planet. (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-prince-albert-ii-of-monaco-foundation-celebrates-award-recipients-for-their-extraordinary-efforts-dedicated-to-preserving-planet-earth-63935077.html) Often there this topic of conservation and “being Green” creates

Online Media in worship
I realize there is an ongoing debate about worship styles. Some think only traditional worship is appropriate some think only contemporary is effective. I personally think if you are worshiping the triune God and using his Word to do so you are worshiping correctly no matter what type of instruments or music that involves. This however, is not what I am going to talk about today. Instead I am looking at the utilization of new media in worship, not just new music. It is clear that (generally) the generations under 30 in our society communicate and interact much differently than the previous generations. The cause of this new communication is mainly tech