“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). On home service last week, I passed through Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I had been invited … Continue reading For We Do Not Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood
“But on taking leave of them [Paul] said, ‘I will return if God wills (Acts 18:21). Commencing our home service, Lula and I flew out of Hamburg last Friday and had a short layover in Frankfurt before boarding our plane to Chicago. About two hours into the transatlantic flight, the captain announced over the PA … Continue reading If God Wills
“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me” (Ps 40:17). Every morning, Lula and I take a walk. Hamburg in winter is cold and rainy. For about the past month we have noticed a homeless woman sleeping on a gray wicker couch in the alcove of a restaurant. … Continue reading The Lord Takes Thought for Me
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Yesterday I met “Ali,” an Iranian parishioner, in Hamburg’s Steindamm district near the central train station, to help him with some logistical issues. This is an area heavily populated with immigrants—mostly from Islamic countries. Walking past … Continue reading Every Good Thing in Life Comes from Him
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:29). We have often talked about how many of our Iranian Lutherans here in Germany have paid a steep price for becoming Christian: … Continue reading Leaving for My Name’s Sake
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11: 28). Lent is a season of repentance, a period of some 40 days of solemn meditation as we mentally walk alongside Jesus on His way to the Cross. Lent concludes on Easter, as we celebrate our Lord’s … Continue reading A Pastor for Israel’s Lutheran Church
“And so we came to Rome. And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage” (Ac 28:14-15). *** I lost my father when I was fifteen. After the graveside service, countless friends, … Continue reading On Seeing Them He Took Courage
“…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2), said the Apostle Paul to his student Timothy, encouraging the young man to teach others who in turn would instruct yet another “generation” of students. Fast forward … Continue reading Teach Others
Dear friends, Amazingly, it has been almost three years since we deployed to Germany / Eurasia. As such, it is time for us to go on home service. That means that Lula and I will be traveling throughout parts of the U.S. this spring to give missionary presentations in local LCMS churches. In most cases, … Continue reading Lenten Greetings from Germany!
“And when they bring you before the…authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk 12:11-12). I recently accompanied one of our Iranian parishioners to his asylum interview before the German … Continue reading Defending Your Christian Faith
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