The piano music was absolutely beautiful on Sunday. A church member blessed us with his gifts. Every week, I see God’s gifted people pour out a blessing for the church and for the world. Every week I meet educators, business leaders, parents, grandparents, laborers, homemakers, students and more who shine
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When Redeemer Lutheran in Austin opened its new 15,000-square-foot cafetorium late last year, it was just the latest physical manifestation of a grand spiritual vision. Redeemer’s church and school for decades have worked in concert to bring Jesus’ love to their rapidly changing north Austin neighborhood. The new facility simply
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The shrink-wrap never used to come off the book. Like many, perhaps most, pastors, busy with the demands of congregational ministry, early in my ministry I felt no particular need to take a look at the new triennial edition of the Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. On to the
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In the southwest corner of the Texas District, the towns of Kermit, Monahans, Fort Stockton, and Alpine are served by one pastor. His name is Pastor Mike Fickenscher. Pastor Fickenscher has served both Kermit and Monahans since 1998. In 2011 both Alpine and Fort Stockton were added to his ministry.
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I heard from my dear friends recently about life in a remote village in West Africa. I’ll keep the details confidential so I don’t endanger anyone’s life. The village is a collection of single-room mud homes. The region is not far from Timbuktu—the place at the end of the earth
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Martin Luther began his 95 Theses by stating: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” The word “repentance” means to return or to turn around. In God’s Word, He is the One doing the
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A few years ago, during a fourth-of-July sermon, a pastor asked the congregation we were visiting, “What would your slogan for America be?” My daughter, being a dog enthusiast, leaned over and whispered to us, “Puppies for all!” Water of Life in Forney, Texas is making that dream a reality.
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“For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Rom. 7:7B I feel the need to say, from this pen the issue of avarice does not come out of “left field.” I have written on subjects for which
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When local churches determine to serve their surrounding communities, it’s not always clear whether their efforts are truly making a difference. So they continue to extend themselves in love, uplifted by the example and command of Jesus: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do,
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Did you know that Texas District reflects a new church demographic for the twenty-first century? While general statistics in the LCMS show a declining, aging, mono-cultural church body, God’s mission in the Texas District is forming and shaping a church body that looks much different. What does the LCMS look
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