Lutherans in the 118th Congress

The 118th U.S. Congress convened on January 3, 2023. Following finalization of House speakership, the official swearing in took place January 7, 2023. The following are some of the legislators with Lutheran affiliation who will serve the country in this new session.  In the U.S. Senate, ELCA member Sen. Sherrod Brown D-OH, Sen. Joni Ernst R-IA, Sen. Martin Heinrich D-NM, and Sen. Jeff Merkley D-OR are continuing their service. In the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent ELCA members continuing their service includes Rep. John Carter R-TX, Rep. Zoe Lofgren D-CA, Rep. Scott Peters D-CA, Rep. Chellie Pingree D-ME, Rep. Stacey…

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January 22, 2023–The Moment Your Life Changes

Angie Larson, Alexandria, MN Warm-up Questions Who do you know that went through a difficult time, but now uses the experience to help people? Have you ever had a moment when your whole life changed? What was that moment like? The Moment Your Life Changes Nelly Chiboi grew up in Mogotio, Kenya in an impoverished village. “I know the pain of poverty,” says Cheboi, now 29.  “I never forgot what it was like with my stomach churning because of hunger at night.” Her mom ensured that despite their poverty Nelly received an education. Nelly worked hard in school and received…

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The Bibliography for the Dissertation

Here is a copy of my Bibliography for the PhD dissertation. I’m not going to share the whole dissertation yet, and much of it is already available by viewing our two books on Evangelical Calvinism. I plan on writing a book after, and based on the contents of the dissertation in the future. But to continue to give access into the dissertation I’ll share one more piece of it. Maybe you can make some inferences about the body of the work by looking at the biblio. If you’re that nerdy click here to see the bibliography. Athanasian Reformed

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January 15, 2023–Come and See

fAmy Martinell, Sioux Falls, SD Warm-up Questions In the gospel text, Jesus invites two future disciples to come and spend the day with him. What is the best invitation you have received to spend time with someone? Who was it? What did you do? What made that invitation special? Come and See During the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, collapsed on the field after making a tackle. Medical personnel quickly rushed on field to administer CPR. Both Hamlin’s teammates and opponents were visibly upset as they looked on:…

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Devotional: Star Word – Curiosity

By Kayla Zopfi, 2022-23 Hunger Advocacy Fellow [about the author] They were prodded by a desire to know. The magi who journeyed to baby Jesus were likely some of the only people who noticed this bright new star in the sky, and they took off with excitement and energy even still. Story of the Magi This past Sunday at my young adult and queer-led Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community (SAWC) in Northeast Minneapolis, Tree of Life Lutheran, we did Lectio Divina on the story of the magi. I couldn’t help but reflect on the virtue of curiosity. Curiosity about an anomaly…

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PDF File for Chapter 1 of My Dissertation

I created a Pdf file for chapter 1 of my PhD dissertation for anyone interested. Some of the formatting may be off a bit, but the content is there. Click here.  Athanasian Reformed

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession – January 15, 2023

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Intercession prompts: For the continued healing of Damar Hamilin and all athletes who suffer injuries to body and spirit… For parts of California and the West Coast affected by massive amounts of rainfall this week… For Abby Zwerner and all victims of school…

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A Critique of John MacArthur’s ‘Word Faith Theology’: On the Relationship Between Five Point Calvinism and Human Psychology

I work the graveyard shift at work. I have a work vehicle I drive around in all night. And so, I often will listen to Christian radio. The lineup of pastors they have preaching throughout the night includes John MacArthur’s Grace To You broadcast. The broadcast for January 6th, 2023 was a sermon MacArthur originally delivered back in 1989. The sermon title is: Spiritual Stability, Part 3: Humility and Faith—Phil. 4:5-6a. So, he’s clearly going to be discussing anxiety, and its cure by trusting and resting in Christ. And absolutely, the Lord, as we humbly and boldly come to His…

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Prompts for Prayers of Intercession – January 8, 2023

These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Intercession prompts: For all experiencing winter storms and significant weather events… For the Colorado river as it faces continued drought and all places facing a shortage of water… For all places in our nation and across the world without access to safe water……

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The Christian God is without Proof

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. -Deuteronomy 29:29 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. -John 1:18 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. -Galatians 1:11-12 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known…

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