“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) Have you ever noticed how critical people are?  How about politics?  Folk there are downright nasty.  Why, if you believe what they say, does it narrow down to a choice of two sinful folk to choose from?  This is the world, but it is not to be so with those who follow Christ.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone needs the love of Christ.  We are not to see others as sinners alone, but as those whom Jesus died for. Lord, You know where I d ..read more

Note from Executive Director Dennis D. Nelson: Many thanks to a friend of Lutheran CORE for giving us a review of Eve Tushnet’s book, “Tenderness: A Gay Christian’s Guide to Unlearning Rejection and Experiencing God’s Extravagant Love.”  The reviewer finds in this book a hope-giving guide for same-sex attracted persons who seek to live lives that are faithful to the Scriptures as well as find healing from their pain as they draw near to God.  It is also a reminder to the followers of Jesus that we need to have the mind of Christ as we offer grace, encouragement, and support to people ..read more

Many thanks to David Peterson, pastor of Apostles Lutheran Church in Chesapeake, Virginia (LCMC), for giving us a video review of his first book, “Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom.”  A link to David’s review can be found here. A link to our You Tube channel, which contains reviews of around three dozen books as well as a dozen CORE Convictions videos on various topics related to the Christian faith and life, can be found here.  David writes, “After some thirty years of active ministry in congregations, hospices, hospitals, and fire and law enforcement settings, I have ..read more

Consider the contrasting good news and not-so-good news ministry challenges that are confronting many of our congregations in 2024: Good News: Many local churches have now been blessed by the return of members to in-person worship services now that the pandemic is over. Not-so-good News: A great many of our congregations have nevertheless experienced a significant decrease in overall weekly in-person worship attendance when compared to 2019; i.e., before the pandemic. Good News: Many smaller congregations are in good financial shape; benefiting from the generosity of  the active Boomers w ..read more

In my office hangs my ordination certificate.  Across it is emblazoned the name of the ordaining body, the body whose confessional commitments I pledged to uphold on the day I knelt and made my vows.  An adult convert to the Christian faith who settled in Lutheranism as the place where I would live out my “mere Christianity” after reading a church library copy of the Augsburg Confession, in the spring of 2016 I had served that denomination in various roles for twenty years. This spring marks the eighth year since I called my bishop and informed him that I would be serving in a new ch ..read more

Almost 30 years ago, I had my first introduction to the tactics of postmodern argumentation.  A professor at Texas Lutheran made the statement that he could not be racist because as a Latino, he had no power.  Racism was prejudice plus power.  I scratched my head.  I had been taught that racism was prejudice towards another person on the basis of skin color or a sense of moral superiority towards one’s own race.  Where did this other definition come from? Since then, I discovered the origin of the professor’s definition, and I have also discovered that such shifting of ..read more

Zion Lutheran Church in Castroville Texas, seeks to call a lead pastor to join us as a witness for Christ in this rapidly growing community. The Community In 1844 Castroville was established by Alsatian and German settlers on the banks of the Medina river just west of San Antonio. Today Castroville still cherishes their roots. It is located less than a half hour from downtown San Antonio. Castroville boasts one of the most highly rated and fastest growing school districts in Texas. Medina Valley ISD offers many opportunities for student growth both in and out of the classro ..read more

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). Do you measure with hatred or with love?  Do you measure with condemnation or with mercy?  Do you measure with retribution or with grace?  The Lord has come to change our hearts.  He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Come to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart to see others as the Lord sees you.  Then, discern the criteria and measure others as the Lord measures you. Lord, You know this would be an investme ..read more

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). There are five primary words in Greek that are translated as judgment in the New Testament.  This word means separating the goats from the sheep, the wheat from the tares.  We are forbidden to do this because we do not know.  We may see what appears to be unfaithfulness and we are to judge that, but never call out someone and say they are going to hell.  Jesus died for every one of us. Lord, I have judged others this way.  Instead of looking with eyes of condemnation, which is cloaked with hatred, help me to ..read more

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). There are two places where the wicked seeks to trap us: with yesterday or tomorrow.  We do not know whether or life here will be over five minutes from now.  We do live for another time constantly.  Why?  You can make plans, but our today is constantly changing.  You live in this moment and this is the only moment in which you have any ability to act.  Luther said when asked if he knew that he would die tomorrow what he would do toda ..read more